Demolition orders issued to 78 more Phuket beach encroachers

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Demolition orders issued to 78 more Phuket beach encroachers
Anthika Muangrod


Got to go: Babylon Beach Club.

PHUKET: -- Officials this morning (June 23) visited Bangtao and Laypang beaches, issuing 78 businesses with demolition orders on the grounds that their structures are on public land.

But before they started posting the orders in each of the properties, Ma’an Samran, chief executive of Cherng Talay OrBorTor and his deputy, Siri Yokthong, went with Pipop Sutkhao, Deputy District Officer from Thalang, Thammarong Chuayaksorn, Deputy District Officer from Muang District and about 30 Territorial Defense Volunteers to Surin Beach to check on progress.

“Right now 90 per cent of the [area to the west of the footpath] is cleared. We have a truck and an excavator from OrBorTor Cherng Talay to help people to dig out concrete,” Mr Thammarong said.

“In the future, there will be no beach chairs or massage beds on this beach. People cannot take advantage of public land anymore.

He looked out over the cleaned area with its coconut trees and said, “Right now the beach looks really clean and beautiful.”

Thalang Deputy District Officer, Mr Pipop told The Phuket News that Surin Beach is now a beach for everyone.

“Next month [July] we are going to have a concert and beach-opening ceremony. It’s going to be fun. The event will be called ‘The Beach Is For Everyone’. The exact date and time have yet to be decided.”

North of Surin Beach, businesses encroaching on public land on Bang Tao and Lay Pang beaches – and in some cases actually on the beach – were handed orders telling them to rip down their structures and restore nature within 30 days, or face legal action.

Among places that must be partially or completely demolished are Lotus Restaurant and Babylon Beach Club, along with many wooden-pile restaurants at the water’s edge.

The business owners were not happy. One Laypang restaurant owner, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Phuket News that, with his restaurant demolished he would have trouble feeding his family.

“I’ve been operating my restaurant for 18 years now. I’m not sure if this was an order from the coup [leaders] or if the OrBorTor is just making false claims in asking us to move.

“We don’t know where we are going to do business now. Even when we knock it down, there’s no space for us to store it all. We don’t know now how we can make a living. This restaurant is my only source of income.

“I spent more than a million baht building this restaurant. If I have to build a new one, I’ll have to spend more than B2 million.

“It feels like they are bullying working people. I’m stressed. I have a family to take care of, a car and a house that I must make payments on, and other expenses. I have 30 days to move the place out.

“To be honest, I feel hopeless.”

But not everyone is against the drive to reclaim public land. A member of staff from a well-known restaurant in the area told The Phuket News that he was happy to see the right thing happening.

“It’s good. I absolutely agree with this. We should have done this in Thai society ages ago, but I would like the NCPO [the Royal Thai Army’s National Council for Peace and Order] to do this in all areas, otherwise there will be claims of bias.

“It’s not only Phuket beaches. Look at the hills on Koh Tao, Koh Pha Ngan and other islands. Whatever belongs to the state must be taken back. They should make it same everywhere.

“I support this even if my boss is going to lose. But business people usually don’t have just one business. They do other types of business, too. Plus, this is just a wooden structure; it didn’t cost that much.”

An expat who has lived in Phuket for seven years commented, “The beach is a place that should be clean and protected.

“I think they are doing a good job and they care about nature and Thailand. I’m so happy that someone is doing the right thing and cares about the beaches. They should do this everywhere.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/demolition-orders-issued-to-78-more-phuket-beach-encroachers-47016.php


-- Phuket News 2014-06-24

[sscsamui]

I would Hope that the next stop would be Pattaya.... With almost No beach to walk along because of Umbrellas/Beach chairs... And the Mafia Jet Ski Thugs.. It is in desperate need of a flush....

Samui is not os bad along the beaches but is getting worse and if they don't put a stop to it, it also will be just as bad

Edited June 23, 2014 by sscsamui

[rhythmworx]

Beach side of walking street next?

[simon43]

The sheer number of illegal businesses is amazing. 78 illegal businesses on the beach! That is only the latest crop of illegal operations.

I very much hope that the authorities move quickly on to serve demolition orders on the illegal businesses on Nai Yang Beach. The building of new, permanent (concrete) buildings continues unabated....

[daoyai]

Good move that will pay dividends in the future, there should be a program to assist the displaced owners to setup inland.

[Somtamnication]

I'll believe it when all the beach chairs and umbrellas are gone at Nai Harn!

[KarenBravo]

Why 30 days notice? Previously, on Surin beach, they were given seven days.

As for the business owner whining about how to feed his family, get a job! Unemployment for the whole of Thailand is only 0.6%.

[stuarty]

"Among places that must be partially or completely demolished are Lotus Restaurant and Babylon Beach Club, along with many wooden-pile restaurants at the water’s edge."

I would be interested which places are to be only "partially" demolished, and why.

[OOLEEBER]

Why 30 days notice? Previously, on Surin beach, they were given seven days.

As for the business owner whining about how to feed his family, get a job! Unemployment for the whole of Thailand is only 0.6%.

I think less since all the Cambodians fled. I can't even get a gardener up here.

[robertthebruce]

Excellent news well done keep it going.....

Phuket might become beautiful,again....

[Loles]

It's WELL DONE, the time is over when your police "poen" could save you ...

[stevenl]

Good move that will pay dividends in the future, there should be a program to assist the displaced owners to setup inland.

Why? They have been operating illegally and profiting already. Why should the Phuket population pay them again?

[CiaranO]

How is he going to feed his family? He has been occupying a beach front location for 18 years illegally- I am pretty sure he has stashed some money somewhere. It always comes as an amazement how these guys feel so hard done by - he should be going to jail for public land encroachment.. Count himself lucky and move on

[monkeycountry]

It is really pathetic when these criminals plead for mercy when caught - and they are not even being convicted for their crimes, they are just asked not to continue. "Buhuu, but if I am not allowed to continue my illegal business, then I cannot feed my family and pay my house and car!! Life is so unfair to us criminals ".

Edited June 24, 2014 by monkeycountry

[tonypace02]

How is he going to feed his family? He has been occupying a beach front location for 18 years illegally- I am pretty sure he has stashed some money somewhere. It always comes as an amazement how these guys feel so hard done by - he should be going to jail for public land encroachment.. Count himself lucky and move on

The state should charge him rent retroactive for 18 years.

[Rimbuman]

The sheer number of illegal businesses is amazing. 78 illegal businesses on the beach! That is only the latest crop of illegal operations.

I very much hope that the authorities move quickly on to serve demolition orders on the illegal businesses on Nai Yang Beach. The building of new, permanent (concrete) buildings continues unabated....

In Goa (india) they were smart about this, small bar/restaurants on the beach constructed with bamboo and bamboo mats, no umbrella's but rather canape's made from bamboo.

Cold drinks good food, no crowd, very nice. No concrete building on the beach and if the owners have to move out, low season or crackdown there is hardly any loss.

This was about 15 years ago and maybe it changed, but that's not the point.

The point is that concrete should be avoided, wood, bamboo and other natural materials give the real laid back, relaxing feeling at the beach.

[patekatek]

I can only imagine what it would be like to set up an illegal business in Yellowstone or any national park or public area in the U.S. or Europe. A person would be arrested before the first nail was pounded. It is impossible for me to believe that the local Phuket authorities were not "aware" that these businesses were encroaching on public land and it is my opinion that every government official in a position of responsiblity for enforcement of encroachment issues should be fired from their job and be investigated by the graft and corruption council.

[stevenl]

The sheer number of illegal businesses is amazing. 78 illegal businesses on the beach! That is only the latest crop of illegal operations.

I very much hope that the authorities move quickly on to serve demolition orders on the illegal businesses on Nai Yang Beach. The building of new, permanent (concrete) buildings continues unabated....

In Goa (india) they were smart about this, small bar/restaurants on the beach constructed with bamboo and bamboo mats, no umbrella's but rather canape's made from bamboo.

Cold drinks good food, no crowd, very nice. No concrete building on the beach and if the owners have to move out, low season or crackdown there is hardly any loss.

This was about 15 years ago and maybe it changed, but that's not the point.

The point is that concrete should be avoided, wood, bamboo and other natural materials give the real laid back, relaxing feeling at the beach.

Goa is (or at least was 15 years ago) a hippy destination, Phuket is not.

Edited June 24, 2014 by stevenl

[Oziex1]

I'll believe it when all the beach chairs and umbrellas are gone at Nai Harn!

Yeah, What's happening there beach chairs, ugly massage shacks and that awful restaurant on the southern end. Not to mention the taxi guys still lurking, I think they look worse just hanging around than when they had their salas.

[BlueSkyCowboy]

Why 30 days notice? Previously, on Surin beach, they were given seven days.

As for the business owner whining about how to feed his family, get a job! Unemployment for the whole of Thailand is only 0.6%.

U mean I should go to work myself????

[monkeycountry]

Good move that will pay dividends in the future, there should be a program to assist the displaced owners to setup inland.

Can that program perhaps also cover bank robbers and other criminals who have been caught, and therefore can no longer feed their families? I assume the beach encroachers get to keep the money they already made, so perhaps in the future bank robbers can get to keep what thei have stolen in the past too, and then just tell them that they cannot continue robbing banks?

Btw, when you say "displaced owners". Do you then mean the "owner" who encroached on public land, or the public who were displaced from that part of the beach by the "owner"?

Edited June 24, 2014 by monkeycountry

[razer]

Why should any business person think they have a right to free public land when other business owners have to pay for the land they do business on? To bad ... so sad you are stressed.

[Oziex1]

''The point is that concrete should be avoided, wood, bamboo and other natural materials give the real laid back, relaxing feeling at the beach.''

Please dont give them ideas there gone and thats that!

[simon43]

There are many concrete structures on Nai Yang beach, now extended almost to the high water mark.

Don't anyone think that these business owners haven't got a baht to feed their families. I know one bar owner at NY beach, started with one bar, now 3 on the beach and a massage shop. Like all the other owners, she 'hides' her new Fortuna around the back when it's time to open for daily business. She has never paid a baht in tax or rent for her illegal businesses.

[klauskunkel]

It feels like they are bullying working people. I’m stressed. I have a family to take care of, a car and a house that I must make payments on, and other expenses

...I also have an I-Pad and a Rolex and a moped and a dog and a sunburn I have to take care of!

[tingtongteesood]

GOOD !

[klauskunkel]

a general question:

let's say you encroach on public land in Thailand and build a business...

you still need to get electricity, water etc. from the relevant government authorities...

In a country where you have to provide documentation in triplicate for a permit to fart in public, how did they get their business up and running? Ok, well I know...it's a rhetorical question...I mean to say, maybe there should also be an investigation of government authorities supporting these encroachments...

[Shazdeb]

Im very happy to see the things the Junta are doing, well over due. After all if the place is dirty, over built and not beautiful why will the tourists come ??

Now if they could just fix the power lines which make the areas look terrible and do something to stop the continuing problem of non finished buildings all over the island. They are horrible, may be they need to devise a law that if foreigners ( and it is foreigners doing it ) come here and leave a building unfinished the Building will be legally taken ( quickly before the rot sets in ) and sold, the monies raised going towards roads, improving the power system, local schools, clean up projects any thing that helps the area, use there money to put Thailand as it should be ...... Just a thought

[stevenl]

a general question:

let's say you encroach on public land in Thailand and build a business...

you still need to get electricity, water etc. from the relevant government authorities...

In a country where you have to provide documentation in triplicate for a permit to fart in public, how did they get their business up and running? Ok, well I know...it's a rhetorical question...I mean to say, maybe there should also be an investigation of government authorities supporting these encroachments...

There is.

[monkeycountry]

a general question:

let's say you encroach on public land in Thailand and build a business...

you still need to get electricity, water etc. from the relevant government authorities...

In a country where you have to provide documentation in triplicate for a permit to fart in public, how did they get their business up and running? Ok, well I know...it's a rhetorical question...I mean to say, maybe there should also be an investigation of government authorities supporting these encroachments...

Not everyone has a meter. Some steal direct from the government grid by connecting directly to it (without a meter), others simply connect to their friend's or family's meter. I guess the latter is fine, except that it makes it quite easy to get power to businesses on the beach, provided you know the person on the other side of the beach road, and can connect to his business.

Edited June 24, 2014 by monkeycountry