THAI AUTHORITIES TIGHTEN PROSTITUTION CRACKDOWN AS 5,000 US SAILORS ARRIVE AFTER 200 DAYS AT SEA.
Thai authorities have tightened enforcement against prostitution in the resort city of Pattaya ahead of the arrival of a US Navy aircraft carrier carrying about 5,000 sailors and Marines who have reportedly spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea.
According to The Independent, the USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to dock on Wednesday, with thousands of personnel set to receive some much-needed rest and recuperation after the unusually lengthy deployment.
Now, before the Zambian imagination starts running faster than a minibus conductor who has spotted one last passenger pa station, Pattaya authorities have already increased police patrols around the city’s beachfront and famous nightlife district.
The Independent reports that raids conducted over the weekend resulted in between 40 and 50 people being detained on suspicion of prostitution.
Pattaya Police Chief Anek Srathongyoo acknowledged that policing the situation would not be straightforward, saying authorities were doing their best but that sex workers could still solicit customers in public areas without police knowledge.
Prostitution remains illegal in Thailand despite the country’s highly visible sex industry, particularly in major tourism destinations such as Bangkok and Pattaya.
The arrival of thousands of American servicemen is, however, being welcomed by sections of Pattaya’s tourism industry, which expects the visitors to inject significant money into the local economy.
Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches estimates that each serviceman could spend between 1,000 and 3,000 Thai baht per day, roughly US$30 to US$91, depending on how long they remain ashore and whether they spend the night.
In Zambian language: ba economy have seen customers approaching and are already straightening the shelves.
Not all 5,000 personnel will descend on Pattaya simultaneously, however, as shore leave is expected to be staggered.
The aircraft carrier left its home port of San Diego in November before later being redirected to the Middle East to support military operations in the US-Israeli war with Iran. According to The Independent, Democratic lawmakers have described the deployment as setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea.
The prolonged deployment has also reportedly raised concerns over conditions aboard the vessel, including declining morale, mental health challenges and reported suicide attempts.
That has added a more serious dimension to preparations in Pattaya.
Bangkok University Associate Professor Pipatpong Fakfare warned that the sudden arrival of large numbers of customers could increase risks of sexual exploitation and sexually transmitted infections.
The city’s connection with American servicemen is itself historical. Pattaya was once largely a fishing community before developing into a major tourism destination, partly through visits by US military personnel seeking rest and recreation during the Vietnam War.
Today, its nightlife industry is enormous, and local businesses are hoping the latest American arrival provides some badly needed economic activity.
Pattaya Nightlife Business Association President Lisa Hamilton told The Independent that news of the US Navy visit had become a source of hope for businesses after what she described as an exceptionally slow year.
So, while Pattaya businesses are preparing for thousands of customers carrying dollars after more than 200 days at sea, authorities are essentially saying:
“Ba guy, please… come and enjoy yourselves, spend your money and revive the economy, but let’s behave accordingly.”
For us in Zambia, beyond the humour, the story provides an interesting glimpse into how the temporary arrival of thousands of military personnel can affect an entire local economy while simultaneously creating challenges around policing, public health, exploitation and social behaviour.
