Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada tasked V/Gov Prajiad with heading an investigative committee to resolve the dispute at a meeting on February 2. (See story here.)
The meeting was called after the dispute escalated into violent clashes between members of the sea gypsy community and employees of developer Baron World Trade Co Ltd, which is aiming to develop the land into a villa resort. (See story here.)
Gov Chamroen gave V/Gov Prajiad seven days to conclude his investigation. That seven days expired yesterday.
“The committee will conclude their finding within the next few days. We will know the outcome by Friday,” V/Gov Prajiad said.
The delegation of Rawai sea gypsies, led by Niran Yongpan, handed V/Gov Prajiad a formal letter explaining their description of events leading up to the violent clashes, and their ancestral claim to the land.
“The investigation is taking too long,” Mr Niran said, adding that that officials allegedly “wanted” the land in dispute to be handed over to Baron World Trade.
“But the villagers have been fighting to not let that happen and to keep the land as a public area for everyone,” Mr Niran said.
Mr Niran’s remarks follow Dr Prajiad and a slew of officials mobilising last Friday (Feb 5) to mark out a three-metre wide path along the beachfront so that sea gypsies can access their longtail boats, with which they eke out a meagre living. (See story here.)
However, the Balai shrine that the sea gypsies use for prayers and religious ceremonies is not included within the pathway marked out, and officials have to rule whether the shrine can stay where it is currently located and that sea gypsies can have free access to it, or whether they will order that the shrine be moved.
Another delegation from the Rawai sea gypsy community yesterday handed another copy of the letter to the Phuket Land Office.
Meanwhile in Bangkok, a group of about 30 sea gypsies arrived at Government House to seek help from Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to settle the land dispute. (See story here.)
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on January 27 ordered state agencies to find a solution to the land dispute conflict that led to attacks on the Rawai sea gypsies.
Gen Prawit’s remarks prompted interior permanent secretary Kritsada Boonrat to issue an urgent order to every provincial governor to help solve land disputes. (See story here.)