An advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, along with a team, flew by helicopter to inspect six areas following complaints of forest encroachment. They are gathering evidence before filing charges, with immediate penalties if violations are found. Meanwhile, the owner of one of the six cafes has appealed for fairness, having been linked to the Si Do Ear-Folded wild elephant case, and is willing to make corrections if proven at fault.
At 14:00 on 18 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Maj. Gen. Nanchat Supamongkol, advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, accompanied by Mr. Kantaphan Pisarnsuksakul, inspector of the ministry, Mr. Kosit Nilrat, director of the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Office, and media representatives boarded two helicopters to survey six areas following complaints submitted to the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. The complaints involved encroachment on national reserved forests and misuse of Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) land. The six sites were Taiyai Add Home, Rai Phatarawarin, Wat Tham Saeng Tham, Wat Pa Pha Nam Thieng, Ashram Mark Ngai, and Rai Chao Pa Cafe, located on the boundary of Si Chomphu and Phu Pha Man districts in Khon Kaen Province and Phu Kradueng District in Loei Province.
After the aerial survey, the advisory team met with the working group for Khon Kaen Province, where land management officials from the Forest Resource Management Office Region 7 (Khon Kaen) reported on their on-site inspections. Following the meeting, the advisory team visited Chao Pa Cafe in Ban Pha Sam Yod, Phan Nokkhao Subdistrict, Phu Kradueng District, Loei Province. This site was examined by the forest land management officials, who compared the current land use with aerial photos from 2014 and found discrepancies. Police officers from Phu Pha Man Police Station and local village leaders also participated in the inspection.
During the inspection at Chao Pa Cafe, the advisory team met with two siblings who inherited the land from their father. They conducted interviews and discussions while forest land management officials measured areas that did not match the 2014 aerial photos and checked boundary markers. All procedures were completed thoroughly.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Nanchat Supamongkol, advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, told the media that the delegation was assigned by Minister Suchart Chomklin to investigate complaints submitted to Senate members regarding land used as resorts and cafes, to determine whether forest encroachment had occurred.
Officials were tasked with further investigating the extent of encroachment found, but no charges have yet been filed, as evidence must be gathered through scientific means rather than hearsay to ensure fairness. If violations are confirmed, legal action will proceed without exception. However, the investigation also considers intent to encroach and aims to treat each case fairly.
“Today’s investigation covers not just one site but six areas with complaints of improper land use, including ALRO land and ministry-managed forest areas. Regarding the Si Do Ear-Folded wild elephant case, I received a complaint two days ago. Wild elephants roam widely, and after visiting the area, I found that the Chao Pa Cafe owner was unfairly linked to complaints about relocating the elephants. The cafe owner is actually a forest and elephant conservationist, so fairness must be given to them,” Pol. Maj. Gen. Nanchat said.
The advisor added that the aerial survey revealed slight misuse of ALRO land, which must be used for agriculture but has been used as cafes. Warning letters have been issued to correct this. For sites designated as temples, safety structures must be inspected to protect monks and worshippers.
Mr. Ratchawat Potemi, 40, owner of Chao Pa Cafe, told reporters he wanted to use this opportunity to seek fairness, as he is still misunderstood as a leader of complaints about wild elephants, which he denies having ever made. He said wild elephants appear only 60 km away in Si Chomphu District and do not cross roads into his area, so he had no reason to file such complaints. His name was linked to a court case requesting relocation of the Si Do Ear-Folded wild elephants, which he said was unfounded.
The land of Chao Pa Cafe has been passed down through his family from grandparents to parents and now to him. Previously, his parents operated it as a sufficiency economy learning center for local villagers. He then opened a small cafe for visitors to rest and socialize, operating only on weekends.
Regarding the approximately 0.8 rai (about 2 ngan) of land officials say encroaches forest, he said he was unaware of such encroachment because he lacks the 2014 aerial photos. His family has lived there since birth and built a small pavilion. They planted teak trees, turning the area into forest. It is not a resort or golf course as alleged. If encroachment is confirmed, he is willing to remove structures and replant teak trees, which he has cultivated and used sustainably.
“If charges are filed, I will follow the legal process and explain my case since I was born and raised here. If prosecuted, I accept it as fate, as I am just an ordinary citizen who cannot fight government authorities. I understand the process and am ready to comply. What saddens me is that my name has been used to claim I led a court case to relocate elephants, which is untrue. Although this current inspection is not entirely unrelated, because there was a case to relocate wild elephants and an elephant’s death, my family and home area have been unfairly implicated. My home is in the middle of a village surrounded by several houses, so I worry about the impact. I am willing to correct any mistakes. If my family’s inherited land is accused of illegal encroachment, should all villagers with similar land types across the district, subdistrict, and provinces also be investigated? Or is my family being singled out?” he said.