PHUKET: Tourists visiting Phuket will soon no longer be able to buy cheap pirate goods as souvenirs, Phuket and Bangkok officials confirmed yesterday.
As police continued to make raids on shops and warehouses along Phuket's popular west coast, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong yesterday confirmed that the order had come from top police in Bangkok to close down Phuket's copy industry.
''We have been told that Phuket's days as a so-called 'red zone' for pirate goods must be brought to an end,'' Major General Pekad said. He was speaking as officers raided shops in Phuket's Karon beach after a major raid on a large Patong warehouse the previous day.
The eradication of copy goods on Phuket may take some time, Major General Pekad admitted.
''Many of the major outlets have shops at the front with large warehouses hidden in behind them,'' he said as officers bundled piles of brand-name goods into black bags that were to be taken to Phuket's police headquarters in Phuket City.
''We are aiming to have a big bonfire in July,'' the major general said. ''By then, we should have the illegal businesses in Kata and Karon under control.
''Patong is larger in scale, so that might take a little longer to bring to an end.''
A serious clamp by Phuket police would close an era when tourists visiting Phuket often took home pirated clothing, branded bags and goods of all kinds, ranging from fake watches to music and movies.
A couple of young blonde tourists even wandered into a Patong store on Wednesday looking for souvenir sunglasses at the moment when a tearful manager was preventing officers from opening the door to a ''treasure trove'' pirate warehouse.
In the past, crackdowns have been fleeting. But it does appear as though Thailand is now reacting to international censure over continuing tolerance of imitation goods at a time when countries in Europe and the US are committed to protecting copyright.
The new level of resolve could mean that Thailand wants to be seen as a genuine member of the international copyright community.
Thailand's Director-General of Intellectual Property, Pajimachima Thanasanti, visited Phuket and joined police in raids on Wednesday and Thursday. She said the clamp would also extend to fake medicines and electrical goods, which endangered the health of buyers.
Apprehended copy vendors have often claimed in the past that they pay authorities to protect them from arrest. Two major investigations into corruption on Phuket are currently underway.
Phuket DIY Horror as Wall Fall Kills ExpatAs police continued to make raids on shops and warehouses along Phuket's popular west coast, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong yesterday confirmed that the order had come from top police in Bangkok to close down Phuket's copy industry.
''We have been told that Phuket's days as a so-called 'red zone' for pirate goods must be brought to an end,'' Major General Pekad said. He was speaking as officers raided shops in Phuket's Karon beach after a major raid on a large Patong warehouse the previous day.
The eradication of copy goods on Phuket may take some time, Major General Pekad admitted.
''Many of the major outlets have shops at the front with large warehouses hidden in behind them,'' he said as officers bundled piles of brand-name goods into black bags that were to be taken to Phuket's police headquarters in Phuket City.
''We are aiming to have a big bonfire in July,'' the major general said. ''By then, we should have the illegal businesses in Kata and Karon under control.
''Patong is larger in scale, so that might take a little longer to bring to an end.''
A serious clamp by Phuket police would close an era when tourists visiting Phuket often took home pirated clothing, branded bags and goods of all kinds, ranging from fake watches to music and movies.
A couple of young blonde tourists even wandered into a Patong store on Wednesday looking for souvenir sunglasses at the moment when a tearful manager was preventing officers from opening the door to a ''treasure trove'' pirate warehouse.
In the past, crackdowns have been fleeting. But it does appear as though Thailand is now reacting to international censure over continuing tolerance of imitation goods at a time when countries in Europe and the US are committed to protecting copyright.
The new level of resolve could mean that Thailand wants to be seen as a genuine member of the international copyright community.
Thailand's Director-General of Intellectual Property, Pajimachima Thanasanti, visited Phuket and joined police in raids on Wednesday and Thursday. She said the clamp would also extend to fake medicines and electrical goods, which endangered the health of buyers.
Apprehended copy vendors have often claimed in the past that they pay authorities to protect them from arrest. Two major investigations into corruption on Phuket are currently underway.
UPDATE An expat who planned a modification to his Phuket property died when a wall he was working on collapsed, killing him, police said. The man was a well known Phuket Hash House Harrier whose wife runs a popular beach restaurant.
Phuket DIY Horror as Wall Fall Kills Expat
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Phuket Pirates Stave Off Raiders, Watches Vanish
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It might be notorious but a much bigger problem than this are the tuk tuks, jet skies and drug dealers offering their merchandise in the streets. Get rid of them now.
Quite a few tourists chose Thailand as destination because they WANT to buy copies, as originals more than often have just ridiculous prices...I know...it's illegal but the truth
Posted by Resident on May 27, 2011 08:05