Reclaiming islands from mafia control.

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Reclaiming islands from mafia control.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

A couple of articles on plans to clean up Koh Samet and the 'mafia' control of tourism on the island. It will be interesting to see how this goes and if it will be applied to other islands in Thailand suffering from the same problem.
Mafia preying on popular islands are facing crackdowns as the government plans to wipe out elements reaping profits from unregulated businesses, starting with those on Koh Samet in Rayong.

"Koh Samet has some of the most serious problems such as rubbish and sewage management, influential thugs and so on," said Thanya Netithammakun, director- general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

"Several other islands and national parks have similar problems such as Lipe archipelago, Tarutao National Marine Park and Koh Chang. And they too will face similar legal action."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special ... -crackdown

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... robe-finds
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CEOCambodiaNews
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Re: Reclaiming islands from mafia control.

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Image
Mafia crackdown: Koh Samet gearing up for trouble as soldiers descend on holiday island today

Monday, 21 November 2016
Koh Samet has been warned there could be trouble as plans for a big military swoop on illegal operators begin in earnest today.
Authorities are attempting to return the island to its rightful status as a national park after decades of exploitation and corruption.

But local park chief Prayoon Pongphan has been warned to expect trouble as many established resorts, jetskis/speedboat and song thaew operators and motorbike rental companies are being told they have to clear out, reports Naewna.

At least two dozen resorts have just three months before they are set to be torn down.

The warning came from Thanya Netithammakun the director general of the national office of the Thai National Parks. He said there may be trouble and warned Prayoon to be on alert as the operators “won’t like the orders and will claim they are suffering”.

The move on the island aims to restore the Khao Laem Ya – Koh Samet National Park and root out corruption caused by involvement of mafia figures and corrupt local officials. Already some eighty bent officials have been replaced with new staff. The former park chief was removed in September.

Naew Na reported yesterday that 100 park officials, soldiers and police had set up roadblocks all over the island and were checking work permits, forbidding tents on the beaches, closing down jetski operations and trying to stop speedboats – though they failed to have much impact in the last of these.

http://www.samuitimes.com/mafia-crackdo ... and-today/
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