Dear Editor;

In elephant shows here elephants are bicycle riding, playing basketball and engaging in other unnatural activities. In a previous letter I noted that it’s well documented that many elephant trainers beat and torture elephants to make them perform unnatural acts.

Many mailbag writers complain about the lack of respect foreigners show towards Thai culture. But what can be more disrespectful to Thai culture than reducing the magnificent elephant to the level of a circus clown for the amusement of tourists? The Thais who put on those shows have no respect for their culture or their religion.

A few months ago I read about pending legislation to prohibit forcing elephants to perform unnatural acts and I intend to find out if the law is being violated.

If it seems I’m a one man crusade it’s because no one else here gives a damn and if I don’t speak out who will? Am I wrong?

Dear Sirs,

I hope that in the midst of all that which occurs in Pattaya, you will find the space to publish this letter, which is a simple, but very heartfelt ‘thank you’. During early August I was called on to try and track down some potential donors of O negative blood for Sheri Ferguson, a lady who is known to many of us in this community. Sheri needed some surgery and the blood was required in case of need during that surgery. I said I would do what I could, which felt totally inadequate, but hit the phones. During the course of the next 48 hours I spoke to and received e-mails from just about all over Thailand, offers of blood, offers to ‘help’ in any way possible and good wishes for Sheri.

On behalf of Sheri, I would simply like to say a huge thank you to all those who have called and offered to help. I know I could never find a more practical and wide reaching way of expressing thanks than through your pages and am sure that this will find everyone who offered help. Technology helped enormously, and I would like to thank all those who e-mailed out the appeal, as well as helping with phone calls, yourselves at Pattaya Mail, Alice Poulson, Kim Fletcher, Paul Dobbs, Bruno Forrer, and many others whose names I don’t know properly and probably never will.

Sheri is improving and back at home now, and the emergency over I would like to ask if there is a list of potential donors of rare or unusual blood groups in the local area, as I know such exists in Bangkok. If any group holds such a list, please let me know and I will gladly furnish any information I can. If, however, there is no comprehensive list, I am happy to assist with the compilation of a database, which would hopefully be lodged with a major local hospital.

Once again, a most heartfelt ‘thank you’.

President - Pattaya International Ladies Club

Editor:

In supplement to Charles Parker 17th Aug 2001... Hey Chuck, right on the money on the 2 a.m. closing issues in Pattaya, Phuket & Bangkok. But may I add that Issue 3 to your article / argument might be a point of law, in that shouldn’t any government (or any institution with democratic power mandated from its constituents) that mandatorily decides to impede, deter, or constrict a segment of the country’s business or commerce (especially one involved in tourism) have the onus of proving its case of grievance before it empowers its gendarmes?

I have been a regular to Thailand for many years now but I fail to see the government even purporting a case with proof let alone substantiating that case with evidence in regards to the links between closing times of entertainment establishments and the country’s youth-drug problems. All that has been offered in contention is an assumption that the entertainment places perpetuate or in fact propagate the drug problems. No conclusive proof.

Mystifying is the only word that comes to mind when one considers the interior minister’s comments on this latest crack-down, and that he wishes the country to return to that society which it was some 30 years ago (The Nation - 19th Aug). Hey, I wonder if he’ll swap me his nice new Mercedes 500 for a 30 year old Austin (that I think still goes) that I can lay my hands on? Seriously, that is a firm offer! Sad is the only word that comes to mind regarding his comments that he wishes that Thai females should never walk closely or display affection to their loved ones (like second rate citizens, servants or pets) as apparently they once did.

But to the point in hand. Making generalized statements such that if teenagers use drugs at discos and nightclubs, demonstrates that the country’s whole entertainment industry should be shut down at 2 a.m. or restricted, is only indicative of the government’s lack of insight into the heart of the issue, as the same issues and concerns face every government, every society and almost every concerned parent in the world today. Thailand is not a lone island on this problem, but its unsupported claims of links to entertainment venues is perhaps unique at best.

Of course any right minded person does in fact support the ideals of successfully tackling society’s drug concerns and problems, but targeting entertainment venues seems to be akin to backing the long-shot and crossing ones fingers at best. May I simply ask where there is any evidence in supporting this contention? I wish I could so easily hide my head under my blankets and pretend that doing so solves all my problems.

Long Beach California

Editor;

I recently had an experience in a local supermarket in North Pattaya. On a quiet morning in the shop at around 10.30 a.m., a few customers were shopping at this time. Nearly finished with my shopping, I left my shopping cart with my handbag unattended for 2 minutes, just turning my back on it to order some sweets at the counter, only to see 1 minute later that my handbag was gone. Realizing quickly what happened I called for the security guard and called out loud that my handbag is missing. The security guard was then walking towards me with my handbag (zip open). The security guard explained that the cleaning lady just found my handbag on the floor and called him. Checking my handbag I found my purse with about 6000 baht, ATM card and Visa card missing.

The reaction of the whole staff in the supermarket was very slow and inappropriate; the manager first refused to call the police, and hands bound without my mobile phone I insisted that I wanted to report to the police. After one hour 2 policemen finally showed up and I was asked to make my report at the police station.

Now, I am asking, for what is a security guard in the shop? They should have closed the shop’s front door, because the thief at that time was probably still in the shop. The supermarket does not even have monitors for surveillance, and must be heaven for thieves. The security guard is not even trained for this basic event.

Experience showed me to never ever leave my belongings unattended for 1 minute, even if the place seems quiet and secure and for my feelings, choose a better place to shop.

Dear Pattaya Mail,

Regarding the piece in the current Grapevine column about motorcycle insurance, no problem! When I had a 175cc Kawasaki I had a fully comprehensive insurance policy from Jack Levy whose office is above Northern Thai Realty Co. on Second Road opposite the Royal Garden Plaza. I was insured for myself, passenger, pedestrians and property. In the event of theft the bike was insured up to 60% of the cost of a new one. I would suggest a visit to see Jack.

Yours,

In what were almost the exact same circumstances, a hotel fire in the Philippines claimed 75 lives. It reads in the press exactly like the Pattaya hotel fire: locked fire exits, attendees at a conference, started in the restaurant.

What’s the betting that the follow on will be the same? The management pays off and doesn’t get blamed and re-opens later with a new name. In a couple of years everyone will forget and the fire codes will be ignored again.

How soon before a fire ravages the crowded aisles of some of the shopping centres here?

A case of TITSEA - This is Thailand and South East Asia.

Regards,