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An open letter to the Mayor of Pattaya

More on Angeles City

Stray dogs

P.I. government cracking down on gangs targeting tourists

Scams in Pattaya

Re: What is missing in Pattaya

Another Angeles City anecdote

Motorcycle safety

An open letter to the Mayor of Pattaya

Dear Mayor Itthipol Khunplome,
Please could you explain why a broken tour bus which is very dangerous to road users has been left in place for, as I write, 10 days? I know that city hall does not consider Jomtien to be anything like as important as Pattaya but surely a large traffic hazard as this, making it dangerous for drivers to get to your tax office and your immigration police station should have been dealt with before now? Surely it could have been pushed 3 meters back into what used to be a very useful car park but what is now used as a short cut since your contractors decided to destroy the whole road and car park area last November. And have since done absolutely nothing to justify doing this.
Speaking of destroying the car park and road leading to your tax office and your immigration police station perhaps you would like to visit the area and see for yourself how your city hall contractors have, by their actions last November, put a huge strain on every small business in the area. The whole place basically resembles an abandoned building site and previous regular customers are staying away. As for my wife’s small business, well, it doesn’t matter does it because I am “farang” and when her business fails I can do what your country really wants and go back to my own country. But perhaps you should be concerned that for every business that is failing there are many Thai workers whose whole families depend on them, being laid off work.
M. Smith

More on Angeles City

Dear Editor,
I have read many items by Eric Bahrt and would never accuse him of exaggerated or unverifiable or untrue statements. To his credit he deals in facts in a media full of untruths and propaganda and seems to me to be a decent person.
As regards Angeles City, I have only been there once - in December 2005 when I accompanied an American friend. He rents a room there on a permanent basis and spends about 6 months of each year there. He knows the place well and can confirm what Eric wrote about the police ‘setting up’ foreign men.
He actually introduced me to a girl there that he knows well and trusts and told me never to go with her. She has to co-operate with the AC police because of something in her family history and tells foreign men she is over 18, believable as she is well built, but she is underage. If they go to a hotel room the police soon arrive to accuse the guy of underage sex and suggest it will all go away if he pays a large sum.
By the way, the comment by ‘Randy’ that embassies have no records of men being set up in AC is laughable. If you were accused of underage sex abroad would your first thought be to go and report it to your embassy and get it on file? Get real!
More power to your elbow Eric!
Bill E.
Pattaya

Stray dogs

Dear Editor,
It’s hard to believe that further to many articles, complaints, promises and suggestions still nowadays you can meet along the road in Jomtien Beach a large number of wandering dogs, usually sick, full of fleas, potentially dangerous.
A few days ago a gang of 9 dogs was running around the beach barking like crazy and fighting for at least one hour. Simply no comments that authorities do not take any kind of action to eliminate such a blameworthy situation.
Once again I’m very concerned about the apathy of authorities, Pattaya mayor included, who should face reality himself and take immediate action.
Best Regards,
Concerned Farang

P.I. government cracking down on gangs targeting tourists

Dear Editor,
There is an article in the July 9th Manila Times concerning an attempted crackdown by the government on organized gangs that prey upon tourists. It did not state that the crimes were specifically taking place in Angeles City. These groups work with crooked police officers and the parents of underage girls to set up tourists for blackmail. CCTV cameras in hotels, bars, etc., are being called upon to provide evidence that illegal deeds did or did not take place. This should provide some sense of safety for those that stay in a CCTV equipped hotel, providing that it is working.
Regards,
Bill Turner
California

Scams in Pattaya

Dear Sir,
I have been coming to Thailand for 15 years now and I have never seen crime in Pattaya so bad. Something has to be done quick. No wonder tourists are keeping away.
I have only just returned home this last week, I love Pattaya and Thailand and I am not knocking the people or country but the number of times I was stopped by these people on motorbikes asking if you speak English has gone worse. All they are after is your gold chain or some other scam.
I just won’t go into Pattaya at night now. I am afraid; it’s the first time I can say I am very wary indeed.
Come on police and government of Pattaya, get it sorted before you lose it.
John Davis
England

Re: What is missing in Pattaya

Editor;
It is true that everything on offer in Thailand is available elsewhere and that it was or is the “nightlife” that distinguished Thailand. The difference is not the quality or price but the attitude of Thai people to it. When I first came to Thailand some 20 years ago I was surprised at the acceptance of sexual activities, no sneaking into massage parlours, bars, or go go’s. No taking a lady up the fire escape to your hotel room, in fact no embarrassment and no censorial attitude from Thais, just an acceptance that everything is normal or at least “up to you”.
There is now a change in attitude as exemplified by the edicts of the city fathers who are I suspect following the line given by the ruling elite who are now are sufficiently affluent to travel in numbers to the West and who come back boasting their newly acquired Western values. They flaunt their LV and Gucci bags as a symbol of their Western sophistication and disown “bar ladies” as not being real Thai because they mostly come from Laos. They cannot get to grips with the fact that Western Christian values are the most hypocritical to be found anywhere in the world.
There are more child sex offenders in schools and churches in European cities than there ever are in Pattaya.
There is more perverted sex on Frankfurt Airport than in Pattaya.
There are more drunks and drug users and peddlers roaming the streets in European Cities than in Pattaya.
Thailand has the advantage that it avoided conquerors and Christian missionaries and has retained its Buddhist values. Instead of apologising Thailand should be celebrating and boasting of their enlightened attitude and morale honesty.
Yours,
Peter

Another Angeles City anecdote

Editor;
An Aussie I knew in Angeles was recently set up with an underage girl. He’s paid (police) $500 and they want more and have his passport. It’s a real cottage industry there and has been for some years. You can’t trust hotel security either.
Joe

Motorcycle safety

Editor;
Have you ever closely examined the typical motorcycle helmet that is being utilized by most riders in Pattaya? Ridiculous junk plastic that provides little protection and might even serve to contribute to rider injury when it shatters when subjected to any significant impact. If the gov’t chooses to force all riders to wear helmets, why not establish quality/impact standards and thus assure riders actually have some decent protection? Failing that, the helmet requirement serves little purpose, aside from deluding riders into believing their helmet will provide them a high degree of safety.
Ronald Shanks

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also published here.