PHUKET: About 200 beach workers from Phuket protested today near the offices of the Prime Minister in Bangkok, carrying signs such as: ''We are not the mafia.''
The protest in Thailand's capital came as the holiday island's beach district mayors decided on Phuket to allow the Governor to have control of the beaches and rules on the beaches.
Four buses of beach workers left from Patong and Karon beaches on Phuket's holiday west coast yesterday. Phuketwan understands the group were advised to take off gold rings and necklaces before their demonstration.
A protest letter from the demonstrators, handed to a senior official in the PM's office, blamed Governor Nisit Jansomwong for Phuket's problems on the beaches.
Last year, soon after the military took control in Thailand, the Army and the Navy combined with local authorities to clear Phuket's beaches of commercial activities. Illegal restaurants and beach clubs were bulldozed.
More here: Phuket Beach Workers Protest at Prime Minister's Office in Bangkok - Phuket Wan