An entourage of government
officials, military and local police make their way to inspect Koh Larn’s
beaches.
Urasin Khantaraphan
The furor over an Internet video showing a Cambodian beach vendor
kicking sand on a tourist who refused to rent a beach chair has lit a fire
under Pattaya’s efforts to bring order to the island’s shoreline.
The day after arresting 25-year-old “Ping” for intimidating and assaulting a
Russian woman in the 2013 video released on YouTube Sept. 5, Banglamung
District Chief Sakchai Taengho, soldiers from the 14th Infantry Circle in
Chonburi, and Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh returned to the island
to lay down the law to 200 beach-chair vendors.
Pattaya, they explained, has launched efforts to enforce long-standing
regulations on the operations and space used by chair and umbrella renters
in hopes of staving off the type of military action that took place in
Phuket, where soldiers removed every chair and structure on the sand. But
behavior such as that depicted in the viral video - even if it occurred in
October 2013 - jeopardizes those efforts by putting pressure on the National
Council for Peace and Order to intervene, they said.
On Sept. 9, local government workers and Marine Department officials began a
survey of Koh Larn’s seven beaches, measuring the width of the sand, how
many chairs were deployed and what percentage of the sand is left for the
public.
Sakchai said the goal is to increase the amount of beach where tourists can
sit without needing to rent a beach chair. But the final determination of
the percentage and the methods used to achieve it won’t be finalized until
local officials meet with Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai within the next 30
days.
Officials said a committee also will be established to look at longer-term
solutions, including even emptying the beach of all chairs and umbrellas one
day a week. However, more discussions on such matters is needed, Sakchai
said.
One person who may not be participating in any future talks, however, is Pae
Poaphim, the owner of a Nang Nual restaurant and the concession holder for
the beach parcel and Ping’s employer. The Cambodian said he rousted the
Russian tourist on orders from Pae.
Chonburi police Superintendent Maj. Gen. Thanet Pinmueng-ngam said police
have questioned Pae and are investigating whether he was indeed involved in
the video. If so, he will face charges as well. The beach survey also will
determine if his restaurant encroaches on public land.
