EDITORIAL

When the last straw falls

By The Nation

 

The Bangkok sisters ‘overreacted’ to a pickup blocking their driveway – until we heard the reasons why
 

The drama over vehicles illegally parking in front of a Bangkok family’s house is just the latest example of everyday bickering among people who have to live together in this big congested city.

 

Sometimes these confrontations lead to violence, occasionally even loss of life. Bangkok residents suffer, often on a daily basis, from problems ranging from dog droppings and loud noise to motorcycles on the footpaths – and finding cars blocking their driveways.

 

City regulations prohibit all of this. The fine for leaving a parked vehicle blocking someone’s street access, and for riding or parking a vehicle on the sidewalk, can reach Bt5,000. The problem is not lack of laws – it is lax and irregular enforcement of the laws. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) last year encouraged residents to report violations of city regulations, for which they got a cut of any fine imposed. But the campaign has proved ineffective and violations remain common.

 

Complaints to police or the BMA officials typically result in temporary solutions and the headaches soon reappear. One excuse proffered is that there aren’t enough police officers or city inspectors in Bangkok to deal with neighbourhood problems. In rare cases, the problems make it to court, as happened with the three middle-aged sisters in Prawet district at the centre of this week’s controversy. Five markets surround their home. 

 

In 2009 they petitioned the Central Administrative Court, accusing the city’s governor, the district director and the BMA of failing to enforce laws that restrict market activities. That court ruled in the sisters’ favour, but the verdict was overturned in 2013 by the Supreme Administrative Court, which ordered the case reviewed. Legal battles are indeed time-consuming and expensive, and thus most people avoid them.

 

This week the sisters told reporters gathered in front of their house that parked vehicles have repeatedly blocked their driveway and those of their neighbours in the 10 years since the markets opened. The markets have their own parking areas, but shoppers seeking to dodge the parking fees just pull up in front of nearby homes. Usually the handbrake is on, preventing the vehicles being pushed aside. The homeowners have to wait until the vehicle owner returns before they can get on with their own lives – and on several occasions they’ve been in emergency situations.

 

That’s what happened this past Sunday, when the sisters used an axe and a spade to damage a vehicle blocking their gate. They claimed that, for all the many instances of frustration and anger over the years, this was the first time they’d resorted to violence. The vehicle owner filed a police complaint seeking Bt50,000 in damages. 

 

The sisters deserve to face criticism and legal action, but there is also ample room for sympathy, particularly after they described what they’d experienced over the past decade. Unlike some other cases, this confrontation fortunately did not get out of control and result in injury or worse.

 

The authorities responsible for such matters should not allow violators of laws and regulations to continue causing suffering in this way. At the same time, the offended parties have to be absolutely stoic in controlling their emotions. It’s all too easy to see how those who deal with recurring problems again and again for years could eventually snap. All it takes is the last straw.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30339422

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-22

Troll post and reply removed.  

 

yes .... there's a right way & a wrong way to resolve problems ..... theirs was wrong   !  

Just now, colinneil said:

Steven, i am shocked, you of all people making a comment like that.

lol .... well the story is about the parking issue ...... absolutely nothing to do with politics.

7 minutes ago, steven100 said:

This is about a parking problem. Absolutely nothing to do with Politics.

It is. Local politics. A city council is a political body. Their officers have not been enforcing bylaws. 

Edited February 22, 20188 yr by baboon

Parking issue only :

The Bangkok sisters ‘overreacted’ to a pickup blocking their driveway – until we heard the reasons why
 

The drama over vehicles illegally parking in front of a Bangkok family’s house is just the latest example of everyday bickering among people who have to live together in this big congested city.

 

Sometimes these confrontations lead to violence, occasionally even loss of life. Bangkok residents suffer, often on a daily basis, from problems ranging from dog droppings and loud noise to motorcycles on the footpaths – and finding cars blocking their driveways.

 

City regulations prohibit all of this. The fine for leaving a parked vehicle blocking someone’s street access, and for riding or parking a vehicle on the sidewalk, can reach Bt5,000. The problem is not lack of laws – it is lax and irregular enforcement of the laws. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) last year encouraged residents to report violations of city regulations, for which they got a cut of any fine imposed. But the campaign has proved ineffective and violations remain common.

NO brains used if this was a continuing problem then a purchase of a trolly jack would have solved their immediate access dilemma , 

Nonsense posts and the replies have been removed.  

30 minutes ago, steven100 said:

lol .... well the story is about the parking issue ...... absolutely nothing to do with politics. 

 

It has everything to do with politics.  The root(s) of the issue is cops that won't enforce traffic laws and illegal markets that are ignored by the authorities for some kind of consideration.  

 

And that doesn't even consider the lack of planning and zoning that creates incompatible neighbors.

 

Edited February 22, 20188 yr by impulse

An officer could have easily been assigned to patrol that area during peak times for a week or two. 

3 minutes ago, Lunchbob said:

An officer could have easily been assigned to patrol that area during peak times for a week or two. 

Aha, a short term "Crackdown", what a novel idea.

No enforcement. Sould this really be in "news"?

3 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

Aha, a short term "Crackdown", what a novel idea.

Yes a novel idea. A bit like Trump suggesting arming school teachers. There is certainly a growing similarity between the brains, or lack of, of the two governments.

7 minutes ago, tigermoth said:

Yes a novel idea. A bit like Trump suggesting arming school teachers. There is certainly a growing similarity between the brains, or lack of, of the two governments.

This article is about Bangkok and usung as a springboard towards US politics shows where you mind is. Stay on topic if you are capable.

Sorry steven100 but this is all to do with politics. If the BMA had done what they were supposed to do there would only have been 2 markets there and not 5, if the police had have done what they needed to do then anyone who parked illegally would have been booked. This has been going on since 2009 and NO government department has gotten off their asses and done anything about it, even the markets themselves could have done something but that would cost them money, they could have employed traffic wardens to ensure that their customers did not interfere with the local residents by directing them to park in the market carparks. Now it is too late and now 3 markets are closed and the other markets are being investigated to ensure that they are operating in accordance with their permits, and now because of the lack of control by the government departments and the market owners there are going to be many people losing their income. Maybe the sisters had to do this to actually get someone off their ass and do something about the problem instead of ignoring it and hoping it would go away.

I've been following this story on Thai social media, and it proves the old adage here that no matter how wealthy you are there is always someone wealthier trying to fork you over.

 

While this woman/family is very, nay extremely wealthy, there is a bigger fish who owns all of the land surrounding her mansion. They've been trying to run this family off for many years in hopes of consolidating the one huge area for condos/development. So they're pulling a "Chuwit" by surrounding the mansion with three large markets, impeding access to their house (which may have resulted in the death of a family member), they throw snakes and rats over the walls, have 24-hour entertainment, etc. The local police are paid handsomely by the developer to ignore the sister's pleas.

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

even the markets themselves could have done something but that would cost them money, they could have employed traffic wardens to ensure that their customers did not interfere with the local residents by directing them to park in the market carparks.

 

That would have been -at the very least- a break even.  Since they charge for parking in those lots, they could pay the traffic wardens to herd the vehicles into the legal zone with a portion of the parking fees.  In fact, I'm surprised an enterprising little mafia didn't step in and do it for them.

Edited February 22, 20188 yr by impulse

21 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I've been following this story on Thai social media, and it proves the old adage here that no matter how wealthy you are there is always someone wealthier trying to fork you over.

 

While this woman/family is very, nay extremely wealthy, there is a bigger fish who owns all of the land surrounding her mansion. They've been trying to run this family off for many years in hopes of consolidating the one huge area for condos/development. So they're pulling a "Chuwit" by surrounding the mansion with three large markets, impeding access to their house (which may have resulted in the death of a family member), they throw snakes and rats over the walls, have 24-hour entertainment, etc. The local police are paid handsomely by the developer to ignore the sister's pleas.

 

Thank you for your extra insight... nice to know the backstory. Might not agree with all your opinions (on other stuff) but this kind of information is most welcome.

The complete and utter inefficiency (and corrupt practice) of the RTP and other law enforcement agencies here is the root cause of this.

The "last straw" I can understand, but not condone, as taking the law into your own hands is not acceptable.

The women should pay reasonable compensation for the damage inflicted and maybe a fine for wilful damage.

The truck owner should be fined the maximum for his obstruction of their property and made to pay them compensation.

 

But, who am I trying to kid...

Edited February 22, 20188 yr by George FmplesdaCosteedback

13 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

I've been following this story on Thai social media, and it proves the old adage here that no matter how wealthy you are there is always someone wealthier trying to fork you over.

 

While this woman/family is very, nay extremely wealthy, there is a bigger fish who owns all of the land surrounding her mansion. They've been trying to run this family off for many years in hopes of consolidating the one huge area for condos/development. So they're pulling a "Chuwit" by surrounding the mansion with three large markets, impeding access to their house (which may have resulted in the death of a family member), they throw snakes and rats over the walls, have 24-hour entertainment, etc. The local police are paid handsomely by the developer to ignore the sister's pleas.

 

Do you have a link to that info?>

Feudal culture.. Everything is connected to the top.. Don't you all realise yet that even your latest 200baht under the table ends up with a percentage skim from the very highest of powers above.. Of course its political.. Get your butt out of your.$$$

22 hours ago, leeneeds said:

NO brains used if this was a continuing problem then a purchase of a trolly jack would have solved their immediate access dilemma , 

Agreed.

You would think after 10 years of this problem they could have found some sort of solution. A trolly jack, road cones, some sort of barrier.

19 hours ago, DrTuner said:

No enforcement. Sould this really be in "news"?

Yes. By any definition, it's a news story. 

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 5:17 AM, webfact said:

The vehicle owner filed a police complaint seeking Bt50,000 in damages. 

Much cheaper to have a tow truck on the speed dial, then the vehicle owner pays. Attacking the truck was stupid.

On 22/02/2018 at 5:17 AM, webfact said:

Complaints to police or the BMA officials typically result in temporary solutions

For more permanent solutions a bigger bribe is required.  Police chiefs won't get out of their chairs for less than 10K.