Thai ministers inspect Phuket's Freedom Beach in land encroachment probe
Deputy interior ministers Polpee Suwanchawee and Warasit Liangprasert joined senior Phuket officials in inspecting Freedom Beach as authorities investigated alleged land encroachment, disputed NorSor 3 documents and illegal fee collection.
Thai ministers and senior officials inspected Freedom Beach in Phuket on June 17 as authorities widened an investigation into alleged land encroachment, disputed ownership claims and illegal fee collection at the beach.
Deputy Interior Ministers Polpee Suwanchawee and Warasit Liangprasert led the delegation, which also included Chaiwat Juntiraphong, secretary to the interior minister, Phuket Governor Nirun Pongsitthithavorn, and senior representatives from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Department of Lands.
The group visited the site after a briefing at Phuket International Airport and was shown disputed areas by Phuket Forestry Center officials led by director Sampan Meesit. Officials then escorted the group down a steep 300-metre access road to the beach, where signs marked "seized areas" and where some operators were reported to be charging tourists B100 per person to enter, claiming rights under land title documents.
After the inspection, Polpee said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had identified parts of the area as Agricultural Land Reform Office land and other parts as protected forest. Despite that, officials found that part of the area was covered by a NorSor 3 land document.
"The Land Department is now investigating when and how this document was issued," Polpee said. He said the area consisted of both forestry land and agricultural reform land and that a NorSor 3 document should not have been issued there.
He said the matter would be referred to the director-general of the Land Department for a full investigation into the document's origins. According to Polpee, the disputed NorSor 3 land covered about the 300-metre access route where visitors were being charged entry fees.
Polpee said Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed officials to examine all details carefully, recognise what was legal and ensure unlawful acts faced consequences. He said the government would move against intimidation and illegal profiteering while seeking to ensure Phuket's safety.
Officials also referred to another operator identified only as "Sia Lek," who was also allegedly charging tourists to access the beach. They found railings around sections of the beach where umbrellas had been set up and fees collected.
"This is state land. Activities like this are illegal and unacceptable," Polpee said, adding that the inspection was meant to determine whether tourists were being exploited.
Officials said beach umbrellas and chairs had been operating on the beach before Anutin's recent visit. They also said previous inspections had been met with alleged intimidation, including reports of armed people seeking to discourage investigators.
Polpee said the reported shootings appeared intended to intimidate officers inspecting the area, and said authorities would proceed carefully while legal action continued. He added that all disputed land in the area was already subject to legal proceedings, with the Freedom Beach NorSor 3 documentation now under separate investigation.
The beach is designated as state land, while offshore buoys allow tour boats to bring visitors directly to the beach outside the monsoon season.
Polpee said the government's campaign was aimed not only at enforcement but also at identifying obstacles preventing businesses from operating legally. He said the delegation would meet business operators on June 18 to review licensing problems and whether anyone was demanding money from them.
He said the government intervention was not intended to disrupt livelihoods but to protect residents and lawful businesses from extortion or exploitation. Warasit said the ministry would closely monitor progress to ensure Freedom Beach and other public areas were reclaimed and properly regulated.
Polpee also said the government would act against criminal influence and corrupt officials. Responding to allegations that officials, including a Phuket deputy governor, had accepted bribes, he said corruption thrived where legal loopholes allowed officials and private interests to exploit businesses.
