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.
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