Many of those who attended the meeting called for the “Phuket Council” – an ad hoc body set up by the vendors – to lobby the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to allow vendors to go back and do business along the beach.
They said they were hoping to seek “justice” from the NCPO so they could get back their livelihoods.
Jakarin Jareonjit, a sunbeds and umbrella renter, said that since the beach clean-up many had lost their jobs and have no income to support their families. Some families have had to take their children out of school because they can no longer afford it.
Many beach vendors have no other way of earning money because they have been in the same business for over 40 years, he said.
Mr Jakarin added that most tourists prefer to have the option of using a sunbed and umbrella on the beach.
“They come to our beaches for the convenience. If we can’t provide such services, tourists will simply find an alternate beach destination in a different country,” he said.
Phuket Council leader Palad Jansopin said, “While [the Army] attempt to solve the encroachment problem, we must ensure that no one suffers as a result of it. Tourist service workers must have an opportunity to find alternative employment, or new jobs should be provided for them.”
He confirmed that the Phuket Council will gather both negative and positive comments and hand them to the NCPO next month.
The council are registering names and IDs and other supporting information to pass on to the NCPO.