Skirmishes between men reportedly hired by investors and a seafarer minority group in Phuket erupted after a two days standoff while military officers allegedly sided with the investors.
According to Transborder News, on Wednesday, 27 January 2016, a violent confrontation between a group of 70 Orang Laut villagers, a seafarer minority group refers to as ‘Chao Lae’ in Thai, and a group of men reportedly hired by investors broke out on Rawai Beach in Muang District of the southern province of Phuket, a world famous holiday destination known for its iconic seaside and beaches.
The skirmishes began as the Rawai Beach’s seafarer community representatives were about to travel Phuket Provincial Hall to submit a petition to Damrongtham Center, a center established to accept public complaints, to urge the authorities to protect their community and livelihood.
Members of Orang Laut community reported that since Tuesday a group of men with military and police officers came to the beach and surrounded the area, which the investors have been attempting to use for developing lucrative projects for years.
The men allegedly working for the investors used an excavator to lift big rocks to seal off the entrance to the community while the military and police officers just watched on, added the seafarers.
They pointed out that the investors are claiming ownership over the area despite the fact they have legitimate rights over it.
Sanit Sae-sua, the Orang Laut community representative, said that in the petition,his community is calling the state authorities to revoke land title deed over the area and establish it as a protected cultural zone instead because the area is important the Orang Laut community and their tribal ceremonies.
An Orang Laut man of Rawai Beach in Phuket injured from the skirmishes with a group of unidentified men on 27 January 2016 (photo from Thapanee Letsrichai facebook)
Orang Laut villagers on their way to submit a petition to the authorities on 27 January 2016 (photo from Thapanee Letsrichai facebook)