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City allocates additional
3 million baht to complete Bali Hai Pier
Design oversight leaves docking boats
in peril during mooring procedures
The recently constructed Bali Hai Pier has received a
further 3 million baht budget allocation from the city to construct
additional mooring posts. The pier was built with the aim of preventing
accidents during boarding tourist vessels from the beach.
The
city has allocated an additional
3 million baht to increase safety at the new Bali Hai Pier.
New concrete poles will be put in at various points of
the pier to provide a more stable mooring facility for smaller vessels
during rough seas.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat explained that when the
pier at Bali Hai was declared ready for operation, tour boats companies
complained they were unable to dock their boats alongside the pier due to a
lack of shock absorbers needed to protect vessels during high seas.
The city postponed the opening of the pier following a
survey.
Deputy Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, in charge of the
inspection team, found the complaints were valid, and the city agreed to
rectify the problem. New passenger jetties will be added to prevent
potential accidents during rough conditions.
Currently many boat operators are still using the beachfront for business
but once rectifications are completed all vessels will be required to use
the Bali Hai facility.
Mayor dispels threat of
terrorist attacks in Pattaya
Aussies travel advisories destroying tourism
Songklod Kaewvisit
Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat was quick to
dispel any misunderstandings about terrorist activity in Pattaya. The mayor
immediately called Pattaya and Banglamung police station, and the Thai
National Police Intelligence Bureau to check on the news of possible
terrorist attacks after Australia warned its people to stay away from
dangerous zones in Asia and other countries, which included Thailand and the
international tourist destinations of Pattaya and Phuket.
Thai government officials and Pattaya’s mayor responded
immediately, saying that the Australian government should thoroughly check
its intelligence reports to make sure they were accurate.
Mayor Pairat urged the Australian government to be more
careful when issuing travel warnings on a matter as touchy as this. An error
in information could seriously impact Thailand’s tourist industry and
subsequent revenue. He requested that Australia be more vigilant and screen
their reports more responsibly.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said, "Thailand is
not a target for any terrorist action and Australians should not be unduly
worried."
Thaksin added, "We did not consent or go against the
United Nations peace-making mission in Iraq last March, so there is no
reason international terrorists would use Thailand as a base to attack
innocent Australians or any other nationalities."
Pattaya City mayor requested Australia to publicize
truthful news and urged its people to be worry-free and come back to
Pattaya.
Sontaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and Sports,
Juthamas Siriwan, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand , and over
30 tourism and business operators made a 3-day trip to Australia from June
3-6 to establish and regain trust from Australians that Thailand is not a
target of terrorist attacks and is free from severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS).
The official group spoke with involved Australian
government departments and travel agencies on the security measures that
Thailand has put in place and the kingdom’s high standard of the disease
protection and life coverage.
The prime minister said any tourist that is affected by
severe acute respiratory syndrome in Thailand would receive US$10,000 as
insurance for medical care, and US$100,000 for any death proved to have been
caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome during his or her stay in
Thailand.
Currently Thailand is hosting a number of APEC meetings,
especially this weekend and throughout all of next week Pattaya will host
the 22nd APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting and 3rd APEC Tourism Forum at
the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. These are international events that will bring
participation of hundreds of high profile businesspersons and governmental
officials from around the world.
"This surely proves that the international community are convinced
that Pattaya is safe" reiterated the Mayor.
Mayor leads police force to evict youths from Banglamung School grounds
Charged scene ensues as youths don’t want to leave
Last Friday, Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat together
with Sanan Phawandee, the director of the Banglamung School in Naklua, led
Pol. Maj. Nathasit Boon-nuam, deputy chief of the Banglamung police station
and a handful of police officers to the Banglamung School and ordered them
to evict a number of youths who were enjoying a game of soccer on the
grounds. They threatened the youths with charges of trespassing if they didn’t
leave. This of course caused a lot of confusion and anger among the youths.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (standing left, arms crossed) led police to
Banglamung School to evict a group of youths who were playing a game of
soccer there. The environment became charged when the youths retorted that
they and their families had been playing there for generations. A compromise
was eventually reached.
Feeling that the eviction was totally unjustified, the
boys confronted the mayor and the police, demanding to know the
justification for such action.
They claimed that they were a group of people who lived
in the Soi Bobey alley in Naklua and they had been playing on the school
field for many years. They said that it was their way of getting exercise
and to keep their free time occupied so they would not get involved with
drugs.
One youth said, "This field was built from funds
collected as taxes from the people, and we are the people. But if you want
us to pay a fee, we are willing to do that too. However, to just come and
kick us out for no reason is not fair. Do you want us to spend our time on
drugs or what," he declared.
The argument between the city officials and the youths
was taking a turn for the worse, and could have turned into an ugly
incident, if not for Watana Jantrawaranond, the deputy mayor, who happened
to be jogging around the field and hastily joined the confrontation to try
to calm down all parties.
The youths claimed that the director of the school had
asked them to form a club before they would be allowed to play there, which
they had done. But now all of a sudden, they are being barred from doing so.
"This football field has been our playground since
the last generation, so why are you stopping us now?" asked one boy of
the mayor.
The mayor explained that the city had assigned a budget
to redevelop the field by laying new grass and that they were preparing to
have a dedication ceremony on the 5th of June, so did not want to ruin the
beauty of the field before the actual day.
The school director said that he had also requested the
youths to look for another venue to play, as they wanted to reserve this
field for use by the students at the school.
The youths finally gave in, but not before the mayor made
a promise to seek out a new location for them to carry out their sporting
activities.
Authorities preparing strategy to
combat dark influences in Banglamung
Following orders from the central government in the war
against dark influences, Somsak Yonokphan, Banglamung district chief called
a meeting of government officials to convey policies as have been set and
ordered by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Somsak
Yonokphan, Banglamung district chief.
He told the gathering, which included Mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat, heads of the Tambon Administrative Authority and all the
kamnans (village headmen) in Banglamung district, that there are 15
categories of dark influences and his orders were to suppress them and/or
make them stop operating in their dishonest ways. He also encouraged the
government officials to perform their duties well and use the law with
justice, so that they may regain the good reputation for all Thai
governmental agencies.
He said that these dark influences were prevalent from
the local level all the way up to the national level. They include
individuals or private groups who act alone or hire or support others to
engage in illegal activities or act as if they were above the law. These
acts are considered to be subversive and destructive to the economy,
society, and politics, create unrest and are detrimental to the honorable
customs and traditions of the people of this country.
The government is compelled to look after its citizens
and ensure that everyone obeys the law to protect everyone’s legal rights,
freedom and that the law treats each and everyone as equals.
The 15 categories of dark influential groups are: 1.
Those involved in the drugs trade. 2. Those who wield influence to alter the
outcome of bidding and tenders for any government projects. 3. Those who
illegally control motorbikes or cars for hire. 4. Those who seek to extort
from factories, shops, service establishments and any other businesses. 5.
Those who smuggle items such as oil, palm oil, cigarettes, alcoholic
beverages and those who attempt to bribe customs officials. 6. Those who are
involved in illegal gambling dens, game betting, underground lotteries, fake
CDs and slot or game machines. 7. Those involved in prostitution, forced or
otherwise, of women and children. 8. Those involved in the smuggling of
immigrants or abetting them to stay in the country illegally. 9. Those who
trick would be workers with hopes of jobs in foreign countries. 10. Those
who swindle tourists in any way or form. 11. Those who are gunmen for hire.
12. Those who use their influence to hire themselves out to collect debts by
threats or violence. 13. Those who trade in illegal arms. 14. Those who
infringe on public land and destroy natural recourses and/or the
environment. 15. Those who claim benefits for accepting charges to settle or
protect wrongdoers either on national roadways or on public land.
Chonburi governor Sawarng Srisarkun, before leaving
office, ordered that names of influential figures that fit any of the 15
categories be accumulated and reported to his office by June 21. If they are
known to have stopped such activities then special consideration will be
given. The governor gave his assurance that action would only be taken if
there were strong evidence presented to prove the wrongdoing. He went on to
say that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is personally supervising this
crackdown. He urged all the officials to assist this campaign in earnest.
He added that as of July 1, the campaign to eradicate illegal arms
traders would commence. In closing he said that presently both the
Banglamung and Pattaya police stations are investigating all motorcycle taxi
operations and will submit the names to the government by June 13, so that
in order to create uniformity, they will receive new motorbike vests bearing
the Government Lottery bureau logo.
Pattaya administration backs bid for Skål Eco-tourism Awards
Pattaya administration has approved the budget in the
city’s bid for the Skål Eco-tourism Awards initiated by local ‘Skålleagues’.
The
committee: (seated L to R) Praweena Jetthumrong, Niran Wattanasatsathorn,
deputy mayor of Pattaya, Andrew J. Wood, GM of Royal Cliff Beach Resort,
Pinnart Charoenpol, asst. director of TAT Pattaya, (standing L to R) Peter
Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail, Montri Chalita, acting chief of Pattaya water
treatment, Yuthana Thanachote, chief of the office of city manager, David
Smith, manager of Unity Car, Pinij Poonsiri, chief of Pattaya Tourism
Development, David Holden, director of marketing and sales, Royal Cliff
Beach Resort, Patsalin Savetrat, chief of the TAT Pattaya Office and Zahid
Ali, communication manager, Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Niran Wattanasatsathorn told the working committee that
the city has approved the necessary budget to produce a video presentation
on Pattaya and the printing of brochures to be submitted for review for the
next Skål World Congress, due to be held in Chennai, South India in
October.
The bids will focus on the overall improvements and
continuing work on environmental issues facing Pattaya on its path to
sustainable eco-tourism.
As Thailand’s oldest international resort destination,
Pattaya has come a long way since its early days as a fishing village on the
east coast of Thailand. As a direct result of the influx of foreign visitors
- at first primarily United States navy personnel on R&R from assignment
in Vietnam, then followed by a much broader and diverse mix of tourists,
Pattaya experienced a decline in environmental standards which reached its
lowest point towards the mid-1990s.
A rehabilitation campaign has been instituted and
financed by the private as well as public sector. The campaign has resulted
in the development and subsequent operations of a large-scale wastewater
treatment plant, the beautification of Pattaya’s roadways and commercial
areas, the creation of nature parks, the erection of boat piers and the
all-important regulation and enforcement of environmental standards.
The positive effects of the rehabilitation campaign have
served to stem the decline and over the past few years resulted in a growing
number of visitors to Pattaya. Currently, Pattaya attracts in excess of 3
million visitors annually. Forecasts expect this upward trend to continue,
particularly now that the seawater around Pattaya Bay has been declared safe
for swimming.
Skål International is linked with caring for the
environment and its commanding influence provides incentive for improvements
in the travel trade industry.
It serves to contribute towards Skål projecting the image of an
international travel association that is a powerful force in the travel and
tourism industry, capable of acting in unison to initiate change, encourage
the conservation of the environment in order to promote tourism and travel,
and confer awards to encourage the leaders/professionals of the tourism
industry to contribute to conservation around the world.
Cobra Gold 2003 winds up at U-tapao
Songklod Kaewvisit
Another year of successful Cobra Gold group exercises
staged at their old stomping grounds, U-tapao airbase in Sattahip held
during May 16-29 has come to a climax.
(L to
R) Singapore Charge D’ Affaires Yip Wei Kiat, Supreme Commander Surayud
Chulanont, and Ravic R. Huso, US Ambassador to Thailand’s representative
signal the end of another successful Cobra Gold.
Supreme Commander, Surayud Chulanont, Ravic R. Huso, US
Ambassador to Thailand’s representative, Yip Wei Kiat, Singapore Charge D’
Affaires and many high ranking military men participated in the closing
ceremony held at Chantaburi-Trat Hall, Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel.
Cobra Gold 03 was organized to promote regional stability
and security. Intense command post and field training exercises increased
the readiness of participating militaries.
This year’s exercises focused on peace enforcement,
prevention and the fight against terrorism, humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief operations.
Many joint projects have been initiated and completed
including medical centers construction in Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi, and
Prachuab Khirikhan.
During the closing ceremony, Supreme Commander Surayud Chulanont said the
goal set for Cobra Gold 03 had been accomplished satisfactorily and the
mixed forces training had brought all ranks together which forged strong
relationships. Most of the exercises had come off very well. He urged all
the soldiers to keep the lessons they have learned in their mind and use
them wisely for future training and real situations.
Soused tourist arrested for disturbing the peace
Cops keep drunk in jail overnight to sober up
Boonlua Chatree
Fifty-four year old English tourist, Brian Sheppard was
detained by local police for disturbing the peace near a beer bar in Soi
Honey. The bar owner called police after the situation become nasty when
Sheppard assaulted another tourist, Alex Parker.
Police arrived on the scene to find Sheppard still in the
throws of ranting and raving. The injured Parker, a former navy officer,
didn’t press charges of assault against his fellow countryman, saying that
it just a small scratch.
Police, however, were not impressed with Sheppard’s
behavior and detained him overnight in a holding cell and fined on him on
charges of drunk and disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
Police said they kept the soused Englishman in custody as
much for his own safety as that of the public.
Police round up scores of motorcycles off Pattaya streets
Cops impound bikes till offenders pay up
Boonlua Chatree
Scores of motorcycles have been confiscated from owners
who were caught flaunting the already extremely lax traffic laws in Pattaya.
The motorcycles that were impounded at Pattaya police station were vehicles
with either no registration; third party insurance, illegally modified or
were being operated by riders not wearing helmets.
Police
rounded up scores of motorcycles during a crackdown on illegally modified
bikes.
The vehicles will not be released until offenders produce
the pertinent documents and pay the fines.
In one night alone at a number of points around the city,
officers confiscated 45 bikes that had illegally been modified, many of
which were not registered and had their exhaust pipes altered to create more
noise.
The central government in Bangkok has launched a
nationwide campaign which will especially target motorcyclists since the
accident and death toll in this group is shockingly high.
The recent effort in Pattaya was intense and produced positive results.
Residents are hoping this is not one of those "one night stands"
Fun City is so famous for. Permanent enforcement of traffic laws is what the
city really needs.
Bypass motorbike thieves arrested
Gangs way-laid victims at gunpoint as motorcyclists slowed for highway bypasses
Boonlua Chatree
Eight suspects were arrested for motorbike theft after
many complaints were filed that this gang was targeting motorcycle riders on
highway bypasses and at junctions.
Members
of the infamous bypass motorcycle theft gang were finally arrested last
week.
Confiscated were 12 motorcycles, two .22 pistols with
ammunition, and various motorbike parts.
The offenders were identified as Kitnarong, Prakit, Manit,
Apirak, Thawatchai, Sunthorn, Weerachon, and Sakon. All eight admitted to
the crime and said they stole motorbikes from people at gunpoint. Then they
resold the bikes to used part dealers at 2,500-3,000 baht per bike.
Their illegal activities were just as lucrative when they
disassembled the motorcycles and sold off the parts in Sattahip and
Banglamung.
All eight will be charged for theft as well as possessing illegal
weapons.
Singer smashes glass in Japanese tourist’s face to stop heckling
Artistic temper tantrum sends tourist to hospital but local singer is set free
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya police received a report at 4 o’clock in the
morning last Wednesday that a Japanese man was taken to Memorial Hospital
for treatment of severe cuts to his face after a singer in a bar threw a
glass at him. The tourist received more than 50 stitches. The victim,
identified as 30-year-old Tomokazu Saito, told police that a singer at Biggy
& Many Bar, Pattaya Soi 2, threw a glass in his face while he was
sitting in the bar.
Weerasak
Suwanlee admitted that he threw a glass at a Japanese tourist’s face to
stop his heckling, but was nonetheless quickly set free.
Later at the bar, police found the hot-tempered
singer/bar owner, identified as Weerasak Suwanlee, age 42, and questioned
him about the incident. Weerasak claimed that while he was performing his
rock n’ roll tunes on the stage, he noticed Saito was acting and speaking
in a rude manner. Weerasak admitted that he threw at Saito’s face to stop
his annoying behavior.
Weerasak was transferred to Pattaya police station where Weerasak boasted
that he knew many high-ranking police officials. Weerasak was set free after
he was detained for only 10 minutes and received permission for bail.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Six attackers yank gold chain from woman’s neck in Soi Pothisan
Siriyaporn Ponsornda, age 19, reported to police that
when she was approached by a group of 6 students, 5 male and one female,
they attacked her and ran off with her two baht-weight gold chain worth
about 7000 baht.
With her exact description of the culprits, police were
able to detain the gang at a computer game shop on the ground floor of
Traithana Apartment on Pattaya Soi 3 in Banglamung.
Three out of 19 people detained were identified by
Siryaporn as the robbers that attacked her. However, Chonthicha, age 20,
Nontachai age 18, and Supakit, age 17, denied all charges.
The rest of the gang, Pui, Nai and Nun, are being sought
after by police while the 19 teenagers detained at the computer game shop
were given urine tests. All tested negative and were sent home after being
charged 100 baht each for failing to produce their ID cards when asked by
police.
2 men on motorcycles snatch young woman’s bag
Pattaya police received a robbery report from a snooker
table girl at around 3 o’clock in the morning on May 29. The victim,
Marina Tohmudbamrung, age 20, from Naklua told officers that after she
finished her daily snooker score marking job, she was walking back home on
Pattaya Third Road when two young men came up behind her on a motorcycle,
snatched her shoulder bag and drove off.
Police caught one of the thieves but the other eluded
capture and is still at large. The criminal was transferred to Pattaya
police station for further questioning.
Police returned Marina’s belongings, including 700 baht
in cash, cosmetics, and her ID card and asked her to come to the station the
next morning to make identification.
Young man injured during fight in front of a Pattaya Third Road pub
Reports of a brutal gang fight sent police scurrying to
the Ants Pub on Third Road. When they arrived officers found 26 year-old
Damnoen Aniwed, age 26, with bloody wounds on his face. His nose and
cheekbones were broken after being hit by a bottle and pistol.
Questioning tourists in the area it was learned that
prior to the incident two groups of teenagers were seen drinking inside the
bar. At about 4.00 a.m. the pub was still operating after hours. The two
groups got involved in a gang fight with one of the members firing a shot
into the air before pistol-whipping the victim. Then other gang members hit
Damnoen with beer bottles.
Before leaving the drunken ruffians threw bottles into
the pub and shouted to the people around that they were
"untouchables". After that they disappeared into the night without
leaving a trace.
Damnoen was sent to the hospital for treatment of his
wounds. The owner was detained and will be charged for operating the
premises after legal closing hours. Police are still searching for the
perpetrators.
Jealous ex-boyfriend shoots man in the face and flees
Twenty-nine year old Siriwit Pulpier was shot in the face
by his girlfriend’s old flame in a fit of rage last week. Nearby residents
reported the crime and police arriving on the scent shortly after the
shooting rushed Siriwit to hospital, then question the victim’s partner.
The event occurred at around 9 p.m. last Tuesday when
Siriwit took his girlfriend, 24-year-old Rungthip Muekprasert out for dinner
in North Pattaya.
Rungthip told police that her old flame, Jitti Muntam,
angrily walked up to the pair in a fit of anger, swept everything from the
table, then pulled out a pistol and held it to Siriwit’s head. Rungthip
said she froze and was frightened out of her wits. Then suddenly Jitti
pulled the trigger, shot Siriwit in the cheek and fled.
Police are now searching for the hot-blooded Jitti while Siriwit remains
in serious condition in intensive care.
Sparks fly at city council meeting
Residents’ complaints cause furor between city management and council members
Songklod Kaewvisit
Sparks flew and retorts spat back and forth during a city
council meeting held on May 27. The issue that sparked the hot debate
centered on road construction infringing on private property, following a
complaint by the landowner and local residents to council members.
Road
construction on a soi leading off Pattaya Third Road caused tempers to flare
at city hall.
The recently completed soi off Pattaya Third Road leading
to the Diana Driving Range caused tempers to flare. Council members in their
roles as spokespersons for the community questioned the reasons why the
roadway encroached onto private land.
Suwit Nongyai and Sanit Boonmarchai led the interrogation
as to why the city was so careless in surveying the area and if indeed that
local government officials had properly inspected the construction process.
The new road encroaches on private property in 4 areas and landowners are
preparing to reclaim the land.
Pichet Utaiwattananont, director of public construction
answered the claims by stating that the road in question was completed for
15,270,000 baht by a private contracting company and that during
construction it had been inspected regularly.
Pichet added that the problem created was due to fact
there was no specific land guidelines to go by. The intention was to provide
the most benefit to the community and not create problems.
Pichet went on to say that the contractors would rectify
the problems at their own expense.
Sittiparp Muangkham, head of city engineering in Pattaya
told council members that if such problems were to occur during building
roads in Pattaya that they would instruct contractors to build roads to the
minimum width of 7 - 8 meters instead the more generous 10 meters.
Suwit refuted the statement from the head of engineering
by saying, "As a high ranking government officer, how can you make such
a statement? Such attitudes don’t solve the problem. The point of the
matter is to make the best use of taxpayers’ money and as so, perhaps a
more effective means of surveying is required. Personnel from the land
office are the most qualified in correctly measuring out properties. Why
weren’t they asked to carry out the inspection before spending taxpayer’s
money on a road that creates problems?"
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, taking the middle path said, "City
management is responsible for the matter and we are taking action to correct
it. All future road construction will be surveyed in cooperation with
experienced Land Office personnel and land owners will be consulted as how
to provide the best possible solution to prevent problems being caused.
Ultimately we must look at what creates most benefit to the public interest
before any construction commences."
City finally gets around to repairing the road surface on Soi Bua Khao after announcing the project months ago
Residents and businesses weary of mess and inconvenience
Ekachai Kamolsri
Soi Kasem Suwan, more commonly known as Soi Bua Khao,
which runs from Central Pattaya Road though to South Pattaya, is receiving a
facelift.
Renovations along the soi were due to begin February 14
this year, but to date little progress is evident. The work that has been
carried out so far is causing great difficulties to local residents,
business operators and motorists, who can now barely navigate through this
busy street.
Signs posted along the area where construction is due to
take place announce a completion date of October 12, 2003 - a total of 240
days. But the contracting company, Porwattana Construction, has yet to
complete the first phase of the project.
Business owners in the area are complaining because they
are losing business and have no reliable information as to when this
disruption will be put right. Residents are increasingly suspicious of the
lack of progress. They asked the city to explain just what’s going on and
when the construction will be completed so they can carry on with their
lives. The inconvenience is now unbearable and patience is wearing thin.
Mayor Pairat told reporters, "The city had
instructed the company to resurface the road and create a definitive
footpath for pedestrians." It is true that currently there is no
footpath and anyone brave enough to try to walk in the area has to dodge
speeding motorbikes and duck under illegally placed signs.
The mayor explained that since Pattaya is now in its
traditional ‘low season’ and the impact of SARS has lowered the number
of tourists even further, administrators decided to give the soi a face-lift
and create order out of chaos by adding a decent footpath and re-surfacing
the road.
The mayor added that the city will keep a watch on the
contractor to ensure the job is done properly. He said the city also intends
to force businesses to stop using the footpath to sell their wares and
ensure that everyone can use the walkway without obstruction.
A spokesman for the contractor said that things have been
moving slowly due to a number of difficulties, including the current
construction on Central Pattaya Road, but added they will do their best to
complete all work by the contracted date and the soi will look more neat and
tidy.
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