PHUKET –
Thailandâs Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, has declared he will press ahead with efforts to reclaim public land from private encroachment, despite facing a lawsuit in the Administrative Court. The move is part of the governmentâs âPhuket Model,â championed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which targets illegal occupation of forest reserves and coastal areas.
Suchart stated that his mandate is to protect national resources and return them to the people. âI entered this role with a clear determination to safeguard forests and reclaim state land. Every action must be grounded in law and fairness. If officials follow proper procedures, we are ready to defend our decisions in court. What we are doing is protecting the nationâs interests,â he said.
The dispute centers on Nui Beach in Phuket, where the Royal Forest Department issued an order under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act (1964) requiring occupants to vacate and dismantle structures. Appeals against the order were rejected, and the ministry upheld the decision. The affected parties subsequently filed suit against the ministry, the department, and related committees, seeking to overturn the order and suspend enforcement.
The Phuket Administrative Court initially denied a request for temporary protection, meaning state agencies can continue enforcement while the case proceeds. The court has accepted the case for review, focusing on whether the Section 25 order was legally valid. Some defendants were dismissed from the case on grounds of irrelevance.
Suchart stressed that all agencies must act with caution and consistency, applying the law equally regardless of location or individuals involved. âThere will be no selective enforcement. Wherever encroachment is found, legal action will follow,â he affirmed.
