THAILAND - Resort's 'white beach' inflames residents' ire

Bangkokpost, January 23, 2008

Villagers in Phangnga's Takua Thung district have demanded immediate legal action against a resort developer who cut down a lush mangrove forest in the area to create an artificial beach.
Three rai of the mangrove forest, which local people have looked after for 20 years, had already been cleared, he said.
''A few days ago, workers started dumping huge amounts of sand onto the land despite it being a protected forest area,'' said Mr Sommai.
According to villagers, the developer of the White Sand Villa project bought a seven-rai block of land adjacent to the protected mangrove forest two years ago and planned the construction of a luxury resort and pier.
''We are not against business development in our community, but it must not destroy our traditional way of life and our precious natural resources,'' he said.
Local people's loyalties had been divided by cash poured into the community by the resort developer.

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