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BANGKOK, Dec 10 (TNA) Thailand's Ministry of Labour is coordinating with the Thai consulate in Los Angeles to find ways to help 48 Thai welders who were lured to the US by a suspected labour trafficker and forced to live in squalor, a senior ministry official said Sunday. Permanent Secretary for Labour Chuthatawat Indrasuksri said the ministry was finding out if any of the 48 workers want to return to Thailand or otherwise need help. If the workers are members of a fund set up to assist overseas Thai workers, they will receive compensation and travelling expenses to return home, Mr. Chuthatawat said. "The ministry has sufficient information to prove that offences (have taken place) and lead to the punishment of the culprits. But it is preferable to keep it confidential for the time being," Mr. Chuthatawat said. Reports by international news services published in newspapers in the Thai capital Sunday said a statement was issued by the United States federal government's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) saying it had reached a settlement with Trans Bay Steel Inc, which agreed to pay US$1 million in compensation to the 48 Thai workers who were brought to the US in 2002. The statement said Trans Bay Steel hired the workers after receiving a sub-contract to provide services to rebuild the aging San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in northern California. Two separate recruiting companies, Kota Manpower and Hi Cap Enterprises, were then hired to bring the workers from Thailand. The EEOC alleged the Thai workers hired by the Trans Bay Steel Inc. had been held against their will, their passports confiscated and their movements restricted. Even worse, they had worked without pay for long periods of time. Supat Kukhun, director of the Ministry's Office of Overseas Employment Administration, said there are now more than 100,000 Thai students and workers living in Los Angeles and more than 90 per cent of them went there without passing through proper channels or procedures. Mr. Supat urged Thais wishing to work in the US to study American working procedures and labour practices first so that they would not fall prey to illegal manpower firms. (TNA) - E 111 __________ And this: The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Govt helps workers in US 48 LaboUrers Worked in Slave-Like Conditions The Labour Ministry is taking steps to help 48 Thai labourers who were deceived by their employers in the US, where they were forced to work in slave-like conditions before their rescue by US authorities. When recruited they were told by their employers, the Kota Manpower and Hi Cap recruitment companies, that a steel-making company wanted welders to work in California. However, when they arrived in the US, only nine were given the jobs while the rest were forced to work without pay in Thai restaurants owned by the two companies in Los Angeles and Long Beach. ''The ministry has asked the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles to take care of them,'' permanent secretary for labour Chuthatawat Indrasuksri said yesterday. ''They will be immediately flown back to Thailand if they so wish, and those who are members of the overseas employment fund will also be eligible for compensation from the fund,'' he said. Earlier, Trans Bay Steel Inc, which hired the two recruitment companies to find workers for them, agreed to pay a $1 million (36 million baht) compensation to the Thai workers, who were taken to the US in 2002.The company hired Kota Manpower and Hi Cap to feed labourers for its work to retrofit the San Franciso-Oakland Bay Bridge in northern California. The workers were forced to work 10-hour shifts, seven days a week, at the Thai restaurants, where they were kept in squalid conditions without enough electricity, gas or water. Their movements were also restricted. Their misery came to light when a Thai worker managed to escape from the restaurant and took refuge at a Thai temple. ''The ministry is investigating the matter and has already obtained evidence that will lead to the arrest of the wrongdoers,'' Mr Chuthatawat said. He did not elaborate. Kota Manpower closed the two Thai restaurants after the police raids. The company's Korean owner, identified as Yoo Taik Kim, has escaped arrest. There are currently more than 100,000 Thais, including students and workers, in Los Angeles. However, up to 90% of workers have not followed correct job recruitment procedures, according to Supat Kukun, director of the Office of Overseas Employment Administration. ''We are sharing our information on human trade with US state agencies,'' said Mr Chuthatawat, referring to the kingdom's latest attempt to deal with illegal employment. Thais should be more careful when seeking jobs in the US, he said

Next time someone says that, show him a lit cigarette. Apparently they are monitoring you somehow. I'd be very interested to know upon what basis they are doing so. I am not aware that traveling to Thailand, staying in a gay hotel, patronizing gay bars, being gay, or engaging in sex with boys of legal age is a crime or even something a police agency has a right to question. I understand why you would not want this to end up in the local press, but I don't see how it can hurt anything to consult an attorney, let him know of your fear of publicity, and see what he says about the whole thing and how best to handle it. As far as I know, you have committed no crime and were not charged with a crime, so I'd be very interested to know why this interrogation took place at all. As I said, I don't know the law in the UK, but I would think you do have a right to at least be informed of the reasons why you were questioned. However, I don't think the police have to tell you how they acquired their information unless this ends up in court or as a lawsuit. Perhaps an attorney can find out without it ending up in the newspapers.

This is the first time I have ever heard f such a story. It sounds like sheer gay harrassment to me. Being an American, I know very little about the laws in the UK. If I found myself in a similar situation, then unless I was being charged with a crime, I would have gotten up, told them it's none of their business, and walked out. My next stop would have been my attorney's office. In the UK could you have done that?

You're not supposed to post photos of that size. Neither is anyone else. Quite some time back Stef posted a request that the "File Attachments" section of a post or reply (which you'll see if you scroll down a little bit when posting) be used and that people do not include photos directly on posts. We would like everyone to cooperate with that request.

But Jomtien . . . Don't you realize that we would all be so much better off looking like and thinking like Smiles? Being just like him has certainly long been one of my goals. I can't think of anything more stimulating than instigating a debate over the health value of a sandwich. Well, if someone doesn't want to eat the cheese steak sub, there are plenty of other choices on the Subs-N-Suds menu. I guess one of those choices would be better for those who can't enjoy a sandwich once in a while because it doesn't meet his health standards. One could always order the sub and ask that the Cheeze Whiz, or whatever they're using, be left off. Don't forget to take a nutritional guide book with you. Otherwise you might not be able to check the nutritional value and health standards of the bread being used. And for heaven's sake, whatever you do make sure that you don't order anything with mayonnaise on it. If you do, us "Amurcans" will not only be the the fattest, most unhealthy creatures on earth, but considering that Soi Yamato is quite a narrow street, the ambulance may not be able to make it to Subs-N-Suds in time to save you after the heart attack. So, if you eat there, make sure your thong is clean. After all, we all remember what mother said about wearing clean underwear in case we have to be taken to the hospital.

Somehow I'm not surprised that at least one poster, especially one in particular, has decided to create yet another argument . . . over a sandwich!

I don't know what a 'whiz wit' is, but I do know that I liked it. Since I don't come from Philadelphia, I'm not qualified to judge whether this is a purist's cheese steak, but I haven't found a better one in Pattaya. But I'm always willing to try if anyone has a suggestion.

I tried it too and I enjoyed it as much as you did. It is located about halfway down Soi Yamato, between Second Road and the Beach. If you start at Royal Garden, just go north, toward Central Road (Pattaya Klang). Soi Yamato is two sois up from Royal Garden. It is also marked as Soi 13/2. I liked the Philly Cheese Steak very much. I also liked the Toasted Italian Sub. I haven't tried it yet, but he's got a meatball sub on the menu too. I won't take me very long to get back there to try it. There are plenty of other subs and sandwiches on the menu. Give it a try. I have attached the Subs-N-Suds business card if you would like to have it.

Apparently so. I guess you're either going to hit it lucky or you're not, depending on how many boys decide to work that area on any given night. Another area I have never even tried is Lumphini Park. I know that for a long time that was the place to cruise at night, but eventually died down. Has anyone tried it lately? If yes, what's the story there? I've also heard, but have not tried, that Benchasiri Park, very close to the Phrom Phong BTS station, about Sukhumvit Soi 35, near the Regency Park Hotel, is a good cruise area. In Laos, in Vientiane, a good place to cruise was downtown along the riverfront at night. It's been six years since I was last in Vientiane, so perhaps someone with more recent experience can enlighten us as to the cruise situation there. As long as we're on this subject, does anyone know of other good areas to cruise in Bangkok, or elsewhere in Thailand?

Again, I thank all of you for your comments. It will make his getting an education easier for me as well. The financial responsibility on our end will be room and food. I understand the scholarship pays for nearly everything else. Unfortunately, kids are still kids. He has been getting congratulatory comments from other students, but he has also been the recipient of mean-spirited comments by students who didn't make it. They say things like, "Who did you pay to get the scholarship?" or "You only got the scholarship because you 'smoke' farang." He tells me some of the negative comments have really hurt his feelings. He hasn't let any of that get him down, though. He knows those kinds of comments are nothing but jealously. He felt much better when I told him my favorite story about Liberace. First I had to explain who Liberace was. The story occurred long before Liberace added the flamboyance to his act. He was being interviewed by a reporter who asked him something like, "How do you feel knowing the entire country is aware that you are a homosexual?" Liberace's immediate response was. "I cry about it . . . all the way to the bank." My boyfriend understood exactly what he meant.

I have read reviews people have written about that restaurant many times, but it wasn't until this most recent trip that I finally ate there. It's a hole-in-the-wall, immediately to the right of the Pinnacle Hotel, in Bangkok, as you exit the hotel. For those of you who stay at the Pinnacle, if you like Chinese food, you must give it a try. The food is outstanding and the prices are incredibly inexpensive. I ate there twice. I tried some of their dim sum style dumplings, which were fantastic. 60 baht per order and they give you so many of them that it can easily constitute an entire meal. I also tried their cucumber and egg soup and their sweet and sour pork, both of which which I also loved. The service is very good and the food comes piping hot. Even if you are ravenously hungry, your bill probably won't exceed 200 to 300 baht. If the restaurant is crowded or if you prefer to eat in your room, they will make "take away" for you. If you ask, they will even deliver the food to your room. I have some favorite restaurants I always try to get to when I'm in Bangkok, but I liked this little Chinese restaurant so much that I didn't even try to go to those favorites this trip. I preferred to eat at that restaurant instead. If you're looking for a late-night snack or late-night dinner, I walked by at about 12:45 AM, and they were still open and serving customers. I have no idea what time they close. When they finally do close, it's way past my bed time.

I agree with you entirely. Far too many threads on this web site, and others, end up degenerating into cat fights and pissing contests. When that happens, the intent of the thread is lost as yet another war of words takes over. It's almost always the same people having the same fight over and over and over again. It's who can out-insult or out-put down who, who can catch someone contradicting himself, who can catch who in a lie, who can write a loaded question, who can make the best retort, or Lord-knows-what. It all reminds me of a line I liked in "The Godfather II," in which Michael Corleone says something to the effect of, "Hyman Roth has been dying of the same heart attack for twenty years." I suppose there are a number of people that enjoy reading and/or participating in those sorts of things and they'll probably still be doing the same thing for the next twenty years. Personally, I do not find it enjoyable to have to wade through them to find the intelligent posts. Then again, maybe the people who write those posts think they are contributing something intelligent.

BANGKOK, Dec 7 (TNA) Bank of Thailand

I'm the one wearing a trench coat with nothing underneath, ready to flash. Besides, what makes you so sure he wasn't in Bangkok with me?

PATTAYA MAIL publishes the following on the opening page of its web site, which is another reason why, if someone wants to quote from that publication or any other, it would be appreciated if the source is cited within the post: _____ WARNING! It has come to our attention that certain unscrupulous web masters are stealing news and photos for display on their websites. Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd. own the copy rights to materials published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper and on our website. We will prosecute any offenders to the fullest extent of Thai and International Law.

I probably qualify as one of those fat slobs. But I won't wear a thong. I won't even take off my shirt. Whenever I do, people keep trying to help me back into the water. Besides, there are plenty of other ways to get sick in Thailand without my bod contributing to a potential epidemic.

Unfortunately, Assumption University is located south of Bangkok, nowhere near that area. If you're coming in to Bangkok from Pattaya, when you're on the expressway, getting close to Bangkok but not quite there yet, you'll see a very tall structure off toward the east, standing alone. That's Assumption. Getting to the Pinnacle or Tarntwan Place would take about another half hour or so. Thanks for the compliment about my report. Now you need to get there and see for yourself. I hope your luck is more like GayThailand's and mine instead of a washout like Geezer ended up experiencing. Let us know.

There are several reasons that may have happened. First, are you certain you were even in the right place? As I said, many taxi drivers are not even familiar with that park and your driver may have simply taken you to the wrong park. Saranrom is not the only park in that area. That's what the driver of the taxi I was in tried to do until I saw a sign and pointed out that this is not the right place. Maybe you were there at the wrong time of night. Whatever it was, it certainly must have been an anomaly judging from the numbers of boys I saw. Also, this park is not frequented by "farang." I was the only one there. I saw no other "farang." I did see some cars drive by, slow down, talk with small groups of boys, and either just drive off or a boy would enter the car and go, but they were all Thai. I'm not surprised. First, at least in my case, I knew nothing about Saranrom Park until GayThailand wrote about it. Second, it's not near any of the areas that "farang" are likely to frequent at night. But I'll bet, after this thread makes the rounds, there will be a lot more "farang" appearing at Suan Saranrom.

Agreed. I won't go so far as to say that most "farang" behave in that manner, but I do think, as long as they are going to publish this anyhow, that it would be a good idea to hand out the booklets on all international flights coming in to Thailand. Maybe that would help, but with some people I doubt much of anything would help.

Drunk or sober, the stupidity of it is unbelievable. First, the "lese majeste" laws in Thailand are strictly enforced. Second, in Thailand His Majesty the King is highly revered and deservedly so. He will probably go down in history as one of the greatest kings who ever lived in any country anywhere. It's quite upsetting to see that anyone, especially a foreigner, would come to Thailand and do such a thing, no matter what the reason. This incident is one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard about a foreigner doing. You would think a 57 year old man would have better sense. Too bad caning isn't a punishment in Thailand, as it is in Singapore, because this guy deserves to get his ass kicked.

That's an interesting adjective to use. Ok, go on, Snowkat. Tell me about it. Tell me all about how if it was you and your board, you'd have done it differently.

Not long ago, on the thread entitled "Bangkok Parks and Street Hustlers" (see http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.ph...kok%20park&st=0 ) GayThailand wrote about the scads of boys he saw at Saranrom Park, in Bangkok. Yesterday I was in Bangkok and I decided to see for myself. It's absolutely true. If you go to Saranrom Park at night you're going to find available boys virtually everywhere! Most of them are college students, or at least they say they are. Some work alone and some work in small groups. Every boy and group I spoke with were very friendly and I felt perfectly safe walking though the area. It's well lit and on a major thoroughfare, so you don't have to worry about being in an area of sleazy back alleys in the middle of the night. It's fun even if you're not going to take any of the boys back to your hotel with you. But it will be awfully difficult to resist the temptation. Many of these boys are very good looking. VERY good looking! All of the boys said they ask 500 baht plus cab fare for their services. All of them appeared to be at least 18 years old. Most seemed to be in their early 20's. Some speak English quite well and some speak only very little, but all of them seemed to be able to speak enough to get by. If you decide to take any boys back to your hotel with you, make sure they understand and agree with what you want to do. Not all of them are gay. Several are "gay-for-pay" and may not be willing to do what you might have in mind. Make sure first so there won't be any disappointment. So, where is this "untapped resource" and how do you get there? The easiest way is to take a taxi and have the driver drop you off. Then you can do your "exploring." The park is pronounced "sah-lahn-LOM" The Thai word for park is "soo-wan," so you'll ask to be taken to "soo-wan sah-lan-LOM." Pronounce it clearly to make sure the driver understands where you want to go. The taxi drivers are not all familiar with the park and may not know where it is. If they can't figure it out, just tell the driver to take you to Wat Po (the famous Thai massage school wat), but make sure the driver understands. When you say "Wat Po" they tend to think you are trying to say Patpong. It sounds similar and they would expect you to be familiar with Patpong. When you arrive at Wat Po, the park is directly across the street. You'll find boys on the Wat Po side of the street, but most seemed to be hanging out on the other side of the park, which runs along a canal. To make sure you can easily get there, I've attached a file that has maps, both in English and Thai, so that you can print it out and show the taxi driver. From the Pinnacle Hotel it's a 65 baht, ten to fifteen minute taxi ride, depending on traffic. If you're staying at Tarntawan Place, or somewhere in that area, the cab fare should be a little less. Take your hotel's business card with you to show the next taxi so he get you back to your hotel without any problems. On the larger scale map, look for the red 'pin' on the left side of the map. The later you go, the more boys there are. I got there around 10:00 PM and there were literally dozens of boys. Several told me that if you come around midnight, there are even more. If you are an "early bird," you'll start finding boys around 7:00 PM. It's a great alternative if you're tired of the Bangkok bar scene and dealing with the prices, mama-sans, the music volume, buying a drink you may not want in the first place, buying the drink for the boy, and all of that. Saranrom park is just the opposite . . . quiet and very friendly. I highly recommend giving it a try. If you do, please look for this thread and let us know if your experience was similar to GayThailand's and mine.

I am very grateful for all of these comments. It's also very nice to see a thread in which everyone has something positive to say, rather than turning it into another war of words. Now that my boyfriend won the scholarship, that doesn't mean he gets to slack off. He still has to perform well in his present school. The school made it clear to the scholarship recipients that if anyone does not continue to achieve, their scholarship can be rescinded. But since these are the top 20 students in that school, I doubt that will happen to any of them. He is also well aware that once he graduates starting salaries won't exactly permit him to live a lifestyle similar to Thaksin's, but it is a good beginning. The very fact that he is in school on a scholarship will provide him opportunities that he never would otherwise have had.

Thank you for that. It hasn't always been easy, to say the least, and we've both been through quite a lot that I wouldn't want to have to go through again, but today's announcement made it all worth doing. The next time I see a post in which someone says these boys are nothing but prostitutes, not even worth a decent tip, I'll be thinking of one of my favorite Franklin Roosevelt quotes: "Tell that to the marines."