South Pattaya Man Shoots Himself in the Foot

4,000 Civil Servants Suddenly Found Themselves Out of a Job

Close to 4,000 civil servants working for the Department of Land Administration across Thailand suddenly found themselves out of a job today after appearing on the list of those suspected of paying to have their entrance examination results illegally upgraded.

According to reports, around 140 had already resigned in disgrace ahead of the mass dismissals. That, however, won’t necessarily make the problem disappear, as authorities say those who resigned will face the same legal action as those subsequently dismissed.

For the department itself, there’s now another rather substantial headache. Finding and recruiting those candidates who genuinely qualified and then getting them trained quickly enough to fill the considerable gaps left in staffing.

The mass dismissal follows an investigation that exposed a network of corrupt officials accused of demanding bribes of up to 800,000 baht in return for a guaranteed position within the department.

The investigation has developed into one of the biggest cleanup operations ever seen within the Thai governmental system. With almost 4,000 people now removed, it’s certainly gone rather beyond simply having a quiet word with human resources.

Bangkok Market Fire Investigators Unable to Reach the Starting Point

Meanwhile, in Bangkok, police and forensic teams were still unable yesterday to reach what they believe may have been the starting point of the enormous fire that destroyed a three-story indoor market.

The building, constructed primarily from steel, effectively imploded during the blaze, with the upper two floors collapsing onto the ground floor. That has left investigators unable to enter the most important areas safely.

Arson has not been ruled out, but determining the cause could now take considerable time. Investigators may have to wait weeks while twisted steel and debris are carefully removed before forensic teams can properly examine the suspected seat of the fire.

Hundreds of stallholders have meanwhile filed reports detailing the loss of both their stock and their livelihoods. Some say they simply cannot afford to start again and most, as previously reported, did not have insurance.

The owners of the property, however, are understood to have insurance in place, and authorities are now waiting for details of that policy to establish whether any of the tenants’ losses might also be covered.

For many of those traders, that answer can’t come soon enough.

Saraburi Flooding Forces Parks and Waterfalls to Close

In Saraburi province in central Thailand, severe flooding has forced the closure of camping areas and waterfalls after days of heavy rain made conditions unsafe for visitors.

Forest rangers received warnings from upstream and, as the water flow began increasing rapidly, moved quickly to clear campsites of tents and caravans. Within hours, large parts of the area were inundated.

Considerable damage has been reported, particularly among those who were apparently unaware of the warnings being issued. The region has now endured three days of heavy rain, with still more forecast.

The parks and affected recreational areas will remain closed until further notice.

South Pattaya Man Shoots Himself in the Foot

Meanwhile, closer to home in South Pattaya, a local man managed to shoot himself in the foot, literally.

The incident happened outside a bar popular mainly with Thai customers rather than tourists, following what police say was a drunken confrontation between two men who had previously fallen out.

Witnesses said two groups of young people had been arguing inside the venue before security staff threw them out. Once outside, the disagreement apparently developed into a full-blown brawl.

One of the men was carrying a gun and, fearing he was about to lose the fight, allegedly shot the other man in the foot. He later claimed it was done in self-defense. For reasons that perhaps even he may struggle to explain clearly, he somehow managed to shoot himself in the foot as well.

Both men were taken to hospital. The alleged gunman now faces the prospect of jail under regulations banning people from carrying weapons in public places. His girlfriend remained at the scene and told police she had absolutely no idea what the argument had been about.

US Navy Personnel Enjoy Time Ashore in Pattaya

The first of the US Navy personnel will be in town from tomorrow in civilian clothes and apparently determined to enjoy some well-earned time ashore.

One thing is fairly certain. After spending months aboard ship, many will have a few dollars available for their visit.

Some are seasoned travelers who have visited ports around the world. Others will be what the Americans themselves might call the green peas, the newbies.

Those newcomers have apparently been advised to move around in groups with their more experienced colleagues, hopefully avoiding some of the more expensive mistakes that can occasionally accompany a first visit to Pattaya.

While the charms of some of our local ladies and men are well known, it’s probably useful to have somebody experienced nearby who knows when that charm might be becoming just a little too charming.