Residents from several villages on the Thai island of Koh Samui have gathered to drive out a breeder whose horses are polluting the beaches and damaging local crops.
More than 300 residents from the districts of Taling Ngam, Na Mueang and Ma Ret, on the island of Koh Samui (Surat Thani province), protested on 3 October to demand the removal of a horse breeder. They denounce the nuisance caused by the animals left to roam freely on the public beach.
The protesters, led by Vérapol Watcharasinthu, chairman of the Bang Kao neighbourhood committee, brandished placards demanding a ban on equestrian activities on the beaches and in residential areas. Police and local authorities were present to oversee the gathering.
Local residents accuse the breeder of letting his horses roam unsupervised on the beach. The animals leave droppings that are not cleared away, while some enter agricultural areas and damage crops.
The residents say they have lodged repeated complaints for more than a year without receiving a satisfactory response. On 29 September, authorities had already seized 22 horses after warnings were ignored.
The residents can no longer tolerate the situation. They want the breeder to leave the island for good, as the problems persist despite repeated warnings from the authorities.
The protesters then went to the Koh Samui police station to file an official complaint against the operator.
Source : Dailynews