HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

A living will? - No cash is cheaper

Raffle time

Smoking hazards

Chain snatching

Incomprehensible attitude

Karen villagers

And still more on Songkran…

House burglary

Beach Road has become an eyesore

A living will? - No cash is cheaper

Editor;
Dr Ian’ column 6th June 08, regarding Living Wills made interesting reading. He states it is necessary to make a Living Will where one does not want the medical profession to resuscitate in a terminal situation. He states, “Thai medical ethics place an equally high importance on the maintenance of life.”
Unfortunately this does not always appear to hold true, especially in certain Pattaya hospitals. If there is no readily available cash, treatment is generally withheld. Why bother to go to the expense of obtaining a Living Will?
Isaan Nick

Raffle time

Editor;
Pattaya to Jomtien Road? I use the word road loosely. I just had 3 great weeks holiday in Jomtien and Pattaya, except for that road (so called) between Jomtien and Pattaya. So I think I have an idea to make the money to finish it. The new mayor can hold a raffle selling tickets at 200 baht each. Each entry has to name the year/month/day/and hour the road is finished.
1st Prize: 3 weeks driving in Malaysia (just have the joy of being able to drive on really good roads to remember what it was like). 2nd Prize: 2 weeks; 3rd Prize: 1 week.
I will buy one - my guess will be 20th June at 4.15 p.m. 2012.
Ray Wallis

Smoking hazards

Editor;
I take my hat off to the Green Leaf Project that went to Pattaya School No 4, Wat Nong Yai, to teach the children about the health problems one gets from smoking or being around someone that smokes. I also hope they taught the children how important it is to tell all smokers not to flick their toxic cigarette filters into storm drains, beaches, country side, (anywhere) and to dispose of them properly, as they are a danger to babies, wildlife, waterways and start many fires, some fatal.
Health and happiness to all.
Koto, Keeper of the ocean

Chain snatching

Dear Sirs,
I would not have written this letter had I not seen your report in 6th June edition of a 71 year old Britisher have his chain snatched from around his neck by motorbike thieves whilst he was travelling on his bike in the Naklua area.
The same happened to my wife as we travelled on Sukhumvit Road on Thursday 5th June at 11:50 a.m. between Pattaya Tai and Pattaya Klang. Two boys on a white bike pulled in close as we were travelling at 60 kph and wrenched the chain from her neck. Fortunately it broke easily though she had a cut on her lip and abrasions to the neck.
The incident could have resulted in me losing control and us being laid in the middle of 4 lanes with coaches, lorries and cars doing high speeds.
We followed the thieves down Pattaya Klang but soon lost them. We didn’t report the matter to the police, as we presumed it would be a waste of time. The necklace will probably cost around 10,000 baht to replace and it is doubtful as to whether we are insured.
The chances of catching the thieves was zero as we did not get the registration number or see their faces.
The disturbing fact is that crime itself seems to be growing in and around Pattaya, and this type of activity in particular. It cannot be too long before someone is dragged from their bike and killed in the course of one of these robberies. I am sure the police are aware of the problem and tackling it as best they can.
Please let your readers know the situation and consider not wearing visible gold chains around their necks whilst on a motorbike.
Mike Gent
Pratamnak Hill

Incomprehensible attitude

Dear Editor,
Let me tell you what happened on June 8. Location: Thepprasit Road in front of the open market near Tesco. Time: about 6 p.m.
I was driving back home at a very low speed due to the chaotic traffic jam of cars, buses and motorcycles. To avoid a crazy motorbike crossing the street without any caution I knocked with my rear-view mirror against the one of a car at my left.
I stopped at once; same did the car involved. The driver, a young man in his 20s, without even checking the possible damage, immediately called the police and my Thai wife did the same, also asking assistance from our insurance company. I repeatedly demanded the driver to show me the damage. In fact there was no damage at all. Not even a small scratch!
The police arrived, checked there was no damage and said to the driver that a claim had no ground for any further action. We left the area. At this point the request of a policemen intervention doesn’t make sense. What was the young driver looking for? An attempt to get free money because I’m a farang? The wish to get me into trouble hoping that I didn’t have a driver’s license (I carry Thai driver’s license) or that I was drunk-driving (I’m almost abstemious) or that the car was not insured (I carry a full insurance policy)? What made me really mad is that the driver asked my wife if I was drunk. I was aware of that only at home. A real insult!
This behaviour was stupid and irresponsible. It opened a window on certain local narrow mentality.
Bewildered Farang

Karen villagers

Dear Editor,
The Karen Villagers need to make a living, but their current situation does little to address their financial needs. It would be nice if an established attraction such as Nong Nooch Garden would set up a permanent village for these people where they could interact with tourists, sell their crafts, and be sheltered from exploitation. Pattaya has a way of destroying people’s sense of reason and morals. I would hate to see the Karen girls working on Beach Road or the boys in Soi Sunee Plaza. These people need protection, not exploitation.
Regards,
Bill Turner
California, USA

And still more on Songkran…

Editor;
In reply to Mickey Finn Burnley (funny, I thought that was something to do with drink, not a man’s name). After seeing a waitress crying because her clothes were ruined after she begged them not to do it as she had to go to work but they still did it; after an old couple who had been going to Thailand for twenty to thirty years saying they would not go back & many others saying this I thought I would put forward a compromise. Not a whinge and not to say all of Thailand celebrate this way. We’ll wait & see what happens if tourism drops off and they can pin it down to Songkran. I’m not trying to stop people having fun as I know a few who love Songkran, I’m just suggesting having a designated area for it. Then everyone can enjoy themselves. What’s wrong with that?
Wayne Hobson

House burglary

Editor;
My home has been burgled while my family including two children ages 4 and 8 were sleeping. They actually came into our bedrooms and stole 40,000 baht in cash, and the police did not respond at all. I am still waiting for them 3 hours later.
Can you imagine what could have happened if myself or my children had woken while they were still in the house? Especially the children. They even touched my wife; that is how we were awakened.
This is not the first occurrence and the management of this village does not care at all. The security is an absolute joke. This could have ended in tragedy. They took every penny we have. I have been seriously ill and suffered personal grief recently and this is the last straw. This is no good for Pattaya. How can the police not even bother to respond to an aggravated burglary in a tourist city?
It is now 7am on Monday morning. The burglary took place at 4am. My children are terrified and the police still have not bothered. Why? Because I am a farang? The authorities don’t seem to care. I am disgusted with the police force and will make sure I report this to the international press. I am sure this will cause great harm to Pattaya’s reputation, but people must be made aware of what is likely to happen to them.
The lives of children, who might not be as lucky as we were, could be in jeopardy because nothing was done to even try and catch this person or persons. They were actually in our bedrooms and even touched my wife while we were asleep. We could have been murdered.
Mark Binks

Beach Road has become an eyesore

Editor;
Having lived in Thailand to 4 years, I visit Pattaya about every 5-6 weeks on business. I’m a retired architect, thus I watched with anticipation the completion of the new sidewalk and narrow park along the beach a year ago. I was thinking, just maybe Pattaya City management was going to “clean up their act.” ... aaaaah, I was dreaming.
A year later, the new narrow park is a disaster. Half the lights don’t work; the planted sod has turned to sand; trash liters the walk-way; vendors hustling everything from food to tattoos and hookers both sides of the road. This is not a resort, this is a circus sideshow!
There have been a few improvements with some nice new architecture next to the Royal Garden Plaza Mall, but most of the buildings opposite the beach look 40 years old, with no design character, bars with ladies hollering at any male with a heartbeat that walks within 40 meters.
For a small city that boasts of being a “resort” community, Pattaya has become a joke. The new mayor “could” force the businesses opposite the beach to submit plans to the Planning Commission within 6 months of how each business expects to remodel the fiscal appearance of their property. Once approval is given, each business given 12 months to complete facial remodels or face fines. Once construction is completed, each business must post a performance bond, guaranteeing each property owner shall maintain their new storefront.
New mayor, Mr. Itthipol, could also have the cities park department start maintaining Beach Road, which obviously has not been done in months. Signs could be posted that any and all persons soliciting sex on Beach Road could receive 30 days in jail and up to a 10,000 baht fine ... and police could enforce it! The hookers could have their place on Walking Street, no need for them to stand 3 deep on Beach Road.
Let’s hope the new mayor makes the necessary enforcements and changes so as tourists, visitors and those that live here don’t have to look at the eyesore Beach Road has become.
Patrick Harrison

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