The decision leaves in place an eviction and demolition order issued by the Director-General of the Royal Forest Department on June 18 under Section 25 of the National Forest Reserve Act B.E. 2507 (1964).
The order covers land in Moo 2, Soi Laem Mum Nok, Karon, within the Nakkerd Hill National Forest Reserve. Occupants were originally instructed to vacate the area and remove the 39 structures by July 9.
The occupants exercised their right to appeal within the period prescribed by the Royal Forest Department. Following a review, Royal Forest Department Director-General Nikorn Sirirojananont rejected the appeal.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, who had authority to review the decision, agreed with the Director-General’s findings and formally dismissed the appeal.
The decision was delivered to the occupants on July 17 by officers from the Forest Protection and Forest Resource Management Office 12 (Krabi Branch), together with officials from the Mueang Phuket District Office and Karon Police Station.
The occupants were advised that they may file a challenge with the Administrative Court within 90 days of receiving the ruling.
The latest decision marks another step in the government’s campaign to reclaim protected land at Nui Beach, which has become one of Phuket’s highest-profile land disputes.
The crackdown intensified in May after Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart visited the site following complaints that public access to Nui Beach had been blocked and visitors were being charged to enter. During the inspection, the minister ordered officials to restore public access, remove illegal barriers and accelerate legal action to recover state land, declaring that beaches and natural resources belong to the public.
A month later, on June 10, a multi-agency inspection involving forestry officials, the Ombudsman’s Office, police and local authorities examined continued encroachment despite previous court rulings.
During that inspection, officials informed the land claimant that the Royal Forest Department intended to issue an eviction order and require the demolition of structures under the National Forest Reserve Act after the legal appeal process had been completed.
On June 18, the department formally ordered the occupants to vacate more than 15 rai of protected forest land and demolish 39 structures, including buildings remaining from earlier enforcement operations and other structures identified during inspections in 2024.
Forestry officials have previously said the disputed land has been the subject of legal proceedings for several years. The area was first seized in 2018, and the Phuket Provincial Court later found the occupants guilty of offences under the Forestry Act, the National Forest Reserve Act, the Land Code and the Environmental Quality Promotion and Preservation Act. Those convictions were subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal Region 8.
With the administrative appeal now rejected, authorities are free to proceed with enforcement unless the occupants obtain relief from the Administrative Court.