Displaced Thais in Ranong up in arms over land bridge project

Displaced people living in Thailand’s southern province of Ranong have submitted a petition to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin voicing their opposition to the government’s land bridge mega project and demanding acceleration of the issuance of Thai ID cards for them.

The petition was submitted to the prime minister by Mathom Sinsuwan, a representative of the Thai displaced people living in Ratchakrut sub-district of Ranong, during his visit to this southern border province on Monday.

Mathom said that the project, which involves the construction of a deep-sea port in Ao Ang in Ratchakrut sub-district, will seriously impact the livelihoods of the people there, who are mostly fisher folk.

She explained that the people there, who are mostly displaced Thais who do not have Thai ID cards, are practically unable to work elsewhere without facing arrest and, therefore, have to work in…