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Music Festival frenzy erupts today
Get ready for traffic chaos as hundreds of thousands flock to ‘Fun City’
The Pattaya Music Festival 2003 is on this weekend, and
city fathers say they are ready for the hundreds of thousands of music fans
expected to flock to Fun City over the weekend. The Festival is schedule to
run from Friday March 21 through to midnight Sunday March 23.
Palapol
(left) and Palmy (right) sign autographs during a press conference to
announce that all systems are go for this weekend’s Pattaya Music Festival
2003. Last year the event drew 300,000 people, and organizers expect the
same or more this year.
Mayor Pairat said during a press conference at the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort last Friday that strict traffic control is in place from
3 p.m. on Friday through to midnight throughout the three-day festival.
Pattaya Beach Road from the Dolphin Roundabout to Pattaya
Central Road and one side of North Pattaya Road to City Hall will be closed
to all traffic from 3 p.m. to midnight each day of the event to safeguard
the thousands of people attending the concerts at the three stages. The
mayor said the issue of traffic control is one of the major logistical
nightmares that encompass the music festival.
(L to
R) Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, Chonburi Deputy Governor Phisit
Boonchuang, and Sansak Ngamphiches announce that Pattaya is ready for this
year’s music festival.
Pickups
decorated as part of the music festival’s PR program.
More than 100 traffic control volunteers will be on hand
to direct motorists throughout the event. Security measures are also being
taken to ensure no weapons or dangerous items are in the area.
The opening ceremonies on Friday will be held at the Red
Stage, near City Hall. Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra will officially open
the music festival at 6 p.m. Following that, Thai Superstar Thongchai
‘Bird’ Macintyre will perform with Jintala Poonlarp, Catariya English
and Nut Miriya followed by Japanese boy band Johnny’s Jr., Baby VOX from
Korea, Cristina Aquila, Jetrin Wattansin, Theerapat Sajakul, Mai Charoenpura,
Palmy and Mos Pattiphan. The opening night will be broadcast live on Channel
9 throughout the nation.
The Pattaya Music Festival is part of the TAT’s
promotion ‘Tour Thailand, every month’. Last year the music festival
drew 300,000 people to the city for three days of pure musical joy. This
year the numbers are expected to increase and an estimated 700 million baht
will boost the local economy.
Three main stages will bet set up. Red Stage near City
hall will feature pop and rock music with Thai ‘Luk Thung’.
The Blue stage, on the corner of Beach Road between the
Dusit Resort Pattaya and the Amari Orchid will feature Indy, R & B and
Hip Hop.
The Green Stage located in front of Soi 4 will host
musicians playing a selection of easy listening and pop jazz.
Over 200 Thai and international artists will perform
throughout the music festival, catering to all tastes of music. Booths
selling various music paraphernalia, tapes and CDs will be set up before and
during the music festival.
After the press conference a mini concert was put on for the press with
Thai artists Palapol, Anne Thitima, Palmy and the band ‘Zeal’ strutting
their stuff as a sample of things to come. This promises to be one of
Pattaya’s most delightful and successful events - so don’t miss it!
Mayor orders all Pattaya tour boats to move to
Bali Hai Pier by March 26
Veerachai Somchart
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat has ordered that all
boats in Pattaya move to the new Bali Hai Pier by March 26, but will allow
jet skis and banana boat operators to continue to operate off Pattaya
beaches. At the first meeting on March 13 at City Hall, Pattaya city
management met with boat operators to inform them of the new policy as to
give them time to get ready.
This
scene is soon to become a thing of the past, as the mayor has ordered all
boats off Pattaya Beach and on to the Bali Hai Pier instead, as of March 26.
Head of the Tour Boat Association of Pattaya Sanit
Boonmarchai spoke for many of the operators when he said, “The new Bali
Hai Pier is a suitable facility, but the policy requires a number of
alterations to make it more acceptable. The pier, divided into sections A-D
is impractical for speedboats to pick up and deliver passengers because of
the height of the pier and the constant ebb and flow of the water. The area
will become dirty and the strong waves currently in Pattaya Bay are bound to
pose danger to passengers due to the buoyancy of the walkways.”
Sanit questioned whether the pier could handle the
turnover of 1,000 boats per day currently operating in Pattaya. Some
attendees wonder if the area can handle the increased traffic from tour
buses. Others said that because the pier is over half a kilometer long it
would cause problems for disabled and elderly people.
Numerous voices added that they were sure that the pier
area was a good thing but not in the nature of Pattaya and would cause
damage to the vessels. Skepticism also arose from the fact that while
currently there was no registration or mooring charges, that could change in
the future.
Other comments included the suggestion that a medical
clinic be set up for emergencies and that a management co-operative be set
up to run the pier area rather than a private company as was previously
mentioned.
Standing firm on the existing policy Mayor Pairat said,
“Whatever happens, the temporary pier in South Pattaya and the beachfront
will not be used by private operators as of March 26. Jet skis and banana
boats will be able to continue to use the beachfront as with other types
sporting activities.”
The mayor added, “The pier is complete and it is time
to use it. We intend to ensure that beaches are used for swimming and for
tourists to relax.”
Addressing future projects the mayor said, “We (the
city) are looking into the possibility of building a walkway to the pier and
to other areas in the future. These walkways will be divided into areas
where passengers can be picked up and dropped off. In addition there should
be an area designated where goods can be delivered as well as designated
areas for tour buses. The city has given the approval for boats to moor 100
meters from the pier with the aim that more and more tourists will use the
facility in the future.”
The tense atmosphere in the meeting room was obvious.
Many boat operators tried to negotiate their way out of moving to the pier
by the fixed date claiming that there should be five points along the
beachfront provided for them to pick up and drop off passengers. However,
city officials stood firm. March 26 will see all tour boats move to Bali Hai.
MPs gamble on casino opening
Government plans to open legal casinos seem to have won
cross-party parliamentary support, with key parliamentary committees last
week expressing hope that legal casinos could earn the country no less than
500 billion baht each year.
Police sources meanwhile conceded that it was becoming
increasingly difficult to crack down on illegal casinos due to police
involvement.
The Parliamentary Commerce Committee, chaired by Democrat
MP Rewat Sirinukul reached its conclusions in a seminar on the advantages of
legalizing casinos, held March 11 in conjunction with representatives from
the finance, treasury and banking committee, the police committee, and the
Government Lottery Office.
A further seminar on the disadvantages of casino opening
will be held later in the month, and the findings from both seminars
presented to the government.
Witthaya Boonsiri, chair of the finance, treasury and
banking committee, said that the large number of casinos in neighboring
countries, particularly in the border areas, was causing a massive outflow
of money from Thailand. He also voiced concern that the money involved was
outside the mainstream financial system, and was thus difficult to control.
Showing figures that at least 100 million baht circulated
in this way, he urged the government to lay down measures to determine where
the money was coming from, and to tap into this huge financial pool by
drawing up regulations for gamblers and imposing taxes on their activities.
Witthaya said that studies had found that profits from
casinos reached 400-500 million baht per year, but said that the government
should open casinos as entertainment venues rather than business ventures,
pointing to similar operations in Malaysia and Singapore. “I feel that
it’s time that we make wrong into right in order to generate income, as
there are currently several areas requiring development budgets,” he said.
His views were echoed by Pol Lt Col Adul Boonset, a
member of the police committee, who said that it was high time that Thailand
legalized casinos. However, he said that control of the casino business must
go hand in hand with tourism policies, and that the government must clearly
determine what to do with casino income.
Pol Lt Col Adul conceded that efforts to crack down on
illegal gambling dens were hampered by the fact that some police officers
were involved, adding that slum communities in the vicinity of illegal
gambling dens kept a lookout to ensure that the law did not reach them. The
need to procure a warrant prior to searching illegal gambling dens also
meant that the den owners normally had prior warning.
Uthen Jensakhu, head of the director’s office of the
Government Lottery Office, backed up calls to open legal casinos, saying
that casinos should be opened in underdeveloped or poor areas of the country
that required a rapid injection of cash.
However, he urged the government to conduct public
hearings before making a final decision.
Uthen pointed out that the 1935 Gambling Act and the 1974
Government Lottery Act allowed the opening of casinos, but stipulated that
the government must conduct thorough studies before coming to any decision.
He said that the Government Lottery Office had already
established a committee to study casino operations. Initial studies showed
that the most popular forms of gambling were slot machines, cards and dice
or ball games. (TNA)
Pattaya Business & Tourism Association elects new
committee for 2003
Suchada Tupchai
The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA)
elected a new committee and president at their March 12 Annual General
Meeting at the Grand Sole Hotel.
Surat
Mekhawarakul (right), who served two terms as president, congratulates new
PBTA President Thanet Supaharangsri (left).
At the AGM Surat Mekhawarakul, who served two terms as
president, stepped down to hand the reigns over to Thanet Supaharangsri and
his new executive board members Naris Petcharat, Jamrun Wisawachaiphan,
Sanga Kijsamrej and 11 committee members.
Surat said, “During the last two years the PBTA has
been successful in promoting local businesses and taking care that Thai and
foreign tourists are not taken advantage of by unscrupulous tour operators.
The association has conducted a number of programs to benefit society
including the very successful “Walk against drugs”. In addition, we have
worked closely with local and provincial department, the Pattaya police
station, Pattaya tourist police and the Chonburi Chamber of Commerce.
“The PBTA plans to increase efforts to boost the
tourist industry and will continue to make suggestions to the relevant
government departments to ensure that important issues and problems are
addressed and dealt with accordingly,” Surat added.
The outgoing committee presented a certificate of
appreciation and service to Niphan Rattanaolar, the boat operator who pulled
11 people from the water after the boating accident earlier this month.
Following the elections, a dinner was held for the PBTA
members and the new president and committee.
New president, Thanet Supaharangsri said, “I feel honored that I have
been elected as president of the association and will do everything possible
to successfully carry out my duties. We will continue to work with various
other departments and organizations to open new opportunities and for the
prosperity of Pattaya and the region.”
City council tries to find ways of fixing Pattaya’s traffic woes
Lethal traffic chaos is negatively affecting tourism and residents are sick of the dangerous conditions
Veerachai Somchart
Pattaya’s chronic traffic problems are growing worse
and although there will be no quick fixes or easy solutions the city’s
administrators are talking about ways to ease the congestion. In the
meantime the public is looking for action.
When city council members met for their regular
discussions at City Hall on March 11, council member Praiwal Aromcheun asked
city management to report on the current progress of resolving Pattaya’s
current traffic problems. He specifically asked what was being done about
the chaos on Pattaya Second Road which is jammed with tour buses every day.
These buses obstruct the flow of traffic in this main artery of the city as
they discharge or pick up off vast numbers of tourists.
Praiwal also brought up the subject of Second Road
becoming a one-way street after the completion of construction on Pattaya
Beach Road. This experiment was conducted a few months ago and although the
one-way implementation did improve traffic flow, there were complaints from
the business community in that area that it also created great inconvenience
for shoppers and employees in the larger establishments. Praiwal also
questioned the promise of strict traffic control on all of the city’s
roadways.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat responded by saying,
“The city is well aware of the traffic problems. Concerning the issue of
making Second Road one-way from Pattaya Central to the Dolphin roundabout,
we do think it would solve some of the traffic problems. We have had many
meetings to discuss the issue with those involved. The area mentioned is
most chaotic from the hours of 6:30 p.m. till 11.30 p.m. and, yes, the
congestion is mainly because of the tour buses.”
The mayor continued, “The city is looking into the
possibility of implementing a ‘no parking” decree on odd or even days of
the month. We are still in the process of negotiating with a contractor to
place the signs. We might implement this on all of the city’s main roads
including Beach Road and may even disallow buses from switching lanes
altogether.”
During the meeting solutions to other problems in the
city were placed on the table for discussion. Adequate boat moorings for
Pattaya Bay, logistics involving the new Bali Hai pier - due to be open this
month, contracting a private company to create new city plans for
construction and management of improved infrastructure costing 4.5 million
baht, and testing city officers and council members for illegal drug use as
part of the national drug suppression program were all topics on the agenda.
However, one of the most odious impediments to an orderly
city is the sheer pandemonium of vehicular traffic. This all-encompassing
mayhem on the streets, in the sois and on the roads is the most visible and
least appealing feature of the city. Even Bangkokians are shocked at the
deteriorating conditions in the past few years. Tourists from other nations
are more than shocked; they are terrified. Discussions about solutions
without effective action will not fool anyone. Actions always speak louder
than words.
Residents in Pratamnak area fed up with lack of water
Residents in the L Colonial Hotel and Village in the
Pratamnak area of South Pattaya are running out of patience. They have been
suffering from the lack of water for over a month. Representing the
village’s residents, former Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT)
president, Phillipe Decaux called reporters to respond to complaints before
meeting with the Pattaya water authority.
Levels
at the Mabprachan reservoir are so low that islands dot the entire area.
Decaux said the village has been without water for a
month and residents have had to constantly buy water to use on a regular
basis. There have been no efforts by the water authority to correct the
problem, and to add insult to injury the city is still sending them monthly
invoices. Residents felt they had no other recourse but to band together in
hopes the authorities would address the problem.
At the Pattaya Water Authority office, Decaux and
residents spoke to officials regarding the lack of water supply. Officials
informed the disgruntled group that Pattaya is facing a drastic water
shortage. The recent tourism season aggravated the problem because of the
huge influx of people and increased water usage. As a result some villages
could not be supplied with water because there just wasn’t enough supply
to pump out.
As a stopgap measure, water distribution is being
regulated with the flow being turned on at certain times while they look for
other solutions to the problem. Officials added that they were attempting to
distribute water throughout the city but requested that everyone use this
precious resource sparingly.
Levels at the Mabprachan reservoir are so low that
islands dot the entire area. The reservoir will obviously not support the
city’s water demands.
The governor’s office is investigating the problems and
has made some suggestions to aid in resolving the lack of water for Pattaya
and the surrounding districts.
The first recommendation is to increase the amount of
water purchased from Sattahip District from the present 150 cubic meters/hr
to 250 cubic meters/hour. This increase should ensure that enough water
reaches the districts of Ban Ampur and Jomtien Beach areas.
Increased water output will be made from Nongklangdong
from 1,100 cu.m/hour to 1,400 cu.m/hour. The governor’s office also
recommends two large water trucks be used to distribute water to the Huay
Yai in conjunction with the DAO.
The water treatment and pumping facility at Mabprachan
reservoir is being expanded to increase the flow from 1,000 cu.m/hr to 1,500
cu.m/hr. This project is scheduled for completion at the end of March.
In spite of these corrective measures, the fact remains that water levels
in many areas of the region are dangerously low. Until a sufficient amount
of rain falls to increase the water levels in the dams, everyone will need
to do their part to conserve this precious resource.
Sunee Plaza slashers nearly sever foreigner’s arms
Victim allegedly refused to pay protection money
Boonlua Chatree
Two men working in Soi Sunee Plaza were arrested after
they almost severed both arms of Austrian national Bernhard Radlelger in the
area near the infamous Sport Corner Bar in South Pattaya.
Pay
protection money or risk getting your arms chopped off.
Radegger made headlines last week after going on a
rampage, stabbing one man and attempting to jump from a 4-storey building.
The latest incident occurred because Radegger allegedly refused to pay
protection money. Angered by the foreigner’s refusal they slashed
Radlelger with a 70-centimeter blade and almost severed his right arm and
left hand. They then stabbed him in the right foot. Radegger was rushed to
Pattaya Memorial Hospital where he went straight in to surgery.
Police received a report at 10.30 a.m. on Friday morning
that two men had attacked a foreigner in Soi Sunee Plaza, South Pattaya. The
two slashing youths were preparing to flee the scene in the direction of Soi
Yensabai and into a hotel when officers caught up with them. One man had the
knife in his possession and the pair was promptly taken to the station for
questioning.
The two offenders were identified as 21-year-old Tom
Srimongkolchat and 18-year-old Sarawoot ‘Dum’ Nitpakwen. They confessed
to their crimes.
Tom said that he became angry when the foreigner refused
to pay him protection money, so he took the knife and tried to cut off the
man’s arms. The younger man, ‘Dum’ said he had no part in the hacking
process and only kicked the man, causing him injury. Both were charged with
attempted murder.
Bernhard Radegger went on a rampage on Wednesday March 5, stabbing
27-year-old Wijit Sarwongsa in the left shoulder and then fled the scene,
bent on committing suicide. After this most recent incident, maybe it was
the constant aggravation by these thugs that pushed the man to commit such
acts.
Foreign tourist jumps 5 floors to his death
Boonlua Chatree
Fifty two year-old American national William Collins
tragically jumped to his death from the 5th floor of a popular hotel just
200 meters from the Soi 9 police station.
Police received the report of the man’s death and
rushed to the scene with Sawang Boriboon personnel. An examination of the
man’s body revealed that he had also slashed his wrists before jumping.
When officers questioned hotel staff they were told that
Collins checked in on March 7. Staff members described him as a quiet man
who kept to himself. They added that he also refused to allow housekeepers
into his room for cleaning and during conversation was often incoherent.
Staff said that earlier that morning they had seen Collins buy a can of coke
and a can of beer before returning to his room.
Police called housekeeping to open the tourist’s room.
Investigation revealed no evidence of a struggle or foul play. They did find
a large knife on one of the side tables and determined it was the same one
Collins had used to slash his wrists.
Police surmise that the American was suffering from
personal problems and had decided to end his life in Pattaya.
The body of William Collins was transferred to the
forensic institute for a post mortem examination and officers will continue
an investigation as to why the man committed suicide.
Broken-hearted foreign resident tragically commits suicide
Boonlua Chatree
Fifty-year-old American national, Stephen Sawada (sic)
was found dead in his rented apartment in South Pattaya earlier this week.
He had slashed both wrists and bled to death.
Staff of the apartment block made the gruesome discovery
on their routine cleaning rounds. When police officers received the report
they rushed to the apartment complex. There they found the man’s naked
body in the middle of the room with trail of blood leading from the
bathroom. In the bathroom they found a 10-centimeter long knife which the
American had allegedly used to slash his wrists. A suicide note written in
English was discovered along with three empty bottles of beer.
Investigating officers learned that Sawada had been
staying in the apartment with a Thai woman around 25 years old. Prior to the
incident nearby residents had heard the pair arguing profusely and then the
woman stormed out of the apartment.
Officers suspect that Sawada was under great stress due
to the couple’s stormy relationship. Staff working in the apartment block
told police that the man had attempted to commit suicide before but was
saved just in time. Sadly, his second attempt was successful.
Police tour Pattaya’s beer bars in search of drugs
Illegal drugs starting to clear from the city’s night spots
Boonlua Chatree
During a recent sweep through almost 30 beer bars in the
Pattaya/Naklua area police tested approximately 100 service men and women
for illegal drug use. None turned up positive.
Police
tested over 100 bar workers for drugs, and none turned up positive.
Although the entire maneuver turned up no illegal
substances officers took down each individual’s particulars and gave them
a stern warning to stay clean.
Pattaya police chief, Pol. Col. Kamolchai Tienrungroj said he was happy
with the result of the sweep and stated that the current drug war is having
an effect and it was good to see that business owners were abiding by the
regulations. However, the police chief warned all business owners to stay
clean or face the full wrath of the law.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Police nab 30 teenage hoodlums racing on Pattaya streets
A flood of complaints from residents who are fed up with
packs of inconsiderate teen motorcyclists racing through Pattaya streets at
night finally moved police to take action. The official blitz first targeted
Pattaya Third Road where these hoodlums keep residents awake throughout the
night with their irritating and dangerous activities.
Police and crime suppression volunteers detained over 30
teenagers between 14 and 16 years of age. Cops also confiscated 20
motorcycles that had been illegally modified and impounded them at the
police station.
Police took details from all 30 teenagers who were caught
racing. The bikes that were confiscated will be held until they conform to
legal specifications. Officers scolded the young offenders and told them
until they learned to be more socially responsible and considerate they
could walk or use public transport.
Three teen snatch-and run-thieves arrested
Pattaya police arrested a trio of young thieves known to
have committed over 20 crimes in the Pattaya and Jomtien areas. The three
teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were nabbed just as they were gearing up for yet
another snatch and run crime. The group was caught with two motorcycles used
to commit the street terrorism acts on unsuspecting tourists and a large
amount of stolen goods.
The three miscreant youths confessed to their crimes
saying that they pawned the items at second hand shops on Pattaya Third Road
and used the money to have fun. The thieves said that they mainly targeted
foreign tourists because their bags usually contained large amounts of cash.
Police bust roadside drug fest after it turns sour
Police moved in on a group of drug smoking youths in the
Soi Bua Khao area after nearby residents reported the apparent drug fest to
the local constabulary.
Officers arrested 3 men; one was in possession of
.38-caliber pistol. All three failed to show their ID cards as required by
law. The man in possession of the loaded firearm identified himself as
Sakgrin Limtrakulchai from Nonthaburi. All were tested for drug use and all
tested positive.
Sakgrin was charged with illegally carrying a weapon in
public and use of a class one illegal substance. The other two, Panya
Rakwong and Eakarach Khampin admitted to using met-amphetamines and were
charged accordingly.
National Mass Media Day 2003 bigger
than ever for the eastern region
Suchada Tupchai
On March 5 around the pool area of the Bangsaen Beach
Resort the Eastern Mass Media Association of Thailand held their annual
party for National Media Day. Chadej Insawang, permanent secretary to the
ministry of tourism and sports, presided over the evening’s formalities.
Special guests attending included Preecha Kamolbutr, Chonburi deputy
governor, Somchai Khunpluem, mayor of Saensuk municipality, Manit Boonchim,
director of the TAT Central Region 3 office, Anusak Rodboonmee, general
manager, Ambassador City Hotel and distinguished visitors from the
government and private sectors.
Chadej
Insawang, permanent secretary to the ministry of tourism and sports (right)
presents the award to Manit Boonchim, TAT director for central region 3 for
outstanding efforts at the TAT in promoting tourism and supporting the media
in the eastern region.
Sodawan
Boonsiri, general manager of Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens received her award
for best media relations from Chadej Insawang, permanent secretary to the
ministry of tourism and sports.
Preecha
Kamolbutr, Chonburi deputy governor presents the award to Anusak Rodboonmee,
general manager, Ambassador City Hotel for the hotel’s high service
standards to the media in the eastern region.
Press and Media Association of Eastern Thailand president
said the association was first established in 1978 and has been active for
25 years. Every March 5th is celebrated as National Press and Media Day, and
it is also a great opportunity for press and media representatives to meet
once a year and exchange experiences.
Also receiving awards on the night from Chadej Insawang, permanent
secretary to the ministry of tourism and sports were Manit Boonchim for
outstanding efforts at the TAT in promoting tourism for supporting the media
in the eastern region, Sodawan Boonsiri, general manager of Nong Nooch
Tropical Gardens for best media relations, also receiving a similar award
was Pinyo Thonwisej, chairman of the Chonburi PAO and the Ambassador City
Hotel Jomtien for high service standards to the media in the eastern region,
as well as the Pattaya Mail for the eastern region’s outstanding English
language newspaper both in news presentation and promotion of tourism”.
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