Land Rights Law Reform in Thailand: Proposals and Issues

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the problems and limitations of land rights laws in Thailand and proposes reform measures to address injustice and promote sustainable land resource management. Using legal and sociological frameworks, the study evaluates the impacts of current laws that fail to adequately protect and meet the needs of all citizens fairly. The findings reveal a complex and unclear legal system that creates loopholes exploited by powerful elites and state officials. Ethnic minorities and low-income groups are disproportionately affected, often losing access to land and housing without adequate protection. Conflicts between local communities, government agencies, and private sectors further complicate disputes. The article recommends comprehensive legal reforms to clarify and broaden land rights protections, strengthen checks and balances, encourage public participation, and utilize information technology to enhance transparency. These proposals aim to establish a fair, effective, and responsive land rights system ,to contribute to fostering reform momentum and promoting justice in Thailand’s land governance.