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Restaurants Defy Clearance Order
By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Sunday, July 13, 2014
PHUKET: Some illegal restaurants and beach clubs are still operating along the Phuket coast in defiance of orders to shut down and demolish the constructions.
In a survey of several beaches yesterday, Phuketwan encountered a proprietor at a still-open restaurant who said: ''We will wait and see whether the Army is serious or not.''
Yes, he said, the restaurant had already received notification from the local municipality to pack up and destroy the building.
Nearby, other premises - including probably the island's largest and most solidly-built illegal beach restaurant - were entertaining guests and inviting passersby to come inside.
The stretch of restaurants at Laypang, or northern Bang Tao beach, has grown over the years to nudge the water's edge in places at high tide.
As at other Phuket beaches, the success of the thatch and bamboo diners encouraged brand names to buy into beach clubs.
At Laypang yesterday, defiance was evident. A team of workers were even laying new cables in plastic piping in the sand.
There seemed to be no concern at all that the Army might suddenly appear with a demolition grader.
Further along the sand, guests were catching sunshine in blustery conditions at a resort-branded beach club.
A spokesman for the Army said that action would follow.
The beach clearance campaign had only been delayed briefly because of an overseas trip by Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, whose Cherng Talay district takes in Surin, Laypang, Layan and Bang Tao beaches.
Despite the campaign, debate is likely to continue about the merits of clearing the beaches of restaurants, umbrellas and loungers.
While cleared beaches at Surin, Kamala and Patong look refreshed and the magnificent vistas of the sea are a reminder of Phuket's natural attributes, grumblings are growing.
Tourists who are used to laying under umbrellas on sun loungers and being waited on hand and foot have begun to complain.
There is also at Laypang the issue of leaving many tourists with no alternative places to eat, with their only choice the expensive resort restaurants that the beach establishments enabled them to avoid.
More action is likely on the beaches this week with the arrival on Phuket today of one of the most powerful of Thailand's military rulers, the Commander-in-Chief of The Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Narong Pipatanasai.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
10 establishments continue to push their luck on Kamala Beach as well- a bit silly in the current clime.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
July 13, 2014 08:35
Please dear Military, now just do not give in, otherwise everything was for nothing.
Posted by
Hannes
on
July 13, 2014 08:39
Unbelievable and good follow up work from PW. These guys clearly dont care about anything. Maybe arrest and imprisonment might be the appropriate tonic for them.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
July 13, 2014 09:14
We had our mind set yesterday 12 July on buying food from legal shops at Nai thong for a picnic under trees at the beach. We saw all the illegal occupation still under the trees on the beach and went on to Nay Yang. Same story there, so finally we did not buy and picnic there. All this is a mockery. How can the Thai military lack means to have the law respected by a few individuals, especially when this protective law of is welcomed by more than 80% of the public who want natural landscape instead of a Costa del Sol ? How can such a farcical situation take place ?
Posted by
beach defender
on
July 13, 2014 09:53
I feel some beach restaurants are a nice addition to the vacation experience. I also enjoy having a comfortable lounge and larger umbrella if I wish to spend a whole day at the beach. It was the lack of control that needed to be amended.
I say they are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Have a lottery, allow the winners to operate and use their taxes to maintain the beach with large specialty machine cleaners - it needs it bad. Tourists who want nothing but nature have many other choices than Phuket. And if the, er breach [italics] club hadn't been allowed to build on the Marine Park doorstep on Layan Beach, and it is against height restrictions, not to mention a nuisance in disturbing the peace - it would be just that natural beach.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
July 13, 2014 10:11
Seen it all before numerous times, why should it be any different now. It's all about the money and nothing to do with equality because there is none.
Posted by
gee
on
July 13, 2014 11:31
To those that want a beach lounger and large umbrella, check in at the nearest western style hotel. Personally, I am thrilled that i can now enjoy a tropical beach as nature originally provided. The beaches belong to all the people in Thailand, not a select few that have connections. Still some remnants of the illegal structures at Nai Harn (the restaurant on the rocks at the South end) tires and concrete, and the nastiest mess of all, garbage and more garbage. So far, so good, just watching to see how far this cleanup goes.
Posted by
nick
on
July 13, 2014 11:33
There is no " throwing the baby out with the bathwater " The Nigh Mare : if we want to eat & drink on the beach we still buy form legal shop on the east side of the path and carry food and umbrellas that will leave when we leave. This is done on many beautiful beaches in the world. By giving in the military would send a very wrong signal : " do as you please for ever and aggravate the situation because even police helped by soldiers can do nothing, we are proving it for the future"
Posted by
beach defender
on
July 13, 2014 11:41
JUSTICE SHOULD SEIZE THEIR PROPERTIES AND BANK ACCOUNTS, WITH HEAVY FINES AND JAIL FOR ALL CHEATERS, TAX-EVADERS, LAND-GRABBERS AND DOUBLE CONDEMNATION FOR CORRUPT CIVIL SERVANTS
1/- Tax audit with fines up to five times the cheating.
2/- Non-eligibility for years to trade and be shareholder/director for a company.
3/- Heavy fines and perhaps jail terms depending of the extensive fraud done.
4/- In extra, banning from government service for life of all corrupt politicians and civil servants.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
July 13, 2014 12:37
The arrogance of these people is beyond belief this is what you get when you have years of appeasement by those running this island ,crush these buildings and fine these jokers let them know that the army means business unlike the so called establishment and the wishy washy policy enforcement of the past decade do it now means do it now .
Posted by
Scunner
on
July 13, 2014 13:01
I don't know why people continue to put up with all this nonsense. Leave and spend your money where it is appreciated.
A mate from Scotland fled from Patong yesterday and he said that was it, he is finished with Phuket. He is a 30 year visitor too.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
July 13, 2014 13:50
We do not want beach loungers, umbrella's, etc. Return the beach to its natural habitat. I have spoken with scores who fully agree. Be strong, military & give us back the old Phuket.
Posted by
Ned
on
July 13, 2014 14:14
And to day Sunday 09.45 they open a bar on the Kata beach whit bear and vodka +++ about 150 meter from the life Gard tower, and the Karon Police drive and look 2 times and they don`t do nothing.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronningen
on
July 13, 2014 14:35
In my opinion the reason this keeps happening is because there is not a standard and strong justice/punishment system here in Thailand against any offenders...so nobody is fearful of breaking any laws...how many times have we seen people commit crimes here...even murder...only to get off in most cases with a slap on the wrist and a token payment to the family of the victims...Until punishments are strictly enforced and made to have a strong impression on the offenders...this kind of mai pen rai behavior will continue....Nobody cares here and that's the bottom line.
Posted by
sky
on
July 13, 2014 14:35
Give the army time! They've achieved more in a couple of months than anyone else in a couple of decades.
"Okay lads - fix bayonets!"
Posted by
Logic
on
July 13, 2014 14:41
Be careful Phuket. We come to Surin every year, spend about US$20k in 2 weeks. This will be our last trip, some other country will take our money. And lots of the tourists I have spoken to are saying the same. There are lots of much more beautiful beaches in the world, if that's what your looking for.....Surin was a nice beach with great restaurants and beach clubs, now it will die and with it the substantial local employment we provided. I'm sure the beach will be even more beautiful once all the (money) tourists are gone!
Posted by
Brad
on
July 13, 2014 14:45
Editor Comment:
Money no longer matters, Brad. Isn't that good.
A quality navigator can also show the height you are driving on. Let some "new" officials & not corrupt army members drive around. You will be stunned/shocked how many HUGE projects are build far over the 80 meter limit. How the got, who gave the building permission for it. Land & city hall(s) cooperated in this & divided 100's off millions in after Tsunami years.
Another Hot Issue Should be checking the places where the have been building on hillsides with angles over 35% in steepness.
One more issue should be check on building density. Over 80% should NOT be allowed.
Sufficient Parking space on each own premises should be created at all times, for sure, in city areas.
The corruption is NOT only in Land-deals (land-office), but also on local City-halls level.
All these developments give unfair competition to legal ones! And also causes to legal buildings. By blocking views or causing other (parking, landslides etc.) problems. Building on land whiteout proper papers. Not correct density or steepness stay cheaper then places/owner on legal properties. There fore illegal buildings/projects should be punished. But don't look only to current owners. Many of them are innocent. Go behind the greedy culprits first. Make them responsible & liable for all damage caused. No legalization at any time. Not even by I heritage.
In such case reclaim the money from the heirs.
If parents now, on the long run no escape, corruption will slow down & stop. No so many escape with it, that is has become commonly accepted.
Posted by
PhuketExpat
on
July 13, 2014 15:07
Lets face it...most of us who comment here are simply just visitors to this country...The manner in which laws are made here, the way they are enforced and the the lack of respect that the local population has for the laws and those enforcing them is unlike what we as visitors are accustomed to in our home countries...Its either choose to live here and put up with it or leave...we can complain and whine all we want but look at how long this nonsense has been going on...Yes the recent military maneuvers has been the biggest action we've probably have ever seen...but it doesn't really appear that anything has changed at all as people are still defying the law as well as what they were told they had to do...slowly things are going back to the way they were...no follow up is being done to halt it and before you know it the high season will be here with the same old mess....People here live and have accepted living in a corrupt based society and thats what they want...they are sheltered from knowing anything else and especially how we as outsiders can possibly exist in a law abiding type of society...As long as ignorant to this lifestyle tourists continue to come here and freely spend their money and continue to accept getting beaten by the corruption...this type of lifestyle will continue to thrive and there is nothing we as readers making comments can do...Tuk tuks will continue to threaten and rip people off, everyone will continue to pay 10 times more for things than in any other part of the country, tourists will still ride jet skiis and then be cornered by jet ski thugs and police and pursuaded to pay ridiculous fees for nothing, elephants will be abused, touts will walk and sell their goods on Bangla...and life in Phuket goes on as usual...There is no law and order here..only payoffs, bribes and corruption...The "farang" population here can spew all they want...It won't be like it is where we are from...Gret used to it or leave
Posted by
zig
on
July 13, 2014 16:15
@brad sorry mate, could you expand on what you spend $20,000 on in 2 weeks? that seems to be a huge sum to me.
Cheers
Spud
Posted by
spud67
on
July 13, 2014 16:38
It seems that today late afternoon cops appeared to massage salons built on Layan beach next to Nikki - making some long discussion and filling in some papers - obviously in regard of vacating public land.
Maybe even acting on this article...
Posted by
Sue
on
July 13, 2014 17:13
Editor Comment:
Unlikely, Sue, but you never know . . . the Royal Thai Navy certainly reads us and responds quickly.
I had a conversation with Cherng-Telay's permit office head civil engineer just yesterday who came to my business and I asked him how the Breach Club at Layan got built as it is blatantly over zone 1 height restrictions. He shuffled a bit and told me " the big guy signed for it." When I see the top 6 meters come down off that structure, and " the big guy" facing an indictment, then I will agree things will change for the better. So far, it's just the working class getting the stick and a few mid level politicians.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
July 13, 2014 17:53
Editor Comment:
We've talked to locals at Layan and they say the chanote title has always been legitimate. The governor signs off on most large property deals. Nothing inappropriate or sinister about it. If you have a problem, take it to the Damrungtam office.
Some you have to just push the bulldozer through it even if the proprietors are in it, oh they are not having a little joke they are serious.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
July 13, 2014 17:54
The cycle of massive corruption that was destroying the environment in Phuket had to be broken so three cheers to the Army! Complaining tourists? Nonsense! They can support legitimate businesses and take food and drink to the now beautiful beaches, and take away their own rubbish, just like they have to do every where else on this planet. Want an umbrella ...go rent one or buy one. Tourists want pristine beaches.
Posted by
Ricardo
on
July 13, 2014 18:48
Absolutely spot on PhuketExpat. The other truth is also that the corruption has being going on for generations between family land owners and their relatives in political positions in phuket.It is bound to break now. For how long??
Posted by
One Expat 14years
on
July 13, 2014 22:47
I do not dispute Breach Club's title - I say it is too high in violation of Zone 1 restrictions as the engineer confirmed. My guess is the ocean was simply moved a hundred meters or so to the west a la Eva Resort.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
July 14, 2014 00:05
Honestly I read this paper on line just to read the comments from the editor. I have never seen a paper where the editor responds to the comments posted. I find it refreshing and unique.
Posted by
Vegas
on
July 14, 2014 02:17
Looks like even the army is loosing it's teeth now. Cant remove the rubble it left behind in Nai Thon, cant do squat in Nai Yang and now the resaurant owners are giving them the "salute" and saying " Do It"? The army now backs away. Yes time for me and seven of my neighbours to start packing up. Without a proper judicial and penalty system in place, this place is just another lawless enclave. Within hours of the army leaving Phuket, It will be back to normal. Worse than a Punch and Judy show.
Posted by
Duncan B
on
July 14, 2014 03:33
I'm all for the return to nature. Those beaches were once beautiful, only to be taken over by predators and greedheads. If lazy and obese tourists absolutely have to have umbrellas and loungers and food brought to them, they can spend the day at their overpriced hotels. They can lay next to the swimming pool, under umbrellas, and have the waiters bring them food and beer. They should be perfectly happy there.
Posted by
fw
on
July 14, 2014 05:05
Not sure 't room for both kinds of beaches on Phuket, or even on the same beach. Some people want nothing but nature, others appreciate a bit more comfort. I see quite a bit of inability to compromise on any solution, which will only add to Phuket's downfall as a quality vacation destination. You want budget backpacker only? Then by all means, remove ALL the small luxuries. The problems were from er, ...unbridled capitalism, rein that in and give everyone what they want.
( Just for Man O' War...;] )
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
July 14, 2014 15:20
Editor Comment:
Your understanding of the tourism industry seems a bit thin, TNM. Pronouncements without expertise doesn't help. People across all layers, from impecunious backpackers to the ultrarich, can tell the difference between a destination that respects nature and a greedy one. Can't you?
@The Night Mare @Ed
Yes, exactly - my friends, investment bankers form London - with the level of income as usually discussed in newspapers - and those who go to New Year parties to Banyan Tree - described their last visit to Phuket as following on their posting in Facebook: "Rip your eyes' off - how greedy - never again".
...
Posted by
Sue
on
July 14, 2014 16:37
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10 establishments continue to push their luck on Kamala Beach as well- a bit silly in the current clime.
Posted by Mister Ree on July 13, 2014 08:35