After the Rawai sea gypsy community appealed the verdict, a panel, which included the Department of Special Investigation, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department and the Central Institute of Forensic Science, used archaeological and forensic evidence to prove that sea gypsies had settled there prior to 1995, the year the investor's Sor Kor 1 land occupation papers were issued.
The panel ordered the DSI to exhume skeletons from the land for DNA testing, which showed the remains matched the families living on the land.
Gen Surin said his immediate priority was to safeguard the Urak Lawoi graveyards on Koh Lanta from further encroachment.