Songklot Imjit, a representative of the villagers, explained, “Actually, we planned to plant some trees on the border separating the village from the mangrove to celebrate HM the King’s Birthday.
“There are 432 families comprising about 1,200 people in the community. We have lived there for a long time and we are waiting for our community land paper to be issued.
“We live next to mangrove forest but we have a concrete agreement not to encroach on the forest and we all respect that.”
He said that the villagers had gathered at the police station because police had asked them to meet with the businessman to discuss the dispute.
But when they arrived, they found that the businessman had not come to the meeting and the police were handling the situation.
After leaving the police station, the group went straight to the Damrongtham Center to place a counter-complaint.
“We have received a complaint from them,” said Prapan Khanprasang, Damrongtham Center Chief.
“We will set a date when both sides can have a talk at this office.”
On Monday (December 8) villagers from the Satonpho community also went to the Damrontham Centre to ask for help in a dispute with the owners of the land on which they live.