Phiphat led discussions to resolve the Lipe Island land dispute by establishing a technical subcommittee to compile data and verify clear land ownership, setting a 60-day work deadline, and preparing to summarize findings for the main committee before submission to the Prime Minister. The subcommittee is tasked with clarifying the rights involved and providing a comprehensive report.
On 6 Jul 2026 GMT+7 at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed after chairing the committee meeting on resolving land disputes involving the Sea Gypsy community on Lipe Island, Satun Province, that the meeting resolved to establish a technical subcommittee chaired by a representative from the Royal Thai Survey Department. The subcommittee includes the district chief, Satun provincial representatives, the Department of Lands, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and representatives from civil society. The subcommittee has a 60-day timeframe to gather information and present it again to the main committee before reporting to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the claimants have requested a suspension of legal proceedings to allow the newly formed subcommittee to reach conclusions first, a proposal the committee agreed to support.
Regarding whether sales from the public to private entities pose obstacles, Phiphat said this is not an immediate concern and can be addressed later. Currently, focus is only on current landowners. The number of times land has been sold will not be interfered with, as land may belong to the Sea Gypsy community, but if there is valid sales documentation, it will be respected accordingly. Being familiar with the area, he understands the history of Lipe Island’s land issues; some claims are valid, others problematic. Today's committee meeting focused especially on the school land area, where complaints allege about one rai of land has disappeared. That area may be beach land, which might not be usable.
Therefore, the technical subcommittee must conduct a field survey again to confirm clear ownership rights. The disputed area relates to objections raised during previous land surveys, which the committee acknowledged, allowing parties the opportunity to prove their ownership rights anew.