|
I Survived
John Wayne Ryan, author of “I
Survived” describes law & order in the Australian state of Queensland in the
1970s and 80s. John was enlisted to establish what was going on inside
Queensland Police; he did the job, and as the title says, he survived!
If you are an expat living in Thailand, you have probably
had occasion (more than once) to remark on the corruption in this country,
and you have probably said to your buddies, with a degree of smug
satisfaction, that this is not the way things work “back home.” Well, if you
were in the audience for the Sunday, December 2, presentation from John
Wayne Ryan to the Pattaya City Expats Club, you might start to think
differently.
In talking about his recently-released book, I Survived, John described a
complex web of organized crime, murders, kidnappings, prostitution and
corruption in Australia - corruption that extended up to some very high
places.
John & wife Katerina pose for
a photo after the talk with friend & PCEC board member Lawrie.
I Survived is the story of the “Whisky a Go-Go” murders,
the underbelly world in which they occurred and their aftermath. The murders
happened when a bar of the same name was firebombed in 1973. Fifteen people
died from asphyxiation. John said that it was the worst mass murder in
Australian history up to that time.
The aftermath included witnesses disappearing, kidnappings, extortion,
bribery and drug running - which, John recounted, all operated not only with
the knowledge of senior police officers but in fact under their control.
“The cops ran everything,” John said.
“I made two mistakes,” John said: investigating corrupt cops, and
investigating the premier of an Australian state. “There were five attempts
on my life,” he added.
Open Forum MC Roy Albiston
invites new members & guests to introduce themselves. PCEC meetings are free
for all to attend, & have a delicious buffet catered by the Tavern by the
Sea (part of the Amari complex) for only 220 baht. Other menu options
include tea or coffee & toast, or fruit juice & fruit for 95 baht. The
buffet starts at 9.30 & the meeting at 10.30.
About a year after the murders, the wife of the man who was driving the
“getaway” car announced that she was going to “tell all.” The woman and her
two daughters were then kidnapped. Their bodies have never been found; the
women are still listed as missing; and the perpetrators have never been
apprehended.
John recounted how when a royal commission was launched in 1987 into corrupt
police practices, a bogus charge of perjury was leveled against him in an
effort to destroy his reputation.
John said that he decided to write the book after being approached by one of
the victims of the 1973 murders. He said that he had been talking about
writing this book for 30 years and that he realized that the story had to be
told.
John said that crooked cops and politicians are still around today, but that
it is not as organized and as endemic as it was back in the 1970s. He added
that in the world of the Internet, things are more open now; corruption
tends to get exposed more quickly.
John W. Ryan has pioneered police work in Australia and educates law
enforcement in the USA, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Throughout his
career, John has introduced a number of ground breaking defense tactics and
products to Australian law enforcement practice. In 1972, he authored the
very first manual for security officers and private detectives.
After John answered several questions, Master of Ceremonies Richard
Silverberg provided an update on upcoming events and called on Roy Albiston
to conduct the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat
living in Thailand; Pattaya in particular.
Read more about the Club’s activities on their website at www.
pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
|
|
Scottish Showcase offers food, music at Mantra
(L to R) Graham Geddes, Sue
Kukarja, Resident Manager Richard Margo, and Executive Chef Leonard Faust
prepare for a great evening.
Warunya Thongrod
The Mantra restaurant offered up the a night of Scottish music and cuisine
as the Amari Orchid Resort & Tower kicked off its latest cultural showcase
dining experience.
Resort General Manager David Cumming hosted the Nov. 24 debut of the Mantra
Scottish Showcase and Dance Nov. 24. The event featured music from Graham Geddes
and his band and a cabaret show.
Of course, no night of Scottish culture would be complete without bagpipes.
Guests had a chance to take in the native music, along with photographs with the
performers.
Featured on the menu was the Mantra’s version of haggis, a dressed-up version of
a common countryside meal of leftovers cooked in a goat’s stomach. Naturally, it
was served with genuine Scottish whiskey.
Other menu items include roast beet with malt whiskey sauce, “neeps & tatties,”
Scottish cheeses, dried fruit, shortbread and coffee.
Mantra is open daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and offers a Sunday brunch from 11:30
a.m. to 3 p.m.
(L to R) Amari Orchid Pattaya
Area General Manager David Cumming, greets Robina Addison and Norman Fiddes.
Scottish dancers spice up the
evening to thunderous applause.
No night of Scottish culture
would be complete without bagpipes, shown here echoing throughout Mantra.
Aye, a wee birl whilst babbin at
the bowster.
|
|
Church of the Assumption celebrates 1st anniversary
Bishop Silvio and Bishop Lawrence celebrate Mass,
with Father Michael Veera (right) and Father Michael Jaiseri (2nd left) from
Pattaya.
Elfi Seitz
Pattaya’s Church of the Assumption celebrated its first anniversary with
a special mass and outdoor fair.
Bishop of Chantaburi Silvio Siripong Charatsri led the Nov. 18 ceremony, aided
by Bishop Emeritus Lawrence Thienchai Samanjit and priests from the diocese. Two
choirs from the Philippines and area students provided the music.
Built by Pornthep Phornprapha and Chatri Sophonpanich on Soi Siam Country Club
for about 60 million baht, the church opened Nov. 19, 2011 in a “green
environment zone.” Meant to be both environmentally sensitive and Thai-accented,
the 21-rai house of worship resides in the Thaworn-Usa Thani Botanical Garden.
Pornthep, who donated the land, and his wife attended the anniversary mass, as
did Harald Link of B. Grimm and his wife, and St. Nikolas Church’s Rev. Joseph
Naenna.
The celebration actually began before mass, with guests making a procession
around the church, finishing at a statue of the Virgin Mary, where they left
roses. The church erected a large tent on the grounds where faithful from as far
away as Hua Hin enjoyed breakfast.
Various stalls offered more food and wares for the hungry and for Christmas
shoppers.
The Church of the Assumption Pattaya is administered by the Diocese of
Chantaburi. Mass is celebrated Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in Thai and 11 a.m. in
English.
|
|
Dusit Thani hosts Loy Krathong party for corporate clients
Hotel General Manager Chatchawal Supachayanont (back
row 4th from right), is seen with the resort management including the entire
sales team as they welcome corporate clients to the Dusit Kob Khun (Thank You)
Party held at The Point, the hotel’s extended terrace overlooking Pattaya Bay.
Staff reporters
The Dusit Thani Hotel hosted a thank you party for corporate customers
to celebrate Loy Krathong.
The themed “Sukhothai Night” Nov. 23 allowed business clients to begin Loy
Krathong celebrations early, and featured culinary bits and culture of the
Sukhothai period. The party mixed its historical theme with modern day
entertainment from the hotel’s dance troupe, The Honeybees, with tradition.
Hotel management, led by General Manager Chatchawal Supachayanont, hosted the
event that also showcased the hotel’s new Bay Meeting Room, the only venue in
Pattaya that provides the relaxing sea views of the Gulf of Pattaya, and the
newly-refurbished Club Grand rooms and Club rooms that cater to high-spending
clientele.
Corporate guests came from Bangkok and Pattaya-area companies. The yearly event
is always well attended for its simple yet relatable approach to the concept
accentuated by the preparations of food and drinks, shows and other attractions,
lucky draw prizes and souvenir items for all the guests.
Some corporate guests came with their families and
had the opportunity to celebrate Loy Krathong in advance.
Hotel General Manager Chatchawal Supachayanont
(right) sits for a commemorative photo with Pattaya Mail Media Group Managing
Director Pratheep Malhotra (left), and close friends Peter and Erika Strehlua
(center).
Hotel employees put on a special show, which
receives huge applause.
Hotel employees perform a dance from the Sukhothai
period, much to the delight of the audience.
|
|
|
