Thailand News

Nicke · #1 08-08-2005, 14:25

What I have heard it was a big fight outside Ocean bangla between "new green vests" and "old green vests" motorbike taxi driver teams about customer terrority last night. I heard one guy was killed and another guy died later at hospital.

Mav · #2 08-08-2005, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

What I have heard it was a big fight outside Ocean bangla between "new green vests" and "old green vests" taxi driver teams about customer terrority last night. I heard one guy was killed and another guy died later at hospital.

What....another shooting/murder x 2.....Phuket is getting like the old Wild Wild West

Nicke · #3 08-08-2005, 15:03

Yes, I agree with you. I hesitated if I should write that story or not, as there have been enough of bad news lately and it may look like the old wild west.

marc26 · #4 08-08-2005, 15:06

Ive only been i Samui for 3 days and i cant really say it for sure, but i the feeling i get is you dont have that bulshit as much down here. i could be wrong, but all i know is i am always on the defensive when i am in phuket

Sirgezza · #5 08-08-2005, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

Yes, I agree with you. I hesitated if I should write that story or not, as there have been enough of bad news lately and it may look like the old wild west.

I'm glad that you have posted it. I don't think it will put any board members off visiting Phuket, but it is useful to know what goes on as we do not want to be caught up in the crossfire.

Nicke · #6 08-08-2005, 15:24

As a tourist you barely noticed these things, you have to live at Samui or Phuket for a while to really learn and know the place.

As for Samui, one of my friends had a bar there, he was attacked from the back by two guys and lost one eye and hearing on one ear. It happened maybe 4 months ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

Ive only been i Samui for 3 days and i cant really say it for sure, but i the feeling i get is you dont have that bulshit as much down here. i could be wrong, but all i know is i am always on the defensive when i am in phuket

marc26 · #7 08-08-2005, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

As a tourist you barely noticed these things, you have to live at Samui or Phuket for a while to really learn and know the place.

As for Samui, one of my friends had a bar there, he was attacked from the back by two guys and lost one eye and hearing on one ear. It happened maybe 4 months ago.

yeah, like i said, i could be clueless about that, just seems like it to me. but it is thailand, and im sure its the same everywhere

Mav · #8 08-08-2005, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

I'm glad that you have posted it. I don't think it will put any board members off visiting Phuket, but it is useful to know what goes on as we do not want to be caught up in the crossfire.

Agree....think it's good to post these things, so that BM's can be aware that we need to take care when in LOS or in any foreign country for that matter.

Hopefully this will be the last incident for a while Nicke, and things can settle down.

Devman · #9 08-08-2005, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

Yes, I agree with you. I hesitated if I should write that story or not, as there have been enough of bad news lately and it may look like the old wild west.

It could be suggested that a bit of desperation among the locals has risen to the surface; particularly when their lively-hood is under threat stemming from a decline in tourism since the tsunami.

Nicke · #10 08-08-2005, 16:39

Just a side note, the difference here and the west is that the violence here is almost never unprovocated and for normal tourists it is very safe here unless you seek or cause trouble.

stevem · #11 08-08-2005, 19:34

I have had the feeling for awhile now, that there is trouble brewing in all the different transport modes, and it will erupt sooner or later.

I havent heard anything about this incident last night, but will check with sources and get back.

LivinLOS · #12 08-08-2005, 20:11

Heard nothing so far.. If I go out tonight (doubtfull but see) I know a top boy in the Tuk Tuk scene who would know the story..

I also agree that crime and violence tends to come around when economic pressures mount.. This year is looking like a heavy one !!!

As to Samui I would think its worse than Phuket (until this year).. The 'Islands' tend to have been more lawless and mafia riddled..

stevem · #13 09-08-2005, 00:35

There was an incident in front of Rock Hard last night at about 7pm. The blue shirts (Ocean) at this time move up to near the green shirts (Rock Hard), as Bangla is closed.

Apparently a Thai lady approach a blue shirt and asked to be taken somewhere. Then one of the green shirts stepped in said no, she is his fare. Both of the Thai males (blue and green shirt) pulled knives on each other, and the end result is 2 dead motorbike taxi drivers. All over B20!!

This place is going to the dogs!!!!

LivinLOS · #14 09-08-2005, 02:36

I hear blues are new police protected correct ???

I was stopped and given a ticket for having 3 on a bike.. pursuaded the copper to let me leave the license as deposit and use my bike to go to the station.. My GF and sister get off my bike and BOTH get on a blue taxi waiting next to the copper..

I politely ask why can taxi motocy take 3 yet I can take 2 ?? He just shrugged and as I was asking to keep my bike I didnt push it...

Anyone else noticed how tight they have locked the roads down each night since the new BKK police around ?? I think they are feeling the pinch on no late night bar T money and just made it up from some well sorted roadblocks for a few nights..

Mav · #15 09-08-2005, 07:32

Guys why do they have different coloured shirts ?......Is it a Rangers and Celtic thing ?

domifletch · #16 09-08-2005, 07:51

Police war... bike taxi war... it's like in a movie.
Jus hope a good politician will regulate this, nothing good for the tourism and business in these stories.

LivinLOS · #17 09-08-2005, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

Guys why do they have different coloured shirts ?......Is it a Rangers and Celtic thing ?

Almost

different shirts different groups (you need to pay to have a shirt and its kind of a uninion type thing as I understand it)..

Blues are a new grouping..

Latino4life · #18 09-08-2005, 12:51

Wooow... It seems like Phuket is becoming a violente place, it was perhaps all the same a couple of years ago when I was there and perhaps I didn't even notice as an effect of partially the beers and the sweet ladies distracting me

However... I would like to ask you guys if things are much different when it comes to:

1- Prices. Are things such as food, clothes, stuff in general much more expensive coz of the declined amount of tourism?

2- Sellers and tailors. Are they more pushy after the Tsunami incident? When I was there I could say they were extremly pushy, especially the tailors and actually also the tuk tuk drivers. Are the girls also more pushy and more "aggresive" when it comes to pull in guys to bars or gogo places?

Many thanks and most especially for this great center of information. You really rule guys!

stevem · #19 11-08-2005, 20:58

Just something else I was told last night by a very reliable source, but I havent confirmed it, is that the green shirts have full insurance and the blue shirts have no insurance.