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Canadian beaten up by Phuket tuktuk driver
One-minute trip, 150 baht: A tourist points the finger at a tuk-tuk
driver Photo by phuketwan.com Will This Photo Give Phuket Real Public Transport? By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Phuketwan News Analysis IS THIS the photograph that will start a revolution for Phuket's public transport? Let's hope so. The picture shows Canadian tourist Ivan Bob Anwar, 51, identifying the tuk-tuk driver who gave him that cut eyebrow and cheek in a dispute about a fare this afternoon. He was punched five times, he says. His nose is stuffed with gauze to stop the bleeding. He has had five stitches to his eyebrow. Share We understand Mr Anwar wanted to go from the Baramee Hotel in Patong to the Sunset Beach Resort in Kalim. The journey took one minute. The fare was 150 baht. Mr Anwar apparently offered 100 baht, but that was not enough. The driver, according to what police have been told, struck out at Mr Anwar, then took off in his tuk-tuk. Phuketwan believes this photograph and the violent incident may start the process of change that must begin soon to bring urgently needed reform to public transport on Phuket. Tuk-tuk fares on Phuket are extortionate. It is becoming apparent that if change does not come, more violence surely will follow. Ridiculously high fares and a local monopoly on services have made the current system unworkable, yet this is the 21st century. The man is from Krabi, although tuk-tuk groups on Phuket say they only employ local drivers. The economic downturn means that the system cannot sustain an increasing number of tuk-tuks, yet that is what is happening. As more people take to driving tuk-tuks and taxis, fewer tourists are coming to Phuket. Where is the logic in that? Some people say the total number of tuk-tuks exceeds official figures by hundreds.. It's time for the Government of Thailand to give proper consideration to creating a workable public transport system on Phuket. Do they want tourists to continue to come, or not? The answer, we think, is obvious. It's time for public transport reforms on Phuket. This photograph may signal a fresh beginning. The arrest of the tuk-tuk driver came as the climax to a dramatic afternoon that involved the island's police force in the hunt, with the Governor saying that the man had to be arrested, and that bail would not be granted. Phuketwan covered the afternoon's events as they unfolded, providing about 40 ''live'' updates to the site, giving readers the news as it happened. Phuketwan's Comprehensive Tuk-Tuk Coverage |
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Canadian beaten up by Phuket tuktuk driver
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Karon tuk-tuk driver gets bail CHALONG, PHUKET: The Karon tuk-tuk driver accused of attacking a family of French tourists with a metal pole on December 26 turned himself in to police and was released on bail, the Gazette has learned. Chalong Police Inspector Chana Suthimas identified the alleged attacker as 32-year-old Likhit Thaengthae, a resident of Karon. Mr Likhit appeared at Chalong Police Station at 10am yesterday and posted bail. Assault charges against him will be filed with the Phuket Criminal Court soon, Lt Chana said. Mr Likhit stands accused of attacking a French family with the metal shaft of a beach umbrella support pole, breaking one of the victim’s arms and badly bruising another relative, age 68. The family’s children – aged one, seven and nine – were present at the time of the attack. Witnesses said Mr Likhit became enraged when the family parked their rented car in a public parking lot near the Karon Municipality offices in Kata. The French family, on their way to the beach at the time, ignored his command to park elsewhere because there were no signs indicating the lot was reserved for tuk-tuks, as Mr Likhit insisted it was. For our previous story and the massive reader reaction to it, click here. |
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Canadian beaten up by Phuket tuktuk driver
did the canadian pay the tuktuk driver ?
Jan 6, 12:37*am, none wrote: One-minute trip, 150 baht: A tourist points the finger at a tuk-tuk driver Photo by phuketwan.com Will This Photo Give Phuket Real Public Transport? By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Phuketwan News Analysis IS THIS the photograph that will start a revolution for Phuket's public transport? Let's hope so. The picture shows Canadian tourist Ivan Bob Anwar, 51, identifying the tuk-tuk driver who gave him that cut eyebrow and cheek in a dispute about a fare this afternoon. He was punched five times, he says. His nose is stuffed with gauze to stop the bleeding. He has had five stitches to his eyebrow. Share We understand Mr Anwar wanted to go from the Baramee Hotel in Patong to the Sunset Beach Resort in Kalim. The journey took one minute. The fare was 150 baht. Mr Anwar apparently offered 100 baht, but that was not enough. The driver, according to what police have been told, struck out at Mr Anwar, then took off in his tuk-tuk. Phuketwan believes this photograph and the violent incident may start the process of change that must begin soon to bring urgently needed reform to public transport on Phuket. Tuk-tuk fares on Phuket are extortionate. It is becoming apparent that if change does not come, more violence surely will follow. Ridiculously high fares and a local monopoly on services have made the current system unworkable, yet this is the 21st century. The man is from Krabi, although tuk-tuk groups on Phuket say they only employ local drivers. The economic downturn means that the system cannot sustain an increasing number of tuk-tuks, yet that is what is happening. As more people take to driving tuk-tuks and taxis, fewer tourists are coming to Phuket. Where is the logic in that? Some people say the total number of tuk-tuks exceeds official figures by hundreds.. It's time for the Government of Thailand to give proper consideration to creating a workable public transport system on Phuket. Do they want tourists to continue to come, or not? The answer, we think, is obvious. It's time for public transport reforms on Phuket. This photograph may signal a fresh beginning. The arrest of the tuk-tuk driver came as the climax to a dramatic afternoon that involved the island's police force in the hunt, with the Governor saying that the man had to be arrested, and that bail would not be granted. Phuketwan covered the afternoon's events as they unfolded, providing about 40 ''live'' updates to the site, giving readers the news as it happened. Phuketwan's Comprehensive Tuk-Tuk Coverage |
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