Junta allows other use of ALRO land
DESPITE strong public criticism, the ruling junta has issued a new order to relax the usage of some 4,000 rai of agricultural reform land for “public benefit purposes” and particularly allow three main business activities – oil fields, wind farms and mining.
The order was issued by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order, who has retained absolute power under Article 44 of the interim charter and Article 265 of the new Constitution.
ALRO land plots have been subject to land uses by poor farmers for farm purposes since 1975.
The Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) has at least two regulations waiving the purpose for some uses “following other laws” and “those in relation to farming”.
The government earlier revealed that around 4,000 rai of the reform agency’s farmland, or 0.1 per cent of its 40 million rai is used for such purposes. These include some oil fields, mining, and wind farms operating on ALRO land.
Under the NCPO chief’s order, people running these business activities can seek an extension of their concessions, while continuing to use the land until a new regulation is issued by the Agriculture Ministry to secure their future use of the land.
People proposing this type of use of ALRO land who are waiting for approval, producers of petroleum in particular, will also be able to enter the land and use it. However, they must submit related documents within 60 days.
Those who had concessions suspended by the ALRO committee can be compensated by extensions of their concession in the future equivalent to time their businesses lost.
The ALRO committee has authority to consider and approve these proposals, while the ALRO office takes care of compensation from concessionaires for farmers whose land-use rights were transferred to these business entities.
The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is obliged to come up with a new regulation to replace the two existing ones within 90 days.
Under the order, the reason given for changes of purpose for some ALRO land is that conditions have changed, while some ALRO land is not suitable for farming. While sticking with the ultimate purpose of serving the utmost benefit for farmers, the land can be allocated for “public benefit” purposes with returns that still serve poor farmers.
Cabinet approved the issuing of the order on Tuesday. But it drew strong criticism, as the land has long been subject for use by poor farmers.