As Governor of Phuket, Mr Sophon is Commander of the Phuket Volunteer Defense Force, which operates under the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA).
The opening ceremony yesterday was held In front of the OrSor’s ‘Phuket Province Command and Service Company’ headquarters.
The campaign, titled ‘Kick Off’, includes the establishment of a ‘Phuket Province Social Organising and Suppressing Influencer Operations Center’, which is “ready to build confidence in safety for residents and tourists during high season”, said an official report of the launch.
The campaign is “in accordance with the Ministry of Interior’s policy to ‘cure suffering, nourish happiness’ for the people,” the report added.
The campaign is to “emphasise prevention and suppression of influential people” and to “suppress drugs, human trafficking, possession and carrying of firearms and gambling, and carry out tracking and surveillance of influential people, including organising service establishments and entertainment venues”, the report continued.
The OrSor personnel are to be active 24 hours a day, and integrate their work with the Provincial Damrongdhama Center (provincial Ombudsman’s office). and related agencies, including the police and military, the report noted.
“Phuket Province is an important tourist city in the country, and during this period is the opening of the tourist season. There will be a large number of tourists traveling into the area. Therefore, providing convenience to citizens and tourists is important,” Governor Sophon said, according to the report.
“The OrSor personnel will be people in the area. They have knowledge of the area and are ready to support the performance of duties to care for the safety of citizens and tourists to achieve maximum safety,” he added.
“However, we ask Phuket people to be good hosts in welcoming tourists, and we ask for cooperation from tourists traveling to Phuket province. Think of Phuket as everyone’s property. Respect the rules for living together, help to preserve, conserve and not destroy natural resources or various tourist attractions so that Phuket can be be a sustainable tourist destination,” he concluded.