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Equal justice - stealing a towel
vs. a forged passport?
Editor;
This is in reference to Mr. Barry Kenyon’s letter in the April 16, 2004
issue of the Pattaya Mail regarding the poor fellow who got deported
for stealing a hotel towel. Mr. Kenyon gives a very detailed and
comprehensive explanation of the case and the tone of his letter appears
very complimentary to the Thai criminal justice system.
In an earlier issue of the Pattaya Mail, there was
an article about a wealthy Swiss national being arrested in Pattaya for
having a forged British passport. This person is now walking around Pattaya
free and enjoying the good life. If the original story as printed was
correct, one would think that in today’s world of terrorism, possessing a
forged passport would be a very serious offense and would carry at least
similar punishment as that of stealing a hotel towel.
Since this second case involves a forged British
passport, maybe Mr. Kenyon in his official capacity as the Consular
correspondent for the British Embassy can investigate this matter and again
reply in the Pattaya Mail with a report how this case has progressed
through the Thai criminal justice system. Or better yet, maybe an official
inquiry to the Thai Police from the British Embassy in Bangkok.
A Concerned Observer
Another dangerous Songkran happening
Dear Editor,
As far as I am concerned, the Songkran festival plumbed new depths earlier
this morning (Thursday, 15th April). I was riding my motorbike in a
southerly direction along Sukhumvit Highway with my wife on the pillion,
when we were overtaken by a family in a Volkswagen. As the vehicle drew
alongside, I was squirted with water across the face and eyes by a child
travelling in one of the rear seats.
Most fortunately, the visor on my helmet was down and I
suffered only a momentary loss of vision. Had it not been, I shudder to
think what might have happened. Arguably that young person could well have
been responsible for another two road deaths. I regret that neither of us
was able to get the license number of the vehicle.
Had we been able to do so I would certainly have reported
the matter to the police with a view to prosecuting the parents who were
sitting in the front seats, either oblivious to what was taking place behind
them or condoning the actions of their offspring.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Patnicroft
TT&T needs to get its house in order
Editor;
Re the letters from C.S. about his TT&T phone line not working. I have
just got over the same problem and nearly come to a divorce situation with
my wife, who has to do the fighting with the authorities for me.
For the last three weeks, I was unable to go on line
without numerous attempts. After doing the obvious internal checks, is was
undoubtedly TT&T’s problem. My wife phoned the operator, who was
adamant that their line was perfect and that it was our internal line at
fault. At my wife’s insistence the operator gave her the phone number of
their freelance mechanic, who refused to come.
We called in a local mechanic, at our expense, who
confirmed that it was not an internal problem. We contacted the freelance
mechanic again and told him of the verdict. He changed his tune and advised
my wife to contact the operator again and be “firm and insistent” as
“I am having this problem all the time. Tell the operator she is not a
mechanic.”
When my wife blasted the operator, the operator agreed to
send their mechanic. The following day the mechanic phoned us to apologise
and that the problem was theirs and that they had fixed it.
Later, the operator also phoned up and apologised. That,
we thank her for, but it is not enough. If you are buying a service then you
should expect service, and not be fobbed off and told to fix your problem
yourself.
I would suggest that TT&T gets its house in order and
provide this service. If what the mechanic said is true about him having
this problem all of the time, then there are a lot of frustrated people out
there.
Ron Martin
Keep teens off the streets after 7 p.m.
Dear Editor,
Seeing that the problems involving the teens are on the rise in this small
city, is it possible for the local governor to enforce a curfew on the teens
under 18, keeping them off the streets after 7 p.m.?
If not then maybe we can set up a community centre, fully
equipped with sports facilities such as street soccer; basketball courts so
that we can direct them into positive living style.
It would also open up opportunity for people of all other
ages to get together and interact, maybe introducing some useful learning
programs at acceptable fees or organizing competitions / tournaments once in
a while to keep the motivation going.
Hopefully we can allow some of the teens to find their
talent, keep them off the streets, idling away or getting into bad
influence.
With best regards,
A local resident
No consideration given during water splashing
Dear Sir/Madam,
My wife and I have just arrived home totally wet through with ruined new
clothes, wet bank documents and cards and very, very angry!
We had wanted to travel to Big C in South Pattaya to get
some money, buy some much needed food and to visit the post-office. As it
was, we would have to travel on our bike along what is already one of the
most dangerous roads in this part of Thailand (Sukhumvit Road) in order to
get there.
We never did get there because we had children and not so
young people constantly throwing water over us, causing us on two occasions
to have narrow escapes when we were trying to avoid them rather than
concentrate on other traffic.
You could argue that as a ‘Farang’ I have no right to
criticize local custom ... what, even when it is down-right bloody
dangerous? (I suppose you could say that it’s no worse than most of the
other things that take place on the roads here!)
This afternoon’s episode has caused me to have a total
reversal of previously held attitudes. I now hate the youth of this area and
can’t wait to take my spending power to another city or perhaps back to
Europe.
With dozens of vehicles crowded with water throwers, let
alone those at the roadside, we saw just three police in the 1 to 2 mile
aborted journey. When we stopped by them to ask what they were going to do
about it, they said, “We can’t do anything!” ... Pathetic! Pattaya
deserves the police force that it has!
I thank god that I left at home some very important
publishing documents that I had considered posting today but I wonder...
what if someone who could not afford a taxi was travelling to see a very
sick relative in hospital, to an important job interview or meeting or ...?
Have the water throwers thought of that?
Angrily, R.W.
HMS What?
Dear Editor
The artical about the recent exercises by the Royal Thai Navy provided some
confusion. I was surprised to see a ‘Royal Navy’ ship called ‘HMS
Bangpakong’. I had never heard of the particular vessel but perhaps the
British have decided to give their ships a more ‘global’ identity a bit
like British Airways painting their planes unusual colours, so no one would
think they were British. This country (UK) has become so politicaly correct
we don’t like to offend anybody these days. The existance of another RN
ship called HMS Chakrinarubet was a similar surprise.
I was in the Royal Navy for 25 years and I don’t
remember RN ships of these names winning any battle honours.
Still such is progress.
It could be that the reporter should have identified the
ships as HTMS Bangpakong and HTMS Chakrinarubet.
Yes that might explain it.
Peter Ash
UK
How could you not be a Juicy Lucy fan?
Mott the Dog;
I just got back from the LOS and although I never made it to Pattaya, it’s
on the list for next time.
I ran across your article while surfing all things Thai.
I’m a Juicy Lucy fan (how could you not be with a name like that and their
first album cover looking like it did). You’re bang on with the review. I
wonder if you’ve heard tell of their first recording (and in my opinion
their best) being out in CD format? Hard one to find if it’s out there.
For other people who are interested, All Music Guide is a
good place to source info and find retail sources for the recordings. I’ve
also had great luck in finding obscure older recordings (7 tears by Golden
Earring... a Brit band called Road from the 70’s with Noel Redding etc.)
on ebay. Sometimes the label that puts out the recording will offer online
sales (don’t know if Repitoire does or not ... great label by the way, I
recently purchased the first two Baker Gurvitz Army CD’s re-released by
Repitoire on ebay)
I enjoyed your review and will be tuning in regularly.
Cheers,
Slunky
Thank you for remembering
Dear Editor,
Thank you for remembering our Savior on this very special occasion with the
very special poems written by poet Webb. He is very talented writer.
Also, thank you for warning people of the dangers of
Songkran. I lost a leg three years ago in a motor scooter accident caused by
someone throwing water at us.
Truly yours,
Louise Smarts
Locating Thai people from my past
Editor;
I was stationed in Sattahip in 1970 and my wife and I lived in a bungalow
right behind Wat Pothi Sampant. We will be returning for a visit in June.
Would like to locate the people that I worked with or knew:
Mario Bernadini had Mario’s Italian Restaurant in South
Pattaya Beach
Mr. Manop was a Thai national who worked with me in the
deep-water port in Sattahip
Miss Samsong and Miss Ratree were my secretaries
If you could be of any help through your newspaper I
would appreciate it.
Thank You
Robert Kelley
Thai TV Global Network disappeared from Europe
Hello Editor,
A lot of Thai citizens in Europe watch Thai TV5 from the global network. But
yesterday at 4 p.m. (GMT +1.00h) people can no longer watch Thai TV in
Europe anymore. And this now during the Songkran celebration. This comes
completely without any information.
Today (28h later) it still does not work and nobody can
find any information on Thai TV Global Network http://www.thaitvglobal.com
Did somebody forget to pay the electric bill?
This is a great service from Thailand for Thai people
outside of Thailand! We hope it returns soon.
Best regards,
Snowgard
Pattaya Is So Good To Me
Pattaya is so good to me
She gives me time to frolic and to play
A night of peaceful slumber and
More leisure time each day
She lets me say the things I want
And do what I may please
If I am wronged, I know I have
Some legal remedies
Pattaya, is a place where every person is a king
But only one wears the crown
Pattaya is so good to me
I really love this town.
B. Phillip Webb Jr.
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