webfact Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Video: Black tourist taken off the street in Pattaya for not having his passport A video published on the Facebook site of "Rak Siam News" showed a black man being confronted by immigration police in the Jomtien area of Pattaya. In a brief altercation an immigration official suggests that he has the power to arrest the apparent tourist because he does not have his passport with him. "You don't have your passport," he says. "I can take you to immigration". The black man - believed to be from Cameroon - suggests that his passport is elsewhere before agreeing to go with the officers. The immigration officer grabs his arm as he is led away. Ruk Siam News said that three people were arrested in Soi Yen Sabai in the Phratamnak 2 area. One was from Cameroon, one was from Laos and another was of unspecified nationality who was rambling and drunk. Local immigration chief Somprot Sirisukkha said it was a job well done. Those arrested had cooperated with his men. The news media said that immigration in the resort were acting on the orders of deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan and the new head of immigration Maj-Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakparn. Source: Rak Siam News -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Just now, webfact said: another was of unspecified nationality who was rambling and drunk. He was obviously on a very long nature hike, unable to get to his destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champers Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 minutes ago, bluesofa said: He was obviously on a very long nature hike, unable to get to his destination. It's Jomtien so he is bound to be Russian and a very close friend of Comrade Smirnoff, or, if times are tough, he has been imbibing deoderant or some other household product containing alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Well he could have told them his passport was in the hotel room, but it seems to me he didnt know if he had a passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcula Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 22 minutes ago, webfact said: Black tourist taken off the street in Pattaya for not having his passport He just looks black because of all those high visibility jackets surrounding him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 25 minutes ago, webfact said: ... and another was of unspecified nationality who was rambling and drunk. I guess that was me but I wasn't arrested and I have absolutely no clue who the other two guys were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 27 minutes ago, webfact said: One was from Cameroon, I guess walking while black IS an issue here after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 15 minutes ago, balo said: Well he could have told them his passport was in the hotel room, but it seems to me he didnt know if he had a passport. He says his passport is in his bag at the hotel which is "just there"... and "no I don't walk with my passport at this time" So why on earth they dragged him off to immigration instead of going to the "just over there" hotel room to look in his bag ????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 7 minutes ago, johng said: He says his passport is in his bag at the hotel which is "just there"... and "no I don't walk with my passport at this time" So why on earth they dragged him off to immigration instead of going to the "just over there" hotel room to look in his bag ????????? Because.... (see post #7) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 He says his passport is in his bag at the hotel which is "just there"... and "no I don't walk with my passport at this time" So why on earth they dragged him off to immigration instead of going to the "just over there" hotel room to look in his bag ?????????The first post says his passport is " elsewhere". Doesn't have to be his hotel room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 minutes ago, balo said: Doesn't have to be his hotel room. Ok, so you haven't watched the video in the first post ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Some months ago a top immigration officer confirmed to the media that tourists don't need to carry their passports around 24/7 though police can ask to see it at any time...obviously a persons passport is not very likely to be found at the immigration office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsano Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 three people were arrested but the headline is black tourist.. not professional at all. last week it was black criminals but they all had visas... stop being racists and provide the right news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer90210 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 15 minutes ago, johng said: He says his passport is in his bag at the hotel which is "just there"... and "no I don't walk with my passport at this time" So why on earth they dragged him off to immigration instead of going to the "just over there" hotel room to look in his bag ????????? I don't have either my passport all the time and this is plainly another arbitrary rule in Thailand against tourists and foreigners in general. This rule is plainly making passport theft easier in forcing their guests to carry it all over. They should rather hand over an easily carried paper or document, with the duration of stay. Some claim a phototocopy of the Passport is enough etc etc...but if you bump into an unfriendly officer who hates farangs and tourists (and there are a few), one could be in stew with a photocopy. Just plain excessive bureaucracy and harassment from Thai immigration once again. And No...I would definately not approuve of having a bunch of chaps with flashy jakets or golden wings come and start fumbling in either my hotel room or any other place and who knows use the opportunity to extort a bribe or even steal something ?.....I mean how does one know what some of these chaps are capable of ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Ok, so you haven't watched the video in the first post ?No I'm on my tablet so can't watch videos. If the black man said he left it in his hotel room they should let him go and get it, his room was probably just around the corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Andersen Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 6 minutes ago, johng said: Some months ago a top immigration officer confirmed to the media that tourists don't need to carry their passports around 24/7 though police can ask to see it at any time...obviously a persons passport is not very likely to be found at the immigration office. yes I remember that too I never walk with my passport only a copy of it I had last year get my passport stolen Nightmare I had to go Bkk and order a new one Price all together 7000 b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phuketshrew Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Maybe he was walking on the cracks in the pavement ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Whilst have no issues with racial profiling if a certain people committ more crime per percentage than other races - i.e. stopping and searching young black men in London currently - I believe that every person should be given the opportunity to address an issue before arrest. If this man says his passport was in his room, he should be walked to the hotel and the passport should be found - Or not as may or may not be the case. Then he should be arrested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I think Thai immigration reads TVF, and because of the biased and racist attitudes expressed on this forum by many members, I suspect that immigration has concluded that crackdowns and profiling of black visitors to the Kingdom is tacitly approved of by the general expat community. In my opinion, this is looking more and more like racial harassment and profiling. The foreign community here needs to start speaking out against this unequal treatment which goes against Western values that all people should be treated equally. Thailand also needs to reflect on how they treat visitors may negatively impact how Thais are treated and received abroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2unique Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 For the next few months while operation "black eagle" is in full effect black people renewing their visas must use original docs (no copies) and have a letter from the local police station stating they are not a criminal or the application will be rejected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunderhill Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 53 minutes ago, observer90210 said: I don't have either my passport all the time and this is plainly another arbitrary rule in Thailand against tourists and foreigners in general. This rule is plainly making passport theft easier in forcing their guests to carry it all over. They should rather hand over an easily carried paper or document, with the duration of stay. Some claim a phototocopy of the Passport is enough etc etc...but if you bump into an unfriendly officer who hates farangs and tourists (and there are a few), one could be in stew with a photocopy. Just plain excessive bureaucracy and harassment from Thai immigration once again. And No...I would definately not approuve of having a bunch of chaps with flashy jakets or golden wings come and start fumbling in either my hotel room or any other place and who knows use the opportunity to extort a bribe or even steal something ?.....I mean how does one know what some of these chaps are capable of ? Free Tattoo stamped on forehead on entry to Thailand should do the trick, I believe the Germans tried this in recent history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orac Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJKT2014 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 hours ago, webfact said: Black tourist taken off the street in Pattaya for not having his passport A video published on the Facebook site of "Rak Siam News" showed a black man being confronted by immigration police in the Jomtien area of Pattaya. The black man - believed to be from Three references to the guys skin color for some reason by the news report. Have you sunk this low? A brief review of the FB link has no such reporting of this style and simply refers to the guy as from Cameroon which should suffice in this day and age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 10 minutes ago, MJKT2014 said: Three references to the guys skin color for some reason by the news report. Have you sunk this low? A brief review of the FB link has no such reporting of this style and simply refers to the guy as from Cameroon which should suffice in this day and age. It is also interesting that the phrase "taken off the street" was used. This phrase is most often used in the context of "taking criminals off the streets." The author of this article is subtly associating a black tourist from Cameroon with criminality with this choice of words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigT73 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 1 hour ago, balo said: No I'm on my tablet so can't watch videos. You must have some pretty strong medication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 The $64 dollar question is: if he had a good clean photocopy of his passport and recent visa stamp would they have let him go? Or if he had said clearly, my passport is in my hotel, I would be glad to take you there and present it" would they have let him go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 hours ago, MJKT2014 said: Three references to the guys skin color for some reason by the news report. Have you sunk this low? A brief review of the FB link has no such reporting of this style and simply refers to the guy as from Cameroon which should suffice in this day and age. I have heard the Thai girls sometimes when watching a music video say "chocolate man looks good". A somewhat accurate description of some people's skin color. But it is not commonly used in the west to describe a person of African Descent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usacb500biker Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 5B copy worked For Me when check in Pattaya..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Note to self. Avoid suntan. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitemouse Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 4 hours ago, Gecko123 said: In my opinion, this is looking more and more like racial harassment and profiling. The foreign community here needs to start speaking out against this unequal treatment which goes against Western values that all people should be treated equally. But this is East, Western values are just that, Western. One of the Western values is that while visiting foreign land, we respect their culture and ways of life. This is Thailand, not USA. Also, stopping a black man is no more racist than stopping and detaining Lao citizen during same raid, maybe we should not see racism lurking behind every corner, black guy is obviously not Thai, good enough reason for Immigration to stop and ask passport, just like they ask whites, Asians and Marsians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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