A Norwegian expat and business acquaintances in Pattaya donated 99,999 baht to an HIV/AIDS charity evicted from a Pattaya neighborhood by intolerant neighbors.
Bebe Michelsen presented the cash and 10,000 baht worth of rice to Glory Hut Foundation Director Pornsawan Christpirak Jan. 4 after reading about the charity’s ouster from the Nang Lern Community by residents afraid of AIDS patients.
Michelsen said he runs a Thai restaurant in Norway, and during the New Year, he and his friends raise funds to donate to various foundations on a yearly basis. This year he read about Glory Hut being chased out of the community.
Bebe Michelsen and friends present a 99,999 baht donation and rice to Glory Hut Foundation Director Pornsawan Christpirak.
He then contacted friends in Norway and Pattaya to help. He also added that Thai people should understand each other, especially people infected with AIDS, and learn to live together in harmony.
Complaining they were not informed Glory Hut was caring for HIV-positive and AIDS patients, members of the Lang Nern Community on Dec. 12 voted 131-30 to evict the cash-strapped charity, requiring it to relocate within six months.
Community President Jitlada Weluwan said earlier, residents were afraid their children would contract AIDS, that wastewater flowing out of the facility smelled “strange,” and that they objected to HIV patients walking outside of the facility.
Even after intense international criticism, residents remained steadfast, leaving Nongprue Sub-district officials unable to work out a compromise.
