Phuket Resort Blockaded: Police Mediate, Taxi Drivers Win Again
By Sert Tongdee Thursday, September 8, 2011
PHUKET: About 20 local taxi drivers blockaded the Evason Phuket and Bon Island resort in southern Phuket today for two hours in a dispute over access by non-approved vehicles, police said.
The dispute began at 10am and continued until after noon, officers said.
The blockade was over tour counter staff in the resort, isolated at the end of a long entry road in Rawai on Phuket's east coast, calling a vehicle that was not a local taxi.
Almost inevitably, the resort gave in to the demands of the local taxi drivers in talks mediated by Colonel Narang Laksanawimon, of Chalong police.
The colonel said resort management will allow local taxis to occupy two spaces in the resort car park, and receive priority.
If the tour operation desk calls an outside taxi again, the contract with the resort will be terminated, the colonel said.
In August, after four tuk-tuks blockaded a Patong street in a dispute with Dutch tourists and a policeman who drew a gun, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong warned that future blockades anywhere on Phuket would not be tolerated.
However, local taxis and tuk-tuks continue to grow in numbers and power. Virtually every resort on Phuket is forced to offer concessions to the local drivers. Relationships vary from barely tolerable to awful.
At some resorts, local taxi drivers have counters in the foyers. At others, they prefer to wait in salas outside.
Violent incident have increased with the power of local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, who monopolise as much of Phuket's tourism traffic as possible and demand extortionate fares. Many of the taxis are unregulated.
The latest violent incident took place on Sunday at Cape Sienna Resort at Kamala, on Phuket's west coast, when a group of drivers assaulted a tour driver, smashed a windscreen with an iron bar and swore at the Australian tourists who were passengers in the vehicle.
Police have warned local taxi drivers Sittikorn Boonsri, 28, and Tanawut Hoksakul, 25, to surrender or they will be arrested. Compensation of 15,000 baht is to be paid for the assault and damage.
However, the tour operator involved, Sinlapachai Choosen, the manager of Kok Chang Kata Safari, is keen to have the local taxis follow the law in the interests of the future of tourism on Phuket.
Kurt Trotnow, 53, a German expat who lives on Phuket, remains in the intensive care unit at Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City after being beaten up on August 25 by a gang of tuk-tuk drivers in a dispute over whether a trip of less than a kilometre in Patong should cost 200 baht or 100 baht. A tour manager mounts campaign to enforce the law against Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk drivers after a man is beaten for daring to defy their monopoly grip on Phuket's resort transport.
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Latest The wife of a German man in a coma in a hospital intensive care unit after a bashing by tuk-tuk drivers says she found it difficult to believe such violence over 100 baht.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
plus Ca change, plus c'est la meme - I think they say.
Posted by
Horse
on
September 8, 2011 13:29
Editor Comment:
I think they say 'Local taxis always win'.
By giving in to unfair requests by local taxi cartels, The Thai Administration in Phuket is building a huge big problem which one day will be disastrous for the tourism industry and the local people of Phuket.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
September 8, 2011 13:36
These thugs need to be taken to a few countries and shown how decent honest countries run taxi services.They are a disgrace the way they use mafia tactics and control the police.
Posted by
mal c
on
September 8, 2011 13:40
" Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong warned that future blockades anywhere on Phuket would not be tolerated. "
Tolerated - Allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting.
Doesn't a Major General hold a position of office far more senior than a Colonel?
Posted by
Dun
on
September 8, 2011 13:46
Who has the official power in Phuket? Police or Taxi drivers? Stop this things immediately or there will be only one big loser: Phuket!
Posted by
Dominik
on
September 8, 2011 13:46
What does this mean?
If the tour operation desk calls an outside taxi again, the contract with the resort will be terminated, the colonel said.
So is it a contract to NOT blockade? WHy didn't they arrest them all? Simple. Start arresting them.
Posted by
Nancy Botwin
on
September 8, 2011 13:48
Editor Comment:
The contract is between the tour desk and the resort.
We are Thais and this is our island. Thailand is our country not belongs to tourists. If you don't like to pay for local business men who have right under law to provide taxi service in that area and you want to use illegal taxis instead you can leave Thailand. And hotels who do that can shut down too. We have enough tourists in Phuket already who don't cheat. If you want to cheat and break our law, please don't come back Thailand again.
Posted by
Boonchart
on
September 8, 2011 13:48
@ Boonchart
Its not a question of not wanting to pay mate. Its a question of not wanting to pay some criminals who force their way upon all of us. There are so many examples now, of criminal behavior among tuk tuk drivers, that its just too dangerous to use them. So in other words - som na nah tuk tuk's.
Posted by
Peter
on
September 8, 2011 14:19
@Boonchart, -the island doesn't belong to you, and don't act like you are saying it belongs to Thais and that you are trying to protect them.
You and your kind are thieves and nothing more who would fight your own people just as much as you torture the visitors to your island.
If any Thai doesn't do what you want you will put them in hospital.
Phuket will have public buses one day and you will have to ride in the back with the other criminals. If you don't like it, you can leave Thailand too!
Posted by
JingJing
on
September 8, 2011 14:24
@ Boonchart
5-6 years ago - I used the tuk tuks all the time. But for the last 2 years or so - I have not used them 1 time. Ask yourself why ? Rates 10 times of Bangkok prices. Rude impolite people. Dirty clothes, dirty tuk tuk even. And barely knowing how to go from Kamela to Phuket town. You should consider all of these factors and then some. I will never ever use a tuk tuk again in my life.
Posted by
Peter
on
September 8, 2011 14:25
Does anyone believe K. Boonchart is a Thai? Probably a farang troll just stirring it up.
Posted by
Eric
on
September 8, 2011 14:27
@ Boonchart, your argument would be valid if the taxis you refer to were equipped with proper meters.
However, that's not the case here at all and therefore if tourists think they can get a better deal elsewhere, then that should be their decision.
Thailand is supposed to be a democracy and as such, anyone visiting Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand should be free to exercise his or her own choices as to the mode of transport they decide to employ and not be dictated to by a bunch of thugs intent on ripping them off for every Baht they can get their hands on.
Posted by
Xircal
on
September 8, 2011 14:37
Khun Boonchart I think you pretty well sum up the short sighted attitude that abounds here in Thailand and pretty soon I am sure that you will get your way and there will be no tourists left to abuse. Sum Num Na. You need us more than we need you!
Posted by
Nip
on
September 8, 2011 14:42
@boonchart superb attitude!!!! tourist will go elsewhere. then how will you make a living?
Posted by
john s
on
September 8, 2011 14:45
Khun Boonchart krub,
You are an embarrassment to all Thai people with this attitude. Honest Thai people would rather people like you left Thailand instead, you people who are either crooked or tolerate the crooked behavior that reflects poorly on everyone. Wain kam.
Posted by
Prinya
on
September 8, 2011 15:02
@Boonchart. People like you are the real problem in Thailand. You see nothing wrong in Phuket. What "law" says taxis have a monopoly on a particular area???
Posted by
mike
on
September 8, 2011 15:12
The issue is over illegal taxis. 'Real business men' do lose out on fares because of this practise. BUT Khun Boonchart blaming the tourists for this is off the mark, the article clearly says that 'tour counter staff' called for the taxi, it does not say a 'tourist' called. You are so quick to blame 'tourists' for a Thai problem. Violence is a different story altogether and should not be grouped into stories like this. If the tourists are all gone then who will you blame your problems on? Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by
Thai style
on
September 8, 2011 15:13
This is the kind of attitude and belief that must change before Phuket and Thailand can join the 21st century.
"We are Thais and this is our island. Thailand is our country not belongs to tourists. If you don't like to pay for local business men who have right under law to provide taxi service in that area and you want to use illegal taxis instead you can leave Thailand. And hotels who do that can shut down too. We have enough tourists in Phuket already who don't cheat. If you want to cheat and break our law, please don't come back Thailand again."
Posted by
Peter
on
September 8, 2011 15:22
"If the tour operation desk calls an outside taxi again, the contract with the resort will be terminated, the colonel said"
So the tour desk will be kicked out if they call an outside taxi? I guess Colonel Narang Laksanawimon knows who is the boss.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2011 16:10
Colonel Narang Laksanawimon, I am sorry, but you failed your boss, Major General Pekad Tantipong. Ah, moment... the blockade was not tolerated, the tourist desk, who caused it, was punished.
Posted by
Lena
on
September 8, 2011 17:06
how can police say non-approved vehicle, non-approved by taxi mafia. it is too much, I changed location from Patong to Rawai because of the mess and lawless there, now I clearly envisage a change of country.
Taxis drivers will win every time mediation will be in the hands of the local police, obvious.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2011 19:31
Can someone show me the law that says you MUST use local taxis? Also can someone show me a law where it says its OK to hold hotels to ransom and blockade roads?
I ask this because the Police seem to go on about the law so are they enforcing the law or are they breaking it?
What's the telephone number to report corruption again?
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 8, 2011 21:37
These 'local taxis' were black plate vehicles. In other words they are not licensed. What happens if there is an accident? Do 'black plate' taxis have insurance to cover their passengers, who might be foreign tourists?
Posted by
HP
on
September 8, 2011 23:56
The island is public, yes it is! The land is owned by someone, it is PRIVATE!
How dare the resort should support illegal taxi? Hotels/Resorts are doing legal business and DO support legal business partners (e.g. tours, excursions, suppliers, distributors, etc..) too!!
Dear All Taxis,
If your taxi do LEGALLY, hotels/resorts do support you too! If you guys doing things illegally, shut up please!
With regards,
Posted by
BnK
on
September 9, 2011 09:48
@Tbs - What's the telephone number to report corruption again?
Here is the answer to your question.
Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission http://www.nacc.go.th/
361 York Road, Sanam Bin Nam Tha Sai, Muang,
Nonthaburi 11000 THAILAND
or PO Box 100, Dusit, Bangkok 10300 THAILAND
Tel: 0 2528 4800-49.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
September 9, 2011 12:23
@whistle-blower
Thanks for the link. However someone in a position of power must not like these anti corruption people and have used their magic powers to make that website the slowest loading in the world :-) Tried with 3 different ISP's - page just wont load :-) Or it loads sort of - just not 100% complete nor fast.
Posted by
Peter
on
September 9, 2011 16:23
Editor well done, normally I criticse your stance/reporting, but in this report you have given a clear opinion stating there are problem's. It is good to see that not everthing has to be Pro "Thai" and wonderful !!
Keep it up ?
Posted by
Koh
on
September 9, 2011 18:32
Australian tourists are heading to Bali this year, I work in travel industry with big firm, at our last general meeting of promoting Phuket it became more favorable to promote Bali. Bali has modern uniformed staff english speaking, modern taxi with metered fares, drivers who knew their tourist spots and promoted them. Other benefits were cheaper airfares, shorter fights, better money exchange and shopping is a lot cheaper to, the people are exceptionally friendly.from the feedback of our clients a lot said Phuket was beautiful but they would not return, So good luck boonchart, your type kills the tourist economy by them going back to their country telling friends and family how they were treated.
Posted by
Simon
on
September 18, 2011 15:35
If the police were flooded with calls from all the biggest hotels, international or locally run, you really think they would be able to sit on their hands?
Posted by
christian
on
September 18, 2011 19:49
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plus Ca change, plus c'est la meme - I think they say.
Posted by Horse on September 8, 2011 13:29
Editor Comment:
I think they say 'Local taxis always win'.