Chinese Vegetable Festival

From Oct. 8-18

No one denies the Chinese contributions to the arts but few give this civilization credit for its many gifts to science. Paper, gunpowder, the spring clock with the classic escapement mechanism, the magnetic compass and countless other inventions without which modern society could not function came from the ‘Middle Kingdom.’

Pattaya’s Chinese community, in conjunction with the Sawang Boriboon Foundation, kicked off this year’s Chinese Vegetable Festival with a parade through town. The festival continues until the 18th of October.

Acupuncture, once laughed at by western physicians, is now fully accepted and often practiced by highly respected medical establishments in western countries. The Chinese are a practical people and would not use a medical system for 3,000 years if it did not work.

Another characteristic of the Chinese is the idea of gratitude. Ancestors are revered. What is not often known is the Chinese also show gratitude to animals who give their lives to nourish people’s bodies. Amid much controversy over certain Chinese culinary practices, the Westerner often ignores or does not know about the Chinese ‘Vegetarian Fast.’

Traditional Chinese will refrain from eating beef at all times. Oxen were the ‘tractors’ of the past and the Chinese farmer could not have lived without them. The ox was considered a faithful servant and to eat it would have been construed as ungrateful.

Although times have changed and many Chinese do eat beef now, many residents of China refrain. As there is a time for showing gratitude to ancestors, the Chinese also have a festival which reminds them that animals give their lives to feed humans almost every day of the year.

For 10 days of every year, Chinese abstain from eating any animal products. This custom is observed by the Chinese community in Pattaya as it is in Chinese communities all over the world. As yellow is considered a celestial color, one will see yellow signs and banners in Pattaya. This is to announce to people that the time for showing gratitude to the animal kingdom has come.

There are also five types of vegetables which are not used during this festival. This is because the plant must be uprooted. The five plants are garlic, onions, water spinach, carrots and tobacco.

In Pattaya, this year’s ‘vegetarian festival’ is from the 8-18 of October. Some may find it strange that the Chinese do this once a year and then go back to eating animal products. As mentioned above, the Chinese are a practical people.

But as one Chinese woman said, ‘the festival may only be for 10 days a year. But it is like kindness. If everyone were but a bit kinder to themselves and others, think how much better a place the world would be.’

Fuel prices begin to produce ripple effect

Consumers are beginning to feel the “ripple effect” that rising fuel prices are having on the economy. Higher fuel prices result in higher transportation costs, meaning it costs more to get goods to the market. These extra costs are then passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

Prices of fresh produce are being particularly hard hit, as most vegetables and fruits sold in Pattaya markets are transported in from the outer provinces. The fuel costs involved in transporting the produce are critically calculated into the overall costs at the markets.

Other areas seeing price increases include bus fares, taxi costs and motorcycle transportation. Ultimately, the consumer is faced with additional costs everywhere with no matching salary increase.

Chairman of the Chonburi Parliament Chanyut Hengtrakul said that the Chonburi council is considering methods to solve the problem, at least until the economy shows some improvement. To this end, the Chonburi administration has submitted a recommendation to delay fuel tax increases to avoid further detrimental affects on consumers.

New constitution nearly official

Elections imminent for Pattaya’s administration

The two year deadline for instituting the Kingdom’s new constitution arrived on October 11. The next step is for the constitution to be presented to His Majesty the King, and once He signs is, it will then appear in the Royal Gazette. This is expected to happen by October 20th. Thereafter, the Kingdom will have 90 days to implement it.

What this means for Pattaya is that new elections for mayor and the 24 city council members need to be held within the 90 days. The new constitution will affect all positions, from the mayor on down.

Chonburi Member of Parliament Chansak Chavalitnititham, in his aegis as Pattaya City’s consultant on the new constitution, told reporters that it appears as though the elections will take place in December 1999. He said that Deputy Minister of Interior Chamni Sakdised and the MOI deliberation committee are in consultation with members from the special judicial committee to set the date for Pattaya City’s elections. They are also deliberating on the schedule of elections for all municipalities throughout the country.

Pattaya City’s current administrators are scheduled to meet at the Grand Sole Hotel on October 15 to discuss the changes. The public is invited to attend this meeting, regardless of nationality.

The campaign has already begun in anticipation of the new elections, with names for the 24 council seats having been submitted to the Chat Thai Party Plans and Development Coordinator Somchai Khunpleum (Kamnan Po).

Pattaya’s current mayor, Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, appears to be the leading candidate, although other names of those running for mayor have yet to be disclosed.

25 arrested at illegal cockfight

25 others escape

Twenty-five frenzied gamblers and two prize roosters were remanded to custody last week when Pattaya police stormed an illegal gambling venue in Soi Khieng Thale in the area of Pattaya Mountain. Police estimate an additional twenty-five were able to flee in the confusion.

The less swift of foot gamblers were taken in and booked for gambling on cock fights.

A large group of officers were deployed to the area to surround the gamblers, while another group of officers converged on the gaming arena. As soon as the gamblers saw the police approaching, they scattered like roaches hit with a spotlight.

It took police 20 minutes to round up 25 of the cock fight enthusiasts. All 25 were apprehended, along with two prize roosters. All were taken into the police station and charged with gambling on the illegal cock fight.

Shoplifter arrested posing as a pregnant woman

Stuffed stolen clothing under her blouse

Urai Prangthong, 45, was arrested for shoplifting after a security guard at the Big C Shopping Center witnessed her stuff merchandise under her clothing.

Urai Prangthong attempted to steal merchandise by appearing to be pregnant.

The guard notified Pattaya police that “a very large woman” was shoplifting from the store. When officers arrived, the security guard pointed to a woman walking around with her hands clasping her stomach as if she was pregnant.

Police stopped the woman and ordered to put her hands over her head. When she followed the order, the stolen merchandise fell to the floor.

At least 16 articles of clothing, valued over 5,000 baht, had been stuffed inside her dress making her look like she was pregnant.

Urai admitted to police she stole the items, saying she believed her actions were unseen. She is being charged accordingly and will go to trial.

Rogue cop fingered by watch vendor

Detained for abusing his authority

Manod Krainud, a Pattaya watch vendor, reported to police that he had been accosted by three men who confiscated 1,500 baht in cash and 70 “quality” watches. With the description he was able to provide, police made quick arrests and are charging three men, one a police officer, with theft and illegally carrying a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The arrested officer was identified as Police Corporal Phan Chuay Jareun, assigned to Chan Island.

Police found a .38 revolver, five cartridges and new watches when they arrested Police Corporal Phan Chuay Jareun (below) for abusing his authority.

 

Manod told police that Corporal Phan and his two accomplices approached him where he was peddling his watches on Pattaya 2nd Road between Soi 8 and 9. The men charged him with illegally selling copied merchandise. Manod was escorted into their car, where the corporal pressed him for money the corporal believed Manod had hidden away at his home from the sale of the watches.

Manod told the men he had no money, as everything he had was invested in the 70 watches. He was then driven to South Pattaya where he was thrown from the car with a warning to stay quiet. The vendor said 1,500 baht was taken from him while in the car and they kept all 70 watches. Seeing their car later, he notified the police immediately.

When Corporal Phan and his accomplices were arrested in South Pattaya, police found a .38 revolver and five cartridges in his car.

Corporal Phan’s two accomplices were identified as Chalermphon Sri Ukayarn, 28, from Rayong and Phaithun Prathumwan, 16, from Surin. Corporal Phan and Phaithun were both wearing new watches. Phaithun’s watch still had the price tag on it.

Corporal Phan was formerly assigned to the Pattaya Municipal Police Department but was continually reassigned due to problems, including accusations he was dealing marijuana in Naklua.

Corporal Phan was transferred to Larn Island, then to Chan Island after allegedly shaking down vendors. However, no witnesses ever came forward.

Manod’s charges infuriated the corporal and he demanded his police chief be contacted to get him bailed out, even after the witnesses identified him and his two partners. Corporal Phan also made abusive threats against the watch dealer in front of other police officers. All three men denied the watch dealer and witness’ accusations.

According to police procedures the officer in charge of Corporal Phan has been notified in writing, alerting him of the incident.

Meanwhile, the corporal has been relieved from police duty and all three defendants will have to request their own bail in court.

Kidnap victim or deadbeat?

You decide

Bangkok and Pattaya Police are trying to sort out the convoluted details of a dispute between four Korean men.

Early last week, Mr. Kim Kwang Te registered a complaint at the Pattaya Police Station, claiming three Korean men had abducted him. He said the three men, posing as Korean Police conducting an investigation in Thailand, abducted him from his Chinese Medicine Shop on Rama IV Road in Bangkok.

The abducted points to his captors.

According to Kim, the men convinced him to accompany them to Pattaya to answer questions pertaining to their investigation. He was taken to the Park Hotel where, he said, he realized he was being held for a one million baht ransom.

Kim told police that on the night of his captivity, two of the men went out on the town, leaving him in the hotel room with only one man to guard him. Kim said he talked the remaining man into having a few drinks and the man proceeded to get drunk and fall asleep. Kim said he seized the opportunity to escape and ran out of the hotel in only his underwear. He then hailed a taxi and returned to Bangkok, where he reported the incident to the Bang Rak Police.

A group of police officers from the Bang Rak Station accompanied Kim back to Pattaya to register his complaint with the Pattaya Police. The three Koreans identified by Kim were soon arrested in the area of the Town in Town Hotel.

The three men, Lee Chang Yung, Kwong Oh and Kim Sun Hwan, are denying Kim’s accusations. They claim they merely brought him to Pattaya to discuss the terms of paying back the one million baht he borrowed from them.

The three men said Kim regularly brought items to Pattaya to deliver to medicine shop dealers here. They said on this occasion, they took him out on the town and he spent the night at the hotel. They said he returned to Bangkok the next day with the understanding he would be coming back with the borrowed money.

Fish, shrimp and elephant festivals to be combined

Three different sectors of Pattaya’s community, all of which had planned festivals to celebrate HM the King’s upcoming 6th Cycle Birthday, will join together and create one big festival in the beginning of December.

The Pattaya Fish Festival, previously scheduled for 27-29 November, the Elephant Parade, previously scheduled for 26-28 November, and the Thai Shrimp Festival, previously scheduled for 18-20 November, will join together to create one big festival called “Celebrating His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle”. The combined festival will be held on December 3rd and 4th.

Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn met with the governor and mayor to consolidate three planned festivals into one. The “Celebrating His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle” festival will take place from December 3-4.

Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn  met with Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan and Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat on 6 October to discuss the city’s plans for celebrating His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Birthday.

Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn  suggested the city coordinate with the private sector and social community to combine the scheduled festivals into one grand affair honoring the birthday of His Majesty the King.

All agreed that the combining of the various festivals into one grand festival would be a more spectacular event, equaling the honor bestowed upon the King.

The larger festival would also better befit the pride of the people involved in the traditional trades and create a sense of harmony and unity. The combined festival would also likely be more appreciated by visiting tourists.

The King’s 6th Cycle Festival will consist of displays of various Thai Traditional Arts, plenty of seafood to be sampled and handicrafts exhibits.

Thai medicinal liqueur (rice whiskey herbs) will also be on display for those who would like to know just what items are actually pickling in the jars sold throughout the country and what the medicine may be good for in treating various disorders, other than hangover.

Faulty circuits cause fire at Bira raceway

Race tower suffers one million baht damage

Faulty electrical circuits were cited as the cause of a costly fire in the control tower at Bira race circuit in Poong Sub-district last Friday.

An estimated 1 million Baht in damages were done to the control tower at Bira Circuit last week when faulty wiring caused a fire.

Fire police responded to the 4:20 p.m. call on 8 October with six fire trucks. Fire police were able to bring the blaze under control within 40 minutes, but not before extensive damage was done to the control tower of the race circuit. Preliminary estimates put the damage at over one million baht.

Police surmise the fire started in the second story control tower signal room where electrical power controls and computer equipment were located. Investigators found the cause of the fire to be faulty electrical circuits.

The race circuit had been upgrading its electrical circuits throughout the facility, but obviously they waited a little too long.

City eyes Royal Jomtien renovation

Pattaya’s city administration is concerned with the construction at the Royal Jomtien Hotel site, as major renovations are taking place before officials have had the chance to complete their investigations.

On July 11, 1997, ninety-two people perished when a leaky cooking gas cylinder erupted, causing the worse hotel fire in Thailand’s history. The high number of fatalities was partly blamed on chain-locked fire escapes.

City Manager Niran Watanasadsathorn said he is aware that the Royal Jomtien Hotel has begun damage repairs prior to completion of the investigation. He said that Royal Jomtien Hotel management claim the proper coordination with appropriate agencies has been conducted, and the hotel is in the process of correcting the areas identified in accordance with fire and foundation codes, following the massive damage suffered in 1997.

Manager Niran reiterated that the process needs to be performed according to prescribed steps. Once the hotel completes its rebuilding, Chonburi officials will conduct an inspection to ensure the required corrections have been implemented prior to issuing an authorization to re-open. Any discrepancies identified by the provincial inspection will require correction prior to city approval.

Qantas British Airways meets the Millennium

Qantas/British Airways held its third annual press conference in the Montien Hotel in Pattaya last week. This was well attended by approximately 100 travel agents and business representatives from the Eastern Seaboard. Qantas British Airways Manager for Thailand, Nick Moore, gave the introduction for the conference, which was to introduce new products and new airfares.

Nick Moore, Qantas British Airways Manager Thailand.

Nick, who is an engaging Australian said, “There is a lot of interest in the Eastern Seaboard. It is quite a healthy business here with Foster Wheeler, G.M, Japanese companies, travel agents and private individuals. There has been a pre-millennium demand; I have never seen the flights so full. Also with the Thai school holidays and Australia and the U.K. being a preferred destination it is difficult for even our staff to get a seat going home. From November through January flights are already heavily booked.”

Asked whether he believed in the millennium bug and what was Qantas/British position Nick smiled, “Well Qantas are taking it seriously. We have spent about 10 million A$’s on ourselves and others we have to dovetail into. One of our corporate directives for Y2K is safety as well as our own profitability. British Airways has been awarded a U.K. Blue Rating as the ‘highest state of readiness’ for the critical millennium period.”

British Airways Operations and Customer Service Director Mike Street is quoted as saying, “Although achieving a blue rating is a real confidence booster for our customers, there is no room for complacency and as ever, we will only fly where it is safe to do so.”

British airways is the only British Carrier to confirm that it will be flying as the world enters the 21st century.

Historically there are no UK domestic or European services in the skies at the magical midnight hour, but some long haul flights will be at 35,000ft as the new millennium dawns. The precise number and routes will depend on commercial demand. Concorde, the flagship of the fleet, will be in the air on New Year’s Eve.

Employees working on the night of December 31 will be offered a one-off special millennium payment. There could be some competition among staff to work it out folks!

Nick Moore said, “The Aussie population are being a little more cautious and there is a 46% reduction in flights over the New Year internally in Australia. The Qantas/British Airways flights will arrive in Bangkok in December in time for the Millennium celebrations - overnight in Bangkok and leave on the 1st.”

“In November, Qantas will be adding 100 Thai national hostesses to its staff, but British Airways have had Thai crew flying out of Bangkok for about ten years.”

The Qantas/British Airways Manager for Thailand is certainly very sure of his company’s position, not only in the skies, but also on the ground in the Eastern Seaboard.

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]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk