Tuk-tuks, jet-skis top complaints by Aussie tourists in Phuket

Simon Farbenbloom of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok tells
Governor Tri that tuk-tuk and jet-ski scams top the list of complaints
filed by Aussie tourists in Phuket.

PHUKET: — Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday received more bad news about the state of Phuket’s tourism industry as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok told him that complaints about tuk-tuk drivers and jet-ski scams topped the embassy’s list of complaints filed by Aussie tourists in Phuket.

“I personally haven’t heard any complaints, but I do read people commenting on websites… There are a lot of different comments about tricky jet-skis and tuk-tuk fares,” said Deputy Head of Mission Simon Farbenbloom.

“Some people complain and others say that it is just the way things are and everyone knows this. You have to be careful,” he added.

Mr Farbenbloom said he placed good faith in the Australian honorary consul in Phuket, Larry Cunningham, to help resolve the issues.

“He has good ideas on how to solve the issues that come out,” Mr Farbenbloom said.

The news delivered to Governor Tri at the meeting yesterday followed the quarterly meeting of Phuket’s honorary consuls and local officials on Wednesday.

That meeting saw some of the strongest comments yet by Phuket consuls about the need to address tuk-tuk drivers’ conduct.

German honorary consul Dirk Naumann voiced his concerns about German national Kurt Trotnow being rendered comatose after an attack allegedly by tuk-tuk drivers over the refusal to pay a 200-baht fare.

Also at the meeting, Dutch Honorary Consul Seven Smulders said that while the British, Australian and German consuls were normally the most vocal participants, their views were backed by other consuls.

He said two young Dutchman were similarly beaten by Patong tuk-tuk drivers recently over a what, he said, was a “minor issue”.

While acknowledging that the vast majority of tourists enjoy incident-free holidays in Phuket, he went on to raise the issue of a new “motorbike scam” being reported.

In this newest way to cheat tourists, unscrupulous operators rent out motorbikes to foreign tourists and then arrange for companions to steal them overnight, he said.

The foreigners are then forced to pay the price of a brand-new motorbike, even if the stolen vehicle was old, he added.

The Phuket Gazette notes that foreigners have little leverage to negotiate in such cases as they are typically asked to leave their passports as a form of surety until they return the vehicle. This issue was raised at previous consul meetings but largely remains unaddressed.

However, Mr Farbenbloom yesterday said the complaints haven’t stopped Australians visiting Phuket in large numbers.

“More than 700,000 Australian tourists have come to Thailand this year, and more than half, about 420,000, have come to Phuket,” he said.

Mr Farbenbloom expects an influx of Aussie tourists to arrive in January.

“January is when many Australians take a long holiday so more people will come for sure,” he said.

Mr Farbenbloom is in Phuket on a two-day visit.

He and other embassy officials will visit the Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School Phuket in Saphan Hin, Phuket Town, to participate in a water and waste management campaign coordinated by the Planet Savers organization and the Australia-Thailand Institute.

This afternoon the embassy entourage will attend the formal opening of the Phuket Lifeguard Education Center at Nai Harn Beach.

Tonight, Mr Farbenbloom will attend the “Hucky Eichelmann and Anthony Garcia Guitar Thailand Tour 2011”, at Phuket Rajabhat University, starting at 7pm.

Mr Farbenbloom will fly back to Bangkok on Sunday.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz…il.asp?id=10910

– Phuket Gazette 2011-09-02

Miracle Thailand?

Kent, 52 from Sweden, Got hearth problem- was thrown in jail!

Arrested- when Kent Melmblom realized that his visa expired after he had been discharged from hospital,
he went to the police station in Pattaya. But received no help – but was arrested immediately. Photo: Jonas Bilberg

Kent Melmblom, 52, got heart problems when he was in Thailand and was hospitalized. So long that his tourist visa in Thailand run out. Then began the worst 12 days of his life.

- I never thought that Thailand could be so dangerous, says Kent Melmblom.

Kent Melmblom from Stockholm rented a house in the town of Pattaya southeast of Bangkok, when he got a chest pain and was admitted to Bangkok Hospital in Pattaya.

When Kent Melmblom was discharged from the hospital, knew that his visa expired. One week after discharge, he went to the police station in Pattaya for advice.

But he did not receive any help – he was arrested on the spot.

- I was thrown into a detention cell. There was one person there. During the night it had been filled with other inmates, 67 people pressed together in five by five meters, said Kent Melmblom.

Chained with other The day after he was brought to justice. He was sentenced to pay 2000 Baht, 480 Swedish crowns, and would be released within one hour.

- It sounded reasonable.

But Kent Melmblom was not released. Outside the hall was instead a group of policemen waiting for him.

- I was handcuffed, shackled and chained with a lot of prisoners and taken to a cell. I had to live under terrible circumstances, he says. He was forced to pay another 1800 Baht, but not released. Went lost 16 kg weight.

He was arrested on July 16, but would remain in the narrow cell for several days. Every day he received a small bag of rice and a bottle of water. There was a fan of the cell to relieve the heat, but it broke after a few days.

- I lost 16 kg. I got diarrhea of the infected water and threw up every day. The sweat ran down on me. It was so crowded on the floor it just went to lie down on the page.

Began to feel increasingly ill.

One morning a man lay cold beside him. He had died, but was to remain in the cell. In two days. No one took him away. Kent Melmholm did not understand how he got there – in the cell that appeared to be the worst possible nightmare.

- There was no dignity at all. After two days he began to smell.

Kent Melmblom had no access to his heart medication and was feeling increasingly ill, both mentally and physically. He had no watch and could not see out any windows.

- I did not know if it was day or night. We only had a stone floor and opposite water bottle to rest your head on. And the toilet in privacy was not to speak of.

Bribed free by lawyer

The news reached after a few days, Kent’s mother in Sweden who in turn contacted the Foreign Office. One day, opened the door in the cell. Someone searched for Kent.

With the help of a lawyer who knew the police chief could Kent Melmblom bribe himself free.

It cost a further 30 000 Baht, just over 7260 Swedish kronor.

Then the trip home went very quickly. He was not given the opportunity to either pick up their belongings in their house or change clothes.

Was flown home in the same clothes the same day, July 29, he was thrown into a car, was taken to Bangkok airport and put on a plane to Sweden. In the same clothes as he was jailed in July 16 – a pair of shorts, sandals and a tank top.

- I stank of urine, faeces and sweat, and would sit on a plane among the common people.

And totally uncovered without money or a few belongings.

Now he has had time to shower and rest, but still feel very bad for what he had.

- I do not know if I should laugh or cry. I did not know that Thailand was so dangerous. I still lived there previously for ten years and was no novice. I want to warn others. The police were just looking for my money, says Kent Melmblom.

Several similar cases of UD (Swedish Ministry of Foreign affairs)

One month after his arrival in Sweden, he finally had time to gather strength to talk to the Swedish police, his insurance company and the Foreign Ministry.
But Kent’s case is not unusual.

- We have many of these matter. It is common to be taken for not having valid visas. One must follow the laws and regulations in the country, says Karin Nylund.

She would not comment on individual cases but said that UD (Swedish Foreign affairs) has many similar cases on their desk.

Translated from Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet today: http://www.aftonblad…icle13567329.ab

– Aftonbladet 2011-09-03

Aldhouse extradition to Phuket looks inevitable: British press

Lee Aldhouse, who is wanted for the August 2010 stabbing murder of American Dashawn Longfellow in Phuket’s Rawai subdistrict.

PHUKET: The extradition of British kick-boxer Lee Aldhouse to Thailand to stand trial for the August 2010 stabbing murder of US Marine Dashawn Longfellow now seems inevitable, British media have reported

Britain’s Sunday Mirror today reported a source in the British Home Office as saying: “The only way he could have realistically avoided extradition is if he would have faced the death penalty if found guilty. But the Thai Government have assured us that he will not.”

Mr Aldhouse has 14 days to appeal the ruling, according to the report.

Nicknamed “The Pitbull”, Mr Aldhouse managed to flee Thailand through Cambodia, but was later arrested at Heathrow Airport in London.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/_n10925

– Phuket Gazette 2011-09-04