Forestry officials and the Black Tiger task force inspected the Kathu trail course in Phuket Province, linked to "Got Athip," pinpointing encroachment on the Kamala mountain reserved forest. They plan to file additional complaints and civil lawsuits, emphasizing that Phor Thor Bor 5 is not a land ownership document. Tags: [Forestry, Land Encroachment, Phuket, Kamala Mountain, Legal Action, Land Title Documents]
On 4 November 2026, reporters reported that Mr. Wittaya Jitsupap, Kathu District Chief of Phuket Province, together with officials from the Department of Forestry, Phuket Forestry Center, Black Tiger task force of the Department of Forestry, Police Division 5 of the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Unit, and Kathu Municipality officials jointly conducted a field survey and inspection of the trail running course in Kathu Subdistrict, Kathu District. They collected GPS coordinates, checked boundaries, and gathered evidence regarding encroachment on the Kamala mountain national reserved forest area.Tags: [Field Survey, Kathu District, Department of Forestry, Law Enforcement, Trail Running Course]
Mr. Pornsan Kunnalsurakan, Director of Phuket Forestry Center, stated that the Department of Forestry has not ignored the complaints and has received direct policy instructions from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct a straightforward and transparent investigation. Since the Department of Forestry holds ownership rights and has authorized Kathu Municipality to use the land, this field survey aimed to record GPS coordinates of the entire trail route. These will be overlaid with aerial photographs and geographic information system maps to clearly identify any encroachment points within the Kamala mountain national reserved forest and measure the extent of damage. The evidence will be submitted for additional criminal complaints to investigators.Tags: [Investigation, Forestry Policy, GPS Survey, Environmental Evidence, Kamala Mountain]
Additionally, officials have prepared a team to assess the environmental damage value, calculating the extent of harm to natural resources and ecosystems. This assessment will be included in the case files and handed over to prosecutors as evidence for filing criminal and civil claims for damages.Tags: [Environmental Damage Assessment, Legal Evidence, Natural Resources, Ecosystem, Prosecution]
Mr. Pornsan further explained that under the law, unauthorized encroachment, possession, or clearing of national reserved forest land constitutes an offense under Section 14 of the National Reserved Forest Act B.E. 2507 (1964). The penalties vary according to the size of the area affected; encroachment exceeding 25 rai carries heavier penalties, including imprisonment and fines as prescribed by law.Tags: [Legal Penalties, National Reserved Forest Act, Land Encroachment, Punishment]
Regarding progress on 15 other encroachers whose evidence had been previously gathered, the Phuket Forestry Center is currently preparing to submit a request to the Forest Resource Management Office 12, Krabi branch. The director, authorized by law, will consider signing an order under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act, requiring the encroachers to dismantle structures and promptly vacate the national reserved forest area.Tags: [Legal Orders, Forest Management, Enforcement, Encroachment Removal]
On the issue of using the Phor Thor Bor 5 document to claim land ownership, the Director of Phuket Forestry Center emphasized that this document is not a land title under the Land Code. It is merely a receipt for local maintenance tax payment and therefore cannot be used to prove ownership or possession rights. Officials will conduct thorough retrospective checks, including the year of issuance, the agency collecting the tax, the timing of the national reserved forest declaration, and investigate whether the document was used to fraudulently buy or sell land illegally. Legal action will proceed accordingly.Tags: [Land Documents, Phor Thor Bor 5, Tax Receipts, Land Ownership, Legal Investigation]
