Gov Nirat presented the outcomes of a national security workshop at Government House in Bangkok yesterday (May 21), following a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Speaking at the Santi Maitri Building, Gov Nirat represented a provincial working group tasked with presenting recommendations on key security and law enforcement issues affecting local communities.
One of the main concerns raised during the workshop was the continuing problem of encroachment on public land, which Gov Nirat said affects area management and fairness for local residents.
He stressed that resolving the issue would require strict and consistent enforcement of the law, alongside integrated cooperation between relevant government agencies in order to produce “effective and tangible results”.
The governor also highlighted discussions on revising the definition of an “influential person” to make it clearer and more practical for authorities.
The revised definition would be used to establish a framework for creating watchlists or “red lists”, allowing security agencies to better target prevention and suppression operations in response to increasingly complex situations, he explained.
Gov Nirat also addressed concerns over inappropriate behaviour by foreign tourists in Phuket.
He said the province had previously invited representatives from various foreign consulates in Phuket to discuss cooperation in improving understanding among tourists of Thai laws and regulations.
According to Gov Nirat, those efforts have begun to show positive results, with fewer incidents involving aggressive or inappropriate behaviour by tourists and the overall situation becoming more stable.
The workshop formed part of a wider government initiative under the policy framework of “Relieving Suffering, Promoting Well-being, Upholding Peace and Order, Combating Drugs, and Conquering Criminals”, said an official report of the meeting.
The programme aims to strengthen cooperation between provincial administrative bodies, police and security agencies in order to improve safety and security nationwide, the report concluded.