Antal indlæg: 3352 Tilmeldt: 03.07.09 Status: Offline
Taxi motorcyclists nationwide pay Bt684 million each month in protection fees to so-called mafia, an inquiry initiated by a son of Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung found yesterday.
Wan, the newly appointed adviser to the transport minister, led the inspection of a number of taxi motorcycle queues in Bangkok, reportedly following a request by taxi motorcyclists. The first queue inspected was at Sukhumvit Soi 70/5, where the motorcyclists said they paid Bt45,000 each month to "protectors".
The motorcyclists said the protectors had also dispatched 20 unregistered riders to pick up passengers, resulting in their income being cut while having to still pay the monthly protection fees. Wan and Chalerm Changthongmadan, head of the Association of Taxi Motorcyclists of Thailand, vaguely identified who the protectors were. "This queue is located in areas under the influence of a retired Army general and military officers come to collect the fee," he added.
They did not mention the role of local police or traffic police who were supposed to tackle the problem but were not present during yesterday's inspection of several locations.
Quoting the association's head and other taxi motorcyclists, Wan said lawfully registered riders, who totalled around 190,000 nationwide, had to pay Bt120 each day to protectors, in addition to monthly fees. "This could amount to Bt684 million each month that the protectors have been enjoying," he added.
There are 4,453 queues registered with district offices, as of 2003, while there were around 1,000 non-registered queues operating illegally, he said. Wan inspected a few other queues in Sukhumvit and Bang Na areas during his tour yesterday. "I cannot tell you the time frame for dealing with the issue but it will be reported to the prime minister," he added.
To start tackling the problem, Wan said he would seek help from his father Chalerm, to register the 1,000 queues - which would see their licence-plate colour changed to yellow. He called on taxi motorcyclists to file complaints with the police or petition him directly, if they were attacked by the protectors after refusing to pay the fees. http://www.nation...75085.html
Antal indlæg: 337 Tilmeldt: 04.12.11 Status: Offline
Motorbike taxis ask Chalerm for help
Nu har det hjulpet med lidt opmærksomhed, efter sigende skulle der være 180.000 knallert taxier i Bangkok, kun 40.000 af dem er lovlige !!
Så nu er balladen startet, men hvor stærke er personerne bag afpresningen og hvor langt vil de gå nu det er prominente personer med rødder i politi og hær ??
Motorcycle taxi drivers on Friday sought help from Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, seeking protection from extortion by criminal gangs.
Chalerm Changthongmadan, chairman of the Hired Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association (AMTD), led about 300 association members operating in Bangkok and its vicinity to submit a letter of request to Mr Chalerm.
The letter contained three proposals. It called on police to urgently crack down on extortion gangs and illegal motorcycle taxi queues; for the Land Transport Department to be the main agency in regulating the business; and to take over issuing licences for motorcycle taxi drivers in the capital from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
A rule requiring drivers to apply for a BMA registration certificate, even though they already have yellow licence plates issued by the department must be cancelled, Mr Chalerm said.
The regulation had caused a flood of unlicensed motorcycle taxi drivers and generated opportunities for extortion.
There were about 180,000 motorcycle taxis in the metropolitan area; only 40,000 of them were licensed operators, he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister told the group that he had instructed national police chief Priewpan Damapong to solve the problem urgently, and denied allegations that police were involved with the exploitation of motorcycle taxis.
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