PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and his son Prab Keesin are among those for whom arrest warrants have been issued for today's swoop on scores of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and ''mafia'' suspects on Phuket.
Region 8 Police Commander Major General Paya Mamen did not name the pair early today, only saying that a former Patong mayor and his son were involved.
By 7.50am, when police with armed soldiers in support entered Khun Pian's home and officials flashed warrants to enter the Pisona family business nearby, there was no doubt that the Keesins were on the long list.
For almost two decades, Pian Keesin has been the most powerful man in Patong, serving a long term as mayor until earlier this year when the Electoral Commission cast into doubt his latest triumph and Khun Pian, who once said ''the sky belongs to the birds, but the mayorship of Patong belongs to Pian Keesin'' lost the election rerun.
Prab Keesin's face has appeared on a couple of billboards recently, most notably in connection with promotion of a Phuket futsal team at the most prominent intersection on the main road leading into Patong.
Khun Pian's telephone continued to ring without answering today while Khun Prab's telephone was switched off.
The swoop on taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in Patong, with more than 80 arrests ordered, was welcomed today by envoys who said the task force strike could be the beginning of a ''new Phuket.''
Former Australian honorary consul Larry Cunningham spoke for many when he said: ''If what follows is the introduction of a low-cost bus around Patong, that will break the back of the taxi drivers and their excessive fares.''
Mr Cunningham, who retired as consul in September last year but still has business interests on Phuket, said that Patong was the place that kept him busy during his eight years as an envoy.
''The majority of Australian citizens who were assaulted, scammed and extorted were assaulted, scammed and extorted in Patong,'' Mr Cunningham said.
He welcomed today's symbolic raid and said: ''If the Army can take on the Patong mafia and beat them, it will send a message to the rest of Phuket and all of Thailand.''
Despite having to deal with the problems of tourists and expats, Mr Cunningham remains a strong advocate of tourism on Phuket and long ago at an honorary consuls' meeting urged the creation of ''a New Phuket, free of corruption, scams and rip-offs.''
Whether the new dawn for Phuket has arrived should become evident in coming days.
Region 8 Police Commander Major General Paya Mamen did not name the pair early today, only saying that a former Patong mayor and his son were involved.
By 7.50am, when police with armed soldiers in support entered Khun Pian's home and officials flashed warrants to enter the Pisona family business nearby, there was no doubt that the Keesins were on the long list.
For almost two decades, Pian Keesin has been the most powerful man in Patong, serving a long term as mayor until earlier this year when the Electoral Commission cast into doubt his latest triumph and Khun Pian, who once said ''the sky belongs to the birds, but the mayorship of Patong belongs to Pian Keesin'' lost the election rerun.
Prab Keesin's face has appeared on a couple of billboards recently, most notably in connection with promotion of a Phuket futsal team at the most prominent intersection on the main road leading into Patong.
Khun Pian's telephone continued to ring without answering today while Khun Prab's telephone was switched off.
The swoop on taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in Patong, with more than 80 arrests ordered, was welcomed today by envoys who said the task force strike could be the beginning of a ''new Phuket.''
Former Australian honorary consul Larry Cunningham spoke for many when he said: ''If what follows is the introduction of a low-cost bus around Patong, that will break the back of the taxi drivers and their excessive fares.''
Mr Cunningham, who retired as consul in September last year but still has business interests on Phuket, said that Patong was the place that kept him busy during his eight years as an envoy.
''The majority of Australian citizens who were assaulted, scammed and extorted were assaulted, scammed and extorted in Patong,'' Mr Cunningham said.
He welcomed today's symbolic raid and said: ''If the Army can take on the Patong mafia and beat them, it will send a message to the rest of Phuket and all of Thailand.''
Despite having to deal with the problems of tourists and expats, Mr Cunningham remains a strong advocate of tourism on Phuket and long ago at an honorary consuls' meeting urged the creation of ''a New Phuket, free of corruption, scams and rip-offs.''
Whether the new dawn for Phuket has arrived should become evident in coming days.
Can Mr. Cunningham use his virtuous influences to find out why the Jet-ski's and Para-sailors are still controlling Patong and other beaches ?
Posted by Zig on August 28, 2014 08:46