GWR
29-12-06, 11:16 PM
Ever wondered what they do with Provincial Governors who have served with distinction in the three violent southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat? Believe it or not there is yet another posting that is every bit as violent. A few weeks ago, outspoken Narathiwat Provincial Governor Pracha Therat was reassigned, and ended up in Chonburi Province: probably Thailand's most criminal & mafia-ridden province outside the metropolis (and the deep south). It was quite amusing that a major local newspaper recently interviewed Pracha and gleaned the reassuring information that Pracha wasn't afraid of 'dark influences'. But the same paper failed to mention that Pracha had previously been gaining valuable experience in Narathiwat. Wouldn't Pattaya's action-loving readers have liked to know that Pracha had a great deal of previous experience in a province that is almost as violent as Chonburi? ;)
Pracha Therat has got off to a flying start by despatching nearly 900 armed forces personnel onto the mean streets of Pattaya, to assist the police in curbing the burgeoning crimewave in the province's largest cesspit.
Under Pracha's 'Soldiers Help to Prevent Crime in Pattaya' program, Major-General Anant Charoenchasri (Chonburi Police Commander) General Aekanant Rattanasopha (Military Police Commander) and Rear Admiral Apirat Sriwattana (Sattahip Navy Base Deputy Commander) are sending out policemen, military personnel and volunteers in a desperate attempt to prevent crime in the city. Seventy soldiers, seventy navy sailors and seventy tourist policemen will be led by Police Lieutenant-Colonel Wutichart Luonsukhan. They will supplement the work of 460 Pattaya policemen and 200 volunteer policemen. The program will last for 60 days in an attempt to create local and foreign tourist confidence in the safety of Pattaya during its peak season.
Some of these 'volunteers' are based in Bang Lamung, which is the known turf of a major mafia boss and his well-connected family. In fairness, Kamnan Poh's family [He's currently on the run.] probably have an interest in helping to bring the currently anarchic streetcrime of the province under greater control too. Rampant small street crime cannot be good for those who aim to continue their winning ways with a more long-term organized strategy. And the mafia usually prides itself on making the streets fit for those who cooperate with it. Indeed, it probably wouldn't be any great exaggeration to say that the local volunteer force owes at least some of its allegiance to Bang Lamung's 'aristocracy'.
This webpage will give you some indication (& graphic pictures) of the seriousness of the current crimewave in the province: -
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_update.html
This newspaper link (if you scroll down from the top) will provide you with the Pracha interview in which no mention is made of his 'Rambo' role in Narathiwat. Unfortunately, I can't give you a quote here for fear of ..... lawyers. :eek: : -
http://www.pattayamail.com/699/news.shtml#hd1
Pracha Therat has got off to a flying start by despatching nearly 900 armed forces personnel onto the mean streets of Pattaya, to assist the police in curbing the burgeoning crimewave in the province's largest cesspit.
Under Pracha's 'Soldiers Help to Prevent Crime in Pattaya' program, Major-General Anant Charoenchasri (Chonburi Police Commander) General Aekanant Rattanasopha (Military Police Commander) and Rear Admiral Apirat Sriwattana (Sattahip Navy Base Deputy Commander) are sending out policemen, military personnel and volunteers in a desperate attempt to prevent crime in the city. Seventy soldiers, seventy navy sailors and seventy tourist policemen will be led by Police Lieutenant-Colonel Wutichart Luonsukhan. They will supplement the work of 460 Pattaya policemen and 200 volunteer policemen. The program will last for 60 days in an attempt to create local and foreign tourist confidence in the safety of Pattaya during its peak season.
Some of these 'volunteers' are based in Bang Lamung, which is the known turf of a major mafia boss and his well-connected family. In fairness, Kamnan Poh's family [He's currently on the run.] probably have an interest in helping to bring the currently anarchic streetcrime of the province under greater control too. Rampant small street crime cannot be good for those who aim to continue their winning ways with a more long-term organized strategy. And the mafia usually prides itself on making the streets fit for those who cooperate with it. Indeed, it probably wouldn't be any great exaggeration to say that the local volunteer force owes at least some of its allegiance to Bang Lamung's 'aristocracy'.
This webpage will give you some indication (& graphic pictures) of the seriousness of the current crimewave in the province: -
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_update.html
This newspaper link (if you scroll down from the top) will provide you with the Pracha interview in which no mention is made of his 'Rambo' role in Narathiwat. Unfortunately, I can't give you a quote here for fear of ..... lawyers. :eek: : -
http://www.pattayamail.com/699/news.shtml#hd1