HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Wants to change Mailbag policy

It’s a strange world

Customer service at a Pattaya Hospital

Unable to make a decision

New facemask law is silly

Condo problems

Appreciated Chakri Dynasty write up

One problem creates another

Kudos to Eakkchai

Wants to change Mailbag policy

Gentle People:

The March 28, 2003, edition of the Pattaya Mail may have established a precedent in that you responded in print to a reader’s letter in Mailbag. My reaction: It’s about time.

Too often you have accepted insults and praise without comment. Too often you have ignored complaints and suggestions silently. More importantly, too often you have neglected your responsibilities as a community newspaper to respond to accusations, to follow through on reports of misconduct at various levels of government and civil service, to provide answers to legitimate questions from readers-whether you have those answers or must investigate the questions.

When readers have the interest and take the initiative to publicly voice their opinions and/or ask pointed questions, why leave them hanging, angry, frustrated, in the dark? You seem to sanction flagrant editorializing in “news” articles.

Mailbag readers deserve your opinions, responses from officials, rebuttals when specious charges are leveled or facts are misstated, or some promise that you will look into a matter and report in a future issue. Letters in last week’s Mailbag alone beg such questions as:

What will the Pattaya City Council do about dangerous electrical lines?

What is the police chief’s reaction to common and constant charges that his officers collect fees from motorists rather than enforcing the laws (three on a bike, no helmet)?

Exactly what are the noise abatement laws in Pattaya (if any)?

Who is the Bali Hai builder and who negotiated his profit arrangements?

If nothing else, Mailbag provides ample fodder for investigative reporting - if you dare venture in that direction lest you offend someone.

Letter writers and readers ache for answers. We yearn for your views (but only on the editorial pages). We long for retorts, denials, facts, official comments.

Give us something!

Sincerely,

Khun Dee

It’s a strange world

Editor;

These Americans, they simply want to be the world’s police force. Strange though, that countless nationalities go there and take advantage of its opportunities.

Why does America have to be the super power? I would much rather it be... Er... China, no maybe not, ask the Taiwanese. Russia! Oops, forgot about them invading Afghanistan without a UN resolution. Oh yes, Saudi Arabia... er on the other hand they do nothing for anybody except yak. What about Iraq or Osama Bin Whasname?

On the other hand maybe USA is not such a bad choice after all. In fact I feel pretty safe with them. It’s good to have them as allies, just imagine these other countries with the same power.

Also, I seem to remember many Islamic groups meeting on our TV screens and complaining that USA had the temerity to accuse Osama BW of masterminding the Sept 11th bombings.

However, I can’t seem to remember these same people appearing on TV again and apologizing when it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that OBW was the in fact terrorist behind that dreadful day. All these people disappeared and not another word was spoken, even though many of these people actually live in UK and USA and take advantage of our way of life.

I wonder when this Iraq war is all over, the Minster of Information for Iraq will apologise for calling the US army a band of mercenaries. I wonder if he will say “sorry USA”, Iraq is in fact the real criminal element because Iraq invaded Kuwait without permission and killed our own people.

Strange world isn’t it.

Bill

Customer service at a Pattaya Hospital

Editor;

I have been living in Pattaya and working in Bangkok for 3 years now, but cannot still ‘get to grips’ with the Thai definition of customer service. Let me give you the latest personal accounts.

I had been coughing for more than 14 weeks and had tried every pharmacy remedy recommended. Nothing worked, so I went to a Pattaya Hospital. A lady doctor saw me immediately and asked all the usual questions in acceptably good English. I am not a drinker or smoker and did not have any fever. So she asked me to have an X-ray. When she examined it a little time later, she then asked me to have a further one taken from a different angle, which I did. When it arrived she asked me to stay outside while she examined it. Then she went into the adjoining doctor’s room with my X-ray. After a few minutes she told me the other doctor would see me shortly. When he called me into his room, he showed me the X-ray and pointed to a grey area at the top of my lungs or bottom of my throat.

He then told me that this was either a malignant growth of maybe cancer - he was not sure. So he wanted me to go by ambulance to another hospital in Chonburi where they had a special machine to check me. He told me this would cost 12,000 baht and asked me if I could pay. I was already in SHOCK being told I had something very bad inside me, and agreed.

They took me to Chonburi where there was no-one who could speak English and placed lying down on a bed, strapped in, and put inside a machine where I was literally touching the walls and roof, it was so small. Then I stayed there with loud mechanical noises for more than 2 hours while the X-rays where performed.

I was taken back to Pattaya and told to wait in a bedroom while they waited for a doctor to look at the film. Eventually, more than one hour later, and several complaints from me, the nurse came into my bedroom and told me to pick up the phone. She said it was a doctor.

This male voice said I did not have a malignant growth or cancer but just some inflammation and he would tell the nurse what medicines to give me, and then put the phone down. I was presented with a bill for more than 16000 baht and told to come back in 2 weeks. The total elapsed time was 11 hours, from being told I was virtually dying till an inanimate voice (not even the courtesy of coming to see me in the room), which told me it was nothing after all.

Do they not understand the meaning of fear and terror at using emotive words like this without proof? Where are tact and diplomacy and common courtesy? I will never go there again, and am advising all my farang friends not to do so.

A very frightened 64 year old

Unable to make a decision

Editor;

Most of us know that a great improvement in the traffic chaos would come from permanently making 2nd Road one-way, i.e. from ‘Tops’ to the Dolphin Roundabout.

Unfortunately, our mayor is not willing to accept his responsibilities as a leader and make the decision. He cites the reason he has not as being due to some business interests on 2nd Road who think they might lose business. I would suggest that the opposite is true. More people would come to the businesses if it is easier to get there (and back). Take, for example, two of the world’s premier shopping streets, 5th Avenue in New York and Bond Street in London - both are one-way streets and nobody would even suggest making them two-way again.

Nobody likes change initially but making a firm decision and sticking to it is the mark of a true community leader who can clearly see that the end result would benefit the vast majority of the people who use this congested thoroughfare. What about it, Khun Nayok?

Tony Lash

New facemask law is silly

Dear Editor;

As a regular reader of Pattaya Mail and a frequent visitor to Pattaya, I am very upset with the way the Thai Public Health Ministries are handling the current SARS situation.

I come from Singapore, one of the SARS affected country. Now the Public Health Ministries wants all tourists from Singapore to wear a facemask (at all times while in Thailand) or face a fine of 10,000 baht or 6 months jail. Are they so naive of how this SARS spread? How are they going to implement this rule? Even if I am healthy and free from SARS, am I to wear a facemask while relaxing on Jomtien Beach or dancing away at Xzyte Disco? And should I be caught without my facemask, wouldn’t a ‘tip’ of 500 baht to the police get me off the hook? So where’s the standard?

Looks like I have to cancel my coming trip to Pattaya for the Songkran festival, which I enjoyed so much for the first time last year. I don’t think I look good wearing a facemask while splashing water around town.

John

Condo problems

Dear Sir;

I’d like to know if the sender of the letter “Pattaya Like Palermo” has been in Sicily. Anyhow, he is right, the management of (some) condominiums in Pattaya does not respect the law. I ask because (some) real estate agencies don’t warn the customers about this problem, and nobody pays maintenance. This scandal problem should have to be faced by Pattaya Mail also, as it is too important, I think more than good restaurants.

Sign me,

A regretted purchaser

Appreciated Chakri Dynasty write up

Editor;

As a Cambodian-American, I’ve found your articles regarding the Kings of Thailand very interesting and informative. I appreciate the brief yet concise nature of the article and very much commend the Pattaya Mail to my fellow Cambodian countrymen who are interested in South East Asia History.

Also, Best Wishes to HRH Princess Ubolratana’s Birthday.

Thank You,

Sinell M. Sambour

One problem creates another

Hi there,

The success or failure of the government’s recent attack on drug pushing is beyond the scope of this letter, as is the controversy over the tactics used.

However, one effect of the crackdown is to obviously push the price of amphetamine tablets up. A barman told me that current prices are up to 400 baht. The result of this is that during my most recent stay I saw something frequently that I had rarely seen before in Pattaya. This was the sight of teenagers walking the streets clutching and inhaling vapours from plastic bags full of glue or lacquer. This was very distressing. Although not as addictive as yaba, it does attack the brain cells very quickly.

In European countries, where the sniffing of glue is also a problem, it is against the law to sell such solvents to any one under 18. Perhaps shopkeepers here need to have a similar rule, especially as it is children and teens who are most at risk.

The welcome attack on drug sellers clearly needs a broader approach.

Regards,

Mike Lester

Kudos to Eakkchai

Dear Editor,

Please convey thanks to your reporter Eakkchai Kamilsri regarding your April 4 issue’s coverage on “Battlefield Siam Country Club Road”. At least someone is paying attention, even if it’s not the authorities.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the ones you printed that showed the condition of Siam Country Club Road should send a message to the city that this construction project is a disgrace.

Just a sidebar for your reporter; TT&T telephone lines with the prefix 733 were out of order in this area from March 30th to April 4th. This left hundreds of people without basic commutations. The ramifications of that should be obvious. Even if we could call the fire brigade or an ambulance in an emergency, imagine how long response time is when the roads are impassable? Who is really minding the shop here?

Living on the battlefield

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