Fearing military, Pattaya rushes to eradicate sin

[Jim walker]

If Junta going to eradicate sin in Pattaya they might need UN military to help out personally I think Pattaya is beyond the stage of help, the biggest brothel in the world catering for all types.

[catweazle]

The headline sounds like banning the use of water in a water fun park... Good luck with that and if this madness is successful = goodbye Pattaya My gut feeling tells me that Pattaya condos will be available for scraps soon.

[catweazle]

And yes... "Fearing the military"... because.... because.... what? They gonna implement Shariah law now, and behead people for watching a girl pole dancing or what?

[manarak]

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Any Walking Street bar that allows prositution to take place on the premises is asking for trouble. That's why the barfine was invented. All perfectly legal and a nice Thai solution.

I guess you've not been around long but not that many years ago it was the norm for dens of ill repute to offer onsite rooms. If my memory serves me correctly, the problems which led to this being phased out were changes made during Thaksin's first official leadership.

The barfine has nothing to do with either. It was notionally invented to compensate the business for the loss of the girl (her salary, inability to attract new customers etc.) when she was servicing her customer. That illusion was broken permanently in the early to mid 2000s as barfines rose to much higher levels. If you ever meet some of the few remaining souls from who arrived during the Vietnam era and just afterwards, they will recount the complete lack of barfines.

I've only been here 9 years, but I can assure you that these days very few mainstream gogos openly offer onsite rooms. The raid on Coyote Agogo around 5 years ago, and its tragic outcome, was a clear warning. The history of the barfine is interesting, but these days it serves nicely as a way of avoiding the bar offering prostitution services.

The article clearly refers to "street prostitution". The gogo bars, massage parlours and the punters can rest easy.

and we both know that "street prostitution" is a concept alien to Thai law, except for solicitation in an "open and shameless way that indisposes the public"... so what legal leg can the police stand on?

[wotaplonker]

street prostitution which i presume mainly is associated with Beach road? they will simply move in town, via the soi's connecting beach road to

2nd road and also thence to soi buokao and then 3rd road, you could easily for example imagine a long line of girls/ladyboys walking along soi 1 or 2

Likewise Jomtien there are any number of soi's prossys could move to

new bars would spring into being along with the ones already there, bar owners need not give them a wage, they would get ladydrinks off potential customers

before bar fine, if questioned the bar owner would have no formal connection with the girl, she could simply be a customer in the bar herself as such.

Crime? just how many street prossy crimes against tourists really occur or is it exaggerated out of all proportion, is this same policy going to be enforced all over Thailand. what about the countless establishments used by Thai men virtually unknown to western tourists/mongers

just how many police are going to be allocated to this, whilst nasty violent crime continues.

Whats happening is Thailand is fascism pure and simple, tourists will go elsewhere

[media]

Prostitution, it is the oldest profession in the world.

If they want to reduce it (they will never eradicate it), they need to look at the root causes and eradicate poverty, and the root cause of that in Thailand is corruption.

possibly the best statement ever! very correct.

[charmonman]

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Quality Tourist destination - wanna bees, should follow the lead....

BUT Most Tourists come to Thailand for SEX - to varying degrees of intensity and er... "choice"

And here's the wake-up call they also come because Thailand is Not Normal.

On a quiet night in Patayya there are 20 tour coaches waiting for passengers to return from Walking Street -

the tourists are not there for the walking...

Sexpats/sex tourists really are delusional.

Outside maybe of Pattaya (and even there, things are changing), the vast majority of tourists in Thailand are couples, families and single people in their 20's who, for the most part, do not need to resort to prostitution to meet someone while on holiday.

I think the delusional ones are the couples and families who think Pattaya is an appropriate destination for them. I mean seriously, there are plenty of other beach resorts they can go to, either in Thailand or elsewhere. Is it too much to ask that we leave one destination for the "perverts"? They are people too! Maybe you shouldn't be so self-righteous? As for the beautiful single in their 20's who do not need to resort to prostitution to meet someone on holiday, why would they head to Pattaya then? What about all the ugly people in their 40s and 50s? They are just dirt as far as you are concerned?

[Docno]

As I've said elsewhere, this (and other clampdowns) is typical of the actions taken by military governments. What they see as decadence, hedonism, and moral weakness run counter to their (espoused) values of self-discipline, strength, and dedication. They seek to make the larger society absorb their militaristic values. There's a long history to this. It is believed that prostitution in Sparta was near non-existent (or else very much hidden); in Athens, it was very much accepted and open. The Nazis banned the cabarets and nude dance shows for which the Weimar Republic was famous; they also banned public prostitution. Castro saw prostitutes as victims of capitalist exploitation and shut down the brothels and casinos that had thrived under Batista and the mafia. The Pathet Lao sent prostitutes to a 're-education' camp on an island in the Mekong. It's a centuries' old song, and it seems to be playing in Thailand now...

[phantomfiddler]

If sin was removed from Pattaya there would not be anyone here to enjoy it,s pristine beaches, and that,s a fact

[paul1964]

I applied to Pattaya city Hall to place some beach attractions on the beach that you would commonly see around holiday destinations around the uk that are very popular with families ...one being a 4 in 1 bungee trampoline with full safety certificates

This was turned down ...they would not give a reason just a NO

This was disappointing especially when the general vib is that they want to make Pattaya more of a family place to visit

I have heard about these girls of the night being arrested but all they do is fine them and let them back on the beach ..then leave them for a few weeks then arrest them again fine them and let them go back to the beach

Sounds like a good money spinner to me

Much more lucrative then a bit of rent from a family attraction

[DrTuner]

Hookers outnumber BiB 1000:1. Good luck with that.

[bunuel]

Prostitution, it is the oldest profession in the world.

If they want to reduce it (they will never eradicate it), they need to look at the root causes and eradicate poverty, and the root cause of that in Thailand is corruption.

I don't believe that poverty is necessarily the main driving force for much of the prostitution in Thailand, despite what prostitutes may tell their clients. In Pattaya there is a big problem finding and keeping workers for jobs like waiters, sale staff and cleaners etc. The turnover is very rapid and there are job vacancies advertised all over.

Prostitution is more of a cultural way of life for some - it is an easy way to make a living and can be much better paid than real jobs. It is sometimes a temporary solution to a financial crisis in a family but that is not saying it results from poverty and saying it does does not do justice to those who work very hard in low level jobs in Thailand for low pay and they still manage to support families. Likewise, eradicating high levels of poverty will not I think eliminate much of the prostitution. It's much more complicated than that.

While there might be some truth in what you are suggesting, I think any professional study of prostitution

anywhere in world history will point to economics as the determining factor. The sociological rule of thumb is simply that people will do what they have to do to survive. That much being said, the sex industry in Pattaya is so developed that any attempts at enforcement will only be the usual cosmetic crackdown in the " round up the usual suspects" tradition of Inspector Frenchy Renard of Casablanca.Doubtless the police commander is feeling the heat from the Buddhist Taleban, so he is compelled to make a statement. The reality, of course,

is that the sex industry has been the economic lifeblood of Pattaya for decades, and without it, the town would cease to exist.

To put this in perspective, imagine trying to ban gambling in Las Vegas or Macau! Aside from the chaos that would result from street level enforcment, you don't need to see "The Godfather " to know the big question is :

Who owns the casinos???

Same is true in Pattaya. Follow the money!

[DekDaeng]

I guess some people will like this fantasy, but the reality is that the tourists dont mind the street workers (apart from the ones that are thieves) and walking street is now quite an attraction because of its sordid reputation. what the tourists dont like and the reason many dont return is the polluted beaches and sea. but this isnt an attempt to try an attract tourists, this is just about face

Yes. Cut the crap.

Legalise prostitution. Look after the girls that bring so much money into Thailand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX4wgqdLAOA

[unclesiberia]

aiming to eradicate all prostitution.

special patrols began arresting 20-30 bag-snatchers and thieves a night.

aiming to totally eradicate street prostitution

sent out inspection teams to measure the deckchair plots

cooking on the beach, which is prohibited.

​Sorry guys but this menial crap just won't cut it ! Why? because you have both served up this exact same nonsense previously on so many occasions.

BUT NEVER EVER WITH MILITARY ENFORCMENT.

[flyingsaucersarereal]

Was out driving around tonight everything was business as usual.

[Thai at Heart]

While some will rejoice the attempts to 'eradicate prostitution' somewhere someone will have to think about the fact that it does bring in a tremendous amount of money. If the officials actually got their wish the population that supports Pattaya would be much poorer overall which could easily lead to unrest. I realize that some do not like the sordid reputation of the town but those same people also benefit from it. The police are paid via taxes and would not have any revenue for themselves if everyone packed up and went home to Isaan (yes assumption made that many of the girls come from Isaan).

Is it possible to have Pattaya doing something else to bring in revenue? Sure but that isn't being discussed. Right now they are just targeting 'prostitution'. I assume this is just a face saving measure and they aren't fully serious because if they do get very dedicated to the task all they'll do is destroy the economy and turn the place into a ghost town.

Indeed. If it makes money, its all good. Strewth.

[fabianfred]

I am surprised that nobody so far came up with the idea of arresting and fining the customers (more money-bigger fines) as it is done in some states of the country with the highest moral standards of the world, but maybe they are coming up with that a bit later. After the arrest, take a photo, put it in the paper and Good Bye tourist industry.

OMG .... many Americans are really deluded ...so moral they start more wars than anyone... and rarely finish them...

[fabianfred]

"eradicate sin"

churches worldwide have been attempting that for years now.... and who is to judge what is sinful and what is not? ...and don't say that imaginary being in the sky

[balo]

Pattaya is number 1 sin city in the world. How can you just change that image over night?

50% of the visitors are sex tourists. Beaches are filthy , and garbage everywhere. What else is there to it?

No alcohol in bars. no sex , stay home at midnight and go to bed.

Edited August 31, 2014 by balo

[farmer floyd]

I spent 5 years coming to Thailand for 3 months ea year. Wife came with me for 3 years and will always have good memories of

good people with kind hearts. Example a motorcycle rental where I rented a 100 cc honda for 1 month for 3.00 aday and when I turned it in the rental man walked into office and came out with 400 baht for returning it 4 days early. Nobody in USA would

do that. I about fell over and gave it to him for being too honest. Same in asking help from a mechanic who spend time telling me something for free, Thanks for the memories and loved to talk with girls on walking street while sipping a beer across from

the street and listening to some band playing along the ocean.

[thesetat2013]

Was out driving around tonight everything was business as usual.

My only question is will this drive the prices for a girl up or down?

Certainly it will not eradicate the sex industry there. This tactic is only netting the police the lost money from bribes taken from tourists other ways.

The city thrives on the the bar industry and the pretty girls there. This is the hub of their nightlife. They have their quality tourists in their China tour groups and families that are out during the day.

But the main source of income is drawn in by the women and their allure. Take that away and Pattaya will go broke. The beaches and sea there is filthy. Unpleasant to look at. The boats have taken over what little beach there is and left only small areas to go swimming if you dare.

Then they close the beaches at night. Everything closes at night except the restaurants and bars. Walking street is famous for their strip clubs and bar girls. This is the attraction that draws millions of tourists yearly there.

[wandasloan]

Yes. Cut the crap.

Legalise prostitution. Look after the girls that bring so much money into Thailand.

In what way would government-run prostitution be better than the current system? Any way at all - just one way might convince me. Identify a single problem with the current system and show/argue well that if the government ran prostitution, it would solve that problem.

.

[slipperylobster]

Prostitution, it is the oldest profession in the world.

If they want to reduce it (they will never eradicate it), they need to look at the root causes and eradicate poverty, and the root cause of that in Thailand is corruption.

I don't believe that poverty is necessarily the main driving force for much of the prostitution in Thailand, despite what prostitutes may tell their clients. In Pattaya there is a big problem finding and keeping workers for jobs like waiters, sale staff and cleaners etc. The turnover is very rapid and there are job vacancies advertised all over.

Prostitution is more of a cultural way of life for some - it is an easy way to make a living and can be much better paid than real jobs. It is sometimes a temporary solution to a financial crisis in a family but that is not saying it results from poverty and saying it does does not do justice to those who work very hard in low level jobs in Thailand for low pay and they still manage to support families. Likewise, eradicating high levels of poverty will not I think eliminate much of the prostitution. It's much more complicated than that.

Probably the shortage of workers for low paid jobs in Pattaya is it is not just ignorant low intelligence farang who thinks every lady in Pattaya is on the game, there must be a lot of finger pointing in villages when the they hear one of their own is working in Pattaya.

But lets get the root problem that brings young women into the trade just to feed their families.

For the most part, it is not to feed their families. The children are usually left back with their grandparents/extended family. Food and clothing is not the true reason. When dad goes out and buys a new truck that he cannot pay for, and then needs to have 2 or 3 mia noi's, a brand new house, and an increase in status, seems a bit more correct. People yearn for luxuries, not the basics. The basics were always there. Good farm life, love, family, simple foods.

[Friendly Stranger]

I don't believe it. Full stop.

The infrastructure behind the bar and entertainment industry in Pattaya is enormous. Take away the bars and the bar girls, hundreds of thousands of tourists will not come to Pattaya. The speed with which this would happen will be directly proportional to the speed at which the bars are closed. Think of the number of service industry's that will go under. Just to name a few, the restaurants, the ice suppliers, the fresh food suppliers, shops, the booze and soft drink suppliers. Hundreds upon hundreds of people indirectly employed by the entertainment industry. Hotels will be emptier than they are now.

Who will benefit ? The scuba dive industry, kite surfing, para gliding, speed boat, and jet ski industry. Who are they ? Those industries that have been in the news quiet recently. Right ? And who will replace the fleeing Pattaya tourist. If you think the Chinese invasion has already started, you haven't seen nothing yet baby. It has already been reported about current negotiations to increase Chinese tourism 3 fold next year alone. Worried about losing "Thainess" (sorry about bringing that up), this invasion will be a death knock.

This is another ill conceived plan. Pattaya can be cleaned up without eradicating the bar and entertainment industry. The police just have to have a well directed imagination,

Even though it is just the trouble makers and freelancers they're after I get the gist of what you're saying, but to continue with your example which i agree with, I think they'll (military) will have to assess what is the lesser of the 2 evils. Your comparison is strangely similar to the decision made to bail out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae during the financial crisis.

Hmm, the comment about the increase in Chinese tourists, yes, low maintenance but why not the govt not get into the legal prostitution racket? Controlled with no need to advertise and surely the prices would go up. My last little gem was tongue in cheek.

Edited August 31, 2014 by Friendly Stranger

[AGareth2]

might take the family there

haven't been for ages

[slipperylobster]

Nothing like a stroll along that scenic beachfront with the wife and kids...

Going out in the evening for ice cream on walking street, is also sweet.

Nothing like testing out a good marriage, with thousands of sexy young gals

calling you handsome. Lots of explaining about ping pong, if the kids are

interested in that sport.

Edited September 1, 2014 by slipperylobster

[noendtoit]

All the farangs will leave.

[Thai at Heart]

Prostitution, it is the oldest profession in the world.

If they want to reduce it (they will never eradicate it), they need to look at the root causes and eradicate poverty, and the root cause of that in Thailand is corruption.

I don't believe that poverty is necessarily the main driving force for much of the prostitution in Thailand, despite what prostitutes may tell their clients. In Pattaya there is a big problem finding and keeping workers for jobs like waiters, sale staff and cleaners etc. The turnover is very rapid and there are job vacancies advertised all over.

Prostitution is more of a cultural way of life for some - it is an easy way to make a living and can be much better paid than real jobs. It is sometimes a temporary solution to a financial crisis in a family but that is not saying it results from poverty and saying it does does not do justice to those who work very hard in low level jobs in Thailand for low pay and they still manage to support families. Likewise, eradicating high levels of poverty will not I think eliminate much of the prostitution. It's much more complicated than that.

Probably the shortage of workers for low paid jobs in Pattaya is it is not just ignorant low intelligence farang who thinks every lady in Pattaya is on the game, there must be a lot of finger pointing in villages when the they hear one of their own is working in Pattaya.

But lets get the root problem that brings young women into the trade just to feed their families.

For the most part, it is not to feed their families. The children are usually left back with their grandparents/extended family. Food and clothing is not the true reason. When dad goes out and buys a new truck that he cannot pay for, and then needs to have 2 or 3 mia noi's, a brand new house, and an increase in status, seems a bit more correct. People yearn for luxuries, not the basics. The basics were always there. Good farm life, love, family, simple foods.

Have u been on many farms in isaan?

It's not like a land and house moobhan up there u know

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

What would be left if all the hookers were removed? It would be like sugar free cotton candy.

Cotton Candy Lite?

[slipperylobster]

For the most part, it is not to feed their families. The children are usually left back with their grandparents/extended family. Food and clothing is not the true reason. When dad goes out and buys a new truck that he cannot pay for, and then needs to have 2 or 3 mia noi's, a brand new house, and an increase in status, seems a bit more correct. People yearn for luxuries, not the basics. The basics were always there. Good farm life, love, family, simple foods.

Have u been on many farms in isaan?

It's not like a land and house moobhan up there u know

Yes..in fact I lived on a farm there for a few years...and talked to many of the people in the villages. Not one of them was hungry. They all dressed fairly decent. The gossip was rampant about the niece/cousin who landed a good job in Pattaya and had farang aplenty so they could make the new car payment. Perhaps my Isaan is different than yours. Many of these Pattaya ladies make plenty more than food stamp money, my friend. The legends abound. Sin Sod, Quick turnovers of property, gold, face money, businesses bought quickly. I stand fast....it is not to feed families. Definitely not. Plenty food on the farm.