PHUKET - Shop proprietors illegally occupying parts of popular Surin beach have asked for an extension to the deadline for the dismantling of their premises, saying moves to regulate the beach are badly affecting their livelihood.
About 30 shop owners on Thursday submitted a petition to the Justice Ministry’s public service centre in Phuket, seeking justice over the demolition order.
Walailuck Buasri, coordinator of the Surin beach business operators club, said the Choeng Talay tambon administration organisation (TAO) and the Phuket provincial administration organisation (PAO) had instructed them to dismantle their shops by April 15.
They had asked for a grace period for the demolition of the structures, but the two local bodies refused and instead filed a police complaint accusing them of encroaching on public land, said Ms Walailuck.
Earlier, the TAO had met with all the affected operators about its plans to strengthen regulation of the beach. The TAO then moved the demolition deadline forward from April 20 to April 15, said Ms Walailuck. This meant they had only seven days left to pull down and move their shops.
There are 40 shops along the beach. Of these, 20 were built by the PAO in 1995 and offered for rent. The other 20 were built in 2005 by the TAO. Each business pays 5,000 baht in rent a year, Thai media reported.
“We want the demolition deadline extended. We question why it must be done so quickly. Most shop premises were built by the authorities and operators have traded in the area for a long time,’’ said Ms Walailuck.
The group had earlier raised the issue with provincial authorities, but the governor replied the demolition order was issued under the National Council for Peace and Order’s policy to regulate all businesses on the beach.
She said the club members also wanted authorities to find a new trading site for them. Unless there was a quick response to their requests they would lodge a complaint with the Interior Ministry.
Two business operators carry a cloth banner with a message ''What are we doing wrong? We earn our living honestly.'' They are among 40 affected shop proprietors who turned up at a public service centre in Phuket on Thursday to air their grievances after being ordered to demolish their shops by April 15. (Photo by Post Today)