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Road death blame should be shared by Pattaya government

Way too transparent

More on pollution solution

Who loves who?

Remove vehicles without tail lights

Thais discriminate against Thais

Road death blame should be shared by Pattaya government

Editor;
Where does the buck stop Mr. Editor? Innocent people are mangled or killed on the streets of Pattaya each day. The road conditions, and the ridiculous way the roads are maintained, or not maintained, are contributing factors to the death and mayhem that entangle good people who just want to get to the market, or home from work. I lay those deaths at the feet of the mayor of Pattaya, the souls of the dead should continuously haunt your home Mr. Mayor, you are partly to blame.
The conditions of Pattaya roadways are horrendous. When traffic must squeeze from four lanes into two, who wouldn’t think that the strangling of traffic is not going to cause accidents? I’m not in any way lessening the culpability of the idiots who drive their cars in a reckless fashion no matter what the terrain, but some of the blame falls squarely on city hall.
I also give some of the blame to our local constabulary who spend their time smiling while they play the game of let’s grab someone off their bike and fine them because they didn’t wear their helmet. If the Pattaya police spent their time directing traffic, arresting or severely fining miscreants who abuse others on the road, and making this place safer, we would all benefit.
Standing on the corners waiting for the morons who wear flip flops and no helmets to round the corner is like shooting fish in a barrel. It does nothing to make any of us safer on the road.
Jerry Harless

Way too transparent

Dear Pattaya Mail,
To those ex-pats who are here to remake their lives because they had no life from whence they came: You are way too transparent in your attempt to be someone new here, by your statements to others, “that if you don’t like some things here, go back home”. What patronization! Change, albeit slow here, comes about by polite suggestions to those who open for business with no change; take lunch breaks when there are over a hundred patrons standing in line at the electric company or at many banks; and police booths stating “manned 24 hours” and they are empty. Unacceptable. Chai, phom puut Thai.
Sincerely,
Hyde Parke
Pattaya

More on pollution solution

Aloha Editor;
I have been the keeper of the ocean in Jomtien from Soi Wat Boon Rd to Thepprasit Rd for the past three years, picking up what people throw away on the beach and in the ocean. I can now see there is a need for signs in English and Thai, to let the people know we all need to take care of the only place we have, “Earth”.
You would not believe the amount of trash I take out of “our” ocean every day: plastic, rope, nets, cigarette filters, broken glass, etc. We all need to wake the village and tell the people that the children will start getting sick from all the trash that’s in the ocean and on the beach, and the people on holiday will start going other places. I have seen many tourists come to the beach, see all the trash and leave. Then who do they tell?
We all need to get off our duffs and waster-size, bend at the waist to pick up the waste and get rid of both. I’m 68 - it’s never too late to make a difference.
Thank you,
pollutionsolutionthailand@ yahoo.com

Who loves who?

Sir,
There has been much debate in these columns over the past years regarding the dual pricing policy of many Thai organizations - in favour of Thais. I can’t help but think that this discrimination against farangs is openly encouraged by the powers that be. Public statements by many officials (from local transport officials to PM Thaksin) only go to endorse and sanction dual and over pricing.
However, I think the biggest endorsement for overcharging farangs (mostly tourists) is three little words - Thai Rak Thai! Try it in another language: how about, French Love French; American Love American; German Love German Party! I think not - sounds a little bit too racist don’t you think, even for country’s that don’t depend so much on tourism for a major part of their GNP.
James Bannister

Remove vehicles without tail lights

Editor;
I have sent in this letter in the hope that if published, maybe, just maybe one of the more educated members of the Thai police force may take on board its contents think about my comments and then take some action.
I have now been living here in Thailand for nearly two years and over the past few months have been commuting daily from Pattaya to Rayong on my motorcycle, returning most days during the evenings.
I have become absolutely staggered at the number of vehicles (motorcycles, cars and trucks) that have “no working rear lights”.
Friends say to me, why are you surprised, this is Thailand not England? That maybe so. But does that really entitle people here to maybe take another life in the event of an accident occurring because of their total stupidity in driving without lights at night? I think not.
The cost of a bulb for a vehicle is very small so that cannot be the reason for so many non-working rear lights.
On one occasion recently a camouflaged army vehicle passed me at great speed in the dark with no lights either at the front or the rear. A totally reckless action.
I ask the Thai traffic police to please act now: Stop and immediately remove these vehicles from the road. A simple way of saving some of the waste of life that is tragically occurring on our roads.
Pattaya Baz

Thais discriminate against Thais

Editor;
A few weeks ago I went to a brand new bar in South Pattaya with my Thai wife’s brother. Three not very pleasant guys walked up when they saw my Thai friend and said, “Our policy is not to allow Thais in here!” Big surprise: racism in Thailand against Thais.
This is not policy, this is real racism! Is this acceptable, keeping Thais from entering a club which is a Thai company? I believe not. We do not need such discrimination against Thais in Thailand.
Mr. Svein
Pattaya/Norway

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