Dozens die in night club fire

[pachangamac042]

Fire broke out in a night club in Thong Lo during New Year's celebrations, and police said nearly 60 people were confirmed dead.

The fire at the Santika Club in Soi Ekamai occurred shortly after the joyous midnight countdown, according to Pol Lt Gen Viboon Bangthamai, deputy metropolitan police commander.

One way in, no way out

Thong Lo district police commander Pol Col Suphin Sapphuang said 59 people had been confirmed dead - 53 at the scene and six who succumbed later in hospital.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1 ... -club-fire

First of all, my condolences to everybody who lost relatives and friends.

Are we in a third world country or not?

Supreme Court President Virat Limwichai pledged that the judiciary would uphold justice and be steadfast in improving itself so it can defend people's rights and civil liberties. Now we will see if his were not just empty words. Many responsible for this tragedy, how many will end up in jail?

Abhi likes to talk about JUSTIZE, well boy, prove yourself here. Let us see what a man you are. Let us see if the all the people responsible end up in jail as quick as the guy who throw some stones.

[villager]

Hi Mac, thank you for your reply in the"jokes" thread, i too share your thoughts for the bereaved and the loved ones in this terrible tragedy, Accident??, i have my reservations , culpable homicide?,criminal negligence? you guess it, the way i see it Mac i hardly think that all the revelent questions will be either asked or answered , i,m sure you will concur that the word "joke" is in bad taste at this moment in time, but as you so rightly wrote in the other thread we could rightly agree that "justice" could well be ill served again.

[pachangamac042]

Yea villager sad, sad. But let us analyze this tragedy.

Who is responsible? Who is in jail within not more then 2 days?

1. The owner of the club
2. The persons running the club
3. The officials who issued the permits for the club
4. The persons who inspected, or did not really inspect the club
5. The responsible person who issued the insurance, I guess that a night club has to have an insurance
6. The responsible from the fire fighter department, I guess that a night club has to be inspected by the fire fighter department
7. The responsible person who build the club, how can you build such a place, knowing that it has to be against the laws. 2 storey entertainment place, 1 entry/exit? Are there any laws regarding builings, public places, entertainment places?

I guess that there are more responsible people. Check the books, find out, and up to jail. Well my guess is, that the ones with enough money, have been on the first plane out of Thailand.

Let us see if Bangkok Post will follow up this sad news story, or will it be as usual in Thailand? A few more backhanders from the untouchables and everything is forgotten? I hope that at least the relatives of the foreigners, will be suing all the responsible people to make sure that they will end up in jail. Unless, the club responsible are cousins or brother in laws or so from the judges, then of course, slap on the hand and…

Isn’t this a sad country? Have they never heard about sprikler systems? How little is a human life worth in Thailand?

[Just-1-Voice]

Pach....

Yes, the first thing we should all do is extend our condolences to the families of the victims. I know this is not the way they wanted to start a New Year, and my heart goes out to all of them.

I agree with everything except the "1 door in, 1 door out". If you read the article again, one of the club employees stated that there actually are two other doors that people COULD have escaped from, except that no one knew about them. What? No EXIT signs????

Again, lets see who goes to jail for this gross negligence, and who doesn't.

[villager]

Mac, others(who don,t know any better) reading this post may wrongly come to the conclusion that you are a cynic, a title i might add that i have been accused of many times and i always answer the same that there is only a wafer thickness between a cynic and a realist , however sometimes the truth is brutal to the extreme, and to utter it here in LOS is many times frowned upon , looking at your writings over the last few weeks i,m certain you comprehend PERFECTLY the point i,m trying to get across , in my opinion the valid questions you have put forward will remain unanswered or not even asked in the first place, and if Khun A is sincere and not just mouthing empty words , he should order a full and fair investigation and if negligence is an issue in this sad case , those, however important should be jailed and compensation paid to all concerned, ok i know , i,m a dreamer to boot!!!

[pachangamac042]

Just-1, I read and reread the article, but all I found was the statement of a policeman; “Most of the bodies were found in the club's basement. Police said the hi-so club had only one door for entry and exit.” Nothing about any club employees statement. No idea were you got it from.

Villager, cynic, because I would love to see all responsible people behind bars or because I mention that maybe nothing at all will happen to the responsible?

If it is because my first statement, well fair enough, but you got to know that a cousin works as prison guard, and we do not want him running out of work.

Should it be the second one, well, was is not you who mentioned it yourself in the other topic? Remember, the Mercedes driver, the 2 Canadians and so on.

Should any affected person read my lines, then I want to apologize if I hurt your feelings in any way. Fact is, that in Thailand some people get away with crimes witch in other countries would cost you many, many years of your life behind bars. Do I like it? Hell no. But nothing I can do. Thailand is a fantastic country as long as nothing happens and you do not get involved with the authorities.

Will somebody pay for what happened? Maybe, it depends what persons are involved. Or who those persons are. Will we here again about it in the future? Well, same answer as before.

Am I a cynic? Maybe, but that is the way it is and if you do not like it, try to fight it, something I would not suggest, or just do not come. TiT, that is Thailand.

Just found this post, looking for the fire exits Just-1 mentioned. No idea if it is real or what, but, well I am speechless;

“Quote from local blog http://www.mikesbarguide.com/

"Saturday, December 27, 2008
Goodbye Santika

Well we knew it was inevitable. My spidey senses have been tingling for awhile about this and it is finally confirmed. Santika will close its doors December 31, 2008. Looks like the value of all that dirt, newspaper and garbage is worth more to the condo developers. A new location will open in RCA and I'll definitely keep you posted"

Make you wonder doesn't it”

[villager]

Mac, maybe you misunderstood my post, in no way was i referring to you as a cynic,this term is loosely used by those who do not live in the real world and find it hard to see the truth even though it is staring them in the face , as i wrote before i have lost count of the times people have bestowed this name on me , and i always answer the same , for me its realism in its best form , i suppose i could lie to others ,but the time i start lieing to myself is the time i,ll admit i,ve lost all self respect.

[pachangamac042]

I knew you were not calling me cynic, but I was just wondering witch part of my post could be seen as cynical by others.

[villager]

Hi Mac, "sometimes the truth is brutal to the extreme, and to utter it here in LOS is many times frowned upon" many may think because you are not fooled and hoodwinked by BS as many are ,they could well think along those lines, i,m lucky enough to have a good social life in my neck of the woods with maybe a hardcore of about 30 farangs , many of whom meet on a regular basis in a local bar, tonight we had an interesting discussion about cynicism , out of the 11 farangs who were present i simply asked them are you a cynic as far as Thai politics go, to a man they all answered the same, as to what the answer was i leave to your imagination!

[stilljustbrowsing]

First, my condolences and sympathy for all those affected by this tragedy.

What hit me was the fact that this was reportedly the last show at this club as it was scheduled to be closed down on Dec. 31!
Therfore, would not the operators licence be invalid for Jan 01?