26th October

[AntwonKeepinItReal]

THATS GREAT NEWS.........3 AM IS FINE.........MM THE GOOD OLD DAYS AND 5 AND 6 AM CLOSING TIME :thumbsup:
JONNY

 

[Robert Abuse]

Strangely enough there IS a drug-problem, although all the BM's seems to luckily avoid it.

But the BG's approched me several times if I did not want that!

So maybe this is something to think about! There are so many bars in patong, could be that some "live" on that kind of busines! And not every bar has the athmosphere as MT

 

[ck01]

Steve

This is not my understanding, a further meeting will take place on the 24th to decide what action is to be taken regarding the possible closure on the 26th

G

 

[Howdy]

Just had a call.. The current argument is (so I am told) between pushing for 4 AM from a promised 3AM..

Seems like 3 is in the bag and 4 is being hard fought over.. I was told that people would know later today..

All rumor and whispers though.

 

[Llado]

We are waiting to see what happens, as the Govenor has promised to deliver a sign letter approving the 3am closing at 4pm today. If it is received we will open tonight, if not, well more waiting to see what happens.

 

[Kim P]

You should hold the party outside goverment offices and cause them some discomfort in the process.

 

[carbefangirl]

Well now its confirmed we are closing indefinately from the 26th October

Interstingly enough the businesses taking the short term hit are the front line deliverers. The owners of soi's etc will still get their full rent this month, although they seem to be the people organising the events. I for one will be raising this issue!!!!!!

We have been paying the price the last 2 days, with everything closing at 1am sharp and in Tiger beer bars the police ordered all bars to not allow anybody dance on the bars.

Before the self appointed commitee decided that we were striking everything was quietly moving in the right direction, with closing times creeping towards 2am and the police coming down soi's to look but not doing anything

Now we have taken 3 steps back and bars stand to lose probably at least 3 days revenue which Im sure we can ill afford

Dont get me wrong I for one dont agree with the government policy and alleged reasons for 1am closure - but I do no strikes dont work

Just who exactly are our customers and should we consider doing this to them. I suspect that if you are on holiday and you dont have access to facilities for 3 days then you are going to pissed to the point of no return

I went to a meeting yesterday which seemed to be people talking and liking the sound of their own voice. I left with no idea of a plan or order of events for the mass rally on 26th October. There seems to have been little evidence gathering of a case for the defence, or it may be the case us minnions are not worthy of receiving it

pissed off about everything

G

 

[Mrs.Tucker]

Yes Geespot I agree with you. We left the meeting after hearing the same rambling for god knows how many times. Was just driving back from Lotus, and the Thai news says the closure will be for 5 days.

Will the last person out of Patong, please turn main power switch off on the way out.

 

[graceomally99]

Sorry mate, I was at the meeting and there were far more than 50 people attending

My opinion is that all the bars, discos, a go go, restaurants, tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, massagw will respect the request to close.

THIS IS NOT A GAME PATONG'S WHOLE ECONOMY IS A STAKE

G

 

[jinenglish68]

So the new name in the travelbrochures will become
"Welcome to LOC (Land Of Closure)"

 

[Suffi]

Have you heard if the 3am closing will have immediate effect or will they maybe set an official date instead ?

Would be great if it's 3am when i arrive ...which is bloody soon. :happyi:


74 hours till wheels up :thumbsup:

 

[jh4kd]

@Gee, very good point about the frontline people having less say and more loss... I had not considered the rental issues especially if its for more than one or 2 nights...

Also interesting is what will be done in the way of promised street action / party.. I notice the initial statement a while back had described the closure to be including a street party and bikini road block crew, a sure way to gain visitors sympathy is while closing bars also provide some diversion and distraction to the guests... If that gets forgotten its simply the end users and first line sales footing the damage for this action.

I was also in Tiger when the no bar dancing night was first imposed (Sat) and as well as calming the whole soi down it really pissed the girls off as less sanook and less chance of tempting customers.. Again the effects felt most among those that can least afford it

 

[da light]

Yup this is happening for sure, wheels are moving

 

[Pompal 09.]

From what we understand, it will be effectively immediately, like in tonight, fingers crossed. But as usual, we need to wait until its all official before getting too carried away.

 

[Brooks]

PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura has revealed a long-suspected but until now unstated reason for the new rules mandating 1 am closure of entertainment venues – the need to reduce prostitution.

The Governor was responding to threats by entertainment business leaders in Patong to close their doors indefinitely from October 26 to protest recently introduced rules requiring venues in entertainment zones to close at 1 am, and venues elsewhere at midnight.

Gov Udomsak told the Gazette, “[The government] believes that there are many advaneforum.xxxes to having a 1 am closing time, such as reducing the problem of drugs. There’s also the issue of human trafficking, which is the cause of too many women coming [from other parts of Thailand] to work in the ‘service industry’.

“If there were no entertainment venues in Patong I don’t think we would have thousands of women coming to work there.

“If we want to solve the problem of human trafficking, then we should [enforce the 1 am closing time] because this may reduce the number of women in the service business.”

The Governor appeared unmoved by the plan by entertainment business owners to close indefinitely in protest at the 1 am rule. “If [they] want to protest by shutting down, what are they going to get from that? It doesn’t matter if entertainment business owners want to protest or close their businesses. That’s up to them.”

Sompetch Moosophon, President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA) retorted, “Human trafficking is impossible in Patong. Women coming here from other provinces are adults. They know what they’re doing. They have escaped from bad conditions at home, from poverty and problems that the government has never fixed.

“I don’t understand why the Governor has raised this matter. The statistics of drugs and under-age drinking can be checked with the police – there have been no reports of [these problems] in Patong.

“As for naked shows, why don’t they check if the police in the area are working properly? As long as I have been here, I haven’t see any show like that.

“The association and I will discuss this soon. The Governor should know what is truly happening in [areas under] his control. He must know the truth before he makes a decision. I do not know where he got the information that we are a source of human trafficking.

The Phuket Gazette
18:24 local time (GMT +7)

 

[Proud New Momma]

I'm keeping everything crossed for ya ...Chok Dee Khrap

 

[mr mej]

Face saving crap begins....

 

[Micah]

This is all not very funny. Now its getting clearer and clearer that they want to shut the nightlife as we know it down. :mad2:

 

[Abby M.]

Yeh

I heard the same, 3am in the bag, waiting for the official paperwork from governor

Im just recovering from the hangover beach / football field party 2pm to 5am two days in a row. Its certainly not a euopean style strike!!!!! Never seen so many BG in one place, a picture to behold

I hope we can open tonight, things are getting desperate money wise and I think anymore than after today and things will begin to fall apart

G

 

[Vallerie]

So it is the 26 and it is getting evening. You mates down there please keep us informed what is going on. Are the bars closed? Is there any new reaction from the government? I think a lot of us are eager to hear.