Vacate rented company land, rice farmers told

AYUTTHAYA : Ayutthaya rice farmers say they have been threatened by an army major to keep off their rented land.

More than 100 farmers were angered after billboards erected yesterday on their land warned them against trespassing.

They said three men, one claiming to be an army major, prevented them from entering the land to harvest the paddy fields in Nakhon Luang district.

The so-called major, who said he was attached to the Ordnance Department, said he was given a written instruction by the land lessor, River Square, to redistribute more than 2,200 rai of rented farmland in tambons Bang Phra Khru and Mae La and also to manage the rice harvest. The farmers said they were threatened with legal action by armed men and Nakhon Luang district chief Rewat Amphawannont, along with other officers, had to step in.

Mr Rewat found a pistol, which was legally registered, in a car.

Chaliew Nimabut, 50, said she has rented 120 rai of rice farming land for 10 years, but admitted River Square had sent her and other farmers letters informing them about a plan to re-allocate the leased tracts.

Another farmer, Samorn Thongthanee, 49, insisted no lease had been signed but there was a verbal agreement between the company and the farmers.