MK1

This is just another freedom barrier imposed upon those with a disability that have no way of voicing their concerns fairly and equally other than at the election box.

I guess what the government is more concerned about is the amount of DSP claimants on the horizon, projected to be one-million in the next decade, due to the rise of an aging population carrying a significant amount of health risks.

Those conscientious enough to be living in Thailand, in comparison to those DSP battlers doing it hard in OZ unable to afford a Latte, Beer & smokes, seems like a convenient beat up to divide a few silent die-hards in favor of winning few votes at the next election.

No doubt the majority of 800,000 DSP recipients (The Sunday Telegraph, 22/12/2013) perhaps did not entirely support the Abbott government at the last election. Also given the shock and awe of the recent budget handed down inclusive of recent sacking of the Disability Discrimination Commissioner- Graeme Innes, in light of this, it is highly-unlikely they'll win the hearts and minds of the remaining people on the DSP scheme too. So better pack your bags as well 'Mr Abbott'.

Update

Phuket News, 5 July 2014, Suthicha Sirirat

Phuket stab-and-rob man 'needed money for younger sister's education'

PHUKET: Police have arrested the knifeman who stabbed and robbed two tourists in Kata/Karon late last night, with the suspect confessing to all charges, including attempted murder.

- See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-stab-and-rob-man-needed-money-for-younger-sisters-education-47207.php?news-alert=1#sthash.EkAYSLDD.dpuf

Much to the displeasure of the British, the policy of allowing Thailand to do as it pleases has not changed since the Japanese surrendered almost 70 years ago. Why?, America and Australia cannot afford to have Thailand fall to prey of the “communists" which if you look at the region today that risk is still a distinct possibility.

The last time an event occurred like this was when the female Australian travel agent was sadly fatally stabbed and robbed in what was considered an opportunistic attack, June 2012, just over two-years ago.

It will be interesting to see what social-economic background the actual perpetrators come from that inspired them to commit such a crime. In reality, in comparison to other high-profile locations, there is not one city in the world that can be deemed as particularly safe at 3am. However, irrespective of the risk to public safety in spite of this, the doomsayers will still take great pleasure in casting their dark cloud fear upon Phuket once again.

have you forgotten the pregnant woman that was raped at knifepoint in a bush after being kicked off her bike just a few months ago?

Sorry, I was referring to similar attacks on tourist’s as stated “event occurred like this”.

Crimes against the public happen every day in every city around the world for different reasons.

As I understand, the pregnant woman that was kicked off the motorbike and raped & robbed was not a tourist and the location of the incident was at the opposite end of the island.

Why do you believe the two-events are similar in nature?

I bet implementing a punitive fine -say about 500 baht- would bring this non sense to a swift end

Crime against foreigners is like free money and there is very little down side risk for the locals participating.

Correction, night time crimes usually carry at least double the penalty as opposed those carried out during daylight hours in Thai.

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The guy who vowed that when he took over the country he would never be P.M. Why not let the people choose a P.M instead of making yourself the supreme leader.

It seems he IS the people's choice to be the next PM.

With a nationwide turnout of almost 99% Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un was not only elected to the highest legislative body in North Korea, he won with the unanimous approval of his district, which had 100 per cent turnout. Voters had only one candidate's name on the ballot for each district and they had the choice of voting yes or no. Will Thailand follow the path of TRUE democracy as did North Korea? Yes or no.

Put simply the answer is ‘No’.Comparing Thailand with a failed dysfunctional state like North Korea is like saying the burgers are better at Burger King/ Hungry Jacks. Besides, how can you make such a comparison when the majority of the population have no conception to freedom of choice let alone having a choice or the means to eat even at least fast food. At least in Thailand you have the freedom to eat & drink what you want or leave whenever you wish.

If history is anything to go by, in terms of milestones, General Prayuth as PM is the best thing that has happen to Thailand since field marshal – Phibun (3^rd Thai PM 1932) ran the country. Back then Plaek Phibun was credited with bringing Thai people out the jungle and evolving into modern society.

On the contrary, It would appear very little has been learned from 1997 as a country because Thai people have had two-hands in the cookie Jar and very little show from it while “90% of the land is owned by not more than 10% of the population” ( Pareto's Principle).

reminds me on an almost funny incidence in CM 24 years ago when a handful of DEA agents complaint in the beer-garden(with boxing shows) about children being there and selling stuff.

Police was called to arrest the complainers but 11(I think it was) of the police men go beaten up severely and they ran out of backup forces. - A couple of days later the DEA agents were sent home. It was like pictures out of an action movie.

The problem has been allowed to flourish for so long that most of us including Thai’s have just given up and ignored the problem by placing into the too hard basket. I also recall complaining about the problem going on outside the front of Nana Hotel over 10+ years ago and in the end I believe they just relocated the activity around the corner. What surprised me though, was the activity had been allowed to go for so long there within almost an eye shot of a police-box not more than 100m away. Good to see the army is finally cracking down on the problem.

Why do these guy still think Phuket owes them a living?

They can cruise around, hoping to be flagged down, or until a call comes through the call centre, and the closest taxi to the customer gets the job. Just like most places in the world.

They need to be told that their days of self entitlement have come to an end, and they need to work for a living, like everyone else, and not just sit and wait around all day just to rip off one tourist for a short journey and a day's salary.

Taxis cruising around hoping to be flagged down is a large part of bangkoks traffic problems, there are just too many of them.

At the moment, pretty much every individual on Phuket needs access to a vehicle, or they are at the mercy of the transport cartels here. So, what do most do here, hire a motorbike, many times with tragic consequences.

Four people in one taxi is better than four people on four motorbikes.

I think Phuket is different to Bangkok. Proper public transport on Phuket would actually decrease traffic, noise and air polltion, accidents, injuries and death here.

I rent a car from the airport the minute I get there. You can also book them well in advance and its not too expensive. Certainly if you have a group of 4-5 people and plan to drive around a bit, its cheaper than using the taxi thugs.

Rent-a-car is the logical and realistic solution to the problem. More Hotels should also make available this service to their patrons as opposed to rent a motorbike

Clearly the Phuket taxi-operators are reluctant to adopt technology by having a call centre because then they have to invest back into their business, share commissions and be held accountable. The game they play is not one of convenience but one of transferring the risk on to others and being back in a position of monopoly.

It looks like your posts in these threads 'nothing is going to change, they just need some envelopes' were not completely correct.

Where did I say nothing is going to change? I was saying there should be more physical evidence of demolition of the bigger structures given the imminent deadline (today), after which they were threatened with prosecution (which means big fines and jail)..

Very little chance of conspiracy theories here while the Military are pro-actively involved in seeing the job get done.

Outside of going to the beach yourself to see, alternatively you just need to have faith in your local media who are also empowered and compelled to report the truth accurately at this time.

A prime opportunity for the Abbott Government to start negotiating with Thailand on off-shore refugee processing now that the vacancy sign has believable gone up.

Recent reporting suggests there may be up to 142,000 vacancies.

PHUKET NEWS- Monday 16 June 2014, 05:53PM- Anthika Muangrod

Demolition time: Phuket beach clubs bow to government orders

PHUKET: The beachfront at Surin Beach began to undergo a massive change today (June 16) as restaurants and beach clubs, who have been sitting on public land – in some cases for decades – complied with government orders to clear illegal structures. - See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/demolition-time-phuket-beach-clubs-bow-to-government-orders-46883.php?news-alert=1#sthash.yXsYOBHf.dpuf

It must have been “Noah” spreading rumors again.

Time to set up the PA system at the border and play KC & The Sunshine Bands - "Please don't go"...maybe they'll get the message before it's too late.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSA_g4mHIXg

I remember many years ago a similar crackdown taking place on Phuket. There was universal outrage. It made front page news for some days. And who were the Outraged? The Thai employers. They said the immigrants, comprising mainly Burmese and Cambodians, worked for far less than that which they'd have to pay a Thai, if they could find one to actually work. They also added that immigrants don't 'job hop' and turn up for work. The 'crackdown' was reversed soon after.

You will not find a Thai to work for 300 baht per day on Phuket. !000 might pique their interest. For how long, who can say?

Earning 300 baht a day on Phuket hardly covers the cost of rent, let alone covers the cost of travel and living costs. So you cannot blame Thai people for refusing to work for the minimum daily wage unless they can earn a higher rate, which would cover the exceptionally high-living costs to live on the island, in stark contrast to the rest of Thailand. For example, as you said, 1000 baht per day would be considered a minimum fair days pay.

try driving down the second road in the evening, no joke there are at least 50-70 parked at 90 degrees to the kirb

Nothing appears to have changed there but only a matter time before it does now that the amnesty deadline for surrendering weapons of war in Patong has now passed.

How many crackdowns have we had??? how long do they last???

On the taxi mafia?

NEVER during my 8 years here in Phuket.

In general, but didn't we have a crackdown in tuktuk parking along Patong beach road?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes there was some sought of phantom crackdown on Patong Beach road but as of yesterday things appear to have returned to their territorial ways. In one area of Patong, tuk-tuks are spread out along the road in pairs of three’s every 100 meters perhaps in an effort to be seen as being less obvious but just as troublesome.

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

Did these "illegal immigrants" just suddenly decide to come and work in Thailand en masse on July 3rd 2011, or would you accept that they may have been coming to Thailand and working for some time before? I know it's almost compulsory on this forum to blame everything on the PTP or Thaksin, but give it a rest, will you.

You’re right on one aspect, it just simple didn’t happen overnight and previous interim governments never bothered to focus on cracking down on the activity because the situation was not dire or nor out of control. However, what normally causes such an influx is ‘major policy change’ such as a rise in the minimum daily wage in Thailand.

Much to the astonishment of the business community before PTP/Thaksin clan came back into office was that they promised to raise the minimum wage and in the end they did. The influx of Khmer workers was a result of that policy change since the business community i.e. developers, did not want to adapt nor accept that change without presumably some sought of increase in productivity.

It just reveals yet again another element to the out-of-control lawlessness, with respect to compliance with the law, that was allowed to go on under the previous government.

Had they had permits to work and stay in Thailand; there would be no need to flee.

The sky will not fall in after their departure.

Larry has been very passionate about the safety and welfare of Australians while holidaying in Phuket but I tend to think he’s not allowed for the newly appointed Australian Honorary Consul–Michelle Hawryluk to weigh in first on how she thinks the taxi, tuk-tuk raids have been handled so far.

Phuket News, Thursday 12 June 2014, 05:05PM-Anthika Muangrod

Phuket beach encroachers 'could face money laundering probes'

PHUKET: Vice-Governor Jamroen Thippayapongtada said today that “more than a hundred businesses” on Kamala, Bang Tao, Surin and Layan Beaches are illegal and must be knocked down.

- See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-beach-encroachers-could-face-money-laundering-probes-46825.php?news-alert=1#sthash.h71IVED4.dpuf