PHETCHABUN - As the demolition deadline draws near, the operators of the illegal resorts targeted for removal on Phu Thap Boek mountain are still hopeful of saving their businesses.
Kornsaran Thongkon said on Friday that he and the owners of other targeted premises plan to go to Bangkok for a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and seek a compromise solution to the problem. The trip could be arranged for next week, he added.
Mr Kornsaran runs Monterio Resort on the hugely popular mountain in Lom Kao district in Phetchabun. His and 18 other resorts have been ordered demolished by Aug 7, as they illegally occupy land owned by the Royal Forestry Department.
The land on the mountain was reserved for the resettlement of Hong hilltribe people, who later leased it to outsiders who built resorts for tourists.
Mr Kornsaran hoped for a better, less harsh solution to the problem. They all hoped to lease the land from the state and keep their businesses, instead of eviction, he said.
"We haven't lost hope," he added. (continues below)
A demolition order put up in front of a resort on Phu Thap Boek in Lom Kao district, Phetchabun. (Photo by Soonthorn Kongwarakom)
Provincial authorities, soldiers and park rangers posted notices at all 19 resorts on July 8, ordering them to dismantle the premises and move everything out within 30 days. None of them have yet been demolished.
The demolition order came three days after Gen Prayut, as the National Council for Peace and Order chairman, used his powers under Section 44 to order the removal of all illegal buildings at Phu Thap Boek.
The army on Saturday warned the resort operators that it would strictly follow the NCPO's directive, with no room for compromise.
Phu Thap Boek has become a top destinations for tourists due to its weather and beautiful scenery. Resorts have sprung up on the mountainside, with no regulation to ensure the safety of customers.