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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Copyright 1999 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] |
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