Suchat pushes Phuket forest reclamation despite lawsuits
Natural Resources Minister Suchat Chomklin vows to reclaim forest land at Nui Beach, Phuket, under the Forest Reserve Act, unfazed by administrative court lawsuits.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Suchat Chomklin insists on reclaiming encroached forest land at Nui Beach, Phuket.
- Phuket Administrative Court denies temporary injunction, allowing state demolition orders to proceed.
- The Phuket model is enforced to systematically tackle illegal land encroachment on state property.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchat Chomklin has addressed ongoing progress regarding the enforcement of Section 25 of the National Forest Reserve Act B.E. 2507 at Nui Beach in Phuket province. He firmly asserted that he remains unintimidated by lawsuits filed at the administrative court, emphasizing his resolute commitment since taking office to reclaim state land from private encroachers who treat public assets as their own.
The legal dispute began when the Royal Forest Department issued an order under Section 25 requiring occupants to vacate the area and dismantle unauthorized structures on national forest land. Although the violators appealed the directive, both the Royal Forest Department and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment thoroughly reviewed the case and upheld the original removal order, leading the occupants to file a lawsuit in the Phuket Administrative Court.
During the preliminary hearings for a temporary injunction, the Phuket Administrative Court decided against granting the protection request. This ruling allows state agencies to continue enforcing the Section 25 removal order while the main lawsuit is being evaluated. Meanwhile, the court accepted the primary case to review whether the officials followed legal procedures correctly, while dismissing the fourth and fifth defendants due to a lack of direct involvement.
"I took office with the clear intention of protecting our forests and reclaiming state land for the people. Every action must be grounded in law and righteousness."
Suchat Chomklin
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Suchat emphasized that the relevant agencies are carefully preparing their legal defense to prove that all enforcement steps complied strictly with the law without discrimination. He also highlighted that recovering encroached land in Phuket is part of the "Phuket model" initiated by the Ministry to organize state land usage, resolve forest encroachment issues, and preserve natural resources for public benefit, aligning closely with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's policy of strict law enforcement.
The enforcement of Section 25 under the National Forest Reserve Act serves as a vital administrative tool enabling authorities to address urgent land encroachment without awaiting lengthy criminal trial verdicts. The administrative court's refusal to grant a temporary injunction indicates judicial recognition of the state's initial mandate to protect public natural resources, potentially establishing a crucial precedent for tackling similar land disputes in major Thai tourist destinations.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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