DSI look into encroachment

Officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) went to Suan Phung district in Ratchaburi yesterday to meet former deputy education minister Narisara Chavaltanpipat's father in relation to allegations of encroachment on stateowned land.

DSI special case investigator Pravuth Wongsinil said the Army had urged DSI to look into the alleged encroachment of stateowned land in Suan Phung by Sompong Chavaltanpipat and Ratchaburi's Rubber and Oil Palm farmers' cooperative's vice president Wanchai Kanchanapen.

Initial investigation showed that the allegations had grounds and that the special case committee had agreed to take up the case on December 28, 2011, he said, adding that the two men had also allegedly fired threatening shots at borderpatrol soldiers as well.

The DSI also found that Sompong was allegedly encroaching on two plots of land. The first plot, covering 1,500 rai, is located in the Phubon Valley area in tambon Suan Phueng. In 1989, police had arrested 52 men for illegally felling trees there, and Narisara had filed an application to rent the land from the Ratchaburi Treasury Office but investigation could not find evidence of the request being approved.

In 2007, Sompong sold the land to Sucha Kleepbua and the sale contract was signed. Following a dispute, Sucha applied to rent the land from the Ratchaburi Treasury Office but Sompong objected to this, claiming right over the land via Narisara's land rental papers.

The second plot was in the Phuhin Valley in tambon Pa Wai, which Sompong's other daughter Siriorn had sought to rent and was granted permission. However, Sompong took it over and cleared the 176rai forest in the nearby mountainous area. Pravuth said the Army Engineering Department and the Ratchaburi Treasury Office had not given the family permission to use the land and had even ordered Sompong to move out of the area, though 690 rai of forestland had already been destroyed.

It is believed that the dispute between Sompong and Sucha had led to Sucha's murder on September 21, 2010, which is being investigated by the DSI. The Ratchaburi Court sentenced Chatchawal Kerdkiattikul to 33 years in jail for pointing the target out for the hitman, while evidence is being gathered against the mastermind.

Pravuth said DSI had discovered that Wanchai was allegedly encroaching on some 500 rai of forestland near the 13rai plot he had bought in tambon Suan Phueng, and was growing rubber trees there. He has also allegedly set up an irrigation system and cut a road through the plot.

Wanchai had also applied to rent the land, but his application was denied and he was told to stop encroaching. However, Wanchai continued using the land and even brought migrant workers to work on it, he said.

Pravuth added that Wanchai was also encroaching on some 300 rai of mountainous land near the 10rai plot he had bought in tambon Suan Phueng to grow rubber trees and though his request to rent the land was rejected he continued using the area.