To prevent more violent reactions by taxi queue drivers in Kamala, discussions led by Phuket officials last week tabled having 15 locations designated as pick-up and drop-off points for passengers using “other transport services”.
At the meeting, held at Kamala Police Station, local taxi operators vowed to the Kathu District Chief they would not cause any violent incidents to affect the image of Phuket tourism again, claimed a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).
Present at the discussions were Kathu District Chief Siwat Rawangkul, the Kamala Police Chief, Phuket Tourist Police officers, officials from the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), Kamala Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) Deputy President Jaroon Kobkoi and an assortment of Kamala taxi operators.
The meeting resolved five key points “by agreement”, said the PR Phuket report.
First, the taxi operators are to acknowledge the results
of the action of the relevant government agencies if they cause disturbances in their occupation, such as being prosecuted according to relevant laws, said the report.
That included the need to order the revocation, seizure or suspension of a public transport vehicle or driving license, and the need to send any drivers for “training”, if required, the report added.
Second, the taxi operators are also to recognise the
decisions made by the PLTO in case an app is not operating within the confines of the law. “The Department of Land Transport has requested cooperation from the Ministry of Digital Affairs to deal with apps that violate the relevant laws,” the report noted.
Third, while waiting for police action on any incident, the PLTO is to investigate and strictly enforce the law regarding the violation of any laws involving public taxis. This
Raids on pubs, bars fail to find evidence of sex, drugs
A SERIES OF RAIDS on pubs and bars in Phuket Town accused of operating as brothels and venues for the sale of drugs found no breaches of any laws that officials brought action against.
The raids on six popular venues in Phuket Town last Friday night (Oct 7) were carried out on by a contingent of no less than 20 officers from 9pm to 10:30pm, said a report by the Muang District Office.
The report named a long list of officials involved in ordering and carrying out the raids, including that the raids came under the direction of Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, and consequently by Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Somprat Prabsongkram, Muang District Chief Suwit Suriyawong and Wichet Suyanan, a “Deputy District Officer” also from the Muang District Office.
The raids were led by Deputy District Security
Officer Danai Jaikeng joined by police officers commanded by Phuket Town Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Chatchai Chunu, said the report.
Also bolstering the ranks of the raiding party were Territorial Defense personnel (OrSor) attached to the Muang District Office.
The six pubs and bars raided were named as Ploenchit, Sound Up, At Five, Cosmos, Ther and The
Column.
The raids were instigated by a complaint posted on popular Thai-language social media page that accused some of the venues of operating as brothels with drugs sold on the premises, notably in the bathrooms, said the report.
However, according to the report, the officers found no evidence supporting the accusations.
Eakkapop Thongtub
“so that serious incidents will not affect them, and which will definitely affect the image of tourism again”, the report said.
The fifth, and most important point, was, “If all operators comply with the terms of the agreement successfully, the relevant government agencies will expedite the determination of 15 designated pick-up and drop-off points in Kamala in accordance with the relevant laws.”
The report did not elaborate on exactly who will be determining where the 15 “pick-up, drop-off points”, called “taxi ranks” anywhere else in the world, will be located.
is to be done “by allowing operators to help by being the eyes and ears” of officials, the PR Phuket report said.
The breaking of any laws regarding taxis and their drivers will result in prosecution, the report assured.
Fourth, there are to be no more incidents involving violence, “as shown in the news”, the report continued. All operators involved must discuss concerns and come to an agreement within the group
The report also did not make it clear exactly which taxi drivers will be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers at the 15 locations.
Also of key importance, despite some reports claiming that the result of the meeting being a certainty, the fifth point literally began with the word “If”.
The issues covered at the meeting saw officials maintaining their focus on taxi apps operating illegally following an incident in Kamala on the Saturday night of Oct 1.
A woman taxi-app driver was accosted and had her car damaged by a taxi queue driver in front of Cafe del Mar. The wowoman had picked up the order to pick up the passenger through the JustGrab app.
As of June 13 this year, JustGrab (operated by GrabTaxi), is allowed to pick up and drop off passengers in only two areas: 1) Phuket Town, 2) Patong-Karon.
Without reasons explained, JustGrab drivers in Phuket are no longer allowed to pick up or drop off passengers anywhere outside of the two zones.
Of note, the JustGrab driver involved in the incident in Kamala was fined B2,000 and had her driver’s licence suspended for 30 days for her part in the “altercation” ‒ that is, for turning up in front of Cafe del Mar to pick up a passenger.
The taxi-queue driver who damaged her car "agreed" to pay B5,000 in damages to her vehicle, and also had his licence suspended for 30 days.
However, the taxi-queue driver, unlike the JustGrab driver, suffered no financial penalty for his violent behaviour in the incident.
Photo: Kathu District Office
Photo: Muang District Office
Chinese anglers safely ashore
Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th
Four Chinese businessmen on a fishing trip in a small boat south of Phuket were safely recovered and brought back to the island last week after their boat suffered engine failure overnight.
According to a report by state news agency NBT, the four Chinese men were reunited with family members in Phuket at 7am on Oct 5.
The four men chartered a small boat on the morning of Oct 4 to go fishing at Racha Noi Island, south of Phuket, said the report.
The men had failed to return to Phuket by 9pm, prompting concerned family members to report the failure to make contact with the boat to the Phuket Marine Office.
The last known position of the boat was reported to be behind Green Island, between Maiton Island and Phi Phi Lei Island.
Other boats in the area were alerted to be on the lookout for the boat, and
the Andaman Maritime Safety and Traffic Control Center (CSCA) took command of the mission to find the missing boat, said the report.
Passing ship ‘Adriatic Energy’ reported locating the boat at 1am on
Oct 5, resulting in Navy boat T233 of the Third Area Naval Command based at Cape Panwa being dispatched to render assistance and bring the boat and the people on board safely back to Phuket.
No official reports of the rescue clarified whether or not the Chinese businessmen were tourists.
Present to welcome the four back on land were Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and a host of other very important officers and representatives from related agencies.
The rescue came as officials noted that the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) was maintaining its heavy weather warning for the southern Andaman coast, with 70% of the area expected to experience passing thunderstorms during the period.
Waves in Phang Nga waters at the time were forecast to average one to two metres high, and average about one metre high closer to Phuket.
The official reports, local and national, made no mention of any action against the small fishing boat operator for ignoring the TMD weather advisory’s call for all small boats to stay ashore during the spate of heavy weather.
The advisory had been in effect for more than a week.
Jewellery thief arrested at Rawai shooting range
A MAN WHO STOLE
B270,000 in jewellery from a friend’s house in Wichit last month has been arrested at a Phuket shooting range in Rawai.
The suspect, named only as “Mr Sathit” (family name not reported), was arrested on Oct 6, said a report by the Wichit Police.
The report noted that Likit Waothong, a resident of Saphan Hin, technically Moo 6, Wichit, reported the thefts to Wichit Police at about 11:10pm on Sept 18.
A burglar had somehow entered the house and stolen a gold necklace, two gold rings and a bracelet altogether valued at about B270,000 from inside their home.
It was only at about 6pm that day that Mr Likit realised that the items had been
stolen, said the report.
An investigation led officers to identify Sathit as the thief and a warrant for his arrest (Jor. 568/2565) was issued on Oct 5, said the report.
Officers tracked down and arrested Sathit at the Phuket Shooting Range in Rawai at about 1pm the next day (Oct 6), the report said. Sathit was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with burglary. According to the police report, Sathit admitted to stealing the items.
He told police that he had offloaded the stolen items for spending money, to travel around and to pay off debts, said the report.
Police did not confirm how much money or whether any of the stolen items had been recovered.
Eakkapop Thongtub
The four Chinese businessmen were brought ashore the next day. Photo: NBT
Officers arrest Sathit at a shooting range in Rawai. Photo: Wichit Police
Veg Fest draws to a close with a blaze of fireworks
Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th
Thousands of people lined the streets of Phuket Town and took part in the final mass ceremony of Phuket Vegetarian Festival involving street processions with the ‘Farewell Ritual’ at Saphan Hin on Oct 4.
More than 30 Chinese shrines taking part in the festival joined the auspicious occasion, officially called the last day of the nine-day festival.
Mah Song spirit mediums and devotees paraded images of the Nine Emperor Gods along the streets amid a cacophony of fireworks to drive away evil spirits and bad luck, shrouding the onlooking crowds with smoke.
The mass rituals at Saphan Hin to call the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to return to the heavens with bonfires of notes of prayers and blessings concluded with a blaze of fireworks, with heavy downpours not dampening the spirits of those taking part.
The festival concluded with the lowering of Go Teng poles late the next afternoon (Oct 5). The poles are raised at the beginning of the festival so the Nine Emperor Gods may descend to Earth, and lowered at the conclusion of the festival to mark they have returned to the heavens.
The ceremonies to lower the poles
were held at all Chinese shrines taking part in the festival, starting at 4pm.
Traditionally, the poles are lowered at sunset, marking the final conclusion of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
The conclusion to this year’s festival came after nine days of festivities, including fire walking and other ablutions ceremonies, as well as processions through the heart of Phuket Town with thousands of people lining the streets undaunted by sporadic heavy downpours.
TOURISM BOOST
Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, Chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, said at a press conference staged by Phuket officials at Jui Tui shrine before the festival began said an estimated 100,000
Thais and about 80,000 foreigners were expected to join the festival over the nine days, from Sept 26-Oct 4.
In total 900 domestic flights and over 500 international flights will arrive during that time, she said.
The festival was estimated to help generate B3.4 billion for the island economy, Ms Nanthasiri predicted.
At the press conference, the Phuket Tourist Association, the Phuket chapter of the Thai Federation of Industries, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew presented a united front in promoting this year’s festival.
Governor Narong specifically welcomed the move for the TCEB to provide its support for the annual event.
Teens tracked down, arrested for stealing temple donations
POLICE HAVE TRACKED down and arrested two local youngsters after they stole a donation box from Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai) in Chalong last Saturday (Oct 8).
According to a police report, Chalong Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Kanaen Somrak was notified of the theft from the temple, on Chao Fa East Rd, at 2:50pm.
Through CCTV footage from the area, police identified the culprits leaving the scene on a red Honda Wave motorcycle with Nakhon Si Thammarat license plates.
The two young men were sitting on the motorcycle with the donation cloth placed between. The box, covered with white cloth, was clearly visible on the footage.
The suspects were tracked to Soi Yodsanae, where officers placed them under arrest at 3:40pm.
Governor Narong hosts Indonesian delegation
OFFICIALS WELCOMED
the Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia, Songkhla Province, to Phuket last week as part of a meeting to promote and discuss good relations
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew met Suargana Pringganu and his delegation at the Governor’s Lounge at Phuket Provincial Hall on Oct 3, the first time the officials had met in person.
During the meeting they discussed a range of issues including immigration and the assistance provided by Phuket Province to Indonesian nationals based here, particularly during religious fasting periods and the COVID-19 pandemic, for which Mr Pringganu expressed his sincere thanks.
Phuket’s aspirations to host the World Specialised Expo 2028 was another topic discussed, something Mr Pringganu said he gladly supports and would willingly condone in reports back to his home country Indonesia in efforts to garner further support.
Joining the meeting were Kanathip Sukcharoen, Head of Phuket Provincial Office; Krishna Tipayachan, Commander of Phuket Prison; Padungsak Kalamik, Director of Phuket Provincial Justice Office; Pol Lt Col Kanisorn Ti Rakarn, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Provincial Immigration; and Samerjit Limlikit, Head of the Phuket Temporary Passport Office.
The Phuket News
Mr Tong and Mr Folk were taken to Chalong Police Station for legal processing, the report added.
Officers also contacted
The suspects were named in the report as Mr Tong (17 years old) and Mr Folk (16 years old). Real names of the duo were withheld due to their age. Both confessed to the theft, police said.
their parents and invited them to the station as both suspects are considered juveniles by law.
The stolen donation box contained B560 in cash, police added.
Eakkapop Thongtub
Two teenagers stole a donation box from Wat Tai last Saturday (Oct 8). The culprits were arrested in less than an hour and a half. Image: Chalong Police
Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub
Photo: PR Phuket
Country grieves after massacre
The mass shooting at a nursery in Nong Bua Lam Phu last Thursday (Oct 6) has prompted an urgent review of the country’s policy on firearms possession for current and former police officers, national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said on Saturday (Oct 8).
The Royal Thai Police will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Interior and other organisations involved in the registration of firearms, Pol Gen Damrongsak said.
Armed with a shotgun, a pistol and a knife, former police officer Panya Khamrab stormed the child development centre in the northeastern province at about 12:10pm to carry out his attack, leaving 36 dead and another 10 injured.
Police confirmed there were 24 children among the dead, aged two to three years old.
Following the attack, 34-year-old Panya fled the scene in a vehicle. On arriving home he murdered his wife and son before taking his own life, police said, ending the rampage at about 3pm.
A preliminary investigation showed the gunman was in and out of the nursery within four minutes, suggesting he had already mapped out the location and selected it earlier, according to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol.
Police were alerted by the time he left the premises but the nearest station is located 15 kilometres away, he said,
adding officers still managed to arrive at the crime scene within roughly 10 minutes of being dispatched.
Pol Gen Torsak also cited a study by the FBI while attempting to analyse why the killer carried out the attack. Three main factors were identified in the US study.
The “inside factor” could be a psychological problem, vulnerability and substance-
induced psychosis, while the “outside” factor may include family, social and economic pressure, Pol Gen Torsak said, referring to the first two factors.
The third factor refers to a situation that could provoke the attacker’s impromptu violent response to it, he added.
The mother of the gunman confirmed her son was a methamphetamine addict
who had gone to court on the morning of Oct 6 to attend a hearing on a drug case. He had been booted out of the police force on June 15 for possession of methamphetamine pills in January.
After leaving the court, he appeared stressed out, took some narcotics and started to feel paranoid, Pol Gen Torsak quoted the mother as saying. The woman said her son then grabbed his gun and headed to the child development centre.
Apologising to all those affected by her son’s attacks, the woman said he had been under a great deal of stress since he lost his job and was incapable of repaying his debts.
‘SHARED
GRIEF’
On Sunday, saffron-robed monks led prayers for the dead on a second day of ritual mourning at a temple close to the nursery.
Earlier, families wept as they knelt outside the nursery in a ceremony to help release their children’s souls.
Some clutched their children’s portraits, beloved toys and favourite food, which they placed outside the compound as offerings.
Officials solemnly carried
children’s treasured possessions out of the nursery to return to families – favourite blankets and much-loved toys, each carefully placed in nametagged bags.
His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn met survivors and relatives at a hospital late on Friday, saying he “shared the grief” of the families and pledging to support them.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, adding that he had instructed the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to step up its compensation payments to them.
Prayut, who joined prayers Sunday evening, has also ordered a swift investigation and police have said they expect to interview about 180 witnesses in the coming days.
The deadly rampage was Thailand’s worst mass shooting since a soldier opened fire at the Terminal 21 shopping mall and other locations in Nakhon Ratchasima on Feb 8, 2020.
In the 2020 massacre, the gunman killed 29 people and wounded 58 others before being shot dead.
A woman leaves an offering for the victims of the mass shooting and knife attack outside the nursery in Nong Bua Lam Phu on Sunday (Oct 9). Photo: AFP
Bangkok Post
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‘Ticket to Paradise’ putting fun back into cinema
Comedy seems to be a strange genre of cinema these days. In the past the comedy films that were released seemed very different to the films we have reaching screens today. Back then filmmakers were okay making outrageous comedies or comedies that had heart. These days it feels like most filmmakers try to make their comedies ‘different’ or ‘alternative’ and a lot of the time those films barely make the audience raise a smile yet alone a laugh… and as for heart, well forget it – that seems to be a foreign concept.
That is where the new film from director Ol Parker (Mamma Mia Here We Go Again) comes into the picture. Ticket to Paradise is almost a call back to those good old days of comedy. A film where you can’t but feel yourself caring about the characters at hand and having a good laugh along the way.
Filmed mostly in Australia, Ticket to Paradise sees divorced couple, David (George Clooney – Up in the Air) and Georgia (Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman), who are constantly telling people around them how much that hate each other having to work together when their daughter, Lily (Kaitlyn Dever – Dear Evan Hansen), goes to Bali, falls in love and decides to get married straight away.
find themselves thoroughly enjoying.
Upon arrival in Bali David and Georgia discover that Gede (Maxime Bouttier – Meet Me After Sunset) is actually a pretty nice guy and that Lily’s best friend Wren (Billie Lourd –Booksmart) is pointing out that Lily is the happiest she has ever been. Still the former couple are determined that they are going to put a stop to this marriage one way or another.
The plot itself sounds very simple, and that is the first thing that seems to work in favour of the film. Ol Parker had a point and a moral that he wanted to tell with the film and he didn’t go too far out of the way to get that across to his audience. There were no confusing metaphors or hidden meanings that will leave people scratching their head or having to search online for explanations after the film. No, this was just a good old-fashioned film that most people will
To his credit Parker delivers a fully rounded screenplay to the audience that seems to have all bases covered without falling into too many Hollywood cliches. While David and Georgia are pretty much the villains of the piece, Parker has written them in such a way that they are likable villains, even to the point where most audience members may realise that they become their favourite characters despite what they are doing on screen. A lot of writers would have perhaps written Georgia as an almost Wicked Witch type of character, but here Parker presents her to the audience as a character who feels scorned, can’t stand her ex but has enough redeemable features to make her completely likable, and more perhaps even more important relatable, to the audience.
It is the fact that most audience members will find themselves being able to understand all of the character’s motivations that will make them ultimately feel closer to the characters themselves… which in turn makes you actually care what happens to them in the end. It seems like a crazy concept these days, but it is nearly impossible to make a good film if the audience doesn’t feel like they can feel any emotion towards the characters at hand. Yes, there are times in this film that
are completely predictable, and I would be lying if I didn’t say that I picked the ending a mile off, but what is most important here is just how enjoyable the journey to get to that ending is.
The comedy in this film works as well. There are the outrageous scenes, like the dolphin scene shown in the trailer, but for the most part the comedy comes from witty dialogue that kept raising chuckles throughout the film. What also came to the fore for this film was the acting. Clooney and Roberts are on fire like the seasoned veterans they are throughout the film and the younger cast also rise to the occasion. Kaitlyn Dever once again shows why she is one of the most exciting young actresses in Hollywood at the moment while Maxime Bouttier does more than enough to suggest that he is a star on the rise.
Ultimately Ticket To Paradise is an enjoyable comedy with heart and likable characters. Queensland comes up a treat on screen and the beautiful surroundings lends itself nicely to the heartfelt story. This is a film that is a lot better than many will give it credit for.
Ticket To Paradise is currently screening in Phuket and is rated ‘13’. 3.5/5 Stars
David Griffiths
George Clooney and Julia Roberts in ‘Ticket to Paradise’ (2022). Image: IMDb
