11-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Approximately 100 residents are opposing a plan to grant the navy access to land in order to establish a base and accommodate the future expansion of the adjacent Phuket International Airport.
The residents recently submitted a letter to the provincial governor, demanding that the Third Naval Area Command (TNAC) cease barricading an area within the Bang Khanoon forest park in Thalang district. They also insisted on the organization of a public hearing regarding the navy’s plan to create a new site for the 22nd Air Defence Battalion (ADB) and designate a future expansion area for the airport.
On March 1, the Royal Forest Department (RFD) permitted the TNAC to use approximately 3,700 rai of forest land in tambon Sakhoo. The navy has proposed relocating parts of its shore patrol operation units and Naval Military Police Regiment to this area for the 22nd ADB.
However, it was discovered that residents had already transformed the land into farms and built houses.
Authorities met with the residents on April 24 to explain the navy’s development plan for the forest area. Last month, the navy warned residents that the area would be fenced off for TNAC use and to prevent further encroachment.
Phuket MPs from the Move Forward Party were previously invited to visit the area.
On Monday, the residents demanded that the navy remove a barbed-wire fence within seven days and conduct a public hearing on the TNAC’s plan. These demands were submitted to the provincial governor’s office, where Deputy Governor Anuparb Rodkwan received the letter.
Uthai Suksirisamphan, the leader of the resident group, called on the provincial governor to order the local forestry office to withdraw a forest encroachment charge that had been filed against the residents with the Department of Special Investigation. He also expressed that the navy should not label the residents as encroachers.
Mr. Uthai stated that the residents found themselves in a dispute with the navy after the force was granted access to the land by the RFD. He claimed that the navy’s presence would result in the militarization of Phuket and eventually lead to the collapse of the local economy. “We don’t want the military here,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anuparb expressed his belief that a solution could be reached that would allow residents to continue farming and living on the land while the navy operates its facilities.
