Koh Phangan: Foreigners continually breaking the Covid-19 rules test the patience of district chief. Manager reported that the district chief of Koh Phangan in the south of Thailand was using a "big stick" to deal with groups of foreigners on his island who refuse to follow the Covid-19 rules. Bangkok Herald

Picture: Manager

 

Manager reported that the district chief of Koh Phangan in the south of Thailand was using a "big stick" to deal with groups of foreigners on his island who refuse to follow the Covid-19 rules.

 

Large groups of foreigners - mostly Europeans - have been gathering, drinking and eating and lighting fires from dawn to dusk on a secluded and difficult to access beach called Laem Niat.

 

After locals complained again chief Phoonsak Sophonpathumrak sent in a special task force who had to clamber over rocks to access the beach that can't be reached by vehicles.

 

Picture: Manager

 

After their 1 km trek they found groups of 5-6 foreigners flouting the rules with many not wearing masks. Locals fear it will be a breeding ground for Covid.

 

Manager reported the latest moves that resulted in warnings and telling the foreigners to leave the beach and go back to their resorts. 

 

These foreigners are not tourists in the usual sense of the word - they live on Koh Phangan, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

The local kamnan Pongpang Songmuang said he had received many complaints and some foreigners have already been prosecuted for flouting the rules.

 

Now the island's district chief is cracking down with threats of stiff fines under the emergency decree rules if the foreigners continue to misbehave.