BURIRAM, THAILAND – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) filed a lawsuit at the Buriram Provincial Court on October 14 seeking to reclaim two parcels of land near the Khao Kradong volcano park that it says have been held unlawfully.
Land claim filed
The suit asked the court to cancel ownership titles numbered 8564 and 3466 and to return the land to the railway authority. The SRT said the parcels had been used without legal right by Karuna Chidchob and Silachai Buriram (1991) Co. Ltd., and based its action on findings from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and a favourable ruling from the Supreme Court.
What the railway seeks
In addition to the restitution of the land, the SRT requested the removal of all buildings and that the properties be restored to their original condition. The authority also demanded compensation for unauthorised use for the past year, plus interest at a rate of 5% per year until full repayment, according to the court filing. SRT governor Weerasak Amrapal had approved the action on September 29.
Owners and contested parcels
The complaint identified parcel 3466 as being held by Silachai Buriram (1991) Co. Ltd., while parcel 8564 was associated with Karuna Chidchob. Karuna is a member of the Chidchob family, a politically influential clan in Buriram that has long been connected to local development projects and business interests.
Political and local stakes
The disputed land sits in a prominent location close to Khao Kradong Volcano Park, a popular tourist attraction known for its views and cultural significance. That proximity has heightened public interest and given the case a political dimension, with state property rights colliding with entrenched local influence.
Legal outlook and wider implications
Legal experts predicted a protracted dispute. The SRT appears to have strong legal grounding from the NACC investigation and the Supreme Court decision, but observers said the defendants were unlikely to cede valuable land without contesting the claims. Should the SRT prevail, the case could become a precedent for other efforts to recover state-owned land that has been occupied or used by private interests.
Public reaction
The dispute has drawn keen attention locally, where residents and stakeholders watched to see whether a state authority would successfully reclaim property tied to a powerful family. Local media reported the filing and framed the case as part of an ongoing national debate over the ownership and use of public land.
Source: The Thaiger