Phuket protest against Jewish New Year event going ahead - Bangkok Post

Tourists walk past the entrance gate of the four-storey Chabad House in Patong, Phuket on Wednesday. (Photo: Phuket Times) PHUKET - A local civic group is going ahead with its planned demonstration on Friday against a Jewish New Year celebration, despite organisers scaling back the event amid security concerns.

The group, calling itself Save Phuket, announced on Thursday that it would gather at 3pm at Dolphin Circle in Patong to stage what it described as a symbolic demonstration against the Rosh Hashanah celebration scheduled for the same day at Chabad House Phuket, located 550 metres away.

Save Phuket, which brings together 10 allied groups including taxi and tuk-tuk operators and a Thai pro-Palestinian network, said local residents remained concerned that the event could expose the resort island to security risks and affect public order and tourism.

The planned gathering follows the group’s unsuccessful campaign to stop the Jewish New Year celebration, which it argued could make Patong vulnerable to international tensions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Group leaders said local opposition had been ignored and organisers had chosen to proceed with the event despite concerns raised by residents. They said the demonstration was intended to reiterate those concerns and draw public attention to the issue.

The protest announcement comes a day after organisers confirmed the Rosh Hashanah celebration would proceed on Friday, saying tickets had already been sold and preparations completed.

They argued that cancelling the event would cause significant financial losses and damage Phuket’s tourism image, according to Phuket deputy governor Pol Capt Khetrat Chansilp.

To address security concerns, organisers agreed to scale back the gathering. Activities planned at a hotel have been cancelled, leaving Chabad Patong as the sole venue.

Expected attendance has been reduced from 1,000 people to no more than 800, while the event’s closing time has been moved forward from midnight to 9pm.

On Wednesday, Pol Capt Khetrat said authorities would allow opponents to hold a lawful parallel demonstration and designate separate areas for protesters and event participants to prevent confrontations. Police and administrative officials would maintain a security presence throughout the event.