Canadian beaten up by Phuket tuktuk driver
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driver
Photo by phuketwan.com
Will This Photo Give Phuket Real Public Transport?
By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Phuketwan News Analysis
IS THIS the photograph that will start a revolution for Phuket's
public transport? Let's hope so.
The picture shows Canadian tourist Ivan Bob Anwar, 51, identifying the
tuk-tuk driver who gave him that cut eyebrow and cheek in a dispute
about a fare this afternoon.
He was punched five times, he says. His nose is stuffed with gauze to
stop the bleeding. He has had five stitches to his eyebrow.
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We understand Mr Anwar wanted to go from the Baramee Hotel in Patong
to the Sunset Beach Resort in Kalim. The journey took one minute. The
fare was 150 baht.
Mr Anwar apparently offered 100 baht, but that was not enough.
The driver, according to what police have been told, struck out at Mr
Anwar, then took off in his tuk-tuk.
Phuketwan believes this photograph and the violent incident may start
the process of change that must begin soon to bring urgently needed
reform to public transport on Phuket.
Tuk-tuk fares on Phuket are extortionate. It is becoming apparent that
if change does not come, more violence surely will follow.
Ridiculously high fares and a local monopoly on services have made the
current system unworkable, yet this is the 21st century.
The man is from Krabi, although tuk-tuk groups on Phuket say they only
employ local drivers.
The economic downturn means that the system cannot sustain an
increasing number of tuk-tuks, yet that is what is happening.
As more people take to driving tuk-tuks and taxis, fewer tourists are
coming to Phuket. Where is the logic in that?
Some people say the total number of tuk-tuks exceeds official figures
by hundreds..
It's time for the Government of Thailand to give proper consideration
to creating a workable public transport system on Phuket.
Do they want tourists to continue to come, or not? The answer, we
think, is obvious.
It's time for public transport reforms on Phuket. This photograph may
signal a fresh beginning.
The arrest of the tuk-tuk driver came as the climax to a dramatic
afternoon that involved the island's police force in the hunt, with
the Governor saying that the man had to be arrested, and that bail
would not be granted.
Phuketwan covered the afternoon's events as they unfolded, providing
about 40 ''live'' updates to the site, giving readers the news as it
happened.
Phuketwan's Comprehensive Tuk-Tuk Coverage
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Karon tuk-tuk driver gets bail
CHALONG, PHUKET: The Karon tuk-tuk driver accused of attacking a
family of French tourists with a metal pole on December 26 turned
himself in to police and was released on bail, the Gazette has
learned.
Chalong Police Inspector Chana Suthimas identified the alleged
attacker as 32-year-old Likhit Thaengthae, a resident of Karon.
Mr Likhit appeared at Chalong Police Station at 10am yesterday and
posted bail. Assault charges against him will be filed with the Phuket
Criminal Court soon, Lt Chana said.
Mr Likhit stands accused of attacking a French family with the metal
shaft of a beach umbrella support pole, breaking one of the victim’s
arms and badly bruising another relative, age 68.
The family’s children – aged one, seven and nine – were present at the
time of the attack.
Witnesses said Mr Likhit became enraged when the family parked their
rented car in a public parking lot near the Karon Municipality offices
in Kata.
The French family, on their way to the beach at the time, ignored his
command to park elsewhere because there were no signs indicating the
lot was reserved for tuk-tuks, as Mr Likhit insisted it was.
For our previous story and the massive reader reaction to it, click
here.
