Pattaya’s Road Show leaves for “Down Under”

The promotions team is spending over 1.5 million baht, with the capital investment in Pattaya’s promotion coming from the individual enterprises themselves. This is a fine example of those who are able, putting money forward to assist the whole of Pattaya and enhance its image "Down Under".

In addition to the individual "table top" sales displays in the three targeted cities, the Pattaya Road Show will be showing a video of this region (shot last month) and a specially commissioned glossy 32 page book on Pattaya and its attractions has been printed, to be used as promotional literature. All these items are recent, to ensure that all information being given to the southern hemisphere market is completely current and reflects the "new" Pattaya, a tourist resort city suitable for all kinds of overseas holidaymakers. The timing of the Road Show is also critical, as is coincides with both the low season in Pattaya tourism and winter down-under, making tropical travel all that more appealing.

Prime movers in the local contingent have been Chatchawal Supachayanont, the President of the Thai Hotel Association’s Eastern Chapter and General Manager of the Dusit Resort, and City Councillor Sutham Phanthusak, who is also the Managing Director of Tiffany’s Show and the Woodland Resort. Another City Councillor attending is Sopin Thappajug, the Managing Director of the Diana Inn Hotel.

Co-ordinating with his offices in Australia and New Zealand has been the Director of the local Tourism Authority of Thailand, Settaphan (Eddie) Buddhani, who will also be going to represent the TAT in this area.

The M.C. for the Road Show is the Managing Director of the Pattaya Mail, Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra, who additionally will be making contact with the Australian and New Zealand Press to ensure follow up coverage for the city’s promotion.

The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) has its President Surat Mekavarakul, who is also the Managing Director of Mike’s Shopping Mall, going on the tour to show the solidarity of his organisation behind the event.

The President of the Pattaya Hotel Chapter and General Manager of the Garden Beach Resort, Suwat Praepiromrat is also lending his Chapter’s support and he will be present for the trip.

Other local Tourism and Hospitality operators who are involved include Pierre-Andre Pelletier, General Manager Amari Orchid Resort, Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, the Executive Director of the Sunshine Group of Hotels plus several other hoteliers and additional personnel from the City Hall.

We wish them a successful tour "Down Under" as increasing tourism to our city is good economic management, resulting in benefits for all of us.

Does talking on mobile phones cause traffic accidents?

Parliament sub-committee begins study

A parliament sub-committee is looking into whether or not talking on mobile phones while driving should be made illegal.

The Highway Safety Sub-committee, chaired by Chonburi MP Sonthaya Khunpleum, Deputy Minister of Communications, has been set up to research the dangers caused from drivers using mobile phones.

The sub-committee has asked national police headquarters to provide statistics and input, and MP Sonthaya said he is waiting for that research before his sub-committee makes any decisions on proposing a new law. "It may be worth making into a law if statistics show that accidents have occurred in large numbers due to drivers talking on the phone instead of paying attention to the road," he said.

The law is already on the books in both Australia and Singapore.

The sub-committee is also looking for other ways to help reduce the number of road accidents in the kingdom. To this end, a group from the sub-committee has been assigned to improve road safety in conjunction with the Clean Road Project of the Accident Prevention Committee. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai chairs the committee on the national level, while each provincial governor is responsible to oversee the project on the regional level.

MP Sonthaya explained that the Clean Road Project has been established in only two provinces thus far, Phuket and Nakhon Pathom. However, in those two provinces the project is proving to be helpful, showing a decrease in accidents by 15 and 8% respectfully.

This year the sub-committee hopes to see highway accidents reduced by at least 5-10%.

Rescue units to coordinate better with police

Tackling traffic problems at accident sites

Rescue workers first on the scene at traffic accidents sometimes have difficulty with passing vehicles slowing down to gawk. Rescue workers often have to divide their time between assisting the victims and clearing traffic in the incident area.

Workers with the Sawang Boriboon Foundation Rescue Unit, usually first to arrive at accidents, are coordinating with police to help alleviate this problem.

Wisid Chavalitnititham, Foundation Chairman, met with committee members, volunteer rescue workers and high-ranking police officers to discuss new policy involving coordination between rescue units and the police.

The rescue unit volunteers who arrive at accident scenes prior to police are now being asked to radio accident information to a Communication Center. Operators at this station will then relay the information to the responsible police station. It is hoped that this will get officers to the area quicker and greatly assist in getting rid of the congestion created at the accident locations.

After the meeting, volunteer unit personnel were invited to attend a fire emergency training session at the Banglamung School.

New building causing tenant uproar

Tenants at Center Condo in South Pattaya are protesting that a new structure being erected in the middle of their driveway is denying them their right to easy access, as advertised in condominium brochures.

In the past there were two driveways to enter and exit the Condotel; one in the front and one on the side. Recently, a contractor arrived and began construction at the main entrance to the condo, blocking the entire front driveway. This has forced the residents to utilize the alternate driveway on the side of the complex.

The structure blocking over 400 tenants access in and out of Center Condo. Local Administration suggests contacting the Consumer Protection Office in Bangkok.

Center Condo tenants are taking Center Condo management to task over the new construction, demanding to know why the building is being erected where it is and whether or not a permit has been granted for it. New construction in the city is prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from city administration.

According to Suphakorn Susilthong, Pattaya City Building Control Director, the building construction permit request was submitted in November of last year. However, it has not yet been revealed whether or not the permit request was approved.

The owner of Center Condo and the listed owner of the structure blocking the driveway are husband and wife. The land in question is being rented.

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, summarizing the on-going saga, said he believes the matter is outside of the city administration’s control. He suggests Center Condo tenants join together and take the matter to the Bangkok Consumer Protection Office.

Female drug suspect refuses to be frisked

Keeps police scratching their heads for nearly an hour

Drug suspect Miss Krydsana Saenruangded from Phetchabun Province wouldn’t allow police to frisk her body, claiming her rights were being violated.

Pattaya Police had caught up with Miss Krydsana in front of Woody’s Restaurant near Central Pattaya Road and Soi Bua Khao after receiving a report that a girl was selling drugs there.

Miss Krydsana was in the area when police arrived, and fit the description of the girl police were looking for.

Officers approached her and attempted to search her person, but she refused to allow the search claiming she was innocent of any crime and a warrant would have to be produced before she would permit any search of her person.

Police informed her that a warrant wasn’t necessary if police had reason to suspect a crime was in progress, and began searching the girl’s purse. This initial search did not turn up anything out of the ordinary.

Miss Krydsana was then ordered to pull her pockets inside-out in order to expose any contents. She refused to do so and sat making accusations that if the police so much as touched her person she would sue for damages.

The sassy girl was able to stall the police for almost an hour until they radioed for assistance, requesting females from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Unit to come and conduct the search.

Three female assistants arrived and attempted to search Miss Krydsana, but she continued to insist that her rights were being violated.

At one point she asked to be taken to the police station. However, police were concerned that she would find a way to rid herself of any illegal items along the way, and continued to insist on conducting the search on the spot.

Meanwhile, a group of news reporters and what appeared to be almost 100 on-lookers gathered round to witness the spectacle.

After almost an hour, the police decided they weren’t going to wait any longer and ordered the three Sawang Boriboon female volunteers to restrain her and conduct the search.

The volunteers found nine amphetamine (Ya Ba) pills in a cigarette package inside one of Miss Krydsana’s pockets. She was then arrested and brought into the station for further questioning.

Miss Krydsana admitted the charge of possessing a class 1 illegal drug, but remained adamant that she was not intending to distribute the nine pills. She said that they were for her own personal use.

Police nonetheless charged Miss Krydsana with both possession and distribution of a class 1 drug.

Police officer denies charges of brutality

Says subordinate pistol-whipped reporter

Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiyaphorn Sirileut, a.k.a. Inspector Thui from the Pattaya Police Suppression Unit Department 1, is denying charges that he pistol-whipped Naew Na Newspaper reporter Suriya Seniwong.

Both Suriya and his wife Thawiphorn Wongsuwan insist that Inspector Thui pistol-whipped him as other officers restrained him (as reported in last week’s Pattaya Mail).

According to statements made by Suriya and Thawiphorn, Inspector Thui was upset after discovering Thawiphorn, his former girlfriend, had taken up residence with the news reporter. For the past 6 months Suriya and Thawiphorn have been living together as husband and wife.

Thawiphorn was a former acquaintance of Inspector Thui when the inspector was a regular customer of the You May Karaoke where Thawiphorn works as the mamasan.

Inspector Thui said that the accusations made against him are not exactly true. He said that it was one of his subordinate officers who lost control and in anger smacked Suriya. No weapon was used and the strike to Suriya’s mouth was a mere light punch.

Thawiphorn is said to be very upset over the incident and is even in fear of her life after being told by Inspector Thui’s men not to pursue this matter any further. Suriya, however, intends to follow through until receiving justifiable satisfaction.

Suriya told reporters that Inspector Thui’s changing the story is absolutely absurd. He said that there were many neighbors who witnessed the Police Lt. Col. withdraw his weapon while his men restrained him and then strike him in the mouth and continue to curse him for almost 30 minutes. "The incident happened near the Land Registration Office and many officials witnessed what took place on the morning of June 5th," Suriya said. "In addition, other police officers from the area were stunned as they were told by Inspector Thui not to interfere."

Suriya also challenged Inspector Thui to take a religious oath and see if the story comes out the same way again.

Jet ski ride turns nasty

Jet ski driver takes Shanghai tourist for a ride

Shanghai tourist Miss Chen Mei, age 25, was groped by an overzealous jet ski operator last week off Larn Island.

Miss Chen was with a tour group of about 100 Chinese tourists visiting the island, and had been planning a jet ski ride since she arrived. After agreeing to the price with a young jet ski driver, Miss Chen sat in front with the driver behind her.

Miss Chen, her boyfriend and tour operator register their complaint with police.

After cruising around for half an hour the driver started groping at her chest. Miss Chen said she swatted his hand away, but the driver persisted and continued to grope her. Each time Miss Chen swatted his hands away.

Miss Chen said she began to fear the driver might rape her and considered jumping from the jet ski into the water. But they were too far from shore, so she began to yell and curse the driver, insisting she be taken back to shore. Eventually the driver complied.

Safely back on shore, Miss Chen explained the incident to her boyfriend and the tour guide, who took them in to register her complaint with police.

Miss Chen gave police a description of the man which was radioed to police in the area. However, the jet ski driver was no where to be found. Police have since collected more information as to the identity of the jet ski driver and are continuing their attempt to locate him.

Khmer children hawkers taken off the streets

To be sent back to Cambodia

The Pattaya Tourist Police, in conjunction with the Chonburi Welfare Department and Tourist Assistant Volunteers, rounded up a number of Cambodian youngsters hawking gum and souvenirs in the entertainment areas of Pattaya.

The action was prompted by Pattaya City Council Members who view the hawkers and beggars as an unsuitable site for a world class tourist area such as Pattaya. They say the beggars bother tourists and do not contribute anything useful.

Ten Cambodian children were apprehended and will be sent back across the border. All said they will return within a few days.

The hawkers sell chewing gum, candies, and small souvenirs. Some of the children make up to 6,000 baht a month from roaming around soliciting tourists sitting at beer bars. However, those tourists usually see them as a nuisance.

The police, welfare workers and volunteers divided into three groups during this sweep. The first group took the "Walking Street" area in South Pattaya, the second group went around Soi’s 7-10 in Central Pattaya, and the third group went to the beer bar areas in North Pattaya.

In all, 10 youngsters were brought in off of the streets. All ten were Cambodian girls from 6-10 years of age. Police learned from questioning the kids that this is the fifth time they have been picked up. Each time they get sent back to their homeland, but within about 3-4 days they take the bus back to Pattaya. The bus ride back costs them only 40 baht.

The Cambodian kids could all speak Thai fluently and told reporters that they were Cambodian by birth but grew up on the Thai side of the border. The children also said that they need do this just to survive. They said that most of what they earn is sent to their parents in Cambodia.

They claim they have never begged. They said that each time they receive money from tourists they give something in return.

One youngster said she had hopes of becoming a Thai and wanted to be a Buddhist nun, but she must help support her parents first. Her father has been caught working illegally in Thailand often, each time his employers were the ones turning him in to authorities. The same girl said that she will be coming back to Pattaya as soon as the government transportation drops her off at the border.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.