PHUKET: A new Police Commander will take charge on Phuket in a few days - Major General Pachara Boonyasit. He will be Phuket's eighth commander in seven years.
Major General Pachara will have responsibility to press ahead with some of the dramatic changes that have transformed the international holiday island since May.
He is also likely to oversee the transfer of Region 8 headquarters to Phuket from Surat Thani, in buildings now under construction, adding several hundred officers and equipment to the total number already on the island.
Major General Pachara, who has been in charge as commander in the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat for a year, replaces Major General Karajang Suwannarat.
In June, Major General Karajang took over on a temporary basis from Major General Ong-Art Phiwruangnont. Major General Ong-Art is retiring and Major General Karajang will return to Region 8 HQ as deputy commander.
Region 8 chief Lieutenant General Panya Mamen appointed Major General Paween Pongsirin to undertake a covert operation using officers from outside Phuket to bring down the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers allegedly using extortion and intimidation to extend their control over resorts and tour operators.
About 200 arrests have taken place since June. More action is anticipated, with Major General Paween's task force recently turning its attention to seaside vendors who claimed control of Phuket's public beaches and charged resorts millions of baht to reserve sunbeds for their guests.
With the takeover by the military on May 22 came the surprise order, clearing sunbeds, vendors and illegal buildings from Phuket's public shores.
Lieutenant Panya and Major General Paween have since had the support of the Army and the Navy and local officials to intensify arrests and keep the beaches clear.
Major General Pachara will have responsibility to press ahead with some of the dramatic changes that have transformed the international holiday island since May.
He is also likely to oversee the transfer of Region 8 headquarters to Phuket from Surat Thani, in buildings now under construction, adding several hundred officers and equipment to the total number already on the island.
Major General Pachara, who has been in charge as commander in the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat for a year, replaces Major General Karajang Suwannarat.
In June, Major General Karajang took over on a temporary basis from Major General Ong-Art Phiwruangnont. Major General Ong-Art is retiring and Major General Karajang will return to Region 8 HQ as deputy commander.
Region 8 chief Lieutenant General Panya Mamen appointed Major General Paween Pongsirin to undertake a covert operation using officers from outside Phuket to bring down the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers allegedly using extortion and intimidation to extend their control over resorts and tour operators.
About 200 arrests have taken place since June. More action is anticipated, with Major General Paween's task force recently turning its attention to seaside vendors who claimed control of Phuket's public beaches and charged resorts millions of baht to reserve sunbeds for their guests.
With the takeover by the military on May 22 came the surprise order, clearing sunbeds, vendors and illegal buildings from Phuket's public shores.
Lieutenant Panya and Major General Paween have since had the support of the Army and the Navy and local officials to intensify arrests and keep the beaches clear.
After a walk along the footpath this morning next to Patong beach, I was nearly hit by one of many motor bikes been driven on the footpath, another tourist had to jump out of the path of another big bike driven by 2 people. I never see any police patrols or council wardens now the army's done their thing, which I must say is fantastic. I did call the tourist police but the person that answered was less than helpful. It is illegal to drive or park on the footpath in Thailand. Do we have to wait for the army to fix this too.
Posted by Dobby on September 28, 2014 19:03