News Analysis
PHUKET: Resort owner-manager Vorasit ''Wan'' Issara, wounded last week in a Phuket City pub bar attack, has been released from hospital and is now recovering at Sri panwa Phuket, in the island's south.
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was on hand to present Khun Wan with a bouquet of flowers from HRH the Crown Prince.
There can be no doubting the relief on the face of Khun Wan's expecting wife, Plalavee, and among his family.
The tomahawk attack on Khun Wan by as many as eight members of the staff of the Rassada Pub about 4.30am last Wednesday put Phuket in the international media for all the wrong reasons, largely because friend and Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner was with Khun Wan at the time.
It was, we thought, just about as bad as Phuket's international news can get, short of a fully-fledged disaster.
Yet without wishing to appear insensitive - Khun Wan will still need months to recuperate and to fully heal - the savage attack that almost cost him his life is literally last week's news.
This week's international headline is even more shocking: 'Journalist killed in targeted attack on tourist island of Phuket,' it says
Corruption-hating Wisut ''Ae'' Tangwittayaporn was gunned down on a bright Phuket morning yesterday, with his wife at his side, driving a car along Phuket's main thoroughfare.
The gunmen who were paid to shoot him dead took Phuket's recent lawlessness to fresh depths.
Other professional hits have been carried out on the island, but this case is particularly despicable because it implies utter contempt not only for human life but also for Thailand's laws.
Two weeks, and two distinct, horrifying Phuket crimes, linked by the contempt of the perpetrators for the law, and for other people.
Phuketwan's motto is ''Sweet Phuket, Every Day.'' We don't constantly report the large and small problems that assail Phuket with any sense of joy.
Our hope is that by reporting the island's underlying problems, authorities will react and set in place international standards, then enforce them.
It's time for responsibility to be accepted and action to be taken on Phuket, whether over an abuse of a tourist's rights, or a horrifying capital crime that deserves the maximum penalty.
Today we can only ponder the enormity of the task faced by Phuket's new Police Commander, Major General Chonsit Wadhnawarangkun. To clean up Phuket, he needs the help of the whole island.
Will the attack on Khun Wan and the murder of Khun Ae finally shock the people of Phuket out of their chronic complacency?
Will local authorities begin to understand that Phuket's future depends on them doing their jobs?
We fervently hope so. And we wish you a speedy recovery, Khun Wan. Let's dream that Phuket also recovers, and fast.
"Will the attack on Khun Wan and the murder of Khun Ae finally shock the people of Phuket out of their chronic complacency?" Answer: No, not by the Thais. They quickly forget and while there's big money to be made then it's business as usual.
"Will local authorities begin to understand that Phuket's future depends on them doing their jobs?" Answer: No. The Gov along with the new Police Commander know who's involved in all the m**** activities but will not do anything about it as they fear for their own lives.
Thailand and indeed Phuket need sweeping reforms in justice. Unfortunately when justice can be so easily paid for then true justice and morality cannot prevail.
The Dutch Ambassador is right - Phuket is at a crossroads and many now feel it has had it chances time and time again to do the right thing and this will eventually kill tourism.
Posted by Graham on January 13, 2012 10:35