Bangkok: People’s Party Members of Parliament have brought attention to the ongoing Khao Kradong and Alpine land disputes, attributing these conflicts to Thailand’s ineffective bureaucracy. The MPs argue that this ineffectiveness has led civil servants to neglect strict adherence to the law, underlining the need for significant bureaucratic reform and a restoration of the rule of law in the country.

According to Thai News Agency, Chulapong Yookes, a party-list MP for the Prachachon Party, addressed the issue, stating that the Ministry of Interior’s recent appointment of a new Minister has seen an expedited handling of over 5,000 rai of land in the Khao Kradong area of Buriram Province. He emphasized the importance of also addressing the Alpine Golf Course land issue due to its similarities with the Khao Kradong case. Both disputes involve past bureaucratic failures that have favored those in power at that time, and both continue to affect large numbers of residents unable to conduct land transactions. These cases are currently awaiting court decisions, and Yookes questioned why the government is fast-tracking one case while remaining silent on the other.

Yookes warned that if the government continues to ignore the Alpine Golf Course issue, the expedited handling of Khao Kradong may appear to be mere political maneuvering. He expressed concern that these actions might be temporary political retaliation creating seemingly serious news stories, but the issues might disappear if the involved political parties regain power. He described this as a deceptive tactic by politicians, leaving thousands of families in the affected areas without resolution. He urged a broader view of the problem, pointing to the root cause as the weakness in Thai bureaucracy, which results in officials failing to protect public interests. He noted that former high-ranking officials have been imprisoned for complying with political pressures for personal gain.

Yookes, drawing from his experience as an MP and member of two standing committees in the House of Representatives, acknowledged that Thailand still has many capable civil servants, particularly from newer generations. Nonetheless, he stressed the need for comprehensive civil service reform beyond creating new departments or positions. He called for the restoration of the rule of law to ensure strict and equitable enforcement, regardless of an individual’s status, whether a minister, general, or private citizen.