Demolition work begins on resorts

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) yesterday began the demolition of three illegal resorts on Koh Samet.

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Staff from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department demolish a seaside resort yesterday on Koh Samet, one of three which a court found were illegally built in Khao Laemya-Koh Samet National Park. Photos by Patipat Janthong

Demolition work begins on resorts

Apinya Wipatayotin

RAYONG : The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) yesterday began the demolition of three illegal resorts on Koh Samet.

About 200 forestry officials were mobilised to clear the wooden buildings, removing them piece by piece before loading the rubble onto a boat to be transported to the mainland.

The owners of the Mook Samet, Unseen and Ploy Samet resorts were accused of encroaching on national park land in 2004 by Sumet Saithong, then deputy chief of Khao Laemya-Koh Samet National Park.

Officials later filed a case in court, which ended with the Supreme Court handing down a verdict in favour of the department.

Last year, former DNP chief Damrong Pidech ordered the owners of the resorts to demolish all illegal buildings.

The resort owners submitted a letter to Mr Damrong pledging to clear the buildings themselves by the end of October last year.

Mr Damrong agreed with the proposal, as the offer would help save on demolition costs for the state agency.

On Sept 12, however, the owners filed a petition with the Rayong Administrative Court, demanding the demolition order be revoked.

The court rejected the petition, but Mr Damrong's retirement late last year stalled the DNP's push to remove the illegal structures.

Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri spent 15 minutes yesterday observing the demolition work, which is expected to take less than two weeks.

"We come here to enforce the law and remove the illegally-built properties. [We are acting on] the Supreme Court verdict after a long legal battle," he said.

Mr Vichet said his ministry would use similar measures against any properties found to be encroaching on protected land.

A ministerial committee was working to speed up its identification of illegal structures and would take legal action against them, the minister said.

He noted that illegal resorts in Thab Lan National Park, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, were earmarked for similar action.

DNP chief Manopat Haumaungkaew said his agency would prepare ecological rehabilitation plans after the demolition work on Koh Samet is completed.

The owners will pay the demolition costs.