The top lawyer for the 2nd Army has vowed to enforce an eviction order if operators refuse to demolish restaurants encroaching on state land near the Lam Takhong reservoir in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Workers begin dismantling restaurants near Lam Takhong reservoir in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima. Provincial authorities issued orders for 51 restaurants to be moved after they were found to be encroaching on state land. More than 20 were dismantled on Thursday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Col Sommai Bussaba said on Thursday the 2nd Army's legal team is prepared to remove the 51 restaurants that occupy 60 rai of state land near the reservoir in Pak Chong district if they refuse to comply with the order to disperse, which took effect yesterday.
The restaurant owners, meanwhile, say they have nowhere else to go and claim evicting them will destroy their livelihoods.
By Wednesday, the operator of one of the restaurants had dismantled the structure, Col Sommai said.
Others have refused to move and were reportedly preparing to mobilise people to oppose the eviction, he said.
Col Sommai said he also has more than 100,000 of his own supporters ready to stage a counter-protest if necessary.
He said the action will not overstep legal bounds and the army is willing to help any people affected.
Nakhon Ratchasima provincial authorities ordered the eviction to tackle concerns the restauranteurs were releasing waste into the water supply.
"Operators at Mor Pla Yang have destroyed the ecological system of the Lam Takhong River by releasing waste into the river, which supplies water to more than 500,000 residents in Nakhon Ratchasima," Col Sommai said.
"We want the operators to take one step back. What we are doing is for the sake of the people. The encroached land is a recreational area for people to view the scenery of the reservoir. It's not a place for business operators to occupy for personal gain."
Suvej Janjanthuek, village head of Ban Janthuek village in Pak Chong district, is representing the restaurant owners.
He denied they had released waste into the river. In fact, he said, the operators had installed waste treatment systems.
Locals call the area Mor Pla Yang. About three decades ago, operators began to settle there with makeshift shelters, catching fish from the reservoir and grilling them for sale to visitors.
Later, the shelters were turned into permanent restaurants.
He said most operators were willing to move, but he appealed to authorities to give his group an additional two months to find a new location.
Mr Suvej, who also runs Nong Benz restaurant there, said almost 20 owners have begun dismantling their buildings.
But some operators did not have anywhere to move.
The demolition of their restaurants will destroy their livelihoods, and many workers would become jobless as a result of the move, he said.
He suggested authorities could lease land to the restauranteurs in a military compound about 3km away.
He said the plots there could also be developed as a market for locally-made products, as was once proposed in 2006.
Chaloem Srisomngam, owner of the Chao Khuen restaurant, said he had dismantled 80% of his restaurant, but has kept the rest in place so his family can survive by providing a limited service for customers.
If someone could find a new location for him, Mr Chaloem said he would move right away.