Attapol Orders Probe into Similan Park Chief Over Veera's Overning Stay
Department of National Parks investigates the head of Similan Islands National Park for allegedly permitting media figure Veera Theerapataranont to stay overnight years ago, potentially violating a long-standing closure decree.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- DNP Chief orders a fact-finding committee to investigate the Similan National Park superintendent
- Focuses on permission granted for Veera Theerapataranont and entourage to stay overnight 4 years ago
- The stay allegedly violates a park closure decree enacted 8 years ago to protect marine ecosystems
Following remarks made by Veera Theerapataranont in his capacity as a member of the extraordinary committee reviewing the fiscal year 2027 budget bill, where he reflected on his overnight trip to the Similan Islands National Park roughly four years ago, criticizing service quality and proposing public-private partnerships (PPP), the Department of National Parks has initiated a formal internal probe.
Attapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), stated that while the agency appreciates constructive suggestions from lawmakers, a comprehensive factual check is required. Consequently, he ordered a committee to investigate the former or current superintendent of the Similan Islands National Park who authorized Veera and his group to stay overnight on the island four years ago.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Such authorization is suspected of breaching the DNP's official decree regarding the closure of overnight stays in the Similan Islands, dated October 4, 2018, and published in the Royal Gazette on October 8, 2018. The decree has been enforced for a total of eight years with the primary objective of mitigating garbage and wastewater problems, curbing environmental degradation, and sustainably restoring marine ecosystems by restricting visits strictly to one-day trips.
"Extremely terrible"
Veera Theerapataranont
Managing marine national parks in Thailand involves a delicate balance between tourism promotion and rigorous ecological conservation. The Similan Islands, renowned globally for diving, previously suffered from severe waste accumulation and coral bleaching, prompting the strict ban on overnight accommodation implemented in 2018. Exceptions granted to high-profile visitors inevitably trigger public scrutiny regarding transparency and regulatory compliance within state agencies.
The DNP Director-General reiterated that the agency remains open to constructive feedback to elevate public services, but emphasized that all operational procedures must strictly adhere to government regulations and relevant legal frameworks with utmost thoroughness.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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