HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Police aren’t interested in catching burglars who burgle farangs

Conman steals retired couples savings in Pattaya

Teacher’s request

It is time that anti-corruption fighters prove they mean it

What is their excuse this time?

Flights “fully booked”

Police aren’t interested in catching burglars who burgle farangs

Dear Editor,
A short time ago our house was burgled, the frightening part was we were in bed asleep at the time. They broke open a back window and entered the house, they searched every room, fortunately for us we had our bedroom door locked.

My wife (Thai) found the damage the next morning ... not a lot missing: a few frozen items from the freezer, a little cash from my office, 400 baht. Ok, I was reluctant to report it to the police, but were asked to by our Thai neighbour. We did report to the police station (Banglamung). I told my wife I would wait in the car outside, and she went in alone. After 3 hours I decided to see what was taking so long, and when I went in there she was talking to a policeman who was reading a comic and smiling. I sat down beside my wife, not a movement in either the head or eyes of him in my direction. One hour more we left, as they did nothing.

When we got home another neighbour who had been away the night before got home to find his house burgled. He phoned the police, guess what? They were there in 30 min., then it came to light that another neighbour had seen two young men doing it and knows them. Now they tell the police, and the police arrest one, and we were told he got 3 years.

My wife was told we could not go to the court to see for ourselves (strange). 7 days later we were targeted again, same young man, how do we know? My wife saw him climbing through the bathroom window. He of course ran off. Again we went to make a report, and my wife was told if she knew who it was to get his name and address, then they would act.

She had little problem getting this information as everybody around here knows this guy, he lives only 300 metres away from us. He is responsible for many, many break-ins. We returned to the station to give the details a few days later hoping now this problem would be dealt with, and we could go sleep in our bed again, instead of on the lounge floor at night, but alas they wouldn’t do anything. They promised to (do something) every time my wife phoned, but they did nothing at all, why?

This was the last straw for me. Farangs are just not welcome here, it’s made quite clear every time you want something, they only want our money, not us.

I have lived in a few countries in my time, and I can honestly say that this is the worst place (everything considered) I have ever lived. I have now sold my house, cheap for speed. I’ll take my wife and my hard earned money elsewhere, and from what I understand I’ll have to join a queue.

Things here, yes they are changing, the problem is they are getting worse!

A13 year visitor/resident, enough is enough! Shame on all.
Signed,
Tee Bee

Conman steals retired couples savings in Pattaya

Dear Mail,
I write to explain to you about a really bad thing that has been happening right under your noses in Pattaya and Bangkok. It is a terrible thing and something that should be discussed and people warned.

It concerns a very sick man, who initially comes across as a nice guy, but is in fact a liar and a con man. He has been operating with his Thai girlfriend in Thailand for around eight years and befriended many people.

When they came to Thailand they had nothing. He was a sex tourist and the girl I believe worked in Nana Plaza as a prostitute. The only way he stayed here was by ripping off some poor man who was down on his luck, having had a motorcycle accident leaving him paralysed. He conned the poor man out of his insurance money and used the money to set up several bars in Bangkok and Pattaya. They also had a hair salon. The couple never put any money at all into any of these ventures. They had no money. During this time, this horrible liar was selling false shares to numerous other innocent investors, behind the guy in the wheelchair’s back. This went on for many years until all the investors started to get to know each other and realised what was happening.

The final outcome of this appalling story is that many many people have lost over 30 million baht! They have been lied to, abused and maltreated by this twisted, wicked pair. Many of the Thai staff were ripped off, too, and never got paid. Poor Thai people who were only getting 3000 baht a month to send back to their families were all lied to and abused by this couple, even though the couple had received millions of baht from other poor innocent people. Not only are they stealing and abusing farangs but also the very people who are allowing them to stay here in their country, the Thais themselves. During this time they also borrowed money from everyone and anyone, never ever paying any of it back. I cannot tell you how horrible this pair are and how disgusting there morals and principles are.

The last straw was when a poor retired western couple in their 70’s had their life savings stolen. They now face financial ruin and have had to go back home. What sort of human being steals from invalids and elderly people? They prey on the weak and the vulnerable. So many people are sickened by this series of events in Bangkok, where so many ex-pats know of it.

They have now fled to Pattaya, having changed the names of the bars in Bangkok. This man is now operating in Pattaya, probably in bars or go-go bars. You should all be warned. He has court action against him and has been arrested but was let out and went to Pattaya. The police are aware of him too. Apparently he is involved in the selling of Thai girls to Japan too.

I hope you can do something, or at the very least tell people so nobody else gets ripped off. Many of the poor people they did this to are facing financial ruin and as for the man in the wheelchair, he has had all his insurance money stolen. This really is the lowest of the low and decent people should do as much as possible to try to stop this. The Thais should also know as these horrible people are abusing their country and their people.

Please help to report this or at least make sure your friends know, so it never happens to them.
Best wishes and regards,
(Name Withheld)

Teacher’s request

To the good people of the world:
My name is Edgar Connell, and I represent children in a Geography classroom in the state of Georgia, USA. My class would like to learn more about the people, culture, and lifestyles of this planet that we all share. We ask people of all nationalities and beliefs to please send us letters, postcards, pictures of your area of the world. We will send you information about ourselves.

Thank you,
Mr. Connell and Students
8th Street Middle School
700 West 8th Street
Tifton, GA 31794
Students, parents, and teachers can visit my site at:
http://teach.tiftschools.com/users/econnell

It is time that anti-corruption fighters prove they mean it

Dear Editor;
The international reputation of Thailand rests on its ability to convince the worldwide business community that the “People’s Constitution” and the introduction of the Administrative Court mark the opening of a new phase in fighting corruption and manipulation by power brokers that hinder economic progress.
A case in point:

In 2486 (1943) the Island of Koh Samet in Rayong Province was registered as a ‘Moo Bahn’ (official village) in the Umpur Muang Rayong.

13 years later in 2499 (1956) the inhabitants of Samet registered and were given Tabien Bahn Documents (House Registration Documents)

5 years later in 2504 (1961) The National Parks was created under Royal Charter, charged, among other things, with protecting and preserving the natural beauty of the pristine forests and assuring the protection of people living within designated National Park areas.

In 2524 (1981) 38 years AFTER Koh Samet was registered as a Moo Bahn, and 20 years after the creation of the National Park Royal Charter, Koh Samet was designated as a National Park on the authority of the Prem Thinsanalook Government. At this point, according to aerial photographs, Koh Samet was a degraded forest area. The National Park gave the people ‘permission’ to live, build and have businesses. The people paid taxes and carried on with life in a ‘National Park’.

This continued for 9 years until 2533 (1990). Without notice the island was ‘closed’ by the National Park, the people were rounded up, held in holding cells at the local police station, bailed out, charged with forestry encroachment and ordered to appear in criminal court.

These court cases have been going on for 13 years. Because of the threat of expulsion from the island many people have been coerced into relinquishing their rights to their land.

My question is who will protect the rights given, in 2486, by the government to live in Samet and now being taken away in 2546?

The remaining handful of determined families who have taken advantage of the new administrative court system to plead their case, hope that it will prove that no matter how small the voice the People’s Constitution and the Administrative Court will speak on your behalf to break the power of nepotism and dishonesty that plagues the progress of our country.
Yours Sincerely,
Apinya Putsorn

What is their excuse this time?

Editor;
I almost came to the end of my tether earlier this year with having to suffer NO mains water for weeks and weeks on end, but grinned and bore it.

We have just had two months of torrential rain, probably the highest rainfall in years, and the same thing has happened yet again: no water! This has been the state of play for over a week now. What is their excuse this time?

For the record, I live in Suksabai Villa and, believe me, my fellow residents are also very unhappy.

Trying to call the water people is a waste of time. Most times you cannot get through because they have probably taken the phones off the hook or there is a queue of similarly irate customers that they do not want to face for fear of losing theirs.

When you do get through, some underling promises to send out an engineer as if it is some problem at your home. You then tell them that everyone in your area has no water and they have all been ringing up to complain.

They then say, “One moment Sir,” and then the phone is cut off.

Thailand may be ‘Amazing’, but the Water Authority responsible for Pattaya is truly ‘Astonishing’ and needs one almighty shake up, starting at the top.

How these people can accept their salaries with any conscience is a mystery to me. Incompetence should be scorned and dealt with, not rewarded.

I have nothing but utter contempt for these faceless and nameless people who obviously could not care less about their customers and do not have the backbone to answer a simple question.

The truth would really be welcome, but there is less sign of that than water.
Seething Suksabai Villa Resident

Flights “fully booked”

Dear Editor,
I was hoping to come to Pattaya this Christmas, but it seems that all airlines from Europe to Bangkok are full, except in business class.

I have managed to get on a waiting list, but even this is no guarantee. Looks like Thailand has become very popular again or they have cut capacity on the Europe - Bangkok routes.

Perhaps, Thai airways would consider adding more flights from Europe during the peak season to encourage tourism.
Matthew M

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