Sea turtles released from Turtle Conservation Center

Thousands of sea turtles were released back into the sea last week as part of the Air Force and Coast Guard’s project to help preserve the nearly extinct sea creature.

To gain publicity for the ongoing effort to preserve one of nature’s oldest vertebrates, the sea turtles were released at the end of a walk-rally sponsored by Sunshine Radio 107.75.

Four hundred and thirty five people participated in the "Sunshine Walk Rally" to mark the releasing of sea turtles into the ocean.

Hundreds of Walk Rally participants and officials of the Turtle Conservation Center join in releasing the young turtles in the bay.

All participants took part in games and answered questions from the media along the 2 kilometer course. The Walk Rally began at the Sea Turtle Conservation Center and ended at the sea turtle release point.

The sea turtle project is a ‘baby’ of the Air Force and the Coast Guard, a Division of the Royal Thai Navy, and all three have made the welfare of this wonderful animal a special project.

There are four types of endangered sea turtle in Thailand, the Hawksbill turtle, the Green turtle, the Leatherback turtle and the Olive Ridley Turtle.

These turtles faced extinction at one time. They were highly valued for their meat, eggs and oil. Their shells, known as ‘tortoise-shell’ was used as for making fans and other decorative items.

The smallest turtle released was about the size of a large mango and the largest was approximately 1 meter across and weighed 100 kilograms.

The turtles rarely come ashore but must do so to lay their eggs. This is done at night, to avoid predators. Eighty to 100 eggs are lain at one time. The mother turtle buries them in the sand and leaves them to hatch under the warm sun. After hatching, the most dangerous part of the baby turtle’s life begins: the race from the shore to the sea.

In a natural environment, the eggs take approximately 45-60 days to hatch. Sea turtles have been roaming the ocean for about 130 million years and are one of the oldest of the vertebrates. They are still on the endangered species list.

There was much good feeling among everyone involved in the project and the Walk Rally to release the young turtles into the ocean. Singers from RS Promotions provided entertainment.

The winning team in the Walk Rally was ‘The Jellyfish’. Next was the ‘Seals’, followed by the ‘Tiger Prawns’. All teams received small cash awards. Losing teams felt there was something ‘fishy’ about the winners. But all was in the spirit of good fun and saving the turtles.

Fourth annual CARAT exercise shows strength at Sattahip

The 4th annual cooperative exercise between the United States Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was officially opened by American Ambassador William H. Itoh in conjunction with Admiral Nit Srisomwong, Commander of Sattahip Naval Base. This was carried out at Sattahip Port on Tuesday 7th July.

In his address, the U.S. Ambassador clearly stated his country’s commitment to security and stability in Southeast Asia and the importance America places on their partnership with the Royal Thai Navy.

CARAT stands for "Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training" and involves approximately 1700 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel with the Commander of the Seventh Fleet, Commodore Frank Guest heading up the U.S. Task Group.

Ambassador Itoh went on to mention areas of joint working between the American forces and the Royal Thai Navy. These will include assault exercises and information sharing on logistics as well as cooperation on non-military projects.

The Ambassador said "In actual fact, cooperation in this particular exercise has already been underway for a month now between the citizens of Rayong and a small detachment of SEABEES from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three... Together they have been building a hospice for AIDS patients that will be dedicated as the final ceremony of this exercise. The role of the military as supporter of civilian activities is increasingly important and one we are proud to highlight."

As readers of the Pattaya Mail will know, the SEABEES’ work at the hospice has already been given publicity through our newspaper and we are glad to be able to welcome the U.S. Navy as it joins with Thailand again in this year’s CARAT exercise.

Dangerous ‘bootleg’ livestock

by Pattaya Mail’s investigative reporters

Every day hundreds of animals are slaughtered for human consumption. Many types of animal flesh may be seen in marketplaces throughout the country, but only pork and beef are subject to government supervision to prevent certain diseases that infect the meat of these animals from being passed on to consumers.

The methods of raising, transporting and slaughtering these animals must meet certain standards. These are enforced by a government agency administered by a qualified physician. Each Amphoe in Thailand has an office of the Livestock Department.

The law states that all animals be inspected by physicians before slaughter. Due to the high demand for beef, pork and buffalo, there is a large number of animals to be inspected every day.

This has given rise to a group of people who are slaughtering animals without the Livestock Department’s seal of approval. This ‘bootleg’ livestock is brought in from other areas and slaughtered.

The normal time of quarantine to ascertain that livestock is healthy is 20 days. During that time, it is kept in sanitary holding areas. This is not the case with ‘bootleg’ livestock. It is brought from another district and slaughtered, butchered and is on the market the next morning.

Diseases found in these livestock include Anthrax, Hoof and Mouth Disease and Tuberculosis. ‘Mad Cow’ disease has not been found in Thailand. Yet.

The Livestock Department, Office 2, supervises nine provinces, including Chonburi, which has been declared a ‘Hoof and Mouth Disease’ free area.

There are several ways in which ‘bootleg’ cattle and butchered meat are brought into Chonburi and Pattaya.

Cows and buffalo are brought in from Trat Province from Cambodia and sold in border areas.

There is another ‘bootleg’ trail from Bangkok-Chonburi Pattaya. The livestock and meat is received by agents and then sold throughout Chonburi.

Livestock veterinarians in the Pattaya-Chonburi area told reporters that this matter has been thoroughly investigated. They say it is a problem and a report has been sent to the Chacherngsao office of the Livestock Department and the central office in Bangkok. Another report has been sent to Sujarit Pajchimanan, Governor of Chonburi, urging the governor to deal with this matter quickly for the safety of the public.

The Department, in cooperation with the Pattaya Police, has arrested one illegal livestock dealer working out of Bangkok. The dealer was arrested while doing business with merchants at the Amorn Nakorn Market in Naklua. This market was ordered to stop all vending of pork while an investigation was held.

The veterinarian told reporters that there are three abattoirs in Pattaya, one of which is illegal. The illegal slaughterhouse operations occur in Soi Thua Ngork in Pattaya. The abattoir is located on public land with a total area of 20 rai. Pattaya City gave this land to 11 operators of slaughterhouses. Most of these are legal. But several operators have taken advantage of the large plot of land to operate illegally.

The operators obtain a document called a ‘Control Certificate’. Legal operators must have this form when slaughtering livestock above the allowed quota. It is thus not illegal to possess the meat, but illegal to sell it. Late at night, the meat is taken out and sold without permission.

This is not an unknown practice. Police in the area are known to cooperate in this ruse by ‘looking in the other direction’.

The Livestock Department in the area does not have direct authority to arrest these illegal abattoir operators. The Department must leave this to the police.

If caught, the violators face a relatively small fine of 20,000 baht. This encourages this dangerous practice, which is increasing daily.

This is a great danger to public health. It also takes away revenue much needed by government slaughterhouses.

It is time for all involved in the control of illegal and dangerous meat to cooperate in stopping this. Don’t think that Thailand is immune to the problem that caused the UK cattle market such problems.

Unusually high water bills causing outrage

Pattaya ‘Water Works’ accused of fraud by residents of the Pattaya Rung Reuang Village.

Ms. Ratana Singbang, a resident of Pattaya Rung Reuang Village, told reporters that an official from the water company appeared at her house on July 1st. He then presented her with a bill for 2,258 baht. Ms. Ratana was shocked, as the most she has ever paid was 258 baht. Nonetheless, she told the official that she would submit payment at the city office. This caused the official considerable consternation. She cut his argument short, telling him she did not have the cash on hand.

Checking her bill, it stated that she had used over 680 cubic metres of water. Checking her metre, she found that the total amount of water used since the metre had been set was 480 cubic metres. Checking with neighbours, she found that they too, had received unusually high water bills.

To make sure they weren’t hallucinating, the group went and checked another neighbour’s metre. This home belonged to a man engaged in business. He was home for two or three days in any given period of three months. Other than those times the house was completely empty, and his bills were paid by relatives. Contacting them, they, too, said they had received a bill for 1,200 baht. They found this very surprising, as their relative had not used one drop of water, being out of the country the whole month.

The group had a very lively discussion and came to the conclusion that the water officials were having a jolly time playing ‘make believe’ with the water bills. The Rung Reuang Village residents wondered how much they might be overcharged in the future.

Ms. Ratana told reporters that a bit later, an official from the ‘water works’ of Pattaya showed up and asked for the bills back as their had been some mistake and the amounts owed were wrong. Everyone gave the bills back to the official after writing down pertinent information on the documents.

When reporters asked the water company what was happening they told the media that it was a computer error. The computer system has only been in service two months and there are glitches which still need to be ‘ironed out’. They said it could also be due to employee error. The company assured the media that no ‘cooking’ of bills was being done.

An official of the ‘water works’ told consumers if this should happen again, they should take their bills directly to the company for correction. Consumers could also call (038) 222-465 for assistance.

Police net Burmese hookers

Continuing with the crackdown on illegal foreign labor, on the 4th of July a squad of Pattaya police arrested 7 Burmese prostitutes who had been operating in the city.

Also arrested was their ‘supervisor’, Somchai Sriphrom, 27.

Police learned from investigations that the women had entered the country illegally and were engaged in prostitution.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.