Sea gypsies benefit from historic deal

Sea gypsies benefit from historic deal

3 groups given 15 rai of coastal land

PHUKET: The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) on Friday signed a deal with local administrations and civic groups to allocate coastal mangrove forest areas to landless sea gypsies.

Three sea gypsy communities — in Phuket, Ranong and Krabi — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Community Organisations Development Institute (CODI) (Public Organisation), the Chumchonthai Foundation and People’s Movement for a Just Society (P-move).

The deal will see 15 rai of mangrove forest land allocated to 484 villages in three coastal sea gypsy communities: the Sa Thon Pho in Phuket, Koh Lao in Ranong and Toh Baling in Krabi.

However, the rights to stay are not transferable and those villagers have pledged to protect the…