EDITORIAL
Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion
The Nation

KOH TAO: -- Crackdown follows news that migrant workers without proper papers pay police Bt500 a month to work on the island

The brutal murder of two Britons on Koh Tao has shed light on a number of things that Thai authorities hate to discuss.

At the top, it revealed the attitude of the country's prime minister towards sex crime when he suggested that the rape and murder may have stemmed from how one of the victims was dressed. He later apologised for it and added that he was misunderstood.

Nationally, needless to say, the double murder has dented the country's image as a tourist paradise.

At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders.

The fact that they were chasing the wrong lead did not help, not to mention the absence of prompt and immediate reaction, such as locking down this small island immediately after the killing.

Observers who understand the do's and don'ts at crime scenes have noted the authorities' unwillingness to prevent outsiders from trampling over physical evidence.

Such tardiness reflects the snail's pace of Thailand's bureaucracy and the country's law enforcement is not much different in this respect. Obviously, as this case has shown, sound judgement and leadership is lacking, not to mention common sense.

But this is just one of many cases. If law enforcers can blunder so much in spite of being under an intense spotlight, think of the other rape and murder cases they handle that don't get the national and international attention that this tragic case got.

According to latest reports, two migrant workers from Myanmar have admitted to the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.

As expected, they were presented to the public at a news conference. Damage control, perhaps. But this doesn't absolve the authorities of their lack of professionalism.

Beside the poor handling of the case, one spotlight that the police did not want revealed was the nature of the ties between them and migrant workers.

Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion.

According to our findings, out of the 5,000 migrant workers on Koh Tao, about 2,000 work illegally without proper permits. To get around that each 'illegal' has to pay police Bt500 a month. And if they want to use a motorcycle, that's another Bt500 a month to get around the driver's licence issue.

According to the local district chief, there are 3,300 migrant workers, mostly from Myanmar, registered to work on the island. By regulation, they have to pay Bt1,305 each year so they are entitled to the social security scheme.

As expected, the government went into damage-control mode and began to register all migrant workers in Surat Thani province, where Koh Tao is situated.

Whether these developments are enough to restore confidence among foreign visitors, no one could say. After all, no one in their right mind believes that the authorities don't know about this extortion and other irregularities. It's really sad that they have to wait for the gruesome murder of two British nationals to do something about it.

If Thai authorities really want to demonstrate that they are committed to public safety, they shouldn't have to wait until a public spotlight to force them to do so. Because if they crackdown on these irregularities, their action will speak for itself.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Koh-Taos-other-little-secret-police-extortion-30244774.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-05

"Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion"

Just because no one did anything to stop it, doesn't mean it was a secret.

No surly not the RTP taking money .... ... OMG thats shocking.

Hang on, if they ARE taking money on the side that means they are corrupt... and if they are corrupt then................ HOLY MOLY these monkeys had a double double murder rape on their Island.. could they be...untrustworthy ???

Not exactly confined to KT is it?

Just sweep it under the mat with all the other dirty little Thai secrets.

"Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion"

Just because no one did anything to stop it, doesn't mean it was a secret.

If there's any truth to stories coming from KT it would seem there's lots of little secrets that are common knowledge but best not talked about given who is supposedly involved both those in and out of uniform.

Reform has nothing to do with Change, so much is clear.

Since the start with Change will need a complete lockdown on law enforcement, in order to change the existing force into a normal functioning democratic police force.

Can't be done in a year!

Not exactly confined to KT is it?

No, but it is nice to know that they are not excluded there.

"At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders."

"Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion."

In many places around the world, the standard joke is "The best police money can buy". In Thailand, it's "The worst police money can buy".

Well it must be apparent to people in the Western world that the RTP are rotten to the core.

This is happening On Koh Samui 100 fold. My company hires some Burmese worker and we do all the Legal work permits for them. But that being said I know of Many other companies that hire illegal Burmese worker and the Immigration on Samui take their fees for the illegal worker as well. I still do not understand why the authorities and Military are not coming to Koh Samui to clean it up as they have done on Phuket. And why they are turning a blind eye here, And it has nothing to do with Suthup... Koh Samui Needs Help... Help...

Reform has nothing to do with Change, so much is clear.

Since the start with Change will need a complete lockdown on law enforcement, in order to change the existing force into a normal functioning democratic police force.

Can't be done in a year!

sure about that?

Quote wikipedia: "In 2005. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili fired "the entire traffic police force" of the Georgian National Police due to corruption,[2] numbering around 30,000 police officers.[3]

A new force was built around new recruits.[2]The United States State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law-Enforcement Affairs has provided assistance to the training efforts.[4] Patruli was first introduced in the summer of 2005 replacing the traffic police, which were accused of corruption.[5]"

currently there are 42,000 serving police officers

source: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_Georgia_(country)

where there is a will there is a way.

"At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders."

"Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion."

In many places around the world, the standard joke is "The best police money can buy". In Thailand, it's "The worst police money can buy".

the british ambassador to thailand was very pleased.

Hardly a secret, Koh Tao's reputation is now known worldwide for its mafia and corruption after the sham investigation by The BIB.

Man on right in Seans photo is to be regularly seen on the road from Maehaad to Ao Leuk, extorting tourists for minor visa issues/a joint in pocket while letting his bent workmates and other known drug dealers pass through the roadblock with a wave and a wai. He is usually in plain clothes but his underlings are all with him in full uniform. Koh Tao police are proud to be bent, as they assumed they would never be challenged over their behavior, which has been proved true recently when one Koh Tao policemen was caught on cctv threatening to kill by hanging a tourist and suffered no recourse from his thuggish actions.

Edit to add, I wonder what happens to all the drugs that get confiscated during these shakedowns? The naive might assume the police sneak the drugs into a safe storage room to be destroyed at a future date. Realists among us will know that whatever remains of the confiscated drugs(that the policemen didn't use themselves) get re-sold to the favored dealers and thus end up back on the street immediately.

correct me: registration of foreign workers all over the country but the south?..why an exclusion in the kamnans' backyard?

Little?

It's not a secret. Everyone in the world knows that Thailand is a bribery and corruption swamp. <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This is happening On Koh Samui 100 fold. My company hires some Burmese worker and we do all the Legal work permits for them. But that being said I know of Many other companies that hire illegal Burmese worker and the Immigration on Samui take their fees for the illegal worker as well. I still do not understand why the authorities and Military are not coming to Koh Samui to clean it up as they have done on Phuket. And why they are turning a blind eye here, And it has nothing to do with Suthup... Koh Samui Needs Help... Help...

Railroading the two Burmese on this murder charge does not help cleaning up Koh Tao either. A fish stinks from the head.

Hardly a secret, Koh Tao's reputation is now known worldwide for its mafia and corruption after the sham investigation by The BIB.

I doubt 99% of tourists have a clue how far police extortion goes in Thailand.

Anyone knows how many cops/immigration officials partage the monthly fees from the Myanmar workers?

500Bx2000 workers = 1 million B/month.....

Hey Good General, wake up!

This is happening On Koh Samui 100 fold. My company hires some Burmese worker and we do all the Legal work permits for them. But that being said I know of Many other companies that hire illegal Burmese worker and the Immigration on Samui take their fees for the illegal worker as well. I still do not understand why the authorities and Military are not coming to Koh Samui to clean it up as they have done on Phuket. And why they are turning a blind eye here, And it has nothing to do with Suthup... Koh Samui Needs Help... Help...

many Burmese restaurant workers told me they are paid 6000 baht a month, is that the reason that it is difficult to find Thai staff?

Airport X-ray staff (Thai) get paid 9000 baht a month.

Hardly a secret, Koh Tao's reputation is now known worldwide for its mafia and corruption after the sham investigation by The BIB.

I doubt 99% of tourists have a clue how far police extortion goes in Thailand.

Anyone knows how many cops/immigration officials partage the monthly fees from the Myanmar workers?

500Bx2000 workers = 1 million B/month.....

Hey Good General, wake up!

I think slowly the Good General must think....its a nation beyond salvation......

where there is a will there is a way.

And therein lies the problem.

Man on right in Seans photo is to be regularly seen on the road from Maehaad to Ao Leuk, extorting tourists for minor visa issues/a joint in pocket while letting his bent workmates and other known drug dealers pass through the roadblock with a wave and a wai. He is usually in plain clothes but his underlings are all with him in full uniform. Koh Tao police are proud to be bent, as they assumed they would never be challenged over their behavior, which has been proved true recently when one Koh Tao policemen was caught on cctv threatening to kill by hanging a tourist and suffered no recourse from his thuggish actions.

Edit to add, I wonder what happens to all the drugs that get confiscated during these shakedowns? The naive might assume the police sneak the drugs into a safe storage room to be destroyed at a future date. Realists among us will know that whatever remains of the confiscated drugs(that the policemen didn't use themselves) get re-sold to the favored dealers and thus end up back on the street immediately.

Those shakedowns are to remove the competition. 2 or 3 years ago about 10 km from here in La-Un. Police from Phang Nga province, brought a guy to an isolated spot and butchered him before throwing him into a gully. They then called the local BIB. They had to get a crane to get the body out. He was a dealer.

The "Police" here need to remove that word beginning with an "R" from their "designation" . . . they are an insult to this country and its people.

It's all good that this stuff is all coming to light...

A nice long open trial with vigorous lawyers for the defense uncovering and blasting all of this would be great...

Especially if the new government sticks to the anti-corruption stance and does something to punish (for real, with jail time) for those guilty of corruption..

But also equally important not to completely loose the plot...

Just because of all of the claims and issues of corruption against the Thai Police... That does not necessarily mean these 3 are innocent of the crime

Oh my God, the Nation is turning into a real newspaper (maybe a response to Nation reporters being detained a few months back?).

Good for them! The pen is mightier than the sword...but the sword creates permanent consequences....

It's all good that this stuff is all coming to light...

A nice long open trial with vigorous lawyers for the defense uncovering and blasting all of this would be great...

Especially if the new government sticks to the anti-corruption stance and does something to punish (for real, with jail time) for those guilty of corruption..

But also equally important not to completely loose the plot...

Just because of all of the claims and issues of corruption against the Thai Police... That does not necessarily mean these 3 are innocent of the crime

Keep on dreaming....

All current police posted to Koh Tao should be invited to testify before a Thai version of a Royal Commission with independent (foreign?) investigators and wide powers. The subject could be "Why You Get to Keep Your Job and NOT Go to Jail". I suspect the results would be interesting and very disturbing for many Thais.

It's no secret you've to pay millions to become an important police officer and it's also no secret this is very good investment - and that's not because of the 20K income you might get.

The police in Thailand is a totally corrupt mafia style organisation. It does more bad than good.

It's not just a Ko Tao thing. It's all over the country. The Thai police is a disgrace for Thailand.

It has always been like that, and the new dictator seems to be perfectly happy with the situation (I wonder why ...... ), because he didn't announce any serious police reform.

"At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders."

"Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion."

In many places around the world, the standard joke is "The best police money can buy". In Thailand, it's "The worst police money can buy".

I agree with you.

In most countries, the police motto is "To serve and protect". Here in Thailand, the motto is "To observe and neglect."