A Section 44 order has empowered Phetchabun provincial authorities to deal with illegal possession and use of land on Phu Thap Boek, the province’s mountain tourist attraction.
The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday and took effect immediately.
It empowers the Phetchabun governor, the chief of Lom Sak district — where the popular attraction is located — and local officials at forestry, social development and town planning agencies to order owners of structures at Phu Thap Boek to refrain from carrying out any action in the area, impound and demolish structures for the state to restore, and conserve forest resources.
To execute these orders, the officials are given the same power as police under the Criminal Procedure Code. They can also order owners of the structures to pay for the expenses incurred by the breaking of the law.
Only those who exercise the authority honestly and fairly will be exempt from civil, criminal and disciplinary liabilities. The order also gives the same powers to state officials or individuals assigned to do the work.