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Phuket Task Force Swoops to Make More Taxi, Beach Sunbed 'Mafia' Arrests
By Chutima Sidasathian Thursday, September 25, 2014
PHUKET: Police on Phuket are swooping on the homes of 15 suspects today to make fresh arrests in relation to Karon's taxi ''mafia'' and beach sunbeds.
More arrests are to follow in Patong, say police, as the anti-corruption campaign spreads from Phuket's roads to the beaches.
Further warrants today for Kata-Karon Mayor Tawee Tongcham mean he will be facing ''more than 100'' charges, task force leader Police Major General Paween Pongsirin told Phuketwan.
Major General Paween has led the continuing covert action that so far has resulted in the arrest of almost 200 people, mostly in Phuket's popular west coast holiday destinations of Kata-Karon and Patong.
It's believed that as well as including taxi drivers, some of today's arrests relate to the operators of beach sunbeds and umbrellas.
Major General Paween said all the alleged offences related to individuals misusing public land.
Already facing charges are former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and his businessman son Prab. Major General Paween said that Khun Pian faced ''more than 60'' charges.
Those arrested in Kata-Karon today are expected to be taken to Phuket City Police Station, where Major General Paween's task force is based, where they will be interviewed.
Region 8 Commander Lieutenant-General Panya Mamen is expected to hold a media conference about the arrests in Phuket City this afternoon.
He is expected to declare that vendors illegally using public beaches for private profit now face arrest.
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Comments
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If there is no corruption then why are the jet skies allowed to operate for private profit on public beaches?? Or is only "selective" corruption allowed??
Posted by
Mr Wolf
on
September 25, 2014 10:09
"He is expected to declare that vendors illegally using public beaches for private profit now face arrest."
Excellent. Only in this way can they beat back the hovering hordes who are ready to pounce at the beach fringes, with their beanbags for rent and portable eskys, fish in a stick etc
Posted by
phonus
on
September 25, 2014 10:35
Hopefully if convicted the punishments will fit the crimes and send out a message to those considering encroachment and corruption in the future.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
September 25, 2014 12:25
yeah..this is fair...jetskis and para sailors can still operate...can someone explain this?
Posted by
sky
on
September 25, 2014 14:06
As the operators of beach sunbeds and umbrellas have already been evicted from the beaches, many of whom have no jobs or income now, is it really necessary to continue to pursue them? For what purpose? I sometimes see a vindictiveness here that I find hard to accept.
Posted by
Tony
on
September 25, 2014 14:58
I been following whats going on in Phuket now , we been on Holliday in Thailand every year sice 1999 , many of the things they clean up is good and about time they did do something about , but what i see now , I CANT stay on the beach when there is no sunbeds and umbrellas to give me shade . If this is how its going to be we have to look for other holliday places .
Posted by
Liz
on
September 25, 2014 16:24
Jjetskis and para sailors can still operate...are they so powerful in money terms, or is it that the new government is so weak that they cant stop them? These two operations should be stopped and banned on the beaches of Phuket.
Posted by
Dingo
on
September 25, 2014 16:28
@Tony: "is it really necessary to continue to pursue them?"
Since they committed a crime for many years, they should face court action.
If you merely evict them, they will try to come back and continue running a business on public land.
Posted by
Smithy
on
September 25, 2014 16:57
When one compares sunbeds with jet-skis and parasailing boats, it is very difficult to understand why the latter are allowed to continue operations. I have never heard of a tourist being killed by a sunbed but several have died from being hit by speedboats and jet-skis. Sunbeds are also silent, do not pollute and I've never heard of anyone being held at gunpoint to extort money to pay for damages caused to a sunbed. I'd love to hear what a certain Marine Office chief has to say about that.
Posted by
Herbert
on
September 25, 2014 16:59
Is it really so that the sunbeds and the umbrellas is NOT comming back to the beaches in Phuket ? Can somone give me an answer ? Its important for me to know this .
Posted by
Liz
on
September 25, 2014 17:02
Editor Comment:
The answer is: Yes. If you do a search on the word 'sunbeds' on this site, you will be able to read all about it for yourself, Liz.
That was really bad news for us . We allways needed the umbreallas to get the shade from the sun . I dont think taking the umbreallas was a good idea for us tourists . we allready orded tickets to Phuket in January , but now we dont know what to do anymore . The beach umbrellas is the moust impotant thing for me for having a good not sunburned holliday . But the rest of the cleaning in Phuket i think was good for Phuket .
Posted by
Liz
on
September 25, 2014 17:23
@Liz. You can buy your own umbrella and chairs and use them yourself. No law against that. You just can't rent them out. If your Phuket holiday really hinges around sitting under an umbrella on the beach then invest in a decent one. There are thousands of second hand ones for sale............
Posted by
Mr Man
on
September 25, 2014 19:09
@Smithy
"Since they committed a crime for many years, they should face court action."
Well yes, you could take that view, but as they received concessions from the local Or Bor Tor, and believed in the legitimacy of that, can they really be considered criminals? If you feel the need for punishment then go after the officials who sanctioned it.
Posted by
Tony
on
September 25, 2014 19:31
Mr.Man
Thanks for good answer.
The reason i go to Thailand is because of the weather , i am from Norway , and winter in Norways is COLD . I will miss the good service i allways had on the beach . But thanks for telling me about the second hand ones for sale . I am not so into the nigth life , daylife ,relaxing holliday and good Thaifood is what i like .
I feel sorry for the people lost they work . They build hotels for more tourist to come to Phuket , but i am not shure what will hapend to the hotels now . They should stop build hotels many years ago . Now we will see what happens with all the new hotels they make the last 5 - 10 years .
i read famillys had the same rentouts on the beach for 30 years or more . And now the income gone . well it was not leagal but when take the income away after 30 years , and not give them something else to do . This looks bad in my eyes . I feel sorry for them .
Posted by
Liz
on
September 25, 2014 20:01
Oh Liz, How sad, the poor people will have to find a proper job now instead of living on the easy money they've acquired from stupid tourists for many years.
Posted by
Mac
on
September 26, 2014 17:34
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If there is no corruption then why are the jet skies allowed to operate for private profit on public beaches?? Or is only "selective" corruption allowed??
Posted by Mr Wolf on September 25, 2014 10:09