PHUKET: The green-plate ''army'' of taxi drivers on Phuket have begun a campaign to keep meter taxis from taking over on the holiday island. They aim to retain their monopoly, which relies on all the drivers sticking together.
On Facebook today, supporters of Phuket's green-plate drivers published photographs of new meter taxis on trucks and the claim that the new vehicles were being brought to Phuket.
The social media propaganda move follows 30 green-plate drivers confronting officials and Army representatives at the Phuket Land Transport office on Friday to insist that they wanted to continue as green-plate cabs, not meter taxis.
Army representatives were shocked to see for the first time the attitudes of the green-plate drivers, who depend for much of their income on charging passengers for the extra journey back to base, plus claiming commissions of up to 60 percent from unethical Phuket businesses.
Moves by the National Council for Peace and Order in support of Region 8 police are aimed at breaking the power of the taxi and tuk-tuk ''mafia.'' The NCPO wants to replace extortion, intimidation, rip-off fares and secret commissions with a standard international taxi service.
Resistance on Phuket is beginning.
The photographs of newly-imported meter taxis were accompanied on social media by comments objecting to the NCPO replacing Phuket's thousands of green-plate cabs with meter taxis.
Phuket Land Tansport Department specialist Jaturong Keawkasi told Phuketwan today that the new meter taxis in the photographs were not bound for Phuket. They were actually on their way to Hat Yai, the large city in Songkhla province, south of Phuket.
He said that the green-plate drivers made their feelings known when 30 of them turned up at the Land Transport office in Phuket City, where meter taxi registrations are taking place from August 1.
''The drivers made it plain to us and the Army representatives who were there that they wanted to register as green-plate taxis, not meter taxis,'' he said. ''The Army representatives were shocked.
''It's the first time they have seen first-hand that kind of attitude displayed. Now they know what they are up against. This process is not going to be easy.''
He said he believed the anti-taxi meter campaign was just beginning on Phuket, and that it would be necessary to have the full support of the Army, the Navy and the island's police to push through the changeover to meter taxis.
Action has already been taked with the arrests of more than 100 drivers from Kata-Karon. Similar purges are now expected against drivers in Patong and at Phuket International Airport.
Between August 9-12 at the Phuket City Land Transport office, newcomers will be able to register as meter taxis and receive everything required, going on the road as a meter taxi for between 6000-7000 baht.
Registration of only meter taxis remains open until August 31.
On Facebook today, supporters of Phuket's green-plate drivers published photographs of new meter taxis on trucks and the claim that the new vehicles were being brought to Phuket.
The social media propaganda move follows 30 green-plate drivers confronting officials and Army representatives at the Phuket Land Transport office on Friday to insist that they wanted to continue as green-plate cabs, not meter taxis.
Army representatives were shocked to see for the first time the attitudes of the green-plate drivers, who depend for much of their income on charging passengers for the extra journey back to base, plus claiming commissions of up to 60 percent from unethical Phuket businesses.
Moves by the National Council for Peace and Order in support of Region 8 police are aimed at breaking the power of the taxi and tuk-tuk ''mafia.'' The NCPO wants to replace extortion, intimidation, rip-off fares and secret commissions with a standard international taxi service.
Resistance on Phuket is beginning.
The photographs of newly-imported meter taxis were accompanied on social media by comments objecting to the NCPO replacing Phuket's thousands of green-plate cabs with meter taxis.
Phuket Land Tansport Department specialist Jaturong Keawkasi told Phuketwan today that the new meter taxis in the photographs were not bound for Phuket. They were actually on their way to Hat Yai, the large city in Songkhla province, south of Phuket.
He said that the green-plate drivers made their feelings known when 30 of them turned up at the Land Transport office in Phuket City, where meter taxi registrations are taking place from August 1.
''The drivers made it plain to us and the Army representatives who were there that they wanted to register as green-plate taxis, not meter taxis,'' he said. ''The Army representatives were shocked.
''It's the first time they have seen first-hand that kind of attitude displayed. Now they know what they are up against. This process is not going to be easy.''
He said he believed the anti-taxi meter campaign was just beginning on Phuket, and that it would be necessary to have the full support of the Army, the Navy and the island's police to push through the changeover to meter taxis.
Action has already been taked with the arrests of more than 100 drivers from Kata-Karon. Similar purges are now expected against drivers in Patong and at Phuket International Airport.
Between August 9-12 at the Phuket City Land Transport office, newcomers will be able to register as meter taxis and receive everything required, going on the road as a meter taxi for between 6000-7000 baht.
Registration of only meter taxis remains open until August 31.
Oh, there are some interesting times ahead for Phuket.
I can see all the ingredients for a good reality TV Show.
Posted by ThaiMike on August 3, 2014 13:17