Tens of thousands rai of forest land occupied by influential figures

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - Tens of thousands rai of the parkland were changed hand from local villagers to influential figures, said chief of Thap Lan National Park. In the operation to reclaim forest land in the Thap Lan National park from influential figures and investors, Prawattisat Chanthep, head of the Thap Lan National Park said forest encroachers in Prachinburi and Nakhon Ractchasima have been prosecuted in 485 cases. Among over 12,000 plots of land allocated for local people to make a living following the Cabinet resolution in 1998, he said only 4,000 villagers are occupying the land while the rest 8,000 broke the rules of land ownership, selling the land to influential figures and business people. The authorities will seize the land back and dismantle properties, particularly those, which were developed into resorts on the forest reserve land. (TNA)