Editor;

Following your article on “Boat crew caught dumping Larn Island’s trash in Pattaya Bay” in the 27th July issue I would like to point out the possible further results. This week the beach at Jomtien was an utter disgrace with plastic garbage bags washed up in the hundreds. Lying on the beach without exaggeration was like lying in the middle of a garbage dump, which also possibly created a severe health hazard.

It is unfortunate that culprits such as these do not have any environmental values, let alone the damaging effects on tourism. It is better to spend some money in a regular beach clean up than allocate all funds to tourist promotion when the product is not correct. It is well known in other countries that regular beach clean ups are carried out on a routine basis in order to make the beaches a pleasant environment. In the event that there is an environmentally damaging event (oil spill, etc.) there is a crew on standby to take immediate corrective action. There seems little point in spending huge amounts of money on a water treatment plant if the total infrastructure package is not put into place to support it, and the longer term objectives.

I only hope that “City Hall “ can see to rectify this hole, in order that both my wife and I can once again enjoy the gradual improvement in the quality of sea water and hopefully a beach cleaned on a routine basis.

Dear Khai Khem,

I am just a spectator all things considered, but since the ubiquitous nature of substance abuse knows no political borders, neither do opinions on how to deal with it.

The ‘American war on drugs’ is all but dead, seeming to be as important now as the problems the abuse itself causes. Why? Shifting political platforms are certainly a big reason. You want some evidence? Bill Clinton lied saying he inhaled and it (not the lying) was a real campaign issue. This was around 1992. Al Gore admitted he smoked pot during the 2000 campaign and it didn’t even register on the media radar, because the average American doesn’t even care when compared to the price of butter, or their new SUV.

It seems only a matter of time before the US follows along with some more mature European countries treating drug abuse and addiction as the medical situation it is instead of a criminal offense that is still the popular paradigm. Sure, drugs are as big a problem as ever in the states, but school shootings are currently in favor for the limited Politick attentions, along with the price of butter... Perhaps gene manipulation will be next, but we had better wait until the butter futures are released.

I suppose Thailand ‘lost its cherry’ long ago regarding recreational drug use. But lately, the crackdown on ALL drugs (interestingly, Thailand like the US, finds a big difference among alcohol, ya ba and everything else) and their potential dangers is much too glittery in the popular media. Sure, it’s a big, ugly problem, and an especially dire one to the most important resource of the country. But to suggest the zoning laws are to reduce these social problems? Pu-lease spare me. With the trifle I think I know about Thailand and specifically Pattaya, this is little more than an image face-lift which will line some pockets and shift some political power. And of course (it was) designed to change the perception of Pattaya as a desirable destination.

If authorities wanted to keep young people away from the bars, they would! What bounds does a determined Thai get hindered by? “Hmmm, what would mom say!” sounds like a possibility. No point bantering about graft, or the lack of resources, or low morale among the officers. This is another aspect of the global drug problem that all countries face when dealing with trafficking and abuse. Of course only legislation could change this; and few countries, as of yet, have had the courage to attempt to change.

Khai Khem, your take on the dominant family role cannot be stated loudly enough. Children are a reflection of their parents. Sure, modern pressures and influences, Thai and farang alike, within the country and on TV, cause so many to succumb to drug abuse. But who is more likely to intervene successfully, police or parents? I thought I could define family until I visited Asia. I am not trying to undermine the importance of laws.

Thailand should take the quick and easy lesson from America’s failure to deal with their drug problems. Employing police and lawyers, judges and jailers is an incredible waste of limited resources.

Instead of repeating these mistakes, perhaps putting the limited resources back in the families that so desperately need them will be more effective. These same families also happen to be the ones most susceptible to the temptations of a quick-good feeling whether it’s from the chemical high or the pecuniary one.

Even if Thailand pushes, full on, for criminal treatment, the pushers better wear a consistent face. Trying to BS children will confuse them and exacerbate the problem they want to eliminate.

As long as Thailand aligns its drug policies with the obsolete US attitude it will suffer the same social breakdown that America is experiencing. Of course, it would also be great if America followed Thailand’s example regarding the importance of the family unit. But that’s another vent session.

Khai Khem responds: Comments from reader John in Wilmington, Delaware rightly point out that politics and law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem of drug abuse and trafficking. There is no one solution to this scourge because the components of the problem are many and complex. Certainly the family has the first and most lasting influence on their members. Individuals are also positively influenced through education and community efforts. Like the current economic crisis, the rising drug problem needs a faster response time from the government. Our national leaders must realize that to neglect this issue will only serve to allow it to grow to unmanageable proportions.

As to the rezoning of Pattaya’s entertainment areas, if implemented and strictly enforced, this could address some of the logistical problems police have in keeping track of those businesses which flaunt the law. Like all growing cities, manpower in police districts has its limitations. The enforcement of the law will be determined by the political will of the provincial administration.

Editor;

After witnessing the “so called” raid last Sunday evening (July 29th) on a bar in Sunee Plaza in which 5 boys ages 7 thru 11 were arrested, I was amazed to see these kids back on the street a very short time later. Apparently after paying a very small fine by the bar owner these kids were released to return to the couple that exploit, run and manage these boys.

This couple makes their living off the boys selling themselves. Why were these boys not held for family members to pick them up or placed in a secure safe environment? Are the pay-offs and bribes more important than these boys or putting an end to such nonsense?

Concerned