Sea gypsies block demolition of two homes in Phuket’s Rawai area
Some 200 sea gypsies in the Rawai area of Phuket’s Muang district Thursday morning gathered to block the demolition of two homes in Soi Mukdee, while some 100 policemen, Navy officers and administrative officials were present to prevent clashes.
The homes were being demolished because the Supreme Court had ruled on December 30, 2015 that home owners Maren Bangchak and Anan Bangchak, who had leased the plots and formally notified to move out in 2011, were to be evicted from the properties.
However, since neither Maren nor Anan were present to receive the demolition notices, legal-execution official Theerasak Eiad-chuthong told the holders of the land rights, brothers Suthep and Thawee Mukdee, that the demolition could not be done due to fears of clashes with the protesters.
Yet the landlords and their authorised representative Satheun Mukdee insisted on going ahead as they had already brought along workers and tools to perform the demolition task. But when they faced with the protesters, Satheun said the demolition could not go ahead and that he would have to file a police complaint first.
Seeing the other side retreat, the protesters, many of whom carried a portrait of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, began crying and singing the Royal Anthem.
