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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
  
Coldest weather in 20 years

Candidates register for Pattaya elections

Bad week for shoplifters

German caught shoplifting book

Thai Customs prepares for 2000

Eradicating polio by the end of 2000

National Census Office prepares for 2000 census

Pattaya tourism up 8%

From embers to openings

How long can we go on accepting

Coldest weather in 20 years

One death reported in Pattaya

Over the past week, Pattaya has experienced the coldest weather in over 20 years. Reaching it nadir on Christmas Day, temperatures fell to as low as 13 degrees Celsius.

A spokesperson from the meteorological Department in Pattaya reported that the high pressure system that has covered most of Thailand is showing signs of weakening and that the cold spell should let up soon. Temperatures did begin to rise again on December 26th.

However, there will still be heavy fog and mist covering most of the country. The spokesperson warned drivers of motor vehicles to be very cautious on the road because of poor visibility.

This cold spell in Thailand has been the harshest in more than 20 years, and has caused deaths of more than 50 people in the north and northeast of Thailand. More are expected to perish form the cold weather.

The cold has been causing a lot of suffering and damage, but according to the spokesperson, there is one consolation. The cold weather is helping to promote tourism to the north, as the lowlanders are travelling to the northern region to experience the bitter cold.

Meanwhile in Pattaya, rescuers were called to an unidentified makeshift hut where the body of a one-year-old baby was found. The father, Kan Samanmitr, a confessed alcoholic, said that his baby was suffering form a heart ailment and that because he was poor he could not afford to take her to the hospital for treatment. On that fateful night, the baby was left in the hut with practically nothing to protect her from the freezing weather. She died of hypothermia. This is the first known case of its kind in Pattaya.

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Candidates register for Pattaya elections

Few independents to challenge Supporters for Pattaya Party

Former mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat of the Supporters for Pattaya Party and Aphisek Saksek, an independent, registered their candidacy for mayor of Pattaya on the first day of registration, December 22nd.

Twenty-four candidates from the “Supporters for Pattaya Party” and four independent candidates also registered for seats on the city council.

Supporters for Pattaya Party festively run for re-election.

Registration for the February 12 elections began on December 22 at Pattaya City Hall. Candidates had until December 28 to register.

A large crowd of supporters assembled for the registration procedure, including Chonburi Parliament Members Rewat Phonluk-In and Mongkhon Sawaenghasap, and Chairman of the Chonburi Parliament Chanyut Hengtrakul.

The Supporters for Pattaya Party, led by former Pattaya mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, along with the party’s 24 candidates for city council were present in force, bringing their own cheerleading section, setting the stage with a festive atmosphere for the registration day.

Independent candidates for city council draw their selection numbers.

The Pattaya Election Control Committee, headed by Sunthorn Praseurtdee from the Pattaya City Manager’s office, monitored registration. Among other duties, it was Sunthorn’s responsibility to examine the supporting documents of eligibility to run for office.

The election control committee determined the positioning of candidates on the ballots by having them draw numbers. For mayor, Pairat Suttithamrongsawat drew #1 and Aphisek Saksek drew #2.

Independent candidates for city council seats, Sanit Bunmachai, Phrai Mangkhang, Nataphon Panyakhanakul and Wirasak Cheunkrut drew numbers 1, 2, 3 and 28 respectively, while the candidates from the Supporters for Pattaya Party drew numbers 4-27.

During the noon hour of the first day of registration, Supporters for Pattaya Party members assembled to listen to confident words of encouragement from Saensukh Municipal Mayor Somchai Khunpleum. Somchai told them, “the people of Pattaya will surely reinstate them, and the former mayor will surely be re-elected.”

Somchai said he would continue to be the Consultant Chairman to the Pattaya City Mayor, along with the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization President Bhenyo Tanwised and other experts assisting the city administration. Somchai said that a number of problems still exist, and he identified road renovation, and, most importantly, environmental and sanitation improvements that require attention.

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Bad week for shoplifters

Iranian didn’t notice the policeman eating lunch

Continuing on our shoplifter theme this week, Iranian Ali Resa Malaksalech picked the wrong time to shoplift a bottle of liqueur from Food Land, as the Saensukh Deputy Police Superintendent from the Foreign Crime Suppression Center in Pattaya was there having lunch.

As Deputy Superintendent Police Col. Subhathi Bunkhrong was happily eating his meal on the afternoon of 21 December, a sales employee at the supermarket approached him and asked for his assistance in arresting a shoplifter.

The Deputy Superintendent obligingly interrupted his meal and apprehended Malaksalech after finding two bottles of liqueur in Malaksalech’s possession, which he had lifted from the store shelves.

Col. Subhathi then called in other police officers to arrest the Iranian tourist and take charge of the case.

Malaksalech told Pattaya Police he had been staying in Pattaya for a number of days and his funds were quickly diminishing. He wanted to get a few bottles of booze to entertain some friends whilst bringing in the New Year, but was unable to afford the liqueur. He said he decided to steal the items and save what little money he had.

Malaksalech was charged with shoplifting and is now spending a dry holiday season in jail.

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German caught shoplifting books

Sex and politics on his mind

Peter Robert Alfred Jens, a 39-year-old tourist from Germany, was caught shoplifting books from the Bookazine Book Store in the Royal Garden Shopping Plaza on the evening of December 21st.

And what was he so obsessed with that he had to have but couldn’t pay for? One book was on politics; one was called “Shame” and the other “The Wonder Book of Sex”.

The clerk of the store had noticed Jens was acting strangely, so he called the police to investigate. When officers arrived at the bookstore, the owner promptly pointed him out. Officers stopped and searched him, finding the three unpaid for books in his possession.

Jens was charged with stealing the reading material. He was jailed, without the confiscated items, while he awaits trial.

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Thai Customs prepares for 2000

Joining WCO

The Thai Customs Division intends to computerize all custom locations in the country in preparation of joining the WCO in the year 2000.

The Customs Division’s goal is to establish Thailand as a leading production center along world standards.

Starting on 1 January 2000, the Thai Customs Division will become a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO), operating within World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines.

Deputy Minister of Finance Phiched Phanwichatikul presided over the opening of a seminar on restructuring custom’s procedures to prepare for the new century. The seminar took place at the Pattaya Mercure Hotel on 24 December 1999.

Deputy Minister of Finance Phiched Phanwichatikul said this will mean that the Thai Customs Division will need to modify and develop its procedures to comply.

The changes include implementing the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system to provide computerized data interface among the associated agencies connected with the Customs Division and import-exporters. The new EDI interface will provide faster and more efficient service than previously experienced, allowing tax collection procedures, including returns and compensation, to be conducted using the gold credit card system for import-export businesses.

In addition, post audits will be tracked more efficiently and the system will promote investment with new changes in custom regulations aligned with the WTO, such as the assessment of the GATT Valuation using the EDI system. Established ISO 9002 standards will be applied adding to the stability.

The overall changes also brought about the establishment of an agency responsible for suppressing illegal transactions, including the sale and exchange of illegal fuels and other illegal trade items.

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Eradicating polio by the end of 2000

Vaccination campaign underway

Polio, a devastating disease that causes the crippling of children throughout the world, today, fortunately, is almost defeated. The World Health Organization has set a goal to eliminate polio entirely by the end of the year 2000.

To help this noble cause, the city’s Health Department, the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, the Jomtien and Pattaya Rotary Clubs and the Snow Brand Company have arranged a polio vaccination campaign for children six years old and under.

Residents getting their children vaccinated for polio. The WTO hopes to eradicate the disease by the end of the year 2000.

The first series was administered on 17 December and the second series will be given on 14 January 2000, from 8.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. on the 2nd floor in front of the Big C Shopping Center at the Central Festival Business Center.

The current campaign began in Thailand in 1997, and aims to complete the process before 2001. The campaign in Thailand enlisted the help of volunteers from all communities to assist the local health departments in ensuring all children receive the vaccinations.

The Pattaya Health Department coordinated with the volunteer health offices in the 15 surrounding regions and helped in administering the polio vaccine at 23 locations.

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National Census Office prepares for 2000 census

Officials from the National Census Office arranged a training session for people who will assist in collecting data for the National Census in the year 2000. The training was given to 170 people at the Royal Twin Hotel in Pattaya.

The National Census Office is a branch of the office of the Prime Minister. The year 2000 census will be the 10th census taken in Thailand. The first was conducted in 1909, and thereafter a new census was conducted once every 10 years.

The Secretary of the National Census Office, Iamjan Premyothin chaired a training session for the year 2000 census.

The census, scheduled to take one month to complete starting on 1 March 2000, will collect information on the number of family members or occupants of each home, and take a description of the home.

The planning and budgeting for the year 2000 census began in 1998. This included preparing and updating maps, question forms and methods of training personnel.

In all, approximately 40,000 people will be involved in the collection process. Government officials, teachers and military personnel will be used, as well as Thai Border Police who will be conducting the census in border areas.

The Secretary of the National Census Office, Iamjan Premyothin chaired the opening of the training session and identified the importance of collecting accurate information. The group at the training will also be responsible for training other census takers, as well as monitoring the collection process.

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Pattaya tourism up 8%

Tourist high season here

Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3, Pattaya, disclosed that we are currently experiencing the height of the tourist season.

On a less obvious note, the TAT announced that so far this year, 2,109,723 tourists have visited Pattaya. TAT predicts that by the end of the season, the total increase in tourists visiting Pattaya will be 8% over last year.

The TAT Region 3 office surmises the increase is due to changes made in Pattaya and the steadily improving economy. TAT says many other factors have also contributed to the increase, including a number of festivals and activities organized by the city administration and the private sector.

Yet another activity is in the making, as residents and tourists have been invited to count off the last hour of 1999 and bring in the New Year in the area of Pattaya Beach and Central Pattaya Road.

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From embers to openings

Deadly hotel to re-open under new name

The “Amazing Thailand” tourist promotion may indeed finish in amazing fashion, as the former Royal Jomtien Hotel may be given the go-ahead to re-open under the new name Jomtien Palace Hotel & Resort.

The Royal Jomtien Hotel made history in July 1997 when a cooking gas tank exploded, causing in an inferno that cost over 90 lives. Many of the deaths resulted from chain locked fire exit doors in two of the hotel’s conference rooms.

The hotel owners, spared the indignity of prosecution, requested authorization to begin renovations just over a year later, in August 1998. The city administration assigned officials and engineers to examine the renovation plans and issued approval after reaching an agreement with the requirements identified by the examiners. In the latter part of November 1999, the hotel ownership requested permission to re-open.

Officials from the Pattaya City Maintenance Division, Fire Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3, building construction and electrical control engineers conducted an investigation of the renovations made to the former Royal Jomtien Hotel. They must issue authorization for the hotel to re-open under the name Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel & Resort.

The final hurdle for the hotel’s opening will be the inspection of renovations by safety officials, and on December 23rd, officials from the Pattaya City Maintenance Division, Fire Department and the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3, accompanied by construction and electrical control engineers, conducted an investigation of the renovations made on the 16-floor hotel.

The contractor from the Lines Construction Company, hotel staff, and the Chairman of the Kiattiphon Company Ltd., hotel owner Suchat Hirankanokul led the inspection tour. Conspicuous in his absence was Thawon Uuchin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the hotel in July 1997.

Prior to the inspection, construction and electrical engineers presented a briefing using slides to identify the damages caused by the fire. They also summarized the step by step procedures involved in the renovation plans up to the present.

The sprinkler system in the dining room where the 1997 fire started was the first area inspected, which was found to be in order. From there the alarm system on the 16th floor was tested, the lift and the stairway fire escape were examined and the fire extinguishing equipment all checked out as required or were operational. The computerized equipment and programs in the control room were also all operational, as well as the backup generator system. Finally, the pressurized gas tanks were inspected in the storage area outside of the hotel, passing the inspection. The only area identified lacking was the floor level numbers indicating elevator and stairway fire escape routes.

Hotel owner Suchat Hirankanokul said that the renovated hotel’s general manager is Idsara Wasawanon and much of the hotel staff are former employees. Those who found employment elsewhere have been invited back, and some new staff members have also been added.

Suchat said the hotel has already been contacted by agents in Asia and Europe, as well as in Thailand, expressing interest in the hotel’s accommodations. However, the hotel is not making any commitments until the appropriate authorization to resume business is obtained.

As far as the rumors circulating labeling the hotel as cursed Suchat said, “This will be difficult to overcome, but the disaster in 1997 was an accident with no one intending it to happen. Everyone who suffered losses understands this, especially the hotel staff. The people injured and relatives of those losing their lives during the tragedy also understand and have all been compensated along with deepest regrets,” he said. “This incident will be long remembered in the minds of many people that only time can erase, but the hotel hopes that the renovations with the many types of modern equipment and control systems in place will have a part in helping to better the hotel’s image.”

Suchat, when asked by reporters why the damaged building was not dismantled completely with a new structure built as is done in foreign countries, responded by saying, “A group of building engineers certified the condition of the remaining structure as being stable and suitable for renovations. Therefore, authorization was requested to implement renovations with the appropriate inspections conducted beforehand by certified agencies. The renovations put the structure back to its original condition and were conducted in accordance with advice from a group of engineers from the University of Agriculture.”

Pattaya City’s Maintenance Office Director Sittiphap Muangkhum commented on the safety inspection results and the computerized control system programs, saying “They are completely operational in all areas tested. The walls have been treated with a heat resistant chemical solution to increase safety. Doors on each level are installed with automatic closing systems to prevent the spread of smoke. This is the first facility with this type of system.”

“The authorization to resume business in the building can be approved after the inspection results guaranteeing safety are issued in writing from the inspection team,” the maintenance director said, “which should be sometime in the near future.” Sittiphap also said that the authorization to re-open should be in order due to the hotel’s compliance with all the government directives requiring the step by step procedures.

TAT Region 3 office representative, Miss Panhit Kharwanon commented on the eventual re-opening of the hotel saying, “If the proprietor complies with all the legal aspects involved there is no reason an establishment should be prohibited from doing so. As for tourism, there are no apparent major concerns due to the different beliefs foreigners have compared to the superstitious nature of Thai people.”

Suchat said he is prepared to re-open as soon as feasible. “The sooner the better,” he said. “The business is needed to help financially, especially after the full cost of the losses and renovations are assessed from the past two years.”

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How long can we go on accepting?

Editorial,
reprinted from 18 July 1997

Today there are 90 souls whose bodies lie in a cold morgue and countless mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sweethearts and children who will no longer have the love and support of those lost in a tragedy which need not have happened. Apart from the pain and sorrow suffered by grieving families - what of the loss to the country of the skilled personnel, trained managers and productive citizens who are now, uselessly, lost to us?

And it need not have happened.

Once again greed and carelessness have been allowed to overrule the dictates of prudence and caution and, as a result, there are tears and mourning, hardship and deprivation and irreplaceable loss of loved ones in many families. In the background - gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands from many politicians, culpable businessmen and officials. And promises, Oh! the promises. “Never will such a tragedy be allowed to happen again”; “Those responsible will be brought to justice and will be subject to the full wrath of the law”; “Care will be taken of all those who have suffered”; and on and on.

What short memories we have, and Oh! how ready are the greedy politicians, businessmen and officials to take advantage of that.

Not very long ago a building, which had been illegally extended, collapsed in Korat, and suddenly there was a flurry of activity from the Ministries of the Interior and Industry to check all other high rise buildings to see not only that they had been built in accordance with the approved specification but that no illegal extension had since been made. Of the number inspected in Pattaya, five were found to be seriously in breach of either their approved specification or had since become unsafe for some reason or other. All efforts to discover which these buildings were or who were their owners was thwarted, as was, more significantly, any effort to discover whether action had been taken to rectify them. The answer would, of course, have been no. But you can be sure that it cost someone something!

A concerned citizen wrote to this journal some time ago about the closing of the doors of the supermarket at one of Pattaya’s largest shopping malls. These doors were closed, perhaps to increase security against shoplifting or simply to increase valuable display space. This closure presented a definite breach of the safety regulations. Letters to the management of the company concerned and to the public works department of Pattaya municipality, went unanswered, and the doors remained closed - and will do, no doubt, until a fire breaks out and more grieving families are added to the number of those who have lost loved ones unnecessarily.

These are two examples only of the indifference, to be kind; culpability to be honest; or even corruption, to be realistic, of those responsible for the safety of the citizens of and visitors to Pattaya. Many more exist, and no doubt will be noticed by many whose eyes have been opened by last week’s (July 1997) tragedy. But those who will notice will be people like you and I. It is unlikely that the chubby golf playing owner or the official or politician fawning on him will notice - and if they do, why, a few baht in the right pocket will divert any criticism.

Now the world knows that Pattaya allowed so many to die horrible deaths because they could not be bothered to see that the fire alarms or sprinklers worked in a modern, virtually new, high rise hotel. That we closed our eyes to the fact that fire doors in this building were dangerously locked.

Yes, we, Pattaya. You and I. It is no longer adequate to point our fingers at greedy landlords, corrupt politicians and inefficient authorities - or even at those who control them. You and I, as citizens of Pattaya are responsible. We are the ones who will suffer the criticism, the loss of business, the empty restaurants, the unused beds and the insistent bank managers. We are the ones who elected the city “fathers”, or did not encourage people of our choice to join the race. We are the ones who do not complain when we see our livelihood taken from us by those who care nothing for the city, or even for their country, but are interested only in their short term gain. It is up to us to show that we are no longer content to sit by while the politicians and their handlers line their nests, whilst inefficient and corrupt authorities are willing to turn their backs on “minor” infractions of the law in respect of precautions which are “quite unnecessary really”.

Do not sit back any longer, I beg you. Stand up and be counted as an honest citizen who demands honesty and efficiency from your public servants. Insist that all the promises now being made are kept, and follow up to see that they are. Look for yourself at the many infractions of fire and safety precautions in the buildings in which you live, or shop, or eat, and complain, complain, complain. Do not allow Pattaya to sink any further in the esteem of the world.

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