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Hundreds of angry vendors storm city hall
Rip city hall’s front gate off the hinges
Suchada Tupchai
Following last Friday’s protest by Pattaya and Jomtien
street vendors, over 500 angry vendors stormed city hall on Monday morning.
The impatient and upset mob of vendors blocked the entrance to city hall
with their 3-wheelers and carts, in protest over fines and rough treatment
by municipal officers.
 Hundreds
of angry vendors stormed city hall on September 8, demanding that the city
be more lenient when enforcing the law. City officials refused to back down,
and the situation began to get tense, but eventually fizzled out, with
promises of “we’ll be back!”
City officials called in police and army reinforcements
to stay on hand in case the crowd got out of control.
Waving banners demanding justice and fine reductions from
Pattaya administration, the mob was met by Sittiparp Muangkham, chief of
city engineering, who called for 10 representatives to meet with city
management to respond to their demands. The group was met by deputy mayor,
Niran Wattanasatsathorn to try and bring an end to the standoff.
Deputy Mayor Niran explained to the representatives that
the regulations state that vendors are prohibited from selling their wares
along the beachfront and the sidewalk, but that they are, however, allowed
to conduct business in the side sois and streets away from the main tourist
areas, but that they are only allowed to park in one spot for no more than
10 minutes at a time.
Niran went on to explain that the fine system was such
that first time offenders are fined 200 baht for their first offense. Fines
double each time they are caught after that.
During the meeting, Surapol Tiensuwan, Banglamung
district chief visited city hall to inspect situation, and warned the
vendors that any forceful actions would not be tolerated. He said offenders
would be dealt with severely, and asked everyone to go home until a
resolution could be reached with their chosen representatives.
Hot weather and hot heads do not mix and the protestors
responded by refusing to budge, and in the process broke city hall’s front
gate trying to take it of its hinges. The vendors continued their sit-in,
disrupting municipal business and traffic outside.
The vendors’ representatives returned from their
meeting and explained that the city would not budge from their position.
This was not well received by the crowd and they remained at the steps of
city hall, many of them confused over the rules.
It wasn’t until another vendor explained the situation
properly that they agreed to move from their sit-in and the numbers
subsequently reduced at a slow rate, many grumbling over the lack of
flexibility from the city and saying they would return to stage another
protest in the near future if municipal officers continued their unfair and
aggressive treatment.
Chonburi Province to review zoning restrictions
after months of delay
New entertainment venues must be 100 to 200 meters away from schools and temples
Veerachai Somchart
Chonburi Province was listed as one of the 8 provinces to
receive strict zoning arrangements since the end of last year, but signs of
serious action are yet to be seen. Recently Chonburi Deputy Governor Phisit
Boonchuang ordered his men to work on the matter once again after it was
abandoned for some months.
Phisit said the process was divided into three stages:
policy formulation, analysis and evaluation, and policy implementation.
After the policy formulation was complete, i.e., after officials assessed
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and disadvantages, they would start to
implement the policy.
The two main zones that would go under the zoning process
include Naklua Soi 18 to North Pattaya Road and to Pattaya Beach Road Soi
11-13. The second zone would start from Pattaya Beach Road Soi 11-13 to
Charermphrakiat Road, South Pattaya.
The deputy governor said new entertainment venues must be
constructed at least 100 to 200 meters away from schools and temples. He
also revealed that the government was not overly concerned about venues that
were built before the policy came up, but if they flaunted legal closing
hours, served minors or allowed drugs or lewd shows on their premises, they
would be the target of police raids and subjected to permanent closure.
Phisit stated swift action on illegal businesses must be
taken since the government has been going easy on them for over a year. He
said that parents and some family tour groups have complained of the noise
and untidiness around some venues and they were disgusted with the lewd
shows allowed in Pattaya and Banglamung.
Commenting on local juvenile misbehavior and the serving
of minors in bars, “Kids should be off the streets and home with their
families before midnight, if possible,” Phisit said.
Pattaya City gives out ‘clean environment’ awards to schools, communities and hotels
Pattaya School Number 9, Siam Bayshore,
and the Soi Post Office community presented awards
As an incentive to keep our city clean and to reward and acknowledge
establishments that take the protection and upkeep of a clean environment
seriously, Pattaya City has initiated an ongoing project which promotes this
awareness.
 Deputy
Mayor Wutisak Ruemkitchakarn presents a cleanliness and environment award.
In the inaugural event, Pattaya School Number 9 won the
award for being the best school in regards to environment and cleanliness.
The best hotel for cleanliness and environment award went to Siam Bayshore,
and the Soi Post Office community was given an award for being the cleanest
neighborhood.
The awards ceremony was held at Pattaya City Hall, and
was presided over by Deputy Mayor Wutisak Ruemkitchakarn.
The city has organized many relevant programs in the
past, including the recyclable items program, proper community waste
disposal, bio fertilizer production and many others. Altogether 21 sectors
participated in the contest.
Confusion surrounds Bali Hai as boat operators begin the move from the old South Pattaya pier
Lack of information leaves some tourists bewildered
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The city’s recent decision to move all boat operators
from the old South Pattaya Pier to the new Bail Hai location created some
confusion for boat operators and tourists. Lack of public information left
many tourists unsure as to where they should go to board boats that tour
Pattaya’s nearby islands, even though the city provided municipal officers
to help with the move and guide people to their respective vessels.
 Although
the move initially caused some confusion, and there are still some kinks to
work out, the new pier is finally being used.
Niran Wattanasartsathorn, deputy mayor and city council
member Sanit Boonmarchai visited the pier on the day after boat operators
were ordered to move. Niran noted the need for more lighting in the area and
a few other points that needed tweaking.
“Apart from improving the lighting and a few other
minor details, I don’t foresee that there should be a problem in using the
new facility. There are plenty of boat moorings and sufficient parking space
for visitors. The pier is also big enough for vehicles to deliver goods to
the boats. There should be no problems, especially if everyone cooperates to
keep the area clean,” said Niran.
The city approved access for a number of pick-up trucks
to use the area to deliver goods to vessels after being inspected by
officials. A local municipal officer, who wished to remain anonymous, told
reporters that Bali Hai will be open for use 24 hours a day. The ferry
services will operate from 7 a.m. till 6.30 p.m. with the fees set at 20
baht per person, regardless of nationality.
UNICEF meets Chonburi officials to inspect women and juvenile rights protection system and interrogation room
Boonlua Chatree
Last week, representatives from United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited Banglamung police station and spent over
2 hours discussing the women and juvenile rights protection process with
Banglamung police.
Pol. Maj. Gen Rapeepan Parnkawong, assistant commander of
Chonburi police region 2, Pol. Maj. Gen. Sanae Khamthiang, commander in
chief of Chonburi police division, and Pol. Col. Itthipol Piriyapinyo, the
deputy commander welcomed the group. Chonburi court judges, advocates,
department of public aids representatives, and department of human rights
protection were also there to answer questions.
UNICEF’s agenda in Chonburi was to gather information
about the women and juvenile rights protection processes and learn ways
Chonburi police handles cases involving women and children. They said they
also wanted to learn how police handle cases involving international
criminals.
One of the UNICEF representatives said that they decided
to visit Chonburi Province because it had some of the highest numbers of
cases of sexual harassment, sexual brutality, and physical assaults in the
country.
The visiting representatives said the information that
they gathered here would aid them to help disadvantaged women and children
in underdeveloped countries.
The group inquired about measures used to help and heal
disturbed children; methods used during the interrogation of women and
children, and wanted to know how long women and children were detained
before they appeared in court. UNICEF also requested an explanation of court
procedures involving women and juveniles.
After a long and informative meeting, the UNICEF group
inspected the interrogation chamber. Before the group left the station, they
concluded that Banglamung police station was one of the most advanced
stations and has a proper system to handle these special cases. The group
said they would apply what they learned here to their workplaces.
Pattaya police superintendent calls for assistance in crime prevention
Police patrols to operate 24/7 to ensure safety
of tourists and residents
Suchada
Tupchai
Over 500 beach vendors, restaurant owners, hotel staff
and motorcycle taxi riders attended a meeting to eradicate crime from
Jomtien Beach. Pattaya police superintendent, Pol. Col. Kamolchai
Tiengrungroj and Pattana Boonsawat, deputy chairmen of the city council and
president of the Beach Vendors Association called for attendees to become
the eyes and ears of the police to stamp out crime in the area.
 Pol.
Col. Kamolchai Tiengrungroj (left) and Pattana Boonsawat, deputy chairmen of
the city council and president of the Beach Vendors Association, are asking
people to become the eyes and ears of the police so that police can stamp
out crime in the area.
“Jomtien Beach has become a haven for criminals, many
of them committing crimes such as ride-by thefts, armed robbery, physical
and sexual assaults and even motorbike racing along Beach Road creating
excessive noise and dangerous road conditions. All this is unsafe for
residents and tourists alike. The Pattaya Police station has already set up
a special team of officers to patrol the area 24 hours a day. In the 15 days
the team has been operating, they managed to foil many attempts and detained
a large number of criminals,” said Pol. Col. Kamolchai.
“We began September 1, and intend to eradicate crime
from Jomtien Beach and surrounding sois and make it safe for residents and
tourists once again. Whatever the results may be, we must strive to return
the area to the people. This is a war and we intend to win it. A team of
officers will be on patrol 24/7 and they will remain in place as long as it
takes to remove these menaces to society,” added the police
superintendent.
Pol. Col Kamolchai explained that the gangs and criminals
know the area very well and have a number of escape routes to avoid capture.
Police numbers have increased and they have enlisted the aid of crime
prevention volunteers who will operate from Jomtien up to the Wongamat area,
which is under the Banglamung Police station jurisdiction. Tight cooperation
between the two stations is aimed at catching criminals on the run.
The aim of the meeting was to seek further cooperation
from business operators and residents to be the eyes and ears of the police
force and report any suspicious activities or incidents immediately to the
authorities.
Water woes flood Walking Street committee meeting
Suchada Tupchai
The replacement of old water pipes was the main focus of
the monthly Walking Street committee meeting at city hall last Friday.
Suntorn Kangsirikul, president of the Walking Street committee, told
attendees that there is a pressing need to resolve the issue of broken water
pipes that have affected many of the area’s residents. “A number of
Walking Street businesses and residents have had the old water pipes burst,
flooding their premises and damaging their property,” Suntorn said.
 Suntorn
Kangsirikul, president of the Walking Street committee.
Those attending the meeting agreed with Suntorn’s
comments citing their own experiences in the past. They agreed to contact
the regional water authority to survey the popular South Pattaya tourist
area to speed up the process of laying new water mains.
The project will cost approximately 2.5 million baht and
once approved, construction would begin in May 2004 at the start of the
‘low season’.
Other topics discussed included the intended project to
lengthen and widen Walking Street down to the new Bali Hai pier. The
discussion led to a number opposing views to the project, as it would lead
to the dismantling of those structures on the street side. Some residents at
the far end were not in agreement with the project as they would be unable
to park their vehicles in front of their home while the street was closed
off to traffic.
Despite opposition, the general committee sees the need
for progress which will benefit the local economy and provide easier access
to the southernmost end of the street.
National Drug Prevention Unit surveys Banglamung
Damri Muangkaew
The central government’s war on narcotics continues,
albeit at a lower profile than when it began in February this year. Members
from the National Drug Prevention Center were in Banglamung this week to
survey district officers and government employees and assess the
district’s drug suppression and prevention efforts.
National committee members paid a call on Banglamung
district chief and city officials to listen to what measures are being taken
by local administrators to ensure drug prevention and suppression is coming
under control.
Surapol Tiensuwan, Banglamung District chief explained,
“Banglamung is a large area that encompasses many communities, villages
and major commercial centers. The drug problems are widespread and there are
still difficulties in solving this issue. We have 1,486 drug suppression
volunteers ranging across 7 age groups working with an aim to stamp out the
problem.”
“Banglamung is a complicated district and in regards to
the drug issue, it is not easy to police. Banglamung is divided into two
main sections, rural and city areas. Transport and patrols must also be on
land and sea. However, we are taking appropriate measures to ensure control
and reduction of drug users and transport of illegal substances. We also
have funds set for so-called ‘sting operations’ to purchase narcotics in
order to arrest dealers. The funds, however, are insufficient. Cash used in
sting operations is held as evidence in court cases, and the money is tied
up until proceedings are completed. This means we have to wait and the delay
hampers our efforts,” Surapol said.
The information was deemed beneficial in pursuing the
nation’s war on drugs and the committee members were pleased with the
progress made by Banglamung officials. Results of the survey will be
presented to the National Drug Suppression Bureau.
Fire razes hotel room in South Pattaya
No one hurt, 300,000 baht in damages
Boonlua Chatree
Fire units were called to the Marina Inn Plaza on Soi
Yensabai at 10 p.m. on Wednesday September 3 after a fire broke out on the
second floor of the hotel.
Ten fire units and rescue personnel rushed to the scene
of the blaze to find hotel residents, Thai and foreign in the process of
evacuating the premises. No one sustained any significant injuries from the
fire or smoke.
 An
unattended cigarette caused a blaze that razed room 207 of the Marina Inn
Plaza on Soi Yensabai.
The blaze broke out on the second floor in room 207 and
spread quickly through the room. Firefighters brought the fire under control
within 20 minutes after arriving.
The blaze was contained to a single room, but still
managed to cause an estimated 300,000 baht damage.
Peter Kuelmer, the hotel owner told investigators the
room was being rented by a Thai National, Suwat Gongkun from Udon Thani, who
subsequently disappeared with his belongings during the commotion.
Initial investigations showed that a cigarette left
burning in the wrong place caused the blaze. The room was cordoned off until
police forensic teams could sift through the burnt remains for further
concrete evidence as to what caused the fire.
Local officers are still looking for Suwat for further
questioning.
Baht bus driver attacks Finnish tourist with lump of wood
Finn honked horn to signal bus was blocking soi
Boonlua Chatree
The nasty reputation of Pattaya’s Baht Bus Co-operative
has become infamous the world over, and is getting worse. The latest
incident involved a belligerent driver and a Finnish tourist with the Finn
ending up the worse for wear after the ‘songtaew chauffeur’ attacked him
with a lump of wood. The Finn’s “crime”? He honked his horn to get the
driver to move his bus, as it was obstructing traffic in a narrow soi.
 A
true ambassador of his country? Let’s hope not. Baht bus #146 driver
Sompong Wonglar (right) clubbed Finnish tourist Pekka Vesa Rvonala (left)
over the head with a piece of wood when the tourist honked his horn to get
the belligerent driver to move from blocking the soi so that traffic could
resume. Hopefully Sompong will be taken off the streets and after serving
time in the local lockup, will be sent back to Nakorn Nowhere where he came
from to maybe take up anger-management training.
The bloodied tourist, Pekka Vesa Rvonala from Finland
stumbled into Pattaya police station at around 1.30 a.m. on September 2
reporting that a baht bus driver assaulted him with a lump of wood in nearby
Soi 7. The 35-year-old Finnish national was bleeding profusely and required
several stitches at a nearby hospital.
Pekka told officers that the driver of bus number 146
attacked him following a verbal spat in the soi over driving habits.
Police searched the city streets, found the rogue baht
bus and hauled the driver in for questioning. The driver of bus 146 was
identified as 37-year-old Sompong Wonglar. Sompong admitted to attacking the
foreigner with a 1-meter long piece of wood after he parked in the middle of
the soi to pick up passengers.
Sompong said he became angry after the tourist used the
horn on his motorcycle and the pair exchanged harsh words. He then removed
the lump of wood from the baht bus and hit the foreigner over the head,
knocking him down onto the road.
The miscreant baht bus driver was charged with assault
causing physical and mental injury to another person.
Daring drive-by thieves rob foreign tourists
Quick action by police nabs one of the offenders
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya’s ride-by thieves continue to plague the city
as low-life thugs run amok, creating havoc and fear among residents and
tourists. The latest crime occurred on Pattaya Second Road at 1.30 a.m. in
front of the Ruen Thai Restaurant. Three men riding on one motorcycle
targeted two English tourists as they were riding home and snatched Winisa
Philipson’s (sic) gold necklace from her neck. The force of the attack
caused the motorcycle, ridden by her husband John, to crash. Jon Philipson
sustained serious injuries in the fall and was taken to the Pattaya Memorial
Hospital for treatment.
 Surapol
Potidee fell off the back of the getaway motorcycle during a police chase
after he and two accomplices snatched a gold necklace from the neck of an
English tourist in yet another ride by theft.
Winissa immediately reported the crime to police and
officers radioed patrol units. Crime suppression and patrol units spotted
the three men on the motorcycle and gave chase. The three were weaving in
and out of traffic and the chase ended with the second pillion passenger
falling off the bike. Officers pounced on the man, who still had the broken
necklace in his hand, while the bike sped off leaving their fallen
accomplice behind.
The captured culprit was promptly taken to the police
station for questioning. He was identified as 25-year-old Surapol Potidee
from Yasothorn Province. Police confiscated the broken one baht-weight gold
necklace as evidence. Surapol told police that his friends Tith and Seesong
were the other two men on the bike involved in the crime.
Criminal investigation police are searching for the pair
and expect to make an arrest shortly. Meanwhile Surapol was charged with
theft and grievous bodily harm for his participation and awaits his friends
in Pattaya’s police lock-up.
One person dies and four are injured on new Carrefour construction site
Structural reinforcement collapses during
rainstorm - crane operator flees the scene
Boonlua
Chatree
A 24-year-old construction worker was pronounced dead on
arrival at the hospital and another four were seriously injured when metal
reinforcing and concrete posts gave way during a rainstorm.
Police and rescue personnel were called to the Carrefour
construction site on Central Pattaya Road at 8.30 p.m. Tuesday September 2,
and found that the metal reinforcing from the four story construction fell
on top of the laborers during the downpour. All five men sustained numerous
injuries and broken bones, but 24-year-old Samruay Onchun died on the way to
Pattaya Memorial Hospital from severe head injuries and a shattered
collarbone.
 Although
the crane has been set back upright, the scene of the accident is still a
mess. The construction accident cost on life and severely injured 4 others.
Police called in and interrogated the site supervisor,
Somyot Cokekruad, site manager for K-Tek Construction and Engineering
Company, who told police that they were laying concrete in the area before
the accident happened. The crane was in the process of lifting buckets full
of concrete when it tipped and fell onto the metal structures. The impact
caused the rest of it to collapse like a row of dominoes.
Pol Col. Kamolchai Tienrungroj told the contractors to
stop all work until provincial engineers and police investigators could
survey the site and determine the cause of the accident.
The crane driver fled the scene after the accident and is
wanted for questioning. Police are still looking for him and he may face
prosecution if it is deemed he was negligent.
On Wednesday morning, Wiroj Tonthitam from Chonburi Civil
Engineering Department Region 7 called a meeting with site managers to
examine the construction plans to ensure that the building process was
following the approved plan. Provincial engineers and local police are
investigating the accident.
Diana Group and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital organize free checkup
for long stay residents
Co-organized by Diana Group’s MD Sopin Thappajug and
vice MD for Foreign Affairs at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Nirachorn
Sirisampan, a team of doctors went to the Diana Driving Range to give free
services to the residents as part of the “For Your Health Program”.
 Neera
said that the aim of such a program is to take care of tourists, especially
the elderly, who travel alone and often find it inconvenient to go to the
hospital for checkups by themselves.
The free services offered on this occasion included
dental checkups by Dr. Kesuda Pornpreecha, blood pressure and sugar level
checkups by Dr. Kamolthip Boonyapirat, and eye checkups by Dr. Damri
Nujcharoen.
Thais are fifth highest alcohol drinkers in world
Thais are the fifth highest consumers of alcohol in the
world, bucking the idea of high alcohol consumption being limited to cold
northern climates, according to a new report published by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
But on a more positive note, the government revealed that
it managed to meet its target for abstention during the Buddhist Lent season
this year, although private sector employees continued to drink despite
traditional Buddhist strictures on alcohol consumption.
Speaking during a debate on drunkenness after the lent
season, Prof. Udomsilp Srisaengnam, president of the lent alcohol abstention
campaign committee said that according to the WHO report which measured
consumption of beer, spirits and wine in terms of units of pure alcohol,
Thailand was the fifth largest consumer of alcohol in the world, with the
top four places going to countries in Europe.
Noting that alcohol consumption in Thailand was
significantly higher than in other countries in the region, he said that
alcohol consumption among Thais averaged 13.59 liters. Moreover, surveys
indicated a growing trend for increased consumption of alcohol, with beer
consumption growing six-fold in the period from 1987 to 1997. He warned that
unless the government campaigned to reduce alcohol consumption, the number
of drinkers would grow by 100 percent every three years.
A poll released on September 2 by Assumption
University’s ABAC Poll showed that one month into this year’s Lent, a
total of 40.4 percent of the 1,212 drinkers surveyed had given up alcohol
for the season. A survey conducted in June prior to the beginning of Lent
showed that 31 percent of drinkers intended to give up alcohol for Lent this
year.
Government workers and state enterprises employees showed
particularly impressive rates of abstention, with 28.3 percent saying prior
to Lent that they would give up, but 44 percent in fact deciding to abstain
once Lent got underway. Surprisingly, the record among students was even
better, with 56.6 percent abstaining, compared to only 19.7 percent
expressing an intention to do so.
However, only 38.8 percent of private sector employees
abstained compared to 42.2 percent who said that they were going to,
although among laborers the statistics were marginally better, with 29.5
percent giving up, compared to 24.1 percent who said that they would. (TNA)
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