National park encroachers face seizures

OWNERS OF resorts operating illegally in national parks will face the seizure of their assets, Royal Forest Department’s (RFD) chief Theerapat Prayunrasiddhi announced yesterday.
“You will see concrete results of our intensified operations against forest encroachers within the next three to six months,” he said.
He said the recent decision by the Anti Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to seize the assets of an investor who operated the Ban Talay Mork in Prachin Buri’s Nadi district had already set a precedent.
“We will use the assets seizure measure in ongoing cases against 44 other resorts in Nakhon Ratcha-sima’s Wang Nam Kheow district, as well as resorts that have encroached on national forest reserve in other areas,” Theerapat said.
Of the 44 resorts in Wang Nam Kheow district, three cases have already reached public prosecutors.
“The rest is in the hands of investigators,” he said.
In addition to assets being seized by the authorities, he said the RFD had also sought to improve forest laws in a bid to prescribe tougher punishments against forest encroachers.
Meanwhile, Boonnaem Chuayra-dom, the assistant chief of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, joined a joint operation to inspect Ao Nang beach following a complaint by tourists that operators had constructed buildings and put beach beds on the public beach zone.
This national park is located in Krabi province.
Similar complaints have also arisen in the seaside province of Trang.
Hat Chao Mai National Park chief Manoj Wongsureerat summoned the bosses of beachside restaurants for a discussion yesterday after several operators continued to put dining tables on the public beach.
“Such problems have damaged the image of Trang’s tourism industry,” he said.
Manoj said public areas should be used fairly among members of the public, not by business operators.
“We have also received complaints that some beachside restaurants have overcharged tourists,” he said.
“Many tourists have also complained that local operators have prevented them from sitting on the beach in front of their restaurants.”