The management of the forest resort, which was used as a seminar venue by the Palang Pracharat party last weekend, has been given 90 days to dismantle the building and other structures by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Park officials, led by Mr. Prawatsart Chanthep, chief of Tap Lan national park, and Mr. Chaiwat Limsikhit-aksorn, advisor to the Phya Sua task force, posted the demolition notice in front of the 88 Garmonte forest resort in Wang Nam Khieo district of Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima today (Friday).
The forest resort has twice been charged with forest encroachment for trespassing on the land of Tap Lan national park.
The department also plans to take legal action against an official at the Land Reform Office of Nakhon Ratchasima province for allegedly giving a false statement to the provincial public prosecutors when he told them that the resort is located on Sor Por Kor (land reform) land.
The official’s alleged false statement caused the prosecutors not to take legal action against the owner of the resort.
In addition to the 88 Garmonte resort, the department served notices on 10 other resorts in Wang Nam Khieo district, instructing them to demolish their buildings. They include Phupa Waree Resort, Ban Rai Nai Wang, Nutjanart Resort, Noen Tawan, Ban Suan Sa-nguansook, Phu Prueksa, Im-ok Im-jai, Montana Farmm and Rai Wong Paksa.
According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, a total of 119 illegal resorts have already been demolished and 300 others are pending legal proceedings.
Mr. Prawatsart explained that some of the illegal resorts have not yet been demolished because their cases are still pending with the court or the owners of the resorts have sought court protection.
He added that, in some cases, the department did not have the funds needed for the demolition because the resorts are huge.
Tap Lan national park covers 84,000 hectares in the Nadee district of Prachin Buri and Wang Nam Khieo district of Nakhon Ratchasima. Over 12,000 hectares have been occupied by villagers and more than 540 hectares have been turned into resorts.
