Regional Army chief ‘satisfied’ with Phuket beach clearings
Eakkapop Thongtub

The Commander of the Fourth Army Region, Lt Gen Wiwat Pathompak (centre left, in white shirt) visited Surin Beach to inspect the beach clearing and to gather feedback from local residents. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- The Commander of the Fourth Army Region, Lt Gen Wiwat Pathompak, visited Phuket yesterday (May 8) and gave his approval of the beach clearings along Phuket’s west coast.

Gen Wiwat said he was “satisfied” with the progress made in clearing illegal structures and illegal vendors from the beaches, and advised local officials to “stay away” from protest leaders who acted “irrationally”.

Gen Wiwat and his entourage visited Patong, Kamala, Surin and Leypang beaches to check on the progress of the beach-clearing project as ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Among the bevy of local officials on hand to greet Gen Wiwat and his team were Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat, Phuket Provincial Police Chief Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen and local administration officials.

The Fourth Army Region, based in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is the base responsible for all army operations throughout all of Southern Thailand, including Phuket.

“We want to maintain the natural beauty of the beaches after clearing all illegal structures,” Gen Wiwat said.

Full Story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/regional-army-chief-satisfied-with-phuket-beach-clearings-57349.php

-- Phuket News 2016-05-09

I guess he must t have missed the businesses set up on Kamala beach by the central Klong- they've never been closed down.

Some people are easily satisfied.

"We want to maintain the natural beauty...". About 25 years too late but while the commissions keep rolling in, its probably hard for authorities to see the cess pit it has become.

And I am still unsatisfied with all illegal and rip off tuk tuks and taxis on Phuket

two sides to this coin.. for years we have gone to our favourite little beach "Ya Nui", just north of Rawaii.... there were a few beach hut business's there.. nothing too obtrusive in fact nice to have a swim then wander back up take a seat and have a nice breakfast..... the owners or proprietors of these huts used to take care of the beach.. often saw them raking the rubbish up and collecting the drift that came in overnight..... now with them gone there is nobody who does this.. the beach is significantly dirtier and less attractive...... While I get it that in some spots these beach vendors had taken over the beach so to speak, I also think in some cases like Ya Nui it might have been best to recognise that this beach side business set up, actually benefitted the beach and the tourist experience.....

I guess he has never been to Ao Sane,or seen the jet-skis in Patong or watched the behavior of the parasail operators. Oh well...