The activity was titled, “Interior Ministry brings happiness, returns Ley Phang Beach to the people of Phuket".
Present for the occasion were Deputy Minister of Interior Chada Thaiseth, and Pornpoj Penpas, Director-General of the Department of Lands.
Also present was Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and a host of local officials from the Cherng Talay area as well as from the Phuket Land Office, which decdaes ago originally issued the land documents the occupiers used to try to claim the land.
“I would like to congratulate the people of Phuket to be able to use the Ley Phang Beach together. Although it has been a difficult job and there have been many problems that have had to be solved in order to drive forward the process that preserves the interests of the people and the nation,” Anutin said.
“It is also an important mission that the Ministry of Interior carries out in order to ‘relieve suffering and promote happiness’,” he added.
“Managing land rights documents is a top priority of the Department of Land that must be urgently considered. ‘Do the right thing. Get rid of the wrong things’, and issue land title deed documents quickly and correctly, while adhering to the principle of honesty,” he said with earnestness.
“Also the land database must be updated regularly to facilitate the allocation of arable land for the people according to the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. These are important missions of the Lands Department and the Ministry of Interior in taking care of our fellow citizens, we take care of their rights and benefits so that they do not suffer. Do not let bad things happen in your work under the responsibility of government officials,” he said.
Department of Lands Director-General Mr Pornpoj explained that the fight to reclaim Ley Phang beachfront land began back in 2001, when the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) first reported encroachment onto the public land.
The fight continued for years, with Mr Pornpoj detailing the long legal battle against people who attempted to claim the land through documents issued decades ago.
Finally, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court both rued that the land claims were invalid and that all 178 rai being claimed by private parties was indeed state land.
Not mentioned yesterday was that was still not enough to remove illegal occupiers of plots along the Ley Phang beachfront until as recently as last year.
Regardless, the land has now all been legally restored under government ownership.
With some parts of the land actually being deemed to be within the boundaries of Sirinath National Park, the remaining 172-3-18 rai has now been issued protected land status under a directive issued on April 17, 2024, and become law by promulgation in the Royal Gazette on April 23, 2024, Mr Pornpoj said.