New Golden Triangle Permanent Border Post To Help Trade - Or Gamblers?

[webfact]

SPECIAL
New border post to help trade - or gamblers?
Chinnapat Chaiyamon
The Nation



CHIANG RAI: -- The new Golden Triangle permanent border checkpoint in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district - which has just been opened - is seen as having been established with political connections to benefit a large casino project on the Lao side.

The checkpoint was opened on Sunday at the Sobruak village in Tambon Wiang. The government claims it will promote tourism and border trade but critics believe it is aimed at facilitating gamblers who will cross the border to the casino in the King Romans of Laos Asian & Tourism Development Zone.

Actually, even without the checkpoint, many Thais reportedly cross the border to gamble at the King Romans Casino.

The mekong River maritime boundary in the so-called Golden Triangle area bordering Laos and Myanmar is not long - but the zone is notorious for drug-smuggling routes and uncontrolled border crossings by Thais who travel to gamble in casinos in Myanmar and Laos.

Efforts to benefit the casino on the Lao side were clearly seen when a sign reading "Golden Triangle permanent border checkpoint" was erected at the area long before it was officially opened.

Moreover, the Golden Triangle checkpoint is only 10 kilometres from the permanent border checkpoint in front of the Chiang Saen district office. Its opening made it the fourth checkpoint in Chiang Rai and the second one in Chiang Saen.

The Lao side opened its border checkpoint about a year earlier - after the King Romans project, owned by a Chinese firm, had started on the 7,500-rai plot. The firm has a 75-year leasing contract on the plot from the Lao government and could extend the contract to 99 years.

Long before the Golden Triangle checkpoint was opened, many Thais crossed the border at the spot, and local officials turned a blind eye to the unlawful border crossing.

Earlier, certain security agencies tried to regulate the border crossing in the area for security reasons but they had to back off due to political influence. The Harbour Department also prohibited the use of the pier at the Sobruak village for safety reasons - but the provincial administration disagreed.

Eventually, the Interior Ministry issued a directive dated May 3 to open the Golden Triangle permanent border checkpoint at Sombruak village from May 19 onward. The checkpoint is allowed to open from 6am to 8pm while other border checkpoints in the province are open from 6am to 6pm.

Currently, the Golden Triangle checkpoint has only a small pier that can accommodate only some 10 people at a time. The pier is connected to the shore by a makeshift wooden stairway. There is an immigration booth but not a permanent immigration office.

Boontham Tiprasong, chairman of the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce, said he wondered how the Golden Triangle checkpoint would benefit border trade when the area is not used for loading or unloading goods. And the checkpoint is located near the old pier authorised by the Ports Authority of Thailand for loading and unloading goods.

Atthaphan Rangsi, chief adviser of the Border Trade Club in Chiang Saen, said traders were worried whether the Chiang Saen checkpoint would later be downgraded from permanent checkpoint to a temporary one because it was too close to the new Golden Triangle checkpoint.

But Wirasak Sirisit, the Chiang Saen district chief, expressed full support for the new checkpoint, saying it would eventually facilitate tourism in the area. He said about 10,000 tourists crossed the border in his district each month.

Wirasak said he would seek a budget of Bt15 million from the Interior Ministry to build the checkpoint building which would be done in one year and the building would provide all the necessary services, including a Customs checkpoint and plant checkpoint.

A new service would soon be opened to allow officials to issue border passes at the spot for tourists, he added.


-- The Nation 2013-05-21

[rkidlad]

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

[NongKhaiKid]

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

Quite right but it also highlights the hypocracy on the Thai side as some of those who publicly oppose legal gambling in Thailand since they are good Buddhists don't mind lining their pockets with bribes to help a casino in Lao flourish.

[A Member]

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

Quite right but it also highlights the hypocracy on the Thai side as some of those who publicly oppose legal gambling in Thailand since they are good Buddhists don't mind lining their pockets with bribes to help a casino in Lao flourish.

I wonder if these people salve their conscience by hiding behind the fact that the gambling isn't in Thailand so they are not corrupting anyone while overlooking how many other good Buddhists will be regular customers.

[Ianatlarge]

The entire "no gambling in Thailand" is an exercise in hypocrisy. There is more illegal gambling in Thailand than you can shake a stick at, and each day flocks of Thais dash across the various borders to throw away their monthly salary in the no man's land between the countries. While I do not believe in banning gambling (prohibition never works), the Thai government could provide assistance to its citizens who find themselves addicted to gambling. Services such as gambling help lines, counselling, voluntary banning, etc. Also, I wonder about the tax situation of these casinos. Do they pay tax to either government? I suspect not.

[hellodolly]

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

Quite right but it also highlights the hypocracy on the Thai side as some of those who publicly oppose legal gambling in Thailand since they are good Buddhists don't mind lining their pockets with bribes to help a casino in Lao flourish.

Well for sure there is hypocrisy in Thailand when it comes to the way some practice Buddhism and the Buddhist belief.

But are you sure that the ones OKing this whole thing are the ones publicly denouncing it and taking bribes.

[hellodolly]

The entire "no gambling in Thailand" is an exercise in hypocrisy. There is more illegal gambling in Thailand than you can shake a stick at, and each day flocks of Thais dash across the various borders to throw away their monthly salary in the no man's land between the countries. While I do not believe in banning gambling (prohibition never works), the Thai government could provide assistance to its citizens who find themselves addicted to gambling. Services such as gambling help lines, counselling, voluntary banning, etc. Also, I wonder about the tax situation of these casinos. Do they pay tax to either government? I suspect not.

Gambling is a serious addiction just like any drug addiction. The government has not had any success with treating drug addiction and I see no hope of them treating gambling addiction with any more success.

Sorry I do admit that they have the odd successful treatment but nothing compared to the number of addicts they run through there treatment centers. A lot of them they put in mental hospitals.

[bangkokstick]

So is it possible to get an entry stamp there when going and coming back from Laos / Casino ?

Until now it was possible to go but no passport was not stamped.

[Ianatlarge]

The ill effects of gambling can be minimised by a comprehensive program, how much and how well is debatable, but these programs have been carried out in western countries and have proved effective.

I do not believe that there is a complete overlap between those who oppose legal Thai gambling and those who profit from the border casinos, but clearly those who profit do not wish for change.

Also, I am always a little uncomfortable when governments start to put people into mental hospitals.

[seajae]

who do you all suppose has put his money into the casino, would have to be someone that has the pull to get the govt to do whatever he tells it to, hmmm, who could it be

[Sing_Sling]

. . . is seen as having been established with political connections to benefit . . .

Surely not . . .

[morocco]

So is it possible to get an entry stamp there when going and coming back from Laos / Casino ?

Until now it was possible to go but no passport was not stamped.

Good question. I have a friend living up there. I'll ask if he can check it out. .

[lee b]

cOULD OF USED THIS TO CROSS INTO lAOS FOR MY VACATION!!

[chuang]

Beside gambling, what other attractions are available, is it like Nong Khai-Laos border where there is quite a place for shopping.....fake rolex/iPhone etc ...

[bigbamboo]

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

Quite right but it also highlights the hypocracy on the Thai side as some of those who publicly oppose legal gambling in Thailand since they are good Buddhists don't mind lining their pockets with bribes to help a casino in Lao flourish.

To be fair Muslims do the same thing when they go abroad not just Buddhists.

[Sing_Sling]

cOULD OF USED THIS TO CROSS INTO lAOS FOR MY VACATION!!

cOULD NOT

So what if people go over there to gamble?

It's legal there and that's their right to do so

Quite right but it also highlights the hypocracy on the Thai side as some of those who publicly oppose legal gambling in Thailand since they are good Buddhists don't mind lining their pockets with bribes to help a casino in Lao flourish.

To be fair Muslims do the same thing when they go abroad not just Buddhists.

Luckily this thread is about Muslims

[hellodolly]

The ill effects of gambling can be minimised by a comprehensive program, how much and how well is debatable, but these programs have been carried out in western countries and have proved effective.

I do not believe that there is a complete overlap between those who oppose legal Thai gambling and those who profit from the border casinos, but clearly those who profit do not wish for change.

Also, I am always a little uncomfortable when governments start to put people into mental hospitals.

We are not in a western country. I have a son who lost more than he should in Canada. He went around to the casinos and asked them to put him on their not allowed in list and they did. They are very cooperative.

I saw stickers with Phone numbers advertising for Gamblers Anonymous at some of the places for purchasing lotto tickets in Washington State.

I highly doubt the Government of Thailand be it PT, Democrats or Army will do any thing and if they did it would be ineffectual.

[wiyada]

Quote, Luckily this thread isn't about Muslims (Sin Sling)

It is now partly aided by you

Bound to be an errant Muslim in the mix as well as the obligatory bad apple expat.

" it will eventually facilitate tourism in the area ' (isn't 10000 a month a sign that their is already tourism in the area)

I think it most kind of Wirasak to offer to build the checkpoint for only 15 million, no vested interest I'm sure as the process will be the usual open transparent kind we so often see. It's important to have a nice checkpoint as its on the tourist tick list, more aesthetically pleasing the better. knowing that 15 million had been spent on a checkpoint would mean I'd be happy to travel those extra 10km, proximity to the casino would have sod all to do with it

Edited May 21, 2013 by wiyada

[IsaanUSA]

It seems like Thailand is really preparing their borders for the upcoming AEC. Good job Thailand!