Is the Alpine land cursed?

Published: 14 Jun 2012 at 14.38
Online news: Opinion

The land in question is the 924 rai in Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani which was bequeathed to Wat Thammikaram by Mrs Nuem Chamnanchartsakda, but due to political connivance was sold to Alpine Real Estate Co and Alpine Golf & Sports Club. The land has since been developed as a big golf course and resort.

Mrs Nuem passed away in 1969 but her ghost seems to be still hanging around her land to make sure that it is returned to the temple, as she intended before she died. Only then, perhaps, will her soul find peace.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit was acting permanent interior secretary at the time and played a big role in the scandalous land deal between the Mahamakutratchawittayalai Foundation, which was acting on behalf of Wat Thammikaram, and Alpine company.

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drsmith
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Discussion 15 : 15 Jun 2012 at 01.2515
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How can this family live with themselves knowing every single deal they have ever been involved in has something illegal to it? I cannot imaging going around Bangkok masquerading as someone very important and rich, when the whole country see's stories after story that this money was never made in legal transactions. The land never should have been sold but when greed and power are more important than religion, this is the outcome. People need to be held accountable for their crimes
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wantmyony
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Discussion 14 : 15 Jun 2012 at 00.1414
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Fanning the ghost of past wont bring anyone to jail, there are many such cases because of past corruption with government and courts of the day. If justice cant be served in the past neither can it be serve now. I would rather let the matter rest and banned the politicians involved from holding public office. Khunying has been rather unfortunate to be smoked by unscruplous office holders in selling land to her, but to appease Nuem ghost, the apline golf club should make yearly large donation to the temple to help the poor.
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fundeena
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Discussion 13 : 14 Jun 2012 at 22.2713
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The question is "Who paid who?" to make the illegal sale possible.
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mphilips
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Discussion 12 : 14 Jun 2012 at 22.0312
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Interestingly, one of the houses at the Alpine Golf Course is the home of a certain Sanoh Thienthong. I hope its a huge and very expensive building and that they destroy it so comprehensively that this disgusting man can't even salvage one house brick.

In reality though, nothing will happen to Mr. Sanoh's house, and Yongyuth et al will just join Juthamas Siriwan and others in the long but ultimately rewarding wait for their Statute of Limitations to expire.
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sinless
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Discussion 11 : 14 Jun 2012 at 20.4811
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A man with a hairpiece is not to be trusted.
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geoffo
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Discussion 10 : 14 Jun 2012 at 20.4410
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So Sanoh walks. Dont you shouldn't then he should be investigated for being unusually rich but I guess that is a supersized can of worms. Good on the courts for doing something positive.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 9 : 14 Jun 2012 at 19.389
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The land was illegally sold in 1990. But in 2010, Sanoh was never convicted as the statute of limitations in the case (20 years) had expired. However, Sanoh then illegally resold the land in 1999, and Yonguth (or someone within the MoI) illegally approved the transfer in 1999. So if Yonguth has not exceeded the statute of limitations from 1999, why has Sanoh? Since the land wasn't ruled to be illegally transferred in 2002, would all individuals concerned know? Why would the seller tell the buyer that the land was illegally obtained? In 1999 the Dem Party was in power - why have none of them been charged?
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felixqui
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Discussion 8 : 14 Jun 2012 at 19.248
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The real problem here is laws which discriminate for no good reason to treat monastic land as special and different from other land. It isn't. It's all just dirt.

If the bequeather wants to put special conditions on her bequest to a religion, that's fine. But it is wrong for the law to treat anyone or anything in a special way simply because of some superstitious belief. Sadly, such irrational injustice is common in Thailand. And the problems are manifest.
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mitrapaap
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Discussion 7 : 14 Jun 2012 at 19.197
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And again, the Dubai advocate of the poor is involved in a scandal about a lot of money and corruption... Almost looks like justice in this country can't turn a stone without finding a T under it. And this man is still thinking about coming back?
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genii
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Discussion 6 : 14 Jun 2012 at 19.106
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What about all the other players in this deal. Mahamakutratchawittayalai Foundation, Wat Thammikaram, Land Department, Alpine Company, Thienthong clan. There must be hundreds of people that had their fingers in this. Of course if someone gives you a valid land title and the land department does not raise a flag then you would accept the land to be legal. Also why didn't the temple return the land to Mrs Nuem when they found out about section 84 of the land law.
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