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The 911 death penalties - more pain but no real gain

Pattaya calls itself a city?

Unbelievable

Open all night

Moaning style not universal?

A Dramatic Sunday

The 911 death penalties - more pain but no real gain

Editor,
After reading about the death penalties sought by prosecutors of six Guantanamo Bay detainees I have to ask myself this question: Is justice really just in the end if the perception of its execution is perceived to be unjust to citizens and allies? Although I have mixed feelings about the death penalty and I do not wish for the perpetrators of 911 to go unpunished I am uncertain that America will win in the long run by handing out capital punishment to these prisoners. I am no lawyer but I can see that if these defendants are handed down the death penalty that the Bush Administration will again be knocked several major steps backward:
1) The perception among Muslims, both moderate and radical, that these defendants are innocent martyrs who were tried unfairly;
2) The perception around the world that these trials were run as kangaroo courts due to the grossly botched way that Guantanamo has been run; and
3) The perception among death penalty opponents that the United States would stoop to using capital punishment as a tool of political expediency.
The death penalties will lead to reprisals from our enemies and strained relations with our friends and would only have accomplished a temporary vengeance. If you are counting an eye for an eye we will never get to the end of it all. Leave it to the Bush Administration to find yet another no win situation and jump right in head first!
Best regards,
Gary Dale Cearley

Pattaya calls itself a city?

Dear Sir;
I write to you as business owner here in Pattaya City, although why the powers that be decided to give a resort the title of City is completely beyond me and I am sure people living in the cities of London, Brussels and New York, etc., are utterly turned off to visiting a city for a holiday.
Something else that I seem to be unable to understand is why we have so many councillors, a mayor, advisor to the mayor and not forgetting is it 3 or 4 deputy mayors as well as city hall that is lit up like a Christmas tree, yet the communication from these ‘professionals’ to the business community so completely appalling.
Last week was Makha Bucha Day, an important Buddhist holiday. Now the information that I receive is that businesses are allowed to operate, alcohol can be served, yet my restaurant was pretty quiet compared to normal. I ventured downtown to find many beer bars open and openly selling alcohol, although it should be noted that there was no loud music and glaring neon.
I made my way to Walking Street to find bars only selling soft drinks, police going round checking the bars and all the go-go’s shut. However, on the smaller sois and back up to Third Road it was business as usual.
And then in a repeat of last year’s utter mis-management, a pre-voting weekend, when no alcohol can be sold. Is the government trying to kill off the most valuable asset Thailand has to offer?
I wish I had just shut my restaurant for the entire duration and given my hard working staff Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday off.
So no planning - as ever and what about the tourists? Can you imagine arriving in Pattaya on the Wednesday night, jet lagged, dying to see the sights but too tired, well there’s always tomorrow and then you find that for four consecutive days restrictions are in place that make you feel you have come to an Eastern Bloc country during the cold war?
Can you imagine them looking through the brochure for Pattaya: ‘Oh it’s a city is it? ‘A really small one’ the travel agent advises. ‘Is there much congestion?’ The agent remembers her last visit to Pattaya and thinks about the 760 baht buses that are a law unto themselves, double-parking and causing havoc on Beach Road, and she lies, ‘It’s not too bad, especially on the holidays.’ ‘Oh when are the holidays?’ ‘Well actually there are many many holidays what with Buddha days and pre-election and election days.’ ‘Oh, when are those?’ ‘Well no one really knows for sure, the Buddha days get moved around every year and as far as the election goes, hotels and bar owners are usually informed a day or so before.’ ‘So we are allowed to drink on these days aren’t we?’ (They are coming on holiday after all.) ‘Again nobody really knows for sure.’ ‘Mmmmm, well Vietnam looks good doesn’t it…’
I love living here, it can be a fantastic place to live and the Thais are genuinely warm people who always take time to help you or just offer a wonderful smile. However, it seems that despite government figures, tourism is down. Do you think anybody has considered why?
I should think that the candidates for the mayor of Pattaya know what they are up against. This problem runs very deep, and affects every member of the community. If Pattaya wants to be called city, it should start acting like one. Because if the tourists stop coming, then the bars and restaurants close and if that happens the girls go, then the salons, shops, gold shops … the only upside will be empty streets with not a baht bus in sight.
Harry

Unbelievable

Editor;
The bad that I regularly see from tourists here palls into insignificance as to what I witnessed today. I was walking past the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya when I heard a young dog whimper. I looked up at the pedestrian walk over, to see a Thai throwing the poor canine of the bridge to the pavement. On landing the dog was winded but trotted of to the temple. Local Thai women and myself shouted at the man, who just shrugged his shoulders. What I said to him is unprintable; fortunately for both of us I was unable to get my hands on him, as he would be in hospital with me paying the bill, and as for myself I am sure to have been in the ‘Monkey House’. So to the morons who visit these shores, you are not as bad as some of the locals, just remember where you are.
Mr Francis

Open all night

Dear Sir,
Your help please, in seeking answers to a few questions, but first a little background, relevant to our dilemma.
Pattaya has laws that most try to abide by, EG, closing hours, containment of noise, sale of liquor, unruly or unsociable behaviour, to mention a few. They are designed to accommodate a majority in a democracy, thereby hopefully ensuring community harmony.
How is it then that on Soi Buakhao, opposite the entrance to Diana Estate, whilst most abide by the above mentioned laws, that venues can, and do, flout all the above laws with impunity? Open ALL night, continual loud and invasive music, sale of liquor until 9 am, raucous disruptive behaviour, accommodating very few, whilst thousands have to suffer yet another sleepless night. Night after night is totally unreasonable. Any answers?
Come on Pattaya, you can do better than this, or is this yet another situation whereby, when money talks, the truth is silent?
Sign me,
“Beleaguered”

Moaning style not universal?

Editor;
I am not a religious person or a gambler, but I would put money down on my belief that if Jesus Christ, Mohammed, and Buddha were living today they would be engaging in constructive criticism no matter where they traveled. They would be writing letters to newspapers if authorities refused to correct dangerous situations or refused to turn down their loud speakers. They would also make an attempt to get rid of all the corruption. They would do this and they would not be called moaners.
Now we have some anti-moaners crop up that want their piece of the action.
They are the back up for those who want to do nothing. They are Colin Farrang, Tony Crossley (His tome, I understand, “goes for the jugular of Patty’s moaning muppets), and J. Tighe who wants me to translate all my letters into Thai and hand carry them to the police station and to city hall. I’m sure all that has been done before. Evidently he thinks no one in the police station or city hall reads English. He also criticizes my “American” style of moaning. What, my style is not universal?
I wonder where some people go to school. I want to thank all antis for the publicity given me. I will now continue my constructive criticism no matter where I roam. I think the more publicity, the more support.
So keep it up boys!
Ray Standiford

A Dramatic Sunday

Dear Sir/Madam,
On Sunday February 17, there was a very large bang outside on the road in Soi Sukrudee and all electricity was terminated. As an occupant of this soi I was extremely alarmed. I need not have worried as within minutes there was a large orange Thailand Government Electricity Board lorry outside inspecting the damage. Taking control of the matter, they told the alarmed masses, this was not a problem as the transfusion box had blown and needed replacing, and this would take approximately 3 hours.
There was a pleasant breeze and plenty of ice cold amber fluid available, so the gathered masses sat down to wait. Within two hours the orange lorry was back carrying a new transfusion box and its smiling technicians. Ten minutes later the crane was in action winching the old box away and replacing it with a new one. With the flick of a switch, electricity was restored to the surrounding area, and many of the electricians were bought drinks (of the soft variety) by the grateful public.
Within three hours order was restored and life continued. Where else in the world could such prompt service be expected? The expats amongst us should be very grateful to live in such an efficient country.
Whilst writing to the Pattaya Mail I must just add my comments to the other letters that have been pouring into the Pattaya Mail’s mailbag, without doubt that Paul Strachan of Pattaya Mail Cable T.V. is definitely the sexiest man on Television.
Cheers,
Kimbo

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