Greedy Phuket Tuk Tuk scum yet again

**dirtydog** · 14-06-2010, 02:57 PM

Tuk-tuks blockade US military in Phuket

WELCOME TO THAILAND: Mobile ATM units set up at the landing dock at Phuket Deep Sea Port await visiting US sailors. Tuk-tuk drivers waiting outside typically charge a minimum 2,000 baht for the trip to Patong.

PHUKET: The future of Phuket as a rest and relaxation destination for US Navy ships is in jeopardy following a blockade of the access road at Phuket Deep Sea Port by taxi drivers demanding sailors use their service instead of a free transport service provided by the US military.

Details of what transpired last night have yet to be fully confirmed, but sources told the Gazette this morning that the blockade lasted several hours and was only broken up around midnight following negotiations between the drivers and police, local government and military negotiators.

The stranded sailors were aboard US Navy vessels USS Curts, USS Vandegrift as well as the US Coast Guard Cutter Mellon. The vessels will be in Phuket from June 12 to 20, with a staggered arrival and departure schedule.

Top local officials were immediately notified of the blockade, which lasted from about 9pm until midnight.

The protesters, which included a number of unregistered ‘black plate’ taxi drivers, set up the blockade when they noticed sailors inside the Deep Sea Port security gate boarding passenger vans bound for Patong.

The drivers were apparently angry that the sailors were boarding passenger vans provided for them free of charge by Glenn Defense Marine, a private firm based in Bangkok that has a contract with the US Navy to provide support services for visiting US Navy ships.

In the past, the sailors were taken to Patong in large air-conditioned coaches.

The appearance of the passenger vans in their place infuriated the tuk-tuk drivers, who thought their ‘turf’ was being infringed upon. A false rumor circulated among the taxi drivers that the sailors were paying 200 baht a head to board the vans, which in fact were provided free-of-charge, just as the buses were in the past.

Part of the problem may have arisen because the new port manager had failed to notify the tuk-tuk drivers in advance of the change, the source said.

A source in the Royal Thai Navy responsible for security at Phuket Deep Sea Port had a somewhat different version of events. He told the Gazette under condition of anonymity that as many as 500 tuk-tuks, 'black plate' taxis and vans, all desperate for low-season fares, converged at the Deep Sea Port at the same time to try and collect passengers numbering only about 300.

The blockade was more of a traffic jam than an organized blockade, he said.

Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, president of the newly formed Patong Taxi Federation (PTF), said that members of his association were not among the drivers involved in the alleged protest.

“Our members wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said.

A source in the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization confirmed that ‘local taxi drivers’ did in fact blockade the access road until about midnight, at which time the dispute was settled by negotiation.

Chairat Khumban, secretary of Wichit Mayor Kreetar Saetan, said the blockade was ended after the drivers agreed with military, police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor.

A high-ranking US Navy officer attending a welcome dinner put on by the Phuket branch of the US Navy League in Patong last night was reportedly furious at the security breach when informed by telephone.

His crew had been on active duty in the Persian Gulf and hadn’t been ashore for 97 days, he said.

The Phuket visit was a last-minute change from the originally scheduled visit to Singapore.

“We would obviously never have a problem like this in Singapore,” the officer was quoted as saying.

Phuket City Police this morning said the duty officer at the time did not visit the protest site and that no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident.

A source told the Gazette the incident could place Phuket’s role as an R&R and resupply site for the US military in serious jeopardy and that it would probably take a few weeks to find out the true damage of the incident.

The blockade could be taken as a major security breach because the drivers were allowed to block US military personnel at their designated point of entry into the country and inside the established security perimeter, he said.

Resupply of American warships, including some of the world’s largest aircraft carriers, is an important industry for Phuket.

“People think the only benefit to the local economy is the money sailors spend on night-life, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. When the USS Ronald Reagan was here they loaded 14 containers of supplies. It is a huge business and it would be a shame if we were to lose it because of the greed of a small group of taxi drivers,” he said.

Phuket Gazette

**Mid** · 14-06-2010, 03:00 PM

Taxi Stand-off: US Still Loves Phuket Shore Leave
Alan Morison
Monday, June 14, 2010

Patong puts out more flags as US vessels keep choosing Phuket
Photo by phuketwan.com/file

AN INCIDENT on Phuket in which US Navy and Coast Guard personnel were briefly prevented from enjoying their shore leave last night was not considered serious enough to warrant questions being asked of the Thai Government, a US embassy spokesperson said today.

Local taxi drivers, concerned that they were losing money, blocked vans from carrying US personnel from Phuket's deep sea port at Cape Panwa to Patong for about two hours.

However, with the intervention of Phuket Navy League officials, who were with senior US Embassy officials at the time, the situation was resolved.

Local taxi drivers, short of work in the tourism downturn caused by Bangkok violence and non-specific travel alerts, had been led to believe that US personnel were being charged 200 baht to ride in the passenger vans.

Sources told Phuketwan today that this was the cause of the misunderstanding. ''The sailors were as usual given the option of riding on the vans for free or of taking taxis and paying for them,'' one well-connected contact said today.

The matter was resolved by negotiation. But for two hours, senior US officers were forced to suspend the transfer of personnel from three US vessels to shore, and return trips of personnel from Patong.

The matter is unlikely to be raised at a senior level - a move that would highlight the problems associated with Phuket's lack of public transport and the exorbitant fares charged by tuk-tuks and taxis on the island.

However, Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob, who extended his term of office pre-retirement to October to help solve Phuket's public transport problems, is likely to take steps to ensure an incident of this kind does not happen again.

Phuket, a major international holiday destination, has a village-based transportation system that restricts open trade and fair pricing. Americans are not known to support that kind of system.

The USS Curts, the USS Vandegrift and the US Coast Guard cutter Mellon are the latest in a long line of US warships and other vessels that have contributed handsomely to Phuket's tourism revenue over the past two years.

phuketwan.com

**harrybarracuda** · 14-06-2010, 03:06 PM

It is a huge business and it would be a shame if we were to lose it because of the greed of a small group of taxi drivers,” he said.

I think he means "it would be a shame if we were to lose it because of the greed of a scumbag mafia boss".

**kingwilly** · 14-06-2010, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Part of the problem may have arisen because the new port manager had failed to notify the tuk-tuk drivers in advance of the change, the source said.

Bollocks, problem arose because of the corrupt scum.

They ought to send in the tanks on these bastards instead of the red protesters.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Chairat Khumban, secretary of Wichit Mayor Kreetar Saetan, said the blockade was ended after the drivers agreed with military, police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor.

US military caving in, not looking after their enlisted men. They bloody shame of it.

**Mr Earl** · 14-06-2010, 03:31 PM

Bad enough all these others factors are taking a bite out of tourism without these impossibly stupid fucksticks making it worse.
They should simply put these foking cvnts in jail.

**Bower** · 14-06-2010, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Chairat Khumban, secretary of Wichit Mayor Kreetar Saetan, said the blockade was ended after the drivers agreed with military, police and Wichit Municipality negotiators to go back to an old agreement allowing the local taxis access to low-ranking US military personnel while only officers could take advantage of the free van service provided by an outside contractor.

US military caving in, not looking after their enlisted men. They bloody shame of it.[/quote]

This is outragous, i hope it was just a one off to settle the dispute and the next shore leave for those guys is straight to another port.

**Ghandi** · 14-06-2010, 03:47 PM

Just when you thought Thai's were really stupid and poor business people, they allow this shit.

**kmart** · 14-06-2010, 03:50 PM

They ought to ferry them to Patong in fucking Hummers, smashing these taxi pond-life out of the way, en route.

**NLo** · 14-06-2010, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

WELCOME TO THAILAND: Mobile ATM units set up at the landing dock at Phuket Deep Sea Port await visiting US sailors. Tuk-tuk drivers waiting outside typically charge a minimum 2,000 baht for the trip to Patong.

Those mobile ATM will be ripping them off at 150Bt per head before they even get to the transport.

Can someone suggest to the US military to ask that Singaporean bank (aeon?) to supply them with portside ATMs They take a fee from the foreign bank anyway so assume it's a profitable service without adding THB to the withdrawal amount.

DaffyDuck · 14-06-2010, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Pink

Bad enough all these others factors are taking a bite out of tourism without these impossibly stupid fucksticks making it worse.
They should simply put these foking cvnts in jail.

Thailand just manages to keep doing it to itself, doesn't it?

No need for anti-government protesters, rioting in Bangkok, or airport seizures - whatever they didn't manage in terms of damaging tourist revenues, dumb ass taxi and tuk tuk drivers will do the rest with greed and strong-arm tactics.

I love Thailand.

Personally, that's why I don't go to Phuket, and you won't see me heading to Samui either.

**Panda** · 14-06-2010, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by kmart

They ought to ferry them to Patong in fucking Hummers, smashing these taxi pond-life out of the way, en route.

Umm.. I think they have got to declare war and invade the place before they are allowed to do that. Seems a bunch of horny sailors eager to get out and bonk the local whores is not quite justification for declaring war. Besides, there is SFA oil in Thailand.

**paranha** · 14-06-2010, 05:12 PM

Yep, stupid fcukwits.

A thai in a nutshell and tell volumes about their attitude against foreigners.

For me I'm off in october. I'm not looking back over my shoulder to the land of scams.

**Mr Earl** · 14-06-2010, 06:00 PM

Effective range 1800m

The solution:

**the dogcatcher** · 14-06-2010, 06:13 PM

Sorry, can't rent a motorbike. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't rent a car. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't use travel company transfer bus. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't use American government contracted vehicles. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry, can't walk. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't bring wife to Fooket. Must use prostitute from whom I get comission...................

**kingwilly** · 14-06-2010, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by the dogcatcher

Sorry, can't rent a motorbike. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't rent a car. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't use travel company transfer bus. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't use American government contracted vehicles. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry, can't walk. Must use tuk tuk.
Sorry can't bring wife to Fooket. Must use prostitute from whom I get comission...................

That about sums it up, I think.

**dirtydog** · 14-06-2010, 06:56 PM

we need some of the Phuket residents to start a "Boycott Phuket" thread, they got to keep it up till Phuket sorts out the taxi stuff and cnuts like jet ski jj vinai.

**zygote1** · 14-06-2010, 07:07 PM

The use of the transfer vehicles is intended for 2 reasons;
1. Security of US personnel.
2. Avoidance of potential conflicts.

Due to past events of personnel being waylaid or having disputes with local transport facilities, the USN pays for the service. I anticipate that the local USN reps will have paid a bribe to the local taxi thugs to buy some peace. In the meantime, I suggest the USN recoup the presumed bribe by requesting reimbursement for the materiel and labour that will be expended on local public projects. USN personnel usually volunteer cleaning and building orphanages and similar. This time around, withold the community service and tell the local government that the funds were diverted to their friends and relatives in the local organized crime syndicates. That should get some attention.

**Stinky** · 14-06-2010, 07:25 PM

Excellent stuff, I'm really pleased about this action and I hope they keep it up until the yanks have had enough and bugger off elsewhere for supplies and a bit of R&R.
Anything that permenantly hurts these bastards is fine by me. Stupid twats cant even see it happening.

**Bower** · 14-06-2010, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by zygote1

The use of the transfer vehicles is intended for 2 reasons;
1. Security of US personnel.
2. Avoidance of potential conflicts.

Due to past events of personnel being waylaid or having disputes with local transport facilities, the USN pays for the service. I anticipate that the local USN reps will have paid a bribe to the local taxi thugs to buy some peace. In the meantime, I suggest the USN recoup the presumed bribe by requesting reimbursement for the materiel and labour that will be expended on local public projects. USN personnel usually volunteer cleaning and building orphanages and similar. This time around, withold the community service and tell the local government that the funds were diverted to their friends and relatives in the local organized crime syndicates. That should get some attention.

Sound comments.

**Panda** · 14-06-2010, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Pink

Effective range 1800m

The solution:

How American. On par with the Thai mentality.

**slackula** · 14-06-2010, 08:43 PM

Phuket isn't generally as bad as it is portrayed, with the main exception of the tuk-tuk stuff.

The people I meet tend to be willing to shrug off the flooding, horrible roads, landslides, power cuts, tailors, sporadic internet and television connectivity, over priced hospitals, timeshare touts, land scams and other things but the tuk-tuk guys seem to be able to infuriate everybody.

It would be nice to see the authorities crack down on them, and I think something like that may be in the pipeline, but I won't hold my breath waiting for it..

**Muadib** · 14-06-2010, 08:44 PM

^^ Perhaps this one is more to your liking Panda... Ozzie sniper with a British sniper rifle...

Can you say, hypocrite...

**Muadib** · 14-06-2010, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by slackula

It would be nice to see the authorities crack down on them, and I think something like that may be in the pipeline, but I won't hold my breath waiting for it..

You know as well as me, that this will happen when pigs fly...

**Number 42** · 14-06-2010, 09:16 PM

Stopped going to Phuket ages ago..

**Stinky** · 14-06-2010, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Muadib

^^ Perhaps this one is more to your liking Panda... Ozzie sniper with a British sniper rifle...

Can you say, hypocrite...

I say, well played that man!

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