Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident

[Carrerakiss 441]

Every country should make it law, for travel agents selling any country with repeated scams.to advise the traveller of the risks and not to get involved in certain kinds of activities, i know every country has a page warning about this and that,but truthfully, not many tourists look at them.

Yep, from the Australian Government travel website http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

"Australian travellers continue to report harassment and threats of violence by jet ski operators on beaches across Thailand, and particularly in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan."

The warning is there, just need to get people back home to read it before travelling.

Nobody is going to read that. They should give out leaflets to every passenger on every flight to Thailand.

[geovalin 1,378]

Larry Cuningham has a spine, unlike the Australian Embassy in Bangkok which are pathetic and run by Thais that side with Thais when there is ever an issue.

M Cuningham is an honorary consul, not a Australian civil servant / diplomat. He's not protected by any law. I'm afraid his visa will not be renewed.

[laurentbkk 2,782]

Will we see some BOYCOTT PHUKET as we saw some Boycott Sochi ? I have to congratulate the Hon Con in this mater. Could be an example for the other consuls on the island. Anyway the threat from this lady is absolutely amazing .

[oneday 3,897]

I'd consider that text a thinly veiled threat.

Just goes to show the system is rotten all the way to the core.

Sorry, have to disagree. It wasn't even veiled.

He is pushing his luck. Having a business there and being critical of the Mafia. Accidents happen here!

So, so true, but you must applaud him for his bravery in trying to do something.

Stop going to Phuket. Everybody should know this is the status quo.

A consular person being threatened by local government officials. Insane.

Well as far as I'm concerned this article makes it clear the collusion goes all the way to the top of the Phuket government and probably beyond. If anyone thinks the Governor was going to pay the difference then I have a bridge for sale. That was pure BS to make him look good and look as if he is doing something positive when in fact he is in on the whole racket. The police were doing nothing short of creating leverage by keeping this boy's passport to extort as much money as possible from this unfortunate individual. They didn't do it so the operator would be paid fair compensation, but so the operator could extract maximum value and for the police to get their share of the loot.

[rct99q 792]

But it still seems good old Larry was "Relatively Happy" with the outcome. No problems then.

[chooka 16,038]

He is pushing his luck. Having a business there and being critical of the Mafia. Accidents happen here!

Who would be surprised to hear he commits suicide? Good on Larry for speaking out but if I was him I would be getting out of the country quick smart now.

Edited August 31, 2013 by chooka

[DaBloodyMess 42]

Will we see some BOYCOTT PHUKET as we saw some Boycott Sochi ? I have to congratulate the Hon Con in this mater. Could be an example for the other consuls on the island. Anyway the threat from this lady is absolutely amazing .

It actually wouldn't be too hard for someone with the technical know how to have an Anti-Phuket webpage rank very highly on a google search using some simple SEO techniques. I don't feel the need to personally dissuade people from going, but a boycott campaign will really hit them where it hurts. I am actually surprised it hasn't been done already, given the amount of people who get ripped off there.

Edited August 31, 2013 by DaBloodyMess

[pgrin 30]

After 5 years living in Phuket I left in 2009. I will never go back. I watched this once awesome place spiral into a s::t hole. After many unpleasant experiences my Thai wife and I were threatened with a machete at 8 o'clock at night on Patak Road in Karon. Our offense? Parking our motorbike on the street next to where Somchai Jackoffaporn decided to set up a roadside bar on the public sidewalk. We left, went home and decided enough was enough and left Phuket for good. I use to snorkel around Kata Noi in the clearest, bluest water, now you have the joy of swimming in raw sewage. I was snorkeling in the roped off area in the south end of Karon beach when a local dude motored right over the no boating rope and nearly ran me over. He pointed a spear gun at me. The locals don't even bother with the pretend smile anymore. You get greeted rudely at the airport, get ripped off by ground transport and this is the highlight of your visit. There are thousands of other beach resorts around the world and we are taking our time to see as many as possible.

[eezergood 1,555]

Will we see some BOYCOTT PHUKET as we saw some Boycott Sochi ? I have to congratulate the Hon Con in this mater. Could be an example for the other consuls on the island. Anyway the threat from this lady is absolutely amazing .

It actually wouldn't be too hard for someone with the technical know how to have an Anti-Phuket webpage rank very highly on a google search using some simple SEO techniques. I don't feel the need to personally dissuade people from going, but a boycott campaign will really hit them where it hurts. I am actually surprised it hasn't been done already, given the amount of people who get ripped off there.

Tell me how to do it, I will pay for it!

[edwinchester 8,075]

I don't know the Hon Consul concerned, but if he has lived and done business in Thailand as long as he has, he should know that by telling the Thai authorities what to do about jet ski practices, he is on a slippery slope to a sticky end.

Instead of telling Thais what to do, he should focus on his duties of telling Assuies what not to do....renting jet skis being front and centre. That is his job, on an honorary basis anyway.

One of his principle tasks is to liase with Thai authorities and bring to their attention problems if and when they occur. Simply put he was very focussed on his duties and I wish there were many more like him.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Larry001 330]

The land of smiles!!!!

[mikebell 13,261]

Stop going to Phuket. Everybody should know this is the status quo.

A consular person being threatened by local government officials. Insane.

Agreed. I will never set foot there again and I advise anyone I know against it. Once the Thais have killed (and eaten) the goose that lays the golden egg, things will get better.

I agree with other posters most diplomats are too diplomatic to look after the own nationals in the face of such blatant corruption/intimidation.

All embassies should grow a pair & tell their Thai hosts what to do with their Thainess.

[marell 292]

The actions of the Governors office seem to suggest that the office is at the least indirectly involved in the jet ski scam.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Mafia-type setups are like any pyramid scheme. Everybody sends money up and everyone gets their portion of the take along the way. Money moves up and patronage flows down. The very top may only end up with a small percentage but the volume makes up for it. From the sound of things the top is becoming concerned about at least one aspect of the pyramid's integrity and is lashing out against 'external' threats. It will be interesting to see if they look for assistance from 'higher' levels. Mr Cunningham's committment is admirable but a phone call to the Australian embassy from the right office and he's history.

Edited August 31, 2013 by marell

[GeorgeO 2,913]

I'd consider that text a thinly veiled threat.

Just goes to show the system is rotten all the way to the core.

Nobody who has read this article should have any further question about how the system works in Thailand.

It's right there in a black and white nutshell. - kneel to the phuyai, blame the accuser.

...and the simple answer to all of this is that all governments should issue warnings to travelers not to rent jet skis in Thailand...!

[robblok 39,670]

Wow, your Australians really got someone to look out for you. Great guy with a spine and good that he send those messages up. Also great that he got it in the paper. Hope these things get picked up in Australia too and I hope it impacts Phuket. I am pleasantly suprised by this hopefully the official ambassadors will get more tough following his lead. If other countries follow suit and embarrass the Thais more things might change. The Chinese also seem to have a lot of influence.