PHUKET: About 50 protesters stopped a large billboard being erected near Phuket's central Heroines Monument roundabout today, leading to the arrest of four workmen.
The crowd told local authorities that the billboard would be higher than the famous statue of the heroines, who are regarded as heroes on Phuket.
The statue of the two sisters who succeeded in fighting off the Burmese is Phuket's best-known image.
Locals treat the statue, in the middle of a roundabout on Phuket's main artery, Thepkasattri Road, with great deference and respect.
Locals said that on erecting the billboard, the workmen were planning to ''borrow'' electricity from the mains power system to connect to the billboard's spotlight.
The billboard owner was being sought today by officers from Thalang Police Station.
Most visitors to Phuket are shocked by the number of billboards on Phuket, which is supposed to present itself to the world as a tropical holiday island.
The crowd told local authorities that the billboard would be higher than the famous statue of the heroines, who are regarded as heroes on Phuket.
The statue of the two sisters who succeeded in fighting off the Burmese is Phuket's best-known image.
Locals treat the statue, in the middle of a roundabout on Phuket's main artery, Thepkasattri Road, with great deference and respect.
Locals said that on erecting the billboard, the workmen were planning to ''borrow'' electricity from the mains power system to connect to the billboard's spotlight.
The billboard owner was being sought today by officers from Thalang Police Station.
Most visitors to Phuket are shocked by the number of billboards on Phuket, which is supposed to present itself to the world as a tropical holiday island.
Personally I would not be sad to see 95% of the islands bill boards taken down. They obstruct views of the roads for safety sake, distract from drivers watching the roads abd make the island look like a cheap trash heat when they fall down. I say tear the buggers down and don't put up any more.
Posted by graham on November 19, 2012 15:01