Thai Cabinet transfers Phuket governor, appoints replacement amid internal conflict

Thailand’s cabinet has ordered the transfer of Phuket Governor Nirut Pongsitthaworn to the post of deputy permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, with Chotinrin Kerdsom appointed to take over in Phuket, according to the source.

The source said the cabinet resolution was made on June 16, 2026, in what it described as an effort to quickly contain internal conflict in the province, a key tourism and economic center.

According to the report, the dispute escalated after an audio clip allegedly exposed Phuket Vice Governor Theerapong Chuaychu, also referred to in the source by nicknames, making remarks seen as challenging the chain of command within the Interior Ministry. The source said he allegedly claimed to have political backing from the so-called “blue line” and threatened to have the governor transferred.

The report said Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul criticized that behavior during a cabinet meeting, calling it “foolish.” It quoted him as saying transfer authority rests with the ministry’s permanent secretary and the minister for cabinet submission, not with anyone making such claims.

The source also quoted Anutin as saying the government could not allow the conflict to continue because it would disrupt administration in Phuket. He said there was no need to wait as long as nine months for an investigation if the dispute was already affecting work and risking damage to the province’s tourism image.

The report linked the conflict to a broader crackdown under Nirut on influential interests and the regulation of public land use, especially at Freedom Beach and Bang Tao Beach. It said those areas had faced encroachment, blocked access, the collection of passage fees from tourists, and commercial use of public land for private benefit.

According to the source, attention has also focused on allegations that some officials may have supported relatives or associates involved in encroachment and benefit-seeking in those areas. It said recent moves to revoke improperly issued land documents and remove structures encroaching on beachfront land may have intensified resistance from vested interests.

The report characterized the reshuffle as more than a personal dispute among officials, saying it reflected a warning from the central government against improper conduct, intimidation and overlapping interests in Phuket’s administration.