HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Re: banks & immigration

Solution for beach road traffic problem

Ride a mile in our wheelchair

Liberty is a well-armed lamb

For You This Christmas

Pattaya traffic

Time to end needless pedestrian road fatalities

Never seen the like

Election needs outside observers

Dangerous intersection at Thepprasit & Thappraya roads

Re: banks & immigration

Sir,
Thai Banks have another problem along with ripples from the U.S. mortgage business houses and bank failures. When the first Thai bank closes its doors because of NPL’s, just like the U.S., resident farangs will withdraw their assets quickly for fear of losing their money.
So what happens when Immigration demands the deposit in the bank for 3 months to obtain a visa? Farangs will decide to either make the deposit of 400,000 baht, and risk loosing it - or leave Thailand. With all assets.
If Thailand wants to retain the support of retired and resident farangs during the lean times coming then Immigration should reconsider the 3 month money in the bank regulation, or lose the expats money as well.
Andrew Downie

Solution for beach road traffic problem

Dear Editor,
Pattaya’s beautiful beach view is spoiled by the constant scream of motorbikes and exhaust fumes. What should be a calming atmosphere is instead a motorized Hell. There is a simple solution for this. Extend walking street to Pattaya Klang. Limited traffic could be admitted during early mornings for deliveries, etc. Vendors or other beach side licensed enterprises could be set up in the open spaces like during the marathon. Tourists would be able to walk without the fear of being run down. It would also keep the suit selling cretins from bothering people as much. This may only be feasible during high season months, but would greatly add to Pattaya’s charm at next to no cost to the government.
Yours,
Bill Turner
California, USA

Ride a mile in our wheelchair

Dear Sirs.
Your letter from “Mr B” regarding handicapped facilities in town reminded me a couple of years back our city council declared that Pattaya was “handicapped friendly”.
Perhaps our city fathers should try putting themselves in the position of a handicapped person (physically or visually) and try strolling down the sidewalks along almost any soi in town.
A visually handicapped friend found himself virtually hotel-bound for his entire holiday, and vowed never to return.
Broken pavings, potholes, water pipes, open air bars blocking pathways with stools are often the least of the problems of our handicapped.
Take for instance Soi Yamato (Soi 13/1 Beach Road). It has become a “no-go zone” for pedestrians, handicapped or not. The sidewalks are virtually impassible even for those with no impairment with signs for estate agents, internet cafes, cheap long distance phone calls services, restaurants and dozens of bar stools with their occupants arrogantly refusing to move to let pedestrians of any description pass safely and forcing them to walk along the roadway of a heavily traffic laden soi.
To cap it all, wait for it, an “automatic petrol station” now blocks the walkway along one side of the soi. I presume this “petrol station” has the necessary planning and safety licenses issued by the city!
Surely our City fathers can help our handicapped before they add yet another nail to Pattaya’s coffin!
Sincerely,
MR A

Liberty is a well-armed lamb

Dear Editor:
In numerous letters I have remarked that there are real problems in Thailand. A recent conversation with my wife is an example, but not unique to Thailand. I asked her who she was considering voting for in the election. She replied, “Whoever pays me the most!” I was a little taken back by this answer, so I inquired a little deeper.
Basically, she doesn’t think any of the candidates are worth voting for. I told her that I felt the same way about voting in America, but that I just hold my nose and vote for the guy who I think will do the least damage. After explaining why I hold my nose, and a bit more of conversation, it was obvious that she wasn’t buying into the American concept of your vote is sacred. She just figures all politicians are untrustworthy.
My wife is sometimes insanely practical. To her, why waste your vote on someone who isn’t going help you when someone will pay you for it? She, much of her family, and many Thai friends simply feel that no matter who they vote for, a rich businessmen will just buy them off. Unfortunately, this seems to be true in most countries and will continue to be so as long as there is massive power and money in politics, and the media just stands by on the sidelines.
I guess Mark Twain, in describing America’s government, was right, “A Republic is just the illusion of Democracy.” But in Thailand there is the King and the military to protect the people. Ben Franklin put it this way, “Democracy is a pack of wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Maybe us foreigners can learn something from the Thais, this wasn’t the first time the politicians were sent to the showers!
Pattaya Beach Bum

For You This Christmas

By B. Phillip Webb Jr.
May this of all your Christmas days
Turn out to be the best
May each new hour of the clock
Become the happiest
May all your friends remember you
With cards and gifts today
And may you have a lot of things
To share and give away
May all your love ones near and far
Enjoy this Christmas too
Because the knowledge of their joy
Will mean so much to you
And when the New Year rolls around
With twelve more months to spend
May health and fortune call on you
And stay from start to end
May life be bright and prosperous
And full of things that please
And may it add the richest touch
To all your memories.

Pattaya traffic

Editor,
I live in Australia and have really enjoyed my regular holidays to Pattaya over the past many years. I now have 3 children with my Thai wife and am increasingly feeling that the traffic situation is making holidaying there far too dangerous for them.
I believe the problem could be solved by the city council simply and for the long term by banning vehicles completely from beach and second roads from dolphin roundabout right down to walking street. Put in an electric tram system that has cars continually travelling the route transporting the people and large car parks on the outskirts where people can leave their cars to get on the tram.
Just think, no more exhaust fumes around the area and so much more safely for visitors. For delivery vehicles a special time could be set aside at say 3am, until 6am when these could be made but during the waking hours people would be free to move around the sois without fear of being run down whilst enjoying the clean air.
Steve,
Sydney Australia

Time to end needless pedestrian road fatalities

Editor;
I was unfortunate enough to witness the tragic death of a pedestrian on 2nd Road at its junction with Soi 6 on Tuesday evening about 7pm.
The traffic at that time is very heavy and it is very difficult for someone to cross the road. The few pedestrian crossings are ignored by most drivers and pedestrians become frustrated and place themselves in danger when they cross the road.
Second Road is a death trap and I expect more deaths to occur until safe crossings are provided. This road needs to be made two-way and traffic-light crossings provided every 1 or 2 hundred metres, with pedestrian refuges in the centre of the road so that people can cross one half at a time, and so that traffic in one direction only is stopped at a time. Only in this way will further tragic waste of life be prevented.
I hope Pattaya Mail will campaign for these measures to be introduced. Remember your friend or family member could be the next fatality.
Regards,
J. Macdonald

Never seen the like

Editor;
Many letters have noise in Pattaya as their main theme. A noise that seems to be everywhere indeed. In restaurants, in the streets, in warehouses, coming from wats and mosques, from the smallest of shops around the corner, from markets and private cars fitted with powerful loudspeakers.
What’s behind all this noise that Thais apparently don’t seem to notice, not object to? And city hall doesn’t stop or curb. Is there a secret why Thais seemingly can not do without this noise?
I have travelled the world, I have never seen (heard!) the like.
Traveller

Election needs outside observers

Editor:
Venezuela just finished having a national election on a referendum which if passed would have given President Chavez unlimited powers. What I found interesting is that the election had outside observers checking on the election. There were a total of 100 observers from 39 different countries including Latin America, USA, and Europe, watching to see if the vote was done properly and without any undue influence that would affect the outcome.
I have been and still am quite surprised that Thailand rejected impartial observers from the European Union to come in and monitor the Thailand election to see that none of the parties involved in the election rigged the outcome of this very important Thailand election. Without impartial observers to observe that the outcome of the election, there will always be complaints by the losers that the election was not legitimate.
Bob, Pattaya

Dangerous intersection at Thepprasit & Thappraya roads

Editor;
My question for the public officials is, “Why was the traffic light removed?!” This light did work at least 50% of the time and now motorists have nothing. Road construction came to a halt 2 months ago at least. It is very dangerous, as traffic just dares one another to get though this intersection. Are the officials just waiting for several people to die before any measures are taken? Could it be possible if we do not have a light for one of the policemen checking for helmets to be posted at this location to direct traffic?
Regards,
H. John

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