Originally Posted by
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Beware the knee-jerk reaction about land
Re: ''Ombudsman says foreigners own third of all land'' (BP, March 13).
Ombudsman Siracha Charoenpanij estimates that foreigners own a third of all land, many via loopholes in the land ownership law, and will draft a law to prevent nominee property holdings within two weeks.
I fully agree that laws must be enforced without fear or favour. But before we go off with a knee-jerk reaction, wrapping ourselves in the flag, I suggest a third party eg the Thailand Development Research Institute, study the pros and cons of foreign ownership in depth, from the viewpoint of our national interests, and explore win-win alternatives. Thaksin owns spacious mansions in countries more crowded than Thailand eg the UK, Dubai or China _ why do these places not restrict foreign ownership? What do they know that we do not, and how might we benefit from that knowledge?
Allowing unrestricted foreign ownership would drive prices up, certainly _ but is that necessarily bad? Many will say, correctly, that many Thais may not be able to own their own home _ but if that's our concern, why not pass laws giving generous subsidies to Thais to own their first home, no larger than, say, 100 square wah? The same market mechanism which pushes prices up will enable many farmers to sell only half their property to send their children to the best schools available or otherwise invest, instead of having to sell all their holdings _ who are we to deny them that opportunity?
Be calm and seek win-win alternatives that are in our national interest.
Reply With Quote
