Alastair Connon This is Me

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1. 1. Chiangmai Mail - Vol. IV No. 13 - Saturday March 26 - April 1, 2005    Weekly Local Biography

   www.chiangmai-mail.com/127/suc - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/9/2007   Last Visited: 11/9/2007

   Alastair Connon
   
   Alastair Connon had the idea that he might come to live in Chiang Mai ‘one day', but accelerated the relocation when he had to face the fact that he was not immortal. "You could be dead tomorrow," said Alastair, after recounting how one of his sisters had died early from cancer.
   
   He is a man who arrived here with no job, but did have a rosewood table and chairs waiting for him, and who wanted to keep a low profile, but has ended up being the Foreign Advisor to the Federation of Police Monitoring Committee (known as the KTTR) and can be seen most days assisting at the Chiang Mai Immigration offices.
   
   Alastair is Scottish, being born in Forres in the north of Scotland, but while he was still young, the family (his parents, two sisters and one brother) moved to Corby in Northamptonshire.
   ...
   It did not take Alastair long to see that this was an industry with a future and he bought into an amusement centre, and then expanded to get two more. "In the early days it was a very good business," said Alastair, "but the tax went up (over the years) from 100 pounds Sterling to more than 500 pounds for each machine. That's a lot of money for a piece of A4 paper!"
   
   He was to spend 25 years with his amusement centres, and became very much involved in the community, assuming positions in local government including being a councillor, and being part of service organizations over that time. Another of his public offices was as chairman of Crime Prevention for the Northamptonshire police. "I always had a close liaison with the police, but I failed the height test," said Alastair jokingly, who is still not the tallest farang in Chiang Mai. One of the concepts that he instituted as chairman has been taken up by police forces all over the UK. "I introduced closed circuit TV as a cost saving measure that could assist with video evidence."
   
   Another example of his community involvement came after the Bosnian conflict in 1996. Alastair heard of the plight of the war refugees and went over to Europe and brought 300 refugees back to the UK. He organized host families all over the country and worked with the British Immigration Department to facilitate their entry into the country.
   
   Alastair comes across as one of the quiet achievers, with a strong community spirit and a well developed sense of what is fair and equitable.
   ...
   There was certainly a need as Alastair said, "Now I'm there most days. The problems are generally just communication between the farangs and the officers."
   
   His ambit with the KTTR now includes translating laws, finding answers, education and communication, but he finds the lack of respect shown by some farangs to the Immigration officers quite depressing.
   ...
   I believe Alastair Connon has truly found his niche in life.

2. 2. E-Citylife

   www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/200 - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/10/2005   Last Visited: 9/10/2005

   Chiang Mai's KTTR representative, Alastair Connon, who has been working predominantly within Chiang Mai Immigration, told Citylife that a position within the new KTTR Co-ordination Committee at Bangkok has been mentioned, but it would be sad to leave Immigration at Chiang Mai as he had developed a good working relationship with Superintendent Pol. Col. Phirojana Paresakul, which is essential when dealing with complaints. Whilst serving in Chiang Mai, Alastair has had to deal with various tasks; not only dealing with complaints and enquiries, but in training police officers in the northern region, educating tour guides in Immigration Law as part of their curriculum, and publishing leaflets to educate the public.
   
   He also assisted in the installation of new computer networks and promoted a more transparent and accountable service.
   ...
   Alastair told us, " A couple of days later I was able to arrange for the family to be given his whereabouts and contact details." The offer of a bribe to get him out of prison was firmly rejected, but the family could at least contact him.
   
   More recently, Alastair has persuaded Chiang Mai Immigration to maintain the service of issuing Certificates of Residence, which is required for driving licenses etc., that had been suspended last week.

3. 3. Chiangmai Mail - Vol. III No.15 - Saturday April 10 - April 16 2004    News

   www.chiangmai-mail.com/077/new - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/22/2006   Last Visited: 11/9/2007

   Alastair Connon
   ...
   Col. Jinabhadra Tansrisakul sought permission from Pol Lt General Chanvut Vajrabukka, commissioner of the Thai Immigration Bureau to agree to an amnesty of 15 days from April 16 onwards after a request was made by Alastair Connon, a member of the police monitoring committee.
   
   "This is unique to Chiang Mai. I had asked for a 10 day amnesty for long term offenders and the increase to 15 days shows the commitment from the officers at Chiang Mai to help long term visitors and I am very happy at the level of support given," he said afterwards.