PHUKET — It has been a rough year for Phuket′s reputation as a safe tourist attraction.

The popular island appears to plunge into one scandal after another, such as the unlicensed “black plate” taxis scamming tourists, shadowy moguls illegally snapping up lands from the locals, and not to mention the arrest of sex show business owners.

Earlier this week, President of Entertainment Businesses Association in Patong Beach, Mr. Weerawich Krueasombat, revealed yet another woe plaguing Phuket′s tourism business, claiming that 17 different state agencies are involved in massive extortion scheme against local businesses.

According to Mr. Weerawich, in each month owners of venues located in Patong Beach are forced to pay in total of THB 9 million bribery to these organisations – which he did not name. Some venues are coerced in paying double or even triple of the fee as some of the agencies separately sent their own agents to collect the bribery.

Reportedly, all of the 17 authorities belong to powerful backers – the “people of colours”, a term indicating military or police involvement.

So far, some of the business people who cannot stand the bribery had turned their business into something less risky, namely restaurants, to avoid absurd amount of briberies that are filling the coffers of the “mafia”.

In order to call for response from governmental authorities, Mr. Weerawich said that the venues in Patong Beach are threatening to close down their businesses altogether at once as a “silent protest”.

Mr. Chat Chindaphol, Advisor to the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), similarly said there are “mafia” within the authorities, and that “they have been damaging the kingdom’s reputation in tourism all along”.

Mr. Chat said he had been discussing with government representatives to combine and integrate every tourism sub-sectors together to strengthen the sector.

Moreover, “open letters were submitted to related authorities, particularly those concerning Sergeant W., who allegedly said to have mighty power and forced people for bribes. This certain Sergeant W. arranged a team of 4 – 5 members to scout each area and collect the illegal money.” Said Mr. Chat,

He continued, “The individuals involved in the mafia ring are also illegally claiming lands in Phuket, and they claim to have powerful backers.

The TCC advisor said he will petition Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take heed of the problems in Phuket. He also aimed to propose ‘Pattaya model’, which promotes business competency and reasonable tax revenue, to the authorities for consideration.

Meanwhile, Phuket authorities are also struggling to tackle the issues of “Black-Plate” taxi cabs, who are similarly reported to enjoy supports from prominent politicians.

20 teams of these are said to have caused particularly severe problems, and are slated to be cracked down by the Crime Suppression Division.

The governor insisted that his authority is ready to investigate any problems, and would be much delighted to receive any useful information and evidence of abuse of power by the hands of state officials.

Apart from Phuket Governor, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) also vows to battle the issues, having recently appointed a ‘Cooperation Centre To Prevent and Suppress Powerful People Threatening Phuket’s Tourism’, in which the DSI will play a leading role.

However, the aforementioned efforts have yielded dubious results, and have done very little to stem the tides of scandals experienced by locals and tourists alike.

Whether reputation of Phuket as one of the kingdom′s leading tourist attractions has been permanently damaged is yet to be seen.

(25 October) A 7-11 convenience store in Phasee Charoen district of Bangkok has been robbed by an intoxicated masked individual believed to be a polytechnic school student.

The cashier on duty at the time said that at around 02.00, a man walked in and threatened her with 50 cm long knife, forcing her to give up the store′s cash worth approximately 5,000 baht.

It is reported that the man was wearing a white shirt and navy blue trousers similar to those worn by polytechnic students. He also covered his face with a black T-shirt during the robbery. The suspect is said to be 1.65-1.70 cm tall.

A CCTV video record shows that the suspect took only 20 minutes to rob the store, after he entered it from Soi Petchakasem 20. However, the video failed to indicate how the suspect fled the scene.

Additionally, police suggested that the man appeared drunk before he robbed the store. Initial police report concluded that the suspect might be a polytechnic student who wanted to commit such crime ‘just for fun’.

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(25 October) A prominent student activist who campaigns for a more progressive education system was briefly detained by the police earlier today.

Mr. Netiwit ?Frank? Chotpatpaisan, an 11th grade student at Nawaminthrachinuthit School, had been leading a group of 30 students to demonstrate near Royal Plaza in Bangkok, demanding reforms in Thai education.

The group was also accompanied by a truck fitted with a loudspeaker, which prompted nearby police to arrest Mr. Netiwit and other students, as their action was deemed a violation of Internal Security Act which forbids political rallies in governmental districts.

The Act was enacted by the government several weeks ago to deter anti-government protesters from encircling Government House.

The students were brought to Dusit Police Station, where they argued against their charge by insisting that their case had nothing to do with politics. Mr. Netiwit also reportedly told the police they merely intended to march to the Ministry of Education so they could submit an open letter to the officials there.

The police eventually relented, dropping the charge on Internal Security Act, but nevertheless fined the students 500 baht for using an illegally modified vehicle. The students were released around 14.00.

Prachatai reports that the police later escorted the activists to the Ministry of Education on two police vans, and the students successfully submitted their letter to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

The letter demands, among other issues, an abolition of "outdated" regulations which allegedly contradicts with modern human rights principles.

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(25 October) A Japanese national has reportedly jumped off the balcony of an apartment building in Chonburi province to his death.

The incident took place at a condominium in Sri Racha district. At the scene the police found the body of the victim, who was identified as Mr. Hendo, a 37 year old Japanese national. He was said to be a manager of a firm in the nearby industrial estate.

The police also found a photo of Mr. Hendo with a woman and a boy – believed to be his wife and child – in the locket worn by the victim.

Mr. Manote Charoensuk, 45, a personal driver of Mr. Hendo, told police he was waiting at the condominium ground floor to pick up Mr. Hendo to work when he heard about a man plunging from the building. Mr. Manote said he rushed to the scene and recognised his employer, so he immediately called the staff at his company.

He also told police he believed Mr. Hendo could not have committed suicide off the building as he never showed his stress.

However, police said they had inspected CCTV footages in the building which reportedly showed Mr. Hendo leaving his room at 05.45 and heading to the outdoor swimming pool on 6th floor, where he took the plunge to his death.

The Embassy of Japan has been informed about the incident, police added.

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