Vimolrat Singnikorn
About 40 city officials and security officers swept
through Jomtien Beach rounding up vagrants after numerous complaints from
frightened tourists.
Two of
the homeless people police are rounding up at Jomtien Beach sit in the back
of a police pickup on their way to the Provincial Social Welfare Office
where they will receive assistance.
Thirteen homeless people were detained by municipal
officers and transferred to social welfare agencies for care. Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh, who led the Oct. 12 mission, ordered municipal security to
begin patrolling Jomtien Beach to keep vagrants at bay and arrest any who
commit crimes.
Ronakit and Pattaya City Council member Amnuai
Somphongtham also looked at traffic congestion and parking, which is
becoming an increasing problem on weekends.
The deputy mayor said the greater concern, however, was
safety. He said many tourists believed homeless people to be dangerous and
their apprehension was taking a toll on legitimate street vendors, who were
also being avoided by tourists. He said vagrants would be transferred first
to the Social Welfare Division and then to the Provincial Social Welfare
Office for assistance.
