Phuket sea gypsy land dispute rears its head again

[webfact]

Phuket sea gypsy land dispute rears its head again
Saroj Kueprasertkij


Officers from Royal Thai Army Region 41 speak to members of the sea gypsy community.

PHUKET: -- A land dispute involving one of the island’s sea gypsy communities reared its head again yesterday (Jan 25) when over 100 hundred members of the community came out to protect the disputed land after representatives from the company claiming to own it once again threatened to place a blockade there.

Locals had initially lodged a complaint with former vice governor Somkiat Sangkhaosutthiluk on June 22, 2015 after the investor threatened to have them shot if they interfered with his claim to their land. At that time, V/Gov Somkiet pledged to provide police protection and to request military support for the locals.

Three days later, on June 25, 40 men believed to be connected to the investor were told to leave the disputed land when they set up a tent to block the entrance to the sea gypsy community.

Chalong police were also called to the area to help Rawai Municipality officials ease tension between the men and a large group of sea gypsies who had gathered.

However, yesterday, representatives from Baron World Trade Co., Ltd who claim to own the plot of land in Moo 2, Rawai returned again with over 40 officers from Royal Thai Army Region 41 and local police and again tried to place a blockade to stop locals accessing the land.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-sea-gypsy-land-dispute-rears-its-head-again-55935.php


-- Phuket News 2016-01-26

[stevenl]

Maybe the sea gypsies can call in the navy.

Army vs navy.

[amerasianex]

Ha ha ha ha.. We had se gypsies when we were kids. We kept them in a big glass jar.

[grumpyoldman]

The way that money talks and B.S. walks here I'm surprised the sea gypsies haven't already been moved out. They are sitting on a lot of valuable land down there at Rawai Beach.

I'm happy to see that so far they have been able to fend off big money concerns, but TIT, it's only a matter of time............

[grumpyoldman]

Ha ha ha ha.. We had se gypsies when we were kids. We kept them in a big glass jar.

"Sea Monkeys" is what I think you are referring to. American product for kids that were actually brine shrimp.

Edited January 26, 2016 by grumpyoldman

[scorecard]

The way that money talks and B.S. walks here I'm surprised the sea gypsies haven't already been moved out. They are sitting on a lot of valuable land down there at Rawai Beach.

I'm happy to see that so far they have been able to fend off big money concerns, but TIT, it's only a matter of time............

I guess it's too difficult for the reporters / journalists to ask a few questions:

- As to why this company claims to own the land?

- Does this company have any appropriate documents to prove they own the land?

- A check whether the title deeds (if they exist show this company as the owner) are legitimate and whether there is any hint that it's land which was never available for personal / company ownership?

etc...

[djlest]

No offence but for those of us that save for our entire lives to buy land, then these squaters get prime real estate for free and become millionaires...
Na! power to the ones that work the hardest and actually paid for what they own...

[Jimi007]

No offence but for those of us that save for our entire lives to buy land, then these squaters get prime real estate for free and become millionaires...

Na! power to the ones that work the hardest and actually paid for what they own...

Yep been squatting there for about 100 years! They were there before there were land titles, so now they are getting screwed by a big money power grab... Best of luck to the local Sea Gypsies over corrupt land grabbers!

[mikiea]

Maybe the sea gypsies can call in the navy.

Army vs navy.

maybe that sub from china with weels the Thai's ordered will arrive in time to put the kibosh to this tom foolery .....just roll up on shore and drop bomb .....

[snoop1130]

Tension builds at Phuket sea gypsy village
Chutharat Plerin



PHUKET: -- Tension mounted again at the Rawai sea gypsy village as the local community prevented alleged landowners from blocking access to the area yesterday.

“Representatives of Baron World Trade Co, which claims it owns the land, attempted to blockade the area with the help of about 40 officers from the Army, Provincial Office and Chalong Police, said Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos.

Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Parinya Panthasuwan, who was at the scene, explained that eventually officers and business owners backed down to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Tension-builds-Phuket-sea-gypsy-village/62979?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-01-26

[steelepulse]

No offence but for those of us that save for our entire lives to buy land, then these squaters get prime real estate for free and become millionaires...

Na! power to the ones that work the hardest and actually paid for what they own...

Yep been squatting there for about 100 years! They were there before there were land titles, so now they are getting screwed by a big money power grab... Best of luck to the local Sea Gypsies over corrupt land grabbers!

Correct, there's a whole back story to this and if you search a bit, you will see that these moken people have been in that location for generations and have quite a bit of proof, including aerial photos taken way back. There is the validity of the chanotes also in question.

We're talking a number of rai worth at least 50 million per rai, so this is a high stakes situation.

[DeepInTheForest]

A serious issue globally, notwithstanding the barmy, callous, and downright imbecilic comments among those posted here.

Land grabs by the powerful devastate not only local economies, but social stability and environmental health. They also exacerbate inequalities. As pointed out by Jimi007 and steelepulse, the moken have lived there for millennia-- it's their land, and the vast majority of it has already been confiscated, i.e., stolen. Arguments claiming they have no "legal rights" to the land are risible. Indigenous people never have "legal rights"-- their historic legacy counts for nothing in our neoliberal economic regime. The same struggle is being played out in India's Orissa province, where the UK's Vedanta Resources corporation is stealing land for a toxic waste dump,

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/india/india-land-grab-orissa

in Australia,

http://johnpilger.com/articles/under-cover-of-racist-myth-a-new-land-grab-in-australia,

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/videos/australian-land-grab/

and in the US state of Arizona's Oak Flat,

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/05/29/oak-flat-apache-land-grab-impressive-new-low-nyt-op-ed-160533

http://knowmore.washingtonpost.com/2014/06/19/watch-the-united-states-238-year-land-grab-from-native-americans-in-87-seconds/

among many, many other instances around the globe. Thankfully, the Thai army stood down during this encounter. May cooler heads continue to prevail. One suspects that local commanders were unwilling to execute orders from higher up, although it is impossible to know what actually transpired here. To lose indigenous cultures is to lose part of our human patrimony. It is not wise. Nor, in the long term, is our present course sustainable.

[KarenBravo]

Seems like the authorities have switched sides.

I wonder why..................?

Edited January 27, 2016 by KarenBravo

[stevenl]

Seems like the authorities have switched sides.

I wonder why..................?

I dont think so. Coming in with the army on Phuket indicates outside influence, and I very much doubt Phuket Authorities and the Navy will leave it at that.