‘We’re not mafia,’ say Phuket taxi drivers

[snoop1130]

‘We’re not mafia,’ say Phuket taxi drivers
Sukawin Tanthavanich

PHUKET: -- Phuket taxi drivers denied any mafia behavior, or association with any mafia organizations, at a meeting with Dussadee Arayawuthi, deputy permanent secretary for the Justice Ministry, on Friday.

Kata-Karon taxi drivers joined beach vendors and other locals airing their grievances at the meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall.

“We were following the established rules. We don’t understand why we are labelled as ‘mafia’ or ‘thug-like’ associations,” insisted Pornthep Charmkhao, the leader of the Kata-Karon taxi group.

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Were-not-mafia-say-Phuket-taxi-drivers/63283?desktopversion

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-02-29

[prestburypark]

The devils' best trick is to convince everyone that he does not exist.

[Just1Voice]

"We're not mafia! We're just plain Thai Thugs."

[sweatalot]

Thank you for enlightening us.

Of cause mafia always say "We are mafia"

[sweatalot]

"We're not mafia! We're just plain Thai Thugs."

...err .. what's the difference?

[eisfeld]

Nono of course not a mafia. That's why prices are low and competition fierce!

[iReason]

“We were following the established rules."

[thaiduncankk]

We're not Mafia, we are just out to rip these suckers off !

[prestburypark]

I just realised I am going to a Phuket taxi drivers wedding in march, up country...I will ask him and let you all know.

[lemonjelly]

What's the photo?

[NCC1701A]

Edited February 29, 2016 by NCC1701A

[NCC1701A]

"In June 2014, a deployment of 100 soldiers from Southern Thailand provided military support to a huge task force of 1,110 police officers and 40 volunteers who swept along the west coast of Phuket to purge the island of illegal, violent, abusive and cheating taxi, tuk-tuk and minivan drivers."

"I'm going to arrest one of these taxi drivers. Call for backup."

"how much back up?"

"everyone."

[surangw]

you can dress up a pig, but it's still a pig

[LivinginKata]

Bunch of thugs extorting tourists ...

[Ace100millionyes]

Those bastards sure are and it's been going on for many years. Early hours of the morning I'm on my way to Karaoke on a m/bike the girl in front same. A tuk tuk swerved into her nearly dropped her then he stopped and yakked at her so I tried to tell him that she did nothing wrong. About 5 mins later I'm on the deck with this big Russian guy standing over me saying go away from here. It's a long story after that basically the police come and arrested both of us. Made us drive to the station with him. But we never arrived because he stopped her, I was behind on my bike. He told her to tell me to I want say it on this post

But for me to give ..... Him .... X amount ( big X ) otherwise he would lock us up at the station.

The next day I talked to a mate owner of a bar he told that yes Mafia involved big time and that was about 8 years ago. Nothing changed Right !

[dean008]

I recently went to phuket and had a nice driver who spoke excellent English. He was going to malaysia in 2 days and I asked about renting his car, he was initially keen and then changed his mind. I asked if the police would be the problem he said no, its the taxi mafia who would cause problems. Whilst they are not mafia they are just greedy pricks who are contributing to the poor image Thailand has. Yges tourism is up but those pesky Chinese are driving! They now want to charge them more to bring their can over. Eventually they will run out of people to annoy and one day soon may have to try working for a living

[The manic]

Thugs and cheats who have a monopoly. Dreadful -

[steelepulse]

Let's see,

Fixed pricing, if one of their own tries to undercut, he gets beat up. Nope, not mafia.

Well defined territories. If one of their own goes to where they aren't supposed to, they get beat up. Nope, not mafia.

Closed for competition. Nope, not mafia

Yelling and screaming if a member of the public tries to park in one of their spots before being threatened with bodily harm. Nope, not mafia

Immune to local police and local laws, Nope, not mafia

Ability to act with impunity with no fear of the law, Nope, not mafia.

[shirtless]

They will soon turn on each other the way tourism has dropped off in Phuket ,

[bearpolar]

mafia for thais is mèèphîa

so yes they arent mafia

Edited March 1, 2016 by bearpolar

[jacko45k]

You aren't, okay then take me from Patong to Kata for 100 baht then!

[Deli]

They might be right and it's offending the real ( italo / american ) Mafia to compare this bunch of criminals with them.

They are just scum

[Yahooka]

These thugs are just as annoying as mosquitos and as disgusting as the constant sewage smell in Patong.........................and one day I hope all 3 can be eradicated !!

[klauskunkel]

‘We’re not mafia,’ say Phuket taxi drivers

Poor guys, having an identity crisis

[alfalfa19]

[Stokakrishna]

problem solved. they clearly said they are not mafia...

how could they lie???

Edited March 1, 2016 by Stokakrishna

[Familyaffairs]

5555555555555, no, they are little angels always unselfishly 'helping' people......and it snows right now in Phuket.

[mcfish]

What do they charge, and how do you expats get around if you don't have a motorbike? . One of the reasons I'm drawn to jomtien is the 10 baht ride into Pattaya

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[zaZa9]

Let's see,

Fixed pricing, if one of their own tries to undercut, he gets beat up. Nope, not mafia.

Well defined territories. If one of their own goes to where they aren't supposed to, they get beat up. Nope, not mafia.

Closed for competition. Nope, not mafia

Yelling and screaming if a member of the public tries to park in one of their spots before being threatened with bodily harm. Nope, not mafia

Immune to local police and local laws, Nope, not mafia

Ability to act with impunity with no fear of the law, Nope, not mafia.

And , 'Willingness to use force to stop any competition' as well !

There is an existing and registered Songthaew route between Patong and Karon , but the TT mafia will beat up any Thai man that accepts the job to drive it.

All the illegal TT Mafia tents have reopened .

Its back to these slugs "owning" guests and their transport options once again....

[Familyaffairs]

Not mafia, and it snows in Phuket.