Petition seeks probe into interior minister

Forest land approval for Red Bull under fire

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been petitioned to investigate Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and five others for alleged abuse of power for granting approval to a company owned by the Krathing Daeng (Red Bull) group to use community forest land in Khon Kaen.

The petition was lodged by activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday.

Apart from Gen Anupong, the others accused are Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon, Prateep Keeratirekha, directorgeneral of the Land Department, Chote Chuachoti, director of the Legal Affairs Office of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior, former Khon Kaen governor Kamthon Thawornsathit, and Adulsak Lehkan, chairman of the Ban Dong tambon administration organisation (TAO).

Mr Srisuwan accused all six of unlawfully granting a permit to the private company, allowing it to make use of 31 rai of public land in the Huay Mek community forest in tambon Ban Dong in Ubonrat district of Khon Kaen.

According the the petition, the approval was made for the benefit of the private company and not in the public interest, noting that the community forest is still in good condition.

Mr Srisuwan said if no action is taken, he would lodge another petition with the Administrative Court asking it to revoke the land use permit.

His move came after the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) uploaded on its Watchdog.ACT Facebook page a copy of the land-use approval document. The document has the signatures of the five people and its final approval was signed off by Gen Anupong.

According to the document, the land use permit was issued to KTD Property Development to build a water storage facility for its adjacent beverage production plant. The permit was granted on the basis that the area is not being used by the community, is not a natural water source and is not a flood retention area.

It was also noted the Ban Dong TAO had announced the company’s request for the land use but there was no objection from villagers.

However, the ACT has accused interior officials of breaking regulations which limit the use of public land to 10 rai in each case unless there is a proper reason to extend it. The reason for granting the permit, according to the ACT, was that the company owns the surrounding land and wants to expand its plant.

The site, in Bang Nong Tae in tambon Ban Dong, has been listed as public land since 1983. The company purchased the surrounding area in 2012 and sought a permit to use the public land in 2015.

KTD Property is operated by Red Bull energy drink scions. Saravoot Yoovidhya, son of Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, is a major shareholder in the company, followed by other family members.

The TAO chief Mr Adulsak, however, insisted proper steps were followed in granting the land use permit.

“The firm filed an application to use the Huau Mek land to the former provincial governor. Provincial authorities sent the matter to the TAO to hold public consultations. The community agreed and the issue proceeded,” he claimed, adding that the TAO will earn an annual fee of 31,000 baht per year for the land use.

KTD Property had bought a total of 500 rai of land nearby to build a beverage factory under Krathing Daeng group, said Mr Adulsak.

The construction of the factory started in 2015.