The action follows an order issued by the Royal Forest Department (RFD) under Section 25 of the National Forest Reserve Act, requiring those occupying more than nine rai of land within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve in Karon to demolish all buildings and vacate the area.
Officials posted notices at the site at 10:30am yesterday (July 6), led by Mueang Phuket District Chief Siwat Rawangkul, accompanied by representatives from the RFD, the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, the Phuket Forestry Centre, Forest Resource Management Office 12 (Krabi Branch), Karon Municipality and Karon Police.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin said the operation formed part of the government’s policy to crack down on encroachment of state land.
He said the ministry would strictly enforce the law to reclaim forest land and eventually develop the Freedom Beach area into a public recreational forest.
“Natural resources belong to all Thai people and will not be allowed to be occupied by individuals or businesses for private benefit,” Mr Suchart said.
The RFD said the land was inspected on Mar 18, when officials found forest clearing over an area of about 9 rai, 1 ngan and 20 square wah. A second inspection on June 12 documented 22 buildings and other structures.
The department said the occupant, identified in the order as Narinthorn Ruengratanawanich, had submitted objections claiming long-term possession of the land and citing historical land documents.
However, the RFD rejected the evidence, saying the claimed documents referred to land in Tambon Patong covering only three rai, while the encroached land is located in Tambon Karon and covers more than nine rai.
The department also noted that records from a 2016 land survey showed Mr Narinthorn had previously acknowledged having no documentary evidence of ownership and had been informed the land lay within a national forest reserve.
If the occupants fail to comply by Aug 5, the RFD will carry out the demolition, recover the costs from those responsible and pursue legal action under the National Forest Reserve Act. Appeals may be lodged within 15 days but will not automatically suspend enforcement of the order.
The Freedom Beach enforcement follows similar action taken last month at nearby Nui Beach, where the Royal Forest Department ordered the demolition of 39 structures built on more than 15 rai of protected forest land. Occupants at Nui Beach were given until Thursday (July 9) to remove the structures or face demolition by authorities as part of the government’s intensified campaign to reclaim illegally occupied state land across Phuket.