Klong Lat Phrao encroachers want payment to leave their homes

About 1,000 families that are being relocated from public land they have occupied along Klong Lat Phrao are demanding they be paid at least 200,000 baht each, according to a community rights group.

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Evicted 'land encroachers' demand payout to leave homes

Supoj Wancharoen

About 1,000 families that are being relocated from public land they have occupied along Klong Lat Phrao are demanding they be paid at least 200,000 baht each to move, according to a community rights group.

The group, led by activist Srisuwan Janya, lodged the demand Thursday with the governor of Bangkok through his deputy, Chakkaphan Phewngam.

Mr Srisuwan said people who set up houses on public land along the canal were ordered by City Hall to vacate to clear the way for construction of embankments to fight flooding.

He said 1,000 families belonging to the Chum Chon Khon Rim Klong (Riverside Community Group) did not oppose the embankment project and were willing to comply with the relocation order.

But they were told to relocate to the Ban Mun Kong housing project provided for them and bear the cost of construction.

City Hall has arranged for the Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI) to extend a loan of 200,000 baht to 300,000 baht to each to the affected residents so they could build new homes at the project.

Mr Srisuwan said this was problematic as most residents do not have secure employment and cannot afford to pay the monthly installments of between 1,500-2,000 baht for 15 years.

Many residents did not wish to be burdened with debt, he added.

They are seeking compensation from City Hall equivalent to the loan so they can resettle at a location of their choice.

One of the group's members, Siriporn Adisornmongkolkul, said residents felt they were being forced to join the Ban Mun Kong housing project. He claimed some had been given "stern" warnings to leave.

Yet the group does not represent the entire community – some residents have consented to being resettled at the designated project.

Mr Siriporn also claims some residents never received money promised to them by City Hall for installing public utilities. He suspects it may have been misappropriated.

A source at City Hall said the demand for compensation was out of the question as it lacks legal support and precedent.

Moreover, they have broken the law by encroaching on public land, the source added.

Mr Chakkaphan said 7,081 families in 52 communities that occupied the banks of Klong Lat Phrao are to be vacated as they have encroached on public land needed for anti-flood embankments.

City Hall has dismantled the houses of over 800 families who have signed up for the Ban Mun Kong project. The deputy governor said the CODI has disbursed low-interest housing loans for them.

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