Staff believe Shark will reopen

PATONG: Loyal Shark Club staff still camping outside the darkened disco in protest over its closure expect the club will eventually reopen, one of their leaders told the Gazette today. The staff also hope that expelled Canadian manager-shareholder Kevin Radke will return to run the business. The club’s Chief Engineer, Sayan Ongvimonkarn, told the Gazette that he believed the closure was an unfair punishment, and said that the victims numbered not only staff but also fast food vendors, tuk-tuk drivers and motorcycle taxi riders. Staff showed the Gazette video interviews they had conducted with local traders, who confirmed that this was the case. K. Sayan said, “I don’t believe the Shark will be closed forever. If it is, then I have to believe that this world is totally unfair.” He added that, after the closure order, staff had received several calls from “powerful people” advising them to stay quiet and not make demands. If they complied, they were told, the club would most likely reopen. The Shark was closed on January 30 and Mr Radke was thrown out of Thailand two weeks later after authorities decided his activities on the island were “in conflict with Thai morals”. Many of the original staff of 135 are still being paid reduced salaries.