PHUKET: Copy goods sellers protesting about alleged police corruption and orders to end their illegal Phuket business will know within 15 days whether their pirate days are over.
And it could mean the end of all Phuket imitation souvenirs.
As Phuketwan reported back on May 27, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong has confirmed the order has come from top police in Bangkok to close down Phuket's copy industry.
The pressure on copy goods sellers in Karon to switch to selling ''one village, one product'' souvenirs is likely to be just the start for every Phuket pirate vendor, with Patong pirates probably next in line.
As copy vendors complained that thousands of people on Phuket could go broke, rumblings about two police connected to copy sellers based in Karon's KT Plaza have led to both officers being transferred to other Phuket stations.
Tourists have also been caught up in the protracted Phuket pirate wrangle, sometimes being involuntarily imprisoned in the dark in ''terrifying'' circumstances when vendors have hurriedly closed their stores' shutters to ward off patrolling police.
Praphan Kanprasang, the Director of Phuket's Damrongtam office, which deals with complaints made by the public, said today that he will investigate the vendors' allegations and report to Phuket's Governor Tri Augkaradacha within 15 days.
Khun Praphan says he has talked to about 10 vendors from Kata-Karon and will talk to police officers, community leaders and others in the next few days.
''It is difficult to see how the vendors can win this one,'' he told Phuketwan today. ''If you are doing something that is clearly illegal it's hard to make a case to continue a business that is breaking the law.''
The vendors took their dispute public on Wednesday by staging a protest at Phuket Police Headquarters and later at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
However, Phuketwan has been sent a photograph that shows Phuket Commander Major General Pekad and Chalong Superintendent Wichit Intarasorn meeting with vendors at Kata Temple on July 15.
Senior Sergeant Major Saman Promhorm has since been transferred from Chalong to Phuket City while Lieutenant Colonel Chawalit Petsripear of Chalong with change stations with Lieutenant Colonel Passakorn Sittikul of Cherng Talay.
Bags, clothing, sunglasses, watches, movies and music are among the popular copy items that tourists often take home from Phuket.
Phuket Pirate Vendors Protest About Corruption at Police HQ; Trapped Tourists 'Terrified'And it could mean the end of all Phuket imitation souvenirs.
As Phuketwan reported back on May 27, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong has confirmed the order has come from top police in Bangkok to close down Phuket's copy industry.
The pressure on copy goods sellers in Karon to switch to selling ''one village, one product'' souvenirs is likely to be just the start for every Phuket pirate vendor, with Patong pirates probably next in line.
As copy vendors complained that thousands of people on Phuket could go broke, rumblings about two police connected to copy sellers based in Karon's KT Plaza have led to both officers being transferred to other Phuket stations.
Tourists have also been caught up in the protracted Phuket pirate wrangle, sometimes being involuntarily imprisoned in the dark in ''terrifying'' circumstances when vendors have hurriedly closed their stores' shutters to ward off patrolling police.
Praphan Kanprasang, the Director of Phuket's Damrongtam office, which deals with complaints made by the public, said today that he will investigate the vendors' allegations and report to Phuket's Governor Tri Augkaradacha within 15 days.
Khun Praphan says he has talked to about 10 vendors from Kata-Karon and will talk to police officers, community leaders and others in the next few days.
''It is difficult to see how the vendors can win this one,'' he told Phuketwan today. ''If you are doing something that is clearly illegal it's hard to make a case to continue a business that is breaking the law.''
The vendors took their dispute public on Wednesday by staging a protest at Phuket Police Headquarters and later at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
However, Phuketwan has been sent a photograph that shows Phuket Commander Major General Pekad and Chalong Superintendent Wichit Intarasorn meeting with vendors at Kata Temple on July 15.
Senior Sergeant Major Saman Promhorm has since been transferred from Chalong to Phuket City while Lieutenant Colonel Chawalit Petsripear of Chalong with change stations with Lieutenant Colonel Passakorn Sittikul of Cherng Talay.
Bags, clothing, sunglasses, watches, movies and music are among the popular copy items that tourists often take home from Phuket.
Breaking News Tourists from Finland, Australia and other countries have been ''terrified'' in a dispute between groups of Phuket police over corrupt payments from copy good sellers.
Phuket Pirate Vendors Protest About Corruption at Police HQ; Trapped Tourists 'Terrified'
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Phuket Pirate Hoard Goes Under the Hammer
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Phuket Pirate Copy Industry 'Faces Destruction'
Phuket Pirates Stave Off Raiders, Watches Vanish
Photo Special Tears and theatrics delay a police raid on a Phuket copy goods warehouse, possibly allowing pirates to shift their imitation hoard of watches to a safer place.
Phuket Pirates Stave Off Raiders, Watches Vanish
I don't like fake goods, I never have. But the people who make the fakes are good at what they do. Just make the bags and remove the Registered Trademark to show its not a blatant rip off copy. I know its still a copy, but its more of the logo that is breach rather than the bag itself.
As for copies/fakes in Bkk,are they being clamped down on as well? eg panthip plaza
Posted by Tbs on July 23, 2011 14:32