‘Seastead’ home to come ashore
Thailand’s navy is removing the controversial floating house belonging to a US-Thai couple facing death over its construction.
BANGKOK: The Thai navy began removing a floating house off the coast of the southern island of Phuket belonging to a US-Thai couple who face death for its construction.
The effort would take half a day with the structure expected to be moved ashore in the afternoon, the navy said yesterday.
Seasteading refers to the building of floating societies outside the territory claimed by any government.
The structure was built by Chad Elwartowski, a 46-year-old American, and his partner Supranee Thepdet, also known as Nadia Summergirl.
The couple, who invited people to join them seasteading in a video posted online last month, has been accused of violating Thailand’s sovereignty after the erection about 26km off Phuket.
They have insisted that they did not violate Thailand’s laws as the cabin is located in international waters, but Thai authorities say it lies within a 321km exclusive economic zone.
The couple have not yet been formally charged over the structure, police said. If prosecuted, they could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Elwartowski’s Thai visa has also been revoked, said the navy.
The pair, who are currently in hiding, said they were safe and not a threat to national security.
“Happy Easter everyone. Nadia and I are still safe,” Elwartowski wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday.
“I am a pacifist and Nadia is a Buddhist, and Buddhists are supposed to respect the sanctity of life. So there is no way we could ever be a threat to anyone. We just wanted to be free.”