Siam Hotel... Is this about the new politics?

[Guest]

Hong Kong iMail

BANGKOK: Thai police said yesterday they were cracking down on a Bangkok hotel that has been transformed into a massive ``open-air brothel'' where 500 prostitutes ply their trade each night.

The Siam Hotel has become the centre of one of the city's most popular red light districts, rivalling the notorious Patpong go-go bars that are a favourite haunt of Western sex tourists.

``The problem of prostitutes at the Siam Hotel has existed for more than 10 years but it has increased recently due to economic and social problems,'' said Major-General Theerasak Nguan-banjong of the Metropolitan Police.

``We've decided to act because we've received so many complaints that the area has become the biggest open-air brothel in Bangkok.''

Major-General Theerasak said the women working at the hotel included professional prostitutes as well as office workers.

Students and girls from well-to-do families seeking to make some easy money also worked there.

These ``freelancers'' mill around outside the hotel until the early hours of the morning, packing the forecourt and pavement and causing traffic congestion as hundreds of clients park their cars and motorbikes outside.

Since February, police raids have already netted 1,000 prostitutes who were charged and released after paying a modest 1,000 baht (HK$173) fine.

Television footage of the raids showed dozens of girls being rounded up and loaded into police trucks while others sprinted off into the night to evade arrest.

[phiketpete]

Both the Nation and Bangkok Post reported the reason for the crackdown as "complaints from residents". From what I can see not too many people live close by. Unlike other areas the girls were all over the sidewalk and roadside . It is a major thoroughfare and could have been described as an eyesore by some and perhaps a bit too obvious

My guess is that you are right

But a 1000 girls at 1000 baht per arrest is not a bad couple of nights work

It was really the Thai Thermae rather than attracting tourists it catered to the local market

Both papers also reported up to 500 girls per night milling around the area. The Nation reported the girls charged 1300-1500 baht ST.

The hotel denied knowledge that the girls were involved in prostitution and that they were just customers stopping by late at night for a cup of coffee on the way home

[Guest]

Reading The Nation and Bangkok Post, I thought these were just advertisements for sanuk at the Siam Hotel.