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Damn those farangs

Tower of Babel

Pattaya changing for the worse

Looking for brave souls

Commentary: Gun free Pattaya-a reality?

Damn those farangs

Dear Editor,

I think we should all applaud the G&PS committees for their intelligent, selfless, and certainly non-racist public service they have been doing for Pattaya as was outlined in the May 24, 2002 article in the Pattaya Mail titled, “Foreigners cited as cause of many of Pattaya’s problems”. Their work should not by any means be misconstrued as an attempt to pander to the Thai voters and use the underlying current of racism in the country for their own political benefit. No! Those damn farangs surely are the cause of many of Pattaya’s problems and should all be expelled! Then Pattaya could go back to being a quiet fishing village without all the problems caused by those pesky farangs. Pattaya certainly doesn’t need the millions of dollars that the farangs pump into the city’s economy.

First of all, Chonburi deputy governor Wirawat Wiwatanawanich’s decision not to give work permits to farangs wishing to open such “inappropriate businesses” as internet cafes, restaurants, karaoke bars, and beer bars is a fantastic idea. Just allow only the Thais to own and operate such undesirable businesses. That will surely cut down on many of the problems here in Pattaya and will help keep Pattaya’s untarnished reputation intact as one of the world’s most wholesome family vacation destinations.

The committee’s infinite wisdom is again evident in giving special attention to those farang restaurants and bars which could be fronts for child prostitution. I know every time I go to a farang restaurant in town, I am just appalled at the number of child prostitutes plying their trade inside. I agree that it’s much better to just let the Thai owners, such as the ones who run the infamous bars in Sunee Plaza, to continue to operate. And once the G&PS committee rids Pattaya once and for all of all the child prostitutes working in the farang restaurants and bars and get rid of all the farangs who prey on them, that certainly will be good news for the city, as of course no Thais have ever been involved in smuggling, pimping, or having sex with child prostitutes.

After all, all of those underage Cambodian and Burmese sex workers recently rounded up must have been brought here by farangs. And certainly all of the numerous non-profit charitable and volunteer organizations run by farangs here working to help improve the plight of homeless orphaned street kids must be up to no good, too.

Finally, the committee’s decision to go after those horrible farang drivers who create a menace on what would be otherwise orderly and chaos-free Thai roads was long overdo. I have never seen such horrible drivers and unsafe driving conditions anywhere else in the world. And, it’s those damn farangs who have caused it all. They may only own about 0.001 percent of all of the cars in the country, but they surely cause all the problems.

Daniel

Pattaya

Tower of Babel

Editor;

Once again the Thai government-telecommunications-complex has shown its complete disregard for the tens of thousands of non-Thais who pump billions of baht into the Thai economy.

The World Cup football matches began Friday. Three TV channels broadcast the same feed - in Thai language only. Page 6 of the Bangkok Post’s Friday World Cup Special section states succinctly that English language soundtrack “is too costly”. Even if the broadcast stations do not, undoubtedly UBC has the capability to broadcast multiple language tracks simultaneously. English is just the obvious “universal” choice; French, German, Japanese and Chinese would have been alternatives that would have served thousands of interested fans. We all know that the matches are being broadcast in every possible language. But would UBC or the government-telecommunications-complex spend one satang to serve the interests of foreigners? We don’t need a 1-900 phone-in poll to get that answer.

Sign me:

Grandpa in Chonburi

PS - Congratulations to our own SOPHON cable and the ASTRO Sports channels for topping UBC with an English language broadcast of the World Cup matches.

Pattaya changing for the worse

Sir,

I would like to add a contribution regarding Ken Ungaer’s letter. He pointed out that a Briton, Philip Thompson, was arrested for child abuse about a year ago, and was wondering what the current situation was regarding this issue. We are all aware of the money that changes hands in Thailand, and that cases are suddenly dropped. But as this man was a British subject, I wondered if perhaps he had faced arrest in Britain for this crime too, as it was brought into British law a few years ago that any citizen sexually abusing children abroad would face a court in Britain if there was sufficient evidence. I have not heard of any cases in Britain being brought under this law, but this sounds like one that should have been brought.

On that note, and with the recent U.S. fleet visiting Pattaya, I also recall a bar girl who reported being raped by 5 U.S. sailors about 18 months ago during a fleet visit. She had agreed to go to a hotel with one sailor, not knowing there were another 4 men waiting in the room. She allegedly was raped by all 5. The incident was reported to police, and the girl received “compensation” from her assaulters, as is common in Thailand.

However, there were reports in the Pattaya Mail that this incident would follow proper procedure in U.S. military justice. I believe that statement came from a U.S. embassy official. However, I saw no further reports on the incident. If that had happened in Japan or Korea, the individuals accused would not have been released, and would have faced trial. It would seem that Thai bar girls, having agreed to accompany someone for a financial transaction are deemed as somehow less worthy than other members of society and therefore not entitled to the same protection from the law others do.

And, incidentally, I have not been in Thailand for 18 months, although I used to visit regularly (every 3 months). One of the main reasons I have stopped coming is that Pattaya has been changing for the worse in my opinion. I came because it was different from everywhere else I had ever been. Now it is becoming just like everywhere else, thanks to the city officials promoting family tourism. I wonder if they have ever done a survey, to determine if these families return? Most probably don’t. Most families I know go to a different destination each year. And saying that, what attractions does Pattaya actually have for a family? Adventure tours? Scenic beauty? Pristine clear tropical white sands and crystal clear water? And what, oh what, are they thinking of with the deck chairs being formed in lines? I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want to be told where I can sit when I head to the beach.

I love Pattaya, but I don’t like to see it changing (for the better?) to be like every other city in the world. I wonder if these changes are anything to do with the reduction in the tourist numbers?

Bryan Scott (UK)

Looking for brave souls

Editor;

I am looking for volunteers to join me and spearhead an international expedition to cross 2nd Road on foot.

Volunteers should be healthy and fit within Olympic proportions.

Yours sincerely,

Reg Johnson

Commentary: Gun free Pattaya-a reality? compiled by Pattaya Mail reporters Pattaya Police recently disclosed that as many as 100 crimes involving guns are now being reported every month. Such news stories have become “regular” in newspapers and on TV, locally as much as internationally: a school shooting by a German youth who killed his teachers and classmates in a shooting spree never before seen in Germany; a monk walking into Bangkok Parliament, whirling an AK-47 in the air, demanding to see politicians; the son of a reputable Thai politician under alleged murder charges for shooting a policeman. The list goes on, but if further examples are needed please read our news pages - and these crimes are happening in our own back yard! Many theories have been put forward to explain the cause. In Germany, part of the fault is put on video and computer games, and violence on TV influencing youth, leading them to emulate it. Whatever the cause, the result is with us. Until international influence is able to control the powerful weapon manufactures and distributors, this is a fact we have to live with. The arms industry, whether private, or as in many countries public, is a powerful influence on governments because of the vast profits it generates for the manufacturer, the distributor and the bulk purchaser. For the end user it brings only death. Death now stalks the streets throughout the world. In Pattaya the signs of an increasing disregard for restriction are now becoming evident. On entry to a disco a body search for weapons is more commonly practiced than a simple ID-card age check. Guns, many unlicensed, now rest in the glove box of many cars. So, regrettably, are they in the pockets of many of the young and not so young citizens of the area, prized perhaps more than the ubiquitous mobile phone. Are excuses like self-protection, intimidation or ‘everybody else I know has one’ justified? Is it right for a taxi driver to pressure a client to pay a certain fare, which is fair to him only? Is it OK to pull the trigger when a verbal altercation ensues, or a loss of face for that matter? The possession of firearms leads to their use. This is a positive maxim, which tolerates no argument. The squat black shape, heavy in the hand or pocket, cries out to demonstrate the power it holds - and thus prove the power of holder. A cry very difficult to resist given the slightest provocation in situations as were just mentioned. Guns held by irresponsible elements boost their confidence and belief in their invulnerability. If no one had a gun no one would need one. Simplistic, loop logic, but obvious. Homes could be protected by alarm systems or, in special cases, licensed low powered shotguns incapable of inflicting death; persons could be protected by pocket alarms or, again licensed gas dispensers or similar protective instruments. The potential muggers and robbers, emasculated by being deprived of the macho symbol, which they have used as a substitute for courage, will be less active or less violent in their actions. Public pressure could discourage the showing of gratuitous violence on the screen, especially in locally produced movies. Our youth would no longer be encouraged to believe that the use of violence, and particularly guns, is a part of normal social life. We in Pattaya, or our leaders, cannot be expected to be able to influence the control of weapon manufacturers or distributors, except perhaps indirectly, but the authorities could most certainly control the possession and use of weapons. By a positive campaign expressed through the media, including an amnesty for those possessing unlicensed weapons. By spot checks on vehicles to expose the bearer of death in the cubbyhole. By the use of that unfortunately necessary tool of all police forces-the informer, to find out which homes harbor unauthorized and usually unnecessary death weapons, and most importantly, by the strict imposition of penalties on the offenders, we could keep this most unsavory blight on society from further damaging our beloved city. The number of shooting skirmishes in Pattaya is on the rise. Police are, so far, unable to apprehend any suspects involved in these crimes. This is seriously raising questions as to whether our police department is competent or just stretched to their limit in providing safety for the city’s residents and tourists alike.

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