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Justice for all?

Editor;

While accepting that non British readers may not interested in Britain’s areas of social injustice many old British codgers like myself welcomed Des Gillet’s letter to David Cameron. Whether our illustrious Prime Minister is really coming to the Land of Smiles courtesy of the British tax payer I do not know, but whether he does or does not I am sure if Mr. Gillet organises a bus for us old codgers, which we will contribute to from our meager pensions, we will join him for a banner waving protest at is holiday destination or the British Embassy.

It is a shame that ‘The Forces Sweetheart’ Dame Vera Lynne is well past her ‘best before date’ like most of us or we could have asked her to wage war for us as did Joanna Lumley for the Gurkas.

Ron Martin
Sattahip


Ignoring pedestrian crossing signals

Editor;

As reading the article last week regarding the new signals I just have to comment. I hope this isn’t viewed as Thai bashing but I think the mayor and officials who came up with this bright idea should go out some nights and view for themselves - what a waste of money!

It is matter of time before someone is killed using these lights. I did an unofficial survey on several nights where these lights are placed and this is my conclusion. There are a number of signals on Beach Rd. but they are seldom used and when they do, most vehicles don’t stop for the pedestrians. The pedestrians are safer if they cross on their own rather than allowing the newly install signals to give them the right of way! On Second Rd, outside Central Festival to Pattaya Klang this long stretch has no signals and there are plenty of pedestrians that need to cross!

When at the signals I rarely see anyone, including Thais, using the signals and when they were used no one bothered to stop until the pedestrian was right in front of the vehicle. Luckily the pedestrian didn’t just assume they have the right away and looked, otherwise they would be dead.

As for motor scooter stopping the answer is of course NO! With vehicles driving so close to each other on several occasions I rode my motor scooter down Beach Rd., and on two occasions I was lucky to catch the red signal. On the first occasion when I stopped the car behind nearly hit me from behind and started to sound the car horn rudely! The second time the songthaw and motor scooters went around me and crossed the red signal nearly hitting the pedestrian.

All in all for the money and time that was spent no one ever uses the signal. To be honest it is safer to cross Beach Rd. the old way than use these signals. Using them is like putting yourself in the middle of a bullseye waiting to be run down! This is an accident waiting to happen!

The intentions were good, just like wanting to build the monorail, but I say save your money with all these bright ideas. Until you can fill a pothole that doesn’t need to be filled again the next day, I say save your money! Otherwise I suggest the mayor and the officials go out one night without all the cameras and try crossing at these pedestrian signals. But before that please appoint a replacement!

Jeff Chumunci


Something should be done about noisy South Pattaya Road

Editor;

If noise, as doctors say, leads to heart attacks and stokes, then something should be done about all the noise in the South Pattaya Road area, one of the noisiest areas in Pattaya. It really takes more than ear plugs, tranquillizers, and intestinal fortitude to deal with all the racket.

The creation of two huge parking lots across the road from each other on South Pattaya Road is responsible for most the noise. One of the parking lots is in Wat Chaimongkol and the other on the athletic field of public School #8. The Wat lot takes care of the parking for noisy events on the school field, and the school athletic field takes care of the parking for Wat religious services. It’s somewhat of a symbiotic relationship. I might add that Wat Chaimongkol has now expanded its parking facility. There is now a 5 story parking garage. The fact that the city only allows parking on one side of South Pattaya Road leads to greater use of parking facilities. And add the 24/7 market with its accompanying all night music and you have pure bedlam.

I wouldn’t presume to know everything that needs to be done to make the South Pattaya Road area healthy once again. I do know that many people are moving into inner city areas and they deserve some peace and quiet. They are very tired of continual noisy performance. If it’s customary to let it all hang out (I don’t believe this is the case, I’ve spoken to many Thais and they are just as outraged as falangs) then I apologize for my remarks. I would just like to suggest that a lot of these noisy performances be kept under cover, and that loud speakers be confiscated if people don’t know to keep them under control. They are dangerous instruments in the wrong hands.
R. Standiford


Shocking news

Dear Pattaya Mail:

A couple weeks ago I read in your paper that bars on Soi 6 had been raided because they were actually fronts for prostitution, and even provided rooms in the upper floors for such activity. Now you report in your current issue (5 November) that a massage parlor in Soi Buakaow was raided for providing extra services besides massages and even provides condoms.

Wow! Who would think that sort of thing would be going on in Pattaya? You really know how to shock your readers!
RL Holt


Zebra crossings

Editor;

It seems to me that the ‘zebra crossings’ would be more likely to be effective if some of Pattaya’s finest were on the scene to enforce these pedestrian crossings, instead of sitting in their air-conditioned huts, looking at the CC monitors. I know that it doesn’t make the headlines like, ‘Drug Busts’, or ‘Farang accused of Paedophilia’ but, it would certainly improve the safety of those tourists who choose to walk through town.

Just my humble opinion,
Douglas Meyer


Submission of Japanese Visa applications is simplified in Sriracha

All general visa applications to Japan can now be submitted at the Thai Post Intake Center in Sriracha, Chonburi. Applicants will be able to submit applications at the Thai Post located at 7/1 Jemjomphon Road, Sriracha Sub-District, Sriracha District, Chonburi 20110. All courier charges covering the transport of visa documents will be borne by VFS Global, the outsource partner for visa processing with the Embassy of Japan in Thailand. Please note that diplomatic and official passport holders as well as applicants traveling to Japan for humanitarian emergencies should still continue to apply for entry visas directly at the Embassy of Japan in Bangkok.

With these expanded visa services, applicants in Chonburi need not travel to Bangkok to submit their visa applications in person at the VFS Center which is situated in Bangkok. Once a visa has been processed, an applicant will have the choice of collecting the passport at the Intake Center or having it delivered directly to their doorstep. The Intake Centers are open from Mondays - Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Normally, most visa applications take a minimum of 7 to 8 working days to process and return, beginning with the date of submission at the Thai Post Intake Center. VFS Global and Thai Post will be responsible only for the acceptance and handling of each application but will have no influence over the decision to grant a visa. The Embassy of Japan retains the discretionary right for the actual time taken to process visa applications in Thailand. The prerogative of review, control and assess each application will continue to be the sole responsibility of the Embassy of Japan, Bangkok.

For more information or to place inquires about the new services, interested parties should contact the VFS Call Center at (02) 632-1541, send an email to: info. [email protected], or visit our website: www.jp-vfsglobal-th.com.


HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]

Justice for all?

Ignoring pedestrian crossing signals

Something should be done about noisy South Pattaya Road

Shocking news

Zebra crossings

Submission of Japanese Visa applications is simplified in Sriracha


Letters published in the Mailbag
of Pattaya Mail are also published here.

It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

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