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Depressed Patong Sunbed Vendor Commits Suicide: No Aid for Jobless Family
By Chutima Sidasathian Tuesday, September 23, 2014
PHUKET: A Patong beach sunbed vendor committed suicide yesterday in the aftermath of a ban on commercial activities on Phuket's beaches that left his extended family with no income.
Jirasak Seaku, 45, father of a 10-year-old boy, was also depressed because his wife left him soon after the military banned sunbeds and vendors, his brother Wattana told Phuketwan today.
The family of three brothers and two sisters rented about 100 sunbeds on Patong beach in front of the Patong Bay Garden Resort and Loma Park, he said.
''Our generation took over from my mother and father about 30 years ago,'' he said. ''My mother is still alive and about 20 of us in the extended family made a living from the sunbeds until the military cleared the beaches in May.
''My brother and his wife were already arguing and when the income stopped from the sunbeds, she left him.
''Phuket Provincial Hall and the Patong Council have offered no alternatives and no reskilling program so we remain out of work with no income. It was a bleak situation to be in, too bleak for my brother.''
Khun Jirasak went to visit a friend in Vichit, south of Phuket City, yesterday but the friend was out. When the friend returned home, Khun Jirasak was hanging in the kitchen.
The body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
''There is my brother's son and other children still in school. Without the sunbeds, which have been our source of a living for more than 30 years, the outlook seems grim.''
The decision to clear the beaches was made without consultation. It appears little has been done to find alternative employment for those dispossessed of their source of income.
Despite the ban on commercial activities - which extends to weddings on the beaches, without approval - jet-skis and paragliding speedboats continue to operate at Patong. Jet-skis also continue to operate at five other beaches where commercial activities have been banned.
Vendors in Patong have written to HM The King in the hope they can get their jobs back.
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Comments
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This is very tragic and sad news.. I can only imagine the heart brake for Jirasaks family and I wish them all the best during such an awful time...
Posted by
Asquith
on
September 23, 2014 11:49
There are loads of jobs available in Phuket. They don't pay the same though as renting out 100 beds.
Posted by
FS
on
September 23, 2014 12:26
What a shame...
The sunbed vendors provided something that the majority used and some vendors even ensured that guests belongings were safe. The amount of sunbeds were a bit on the excessive side though.
The jet ski operators have an extensive track record of complaints both from users and others concerning safety. Why, why, why are the jet ski operators still allowed to continue while these unfortunate sunbed vendors are banned?
Posted by
Tyler
on
September 23, 2014 12:39
Indeed a sad story, RIP and I am pro sun beds on the beaches. However, there's a shortage of labor allover Phuket and Phang Nga and many open places to fill, in almost any sector. Who really is looking for a job will find one ( if he's a local ).
Posted by
Resident
on
September 23, 2014 14:31
I echo FS
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of job for low skill workers on Phuket. Of course, they won't generate the huge income 100 sunbeds does
Posted by
christian
on
September 23, 2014 14:49
[100 (rentinf)+ 50 (drink)]
x 100 (sunbed)
x 3 (time a day) = 45'000 thb / day
i understand....
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 23, 2014 15:01
RIP, but.... working 30 years ileagally doesn't give the guys the right to ask for money, because they lost their income. Get a new job here in Phuket or go back to your country, work and make your living. 30 years ago Phuket was a real pearl of the Andaman sea. Today hundred thousends of non-Phuket people came here to rip off tourists: jet-ski,taxi, tuk-tuk, pearl-shops, latex-shops, etc., etc.,. Please, Thai people, think about tomorrow...... If you damaged the basis of your income: "the tourists" you see today, what happened. If I wouldn't have my thai wife, I would have been ripped off every day buying material or ask for a proposal for the house etc., etc.. Proposal: Thai people should think of tomorrow regarding waste (see Phuket - millions tons of not seperated waste), environmental issues (plastic bags) in shops, etc., etc. I can tell you more, what basically should change. In some residential areas the waste is not collected for weeks???? I am not a doomsayer, I would like to help. I have been the first time to Phuket 40 years ago, I know what I am talking about.
Please, Phuket parents teach your kids, maybe the next generation might understand that to rip-offs now will totally damage their basis (tourists and residents)for the future.
Posted by
Fred 1
on
September 23, 2014 16:24
Quote:
''Our generation took over from my mother and father about 30 years ago,''
I belive him. When the tourists started to come to phuket (have many friemds who did) it was a true paradise and fisherman familys that had their income from nature used the beaches to keep their fishingboats. (Today the beaches belong to the jet skis and parachutes).The old familys saw the need of serving the tourists with suply against a small profit and everybody was happy. Then came the boom.Hotels,bars,restaurangs and the big money start to flow. Of course some of the poor fishingvillages sold off land for nothing to the greedy thai businessman that let them keep the peanutmoney like the sunchairs and coconutstores for compensation.And that have now being ripped away.The powerful people on the island made their own empire based on the ways that the Thai"politic" has been run for ages. Money seems to rule because Bangkok with their rulers have always accepted Phuket as a special place with different Thai laws (taxi and transportation fares among many other silly things).I belive that the enormous amount of money that is being generated to Bangkok from Phuket justifies the stance from the new primeminister that is now reaching out to Thaipeople with theese words
Quote;
One, love the Nation, Religion, Monarchy
Two, honesty, sacrifice, endurance
Three, gratitude to your parents with all your hearts
Four, strive to learn and be diligent in studies
Five, preserve the national culture
Six, do not lack in morality and religion
Seven, learn about sovereignty of the people
Eight, maintain discipline and Thai law
Nine, practice the Royal Teaching
Ten, you can live on Self-Sufficiency
Eleven, be strong in body and mind
And twelve, think of the greater good
Very nice words. I hope they really have a meaning. The poor people born on Phuket will see.
Posted by
One Expat 14years
on
September 23, 2014 21:20
It is sad news that the guy killed himself and that his wife appears to be only wanting income from his work.
But, there is a big but, if you pay TAX in Thailand, there is a Law that you will get money from the government depending on what your income was before hand and the tax you paid, so it is effectively Unemployment Money.
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 23, 2014 21:51
The income estimate is misleading. Even in high season the chairs don't turn over 3X per day. Business is very good in high season. Other times not.
Posted by
Ken Freed
on
September 24, 2014 00:30
Tragic news and RIP.
Having said that, I don't believe he committed suicide because he lost this "job", rather because he was unable to follow up with his liabilities such as bank loans, mortgages etc. Loosing a job can be frustrating but seldom leads to suicide. Not being able to pay bills is another story.
Posted by
Jakub P.
on
September 24, 2014 00:32
@ JakupP.
Quote your statement:
"I don't believe he committed suicide because he lost this "job", rather because he was unable to follow up with his liabilities such as bank loans, mortgages etc. Loosing a job can be frustrating but seldom leads to suicide. Not being able to pay bills is another story.
What do you know??? Please tell your knowledge to the family. What the f.. do you know about this man and his economy.If you do not belive what phuket wan is telling you and want to make a point so be it and up to you.
Posted by
One Expat 14years
on
September 24, 2014 21:30
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This is very tragic and sad news.. I can only imagine the heart brake for Jirasaks family and I wish them all the best during such an awful time...
Posted by Asquith on September 23, 2014 11:49