Losing sleep over noisy neighbors

Dear Editor,

What can we do to stop the very noisy music and concerts in the many open restaurants?

I live next door to a Laos restaurant on 3rd Road opposite “The Village”. The restaurant is named “Roy Bpet Pan Gao”.

They organize live concerts twice a month and it’s for the whole neighborhood. It isn’t possible to sleep, the whole night long. House owners can’t get their houses rented out.

We can’t live like this anymore.

When we tell the restaurant owner that we will go to the police, he just says that he doesn’t mind, as he paid the police already. He says that without noise, it is “mai sanuk” (no fun).

Many times we went to the Pattaya police, but every time they just ignored our complaints and refused to do anything. The last time I didn’t give up and went to the police 4 times in the same night. The first time they said, “If you can’t sleep, we have a big house where you can go and sleep” (he meant the jail). After the 4th time, they finally came to the restaurant and asked me if I was happy with an offer from the owner for 500 baht to go sleep in a hotel. I did not agree because it’s not only me, but many families who can’t sleep.

In the meantime, nothing is changed and the next concert was planned again. We would appreciate it if Pattaya Mail could come and take a look and listen. Maybe Pattaya Mail can help us.

Thanks,

Peter Meuhernous

Editor’s reply: I can sympathize with your plight, as recently a new karaoke bar opened near my home. Absolutely awful singing takes place there, at high decibels, sometimes until 6 a.m. However, I’m afraid you may be putting too much faith in what we are capable of doing. We can publish your concern, but beyond that we are just a newspaper. We have no authority or backing to close down any of these types of places. Until the city is legally zoned, there aren’t any legal avenues to follow either. City Hall’s attitude is that this is a free country, people can do as they choose. As the city grows more populated, I would agree that it is time for new zoning laws to set apart “noisy” entertainment areas from residential areas, but we mustn’t forget that Pattaya sprang into being at least partly as a result of lenient laws and relaxed attitudes.

Strong words for Siemens

Editor:

The Siemens Company of Pattaya City should be severely fined and permanently closed for the illegally establishing and operating an industrial factory within an area zoned as residential. Heavier fines and penalties need also to be levied against Siemens for environmentally polluting its adjacent communities with the noise and air pollution that regularly emanate from its factory.

The Industrial Works Department at Chonburi have confirmed that the Siemens facilities, located just behind the Rattakit office building on Sukhumvit Road between Central and South Roads, is in fact an industrial factory. Moreover, they have never received any construction plans from Siemens to erect a factory nor have they issued them an industrial operating license. Pattaya City Hall have also confirmed that they too, never received any construction plans from Siemens to erect a factory in an area zoned as residential, nor have they issued them a business license.

Absolutely nothing provides Siemens (a company from Germany) exemption from operating in accordance with the laws of Thailand. However, Siemens Vice President in Thailand, Ernest Poehner does not agree as he personally exhorts on the legalities and environmental pollution at his facilities. “We provide many jobs to the citizens of Thailand, we have much money invested in the Pattaya City facilities, we only operate a small maintenance shop and our landlord says everything is correct”.

Siemens General Manager Karl Mack, Logistics Manager Martin Muller and their Thai landlord speak with even less directness to the core problem. “Siemens is a huge company and any complaints against Siemens should be placed with the City Hall because there is nothing we can do for you”.

Clearly, it is an incredible amount of greed and selfishness that motivates all the above parties to act in an illegal, unresponsive, uncaring and unethical manner.

Siemens proudly presents within their corporate mission statement, “We have pledged ourselves to the principle of corporate citizenship. We are committed to protecting our environment.” Obviously this statement means nothing within Siemens at Pattaya City based upon their complete disregard of city and industrial laws and the regular environmental pollution that is being released from its factory.

The public is strongly urged to come and visit the Siemens facilities and judge for yourself as to whether or not the Siemens company is setting the standards in regards to protecting the environment of the people they supposedly serve (Pattaya City). Take a close look the enormity of the factory, the dozens of regular employees and resident industrial tradesman, the open air chemical paint shop, the metal manufacturing shop, the wood manufacturing shop, the vast array of industrial machines and vehicles, then pay particular attention as to where Siemens established their factory; far away from the Landlord’s office building and directly in the heart of two residential neighborhoods (less than eight meters separates either community from Siemens).

The Siemens Company and its landlord are now under direct written order from Pattaya City Hall to correct the community property wall that they have so illegally and selfishly invaded. They are also under direct written order from the Industrial Works Department to provide clear explanation as to the purpose of their industrial factory and why it was not legally established. Both Siemens and its Landlord have either blatantly ignored or provided false representation during previous government inquiries. Will the offending parties answer immediately and truthfully this time?

The Siemens Company have been a public nightmare for the past two years, it is now time for their industrial factory to be moved out of Pattaya City’s residential and tourist area and into an industrial/commercial zone... where it belongs.

Siemens neighboring residential communities

Amazing TAT

Mailbag,

Remotely located on the side hill under the Big Buddha is this very nice, expensive looking building, staffed (23 Oct.) by one lady, void of good information brochures, and not surprisingly void of tourists, alas is the local TAT office.

The police box at the entrance to the Walking Street provided us the directions and our trek started. Fortunately, we weren’t walking, as most tourists are, and the trusty Honda took us on the long journey.

We live in Pattaya and were seeking information on the upcoming Gem Fair in Chantaburi starting October 28th. She had no info so called someone to obtain, and politely informed us. She also provided us the golf guide, which contained a map of South East Thailand.

Over the past 3 years of living in Pattaya, I have visited many times the TAT office that was located on Beach Road. I found it fully staffed (5 or more), helpful, pleasant, well informed staff, lots of printed information and always tourists asking questions.

The point is that TAT did an excellent job of moving the Pattaya office to a location that guarantees 99% of tourists visiting Pattaya and most of the locals alike will never visit, let alone find.

I would guess that the solution would be to toss buckets of baht to find, remodel and staff an “expensive” satellite office to rent/lease, accessible to tourists and locals. The new remote building could be converted to a beer bar or weekend retreat for TAT officials on official business.

Amazing lack of planning and waste of needed taxpayers’ funds.

Signed,
Amazed by TAT

Outraged over abuse

Dear Sir,

I hope that you will display the same outrage over the case of an 18 month old boy admitted to Banglamung Hospital for treatment of “bruises, wounds and cigarette burns” as you do towards crimes against children a dozen years older...

This crime was totally preventable. Incredibly, after his parents were imprisoned, he was apparently left in the “care” of a twenty year old man, also allegedly a drug addict. In any civilized country, when authorities deprive children of the care of their parents for whatever reason, they have an absolute duty to ensure that substitute care is provided. In the absence of a close and competent relative, this will almost always entail reception into the care of the local authority or an accredited voluntary organization (as, I believe, has now belatedly occurred).

I hope there will be an immediate review of procedures in such cases to prevent future tragedies.

Yours faithfully,
PCB Mitchell

Thank you Montien Hotel Pattaya 

Editor,

I travel all over the world for approximately 6 months a year. All frequent travelers know the importance of a “nice home feeling” when staying at hotels.

I would like to thank all the staff, from electrician, kitchen, restaurant, room service and reception, up to executive assistant manager Santana Sukhabut, for the great service I experienced at the Montien Hotel in Pattaya.

You are all wonderful people. The quality of this hotel is only witness that the people behind this top class service are all contributing to a great future for this hotel. My 10 nights here were pure pleasure, sitting in my room, writing on a new book.

Once again, thanks to all of you for making my stay so wonderful. I am sure you are doing the same to all hotel guests.

Per Gade

Professor, Denmark-Japan

Dean Sheerin is recovering

Dear Editor,

Pattaya Mail readers will be glad to know that Dean Sheerin, who was wounded in the shooting incident last week, is recovering well. The bullet entered both his liver and his stomach, narrowly missing his lungs and backbone. There should be no lasting damage and Dean will be back in UK within a few days. Sincere thanks are due to the Pattaya police and the hospital staff who all did an excellent job.

Yours sincerely,
Barry Kenyon

Consular representative of the British Embassy

Re: visa misunderstanding

Editor:

I noticed several times in the Pattaya Mail that Cambodian visas must be obtained in advance if you enter anywhere other than Phnom Penh airport. One can, in fact, obtain a Cambodian visa for $20 at the border crossing at Aranyaprathet, between the hours of 9am-5pm, and it takes only a few minutes to get it after you fill out the form.

John P.

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