Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul claimed today that there is no connection between the Alpine land controversy and the Khao Kradong land case in Buri Ram province, in which the Chidchob family is implicated, as alleged by opposition MPs during the censure debate.
In response to challenges by the opposition, Anutin claimed that the prime minister has not interfered with the Land Department over the Alpine land controversy or the Khao Kradong case.
He denied their allegations that the Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties are engaged in a deal to settle the two matters to their mutual benefit.
Instead, he said he praised the prime minister for having settled the Alpine land controversy during her administration, after it had dragged on for over twenty years.
The land in question, he said, will be returned to the Thammikaram Temple, the original owner, after it was ruled to be religious land which is not transferrable.
Anutin claimed that the prime minister and her family are a damaged party, along with many other people who had bought houses there, and they will have to sue for compensation.
As for the Khao Kradong land in Buri Ram, Anutin said that an ad hoc committee, set up by the Land Department on the instructions of the Administrative Court, has ruled unanimously that there is insufficient evidence to revoke the land ownership rights of the Chidchob family while the case is still sub judice.
