Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05BANGKOK7242, PATTAYA: THAILAND'S EXTREME CITY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BANGKOK7242.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05BANGKOK7242 2005-11-22 07:14 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Bangkok
Appears in these articles:
http://facthai.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/wikileaks-thailand-4/
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 BANGKOK 007242

SIPDIS

INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY OSLO
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
DIA WASHDC
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
USARPAC DCSLOG FT SHAFTER HI
NAVCRIMINVSERVRA SINGAPORE SN
NAVFOR UTAPAO COBRA GOLD
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: PATTAYA: THAILAND'S EXTREME CITY
REF: A. 1992 BANGKOK 41165
B. 2004 BANGKOK 4819

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON FOR REASON 1.4(D)

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The sea-side port city of Pattaya is
one of Thailand's major tourist destinations, second only to
Bangkok, and a significant contributor to the Thai economy.
Attracted to the 'anything goes' reputation that centers
around Pattaya's sleazy nightlife, over 4 million foreigners
and 10 million Thais visit the area each year, making it a
hotbed for vice, police corruption and transnational crime.
As one of Thailand's major tourist spots, Pattaya could be a
'soft target' for terrorists, but local officials are taking
steps to beef up security. With a sizable American ex-pat
community living there year round, a primary port of call for
U.S. Navy warships, and, unfortunately, the location of a
significant number of non-natural Amcit deaths in Thailand,
Pattaya remains a city of interest to Embassy Bangkok. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
BACKGROUND: PATTAYA AND ITS SURREAL LURE
--------------

2. (SBU) Pattaya is located in the province of Chonburi,
which is home to a significant amount of industry and
abundant in natural resources. Pattaya itself was a sleepy
fishing town until the 1960's, when it became a major R&R
point for US forces during the Vietnam War. Pattaya soon
earned a reputation for its raucous nightlife, and as the
local economy boomed from the sudden influx of tourism,
significant foreign and domestic investment followed. Today
Chonburi is one of the wealthiest provinces in Thailand,
thanks to the presence of international industry, a natural
deep water port, and sizable Air Force and Naval bases.
3. (SBU) At the heart of Chonburi's economy is Pattaya.
Nearly 4 million foreigners come to Pattaya each year, along
with 10 million Thais. Just two hours away from Bangkok,
Pattaya has the closest beaches to the capital, making it an
easier excursion than the beaches in the South. Pattaya is
inexpensive compared to other locations in Thailand. Pattaya
also prides itself on offering something for everyone,
whether the tourists are retired couples or families seeking
all-ages entertainment. Despite Pattaya's attempts to market
themselves with broad appeal, the vast majority of Pattaya's
tourists are single men seeking an extreme nightlife.
Although only 5% the size of Bangkok, Pattaya's red-light
district is larger than all of Bangkok's major red-light
districts combined.

---------
TO LIVE AND DIE IN PATTAYA
---------

4. (C) POLOFF spoke with several Thai officials based in
Pattaya, to include the Mayor of Pattaya, the Police Chief of
Pattaya, the President of Pattaya's Business and Tourist
Administration, and the Member of Parliament (MP)
representing the people in Pattaya, as well as one of our
local American wardens and a local newspaper reporter. All
of the Thai officials were unanimously proud of their close
coordination between themselves and Thai immigration
officials, and feel they have a very solid grasp on the
numbers of foreigners who live in and visit Pattaya. Their
latest figures show that between 300-400 Americans live in
Pattaya year round, although our warden believes this figure
doubles if you include people who spend significant periods
of the year (3 months) there. The Police Chief commented
that the Americans were the fourth largest group of ex-pats
living in Pattaya, after the Germans, Japanese, and the
English. According to newspaper reporter Somphon Yotthasak
from the Thai Rath (one of Thailand's largest newspapers),
Russians and Scandinavians are also moving to Pattaya in
increasing numbers and buying up significant amounts of real
estate. Whereas the Japanese living in the area work in the
industrialized sectors, the Germans, Brits, and Americans
that live in the area are either retired or involved in the
service industry. Most of the Americans living in Pattaya
are retired-many of them Vietnam Veterans who fell in love
with Thailand during the war-but there are also many Amcits
operating small businesses in Pattaya, which range anywhere
from chartering scuba dives to managing go-go bars. Thai
officials believe that native-Pattayans number under 100,000,
but migrant workers, mainly from the poor Northeast (Isaan)
region of Thailand swell the population to roughly 500,000.
The mayor of Pattaya also commented that several thousand
Thai Muslims live peacefully in Pattaya, and they often
receive visitors from the volatile South without incident.

5. (C) Apart from being a retirement destination, Pattaya
is the place people go to party. The Thai police estimate
that roughly 100,000 Americans visit Pattaya each year, and
DoD personnel assigned to Embassy Bangkok place the number of
service members visiting Pattaya for a port call at up to
10,000 per year. The Thai police believe that the largest
numbers of tourists are from Taiwan, Germany, and the
Scandinavian countries. There is also much talk about the
rise of Russians visiting Pattaya. Although only 50,000
Russians visit each year, they charter 100 flights a year
directly from Moscow to Pattaya, and Thai officials estimate
that their numbers are increasing by 15% a year (by
comparison, most nationalities are increasing their visitors
by 3-4% a year). The Russians and the Scandinavians come to
escape the long winters at affordable prices. Other large
groups of visitors include Indians (75,000 / year) and
Middle-Easterners (70,000 / year), as well as increasing
numbers from Korea and Vietnam.

6. (SBU) Embassy Bangkok's American Citizen Services (ACS)
unit is intimately familiar with Pattaya. According to the
ACS Chief, Thailand has one of the highest rates in the world
of death by non-natural causes for Amcits. After Bangkok
itself, most Amcit deaths in Thailand occur in Pattaya: this
year 21 of the 106 non-natural Amcit deaths in Thailand have
occurred there. The leading causes of death are traffic
accidents (usually involving alcohol), drug overdoses
(ranging from laced cocaine to using Viagra without a
prescription), suicides (from heartbroken loners) and
homicides. An increasing number of crimes against U.S.
service members are committed by transvestites. There are a
number of arrests of Amcits each year, mostly involving
immigration violations for overstaying their visas, but also
a pedophile or two. Many American fugitives have taken up
residence in Pattaya over the years, along with people who
should be getting treatment for mental illness, but are not.

--------------- ---
VICE CENTRAL: WHEN THE SOLUTION IS PART OF THE PROBLEM
--------------- ---

7. (C) According to local police and politicians, the most
common crimes in Pattaya are petty thefts committed by local
youths. When it comes to safety for foreigners, there were
universal concurrences from our warden, the Thai Rath
reporter, and Thai officials that Pattaya is generally safe
for tourists, and that all of the police elements are sincere
in keeping things orderly. The one exception to this,
however, is a big one: staying away from the 'dark
businesses.' This reference to Pattaya's infamous nightlife
centers around prostitution, which inevitably attracts drugs,
extortion, the mafia, and possibly trafficking in persons.
The Thai police claim they only arrest 30-35 people a month
in Pattaya, with 4-5 of them being foreigners. Police claim
that the most common crime committed by foreigners involves
drunk and disorderly conduct, but that a few times a year
they arrest a pedophile.

8. (C) Pattaya's night life lends itself to a significant
amount of organized crime. At the forefront of crime in
Pattaya is extortion, and at the forefront of the extortion
racket are the police. With the exception of the Police
themselves, all of the Thai officials acknowledged that
police corruption is widespread, although the officials
downplayed its impact upon business. Thai Rath reporter
Somphon said that police make between 3000 baht ($75 USD) and
10,000 baht ($250 USD) a month from each establishment so
that they can operate unimpeded, depending on the size of the
establishment and the laws they are breaking. Nearly all of
the bars involve some degree of facilitating prostitution,
but the fee can also vary based on the legality of the
business registration to how much after the 1 am closing
times the bars stay open. The President of Pattaya's
Business and Tourist Administration acknowledged these
figures were accurate, albeit reluctantly. When asked to go
into further detail, he hesitated and replied \"its not an
easy thing for me to talk about.\" It's not hard to imagine
why: on November 2nd, the editor of the local Pattaya Post
newspaper was found dead in his BMW, shot in the back of the
head. The editor had recently exposed local police
involvement with prostitution, and had been working on a
larger expose' on police extortion when he was killed by
unknown assailants. Interestingly enough, Somphon claims
that the police use some of their extortion money to fund
their own operations, as they are not budgeted enough to do
their jobs fully. The Pattaya City mayor disputes this
claim, though he is likely on the receiving end of the
process. Despite having four separate types of police units
operating in Pattaya, the market is large enough for all of
them to receive significant funds and for all of them to be
satisfied with their intake.

9. (C) It is difficult to assess the true level of
trans-national mafias in Pattaya due to conflicting
statements from officials, inadequate evidence of crimes, and
a difference in defining what organized crime actually is.
Reporter Somphon and Chonburi-based Thai Rak Thai MP Sa-nga
Thanasanguanwong believe that organized crime exists from
foreign elements, though even they disagree as to which
countries they came from. Somphon believes the largest
groups are German, Russian, and Scandinavian; MP Sa-nga
believes they are Korean, Dutch, and German, while a recent
article in the newspaper The Nation also referenced mafias
from Pakistan, Australia, and Canada. Conversely, the mayor
and the police both say that there is virtually no
trans-national crime at all. (Comment: neither our contacts
nor any of the newspapers mentioned the presence of organized
crime figures from the US. End Comment.) Part of the
problem is simply defining whether or not crimes committed by
foreigners can be classified as organized crime. According
to the MP, the mayor, and the police, a lot of the ex-pat on
ex-pat crimes are individual and personal, and not the work
of larger criminal gangs. Many of the newly reported crimes
include real-estate fraud, but that has been linked to
individuals instead of organized criminal groups. Even
reporter Somphon believes that violence among the ex-pats
isn't about mafias competing for territory or business
related, but a breakdown in relationships among friends.
However, the November 7th killing of Dutch underworld figure
John Mieremet is widely seen as a revenge killing for the
murder of another Dutch underworld figure back in the
Netherlands, causing police to rethink how Pattaya may be
linked with trans-national crime.

10. (C) The main businesses of the organized crimes are
believed to be extortion and drugs. On the extortion side,
ex-pat businessmen in the 'dark businesses' face a second
level of payments to crime figures from their native
countries, but not to anyone else. The drug problems involve
ex-pat residents of Pattaya selling drugs, mainly ecstasy, to
their visiting countrymen. The police are also closely
watching the rise of Russian-speaking prostitutes appearing
more openly in Pattaya. According to the police, most women
enter Thailand legally on an entertainment visa, knowing full
well that they will engage in prostitution and knowingly
accept it; therefore the police do not believe this rises to
the level of trafficking. All of the aforementioned parties
believe that many organized crime figures on the run from
their own countries hide out in Pattaya.

11. (C) In addition to the police and foreign criminal
elements, it is worth mentioning that Thailand's most famous
crime lord, Kamnan Poh, lives in Chonburi just a few miles
away from Pattaya. Kamnan Poh has been a figure in politics
and organized crime for decades, but was convicted of
ordering the murder of a business rival last year (reftels).
Currently free on bail while his case remains on appeal,
reporter Somphon says that Kamnan Poh approves every
construction contract in central Chonburi and receives a cut
from each. As Kamnan Poh faces the prospect of spending the
rest of his life in jail, Somphon warns that his removal from
the picture will create a huge power vacuum among criminal
elements that will extend far beyond Pattaya city. Three of
Kamnan Poh's sons are active in the TRT; two of them are
MP's. Chonburi MP Sa-nga is a close friend and the personal
attorney of Kamnan Poh, while the mayor of Pattaya is his
protg.

---------
A PRIME TERRORIST TARGET?
---------

12. (C) As one of Thailand's major tourism sites, Pattaya
could provide a very ripe 'soft' target for any terrorist
attack. Pattaya shares many of the same characteristics as
Bali. There is the large number of foreigners, including
many from the Middle East and other areas of concern, making
it easy for would-be terrorists to blend into the crowds.
During the high season, the streets are overflowing with
pedestrians, creating an environment vulnerable to attacks on
innocent civilians. The large foreign tourist presence and
Pattaya's reputation for being a 'city of sin' add to its
attractiveness as a target by religious fanatics.

13. (C) Thai officials contend that other factors make
Pattaya an unlikely target for terrorists. They believe that
the violence from the three southern, ethnic
Malay/Muslim-majority provinces will be contained in the
south and will not bleed over to Pattaya. They also point
out that Pattaya has been a safe place for members of terror
groups traveling in the region to shelter temporarily, and
they believe that terror groups would not want to jeopardize
this satisfactory arrangement by launching a terror attack
there. But in any case, local officials have stepped up
their security efforts. The Thai police work closely with
immigration officials and locals to track foreigners living
in Pattaya. The mayor claims that the police have trained
hotel staffs and taxi drivers about watching for suspicious
activities, and what to do should a bomb go off. The Royal
Thai Navy has EOD teams that routinely patrol the harbor.
Most recently, Pattaya has installed 85 closed-circuit
television (CCTV) cameras throughout the city, with 4
separate command centers to track activities around the
clock. The Thai police mentioned they would like to work
even more closely with American contacts at the Embassy,
noting also that previous coordinations have gone well. (In
July RSO Bangkok conducted document fraud training with the
Pattaya Police. RSO Bangkok is also coordinating a similar
training session with Thai immigration officials based in
Pattaya.)

------

PATTAYA'S FUTURE
------

14. (SBU) The tsunami had an indirect and positive effect
on Pattaya, as many tourists afraid to visit the South head
to the beaches of Pattaya. The opening of Thailand's new
Suvarnabhumi airport will also benefit Pattaya, as Thailand's
largest international travel hub moves from a location on the
opposite side of Bangkok to a location nearest to Pattaya.
The president of Pattaya's Business and Tourist
Administration says that Pattaya will add another 2000-3000
hotel rooms-an increase of 10% over current levels-in the
next two years. Even at current levels, several officials
believe that Pattaya can accommodate over 200,000 additional
workers to meet the tourist demand.

15. (SBU) Comment. As Pattaya continues to grow, so will
the numbers of American citizens that go there to work, play,
retire, and die. So, too, will grow the amount of criminal
activities and risks associated with visiting there, though
the Thais appear to be making genuine efforts to combat most
of this (with the exception of their own extortion of local
businesses). Though Thailand will continue to place a high
priority on the safety and security of Pattaya's residents
and tourists, it will always remain vulnerable and a target
to a potential attack, though none are foreseeable at this
time. For certain, the nightlife and illicit activities in
Pattaya are still in full swing, probably due to the
crackdown on nightlife in Bangkok (and specifically shrewd
enforcement of the 1 am closing time) and the increased
numbers of foreigners visiting the city. End Comment.
BOYCE