The complaint involves about 500 square metres of land that possibly overlaps the preserve.
In 2007 locals filed an objection to the land upgrade, but since then no decision has been forthcoming. The would-be owner complained that this was too long a period for consideration nof the upgrade from NorSor3 Kor.
V/Gov Somkiet agreed. “There must be something wrong with the committee that approves title deed taking that long,” he said.
The Baan Kuku Mangrove Preservation group, led by Sommai Charoensuk, launched a campaign five years ago to preserve the mangrove area by erecting signs marking the borders of the mangroves in an attempt to prevent encroachment.
The group also filed a complaint to the administrative court in Nakhon Sri Thammarat in the same year, asking it to consider revoking two other land papers they felt encroached on the mangrove forest.
V/Gov Somkiet said he would hold a meeting in the coming few days to discuss the facts of the case and to establish whether the land claimed by the NorSor3 Kor holder – who has not been named – encroaches or not
“It’s possible that it encroaches on the mangrove preserve. This has to be examined by the land committee and also other departments such as the Royal Forestry Department, the Muang District Chief, the Provincial Attorney, land officials and the Rassada Mayor. We will hold a meeting in a few days.”
News reports about the battle over the mangroves in Rassada were at one time thought to have been the motive for the assassination of local journalist Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwittayaporn three years ago, though this has since been discounted by police.