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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

City allocates additional 3 million baht to complete Bali Hai Pier

Mayor dispels threat of terrorist attacks in Pattaya

Mayor leads police force to evict youths from Banglamung School grounds

Authorities preparing strategy to combat dark influences in Banglamung

Pattaya administration backs bid for Skål Eco-tourism Awards

Cobra Gold 2003 winds up at U-tapao

Soused tourist arrested for disturbing the peace

Police round up scores of motorcycles off Pattaya streets

Bypass motorbike thieves arrested

Singer smashes glass in Japanese tourist’s face to stop heckling

Police briefs

Sparks fly at city council meeting

City finally gets around to repairing the road surface on Soi Bua Khao after announcing the project months ago

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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