Yesterday (June 12), a team made up of Sirinart National Park Chief, Kitipat Tharapiban, Royal Navy officials, Park officials and Royal Thai Navy Third Command put up seizure announcement signs on 5 plots of land in Sakoo and Cherng Talay stating that they encroach on Sirinart National Park land.
Park officials said that Sirinart NationalPark land has been encroached by rubber farm plantations and the five plots that they visited yesterday covered more than 100 rai of park and that theplots have no legal land ownership documents.
One park official revealed, "At the beginning of the month we investigated eight cases of encroachment covering about 150 rai, and today we have found cases of encroachment.”
Land within Sirinart National Park is alleged to have been encroached on three basis, flying Sorkor land titles, farming, those with no land titles whatsoever.
There is 13,750 rai of land which belongs to Sirinart National Park, and so far the official probe into encroachment has found 8,550 rai has been encroached. Most are under investigation and examination for all legal documents.
The sign officials posted on the rubber trees yesterday read, ‘This area has been seized and is under investigation for encroachment as per reports filed at Thachatchia Police Station. No trespassing or encroachment for personal gain. Those failing to follow this rule will be punished according to the National Park Act.’