NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Government to launch safe driving project

U-Tapao Airport resurrection on standby

Tourist police and volunteers lead beach clean-up

Tourist police teach students how to assist tourists and rescue victims from sea accidents

Diana Group donates rice and funds to the SOS Rice project

Grand spectacle held for 20th Sriracha Games kick off

Kazakhstan beauty wins Miss CIS & Russia in Pattaya

Aussie thwarts Jomtien bag snatcher

Police bust Paradise Bar’s balloon

Illegal Burmese workers arrested

Dead infant discovered in trash bin

Hotel cook arrested for theft after woman loses struggle for handbag

Heavy drinking may have led to death of German national

Heroine dealer arrested with over 200,000 baht worth of dope

Brawling foreign tourists keep police busy throughout the New Year’s festivities

Government to launch safe driving project

The government will launch a safe driving project to promote and enhance disciplines among motorists to reduce the number road accidents and casualties, according to Deputy Interior Minister Pramual Rujanaseree.

Pramual said that a special panel will be set up to supervise the safe driving project, which would be launched throughout the year 2003.

The special panel comprising of representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Transport and Communications, Public Health, Education, and the Royal Thai Police, will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang, and will be in charge of tailoring measures to enhance driving disciplines among motorists.

Safe driving will be included in curricula of all classes; while private driving schools will also be supervised to include driving disciplines in their courses, as they will be allowed to issue driving licenses to their students under the close supervision and standard control of government officials.

The move followed high records of road accidents and the number of casualties during this year’s New Year festival. The Command Center for Prevention of Road Accidents during the New Year Festival reported that there were 11,438 accidents from December 27, 2002 - January 2, 2003, with a total death toll of 562 and 32,451 injuries.

Although the death toll and the number of injuries were 3.93% and 5.39% lower than those of last year respectively, they failed to meet the government’s target of reducing the number of casualties during the New Year festival by 20 percent.

The most accidents happened in Bangkok (124), followed by Chiang Mai (49), Kanchanaburi (21), Samut Prakan (18), and Nakhon Sawan (17). Most of the accidents were caused by motorcycles, followed by pick-up trucks, according to the command center.

The most road deaths were recorded in Nakhon Sawan, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Phanom and Chonburi. Most of the injuries were recorded in Nakhon Ratchasima, followed by Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, and Buriram.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has instructed agencies concerned to analyze the causes of road accidents and casualties during the New Year festival so that preventive measures can be implemented more efficiently during the Songkran Festival - the traditional Thai New Year, in April. (TNA)


U-Tapao Airport resurrection on standby

Some say it’s due to lack of concern from the naval base and authorities

Veerachai Somchart

Pattaya and its environs desperately need an airport which can conveniently handle international traffic. Last month, the issue of U-Tapao airport development was discussed and the conclusion was reported to the Travel Industry Assembly of Thailand, but so far the response has been lifeless.

The facilities at U-Tapao Airport don’t meet the standards required by the demand, but so far, improvements have been put on standby.

Surat Mekhawarakul, president of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Somchai Khunpluem, Saen Suk municipality mayor, PBTA members and Pattaya’s city council recently met again to push for U-Tapao’s development.

During a 1-year period, 300-500 chartered aircraft land at U-Tapao, bringing in over a hundred thousand visitors. But the facilities provided are way below acceptable standards.

Surat said if the naval base authorities ignore the tremendous amount of income that the nation is going to get, it is a pity for the naval base and the whole nation. He said the PBTA has tried to persuade the naval base to reconsider the issue. The PBTA also collected data on aircraft traffic in U-Tapao for the last 5 years and presented it to the naval base hoping for action but feedback has been slow.

During the meeting, Kamnan Poh revealed that he has been working closely with the city planning department, the Provincial Administration Organization of Chonburi, a range of district administration organizations, various municipalities, and Pattaya City and has gotten to know all the projects and city plans for Chonburi Province.

He estimated that the provincial development budget, to be funded by the government, would be up to 700 million baht and sincerely hopes that U-Tapao Airport can be the center of air transportation in the eastern region. He added that Nong Ngu Hao Airport is a very large and time consuming project and may not be operational by 2004.

Kamnan Poh said that if the authorities are not interested in the issue he could improve the airport himself.

In a unrelated matter, the Saen Suk mayor said that Pattaya City still has planning problems, an example being the dismantling of the 101 Walking Street businesses, which, he said, showed lack of community strength. The arguments have dragged on too long between the authorities and the private sector. Kamnan Poh said he would see what he could do to help resolve the issue.

He said he has ordered his crew to collect accurate information and perhaps he can come up with a better idea rather than dismantle the 101 complexes. He said a landfill project could be constructed which would include a road for bicyclists and beach strollers. This would reduce the tension and encourage cooperation between both sides.


Tourist police and volunteers lead beach clean-up

New Year’s gift to the people of Pattaya

Led by Pol. Lt. Col. Naradech Klomtuksing, a team of tourist police and volunteers led a clean-up of Pattaya beaches as a gift to the people of Pattaya and to provide a good example to residents on how important it is to take care of the environment.

The clean-up started from the Dolphin Circle and continued all the way down to the South Pattaya pier.

The campaign drew a large crowd of residents along the way as people joined in to help the officers with the gesture. The message conveyed is that if this is done at least one a week Pattaya can become a clean and tidy place for everyone.


Tourist police teach students how to assist tourists and rescue victims from sea accidents

Boonlua Chatree

The city’s tourist police recently held a training and educational course to teach 80 students from Pothisampan School how to better serve their communities. The course included showing the students how to rescue victims of water accidents, first aid procedures, how to prevent and avoid crimes, and the correct procedures in reporting misconduct and how to assist tourists.

Pattaya’s tourist police recently trained 80 students from Pothisampan School how to better serve their communities.

Pol Lt. Col. Naradech Klomtuksing presided over the seminar.

The aim of the seminar was to increase cooperation between private and public sectors in enhancing the image of Thailand as a tourist destination by increasing security in beach areas such as Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Koh Larn.

The educational seminar was held in response to an increasing death toll from sea accidents, resulting from people not paying attention to warnings and from inefficient cooperation among rescue teams.


Diana Group donates rice and funds to the SOS Rice project

Encourages others to join the drive

Suchada Tupchai

Sopin Thappajug, managing director of Diana Group, and her staff donated 350 kilograms rice, 15,000 baht and necessities to the SOS Rice project, headed by Sanga Kijsamret, president. The even was witnessed by tourists and members of the press at the Diana Inn on Pattaya Second Road on January 1st.

Sopin Thappajug (holding donation box), MD of Diana Group, and K. Witoon, Diana Group GM (smiling center), joined by Diana staff happily contributed to this year’s SOS Rice project, headed by project president, Sanga Kijsamret (left, wearing tie).

Sopin said, “This donation is part of Diana group’s activities, including participation of staff, residents and hotel guests to help poor children in Chonburi Province by providing lunch and scholarship funds as well as other necessary items required on a daily basis.” Sopin urged others to join in the fun and donate to this worthy cause.

The activity was held in the afternoon after executives and staff of Diana Group joined in a Buddhist ceremony in the morning as part of their 2003 New Year celebration.


Grand spectacle held for 20th Sriracha Games kick off

Parades and traditional entertainment featured at Assumption College, Sriracha

Suchada Tupchai

Sonthaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and Sports, presided over the opening ceremony for the 20th Sriracha Games at Assumption College Sriracha. Held from January 3 -9, the games are held to look for the best performers at the high school level in 6 different sports in the Kingdom, including football, volleyball, table tennis, takraw, beach volleyball, and athletics.

(Right) Traditional Khon Drama was a highlight of the opening ceremonies.

The opening ceremony included traditional Thai music, dance, and ‘khon’ - traditional Thai stage costumed drama. The festivities also featured a parade of 120 municipality schools from 5 different parts of Thailand. The mascot for the games was the turtle, which portrayed the meaning of endurance and hard work. The turtle is also the symbol of tourism at Loy Island, Sriracha.

Minister Sonthaya spoke of the true meaning and aim of the games, saying that every athlete must keep in mind not only being able to achieve trophies and prizes, but also play the games with heart and sincerity and not give up. And more importantly, all sportsmen must learn how to compromise and have a sense of forgiving and forgetting.

The opening of the games was declared after the official torch was lit. Distinguished guests included Somchai Khunpluem, Saen Suk municipality mayor and Minister Sonthaya’s father, plus Chonburi Governor Sawang Srisakun, and Preecha Kamolbutra, vice governor of Chonburi. Chatchai Timkrachang, Sriracha municipality mayor, gave the welcoming speech.


Kazakhstan beauty wins Miss CIS & Russia in Pattaya

Beauty contest organized by Songklod Tour Company

Songklod Kaewvisit

Songklod Tour Company staged a “Miss CIS & Russia in Pattaya 2003” contest at the Tiffany Theater, North Pattaya.

Akhmarol Zumadilova (center) from Kazakhstan was crowned Miss CIS & Russia in Pattaya 2003. She is flanked by runners-up Olka Moizhiva and Tatania Zilo.

Organized on January 2, the contestants were tour members of the company. Akhmarol Zumadilova from Kazakhstan was crowned Miss CIS & Russia in Pattaya 2003, as well as Miss Congeniality for the night.

Songklod Tour Company’s contest committee selected qualified women for the contest from almost one thousand tour members that traveled together for their trip to Pattaya.

Contestants wore swimsuits during the qualifying round, and in the second round the stage was graced with 5 gorgeous finalists in evening dresses.

The first runner-up was Olka Moizhiva, and second runner up was Tatania Zilo from Kazakhstan.

The event was organized to entertain tour members during their stay.


Aussie thwarts Jomtien bag snatcher

Warning to all motorcyclists

An Australian businessman who has been looking at investment in Pattaya has had his views soured by the actions of a motorcycle bandit operating in Jomtien. Riding along Chaiyapruek Road in Jomtien on Thursday evening, he had put his camera bag, complete with personal documents, in the front carrier of his rented motorcycle. He became aware of another motorcycle coming quickly alongside, but did not anticipate that the rider would lean over and grab the camera bag as he rode past. Fortunately, the Australian had looped and twisted the shoulder strap of the bag under the carrier, and the would-be robber was unable to misappropriate the bag with his quick snatch and grab.

The Australian went to pursue the man, but he rode off at high speed and his motorcycle had no registration plate. The whole incident has naturally left a sour taste in the business investor’s mind. He believes that if the police were to stop all unregistered motorcycles, this would have to be beneficial to the Pattaya-Jomtien area.

Beware of a large dark-skinned Thai man, riding a red unregistered motorcycle in the Jomtien area, and be sure to firmly attach your belongings to your motorcycle.


Police bust Paradise Bar’s balloon

Boonlua Chatree

Watchful eyes are still trained on Pattaya’s nightlife establishments, and after receiving information that some venues are still ignoring laws against indecent stage shows, Pattaya undercover police raided Paradise Entertainment in Soi Pattaya Land 1 at half-past midnight on December 27th for providing lewd shows for tourists.

The Paradise Bar was raided during the holidays for getting just a little bit too festive with their balloons.

During the sweep, the venue was staging obscene homosexual and heterosexual shows for over 100 foreigners. All the performers were apprehended and taken to the police station.

Songkampol Kontam, the manager of the operation was arrested at his home in Payao and confessed to the offence.


Illegal Burmese workers arrested

Caught just before payday

After receiving a tip that a group of illegal workers were working on a construction site in Nongprue Banglamung, investigating police officers found a group of 16 Burmese nationals working on a building. The workers were unable to produce legal IDs, so officers took them to the police station for questioning.

All 16 admitted to entering the kingdom illegally and told police that they had crossed over the border at Mae Sot and had been working in construction for a Mr. Pao (last name unknown) for a wage of 180 baht per day. However, since they had started their work 28 days ago, they had not received any payment.

By the time police had arrived, Pao, of course, had already fled the scene.


Dead infant discovered in trash bin

Boonlua Chatree

The tiny body of a newborn baby was discovered by a garbage collector on January 3rd. When Pattaya police received the tragic report they rushed to the site near Smart Bookshop on Central Pattaya Road, where they discovered the abandoned corpse covered with rubbish.

Investigators examined the dead child and found wounds and bruises around its neck. Time of death was estimated to have been about 5 hours before discovery.

Officers suspect the baby’s mother was young and financially destitute and probably murdered her child, then attempted to cover her crime before fleeing. The death of the newborn is still under investigation and police are searching for the mother.


Hotel cook arrested for theft after woman loses struggle for handbag

Lost his wallet with ID during the struggle

Boonlua Chatree

Police didn’t have a whole lot of trouble tracking down twenty-year-old hotel cook Supat Thanborisut. The mugger wannabe dropped his wallet, which contained his ID and home address inside, during a mugging last week in front of Pattaya Court in Jomtien.

Police were able to track down and arrest Supat Thanborisut at his home because he dropped his wallet, which had his ID and address inside, during an attempt to steal a woman’s handbag.

Supat, who originally comes from Petchaboon, was arrested at his home after he beat and snatched a purse from Ms. Saijai Sirichot, age 30, a receptionist at the Adriatic Plaza Hotel. The purse contained 500 baht cash and one mobile phone.

Saijai told police she was on her way home from work on her motorbike when Supat rode up on his motorcycle and kicked her. When she tipped over on her bike, he grabbed her handbag. Saijai said she screamed for help during the fight but the scoundrel told witnesses they were husband and wife and to back off from what he said was a domestic disagreement.

She grappled with him and fought to retain her handbag, but lost the struggle as he snatched her purse and rode off. However, during the tussle, the culprit’s own wallet fell on the roadside as he fled the scene.

Police were able to trace Supat and made the arrest by identification documents he had left behind. Supat admitted to the crime saying that he decided to steal because he had not received his salary and needed money to reclaim his pawned mobile phone, and wanted a little extra for the New Year’s celebration.


Heavy drinking may have led to death of German national

Officials were called to investigate a death at a residence in Naklua, where the body of Manfred Golfin, aged 53, a German national was found on the bathroom floor.

No foul play was evident and it was believed that the man had died 30 minutes prior to discovery.

The girlfriend of the deceased, 45-year-old Poomkaew told police that she had known Manfred for almost an entire week and had stayed with him in the rented room. Although not employed in the medical field, she nonetheless told police that she noticed that the deceased was suffering from heart problems, but said it was not very serious.

She said they both went out together every night to drink, and on that particular day they had gone out as usual, but this time she said she thought that Manfred had too much to drink.

When they returned to their residence, he walked to the bathroom, collapsed in front of the door and was knocked unconscious, so she called for help.


Heroine dealer arrested with over 200,000 baht worth of dope

Anusorn Faksakorn, age 35, was arrested in front of a disco on Pattaya Third Road after police were tipped off about his drug dealing in the city.

After searching his residence in Pattaya Land and House, Nongprue, cops found 400 grams of heroine packed in plastic bags labeled “Two Lions Tread the Globe”. The street value was estimated at over 200,000 baht.

Interrogation revealed the dealer obtained the heroin from a Singaporean at 120,000 baht per lot and sold them in smaller portions at 200-2500 baht per pack. His customers were mainly teenagers around entertainment complexes in Pattaya.

Anusorn is now in police custody waiting for his trial for possession and selling a class one illegal substance.

The “Two Lions that Treaded Globe” had their trip cut short when they were seized as evidence.


Brawling foreign tourists keep police busy throughout the New Year’s festivities

A handful of drunken foreign tourists cast a shadow on Pattaya’s New Year celebrations. The welcoming in of 2003 for most people was a joyous and festive occasion. The city’s entertainment establishments were given special permission to stay open until 6 a.m. for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, which allowed residents and tourists to make the most of the season.

Unfortunately behind the scenes, police were kept busy with a number of foreign tourists who had too much to drink and cast aside all pretense of good manners. One such incident forced officers to break up a brawl outside one of the city’s hotels after an apparent misunderstanding led to blows. Police managed to contain the situation before it led to serious injuries, but too much booze and hot tempers kept cops vigilant through the night.