Time For Action

[MrE]

The axiom "If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem" seems to apply with regard to the tuk-tuk problem. There are always hundreds of complaints after each of the ridiculous incidents but no one seems to do anything. As residents and especially business owners are directly affected by these negative occurrences, I would suggest that we, as a group, begin a professional, commercial and community funded campaign to warn incoming tourists about the tuk-tuks. We can whine and cry like little girls for the next hundred years but nothing will change until something positive is done.

How would this be accomplished? A professional PR person/blogger/emailer should be employed full-time to: 1) contact every foreign tour company bringing visitors here from anywhere in the world with well written explanations of what is going on and urging them to pass on to their clients a strong suggestion to never use a tuk-tuk while in Phuket; 2) make continuous postings on every travel and social networking web site with the same; 3) write articles for travel magazines, travel columns in local newspapers and television production companies abroad; 4) email the upper management at the HQs of the leading hotel chains who have a presence in Thailand so that they can make the information available to all of their guests before they arrive. Since all of these communications will provide alternatives to using tuk-tuks, it will let potential visitors to Phuket know that whatever negatives they may read in the international media, there are other viable and economical choices. And it will give them a sense of empowerment in helping to eliminate the tuk-tuk business here. It is only a matter disseminating this information to make this successful.

Who would pay for this? I would suggest that this would be a worthwhile expense for all businesses in Phuket to contribute to this effort. If someone can take the lead and act as a coordinator, each business can contribute according to their ability (yeah I know, Karl Marx) based on yearly revenues, or whatever the businesses decide. If everyone reading this can speak to their colleagues at other businesses, there should be no problem in raising the funds for the monthly costs. I would estimate that if done right and all of the possible conduits of communication are informed, the problem could be solved in a year or so. No one likes to be taken advantage of. Anyone planning a trip to Phuket who learns the facts will seek other means of transportation.

Edited April 7, 2011 by MrE

[Ping]

Interesting concept. You talk about someone taking the lead and acting as coordinator. Why should that person not be your good self? (But you may need an extra set of eyes in the back of your head.)

[steelepulse]

I agree with Ping. Step up and get it started. I'm sure if presented correctly to business owners that they would stay anonymous in the background yet help contribute to this campaign, many would do so.

[grumpyoldman]

Sure..................and they want ice water in hell but we know that ain't going to happen.

[bunta71]

I am wondering if that much effort would perhaps backfire and cut down on tourists even coming.Seems the Thais are doing enough along those lines and probably don't need more gasoline thrown on the fire. After beginning this process if you do be sure to stay away from balconies in tall buildings. I do agree that something should be done, but not sure how or if it is my place to do so.

[ESB7]

All well and good but if you dont have a car/bike and want to get from A-B......what is the alternative???

[grumpyoldman]

All well and good but if you dont have a car/bike and want to get from A-B......what is the alternative???

Last week at the base of the little Karon hill going towards Patong, I actually saw a European kid walking with his thumb out.

As there were tuk-tuks around, nobody would stop.............

[ScubaBuddha]

This has been discussed here before. It is something I have put some thought to and discussed with some other expats living here. Now that I have learned over the years how the current transport system came to be and how it is able to remain in existence in the face of such opposition, I have come to the conclusion that it is going to be very very difficult to get any significant improvements with the islands transport problems. It would take a sea change in a very well entrenched system that makes a lot of money for a lot of influential people the way it is currently run. It's unfortunate that a lot of the people we would normally think would be in a position to so something about it are the very ones benefiting from it's existence. One glaring example being the son of the mayor of Patong, Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, is the president of the Phuket Tuk Tuk co-op.

More on that in a minute, but first, if such an effort was put forth, it would have to be done somewhat clandestinely. The transport organizations in Phuket are some of the largest and most powerful and well connected in Thailand. You may laugh, but it's true. Just look at the money involved. They have resorted to violence in the past in order to secure and maintain their monopoly, and we have all read the reports how individual drivers have no qualms with brandishing firearms to end a minor fare dispute or bloody the nose of a tourist at the slightest provocation. This is why there is no songteaw between Kata/Karon and Patong, the bread and butter route of the beach-based tuk tuks. The last time someone tried to run a bus line there, "After just three days, the driver was pulled from his vehicle and badly beaten by competitors." -Teerayuth Prasertphol, Deputy Director of the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office. PG Issues and Answers: August 2007) So the license is there and available, but no one wants it. It's no wonder why. Last year I, katabeachbum, and a few others witnessed 20 of tuk tuk drivers deliver a beat-down to two farangs on Bangla Rd, right in front of TaiPan, under security cameras. We saw the two bloodies farangs hauled off in the back of a police pick-up, but none of the Thai's were detained or even questioned. We contacted PG and PW but they could not get the police or any embassy to acknowledge it happened. (Tuk Tuk Driver Beatdown)

I have been as vocal on this issue as any, (with the exception perhaps of LivinLos) and I even had some cowardly farang I offended here on Thaivisa who claimed to be married to the tuk tuk mafia anonymously call me when he found my number in a car ad I had running and threatened my life and claimed he was going to "pass my info on the the mafia". lol. Some will say I have been watching too many mafia flics, but those who say that shows a lack of knowledge of a transport system which I and many others on this forum have seen blossom and become more and more sinister over the last decade. Of course the problems stem from far beyond that, but the situation has degenerated with the uncontrolled organic growth of tuk Tuks/taxi's with a lack of any (official) government oversight.

Alan, the editor of the unmentionable online Phuket News media explains it well. One of the problems with the current system is a result of the village system in Thailand. Each village and it's headman have rights to certain business practices within it's claimed boundaries. Once tourism overtook tin and rubber on Phuket, it was realized that transport was becoming an increasingly lucrative industry. Each of these villages had their own tuk tuks/taxi's sanctioned by the headman. Kamala, Karon, Kata, Chalong, and Patong actually consisted of three villages back in the day. This village system is one reason why you pay essentially double for a trip because the tuk tuk is not allowed to cue up at the next nearest taxi cue, but rather must travel back empty to it's based. As a Karon tuk tuk driver explained to me once, "If a driver picks up a passenger out of his area, he gets a warning once, if he does it again, something more serious happens." (This same driver told me that tuk tuk drivers that own their own tuk tuk "never make less than 20k in the low season, and make over 50k baht a month in the high season." By comparison, that's 2x to 5x a policeman's salary.)

The other problem is that most tuk tuk drivers don't own their machines. A few people own most of them (including the mayors son). Those few owners, most of them wealthy connected police or politicians, lease them out at very high rate, thus the fare is going to also be high. (There has been rumors that some owners that are high ranking police officials have been giving arrestees the option of either going to prison or driving one of their tuk tuks.) Thus Phuket is the only region of Thailand where the tuk tuks and taxi's are priced specifically for the tourists sadly pricing out the locals who have to resort to the most dangerous form of transport, a motorbike.

There are things we can do, but this is a Thai problem and will ultimately have to be solved by Thai's. The first thing we need to understand that in Thailand there is no black and white. The organized criminals/police/government to a large extent are same thing here. So the question becomes how to you get an organization to crackdown on itself? In Thailand it's all about money and face. If someone high enough up the food chain either starts losing money or face, only then is anything likely to happen. This problem is probably to big for Phuket to solve. To many police and policy makers are involved and benefiting from it. I believe this very strongly: Changes will have to be ordered by the Bangkok elites before anything will happen.

As for what we can do, media can help but thus far has proven inadequate. We see blockade after blockade, unfair business practices, extortionate fares continue to rise, individual tuk tuk driver behavior continues to deteriorate, and perhaps most inexplicable of all, licenses continue to be granted which will add even more tuk tuks to our streets which are already clogged in a sea of red. On an individual level, I admit it would be interesting to see what would happen if one of use purposefully parked a car in an official/unofficial tuk tuk space and covertly videotaped the outcome. Other than that, it's a matter of catching them in the act. Here is a list of major media and government sections/offices. Lets all call and write. I will if you will. :jap:

Snailmail, email, fax, or call the governors office:

Governor Tri Augkaradacha

Vice Governor Nivit Aroonrat,

Vice Governor Smith Palwatwichai

Damrongtham Center

5 Narisorn Road,

Muang District,

Phuket 83000.

Email: phuket(at)moi.go.th.

Tel: 076-211001, 0-7622-2886, 0-7622-0361

Fax 0-7622-0361

Hotline : 67927

http://www.phuketprovincial.com/Forum/Phuket-Provincial-Excutive

Each governor needs a separate letter. If anyone knows their individual emails please post. I can't find any on the current governor or vice governors.

Snailmail, email, fax or call the Phuket Land Transport Department:

Phuket Land Transport Office

Office Chief Kanok Siripanichkorn

42/4 Rattanakosin Song-Roy-Pee Road

Taladneua, Muang

Phuket 83000 Thailand

Phone: (66) 076.211.019, 076.220.792 076.214.930,

Direct line: 076.214.929

info(at)phuketlandtransport.th.org

Thailand National Offices:

Thailand Ministry of Commerce. (In charge of consumer protection)

Minister Pornthiva Nakasai

44/100 Nonthaburi 1 Rd., Amphur Muang, Nonthaburi 11000

Tel. 662-507-8000 Fax. 662-507-7717

E-mail : webmaster(at)moc.go.th

Here is a link to foreign embassies and consulates in Thailand. Write to your country's embassy asking them to address the tuk tuk problem with the Thai government.

http://www.thailandguru.com/thailand-foreign-embassies-consulates.html

Snailmail, fax, email or call an national English language Thai media outlet:

Bangkok Post

Pattnapong Chantranontwong, Editor in charge

E-mail : pattnapong(at)bangkokpost.co.th

Office phone: +662-240-3700 Ext. 1201

Sonchai Nokeplub, Deputy Editor

E-mail : sonchai(at)bangkokpost.co.th

Office phone: +662-240-3700 Ext. 3401

Saritdet Marukatat, News Editor

E-mail : saritdetm(at)bangkokpost.co.th

Office phone: +662-240-3700 Ext. 3261

Atiya Achakulwisut, Editorial Pages Editor

E-mail : atiyaa(at)bangkokpost.co.th

Office phone: +662-240-3700 Ext. 3219

Chiratas Nivatpumin, Business Editor

E-mail : chiratasn(at)bangkokpost.co.th

Office phone: +662-240-3700 Ext. 3434

The Nation

1854 Bangna-Trat Road,

Bangna,

Bangkok 10260

Tel 66-2-338-3000(Call Center),

66-2-338-3333, Fax 66-2-338-3334

editor(at)nationgroup.com

regional(at)nationgroup.com

Snailmail, fax and email a local English language newspaper:

The Phuket Gazette

79/94 Moo 4, Thepkrasattri Rd,

T. Koh Keaw,

A. Muang Phuket 83000,

Thailand

Tel: 076-273555

Fax: 076-615240

Email: info(at)phuketgazette.net

The Phuket News

http://www.thephuketnews.com/contactus.php

99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu

A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

Phone # 076 612 550-2 Fax # 076 612 553

E-mail: info(at)thephuketnews.com

The Phuket Post

http://phuket-post.com/contact.php

Pulse Media Company Ltd.

128/60 Moo 5

Ratsada Sub-District, Muang District

Phuket 83000

THAILAND

Tel: 076-376-337~9

Fax: 076-376-336

Mobile: 06-946-4966 (after hours)

Email: info(at)phuket-post.com

If you speak or write Thai or know someone that does, snailmail, email, fax or call a Thai language media outlet:

ThaiRath

http://www.thairath.co.th/"]www.thairath.co.th/corp/contact[/url]

The Daily News

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/index.html

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/index.html]

Editor Daily News newspaper.

Phone 0-2561-1456.

0-2561-1329 Fax.

Email editor(at)dailynews.co.th.

Editor Daily News online.

Phone 0-2561-1456 to 2658.

0-2940-9827 Fax.

MCOT TV

http://mcot.listedcompany.com/contact_board.html

Inn News

http://www.innnews.co.th/

287/195 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 21 Road Praditmanuthum Wangthonglang Tabernacle Road, Bangkok 10310.

Contact 0-2730-2400 fax 0-2184-4288.

Submit News - Internet News Desk on 51113/51026.

Send - to promote the Web mmsinn(at)gmail.com.

News.Sanook.com

http://news.sanook.com/

[Mrjlh]

Suggestion: Compose a well written "form letter" written in English and translated into Thai addressing this issue. Here's the problem, what's been done, here's some better solutions, please solve this. Make sure you have a space at the bottom for signature and address. Circulate it among business's and post it on the Internet so people can print it out. Then they can either mail it, fax it, or attach it to an Email, however they want to do it.. You might even create and include an address where signed copies can be sent as a central collection point. Go from there.

[Gregory Morozov]

Apart from efficient complaining via well-written template letter, it will be good to brainstorm the alternative ideas.

How about setting up something like "Phuket hitchhiking club", promote hitch-hiking for tourists and encourage residents to give free lifts?

We can also try to setup a carpooling site, it seems there is an open-source engine available for that.

Edited April 7, 2011 by LivinginKata
URL removed. No lobbying permitted on Thaivisa

[Jingthing]

"Phuket hitchhiking club"

That will attract violence from the mafia against the transport providers "stealing" their victims. Any real change about this must come from the top, and that might mean more top than anything in Phuket. I think global trash talk about about the corruption that may threaten tourism in general is the only thing that has any chance of being taken seriously. When people globally think Phuket = tuk tuk mafia and enough people decide to not go there at all, then there is some chance for some real top down heat.

[Gregory Morozov]

"Phuket hitchhiking club"

That will attract violence from the mafia against the transport providers "stealing" their victims. Any real change about this must come from the top, and that might mean more top than anything in Phuket. I think global trash talk about about the corruption that may threaten tourism in general is the only thing that has any chance of being taken seriously. When people globally think Phuket = tuk tuk mafia and enough people decide to not go there at all, then there is some chance for some real top down heat.

If communications between the person giving lift and the hitchhiker are private there is not much mafia can do - one friend picks up another, that's all. I did give lifts a few times on Phuket without any issues. The problem is you will rarely see a tourist using "thumb-up" gesture, they simply don't think about this possibility in Phuket now. Maybe it can be changed?

Edited April 7, 2011 by Gregory Morozov

[Jingthing]

I doubt it. The police will also likely crack down on that as being illegal taxi services. The corruption in these networks is total.

[Gregory Morozov]

I doubt it. The police will also likely crack down on that as being illegal taxi services. The corruption in these networks is total.

It will be nice to hear a lawyer opinion on that. We are free to drive our friends for free, right? So if you just made this friend a few hours ago online on the carpooling site? And you agreed via SMS or messaging what you will pick him up?

[Jingthing]

I recall reading reports some years back of people being stopped for illegally transporting tourists. I think if this became a visible organized thing, then yes without a doubt there would be probably violent pushback from the mafia, and also police, if you can actually separate those two things. I just don't see that as the answer to the problem of a transport mafia but can't say that I know how it would be changed. Longer term expats like me generally have given up hope of change for deeply entrenched corrupt things like this, but years back Bangkok taxis wouldn't use meters, and now most do, so theoretically change is possible.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Jingthing

[phuketrichard]

i saw two white guys hitching from Kalim heading towards Kamala today, could this be a trend?

AS to tuk tuks, NOTHING will change, there are to many top people in the police and goverment that receive kickbacks. Farangs have no say in what goes on or is accomplished. How many Farangs thought the 9,000,000 baht sign on Patong hill was a good idea?? ZERO, did anyone listen?

If you truly think a bunch of Farangs will change anything, you have not been here long enough.

I am not a cynic but i am a realist, and i dont hate it here but love living here. I have just learned to accept it for what it is

As Jake said, "Its Chinatown", (Thailand)

Edited April 7, 2011 by phuketrichard

[Gregory Morozov]

I recall reading reports some years back of people being stopped for illegally transporting tourists. I think if this became a visible organized thing, then yes without a doubt there would be probably violent pushback from the mafia, and also police, if you can actually separate those two things. I just don't see that as the answer to the problem of a transport mafia but can't say that I know how it would be changed. Longer term expats like me generally have given up hope of change for deeply entrenched corrupt things like this, but years back Bangkok taxis wouldn't use meters, and now most do, so theoretically change is possible.

There will be no possibility to distinguish between genuine old-time friend and newly acquired one. I would think the reports you've read were about the tour guides picking up guests on the private cars. Stopping everyone coming to pick up someone from the hotel is infeasible. Even less so if the pick up place is not the hotel.

[Gregory Morozov]

i saw two white guys hitching from Kalim heading towards Kamala today, could this be a trend?

AS to tuk tuks, NOTHING will change, there are to many top people in the police and goverment that receive kickbacks. Farangs have no say in what goes on or is accomplished. How many Farangs thought the 9,000,000 baht sign on Patong hill was a good idea?? ZERO, did anyone listen?

If you truly think a bunch of Farangs will change anything, you have not been here long enough.

I am not a cynic but i am a realist, and i dont hate it here but love living here. I have just learned to accept it for what it is

As Jake said, "Its Chinatown", (Thailand)

That's why it is important to have Thai residents involved, many of them are as pissed as we are.

And if we will truly believe what nothing will change, there is absolute no point in posting it all here then except for venting up.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Gregory Morozov

[BangTaoBoy]

This has been discussed here before. It is something I have put some thought to and discussed with some other expats living here. Now that I have learned over the years how the current transport system came to be and how it is able to remain in existence in the face of such opposition, I have come to the conclusion that it is going to be very very difficult to get any significant improvements with the islands transport problems. It would take a sea change in a very well entrenched system that makes a lot of money for a lot of influential people the way it is currently run. It's unfortunate that a lot of the people we would normally think would be in a position to so something about it are the very ones benefiting from it's existence. One glaring example being the son of the mayor of Patong, Preechavude "Prab" Keesin, is the president of the Phuket Tuk Tuk co-op.

Very good post. I'm glad you took the time to write it.

There is however, a few of us long term residents, that knew this a long time ago, and have being saying as much, for a long time. Every time we did, we would be accused of being weak, and wishy washy, and not being prepared to stand up and fight for what is right. The funniest ones, were the people who used to accuse us of having in-laws that drove Tuk Tuks, and one member, 'It may have been you SB ' even said we were spying for the Tuk Tuk drivers, .

There is nothing weak about knowing when you are beaten, or at least, knowing you can not win. That's realism.

To survive in Phuket, you need to accept it, warts and all. Most of us agree that the good, by far out weighs the bad. So the Tuk Tuk demon, that has possessed so many over the last 10 years, (LivinLOS even moved to the other end of the country ) needs to be exorcised, and people need to enjoy the other 98% of Phuket, that's fantastic.

[MunterHunter]

I wouldn't think that any individual "coordinator" will last very long... a very dangerous position.

There was a case a few years back where a baht bus was set up between Karon and Patong, one day the bus was stopped half way between the two towns, the driver dragged out of the bus and beaten to death on the road but Tuk Tuk drivers... apparently the concession for that route is still open and available and strangely enough no-one seems to want to take it.

I also know (through friends, admittedly) that the police wont touch the Tuk Tuk guys, the police are basically scared of them.

Its a great idea you have, and very noble and worthwhile, i wish you all the very best with it. Just keep your head low and watch your back, once you start this you may well become the next victim.

[BangTaoBoy]

I wouldn't think that any individual "coordinator" will last very long... a very dangerous position.

There was a case a few years back where a baht bus was set up between Karon and Patong, one day the bus was stopped half way between the two towns, the driver dragged out of the bus and beaten to death on the road but Tuk Tuk drivers... apparently the concession for that route is still open and available and strangely enough no-one seems to want to take it.

I also know (through friends, admittedly) that the police wont touch the Tuk Tuk guys, the police are basically scared of them.

Its a great idea you have, and very noble and worthwhile, i wish you all the very best with it. Just keep your head low and watch your back, once you start this you may well become the next victim.

Read 'ScubaBudaha's post, it was very informative, and covered everything you just did. Except, he seems to think the driver was just beaten, not killed, and I believe he is right.

It's exagerations like that, that make the problem worse. The situation is bad, but lets not exagerate and imply it's worse than it is. The same can be said, when people assume (wrongly) that every Tuk Tuk driver is a bad person. That simply isn't true. My father in Law is a lovely bloke .

[phuketrichard]

A few things that i have learned after 26 years here

1. Never take a tuk tuk
   
2. Never park my car where taxi's or tuk tuk's parks
   
3. Never shake hands with a Tailors Tout or respond when they say "hello Mate"
   
4. Dont go to Lam Sing and NOT pay the "parking fee"
   
5. Dont argue at immigration with, "but last year i ony had to ...."
   
6. Dont ride your motorbike without a helmet
   
7. Always check your change
   
8. Always check the expiration date on milk
   
9. Before any big purchase, ask if they can repair/service it here in Phuket
   
10. Avoid Patong between 5 and 7 pm if at all possible
    
11. Never accept that because they have their turn signal on it means they are going to turn
    
12. Take everything u read on any of the forums with a grain of salt.
    
13. it's not my country, no matter how long i live here, how many children I have or how well i read,write, speak Thai
    

add ur own :jap:

Edited April 7, 2011 by phuketrichard

[LivinginKata]

Read 'ScubaBudaha's post, it was very informative, and covered everything you just did. Except, he seems to think the driver was just beaten, not killed, and I believe he is right.

Various reports stated that the driver was badly beaten, and not killed.

[MrsMills]

start a website, www.whyweleftthailand.com.

But you would have to have left Thailand to do so, but if you feel strongly enough about the issues in Thailand, I'm sure you'll vote with your feet, its the ultimate protest and I admire you for that.

I would admire you for the fact that you didn't just tap away endless meaningless posts on anonymous forums, you actually done something about it by leaving and taking your money elsewhere.

But if you still stay in Thailand, still spend your money here completely aware of all the scams and rip offs that you warn other people about, how will change come about, after all, if you still live here, it can't be that bad can it ?

[KarstenBoAndersen]

Join the Facebook group "Ban tuk tuks on Phuket" !

Let us show these idiots that we hate them !

Meter in the Tuk Tuks is not a solution, as they will never use them except they charge 10-15 Baht a KM.

They are laysi, stupid etc. they had rules the island for the last 10-12 years, it is time to kick them out !

[BangTaoBoy]

start a website, www.whyweleftthailand.com.

But you would have to have left Thailand to do so, but if you feel strongly enough about the issues in Thailand, I'm sure you'll vote with your feet, its the ultimate protest and I admire you for that.

I would admire you for the fact that you didn't just tap away endless meaningless posts on anonymous forums, you actually done something about it by leaving and taking your money elsewhere.

But if you still stay in Thailand, still spend your money here completely aware of all the scams and rip offs that you warn other people about, how will change come about, after all, if you still live here, it can't be that bad can it ?

[Zpete]

Siiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh...............

Edited April 7, 2011 by Zpete

[TehBen]

If you really want to do something, try to attract the attention of the international media. Ok, so more bad press will affect tourism, but that is the point. What you need is the government to stand up to deal with the problem. Local businesses, forum/facebook protests, petitions, anonymous letters and random parking space antics are not going to do anything at all except annoy a few people. The only people with enough weight to do anything are the people at the top of the chain, and nothing short of international embarassement is going to make them listen.

If you dont want to do that, go through the governement yourself, starting with the transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.

Edited April 7, 2011 by benavenell

[MrsMills]

If you really want to do something, try to attract the attention of the international media. Ok, so more bad press will affect tourism, but that is the point. What you need is the government to stand up to deal with the problem.

No, The Thai Government wont do anything until Farangs stop coming here for holidays or Farangs stop wanting to live here, and that ain't gonna happen !

If Thailand was that bad, this very lucrative website wouldn't exist, and it exists because the Farangs that live don't think that it's so bad, and advertisers must think that its OK to advertise here, else they would surely have the intelligence to be gone to pastures new, right ?

[TehBen]

erm, no, I don't think so. You are generalising quite a lot. I believe this problem is just the tuk-tuk situation in Phuket, rather than Thailand as a whole.

TBH I think your whole post is a string of generalisations and it is difficult to know where to start replying to it

I guess I could try...

1. A further reduction in numbers would have an affect, you do not need every tourist to boycott Thailand and every ex-pat to move away. Generalisation number 1.

2. Nobody is saying Thailand as a whole is that bad, they are saying that the tuk-tuk situation in particular is bad and due to the way it works, it would be difficult for anyone to do anything about it.

3. Ferangs that live in Phuket obviously choose to not let it worry them so much or at least have priorities, that doesn't mean it is good.

4. Why would this website not exist? Are you saying that if Thailand had a corrupt legal system and a government that was riddled with bribery and corruption at every level, then there wouldn't be any ex-pats living here?

5. Advertisers don't have morals, they have targets. Where there is traffic, there is exposure.

By the way. I, personally, was not commenting on the situation in Thailand as a whole. Personally I have (possibly misguided) faith in the morality of certain members of the governement and that is why I made the suggestion above. You need to understand that one voice is not enough to command the attention of a government, but 1 headline in the right place, might, hence my point.

Edited April 7, 2011 by benavenell