Phuket Police go for the balls to unite Patong

[webfact]

Phuket Police go for the balls to unite Patong
Phuket Gazette


Col Chiraphat has reclaimed his position as Patong Superintendent. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan, ousted by the tuk-tuk blockade of Patong last week, is back and considering using ball sports, namely a football match, to unite competing factions in the busy resort town.

Col Chiraphat quietly returned to work on Monday, less than a week after his abrupt transfer to stave off violence during a blockade of the main roads into Patong by angry tuk-tuk drivers on March 3 (story here).

About 200 drivers staged the overnight blockade after several of their members were arrested by undercover police who pretended to be illegal taxi drivers and parked in spaces on the beach road reserved for the public.

The tuk-tuk drivers, who said they asked the men to move their vehicles from the public parking bays, were subsequently arrested for threatening behavior (to see ‘Power Play’, page 1 of the Phuket Gazette issue of March 8, click here).

“I returned to my post as Patong Police Superintendent on Monday,” Col Chiraphat told the Gazette.

“What I am looking to do now is unite Patong business operators, as we have so many groups competing for income from tourists.

“We might hold a sports event such as a football match and have everyone join in so police and Patong residents can get to know each other better.”

Col Chiraphat said he had yet to draw up plans to deal with any future possible blockades.

“I’m sorry. I have been busy at the police station,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-Police-go-for-the-balls-to-unite-Patong-27834.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-14

[NamKangMan]

So, "if you can't beat them - join them."

They probably "invited" this guy back to his original position, now they know how obedient he will be.

[mijan24]

So, "if you can't beat them - join them."

They probably "invited" this guy back to his original position, now they know how obedient he will be.

This guy can not be real - instead of laying down the rules he is going to organise a game of footbal - please tell him 1st of April is several weeks away = A real Dork.

[NomadJoe]

A bunch of tuk tuk mafia thugs rough up some UC rozzies and as a punishment get to play some footy. Only in Thailand.

[clockman]

Amazing Thailand, land of make believe!

[Thaddeus]

Are they trying to emulate England v Germany 1914?

[clockman]

Children with attitude!

[jocko]

Many Patong residents already know the police well.

Dont bother.

[LivinginKata]

Yet another 'catchy' PG headline

[monkeycountry]

"The tuk-tuk drivers, who said they asked the men to move their vehicles from the public parking bays, were subsequently arrested for threatening behavior (to see ‘Power Play’, page 1 of the Phuket Gazette issue of March 8, click here)."

The above is how things should be done to get rid of the tuktuk/taxi scum, not football matches!

If the tuktuk/taxi mafia is not happy about someone parking somewhere, report it to the police. Vigilante justice, even if just verbal, should result in arrest.

[NamKangMan]

A bunch of tuk tuk mafia thugs rough up some UC rozzies and as a punishment get to play some footy. Only in Thailand.

"Only in Thailand." - no, only on Phuket, actually.

Tuk-tuks aren't running the country (Thailand) but they are running Phuket.

[stevenl]

So the Royal Thai Police did not give in to the tuktuk's after all.

[godden]

will the ref be armed!!!

[Gandtee]

WITH THE HEADLINE I THOUGHT HE HAD THEM BY THE BALLS?

[Somtamnication]

I thought for a moment he meant that he will pay for a Simon Cabaret show. Silly me!

[NamKangMan]

I thought for a moment he meant that he will pay for a Simon Cabaret show. Silly me!

There are more "balls" at a Simon Cabaret show than there are at the Patong Police Station.

[DLP]

Just a PR stunt

[razer]

Who has who by the balls? It;s the old Tuk-Tuk squeeze and Pochanapay wants to play ball.

[diehard60]

When I read this all I could do was laugh.

[socksy01]

I thought the headline had something to do with local 'Ladyboys'