Land reform reignites as House debate on rights nears

"The government must not allow land-reform plots to be grabbed by politicians and their cronies," he said.

Prawase said plots should be accessed only by farmers and rural communities, adding that he agreed with the prime minister's idea of allowing flexibility for plots to be placed under common management by community members.

He said he supported the redistribution of land for farming families; for sustainable livelihood each should have a five-to-six rai plot.

The Senate committee on agriculture reminded the government the Sor-Por-Kor land rights scandal was still fresh in public memory.

Senator Banchapong Ayukul said the government was obligated to ensure plots be given to small-scale farmers and not capitalists.

Banchapong urged the authorities to assign priorities in managing water resources for farming, rather than rushing to hand out land rights certificates before installing a checking mechanism on redistribution.

In 1995, faction leader Newin Chidchob was among key crusaders attacking the land rights scandal which led to the collapse of the Chuan Leekpai government.

The Friends of Newin faction has since adjusted its stand on the issue and is presently in favour of resumption of the programme, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said.

The flawed distribution of land rights has been rectified and the programme is deemed beneficial to landless farmers, Boonjong said.

He dismissed the allegation that his faction's about-turn was a quid pro quo after the Democrats had agreed to endorse the Bt4 billion bus-leasing project for Bangkok, a faction brainchild.

Following recess, the House is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow. On the legislative agenda for the upcoming session is a debate on a committee report on Sor Por Kor land rights.

The report was compiled under the previous government and before the disbanding of the People Power Party. It has recommended flexibility in granting the transfer of land rights to landless farmers.

Under existing legislation, land-reform plots are non-transferable and farming rights can only be passed on among family members.