(From left) Pol. Col. Arun
Promphan, Pattaya tourism police inspector, Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn,
president of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Pol. Col. Chaiyot
Varakjunkiat, superintendent of Chonburi immigration, and Sakchai Taengho,
Banglamung district chief, along with invited guests discuss how the press
affects Pattaya’s image.
Warunya Thongrod
Stung by incessant news reports about foreign criminal activity in
Pattaya, top area police and business leaders plan to hold a press conference to
put their own spin on crime stories they claim have hurt the city’s image.
The heads of the Chonburi Immigration Office, Banglamung District, Pattaya
Tourist Police, and Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, joined top
officials from police stations in Chonburi, Nongprue, Banglamung and Pattaya and
representatives from the National Intelligence Agency and Internal Security
Operational Command July 31 to condemn local media reports about crimes by both
foreigners and Thais.
They complained the media is sensationalizing crimes and even distorting facts
to make matters sound worse than they really are.
“I request the media reduce using such harsh language, since
some news incidents are not as severe as they are reported to be,” Business &
Tourism Association President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn said. “It’s being done
just to sell newspapers and is resulting in destruction to the image of
Pattaya.”
Failing to see the irony in their “don’t shoot the messenger” tirade, the
politicians and police officials offered no plans or ideas on how to actually
quell Pattaya’s crime problem, only decrying the impact the coverage has on
tourism.
“I’m not happy with the news that has been published, much of about Pattaya
having foreign organized crime gangs in the city,” said Banglamung District
Chief Sakchai Taengho. “Stories about foreign or Thai mafia leads to a bad
image, destroying many aspects of the city.”
“I’ve not seen a real mafia criminal in Pattaya since that German gangster was
deported,” agreed Sinchai, referring to an influential German businessman, who
allegedly bribed a politician in 1998 and, after sneaking back into the kingdom,
was caught and deported in 2006.
Sinchai did admit, however, that organized crime-like gangs have been
responsible for the jet ski and speedboat scams that have plagued the city. But,
he said, “I believe these groups are small.”
Adding to the surrealism of the moment, Chonburi Immigration Superintendent Col.
Chaiyot Varakjunkiat chimed in that Pattaya’s jet ski and speedboat problems
“have already been solved.”
More concerning to him were Thai news reports that an illegal poker game broken
up by police on Pratamnak Hill July 28 was run by Russian organized crime. It
was not, Chaiyot said. None of the participants were Russian. (The Pattaya Mail
this week reports in its story that the game was operated by an American with
help from two Cambodians.)
Foreign organized crime is not the main problem Pattaya faces, said Sinchai,
also condemning media reports that the Pratamnak Hill “casino” was operated by
and for Russians.
“The real problem we face is that most foreigners working here are using nominee
companies, or have married a Thai woman and have purchased land or investing in
businesses, which is illegal, since foreigners cannot hold land,” the business
and tourism association president said.
“I believe that Pattaya must call a press conference to counter the news and
compare and analyze cases involving foreigners in all four police
jurisdictions,” Sinchai said. “By doing this, society will be able to see
whether Pattaya has organized crime or not and will learn that police officers
care and enforce the law.”
Both the association chief and the immigration boss took pains to point out that
organized crime problems in Pattaya are not as severe as in Phuket.
“Down there they have illegal taxis threatening and gouging tourists. This does
not happen here,” said Sinchai. “Most of what occurs in Pattaya is re business
conflicts,” he added, referring the July 2 arrest of a Russian loan shark who is
accused of kidnapping non-paying clients and forcing at least one woman into
prostitution.
“Foreigners don’t understand money lending and Thais are the ones offering them
advice,” he said.
Concluding that Pattaya was a paradise that has been grossly misrepresented by
the media to sell papers and cable television, the outraged politicians,
business owners and police agreed to organize an even larger press forum where
they promised to tell the “real” story about crime in Pattaya.
No date for the event was announced.
