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Pattaya
entertainment business deny collecting signatures to oust MOI
However, still pushing for 4 a.m. closing
time
Preecha Sanguansak, representative of Pattaya’s
entertainment businesses, denied rumors that local business people were
gathering signatures to oust Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun.
Rumors began circulating around 3.00 a.m. on August 30
that signatures were being collected by members of Pattaya’s
entertainment business committee. The new constitution has a clause that
states if 50,000 signatures are collected a non-acceptable politician
could be ousted.
News of the alleged movement underway in Pattaya was
also appearing in local Thai language newspapers.
Pattaya’s police chief, Pol. Col. Phadungsak
Ubekhanon, called an afternoon meeting with Preecha Sanguansak on August
31, asking him to respond to the rumors.
Preecha said representatives from Pattaya’s
entertainment industry did meet, but the 3.00 a.m. meeting was just to
collect names of businesses most affected by the current crackdown, as
well as names of people who had lost their jobs. He assured the chief that
they had no intention of obstructing government policy nor was there any
call for the removal of the Minister of Interior.
Preecha did, however, request the government
re-evaluate the situation and consider the affects on business owners and
employees and relax the regulations, at least until the process of zoning
was complete.
Pol. Col. Phadungsak later said no more
misunderstandings were expected. He called upon the business community to
persevere a little longer to give the government a chance to finalize the
zoning process. He reassured representatives of the entertainment
businesses that once zoning was finalized the operational hours would most
likely be extended due to the large amount of revenue generated from
tourism.
Pattaya business owners and employees have been busily
writing documents to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior
trying to impart their perspective that Pattaya should be addressed as a
separate entity with entertainment businesses allowed to operate until
4.00 a.m.
Chonburi governor Sujarit Pachimnan also got involved
and said everyone would have to sit back and wait for zoning to become
finalized. He said he expected the issue to go before the council of
ministers soon. He also said that Pattaya has been identified as one of
eight tourist areas under consideration for zoning and it has also been
singled out as the area to lead the way for breaking new ground on this
issue.
Implementing procedures to control underage patronage,
eliminating drug related activity in the business place and eliminating
sexually explicit entertainment are to become absolutely essential, said
the governor.
Lastly, the governor said that he has already informed
the Ministry of Interior of the gravity of the problems affecting
entertainment businesses in Pattaya and further identified the requirement
for Pattaya to receive immediate attention. He also said the MOI would be
informed that there were no underlying plans in Pattaya calling for the
removal of Purachai Piumsombun and that the signatures collected were
underscoring the plight of those most affected by the enforcement of
current laws.
Quill denies
allegations
Supplies embassy documents in his defense
On May 25th Pattaya Mail published a story regarding the
business conflicts between Gordon May, Jim Lumsden and Kevin Quill.
Last week Mr Quill supplied the Pattaya Mail with two
documents from the British Embassy, signed by Her Majesty’s Consul Deryck
Fisher, that disagree with some of the statements made by Mr. May. He has
requested that we publish excerpts so as to clear some of the
misunderstandings concerning his reputation.
The first, addressed to the Samuscha Account and Law
Office and dated 23 January 2001 states, “This is to certify that Mr.
Kevin Quill... is recognized as a British citizen. There is no information
in British Embassy Consular records to the detriment of Mr. K Quill...”
The second, addressed “To whom it may concern” and dated 19 March 2001,
states, “Mr. Kevin Quill, British Citizen, does not have any convictions,
whatsoever, for drug offences in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.” These documents were presented in good faith, and the
Pattaya Mail accepts them as an official explanation as to Mr. Quill’s
status at the time that they were written.
As for the May-Lumsden-Quill saga we believe and hope
that the differing parties can reason with each other and bring this dispute
to an end for their mutual benefit and for the community.
Baht bus drivers
hit with surprise urine tests
Results pending
Chakrapong Akkaranant
Some of Pattaya’s more than 700 baht bus drivers were
temporarily detained for mandatory urine testing on the morning of August
29 at the South Pattaya police box on Beach Road. The stopped vehicles,
many with passengers, were also searched for drugs and other illegal
items.
 Pattaya’s
baht bus drivers were stopped for a surprise urine test in South Pattaya
last week.
Pattaya’s police chief, Col. Phadungsak Ubekhanon,
accompanied by police officers and representatives from the Chonburi
Medical Science Center collected the urine specimens, saying the measures
were being taken as a service to the community and to reassure tourists
visiting Pattaya.
The chief of police also said the objective of the
testing was to protect the public and private property, as well as
improving the city’s reputation.
The drivers from the Pattaya Baht Bus Federation
willingly submitted to the test. 200 urine samples were taken, and the
final results are pending from the medical science center in Chonburi.
Any driver discovered having tested positive for
illegal substances will have his driver’s license withdrawn and face
immediate criminal charges.
Kamol Foihiran, a technician from the medical science
center, said that the results of the tests will be used as part of a
larger survey that is being used to gather information about drug related
problems around the country. The survey project has been underway for the
past two months, and the data being collected is specifically targeting
military personnel, students, factory workers, operators of motor
vehicles, and groups of young tourists.
The tests are capable of detecting traces of
methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis found in the urine sample.
Four Uzbekistan
women arrested for prostitution
Two also charged with visa overstay
Boonlua Chatree
Four Uzbekistan women were arrested for prostitution
during an undercover operation in South Pattaya on August 31. Natalya
Truhina, 26, and Vassila Sharopova, 29, were arrested at the V.C. Hotel.
Elvira Ganieva, 29, and Viktoriya Muminova, 29, were arrested at the Rose
Garden Hotel and received an additional charge for residing in the Kingdom
on expired visas. Elvira’s visa expired almost two years ago and
Viktoriya’s visa expired one year ago.
The women had allegedly been operating in Bangkok
before moving to Pattaya.
Pattaya immigration police, led by superintendent Pol.
Col. Jiraphan Idsarangkul Na Ayuthaya, recruited foreign men to pose as
prospective clients to expose the women. Two groups of police officers and
undercover clients set out at around 3.00 a.m. on August 31, with police
laying in wait to track the suspects back to hotel rooms with the
undercover clients.
The recruited help wasted no time - almost immediately
after hitting the streets the first Uzbekistan woman propositioned one of
the undercover operators and took him to the V.C. Hotel, where another
Uzbekistan woman was also waiting. Immigration police officers followed
close behind and after allowing a suitable amount of time, they entered
the room and announced the raid, then ordered everyone to dress before
escorting them to the police station.
Around the same timeframe other undercover operators
were similarly propositioned and immigration police officers ended the
mischief at South Pattaya’s Rose Garden Hotel.
The charges registered against the women were “openly
soliciting clients offering sexual services in exchange for costs ranging
from 1,500 - 3,000 baht”.
Immigration Pol. Col. Jiraphan said that there is
allegedly another group of Russian and Uzbekistan women operating in
Pattaya who are engaged in prostitution. He said they are plying their
trade on the internet and openly soliciting clients on the streets.
Drug agent arrested
after making phone deal with police
5,200 methamphetamine pills confiscated
Boonlua Chatree
On August 26 Pattaya police ran a sting on a known drug
agent who plies his trade in the city. Yutana (Nang) Sondok, 22, a former
resident of Surin who is employed as a metal worker in Nong Prue,
confessed to possession and distribution of class 1 illegal drugs after
police recovered 5,200 methamphetamine tablets.
Already having evidence that Yutana was selling yaba, a
special unit led by deputy inspector Pol. Lt. Col. Sakrapee Preawpanich
laid out a plan, and with a phone call made arrangements to purchase 7,500
tablets of methamphetamine in the vicinity of the Cherry Lodge Hotel in
South Pattaya. The suspect arrived at the location agreed upon and
delivered 200 methamphetamine pills straight into the hands of undercover
police officers. The man was arrested on the spot and searched for other
illicit items.
After intense questioning Yutana also admitted to a
sizeable amount of the drugs stashed away in Naklua. Police later seized
5,000 more methamphetamine pills neatly wrapped in plastic and tied with
rubber bands.
Police believe Yutana’s supplier is a woman in her
30s going by the name of “Nang Aw”.
Yutana told police that he had been selling the drugs
for over a year, buying packs of 200 pills for B6,000 and selling to
smaller drug agents at a profit of 1,000 - 2,000 baht.
Mugger arrested
whilst cowering in cassava field
Leads police to 2 partners in crime
Boonlua Chatree
Nopadol Wongchangkong, 18, was arrested for theft on
August 24 whilst hiding in a cassava field in Naklua. Nopadol had snatched
a gold necklace from a surprised victim in broad daylight in Naklua, then
tried to run but didn’t get far. Witnesses called police and told them
where he was hiding.
 Nopadol
Wongchangkong snatched a gold necklace and tried to run and hide, but
police were able to track him down.
Pattaya municipal police moved in on the suspect, who
was still hiding in an overgrown cassava field behind a housing area off
of Pattaya-Naklua Road. After a few hours of maneuvering in on the target
officers finally arrested Nopadol, who was later identified by a young
couple as the thief.
Nopadol told police he usually operated with two other
accomplices and divulged their location while he boasted of numerous
muggings performed by the gang of petty thieves.
Police officers arrested Nopadol’s two unsuspecting
partners, Nimit Choichat, 24, and Anurak Saechio, 18, at their
unregistered place of stay in Soi Bongkot.
All three were charged with stealing personal property
in broad daylight and causing a nuisance to society. Four motorcycles with
no plates were also confiscated from the house in Bongkot.
Grover Tailor
receives notice to destruct
Litigation officials inspect Nang Nual
dismantling progress
Vichan Pladplueng
Grover Tailor may be the next on the list of 101
businesses along Pattaya’s Walking Street to find itself on the chopping
block. Officials made a visit to the tailor shop, owned by Harpreet Grover
and located right in the heart of the disputed business district.
 Grover
Tailor has become the next business to receive orders to dismantle.
Following a visual inspection of the 3-story building a
court order was presented to the owner ordering the removal of the
unauthorised portions of his building, a 3.5 x 16 meter area extending over
the shore at the rear of the shop.
The court order stipulates that action must be initiated
within a 30-day period or the city will implement action to remove the
designated area beginning on October 17. A signed receipt acknowledging the
contents of the court order was also obtained.
However, Nang Nual Seafood Restaurant still has the
starring role in the controversy in the ongoing denouement of Pattaya’s
101 businesses which encroach on public land. This land has been slated for
city development to enhance the resort town, but owners of these existing
businesses have battled for years to keep their buildings in tact, and have,
during that time actually made extensions to the buildings in question.
On August 27, officials inspected the progress of
dismantling an illegal addition to Nang Nual, which began on July 9, the day
before the statute of limitations could have taken affect nullifying the
case. Included in the group of inspectors on that day were officials from
the property seizure division in the local provincial litigation enforcement
department and Pattaya City lawyers.
The ‘get tough’ stance on Nang Nual began last
November when the notice was presented announcing the court order. Attempts
were made to dissuade the courts from pursuing the matter, but to no avail.
The 2nd floor area is now dismantled to the point that no
commercial type of business could be conducted. Inspectors made sure that no
damages to the original structure would be caused from the dismantling
process that could later result in legal suits filed by restaurant
ownership.
Pattaya City’s mayor still maintains legal authority if
evidence indicates the court action has been ignored, and he could, within
seven days, bring in a different contractor to complete the job with Nang
Nual liable for all costs involved.
Sunthorn Tansirikul
elected new Walking Street planning chairman
Safety and parking are major concerns
Members of South Pattaya’s Walking Street Planning
Committee unanimously elected Sunthorn Tansirikul to be their new committee
chairman. The election took place at Pattaya City Hall on August 23.
Sunthorn will replace Naris Petcharat, who is to remain as the chairman’s
planning advisor.
 Sunthorn
Tansirikul was unanimously elected chairman of the Walking Street planning
committee.
Sunthorn said despite current setbacks facing the
entertainment business community and other changes threatening local
business, he believes South Pattaya’s Walking Street area remains the
center of attraction for visiting tourists. He said the committee’s main
concern was maintaining tourist safety.
He also said the consolidated efforts of the city
administration and local police agencies, which have been focusing attention
on the street children problem and others pestering tourists for handouts,
have had commendable results.
Vehicle parking, to include motorbikes for hire, is
another area that Sunthorn said was receiving added attention. He said the
Walking Street Committee is in full support of the recent parking regulation
prohibiting parking on Beach Road up until midnight.
Advance Tech
International submits bid to handle city’s waste
Plans to create separation station
Advance Tech International has submitted a proposal to
manage a separation station at the new 140 rai waste disposal site in Khao
Mai Kaew.
Pattaya authorities recognize the increasing urgency for
someone to take on the task since the city’s current waste disposal site,
located on 35 rai of land in Soi Chayapruk, has filled beyond capacity,
expediting the move to Khao Mai Kaew.
Having had past experience handling waste in Chiang Mai
Municipality, ATI submitted a bid for a joint venture. Details of the bid
offer were recently divulged after Pornlert Preuttianant, ATI’s chief
engineer, contacted Pattaya deputy mayor Watana Jantanawaranant and the city
maintenance director Sittiphap Muangkhum.
The ATI proposal consists of separating the biodegradable
components from the city’s massive amount of plastic and other waste and
turning the reusable portions into fertiliser. The separation process would
be conducted at a station within close proximity to the city, within
10-kilometres, and the remaining waste transferred on to the Khao Mai Kaew
disposal site.
ATI’s proposal includes an estimate of 40 million baht
to start the operation that collects the waste. The construction of the
separation station is estimated at an additional 120 million baht.
The ATI chief engineer said his company could either
cover the entire cost of starting the operation or Pattaya could cover the
investment with ATI by reimbursing the company out of collected profits.
City sanitation director, Panya Jiraprasertsak, said the
city is currently collecting waste using compacting trucks and non-mechanised
trucks from a concession contracted to the Chatrakaew Company which services
the greater part of Pattaya. City trash collection trucks service areas in
North Pattaya and Naklua. The entire operational cost per month exceeds
one-million baht. Soaring fuel costs and the increasing amount of waste
produced adds to the monthly expense. He said the city expects to contract
the waste collection business over to a private company sometime in the
coming year.
The future of
education discussed in Jomtien
Chakrapong Akkaranant
School administrators from all of Thailand’s 76
provinces attended a seminar at the Ambassador City Hotel on August 22 to
gain a better understanding of changes occurring in the teaching
administration.
 Gamini
Abeysekera (left), representing the UNICEF Office in Thailand, attended the
seminar, along with the deputy minister of education, Mrs. Sirikorn
Moneerint (right).
Chaired by the deputy minister of education, Mrs.
Sirikorn Moneerint, the theme of the seminar was ‘Common Binds Pursuing
Reforms in Education’.
After lectures from prominent speakers, discussions were
held to exchange ideas on new trends in educational development. The main
objectives concerned identifying the mechanisms to improve the quality of
education in order to compete in the international arena and to achieve
social goals in Thailand.
On the same day, Mrs. Sirikorn chaired a conference with
student council members from provinces around the country to discuss common
concerns in education and solicit ideas as further input to achieve the
desired goals.
Student input will be passed on to the Thailand
Development Institute. Ideas and input will also be submitted to the United
Nations Development Programme under UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund.
Foreign discount
stores should pay taxes to local provinces
So says Chonburi PAO president Bhinyo Tanwised
In an attempt to garner more funds for local coffers,
Chonburi PAO president Bhinyo Tanwised proposes that taxes from the many
large discount stores in the province be collected locally rather than being
diverted to Bangkok where the large retail stores are registered.
Currently, businesses operating in the region, but which
are registered outside the district, do not pay local taxes. Since this
excludes cities like Pattaya from reaping the benefits of tax collection,
Chonburi’s Provincial Administration Organization (PAO) president Bhinyo
Tanwised would like to see that changed. A campaign in Pattaya designed to
bring about public awareness of this issue has already begun.
Pattaya is joining forces with the private sector, the
Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, the Thai Hotel Association Eastern
Chapter and the Pattaya Hotel Association to support a campaign specifically
directed at Lotus, Macro, Foodland and other major retailers registered
outside of the city. Their ability to generate massive sums of revenue each
year puts them in the category of taxpayers. If they generate business
locally, they should pay local taxes, the group says.
The controversial issue has been presented to the
decentralisation planning board for consideration and inclusion in the
overall decentralisation plan. The Chonburi government and private sector
committee is also aware of the issue and is considering corrective action.
The mayor of Saensuk Municipality, Somchai Khunpluem, in
his capacity as advisor to the provincial rural development committee,
agrees. He made specific reference to the Lotus and Makro stores in
Chonburi’s Muang District where both stores are releasing sewage locally
and producing overwhelming amounts of waste material. He said the local
administration could very well decide not to collect the vast amount of
waste produced at both business locations and leave it up to the foreign
companies to properly dispose of their own waste.
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 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]
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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