Anutin: ‘Don’t spoil it’
Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, on Bangla Rd in Patong last week made his remit clear in the ongoing crackdown on foreigners caught breaking the law in Phuket: “Don’t let a few bad people spoil it.”
“It is safe to travel to Phuket. Do not allow bad people, who are a small minority, to spoil it. We request that all parties adhere to the principles and strictly follow the law for the peace of society,” Anutin declared on Bangla Rd on Mar 14.
"We will not allow the case of only a few bad people to create the stereotype that Phuket is dangerous. Personally, I’m not afraid of the mafia. I’m afraid of [mafia] becoming free [to operate],” he added.
Regarding the incident and ongoing investigations involving Swiss expat Urs Fehr, Anutin said, “What happened was the behaviour of a few people, but wherever it happens, we will handle it. You can see that recently it was done. We withdrew the visa. An appeal was submitted to the Ministry of Interior. There is no need to appeal, it’s a waste of time, better to go home.
“If there is a case where foreigners cause another incident, the Governor of Phuket and the Phuket Provincial Police Commander will definitely take action,” he added..
“Thailand has the potential to take care of and welcome tourists from around the world, and [through tourism] can generate enormous income for Thai people. And the duty of the authorities with the cooperation of all sectors is to make tourists feel safe, so they are not taken advantage of, with Thai people being a good host,” he concluded.
Anutin joined a briefing led by Patong Police Chief Pol Col Chalermchai Hirsawat at the tourist security system ‘Command and Control Center’ for Bangla Rd on Thursday evening.
There are 26 CCTV cameras along the busy nightlife street, covering the entire area. Patong Municipality plans to increase the number of CCTV cameras to enhance safety for tourists, the Deputy PM was told.
After the meeting, Anutin inspected Bangla Rd and spoke with tourists, local officials and operators of pubs, bars and other nightlife venues.
Joining the Deputy PM for the briefing and the tour of Bangla were Orasit Samphantharat, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA); Chaiwat Chuenkosoom, DirectorGeneral of the Community Development Department; and Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Also joining the tour were Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum,
Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri, DOPA Special Operations personnel, officers from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Special Operations Team, the Patong Police Special Operations Unit as well as Phuket Provincial Police, Patong Police and Phuket Tourist Police.