Act now on land reform

EDITORIAL

Published: 28 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When the Yingluck administration took the reins of power last year, the premier made several promises to the farmers' movement. Had they been kept, the country's first female prime minister would have been immortalised by her land reform projects when her gregarious brother was long forgotten.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's promises included the setting up of a Land Bank to acquire land for landless farmers; the amendment of five draconian forest laws to being them into line with the constitution which endorses villagers' community rights to co-manage forests and other local natural resources; more support for community land ownership to prevent farmland from being bought up by speculators; and the setting up of a justice fund to help villagers who have been prosecuted by unconstitutional forest laws.

That's not all. Ms Yingluck also promised to bridge land ownership inequity through a progressive land tax which is long overdue.

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Aussie John
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Discussion 6 : 28 Sep 2012 at 08.326
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Why are 10% of the population allowed to own 80% of the land? This question needs more investigation. Was this huge amount of land acquired legally? Blind Freddy could tell you this real situation is a major cause of disparity between the haves and have nots in Thai society. No Thai government have been able to legislate land reform as well as inheritances taxes which would effect that very wealthy, slippery 10% of the population who really run the country economically they have their families and cronies within government knocking these sorts of needed reform down...
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mitrapaap
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Discussion 5 : 28 Sep 2012 at 07.195
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I believe her good intentions, but unfortunately she is supposed to handle a crowd of selfish cowards which is impossible. A white sheep among black sheeps. As I mentioned once, she should switch to the democrats and become prime minister again. The dems are no angels, but more inclined to work for the country as well, and not for themselves only. I'm sure she would do very well with the Dems as team and the country would move forward.
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amazed
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Discussion 4 : 28 Sep 2012 at 06.504
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My sense of this, given the historical examples we now have, is that the story is fairly accurate. However, khunbj makes a good point, and one that has had application to many stories in the Thai English language media. I don't know why standards in Thailand should be any different from Western countries, especially since I have the feeling that many of the writers have experience working for Western publications. I would much prefer reading something in depth. with concern shown for details and facts, than a collection of general information assembled to meet a deadline.
Perhaps such stories are available somewhere, and, if so, I would appreciate hearing about it.
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Lazarisbk
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Discussion 3 : 28 Sep 2012 at 06.273
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Patience naka, I will get round to my promises on the next election handout. These damn floods keeping me so busy these days naka.
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khunbj
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Discussion 2 : 28 Sep 2012 at 06.112
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Interesting piece, but would be more interesting with a bit more facts or sources which are missing , here is a few examples : A) More than 80% of farmers are tenants ? B) Landless farmers ready to take to the streets again ? C) It has tried to fix the land law to investors for industrial and commercial uses ? D) 80 % of the land is in the hands of 10 % of land owners. E) MP's own 30.000 rai worth 16 Bn THB, who ? How much ? F)but forest communities have been violently harassed by the authorities ? Crack downs to take land back to the state or what , not ok ? All of the above could be true and it could all have been made up by the writer, please provide sources when referring to facts else it is not really trustworthy.
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franklin
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Discussion 1 : 28 Sep 2012 at 06.081
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Name one promise the Yingluck has kept since the vote-bribing that put here in the clone position. She’s all empty smiles, photo opportunities, absences at times of crisis and hot air talk without fulfillment; basically just another Thai politician. She follows no common sense advice from business or academia unless they are of the same political gang. Nothing is done for the Thai people unless there is a (greater) benefit for Thai politicians. Well, there were the Thaksin free donuts and dates hand out but I took that as a disrespectful slap in the peoples face. Sort of like a doctor treating a patient who is ‘bleeding out’ by applying a band aid, belatedly.
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Act now on land reform | Bangkok Post: opinion