Environment Minister Pushes Forward on Forest Land Reclamation Despite Lawsuit

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has vowed to press ahead with efforts to reclaim state forest land from developers and encroachers, stating he is not intimidated by legal challenges to his department's actions. He emphasized that all operations must be conducted within the framework of law and proper procedure, and that government officials are prepared to defend their decisions in court because they are acting in the national interest.

In the Noi Beach case in Phuket, the Forestry Department issued an order under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act requiring occupants to vacate the area and demolish structures. After the affected party appealed, both the Forestry Department and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry upheld the original order. The party then filed a lawsuit in Phuket Administrative Court against the minister, the ministry, and the Forestry Department, requesting that the Section 25 order be rescinded and that a temporary protective measure be imposed to halt demolition and eviction pending the court's decision.

The Phuket Administrative Court initially denied the request for temporary protection, meaning government agencies may proceed with the Section 25 order while the case is heard. The court accepted the case for consideration on the main question of whether the Section 25 order was issued lawfully, though it dismissed two of the named defendants as not directly relevant to the case. The minister stressed that the department will present its evidence carefully and comprehensively, noting that the action against illegal encroachment will be applied equally regardless of location or person involved, and forms part of the government's broader "Phuket Model" for managing state land violations.