Corrupt ‘government officials’ selling public beachfront in Pattaya, top Chonburi official claims -

[Rimmer]

Corrupt ‘government officials’ selling public beachfront in Pattaya, top Chonburi official claims

PATTAYA:--Politicians and other influential public figures are claiming ownership of large swaths of Pattaya-area beaches, selling or renting out 49-sq.-meter patches of sand to beach chair vendors, Chonburi officials said.

Continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Pattaya and Jomtien beaches’ 500 chair and umbrella vendors, Chonburi Permanent Secretary Chawalit Saeng-Uthai said Oct. 6 that 252 of the vendors claim they own the sand on which they operate on Pattaya, Jomtien and Dongtan beaches.

All beaches are public property and cannot be owned or rented out to private citizens, Chawalit pointed out. Sorting out the situation, he said, is causing delays in complying with the National Council for Peace and Order’s directive to clean up and reorganize Pattaya-area beaches.

The military junta has shown little patience for corrupt politicians and “influential” private figures encroaching on public beaches. The NCPO sent soldiers to clear the sand in Phuket of beach chairs, umbrellas and other vendors, unapologetically tossing hundreds of people out of work. Vendors petitioned the junta to relax its ban only to be told to enroll in occupational-training courses to learn new vocations.

The threat of military action prompted officials in Hua Hin to take similar action while local officials and the military were working on Koh Lipe and the Phi Phi islands to restore the beachfront to its natural state.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/corrupt-government-officials-selling-public-beachfront-in-pattaya-top-chonburi-official-claims-41952#sthash.E7zVSivF.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2014-10-17

[PiPiFFS]

Most farangs know that all the beaches are public property so shouldn't Thai people know this as well ?

[ColdSingha]

except they are back in hua hin and as bad as ever

300 baht fried rice anyone?

[craigt3365]

This could be interesting....

[clockman]

Still no people being put in jail,It is just talk.

[lucpez]

If the topo guys that have been found owning incredible wealth are not investigated, how can we expect any difference at lower level? Is anti-corruption a serious campaign or just a way to stay in power and do your own business behind the curtains?

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Still no people being put in jail,It is just talk.

The other similar 'scenario' is the footpath vendors all over Bangkok.

The military, police, BTMA officials have cleared them out of various parts of Ramkamhaeng Road several times in the last few months, and of course after a couple of days they return and block the footpath again and large numbers of pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the road, often with little kids and in danger.

Last evening I walked around the corner onto Ram. Road to go to 7/11. There was pandemonium; senior military, senior police and more just picking up whole stalls one after the other and throwing them all on the back of a 10 wheeler.

I speak / understand a lot of Thai, the message was loud and clear, 'who have been told again and again you cannot block the footpath, now you lose everything, next time straight to jail, and we have photos of you all'.

Not surprising lots of abuse and one female thug, perhaps 35 yrs. old, landed numerous heavy punches on a senior policeman. Other police asked around whether anybody knew the woman's relatives, if so call them and tell them to get here quick and take her away. People did turn up a few minutes later and took her away.

One of the staff from my accommodation was also watching and shared that the 'thug lady' had several stalls and was also intimidating the other vendors for protection payments plus a few months back she had tried to intimidate the 7/11 staff to give her cash from the drawer and had deliberately fully blocked the 7/11 door so that customers could not enter.

[smedly]

Pattaya authorities opt to make changes to avoid NCPO intervention - here's the process

Hold a meeting with top local officials and discuss

Report to NCPO "we held a meeting and everything is moving"

Hold a meeting to discuss the outcome of last meeting (which was to report to NCPO that we held a meeting)

Report to NCPO "we held a meeting to discuss reporting the last meeting" everything going as planned

Hold another meeting to report on report to NCPO that we held a meeting

Report to NCPO "we have now had three meetings"

Hold another meeting to discuss the report of the meeting report of the previous meeting and report to NCPO

...................................................

Send in the hit team from Phuket and sort this lot out

[Local Drunk]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Still no people being put in jail,It is just talk.

The other similar 'scenario' is the footpath vendors all over Bangkok.

The military, police, BTMA officials have cleared them out of various parts of Ramkamhaeng Road several times in the last few months, and of course after a couple of days they return and block the footpath again and large numbers of pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the road, often with little kids and in danger.

Last evening I walked around the corner onto Ram. Road to go to 7/11. There was pandemonium; senior military, senior police and more just picking up whole stalls one after the other and throwing them all on the back of a 10 wheeler.

I speak / understand a lot of Thai, the message was loud and clear, 'who have been told again and again you cannot block the footpath, now you lose everything, next time straight to jail, and we have photos of you all'.

Not surprising lots of abuse and one female thug, perhaps 35 yrs. old, landed numerous heavy punches on a senior policeman. Other police asked around whether anybody knew the woman's relatives, if so call them and tell them to get here quick and take her away. People did turn up a few minutes later and took her away.

One of the staff from my accommodation was also watching and shared that the 'thug lady' had several stalls and was also intimidating the other vendors for protection payments plus a few months back she had tried to intimidate the 7/11 staff to give her cash from the drawer and had deliberately fully blocked the 7/11 door so that customers could not enter.

"There was pandemonium; senior military, senior police and more just picking up whole stalls one after the other and throwing them all on the back of a 10 wheeler."

Good post scorecard... It certainly seems to be a national effort... They are currently taking down the restaurants along Lam Takhong Reservoir as well.

[razer]

I dearly love the micro economies and street vendors but in certain areas they become an infestation squeezing out store fronts, ATM machines and leaving maybe one meter of space for people to walk. It is a managable situation but the vendors need to get it into their head they don't own the street and sidewalk.

AND ... as for politicians controlling and making money from public beaches ... I though it was common knowledge. They are part of the localized mafia infrastructure in Thailand ... always have been. Same same in all undeveloped countries. This is what needs to be addressed ... Chinese style.

Edited October 17, 2014 by razer

[marinediscoking]

I'v noticed since the coup there are many more touts on Walking street trying to get people to the sex shows, the ones who walk up with a laminated paper and put it in your face. Cant walk now more than 10 meters there without this happening. Before when the tourist police would walk by they would run to the side soi's, not they do it openly in from of them. One of them the other night practicality jumped in front of me and I stepped on his food by accident, had I not said sorry he looked like he was going to punch me.

[oldsailor35]

Prayuth appears not to be interested now that he has discovered "Foreign Travel" Pity he never got to Samui before he lost interest in the beach enroachment problem.

[arrowsdawdle]

If the topo guys that have been found owning incredible wealth are not investigated, how can we expect any difference at lower level? Is anti-corruption a serious campaign or just a way to stay in power and do your own business behind the curtains?

Either way, would it not qualify as serious?

[alanferdi]

OH THANK YOU FOR THE TIP / SENIOR OFFICIAL /

My first thought in your position should be to expose that or those Government official (Sad to say though your tip might not be cash rewarded or a promotion) thats the duty of every honest citizen to stop such fowl business. Well. I hope that the Military would hear or see your report. Good luck and well done!

[Estrada]

All the coastline beaches belong to the state. Walking street in Pattaya on the seaward side is all built illegally, and they tried to have the buildings pulled down some 20 years or so ago. However on closer investigation they found that many of the building belonged to senior politicians and so the demolition could not proceed.

[arrowsdawdle]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Still no people being put in jail,It is just talk.

The other similar 'scenario' is the footpath vendors all over Bangkok.

The military, police, BTMA officials have cleared them out of various parts of Ramkamhaeng Road several times in the last few months, and of course after a couple of days they return and block the footpath again and large numbers of pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the road, often with little kids and in danger.

Last evening I walked around the corner onto Ram. Road to go to 7/11. There was pandemonium; senior military, senior police and more just picking up whole stalls one after the other and throwing them all on the back of a 10 wheeler.

I speak / understand a lot of Thai, the message was loud and clear, 'who have been told again and again you cannot block the footpath, now you lose everything, next time straight to jail, and we have photos of you all'.

Not surprising lots of abuse and one female thug, perhaps 35 yrs. old, landed numerous heavy punches on a senior policeman. Other police asked around whether anybody knew the woman's relatives, if so call them and tell them to get here quick and take her away. People did turn up a few minutes later and took her away.

One of the staff from my accommodation was also watching and shared that the 'thug lady' had several stalls and was also intimidating the other vendors for protection payments plus a few months back she had tried to intimidate the 7/11 staff to give her cash from the drawer and had deliberately fully blocked the 7/11 door so that customers could not enter.

Only 35 and already a veteran of the elite.

[Kru Baa]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Still no people being put in jail,It is just talk.

Nothing will change. They might clear some or all of them for a little while, then back to business (scamming and ripping people off) as usual. Everything in Thailand is just for show.

[gladiolous]

Get ride off them

[Alwyn]

an article about corrupt politicians and nobody's jumping up and down and blaming Thaksin!! How refreshing

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It's been a couple of months now, and all the street vendors are still gone from the Nana/Asoke area of Sukhumvit Rd in BKK during the hours prior to 6-7 pm.

Dunno who's pulling the strings, but the prior plague of sidewalk obstructing vendors has not returned in the weeks since their original eviction.

And in fact, there are often BMA and/or regular Thai police walking along the sidewalks or riding motorcycles along the road to enforce the daytime ban.

The Army ought to say enough is enough with regards to Pattaya, and sweep through there the same as they've done in Phuket and elsewhere.

[Emster23]

Until they throw corrupt politicians in the slammer for extended period and take their ill gotten gains, nothing will change. Might go away for a week or two, but that's it.

[jmccarty]

I don't find the beach prices for food and drink very high compared to restaurant prices near by!

[Oziex1]

Yes we know, more pressing problem on Koh Tao. Are you going to sort the crooks there?

[ginjag]

I don't find the beach prices for food and drink very high compared to restaurant prices near by!

About the same, as most of the beach venders have menues, these are connected to local restaurant.----

[petercool]

Off topic post removed

[Borzandy]

Only talk, this is LOS.

[Psychic]

I was just mentioning to a friend yesterday that they really need to do something about the beaches. Here in Chaam where most of the beach goers are Thai it is a disgrace.

The beach is covered in litter until the tide comes and takes it away the re-deposits it. Swimming in the ocean involves avoiding the garbage. The beach vendors and their customer parking make it impossible to walk down the beach. The other side of the street has been taken over by vendors.

I guess it is being ignored because it is not a big foreign attraction. But is there no sense of pride in keeping your country clean?

A solution: fine litterers 2000 baht and use the money to clean the beach. Or if money's a problem make them work it off cleaning the mess. Eliminate permanent chair and umbrella cities and license on demand vendors. And set up locations for multiple vendors to sell their wares without obstructing pedestrians.

Thailand is becoming an increasingly more expensive country to visit. Cleaning up the biggest attraction, the beaches, is a priority. Or people will eventually look elsewhere.

It can be done. As can many things like preventing the carnage on the roads. But I suspect it won't happen.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Psychic

[outsider]

Chawalit, since all beaches are public property and cannot be owned or rented out to private citizens, what else is there to sort out? Which area is owned by a smaller 'boss', and target that one first for some media-photography sessions?

As for the junta showing little patience for corrupt politicians and 'influential' private figures, never mind whether they are encroaching anywhere or not... hmm... really? Seems like 'little patience' is actually a 10 km-long BACKUP fuse to a non-existent dummy bomb.

[jaywalker]

"they own the sand on which they operate on Pattaya, Jomtien and Dongtan beaches."

No problem! Cough up the chanote that say they 'own the sand'.

This is in an English language newspaper!

I'm quite forgiving for translation errors from the Thai news, but pu-leeeeeze......You OWN the SAND?????

No wonder a farang can't own a damned thing in Thailand.

[mango66]

Pattaya authorities opt to make changes to avoid NCPO intervention - here's the process

Hold a meeting with top local officials and discuss

Report to NCPO "we held a meeting and everything is moving"

Hold a meeting to discuss the outcome of last meeting (which was to report to NCPO that we held a meeting)

Report to NCPO "we held a meeting to discuss reporting the last meeting" everything going as planned

Hold another meeting to report on report to NCPO that we held a meeting

Report to NCPO "we have now had three meetings"

Hold another meeting to discuss the report of the meeting report of the previous meeting and report to NCPO

...................................................

Send in the hit team from Phuket and sort this lot out

Pattaya is different, as it boarders to satahip, the Navy base,

so its a question how many generals are owning land on the beach inn Pattaya and jomtien !!