The ministers visited Phuket yesterday (June 17) to inspect allegations of land encroachment, illegal land ownership claims, nominee businesses and corruption, as part of the government’s wider campaign against influential figures operating outside the law.
The delegation, which also included Secretary to the Deputy Interior Ministers Chaiwat Junthirapong and Department of Provincial Administration Deputy Director-General Ronnarong Thipsiri, travelled to Freedom Beach after receiving a briefing at Phuket International Airport.
Upon arrival, officials from the Phuket Forestry Center, led by Director Sampan Meesit, outlined the disputed areas using maps before escorting the delegation down the steep 300-metre access road to the beach.
Along the route, officials pointed out signs identifying “seized areas” and reported that some operators were charging tourists B100 per person to access the beach, claiming ownership through land title documents.
Officials also reported that before Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent visit to the area, beach umbrellas and chairs had been operating on the beach, while inspections had previously been met with alleged intimidation, including people with guns intending to discourage officials from carrying out investigations.
The beach is designated as state land, while buoys installed offshore allow tour boats to deliver visitors directly to the beach outside the monsoon season.
Following the inspection, Mr Polapee said the visit was intended to assess the situation firsthand.
He explained that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had identified which sections of the area fell under Agricultural Land Reform Office (Sor Por Kor) land and which formed part of protected forest.
Despite this, officials found that part of the area was covered by a NorSor 3 land document.
"The Land Department is now investigating when and how this document was issued," Mr Polapee said.
"This area consists of both forestry land and agricultural reform land. It should not have been possible for a NorSor 3 document to be issued."
He said the matter would be referred to the Director-General of the Land Department for a full investigation into the document’s origins.
Mr Polapee said the disputed NorSor 3 land covered the about 300-metre access route where visitors were being charged entry fees.
He also referred to another operator, identified only as "Sia Lek", who was also allegedly charging tourists to access the beach.
Officials also found railings erected around sections of the beach where umbrellas had been set up and fees collected.
"This is state land. Activities like this are illegal and unacceptable," Mr Polapee said.
"We want to see the real situation and determine whether tourists are being exploited."
Addressing reports that officials had previously been threatened with guns during inspections, Mr Polapee said the shootings appeared intended to intimidate officers investigating the area.
He stressed that authorities would proceed carefully to ensure the safety of officials while legal action continued.
He added that all disputed land in the area was already subject to legal proceedings, with the Freedom Beach NorSor 3 documentation now becoming a separate focus of investigation.
Mr Polapee said the government’s objective extended beyond enforcement alone.
He said the delegation would also meet with business operators on June 18 to review regulations that may be preventing businesses from operating legally.
"We want to know why some businesses cannot obtain licences, what obstacles they face, and whether anyone is demanding money from them," he said.
"If your business is not operating legally, come and talk to us. Register, apply for licences and tell us what problems you face."
He pledged that the government would eliminate the influence of criminal groups and corrupt officials.
"Mr Worasit and I promise that the people of Phuket will be able to live and do business without being exploited by thugs, influential figures or the mafia," he said.
"This is the Prime Minister’s policy. We are not here to shut down Phuket. We are here to ensure that entrepreneurs and the people of Phuket can prosper."
Responding to allegations that government officials, including a Phuket deputy governor, had accepted bribes, Mr Polapee said corruption thrived where legal loopholes allowed officials and private interests to exploit businesses.
"If everything is done according to the law, there would be no extortion," he said.