Phuket officials move in en masse to reclaim forest
Darawan Naknakhon


more than 200 officials moved in to rec;reclaim over 48 rai at the Bang Kanoon Forest preserve today (July 14). Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- More than 200 officials including Royal Forest Department officers arrived at Bang Kanoon protected forest in northern Phuket with two backhoes this morning (July 14) to uproot palm, rubber trees and remove illegal structures encroaching on state land.

Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat and Royal Forest Department (RFD) Regional Office Director Boonsiep Samakras led the “demolition” team in reclaiming more than 48 rai of the forest, located in Thepkrasattri subdistrict.

The team also began removing six illegal structures from the site.

V/Gov Chokdee explained that the reclamation today followed a legal battle. “Today, no residents or land developers intervened because encroachers had filed claims to the land in court, but the case is now over.

“The court ruled that occupation of this land was encroachment and that officials were empowered to remove everything illegally introduced to the land, including rubber and palm trees, and return this area to the forest.

“However, another case is currently being heard in the court over claims to about 100 rai of land here in Pa Bang Kanoon,” he added.

Full Story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-move-in-en-masse-to-reclaim-forest-58256.php#oWzME2cE3Z2HrXhh.97


-- Phuket News 2016-07-14

More reclaiming of encroached land, yet no one charged and imprisoned. Therefore, it will happen again in the future.

No punishment, no deterrent.

Very good but what about the people in the Land Office that essentially sold the land in the first place? Are they getting a bonus?

More reclaiming of encroached land, yet no one charged and imprisoned. Therefore, it will happen again in the future.

No punishment, no deterrent.

Yeah, best they don't bother then eh?

You really are a little ray of sunshine in a dark world.

Very good but what about the people in the Land Office that essentially sold the land in the first place? Are they getting a bonus?

Maybe a little rinsing and repeating when the enthusiasm dies down.

Very good but what about the people in the Land Office that essentially sold the land in the first place? Are they getting a bonus?

They get to resell it again.

More reclaiming of encroached land, yet no one charged and imprisoned. Therefore, it will happen again in the future.

No punishment, no deterrent.

Yeah, best they don't bother then eh?

You really are a little ray of sunshine in a dark world.

Of course it's best they do something, rather than nothing, but without accountability, and consequences for those involved, this is just a merry go round of land theft.

The encroachers obviously aren't well connected enough to keep it.