Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land

[webfact]

Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land
Phuket Gazette


Sea gypsy representative Nirund Yangpan hands a letter pleading for help to the manager of Bangkok Bank, Phuket Branch. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd presented a thick set of documents on Wednesday backing their claim to the land that is currently occupied by Rawai sea gypsies in Phuket.

Among the documents presented by Chatree Madsatun, a representative from Baron World Trade, were four Chanote land titles (9613, 78116, 12616, 12592); a letter of permission from the Phuket Provincial Office; a letter of understanding from the army; a letter of understanding from the Chalong Police; as well as a number of other documents supporting their claim.

“We have all the necessary legal documents to start the project, which has been approved by relevant government offices,” said Mr Chatree.

Though the sea gypsies claim to have occupied the disputed land for more than 100 years, the Chanote land titles issued to Baron World Trade were dated April 20, 2005.

The company was registered in 1990 with 600 million baht in capital and five directors, including Chalee Sophonpanich, who is the son of Bangkok Bank Chairman Chatri Sophonpanich.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Chanotes-issued-2005-Rawai-sea-gypsy-land/63007?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-29

[JoePai]

including Chalee Sophonpanich, who is the son of Bangkok Bank Chairman Chatri Sophonpanich.

Sorry Sea Gypsies but you have no chance against that line up

[NickJ]

I agree.......

[steelepulse]

2005, sounds awful fishy.................. no pun intended, but isn't that around the time a lot of the charged for various offenses gov't officials were around?

[Reigntax]

Let us see whether the junta really has any intention to stamp out corruption. Occupied for 100 years yet new titles issued in 2005. Something stinks and its not the gypsies, those damned peasents, stoping the hisos from their wealth entitlements.

[simon43]

So issued just after the tsunami...

[WhizBang]

Do a complete background and financial investigation on everyone whose name appears on those documents. No way those documents are legit.

[LivinginKata]

So issued just after the tsunami...

Yes, that caught my eye - a lot of dodgy land titles issued by corrupt land office officials during the confusion of the tsunami recovery ...

Edited January 29, 2016 by LivinginKata

[NamKangMan]

Who did the Baron World Trade Co Ltd buy the land from in 2005????

There must be some large bank transfers / withdrawals out of the Company's bank account, back in 2005. There would be records of these transactions?

Who was the money transfer to, and if there was no money transferred, how did they purchase the land?

Sadly, it appears to be just another case of the wealthy using the corrupt to steal land on Phuket.

[steelepulse]

There's an article in the bangkok online newspaper that we can't quote about the DSI saying the 3 land titles were issued illegally and that the sea gypsies have the right to stay.

[kiwikeith]

I agree.......

Well if you agree then you should read this mornings BK post . The DSI has found land rights documents issued over 60 years and that the Gipsies have the right to live on this land.

The DSI also states that the 3 land titles the developers hold are ilegal.

DSI also states eveidence of students still alive issued surnames from HRH , the late princess mother.

The gypsies plite has been hindered by the blocking of this information, information that they have been denied access to, the DSI reports they had dificulty obtaining it.

So better to not mouth off about this in favour of the corrupt developers until you know the facts, they are coming to surface by the day.

Edited January 30, 2016 by kiwikeith

[Krataiboy]

The sea gypsies are the Phuket equivalent of the Australian aborigines - and clearly face a similar disastrous fate as capitalism catches up with them.

The original inhabitants of the island, these fascinating fisher-folk are still touted in many tourists brochures, travel books and websites as one of the international resort’s major visitor attractions. Not for much longer, it seems, unless somebody with more clout than these simple, relatively-uneducated people possess is willing to take up their cause

Before most of the Phuket’s beaches became commercialised, the sea gypsies were a nomadic tribe, moving from one area of the coast to another to avoid any risk of over-fishing a particular area. The giant modern trawler fleets which have drastically depleted the waters around Thailand are only just starting to learn this lesson – too late.

Their ancient culture has many other lessons to teach us about living in harmony with nature and the secrets of the secrets of self-sufficiency – a virtue which Thailand's visionary monarch has been at pains to promote throughout his long reign.

But who cares for any of this when big profits beckon for the relative handful of entrepreneurs and financiers behind yet another huge commercial development of the kind that have already robbed this once beautiful island of much of its natural charm?

Only someone completely out of touch with the joys of democratic capitalism would do as the sea gypsies have naively done and submit a plea for mercy to the bank which stands to profit from their eviction. This is equivalent to the residents of a turkey farm begging for respite from a poultry butcher at Christmas - and as likely to succeed.

But all need not be lost.

The present caretaker administration has gone to considerable lengths and in some instances defied commercial interests to demonstrate its determination to clear cluttered beaches and restore the intrinsic appeal of Phuket. What better way further to advance this cause than by finding a new, permanent home for the island's unique and remarkable original inhabitants?

Edited January 30, 2016 by Krataiboy

[NamKangMan]

I agree.......

Well if you agree then you should read this mornings BK post . The DSI has found land rights documents issued over 60 years and that the Gipsies have the right to live on this land.

The DSI also states that the 3 land titles the developers hold are ilegal.

DSI also states eveidence of students still alive issued surnames from HRH , the late princess mother.

The gypsies plite has been hindered by the blocking of this information, information that they have been denied access to, the DSI reports they had dificulty obtaining it.

So better to not mouth off about this in favour of the corrupt developers until you know the facts, they are coming to surface by the day.

"they are coming to surface by the day" - so why aren't they being charged and prosecuted????

[trogers]

Who did the Baron World Trade Co Ltd buy the land from in 2005????

There must be some large bank transfers / withdrawals out of the Company's bank account, back in 2005. There would be records of these transactions?

Who was the money transfer to, and if there was no money transferred, how did they purchase the land?

Sadly, it appears to be just another case of the wealthy using the corrupt to steal land on Phuket.

Alpine golf course comes to mind...

[steelepulse]

>>a letter of permission from the Phuket Provincial Office; a letter of understanding from the army; a letter of understanding from the Chalong Police;

How much did all of those cost?

[djlest]

Sorry sea gypsies, you have about as much right to land here as us foreigners have,,, Zilch!

[TimmyT]

as I know, so called "sea gypsies" (Moken people) don't have Thai citizenship. so how the can claim Thai land?!

[TimmyT]

The sea gypsies are the Phuket equivalent of the Australian aborigines - and clearly face a similar disastrous fate as capitalism catches up with them.

no way. Australia was conquered by British colonizers and the local population was subjected to genocide, while Thai and Malay people lived on Phuket for centuries and there is absolutely no evidence that Moken people (sea gypsies) came earlier. also Mokens never formed a majority of Phuket's population.

colonization and genocide is mostly a White Man's prerogative (and Japanese man's may be)

please don't try to lower Thais to your level...

Their ancient culture has many other lessons to teach us about living in harmony with nature and the secrets of the secrets of self-sufficiency –

yeah yeah with 95% of infant mortality and average life expectancy about 19 years old. it seems to me you would not agree to live "in harmony with nature" like this....

modern Western piety to primitive cultures is truly disgusting...

Edited January 30, 2016 by TimmyT

[stevenl]

Sorry sea gypsies, you have about as much right to land here as us foreigners have,,, Zilch!

Please read the thread before posting.

[NamKangMan]

>>a letter of permission from the Phuket Provincial Office; a letter of understanding from the army; a letter of understanding from the Chalong Police;

How much did all of those cost?

But they didn't have "a letter of understanding" from the DSI in Bangkok.

Edited January 30, 2016 by NamKangMan

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[kiwikeith]

I agree.......

Well if you agree then you should read this mornings BK post . The DSI has found land rights documents issued over 60 years and that the Gipsies have the right to live on this land.

The DSI also states that the 3 land titles the developers hold are ilegal.

DSI also states eveidence of students still alive issued surnames from HRH , the late princess mother.

The gypsies plite has been hindered by the blocking of this information, information that they have been denied access to, the DSI reports they had dificulty obtaining it.

So better to not mouth off about this in favour of the corrupt developers until you know the facts, they are coming to surface by the day.

"they are coming to surface by the day" - so why aren't they being charged and prosecuted????

I think you should ask the Prime Minister this question he appears to be looking into it.