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Phuket's Police Chief Tells Patong Blockade Tuk-Tuk Drivers: Surrender Before We Arrest You
By Sert Tongdee Monday, August 15, 2011
PHUKET: Four tuk-tuk drivers from Patong have been ordered to surrender to police for blockading one of Phuket's main roads in a dispute with police earlier this month.
Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong said that police knew the identity of the four and would arrest them if they did not surrender.
In a dramatic speech to Patong's tuk-tuk and taxi leaders this afternoon at Kathu police station in Patong, Major General Pekad said that Phuket police would act to uphold the law and clear the streets if anyone blocked any road on Phuket in future.
Major General Pekad said that at least one incident involving tourists and tuk-tuk drivers had been discussed at Federal Cabinet level in Australia - and as a policeman on Phuket, he wanted all sides of disputes to be heard.
Tourists were now being advised by envoys from several countries to catch the first plane out if they became embroiled in disputes with tuk-tuk drivers or jet-ski operators on Phuket, Major General Pekad said.
''Please don't go without reporting the matter first to Phuket police,'' he said. ''We cannot enforce justice if people flee. It's not fair to Phuket to complain to the media later at home instead of talking to police first.''
Security camera photographs taken in and around Patong's famous Soi Bangla walking street captured the blockade that followed an altercation between two young Dutchmen and tuk-tuk drivers over minor damage to a tuk-tuk early on August 1.
One of the young Dutchmen reportedly had 18 stitches in a head would after he and his friend refused to pay 1000 baht for damage to a tuk-tuk parked at the top end of Soi Bangla. A police officer new to Phuket drew his pistol in an attempted to quieten the situation.
Although no shot was fired, the tuk-tuk drivers became indignant and blockaded Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road - part of Patong's main one-way loop - for almost an hour.
The four tuk-tuk drivers may face jail when they surrender. The leader of an earlier blockade at Surin over the death of a local boy in a firearm mishap was later sentenced to three months in jail.
Major General Pekad also mentioned a more recent blockade in Phuket's east where residents set fire to tyres and did not let motorists through in a nighttime protest about lack of street lighting.
He did not mention perhaps the most widely known blockades - by Phuket deep sea port taxi drivers trying to gain a greater share of fares from cruise liners and the crews of visiting US warships.
''We will not tolerate any repetition of this kind of unlawful activity, wherever it occurs on Phuket and no matter who is involved,'' he said.
''If you must stage a protest, stage it outside my office in Phuket City or at Phuket Police headquarters.''
He admitted that police had been slow to sort out the issue of the latest blockade - and he said that he understood that tourists sometimes made trouble for tuk-tuk drivers.
Tuk-tuk representative Martlee Leawpon told the meeting that there were certainly times when tuk-tuk and taxi drivers became involved in disputes with tourists but it was not always the driver's fault, he said.
''Some of the embassies always say 'taxi wrong, taxi wrong, taxi wrong,'' he said. ''The tourists are not all quality people. There are times when tuk-tuk drivers are ripped off, too.''
Major General Pekad said he had talked at length with five young Australians who were attacked in February by a gang that blamed them for damaging a tuk-tuk.
Two of the young men were stabbed - one in the chest - in a case that was later described as potentially one of attempted murder.
''The tuk-tuk drivers tracked the group down and attacked them,'' Major General Pekad said. ''Carrying out your own form of justice is not good. When you have been wronged, come to the police.
''It's important for tourists to understand that these cases are isolated and that most visitors have a good time on Phuket, without experiencing any problems. If something goes wrong, the police are here to make sure that justice is done.'' Tuk-tuk drivers blockade Patong's ringroad throuoghfare after a policeman draws his handgun to try to bring an end to a brawl between the drivers and three expats.
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Comments
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"If something goes wrong, the police are here to make sure that justice is done.''
Depends what sort of justice - It is hardly ever seen to be done, does he not mean 'under the counter justice'? Suddenly the issue of the two Dutchmen is brought up a full 2 weeks after the event. What did they get in the way of justice? The police know the tuk-tuk drivers identities, so why after all this time do they ask them to surrender now? What sort of justice is that?
Posted by
Pete
on
August 15, 2011 19:03
And now they act like the POLICE, what has caused this DRAMATIC change of heart , is it because they have done nothing over the past few years except stand by and watch innocent tourists get ripped off, beaten or worse by these thugs. I wonder has a warning been issued from the new government in Bangkok to the Phuket police along the lines of you sort it out our you'll be sorted out,possibly by being sent on a nice long tour of duty to the sunny south where the chances of seeing some real action and getting some John Wayne blood and guts medals are pretty much guaranteed. It is truly amazing how many new initiatives for patong are being put forward by the great and the good since the change of power up north.
Posted by
Scunner
on
August 15, 2011 19:32
''Some of the embassies always say 'taxi wrong, taxi wrong, taxi wrong,'' he said. ''The tourists are not all quality people. There are times when tuk-tuk drivers are ripped off, too.'' LOL!!!!
Posted by
Nick
on
August 15, 2011 20:20
99% of the tuk-tuk drivers are hard-working guys with families to support who, day and night, perform the thankless task of ferrying drunken and drugged up tourists to and from their hotels. They provide an invaluable service. Most tourists are more than willing to pay 1000 baht for a round of drinks for their friends, but start arguing with drivers when asked to pay only 500 baht to go a few kilometers back to their hotel. Complaining that "in Bangkok the meter starts at 35 baht" is like comparing apples and oranges. Phuket is a tourist resort, Bangkok is a working city where ordinary Thais have to take taxis too. The average monthly salary in Europe is about 2000 euros or 86,000 baht. The average monthly salary in Thailand is less than 10,000 baht. If you can't afford to pay 500 baht for a tuk-tuk, even for a short trip, stay out of Phuket. For a longer trip, say from Patong to Kata, 1000 baht is reasonable. These poor guys are waiting around the whole day to get one fare from customers, because the situation is that the supply of tuk-tuks outweighs the demand. Just because taxis in Bangkok are ridiculously cheap by international standards doesn't mean that tuk-tuks in Phuket are expensive. They are not expensive at all. 1000 baht is about 25 euros. To take you in the middle of the night to another town 30 minutes away and then travel back empty, that is not a high price. It's because of European cheap charlies wanting to get something for nothing that tuk-tuk drivers rightly become aggressive at times. The tremendous service they provide and the disgustingly disrespectful way they are mistreated and abused by drunken customers haggling stupidly for minutes to get 50 baht off the price gives tuk-tuk drivers my heartfelt sympathy.
Posted by
Scott W.
on
August 15, 2011 20:49
"The leader of an earlier blockade at Surin over the death of a local boy in a firearm mishap was later sentenced to three months in jail."
mishap?
what's the jail time for possessing a firearm in Thailand these days?
Posted by
mikey
on
August 15, 2011 21:58
Lets hope the police are serious this time. There have been to many incidents when the police have done nothing.I have seen it my your eyes a few times.
I hope the police chief is a man of his word and upholds the law for everyone.
Posted by
Billy
on
August 15, 2011 23:01
What he said about low-quality tourists constantly ripping off the tuk-tuk drivers is 100% on the money. So many times I've seen drunken, tattooed, loud and abusive tourists arguing in a totally disrespectful way with patient tuk-tuk drivers who are just poor guys struggling to earn a living to feed their families. Yes, a few of them are bad, but 90% of the tuk-tuk guys are decent, hard-working husbands and dads just trying to earn a crust for their loved ones. The arrogant and superior farangs seem to enjoy a game of bargaining with them for several minutes trying to get the price lowered from 400 to 300 baht, and then walking away with a "F**k you" attitude. No wonder some of the tuk-tuk drivers occasionally get angry. They have to deal with these arrogant selfish drunken jerks day in day out. Pay a fair fare or take a hike!
Posted by
Bartholomew
on
August 16, 2011 01:18
''Carrying out your own form of justice is not good. When you have been wronged, come to the police."
Not "good" hu? This is what he calls an attempted MURDER/stabbing? It sounds like he is describing jaywalking or something..Major general Pekad, This was a case of tuk tuk drivers stabbing tourists in the chest! Clearly trying to kill him! Understand!? This is so ridiculous it would have been funny if it wasn't for the people getting attacked.
Posted by
christian
on
August 16, 2011 04:45
Editor Comment:
The Australians left the country without filing a complaint, which is what Commander Pekad urged them to do. Lack of a complaint is the only reason why action could not be taken, christian.
@ScottW...Your Thai wife's brother is a tuk tuk driver, right? How else could you write such ridiculous tripe.The taxi drivers in BKK are hard working(how one fare a day makes Phuket tuktuk drivers hard working is beyond me)and charge 35 baht for a trip that in Phuket cost 200 baht!! Oh yeah, that's right, Phuket has more hills than BKK.
Posted by
mike
on
August 16, 2011 09:09
Just because it takes 30 minutes for a tuk-tuk to limp all the way to Kata doesn't justify anyone having to pay 1000 baht, any more than someone having to pay 800 baht for a hamburger because it took the person who cooked it with a disposable lighter an hour to make it for you.
"These poor guys are waiting around the whole day to get one fare from customers, because the situation is that the supply of tuk-tuks outweighs the demand."
How naive.
You focus on drunks who take tuk-tuks as your reason to defend them?
That's like defending Dracula because his victims don't wear garlic necklaces.
Not everyone is an alcoholic, such a comment is better saved for the 'TV' forum where all the misfits hang out.
The tuk-tuk establishment on Phuket is very much against all other forms of transport that are not tuk-tuks or controlled by those who control the tuk-tuks.
They will attack, specifically, anyone or anything that threatens this position.
The core issue is a ruthless transport monopoly that hasn't found a way to scale. The corrupt ones who control it depend on the irrational tactics their starved & clueless drivers undertake to protect their livelihood, while at the same time keeping the elected officials and honest citizens at bay through fear and intimidation.
They take control of a situation by escalating it.
Blockading traffic is a perfect example of how they enforce their will on everyone. In Thailand it's even worse, -it's just not acceptable to go around causing problems for innocent people.
These very same people also blockade whenever it suits them, -if they don't like the direction of traffic, they blockade. If they can't park anywhere they want, they blockade.
They are not innocent, they are not hard working, they are in it for a fast buck. Stabbing people, beating them, -are you that naive to think these people wouldn't do you in for a hundred baht? A ride from Patong to Kata shouldn't cost 1000 baht like you say, -because it shouldn't have to be in a tuk-tuk, but a real vehicle, it's called a "bus".
Posted by
JingJing
on
August 16, 2011 10:54
"The Australians left the country without filing a complaint, which is what Commander Pekad urged them to do. Lack of a complaint is the only reason why action could not be taken, christian."
However when foreigners file a complaint the Thai files one back and the foreigner is now stuck in Thailand against their will. Until this issue is resolved with the foreign embassies and then put out by the embassies all embassies should and must recommend their people take the next flight out as any justice between their citizens and a Thai national will be served to them first with no current consideration as to when they are scheduled to go home.
Posted by
mike williams
on
August 16, 2011 11:37
Editor Comment:
If you haven't been entirely a victim but also a perpetrator, even in reaction, then it's probably wise to assess the potential outcome carefully.
For people who are blameless victims, there is no cause for alarm. They should file a complaint, and fly out as scheduled.
"For people who are blameless victims, there is no cause for alarm."
Just tell that to Bob Anwar!!
Posted by
mike
on
August 16, 2011 12:36
Mike Williams and Mike understandably have cause for concern, perhaps because many people especially expats do not trust, let alone understand the way that Thai police go about their business even when they (the expats) have not committed any offence.
Major General Pekad Tantipong could have gone some way in explaining this for the benefit of tourists and expats, but alas he did not. The Thai system of ''justice'' is even more complicated, but journalists could help by providing news or information about what is going on.
I think the words of Andrew Drummond, when writing about the English language media in Thailand, ''They report arrests, but rarely report the outcome because they never go to the courts. They do not care'' is absolutely fair comment. Many times, even on this forum questions are asked such as ''what happened in so and so case'' and we readers never get an answer.
How therefore can justice be seen to even have been applied, let alone done.
Ed, do you know the expat (excluding Burmese) population of Phuket prison? How many on remand awaiting trial? How many transferred to Bangkok? What the verdicts were for those that appeared in court?
Silence reigns supreme and judicial outcomes remain behind closed doors. Will we ever get to know? So the advice to tourists to not trust the police and ''get out while you can'' should be heeded.
(parts of this comment have been moderated).
Posted by
Pete
on
August 16, 2011 14:24
Editor Comment:
Phuketwan reports regularly what the police tell us about which expats have been arrested on Phuket in connection with crimes and misdemeanors, and also which have been alleged victims of crime.
Those lists, together with the list of expat dead on Phuket in events in which police have been involved, now go a long way towards demolishing many of the myths that have been perpetuated about the law on Phuket.
For that, Major General Pekad Tantipong is to be congratulated.
As a small operation, Phuketwan does the best it can to cover all the issues that need to be covered.
Sadly, reporting the courts and judicial outcomes requires resources that we don't have. It's not a matter of not wanting to, but of personnel.
Sitting in a courthouse for hours on end only to find that a case has been postponed is something even big news organisations struggle to be able to afford.
I actually do know the population of Phuket Prison. Learning how many prisoners there are, and whether they are Thai, Burmese or expats from other parts, is not difficult. We report it regularly - but it's not something we plan to update on a daily basis.
It would be a mistake to confuse criminal and civil cases anywhere.
It would also be a mistake to imagine that the Thai justice system does not work fairly and effectively for all, or that it's not well thought through and administered.
We'd certainly like a system that supplied to the media a list of outcomes. But the taxpayers of Thailand, like taxpayers elsewhere, might object to that.
You'd have to ask Andrew Drummond to tell you more about his comment.
The Australians left the country without filing a complaint, which is what Commander Pekad urged them to do. Lack of a complaint is the only reason why action could not be taken, christian.-
So, if nobody complaints, the police cannot do anything? Even if it was a attempted murder? That is exactly the problem! Our police does not enforce the law since nobody (dares) to complain!!
Posted by
Mr
on
August 16, 2011 15:12
Editor Comment:
It depends whether police saw the event themselves or whether they have to investigate, Mr. Same everywhere.
Ed: The paragraph that you moderated out was perhaps one of the best examples of the misinterpretations of the Thai justice system. You also did not publish the comment I wrote when the chap was released. Are you afraid of something?
Posted by
Pete
on
August 16, 2011 16:14
Editor Comment:
Do you know whether the case you mentioned was a civil matter or a criminal case, Pete? Do you understand the difference?
Any sweeping criticisms on this forum need to be based on knowledge, not guesswork. I am not especially afraid of meaningless jibes from anonymous commenters, Pete.
Let's try and be rational.
Everyone everywhere understandably has cause for concern, perhaps because many people do not trust, let alone understand the way that police go about their business even when they have not committed any offense (it matters little what country you insert in the above sentence). In Thailand it is easier to understand than most. The police are understaffed, under-resourced and under-paid. Like all people in such a position they look for the path of least resistance to move things along since they know that the next day there will be more added to their workload after this one. Judicial outcomes are not "behind" closed doors anyone is for the most part allowed to attend cases at the local court, there is no conspiracy here to hide justice from you.
Transparency in criminal cases, published outcomes and a more honest presentation of police motivations would be welcome here and just about anywhere else in the world. I am not convinced that the police and court system here is any more or less just than most places and especially not in places where graft is rampant (which is just about everywhere). The justice system here attempts to do what all systems do, punish the guilty and protect the good. There are several cases pending now where foreigners have committed serious crimes and it is not the local court system that is holding up justice but the offenders own government and legal system. It doesn't seem that a 100% perfect system is working anywhere so ranting about this systems faults imagined or real seems fruitless.
To suggest that there is a rampant conspiracy to hide the results borders on the paranoid. To suggest that common tourists who violate no laws have any more to fear from the police and justice system here than anywhere else is to create unrealistic fear. Can the system be better run? Sure, eliminate corruption, pay the police better, give them access to better resources and tools, etc. As of now they buy their own motorbikes, their own phones, have to pay to get the good jobs, etc. These are things that need to be improved. They will not be improved by fostering an environment of fear and conspiracy. Not all tuk-tuk drivers are criminals, not all expats and tourists are drunks, not all Phuket police are corrupt and using good judgment in individual cases, attempting to understand while keeping an open mind rather than looking for an easy blanket rule to cover all of a given nationality and profession is more intelligent.
The announcement that the police are at least considering trying to stop the blockades is something that many people on this site and in other forums have long been crying for. Isn't it a good sign that we got this far and rather than arbitrarily deciding that "it'll never work" can't we just have a little hope that it is a step in the right direction? I appreciate the reporting of expat crimes, victims, deaths, etc. that has recently begun on this site. It is a far better situation than the English Language Press on this island has provided for years. More freedom, more openness and more competition in the local press is to be encouraged not disparaged because it does not meet arbitrary levels, just as greater local police commitment to enforcing the laws and controlling the unruly should be celebrated rather than faulted because it does not meet some falsely perceived western standard.
Posted by
Martin
on
August 16, 2011 18:05
How much do you want to bet they'll never ever, surrender no matter who calls them out?
Posted by
JingJing
on
August 19, 2011 22:26
Ten days later....any tuk tuk drivers surrendered yet??? hahaha no way in this world. So have they been arrested as threatened...??? I'll bet not.
Posted by
davidj949
on
August 25, 2011 19:04
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"If something goes wrong, the police are here to make sure that justice is done.''
Depends what sort of justice - It is hardly ever seen to be done, does he not mean 'under the counter justice'? Suddenly the issue of the two Dutchmen is brought up a full 2 weeks after the event. What did they get in the way of justice? The police know the tuk-tuk drivers identities, so why after all this time do they ask them to surrender now? What sort of justice is that?
Posted by Pete on August 15, 2011 19:03