HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Police are looking in the wrong places

Pattaya cleanup suggestions

Thanks from AFT-ERC

Social order campaign not driving away tourists

PAWS now an approved, registered charity

Star Dice din

Boycott any business directly or indirectly involved in child prostitution

Police are looking in the wrong places

Dear Editor,

With all the kiddie prostitution going on right under the noses of the local cops, why do Pattaya’s “finest” and even the Kingdom’s saintly Interior Minister spend so much time patrolling the Beach Road sois, Walking Street and the local discos, hoping to uncover minor violations of decades-old laws?

May I be so bold as to suggest that perhaps their time would be better spent taking a stroll down Soi 17 in South Pattaya, unannounced and out of uniform, in their search for vice rather than raiding legitimate businesses where consenting adults are trying to make a living by entertaining other consenting adults trying to have a little fun. Just a thought.

Arizona Jack

Pattaya cleanup suggestions

Dear Sir,

I have just returned from my annual 4 months in Pattaya. I feel I have to comment on the authorities ‘cleanup’ campaign. Why are they spending so much time and money on items which will only affect a few? I was near a go-go bar when it was raided because 6 girls were dancing topless - something you can see in almost any city in the world!

The cleanup I would suggest is to remove the ‘freelancers’ that clutter up the whole of Beach Road - even opposite the police station. This would not be tolerated in many cities. The other is to deal with many street dogs - many I have seen look more dead than alive. Deal with these two matters and Pattaya will have appeal for couples and families.

Finally - not a cleanup suggestion but an education suggestion. Ensure that Korean tour guides explain to their clients how to behave in their hotel. I know someone who was moved 4 times in 2 weeks due to the disturbance factor by Koreans.

Nigel from Kent England

Thanks from AFT-ERC

Editor;

The Association of Filipinos in Thailand Eastern Region would like to thank all the sponsors who contributed to the Beach Cleaning Project held on Sunday, March 24: Scandinavia Restaurant, Mio & Jan Olav Aamlid, Jesters MC, Sophon Kanarka, Gier Bakker, Friendship Supermarket and ISS Promotions. Thank you on behalf of the AFT-ERC.

Virginia Sorenson

President

Social order campaign not driving away tourists

Dear Editor,

In your issue VOL. X No 12, Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekhanon speaks of ‘disillusioned...tourists’ and about ‘falling numbers of tourists to Pattaya’. He did not elaborate.

But I do: That there are less single-men (and only this group might be disillusioned!) in Pattaya has absolutely nothing to do with the social order campaign. It was started nationwide on December 1, 2001. Phuket for example sees a big growth in singles!

Clearly something is wrong with Pattaya and as I was told by many of my single men it is kind of annoying in Pattaya. Always the same bar business, always the same cheating, always the same faces and always: what’s your name, where you come from, I go with you, etc. But also too many places, bars and a-go-go’s stretching from Siam Bayshore to Soi Wongamat on the Beach Road as well as on Second Road, not to forget all the sois. I took a stroll through Soi 2 the other night and could see hundreds of girls and about 30 farang guests.

But isn’t it this what Khun Purachai has in mind? Let them run out of business, they close and the licenses can be revoked! Next step is concentrating nightlife in designated areas as it is done in cities all over the world, including Bangkok.

The article goes on with the extended Walking Street on Saturday. Mr. Surat Mekhavarakul speaks about it is ‘...against the nature of the people and businesses in Pattaya’. And ‘...a lot of damage to business operators in the area’. Also he does not elaborate.

But I do: The only ‘damage’ might come to the anyhow unwanted motorbike, car and jeep-renters along the Beach Road. I know plenty of shop owners along Beach Road which are happy as much more customers come in on Saturday. As well as the owners of restaurants - full houses on Saturday. The ‘nature of the people’ which are complaining is affected because they cannot park their cars right in front of their shops! Imagine! They have to walk. Really against nature, but not only of the people of Pattaya.

Mrs. Sopin Thappajug actually is not affected as her businesses are on Second Road or further north. But she is right by saying people of Bangkok face ‘the same traffic problems as at home’. True, and they are used to it and won’t mind. What really might make them stay away is that they cannot find any parking space near the Beach Road and that thus they have to walk a long distance - which is against their nature.

I agree completely ‘that the activities along the fair were scarce and far between...’ Where are the artists, clowns, magicians, musicians - you name it? Look in ‘Walking Streets’ around the world and there is plenty of private entertainment. They just put a hat in front of them, do their shows and get tips from the onlookers. Why should this be impossible in Pattaya? Looks much better than the beggars all around with their ‘hats’.

I walked every Saturday looking for improvements and met most of my about 200 guests enjoying the little heaven one day of the week. But plenty of Thais too. All of them I spoke to told me it is a great idea. But why not the same entertainment as in Bangkok’s Silom Road? There you can find all the activities mentioned above, I was told by Bangkok people. Organisers, please have a look yourself.

Another great idea would be bringing in the horse carriages from Jomtien. It would be nice to have a ride along Beach Road by a horse drawn vehicle.

My letter is no complaint. I just want to give some suggestions and do absolutely not agree with the arguments of some influential people which want to bring to a halt one of the finest ideas Pattaya City Hall has had.

Axel Borsdorf

World of TUI, Service
Eastern Seaboard - TH

PAWS now an approved, registered charity

Dear Editor:

The Pattaya Animal Welfare Foundation (PAWS), which started out in February 2000 as an informal club to help stray animals, was awarded national government approval as an official charity on 24 October 2001. Approval number is 493/2544. The foundation is registered in Chonburi Province. Registration number is Chor Bor. 62, dated 1 November 2001.

The overriding PAWS mission is to help the government in providing humane, responsible, and systematic population control over stray animals, and reduce their numbers over time. This will be done in partnership with the Thai Society for the Conservation of Wild Animals (TSCWA) by capturing, transporting, sterilizing, giving rabies and other medicinal vaccinations, temporarily recovering, and providing identification to over 1,000 stray dogs per year, and returning them to where they originally came from, or transferring them to cooperating temples. By accomplishing these actions, PAWS hopes to reduce the animal pool for the spread of rabies and make the greater Pattaya area a more attractive and cleaner residence and tourist destination. The foundation will transition into operations at local temples, then expand into the sois and lanes of the region.

Because of the daunting population control mission and finite resources, PAWS will not be accepting unwanted animals or operating its own shelter. Rather, the foundation will work with temples in the region to enhance their function as traditional, free-roaming animal shelters. PAWS will not duplicate the Pattaya Department of Public Health and Environment in providing control services over troublesome animals. This city department can be contacted at (038) 429374—5, ext. 310 or 311. And except when working directly in the field, PAWS will not be providing emergency veterinary care. The nearest local vet should be contacted.

Committed Thai and foreign volunteers, with some time to serve every week, are very much needed in the following areas: public relations and volunteer recruitment, project planning, fundraising, contract compliance, and website and database management. Those interested may contact PAWS through the following email address: [email protected]

Sincerely,

Richard A. Kubiak

Pattaya Animal Welfare Foundation (PAWS)

Star Dice din

Editor;

I wonder what can put an end to the incredibly loud noise (hardly music) that the Dice Pub, in Stardice Entertainment Plaza, has been airing over Naklua from dusk until late in the night since Thursday 28 March. It proves impossible to enjoy a quiet drink in one’s garden, and later to find some rest, due to this barbaric din.

The authorities contacted may have deaf ears. It would be a great relief for many farangs here - and without any doubt locals as well - if somebody could bring this to a halt. When enquiring about what could be done, I was told that ‘the owner is rich’ meaning: ‘he can buy the right to disturb everybody in a populated area in order to make money from his business’. That sums up it all.

Quiet resident

Boycott any business directly or indirectly involved in child prostitution

To the editor,

As a gay man, and one who has enjoyed the positive (legal) aspects of Sunee Plaza during my many visits to Thailand over the years, may I just comment that all of this angry talk over a single bar there catering to pedophiles misses the point.

It is not just one bar but the entire Sunee Plaza area now and probably about half of all the business there which are making money one way or another off of the street children hanging about there. The remaining businesses not directly involved in this sad trade are perhaps just as guilty as the ones that are, as owners, patrons and employees, Thais and foreigners turn a blind eye to what is very obviously going on.

Sunee Plaza has not always been a haven for pedophiles, pimps and drug dealers. This is something that seems to have developed and increased during the past few years. Now, despite the bar raid and arrests not too long ago, the problem is worse and more blatant than ever. The boys picked up by the authorities at the bar a few months ago have already been replaced by an even larger number of younger and more vulnerable children.

As I am reluctant to complain publicly or contact the proper authorities in person, all I feel I can do is write this letter and hope others will do the same. I appeal to the community of Pattaya, both Thai and foreign, straight and gay, to come to Sunee Plaza and see how bad this problem is for themselves. Perhaps if more people write letters like this one or make anonymous reports to the authorities it will shed some light on this horrific situation. Maybe then the appropriate government or welfare agency will take some direct action and help these much-abused children.

I also believe that those of us who patronize Sunee Plaza can help by totally boycotting any business directly or indirectly involved in child prostitution. Maybe this will hasten the return of Sunee to an area we can all feel safe in and proud of.

Signed,

AK

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