NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Bali Hai Marina should be ready to go this month

Fire breaks out on ground floor of Royal Garden Plaza sending shoppers fleeing

Upcoming holidays update

City hopes to elevate all schools to international standards within next 6 years

Consumers urged to call Regional Consumer Protection Center if cheated

Pattaya to become user-friendly city for the disabled

Over 1,000 clean up the city in honor of our Beloved King

Large trees moved in the name of progress

Anti-Drugs campaign parade scheduled for December 10

Baywatch

Lewd show raided again

Bomb squad called to shopping plaza to check on suspicious box

Explosion in South Pattaya workshop leaves 3 seriously injured

Confidence man ends up in jail after cheating one too many people

Police Briefs

Survey reveals most still reluctant to see transvestites become ministers

Over 500 residents in Pattaya join in the nationwide’ Exercise for Health’ project in the grounds of Pattaya City Hall

Pattaya City marches for World AIDS Day

Chonburi could see 300 million baht sports complex next year

Bali Hai Marina should be ready to go this month

Boat operators warn of overcrowding already

Veerachai Somchart

The new 238 million baht Bali Hai Marina situated on 18.75 rai of land at Bali Hai Cape has been declared 97% complete and will be operational just in time for the holiday season in December. The city planning department revealed that only a few more touches are needed to finish the project, which they say will bring South Pattaya to life.

The beautiful new South Pattaya pier is nearly finished and should be fully operational this month, perhaps as soon as next week.

Sanit Boonmachai, president of the Pattaya Traveling Boat Club, has warned that there might be some problems regarding overcrowding of boats docking at the new marina. Currently, there are as many as 400-500 boats anchored off the Pattaya and Jomtien shore. Five years ago when the plan was initiated that number was only 200.

The city planning department says they have corrected past flaws that have affected the area’s other piers, such as the one at Tawaen Beach on Larn Island. The pier at Tawaen is a good example of careless location planning, poor design and a big waste of money. Boats are unable to safely dock at the pier for fear of hitting the pillars and rocks in shallow water.

Pattaya’s city planning department used a better design and more research went into the location plan so that the pier at Bali Hai Marina will be effective and efficient. The bumping protection rubber installed to the sides of the pier to avoid damage to docked boats is of international quality and is used worldwide.

The Bali Hai Marina development is one of 9 Pattaya improvement projects. In 1990, the city planning department proposed to city authorities that 101 businesses on the beach side of South Pattaya - which were in some way or other encroaching on public land - be dismantled to make way for environmental improvement.

These businesses were affecting a 119-rai parcel of land which the city wanted to develop into a major seaside project for the general public and tourism.

Protests against the city’s claim to the land were vigorous and lengthy. After protracted negotiations with residents the city finally agreed to reduce the targeted area to a section of land measuring 18.75 rai.

The Bangsaen Mahanakorn Contractor Company started the construction work for the marina on June 26, 2000, and the project is due to be operational on December 12, 2002. The Bali Hai Pier is 803.30 meters in length. Besides the reception and service terminal, the complex includes a huge parking lot, a small park, roads linking to Pattaya Third Road and walkways linked to Walking Street.


Fire breaks out on ground floor of Royal Garden Plaza sending shoppers fleeing

Initial estimates of 4 million baht in damages

Boonlua Chatree and Songklod Kaewvisit

A fire broke out on the ground floor on the beach side of the Royal Garden Plaza shopping and sent shoppers and staff running into the street to escape thick smoke from burning merchandise at around 4.30 p.m. last Monday afternoon.

Firefighters and police arrived on the scene to find four shops engulfed in flames - Surfer Girl, Triumph Underwear, the Big Silver Shop and Hardcore Surf. The thick smoke caused by burning fabric reduced visibility and firefighters had to don breathing apparatus to fight the flames inside the center. Local volunteers aided in evacuating the building.

Smoke and water damage to the four shops and the center was initially estimated at around 4 million baht. Insurance companies will have to evaluate the final damage bill.

Fortunately there were no injuries from the fire or through smoke inhalation.

At press time there was still no definite data to determine where and how the blaze started. Initial reports suggest that faulty electrical wiring may have caused the fire. However, fire investigation officers are still in the process of examining the cause of the blaze.


Upcoming holidays update

Thailand businesses to take 5-day holiday during New Year festival

Next Tuesday, December 10 is Constitution Day in Thailand, which is an official public holiday. Banks, government offices and many businesses will be closed on that day.

Also, Thai people will have the opportunity to celebrate a longer New Year festival this year, as the cabinet on November 25 approved a 5-day holiday during the New Year period.

Government spokesman Sitha Thivaree said the cabinet approved December 30 as one more holiday day during the New Year period, “This allows Thai people to have five consecutive days off for holidays during the New Year Festival, from Saturday to Wednesday - December 28 to January 1,” he stated.


City hopes to elevate all schools to international standards within next 6 years

Pattaya School Number 7 the first to undergo the evolution

After members of the city council went to look at Pattaya School Number 7 the city council held a meeting to discuss the new improvements which will be done to develop the schools of Pattaya during the next 2 years with the budget of 65 million baht.

Pinyo Tanwiset, administrator for charity funds of Chonburi said that by the year 2006 the 47 schools in Chonburi District will all be up to international standards concerning educational materials, technology and construction.

The development of the schools will be accomplished with the involvement of teachers and headmasters, and more materials and equipment will be provided for students.

All in all Pattaya has 10 public schools but Pattaya School number 7 has been selected to be the first to undergo the evolution because it is over 20 years old and its needs are many.

Pattaya School 7 will be given computers and foreign languages will also be introduced into the system. The school has a total of 1,500 students distributed on 4 floors and has only 40 bathrooms.

In the next 6 years Pattaya City hopes to elevate all schools to international standards. The plan is to modernize the buildings and revamp the curriculum. In order to bring the school educational level up to standards, teachers’ credentials will have to be approved by the mayor.

The city also has a plan to tear down 3 old school buildings, and rebuild them as 4 story buildings, with 18 classrooms and a separate cafeteria and gymnasium. This plan will cost about 60-70 million baht.


Consumers urged to call Regional Consumer Protection Center if cheated

Local officials do preventative survey of local shops

Suchada Tupchai

Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijikarn, Vichit Saengsuksawat, assistant director of the Chonburi Commercial Department and members of Pattaya and provincial health and hygiene departments recently conducted an inspection of consumer items, including electrical goods, food items, and cosmetics at local shopping centers and stores. This check was to make sure businesses are conforming to regulations concerning consumer protection regarding quality of merchandise in the city.

Vichit said that the provincial authorities normally conduct regular inspections in the interest of consumer safety but seldom inform the media of their actions.

Vichit went on to say that those found violating consumer protection laws were given a chance to redeem themselves before the next inspection and most shops do so willingly.

The team of officials visited the Big C electrical department to make sure that equipment had the appropriate warnings and labels displayed clearly.

The inspection team also checked the fresh food section and the meat department where fresh pork was tested for levels of borax. They found no infringements and everything was in order.

The next stops on the inspection tour were restaurants located on Central Pattaya Road. The team found most establishments were clean and hygienic standards were acceptable. Most had prices for food and beverages clearly posted according to regulations.

Vichit requested cooperation from all sectors of the community and if any residents or tourists have been dealt with unfairly or sold defective goods, he said that complaints can be directed to the Regional Consumer Protection Center by calling 038 276 770 or 038 270 055.

The inspection regarding consumer protection is timely as the World Scout Jamboree is coming up and with the increase in the number of visitors from around the globe the authorities want tourists and local consumers to be confident in the safety of products and services within the city and not be cheated or overcharged.


Pattaya to become user-friendly city for the disabled

Thai Constitution requires changes be made

Suchada Tupchai

At the moment, Pattaya City is lagging behind on implementing measures which would increase the comfort, safety and mobility of disabled persons. However, the new Thai Constitution is explicit in its wording that disabled and elderly citizens have the right to public conveniences and aids which would simplify their lives.

City management, including Deputy Mayor Niran Wattanasatsathorn, recently met with Suporntham Mongkolsawat, head of the Redemptorist Vocational College for the Disabled and members of the community to set about changing infrastructure in Pattaya City which would make the town more user-friendly for physically disabled members of the community.

Also attending the meeting was Pharadorn Tharapan, an expert in the field of designing such facilities. Pharadorn told attendees that legislation is now in place whereby local infrastructure must include convenient facilities for the disabled and elderly.

In keeping with the ‘Universal Design’, changes must be made to accommodate this section of the community. But Pattaya lacks such conveniences even though it has many examples from cities around the world to draw from.

Under articles 55 and 80 of the new Thai Constitution disabled and elderly citizens have the right to these conveniences. These aids will allow them to be more active in society, to more easily make use of public places and get around conveniently in government offices.

The legislation also states that there must be signs clearly posted depicting reserved areas for the elderly and the disabled. Ramps must be built at entrances to buildings, automatic doors should be installed, bathroom facilities should safely accommodate this group of people, as well as elevators, well-lit walkways and parking spaces should be allocated and reserved specifically for the disabled and the elderly.

Suporntham Mongkolsawat said, “Implementing these conveniences for the disabled community is not a new idea. Countries around the world have for many years provided such levels of convenience. Thailand now needs to catch up. This can only enhance the community as whole by providing such facilities.”

At the meeting a slide show was presented to show various designs of conveniences for the disabled from countries such as Singapore, Japan and the United States.

The meeting concluded with city officers calling for immediate inspection of the city and construction sites to begin implementing the changes as quickly as possible.


Over 1,000 clean up the city in honor of our Beloved King

Start of the city’s new Development Project Program

As a tribute to His Majesty the King for his birthday and to encourage the public to get involved in projects which help improve Pattaya’s image and appearance, the city organized what it calls the Pattaya Development Project Program.

People Power! Many people joined in the fun and helped clean up the city on the first day of what the city plans to be an ongoing effort in honor of His Majesty the King.

Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat last week presided over the project’s commencement at city hall. Over 1000 city residents, naval cadets from Sattahip Naval Base, personnel from the health department, students and business people, including staff from hotels and shopping malls attended the opening ceremonies.

Pattaya Development Projects will consist of cleaning the footpaths, a beach clean up, and tidying up public places.

At the opening ceremony the mayor said that this is an excellent time to begin the project since His Majesty’s birthday is a very auspicious occasion and people are inspired to do good deeds as a tribute to their beloved monarch.

The King’s birthday is also Thailand’s designated Father’s Day and this project is a productive way to show respect to the King. It also provides a vehicle to educate the public on how important environmental awareness is to the nation.


Large trees moved in the name of progress

Songklod Kaewvisit

Three large rain-trees, estimated to be around 100 years old, have been moved from their original location by the Grand Sole Hotel on Pattaya Second Road to a new home.

On the night of the move, this woman said she felt like she was losing her friends, as she had been selling food from the shade of the trees for 9 years.

The three giants were trimmed of their main branches after which a backhoe carefully dug around the root system before they were loaded onto a semi-trailer and moved to their new home near Pattaya Folk Village and nearby Elephant Garden.

The trees were moved to make way for progress. A plaza will be built where the developer has leased the land for a ‘4 plus 4 plus 4’ lease agreement with the owners.

The trees were trimmed back before being moved to their new home.

Local residents and business people were generally concerned over the fate of these three old giants and were relived to hear they were to be relocated rather than scrapped and sincerely hope they will thrive once transplanted. However, the removal of the beautiful old trees has left the area barren and less green.


Anti-Drugs campaign parade scheduled for December 10

To be held annually from now on

Songklod Kaewvisit

A parade will start at Pattaya police station Soi 9 on December 10 at 4:00 p.m. and end at Walking Street to boost the city’s ‘Anti-Drugs’ campaign.

Rungthip Suksrikarn, initiator of the project, said that she believes Pattaya’s upcoming anti-drugs parade/rally will definitely encourage Pattaya residents to publicly oppose drug use. She also said this event will take place on December 10 (Constitution Day, a public holiday) every year from now on.

Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, led by its president, Surat Mekavarakul has put great effort into the campaign, which was conceived to promote unfavorable reaction towards drug abuse.

The president said the many clubs and associations that signed up for the event included Lions Clubs, Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Rotary Clubs, Pattaya Hotels Club, Eastern Hotels Association, Gold Merchandisers Club of Pattaya, and YWCA of Bangkok-Pattaya.

Money was raised up to produce 5,000 shirts promoting the Anti-Drugs campaign, which will be sold at 150 baht in various stores including gold shops in Pattaya, Mikes Shopping Mall, Sawang Boriboon Life Foundation, and Tiffany Show Theatre.

The anti-drugs campaign committee will be managing the proceeds and will use some of the money for sting operations to help police break up drug rings.

On the day of the parade, the public is urged to wear the black shirts printed with the anti-drugs campaign slogan and logo.

Surat said it is a good sign to see many associations and clubs join hands in protesting the use of illegal drugs. He said he hoped that the campaign would help stop the spread of drug abuse amongst young kids. Surat added that the public must take this problem seriously and act with conviction in order to make Pattaya City a clean place for residents and tourists.


Baywatch

What happened to the city’s ‘shade project’?

Ekachai Kamolsri

Literally dozens of green poles around the city remain virtually untouched. The poles are standing there, but when are the city officials going to give orders to plant the vines? Not only are these ‘shade covers’ not providing any shade, but they have created a nuisance to pedestrians, as they are placed in obscure sections of the footpaths. They also do not provide enough room for people using wheel chairs. So much for Pattaya becoming more ‘user friendly’ for the disabled.


Lewd show raided again

Pattaya police continue to raid entertainment venues offering naughty shows

The current social order reforms are still in place but some bars in Pattaya seem to care less. A team of police officers recently raided the Soi 8 A go-go after receiving reports that the venue had been offering illegal lewd performances.

Plain-clothes cops posing as tourists slyly sprung their trap and arrested 3 service girls with one performing naked. The girls were promptly told to get dressed and were then escorted to the Soi 9 cop-shop. The owner/manager of the bar was also taken to the police station for questioning.

The interview went well as the manager amicably told police that she had been in this business for a long time, and had been providing tourists who frequent her establishment with racy shows, since they obviously enjoyed them.

She said her main clients were tourists from China and Korea who paid 150 baht per head to view something a little provocative. She said the service had been very popular bringing her good income even though she knew that it was against the law.

Well, what’s a girl to do? Pay the fine. She was fined 2,000 baht; the performers were also fined 500 baht each.


Bomb squad called to shopping plaza to check on suspicious box

Ominous looking box frightens counter girls

Boonlua Chatree

Police last week were called to a Beach Road shopping mall to inspect a suspicious box after employees reported that a box believed to be a time bomb was found at the service counter.

It does look rather scary, but it turned out to be nothing more than a diving compass. Phew!

Service counter attendants, Vassana Boonsong, aged 20, and Anchalee Suda, aged 25, called in the report. When police arrived at the scene to investigate, they were told by the attendants that an elderly foreign man had deposited the box at the counter at 4:00 p.m. and then walked away. However, when they looked more closely at the box they thought the goods inside looked like a time bomb. Shocked and frightened they notified authorities.

Without further delay Pattaya police contacted a bomb squad from the Sattahip Naval Base. A team of experts accompanied by dogs arrived at the 3rd floor of the shopping mall, creating quite a stir amongst the startled shoppers. Many didn’t stick around to find out what was happening and beat a hasty exit.

Half an hour later the foreign gentleman returned to the counter to reclaim his box, more than a little surprised that he was met by police officers, sniffer dogs and a team of bomb disposal experts.

Admitting ownership of the box that had created such paranoia, he told officers that the contents contained a compass for scuba diving.

Police unwrapped the box and found a black metal diving compass that the Italian tourist, Carlo Sary had brought with him to Pattaya for the underwater diving trip. Carlo said he had no idea that such an innocuous piece of equipment would cause so much panic.


Explosion in South Pattaya workshop leaves 3 seriously injured

10 buildings severely damaged

Boonlua Chatree

Exploding gas bottles and compressors in a South Pattaya workshop sprayed shrapnel and glass over 20 meters and blew off both legs of the shop owner and seriously injured the man’s two-year-old son and 16-year-old employee.

Exploding gas bottles and compressors in this South Pattaya workshop sprayed shrapnel and glass over 20 meters and blew off both legs of the shop owner and seriously injured the man’s two-year-old son and 16-year-old employee.

The tragedy occurred at a refrigeration and compressor workshop on South Pattaya Road, opposite the Bank of Ayuthaya just after midday on Monday December 2. The explosion ripped through the building damaging 10 neighboring buildings and a vehicle.

When police arrived on the scene they saw that the destruction was devastating. Nearby residents and neighbors had already sent the three critically injured people to Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where they underwent immediate surgery to stop severe bleeding and remove pieces of one of the refrigerant bottles that shattered when the compressor exploded.

Police investigators questioned Chusak Chimkaew, who witnessed the explosion from across the street. Chusak told officers that shop’s owner, identified as 33 year old Suriya Chaidech, was in the process of welding the compressor. Apparently Suriya finished welding and was about to file off the weld when the compressor exploded. The explosion caused a small bottle of refrigerant gas to also explode and sprayed pieces of metal in a 20 meter radius. The sheer force of the explosion blew off both of Suriya’s legs.

Suriya’s two year old son Pawarit and 16 year old employee Boonmee Sukjit, who were inside the shop when the explosion took place, were seriously injured from flying pieces of metal.

Pattaya Police Chief Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekkanon ordered officers to remove pieces of the gas bottle and hose for police forensics to examine a possible cause for the explosion. He also told them to check on whether the shop had the necessarily operating licenses.

Police went to Pattaya Memorial Hospital hopes of questioning the victims but staff said the injured people were in no condition to be interviewed. Boonmee Sukjit was reported to be unconscious with multiple shrapnel wounds and the two year old boy and his father were both in critical condition and would need surgery.


Confidence man ends up in jail after cheating one too many people

Con charges not levied, but visa overstay charges filed

Boonlua Chatree

An Iraqi national recently confessed to conning a Middle Eastern visitor out of 16,000 baht by promising the victim he could ‘fix’ a visa overstay because of his alleged insider police connections.

Iraqi Talal T Chali swindled one person too many and ended up in jail for visa overstay.

On November 24, local police received a report from Lamyai Kaewthongdee that her husband, Masood Phoosani, an Iranian national who had previously been detained for overstaying his visa was cheated out of 16,000 baht by Talal T Chali, an Iraqi national after Talal told them they he had ‘connections’ in the police station and could help them solve Masood’s overstay case.

As part of the ‘help’ Talal requested 20,000 baht from the Iranian who haggled the price down to 16,000 baht. After taking the money from Masood and his wife, Talal did nothing to help the case, so Lamyai reported the swindle to officers at the Pattaya police station.

The case was then handed over the Foreign Crime Suppression Unit, which sent a team of officers in search for the miscreant Iraqi. They eventually found him outside a South Pattaya entertainment venue. Officers took Talal into custody when they discovered that he had also overstayed his visa.

It seems that Talal had been a somewhat prolific con artist during his stay in the area. During the course of his arrest another woman, identified as Nayana Wanna told police that Talal had also taken her mobile phone after requesting to borrow it. Another Iraqi, Ismael Mansoor, accused Talal of absconding with his mobile telephone and 3,000 baht in cash. Both wanted police to arrest Talal.

During interrogation Talal T Chali confessed to swindling Masood out of the 16,000 baht and was apparently willing to repay the money. Police did, however, charge him for over-staying his visa.

As for swindling the money from Masood, who was currently detained for overstay, officers said that, as there was no solid proof, they were unable to arrest him on that charge without a valid court order.


Police Briefs

Motorbike thieves caught with 10
stolen vehicles

Police recently arrested juveniles, Siam (Jack) Kessakorn, age 17, Suworn Namchaidee aged 17, and Preecha Praraj also aged 17 in the parking lot at Luk Pla apartment building along with 2 stolen motorbikes in their possession.

After questioning the three teenagers, police were able to trace another 16-year-old gang member at his residence in Huay Yai Banglamung where there were another 6 stolen motorbikes.

The gang admitted to the crime telling police that they had stolen numerous motorbikes from locals and tourists in Pattaya. The stolen motorcycles were disassembled and sold to motorbike repair shops for cash. They said that a few were sold in tact to people from 2,500 to 3,000 baht per bike.

The youngsters confessed that the money obtained from these crimes was used for social outings and to buy drugs.

French tourists robbed of over 3 million baht in
valuables

French tourists staying in a Jomtien hotel recently returned to their rooms to find that their video cameras, digital cameras, golden rings, perfume bottles, suitcases and Euro cash were missing. Four rooms had been broken into and the loss was estimated at more than 3 million baht.

Hotel staff told police that prior to the robbery a group of Middle Easterners had booked a room under a Thai woman’s name. After the robbery was reported, the staff suspected that these people might have been involved in the robbery since they vanished from the hotel the next morning.

The name of the woman on the hotel registry was Patharaporn Kantao and the form indicated that she was a Chonburi resident who checked in with a Middle Easterner.

Police are continuing their investigation.


Survey reveals most still reluctant to see transvestites become ministers

Most city residents remain reluctant to see transvestites become ministers and national politicians, but accept their role in the show business, according to a poll by Ramkamhaeng University. Dr Arastham Prommana, chairman of the Research and Development Institute of the university, said the survey was conducted with a random sample of 1,490 people on “Right and Role of Transvestite and Social Acceptance.”

Of this, 41.3% were male, 55% female with 2.8% being transvestites.

The poll showed 77.3% viewed transvestites should be legally protected when they are raped. Currently, raped transvestites are not entitled to take legal action because they are considered male under the law.

The survey found 50.5% viewed transvestites should have the right to get marriage registration while 49.5% disagreed.

On the role people disagreed most to let transvestites assume, 61.9% said they should not take up a ministerial post and become national politicians. The poll also found 71.1% viewed transvestites should not be allowed to use Ms or Mrs. before their name, 64.2% said they should not use female toilets, 53.3% they should not be exempted from military service, and 53% they should not wear female student uniforms.

On the role people agreed most to let them assume, 93.7% said they accept their role in show business. They also agreed to see them become lecturers, doctors, executives, and nurses respectively. (TNA)


Over 500 residents in Pattaya join in the nationwide’ Exercise for Health’ project in the grounds of Pattaya City Hall

Suchada Tupchai

They came from all over the area; young, old, active, sedentary, athletic and even our couch-potatoes rose from their chairs to join in the fun of a mass aerobic workout on the grounds of city hall last week.

Mayor Pairat (right) warms up for the aerobic workout with a little Thai dancing.

As a part of Thailand’s central government policy on promoting a healthy lifestyle, over 500 Pattaya residents joined over 40,000 people around the nation for the group workout.

Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat was on hand with the city management team to officially kick-start the affair, along with members of the Pattaya Aerobics Association and local health clubs leading the session.

Pattaya City actively supported the national project, which is one the many activities organized by the Ministry of Public Health to promote a healthier lifestyle among the population and take an interest in health issues.

The modern Thai lifestyle has focused mainly on work and taking care of the day-to-day responsibilities which leaves little time for exercise. Unfortunately this lack of vigorous physical exercise has resulted in an increase of various illnesses.

Not surprisingly, Pattaya City introduced a little culture and fun into this mass workout by holding a warm-up session of Thai traditional dancing. Adding a little spice to the action, fitness fanatics and aerobic buffs loved this original idea. After everyone was limbered up the crowd gave their all during the 1-hour workout.


Pattaya City marches for World AIDS Day

Pattaya Gay Festival raises over 3 million baht for local charities, Heartt2000 and drug rehab center

December 1 is designated as World AIDS Day by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year this special day draws world-wide attention to the prevention and care of HIV/AIDS. This year hundreds of people in Pattaya, including city officials and residents, turned out in force, despite impending rain, to march in the parade carrying ‘Safe Sex’ and ‘No to Drugs’ banners.

Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (right), Dr Philippe Seur (center background) and Chanyut Hengtrakul (center) enjoy the passing parade on World AIDS Day 2002.

This year’s parade began in front of the Nova Lodge Hotel on Pattaya Beach Road. Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, Santsak Ngampiches, deputy chief of the Chart Thai Party, and council members, as well as Dr. Philip Suer, who runs “Help Ensure Aids Rescue in Thailand Together” (Heartt2000) started the parade which proceeded along Pattaya Beach Road to South Pattaya. Then the parade returned along Pattaya Second Road as all the marchers braved a torrential downpour.

Amongst the ranks, the Pattaya Gay Festival marchers provided a great dash of color and spirit to the parade, affirming their place in the city as responsible adults and main contributors to the Heartt2000 AIDS charity fund with over 3 million baht being raised this year.

The festival’s grand finale for the year was marked with a beach party at Jomtien on November 29, a Gala Dinner at Bruno’s Restaurant on November 30, the ‘Walk for Life’ Parade along Beach Road, on December 1 followed by a street party in Boyz Town.

The two main charities designated by the Pattaya Gay Festival are the Naklua Drug Rehabilitation Center, where extensive improvements to their facilities were desperately needed, and Heartt 2000, run by Dr Philippe Seur, a French doctor who has dedicated himself to helping local people infected with the HIV/AIDS virus who cannot afford the cost of the expensive medication vital for their survival.

To date Dr Philippe works under the auspices of Dr. Jureerat, director of the Chonburi Public Hospital and together they have helped more than 550 HIV patients, undoubtedly saving many lives.

Current statistics reveal that the group with the highest rate of HIV infection is laborers - a staggering 43.98 percent. Many are unaware they are infected until the first symptoms appear.

The Walk for Life in Pattaya was mirrored around Thailand and the world to promote preventative measures in stemming the spread of the disease by emphasizing educational and advertising campaigns in communities around the globe.

WHO has already set the theme for the World AIDS Campaign 2002-2003 - which will attempt to address the stigma and discrimination of those infected with AIDS.


Chonburi could see 300 million baht sports complex next year

Veerachai Somchart

Recently Sonthaya Khunpluem, minister of tourism and sports, revealed that a 300 million baht indoor sports complex called ‘Sports City’ might be built in Chonburi next year and could be operational as soon as 2005.

He added that Chonburi Province is very suitable for a big sports center because of its location, which can be accessed through land, sea and air.

The minister of tourism and sports disclosed that sports complexes are currently available in large numbers around the kingdom and he believes that the ministry does not have to invest many millions for more, “But we must use those existing stadiums more effectively by increasing the frequency of games and events,” he said.

The minister added that Thailand has a good chance to host the Asia Indoor Games 2005, if the country can beat Macao’s capability in organizing the event. “So what we need is an indoor stadium of international standard that can comfortably handle over 4,000 viewers at a time. The stadium could also be used for other popular sporting events, like tennis,” he said.

The minister said that the country must use its resources creatively and that the eastern part of the nation has great potential for more development.

Santiphap Techawanit, sports governor of Thailand, estimated the cost of construction of the giant sports complex at 300 million baht and insisted that Chonburi has the potential to become one of the host cities for the Asia Indoor Games in 2005. Thailand was recently nominated.

He agreed that Chonburi Province and especially Pattaya City have more than enough accommodation available for visitors and are well equipped with three main channels of transportation.

Apparently Pattaya City has offered a 50 rai section of land in the Jomtien area to the ministry and is waiting for official support.