Polish tourists allege police extortion

Held 14 days, charged over 300,000 baht

Following reports that a group of Polish tourists were victims of police extortion, several high ranking members of Thailand’s tourism industry, led by Khun Anan Sirisan, President of the Association of Thai Tourist Agents (ATTA), met at the Dusit Resort Pattaya with representatives of the Polish embassy and the Pattaya police to attempt to resolve the problem, which they say has potential to severely damage Pattaya’s tourism industry.

Anan Sirisan, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents met with police and tourism officials to discuss the alleged police extortion of a Polish tourist.

Khun Supalert Surankoon, Secretary of ATTA, disclosed to the meeting details of the alleged incident. On 20 November 1998, Mr. Donda, a tourist well known in Poland, traveled to Thailand on a group tour with other 16 friends. The 10 day tour was set up by the Sekbonie Co. Ltd. On 30 November, Mr. Donda went to exchange 4 notes of US currency into Thai baht at the Nakhon Luang Bank, Pattaya branch. A staff clerk noticed that one of the notes was a counterfeit and informed police.

Donda was then arrested and taken to the police station. During his arrest, Mr. Donda did not resist since, he said, he didn’t know the US currency he was attempting to exchange was counterfeit. He thought at the time that the bank must have made a mistake.

Relatives of Donda expressed shock and asked to bail him out. At first, police demanded a payment of 50,000 Baht, which they later increased to 100,000. It took 14 days before he was released. In the end he had to pay not less than 300,000 Baht, which included the cost of keeping him in prison.

Upon his return to Poland Mr. Donda reported the incident to the mass media. Headlines in Poland ran for a long period stating that the bank and Thai police had doublecrossed him, damaging his fame.

A representative of the bank told members of the meeting that it was not unusual for tourists to attempt to exchange counterfeit currency. The staff was ultimately responsible if they accepted the counterfeit and let the offender go. Consequently, it is their duty to inform the police to handle the situation. He went on to say that no head office advises their subordinates to let offender go and not inform the police.

Police Captain Seri stated that police must arrest offenders as per instructions, otherwise they would be acting against their duties and responsibilities. As for the increase on the bail payment, since Donda was a foreign national it was necessary to prevent him from escaping.

No other conclusions of the meeting were reported.

City to designate beach area off limits to vehicles

‘Walking Beach’ budget approved
Pattaya City has approved a budget of 2,000,000 baht to turn Dong Tan Beach, the stretch of beach that runs from the "corner" near the police sub-station along to Pattaya Park, into a ‘Walking Beach’. No motor vehicles will be allowed in the area

Now congested, the area of beach that stretches from the Dong Tan police sub-station to Pattaya Park is scheduled to be designated a "Walking Beach" with no vehicles allowed.

The area is currently congested, as the large number of tourists has attracted many merchants. The merchants often sell their wares out of the back of trucks and trishaws. The beach area is also currently open to vehicular traffic and is often used as a parking lot for cars and motorcycles. This has destroyed the paradisal atmosphere of the beach and is an annoyance to visitors.

The proposal, presented to Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat in 1997, calls for the city to build a walkway 1 kilometer long and 4 meters wide. Public toilets and bathhouses will also be provided. Commercial kiosks will be placed at regular intervals in an orderly manner.

Construction is scheduled to begin soon.

Songkhram Por Pao-In crowned Mini-Flyweight Champion

Top ranked contender Songkhram Por Pao-In was crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) Mini-Flyweight Champion (105 pounds) after defeating 2nd ranked Ronnie Bakano from the Philippines in a controversial fight called to an end in the 9th round. The WBA sanctioned bout, shown live on national television, was held in Pattaya on January 30th.

Mini-Flyweight Champion Songkhram Por Pao-In accepts his belt in Pattaya.

Songkhram was knocked to the canvas in the 3rd round, but was able to continue after a standing eight-count.

The bout was then called by doctors in the 9th round after continuos head-butting from Bakano opened a severe wound over Songkhram’s left eye. Bakano was deducted points for his rule violations, and Songkhram was awarded the championship on points.

Songkham and his twin brother Chana, who was also a world boxing champion, became the second Thai sibling duo to earn world champion status after twin brothers Khaosai and Khaokhoh Galaxy managed the feat in their boxing careers.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pajchimanan and Saen Sukh Mayor Somchai Khunpleum awarded the championship belt to Songkhram Por Pao-In.

On the under-card of the event, mini-flyweight Hurricane Shooran from Mongolia defeated Choolio Barchset on points.

The proceeds from the bout were donated to needy students as scholarships, and to fund a school lunch program in Pattaya.

Danish tourist attacked

Witnesses mystified by apparent police apathy

Banglamung residents were mystified at police officer’s seeming indifference to the stabbing and beating of a Danish national Mr. Peter Michael Lip, 44.

Lip was stabbed by a number of men while walking out of a dark Soi on Third Road on January 25th. He did not have any valuables, which angered his attackers, who then kicked him. Still able to walk, he proceeded to Third Road where he called for help.

A resident took Lip to Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where doctors gave him treatment and reported the incident to police.

After giving Lip a cursory look, police left. The hospital later received a call from the police station, inquiring whether Lip’s injuries were critical. The officer then hung up without asking any more questions. Police did not do any further investigation.

Reporters went to the dark Soi, the scene of the attack, to gather information, but residents refused to give reporters any information on the attackers. They told reporters that they took Lip to the hospital but were a bit surprised that police had not come to investigate the crime scene.

Another gang, which is reportedly also attacking tourists in Soi Wong Amart, has also not been apprehended yet.

Love triangle leads to stabbing

Nightclub singers husbands brawl

Police, out on routine patrol on the night of January 22, heard screaming coming from a wounded man involved in a three way fight in a local neighborhood. Investigating, police found Nikorn Leusanan, 35, was being stabbed by Anusorn Phaophon, 22, who was being beaten on head with a stick by Somchai Phromphong, 27.

Police investigations revealed that Anusorn and Nikorn both thought they were married to Ms. Phisamai Leusanan, 32, a nightclub singer. When Anusorn found out that she had been married to Nikorn for many years, he vowed to kill Nikorn.

Accosting Nikorn, he began stabbing him with a long knife. Somchai, who lived across the street, heard Nikorn’s cries for help and entered the fray with a large stick. He struck Anusorn on the head with it, which just made Anusorn angry. Somchai kept hitting him on the head to protect himself from being stabbed by the jealous ‘minor husband’.

It was at this time that police came upon the fracas. Officers quickly threw Nikorn in a passing baht-bus and told the driver to take the wounded man to the hospital.

Anusorn was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Officers also brought Ms. Phisamai to the police station for questioning. She tried to hide her face from reporters, as she was afraid her reputation would be ruined.

Neighbors told officers that she was always involved with many men.

Somchai said that during the stabbing, she was running back and forth between the three men, not knowing what to do.

Nikorn was sent to the Sirikit Hospital for surgery and is out of danger.

Performances, exhibitions and activities highlight 12^th Pattaya Education Day

Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat presided over the opening ceremony of the 12th ‘Pattaya Education Day’ on January 22nd. The venue for the celebration was Pattaya School Number 9 or ‘Pho Samphan’ Temple School.

Petformances from the 4 regions of Thailand highlighted the festivities at Pattaya’s 12th Education Day.

The ‘Education Day’ stresses that education is the foundation of a truly genteel life and the results of this may be seen throughout Pattaya.

The atmosphere was festive and there were many performances by schools in the Pattaya area.

The Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya sponsored an ‘Amazing Road Safety’ exhibition.

Student’s intellects were challenged with a ‘scholastic quiz’ and there was a wonderful display on environmental preservation.

The highlight of the show was performances from Thailand’s four main regions.

Helping employees save money

Interior Ministry Credit Union seminar

The Credit Union of the Ministry of the Interior held a seminar for its administrative staff from January 18-20. Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pajchimanan presided at the ubiquitous opening ceremony.

The seminar was to instruct employees in the abstruse workings of salary savings plan deduction, for those who have salaries. Many officials of the Ministry of the Treasury also attended.

There were enthusiastic gatherings and lively discussions around the breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.

The Credit Union Co-operative, founded 36 years ago, has 26,604 members. It has total capital reserves of 3,254 million baht and accrued 270 million baht in interest last year. Accrued interest is divided among the members every February.

The organisation was founded to assist civil servants in saving money, benefit from shared savings and offers low-interest loans.

This method of working together is a boon to Thailand’s now ‘bust’ economy.

Tourism leader asks for budget to improve U-Tapao Airport

An interview with Sansak Ngarmphiches

Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, has asked the Ministry of Defense for 700 million baht to improve U-Tapao Airport. If the funds are received, the first step will be a 200 million baht expansion of the passenger lounge. The other 500 million baht will be used for new entrances, exits and conveniences for passengers, with the aim of encouraging air-routes for this second airport to allow it to become ‘international’.

Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, told Pattaya Mail reporters that his committee is lobbying for U-Tapao Airport to become another "gateway to Southeast Asia". He hopes that the airport will serve as a jump-off point for tourists visiting other countries in the region.

Sansak Ngarmphiches tells Pattaya Mail that he is lobbying hard for U-Tapao Airport.

"The airport has over 16,700 rai of land area and 3,500 meters of runway (the longest runway in Asia). But at this time the airport is only a ‘spare’, used for charter flights from foreign countries. The transit departure/arrival lounge can accommodate only 400 people. This is not large enough for U-Tapao to be a fully functioning airport with heavy traffic air traffic.

"Many tourists spend huge amounts of money visiting the Eastern Seaboard but the central government does not use the revenue to develop the region.

"The only necessary improvements are a larger arrival/departure area and more lighting. The area need accommodate only 800 passengers.

"The airport has received 200 million baht to date and the request for the remainder will be sent to the Minister of Communications, Ministry of Defense and Parliament for approval.

"Even if the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism does not become involved, the government should see the importance and initiate the project. U-Tapao Airport will benefit the entire country. It’s odd that formal requests have been sent to the government but no response has been forthcoming.

"If possible, the support of the Ministry of Defense would expedite the project as it already has sufficient funds in its coffers.

"The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism has set up a sub-committee to investigate ways to involve the private sector in the airport.

"The land upon which the airport is built is Royal land, which is administered by the Royal Thai Navy. Meetings and approval need to be given for the private sector’s involvement.

"All 26 commercial airports in Thailand now allow private sector investment under the stewardship of the Air Commerce Department. All, that is, except U-Tapao.

"There have been many meetings on making the airport a reality and the Royal Thai Navy has presented a 200 million baht budget request for the improvements.

"The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism has submitted the request to four agencies. The Assistant Minister of Defense confirmed that a budget has been allocated. In 1999, it will be 110 million baht and another 90 million baht in the year 2000. But when the matter was checked into, it was found that no such budget was in the country’s allocations.

"This year, the Committee and sub-committee will present the request again and lobby for approval.

"In the last meeting, the Commander of the Navy, the Governor of Chonburi, the Governor of Rayong, the Administrative Offices of Rayong and Chonburi, the Pattaya Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce of the East and other involved parties concluded that the best way would be to send a request to the Ministry of Defense. The 200 million baht requested would be used to finish the necessary sections of the airport.

"The project requires another 500 million baht to construct entrances and exits separate from those the navy uses. Construction of an administrative office is also necessary.

"The 700 million baht will make U-Tapao a completely functioning airport," said Mr. Sansak.

The lobbying for U-Tapao Airport is happening at the same time as that for the Nong Ngo Hao Airport, which has been being discussed for over 30 years. Mr. Sansak feels that U-Tapao Airport, which, after a few improvements, will be ready for use, is a much more viable option than the Nong Ngo Hao Airport, which would need building from the ‘ground up’.

The government still wishes for U-Tapao Airport to remain an airline ‘service and repair’ center and charter flight airport. This is why he is lobbying for what the general public wishes.

Siemens establishes regional trade and investment office in Bangkok

On January 20, the project sub-committee of the Board of Investment (BOI) announced approval of a project from Siemens (Thailand) to establish a trade and investment support office in Bangkok.

This move follows Siemens AG’s recent acquirement of 25.5% of Berli Jucker’s stake in Siemens (Thailand) which brings company’s holdings in Siemens (Thailand) to 74.5%.

On a recent trip to Bangkok, Siemens AG Executive Chairman Dr. Heinrich Von Pierer met with BOI Secretary General Staporn Kavitanon to discuss the investment environment in Thailand and expressed interest in establishing a regional trade and investment support office. Dr. Von Pierer indicated the office would support the activities of Siemens AG joint venture in the region, particularly in the telecommunications, transport, medical systems and power generation sectors.

This new project will have an additional investment of 300 million baht (registered capital of 140 million baht) and will employ 1,193 workers.

Mr. Staporn noted that the granting of non-tax incentives to this project will benefit the Thai economy in several ways. Additional foreign capital will be injected into the company, resulting in increased revenue for the government, the company’s foreign debt will be lowered, and the purchase by the multinational Siemens AG will add to foreign investor confidence about investing in Thailand.

To date, the BOI has approved 102 trade and investment support offices, with cumulative investment of more than 3.2 billion baht.

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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.