Scepticism at Thai vows to clean up Phuket by: Ron Corben From: AAP July 26, 2013 10:16PM

[banned1000]

AUSTRALIAN officials have cautiously welcomed authorities' vows to crack down on criminality on the Thai resort island of Phuket amid growing diplomatic pressure to stem extortion and corruption.

A high-level meeting was led by the Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pharisisak, along with the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and local police and tourism officials.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith told local media the DSI was threatening to "put out of business" any Thai or foreign nationals undermining the island resort's reputation.

Tarit said Thailand's anti-money laundering laws would be invoked against those groups engaged in extortion or other criminal activities.



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/scepticism-at-thai-vows-to-clean-up-phuket/story-e6frfkui-1226686591095#ixzz2aB9UmUCZ

Edited July 27, 2013 by metisdead
Edited as per fair use policy.

[benalibina]

A selffulfilling profecy !

[lovetotravel]

Nothing can be done until the police are reformed. They are involved in every criminal activity, one way or another.

[Crossy]

I stopped reading at "local police and tourism officials", no betting that both are up to their necks in the activities.

[jpeg]

Tarit said Thailand's anti-money laundering laws would be invoked against those groups engaged in extortion or other criminal activities.

It's a well known fact that Phuket is the 'hub' of money laundering, predominantly by Thai and Chinese businessmen working in and out of Bangkok. They going to conduct a money trail and arrest them then?

All I've seen so far is that they're helping the 'legal' taxis maintain their right to extort the population/tourists of Phuket just as much as the 'illegal' ones.

Also they're (again) investigating 'nominee' companies, again predominantly the Russians who they've suddenly found are not quite so keen to bend over as all the other nationalities there.

With all the corruption on Phuket, from top to bottom, better they start with the various governmental/police departments. Big fish before the small, eh?

[EBlair48]

As if it's just Phuket.

Just another load of steaming fresh BS to counter the tonnes of bad publicity the island is getting online.

My lack of respect for this nation is rapidly turning to an active hate for the continuous lies and refusal to care about anything other that its reputation.

Makes me want to protest at the TAT overseas tourism road shows.

[banned1000]

As if it's just Phuket.

Just another load of steaming fresh BS to counter the tonnes of bad publicity the island is getting online.

My lack of respect for this nation is rapidly turning to an active hate for the continuous lies and refusal to care about anything other that its reputation.

Makes me want to protest at the TAT overseas tourism road shows.

this post have been here for 1 hour 50 minutes and counting....

[Arkady]

Usual cosmetic PR effort to try to pull the wool over the eyes of foreigners who are supposed to be so stupid that they might actually believe this BS.

While the whole structure is rotting from corruption from the lowliest bobby on the street through mayors and all local government officials up to the governor's office, this is clearly just a joke. They will just arrest some fall guys who have fallen behind with their squeeze payments.

[eezergood]

nothing to see here folks, move along

[eezergood]

The countdown has begun!