Director-General conducted field inspection of encroachments on 2 locations in Ao Phang Nga National Park

Director-General conducted field inspection of encroachments on 2 locations in Ao Phang Nga National Park

       Yesterday, (Wednesday, April 27, 2022) at 1.30 p.m. Mr. Triyarith Temahivong (the Director-General) accompanied by Mr. Suphachai Khamkhum (Head of Special Case Operation Center, Area 8, Bureau of Regional Operation), together with Mr. Chotipan Tongkham (inquiry officer of Phang Nga Provicial Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission) and Mr. Narueset Kaewkong (Director of the 4^th Prevention and Suppression Center, Royal Forest Department) traveled to inspect the case of encroachments on 2 locations in Ao Phang Nga National Park. Inspection of the 1^st location resulted from the complaint against a group of people jointly encroaching on the forest area in Moo 2, Ban Hin Rom, Khlong Khian Subdistrict, Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province (Investigation case of encroachments on Ao Phang Nga National Park). Inspection of the 2^nd location resulted from the complaint of encroachments on Ao Phang Nga National Park, Khlong Khian Subdistrict, Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province (Special case nos. 114/2560, 63/2561, and 121/2563).

       For the 1^st location, there were letters submitted to the Takua Thung Branch of Phang Nga Provincial Land Office on April 11, 2022, requesting for copies of title deeds, certificates of utilization (NS. 3K.) and other relevant documents of 11 parcels of land in the area of Khlong Khian Subdistrict, Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province. After obtaining the copies of the title documents related to this casem, the DSI then investigated the encroachment on the reserved forest in Khlong Khian Subdistrict, Takua Thung District, Phang Nga Province and discovered the fact that the selling price of the lands over 100 Rais on the Seaview Mountain was currently 15 million baht per Rai. The total damage was approximately 1,800 million baht.

       For the 2^nd location, the Network for Conservation of Thai Gulf and Andaman Coastlines submitted a complaint against a group of persons in the Ngan Tawee Song Pinong Company Limited jointly encroaching on approximated 10,000 Rais of Ao Phang Nga National Park, Phang Nga Province. The Special Case Operation Center, Area 8 then initially inspected and discovered the encroachment on the national park in the said area. The Center, therefore utilized tools to check coordinates with GPS satellites and found the coordinates of the said area was 47 PX: 436494Y : 911243, located in the area of Ao Phang Nga National Park, which was declared as a national park in 1981. Currently, the issued area was under investigation by Bureau of Natural Resources and Environment Crime of the DSI.

       The Director-General stated that at present the said area is an important tourist attraction of Phang Nga Province, bringing about numerous encroachment on state lands and destruction of forest resources. Today’s field inspection was the joint working among various relevant agencies. The DSI is now conducting investigation and inquiry to find out whether the said lands were encroached as complained. If encroachment or other relevant criminal offences are discovered, the DSI will take further legal actions.

Dated April 28, 2022