Phuket expat volunteers strike amid Patong Police fallout

[webfact]

Phuket expat volunteers strike amid Patong Police fallout
Phuket Gazette


Sen Sgt Maj Wichai poses with some of his expat police volunteers. Sgt Wichai says he still has 35 expat volunteers in service, 10 of whom operate in Patong. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- The ousting of Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan on Monday has prompted expat police volunteers in Phuket to go on strike.

Expat police volunteers will no longer assist police or carry out their highly-praised night patrols of Patong until a clear structure is established, explained Wal Brown, long-term Phuket expat and head co-ordinator of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 volunteers on the island.

“We will meet with top-ranking officers at Patong Police Station this afternoon to discuss how the volunteers can continue working with police in assisting foreigners and tourists in need,” he confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this morning.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiwruangnont removed Col Chiraphat from his post to acquiesce to the demands of about 200 tuk-tuk drivers who blockaded the Patong beach road and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road on Monday night (story here).

The tuk-tuk drivers were protesting alleged unfair treatment by Patong Police, who they said allowed legally registered taxis to park illegally in public parking spaces, but did not allow Patong tuk-tuk drivers to do the same.

The strike comes as many expat police volunteers have resigned from the Tourist Police in Patong, choosing to join their counterparts who assist regular Royal Thai Police officers.

“Some have chosen to continue working as Tourist Police Volunteers, but many have chosen to join the Region 8 Police volunteers, who work out of Patong Police Station,” one volunteer told the Gazette.

“We no longer have Claude de Crissey as our chief, so we have chosen to leave the Tourist Police and instead help the regular police.”

“But with Col Chiraphat now gone, we need to sort out who we work with and how we can continue working with law enforcement.”

Mr de Crissey was unavailable for comment this morning as he was busy attending to affairs in his role as French honorary consul for Phuket.

Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Koondejsumrit was also unavailable for comment.

Sen Sgt Maj Wichai Boonruen, who co-ordinates all expat volunteers assisting the Phuket Tourist Police, confirmed that the Tourist Police office in Patong (map here) is open as usual.

“We have 35 expat volunteers across the island, and 10 of them are still operating in Patong,” he said.

“The Tourist Police Hotline 1155 is also still functioning as usual, with officers ready to answer calls 24 hours a day.”
Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-expat-volunteers-strike-amid-Patong-Police-fallout-26751.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-05

[Totster]

What a joke!


totster

[eezergood]

LOve it

[falkan]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

[Dogmatix]

They look different from the ones in Pattaya's Walking Street who wear black uniforms with zips and buckles all over them like something out of a bad S&M movie. Also these ones don't have shaved heads or visible tatoos.

[steelepulse]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

I'm sure they'll be back, the Bib need someone to do their job and also be their fall guy.

[falkan]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

I'm sure they'll be back, the Bib need someone to do their job and also be their fall guy.

sure and they will need to split there share with them, Garry was pretty good with that..

[NamKangMan]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

Are you talking about the Thai's, or the farang?

[monkeycountry]

"The tuk-tuk drivers were protesting alleged unfair treatment by Patong Police, who they said allowed legally registered taxis to park illegally in public parking spaces, but did not allow Patong tuk-tuk drivers to do the same."

What???

Anyway, once again it is clear that it is the tuktuk/taxis who run the island through their corrupt local politician bosses :-D

[Johnnie99]

"... removed Col Chiraphat from his post to acquiesce to the demands of about 200 tuk-tuk drivers ..."

Truly Amazing Thailand. The worst part is that these people really are serious.

[aveabeeror2]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

Until you running crying to them when you need help. Get a life.

[tonysilly]

Can anyone stop the scam? Those Tuk Tuk guys are the worst! It's too bad.. such a nice place

[captspectre]

They look different from the ones in Pattaya's Walking Street who wear black uniforms with zips and buckles all over them like something out of a bad S&M movie. Also these ones don't have shaved heads or visible tatoos.

who are these clowns in the first place? are they not falangs? and a falang has no rights in thailand, he is a guest and will not become involved in thai business. what are their powers? what if a falang pops one upside the head for being rude? are they quislings? the europeans will understand that word!

[captspectre]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

Until you running crying to them when you need help. Get a life.

what can they do? what are their responsibilities? they can NEVER bad mouth a thai or a thai business person, so again, what can they do? besides feel good themselves.

[eezergood]

Phuket could be the hub of blockades & protests soon

[diehard60]

Can anyone stop the scam? Those Tuk Tuk guys are the worst! It's too bad.. such a nice place

It has not been a nice place in years and I mean YEARS. Just pataya they are both dumps now.

[tonypace02]

If they change from Tourist Police to RTP, they have to get new work permits.

[Dogbarker]

When do the UK TV film crews arrive in Thailand for a follow up series on the tourist and police?

[Shot]

I thought John Candy died?

[FireMedic]

Let's pretend this has nothing to do with the volunteers. Everyone here should find it hugely disconcerting that the Colonel of Patong was removed by General Ong-art because he was doing his job. There is officially no hope now. This just put a massive damper on all of the people who say Phuket is getting better.

[skorchio]

Is this the script in a holiday fictional comedy thriller ? It is fffing hillarious!!! I am expecting John Cleese to cameo soon ....

[Benmart]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

So what are you doing in service besides criticizing those who do?

Think, think, think.

[Benmart]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

I'm sure they'll be back, the Bib need someone to do their job and also be their fall guy.

Please provide specific examples of same.

[Benmart]

I thought John Candy died?

When one has no substantial input, it's easy to take a juvenile approach and ridicule another's appearance.

[robertthebruce]

I would not do there job for anything..

Imagine dealing with all that foreign ''Drunks and Louts'' in ''Patong'' and the likes..

hats of to them for even doing that ''Volunteering Job''..

[Benmart]

They look different from the ones in Pattaya's Walking Street who wear black uniforms with zips and buckles all over them like something out of a bad S&M movie. Also these ones don't have shaved heads or visible tatoos.

who are these clowns in the first place? are they not falangs? and a falang has no rights in thailand, he is a guest and will not become involved in thai business. what are their powers? what if a falang pops one upside the head for being rude? are they quislings? the europeans will understand that word!

They are far from being clowns. Your comments show not only a lack of knowledge concerning their charter, but also broadcasts a degree of bigotry and hate by the subtle comparison to Vidkun Quisling.

Do some homework such as visiting the police station and finding out what these volunteers are all about. You won't learn that by sitting on a barstool if that is your profession.

[Benmart]

They look different from the ones in Pattaya's Walking Street who wear black uniforms with zips and buckles all over them like something out of a bad S&M movie. Also these ones don't have shaved heads or visible tatoos.

Yes, they are so much different from the bulk of non-Thai visitors. They seem to uniformed with the baseball cap, singlet, shorts, flip flops, unshaven, haggard and unkempt.

Most of the Pattaya police volunteers look much cleaner and professional than the bulk of bar roosters IMO.

You must not have seen a recent S&M movie. I've yet to see anyone remotely resembling a police volunteer. Then again, I look through sober eyes so maybe I'm missing something.

[Benmart]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

Until you running crying to them when you need help. Get a life.

what can they do? what are their responsibilities? they can NEVER bad mouth a thai or a thai business person, so again, what can they do? besides feel good themselves.

They are not in business to bad-mouth anyone. They defuse and mediate. They can protect themselves, but rely on the Thai police to handle violent or volatile situations, particularly when it involves a non-English speaker.

Yes, they most probably do feel good that they are helping to make a difference, much as other volunteers in numerous areas. If you have ever done volunteer work, you most probably would have understood that point.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Benmart

[sydneyboy]

Can anyone stop the scam? Those Tuk Tuk guys are the worst! It's too bad.. such a nice place

Stop dreaming. Phuket is a sh$thole.

[falkan]

so no more wannabe cops, let's celebrate!!!

Until you running crying to them when you need help. Get a life.

never in 10 years and using these wannabe cops can cost you more than to mediate strait with local bib, a good example was gary, that was making a lot doing this so i wouldn't be surprised if the rest of them doing the same thing for who would work for free with drunk idiots..