Phuket residents block entrance to hotel

[webfact]

Phuket residents block entrance to hotel
Suthicha Sirirat

The group believe the hotel had sent a complaint letter about noise from a nearby mosque.

PHUKET: -- More than 200 residents from Baan Ao Makham blocked the entrance to a Cape Panwa hotel last Thursday (February 19) in protest against a letter of complaint they believe the hotel sent about noise disturbance from a nearby mosque.

The residents believe that the Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort sent a complaint letter to the Prime Minister̕s Office about loud noise coming from the Iszhatul Mosque between 5-6am and 11pm-midnight every day.

The group were demanding an answer over the issue, with the leader stating that the complaint is not justified especially as the mosque never has calls to prayer between 11pm and midnight.

The protest came to the attention of Vice Governor, Somkiet Songkhawsuttirak who arrived at the scene together with police.

The residents requested that the Damrongtham Centre and Prime Minister̕s Office provide them with the name of the person who filed the complain.

They also wanted the Phuket Panwa Beachfront Resort to speak to them about wether they had issued the letter or not and stated that if the problem was not solved within a week they would take the matter into their own hands.

A representative from the resort told V/Gov Somkiet and the protesting group that the resort has been there a long time and that they had never filed such a complaint.

They advised that the resort CEO is currently in Bangkok and therefore could not comment any further on the matter.

However, the representative advised that the CEO would be back in Phuket on February 26.

V/Gov Somkiet told all parties to meet again on February 26 but some residents stayed and blocked the entrance of the resort while others went home after speaking with the V/Gov.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-residents-block-entrance-to-hotel-51127.php


-- Phuket News 2015-02-23

[Somtamnication]

Mob rules!

[Costas2008]

Whoever filled the complaint, I sympathize with him/her.

I wish I would file a report about my local Wat, that starts blaring their speakers from 5 in the morning.

But nobody will listen to me anyway

That's one of the reasons I'm moving to Pattaya

[angsta]

How long has the hotel been there and how long has the mosque been there? Pretty simple.

[chooka]

Why didn't the Army move in and arrest them? I thought it was ilegal to protest or gather in a group of 5 or more. Is martial law only preserved for one group of people. The Mad Monk gathers 200+ people to demonstrate and nothing is done and now these people. If the turn a blind eye to some then they have to turn a blind eye for all Thais and not drive a wedge and just look after your friends.

[angsta]

I wish I would file a report about my local Wat, that starts blaring their speakers from 5 in the morning.

But nobody will listen to me anyway

You live in a Buddhist country suck in up.

Bad news, Pattaya is also in Thailand and it's still Buddhist.

[simon43]

I don't get this. The mob has no evidence that the hotel made the complaint, and the hotel also claims that it has never complained.

So why aren't the police clearing the road? (A purely, rhetorical question of course)

[ttthailand]

Noise should not be coming from any church, mosque or Wat. What right do these people have to bother others.

Live and let live just as long as you don't bother other people !!!

[clockman]

Iam surprised they heard, Because judging by Temple fairs, village fairs. and any excuse to sub woofers. Half the populace is stone deaf!

[Old Croc]

Considering the Third Naval Command base is about 1/2 k from that hotel, you would think a few personnel from there could remind these irrational protesters about how martial law works.

[NeverSure]

How long has the hotel been there and how long has the mosque been there? Pretty simple.

Not that simple. If it was no one could ever build a new business or home.

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

"Your right to send out loud noises ends where my ears begin."

[daoyai]

It seems in this situation that a representative from the mosque could have made an appointment to meet and talk the matter over with the resort but nooooo, they get da mob and make threats.... oh, yea, a mosque.

[hanno]

Whoever filled the complaint, I sympathize with him/her.

I wish I would file a report about my local Wat, that starts blaring their speakers from 5 in the morning.

But nobody will listen to me anyway

That's one of the reasons I'm moving to Pattaya

Bit like moving to the Vatican and complaining about the church bells......

[angsta]

It seems in this situation that a representative from the mosque could have made an appointment to meet and talk the matter over with the resort but nooooo, they get da mob and make threats.... oh, yea, a mosque.

If you read the article then you'll note the hotel complained first so perhaps they should have approached the Mosque in the first instance?

[transam]

"Heads" may well roll over this...............

[bubblegum]

As CEO of that hotel I would demand police protection, we all know what happends when muslims take matters in their own hand !

[bubblegum]

As CEO of that hotel I would demand police protection, we all know what happends when muslims take matters in their own hand !

[iReason]

"in protest against a letter of complaint they believe the hotel sent about noise disturbance from a nearby mosque."

So, let's go cause a noisy disturbance and disrupt business.

Uncle Too, More than 200 residents blatantly violated your Martial Law and nothing was done about it.

Disgraceful. You should resign.

"and stated that if the problem was not solved within a week they would take the matter into their own hands."

Care to explain that threat?

[stevenl]

It seems in this situation that a representative from the mosque could have made an appointment to meet and talk the matter over with the resort but nooooo, they get da mob and make threats.... oh, yea, a mosque.

If you read the article then you'll note the hotel complained first so perhaps they should have approached the Mosque in the first instance?

If you read the article you'll note that it is unclear who complained.

[cloudhopper]

Riot first, then determine exactly who is responsible for the grievance. SOP here.

[2fishin2]

Riots are legal as long as you protest against farang. Cannot if against junta....

[monkeycountry]

Muslims once again showing their true colors, ready to lynch anyone who oppose them (even if they are not sure).

So what if someone sent a complaint about noise. Assuming the mosque is indeed calling to prayer, it is indeed a justified complaint. All muslims know when it is time for prayer, so there is no need to bother all the non muslims with their annoying noise pollution.

Edited February 23, 2015 by monkeycountry

[keestha]

The whole thing born out of a rumor. Frightening.

[simon43]

Perhaps the hotel management should go and blockade the mosque entrance in protest at the ... er... protest.

Then would we see evenhanded imposition of martial law?

[Loptr]

Why didn't the Army move in and arrest them? I thought it was ilegal to protest or gather in a group of 5 or more. Is martial law only preserved for one group of people. The Mad Monk gathers 200+ people to demonstrate and nothing is done and now these people. If the turn a blind eye to some then they have to turn a blind eye for all Thais and not drive a wedge and just look after your friends.

Now, now, mustn't upset the followers of the religion of peace...

They've already taken matters into their own hands by blocking access to the resort, with zero proof the complaint came from there...

[Loles]

555555555

The mosques are .... loud. Before I moved from Kamala about local "peaceful" muslim population and their Allah screaming.\

And,

there is army coup so more than 5 people can't make group on the road and public areas ...

Edited February 23, 2015 by Loles

[Bignose]

Even if the complaint did indeed come from the hotel what right do they have to behave in such a way?

Arrogant and totally indefensible behavior!

[hawker9000]

It seems in this situation that a representative from the mosque could have made an appointment to meet and talk the matter over with the resort but nooooo, they get da mob and make threats.... oh, yea, a mosque.

If you read the article then you'll note the hotel complained first so perhaps they should have approached the Mosque in the first instance?

What the heck is wrong with a "Letter of Complaint" (assuming the hotel DID in fact send one, as "guessed" by the mob)? 'Sounds rational and within the law. Why must they go argue with the mosque? Let the mosque send a Letter of Response (or whatever) if they wish. How is escalating the matter with a mob and blocked access the right answer? The fact that the mosque chose this kind of response suggests the reception the hotel would've gotten HAD it tried to approach the mosque directly, a fact of which I suspect the hotel management might have been very well aware.

[Enoon]

The name of the general manager is Denis Martin. I take this as an indication (perhaps mistakenly) that the hotel is foreign owned. If that is the case I suspect (perhaps mistakenly) that the local thais would see them as an easy/soft target and do not fear the repercussions that would result from behaving in such a way towards a locally owned establishment. One that perhaps had "protection" or was "connected".

If so it is just another example of them all joining in to give the "farang" a kicking. Good old fashioned xenophobia, not moslem fundamentalism.This is all conjecture on my part. No doubt one of the local (Phuket) TV contributors can refute or confirm my suspicions.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Enoon

[cookee68]

they said If the matter is not resolved within a few weeks they will take the matter into their own hands, yeah a suicide bomber will be delivered to your hotel, I hate these people more by the minute, all over a letter,