Phuket —
Deputy Interior Minister Polpeer Suwanchawee (MoI-2) visited Phuket today to oversee progress on the government’s “Phuket Model,” a coordinated campaign to reclaim encroached land within Sirinat National Park.
Joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Lands, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Phuket provincial administration, the inspection focused on enforcing land revocations and dismantling illegal structures.
Polpeer stated that the government’s stance is uncompromising: “Wrong is wrong. No one will be exempt from the law.” He stressed that the initiative is not only about reclaiming land but also about restoring public trust through transparent, evidence-based enforcement.
- Revocation of illegal land titles: The Department of Lands has already annulled deeds found to be improperly issued.
- Eviction and demolition orders: Notices have been posted requiring occupants to remove structures within the legal timeframe. If ignored, authorities will seek court approval to carry out demolitions and recover costs from violators.
- Expanded investigations: Officials have been instructed to scrutinize surrounding conservation zones for suspicious land documents, ensuring no unlawful titles remain.
The Deputy Minister clarified that the campaign is not about punishing past actors without evidence. Instead, each case will be reviewed against documentation and witness testimony, including the role of officials involved in issuing land rights. The goal is to ensure fairness while holding violators accountable.
The “Phuket Model” represents a broader government policy to combat encroachment on natural resources. By integrating efforts across ministries and local agencies, the initiative seeks to restore Sirinat National Park as a protected public asset, safeguarding its ecological and economic value for future generations.
