PATONG: The embattled bar owners of Patong have won a reprieve from the 2 am
closing regulations after putting intense pressure on the government, both locally
and in Bangkok.

At a meeting of Patong’s entertainment business community in the Pasha
discotheque in Soi Sunset on May 17, the Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin,
announced that a tacit agreement had been reached that bars in Patong may stay
open until 5 am, but at 4 am must close their doors, turn off their neon signs and
turn down the music.

Sakorn Cheua-yuan, secretary to MP Chalermlak Kebsab, stressed that bars
caught contravening any of five laws could expect no help from the bar-owning
community. These laws were those covering the sale of drugs, admitting minors,
allowing guns on their premises, playing music too loudly and allowing lewd
entertainment.

He emphasized that the laws on drugs and admitting minors were particularly
important.

K. Pian explained that the leaders of the protest, including himself, Patong
Councillor Chaiya Tamchu, Pasha owner Chairat Sukbal and K. Sakorn would be
visiting the bars frequently to discuss any problems the owners may have.

He said that they had met earlier in the day with two of Phuket’s vice-governors,
Amnuay Sanguannam and Wittaya Pintapaet, Deputy Provincial Police Chief Col
Pongsak Na-Nakhorn, Patong Police Chief Col Paween Pongsirin and Kathu
District Chief Sutin Uthaitamrong.

At the meeting they were told that although they could expect nothing on paper
allowing the bars to open late, the crackdown would nevertheless be relaxed.

The agreement by the authorities to "close one eye" is expected to last until
proposed new zoning legislation can be passed by parliament – legislation that is
widely expected to include a relaxation of the closing hours.

On the same morning, Provincial Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi told the Gazette
that there had been a drop in the number of road accidents, fights and drunken
incidents since the 2 am closure was enforced.

"I’m concerned about the effect on the business [owners’ profits], but they should
accept that there have been many benefits, too.

"I don’t think we should change the law," he added. "Instead, we should try to
change the tourists’ behavior."

The enforcement of the law requiring entertainment venues to close at 2 am has
hurt Phuket’s boisterous after-hours recreation capital. One foreign bar owner, who
asked to remain anonymous, told the Gazette that his turnover had fallen by 20%
since the strict enforcement of the law.

K. Chairat, who also owns Safari and Pow-wow pubs, and who has been a
prominent leader of the protests, said, "We estimate the losses to Patong have
been about 20 million baht a night."

The protest action included a mass closure of bars on May 16, and large open-air
meetings at Loma Park on May 16 and 17, which attracted hundreds of bar owners
and workers.

There is considerable bitterness against establishments that did not join the
protest closure. Those at the assembly cheered calls for a boycott of the Shark and
VIP discos, which stayed open until 2 am.

One speaker, armed with a bundle of incense sticks, led the assembly in making a
pledge to "29 gods in heaven" not to support Shark in any way.

K. Sakorn later told the meeting in Pasha, "The last thing you must remember is
Shark. Shark is the biggest entertainment place in Patong, but they did nothing to
help. We should all stick together. Don’t go into Shark."

AND A BIT NOT SO GOOD>

( "fell off a chair", rigt!)


American dies while in
custody at police station

PHUKET TOWN: An American man died after falling off a chair in the early hours of
May 15 while in custody at the Phuket Town Police Station.

Police named the 56-year-old man as William Bryan Brooks.

Pol Maj Adul Nirapai, of Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that he had
received a call from staff of the Bai Fern restaurant on Chao Fa Nai Rd. They
reported that they were unable to close the restaurant for the night as a man, who
had been drinking all evening, had slipped off a chair and fallen asleep on the floor.

The man was subsequently picked up and taken to the station. While there, he fell
off a chair and remained unconscious on the floor.

After he had been lying there for some time, police checked on him and found that
he was no longer breathing. Their efforts to resuscitate him failed.

"I don’t know exactly what caused his death, but he may have had some sort of
illness," Maj Adul said.

The police found a bank book, some clothing and a press card in Mr Brooks’ bag.

Will Hebler, Phuket warden for the American embassy, told the Gazette, "He was a
very well educated man from California. I’m not sure where he worked, but I was
told that he had been a teacher in Vietnam. He was known to most as ‘Brendan’."