Open Letter to the Chonburi Governor

[Gaybutton]

Chonburi is Pattaya's province. One of the more common complaints is selective enforcement, especially when it comes to bars and karaokes. Karaokes seem to be allowed to open virtually anywhere they want, including residential areas. Despite laws limiting music volume and laws regarding closing times, these places seem to get away with anything they want and few of them have any regard for people living nearby.

 

I agree with the people complaining. Fortunately for me, I don't live in an area plagued by noise at night, but there are enough complaints appearing in the media to make me wonder why the police manage to raid the gay venues and close them down for violations, but nobody seems willing or able to do anything about the karaoke places that flagrantly violate the law and are causing problems for the surrounding neighborhoods. Whatever problems occur at the gay venues, at least they aren't bothering the neighbors with noise. The last sentence in the open letter seems to suggest that these people have had it and are thinking about taking the law into their own hands.

 

Some of the gay venues are being ordered to close because boys have failed the drug tests. Would someone please explain to me how bar owners could possibly have any control over whether the boys who work there are on drugs? What are they supposed to do, drug test their entire staff every night when they report to work?

 

This week there was a letter to the editor in the Pattaya Mail, voicing a complaint about the karaoke noise: ( http://www.pattayamail.com/current/letters.shtml#hd4 )

 

The following is the open letter to the Chonburi governor as it appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: ( http://www.pattayadailynews.com/showfeatur...reID=0000000571 ):

_____

 

From: group of Thai and tourists against karaoke and pub terror

 

To: our governor Mr. Prachar Taerat

 

Dear governor,

 

We would like to inform you about concerns that we have. I'm writing this letter on behalf of many Thai citizens and farang tourists. I myself live regularly at Dolphin Apartments located on the marketplace soi 20, South Pattaya Road.

 

Opposite Dolphin Apartments is a karaoke bar named "xxxxxxxxxxx", this venue is very bad place without a night operating permit also about 50 meters further is "xxxxxxxx" with the same story.

 

The venue opens their music around 9:00 PM (21:00) until 07:00 AM (07:00) going louder by the hour. At 01:00 AM the venue closes the outside lights to cover their bad business. After 4:00 AM (04:00) the music starts getting really loud. The ground shakes 50 meters around this venue.

 

It gets worse by the day. At 07:30 AM when the school kids prepare and make their way to school there is a unacceptable atmosphere that has bad influence on learning children. This time is when the venues close their doors and the intoxicated costumers leave the various venues all around Pattaya. Many fights take place around this time, loud screaming, dangerous traffic situations, etc. etc.

 

We think that this situation is absolutely unacceptable and has not have a good influence on the children going to school. We think this will hinder social education for a lot of children.

 

Everybody knows what happens at those venues even the police! These venues operate for females looking for male prostitutes. Also we know for a fact that many times costumers are underage, under influence of drugs and alcohol. The atmosphere surrounding these venues is many times aggressive; gang members from various gangs create this atmosphere around many venues around Pattaya. The venue "xxxxxxxx" is housed on the ground floor of a government educational center, strange combination in our eyes.

 

If a Thai residential citizen complaints to the police they get an answer to go with their story to city hall. If the story is told to city hall the answer is to go to the banglamung police station. Also we try Bangkok complaint telephone number that will note our story and complaint down but nothing will be done either. The banglamung police station says they have 68 off those venues but that there is nothing they can do about this! The response from the banglamung police station is simply "Why you not move then?" We think this response is immoral and unacceptable for the good Thai citizens and Farang tourists.

 

How can you explain to tourists, citizens and owners that their favorite bar, go-go bar or discotheque have a closing time and the karaoke and pub venues not? We think this is not a good way to handle business and think this may contribute to a situation of "miss understanding" which in turn keeps tourists and income away. We believe that this situation is slowly getting out of hand.

 

Most karaoke and pub venues only receive costumers after 01:00 AM, when police checks a venue to make a fine of an undisclosed amount at 02:00 AM they venue will turn up the volume and continue their business as soon as police is out of sight. Everybody can see that these venues not close even after repeated warnings from police, just looking at the parking lots crowded with cars and motorbikes it's obvious business continues as normal.

 

We are not professionals in searching for a solution but the authorities should be able to handle this. Why not let police work together with the electric company. When a venue is violating operating times, creating disturbances, operating without license, etc. etc. just removes the electric meter so that police authority will remain.

 

There should be an easy way for Thai citizens and tourists to communicate with the authorities about this growing concern we have. Maybe a complaint hotline would make communication about this better. We know there are many people around that are scared to file complaints in fear of retaliation against them. It's well known that these kinds of venue operators are aggressive and will produce a gun to fear anybody off who is a threat to their wrongful business. An anonymous hotline would surely build evidence of wrong doings from various venues around Pattaya.

 

This letter is of high importance, as we know of innocent civilians who are willing to take action, and that means not only a letter like this.

 

Yours faithful

[Guest]

I do understand the complaints. I lived an apartment for a while and there was a place across the way that had guys and gals till the wee hours of the AM. Not a night went by without some commotion. My room was at the back so I was never woke up from the noice. But, if I did wonder what others that were in rooms across the street and above the place and closer by thought. My air con was also always on so it took away any noise. But, I know many don't run the air con and can hear everything that goes on outside.

 

I have friends in Center Condo and they say they hear the noise from the temple all the time. In a city like Pattaya, it seems hard to get away from the noise unless you live away from the action. My stay in Jomptien at the View Talay Villa's was VERY peaceful and quiet. No noise from anyone and no loud complaints from neighbors.

[Guest buaseng]

My stay in Jomptien at the View Talay Villa's was VERY peaceful and quiet. No noise from anyone and no loud complaints from neighbors.

That's what you would expect from a morgue !

 

[Guest jomtien]

My stay in Jomptien at the View Talay Villa's was VERY peaceful and quiet. No noise from anyone and no loud complaints from neighbors.

 

 

Don't be silly. We complained about you ALL the time.