PHUKET: Protests over the ownership of land at a beach described just four years ago as ''the best that Phuket has to offer'' are likely to involve tourists in the effort to save Phuket's beaches.
Laem Singh beach, like many of Phuket's beaches in a process of steady degradation, became the centre of a public protest by vendors today when they assembled at Phuket's administrative headquarters, Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
About 100 people who currently make a living from commercial activities on Laem Singh beach, just south of Surin, insisted that an investigation be carried out into the land directly behind the beach.
They also took their protest to the contentious steep block of land behind the beach.
Laem Singh can only be accessed by a descent down a hillside from a car and motorcycle park beside the main Patong-Surin west coast road.
Now, say the vendors, a fence is to be built that will prevent access and ''privatise'' the beach.
By a stroke of good timing, the Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, Colonel Dusadi Arayawut, was on Phuket today to accept a letter from the vendors, asking for help to resolve the issue.
Sumnuk Korkaew, leader of today's protest, said that up to 100 vendors, restaurant workers and beach masseuses made a living from Laem Singh beach. As many as 700 tourists visited the beach each day, he said.
Colonel Dusadi, already investigating suspicious title deeds in the hillsides and along other Phuket beachfronts, agreed to look at whether the title now being claimed for the land backing Laem Singh was genuine.
Laem Singh retained its reputation for being one of Phuket's best beaches until about 2009 when jet-skis turned up at the beach, even though they are banned there. Nothing has ever been done to remove them.
At the same time, Laem Singh beach restaurants proliferated and some began playing loud music.
Whatever charms Laem Singh had that led a Phuketwan reviewer to rate it as ''the best that Phuket has to offer'' back in 2008 have mostly been destroyed by greed in the years since.
Colonel Dusadi agreed to add the controversial Laem Singh land to a growing list of contentious Phuket titles that he and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are investigating.
Despite its steady deterioration, Laem Singh continues to attract a dedicated band of tourist and expat residents who are likely to express displeasure if their favorite beach is to become ''off limits'' after many years of popularity.
Phuketwan has suggested that the only way Phuket's beaches will be saved is by the establishment of a single Phuket Beach Authority with the power to regulate commercial activities and to invest profits from beach activities in maintenance and protection.
Laem Singh beach, like many of Phuket's beaches in a process of steady degradation, became the centre of a public protest by vendors today when they assembled at Phuket's administrative headquarters, Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
About 100 people who currently make a living from commercial activities on Laem Singh beach, just south of Surin, insisted that an investigation be carried out into the land directly behind the beach.
They also took their protest to the contentious steep block of land behind the beach.
Laem Singh can only be accessed by a descent down a hillside from a car and motorcycle park beside the main Patong-Surin west coast road.
Now, say the vendors, a fence is to be built that will prevent access and ''privatise'' the beach.
By a stroke of good timing, the Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, Colonel Dusadi Arayawut, was on Phuket today to accept a letter from the vendors, asking for help to resolve the issue.
Sumnuk Korkaew, leader of today's protest, said that up to 100 vendors, restaurant workers and beach masseuses made a living from Laem Singh beach. As many as 700 tourists visited the beach each day, he said.
Colonel Dusadi, already investigating suspicious title deeds in the hillsides and along other Phuket beachfronts, agreed to look at whether the title now being claimed for the land backing Laem Singh was genuine.
Laem Singh retained its reputation for being one of Phuket's best beaches until about 2009 when jet-skis turned up at the beach, even though they are banned there. Nothing has ever been done to remove them.
At the same time, Laem Singh beach restaurants proliferated and some began playing loud music.
Whatever charms Laem Singh had that led a Phuketwan reviewer to rate it as ''the best that Phuket has to offer'' back in 2008 have mostly been destroyed by greed in the years since.
Colonel Dusadi agreed to add the controversial Laem Singh land to a growing list of contentious Phuket titles that he and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are investigating.
Despite its steady deterioration, Laem Singh continues to attract a dedicated band of tourist and expat residents who are likely to express displeasure if their favorite beach is to become ''off limits'' after many years of popularity.
Phuketwan has suggested that the only way Phuket's beaches will be saved is by the establishment of a single Phuket Beach Authority with the power to regulate commercial activities and to invest profits from beach activities in maintenance and protection.
So we have a situation here where you have probable illegal vendors protesting against possible illegal land owners and they will both be looking for help from hopefully non-corrupt government officials. Should be interesting
Posted by conjecture on March 15, 2012 21:04