Protest Against Tesco Lotus in Phuket Town
Photo by Michael Francis McCarthy
More than 500 local traders, business owners, and residents marched on Provincial Hall to petition the governor to stop construction of a new Tesco Lotus outlet planned for Phuket Town.
The protestors marched through the streets carrying signs with slogans reading “Tesco ruins our life in Phuket Town,” and “We don’t want Tesco.”
The march ended at Provincial Hall where protest leader Prasart Boontuntraphiwat presented an official letter of complaint to Governor Tri Augkaradacha.
He added that he would have to forward the letter of complaint to Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana, whose administration has authority over development issues inside city limits.
Tesco Lotus has already acquired 23 rai of land for the project, but has yet to complete its Environmental Impact Assessment that must be filed with a building permit application.
The protestors said they have the support of market vendors at two Phuket City Municipal Markets as well as 18 local communities spread across the city.
