[motodiary]

It is true that most of this raid in the past has been PR exercise at best but looking at the pattern of enforcement in recent years under the military govt, it may not be entirely for show. One major point that stick up like a sore thumb is that NATAREE is probably the only outlet in the whole Ratchada stretch that employ many Myammar nationals and this is the reason where the place has over hundreds of very young girls while the other outlets have like a few dozens at any one time and mostly Thais. this fact is also cited in the report "....around 90 per cent of the 121 women found working in the brothel at the time of the raid were Myanmar nationals, primarily ethnic minority women from the two country's border regions....''

this is also the reason the place attracted many Asian foreigners. and it certainly won't escape the attention of the competing arb nam next door that the outlet is the only one ''able or allowed?'' to serve up so many foreigners.

this could be a crackdown more on illegal human trafficking to please the foreign NGOs, which is obsessed with human trafficking, consensual or otherwise, and compounded by extra pressure on the right place at the right time from competing arb nam taking advantage of the situation. We are well aware that the Thai authority will never embark on a full-blown crackdown on prostitution, regardless of what the official position is, unless they want to risk social and economic breakdown.

However, in recent years, the military authority has proven to be more serious in enforcing the closing hours of nightspots, although, it is sporadic and seem to ebb and flow. In recent memory, I don't recall any other similar raid where the outlet location and names are so clearly and sensationally shown in Thai media. In many other past reports involving crime, suicide, accidents etc, individuals and location are reported with no such specifics. this time, they even showed the book listing how much bribes have been paid and to whom, which is too overt not to suggest that this is meant to bring down some people somewhere. correct me if I am wrong...

My take is Nataree could be back in business but with different name and significantly less foreign workers...