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Too many foreign tramps
Published on 03/09/2013
» According to the Issarachon Foundation, there are now 200 or so foreigners roaming the streets and beaches in Thailand, unable to pay for their daily living costs or their airfare home. The main reason, according to the charity, is the increasing number of aliens who have registered property in the name of their Thai wife and then been ejected to fend for themselves. Natee Saravari, secretary-general of the Foundation, said that it was not uncommon to see Europeans sorting through the trash at fast food restaurants looking for something to eat or begging on beachfront areas. He added that whilst most Thai homeless people have some form of mental illness, most destitute farang are alcoholics. There are thought to be about 50 homeless foreign men in Pattaya, living mostly in beach areas and eating at one or two charitable institutions which don’t turn them away. Embassy sources say they mostly have expired visas or lost passports and can no longer receive cash handouts from diplomatic sources. Consular officers will contact relatives on request for financial assistance. If that fails, the general advice is to give themselves up for overstay. They will remain in prison pending often lengthy arrangements by their respective embassy to fly them home. Once returned, they will normally be deprived of their passport pending repayment of the airfare.
Phuket yachtsman attacked by ‘samurai’ motorbike gang
Published on 19/12/2012
» Phuket yachting figure Neil Petford was attacked and robbed by a “samurai” motorbike gang on his way home from the final party of the recent King’s Cup Regatta.