Puwanark Buaniam, the fishermen’s lawyer, insisted to the court that the place where the fishermen had been fishing and the place where the park officers arrested them were not the same. (See earlier story here).
He added, “The nine men are going to sue the DNP under the National Parks Act which has an exception allowing Sea Gypsies to fish in the National Park area using traditional equipment,” Mr Puwanark said.
The fishermen have also requested the Takuapa public prosecutor to organise the return of the two fishing boats seized from them, so that they can earn a living. They said that they were also concerned that officials had beached the boats, which might end up being cracked by the heat of the sun.