Phuket party town bouncer conduct to be reviewed after brutal beating

[webfact]

Phuket party town bouncer conduct to be reviewed after brutal beating
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association Weerawit Kurasombat has called on representatives from nightlife venues in Patong to gather tomorrow to review policies concerning the conduct of bouncers.

“I plan to implement strict rules about the use of violence by security,” Mr Weerawit said. “If any bouncer at any club is violent with a tourist, the club will be shutdown for at least two days.”

Mr Weerawit said that more details of the new policies would be revealed after the meeting tomorrow.

The announcement follows six Australian tourists being brutally beaten by White Room Night Club security guards.

Security guards told officials that the fight started when the men refused to pay their bill and one of the tourists started fighting with a guard.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-party-town-bouncer-conduct-be-reviewed/62142?desktopversion


-- Phuket Gazette 2015-10-14

[lovelomsak]

The bouncers are probably already working at another club. All talk. Lets see how long it will be before we hear of another such incident.

[alfalfa19]

“If any bouncer at any club is violent with a tourist, the club will be shutdown for at least two days.” Woooooooooo. small price to pay for possible infliction of coma, brain damage, even death.

[zaphod reborn]

Totally the result of the failure to hold clubs financially accountable for injuries caused by their bouncers. If the Thai courts properly awarded damages, and, in this case, punitive damages, for criminal acts of their employees, the clubs would quickly adopt better standards, procedures and training for their security staff. Two day closures aren't going to mean much to the clubs, and won't get them to change their way of doing business.

[fritzzz25]

Ensure these clubs put up a "bond" of 500K baht. If they violate it, then you have the money in hand and close their doors. They want to open again, the bond doubles. The bond fund could be used to pay for the cost of emergency services responding, enforcement, compliance, medical bills, etc.

[Deli]

Bouncers behaving like this behind bars for years and Club closed for the entire high season. This might help ???

Ahhh, solly... luehmm, where we are

[konying]

In Pattaya , clubs were shut down for 30-90 days. Not sure why Phuket should be any different

[optad]

Why are these things announced with fanfare and the details to follow.... like they don't matter?

[optad]

Every media service in Melbourne and Sydney, print/online and TV have run it over the last two days though. Seem to be ratching up for more over the next day or two.

It is funny for me. I can be hyper-critical of the Phuket or that Thai bar culture where the incident occurred but wince at the standard of journalism and the version they run re the story in Aus. Just conflating bulderdust for a commercial, fear-mongering mix.

Edited October 14, 2015 by optad

[jacksam]

If any bouncer at any club is violent with a tourist, the club will be shutdown for at least two days. Woooooooooo. small price to pay for possible infliction of coma, brain damage, even death.

Agree fully with you. Anyone who follows cricket May recall a famous Australian cricketer king hit by a bouncer and fell hit head on concrete and died. That bouncer had previous assault record. This is not isolated. At the well know crown casino , melbourne there have been numerous major incidents with out of control thug bouncers. I only mention AU because it has strict licencing controls . Thailand does very little. Nothing a fine won't fix.

Befor I get jumped on .....a lot of us May have just recently seen the footage on thaivisa of that patron thug in pattaya attacking the owner of Roxy bar pattaya. He should be deported at his own cost and black listed for life. We need good bouncers and even more good police and quick response time.

Edited October 14, 2015 by jacksam

[steven100]

Most should not be referred to as professional bouncers, more like thugs comes to mind.

[FangFerang]

“If any bouncer at any club is violent with a tourist, the club will be shutdown for at least two days.” Woooooooooo. small price to pay for possible infliction of coma, brain damage, even death.

Not true -- a two day shutdown is like a 20-30,000 baht fine (conservatively).

Money always gets business owners' attention...always.

[sailblue]

Ensure these clubs put up a "bond" of 500K baht. If they violate it, then you have the money in hand and close their doors. They want to open again, the bond doubles. The bond fund could be used to pay for the cost of emergency services responding, enforcement, compliance, medical bills, etc.

I have been in Thailand for 15 years plus, owned clubs etc. Will tell anyone, the Thai guys in general hate us. I have saved a few falungs on the ground getting kicked. Once you are on the ground any Thai nearby ( 50 yds ) will try and kick you in the head for all the times a falung has taken his girl for a good time simply because she needs the money.

THIS IDEA HERE LOOKS VERY WORKABLE. STILL HARD FOR THE BAR OWNER TO ENFORCE ONCE THE DOORMAN ARE HIGH/DRUNK.

Thai security guys will take zero lip from falungs, and no matter how small they are will have a go because they know they will have plenty of helpers.

[mike324]

Why not have bouncers arrested and jailed too? Shutting down clubs is moving towards the right direction, but offenders needs to face the law so others will behave.

[Brer Fox]

I now tell as many friends, acquaintances and visitors to Thailand that in the interests of their own health and safety they should keep away from Phuket. I doubt that I am the only one spreading that word. In fact I refer them to Thaivisa Forum and they can discover for themselves the stories of the escalating violence that seems to be pervading all sections of society in Thailand. Although I live in Bangkok I have become increasingly less relaxed and have to keep reminding myself to be that bit more cautious in everything I do.

[Peter Strand]

This will not help at all, the only thing what helps is that tourists stay away from this shitty bar and red light districts.

This places are anyway nothing else than stinky areas with rotten girls.

I only need to have a look and Bangla Road. I anyway not understand how normal people can go to this kind of places but looking at the foreigners who you see at the bars their explaining everything. Grumpy old expats, lost souls, drug dealers and drug users, hippies and other suspects. Even a kick at their head not wakes them up.

Nothing else than crap is beating crap. This keeps the so called "quality tourists" hopefully away from the island and gest some no brained Thais into trouble. Please continue, this may keep the island cleaner.

[Thaidream]

Any bar that continues to allow this to happen should not be patronized and the word spread far and wide. Vote with your feet. When they are hurt financially- they will either get the point or go out of business.

[gandalf12]

Why not have bouncers arrested and jailed too? Shutting down clubs is moving towards the right direction, but offenders needs to face the law so others will behave.

Charge them with GBH and give long prison sentences. If the victim dies then at least 2nd degree murder

[Kannikapor88]

In Pattaya , clubs were shut down for 30-90 days. Not sure why Phuket should be any different

Brown envelopes are maybe bigger in Phuket ... We know thats all that matter here, the size of the bribe no matter how many gets killed as long as they are foreigners

[silent]

Why are these things announced with fanfare and the details to follow.... like they don't matter?

Very simple. It's under current events. This way shows the intent for affirmative action for a new and improved Thailand whether little and no substance or not. It would have too much negative impact if goons had to be trained and have a licence they might lose for this sort of minor inconvenience and would only lead them to them reverting to earlier alternative means of support

That's counter-productive for what TOT's trying to resolve, so with their political science on-line degrees they have no choice but continuing to use past tried and tested attempts to baffle brains first.

[Jonmarleesco]

'Security guards told officials that the fight started when the men refused to pay their bill and one of the tourists started fighting with a guard.' Well, they would, wouldn't they? But I have indirect personal experience of certain clubs and their billing policies, which have included inflating the bill by the addition of items never ordered.

[Jonmarleesco]

Any bar that continues to allow this to happen should not be patronized and the word spread far and wide. Vote with your feet. When they are hurt financially- they will either get the point or go out of business.

Oh, I've seen that happen; and that included the girls walking out, too. But it needs to last for long enough to have a real financial impact. In that instance, the club's bouncers were armed Thai police.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Jonmarleesco

[optad]

Why are these things announced with fanfare and the details to follow.... like they don't matter?

Very simple. It's under current events. This way shows the intent for affirmative action for a new and improved Thailand whether little and no substance or not. It would have too much negative impact if goons had to be trained and have a licence they might lose for this sort of minor inconvenience and would only lead them to them reverting to earlier alternative means of support

That's counter-productive for what TOT's trying to resolve, so with their political science on-line degrees they have no choice but continuing to use past tried and tested attempts to baffle brains first.

Well you baffled mine. I think i was sarcastically noting the tendency to maximize the hubris when these things happen; make ready promises easily on the soap box yet solutions, usually found in the substantive detail, never immediately materialise and the media cycle has passed when the detail needs active scrutiny.

[razer]

I think everyone who has been here awhile would agree that in Thai culture it's all about appearance, not about substance.

Best thing to do is post this kind of information on every internet platform available and warn people not to go to the place that hurts tourists and scams tourists. Have your phone handy and make a video every time.

[fritzzz25]

Ensure these clubs put up a "bond" of 500K baht. If they violate it, then you have the money in hand and close their doors. They want to open again, the bond doubles. The bond fund could be used to pay for the cost of emergency services responding, enforcement, compliance, medical bills, etc.

I have been in Thailand for 15 years plus, owned clubs etc. Will tell anyone, the Thai guys in general hate us. I have saved a few falungs on the ground getting kicked. Once you are on the ground any Thai nearby ( 50 yds ) will try and kick you in the head for all the times a falung has taken his girl for a good time simply because she needs the money.

THIS IDEA HERE LOOKS VERY WORKABLE. STILL HARD FOR THE BAR OWNER TO ENFORCE ONCE THE DOORMAN ARE HIGH/DRUNK.

Thai security guys will take zero lip from falungs, and no matter how small they are will have a go because they know they will have plenty of helpers.

Doorman decides to get drunk/high? "You're fired"

And yes, I know how these guys "fight". I have seen it.

[JHolmesJr]

…..no matter how small they are will have a go because they know they will have plenty of helpers.

This is true….some time ago, in Insomnia Pattaya, there was a very annoying drunk farang who was kept trying to irritate me by (of all things) running his hand through my hair (what a daft <deleted!>).

Even though I was tone cold sober, I never contemplated any violence. I just told him, very clearly and politely, to get off.

Then the farang started annoying a girl at the next table….I could see one of her friends, this tiny cute thai girl, clench her fists around a bottle of heineken…she was just about to go in when a bouncer passed by….and she spoke to him instead.

Point is, in their country they will 100% get violent with you if it comes down to the wire.

[Thaidream]

This is so true- there is a violent streak that runs through Thai people and I think it comes from certain norms expected in society. However, once in the bar scene or away from their normal haunts- this all goes out the window. I have seen a Thai 'bar girl' strike a foreigner on the head with a beer bottle. No problem she says- if the police come I will only pay 500 baht. I have also seen a foreigner beaten to the ground by girls working in a bar and then thrown out in the street. He was drunk and disorderly so some of it was his fault. I have also seen bills inflated; drinks never ordered added to a bill and food never ordered also added. Most Thais when going out to eat will check each bill and items ordered to make sure it is correct. My experience tells me that when going into the bar area in Thailand- you want to make sure you keep your wits about you; keep track of what your are drinking and the costs of each drink and don't become over intoxicated or get into an argument with any of the staff. You may be in the right- but you will be out numbered; and no matter how tough you think you are- they have the ability to cut you down before you know it.

[Nobb]

Does anyone ever check these bouncer out for doing drugs or taking steroids illegally. If they were innocent why did the not co operate with the police. The Thai police do not want to arrest bouncer and do not care about there foreign visitors. Until the police under stands that they have to protect foreigners the country will lose tourist more and more by every action or no action by the police!

[webfact]

Phuket’s ‘brawling bouncers’ keep jobs despite vicious bashing of Australian tourists
Supatra Sutham


The White Room nightclub on Bangla Rd, Patong, will reopen on Saturday (Oct 17) after serving a seven-day closure for its security staff being caught on video viciously beating Australian tourists. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- The five Phuket security staff caught on video viciously beating two Australian tourists have kept their jobs, and the nightclub where they work on Bangla Rd, Patong, has been ordered closed for just one week over the incident.

“The White Room was ordered to close for seven days from last Saturday (Oct 10),” confirmed Entertainment Business Association President Weerawit Kurasombat.

“And the five security guards still have their jobs at this point since no charges has been filed against them. The Aussie tourists have left the country without filing a complaint against the guards or the nightclub,” he said.

The attack, which occurred around midnight on October 7, was captured on video by a bystander who later posted the disturbing footage on Facebook. The video went viral before it was taken offline. (See story here.)

Mr Weerawit agreed with the decision for the staffers to continue working as security on Phuket’s busiest party street.

“They have been warned about their behaviour, so there is no reason to take away their jobs,” he said.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-police-urge-aussie-tourists-to-file-complaint-over-vicious-beating-by-bangla-bar-bouncers-54463.php

-- Phuket News 2015-10-14

[gchurch259]

In most civilized countries this is not anything goes deal. These assault/battery/attemtped murder are a felony which will fetch you 10 to 20 years !