Guest fountainhall Posted May 7, 2009 Posted May 7, 2009 Getting home in Bangkok around 8:00 pm this evening, I was surprised to see groups of police in riot gear on several street corners on Silom and Sathorn. I have not seen today's papers, but it seems there was a riot in Patpong last night. A Thai friend told me that police and government officers were there to confiscate fake goods in the market that stretches along the soi in the evening. The traders rioted and pursued the police, even after warning shots were fired into the air. There was then a mini-battle by the entrance of the Montien Hotel, sending tourists fleeing and resulting in several cars being trashed. As this gets spread in the overseas media, the country's already poor image is going to plummet further. I just wonder who is going to take responsibility for imposing law and order. Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 7, 2009 Posted May 7, 2009 I have not seen today's papers, but it seems there was a riot in Patpong last night. Here's the BANGKOK POST version of the story: _____ Government Takes Tough Stand on Pirate Goods Published: 7/05/2009 at 06:11 PM The current crackdown on intellectual property violations will continue, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday, echoing the tough stance of Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot who vowed earlier in the day to conduct raids on sellers of pirate goods every two days. Mr Alongkorn also pledged to make sure ministry officials display identification before commencing arrests and confiscating goods. The government's hardening of its stance follows a raid on vendors in Patpong on Wednesday night and a clash which led to 11 people being injured. Vendors filed a series of police complaints against commerce officials, accusing them of assault, damaging property and abuse of authority. Mr Alongkorn said the public must view Wednesday night’s incident fairly as officials on the raid also suffered serious injuries. Mr Abhisit said he would be going over reports of the incident to determine if officials acted inappropriately, which might prompt a revision of raid procedure. Venders clashed violently with ministry officials in Bangkok’s tourist centre of Patpong. There were reports of gunshots being fired into the air to scare off the officials. About 200 vendors and 50 commerce officials were involved in the conflict, which erupted after officials raided sellers’ booths to arrest them for intellectual property violations and confiscated their goods. Officials arrested four sellers and made off with four vans loaded with confiscated counterfeit goods, mostly pirate copies of bags and clothes. The arrested vendors were taken to Bang Rak police station. They were given bail on Thursday morning. Another vendor under charge was being treated for his wounds at hospital. Other vendors shortly afterwards marched to Bang Rak police station to file charges against the commerce officials. They accused them of assault and causing damage to property. Some sellers, covered in blood smears, told reporters they were assaulted by the raiding party. Market vendors continued to file charges with police throughout Thursday. National police chief Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan said he instructed the chief of Bangkok police to closely supervise all issues relating to the incident. Pol Gen Patcharawat said he would examine reports that Central Investigation Bureau police took part in the raid. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 7, 2009 Posted May 7, 2009 This is clearly why my usual DVD supplier was nowhere to be seen on Silom today. Quote
Nikom Posted May 7, 2009 Posted May 7, 2009 This "event" happened two days after the American government was screaming about their 'intellectual rights' not being paid for. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted May 8, 2009 Posted May 8, 2009 I used to get good quality DVD's in KL cheaper than in LOS, then the last time I was there the vendors were all gone. I did just get good ones in HCMC for 25 baht each. Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 8, 2009 Posted May 8, 2009 Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, as long as there is money to be made the USA can complain about it from now until the Second Coming, but I seriously doubt much will ever really be done to stop it any more than they can stop the drug trade. In all of Thailand, I know of only one shop at which legitimate DVDs are even available at all. The average price for a legitimate imported DVD there is between US $30 to US$50, on up. Meanwhile, DVDs bought from most of the vendors cost 100 baht. Three guesses who will prevail. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 8, 2009 Posted May 8, 2009 I used to get good quality DVD's in KL cheaper than in LOS, then the last time I was there the vendors were all gone In Beijing they come round all the bars with fistfuls of the latest movies. They don't bother with street sales any more. Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 9, 2009 Posted May 9, 2009 The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Alongkorn Told to Cool It after Ruckus in Patpong By: MANOP THIP-OSOD Published: 9/05/2009 The Democrat Party has put the brakes on Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot's crackdown on retailers of pirated goods and has asked him to target the producers instead. The move was announced yesterday by Democrat spokesman Buranaj Samuttaraks, after some 200 traders from the Patpong area gathered at the party's headquarters. The vendors complained that Commerce Ministry officials had over-reacted with their Wednesday-night crackdown on intellectual property violations on Patpong Road. "We will treat each side fairly," Dr Buranaj told the traders. The crackdown should be aimed at producers of pirated goods as they were the root cause of the problem, and it should be made sure that any action taken would not hurt tourism in anyway, said the spokesman. The Democrats will meet to discuss the matter again next Tuesday, in a bid to find softer ways to deal with traders selling pirated goods in Bangkok. Wednesday night's operation ended in a brawl when traders clashed with officials who confiscated the illegal goods, mostly counterfeit bags and clothes, and loaded them into four vans. About 10 officials were injured in the melee. The traders were aware of their wrongdoing, but said they want the government to adopt a more peaceful approach. Mr Alongkorn, who heads the state's anti-piracy campaign, previously said the ministry would deal harshly with intellectual property violators by launching raids every two days. The Patpong shopping area would not be spared. The deputy minister, who is visiting South Africa, could not be reached for comment yesterday. Meanwhile, the police have set up an inquiry panel to question Bang Rak police chief Pol Col Ekachai Bunwisut, as Patpong falls under his jurisdiction. He has been heavily criticised for turning a blind eye to piracy in his district, said Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Worapong Chewpreecha. But no senior officers have been transferred from Bang Rak district so far, deputy city police chief Wiboon Bangtamai said. Preventing the sale of pirated goods is a police officer's duty, but the force deals with the matter in a different manner from commerce officials, Pol Maj Gen Wiboon said. Officers usually begin their action once they receive complaints from manufacturers and then raid the production sites or warehouses of the pirates. "Arresting small street sellers would face resistance," he said. Despite attempts to negotiate and warn the retailers, Pol Maj Gen Wiboon said that sometimes the arrests also led to unexpected injuries and deaths. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted May 9, 2009 Posted May 9, 2009 In other words...they put on a show for the US because they made noise, and now it is all over!!! Quote
Guest shebavon Posted May 9, 2009 Posted May 9, 2009 You read this one right. I'm sure when I get back, I will still be able to get 6 for 500 baht. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 9, 2009 Posted May 9, 2009 I'm sure when I get back, I will still be able to get 6 for 500 bah I'll check and see if my regular supplier is back in place this evening. Quote
Gaybutton Posted May 9, 2009 Posted May 9, 2009 I'll check and see if my regular supplier is back in place this evening. I'm guessing that he, along with all the rest are already back in place or will be in a day or so. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 10, 2009 Posted May 10, 2009 You guessed right. She was there - and doing a roaring trade! Quote
