Posted 2006-11-27 03:23:14
Since the recent (publicised) stabbing of a Welshman by a tuk tuk driver, I believe the time has come to openly discuss the violent attitude and archaic "mob" behaviour of some elements controlling Phuket's blatant mafia-style transport monopoly:
Why must "foreigner's" live in fear to speak out against this discrimination - unique only to visitors of Phuket?
Why should we fear for our lives when we all help to bring wealth to Phuket?
Just 2 weeks ago, a respectable, long-term business associate was viciously attacked by 4 tuk tuk drivers for mistakenly parking his car in "their" space. He was hospitalised for a week with a serious head injury after an unprovoked beating with a wooden club. As far as I know this was not reported to 'authorities' due to further threats...
Why should we have to accept this despicable behaviour to live on this island when many of us try so hard to help the Thai people?????????
As a woman, I also have been threatened many times for "daring" to park my car in "unmarked" tuk tuk MAFIA territory.
Phuket wants "quality" tourism!!!!? WELL GET SOME QUALITY SERVICES..... and then perhaps the value of "word-of-mouth advertising" will reap rewards - far greater rewards than the waste of billions of bahts worth of smalmy PR campaigns and roadshows that attempt to lure millions more "zero-value tourists" every year.
Posted 2006-11-27 07:29:54
agreed wholeheartedly.
how about some fearless journalism on the subject of the way tourists are milked mercilessly and unfairly every time they visit this country.
from different pricing in hotels for foriegn and thai guests , through national park double pricing , double pricing at attractions such as phukets fantasia , the taxi scams at most tourist resorts , and last but not least , the ineffectiveness of the police in dealing with organised illegal operations.
publicity in the foriegn press should be the first priority , the thai authorities are very sensitive about their image abroad.
any travel journos reading ??
Posted 2006-11-27 18:53:34
I still remember all these promises what all will change after Tsunami..........nothing has changed:
Tuk Tuks, jet ski operators etc.
My (Thai) boss had to use the mini van service from the airport couple of days ago to go to Phuket Town but as usual they stopped at this famous "office" and offered him a hotel room, he's tried to stay in the van but they pulled him out 
Just 3 days ago I've had a bad experience on my way home on the bypass road with a Tuk Tuk driver...
One of these parking guards on beach road told me parking fee for 1 hour is now 40 Baht at night.....
etc etc etc etc
Gerd
Posted 2006-11-27 22:30:09
If they ban the Welsh from coming then no more Welsh people will get stabbed. 
Posted 2006-11-28 18:37:51
This is a very touchy subject!
Trust me it is best to remain non confrontational with the tuktuk arseholes.
Give them the 100 baht as necessary but you can refuse the 100 baht per person surcharge they've been trying on for size lately.
Personally I just smile say no thank you and do business with taxi drivers with cars and A/C! Or just mototaxis for 20 baht.
Posted 2006-11-29 00:40:44
 taxexile, on 2006-11-27 07:29:54, said:
agreed wholeheartedly.
how about some fearless journalism on the subject of the way tourists are milked mercilessly and unfairly every time they visit this country.
from different pricing in hotels for foriegn and thai guests , through national park double pricing , double pricing at attractions such as phukets fantasia , the taxi scams at most tourist resorts , and last but not least , the ineffectiveness of the police in dealing with organised illegal operations.
publicity in the foriegn press should be the first priority , the thai authorities are very sensitive about their image abroad.
any travel journos reading ??
This is the way to go.  BUT!!
Unfortunately, though as with MS Bremners nasty little hissy fit yesterday. Journo's are not going to do anything useful.
The book of Politically Correct Sterotyping, for journalists would evaluate the story thus:
Male in Patong - sex tourist, drunk woman abuser and probably homophobic (on the grounds that he is a sex tourist in Thailand).
After the Tsunami, the Journos were just looking for smut and kiddie porn stories. Just a bunch of failed writers on a xmas binge.
If he had been a cross dresser and been polietely asked not to use a ladies toilet as children where in there, the whole weight of the media would have been brought to bear on this issue.
Edited by Steph1012, 2006-11-29 00:42:46.
Posted 2006-11-29 01:23:49
Steph1012, on 2006-11-29 00:40:44, said: taxexile, on 2006-11-27 07:29:54, said:
agreed wholeheartedly.
how about some fearless journalism on the subject of the way tourists are milked mercilessly and unfairly every time they visit this country.
from different pricing in hotels for foriegn and thai guests , through national park double pricing , double pricing at attractions such as phukets fantasia , the taxi scams at most tourist resorts , and last but not least , the ineffectiveness of the police in dealing with organised illegal operations.
publicity in the foriegn press should be the first priority , the thai authorities are very sensitive about their image abroad.
any travel journos reading ??
This is the way to go. BUT!!
Unfortunately, though as with MS Bremners nasty little hissy fit yesterday. Journo's are not going to do anything useful.
The book of Politically Correct Sterotyping, for journalists would evaluate the story thus:
Male in Patong - sex tourist, drunk woman abuser and probably homophobic (on the grounds that he is a sex tourist in Thailand).
After the Tsunami, the Journos were just looking for smut and kiddie porn stories. Just a bunch of failed writers on a xmas binge.
If he had been a cross dresser and been polietely asked not to use a ladies toilet as children where in there, the whole weight of the media would have been brought to bear on this issue.
good post
it's unfortunately too true
Posted 2006-11-29 02:36:09
Ok - went for a business meeting in Karon Beach tonight - parked my car, locked up, stepped out. Then - the inevitable!!! "You cannot park here".....
 'Where is the NO PARKING sign'- I politely asked.
Next thing, I was roughly grabbed by my right arm like a "crab in a freaking soup pot"... thrown at a sign that said: " TUK TUK TAXI SERVICE" and told 'if you want trouble, I'll give you trouble!!'
All outside a new 4-star resort. I was told not to ever show my face again or "they would call police" and threatened to make sure my car was not in one piece Dammit.... I told them (before moving my car) I would call the police on them.... MAFIA SONS OF BITCHES!!!!
Posted 2006-11-29 10:56:08
 They are one of the reasons we will not ever set foot on Phuket soil again. Total rip off. 
Posted 2006-11-29 11:05:25
khall64au, on 2006-11-29 02:36:09, said: Ok - went for a business meeting in Karon Beach tonight - parked my car, locked up, stepped out. Then - the inevitable!!! "You cannot park here".....
'Where is the NO PARKING sign'- I politely asked.
Next thing, I was roughly grabbed by my right arm like a "crab in a freaking soup pot"... thrown at a sign that said: " TUK TUK TAXI SERVICE" and told 'if you want trouble, I'll give you trouble!!'
All outside a new 4-star resort. I was told not to ever show my face again or "they would call police" and threatened to make sure my car was not in one piece Dammit.... I told them (before moving my car) I would call the police on them.... MAFIA SONS OF BITCHES!!!!
You should report the buggers!!!!!Assault for one thing........
Edited by chuchok, 2006-11-29 11:06:10.
Posted 2006-11-29 11:12:44
When I park my car in a spot that tuktuk drivers obviously feel belongs to them, I simply apologize and move the car out, after being reprimanded by them in a possibly not too friendly way. Sure, somehow it doesn't feel good to apologize and comply when you feel that they are not right, but I think it simply aint worth it to let it spoil my good mood, or maybe worse. Just go with the flow, and those who get worked up about things like this, better move on to a place like Switzerland or so.
Edited by keestha, 2006-11-29 11:13:46.
Posted 2006-11-29 11:13:06
Khall, after reading what happened to you i'll never go to Phuket again. Real slime
threatening a girl like that
I would go to the police to and tell them also, they might do something maybe
-nam
Posted 2006-11-29 11:30:44
KHall, did you report them to the police? it may be worth the hassle you know. if enough people start reporting them, something may just get done.
Posted 2006-11-29 11:42:04
Police !!! more than likely a "senior" police officer is running the Tuk Tuk 'Mafia'
Posted 2006-11-29 11:46:19
perhaps thats true. but if people DO actually report this sort of thing, even to the hotel that it happened near, and if enough bad publicity is spread around, maybe, just maybe, something will be done.
Posted 2006-11-29 12:01:53
Tuk Tuk drivers... scum of the earth. I would rather walk 10km in the mid-day sun than give these guys a single baht!
I certainly wouldn't confront them in a situation as described, after all a 5 vs 1 fight is bound to result in me requiring hospital treatment.
Saying that i would go make a fuss to the police
Posted 2006-11-29 12:48:00
Can't we start to do something?????
Start an online petition, send the results to Phuket gazette???
www.petitiononline.com
Posted 2006-11-29 13:04:14
womble, on 2006-11-29 12:48:00, said: Can't we start to do something?????
Start an online petition, send the results to Phuket gazette???
www.petitiononline.com
Sounds like a good idea, but the cynic in me believes it'll only get ignored 
It's clear there's a fairly significant crowd in Phuket, both farang and Thai, who are disgusted with these guys. Couldn't you all arrange to visit the mayor of Phuket in unison?
Just watch out for some of these tuk- tuk b*stards also joining the crowd with cameras. I wouldn't put it past them after reading all this.
Posted 2006-11-29 13:27:08
PREM-R, on 2006-11-29 12:42:04, said: Police !!! more than likely a "senior" police officer is running the Tuk Tuk 'Mafia'
I agree with PREM. I know a few heavy hitters in Phuket and you can be sure that going to the police would be a grave mistake. The police are not in any way concerned with you health or safety. As a matterof fact, I personally know of a few police that will kick the S&*T out of someone for wronging you if you pay them. Money is all that matters. Trust me. You report a Tuk Tuk to the police, they won't do a thing about it. Unless you offer to pay them. I would walk before I hired a Tuk Tuk, and I wouldn't urinate on Patong if it was engulfed in flames.
The Sign should read "L.O.S. - Land of Scams.... Tourists Beware!!!"
Posted 2006-11-29 13:44:37
This is just my opinion...
Has anyone considered complaining to their embassies?
Wait....don't shoot me, think about it.
Reporting a Thai to a Thai because you have a problem with a Thai is a "lose lose" situation.
If embassies (and consider how many there are including consulates) get a slew of phone calls, emails, letters or even personal visits it will have a POLITICAL EFFECT. Repeated reports by different folks, be they tourists or long stay residents cannot be ignored.
So many farangs from different countries all experiencing the same problems cannot be a coincidence.
I'll bet 5 baht that you'll at least get the problems addressed by going this route....more so than the results you'll get from posting here.
Just a thought.....
Posted 2006-11-30 08:08:16
where's judge dredd when you need him.
intimidatory tactics against members of the public here in thailand are common.
taxi mafias , the flattening of the market on sukhumvit a few years back , the hounding of environmentalists , the eviction of lawful tenants etc. etc.
in a country where corruption is endemic these things are part of the scenery as thugs , protected by the police or people in high places have free reign to intimidate and bully.
when tourists / foreigners are affected there is little that can be done directly , but by collecting accounts of occurrences of such intimidation and reporting them to the tourist press , to tv programmes abroad that deal with travel or to interested journals abroad , and sending copies of those articles to thai embassies , thai newspapers , thai tv stations then eventually some notice may be taken.
the thais are super sensitive to bad press abroad.
but whereas westerners are outraged by such unlawful bullying , for thais , it is part of everyday life and they know to avoid it.
Posted 2006-11-30 10:05:52
The British FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) has a page on its website that indicates problems for visitors to various countries including Thailand, and I am sure that other countries have similar facilities. If enough people contact their embassy and complain about the Tuk Tuk situation in Phuket, and provide links to the documentary evidence of violence and intimidation, then it is just possible that this information will be added to the official websites and surely then it will be reported back to the 4 star Generals... er sorry, senior politicians in Bangkok. This may or may not lead to something being done.
Posted 2006-11-30 12:04:52
Tuk Tuk drivers in Phuket are all southern people, with the majority coming from Phuket itself. It is hard to oust these pricks as they are the local mafia. The governor wanted to implement new taxis last year and roads were blockaded in Karon/Kata and The Governors office in Phuket. The Governor at the time said he would call in the army................... nothing happened due to fear.
Im sorry to hear about your ordeal KHall. Ive just moved to Patong, so I expect I will come to blows soon.
Posted 2006-11-30 15:02:46
intoxicajun, on 2006-11-29 13:27:08, said: PREM-R, on 2006-11-29 12:42:04, said:
Police !!! more than likely a "senior" police officer is running the Tuk Tuk 'Mafia'
I agree with PREM. I know a few heavy hitters in Phuket and you can be sure that going to the police would be a grave mistake. The police are not in any way concerned with you health or safety. As a matterof fact, I personally know of a few police that will kick the S&*T out of someone for wronging you if you pay them. Money is all that matters. Trust me. You report a Tuk Tuk to the police, they won't do a thing about it. Unless you offer to pay them. I would walk before I hired a Tuk Tuk, and I wouldn't urinate on Patong if it was engulfed in flames.
The Sign should read "L.O.S. - Land of Scams.... Tourists Beware!!!"
The police Captain that lives on the end of my soi owns a Tuk Tuk 
Posted 2006-11-30 15:34:09
Nam Kao, on 2006-11-29 04:13:06, said: Khall, after reading what happened to you i'll never go to Phuket again. Real slime
threatening a girl like that
I would go to the police to and tell them also, they might do something maybe
-nam
I think I said it before in the Tuk Tuk thread, I've got family coming over after, and Phuket supposedly Thailand's top tourist destination if off the list. I can't be dealing with hassles like timeshare sellers, nasty Tuk Tuk drivers everyday, better to just avoid the whole island. 
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