Land Bank Activists Storm Government House Demanding Talks

The People's Movement for Just Society (PMUFF), led by Chamnong Nuphan, along with northern farmer networks and community representatives who traveled from Bangkok's central station, gathered in front of Government House on Phitsanulok Road to submit a letter pressing the government on its plan to dissolve the Land Bank (a state enterprise, or BTDT) by September 30, 2026, as part of a public-sector restructuring initiative. The protesters demanded that the government review the decision by the Committee for the Development and Promotion of State Enterprises (CPSE), amend the royal decree establishing the Land Bank, and extend the dissolution deadline by at least one year to allow a permanent body to address land-related problems in line with land reform and distribution principles enshrined in the constitution, without harming those suffering from land disputes. They also requested PMUFF representation in government negotiations on the issue and called on the government to expedite the appointment of a subcommittee to study and revise the National Parks Act 2019 and the Wildlife Protection Act 2019 under the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC). Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, in his capacity as NLPC chairman, was scheduled to hold talks with community representatives that same afternoon. Police and crowd-control units were deployed around Government House to maintain security and enforce the Public Assembly Act 2015. Demonstrators read a statement urging Songsak to accelerate talks with protest groups on resolving the Land Bank closure and vowed to remain camped at the site until their demands were met, warning that they would escalate action if progress stalled. They also submitted a letter to the Bangkok Police Commissioner requesting his participation in talks scheduled for August 4, before the crowd planned to relocate to the CPSE office and the area in front of Government House.