The deterioration of the environment and, ironically, also the measures taken to protect it through for instance marine parks in areas where sea gypsies people used to live restrict their livelihoods options. The panel presentations including a photographic slide show on the lives and livelihoods of the Moken people in Surin islands, will reflect on the role of the State in governing indigenous people and the impacts of tourism on the sea gipsies and their habitat.
Photo by Rosalia Sciortino, Tipakson Manpati and Panupong Boontongchuay
Event poster
Sign in time
The first speaker, Dr. Narumon
Arunotai, Professor and
Researcher at Chulalongkorn
University Social Research Institute
Dr. Narumon explained about
sub-groups of sea gypsies
including Moken, Moglen
and Urak Lawoi
Dr. Narumon talked about
the life of sea gypsies on
the Andaman coastline,
Southern Thailand
Participants focused on
the presentation
The second speaker, Yostorn
Trios showed a picture of
a Moken diving to get sea food
Sea gypsy wearing a goggle
Sea gypsies children in the
water while eating fruit
Sea gypsies usually set up
their house near the seashore
and tie their boat near the house
Food waste from restaurant
to be buried in Bon bay
Abalones in the net bag
Sea gypsies gathered to
collect donation objects
after there was a fire incident
in February 2019
Many sea gypsies work
for tourist company
Third speaker, Wittawat Tepsong,
Coordinator for Andaman
Sea Gypsy People Network
Sea gypsy cleaning the tourist boat
Wittawat talked about the
limitation of se gypsies to
make a living as they are restricted
by Marine National Park Law
Dr. Narumon talked about
the sea gypsies’ cultural
knowledge that is disappearing
such as making boat
Traditionally, sea gypsies
living on the boat and
settled in the island during
monsoon season
A movie “No Word for Worry”
Participant shared his
thought about sea gypsies’
livelihood