Restrictions sinking sea gypsies | Bangkok Post: news

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Restrictions sinking sea gypsies

As their traditional fishing areas are declared national parks and closed off to them, members of the group fight to survive. But recent policy moves could help preserve their culture

Sanit tried to maintain his stride while walking towards the sea, but everybody knew that he was sick.

ADAPTING TO A NEW AGE: This sea gypsy fishing off Phuket’s Rawai beach has seen many restrictions imposed on his lifestyle over the last 20 years.

A while ago, Sanit, who is 36, was diving down more than 20m to collect fish from traps on the seabed and rose to the surface too quickly. That caused him to suffer decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends.

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Your comments

  • Discussion 4 : 11 Nov 2012 at 10.154

    The pace of socalled development is absurd, it wouldn't take long before we can admire human species like the sea gypsy in a Madam Toussou museum......who needs more hotels, resorts and what have we?

    Rural Thai struggles to survive, land grabbing , an over educated young generation, and nepotism at the top.
    What is going on in my land of smiles?

  • abbub

    ThailandPost : 2,026

    Send message

    Discussion 3 : 11 Nov 2012 at 10.033

    The government is slowly, surely coming up with ways to help? I doubt that.

    Several years ago there was a BBC documentary about this scandalous affair, of people being robbed of up to 95% of their land by unscrupulous politicians and businessmen.

    The BBC actually managed to get an interview with Abhisit but then they got there, AV claimed he was unable to meet and sent a spokesperson for him at government house. The BBC and the representative were assured the AV government would stop the swindles. NOTHING has been done.

  • Walai

    Discussion 2 : 11 Nov 2012 at 10.032

    Article in today's Post about sea gypsies
    from iPhone application.

  • Discussion 1 : 11 Nov 2012 at 05.241

    poor sea gypsy. I think hotel that build on sea gypsy grave will have ghost

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