Here to stay: Soldiers on Phuket streets to ‘bolster’ police efforts, take down influential figures

[johnatong]

Those posting here with evidence of "brown envelopes" and "corruption" should present their documented evidence to the Authorities .

[scorecard]

I think you are dreaming. Even the local Phuket population are shocked that the military are entering the gravy train protocol. As so previous poster well stated ... it doubles the brown envelopes.

"it doubles the brown envelopes".

Is your statement based on seriously reliable fact, if correct and true the impact and fall out is probably a tipping point?

That's what at least one bar owners in Bangla I've known for years told me ...

What a convenient comment.

[scorecard]

I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Please support your statement with some examples. I offer that it is now worse than ever.

After the military took over, almost 50% of teh Patong beach was handed over to the jet ski gangs.

-The commercial business operators are still working the beaches.

-The tuk tuk operators still do as they please and park wherever they wish, only they are more emboldened now as they beat the army.

-The bars and clubs still violate the existing operating hours and liquor control laws.

-The number of minors working the sex trade, has become more evident.

-Close to 100 jetskis an be found at Patong beach

- Land encroachment and non enforcement of building codes is unchanged. Has anyone been charged yet?

Name one official who has been arrested and charged with corruption and is now facing criminal charges

Exactly what has changed for the good?

If the army is going to rule, then it should do it, and clean up Phuket once and for all. Arrest the corrupt officials, shut down the illegal businesses, arrest the peoplel dumping raw sewage off of he beaches, stop the transport rip offs etc.

And your idol had 12 years to do the same but didn't and it got worse.

[ChrisY1]

This whole military thing to me is becoming worrying...they're extending their duties everywhere....soldiers on the streets of Phuket, IMO, is the beginning......then again, there are soldiers in BKK on the plod.....

As an expat, I'm concerned as to how the military regards foreigners living here now and in the future......we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us......and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses.

I'm certainly not packing up just yet, but have a plan B.

[scorecard]

This whole military thing to me is becoming worrying...they're extending their duties everywhere....soldiers on the streets of Phuket, IMO, is the beginning......then again, there are soldiers in BKK on the plod.....

As an expat, I'm concerned as to how the military regards foreigners living here now and in the future......we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us......and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses.

I'm certainly not packing up just yet, but have a plan B.

"...we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us...."

Please share your reasoning.

"...and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses..."

Please share your reasoning.

Seems to me just another convenient comment.

[Acharn]

It makes me think of Cuba during the Cold War days when Fidel was in with the Russians but now is pruyat and the Chinese.soldiers on every corner and people arrested and never seen again.

I don't think you know about the way the police treated Thai-Chinese from about 1949 to 1956. Or about the Red Barrels. Why on earth would they bring in Chinese soldiers? That makes no sense.

[Acharn]

I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Please support your statement with some examples. I offer that it is now worse than ever.

After the military took over, almost 50% of teh Patong beach was handed over to the jet ski gangs.

-The commercial business operators are still working the beaches.

-The tuk tuk operators still do as they please and park wherever they wish, only they are more emboldened now as they beat the army.

-The bars and clubs still violate the existing operating hours and liquor control laws.

-The number of minors working the sex trade, has become more evident.

-Close to 100 jetskis an be found at Patong beach

- Land encroachment and non enforcement of building codes is unchanged. Has anyone been charged yet?

Name one official who has been arrested and charged with corruption and is now facing criminal charges

Exactly what has changed for the good?

If the army is going to rule, then it should do it, and clean up Phuket once and for all. Arrest the corrupt officials, shut down the illegal businesses, arrest the peoplel dumping raw sewage off of he beaches, stop the transport rip offs etc.

And your idol had 12 years to do the same but didn't and it got worse.

12 years? Who had 12 years? Thanom and Prapas? Phibul Songkhram? Sarit didn't live that long after he took over. Nobody else has had anything like 12 years. Why are you using coded language?

Edited April 18, 2016 by Acharn

[cracker1]

Soldiers. Please come to Samui and help our police.

[rosst]

I don't agree with the comments about the rise of the military.

Corruption is entrenched in Phuket and the local BIB are incapable of doing anything about it. They're a major part of the problem. The PM knows this and has put his people in the mix to make sure the in-roads are made into eliminating this corruption.

There is no reason to jump to jump to any other conclusion and every reason to hope that getting the military in the loop will have a positive effect.

I haven't heard one thing to believe otherwise. Before Prayuth came to power Phuket was an open sewer of corruption and I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Certainly with more power comes the possibility of this will come to a terrible outcome, but I haven't seen anything other than a positive movement toward a far less corrupt government under Prayuth. He's a good man who wants to see a better tomorrow for Thailand. As far as I'm concerned, an open democracy like we had before Prayuth is a recipe for disaster. Screw democracy, I'll take the NCPO over the likes of Thaksin and his ilk for years to come. Thailand can't handle Democracy. The only way to get rid of the entrenched corruption is a strong military. It's unfortunate but true.

I agree with this summation and even though I have no personal experience with these developments, so far I am unaware of the army being involved at street level corruption.

Like many expats, I have handed my license to the traffic police with a " donation " inside but I don't think I would try that with the army.

I am however hopeful that this may usher in a better environment in Thailand.

[ChrisY1]

This whole military thing to me is becoming worrying...they're extending their duties everywhere....soldiers on the streets of Phuket, IMO, is the beginning......then again, there are soldiers in BKK on the plod.....

As an expat, I'm concerned as to how the military regards foreigners living here now and in the future......we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us......and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses.

I'm certainly not packing up just yet, but have a plan B.

"...we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us...."

Please share your reasoning.

"...and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses..."

Please share your reasoning.

Seems to me just another convenient comment.

IMO, the total disregard for advice from other countries has fallen on deaf ears....the junta wants none of it. Western countries are concerned about this takeover.

The generals comments, some time back, about foreign females wearing skimpy clothing was a slap in the face to tourists....

There has not been any improvement for foreigners hoping to establish a company here...in fact it's likely more difficult to some degree...company ownership involving foreigners hasn't seen any improvement.

For the Thai people......freedom of expression has degraded to the extent of people now being threatened of detention.

The use of LM and Computor Crime acts have been overly used in shutting down dissent.

The RTP has been allowed to continue unabated in their almost inane methods of policing.

The road toll seems to be just a series of numbers....there hasn't been any positive actions and people die at horrendous rates daily.

This is how I see the situation now and I just can't see it getting better....the junta will effectivley be the rulers for the next 5 years........I may well be wrong, but not completely wrong

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Here are the new bosses,same as the old bosses.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

The Army and the Police have never really been 'pals'.Now we read that the Army is to assist the police in bringing down 'influential figures?

This is rather like,Oscar Wilde's description of a fox hunt.'The unspeakable,in full pursuit of the inedible'

[NamKangMan]

"take down influential figures" - the Thai Army has been in control for near 2 years, and to date, from memory, I can not recall one influential figure on Phuket who has been arrested, charged, prosecuted and gaoled.

Phuket doesn't have much to show for the last 2 years under military rule. There has been no real positive change here, due to their intervention, except for some beach encroachment clearing.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....another pathetic charade........

.....let's pretend.....because they said so.......

[DDbkh]

Times are tough, going to need two brown envelopes now. Pretty clear now why his nibs at the top had no interest in reforming the RTP; bring the Army in.

Yep ... I fear that the army now realises that they have an easy inroad to the gravy train.

It's a pity as the army used to be consider not corrupt, I suppose because they did not really have access to the instruments of local power .... no

Which century was that??

[sweatalot]

It is a step in the right direction

Everybody knows that the police did not do their job and are corrupt and part of the problem.

I am surprised to read so many command with the tunnel view (military is always bad - don't care about the situation with corrupt police)

I think the military can be the power that helps to "reform" the police

..... comment with the tunnel view ....

sorry, saw that typo too late

[Eric Loh]

I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Please support your statement with some examples. I offer that it is now worse than ever.

After the military took over, almost 50% of teh Patong beach was handed over to the jet ski gangs.

-The commercial business operators are still working the beaches.

-The tuk tuk operators still do as they please and park wherever they wish, only they are more emboldened now as they beat the army.

-The bars and clubs still violate the existing operating hours and liquor control laws.

-The number of minors working the sex trade, has become more evident.

-Close to 100 jetskis an be found at Patong beach

- Land encroachment and non enforcement of building codes is unchanged. Has anyone been charged yet?

Name one official who has been arrested and charged with corruption and is now facing criminal charges

Exactly what has changed for the good?

If the army is going to rule, then it should do it, and clean up Phuket once and for all. Arrest the corrupt officials, shut down the illegal businesses, arrest the peoplel dumping raw sewage off of he beaches, stop the transport rip offs etc.

And your idol had 12 years to do the same but didn't and it got worse.

12 years? Who had 12 years? Thanom and Prapas? Phibul Songkhram? Sarit didn't live that long after he took over. Nobody else has had anything like 12 years. Why are you using coded language?

Scorecard was referring to the Dem Party. Phuket is the Dem stronghold. Talking about influential people; the military should talk to Suthep.

[sweatalot]

This whole military thing to me is becoming worrying...they're extending their duties everywhere....soldiers on the streets of Phuket, IMO, is the beginning......then again, there are soldiers in BKK on the plod.....

As an expat, I'm concerned as to how the military regards foreigners living here now and in the future......we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us......and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses.

I'm certainly not packing up just yet, but have a plan B.

...military thing ... is becoming worrying ...

You should have been more worried before the military took over - I was

And I worry also about those who like to attack the military and are totally blind against those who were in power before

[dieseldave1951]

I don't agree with the comments about the rise of the military.

Corruption is entrenched in Phuket and the local BIB are incapable of doing anything about it. They're a major part of the problem. The PM knows this and has put his people in the mix to make sure the in-roads are made into eliminating this corruption.

There is no reason to jump to jump to any other conclusion and every reason to hope that getting the military in the loop will have a positive effect.

I haven't heard one thing to believe otherwise. Before Prayuth came to power Phuket was an open sewer of corruption and I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Certainly with more power comes the possibility of this will come to a terrible outcome, but I haven't seen anything other than a positive movement toward a far less corrupt government under Prayuth. He's a good man who wants to see a better tomorrow for Thailand. As far as I'm concerned, an open democracy like we had before Prayuth is a recipe for disaster. Screw democracy, I'll take the NCPO over the likes of Thaksin and his ilk for years to come. Thailand can't handle Democracy. The only way to get rid of the entrenched corruption is a strong military. It's unfortunate but true.

I think you are dreaming. Even the local Phuket population are shocked that the military are entering the gravy train protocol. As so previous poster well stated ... it doubles the brown envelopes.

wait wait wait suck and see maybe it will work lets think positive and hope it spreads to that vipers nest called KHAO TAO

[LivinginKata]

"take down influential figures" - the Thai Army has been in control for near 2 years, and to date, from memory, I can not recall one influential figure on Phuket who has been arrested, charged, prosecuted and gaoled.

Phuket doesn't have much to show for the last 2 years under military rule. There has been no real positive change here, due to their intervention, except for some beach encroachment clearing.

Exactly correct - lot of talk about bringing criminal charges against many mayors and their cohorts. Not heard of any one of them even getting as far as court.

All the army have to show is a beach clearance of all the chair clutter (now creeping back in) and removing all the taxi driver hang out (also creeping back again).

Plus limited progress on checking out illegal encroachment of public land. Again, never heard of any corrupt land officials even getting as far as court.

Talked with my Thai wife about whether the army is corrupt - she laughed and said yes army is corrupt if they can get the chance.

[xylophone]

Times are tough, going to need two brown envelopes now. Pretty clear now why his nibs at the top had no interest in reforming the RTP; bring the Army in.

Yep ... I fear that the army now realises that they have an easy inroad to the gravy train.

It's a pity as the army used to be consider not corrupt, I suppose because they did not really have access to the instruments of local power .... now they do.

True..........as I have posted before, the army are now in on the 'tea money" business, at the most lucrative end anyway.

Such a shame as I had high hopes that they would clean things up, rather than become more snouts in the trough.

[ChrisY1]

This whole military thing to me is becoming worrying...they're extending their duties everywhere....soldiers on the streets of Phuket, IMO, is the beginning......then again, there are soldiers in BKK on the plod.....

As an expat, I'm concerned as to how the military regards foreigners living here now and in the future......we know the general and his cohorts don't particularly have much love for us......and from his actions, he probably has a similar level of care for the Thai masses.

I'm certainly not packing up just yet, but have a plan B.

...military thing ... is becoming worrying ...

You should have been more worried before the military took over - I was

And I worry also about those who like to attack the military and are totally blind against those who were in power before

I did worry when the coup came.......as many did......and it doesn't matter at all of the past power players........the situation is now very different.

[scorecard]

I've seen nothing but positive things since he's taken over. Phuket is far better off since Prayuth came to power.

Please support your statement with some examples. I offer that it is now worse than ever.

After the military took over, almost 50% of teh Patong beach was handed over to the jet ski gangs.

-The commercial business operators are still working the beaches.

-The tuk tuk operators still do as they please and park wherever they wish, only they are more emboldened now as they beat the army.

-The bars and clubs still violate the existing operating hours and liquor control laws.

-The number of minors working the sex trade, has become more evident.

-Close to 100 jetskis an be found at Patong beach

- Land encroachment and non enforcement of building codes is unchanged. Has anyone been charged yet?

Name one official who has been arrested and charged with corruption and is now facing criminal charges

Exactly what has changed for the good?

If the army is going to rule, then it should do it, and clean up Phuket once and for all. Arrest the corrupt officials, shut down the illegal businesses, arrest the peoplel dumping raw sewage off of he beaches, stop the transport rip offs etc.

And your idol had 12 years to do the same but didn't and it got worse.

12 years? Who had 12 years? Thanom and Prapas? Phibul Songkhram? Sarit didn't live that long after he took over. Nobody else has had anything like 12 years. Why are you using coded language?

Quaint post, g'kid knows exactly who I mean.

[hugocnx]

This is not a good sign. Things can only go downhill from here, especially as all military personel have automatic amnesty for any actions they take.

Time for the west to start imposing serious sanctions.

Anything different going on in the west?

[xylophone]

I think you are dreaming. Even the local Phuket population are shocked that the military are entering the gravy train protocol. As so previous poster well stated ... it doubles the brown envelopes.

"it doubles the brown envelopes".

Is your statement based on seriously reliable fact, if correct and true the impact and fall out is probably a tipping point?

That's what at least one bar owners in Bangla I've known for years told me ...

I would put that tidbit in the bullshit file. People say things, they may have an agenda.

There is no reliable info that the military is on the take. I haven't heard of one single situation where this has happened and I would have.

I'm not going to say the name here, but the owner of the biggest clubs on Bangla has said nothing about this kind of thing happening.

The cops are bent, as we all know. The military is not.

Don't spread bullshit.

You need to get out of Kamala a little more.

The military are certainly in on the Tea money game and a source who has dealings with them has told me that the BIB are very unhappy about it.

The military met the owner of one of the biggest “establishments” in Patong and asked for Tea money so that he could stay open longer. He paid up and said that he happily did so because he thought they’d come to enforce closing times…..his words, not mine.

And as for "clearing up corruption"………I've heard nothing about the owners of the ACE condominium development being brought to justice, having duped many farangs and Thais out of their deposits.

In addition the many investors in the "Park" 900+ development Nanai Road are wondering what has happened to the developers who seem to have pocketed a few million and .............?

Or the wealthy and well-connected individual who continues to build way above the 80 m height limit on Hasip pee Road, because he can and because money and connections talk.

Then of course there are the land documents that had been issued for land around Patong and in Phuket and which have found to be false, but I see no officials being tried for this type of corruption.

Many others have mentioned the taxi, tuk tuk and jetski situations and it is well known why these have not been curtailed, because they are well-connected and money changes hands.

So the military have made no inroads whatsoever into the corruption here. Why.........not too hard to fathom.

Your comment, "The cops are bent, as we all know. The military is not’, is laughable because you obviously haven't been keeping up with the news about the military folk involved in people smuggling, people trafficking and selling rohingya to Indonesian fishing boats.

And you will probably still argue that they are good folk despite the fact that some of their kind have recently beaten a new conscript to death (and not the first time) and will serve about 30 to 40 days detention for it, so they obviously know about justice – – yeah right.

You should have learned by now that corruption is endemic in Thailand and it affects all areas of society, so for you to say that the "military is not bent" shows that you don't understand how the place works.

Just because your beloved Kamala Beach was cleared of a few sun loungers doesn't mean that things have changed in the areas that really matter.

[scorecard]

...

And your idol had 12 years to do the same but didn't and it got worse.

12 years? Who had 12 years? Thanom and Prapas? Phibul Songkhram? Sarit didn't live that long after he took over. Nobody else has had anything like 12 years. Why are you using coded language?

Scorecard was referring to the Dem Party. Phuket is the Dem stronghold. Talking about influential people; the military should talk to Suthep.

Scorecard wasn't referring to the Dem party (who aren't all that clean), g'kid knows well scorecard was referring to g'kids long-term idol the convicted absconded man in the middle east.

[billd766]

It makes me think of Cuba during the Cold War days when Fidel was in with the Russians but now is pruyat and the Chinese.soldiers on every corner and people arrested and never seen again.

What Chinese soldiers would they be?

[Jim walker]

But the soldiers have no formal police training like how to scam tourists for as much money as possible and what percentage to take from jetski owners who are fleecing the tourists all soldiers do is March up and down shouting yes sir and shoot a few thais when needed

[LivinginKata]

But the soldiers have no formal police training like how to scam tourists for as much money as possible and what percentage to take from jetski owners who are fleecing the tourists all soldiers do is March up and down shouting yes sir and shoot a few thais when needed

But the soldiers can learn very fast ....

[tuanku]

It is a step in the right direction

Everybody knows that the police did not do their job and are corrupt and part of the problem.

I am surprised to read so many command with the tunnel view (military is always bad - don't care about the situation with corrupt police)

I think the military can be the power that helps to "reform" the police

Can you think of ANY historical example in any country in the last 100 years where people looked back after a military takeover and said to themselves "that was a good thing for the country, We're glad the armed forces did what they did"?

Just look at the way the last 18 to 20 military coups in Thailand completely failed to advance the country and frequently led to death and violence for ordinary people............yet you are calling THAT a tunnel view! These people (the army generals and the puppeteers in the shadows) have no-one's interest at heart other than their own. If they appear to be intervening in Phuket, or anywhere else, it is because it advantages them financially or consolidates their hold on power. Its up to those of us who live here, with the education and perception to understand what is happening to express these opinions even in this trivial forum, while we still can. Ordinary Thais are no longer able to do so safely.