PHUKET: About 100 residents oppose a plan to grant the navy access to land to set up a base and accommodate a future expansion of the adjacent international airport.
The residents recently submitted a letter to the provincial governor, demanding that the Third Naval Area Command (TNAC) cease barricading an area in the Bang Khanoon forest park in Thalang district.
They also insisted that a public hearing be organised on the navy's plan to establish a new site for the 22nd Air Defence Battalion (ADB) and designate a future expansion area for Phuket International Airport.
On March 1, the TNAC was permitted by the Royal Forest Department (RFD) to use about 3,700 rai of forest land in tambon Sakhoo. Regarding the 22nd ADB, the navy has proposed to relocate parts of its shore patrol operation units and Naval Military Police Regiment there.
It was found that the residents had turned the area into farms and built houses.
The authorities met with the residents on April 24 to explain the navy's development plan for the forest area.
Last month, the navy warned residents living in the area it would be fenced off for TNAC use and to prevent further encroachment.
Phuket MPs from the Move Forward Party were earlier invited to visit the area.
On Monday, the residents demanded that the navy remove a barbed-wire fence within seven days and conduct a public hearing on the TNAC's plan.
Their demands were submitted to the provincial governor's office. Deputy governor Anuparb Rodkwan was on hand to receive the letter.
Uthai Suksirisamphan, leader of the resident group, called on the provincial governor to order the local forestry office to withdraw a forest encroachment charge it lodged against residents with the Department of Special Investigation.
He added the navy should not refer to the residents as encroachers.
Mr Uthai said the residents found themselves in a dispute with the navy after the force was authorised by the RFD to access the land.
He claimed the navy's presence would lead to Phuket being militarised and it would eventually collapse the local economy.
"We don't want the military here," he said.
Mr Anuparb, meanwhile, said he believed a solution would be worked out, allowing residents to continue farming and living on the land while the navy operates its facilities.
