PskRick

The Beach and the Sea are filthy...  How about the thousands of rats the size of police dogs you have to battle to even get to the sea?  It's disgusting!

And here-in lies the problem with Thailand. They don't see it as a problem with the thugs hitting an old lady - they view it as a problem of the VDO being leaked. Their #1 source of income is Tourism - if they don't protect that industry they will fail. And you don't protect the industry by hiding the truth - you protect that industry by making it a safe place to visit. And while they probably couple not have stopped this (Short of having police presence there to begin with) - but they surely can make an example of these thugs with harsh punishment and highly publicize what happens when you threaten the golden goose.

Criminals in Phuket are “mostly outsiders”, says Gov...

Of course they are 'Outsiders'.

Outside renting jet ski's

Outside driving tuk tuks and taxis

Outside snatching jewelry, purses, and picking pockets

Outside writing traffic tickets