Guided by a non-governmental organisation, thousands of landless people have moved into and made use of various land plots under the management of the Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC).
The corporation is reported to be in the process of auctioning off these foreclosed plots.
"If we don't occupy these plots, they will be auctioned and passed on to investors," Passawai Kaewnam said yesterday. He heads the Mukdahan branch of the Council for People from the Four Regions.
He said the council's members had occupied nearly 400 plots of land in the Northeast, where most of the foreclosed assets under TAMC care are.
"We have informed the government in writing that we are opposed to the auction of foreclosed plots," Passawai said.
He said underprivileged people needed such land plots as a basis for a roof over their heads. Somjit Jantasuk, a leading member of the council in Khon Kaen, said more than 1,000 members had built structures on most of the 39 TAMC land plots in that Northeastern province.