|
Pattaya’s new wastewater treatment plant is ready to go on line
Billing confusion remains
After a long 38 months of waiting, Pattaya’s new 1.8 billion baht wastewater treatment plant is now ready to go on line. In fact, by the time you read
this, it may already be in operation, as the start up date was scheduled for December 13. Customers will begin seeing service charges on January 1, 2001.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said contractors from Samprasit Construction Company began testing the system in November and a team of inspectors from the
Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, and Pattaya City’s maintenance department began their testing on November 30. Final testing on the system is now finished.
 Pattaya’s new 1.8 billion baht
wastewater treatment plant has finally begun to treat the area’s sewage.
The water treatment plant uses an activated sludge system and, during the first 10 years of operation, the plant will have the capability to treat 65,750
cubic meters of water per day. By the year 2011, the system could be expanded to treat up to 137,000 cubic meters of water per day.
During testing, the plant treated 25,000 cubic meters of water during the week and up to 40,000 meters of water on the weekends, well within the limits
required by law. The levels of effluent are completely safe so that the wastewater can be released in to the ocean without causing damage to the sea life or the environment.
The 1.8 billion baht project is located on 80 rai of land in Nong Prue sub-district, east of Sukhumvit Road. The construction was budgeted with funds
allocated from the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, with 10% funded by the city of Pattaya. Construction first began in October 1997, with the original
completion date in June 1999, but two extensions were required before final assembly was realized in November 2000.
Now the main focus of attention is the management and the running of the plant and how to recover the running costs from the city’s population. “The
operational costs are still a major concern,” the mayor said. “The (previously) identified household treatment cost of 3.50 baht per cubic meter may not cover the cost of
electricity, routine maintenance and required materials. The city is considering setting aside a portion of the budget to support the operation during the first year if
necessary. Thereafter, estimating appropriate user rates to support the operational costs will be more accurate.”
Mayor Pairat also said that following the first year’s operation the city administration would be better able to decide whether to continue managing the
operation or have a private company take over the task.
The city is also considering connecting the Wong Amat Beach area in Naklua and the beaches near Pratamnak to the water treatment plant to redirect the
sewage still being dumped into coastal waters.
The South Pattaya water treatment plant in Soi 17 is now out of operation.
Slow footed French gold thief
Unable to outrun gold shop owner
Frenchman Alain Jean Deluermoz was arrested last week for stealing gold from the Sri Suwan gold shop in front of the Chaiyamongkhol Temple in South
Pattaya.
 Pol. Lt. Kanon Meesawad escorting
French tourist Alain Jean Deluermoz to jail after the Frenchman stole a gold chain from a shop on South Pattaya Road and fled into Pattayaland Soi 2.
Nitad Suksangwan, the owner of the gold shop, told police that Deluermoz had come into his shop wanting to buy a 5-baht weight gold necklace chain. Nitad
said Deluermoz asked to look at different styles when all of a sudden he ran from the store with one of the gold chains.
In a scene that must of looked straight out of a Pink Panther movie, Nitad ran after the 31-year-old Frenchman, chasing him down South Road, onto 2nd Road
and into Soi Pattayaland 2, all the while phoning police on his mobile phone.
A team of Pattaya motorcycle police officers spotted Deluermoz and quickly apprehended him before he made it to Beach Road. Deluermoz still had the 5-baht
gold necklace clutched in his hand.
Deluermoz confessed to the robbery and admitted to another similar theft at the Tony Tik Jewelry shop where he had stolen two diamond rings, which he later
sold for 12,000 baht each.
Deluermoz told police that he became desperate when his apartment rent was due and his passport was about to expire, and decided to rob the jewelry store.
After stealing the diamond rings he became paranoid and moved from the Nong Apartment to the Welcome Plaza Hotel and ran out of money again. He said he decided to try another
robbery, this time going for the 5-baht gold chain.
Methamphetamine addict turns axe murderer
Murders innocent man
Twenty-year-old drug addict Sanit Bunphaen was arrested last week for the brutal murder of his neighbor, Somchai Sintharasirikulchai, age 41.
Sanit allegedly demanded money from Somchai so he could buy methamphetamine, but Somchai had refused to give him any. The refusal enraged Sanit and he
attacked Somchai with an axe, leaving Somchai’s bloodstained body lying in front of a house.
Somchai was described to police as a good friend to everyone in the area and was always helping others in need.
Banglamung Police Lt. Col. Natasit Bunnuam led the ensuing investigation, and was quickly able to take Sanit into custody. Sanit was found cowering in an
incoherent state at a nearby house.
Sanit was unable to respond to questioning when arrested and continued babbling nonsense. He has been charged with murder.
Tourist police write up bad Czech
This Czech bounced into jail
Radomil Vlk Ing, a 37-year-old tourist from the Czech Republic, contacted Pattaya Tourist Police on December 7 to report two Thai men carrying knives had
robbed him while he was walking along Siam Country Club Road.
The Czech tourist claimed the men stole his passport, camera and mobile phone, having a combined value of over 40,000 baht. Radomil said he wanted a copy
of the police report so that he might make a claim to his insurance company for reimbursement.
 Czech tourist Radomel Vlk Ing was
bounced into jail after filing a false police report.
However, Pattaya’s tourist police proved a little too savvy for Radomil. After his actions alerted their suspicions, including his refusal to take police
to the exact location to obtain possible leads (he said he would be unable to identify the location where he had just been robbed), diligent police searched Radomil’s hotel
room and found the items he claimed had been stolen.
Radomil later confessed to his deceptive scheme, telling police he wanted to fake the insurance claim and use the money to finance another trip back to
Thailand.
Radomil was charged with making a false police report with intentions of making a false insurance claim. He will now be able to “enjoy” the rest of his
vacation in the local lockup.
Japanese tourist mugged on north end of Beach Road
Robbers still at large
Japanese tourist Hasegawa Kenichi, age 44, was mugged while taking a late night walk along Beach Road last week.
 Hasegawa Kenichi (seated center),
with help from Dusit Resort staff, reports to police how he was mugged while walking on Beach Road in the early morning hours.
Kenichi, the owner of a plastic factory in Japan, told police that following a business conference at the Dusit Resort earlier in the day he went out for
dinner and spent the evening in South Pattaya. He said he was returning to the hotel on foot at around 3.00 a.m. on December 2, when a motorbike drove up and stopped just as
he was reaching the poorly lit area at the curve on the north end of Beach Road.
Kenichi said three men dismounted, attacked him, wrestled him to the ground and ripped his money belt from his waste before fleeing into the night. He said
his stolen money belt contained 8,700 baht, 27,000 Japanese yen and four credit cards.
He was unable to identify the motorbike and could only describe the three men as 18-20 years of age. No suspects fitting the description were picked up
during the night.
Kenichi did say that the staff at the Dusit was very helpful whilst assisting him contact the police and make his statement.
HSH Princess Somsawali presides over AIDS fundraiser
Thai-Japanese Cultural Relation Department holds gala dinner party
Her Serene Highness Princess Somsawali presided over a gala dinner party to raise funds for a Thai Red Cross AIDS prevention project. The project’s main
focus is to try to prevent pregnant mothers infected with AIDS from passing the HIV virus on to their unborn children.
 HRH Princess Somsawali graciously
receives a garland from Khun Achana Snitwongse Na Ayuthaya upon Her arrival at the Thai-Japanese Cultural Relations gala dinner party to raise funds for a Thai Red Cross AIDS
prevention project.
Professor Treungchai Buranasombhop, representing the Thai-Japanese Cultural Relations Department, organized the charity function, which took place at the
Montien Hotel in Pattaya on December 8.
Upon Her arrival, HSH Princess Somsawali was first introduced to an art collection on display in the Cattelya Ballroom. A representative from the Japanese
Department of Fine Arts introduced and explained the Thai-Japanese Cultural Relations Art Exhibition, which has been held in Thailand twice in the past two years. This
year’s exhibition includes 600 items from the Japanese Department of Fine Arts put on display at the University of Fine Arts in Bangkok. Forty of the paintings were brought
to the Montien Hotel by both the Thai and Japanese Departments of Fine Arts especially for HSH Princess Somsawali as part of the fundraiser.
The many distinguished guests at the fundraising event were presented with tokens of appreciation and were later entertained by performers of traditional
Thai dance, music and other entertainment.
Local community honors HM the King on His birthday
Local officials and members of the community gathered on December 5 to honor His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great on the occasion of His 73rd
birthday. The celebrations were held in two stages, a morning session and a candle lit evening session.
 Banglamung district chief Vichien
Chawalit led a candle lit ceremony in honor of His Majesty the King’s 73rd birthday.
In the morning session, Banglamung district chief Vichien Chawalit led groups of local officials, students, and members from different communities in
presenting non-perishable food items to 74 monks at a special tamboon ceremony at 7 a.m. in front of the district office building.
Following the tamboon ceremony, at 9:30 a.m. the district chief led a group of senior officials in a ritual ceremony where 10 monks sanctified the
auspicious occasion.
Later in the afternoon, local officials and members from the surrounding communities assembled at Pattaya City School #3, Wad Sawang Faa, where thousands
of people gathered to get ready for the evening candle lighting ceremony. People sang songs and presented gold and silver trays, candles, flowers, garlands and joss sticks to
a life-sized portrait of His Majesty the King.
As darkness closed in on the ceremonial activity, the lights were turned off and the crowd lit candles and sang songs of praise to His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. A fireworks display highlighted the evening and brought the singing to a close.
Nang Nual Restaurant still stands
So far, refuses to tear down over-water seating
The Nang Nual Restaurant, one of the 101 businesses identified for removal in South Pattaya, was given 30 days to dismantle the 10 x 20 meter addition at the
rear of the restaurant that extends over the water. Their deadline to do so was December 14, and as of press time, the restaurant had made no move to initiate the action as
ordered by the Chonburi courts.
Mayor Pairat agreed with the court’s position that the Nang Nual Restaurant would be responsible for all costs involved, no matter who dismantled and
removed the balcony. But he asserted that the Litigation Enforcement Office would have to be the agency to step in if the restaurant fails to follow the order.
“Failure to comply with the court order as stated would be a violation of the law, and the Litigation Enforcement Office, not Pattaya City, would have to
initiate action to have the offending part of the restaurant dismantled,” the mayor said. As far as the city of Pattaya is concerned, the mayor said the area in question
outside of the city’s realm of responsibility and the city has no jurisdiction to interfere with the provincial order.
Pattaya to hold election for single council seat
City councilman passes away
City councilman Chaichan Phetcharala-Aw passed away on December 3. Phetcharala-Aw had been suffering from an incurable blood disease.
Phetcharala-Aw’s death leaves one of the 24 city council member positions vacant, and according to city administrative ordinance 102, dated 1999, and
municipal council election directive 9, dated 1939, the vacated position calls for an election to fill the seat.
The election is scheduled for 14 January 2001. The election is open to all individuals meeting the prerequisites, regardless of party affiliation or
preference.
Candidates must be Thai nationals at least 25 years of age and having residence within Pattaya City limits for no less than one complete year. Otherwise
the only other applicable limiting factors, contained in article 11 and 13, identify monks as unable to hold government office, with other discriminators pertaining to
mentally disturbed persons and drug addicts, as well as people whose voting privileges have been withdrawn.
Candidate applications for the vacant position were accepted from December 8-14.
District chief says all is go for local election
Provincial council election to take place on December 23
Banglamung district chief Wichien Chawalit said officials are ready for the provincial administration organization election for the Banglamung council seat
vacated by Chanyuth Hengtrakul. Chanyuth vacated the position on November 8 after being selected as a party list member for the Chart Thai Party. The election date for the
vacant Banglamung seat has been scheduled for December 23.
Six candidates for the vacant seat have registered and been given ballot numbers. Prai Mankang has been given ballot number 1, Wiwat Hompleum ballot number
2, Mrs. Acharee Pansaard ballot number 3, Surat Chantra ballot number 4, Tongsuk Tongnak ballot number 5 and Watna Suttiman drew ballot number 6.
In order to provide added convenience to voters, the number of voting stations has been increased to 139, and will include Pattaya Municipality and the
sub-districts.
Members of the election committee, ballot counters and voting station officials have all been trained on their individual functions and are prepared for
the election.
The district chief invited all eligible voters to take advantage of their right to participate in democracy by showing up at the polls on December 23.
Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School holds graduation ceremony
One hundred seventeen students graduated this year from the Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School’s computer and electronics courses.
 Father Raymond Brennan handed out
diplomas to 117 graduates of the Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School’s computer and electronics courses.
The founder of the school, Father Raymond Brennan, handed out diplomas to the graduates on December 7.
The school administrator, Father Phichan Chaiseree, led the graduating students through the ceremony. School instructors, as well as many relatives and
friends attended the ceremony.
The Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School has been running for 15 years. Over 1,000 handicapped students have completed study there and are now active
participants in the nation’s workforce.
This year His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej conferred upon the school an award for excellence. The school also received an “International Professional
Proficiency” award after taking 2nd place honours in developing computer websites during a competition in Czechoslovakia.
The school also gained international recognition when electronics department instructor Subjhachai Koisap won two gold medals and one silver in wheelchair
racing during this year’s Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Subhachai’s achievements brought worldwide fame to himself and Thailand and added to the worldwide
acclaim of the Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School.
Report exposes global spread of child labour
A report released by the Global March Against Child Labour shows the shocking exploitation of children in almost every part of the world. From rich country
to poor, there seems to be no escape for children suffering in the worst forms of child labour.
Issued a day after ILO Convention 182 comes into legal force, the report presents a clear and urgent agenda to the world community. It is the first ever
comprehensive country-by-country review of the problems of child slavery, child prostitution, child soldiers, and other hazardous child labour.
The Global March will be looking for governments, international agencies, and ordinary people to use the information in “Out of the Shadows: A Worldwide
Report on the Worst Forms of Child Labour” to initiate concrete programs to protect children. With thousands of partners in 140 countries, the Global March is the single
largest movement on behalf of the world’s 250 million child labourers. The movement was instrumental in the establishment of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child
Labour.
“We did not march 80,000 km just to have nice words put on a piece of paper. We are determined to see that these promises make a real difference in the
lives of exploited children,” said Kailash Satyarthi, chairperson of the Global March. “This report is the voice of millions of children calling for help.”
“Out of the Shadows” is now available online through the website, “www.globalmarch.org”. Some of the disturbing data in the report includes:
* 5,000 children between 6 and 14 years of age were recently found in secret and illegal workshops in Guatemala City. They were being used for the
manufacture of fireworks and other explosive products.
* Half of the prostitutes on the streets of Sudbury, Canada are under 15 years old, and some are as young as 11.
* 3,000 Albanian children have been trafficked to Italy and Greece to be used for begging and cleaning windows and cars without pay.
* An estimated 400,000 children under 15 are working as full-time domestic servants in Jakarta, Indonesia.
* In a single district of Uganda, 4,000 children have been abducted to fight as child soldiers in the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The report not only documents the situation in every single country, but also shows what can and is being done against child labour. The report suggests
many constructive steps that governments, businesses, trade unions, NGOs, and children themselves can take to address the problem. It also reviews the efforts that
governments have made since the unanimous adoption of Convention 182 in June of last year. The report will be an invaluable tool for everyone working towards a world free of
child exploitation.
Copyright 2000 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]
|
|
