A few of us were alerted to issues arising in Dayee Krahom on Saturday morning (Aug 4) with the ‘authorities’ and residents. I (Drew) arrived after the crowds had left, and talked to the people there about what had happened.
In the center of the community there are a group of houses that have been bought by 7NG, and now the former renters and/or people from outside have begun living in front of the land plots on the road/common area. Throughout this middle area I have been observing people living in shelters set up next to the areas that have been bought by 7NG.
On Saturday morning, guards hired by 7NG came to remove these people’s belongings onto trucks, and a confrontation arose. A baby was said to have been put on the truck against the mother’s wishes but was not injured. The people staying there say that the company doesn’t own the road so they should be able to stay.
The workers also went to dismantle and claim the lot that is used as the ‘theatre’ or dance practice area (pictured above), but were pushed away by a crowd that had formed in the area. The owner had sold it a few weeks ago and left town immediately afterward because some in the community were angry, claiming that is should be a community resource and not be able to be sold, though I believe she was the legal owner. The community leaders had said they could create a new dance area but none has been created yet.
Some were told that the workers were coming back in the afternoon to claim the theatre area, but they have not yet returned (as of Aug 6).
It seems that the cause of the former renters/squatters needs to be discussed, since it is a separate issue from the rights of the owners in the community. This group will likely face problems soon since they are living on questionable ground.
In the center of the community there are a group of houses that have been bought by 7NG, and now the former renters and/or people from outside have begun living in front of the land plots on the road/common area. Throughout this middle area I have been observing people living in shelters set up next to the areas that have been bought by 7NG.
On Saturday morning, guards hired by 7NG came to remove these people’s belongings onto trucks, and a confrontation arose. A baby was said to have been put on the truck against the mother’s wishes but was not injured. The people staying there say that the company doesn’t own the road so they should be able to stay.
The workers also went to dismantle and claim the lot that is used as the ‘theatre’ or dance practice area (pictured above), but were pushed away by a crowd that had formed in the area. The owner had sold it a few weeks ago and left town immediately afterward because some in the community were angry, claiming that is should be a community resource and not be able to be sold, though I believe she was the legal owner. The community leaders had said they could create a new dance area but none has been created yet.
Some were told that the workers were coming back in the afternoon to claim the theatre area, but they have not yet returned (as of Aug 6).
It seems that the cause of the former renters/squatters needs to be discussed, since it is a separate issue from the rights of the owners in the community. This group will likely face problems soon since they are living on questionable ground.
