Phuket MP Demands Real Action on Freedom Beach Land Reclamation
Phuket MP Chalermphong Saengdee welcomed the government's crackdown on influential groups occupying Freedom Beach but demanded thorough, lasting action rather than symbolic gestures. He posed four key questions about reaching the networks behind the encroachment, preventing future takeovers, investigating complicit officials, and ensuring genuine public access after reclamation. Chalermphong stressed that success should be measured by whether locals can safely use the beach long after officials depart.
Phuket MP Chalermphong Saengdee of the Prachachon Party addressed the case where Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin to visit Phuket to oversee the crackdown on influential groups and the reclamation of over 70 rai of Freedom Beach land valued at more than 3 billion baht. Chalermphong confirmed his support for all measures that return state resources to the people, but demanded the government take real, thorough action and not just go through the motions — a phrase meaning superficial or showy effort. He said he has waited over five months, understanding it must follow legal frameworks, but insisted the government must uproot the influential networks completely, not just stop at arrest headlines, and pursue cases to the fullest extent.
Chalermphong added that the Freedom Beach issue is not new and did not just appear when the government announced its crackdown. Since March, he has joined administrative officials, forestry officers, police, and relevant agencies to inspect the encroachment on Freedom Beach after receiving public complaints about land seizures, intimidation, and the behavior of influential groups. He has continued monitoring the situation closely.
Now that the government has announced a sweep against influential figures, Chalermphong raised four critical questions: 1. Will the government only handle those arrested, or extend the investigation to the entire network — who are the backers, who benefits from exploiting state land, and are any state officials involved? This must be investigated thoroughly. 2. How will this reclamation prevent new influential groups from re-encroaching? He does not want to see officials mobilize for arrests and big announcements, only for new individuals to reap benefits from the same land once the news cycle fades — that would merely be swapping profiteers, not cracking down on influence. 3. How will the government investigate state officials connected to the encroachment and the improper issuance of land documents? The problem of forest reserve encroachment is not just about those occupying the land; the processes that allowed it to happen and persist for so long must be examined. Cases of improper document issuance that he previously brought forward should serve as examples for the government to clearly disclose the progress of judicial proceedings. 4. Once the land is reclaimed, will the public truly be able to access Freedom Beach freely and equally? There must be no illegal fees, no intimidation, no blocked access, and a transparent management system that also conserves natural resources.
"I want to remind the Prime Minister and relevant ministers that cracking down on influential figures is not measured by the number of site visits or the number of government announcements, but by whether, after officials leave, the people can still safely exercise their rights in public areas," he emphasized. He reiterated that he does not obstruct the government from doing what is right and stands ready to support the enforcement of the law.
