Dive companies allege that police officers have been arresting dive company managers and foreign staff on spurious work permit violations and then demanding up to B30,000 to let them go, often with a requirement that they pay an additional B3,000 a month to ensure they are left alone.
Many have reported to The Phuket News that have paid, either out of fear or because they do not want to waste time in the high season dealing with police matters instead of looking after clients.
At the meeting on Saturday (March 22) at the offices of the Thailand Diving Association near the airport, ATUS President Ronnachai Jindapon said, “We know that the problem is happening but it seems that only a few people have reported it to us.
“I want [businesses] to inform ATUS so that we know what’s happening and can help them solve the problem.
“We have been cooperating with the Deputy Commander of Police Region 8, Maj Gen Ronnapong Saikaew. He acknowledged [that he had heard] what happened, but still, we need evidence to prove that the story people tell is true.”
A female foreigner, who said she was a victim of the police extortion, told The Phuket News on condition of anonymity, “We specialise in technical diving and we have a registered business, a TAT license, we have TAT registration, work permits, everything is in order.
“But still the police came to our shop and asked us to go to an office at the back of Chalong Police Station. They said, ‘Pay B20,000 and you’re free to go.’ We paid because we’re just afraid. This was a bad decision, because if we keep on doing this, the price will go up.
“The second time, we didn’t pay. I think it’s really unfair. We are all talking about what we should do – do we want to leave or stay? We don’t belong here. We hope we can do something, because if we don’t, it’s going to get worse and worse.”
Many more frustrated victims of the extortion raised their hands at the meeting and told their stories.
Another victim, also a female foreigner, said, “In my country you can trust the police. You can call the police. But here, the police come to your office, tell you that you’ve done something wrong, and lock you up in the police station. That scares me.”
Another woman complained to the head of ATUS that her passport had been taken from her, and has still not been returned.
Mr Ronnachai said that ATUS wants dive companies and staff who were harassed to write down details of the extortion they have suffered. These statements will be handed to Gen Ronnapong.
He revealed that a police task force has been set up and will visit the victims to get their help identifying officers who demanded money from them.
But, he added, the victims have to have the courage to put things right, and not be afraid to point out the police involved in the extortion.
“If we can make one policeman afraid of this, the rest of them will also be afraid to rip us off. I contacted [Gen Ronnapong] and he wants to know if you all could recognise the officers [who demanded money] and point them out [to the task force].”
He also warned that the dive companies have to make sure that they are doing everything legally; work permits are the responsibility of the business, and ATUS will not help if police catch people working without one.
He noted that work permits are often vague about the descriptions of what work the holders could legally do, and where.
“We will contact the governor to discuss making work permits completely clear for everybody.”
Pongsawan Sathatam, legal counsel for ATUS, revealed that there are be discussions between the association and the Labour Office to clarify, in the work permits, if divers can work legally outside the office.
Mr Ronnachai suggested that the dive companies register as members of ATUS to make it easier for the association to look after them. In many cases, businesses don’t want to pay to be a members but when they have problem, they still ask for the association’s help, he said.
Pongthirat Pokkabut, another lawyer working with ATUS, said that if police come to an office and threaten to file charges against dive company personnel, those people should tell the police they will go to the police station.
“But first, call ATUS, and inform the lawyers. You will not have to go to the police station alone.”