Today (August 19) at Provincial Hall, Thammasak Chana and Somyot Loawzoo of the Land Department and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut issued a public statement that the committee will investigate the document trail for the two parcels before any cancellation of land documents can be contemplated.
Mr Thammasak, deputy direction of the Land Department, spoke about anonymous individuals who had filed complaints with the Ministry of Interior and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) urging them to investigate the land.
The complainants said they believed the land was inside the Nakkerd Hills Royal Forest. The Royal Forestry Department (RFD), too, believes this is the case.
If it finds illegal or incorrect documents along the paper trail, the committee will have the power to deny ownership of the land by individuals.
The committee will investigate and consider the evidence for 60 days, during which time anyone accused of encroaching will have a chance to present legal land document for the committee to examine.
Eakachai Sae’iew and Benja Sawetwaan bought the land 17 years ago and received full chanote titles in 2011.
The land was investigated by the PACC at the end of that year, and was visited the following month by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Phrompong Nopparit, who gave his public opinion, in front of Ms Benja, that the papers were dodgy.
But more than three years on, there is no sign that things have moved any closer to a resolution.
For background, click here and here.
The committee, which will be chaired by the Land Department, will also include representatives of the Muang District Office, the Mayor of Karon, the Krabi office of the RFD, and the Land Department's Academic, Thongchai Suwanpahu.