Military use big stick to tackle land tangle at Phuket beach

[webfact]

Military use big stick to tackle land tangle at Phuket beach
The Phuket News


Not such a happy new year: the owners of Rotcharin Restaurant have already bowed to the inevitable.

PHUKET: -- About 100 troops and officials including National Park officers and local government offices held an open-air meeting yesterday (August 19) to allow people with businesses along Nai Yang Beach to prove they have the right to be there.

A total of 47 people operating businesses along the edge of the sand were told to bring their land titles and other documents to the meeting at 10:30am.

“The only thing that can prove the right of land possession is government documents. No other explanations will be accepted,” said Cdr Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Naval Area Command. “Just give me the facts – that will be enough.

“Business owners alone will be allowed to talk with officers. If lawyers try to represent them, we will remove them,” he added.

The business owners were then separated into three groups, to discuss matters with officers from the Land Department, the Marine Office, the Royal Forestry Department and OrBorTor Sakoo, with the military watching over all.

What they officials discovered was a complex tangle of land papers, claims and counterclaims, and plain old-fashioned encroachment on state land.

It was discovered that 14 people have businesses on 10.5 rai of land covered by a single SorKor 1 land paper. The land was bought years ago by the owners of the Indigo Pearl Resort, who have applied for upgrade to Chanote.

None of the 14 managed to prove any right to be on the land. Three agreed to demolish their structures.

“The other 11 did not. They based their claim to be there on a 2004 court decision that ruled they were not on public land,” said Cdr Pornprom.

“However, the Sor Kor 1 paper is being upgraded to Chanote, in the name of the Indigo Pearl Resort, which means they will no longer have the right to use it,” he explained.

The cases of the 11 people will be passed to prosecutors who will decide whether they should be tried and, if so, whether the cases should be heard by the Provincial Court or a Military Court.

More people were found to have businesses on two pieces of land belonging to Dang Laolah.

Seven members of his family (or people who have bought land from them) have guest houses, restaurants, minimarts, tour agencies and other shops on one of the two pieces, and already have a court decision in confirming their right to occupy the land.

However, OrBorTor Sakoo officials will now check whether they have building permits. Some of the buildings are two-storey, apparently contravening height restrictions on land along the edges of a beach.

As for the other piece, this is the subject of a long legal row that is now in the Supreme Court, so the military said they would not touch it at this stage. However, after officers surveyed the land yesterday, part of that land was found to encroach on Sirinart Marine National Park.

Apart from the three people who agreed to remove their businesses from the Indigo Pearl land, another 26 admitted they had no paperwork and agreed to knock down their structures.

“They must finish this by this Friday (August 22). If any are left by Saturday, we will send in the excavators,” said Sumeth Suwannarat, Palad of OrBorTor Sakoo, adding that they had all been given notice to quit last Friday (August 15).

The Phuket News learned that 10 businesses, some with well known names, have already begun demolishing their businesses. They are Rotcharin Seafood Restaurant, Chai Batik, Savoey Restaurant, Wat’s bar, Marina Seafood Restaurant, Blackcat Restaurant, Original Thai Massage shop, Mr Kobi Bar, Linda Restaurant and Hula Shop.

So far untouched are Lee Pizzeria, Kwanta Seafood, Phen’s Restaurant and Fiesta Restaurant.

Other businesses that have not agreed to demolish have received deadline papers from OrBorTor Sakoo giving them 30 days to begin, and another seven days to complete.

“After that we will demolish them ourselves. They will receive the bill for our services and we will also check their tax records,” said Cdr Pornprom.

“Two men, Tawee Ngerndee and Wallop Sae-Lao, will be allowed to stay put. After checking with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) we are exercising flexibility in these two cases because they have lived here for a long time and are very poor,” he explained.

“If the Highways Department or local government wish to develop the land they are on, they will be provided with housing elsewhere by OrBorTor Sakoo,” he added.

“To sum up, any businesses that do not have land titles must hand the land back to the state. They should understand and do this before it is too late,” he said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/military-use-big-stick-to-tackle-land-tangle-at-phuket-beach-47952.php


-- Phuket News 2014-08-20

[Patje]

Anyway the " Happy New Year " sign was overdue !!

[BKKBrit]

Zowzers! Great stuff!

[JesseFrank]

It starts to sound that half of Phuket is built on encroached land.

[smedly]

some serious stuff going on there

I wonder if the businesses on the sea side of walking street pattaya are all on public land, in fact maybe the whole street is built on what used to be a continuation of the beach

[JesseFrank]

some serious stuff going on there

I wonder if the businesses on the sea side of walking street pattaya are all on public land, in fact maybe the whole street is built on what used to be a continuation of the beach

It was figured out 15 years ago already that beach side of walking street is built illegal and 101 businesses have to be removed. The budget of hundreds of millions to remove them has been allocated 2 times already, and at least one time evaporated into thin air.

[smedly]

some serious stuff going on there

I wonder if the businesses on the sea side of walking street pattaya are all on public land, in fact maybe the whole street is built on what used to be a continuation of the beach

It was figured out 15 years ago already that beach side of walking street is built illegal and 101 businesses have to be removed. The budget of hundreds of millions to remove them has been allocated 2 times already, and at least one time evaporated into thin air.

very clearly shows it in this picture - oh dear

when you look at it you then realise just what an eye sore it is to the whole beachfront, I think if I owned a business there I'd be selling it right now

Edited August 20, 2014 by smedly

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Ahhhh. So the war against working class thais continues as the mega rich bangkok owners of the indigo pearl cash in on some free land clearance.

Has the constuction halted at Pullman yet.

No...didn't think so.

[steelepulse]

Ahhhh. So the war against working class thais continues as the mega rich bangkok owners of the indigo pearl cash in on some free land clearance.

Has the constuction halted at Pullman yet.

No...didn't think so.

Keep banging on btb! Now, why don't you go ahead and drop your pearls of wisdom to the anonymous hotlines, or better yet, go speak to the military directly while they are at the beaches doing the bulldozing.

[stevenl]

some serious stuff going on there

I wonder if the businesses on the sea side of walking street pattaya are all on public land, in fact maybe the whole street is built on what used to be a continuation of the beach

It was figured out 15 years ago already that beach side of walking street is built illegal and 101 businesses have to be removed. The budget of hundreds of millions to remove them has been allocated 2 times already, and at least one time evaporated into thin air.

very clearly shows it in this picture - oh dear

when you look at it you then realise just what an eye sore it is to the whole beachfront, I think if I owned a business there I'd be selling it right now

If you want to discuss Pattaya, the Pattaya forum would be a much better place than the Phuket forum.

[EBlair48]

Ahhhh. So the war against working class thais continues as the mega rich bangkok owners of the indigo pearl cash in on some free land clearance.

Has the constuction halted at Pullman yet.

No...didn't think so.

Keep banging on btb! Now, why don't you go ahead and drop your pearls of wisdom to the anonymous hotlines, or better yet, go speak to the military directly while they are at the beaches doing the bulldozing.

Would be a bit risky. Aren't they arresting and reprogramming dissenters? I believe it is now against the law to cast dispersions upon the now militarized elite's activities.

[steelepulse]

Eblari48, are you a card carrying member of the party? Your propanda against the "elite" sure makes it seem so. BTW, dropping an anonymous tip to the hotline either via a throwaway email address or a free airport sim card would probably not land you in jail for dissenting.

[iReason]

“Two men, Tawee Ngerndee and Wallop Sae-Lao, will be allowed to stay put."

"After checking with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) we are exercising flexibility in these two cases because they have lived here for a long time and are very poor,” he explained."

Beachfront business for a long time? And very poor?

Not buying it.

Although, I'll remember that defense if I ever end up in court:

Your honor, I've commited criminal acts for a long time but, I'm poor.

Can you please give me a pass?

Never mind unbiased treatment for the rest of the offenders in your courtroom...

[EBlair48]

Eblari48, are you a card carrying member of the party? Your propanda against the "elite" sure makes it seem so. BTW, dropping an anonymous tip to the hotline either via a throwaway email address or a free airport sim card would probably not land you in jail for dissenting.

Pro panda? Well I have mixed feelings using a lot of resources to save a species that really hasn't got any kind of survival skills, eating just one kind of leaf for instance and really has no niche it fills in a food chain....

(Sorry, could not resist.)

I see quite clearly that their has been a war declared on Thailand's working classes. You seem to agree with the premises of these actions it but if you cannot see it for what it is, to argue with you would be to describe a colour to a blind man.

I actually have made complaints to the email using my real name and address, and on other issues too no response whatsoever from any govt authority, ever. Doubt the mails were even opened. They care less even less about what whitey thinks than they do their own working classes.

[grumpyoldman]

“The only thing that can prove the right of land possession is government documents. No other explanations will be accepted,” said Cdr Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Naval Area Command. “Just give me the facts – that will be enough."

As posted in the other thread, said, done,finished.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

The only thing that can prove the right of land possession is government documents. No other explanations will be accepted, said Cdr Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Naval Area Command. Just give me the facts that will be enough."

As posted in the other thread, said, done,finished.

Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk.

- Thoreau

[grumpyoldman]

The only thing that can prove the right of land possession is government documents. No other explanations will be accepted, said Cdr Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Naval Area Command. Just give me the facts that will be enough."

As posted in the other thread, said, done,finished.

Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk.

- Thoreau

Circumstancial evidence? Huh? Like "circumstances were I gave this guy an envelope every month to operate on land that is not titled for businesses".

Army is here to clean this BS up folks, get over it and on with your lives, you can't do anything about it but blab on Forum.

[Emster23]

I do hope they remember to sell demolition and clean up bills to the squatters. No reason tax payers should have to pick it up.

[Gandtee]

I wonder how the absent Big Boss turned monk is feeling about this?

[tingtongteesood]

SO to those of you who complain about 'they haven't done' whatever and 'what about the' - they have decades of corruption and bs to sort through and straighten out. Please be patient. They will get to it eventually. And as for those who complain about the military being in charge, they know what they can do....Good work, keep at it and clean up the mess this country has been allowed to get into, let's hope to reverse as much of the badness as possible and once it is sorted, let's all try hard to keep it sorted.

[Benmart]

some serious stuff going on there

I wonder if the businesses on the sea side of walking street pattaya are all on public land, in fact maybe the whole street is built on what used to be a continuation of the beach

Indeed. Business is not business as usual.

The face of Beach Road and Walking Street may see a face lift.

[Benmart]

I do hope they remember to sell demolition and clean up bills to the squatters. No reason tax payers should have to pick it up.

It may be small bill to foot compared to the magnitude of the encroachment on public land.

I agree that those squatting should be required to pay. However, let the cleansing take place and address restitution for the cleanup at a later time.

[Benmart]

The only thing that can prove the right of land possession is government documents. No other explanations will be accepted, said Cdr Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Naval Area Command. Just give me the facts that will be enough."

As posted in the other thread, said, done,finished.

Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk.

- Thoreau

Circumstancial evidence? Huh? Like "circumstances were I gave this guy an envelope every month to operate on land that is not titled for businesses".

Army is here to clean this BS up folks, get over it and on with your lives, you can't do anything about it but blab on Forum.

Blab is vital to sharing ideas and positions. Supporting ones blab position is another story.

Keep up the blab everyone.

[PJcm]

After the Generals return to barracks in a year or two business will be back to usual, sadly.

[LivinginKata]

After the Generals return to barracks in a year or two business will be back to usual, sadly.

Sadly I expect you are correct.

[icare999]

After the Generals return to barracks in a year or two business will be back to usual, sadly.

if they return before making sure Taksin and his clan are out of picture for good and if they continue doing this people will think several times before trying it again. A few prison sentences will drive message home.

I doubt this time they will just hand over back to normal corrupt scum without some safeguards

[Jimi007]

After the Generals return to barracks in a year or two business will be back to usual, sadly.

Sadly I expect you are correct.

To me this takeover of the government has been in the planning for quite a while. I doubt they are going to allow it to go back to "business as usual." I should end it there as I don't want TV or myself in any trouble with the rather draconian laws here that limit free speech about certain persons… With that said, I don't personally know of any Thai that is against it. All my family and friends are very happy with what has happened here in Thailand.

[alfalfa19]

Wow, these guys are really taking care of business. I like this part: "Just give me the facts – that will be enough" Sounds almost like Joe Friday.

[Zeegator]

“Two men, Tawee Ngerndee and Wallop Sae-Lao, will be allowed to stay put."

"After checking with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) we are exercising flexibility in these two cases because they have lived here for a long time and are very poor,” he explained."

Beachfront business for a long time? And very poor?

Not buying it.

Although, I'll remember that defense if I ever end up in court:

Your honor, I've commited criminal acts for a long time but, I'm poor.

Can you please give me a pass?

Never mind unbiased treatment for the rest of the offenders in your courtroom...

No-one cares whether you are "buying it". Maybe they are just two very poor old men who have lived there for many years and do not operate businesses? This action is called using their discretion and showing compassion.

[simon43]

I don't know of any 'poor' business-owners at NY beach. Everyone that I know who owns a business there drives the latest car and lives on a private estate...

The only poor guy is the nice guy who drives the samlor taxi - don't think he has any business premises.

Anyway, after the demolition of many businesses, if these 2 poor men are allowed to keep their business premises, then I guess they will become very rich men in the near future....