Phuket Opinion: The high price of protests

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: The high price of protests
Phuket Gazette -

Is the 'protester market' something Phuket should really be striving to target? Photo: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: Local outcry over the amnesty bill recently passed by the House is understandable, but there should be concern about establishing the island as a regional center for political protests.

The protest last Sunday at Sanamchai, the large open field opposite Phuket Provincial Hall, was relatively peaceful given the huge number of people who took part (story here). Many came from across the region to attend, and it could easily have been the largest crowd ever assembled on the island; for a political cause it certainly was.

The right to assemble in this way is enshrined in the Constitution, as it should be. Yet the powers that be in Phuket, with its tourism-based economy, need to think long and hard about the effects, both immediate and potential, that can result from hosting such gatherings. Put bluntly, this is not the kind of event we need.

The main problem with political protests being held far from the capital is that they may do more harm locally than good. We were lucky that last weekend’s protests ended with no loss of life and limited property damage. But the potential for disaster when so many people converge in one place, at one time, always needs to be considered. We dodged a bullet with the SuperCheap fire (story here), but bullet-dodging is another exercise that seldom ends well.

Also, Thailand has a long history of political protests that have ended in brutal violence. But what have we gotten back from all the lost lives, spent bullets, burned calories, wasted time and plummeting tourism figures?

Not much, apart from developing the embarrassing reputation as a world leader in this sad realm. Even when carried out peacefully, generally all that results from political protests in Thailand is more of the same problems. “Cutting off the head” does not work.

Thailand seems to have overtaken South Korea internationally as the country most often associated with protests, which highlights the repeated failings of our democracy. Meanwhile, most Thai political protests have been limited in their long-term impact because they occur within the same social framework that allowed the underlying problems to develop in the first place: a toxic substrate of widespread corruption.

Local political leaders need to understand that adding “protest” to the reasons to come to Phuket is a bad idea. And passing off local movements as “grassroots” is particularly hard to do when so many life-long politicians are involved.

Not only do we have much to lose from hosting large-scale political protests, but such events also seem at odds with an island that markets itself as a tropical resort destination.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Opinion-The-high-price-of-protests-22745.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-11-10

[Badbanker]

"Not only do we have much to lose from hosting large-scale political protests, but such events also seem at odds with an island that markets itself as a tropical resort destination."

I am sorry I was under the impression from my last visits to Phuket, that the island is run by a group of local mafia, who's only interest is enrich themselves at the expense of Phuket and Thailand's reputation.

Long gone is the dream of "a tropical resort destination," when local authorities and vested interests allow taxi mafias to stop tourist operators collecting me from my hotel to go on a tour.

The peaceful non violent way in which protests took place are hugely in contrast to the massive violence one can expect if you do not follow the mafias directives.

So now I think we need to call Phuket what it is. A tropical mafia run destination!

[bubblegum]

Don't you people think before you print? What a load of BS !

[winstonc]

...failing democracy true...but you can protest in a democracy..

[FangFerang]

"Meanwhile, most Thai political protests have been limited in their long-term impact because they occur within the same social framework that allowed the underlying problems to develop in the first place: a toxic substrate of widespread corruption."

I had to read this three times before I could actually believe a Thai wrote such lucid, concise and honest words in a Thai newspaper. The writer will probably get fired for this.

[JulesMad]

Good idea! Organize ALL the protests in Phuket, and make it illegal to have them somewhere else!

Easier for the government to control them as it is an island (only 1 bridge), very doubtful if the Phuket mafia (that does not exist anyway, but is very present...) can control all the protests and protesters. If things really go wrong, just close the bridge and you create world's most beautiful prison island.

It is also good for Thailand as a country, because people (and tourists) can go everywhere in peace and quiet.

[Benmart]

Don't you people think before you print? What a load of BS !

Brief retorts such as this leave me wanting for more commentary. Please elaborate why it is a load of bovine excrement. And who are "you people"? One individual or ...?

Thanks for sharing.

[bubblegum]

Don't you people think before you print? What a load of BS !

Brief retorts such as this leave me wanting for more commentary. Please elaborate why it is a load of bovine excrement. And who are "you people"? One individual or ...?

Thanks for sharing.

You people is the writer, editor and owner of the Phuket Gazette.

How can you take a stand, as a newspaper against the peoples right to protest? Last I heard was that Thailand (of which Phuket is still part-off) is a democracy so people have the right to be heard. BUT no not in Phuket "please" it will hurt our tourism !!!

THAT'S what I call a load of BS !

[winstonc]

theres a protest at ratchadnern rd at 9.a.m. tomorrow if anyone is interested wife is there with her asoke temple group from ubon...isaan country no less..thanks..bangkok.sorry

Edited November 10, 2013 by winstonc

[stevenl]

"Not only do we have much to lose from hosting large-scale political protests, but such events also seem at odds with an island that markets itself as a tropical resort destination."

 

I am sorry I was under the impression from my last visits to Phuket, that the island is run by a group of local mafia, who's only interest is enrich themselves at the expense of Phuket and Thailand's reputation. 

 

Long gone is the dream of "a tropical resort destination," when local authorities and vested interests allow taxi mafias to stop tourist operators collecting me from my hotel to go on a tour.

 

The peaceful non violent way in which protests took place are hugely in contrast to the massive violence one can expect if you do not follow the mafias directives.

 

So now I think we need to call Phuket what it is.  A tropical mafia run destination!  

If your operator, or you, has legal transport no-one will be stopped collecting guests from their hotels.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[KarenBravo]

Protests scaring away tourists?

Do we really need more tourists?

Carry on protesting. It's a fundamental democratic right.