Phuket tourists attacked by Taxi driver thugs
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
French tourists attacked for parking in 'wrong place'
PHUKET: Chalong Police are on the hunt for a man presumed to be a ‘tuk-
tuk / taxi driver’ who allegedly set upon a French family with a beach
umbrella in the Kata area of Phuket on Saturday evening.
The family, an elderly couple on holiday with their 44-year old son,
his wife and their three children, aged 14 months, seven and nine,
claim they were attacked when they parked their rented car along the
Kata Beach road.
The family claims they were confronted by a man outside the Karon
Municipality offices, at the southern end of Kata Beach.
He was aggressive and told them to move the vehicle, the family said.
After checking the area for no-parking signs, and seeing none, the
family refused to move their car and began unloading their beach
items.
Moments later, the man returned and assaulted them with the shaft of a
beach umbrella, breaking the 44-year-old man’s arm. The 68-year-old
father also sustained numerous bruises in the attack.
Many people saw the incident, which occurred at about 5pm, but no-one
went to the family’s aid, the victims claimed.
The family escaped in their car, stopping at the Kata Palm Resort to
recover from their ordeal. Staff at the resort alerted paramedics.
The family reported the attack to police on Sunday. Today, Chalong
police invited the victims to study police file photos of known
criminals in the area of the attack.
The victims have apparently identified their attacker and police are
believed to be tracking him down.
Phuket's public transport shortcomings have been been the subject of
bitter complaints from local residents and foreign tourists for at
least a decade.
The complaints have intensified sharply this month, to the point where
public outrage could culminate in mob action by victims of the system.
Following publication of a story by the Phuket Gazette on Dec 12, in
which taxi drivers were alleged to have threatened and verbally abused
staff and tour company representatives at the four-star Centara Karon
Resort, the Gazette Online's Phuket Forum saw the first in what has
turned out to be several hundred complaints from angry local residents
and foreign tourists.
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-- Phuket Gazette 2009/12/29
bear
Easy, don't go Phuket. Anyway, another tsunami could come at anytime.
john smith
maxwell
> Boycott Thailand and Thai products?
Did you suggest boycotting China and Chinese products?
If so, it went nowhere.
. .or were Todd and Barbara Bachman not 'worth' your 'concern' ?
<http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/08/09/minnesota-ceo-todd-bachman-murdered-in-beijing-photos/>
A Mate
Stay Away! Easy!
"none" <opl...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3f0854a5-7ae8-4aeb...@m3g2000yqf.googlegroups.com...
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Phuket tuk-tuk driver goes into hiding after assault on tourists
The area where the attack took place is a parking lot in front of the
Karon Municipality offices in Kata.
KARON, PHUKET: The tuk-tuk driver wanted in connection with the savage
beating of French tourists in Kata last Saturday has gone into hiding,
the Gazette has learned.
“Now, the suspect has run away. He is not at his house and didn’t show
up at the tuk-tuk parking area as normal,” Chalong Police Investigator
Chana Sutthimaat told the Gazette today.
The suspect, whose name is known to police, was issued a summons to
come in for questioning after the victims filed a complaint with
Chalong Police on Tuesday afternoon.
The family allege the man attacked them with a heavy metal shaft of
the type used to support a large beach umbrella in high winds.
The attack followed an argument over a public parking spot that the
attacker claimed was reserved for use by tuk-tuks, even though there
were no municipal or other signs or markings to designate the space as
such.
For our original report click here.
When contacted about the tuk-tuk situation in Karon today, Mayor Tawee
Tongcham said he was aware of the latest incident.
“Initially, I asked the group of drivers there how such a thing could
happen. One who witnessed the beating told me the attacker appeared to
suffer from minor mental problems. In any case, I need to speak to
both parties involved before making a decision about who was wrong and
who was right,” he said.
“As for measure to avoid this sort of fighting, I will hold a meeting
after New Year's Day to strictly delineate which areas are reserved
for tuk-tuks and taxis and which are open for tourists to park their
cars,” he said.
This latest violent incident has spurred a deluge of comments on the
Gazette readers forum and has prompted an Internet petition urging the
province to ban tuk-tuks altogether and establish a reasonably-priced
public transport system.
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Comments
So Sad for Phuket....... but its good that all this issues are finally
addressed by the media. its good in the long-term!
Fact is that public parking is reserved for car and bike rental
companies. also for tuk-tuks and vendors.
Whenever i socialize with them and ask questions, they all have to pay
some people....
Posted by KRR on Tuesday December 29, 2009 at 15:14
Been 4 years since I used a tuktuk because of my last use of one. It
was in a monsoon and we got to my apartment and the fare was something
like 280 baht. I didn't have the fare in small money so gave the
driver 500 baht and was waiting at the passenger window in the rain
waiting for him to give me change.
He told me he didn't have change...yeah right...and made some
searching moves around the cab like he was looking for money but kept
saying he didn't have change. Meanwhile I was getting soaked. So
supposedly neither of us had change. Then he leaned across and opened
the glove box on the passenger side so right by me and I saw a gun in
there! I got the feeling he wanted me to see it!
So I just told him to keep the money and went into my apartment. Never
used a tuktuk since.
Posted by Rex on Tuesday December 29, 2009 at 19:56
I drove through Karon twice in the past two years but could not stop
as they would not let me park any place. Can't spend money there so I
stay in Rawai.
The local government either does not know or does not care about this
situation. The army needs to be called in.
No kidding.
but nothing will ever come of this.
Posted by Restless in Rawai on Tuesday December 29, 2009 at 20:26
Well let's hope that this French family's incident is not in vain.
What more does the Government need to bring about some change?
Really what is also sad here is that no one, not even the other tuk
tuk drivers, stepped in.
Posted by Vfaye on Tuesday December 29, 2009 at 23:34
An inexcusable incident. It apparently happened before at the same
location, about a year ago. Lots of witnesses saw a tuk-tuk driver set
upon a hapless farang and left him severely beaten and unconscious for
parking in the tuk-tuk "space". A local media outlet sniffed out the
story at the tine but were unable to verify it.
This latest incident has got people screaming for a tuk-tuk boycott,
but this would require a boycott of Phuket itself as there are just no
other transport options available for many visitors. The local tuk-tuk
consortium is very influential and has no intention of going away
anytime soon, and TAT say they have had no tourist complaints
regarding tuk-tuks (they obviously don't read tourist-oriented media
or blogs).
Posted by Treelover on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 06:50
Unless Thais start to object to the corruption that is destroying
Phuket, change is unlikely. Tourists don't count, unless their
complaints go to diplomats at embassies in Bangkok Pressure for change
has to come from the top. Expect more violence, and fewer tourists, as
the crazy local economy of the island, based on selfishness and greed,
goes into a spiral. Instead of signing a useless petition, call your
ambassador. Make your opinion count.
Posted by Angelfire on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 07:48
This is a local endemic problem, not one that can be solved by
ambassadors of other countries. They can make some noise and complain
too, but this has to be solved at the grass roots level. I see no harm
of a petition to our local govenor signed by local people and tourists
alike.
There is already a petition to the Phuket Govenor running now.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/tuk-tuk/. Please do your bit to try to
save what is left of Phuket.
Editor: It's an international problem, not a local one, because
tourists from many countries are the innocent victims. Jet-ski
insurance was introduced on Phuket not because of complaints to the
TAT or an expat petition or 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' but
because an ambassador from an influential country (ie, one sending
hundreds of thousands of tourists to Thailand) told the Deputy PM that
the problem needed to be fixed. The Deputy PM told the Governor to fix
it. Power works from the top down, not the bottom up. Tell your
ambassador this problem needs fixing.
Posted by innocent bystander on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 10:51
The local Director of Transport seems to have summed up the problem:
"A proper solution is a long way off," he said. "Trains and light
rails are expensive and unlikely to be affordable at this stage."
So metered taxis and baht buses have already been taken out of
consideration?
Posted by Treelover on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 11:47
Avoid Phuket like the plague !
Posted by SNIX on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 16:58
I think its about time the Police did a blitz on Tuktuk drivers,
checking the vehicle for weapons and testing the drivers for Yah Bah
(amphetamines)
Posted by Antz Pantz on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 17:16
The Director of Public Transport on Phuket, Kanok Siripanichkoon,
said:-
''A proper solution is a long way off,'' he said. ''Trains and light
rails are expensive and unlikely to be affordable at this stage.
Who says trains and light rails are needed? A basic local bus service
connecting the beaches would suffice at this stage.
Ok heard the arguments that last time this was tried the driver was
beaten up, but hey if the authorities have the will to sort it out it
can be.
I think it will take some action from the top i.e. the PM but is he
interested in protecting the tourism industry (he implied he was with
the action taken on the main airport shoplifting scams)?????
Editor: Phuketwan has argued that if corruption can be controlled at
Suvarnabhumi Airport, then the national government should try to make
Phuket the first corruption-free province, then apply the lessons all
over Thailand.
Posted by Philip on Wednesday December 30, 2009 at 19:25
Is there any update as to whether or not the attacker is in police
custody yet? I understand that the local police know who he is.
Posted by Simon Luttrell on Thursday December 31, 2009 at 07:39
It really is a never ending story,I'm going to Bali next trip and
Penang the one after. I am giving Phuket a big miss!!
Posted by TerryEmu on Thursday December 31, 2009 at 08:23
Why does this problem keep happening? these tuk tuk drivers think they
can do whatever they want. Somebody needs to stand up and sort it !
Posted by tony tibbs on Thursday December 31, 2009 at 11:07
I passed a tuktuk in Patong today carrying 9 people in the back! So
much for them bleating when they blockaded the Centara Resort that if
there are more than 4 people they have to use another tuktuk.
Posted by Rex on Thursday December 31, 2009 at 20:16
I'm not at all surprised.. Last year a girl got beaten up on the same
parking lot. A police report was done, but nothing more happened as
she feared for her life...
She parked her car, and when she returned the tyres where flat, and
these "men" attacked her meanwhile they where spitting at her...
That's what you call gentlemen, and welcome to the lands of smiles....
Do hope something will happen, as we residents might stay because of
our business, but the tourists will disappear - and then we will go as
well........
Posted by Anonymous on Friday January 1, 2010 at 11:52
No one can compare these people to normal Thai people.But don't you
think its time that the honest people of Phuket also did something to
stop all this and protect their beautiful island???
Posted by elizabeth on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 12:37
We lived in Kata Noi and after seven years in Phuket have left
Thailand for many, many reasons for good. We are now in a small artsy-
fartsy (not a resort) town in Mexico and LOVE it here. Proper taxis,
frequent and varied bus service, PARKING, genuinely friendly
people...and no humidity, no double-pricing, no "where you go?". Need
we say more? We will NEVER return and will NEVER recommend Phuket.
Posted by Ex-Phuketian on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 20:38
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Phuket Tuk-Tuk Attack: Tourist Victim Heads Home
By Phuketwan Reporters
Sunday, January 3, 2010
THE Frenchman who told Phuketwan exclusively how a tuk-tuk driver
allegedly bashed his family is due to fly out of Thailand for home
tomorrow.
Today ''Didier'' flew to Bangkok from Phuket in readiness for his trip
back to France after a too-eventful holiday.
The case against the man accused of wielding a metal beach umbrella
stump, breaking ''Didier's'' arm and injuring his wife and father in
the scuffle over a car parking spot, is to proceed.
Lieutenant Chana Suttimas, of Chalong police, said today that the
courts would issue a warrant tomorrow for the arrest of the prime
suspect in the case, who has previously been named as Likit Teangtea.
Police had enough information in the statements from ''Didier'' and
his family to proceed with the case without him being here, Lieutenant
Chana said.
Police had previously been to Khun Likit's home to try to confirm his
identity as the man who allegedly assaulted the French family. Khun
Likit was not at home.
With the whole of Phuket enjoying the New Year break, the first
opportunity for the court to issue an arrest warrant will be on
Monday.
Back in July, Phuketwan telephoned the leader of the Karon-Kata tuk-
tuk drivers. ''So you want to talk to me?'' the deep voice on the
other end of the telephone said.
''Aren't you afraid of me? I am the tuk-tuk Mafia.''
The publication of the interview with Porntep Chamkawn that followed
triggered a huge response across Phuket that has continued in the
intervening six months with every article about tuk-tuks.
The Boxing Day beating at the Karon Administration public parking lot
has unleashed more criticism of the tuk-tuk drivers, especially from
Phuket's resident expats.
Since July, Khun Porntep, as head of the Kata-Karon Tuk-tuk
Association, has introduced a number of reforms, including service
training for drivers and a fare cut between Karon and Patong.
However, the attack on the tourist family is a setback to what might
have eventually proved to be an improved impression of tuk-tuk
drivers.
In good English, ''Didier'' told Phuketwan exclusively about the
Boxing Day attack : ''It seems that the tuk-tuk or taxi driver came
out of the little shed where all the drivers are sitting, and insulted
us.
''He said we weren't allowed to park, it was reserved for the police.
''We said 'It's nonsense', because there was no sign. There were
plenty of other cars. We actually left and were going to do some
shopping.
''One specific gentleman, whom the police are investigating, came out
with the bat as you can see there [pointing at the stump] the wooden
and metal pole and went straight at me with all his strength and aimed
at my head, trying obviously to kill me.
''I put my arm in front of me, so it broke my arm. My father jumped on
him and got the bat away from him, so he went to get another one.
''He came back and tried to hit me again and missed me, he hit my wife
and eventually my father disarmed him again, and he left and we left
as well.
''As my arm was broken we called the police and we went to the
hospital. It was operated on.
''I think this gentleman was under the influence of drugs. He did not
look healthy at all. As I told you, I would prefer if our names were
not mentioned.''
''Didier'' told Phuketwan he had visited Thailand many times to
holiday with family members who live here, but he will not be
returning after the violent encounter.
From now on, because of the assault, the Phuket family members will
visit him in France.
More problems for tuk-tuk drivers on Phuket have arisen because of a
dispute with one well-known resort company and tour operators.
The key appears to be that despite the economic gloom and tourists
having less money to spend, the number of tuk-tuks has not decreased.
Instead, more people have become drivers, meaning there is less money
to share.
Phuketwan has said that reform of the island's tuk-tuk cartels needs
to come as part of a complete review of Phuket's long-term transport
needs. Ten years into the 21st century, the island deserves a proper
public transport system.
Exclusive: Man 'Beat My Family Over Car Parking'
Breaking News Two men report an attack to Chalong police that they say
allegedly involved an angry man wielding a metal and wood beach
umbrella stump at a Kata tuk tuk parking spot.
Exclusive: Man 'Beat My Family Over Car Parking'