The two Members of Parliament representing Phuket, both of the People’s Party, called for the probe into the Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation, led by foundation president Suporn Vanichkul, at a press conference held at Parliament House in Bangkok earlier this week.
The MPs accused the foundation of playing a central role in the unauthorised development that triggered the deadly landslide that killed 13 people in August last year.
The landslide, which struck Soi Patak 2 and Soi Patak 8, destroyed homes and claimed the lives of Thai nationals and foreign tourists, including families and honeymooners, MP Chalermpong said.
Many of the surviving victims are still without adequate compensation, with property owners unable to afford repairs and bereaved families receiving only minimal financial support, he added.
“The emotional and financial toll on the victims is immeasurable,” Mr Chalermpong said. “It is unacceptable that people who lost everything now have to find money to post bail in court just to sue the foundation responsible for this disaster.”
He said the Phuket Provincial Lawyers Council is currently offering legal assistance free of charge to help affected residents pursue justice.
The MPs alleged that the foundation behind the Big Buddha Viewpoint, illegally encroached on five rai of protected forest land, carrying out unauthorised construction that directly contributed to the landslide. Despite the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment confirming the encroachment, there has been no accountability from local police, prosecutors or the Phuket Governor, they said.
Mr Chalermpong condemned efforts to reopen the Big Buddha Viewpoint before any resolution or compensation is delivered, saying a high-ranking monk had asked the Religious Affairs Department to seek approval from the Forestry Department to resume operations.
“I do not agree with using Buddhism as a means of generating income while victims suffer without justice,” he said. “There has been coercion of monks to sign approvals under Forestry Department measures, allegedly backed by senior clergy. This must stop.”
He reiterated his call for AMLO to urgently probe the financial trail of the foundation and determine whether its activities were consistent with its stated religious and charitable purposes.
Meanwhile, Mr Thitikan criticised the failure of the Royal Forest Department to revoke the land-use permit. He noted that although the permit was initially granted to the temple, it was later used by a private foundation ‒ an action that violates forest conservation regulations.
“This matter has been raised repeatedly in the Land, Natural Resources and Environment Committee, but there has been no progress. Why has no agency stepped in to halt the unauthorised expansion that led to a deadly landslide?” he said.
He called for a full investigation into how the foundation was able to proceed with construction in a protected area and demanded that those responsible for the lack of oversight and enforcement be held accountable.
“Don’t hide behind the name of Buddhism,” he said. “Thirteen people are dead. There has been no justice, no compensation, no responsibility. Those in power must remember the lives that were lost.”
Both MPs stressed that future tragedies can only be avoided through systemic reform and enforcement of the law ‒ particularly when forest lands and public safety are at risk.