‘Chaiwat’ proposes the 4th Army Region Commander set up a team to jointly resolve the forest encroachment issue at Khao Pak Tiam.

Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn, former head of the National Parks Office, on April 22 proposed that the 4th Army Region Commander establish a special team to address ongoing forest encroachment at Khao Pak Tiam in Ranong. Speaking to the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee, Chaiwat cited irregular land title documents and large-scale illegal logging, noting the issue extends into Phuket and links to the Land Bridge project.

Alleged Irregularities and Investigation Scope

Authorities have identified 105 plots at Khao Pak Tiam where Nor Sor 3 Kor land documents were allegedly issued improperly. Most of these plots were quickly transferred to second parties and mortgaged with financial institutions, officials said.

Since 2022, police have collected evidence of encroachment and illegal logging, including the discovery of 19 timber piles across 23 GPS-marked locations. Investigators are determining the species, size, and volume of the seized wood, and whether the sites had valid land documents.

Calls for Renewed Enforcement Powers

Chaiwat urged the Senate committee to request the 4th Army Region Commander reinstate a working group with authority to suppress forest crime, as previous teams had been disbanded after leadership changes. The absence of such a group has reportedly allowed influential actors to freely transport timber out of the area.

The investigation also targets state officials for alleged misconduct under Section 157 and money laundering offences. The Natural Resources Committee continues to monitor the case’s progress.

Source: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5802745/