PHUKET: Former Phuket Governor Wichaia Praisa-ngob has been named as the man connected to accusations of encroachment on a national park on the holiday island.

The cases against Khun Wichai and 13 others were presented to police yesterday by Sirinath Park Director Kitipat Tarapiban. Thirteen of them are government officials, including a a former director of Sirinath National Park, a former Director of the Phuket Land Titles Office and a former senior officer of Thalang District.

The man who allegedly ''owned'' the land has also been named in the provision of documentation to Phuket's Thalang Police Station.

Today the Minister of natural resources and Environment, Dapong Suwannarat, flew to Phuket to try to dissuade Khun Kitipat and five of his colleagues from applying for transfers off Phuket because of threats and intimidation.

''I want the team to stay on Phuket,'' he said. ''We will bring in the Army to protect them. These problems need to be fixed.''

Khun Kitipat's predecessor in the park director role, Cheewapad Cheewatam, also requested a transfer off Phuket because of threats and intimidation.

However, he has regularly returned to the island in his new role as Chief of Preservation-Protection at the Royal Forest Department in pursuing other key encroachment allegations at Freedom beach and along Phuket's famous Millionaire's Mile.

Other officials named in the case are: Sanya Siripongrungroj (Thalang senior officer) Jarow Innjan (Sirinath Park) Somboon Santhiamornthad (Thalang Land Office) Paitoon Lertkai (Phuket Land Office), Anek Pracha, Chomchanok Suttatamma, Surachai Laosaicher, Sum Bamrungsin, Pichai Kullaboot, Owat Promchai, Kritsada Wongprasit, Jalern Pordchookeaw and Sanya Siripongrungroj.