Chonburi developing 5-year plan

Deputy Governor Suphod Lawansiri chaired a committee on 30 May reviewing the “5-Year Provincial Development and Visionary Strategy 2002-2006 (Draft)”. This is in preparation for the plan’s submission to the budgeting office in accordance with the National Social and Economic Development Plan.

Deputy Governor Suphod Lawansiri chaired a committee reviewing the “5-Year Provincial Development and Visionary Strategy 2002-2006 ”.

Six significant areas outlining development direction are contained in the plan. Economically, the goal is to develop Chonburi into the nation’s industrial base that would efficiently operate under standard environmental guidelines, continuing agricultural development as the area’s economic backbone, and promoting the area as a commercial and tourism center.

The second area contains direction for social development by emphasizing improvements in education, stressing religion and cultural arts in the eastern region.

Other areas include developing the quality of health, personal safety and social welfare in communities by using local assets and medical experts in both modern and traditional medicine to improve the quality of life. Anti-drug campaigning will also fall under this policy.

The integration of local community involvement is in the overall plan to preserve natural resources and the environment while continuing to develop tourism.

Additionally, the 5-year plan includes direction for the government administration’s progressive evolution into a transparent and viable structure with local community involvement at all levels.

The overall plan promotes industrial development for SME’s, commercial and tourism development, and continual improvements in the way of agriculture, education and environmental preservation by integrating local community involvement.

Governor acts on elephant problem

The recent tragic incident at the Nong Nooch Garden elephant show that killed one tourist and seriously injured two others prompted the Chonburi provincial government to establish safety standards. A number of meetings between government officials and the private sector have discussed actions to prevent future incidents.

An example of the type of contact between tourists and performing elephants the Chonburi Governor wants prohibited.

On 5 June another meeting was held and Governor Sujarit Pachimnan referred to the many past ugly incidents involving visiting tourists and elephants, which is damaging tourism in the Chonburi area and endangering lives. The meeting included representatives from the National Elephant Foundation, the private sector and other related agencies.

The results of other meetings that depicted areas where the animals perform stipulated that those areas are to be situated so as to keep the performing animals from having any contact with spectators.

The governor said that the many elephants and their owners that have migrated to Pattaya and the surrounding area looking for employment have created a new and unfamiliar situation for the Provincial Domestic Animal Department. He said that the city provides an inappropriate habitat for elephants and it is imperative to implement safety regulations and health standards looking after the welfare of the animals if this practice is to continue.

Measures being implemented include the registering of all elephants with district offices in order to minimize the number of elephants residing in a given area. Inspections will be conducted by the recently formed National Elephant Health Service and Research Institute in Pattaya to determine the suitability of facilities to maintain elephants, insure proper care is available and sanitation standards are met.

Governor Sujarit insists that all proprietors with elephants are to have immediate access to a tranquillizer gun in case an emergency situation occurs. But laws have obstructed implementing this important safety measure. Currently the only tranquillizing gun authorized in the province is at the Khao Kheow National Park. Various departments have been instructed by the governor to obtain exclusion to the law or to submit documentation with justification to have the law rewritten.

The meeting closed with Governor Sujarit inviting all attendees to the “Elephant Health Day” campaign at the Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens.

Police confiscate over 50,000 illegal CDs

Twenty merchants were arrested and over 50,000 pirate compact discs were confiscated during a police raid on June 7 in Pattaya. The copied discs were selling for 60-100 baht each.

Copyright police netted over 50,000 pirated CDs for sale on Pattaya streets.

The raid stemmed from a complaint registered with the National Police Assistant Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Noppadol Somboonsap by Paisan Ampaichaichok, a representative of five music and movie companies. He requested action be taken on the out of control sale of pirated compact discs in Pattaya.

Over 50 police officers from the Crime Suppression division were assembled and targeted different areas in Pattaya where stalls were set up along the streets and in local markets selling the copied discs.

Some merchants saw the police coming and ran off, leaving the copied discs behind, but 20 others were arrested will now go to trial for selling the illegal copies.

Police accused of brutality against pregnant woman

Incident happened during Bingo Game raid

Over 20 residents from Moo 13 in Nong Prue assembled in front of the Banglamung Police station at 4.00 p.m. on 8 June wanting action taken against police officers for physically abusing a woman eight months pregnant.

The accusations were made just a few hours after a group of 11 police officers conducted a raid on four women playing bingo in front of a house next to the Lung Kheow Fishing Park.

Witnesses claimed the police officers drove up in a vehicle, jumped out, and charged in on the illegal bingo game. None of the officers were in uniform and the aggressive manner in which they approached the group frightened all four of the women, who got up and tried to run away. The accusations included reports of a long knife being wielded by one of the raiding officers.

One woman eight months pregnant, Anong Meebut, was quickly apprehended and the three others were soon rounded up by the group of police officers. The group contends that Mrs. Anong was moving slower than the others while being boarded onto the vehicle. Police officers carelessly jostled her around causing her to slip and fall with her body slamming up against the vehicle resulting in injuries to her knee and wrist.

The accusations of abuse continued as witnesses described police officers forcefully picking her up without considering her pregnant condition and dumping her into the vehicle, while Mrs. Anong was crying out in pain.

The group of outraged protesters said the excessive force used in the raid was uncalled for and resembled a raid on armed criminals rather than on unarmed women playing a harmless game. Mrs. Anong had to produce 5,000 baht to cover her bail while she awaits trial. The others arrested were Mrs. Janphen Phimsarn, Mrs. Preeda Yotha and Mrs. Idsanaphorn Dikhayan.

The Banglamung police officers involved in the bingo raid and the alleged abuse include Pol. Cpt. Nikorn Buaphet, Warrant Officer Suthep Khandee and nine other lower ranking officers.

Local tourist police get the shift

Pattaya’s non-commissioned tourist police officers are being rotated to other assignments in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and other tourist locations all over the country. Inspectors and higher ranking police officers will remain at their respective assignment locations.

Pattaya’s non-commissioned tourist police officers are about to be transferred to other assignments in other tourist locations throughout the Kingdom.

The announcement came from Tourist Police Superintendent Pol. Col. Khajornsak Kriangsakpichit at a conference he chaired for over 200 tourist police officers assigned to the Pattaya department. Maj. Porarid Lilasiri heads the Pattaya tourist police department.

Khajornsak opened the conference by acknowledging Tourist Police Department 3’s commendable performance in providing assistance to visiting tourists and insuring their safety. He went on applauding the efforts and personal achievements of the officers assigned to the department, concluding that changes were being introduced to continue developing the goals and objectives of the tourist police.

The superintendent said the plan to rotate the officers is designed to develop their skills by adding diversity and preventing repetitious duty in one area.

Under the plan, non-commissioned officers will be introduced to new duties and responsibilities, ultimately increasing the skill of all officers as they rotate to different assignments.

Pol. Col. Khajornsak requested the tourist police force to continue performing their duties in the same exemplary fashion as before, adhering to the basic disciplines and to dedicate their efforts in protecting visiting tourists.

A luncheon and a walk-through inspection of the Tourist Police facilities followed the conference.

Police to enforce curfew for minors

Receiving restance from parents

City ordinance 294 prohibits minors from being out on the streets and in areas identified as unsuitable after the hours of 10.00 p.m. However, the problem of minors wandering the streets of Pattaya late at night continues.

Pattaya’s tourist police, members from the business community and local welfare agencies were recently involved in an effort to round up minors found on the streets. The effort was well-intended, but resulted in some unanticipated findings.

After rounding up a number of minors it was later discovered that the minor’s parents or guardians refused to recognize the regulation and ignored the legal authority involved.

Recently, a Tourist Police Committee composed of city officials and members of the community’s private sector was set up in accordance with directives from the Tourist Police Headquarters. The committee met for the first time on the morning of June 10.

The members of the committee discussed methods to resolve the situation, including enforcement procedures, and decided on enlisting the help of local media sources in publicizing the intentions behind the regulation and revealing th possible dangers involved when minors are left to wander the streets late at night.

Pattaya Tourist Police Assistant Inspector Pol. Cpt. Yanyong Suwannoi chaired the meeting, which was attended by selected officers and newly appointed committee members, PBTA Advisor Sant Supornsahasrang, Pattaya City Council Member Banlue Kunlawanich and Mrs. Sopin Thappajug, Associate Judge for the Chonburi Family Court.

The committee will meet regularly, with the purpose of creating a platform for the private sector to present their concerns to the Pattaya Tourist Police Department, identify tourist related issues and ensure attention is focused on areas demanding attention.

Members of the committee were also concerned with efforts to maintain security and safety in different areas, but receiving minimal cooperation from tourists. The discussion specifically centered on the problem of enforcing the wearing of life preservers when on watercraft in Pattaya waters. No fines are imposed and the requirement is often ignored until an accident occurs.

Stomach Pains!

Stomach aches can vary widely in the degree of pain, prompting some people to seek a physician’s help, while others put up with chronic annoying conditions with minor pain that unfortunately may be symptoms of a progressive disease that can only be accurately diagnosed by a doctor’s examination.

To create a clearer understanding of the associated problems, the Bangkok - Pattaya Hospital has arranged for an informative lecture with a video presentation on “Gastric Disorders and New Diagnostic Help” to be presented by Dr. Titima Wudiwiwatankul on Saturday 24 June 2000, from 8 am till noon.

Technological developments in medical diagnostic equipment have now provided doctors with precision tools to accurately diagnose different ailments that can be then followed up by prescription of the most appropriate medicines and treatment.

The gastroscopy equipment, using fibre optics technology, gives doctors a “live” TV picture inside the stomach and they can then move the “camera” around the stomach under direct visual control, clearly identifying any existing abnormalities.

A video presentation of what was discovered is also available for the patient to view as the doctor explains the exact nature of the condition and its prognosis. If required, small samples of abnormal tissue can be removed and laboratory tested to accurately determine the condition and necessary treatment.

The Gastrointestinal Clinic is offering a special rate for gastroscopy examinations on 24 June, reducing the normal fee from 5,000 baht to only 4,000 baht. For more information and reservations to attend the free public lecture and video presentation on 24 June call the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital Public Relations Office at (038) 427 777.

Studies Pattaya’s new crime center

Police Chief Pol. Col. Phinit Satcharoen and senior police officers welcomed a group of 10 officers from the People’s Republic of China at the Pattaya Police Station on the afternoon of 26 May.

Police Chief Pol. Col. Phinit Satcharoen (left) welcomed Army Major-General Huang Pai Fu, the PRC Assistant Military Attache assigned to Thailand and Zhang Yue from the Ministry of Internal Security in the PRC.

Army Major-General Huang Pai Fu, the PRC Assistant Military Attache assigned to Thailand accompanied the group of officers to observe the functions and operations of the recently updated facilities at the local station.

Zhang Yue from the Ministry of Internal Security in the PRC led the group of visitors on the tour, collecting practical information on activities in Pattaya to take back and integrate into police operations in Peking. The group’s main interest was associated problems encountered in an international tourist location.

The group was briefed on the operations room where collected data on foreign crime related activities and passport information was stored on computer. This also included local information on vehicle registration and persons with criminal records. The group also toured the Women and Children Assistance Center and were briefed on the functions and related crime incidents typical of a city offering adult entertainment.

Chonburi Deputy Governor Thongchai Anantakul and Yukhol Limlaemthon from the Domestic Animal Department opened a campaign to promote good health for elephants. The campaign began at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens on 6 June.

Chonburi Deputy Governor Thongchai Anantakul and Yukhol Limlaemthon from the Domestic Animal Department opening the Elephant Day campaign.

The 5-9 June “Elephant’s Health Day” campaign was organized by local government and the private sector to improve the standards of care for the over 300 elephants that have migrated to the area. Included in the project were health check-ups for the elephants and safety training for mahouts and proprietors.

Elephants located in Chonburi and Pattaya’s surrounding area participated in the campaign, which was supported by the Chonburi Domestic Animal Department, Khao Kheow Park, and the recently established National Elephant Health Service and Research Association.

Yukhol announced his department intends to improve the standards of care for the large number of elephants now residing in the province and emphasize better care and concern for elephants living outside of their natural habitat.

He referred to past incidents involving elephants that have created bad publicity. This prompted the establishment of the National Elephant Health Service and Research Association in Chonburi.