Phuket’s Fourth Army Area commander, Lt Gen Norathip Poinok, has committed to intensifying efforts to combat illegal occupation of public beach and forest areas within the province. During a visit to Phuket yesterday, Lt Gen Norathip, who also oversees the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, convened a meeting with local authorities and security officials to assess the progress of various significant operations.
The focus of the discussions was on enforcement actions at Bang Tao, Freedom, and Nui beaches, where investigations into encroachments on public land and protected forest areas are currently underway. Urgent demolition operations are set to commence to eliminate structures and barriers obstructing public beach access, aiming to restore equitable access for both residents and tourists.
In addition, authorities are keeping a close watch on issues related to illegal immigration, transnational crime, terrorism, foreign ownership through proxies, illegal oil smuggling, and the migration of Rohingya individuals by sea. Lt Gen Norathip emphasized Phuket’s status as a vital tourism hub for Thailand and highlighted the necessity for authorities to address persistent issues of environmental degradation and unlawful land occupation. He called for collaborative efforts among state agencies to safeguard national interests and ensure security, cautioning that an exclusive focus on tourism revenue without adequate security measures could result in significant long-term harm.
Samphan Meesit, the director of the Phuket Forestry Centre, noted that on April 29, officials confiscated 16 shops at Bang Tao beach that were found to be operating on illegally occupied land without proper ownership documentation. Furthermore, at Freedom beach, authorities have initiated 24 legal cases this year concerning over 63 rai of encroached forest reserve land, while at Nui beach, 11 illegal structures covering approximately 15 rai were identified, although no suspects have been apprehended. Demolition orders for these structures are anticipated within a week, with plans to transform the area into a recreational forest park.
Source: Bangkok Post
