Demolition orders posted at resort in Phuket land case

Officials have posted demolition and eviction orders at a resort in Sakhu, Thalang, after the Supreme Court revoked land rights over about 13 rai and ordered the occupants to leave the property, demolish all structures and remove their belongings.

Officials said the occupants have been given the legally prescribed period to comply. If they do not, authorities will carry out the demolition and recover the costs from those responsible.

The orders were posted during an inspection attended by Mr Polapee, senior officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Land and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, as well as Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum and other provincial officials.

After the visit, Mr Polapee said authorities would continue investigating land documents suspected of having been unlawfully issued in conservation areas and would pursue legal action where evidence supported it.

"All agencies must work together carefully, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law," he said. "If irregularities are found, strict legal action will be taken without discrimination."

Officials said the case is one of six encroachment cases in Sirinat National Park under accelerated legal enforcement, with two already subject to final court rulings.

The second case involves about 12 rai of land in Cherng Talay, where courts ruled that occupants must vacate the property after determining that forged Sor Kor 1 land documents had been used to obtain title deeds.

According to the Department of National Parks, notices have now been posted requiring compliance with both court judgments. Failure to comply will allow authorities to enforce the demolition orders under the law.

Authorities have not officially identified the resort subject to the enforcement action. However, Thai media have reported that the case involves Fair & Firm Co Ltd, owner of the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach resort.

According to those reports, the Supreme Court revoked a NorSor 3 Kor land-use document covering 13 rai of the resort after ruling that the land lies within Sirinat National Park. The resort occupies about 38 rai in total, with the Department of National Parks continuing to investigate the status of the remaining land.

Officials said the Department of Land has also been instructed to speed up investigations into other land title documents suspected of having been unlawfully issued in conservation areas across Phuket.