HeiBlog

I’ve been so focused on the United States doing downhill that I sometimes forget that there are charlatans and cheats in other countries as well. The Christian Science Monitor was running an article about a land grab in Thailand. Apparently developers are trying to push squatters who’s homes were destroyed by the tsunami. Most of this land is beach front so the developers of course want to build resorts and hotels for the tourist trade that is sure to blossom again in a few years after the tsunami mess is cleaned up and people start to be resettled. The dispute comes from a Thai law that states that occupancy on public land for 10 years constitutes ownership. Many of these villagers don’t have any proof of when they set up occupancy and in some cases the development companies have bribed government officials to post-date the relevant paperwork or just used good old fashion intimidation to try and acquire the land. One even went to the effort of sending armed guards to prevent former occupants from looking through their demolished house for what was left of their belongings. I guess it gives me some comfort to know that the US isn’t the only country that has people who would take everything from people who have nothing.