Hailing from Western countries, which are – at least on the face of it – democratic countries where elected officials act and make decisions, pass laws and enforce them for the apparent good of the people, there is little understanding of such a term nowadays. There is little need for such understanding.
People power is needed in countries beset by corruption, where the general population are mistreated by the few in power and are abused financially and physically for the latter group’s own ends.
Most famously in Southeast Asia, this was scene in the Phillipine revolution of 1986 that overthrew hated dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Revolution, fists in the air, hat cocked to the side, Che Gueveara type people power. Positive people power.
Of course negative people power also exists. In Phuket these groups are known as 'mafia'.
Any organisation, committee, company or group of people who act in flagrant defiance of laws or regulations, who prevent progress for the good of the many, with apparent impunity, are mafia.
March was supposed to be the month that this world renowned international island was to be ‘allowed’ to operate a local bus service from Phuket International Airport to various beach destinations around Phuket. The announcement in January was met with joy and derisory scepticism in equal spades.
But this week, in the month that this would-be huge positive step was to be made, Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada announced that the bus service would be delayed until a further meeting on May 15 was held. The reason – rumoured protests.
The Phuket News spoke to taxi drivers in the Karon area who agreed that there would be protests if the link was introduced.
Of course the delay is very good news indeed for the taxi and tuk tuk drivers on the island, and bad news for every single other person who lives in and visits Phuket.
Nowadays, the mafia in Italy and Sicily are becoming less and less influential by the day. This is not so much as a direct result of the efforts of the police and government officials, but because of the townspeople. The bakers, the shopkeepers, the opticians, the jewellers of many normal villages and towns who have started to refuse to pay extortion money to the gangsters.
We can and should do the same here.
Expat doomsayers, local residents, community leaders, GMs, police officers, politicians, children, rich, poor, Thai, foreign – it is time to come together to end this ridiculous and harmful monopoly of public transport on the island.
People power, ladies and gentlemen. People power.