Pol. Col. Suwan
Chiewnawinthawat (right) and Pol. Lt. Col. Anek Srathongyuu listen to
complaints from Russians at the Russian Convenience Center in Jomtien.
Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya’s police chief painted a rosy picture of the city’s crime
problem during a visit to the Russian Convenience Center in Jomtien Beach.
Col. Suwan Cheaonawinthawat asserted that no Russian organized crime gangs
were operating in Pattaya and tried to convince tourists that bag-snatching
problems in Naklua have been solved. Both comments echoed the optimistic
claims of top police and political officials in a July 31 press conference
blaming the media for the city’s crime-related image problem.
Suwan heard complaints from Russian tourists, translated by staff at the
Jomtien Second Road center that opened July 17 to act as an intermediary to
help Russians communicate with police and also to provide Russian-language
tourist information.
One burly tourist said he’d been mugged on Naklua Soi 12, but fought off his
attacker.
Suwan informed the tourist that self-defense was not a
criminal offense, but claimed him that police volunteers were now patrolling
Naklua soi 12-16 and that “they have solved the issues there.” He also
asserted bag snatching citywide had decreased.
No statistics were provided to back up the claims.
Another Russian man told the police chief that he feels he’d been cheated
out of a 300,000 deposit on a condominium he’d rented. Suwan told the man to
bring the contract and information to police headquarters for investigation.
In general, Suwan used his visit to try and sooth tensions of Russian
visitors about recent media reports about mafia figures from their homeland
operating freely in Pattaya. Suwan insisted that the Russian mafia was not
operating in Pattaya.
“I have to thank those that have opened the Russian Convenience Center,”
Suwan said. “Although there is a Russian consulate in Thailand, this center
can deal with problems more urgently.”
The police chief asked the tourists to “have confidence that Thai police are
ready to help and offer safety.”
