Suchart orders rapid reclaim of Haad Nui Beach, warns timid officials face transfer

Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin inspected Haad Nui Beach in Karon, Phuket, on May 14 and ordered a rapid push to reclaim the public beachfront after complaints that access had been blocked and passage fees were being collected. He said the visit followed complaints from residents and local leaders and came a day after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s May 13 inspection order on the issue.

Suchart said officials who were too afraid to do their duty should be transferred out and replaced by staff ready to act. He also said no individual or influential group would be allowed to profit from state land, adding that beach and forest areas are public assets and cannot be closed off or used to charge for entry.

One-week deadline under Section 25

The minister said the Haad Nui site has been tied to encroachment cases involving forest and public land since 2018, with the Royal Forest Department’s legal action now nearing a final stage despite remaining obstacles. He said agencies must proceed under Section 25 within 1 week and prepare a proposal for the Phuket governor to sign an order revoking unlawful occupation and returning the land to the state.

He also ordered the removal of structures and barriers blocking beach access and called for the area’s natural condition to be restored. Officials will discuss disputed holdings with the Royal Forest Department, the Agricultural Land Reform Office and Phuket officials, and any land found to be original state forest will be revoked and returned to forest department control.

Source: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5861934/