26th October

[Q & A King XXII]

There is talk of a strike, all bars closing on the 26th October. We have a meeting in 30 minutes, so will let ye all know the outcome. Don't bother asking what is hoped to be achieved by this.

 

[DemonBookLover]

This just came to my e-mail box:

Night venues threaten indefinite closure

PHUKET CITY: Entertainment venues throughout Phuket are set to close their doors for an indefinite period on October 26 in protest against the Government’s new early-closing policy.

Sompetch Moosophon of Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA) told the Gazette that PEBA members had decided to take the drastic decision to close their businesses at a meeting on Saturday at the Metropole Hotel.

According to the new laws, businesses within entertainment zones must close at 1pm, and businesses outside them at midnight.

Business people in Patong have been particularly vociferous in their pleas to be exempted from the regulations, arguing that the tourists who comprise the bulk of their business hardly venture out before midnight, and that they have each lost hundreds of thousands of baht in revenue since the order was enforced.

“About 50 business people att ended the meeting,” said K. Sompetch, “and we decided we had to do something to let the authorities know we are in trouble.

“The Governor should realize that we are also citizens under his control, and that he should pay as much attention to us as he does to other people. We’re in serious difficulties right now; why doesn’t he look at this?”

K. Sompetch said he was loath to take drastic action, but he believed the association members had no choice but to close their establishments.

He said, “This high season, Phuket is going to lose the opportunity to earn more money; this policy will look ridiculous to many tourists in Patong.”

K. Sompetch denied that establishments in Patong had many under-age patrons – one of the government’s reasons for the new early-closing laws – and said that he is confident there are no drugs or sex shows in Patong. If there were, he asked, why didn’t the police simply close down the establishme nts concerned? “That would be much easier.”

K. Sompetch said the association would ask Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura to extend opening hours to 2 am, or even 3 am or 4 am. The 1 am closing policy was, he said, just an attempt by the government to make it look like it was doing something.

He added, “There were people who wanted a ‘mob’ protest, but I hope we can find a solution through discussion. We’ve passed all our information to the Governor; he has enough of that now. Everything is up to him now.”

Brought to you by:
The Phuket Gazette
18:45 local time (GMT +7)

 

[Godsend]

Reading between the lines I think it is clear that they are really trying hard to push the bar scene more underground and this is just one more push. Will it work ?? Of course not especially in the short term.

I am very curious to hear comments from Nicke Steve and Gee concerning thier views on if this strike is likely to be successful. The idea of threatened mobs with baseball bats enforcing bar closure seems a little harsh and mad to me. I mean say I had a bar / resturant and normally close at 12 - 1 ish surviving on food sales and day trade (I know some guys on Nanai that operate like this) and dont really care about this issue as passionately. So if the other bars wish to choose to strike I have to close my business also ?? And if I didn't I am threatened with bats and having my bar and myself smashed up ?? The right to operate a biz in peace as you choose is surely what many are asking for, to then enforce that right via violence or mob tactics makes me a little nervous.

Dont think that in any way I support these regs or rules, and I guess I do support a volentary strike action, but surely the choice is down to the owners concerned. Just cause some peoples livelyhood is more directly effected than others (busy bangla bars or gogo's) does it follow those people can force everyone to thier cause ???

It sure will be an interesting week.

 

[rain]

just got off fone to tukta and she said 3 days minimum but probably until 1st.she aint to bothered she just bored standing around striking all day.she said most girls still getting punters.
steve

 

[Ebo]

All bars will be closed on the 26th October.

 

[David W]

Well its the 2nd night now, and word has it one more night, so 3 in total. There has been verbal word given that we have won 3am closing, but are staying closed until official paperwork is received.

 

[Teoshe]

How long for, Steve?

Is it just one night, or a campaign of strikes? Is it only Bangla, whole of Patong, or whole of Phuket?

I'm arriving on 30th, so have a vested interest!

 

[Champion]

I have heard the 3 nights as a 'minimum' amount.. As the Gov has stated its up for cabinet discussions on the 2nd it seems likely that it would be hard to get real confirmation until then ???

All rumors and guesswork welcome

 

[be happier own a pitbull]

I would also like to hear the opinion of the bar owners. I have already made a reservation in Pattaya for my early November trip. The one o'clock closing did not bother me nearly as much as worrying about a gang of bat-wielding thugs busting up the bar that I'm drinking in. I would think long and hard about this guys. Strikes never work unless you have 100% solidarity. While all the bar owners, restaurants, and tuk-tuk drivers say they're behind you now, after a week or so with no income many will cave-in and start working.
The only thing to keep everyone striking is violence. Is this the image you want the public to see of Phuket? You very well may be cutting your own throats...

 

[H.O.P.P.E.R.]

I think The philippines will become the next "sexual playground" because the earlt closing times in Thailand eventually

 

[very_bored]

We are fully aware of this. Folks here involved understand what the full story is.

 

[sanjana]

That is good news..hopefully Toksin realised by now early closing time, bird flu and serious problem down south adds up to less tourists arrival. By moving the closing time to 3 am is a positive move.

My friend who is taking his family to Bangkok for holiday is more worried about the bird flu which claim another victim recently

The news on the unrest and deaths recently has the Malaysian govt strongly advising all Malaysians not to go to south thailand and we are already approaching the holiday season in November.

Malaysian

 

[vanhammer]

At the meeting it was unamiously (sp??) decided for all us that 26th would be closing, and there was talk about how many nights to close. If you where there, I felt sorry for the farang that was asked to get up and speak, and the looks he got from the organisers when he asked if a vote had been taken on closing or not. As most of the meeting was in Thai, I could follow most of what was going on, but got lost on some things.

From my understanding the next meeting on the 24th is determine the course of action, and how long the closure will be for. I believe if it is longer than 1 night, they will loose support, as lots of bars will not be able to support this extended action.

 

[thisguy010101]

I wonder wether closing the bars is an effective method against the early cloing times, because closing down the bars and the nightlife seems to me the goal of those people who push the early closing.
But what do I know.

 

[Away With The Fairies]

I was thinking the same, but something has to be done! You cannot allow this for years, and just ruin people!

I think that if this goes on, some "costomers", who are bored, could give people a hard time elsewhere, as at the hotel-bars.

I think that, as long it are specific areas in Patong or elsewhere, who don't give too much trouble, I don't see any sence of this!

 

[Shallow Abyss]

German media are full of the events and the death in the south. This overshadows everything which comes from asia. There are no news about the strike .

 

[skoolgirlqt03]

This interesting to hear about the Grman media coverage. Here in America I have seen or heard no mention of events in Thailand, and would probably not even be aware of the problems in the south if I had not been to LOS!

 

[nnik]

the gazzette says closure will be indefinate,if its a strike thats what you would expect,stay shut until something is done about it.problem is in a place like patong i cannot see it working.everywhere down bangla may close but you just no sansabai wont,they make a mockery of everything everytime.
steve

 

[jenna b]

I really dont think you'll get any of us expressing our comments in public about the nature of the action and the expected outcomes. Just look back at the similar action which was taken 4 years ago, nothing really happened after that.

 

[crazy4fun]

I just hope this strike is over when i arrive in November. :sad: