Phuket Tuk-tuk Driver Attacks French Family

[olddog]

Totally disgraceful. But there is a definite atmosphere in Phuket, a real edge to the place you don't have to be psychic to sense. It's not a peculiarly Thai thing, either - I've felt the same thing in some parts of L.A., and, for that matter, Bedford. I just don't like the island, it gives me the creeps. So you have a situation always waiting to explode there, and it doesn't take much to make it go off. And while I'd never even suggest it was the tourist's fault (no perceived parking irregularity warrants a physical attack) I know from long personal experience that there's nobody quite as arrogantly infuriating as a Frenchman claiming a parking space as his personal right.

Phuket? We all know the answer to that question ...

[jonw8uk]

Shocking stuff, hope the guy gets an appropiate punishment (wishful thinking..)

Was down in Phuket last month, never used a tuk tuk once, I mean what is it with these guys who won't move for less than 200b? Is it really better for these guys to wait for 1 customer stupid enough to pay it, than charge half and probably get 5 fares a night?!

I can rent a motorbike for 24hrs for 150b, but these pricks don't understand the economics of that.

Tried telling one if he charged less he'd get more customers, his reply: don't fu_king speak thai to me....

As I understand it, a thai guy labouring on a building site would get maybe 400b a day, for his 10/12 hour shift, why do they imagine that a 300m ride is worth 200b? Because some will pay it I guess, and thats the problem. If NO-ONE used them then they would have to change it.

Airport taxi was 600b each way, more than it should be, but not too bad really, especially when you consider from Chaweng to the airport is the same money, and that literally is a 10 min journey.

It won't stop me going there, cos it does still have some nice spots, and I'm happy with a Honda click for getting around.

[Brewsta]

UPDATE

TAT 'worried' about Phuket tuk-tuk gangs

........................, he told the meeting.

Gov Wichai asked the heads of each department to work on the problem, but no official strategy was announced.

In an update on the case of the French family who were attacked outside Karon Municipality offices in Kata by a man thought to be a tuk-tuk driver, Chalong Police say they know the identity of the man and that a summons for him to appear for questioning has been issued.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009/12/29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

" ..Gov Wichai asked the heads of each department to work on the problem, but no official strategy was announced."

Hmmm....Introduce standard taxi/public transport fares for fixed Zones of the area??

Nah, too simple and corruption-free.

regardz,

Brewsta

[dartvidar]

Now it’s maybe time for the government to take action. This TUKTUK guys are the scum off Thailand, but the problem the government in Phuket are afraid to take action.

The government normally fighting criminals but they let the TUKTUK mafia continue. They took action about water jet rental, but the TUKTUKs are 10 times worst.

Maybe time for the public to take action by them self, when the government don’t do anything.

[LivinLOS]

Did he go too far? Sure. But a savvy foreigner would have never found out how far he was willing to take it. Unless I'm trying to carry a loved one into the emergency room, if a Thai man is screaming at me to do something, I'm going to shut up and get as far away from him as I can as fast as I can. Don't mistake their small size and smiles for weakness, they will fuc_k you up if you piss them off.

And its exactly that which lets them get brave..

And its only when they have backup and others around.. Ever see them front up alone ?? No then its typical bully stuff and shrink away. Its only the fact they dogpack people and random strangers join in to lay the boot in that allows them to behave this way.

[LivinLOS]

A situation that could have, and should have been avoided.

As tourists they should have taken the guy's word and found another parking spot.

I take it your not from Patong / Karon / Kata Etc..

They have ALL the spots.. Between the rental mafias and the tuk tuk mafias all the public space has been claimed, there is no where else to park and they even claim the one or two open spots while 20 or 30 bays are taken up by empty tuk tuks.

[moetownblues]

People will never learn to stay away from places Phuket and Pattaya. You hear these stories all the time. I blame the travel agencies abroad who sell these places as great family holiday destinations. These agency know of the pitfulls but still promote and sell the packages they are no better than the thugs and scammers they feed thier customers to. If any farang had any sense at all he would never step foot in any coastal tourist area of thailand. The blind are stupid and deserve what they get for being so ignorant of the facts.

[pontius]

1. Very regretful how this family had to experience "Amazing Thailand" (although I don't consider Phuket to be part of Thailand).

2. Those who back the Tuk-Tuk driver should be beaten with a stick to see if it feels right to lose an argument that way. Even if there was a HUGE sign (and there was none), assaulting people is an unacceptable, asocial, barbaric and of course totally illegal behaviour (and in addition, against those that put the food on the table, in this case).

3. My Thai GF and I were so disgusted by the Taxis and TukTuks in Phuket (we live in Bangkok) that we decided never ever to return if it isn't for business. (Besides that, Thais in Phuket seem to have forgotten how to cook Thai, but that's another issue).

[Brewsta]

Did he go too far? Sure. But a savvy foreigner..............

Don't mistake their small size and smiles for weakness, they will fuc_k you up if you piss them off.

And its exactly that which lets them get brave..

And its only when they have backup and others around.. Ever see them front up alone ?? No then its typical bully stuff and shrink away. Its only the fact they dogpack people and random strangers join in to lay the boot in that allows them to behave this way.

Personal view: If I have no other viable choice but to f_u)k someone up, it's gotta be necessary, doable and (apols to Obama) ALWAYS have an exit strategy.

Stay safe,

Brewsta

[britmaveric]

The french family should have left especially when tuk tuk lad prob told them what he was going to do. These lads are not to be messed with. However I'm sure the french had no idea how it works in Thailand, and assumed it would be the same as in France. Wish for a speedy recovery and hope they catch the lad. (seriously doubt the tuk tuk driver will be found)

[steveyinasia]

Better to come to Chiang Mai, I took a Tuk Tuk home from a night out the other night, 200Baht from central city area to home at San Kempang and it was a little cool in the evening for the driver to go all that way. Stay away from dirt holes like Pattaya and Phuket.

[IanForbes]

Considering that this news clip only started today and the replies are already up to 6 pages tells just how much it has affected the thaivisa members here. I spent a week in Phuket, and despite the lovely surroundings it is not somewhere I want to return. Everything is over priced in relationship to other parts of Thailand. I agree with most replies here that the tuk tuk drivers in Phuket are some of the worst in Thailand. I wouldn't trust one of them. But, I have had some good experiences with tuk tuk drivers in Chiang Mai, so I don't paint everyone with the same brush.

I can only assume that the Phuket tuk tuk drivers have some support from the local police or it would not be allowed to happen. It only takes a few incidents like this to cause millions of dollars of lost income for the resorts. Why those in power allow it to happen is beyond my comprehension.

Yes, the French tourists SHOULD have taken the irate tuk tuk driver's threats seriously and moved on, even though they might have been in their right not to do so, but you are playing with fire if you don't take a locals threats seriously. There is no way of knowing who is backing the creep.

[Stumbo]

Well, the untouchable Tuk Tuk drivers strike again, nothing worse than foreigners that rent their own transport.

At least there is some good news: "Many people saw the incident, which occurred at about 5pm, but no-one went to the family’s aid, the victims claimed." The victims really don't know how lucky they were, usually any Thai within 100 metres would have grabbed bars and clubs and helped their fellow Thai beat the living crap out of the foreign devils.

Welcome to the Land of Smiles, we hope your enjoy your stay in hospital, do you have insurance or credit card?

[Brewsta]

Better to come to Chiang Mai, I took a Tuk Tuk home from a night out the other night, 200Baht from central city area to home at San Kempang and it was a little cool in the evening for the driver to go all that way. Stay away from dirt holes like Pattaya and Phuket.

Good $$ Deal -

There are many, many beautiful places all over the Islands and throughout the South of LOS as I am sure that you know - maybe getting a hire car for any sojourn or holiday break thereabouts would be a smart investment, wethinks?

Drive Safe,

Brewsta

[moskito]

...... says her agency is 'working on a plan' to deal with aggressive tuk-tuk drivers in Phuket,......

........ has already set up a work group to study the issue, ............

sounds like Thaistyle with an outcome of ZERO 0

If you really want do something, write a short mail to your Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nearly every country have an internet page with travel informations and warnings.

Make them aware of this new incident as it is not the first one where a tuk tuk driver gets "personal" and dont forget to post a link to the story in Phuket Gazette or in ThaiVisa Forum.

The only thing to make the "bigheads" aware of a problem is to make it popular. It helped with the motobike muggings and the jetski scams and it will help with the tuk tuk mafia....

so spend 5min of your precious time and a lot of tourists will thank you for that in the future.

for ENGLAND CLICK HERE

Australia GO HERE

USA HERE IT IS

[mythBuster]

The problem is that they have not yet invented 90% of the traffic signs in Thailand or they are too lazy to put them up. it will not stop any policeman from fining you, or in this case any tuk-tuk driver or taxi driver from claiming a spot. But they could have also been attacked by the local hairdresser who sincerely believes that renting a place comes with the right to block at least one parking spot on the public road.

If they are really going to investigate tens of thousands of similar attacks might appear. They need to pull of a representative opinion poll in one and half province to claim, with a sample of 15 respondents and a never publicized margin of error to stage the claim that the entire Thai population agrees that the investigation should be stopped.

Lovely country.

[chiang mai]

Better to come to Chiang Mai, I took a Tuk Tuk home from a night out the other night, 200Baht from central city area to home at San Kempang and it was a little cool in the evening for the driver to go all that way. Stay away from dirt holes like Pattaya and Phuket.

I hope you remember that sentiment once CM gets into the burning season, the term "dirt holes" then take on a somewhat different meaning and context.

[jonclark]

Imagine the public outrage if a similar incident had happened in the UK or Europe. The Bas***d would be hunted down.

There is defiantly something sinister and worrying about the turn of events and the increasing frequency of these events. I wonder if this incident has been reported on French TV.

As an expat living here it is increasingly frustrating to watch these events unfold, but to be powerless to do anything.

My deepest sympathies to the familiy . I guess this is a Christmas that they will never forget, unfortunatly not the unforgettable holiday they were hoping for. Wonder if they are hanging around for the New Year?

[dumball]

'AskTheCPT' date='2009-12-29 16:29:32' post='3231718']

A situation that could have, and should have been avoided.

As tourists they should have taken the guy's word and found another parking spot. You don't go to someone else's country and do what's you think is right in your country.

This guy who beat them is still a piece of human excrement and should be thrown in jail but I put some blame on the tourists.

So , tourists come to Thailand at no low cost to themselves , believing what Thai tourism brochures tell them is the truth , park in an area that has no "No parking " sign as is common in most tourist spots of the world , and are approached by 'A person' wearing no official identification who tells them to move on . He then leaves and they start unloading their beach 'stuff , he returns with a weapon and beats the bejeebers out of two of them causing bodily harm .

How can you possibly be on this criminals side ? They could not possibly have been aware of what happens in Thailand because it said nothing about local violence on the brochures they had read , obviously .

Tourism people of the world should respond and have resorts such as this banned from advertising , my god , what is Thailand becoming , whilst people such as your good self sit calmly back and actually BLAME THE TOURIST and constantly re-itterats how wonderfull Thailand is , SHAME ON YOU .

[Huey]

Now it's maybe time for the government to take action. This TUKTUK guys are the scum off Thailand, but the problem the government in Phuket are afraid to take action.

The government normally fighting criminals but they let the TUKTUK mafia continue. They took action about water jet rental, but the TUKTUKs are 10 times worst.

Maybe time for the public to take action by them self, when the government don't do anything.

Good Point. Sadly chances are the public that can do something will not be attacked. Like if it was me chances are the guy would not have taken a pipe and came after me. I'm kinda big and I don't look like a victim waiting to happen. However the older folks, smaller folks, women, they will be the ones subjected to this kind of treatment when they are alone and without escort. I hate these kind of opportunistic thugs. And I really wish more of them would be shot. Phuket would be so much better for it.

[jboras]

I stopped taking my family to Phuket for the simple reason you can't go anywhere without being ripped off severely or having to argue to get a decent price ( I mean 200 baht for a tuk tuk to go 100m in Patong is a joke ) - it ruins the holiday and there plenty of other beaches in Thailand where it doesn't happen

If you cant walk 100m then serves you right! It's only 100 steps!

[kuffki]

Did he go too far? Sure. But a savvy foreigner would have never found out how far he was willing to take it. Unless I'm trying to carry a loved one into the emergency room, if a Thai man is screaming at me to do something, I'm going to shut up and get as far away from him as I can as fast as I can. Don't mistake their small size and smiles for weakness, they will fuc_k you up if you piss them off.

How about locking yourself in the room and not going out at all..

Are you also scared of your own shadow? or only someone else's?

Yes Thai men very strong, thats why they always need 10 of them to beat up on 1 tourist.

and need 20 soldiers to fight off 2 Cambodian Soldiers.

[Phil Conners]

While they're at it they might want to take a look at the Pattaya Baht bus mafia as well. Just as bad.

[SICA]

I have read all the replies on this thread now and feel inclined to reply. I was upset, angered, amused and flabbergasted by some already added but hey, it's a free thread so here's my two pence worth.

Firstly, i was in Phuket last month for a short break with my parents and my Thai GF. I have lived in Thailand for some years now and this was not the first time i have been to Phuket, however it was my parents first (and last) visit there. Phuket is a law unto itself from north to south, east to west and most places in between. My parents didn't really see the seedy underbelly as my GF and I (especially my GF) like to think we are a little street-smart so managed to steer them away from the problems that were noticeable everywhere. Other than my grumblings about how much the prices in Phuket had shot up over the last 12 months, they quite enjoyed their time.

I for one will never vist there again and until holidaymakers stop going, it will continue. Again, however, if holidaymakers do stop visiting, the scum who are the tuk tuk driver will find another way to destroy the lives on their mostly innocent victims, if only for a short period.

We must stop classifyin 'all' tuk tuk/taxi drivers across Thailand as scum. As many of the posters have said, most of us have had more good experiences with these people than bad. Phuket is the problem, not the scum bags. Let these people do what they want and the virus will spread, simple law of the jungle.

Nobody can ever condone violence like this, and from reading the posts left on here, i don't think anybody has condoned it. if i did miss one then i apologise and they should be on the receiving end of a beating with an iron bar, today.

Thailand has many problems when it comes to ripping off tourists and holidaymakers, but that is a problem around the world. arguably more so in Asia. if we are to boycott tuk tuk/taxis, how else do tourists get around? Ok, rent a car/moped. One problem, the rental cost will jump five-fold. Ok, don't take a taxi, tukk or rent anything, then what.... there will be street muggings when tourists are walking everywhere. These people are born into or bred into a lawless life and see that as the only way to make money to live. I can only see one solution, stop tourists going to Phuket, somehow, even if just for a short period. It's not 'get farangs out of Thailand for 2 months', it's 'keep tourists out of Phuket for 2 months'. Perhaps then the governor will see what is going on and some positive action will be forthcoming?? Is there really an answer?

So we know that that the GAI of tourism is around 9%. But the GAI of Phuket has to be 10 times that. People need to speak with their feet. It is really the only sensible option i can see.

And as for those of you who are whispering, "it's because they're Muslim" - Get a life! It's because they know no better and they get away with it......

You hear of holidaymakers being beaten up all over the world for making lesser mistakes than these poor souls. I hope they can get over what happens but the scars will remain forever, especially for the poor, innocent children.

PS. The tuk tuk situation in Hua Hin is quickly becoming the same as Patong!

[kuffki]

Imagine the public outrage if a similar incident had happened in the UK or Europe. The Bas***d would be hunted down.

There is defiantly something sinister and worrying about the turn of events and the increasing frequency of these events. I wonder if this incident has been reported on French TV.

As an expat living here it is increasingly frustrating to watch these events unfold, but to be powerless to do anything.

My deepest sympathies to the familiy . I guess this is a Christmas that they will never forget, unfortunatly not the unforgettable holiday they were hoping for. Wonder if they are hanging around for the New Year?

I can only guess what the headlines would of been or the action of the police, if this was a tourists who belted the crap out of tuk tuk driver.

Off the topic, in Pattaya few weeks ago, i personally witness, one well build tourist belt the living crap out of 10-20 thais. Yes he was also injured by the bottles, but he easily sent a few to the hospital. Funny enough, he was so pissed off that he was not going to stop despite all his injury's. I personally dragged him away but not because of his safety, i was more worried that he was going to kill one of those tuk tuk drivers, or motorocycle drivers, or the lady boys and everyone else who was trying to attack him.

I think no matter where you are and what you do, you should always stand your ground and not give in to thugs.

Of course if my family was with me, i would ensure their safety first and then deal with the thug

Edited December 29, 2009 by kuffki

[simmondsw]

Scum. Short and simple.

I agree, its high time that all parking and transport was properly licenced and regulated. Its time for this island to start thinking long term. I used to live in the UAE and in the old days you avoided using taxi etc etc because of the hassle they would cause re pricing etc. Now its a dream, they all have meters and they all use them. If they don't then there is a sign that clearly says no meter no money.

As for parking, lets get that all properly regulated. NO MAFIA....

Yet again more damage to the islands image, all for nothing...

[overhaul38]

A situation that could have, and should have been avoided.

As tourists they should have taken the guy's word and found another parking spot. You don't go to someone else's country and do what's you think is right in your country.

This guy who beat them is still a piece of human excrement and should be thrown in jail but I put some blame on the tourists.

Another brain dead apologist who blames the victim. What if the NATIVE, had asked for his wallet? Would you just hand it to him because you are in their country? Keys to your car? Stop apologizing for the thugs and place the blame where it lies. If the tourist had broken some written or unwritten rule/law the NATIVE should have contacted the police and not dispensed justice on the spot. It is people like you that encourages these morons.

[jupiler]

Hope they catch the man who attacked these Tourists.

Having said that though, It is like Parking the Car on a Motorcycle Taxi Rank - There are no signs telling us not to, we just use our common sense really and not park there to avoid this type of trouble.

The tourists on holiday should have moved on really to avoid this, afterall, they are visitors in this Country.

That is what I think anyway.

So as 'visitor' in this country, i have to 'follow orders' from every Thai?

C'mon!

[moetownblues]

Hope they catch the man who attacked these Tourists.

Having said that though, It is like Parking the Car on a Motorcycle Taxi Rank - There are no signs telling us not to, we just use our common sense really and not park there to avoid this type of trouble.

The tourists on holiday should have moved on really to avoid this, afterall, they are visitors in this Country.

That is what I think anyway.

So as 'visitor' in this country, i have to 'follow orders' from every Thai?

C'mon!

No just follow the laws, rules and traditions and you will be fine, enjoy your holiday

[EvilDrSomkid]

The tuk tuk driver should have been shot in the face by the police and what ever dreg filth it called a family charged for the bullet.

period.

That sounds like an effective measure. I would condone it completely even if said *unt has a family.

There will probably never be physical backlash from any tourist, but it might just happen one day that some, let's say, Russian tourist, with a past of not taking any crap, might just decide in a drunken stupor to "borrow" a 10 wheel truck and go "cleaning" the tt tanks.

That would be a red mess that would have an impact. Of coure, the man would summarily be slaughtered by the mafia survivors, but might just send a warning to the ai-h**s.