'If you lose, you can always move,' Phuket Gov tells sea gypsies


Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada holds up his phone showing a map of the development planned to be built on 19 rai at the sea gypsy village in Rawai. Photo: Darawan Naknakhon

PHUKET: -- Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada today (Feb 15) announced that 45 rai in Rassada, north of Phuket Town, has been allocated for sea gypsies in Rawai to move to if a court judgement rules against them, forcing them to vacate land claimed by private developers.

At a meeting at Provincial Hall today, Gov Chamroen presented a formal document attesting that a three-meter wide path marked out by officials last week is public land, giving the Rawai sea gypsies unfettered access to their boats so that they may continue to fish for a living.

However, he added, “We will have to ask Baron World Trade Co Ltd to donate the land to expand the pathway by three more meters so that the sea gyspies can access the Balai (shrine) without having to move it.”

Baron World Trade last month moved ahead with its plans to develop 33 rai alongside the village into a villa resort. Fights broke out when workers blocked off sea gypsies’ access to their Balai shrine, sparking the current Governor-led resolution process and a contingent of military personnel to keep the peace at the village.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/if-you-lose-you-can-always-move-phuket-gov-tells-sea-gypsies-56233.php


-- Phuket News 2016-02-16

We all know how this is going to end, sadly.

Looks like a foregone conclusion now.

Hmmm, Koh Sirey or Rawai beachfront? It definitely sounds like the writing is on the wall.

Man with a plan , definitely.

We will know Thailand has finally turned a corner when compassion finally trumps greed. Sadly, that day still seems a long way off

Don't 'Sea Gypsies' live on boats?

Seems that Phuket has been sold down to the highest bidder, along with the traditions that make the Island so unique.

Business as usual. Just drive them in the sea, who cares.

Until that say they come for you.

If they win ,they will have to move anyway.

regards Worgeordie

Sounds like the brown envelope is nearly big enough...

It has started. So strategically and cunning. Yes i know who will loose.

This dispute has the potential to get very messy on the world stage for Phuket, and for Thailand.

I will be surprised if it is resolved without any bloodshed, and the negative publicity that goes with it.

On the law of averages, out of 2000 people, there will be several that will not be prepared to accept the verdict and will resist resettlement.

The Mafia and big business still rules in Phuket. Pm please give your blessing to this article! Sin island!

Is this a true quote from a Phuket Gov.. So sad to see how far the government in Phuket has fallen. The Pm and his army does not want to get in a fight with the Phuket mafia. Nothing will change in Phuket or South Thailand because they do not want a fight on there hands. Bad karma!

Big money always has the law and the Politicians on it's side, everywhere in the world, not only in Thailand. But in Thailand it's so more obvious. !

Best of luck to the Sea gypsies...

Gazette now has an article stating the governor wants 313 million from the central gov't to buy the land from those with (possible doggy) titles and build a village for the sea gypsies. If central go't does this, then there will be line out the door for people wanting the gov't t.o buy their land

Gazette now has an article stating the governor wants 313 million from the central gov't to buy the land from those with (possible doggy) titles and build a village for the sea gypsies. If central go't does this, then there will be line out the door for people wanting the gov't t.o buy their land

The average punter will get nothing. Only those in power or with power backing will make millions. Corruption rules ...

Gazette now has an article stating the governor wants 313 million from the central gov't to buy the land from those with (possible doggy) titles and build a village for the sea gypsies. If central go't does this, then there will be line out the door for people wanting the gov't t.o buy their land

The average punter will get nothing. Only those in power or with power backing will make millions. Corruption rules ...

That's my point, All these families with money encroaching on national parks, public land etc with their fake titles will now want to sell the land they stole.

Don't 'Sea Gypsies' live on boats?

Errr, my brain hurts.

It sounds like the Gov. is already counting on the Sea Gypsies to lose their case. I do hope he is wrong for the Sea Gypsies sake, I hope the Gov. is just being overambitious.

Provinces should be allowed to elect their own Governors.

I wonder what a locally elected Phuket Governor would would do. Yeah, take the money.