Local villagers in Nakhon Si Thammarat petitioned the Justice Ministry yesterday asking it to assist them in a case in which they were evicted from a mangrove forest in Sichon district by an investor who they suspect acquired the land unlawfully.
The group was led by Ponsak Poolsawat, a village headman of Moo 3 in tambon Sichon, as it lodged the petition with deputy permanent secretary for justice Tawatchai Thaikyo.
The Court of First Instance ruled against two villagers for encroaching on the land and sentenced them to one year in prison and a fine of 150,000 baht. The villagers were also sued by the investor.
They appealed the ruling and are due to hear the verdict on Sept 17.
Mr Ponsak said more than 300 local villagers from 75 households have stayed in the mangrove forest since 1972. He admitted they did not own the land but said they had been staying there as they are coastal fishermen.
The investor brought Sor Khor 1 land certificates issued in 1955 for 73 rai in the area to officials to be upgraded to a Nor Sor 3 Kor land paper, covering 133 rai land, in 1972, according to Mr Ponsak.
Sor Khor 1 papers are documents recognising the right of occupancy while Nor Sor 3 Kor documents guarantee the right to use the land.
Nor Sor 3 is the final step before the papers are upgraded to title deeds.
He said the Nor Sor 3 Kor paper was found to have covered public canals and the mangrove forest.
The investor later upgraded the Nor Sor 3 Kor paper to title deeds for two land plots of 73 rai and 51 rai, he said, adding the deeds were then used to sue the villagers for encroachment.
Mr Ponsak said the villagers being litigated against have also petitioned the Prime Minister's Office to seek assistance.
The 4th Army Region was later instructed to examine the case.
A subcommittee responsible for tackling land encroachment problems in Nakhon Si Thammarat was also formed to look into the case.
An aerial survey of the land plots found land documents were issued for the mangrove forest, he said, noting this evidence emerged after the lower court had passed judgement on the case.
Mr Ponsak said he wants the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), under the Justice Ministry, to examine the aerial photos, which could be used if the case goes to the Supreme Court.
He said local villagers will not quit in their campaign to stop the investor from taking control of the land.
A local military source, who asked not to be named, said the land has not yet been developed.
However, the owner wants to sell it to a major oil company, which would turn it into a distillation plant and a deep-sea port, the source said.
