The Khao Kradong land dispute in Buriram Province involves over 5,000 rai of land originally set aside in 1922 by royal decree for railway expansion between Nakhon Ratchasima and Ubon Ratchathani. The decree prohibited private transactions and construction on this land to secure it for railway development. However, over time, some sections were occupied and later transferred into private ownership, including to notable political figures and business interests, sparking a complex legal dispute.
The conflict surfaced publicly in 1970 when prominent local figures, including former Speaker of Parliament Chai Chidchob, were accused of illegally occupying the area. Despite negotiations that acknowledged the land’s designation for railway use, various sales and transfers of ownership occurred, ultimately leading to the sale of some parcels to major private companies. In 2018, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that this land legally belonged to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and ordered the removal of any unauthorized structures. However, implementation of this ruling has been limited.
Efforts to reclaim the land have faced procedural and evidentiary challenges. Recently, the Department of Lands concluded that the SRT lacks sufficient legal documentation to revoke current land deeds. Consequently, the department decided not to annul these titles, stating that the railway authority would need to conclusively prove ownership in court for any further action.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong voiced his concerns, pointing to potential political interference in the land's distribution. He noted findings suggesting that some parcels, acquired in 1970, were transferred to political families, raising questions about favoritism and potential conflicts of interest in the land’s allocation.
Tawee Sodsong has urged the Department of Lands to revoke these titles in accordance with the 2018 Supreme Court decision, asserting that the land is SRT property. Concurrently, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, representing the Pheu Thai Party, instructed the SRT to file an appeal with the court. This would involve a formal request for the Department of Lands to comply with the court’s earlier mandate to uphold state ownership.
Minister Suriya emphasized that the SRT should not relinquish any portion of this disputed land, stressing the need to defend national assets. As the legal proceedings continue, both the Justice and Transport ministries are committed to seeing that the state reclaims full ownership over Khao Kradong to secure the land for public railway use.