The Department of Lands clarifies the facts regarding Chai Chidchob's lease of land at Khao Kradong, Buriram Province. It confirms no land rights documents were issued overlapping the railway's land and that all procedures complied with relevant laws. The department stresses the importance of awaiting the court's decision on the matter.
9 June 2026 GMT+7 Department of Lands Clarifies Clarification regarding media reports citing a meeting record stating that Mr. Chai Chidchob has admitted that the land at Khao Kradong, Buriram Province, belongs to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and that he requested to occupy the railway land. This has caused misunderstanding among media and the public, affecting the Department of Lands' operations. Therefore, the department wishes to clarify the facts as follows.
1. According to the land occupancy contract Mr. Chai Chidchob made with the SRT in 1973, covering 6 rai, 1 ngan, and 98 square wah, the land location is at kilometer 5.6, within the railway boundary of 100 meters on each side of the track. The Department of Lands confirms that it has not issued any land rights documents for the said area. The land area under the occupancy contract is only 6 rai, 1 ngan, and 98 square wah, and does not include any other land parcels nor the entire 5,083 rai area mentioned elsewhere.
2. A fact check on the railway track area branching to the Si La substation, which extends approximately 6.2 kilometers, reveals the following railway boundary widths:
, Within these railway boundary zones, no land rights documents have been issued to any individuals. If beyond the railway boundary distances, the SRT has certified the land boundaries for every parcel with issued rights documents without restricting or claiming additional areas. This demonstrates that the SRT acknowledges its rights only within the railway boundaries as stated above.
"The Department of Lands wishes to state that the issuance of land rights documents in the Khao Kradong area, Samet and Isan Subdistricts, Mueang District, Buriram Province, from past to present, has been conducted in full compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The land dispute between the SRT and local residents has now been brought before the court. Therefore, it is appropriate to await the court's decision. Once the court issues a judgment or order, all parties involved must comply accordingly."