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Would jump hoops for such quick medical service

Pattaya is full of problems

Warning to Thais and tourists

Remember when?

Flagging Postal Service

Would jump hoops for such quick medical service

Sirs,

I read with astonishment your reader having been done and dusted within eleven hours of entering hospital and potentially having a malignant growth diagnosed, as not being the case, at a cost of 16000 baht. May I suggest he was in the right country for speedy diagnosis of a potentially a life threatening illness.

Now take my immediate case home here in the UK. Today I should have flown to Thailand but have lost out, as it has taken the medics in my home city the last 8 days to examine me for the same malignant growth that was previously cut out of me 9 months previously. Now I’m told the surgeon concerned is in Iraq and the best chance I can expect is an investigation in 10-12 days time.

So much for the NHS system in the UK - probably the worst in the world. What I would give for the rapid treatment you received.

I sit here now at home and while the cancer grows, wait to see if I am lucky or not. 16000 baht I would jump hoops for.

Paul Thomas

UK

Pattaya is full of problems

Editor;

Re: Pattaya Bum’s letter: A good letter. First off, I agree that Khun Khem has in the past given us all (including the city hall) some very sound advice. To the letter of Pattaya Bum now. Traffic in Pattaya has become a major problem. Some seem to think when all drivers have a driving license, that this will improve their driving skill and also their intention to be careful drivers. This of course is not true.

The condition of the streets in Pattaya is clearly not up to standards. Potholes (and large deep ones at that) are on all streets. How many people died (motorcycle drivers) on account of potholes in this city?

The noise in the city and in the suburbs is a source of "Living in hell" for many years now. Nobody does anything about it. City hall simply ignores this problem. Karaoke bars and illegal markets are the main culprits. (Soi Nern Phlup Wan, near the railroad bridge, has gained a bad name here as also Soi Buakhao, where all the "Fun Joints" are.)

Using the sidewalks as an extension of shops is not what these were meant for. Sometimes there is no shop only the sidewalk is "the shop".

The eternal problem of water shortage in some streets has to be solved.

Most of the problems of Pattaya one can find in the letter "Pattaya Bum" wrote. Someone should send a copy of his a letter to the city hall.

It may just wake them up a little.

Arthur Delaware,

Paris-France

Warning to Thais and tourists

Editor;

I feel I must write this letter in order to warn people about the motorcycle gangs now going around in Pattaya. A few days ago, my friend who had came here for a holiday was travelling on his motorbike along Second Road around midnight. Tired and not thinking, he left his telephone dangled around his neck. As he was making his way home, a motorcycle being ridden by two Thais pulled up alongside his bike and the telephone was yanked from his neck and the thieves sped off.

My friend, perhaps foolishly, decided to give chase. He followed them several miles at breakneck speed before going past a disco and then onto Third Road. They crossed Third Road and sped down a secluded road. My friend continued his pursuit, but he had never been there before, it was dark and the road was unlit. The two Thais knew of his pursuit and presumably wanted to go somewhere away from the crowded streets. Then, once out near a clearing where there was no one around, they pulled up abruptly. My friend, somewhat surprised, tried to pull up alongside, at which point he was kicked from the bike. As he landed, they rounded on him and proceeded to kick and punch him. He was punched repeatedly in the face and kicked in the ribs, before one of the Thais then pulled a gun out and pointed it to his head. They motioned for him to give them all his money. Fearing for his life, he pulled out around 2000 baht which was all he had. Satisfied with their haul, they laughed and mocked my friend while still brandishing the gun. They then sped off on their bike.

Dazed, my friend regained his senses but his face was heavily bruised and blood was coming from his nose. He had received graze cuts on his knees and arms where he had been kicked from the bike. His bike was badly damaged and on further inspection, he discovered could not be driven any further. My friend called the police from the apartments nearby. The security staff there were very helpful and tried to provide first aid. He called the tourist police and some 40 minutes later, two officers arrived. Their response was unhelpful to say the least. Their attitude seemed to be "What can we do?" My friend asked if they could trace the phone by perhaps speaking to pawnshops or something like that. Unfortunately there were no plates on the thieves’ bike.

The tourist policeman said, "Better if you speak to Pattaya police". My friend said, "They had a gun and threatened to shoot me!" His reply was "Many man have gun in Pattaya now". My friend asked if they could take him to Pattaya police, but the policeman replied, "ok, but you must pay them big money". By now my friend was disorientated and demoralised. Rather than be robbed twice, first by the crooks and then by the police, he decided to get a motorbike taxi home and cut his losses.

I visited him the next day whereupon he told me what happened. I was sickened when I saw what had happened to him. Let me explain, this is not a 60-year-old pensioner who is considered an easy target - this is a man in his late twenties, 6’2", who is strong as an ox. If they can do it to him, they can do it to anyone.

This type of crime seems to be becoming more prevalent, so please consider this advice. (1) Ensure your handbags, telephones or wallets are not on show, where they can be yanked from your grip and stolen. (2) They seem to drive around fairly late at night looking for victims, as a lot of the police have gone home. If you see motorbikes with two men on them with no number plate, then be on your guard. (3) The police are not interested in who is right or wrong - only how much money you have. Even then the solution has to be obvious before they will do anything about it. If you cannot provide any financial incentive for them, then one police force simply says you must go to the other police force and vice versa.

(4) The latest purge on drug dealers has sent the price of these illegal substances spiralling and it is more difficult for dealers to operate in Pattaya. There is possibility that this is why they have turned to robbing tourists who are easy targets for ready cash and valuables.

My friend is going home in a few days and he will not be back. I have lived in Thailand for four years and I do not expect the Thai police or people to learn from the experience I described above. The Thais are very tolerant and on the whole passive, but unlike their neighbours (Singapore and HK for example) upholding the law is secondary importance to how much you are prepared to pay. That is why in Thailand the rich will continue to get richer and the poorer will get poorer. Muggers touting guns ruined the Philippines for many holiday goers. Be careful Pattaya - Soon you could end up doing the same.

Sincerely yours,

Ex-Pat MB

Remember when?

Dear Sir:

Someone in Thailand remembers. It was 13:30 hours April 30, 1989 when the body of 29 year old Canadian Photo Journalist Joe Gaal was discovered poolside at Ocean View Hotel in Pattaya. A hotel owned and operated by German Nationals, Lothar Kroehn and Wolfgang Ulrich. Pattaya Police officers in charge were Lt. Col. Pairat Supasawat, Police Col. Cherchai Kornslip, Police Lt. Col. Noorak Wongchampa.

The death was classified as an accidental drowning, with "no injuries or wound of any kind on the body." Swimmers were in the pool from early morning, some wearing goggles, but no one saw a body. Wolfgang’s wife Rosalin took charge of the hotel scene. Bartender Khun Wanlop provided some misguided statements, Dr. Witteya Khunenukornkui performed an autopsy and life went on.

The truth is that Joe Gaal had been murdered early morning of April 30 in a hotel room in the presence of two Pattaya Police officers, a girl and a hired assassin. He had been severely beaten, as photos show lacerations, forehead wound, facial and body bruising, a suspect entry wound in the left torso and dried blood that should have washed off if Joe Gaal had indeed died in the pool. Joe’s hands had been tied as indicated by rigor mortis and he had ties around his thighs as shown in the photos. Certainly not indicative of an accident.

Joe was working on a story, he asked many questions of known drug, mafia persons in Pattaya, and as a result lost his life, not on the battlefield of Afghanistan where he had been stationed as a journalist but instead as a guest in your fair city.

As his mother I implore those of you who remember to come forward. Longstanding murders have been solved by the courage of individuals like you who have come forward. The reward for information leading to a conviction of those responsible for the death of Joe Gaal still stands.

I can be contacted by e-mail at: [email protected]

Telephone/Fax at 250 765-9960. or

regular mail:

Arlene Gaal

1035 Neptune Road

Kelowna, B.C.

Canada. V1X3E4

Thank-you for understanding our need for closure.

Arlene Gaal

Flagging Postal Service

Dear Sir,

I subscribe to a monthly magazine from England and until last December every copy arrived at the correct time. However, since then a total of 12 copies have been sent (original postings and re-sends) of which I have received only 4. Does any one else suffer this? Do you know if anything can be done about this problem? I would be grateful for any advice.

Fed Up Farang

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