PATTAYA — A violent altercation between two groups of Thai women in Pattaya has been captured on video and shared widely across social media, highlighting the intense competition for foreign clientele in the city’s nightlife industry.
The 42-second video footage shows six Thai women from two rival groups engaged in a physical fight on Walking Street in Pattaya, causing alarm among foreign tourists in the area. Security personnel from nearby entertainment venues eventually intervened to break up the altercation.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 5:00 AM on May 14. Following the confrontation, patrol officers from Pattaya City Police Station arrived at the scene and brought both parties to meet with Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanongsak Inphadung, an inquiry officer at the station.
Preliminary questioning suggests the cause of this altercation stemmed from conflict over competing for customers, exacerbated by alcohol consumption. As the parties could not reach an agreement, authorities proceeded with physical examinations and will pursue legal proceedings according to established protocols.
While such incidents are not uncommon, they underscore Pattaya’s well-known but officially unacknowledged sex industry, where services provided by women and individuals of various gender identities are openly available despite occasional law enforcement crackdowns allegedly aimed at “protecting Pattaya’s image” – leading to the ironic local saying that “Pattaya has no prostitutes.”
Sex workers in Pattaya, along with private organizations, have been advocating for legal protection and welfare benefits since discussions began in 2003. Following Thailand’s recent equal marriage law, which reflects a more progressive society and acceptance of reality, these campaigns have gained renewed momentum.
Pattaya’s sex industry became prominent during the Vietnam War when the United States established military bases in Thailand. Despite its visibility, the profession remains illegal and unrecognized, and workers receiving no social benefits while facing economic and social insecurity.
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