Phuket eviction cases put 669 Khok Tanod households at risk

More than 3,000 residents of Khok Tanod in Chalong, Phuket, are seeking government assistance as eviction and demolition cases linked to a long-running dispute over privately owned land threaten 669 households.

Community representatives from Moo 9 submitted a petition to the Phuket Damrongdhama Centre on 21 September 2026, asking officials to protect residents’ rights during the legal process and prepare housing support for families who may have to leave.

Many of the affected households are low-income and do not have another home, according to the account of the meeting by Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee. He said numerous eviction and demolition cases had been filed and that some proceedings had already reached final judgment at Supreme Court level.

Provincial officials said the administration could not overturn or interfere with court decisions. Residents whose cases remain before the courts can continue presenting evidence through the judicial process, they said.

The Community Organisations Development Institute, or CODI, reported in 2015 that private ownership claims and eviction action involving more than 600 Khok Tanod families had emerged as early as 2005.

The Phuket Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security has opened registration for affected families. One representative from each household can apply for welfare assistance.

Families left without accommodation may be referred to temporary housing through the Centre for the Protection of the Destitute, although stays are limited. Those unable to afford the initial cost of renting another home may also apply for emergency financial assistance.

For a longer-term option, officials are considering CODI’s Baan Mankong programme, which helps lower-income communities secure land and develop housing through collective arrangements, including negotiated land tenure and community-managed finance.

Officials have proposed creating a savings group to help households prepare for possible Baan Mankong funding. They are also considering negotiations with the private landowner for leases lasting between three and 20 years.

The province said it would coordinate between residents and relevant agencies rather than intervene in court cases. It will also work with agencies including the Provincial Electricity Authority on electricity access and other basic services while housing options are explored.