US Warships Visit Brings Ladyboy Crime Invaders
By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A SPATE of muggings by katoey ladboys in Patong has raised concern for
the safety of US sailors who arrive on Phuket to take shore leave next
week.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan spearheads a
friendly ''invasion'' of warships to boost Phuket's economy over five
days.
But another less friendly invasion of ladyboys from all over Thailand
has already begun, the local police chief warned today.
At 4am this morning, one of Phuket's leading American residents and
business identities, Denny Bowman, was mugged by three katoeys as he
sought shelter from a downpour under an awning in Patong's famous Soi
Bangla walking street.
Mr Bowman told Phuketwan that when he went to report the crime at
Patong's central Kathu Police Station this afternoon, he found himself
queuing behind a British backpacker who had also been rolled by
katoeys overnight.
Of the nightmarish incident, Mr Bowman said: ''It was all over in a
flash. Within seconds I was on the ground and they had my wallet.''
Two of the katoeys ran one way down Soi Bangla towards the beach, and
the third took off in the other direction.
Mr Bowman was carrying the Lion of the Year Award in a bag. The award
is to be presented tonight at a large gathering of Lions in Patong.
''I was guarding it with my life,'' he said.
Ironically, Mr Bowman's mugging was revealed when Phuketwan called him
to check the facts for a story promoting the economic resurgence of
Phuket and the benefits of the arrival of the US sailors next week.
He took the call at the police station. Mr Bowman, also one of the
founders of the island's well-known International Business Association
of Phuket group, is in the process of organising a local branch of the
navy club to help with future visits of warships to Phuket.
His experience with katoeys comes amid continuing uproar over the
screening on the Internet of an incident involving a jet-ski operator
allegedly ripping off a US marine. US warships were last in Phuket in
June.
The off-cut footage from the British documentary reality television
series 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' was placed online following
the screening in Britain of the premier episode of 'Trouble.'
The footage, posted on YouTube, proved that the same operator, Winai
''JJ'' Naiman, had been in a second rip-off confrontation with US
marines within days of a similar incident with British marines, in
which he wielded a gun.
Between 4000 and 6500 US sailors are expected to be on the island over
five days from Tuesday. Patong, the island's most lively nighttime
zone, is where many of them will gather.
The superintendent of Patong's Kathu police station, Police Colonel
Grissak Songmoonnark, said today that his officers were arresting
between five and 10 ladyboys each day for a variety of offences.
''Many of them have come from other areas because the Americans will
be here next week,'' he said. ''They come whenever American, British
or Australian warships are in port.''
He said that many of the ladyboys were ''very beautiful'' and capable
of deceiving male visitors in many ways. Locals who worked in Soi
Bangla bars were known to police, but outsiders posed greater
problems.
''Sometimes they beat up the customers if they can't make a deal on
prices,'' he said.
Visiting US sailors are usually advised to avoid riding the jet-skis
in Patong and warned about the deceptive katoeys.
There was no reality television crew present when Mr Bowman was mugged
this morning. But he is looking forward to tonight's gala Lions dinner
of the year.
Last night he was at a fellowship meeting of the Lions Andaman Sea
Club with members from Singapore, Japan and Malaysia before joining
''a couple of buddies'' for a few drinks in Soi Bangla.
He was alone, though, when he was mugged.
Mr Bowman remains positive about Phuket's economy and says all the
indication at his PhuketDir.com Internet On-line Directory of
Businesses for Phuket are positive.
''The signs are all looking good,'' he said. ''Traffic is up and
bookings are increasing.
''When it comes to the people who are in danger of being mugged,
though, I feel for those who are unaware of what might happen.
''But as a Patong resident, I remain very positive. All the curves are
up.''
US officials have made the point that many of the US sailors will be
engaging in training with the Royal Thai Navy while on Phuket. Others
will reunite with their families, or do charity work. More will take
adventure tours and go on dive trips to the coral reefs.
Es sollte jeder vor seiner eigenen Haustür kehren.
@Strike,
