Such is the message and tone of fear being set by certain agitators as of late, especially in places like the UK, where it seems a large portion of the reported spate of “Thailand tourist victims” tend to be hailing from.
Truth be told, you could swap out “Phuket” from the above message with “Bali”, “Hawaii”, “London”, “Sydney” “Athens”, “Rome”, “New York”, “Paris”, “Tokyo” or pretty much any other popular international destination, and it would carry the same weight – that is if “fear” is to be one’s preferred catalyst for “survival”.
In reporting “hard news” day in, day out, The Phuket News’ aim is not to promote fear but rather to inform readers of the challenges and potential threats, in the hopes that they are able to cope with and mitigate reality, not avoid or run from it.
Though it’d be a fool’s task to argue that violent crime does not exist in Thailand, and Phuket specifically, it would be equally foolish to make the claim that you are safer in any other destination.
Victims of most violent crimes the world over, usually but not always, have one thing in common. That is they are vulnerable, and this vulnerability is subsequently exploited by the darker side of “human nature” – not exclusively “Thai nature” like some tabloids might have you believe.
It seems that many foreign visitors to Phuket all-too-often leave their “common sense” behind at the airport. That is they proceed to behave here in ways that they wouldn’t back in their safe havens abroad.
They let their guard down, naive to think that “it won’t happen to me”.
Indeed, many of the well-publicised victim crimes in Thailand might have been avoided had vulnerability not been a factor.
And while The Phuket News does not advocate putting blame on victims after the fact, we strongly encourage readers to be proactive, realistic and objective when consuming bad news, so as to learn from it in order to not have to become it.
This will ensure that you can enjoy your time here in paradise, safe and sound. However, failing to apply basic “street smarts” – everywhere in the world – could prove detrimental.
Following are some recent letters to the editor:
Some noise from the silent majority
Re: still waiting for Surin beach club clearance
In December you reported that Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat declared that the clearance of the Surin beach clubs would happen before January of this year.
At the time, we set aside a bottle of champagne, to be savored at first sight of bulldozers. Sadly, the cork remains un-popped to this day.
The beach “clubs” along the northern half of Surin beach are little more than a public nuisance. The relentless thumping they blast across the entire bay, day and night, may be welcome to their presumably deaf customers, but it’s ruining the experience of Surin beach for everyone else.
By the time this godawful racket has been dampened by the trees and umbrellas opposite their establishments, all that’s left is a dull bass-heavy sound-shadow which extends well beyond the portion of beach occupied by the clubs.
To add insult to injury, it’s widely alleged these so-called “clubs” are illegally occupying the land and spoiling the rest of the beach for all but a handful of musically-challenged patrons.
One can only wonder from which bountiful wells the “club” managers siphon their arrogance.
Beyond the noise-pollution, some ban non-customers from parking motorbikes on the public beach-front road opposite their venue, whilst others operate a door and fee policy more fitting of a Mayfair nightclub than an illegal flip-flop and burgers joint.
We, and no-doubt the wishing-for-silence majority, sincerely hope your esteemed pages will soon report the demise of these cacophonists.
Olaf.
Disappearing trees to make way for more cars
Re: Widening road to Cherng Talay
I was wondering if you were aware of the beautiful tree-alley that is being destroyed on road between Heroines monument and Baan Manik.
I guess the purpose is to enlarge the road, which is nonsense as I pass there many times a day and there’s never a traffic problem there. The problem is at entrance of Cherng Talay or near Heroines monument.
It’s a shame for this alley which is one of the last remaining (that i know of) in Phuket. I believe that it will increase the speed of cars crossing Baan Manik which is already dangerous with double parked vehicles near the 7 Eleven.
Eric