“Women auction parties’ report denied

PHUKET: Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration Police, yesterday emphatically denied a newspaper report alleging that regular parties are held in Phuket at which Thai women are auctioned off to foreigners. His comments followed the publishing of a front-page article on Thursday in a local Thai newspaper. The paper named Col Apirak as its source for the story. Col Apirak emphatically rejected the story. He told the Gazette, “I have not spoken with any members of the press about this because Phuket doesn’t have problems like this.” The story claimed that the monthly parties were attended by Thai women who wanted foreign “husbands” and foreign men who wanted Thai “wives”. Col Apirak said that the Thai newspaper might have become confused after an alleged drug party was busted in Pattaya last week. Following the bust, rumors circulated that Thai women were being auctioned off at that party. “I’m certain that Phuket doesn’t have parties where women are auctioned off,” he said. He added, however, “We are keeping an eye on three venues that have many private parties. I’m concerned that the law is perhaps being broken at these parties.”