Saraburi: Mrs. Narumon Pinyosinwat, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has pledged to reclaim land at Rai Phu Nub Dao, currently under investigation for encroachment on Sor Por Kor land in Saraburi Province. She emphasized that any civil servants found involved in the encroachment would face punishment to the fullest extent, asserting that the reclamation is not politically motivated but a matter of upholding the Ministry’s authority over Sor Por Kor land.
According to Thai News Agency, the investigation is ongoing to determine if officials from the Ministry of Agriculture have been complicit in the encroachment. Mrs. Narumon stated that the Sor Por Kor Secretary would take necessary actions if involvement is confirmed. The reclamation process is being handled by a committee collaborating with various agencies within the Ministry, focusing on verifying the legality of the title deeds. The Ministry is committed to reclaiming all Sor Por Kor land misused for non-agricultural purposes by capitalists, in
line with the Ministry’s policy.
Addressing reports alleging connections between Rai Phu Nub Dao and Ms. Ch., linked to a former deputy prime minister, Mrs. Narumon clarified that her knowledge of this is limited to media reports. The Ministry lacks the authority to investigate financial trails, and her focus remains on reviewing title deeds and ownership details. If corruption is found involving civil servants in the Ministry, Mrs. Narumon assured that they would be investigated and penalized according to the law, dating back to 2014. She reiterated that the investigation is not politically driven, having commenced prior to her tenure and initiated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s mandate is to manage Sor Por Kor land, ensuring title deeds are correctly allocated to farmers. Mrs. Narumon stressed that misuse of this power would lead to strict action, while financial investigations fall under the security sector’s jurisdiction. She highlighted that the Mini
stry’s role is limited to reclaiming land proven to be corruptly acquired or misused, and Phu Nub Dao Farm has been ordered closed, questioning why it remains operational.
In line with Colonel Thammanat Prompao’s previous initiatives to reclaim Sor Por Kor land, Mrs. Narumon confirmed her adherence to the policy of returning farmland to rightful farmer occupants and reclaiming misappropriated land.