'Guns At The Ready' Over Phuket Jet-Ski Dispute

[webfact]

'Guns at the ready' over Phuket jet-ski dispute

Phuket Gazette

Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran expressed his concern that continuing conflict over jet-skis in Phuket may end in gunfire. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Bang Tao Jet-ski "Club" President Anusorn Saree called for no more new jet-skis being allowed anywhere in Phuket. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Officials in Phuket are stepping in to stave off a potentially lethal situation brewing over three unregistered jet-skis being rented out to tourists at Bang Tao Beach, on Phuket’s west coast.

Adding to the fury of the other jet-ski operators at the popular tourist beach, all of whom are members of the “Phuket Jet-ski Club”, is the claim that the new jet-skis for hire are run by a foreigner using a Thai as a front man.

“We need the relevant officials to solve this problem soon. I’m afraid that if we let them deal with this alone, it may get out of hand and could even come to a fight.

“I have even heard that guns are ‘being prepared’ if anything bad happens,” said Ma-ann Samran, president of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor).

Mr Ma-ann explained his concerns to a meeting of officials called together yesterday to stave off potentially serious conflict over the dispute.

“The three jet-skis have been in operation for three months now, but according to the Phuket Governor’s order, no more jet-skis are allowed to be operated in Phuket.

“The three jet-skis – which are believed to belong to a foreigner with a Thai local person in front – are not among the 286 registered to be operated in Phuket. It’s against the agreement that has already been set,” said Mr Ma-ann.

He added that there are 38 jet-skis currently in operation at Bang Tao Beach, run by 11 operators.

Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut explained that the three jet-skis are not among the 286 currently allowed.

The new number of 286 jet-skis now allowed to operate in Phuket accounts for the 219 previously allowed and 70 more being illegally operated and fostered into the system with no penalties levied against the lawbreakers.

Chief Phuripat added that the Marine Office fined the operators of the three jet-skis only last year because the machines were registered in Samut Prakarn province and offered for use only in the Gulf of Thailand.

“Officers from the Cherng Talay OrBorTor found out and informed the Marine Office,” he said.

“After that incident, the operator of the three jet skis applied to the Marine Office in Samut Prakan to be allowed to operate the three jet-skis in the Andaman. However, I sent a letter to the director-general asking that the request be denied in order to support Phuket’s policy of no more new jet-skis.

“The Marine Department Director-General, Thawanrath Onsira, supported my request and the application to allow the jet-skis to operate in Phuket was denied,” he explained.

Chief Phuripat added that the proposal to allow rental jet-skis be registered under a special category in Phuket – so they can be included in a special insurance scheme – was also now with the director-for consideration.

He also said that operators have asked the Marine Office to be able to rent skis at more locations in Phuket, including a new rental operation at Koh Maphrao and even more jet-skis in Patong.

But at the meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, Anusorn Salae, president of the Bang Tao Jet-ski Club, asked that no more jet-skis be allowed to operate anywhere in Phuket.

“It will only lead to trouble in the future,” he said.

“If jet-skis were banned in Phuket at the beginning, there would be none in Phuket now. But we already have them, so we should have them controlled,” said Mr Anusorn.

Chief Phuripat said he would consider Mr Anusorn’s request.

At the end of the meeting, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer Chaiwat Taephee asked officials in all the relevant agencies to arrange meetings with involved parties (including the Cherng Talay Police, Tha Chat Chai Police and the Phuket Marine officers) to further discuss how to manage the recurring problems in controlling the ever-increasing number of jet-skis.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12135.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-01-28

[fiddlehead]

Saw one at Rawai beach this morning. (looked brand new)

Looked like they were getting ready to put it in the water there.

Didn't stick around to make sure.

I hope not.

[thaiIand]

farang is probably from an foreign mafia if he's still around.. hopefully he teaches some thai rats how real mafias work when this goes sour.

[Jimi007]

The new number of 286 jet-skis now allowed to operate in Phuket accounts for the 219 previously allowed and 70 more being illegally operated and fostered into the system with no penalties levied against the lawbreakers.

But at the meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, Anusorn Salae, president of the Bang Tao Jet-ski Club, asked that no more jet-skis be allowed to operate anywhere in Phuket.

“It will only lead to trouble in the future,” he said.

“If jet-skis were banned in Phuket at the beginning, there would be none in Phuket now. But we already have them, so we should have them controlled,” said Mr Anusorn.

The logic used here is unbelievable! 70 more were allowed to illegally operate, but now the "Club" calls for them to be controlled. I seem to remember reading years ago that they were all to be banned. So, just ban them all now!

Edited January 28, 2012 by Jimi007

[alstaxi]

We don't need any honest jet ski rental outfits stealing our potential victims from us, closed shop. The scam will never end.

[gmac]

Big fuss being made by officials because no proper licences but what action about the scams by the holders of licences? Presumably it is a licence to scam rather than a licence to operate a jet ski.

[NamKangMan]

Is there no end to the "protectionism and greed" to every industry on this island?

It's obviously too much to ask for to have a legitimate jet ski rental business to exist on the island. The jet ski businesses that scam and extort will not alow it to happen.

So, does Phuket have a free market economy or is it under a criminal regime? Sadly, we all know the answer.

Eventually, how are they going to market this place to the rest of the world. It's becoming a basket case.

More bullets flying and "suicides" soon.

Edited January 28, 2012 by NamKangMan

[bendejo]

Saw one at Rawai beach this morning. (looked brand new)

Looked like they were getting ready to put it in the water there.

Didn't stick around to make sure.

I hope not.

You damaged it just by looking at it.

You pay now!

[renaissanc]

If the foreigner owning the jet skis does not belong to a mafia group, now would be the time to join one for his own protection.

[FOODLOVER]

Sounds like a job for Super Chuwit

[thaiorchidsource]

I wonder if the guns mentioned are legally registered. If not, the does two wrongs mean a right?! I do hope the gunnies have practiced their skills and the possibility of two jet skii operators ceasing to operate would be welcome to all of the tourists they would have made as victims. Just a thought.

[pepi2005]

They should shut them all down. My opinion.

[NanLaew]

Of course it has to be an evil foreigner with a whole THREE jetski's that is being lined up as the scapegoat for the locals shooting up the house. Otherwise the local Thai jetski operators can carry on ripping off the tourists by renting out the other 286 units that are owned by the police anyway.

[minikev]

The new number of 286 jet-skis now allowed to operate in Phuket accounts for the 219 previously allowed and 70 more being illegally operated and fostered into the system with no penalties levied against the lawbreakers.

Presuming the illegal 70 that are allowed to operate won't be included in the (special insurance scheme)

[Asianrider]

in Pattaya & Phuket ban all jet-ski's whether thai or farang owned..

[JulesMad]

Best and most peacefull solution: BAN all jet skis from Thailand!

This solves it once and for all No more (jet ski) mafia, no more accidents, peace and quiet on the beach, no rip-offs, no scams, and probably some more advantages...

Yes, I know this is wishfull thinking, as TIT

[phuketrichard]

More Russian Mafia Money??

Have u all been down Soi Bangla recently? Russian go go bars. Russian dancers/ Russians passing out fliers for their club on the road and in other bars

NO POLICE interference!!

[thaiIand]

banning jetskis is a bad idea, banning jetskis for commercial use thats different.

If jetskis mafias did not exist or if i lived in phangna or somewhere far from them, id buy myself one and have lots of fun every day

[RichardSlack]

just let em shoot each other. cheap pest control.

[moe666]

Who cares I wouldn't visit this dump with or without jet-skies. I have never visited a beach side town anywhere that I would want to go back too, they all attract the worst kind of people.

Edited January 28, 2012 by moe666

[farang000999]

Can you imagine replacing the word Phuket with Zurich or Miami or Honolou or Sydney or Tokyo? What a third world country this can be at times. It is 2012.

[Briggsy]

The foreign owner is reportedly "Big" Chong Hung. He has heavy connections in both Hong Kong and the Sino-Thai community. He cannot be touched.

[conimex]

Hand out guns to all those operators, let them kill each other ! Problem solved !

[newsweird]

Seriously, I think the Thai Gov needs to rethink their position and look carefully at their own exports. Forces are in motion to halt, disrupt, seize up to 54% of it for violations of Trade agreements. Denying yet another foreign business owner will add more neg. to the Thai lopsided Trade. PM should simply have signs at the aitport telling foreigners to drop their wallets and ATM cards "with PIN" in the box and get back on the plane.

[FOODLOVER]

The foreign owner is reportedly "Big" Chong Hung. He has heavy connections in both Hong Kong and the Sino-Thai community. He cannot be touched.

His local nemesis "Long" Duck Dong is apparently quite violent as well.

[steelepulse]

Saw one at Rawai beach this morning. (looked brand new)

Looked like they were getting ready to put it in the water there.

Didn't stick around to make sure.

I hope not.

I did see a new jet ski on a trailer coming from Rawai towards Chalong. He then pulled into the same petrol station 15 minutes later and indeed it was an expat.

[chooka]

Best and most peacefull solution: BAN all jet skis from Thailand!

This solves it once and for all No more (jet ski) mafia, no more accidents, peace and quiet on the beach, no rip-offs, no scams, and probably some more advantages...

Yes, I know this is wishfull thinking, as TIT

1 jetski X1 scam per day = 30,000 baht

286 Jetski's X1 scam per day = 8,580,000 baht

20% cut for BIB = 1,716,000 baht (51,480,000 baht per month) Nope there is no way on this earth that they will be banned.

[NanLaew]

The foreign owner is reportedly "Big" Chong Hung. He has heavy connections in both Hong Kong and the Sino-Thai community. He cannot be touched.

His local nemesis "Long" Duck Dong is apparently quite violent as well.

And there's always that spoiler, the new kid on the block, "Heavy" Wun Hung Lo

[KarenBravo]

Deleted.

Edited January 28, 2012 by KarenBravo

[blackthorn2005]

for " “Phuket Jet-ski Club”" read mafia. Forget the new insurance scheme, these crooks who operate jetskis on Patong Beach completely abused the last scheme. There is only one solution, get rid of them. They are destroying the image of Thailand and it's people. Kill em' al, let god sort them out!