Politicians, police blame media for Pattaya’s ‘criminal’ image

[Rimmer]

Politicians, police blame media for Pattaya’s ‘criminal’ image

PATTAYA:--Stung by incessant news reports about foreign criminal activity in Pattaya, top area police and business leaders plan to hold a press conference to put their own spin on crime stories they claim have hurt the city’s image.

The heads of the Chonburi Immigration Office, Banglamung District, Pattaya Tourist Police, and Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, joined top officials from police stations in Chonburi, Nongprue, Banglamung and Pattaya and representatives from the National Intelligence Agency and Internal Security Operational Command July 31 to condemn local media reports about crimes by both foreigners and Thais.

They complained the media is sensationalizing crimes and even distorting facts to make matters sound worse than they really are.

“I request the media reduce using such harsh language, since some news incidents are not as severe as they are reported to be,” Business & Tourism Association President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn said. “It’s being done just to sell newspapers and is resulting in destruction to the image of Pattaya.”

Failing to see the irony in their “don’t shoot the messenger” tirade, the politicians and police officials offered no plans or ideas on how to actually quell Pattaya’s crime problem, only decrying the impact the coverage has on tourism.

“I’m not happy with the news that has been published, much of about Pattaya having foreign organized crime gangs in the city,” said Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho. “Stories about foreign or Thai mafia leads to a bad image, destroying many aspects of the city.”

Full story:http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/politicians-police-blame-media-for-pattaya-s-criminal-image-29155

-- Pattaya Mail 2013-08-09

[LennyW]

Personally i would say that the politician's and the police are mostly to blame for Pattaya's "criminal " image.

[laurentbkk]

Its always easier to blame others when you are incompetent .... The medias just tell the truth , on the other hand police and politicians do their best to avoid too much bad publicity.

[clockman]

The truth always hurts!

[Basil B]

Well that what I call "burying one's head in the sand"

It is well known that Pattaya's mayor does not have to look far up the family tree...

[dcutman]

PATTAYA:--Stung by incessant news reports about foreign criminal activity in Pattaya, top area police and business leaders plan to hold a press conference to put their own spin on crime stories they claim have hurt the city’s image.

What image would these city officials going for exactly?

Putting lipstick on a pig, has not worked form the in the past, and Pattaya will continue to be a pig.

[Zpete]

The truth always hurts!

Speshully for the "Pollies" and the tea money making, "BIBs"

[lovetotravel]

Personally i would say that the politician's and the police are mostly to blame for Pattaya's "criminal " image.

I read about the problems the country Georgia had with it's police force. They were very corrupt, so a new PM after his election fired every one! No police for several months and crime actually went down. Why? Police were either explicitly or implicitly involved in every form of criminal activity. Crazy.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19489_5-terrible-ideas-that-solved-huge-global-problems.html

[CrisRMenumate]

Pattaya can try all it likes to be a great resort location but it will always be a cesspit IMHO until it is truly cleaned up. They have been talking about cleaning it up since 1991 when I first moved here and it has only gotten worse. The foreign lawbreakers stories seemed designed to shine the light away from the reality of significant local crime but have backfired and now the media is really making Pattaya look worse and worse. As DCUTMAN says: Putting Lipstick on a pig means its just a pig with lipstick, no prettier or better, usually more garish and uglier. Hope they can figure it out one day.

[tingtongfarang]

Personally i would say that the politician's and the police are mostly to blame for Pattaya's "criminal " image.

I read about the problems the country Georgia had with it's police force. They were very corrupt, so a new PM after his election fired every one! No police for several months and crime actually went down. Why? Police were either explicitly or implicitly involved in every form of criminal activity. Crazy.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19489_5-terrible-ideas-that-solved-huge-global-problems.html

Would be a breath of fresh air to see a thai politiion in the scene here who might consider taking the same form of action (rtp is way beyond reform) or similar, seems many of their problems are the result of blatant corruption though the system here, I often feel their attempts to hide it become less urgent.

[Tatsujin]

LMAO - it's the Politicians and Police who are the real criminals anywhere in Thailand. Nothing happens without at least their complicit approval one way or another.

[thhMan]

When the Police only shakedown tourists riding bikes, then you know something is afoot.

My mate on holiday here has been pulled up every single day that he has been here.

We drove out to the darkside last night and the police had a roadblock to do searches on bikes (I assume for illegal substances)... My mate got pulled up again and as he slowed down to stop, the police saw he was a farang and shooed him past.... Again I assume the Police saw no need to shakedown someone on holiday as they (The Police) had a legitimate task to carry out as opposed to anywhere, beach side of Sukhumvit....

Respect to those police doing their job...

Shame on those exploiting the tourist dollar!

Edited August 9, 2013 by thhMan

[renaissanc]

In effect they seem to be saying: "Please stop telling the truth about the mess we have created and can't deal with. We are not corrupt. There is not a single corrupt policeman or politician or official here. We are all honest. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work.

There are no jet ski scams or Baht bus scams or foreign mafias or police mafias. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work. Please stop making things up.

There is no prostitution industry or there are no casinos here. That's illegal. Please stop making things up.

Nor do we collect money from businesses either. Please stop making things up. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work.

If you don't stop making these things up, it'll cost you a fortune!"

Edited August 9, 2013 by renaissanc

[tingtongfarang]

Could be that this is a thai pointy finger squint at the media meaning to be understood as dont report so much truth or we might fiddle with your already strangled freedom of press.

Edited August 9, 2013 by tingtongfarang

[TackyToo]

Another example of this stupid losing face strategy.

Don't shoot the herald! Face the facts, accept the truth and do your job!

[drdoom6996]

I was out with a friend after dark yesterday. His tinted windows were very dark. I asked him about it and he told me since he got his new car about a year ago he has not been pulled over by the BIB. Prior to that he was pulled over for various reasons about 3 times a week, (Jomtien to Laem Chabang). His wife told him they could see his white skin 100 meters away. New car, tinted windows, no problems, not one. The people doing the whining in this article are the culprits and the problem.

About a year ago I needed to go to the police box at the beginning of Jomtien about a theft. They wanted money to investigate. I walked away. And will never bother them again except to ask for a receipt when they pull me over weekly for "Tea Money". I use a Thai driver when I need to go to Bangkok a few times a year. He calls the Police "The Mafia".

[drdoom6996]

In effect they seem to be saying: "Please stop telling the truth about the mess we have created and can't deal with. We are not corrupt. There is not a single corrupt policeman or politician or official here. We are all honest. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work.

There are no jet ski scams or Baht bus scams or foreign mafias or police mafias. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work. Please stop making things up.

There is no prostitution industry or there are no casinos here. That's illegal. Please stop making things up.

Nor do we collect money from businesses either. Please stop making things up. Those Mercedes we drive are the result of many long hours of work.

If you don't stop making these things up, it'll cost you a fortune!"

+1 Well put!

[andrewrooney]

Nobody thought to blame the criminals?

[Chicken George]

Now lets see... ummm.. who really takes this press release seriously..

[marell]

So it's just the media then? How reassuring.

[I Like Thai]

In some sense they do have a valid point, most of the articles regarding crime in Pattaya would never reach the newspapers in most cities or countries. The newspapers report on every single incident that involves a foreigner, no matter how how trivial as a newsworthy article. This can give a warped view on the crime situation. When was the last time a mugging or a handbag snatch made the newspaper headlines in peoples home countries. In Pattaya most of them seem to reach the front pages.

[pattayadingo]

Until the police and politicians are actively seen to be doing something about the crime rates AND make some proper investigations, they will always be seen as corrupt.

How about some arrests where the perps stay arrested for one!

[Rimmer]

Libellous post removed

[Cuban]

I understand that the local TV media and papers (do they still print these?) in Las Vegas never report suicides as it creates a negative image for the city and it's primary function; extracting money from tourists.

Of course the best way for Pattaya to progress on the international tourist scene is for the police and politicians to deal with ALL cases of violent crime committed by farang and Thai alike. Also deal with the scamming and bad practice in terms of food safety, road safety and general transportation.

Allow the media to report this with a free hand and you will all benefit from the result.

Attempt to control the media while allowing the bad practice to continue you will just end up with more of the same.

You create shadows in which corruption can thrive.

What is your true objective?

[guzzi850m2]

What they say is BS big time and they know it but the less that know about it the better for them.

I wish they would start the good old fashioned foot patrol on Beach Road and Walking Street or even better all over the City, start at 2000 hours until 0500 AM but in Thailand that would be impossible as walking is certainly not something they want to do here if it can be avoided.

If you walk here you can only be a crazy farang, why walk if you can drive your car, never mind stuck in traffic chaos, at least you can sit in nice cool AC and look out of the windows.

[Chrisswe]

Media only tell the truth !!!

[Timo Demetz]

The police is definitely right in that case.

In Pattaya there are to many small and unimportant newspaper or internet sites which provide news. And specially this newspapers are used to blow up stories that in other places wouldn t even been mentioned in the news and try to make them more interesting adding facts which aren't true.

Some others just copy their news from other newspapers aswell and add some facts which are totally made up just for make their article sound more interesting.

[Cuban]

Media only tell the truth !!!

....but only when it suits them.

Often they withhold information or report it in such a way that matches their editorial agenda.

[p_brownstone]

Libellous post removed

Pathetic

Patrick

[bander]

Nobody thought to blame the criminals?

What criminals? The ones in brown uniform?