Corruption trumps Rhetoric: The Death of Surin Beach

[Phronesis]

Well I spent the day at Surin beach yesterday.

And despite all of the hot air coming from Thai officials regarding the removal of illegal structures along the beach side land, quite the opposite has happened.

The construction has now kicked up into high gear in preparation for high season, and even I, a four year resident of Phuket and daily beach goer, am frankly gobsmacked at the extent of this new development.

It is now impossible to access the beach from the road along the entire length of the north stretch of the beach esplanade.

The beach club has enjoyed a little success in recent years and so, in true Thai fashion, the business model has been copied. The Diamond beach club has now claimed the entire strip of the northern beachfront. That portion of land was obtained by burning the original owners shop, his car, and by beating his daughter. In addition to that repulsive monstrosity, there is another large concrete beach club development going in.

Many of the long term expats here in Phuket will remember fondly family days at Surin beach under the shade of aged the ton sai. Well those days are now gone...forever...Surin is no longer open for business for families or other beach goers. It has been transformed into a gigantic sleazy night club that blocks all public access to the ocean.

God knows the amount of tea money that has changed hands in order for these business to cut down national park listed pine trees and pour concrete upon, and claim exclusive use of, public land.

I am utterly disgusted by the inaction of the spineless dancing muppets at the DSI.

RIP Surin Beach 9 September 2013.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Phronesis

[Mrjlh]

If I was there I would file the complaint. I have in the past and was never threaten by any of the so called mafia goons said to run the place. But since I'm not living there at the moment, I suggest you contact the following person and file a complaint:

Contact the Cherng Talay OrBorTor at 076-271096 during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.”

The person to contact is:

Jaruk Thongsuwan of the Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative

Organization (OrBorTor).

[Phronesis]

If I was there I would file the complaint. I have in the past and was never threaten by any of the so called mafia goons said to run the place. But since I'm not living there at the moment, I suggest you contact the following person and file a complaint:

Contact the Cherng Talay OrBorTor at 076-271096 during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

The person to contact is:

Jaruk Thongsuwan of the Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative

Organization (OrBorTor).

AHHHH haa Ahhhh Haaa HHaaaaa....file a complaint...to the OrBorTor..........He has just purchased two new cars.

The trees are already cut down. The concrete is in place and they are just finishing the final fit outs on the new structures in preparation for high season.

The DSI are well aware of the problem and have made a public statement that they will ensure all of the structures are removed.

[steelepulse]

Any photos to post? Photo evidence is hard to gloss over.

[Phronesis]

Any photos to post? Photo evidence is hard to gloss over.

Mate...this isn't some fairytale...take a drive down to Surin, turn right when you hit the beach drive up past the life guards (even their small patch of grass has just been claim and cemented over entirely for a new restaurant by the way)...and up past Catch and have a look for yourself.

All of this new development is illegal...but it is not tin pot bamboo and thatching. It is high end development worth 10s perhaps 100s of millions of baht.

I can not believe how d_ckless the DSI are. Well I can actually because clearly they must also now be on the payroll.

[steelepulse]

I know it's not a fairy tale. I was suggesting the photo evidence for the authorities. BTW, get a mod to move this to our Phuket forum for more traction.

[hellodolly]

Any photos to post? Photo evidence is hard to gloss over.

Mate...this isn't some fairytale...take a drive down to Surin, turn right when you hit the beach drive up past the life guards (even their small patch of grass has just been claim and cemented over entirely for a new restaurant by the way)...and up past Catch and have a look for yourself.

All of this new development is illegal...but it is not tin pot bamboo and thatching. It is high end development worth 10s perhaps 100s of millions of baht.

I can not believe how d_ckless the DSI are. Well I can actually because clearly they must also now be on the payroll.

It is there way of getting even with Phuket for voting Democrat.

[phuketrichard]

I know it's not a fairy tale. I was suggesting the photo evidence for the authorities. BTW, get a mod to move this to our Phuket forum for more traction.

they don't need photo evidence, they know its there as they got paid to allow it.

To me, Surin has always been one of the worst beaches on the island to visit unless u like sitting 3-4 rows deep with other vacationing Europeans.

Drive 15-20 minutes more to Layan and have the beach to yourself

[simon43]

Drive 15-20 minutes more to Layan and have the beach to yourself

For the moment. Wait till next year

Simon

[watcharacters]

.

It took only one visit for me to decide to give Phuket a pass until a multitude of things are addressed.

While I didn't let the door kick me in the butt, and realize no one cares if I go there or not, the fact is that Phuket won't have any of my baht again until the crap there is corrected.

[Mrjlh]

Take pictures and pass it on to the Press. Let them carry the torch. You seem to be more upset than anyone else so tell the Governor too. If you don't want to do that then why do you complain? Problem is people complain but do nothing about it. So either put up or shut up! I gave you suggestions on how to handle it. Don't just dump it on others here to handle it for you.

[surangw]

the plan is to let the construction go ahead, and after they are open for business officials will demand they tear down the businesses ( or pay big money)

[hkt83100]

Some pictures I took at Surin Beach on April 8, 2003. Compare that to the current state of the beach (or what is left of it).

[eezergood]

DISASTER!

Vietnam must be counting the days..........

[KarenBravo]

I kinda feel sorry for all those that bought million dollar villas when the beach was idyllic...........

[steelepulse]

Some pictures I took at Surin Beach on April 8, 2003. Compare that to the current state of the beach (or what is left of it).

114-1494_IMG.jpg 114-1497_IMG.jpg

114-1498_IMG.jpg 115-1506_IMG.jpg

115-1507_IMG.jpg 115-1510_IMG.jpg

That was probably about the last time I was there and how I remember it. I'd like to see the eyesore now so both sets of pics could be shown to media, press, the guv etc.

[Phronesis]

Take pictures and pass it on to the Press. Let them carry the torch. You seem to be more upset than anyone else so tell the Governor too. If you don't want to do that then why do you complain? Problem is people complain but do nothing about it. So either put up or shut up! I gave you suggestions on how to handle it. Don't just dump it on others here to handle it for you.

OTHERS here are PAID to handle it. It is their JOB. But they don't...because they accept tea money instead.

[Phronesis]

Some pictures I took at Surin Beach on April 8, 2003. Compare that to the current state of the beach (or what is left of it).

114-1497_IMG.jpg

I don't think that this second shot in your group of photos is Surin. The vista in your photo is to the North and there is a rocky headland at the northern end of Surin. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[eezergood]

Maybe if enough of us lodged complaints?

[Pinot]

Every structure on the beach is illegal. There will be very little space for any chairs and umbrellas at high tide anymore. They were all suppose to be torn down but of course nothing is happening. It is the most blatant rip off of public land on Phuket and that's saying something.

[Phronesis]

Every structure on the beach is illegal. There will be very little space for any chairs and umbrellas at high tide anymore. They were all suppose to be torn down but of course nothing is happening. It is the most blatant rip off of public land on Phuket and that's saying something.

Incorrect. There will be very little space for beach users. The number of chairs and umbrellas has increased by at least 200 percent.

And yes...I also know of no better example of the overt theft of National Park land in all of Thailand. The cost, permanence and shear size of these new developments displays that clearly, the owners have no fear of any retribution whatsoever. The mafia that own these new illegal establishments are stone cold killers. To obtain the land they burned the original owners shop to the ground, then burned his car, and then beat his daughter within an inch of her life in broad daylight. All of these incidents were well reported in the local newspapers, but no one identified the motives for the repeated arson attacks and assault.

[hkt83100]

Some pictures I took at Surin Beach on April 8, 2003. Compare that to the current state of the beach (or what is left of it).

114-1497_IMG.jpg

I don't think that this second shot in your group of photos is Surin. The vista in your photo is to the North and there is a rocky headland at the northern end of Surin. Please correct me if I am wrong.

This was about 2/3s up north, looking north from what is now the beach-tailors-highway.

[NamKangMan]

DISASTER!

Vietnam must be counting the days..........

The next invasion of Vietnam will be by people with visas, and not with guns. :)

[Peterocket]

Surin is for food and drink now whereas Bangtao is the beach for relaxing...

[eezergood]

I guarentee much more violence & attack in this little hot bed!

[falkan]

am the only here that don't hang out on the beach everyday or what? It's usually overcrowded, unclean, smells odd and your skin gets dark and old fast..

[itchybum]

Thailand at its best......again and again

[MacChine]

Yep, DSI All about Bangkok getting in on the action. We ain't seen nothing yet in way of corruption!! Since when is BAngkok a model of civil government? Future tourists are Russian states Indian Chinese all corrupt laded cultures on , it'll be a runaway train and the island unlivable , or at least by standards of today.

GTFO while the get'n is good.

Any photos to post? Photo evidence is hard to gloss over.

Mate...this isn't some fairytale...take a drive down to Surin, turn right when you hit the beach drive up past the life guards (even their small patch of grass has just been claim and cemented over entirely for a new restaurant by the way)...and up past Catch and have a look for yourself.

All of this new development is illegal...but it is not tin pot bamboo and thatching. It is high end development worth 10s perhaps 100s of millions of baht.

I can not believe how d_ckless the DSI are. Well I can actually because clearly they must also now be on the payroll.

[MacChine]

Any photos to post? Photo evidence is hard to gloss over.

Mate...this isn't some fairytale...take a drive down to Surin, turn right when you hit the beach drive up past the life guards (even their small patch of grass has just been claim and cemented over entirely for a new restaurant by the way)...and up past Catch and have a look for yourself.

All of this new development is illegal...but it is not tin pot bamboo and thatching. It is high end development worth 10s perhaps 100s of millions of baht.

I can not believe how d_ckless the DSI are. Well I can actually because clearly they must also now be on the payroll.

It is there way of getting even with Phuket for voting Democrat.

Getting even??

Like calling govt offices and demanding they speak in English Keep yelling" ASEAN ASEAN "at them !! "YOu speak English now- it's the law ! It's the law now for two years !

Banks , your ISP the foreign trade ministry.... Start making it known you are losing respect ( if you ever had any ) for the two faced, amateurish manner in the way things are conducted here.

Maybe a vomit- a- thon for the big bash. What' that?

"Oh you're going to the party?" Oh well never mind, don't forget to take a stick for the rape of Phuket

[Guest]

Surin last february

But this looks pretty cool