Minister Suchart Chomklin of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has declared plans to reclaim Phuket's beaches. He said that by mid-July, clear progress will be visible. For now, the situation is left to continue as is. He denounced mafias who use guns and collect entrance fees from locals, calling them nothing more than street thugs. He emphasized that inspections will be conducted without sparing anyone.
On 16 June 2026, Minister Suchart Chomklin spoke at the Government House regarding a Facebook page's claim about over 50 rai of forest land near Choeng Thale Municipality being encroached by an associate. He explained that on 15 June 2026, a meeting of the Phuket Model Committee took place, where the Prime Minister instructed him to create a timeline for beaches inspected. Some beaches, like Nui Beach, had final court rulings in 2018-2019, but land had been reoccupied. They will post legal notices with a 45-day appeal period, which agencies must allow.
Once the appeal period ends, legal action will proceed. This time, it will be different. A special task force combining forestry, national park, White Shark, and Forest Tiger units will be stationed there. The public and fishermen will be allowed to use the area freely. It is unacceptable for mafias to shoot locals or boats. "Today, we must return the beaches to the people. It's wrong for locals to be charged 300 baht to enter the beach — that’s just street thug behavior. We will reclaim everything."
When asked about the Facebook page's claim that this is a turf battle among deputies, Minister Suchart said he does not blame anyone but will not tolerate wrongdoing. The Prime Minister strictly ordered him to disregard anyone, including officials, departments, or his own ministry, with no exceptions. He cited Sirinath National Park in Phuket, where several hotels have final court orders for demolition. He is compiling a list of land titles to submit to the Director-General of the Department of Lands to revoke improper titles, such as those using fraudulent land documents. He expects to demolish several notable hotels. Although reluctant, he must comply with the law once court rulings are final.
Asked whether deputy-level officials were involved when park officers inspected the area earlier, Minister Suchart declined to comment but acknowledged cooperation issues. He understands the pressure officials face, having learned in a meeting that many feel threatened. Those concerned for their safety can transfer, and new staff will be assigned. The ministry will deploy the special task force from all three departments to the area, emphasizing protecting beaches for the people. He expects by mid-July, the public will see staged progress for each plot as appeal periods expire, but for now, they are letting the situation continue temporarily.