Six buildings demolished for encroaching national park land on Phi Phi

A hundred officers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, police, military and Office of Forestry demolished houses and shops located next to the national park booth. The team expect the full demolition to take 3 days.

“It started in 2014 when the officers discovered the land encroachment. The man who claims to own the land, Aran Rothakan, has been charged for encroachment on national park land and was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 6,000 Baht fine.

As he confessed his punishment was reduced to 3 months and a 3,000 Baht fine. Because he has never had any criminal record and the encroachment is only 0-0-50 rai, he received a suspension of sentence for two years and has been ordered to move out,” said Chief of National Park Unit of Protected Areas Regional Office 5, Opat Nuanmangso.

“Since them, the national park officers attached an eviction notice as a part of the demolition process according to the section 22. The estimated national loss for this encroachment is 800,000 Baht.

“There are still many pieces of encroached land on Phi Phi Island and many of them are under investigation on the Nor Sor 3 land paper or prosecution process. Phi Phi Island land is a valuable resource to Thailand and attracts a lot of encroachers.”