Tuk-Tuks Blockade US Military In Phuket

[webfact]

Tuk-tuks blockade US military in Phuket

WELCOME TO THAILAND: Mobile ATM units set up at the landing dock at Phuket Deep Sea Port await visiting US sailors. Tuk-tuk drivers waiting outside typically charge a minimum 2,000 baht for the trip to Patong.

PHUKET: -- The future of Phuket as a rest and relaxation destination for US Navy ships is in jeopardy following a blockade of the access road at Phuket Deep Sea Port by taxi drivers demanding sailors use their service instead of a free transport service provided by the US military.

Details of what transpired last night have yet to be fully confirmed, but sources told the Gazette this morning that the blockade lasted several hours and was only broken up around midnight following negotiations between the drivers and police, local government and military negotiators.

The stranded sailors were aboard US Navy vessels USS Curts, USS Vandegrift as well as the US Coast Guard cutter Mellon. The vessels will be in Phuket from June 12 to 20, with a staggered arrival and departure schedule.

Top local officials were immediately notified of the blockade, which lasted from about 9pm until midnight.

The protesters, which included a number of unregistered ‘black plate’ taxi drivers, set up the blockade when they noticed sailors inside the Deep Sea Port security gate boarding passenger vans bound for Patong.

The drivers were apparently angry that the sailors were boarding passenger vans provided for them free of charge by Glenn Defense Marine, a private firm based in Bangkok that has a contract with the US Navy to provide support services for visiting US Navy ships.

In the past, the sailors were taken to Patong in large air-conditioned coaches.

The appearance of the passenger vans in their place infuriated the tuk-tuk drivers, who thought their ‘turf’ was being infringed upon. A false rumor circulated among the taxi drivers that the sailors were paying 200 baht a head to board the vans, which in fact were provided free-of-charge, just as the buses were in the past.

Part of the problem may have arisen because the new port manager had failed to notify the tuk-tuk drivers in advance of the change, the source said.

A source in the Royal Thai Navy responsible for security at Phuket Deep Sea Port had a somewhat different version of events. He told the Gazette under condition of anonymity that as many as 500 tuk-tuks, black plate taxis and vans, all desperate for low-season fares, converged at the Deep Sea Port at the same time to try and collect passengers numbering only about 300.

The blockade was more of a traffic jam than an organized blockade, he said.

Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, president of the newly formed Patong Taxi Federation (PTF), said that members of his association were not among the drivers involved in the alleged protest.

“Our members wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said.

A source in the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization confirmed that ‘local taxi drivers’ did in fact blockade the access road until about midnight, at which time the dispute was settled by negotiation.

Chairat Khumban, secretary of Wichit Mayor Kreetar Saetan, said the blockade was ended after the drivers agreed with military, police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor.

A high-ranking US Navy officer attending a welcome dinner put on by the Phuket branch of the US Navy League in Patong last night was reportedly furious at the security breach when informed by telephone.

His crew had been on active duty in the Persian Gulf and hadn’t been ashore for 97 days, he said.

The Phuket visit was a last-minute change from the originally scheduled visit to Singapore.

“We would obviously never have a problem like this in Singapore,” the officer was quoted as saying.

Phuket City Police this morning said the duty officer at the time did not visit the protest site and that no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident.

A source told the Gazette the incident could place Phuket’s role as an R&R and resupply site for the US military in serious jeopardy and that it would probably take a few weeks to find out the true damage of the incident.

The blockade could be taken as a major security breach because the drivers were allowed to block US military personnel at their designated point of entry into the country and inside the established security perimeter, he said.

Resupply of American warships, including some of the world’s largest aircraft carriers, is an important industry for Phuket.

“People think the only benefit to the local economy is the money sailors spend on nightlife, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. When the USS Ronald Reagan was here they loaded 14 containers of supplies. It is a huge business and it would be a shame if we were to lose it because of the greed of a small group of taxi drivers,” he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-06-14

[gotlost]

I personally hope that the United States Navy pulls out of Phuket now and lets the authorities stew in their arrogance.

[laurentbkk]

2,000 bath to go to Patong ??????????? and they are surprised that US navy organized their own transportation ? Phuket taxi are a total rip off ,prices are as high as in Europe . Let them cry a bit and get back to reality . And they are angry ...what next ? the hookers in Patong will block the bars because of their fees ? Phuket has become a joke in the asia region. I stopped to go there long ago as it became a total mess.

[wimpy]

"police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor"

So just the poor low paid sailors have to use the 2000 baht tuk tuks, while officers get free transportation. Nice.

[SiamSuzi]

I personally hope that the United States Navy pulls out of Phuket now and lets the authorities stew in their arrogance.

Agreed.

Greed breeds stupidity.

[LivinginKata]

What's that old well worn cliche .... oh .. 'another nail in the coffin'

[TheWalkingMan]

Greed has absolutely no bounds. The Navy should just pull out and state exactly the reasons in plain language.

TheWalkingMan

[quiksilva]

Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, president of the newly formed Patong Taxi Federation (PTF), said that members of his association were not among the drivers involved in the alleged protest.

“Our members wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said.

All those who did were fake taxi drivers..

[richieudon]

"police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor"

So just the poor low paid sailors have to use the 2000 baht tuk tuks, while officers get free transportation. Nice.

Oh come on. You must know that this is the Thai way?

A battered up pick up full of sweetcorn gets stopped by police and money extorted.

A speeding Mercedes get's a wai from the same "officers"....

Greed, greed, greed and nothing will ever change..

[Losangels]

Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, president of the newly formed Patong Taxi Federation (PTF), said that members of his association were not among the drivers involved in the alleged protest.

“Our members wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said.

All those who did were fake taxi drivers..

Or were Alien taxi drivers

[Jimi007]

Greed has absolutely no bounds. The Navy should just pull out and state exactly the reasons in plain language.

TheWalkingMan

Well said. Because of Tuk tuk drivers, it may cost the Phuket economy on a much larger scale. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! It's about time to abolish all of the tuk-tuks and get some real public transportation!

[CHdiver]

Its a pitty the Navy Guys have to be so nice and well behaved. Somethimes it would be good if they could use there training and smash some Heads.

But the Navy would be better off in Pattaya anyway.

[bdenner]

Is there no limit to the idiocy shown by these scum bags and the Thai Authorities.

[TAWP]

I hope everyone stop going there and these hooligans can all starve for all I care...

[Felt 35]

Nice one....Phukets Tuk Tuk mafia stops the US Navy…..

….and the ineffective local Government sit on the sideline and want us to believe that taxi/tuk tuk fares will be acceptable and the drivers human!

Negotiating when playing on the same team...its called want to be popular.

[Rucharee]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

[bkkjames]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

I am betting the tuk tuk mafia and other scam artists curse the internet.

"Remember the good old days before the internet, farangs arrived in droves and didn't argue about pricing, they just assumed they were being treated with respect..."

[gotlost]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

Rather pay the lower price in PI than get stuffed by the bunko artist of the tuk tuk mafia in Phuket.

[Capealava]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

Wow ! you are really trolling for some nasty comment aren't you. Have a good day my friend.

[steelepulse]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

Might want to reread the article before making blatently incorrect statements. The vans used are a local hire, they don't visit their own bars, nor do they bring beer from America to drink. Many might want to have girls from the Philippines, but after being in the gulf for 97 days, where would they get them?

[Phil Conners]

If Farang wants to come to Thailand, they should contribute to the local economy too.

Next time, they bring their own van, to visit their own bars, and drink their own beers, and perhaps even import their own girls (from the Philippines).

And 2,000 baht for a short ride in an old battered pickup truck is ok, in your opinion?

[Samuian]

A clear sign that still the wrong heads and hands rule this country....

way, way too much reluctance by the authorities to intervene... because of

involvement in "Open hands" Protection schemes and the connected "mai pen rai"

attitude!

[Lizard2010]

Typical Tuk Tuk drivers.

They are so greedy.

If the tourists do not go to Phuket blame the tuk tuk drivers.

Got to blame someone lmao.

[ozymandious]

*Palm to face* stupid, stupid, stupid...

and still no accountability ever "was just a big traffic jam really" just like the Phuket airport blockade was really just the work of "some subversive elements from BKK"

[ScubaBuddha]

It's such a shame that the years of hard work by the expats on the Southern Seaboard Council of the US Navy League, (having recently had Lt. Cmdr. Ashford, USN liaison officer stationed in Bangkok announce a switch from Pattaya to Phuket for US Navy personnel on R&R) can be destroyed in a few hours of unbridled greed.

Phuket US Navy League. Navy League Phuket Ship Visits, Ship Tours, COMREL, Monthly Meetings, Memberships

[SIAMPEDIA]

Just one more reason for me and my Family not to go to Phuket - Rip Off everywhere

[Thai at Heart]

The astonishing idiocy of this country leaves me with an impending sense of doom.

Who the hel_l stages a blockade of the US Navy coming for R&R to your country. I hope the hotels stage a protest of this mess.

[Samuian]

The astonishing idiocy of this country leaves me with an impending sense of doom.

Who the hel_l stages a blockade of the US Navy coming for R&R to your country. I hope the hotels stage a protest of this mess.

TiT !

Nothing else...

[MisterMan]

The astonishing idiocy of this country leaves me with an impending sense of doom.

Who the hel_l stages a blockade of the US Navy coming for R&R to your country. I hope the hotels stage a protest of this mess.

Yes you have stated it well, An impending sense of doom.

That is what I feel too.

Perhaps this can be a turning point. Wonder if they would "get it" if the Navy stopped coming.

They don't even pay taxes! IMPOUND THEIR CARS! ARREST THEM!!!

[djayz]

It never ceases to amaze me just how short-sighted these people (Thais in general) are... screw a customer now for a few Baht and never think about the long term effects.

It would make more sense if they provided a resonable and reliable service - thus winning new AND return customers. They'd make a lot more money in the long run instead of this "grab now" attitude.

Just another reason for me to never visit Phuket...