ABOUT 100 vendors staged a rebellion today after a man who said he was from the Royal Thai Police attempted to extort corrupt bribes at a new Patong market.
The vendors made sure their stance against corruption would be heard by going first to the Kathu police station in Patong, then to the Phuket Governor's office in Phuket City, and on to the Investigative Office of the Phuket Police Commander, Major General Pekad Tantipong, where some of them spoke to Phuketwan.
In the past, protests by vendors have usually been because they have been asked to pay extra by a corrupt organisation they did not usually pay. A large rally in Patong last year acknowledged there were 14 organisations that took corrupt payments in Patong, but rejected the notion that three more organisations should be allowed to join in.
This is the first time locals can recollect that ''virgin'' vendors have protested. Spokesperson Tossapon Runglersub said that on Monday about 5pm, two men began visiting shops and stalls around the new Kokeaw Market, behind the Jungceylon mall in Patong.
One of the men told the vendors he was Khun Gai, representing Khun Bird, a notorious figure who allegedly collects graft in Patong on behalf of Bangkok police.
He demanded 1000 baht at each of three shops and the vendors paid. But at the fourth shop, Khun Tossaporn refused to pay.
He said he and other vendors made a ''people's arrest'' of the man with Khun Gai, and took him to Kathu Police Station. However, when they subsequently inquired how the case was going, officers told them the man had been freed.
Khun Tossaporn said one policeman told them: ''We had a phone call from Khun Gai.''
Vendors are unsure whether the Khun Gai who dealt with them on Monday is a real police graft collector or an impostor. Today they called for an investigation by the Governor and the Phuket Police Commander and protection from future demands for corruption money.
Khun Tossaporn said the 100 vendors took a stand because they know that once they started paying money just once, they would have to pay every month.
''We are not rich, we don't have a lot of income,'' Khun Tossaporn said. ''We are just trying to make a living, to put money in our bellies and send our children to school.''
He said tourists were looking on when the supposed Khun Gai made his demands for graft cash on behalf of Khun Bird and the Royal Thai Police.
''This image is not good for Phuket,'' Khun Tossaporn said. ''We don't sell drugs, we are not killing people. Why do they do this to us? We do everything by the law. We are honest shopkeepers.''
Khun Tossaporn said the vendors wanted to know the full identity of Khun Gai, and whether he really was acting on behalf of corrupt Royal Thai Police.
''Who is Khun Gai? If police ask money from honest people, then they are breaking the law. Does this mean the people who are paid to enforce the law are actually the Mafia?''
The vendors planned to continue their protest later today at a fourth site, the offices of Phuket's elected members of Parliament. It is to be hoped the virgin vendor's rebellion spreads far and wide.
Phuket GM Flies Amid Airport ID VIP RiddleThe vendors made sure their stance against corruption would be heard by going first to the Kathu police station in Patong, then to the Phuket Governor's office in Phuket City, and on to the Investigative Office of the Phuket Police Commander, Major General Pekad Tantipong, where some of them spoke to Phuketwan.
In the past, protests by vendors have usually been because they have been asked to pay extra by a corrupt organisation they did not usually pay. A large rally in Patong last year acknowledged there were 14 organisations that took corrupt payments in Patong, but rejected the notion that three more organisations should be allowed to join in.
This is the first time locals can recollect that ''virgin'' vendors have protested. Spokesperson Tossapon Runglersub said that on Monday about 5pm, two men began visiting shops and stalls around the new Kokeaw Market, behind the Jungceylon mall in Patong.
One of the men told the vendors he was Khun Gai, representing Khun Bird, a notorious figure who allegedly collects graft in Patong on behalf of Bangkok police.
He demanded 1000 baht at each of three shops and the vendors paid. But at the fourth shop, Khun Tossaporn refused to pay.
He said he and other vendors made a ''people's arrest'' of the man with Khun Gai, and took him to Kathu Police Station. However, when they subsequently inquired how the case was going, officers told them the man had been freed.
Khun Tossaporn said one policeman told them: ''We had a phone call from Khun Gai.''
Vendors are unsure whether the Khun Gai who dealt with them on Monday is a real police graft collector or an impostor. Today they called for an investigation by the Governor and the Phuket Police Commander and protection from future demands for corruption money.
Khun Tossaporn said the 100 vendors took a stand because they know that once they started paying money just once, they would have to pay every month.
''We are not rich, we don't have a lot of income,'' Khun Tossaporn said. ''We are just trying to make a living, to put money in our bellies and send our children to school.''
He said tourists were looking on when the supposed Khun Gai made his demands for graft cash on behalf of Khun Bird and the Royal Thai Police.
''This image is not good for Phuket,'' Khun Tossaporn said. ''We don't sell drugs, we are not killing people. Why do they do this to us? We do everything by the law. We are honest shopkeepers.''
Khun Tossaporn said the vendors wanted to know the full identity of Khun Gai, and whether he really was acting on behalf of corrupt Royal Thai Police.
''Who is Khun Gai? If police ask money from honest people, then they are breaking the law. Does this mean the people who are paid to enforce the law are actually the Mafia?''
The vendors planned to continue their protest later today at a fourth site, the offices of Phuket's elected members of Parliament. It is to be hoped the virgin vendor's rebellion spreads far and wide.
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CORRUPTION is rife in Phuket--- but don't forget TIT ( this is Thailand) and it will never stop.
Posted by graeme on January 19, 2011 17:08
Editor Comment:
Some people repeat that mantra of hopelessness because they prefer to remain hapless do-nothings, graeme. There are other sites where they gather and moan. Are you sure you're in the right place?