The public outrage over the police raid on a bridge meeting club in Pattaya in which 32 elderly foreigners were arrested is understandable.
It was a lightning operation, joined by soldiers and Bang Lamung officials, and made headlines around the world.
With score books being found at the scene, the police believed the elderly folk were gambling. But since no money was uncovered, the bridge players were initially charged with using more than 120 cards that were not produced by the Excise Department. That violated Section 8 of the Playing Card Act of 1943. How many people know that this archaic law still exists? I didn't.
This "crime" cost each elderly person a 5,000 baht fine, along with some emotional trauma and physical discomfort. They were released after 12 hours in custody. This is not the first time police have made such a raid on card games. Only this time, it involved foreigners and created a debate over whether bridge is gambling and deserves a harsh response.
About a year ago senior Isan police were slammed for raiding a house where a small group of old folk were playing a card game. This was at least real gambling, but the amount involved was petty. The subsequent argument was about whether card games were good for old people's brains.
In the Pattaya case, a senior policeman defended his subordinates' action as "just doing their duty". In fact, we are told an investigation is under way, with the score books as evidence. Police are to file a case with prosecutors some time next week. Should we be happy about this?
This now infamous raid is making people curious as to why police are not paying similar attention to real crimes that give this tourist city a bad name -- the jet ski scams, taxi drivers who refuse to use their meters and overcharge, and assorted underworld activities. It also makes many wonder what is worse, police trying to do their job or those who, for whatever reason, turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. A dilemma indeed.
I have encountered quite a few officers in the latter category -- they form a large group in the police force. I once alerted a traffic officer to the number of motorists jumping a red light and endangering pedestrians crossing the road. I was dumbfounded by his reply: "It's beyond my duties." The officer was frustrated by my comment.
Another time I was furious with double parking in front of a popular pub in Thon Buri that was causing heavy traffic in the middle of the night. There were police at a checkpoint a few hundred metres away and I asked them to do something. The reply: "There are quite a few complaints. But sorry, the area is not under our jurisdiction."
The most recent case involved police in the Khlong Toey area. Those who travel through this area know how problematic it is. More often than not the cause is double parking, or parking in prohibited areas like bus stops.
There is no shortage of traffic violators. Motorcyclists ignore red lights, chase pedestrians on footpaths and ride against traffic. Double parking, sometimes triple parking is constant. Check the famous noodle shop near the traffic control box on the corner of Na Ranong Road. Because of bad parking, buses have to stop in the middle of the road -- a hugely unsafe practice for the passengers, yet it never stops. It causes traffic chaos on some very busy roads.
One day, I lost my patience at being forced to swerve into the outside lane, and, trying to be a concerned citizen, I reported the case to two police standing a few metres away. They just rolled their eyes, laughing into my face. They shook their heads and, when they had finished what they were doing, sped off on their motorcycles, leaving behind a chaotic traffic problem.
Some police clearly believe these situations are trivial matters. It's the wrong attitude and they need to be made aware of it. Motorists who get away with small violations do not think twice about breaking more serious laws and causing danger to others. By not doing anything, they are part of the problem that makes our roads dangerous.
Perhaps those police who refuse to enforce the law think the cases will not make the headlines. They are right. The Pattaya raid, though, did attract huge media attention; just not in the way that would make them proud.
Ploenpote Atthakor is editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.