Phuket sea gypsies stave off court-approved demolitions

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Phuket sea gypsies stave off court-approved demolitions

Suthicha Sirirat

 

More than 200 Phuket sea gypsies prevented court-ordered evictions in Rawai today (Feb 23). Photo: Suthicha Sirirat

 

PHUKET: -- More than 200 sea gypsies massed in front of a task force of about 50 officials, including police and civil defense volunteers, today (Feb 23) to prevent the Supreme Court-approved demolition of two ramshackle homes made of tin.

 

The 50-strong task force arrived at at 10:30am, led by Chanothai Sukphen and Theerasak Eeadchoothong, both legal experts from the Legal Execution Department Phuket office. Also present were Lt Col Parinya Tanthasuwan of Chalong Police Station as well as district provincial and officials.

 

Their mission: to demolish the tin-shack homes of Mahren and Arnan Bangjak, as ordered by the Supreme Court on Oct 21, 2016.

 

The Bangjak brothers did not present themselves during the stand-off. However, the sea gypsy community stepped in to prevent the demolitions on their behalf.

 

Suthep Mookdee, 71, a retired Sgt Maj First Class of the Royal Thai Army, explained that he and his younger brother, Thawee Mookdee, allowed Mr Mahren and Mr Arnan to rent the land to live on.

 

Mr Suthep owns land the registered under Chanote land title deed No 92823. Mr Thawee, a former Sub-Lieutenant in the Army, owns land the registered under Chanote deed No 92822.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-sea-gypsies-stave-off-court-approved-demolitions-61130.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-02-24

[Old Croc]

This land was rented to several families by the owner (chanote holder) of the land. He has been trying to regain use of his land for 7 years. This land is not claimed as traditional or long term usage land by the gypsies. They simply don't want to leave until someone gives them something else. It is adjacent to, but not part of the area recently recognised as culturally significant to these people.

 

These pics show that the land is important to the gypsies as a meeting point, parking area and rubbish dump. The area is denuded of plant life and an eyesore. I feel sorry for the land owner who apparently lives in the neat grassed house behind the tip.