Moken sea gypsies beaten up by men who try to seize their land in Phuket

[webfact]

Moken sea gypsies beaten up by men who try to seize their land in Phuket



PHUKET: -- Several Moken sea gypsies were beaten up by about 100 men as they tried to stop the men from blocking the entrance and exit of beachfront land in Phuket’s Muang district where they have been dwelling for years.

Mr Paitree Chongkraichak, a coordinator of the Moken or Chao Ley ethnic group, said that the men, numbering about 100, arrived at the public beachfront in Tambon Rawai with a backhoe and trucks loaded with huge rocks.

The rocks were then unloaded from the trucks to block the entrance and exit of the land occupied by several families of Chao Ley for several decades. The land has been used to dock their small fishing boats and a burial ground for their ancestors.

The Chao Ley however protested the encroachers prompting the latter to starting beating up the normally peaceful sea nomads. Several of them were reported to be injured.

The violent attack against the Chao Ley stemmed from a lengthy land conflict between the ethnic people and a group of land developers who have wanted to develop the land but could not do so due to the presence of the Chao Ley.

Beachfront land in Phuket is hard to find, commands very expensive price and is highly sought after by real estate developers.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148404


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-28

[webfact]

Military called in as Phuket sea gypsies injured in land claim clash
Eakkapop Thongtub


Sea gypsies clashed with workers at the Rawai sea gypsy community this morning (Jan 27). Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat has ordered a security detail to maintain peace at the sea gypsy community in Rawai after several villagers were injured in clashes with private workers hired to clear the area for private development this morning (Jan 27).

Military personnel led by Lt Col Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy secured the area at about 11:30am, while V/Gov Chokdee and Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos spoke with villagers.

When they arrived, rescue workers were busy transporting villagers injured in the clashes to medical facilities nearby.

More than 200 villagers, including women and children, had gathered at the site, where officials were told that that the fight broke when more than 100 workers started to clear the land with a backhoe and excavators.

Villagers attempted to stop the workers from using an excavator from placing rocks to block off the entrance to the land, which resulted in the workers and villagers trading blows.

Chatree Madsatun, the legal representative of Baron World Trade Co Ltd, which claims to own the land, said the company had full rights to the land and had a Chanote land title deed to prove it.

“The Phuket Provincial Land Office conducted a survey of the area on August 13 last year and confirmed at an official meeting that the company had full right to the land, and there many meetings have been held to discuss this matter, but most of the time representatives from the village failed to attend,” he said.

The company built a wall to prevent sea gypsies from trespassing on the land, but the wall was pulled down on June 20, 2015. Large rocks were then placed there to keep villagers out, he explained.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/military-called-in-as-phuket-sea-gypsies-injured-in-land-claim-clash-55957.php

-- Phuket News 2016-01-28

[shirtless]

Greed of developers has no boundaries

[webfact]

Dozens injured in violent clash at Phuket sea gypsy village
Phuket Gazette


Rocks were placed to prevent access to the area and military personnel put on site to prevent further violence. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- More than 30 people were injured in a violent confrontation between private investors and sea gypsies in Phuket today.

“At least 100 men came to our village and attacked us. They put up rock blockades to keep us from accessing our village and an area where we perform traditional ceremonies,” alleged Nirund Yangpan, 40, a Rawai sea gypsy representative.

Mr Nirund went on to claim that the men even injured a woman who was five-months pregnant.

“We need protection. The businessmen have already threatened us with guns. They will never stop. It will only get harder and harder.

"Today we were injured, who knows if any of us will be killed soon,” he said.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Dozens-injured-violent-clash-Phuket-sea-gypsy/62990?desktopversion#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2016-01-28

[arthurboy]

A cursory search for the Baron World Trade Company LTD reveals nothing except an office address in Bangkok; no website, no information about its business, nothing.

But the village is located on prime beach and seafront land and is ripe for development, as the company's plan to build seventeen villas confirms.

DNA from their buried ancestors at the site supports the Chao Ley's claim that they have occupied the land for a long time.

Go figure.

[shirtless]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

[ksamuiguy]

How long will the government let this go on.

Leave these indigenous Thai Citizens alone.

Give them their rightful land and be done with it.

They deserve to live in peace and with out fear.

Pass a law to protect these and all Minority Thai Citizens.

This bull shit has gone on long enough!

[jacko45k]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Where the money is.

[diehard60]

Typical of money hungry Thais.

[zyphodb]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Looking the other way with big grins & brown envelopes in their hands of course....

[abitmiffed]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

I'm pretty sure some of them will be police and government officials, remove the masks and see.

[arminbkk]

From the linked article: "They also asked for the central government to investigate why soldiers had refused villagers access

to the area and were providing security for a private company."

From this it would seem that that private company has connections within the military.

Edited January 28, 2016 by arminbkk

[car720]

In who's name is the deed?

Typical. Bring a hundred guys.

[ameadi]

Where is money there is always the same problem. Everywhere in the world. Look at North America and the Indians. ....

[OnTheRun]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

In the back pockets of said businessmen, for a price of course.

[kiwikeith]

A cursory search for the Baron World Trade Company LTD reveals nothing except an office address in Bangkok; no website, no information about its business, nothing.

But the village is located on prime beach and seafront land and is ripe for development, as the company's plan to build seventeen villas confirms.

DNA from their buried ancestors at the site supports the Chao Ley's claim that they have occupied the land for a long time.

Go figure.

Where do we start, city officials,brown envelopes, I wonder whose name was on the chanote before the developers name???? anyone throw light on that???

[Farang99]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Unfortunately it looks as if the Moken have no title to the land. If that is the case, and the construction company has a legitimate title, then the Moken have no case, despite their long occupation of the site.

[cracker1]

I am sure I read a story like this several years ago, and as there is no date reference with this story perhaps it is "History" rather than "News" ?

[casualbiker]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Unfortunately it looks as if the Moken have no title to the land. If that is the case, and the construction company has a legitimate title, then the Moken have no case, despite their long occupation of the site.

yes and no. I believe that in Thailand there is a law similar to a squatters law referencing occupying unclaimed land over a period of time uncontested. The question is who did they the developers buy the land from and when!

[6NS]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Unfortunately it looks as if the Moken have no title to the land. If that is the case, and the construction company has a legitimate title, then the Moken have no case, despite their long occupation of the site.

I agree. If they do not own the title, they should be grateful for their very long and free stay.

[casualbiker]

More crooked heavy handed tactis by corrupt businessmen where are the police on this.

Unfortunately it looks as if the Moken have no title to the land. If that is the case, and the construction company has a legitimate title, then the Moken have no case, despite their long occupation of the site.

I agree. If they do not own the title, they should be grateful for their very long and free stay.

So who owned the title and HOW did they get it considering that these people have been living there for GENERATIONS? If they were actually living there uncontested prior to 1954 when the land laws came into play then the Gypsy's own the land!

" Land law is dealt with by the Land Code. This was established by Act Promulgating the Land Code, B.E. 2497 (1954).[14]

[Peter Strand]

If there is a title deed than there is. End of story. What I only do not understand how a developer would think that this area ( I know it very well ) is a good place to build luxury see view villas. Its close to the "Sea gypsy Slum". Who would like to live there ? Foreign tourists ? Sorry but this area down in Rawai is a stinky dump. Any squatter area in Yangon ( Myanmar ) smells nicer.

[tomyumchai]

I am sure I read a story like this several years ago, and as there is no date reference with this story perhaps it is "History" rather than "News" ?

i read stories like this too, 1 was to do with some savages running round on prime real estate called 'north america' and there was a similar problem with some other awkward locals in 'australia'. i believe they made them move on in the end and everyone lived happy ever after.....

[alfalfa19]

law of the jungle versus the law of man. i wonder which will come out on top? rhetorical question, of course.

[bearpolar]

im no thai lawyer but im fairly certain that even without having been there before 1954, the land is still theirs from squatting so long. In phuket town there's a lake developed by boat lagoon and around it theres a dirt poor guy living in his house right in the middle of it all, he put bamboo around it and he gets to stay there(a bit of an eye sore). Im sure if mr. boat lagoon can't evict a guy living on 6000 or less a month, these people are definitely in the right to stay.

[cyberfarang]

Sadly these people don`t have a chance against big business and corruption. The sea gypsies are sitting on a fortune but do not have the funding and resources to fight this out and defend themselves from exploitation.

What is required are the best lawyers in the land to support their legal case and heavies to guard their lands and properties, otherwise they don`t have a cat in hell`s chance of success. Bullying and intimidation tactics are the practices of those with big business interests the world over and now only matter of time before the sea gypsies are cast off their ancestral lands forever.

[kiwikeith]

I am sure I read a story like this several years ago, and as there is no date reference with this story perhaps it is "History" rather than "News" ?

i read stories like this too, 1 was to do with some savages running round on prime real estate called 'north america' and there was a similar problem with some other awkward locals in 'australia'. i believe they made them move on in the end and everyone lived happy ever after.....

They brought Governer Grey over from NZ after had slaughtered problem people, then they sent him to Tasmania where he took no hostages hardly a problem man left alive, I dont think any of the indigenous people lived happily ever after and they are still persecuted.

Edited January 28, 2016 by kiwikeith

[JacChang]

It's very easy to take sides for the Moken, and also how the news is worded. However, the fact still resides with the Law, has nothing to do with greed. People who oppose greed are usually those who are not doing well financially. Greed is never wrong, unless with ill intentions. People complain about rich people being greedy, could you prove to the world that a poor man if given an opportunity for high income, he would reject the offer?

The Moken has been living in these areas for a long time because they could, but they never owned the land. The developer has full rights to the land and how they purchased it is their business. From this viewpoint, the police, military, government will all uphold the rights of the developer and not the Moken. The exercise of physical assault is another matter, both sides should be responsible for their actions, neither side is "good". The way I see it, the developer continue their business AND the Moken gypsies WARNED and EDUCATED that they have to follow the law and can't take hold of any land they deem fit at their will.

[casualbiker]

It's very easy to take sides for the Moken, and also how the news is worded. However, the fact still resides with the Law, has nothing to do with greed. People who oppose greed are usually those who are not doing well financially. Greed is never wrong, unless with ill intentions. People complain about rich people being greedy, could you prove to the world that a poor man if given an opportunity for high income, he would reject the offer?

The Moken has been living in these areas for a long time because they could, but they never owned the land. The developer has full rights to the land and how they purchased it is their business. From this viewpoint, the police, military, government will all uphold the rights of the developer and not the Moken. The exercise of physical assault is another matter, both sides should be responsible for their actions, neither side is "good". The way I see it, the developer continue their business AND the Moken gypsies WARNED and EDUCATED that they have to follow the law and can't take hold of any land they deem fit at their will.

working for a high income and greed are two totally different things. As for HOW the developers obtained (purchased) the land is very relevant on an island rife with criminal land claims etc. If the Moken did indeed " take hold" of the land previous to 1952 then in the same way land was assessed prior to laws governing land purchases. They own the land!

[Briggsy]

It's very easy to take sides for the Moken, and also how the news is worded. However, the fact still resides with the Law, has nothing to do with greed. People who oppose greed are usually those who are not doing well financially. Greed is never wrong, unless with ill intentions. People complain about rich people being greedy, could you prove to the world that a poor man if given an opportunity for high income, he would reject the offer?

The Moken has been living in these areas for a long time because they could, but they never owned the land. The developer has full rights to the land and how they purchased it is their business. From this viewpoint, the police, military, government will all uphold the rights of the developer and not the Moken. The exercise of physical assault is another matter, both sides should be responsible for their actions, neither side is "good". The way I see it, the developer continue their business AND the Moken gypsies WARNED and EDUCATED that they have to follow the law and can't take hold of any land they deem fit at their will.

Your previous post assumes the title deed (chanote) was issued in accordance with the law. For this to be the case, the process has to be transparent. What has transpired here is anything but transparent.