“White knuckle express” receives gruesome new meaning

On June 6, more than 40 Thai and foreign passengers on a bus en route from Bangkok to Rayong were thrown into panic when thieves hiding on an overpass dropped a huge rock into the windshield, killing the driver instantly.

Police revealed that this was not the first time this has happened. "The intent of the robbers is to disable the bus and then rob the passengers," a police source stated.

The latest incident happened at the Ton Kratoke Temple junction on Highway 36 in Chonburi Province. Robbers hid on the pedestrian overpass and waited for the bus to pass. They then dropped a huge boulder on the windshield, killing Thongbai Sararo, 51, the driver.

Somsak Saphap, 51, an employee on the bus, told police that bus had come from Ekamai Bus Station in Bangkok and was en route to Rayong. "When the boulder hit the windshield, the bus went out of control and swerved. The passengers began screaming, but luckily someone grabbed the steering wheel and got the bus back under control. The bus was safely brought to a stop at the side of the road."

Police Captain Tawatchai Korbkrathoke received the report and dispatched officers to the scene. Upon arrival, police found Thai and foreign tourists by the dozens standing around the bus in a daze. Many were screaming about how the incident happened.

The perpetrators of the crime had long since fled the scene. Police were unable to find any immediate clues as to their whereabouts.

Police Colonel Santhiti Julakathapha, Superintendent of the Banglamung Police, revealed that senseless incidents such as this have happened before. "The robber’s plan is to make the bus overturn so the passengers will be critically injured or die and be easy to rob." The Superintendent stated that he has ordered an investigation into this every time it has happened, which "is more often than one would think."

Investigations continue.

Problems persist at Phitayakhom School in Mab Ta Phut

Of the 871 students, teachers and employees of the Mab Ta Phut Phitayakhom School tested in the new term, 524 were found to be suffering from the effects of pollution from factories in the area.

16 teachers have asked to be transferred, but so far only 3 transfers have been approved, leaving 40 teachers at the school.

Officials from the Public Health Department of Rayong who performed the health tests found 134 cases of bronchitis, 112 cases of headache, 65 cases of flu, 52 cases of rash and fungi, and 42 cases of irritation of nasal membranes. These statistics are very frightening.

There are 2 pieces of equipment left at the old school to measure air toxicity. One came from the Pollution Control Board of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Energy, and the other from the Industrial Board of Thailand.

The planned new school, which will be on land donated by the correctional department, has a budget of only 7 million baht for construction, which is not enough.

Mr. Suvanna Betmankul, the Vice-Director of the school, in the aegis of the school’s environmental director, said that, "It has been a full year that approximately 900 students and teachers have had to bear the pain, agony, and sorrow from the Industrial Estates. We have asked for help from the government and private sector in the matters of safety and the stench that the factories have been emitting. The government moved us to a temporary location at Rayong #2 School, to await construction of the new school. But at the moment the construction has hit a lot of snags and it doesn’t appear that it will be completed in the near future. So, therefore, the students decided to go back to the original school campus to study. At that time the smell had subsided as it was being blown out to sea, giving the appearance that everything was OK. When the new school term started on the first of May, however, the stench began to flow back again because of the wind blowing back inland from the sea. This blew all the poisonous substances and smell back into the school, which has gradually grown more and more."

Ms. Nophamas Rotanantakrit, a 17 year old student at the school said, "The government is not sincere about solving these problems for us. The Star Petroleum Refining Co. Ltd. issued a statement that they had made improvements and that there are only three projects remaining that they expect to complete in November. As for the stench, we would like to solve the problem by June, but it is not sure whether all the smell will be cured or not. Even the new children who come to school faint on their first day. Some parents have taken their kids out of the school and some days, when the smell is especially bad, teachers have to send their kids home."

The Pollution Control Board of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment has inspected various factories under the responsibility of the Industrial Estates of Thailand and have found 33 factories that are emitting poisonous substances at very serious levels. Many factories in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate belong in this category of emitting bad water, bad gases and bad residues, untreated, which is causing the populace to suffer.

The Environment Board has promulgated an edict for all Industrial Estates in Thailand to be strict in keeping a closer watch on their pollution emissions and to perform inspections every three months. During the second inspection of factories under their care, at 33 estates, they found that 40% of all factories are under standards and 60% are not even aware that they have a problem, not having been informed by the Industrial Estates of Thailand. This of course means no improvements have been made.

Siridhan Pairotboriboon, Commissioner of the Pollution Control Board of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment revealed, "the Pollution Control Board has a policy to enforce the law. The Industrial Estates of Thailand should not make any excuses but should solve all these problems expeditiously, because if we go to do our third inspection and find out that there have been no improvements, we will definitely enforce the law. We have been overly lenient in the past, but enforcing the law is very important, because if the government agencies do not follow the law, how can we expect the citizens to do so?"

Hungarian Consulate opens on Eastern Seaboard

Andras Szabo, the Ambassador of Hungary and Sujarit Pajchimanan, the Governor of Chonburi were co-presiders over the opening of the Consulate of the Republic of Hungary in Pattaya on May 21. Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat also attended the ceremony held at City Hall.

After the Hungarian Ambassador presented his credentials, he assigned Vitaya Bandikrisada to the position as Honorary Consul of Hungary to Pattaya. The area of his authority will include Chonburi, Chachernsao, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat.

Surin Pitsuwan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, then made the appointment official by presenting a "permission book" to Vitaya so that he may perform his duty as consul.

Hungary is in eastern Europe and is referred to as ‘the pearl of the Danube’. The Hungarian race and culture is ancient and the country’s topography is quite varied, being alpine and elevated plains.

Vitaya, the President of JVK and Honorary Consul to Hungary, revealed that diplomatic relations between Hungary and Thailand came about slowly. It was a long time before he managed to get the position as honory consul and, Vitaya stated, "I had many problems on my trip to Pattaya. (But) I am very impressed with the lifestyle of the Hungarian people here, as it is very similar to the Thai life-style."

Vitaya continued, "Being an honorary consul is very important in terms of business and sales. In about 1988, Hungary opened commercial relations with other countries for the first time. (At that time) We had problems with our economy and were also subject to IMF conditions until we were able to become economically viable."

Now, Vitaya stated, conditions are better, "the people even have a chance to leave the country and visit other countries, in an amount of almost 2.5 million per year. Statistics show that about 15,000 Hungarian tourists visit Thailand each year."

Expanding business opportunities on the Eastern Seaboard was sited by Vitaya as one of the main factors for opening the Hungarian Consulate here. "I believe that the economy will improve in a progressive manner, and the Eastern Seaboard will geometrically increase in economic importance. This will be especially true if we quickly develop U-Tapao Airport as a center of traffic and air cargo shipping. (U-Tapao Airport) will also increase tourism in Pattaya and other provinces of the Eastern Seaboard."

Mr. Vitaya talked about the ways and means of future development in his aegis as Hungarian Consul to Thailand. "I see 5 provinces on the Eastern Seaboard which are very interesting, especially for the improvement of industry, such as the making of auto parts for assembly. It is much cheaper to make the auto parts in Thailand than in Hungary."

Elderly Australian arrested for child molesting

Seventy-eight year old Dunlap Lyle from Sydney, Australia was arrested late last month when police barged into his room on Soi 17 and found him in a compromising position with two underage boys.

Undercover officers from the Pattaya Tourist Police, who were keeping Lyle under surveillance, spotted the two underage boys entering Lyle’s domicile ca. 18.00 on the 26th of May.

Pattaya Tourist Police Officers, led by Lt. Col. Suraset Chokechai, Chief of Pattaya Tourist Police, knocked on the door, but receiving no answer climbed to the back side of the building, through the balcony, and jumped inside the room.

In the room, officers found Lyle naked with one of the kids in the kitchen. When Lyle found out the officers were in the room, he tried to run to fetch his clothes. But when officers subdued him, he offered no resistance.

Investigations revealed that one of the boys was a 16 year old from Saraburi and the other was aged 15 from Cha-Cherngsao.

All three were brought to the Pattaya Tourist Police station for questioning.

The 15 year old (name withheld) told police that he has known Lyle for two years, and "we have had sex at least 4-5 times per week. Lyle always paid 300 Baht per time."

The 16 year old (name withheld) said that he had just met Lyle about 3 months ago. "I visit him about once or twice a week. He also paid me 300 Baht per time."

Lyle told the police that he didn’t know that the boys were under age. "I thought they were 17 or 18 years old," said Lyle.

Lyle currently resides in Chonburi prison where he will await due process of the law.

Massagus interuptus leads to shooting

Reports of a shooting last week lead police to a South Pattaya massage parlor hotel. Reluctantly rushing to the scene, police burst in and saw the dazzling array of beauties sitting in the ‘window’, waiting for customers. The victim was at the hospital.

Disinclined to move far from the ‘window’, police nonetheless began a thorough investigation, finding out that the victim, Saikaew Sukhkhamtha, 27, was shot with a 9 millimetre pistol. One bullet hit him the heel of his left foot and he had been struck on the head with a blunt instrument.

Police also learned that the three assailants, Wat Meesap, 25, Prawet Meesap, 28 and Phaisal Khiowkai, 27, are natives of Petchburi Province, which is famous for ‘hit-men’.

The incident occurred when the three assailants, customers at the massage parlor, ran over their allotted time ‘upstairs’. The management called their rooms, supposedly speaking to them in a rude manner.

The three men became angry, went downstairs and berated a ‘captain’ at the parlor, and fisticuffs ensued. It was then they took out their weapons and began shooting. All of the masseuses and customers dived for cover to avoid being sprayed with bullets.

The three men then fled in a motorcar, but were captured at a police roadblock. Police found weapons on all three men. The men now await charging.

Mr. Saikaew is in satisfactory condition after surgery.

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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.