City providing polio vaccination training

Most remember “Little Timmy” from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, so perhaps it is fitting, given that it is Christmas time, the city should choose this time to begin training for their annual polio vaccination drive.

The Thai government in co-operation with Rotary International want to completely eliminate polio from the Kingdom. The government’s latest health development plan includes administering the polio vaccine, in a series of three vaccinations, to more than 90% of the Kingdom’s children before they reach the age of one year. The plan also calls for looking after children already paralyzed by the disease, as well as finding ways to control the disease in local communities.

Locally, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkichakarn recently kicked off a polio vaccination training program in preparation for the city’s annual polio vaccination drive. The training includes instruction on administration of the polio vaccine, along with information describing the campaign’s objective of eradicating the disease.

“Bah Humbug” is a phrase ne’er to be heard at city hall this year.

Nang Nual gets temporary reprieve

As with most legal cases, situation becoming increasingly cloudy

After being given 30 days by the Litigation Enforcement Office to dismantle the 10 x 20 meter addition at the rear of the Nang Nual Restaurant, and with the deadline now having passed, it appears the mayor has stepped in to provide some support for the embattled restaurant.

Representatives from the Nang Nual Restaurant petitioned the city on December 8 asking for an extension of time due to the amount of business that would be lost during the height of the tourist season. The document was addressed to the city mayor and identified him as the plaintiff.

However, before the request was sent to the mayor, the city’s maintenance officer, Sittibhap Muangkhun, turned down the request. But the mayor overruled the city maintenance officer and supported the request, which thoroughly confused the matter, seeing as the mayor is the plaintiff in the court order.

A document endorsed by the city mayor, addressed to the Litigation Control Office in Chonburi, was drafted requesting the action be delayed until the end of the tourist season in May. The mayor also reiterated his stance that the current city administration should not be held responsible for taking action because the fault lies with past administrations who allowed the many businesses in question to build on the disputed property.

The mayor appointed Withaya Siriwarachai, a city plans officer, to meet with Ning Manutiphong from the provincial litigation office to discuss the extension request at the Nang Nual Restaurant on the afternoon of the December 14 deadline. The two men met with the restaurant’s manager Chonnat Chuprayun, the owner’s son-in-law, as the restaurant owner was reportedly away in Chiang Mai. After discussing the issue, the three parties signed a document, for future reference, indicating that the date for the restaurant to totally dismantle the rear addition be changed to 31 January 2001.

Nang Nual Restaurant is to pay all the expenses involved in the demolition and litigation officers will check to see if the demolition is completed by the 31st.

If the restaurant continues to defy the order, the mayor may be held responsible, and any action causing further delay or obstruction could be punishable by both fines and imprisonment.

Health workers receive STD training

Receive updated information, prevention methods

Although often considered a “taboo” topic, sexually transmitted diseases are nonetheless pose a significant health issue that affects the lives of people in every community.

Doctor Abhichart Mekhamasin presided over a training seminar on sexually transmitted diseases.

Doctor Abhichart Mekhamasin, the director of the contagious disease control center in region 3, addressed the situation during a training seminar on sexually transmitted diseases for 62 health officials from seven provinces.

Figures reported from region 3 during the past three years show that less than one person in 1,000 has become infected from a sexually transmitted disease. The figure is slightly below the initial target level.

Region 3 instructors proficient in subjects concerning AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases also presented updated information, prevention methods and new projects during the seminar, and at the same time reinforced the important role that health officials have in controlling the spread of contagious diseases.

Tourist flaunting wealth wakes up poor

Tourism Lesson #1: Don't carry large amounts of cash and valuables at night - anywhere

Peter Nickolas, an English tourist sporting seven baht weight of gold and carrying 30,000 baht in cash near the South Pattaya pier, attracted the attention of a 29-year-old female “freelancer”. The amorous two subsequently retired to Nickolas’ hotel in Soi Yamoto. Surprise, surprise: when Nickolas woke up later, the woman had walked off with the entire booty worth over 70,000 baht.

Nickolas reported the theft to Pattaya Tourist Police at 6 p.m. when he realized the loss, but he could only identify the thief by her first name, Bunta.

Since Miss Bunta plied her trade on the streets and was not employed at any bar, Nickolas was extremely lucky when tourist police were able to identify the thief as Bunta Thiwalai, a woman who favored working the boat docks in South Pattaya picking up customers interested in her charms.

Bunta was arrested and eventually confessed to stealing the merchandise, telling police she took the items when Nickolas was asleep. She said she then went out and had a good time spending the money before returning to her hangout at the docks to look for another na๏ve punter.

Provincial police commander prepares local police for upcoming elections

Chonburi provincial police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sene Khamthiang addressed members of Pattaya’s municipal police, led by Pol. Col. Phadungsak Ubekkhanon, to fortify Pattaya police officers with a positive appreciation of the standing requirements needed to insure the upcoming elections are carried out fairly and free of outside influences.

Chonburi provincial police commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sene Khamthiang

The provincial police commander also briefed district police officers to prepare them for the Banglamung provincial council member election and the general election.

Pattaya city is facing three elections within the next month. The first, scheduled for December 23, is for a new Banglamung member to sit on the Chonburi provincial council replacing Chanyut Hengtrakul, who stepped down to run on the Chart Thai party list. The national general election for members of the House of Representatives follows on January 6, and a separate election is scheduled to take place in Pattaya on January 14 to vote for a new city council member to replace a member who recently passed away.

The police officers assigned to the different polling locations were issued instructions emphasizing the importance of their role in assuring the election is conducted fairly and with no outside influence. The police officers were also told their individual behavior and role in providing safety at the polling stations would play a key part in encouraging voters to participate in the election.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Sene Khamthiang cautioned members of both police stations to remain vigilant during the elections whilst maintaining security for voters.

The police officers were left with the reminder to abide by the three principle roles of a good police officer: protecting the throne and the nation’s stability; serving society as protector of the people; and upholding police officer respect and trust.

Local community suffers III effects from chemical dumping

Noxious fumes causing sore throats, nose irritations and headaches

Someone, as yet unidentified, has been dumping bags of smelly chemicals into a makeshift dump in Moo 3 in Nong Pla Lai.

Sacks of chemicals have been dumped near populated areas, causing residents to suffer ill-effects.

People living in the area and in communities down wind began experiencing various symptoms, including sore throats, nose irritations and severe headaches.

Residents finally called for help on December 16 after they could no long endure the noxious fumes from the chemicals that had been dumped near their homes.

After believing they were receiving no help from local authorities, the residents contacted the media in hopes that something could be done about the situation.

When reporters arrived on the scene, they saw sacks containing large lumps of an unidentified white crystallized substance that had been dumped in a low-lying area covering four-rai where other trash had been discarded and set on fire. The fire was still smoldering and the stench in the air was obviously not a healthy odor. Over 20 sacks lay broken on the ground, and “Tianjin Soda Plant” was printed on the outside of sacks that had not yet been burnt.

Further investigation revealed that residents in Moo 2 in Takhiantia have also been affected, and the people there have been experiencing the same symptoms, especially the children.

Residents of Park Hills, located 200 meters away, said the stench started over two weeks ago and each evening the smell increased between the hours of 6 & 10 p.m. Many of the Park Hills residents were also suffering from the same illnesses.

Nong Pla Lai Sub-district Administration Organization chairman Chalerm Tabtimtong said coordination with the Chonburi region 3 environmental office has been made to take the necessary steps to identify and remove the substance before causing nearby residents any further hardships.

One official, who wished to remain anonymous, eloquently stated that, “officials are assuming the obvious, that some spineless factory with selfish and ignorant, self-centered management and having employees just as ignorant and undaunted by other people’s personal welfare, let alone the environment, dumped the substance to avoid expensive costs involved with proper disposal.”

The Bangladesh Community Celebrates Victory Day

The Pattaya chapter of the Bangladesh Community held a celebration at the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel last Saturday, as December 16 marked the 29th anniversary of the day Bangladesh became an independent sovereign state when the Pakistan army surrendered in Dhaka after a nine month war in which over 3 million people died.

Pattaya’s most distinguished people of Bangladesh heritage joined Pattaya’s Bangladesh Community to celebrate their National Day.

Celebrations began after breaking their fast at sunset, followed by various messages and a minute of silence in remembrance of those who died in the war. A video on events gone by was shown in tribute to Sheikh Mujibir Raham, the founding president of the nation. A discussion panel then formed with special guests accompanying the community leaders.