An angry mob from the “Landless Association”, who live on palm oil plantations owned by Univanich Palm Oil Co in Krabi Noi sub-district and have been ordered to move by the plantation owner, are demanding they be allowed to continue to live in the plantation as per an agreement approved by the Cabinet in 2003 which stated that the area was for homeless and poor people.
Police and military volunteers were stationed to keep peace and order at the entrance to the airport while the group of protesters continued to grow.
A small scuffle broke out between the protesters and another group who want them to move from the site, however, police were able to separate the groups and the protest ended at around 1pm.
Officials from Krabi Provincial Hall had taken precautions in case the protesters went to the provincial hall by prohibiting all vehicles from parking in the area and had the facility monitored by guards.
An initial protest took place at the palm oil plantation yesterday (Nov 12) but they were asked to move by the Krabi Forsestry Department, to which they agreed. However, they said they would move on Krabi Provincial Hall and protest there until the matter had been resolved.
As it was not, today they decided to block Krabi International Airport rather than the provincial hall.
Speaking yesterday, the protest leader, Choowong Maneechan, said, “In the past, city officials and forestry officials have not been honest with us and have allowed the business owner to do what ever they pleased with the land.
“They have even let them profit on an expired land concession for more than 10 years.
“We want the 100,000 rai to be returned to the poor.”