Soldier neighbour threatening me and girlfriend

[Myran]

So I am staying in an apartment building in Bangkok where we have this couple living next to us that like to make noise pretty much every night from 2am to 6 am. This includes talking loudly and banging around with things as if they are cooking all night. My girlfriend has talked to them many times, asking them to please be quiet after 12, but they just seem to smile and then completely ignore it.

The other night I was going nuts after being awake for several hours, despite using ear-plugs, and banged the wall to make them be quiet. This resulted in the woman walking over to our room, banging the door, and then start shouting bad things at my girlfriend. Everyone went down to the reception, where the staff said that they could do nothing about them being noisy, despite the fact that the room on the other side of the noisy couple recently moved out because of them.

So after the talk in the office the couple made it very clear that we should be very "careful" since the man is a soldier, "and soldiers are very big now in Thailand". Two days after, they approached my girlfriend in 7-Eleven and again told her to be very careful, and that they had no intention of being quiet at night.

We have also seen a sudden influx of visiting soldiers to their room, and one of the apartment staff (who is sort of on our side) has warned us that we should be careful with these guys.

My question is, is there anyone you can contact regarding soldiers that behave like this? I can´t imagine that even the Thai army would be OK with soldiers threatening people just because they want peace and quiet at night. The next delivery of threats is just a matter of time, so I´m gonna catch it on video either way, just to have something to back up my side of the story if something happens.

Cheers.

[Thaddeus]

Is moving out yourself not an option?

That's what I'd do.

[Swiss1960]

Be careful with your camera, this might lead into violence from the other side trying to take the cam out of your hands and maybe smashing it to pieces using your head as resistance....

best advice if your building management will not do anything... move to another place, don't try to "beat" the locals with complaints

[AYJAYDEE]

MOVE! TOUTE SUITE!

[HeavyDrinker]

"Always listen to local advice" comes into play here. You've been told by virtually everyone not to antagonise these people, so don't.....

[mickjn]

Get out even if it costs you money to break a lease etc.Believe me it is not going to stop

[ClutchClark]

Do you often have these suicidal thoughts?

[Myran]

Yeah my girlfriend is out checking out options for a new apartment now, but it still brings my **** to a boil to let people get away with crap like this, and having to retreat because the worthless owner of the apartment complex won´t throw people out when they act uncivilized.

[inzman]

This is Thailand, the owner is probably afraid of them too. No law in this country, only the strongest and most willing to be insane wins. I would leave.

[ClutchClark]

Yeah my girlfriend is out checking out options for a new apartment now, but it still brings my **** to a boil to let people get away with crap like this, and having to retreat because the worthless owner of the apartment complex won´t throw people out when they act uncivilized.

Once you have a couple nights good sleep in your new place all of this will seem like ancient history.

[Mrjlh]

Invite their "commanding officer" over for a drink or even dinner.

[Seastallion]

A letter to General Prayuth asking if it is true that you have to obey your neighbour simply because he is a soldier. Relate the story, and say that the soldier said that because he is a soldier he can make a noise if he wants and if you complain he will "deal with you".

[Myran]

Invite their "commanding officer" over for a drink or even dinner.

Yeah I would dearly like to meet him and make this bastard clean toilets in Narathiwat for a few years.

[Soutpeel]

"one of the apartment staff (who is sort of on our side) has warned us that we should be careful with these guys"

And very wise advice me thinks, these guys have access to tanks, assault rifles, grenades, and various other bits of kit which can spoil your day

I don't think the Military has a customer complaints department.

[Payboy]

Just mention you have Burmese / Khmer friends and see how quickly the soldier raises his White flag.

[KhunBENQ]

Sometimes people think I am insane to live in an Isan village with my wife and famlily.

But here people are quiet from 9 pm to 5 am and they would not insult you.

I would not change with someone living an appartement with Thai neighbours from this level of society.

I am afraid you have to move.

Firearms are easily used here.

[emondorock]

Life means little in Thailand, land of smiles. Packup move same problem move again, cant win a argument if you are a Farang in Thailand!

[transam]

OP, your best bet is to move. Do you want to watch your back all the time by ruffling feathers ?.

This is LOS, use your farang head and do the wise thing. After all, it is only a rented room, go look for another. If you were in farangland it might be a different matter, but your not.....

[unanimosity]

"Always listen to local advice" comes into play here. You've been told by virtually everyone not to antagonise these people, so don't.....

Well, there are ways. Don't let them or reception see you move out. Do it gradually. Then pay an extra month's rent as normal. Get a timer and a cheap radio, tune it to an Isan music station, crank the volume wide open, and set the timer to go on at 8:30 a.m. and off at 1 a.m. Then be on your way and never come back. Oh, and if there is a landline phone in the apartment, put the ring volume on full, then call and let it ring all day and all night long. If you know their phone number, you know how to advertise that. And what is really annoying is to use a fax app or actual fax machine and send them a fax tone every few minutes. Never get even. Always get ahead.

Edited May 29, 2014 by unanimosity

[Myran]

Thanks for all the answers.

My first option is of course to move, even if it is just to another floor and room in the same building. I just want to have some options in case things get out of hand before we have time to do so.

When I have three soldiers banging on my door at 3am I want to know where to call, since I have a hard time seeing the police helping me with soldiers.

[irishsmile]

Lawless Thailand......... Mate get yourself and your partner outa there quickly! Don't put yourself or your girlfriend at risk.. Not worth it!

[IAMSOBAD]

When they sleep....STRIKE UP THE BAND!

[Soutpeel]

Lawless Thailand......... Mate get yourself and your partner outa there quickly! Don't put yourself or your girlfriend at risk.. Not worth it!

Or they could leave a "Harrods" bag outside their front door before they left...

Sorry....

[rijb]

The first rule in a confrontation. 1. walk away, while you still can.

[Rumblecat]

Thanks for all the answers.

My first option is of course to move, even if it is just to another floor and room in the same building. I just want to have some options in case things get out of hand before we have time to do so.

When I have three soldiers banging on my door at 3am I want to know where to call, since I have a hard time seeing the police helping me with soldiers.

Yeah, that's the thing- you're in a country that's under a state of martial law. If three soldiers are banging on your door at 3am then you have no-one to help you.

Everyone reading this knows you are in the right, but that doesn't really mean anything sadly. I'd just move out and put it behind you. One of these times where you have to let go of your pride, and the best way to deal with it is to shrug it off and move on with your life. When people in the building are warning you not to mess with these neighbours, when they're approaching your girlfriend outside the building and threatening her in some way... unless you have incredible connection high up in the police or military, or the phone number of the A-Team, it's better just to let them have their small, pathetic victory and move on smiling.

[Soutpeel]

When I have three soldiers banging on my door at 3am I want to know where to call,

The undertakers ?...

[ezzra]

Yeah my girlfriend is out checking out options for a new apartment now, but it still brings my **** to a boil to let people get away with crap like this, and having to retreat because the worthless owner of the apartment complex won´t throw people out when they act uncivilized.

You can be right or you can be smart... yes you're right that that neighbor of your is

an noisy ass hole, on the other hand, is it worth it if in a moment of drunkenness that

solder will do the unthinkable to you or your gf? I think not, you don't have to win

all the battles in your life....

[transam]

The first rule in a confrontation. 1. walk away, while you still can.

Yep, a wise and/or brave man avoids shit.

[venturalaw]

" . . . is there anyone you can contact regarding soldiers that behave like this?"

There very well may be but here is the dilemma; 1. Either by contacting a superior the soldier is talked to, which of course equals the dreaded - LOOSING FACE (or perhaps even worse, who knows?), or 2. Nothing is done - your complaint is ignored.

Clearly scenario No. 2 is preferable because if No. 1 happens, you're life is certainly ended.

[bkkgooner]

Soldiers are a law unto themselves into this country, trust me think of you own personal safety in this situation and your girlfriend.

Don't let your pride affect your actions, remain calm and invest in good ear plugs or better all together move out to a nicer place and forget the whole sorry incident.

Don't <deleted> about about with soldiers in this country unless you have some serious people backing you up because these guys will always have friends to call upon to kick the shit out of you or worse.

Again I know it's tough but don't let your pride get in the way of looking after your girlfriend.