NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

City meets with Bali Hai committee to resolve ongoing problems

UNESCAP and regional water authorities host water management meeting

Lions Club of Pattaya donates medical funds to care for HIV patients

City prepares to launch 5th annual underwater cleanup

Navy hosts “thank you” party for regional media

As tribute to King’s birthday, Thailand to become ‘drug-free’ by December 2

City asks for increased water patrols in Pattaya Bay

Sriracha receives over 230 million baht for coastal beautification projects

Three members of the infamous ‘Oshi’ gang arrested in connection with numerous thefts

Foreign Crime Suppression officers arrest German for bounced cheque

Police briefs

Drunken tourist slaps Thai woman during ‘right-of-way’ dispute

Foreigner asks for help at Pattaya Mail office after being robbed by a youth gang

Grand Sole Hotel staff receives safety and security training

City meets with Bali Hai committee to resolve ongoing problems

Contemplates putting facility management out to tender

Damri Muangkaew

Pattaya’s boat operators moved from their locations at the decrepit South Pattaya pier to the new Bali Hai location earlier this month. Bali Hai is now home to the city’s boats for hire, tourist boat services and ferry companies. As use of the new facility has increased, so to have the problems associated with managing the area.

A meeting was called at city hall to discuss solving the numerous problems popping up as boat operators and tourists make use of the new port. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Urit Nantasurasak met with city officers and council members to bring about implementing new legislation to keep the port running efficiently and continue providing service to the community.

During the discussions, the idea of letting out the facility to a private contractor to manage was raised. One of the main reasons behind the consideration is the lack of city employees to manage the building, grounds and the moorings.

However, Sanit Boonmarchai, city council member and Bali Hai committee members disagreed with the idea. Sanit said that it is the city’s responsibility to run the port and if a private company were to manage the new location through a tender process it could cause more damage than good. He cited some drawbacks, including the possibility that fees charged by a private company could possibly be too high for boat operators to afford, which would destroy their business prospects altogether.

The deputy mayor said a diplomatic resolution could be reached by focusing on solving problems and setting up strict controls and regulations for boat operators.

“We are just beginning to walk down this path and there is need for further discussion on the idea. Once we implement rules and regulations for Bali Hai users, the management issue can then be discussed at a later meeting with the Bali Hai committee members,” said Urit.


UNESCAP and regional water authorities host water management meeting

Inter-Asia cooperation and higher drinking water standards discussed

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

Affirmative action, procedures and improved cooperation from Asia and Pacific nations in implementing higher standards in producing drinking water were the main topics of discussion when representatives from 30 countries met with members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the provincial waterworks authority last week to discuss water resource management.

David Jezeph, chief of the Water Resources Section for UNESCAP (left) organized a meeting of representatives from 30 countries, members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the provincial waterworks authority last week to discuss water resource management.

The two-day meeting, held at the Garden Beach Resort in North Pattaya, began on Tuesday morning, September 9.

A number of academics were on hand to give presentations on how to ensure that this vital resource is kept free of contamination from harmful bacteria, chemicals and minerals. Those attending the meeting were also given the chance to exchange ideas and viewpoints based on experience concerning the subject. The idea of producing a handbook outlining proper standards was also discussed.

The meeting was sponsored by the Japanese government and organized by David Jezeph, chief of the Water Resources Section for UNESCAP. Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat was the guest of honor at the opening ceremonies.


Lions Club of Pattaya donates medical funds to care for HIV patients

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

The Lions Club of Pattaya, led by their president, Apirak Don, visited the Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip on Thursday morning, September 11 to donate 500,000 baht to the hospital to care for HIV infected patients unable to afford the medicine used in treating HIV cases.

President Apirak Tan (center) of the Lions Club of Pattaya presents the donation of 500,000 baht to Royal Thai Navy Captain Dr. Vichian Attakornwanthana (left), director of the Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip.

Much of the funds came from the Lions Club of Zurich, Switzerland, which donated 450,000 baht towards the treatment of 7 patients being sponsored by the Lions Club of Pattaya.

The patients are mostly women who have been infected through spouses who already died from the disease. The cost of anti-retroviral drugs is approximately 30,000 baht per month for most of the patients.

The local Lions Club saw a gap that needed to be filled for these women, who otherwise would be unable to support their own families as well as pay their regular treatments.


City prepares to launch 5th annual underwater cleanup

Larn Island waters to be cleared of rubbish and debris

Preparations for Pattaya’s fifth annual underwater clean up were discussed during a meeting last week at city hall. Attending the meeting were divers, representatives from the TAT, Naklua fishing community, marine life preservation society, Thai Hotels Association (Eastern Chapter) and city officers.

Suksant Jutarsart from the Marine Dive Company announced the city’s annual underwater cleanup will take place on Saturday, September 20.

This year’s cleanup will take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 20 with divers moving out to Larn Island to clean up the seabed. The Marine Dive Company is organizing divers to attend the event, which began five years ago after conditions on the sea floor deteriorated from the large amount of rubbish thrown overboard from the region’s boating community and careless tourists. The idea was conceived to encourage residents and diving enthusiasts to care for the environment.

Suksant Jutarsart from the Marine Dive Company said, “The aim of this activity is to encourage people to begin caring for the local environment and urge further cooperation between the government and private sectors to care for our natural resources.”

The company is now calling for all divers to register to participate in the event. There is a cost of 450 baht for the day and divers who participate will receive a certificate from the Project Awareness Foundation.

Commenting on the project, Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat said, “This event was designed to benefit our city by encouraging the public to be aware of how important it is to conserve our environmental recourses and reduce rubbish in public places. Pattaya Bay is one of our most valuable treasures and we must preserve its natural beauty.”


Navy hosts “thank you” party for regional media

Boonlua Chatree

Officers at the Sattahip naval base invited members of the media throughout the eastern region to a party to thank them for their support and coverage of numerous events over the past year. Print, electronic and visual media representatives were greeted by senior naval officers at the Sattahip navy base earlier this week.

Royal Thai Navy Vice Admiral Vichai Jutarpakdeeprasert (center) greets guests at the annual thank you party for the media.

RTN Vice Admiral Vichai Jutarpakdeeprasert, commander in chief of the Sattahip naval base welcomed guests to an evening of fun and relaxation. Vice Admiral Vichai thanked the media for their efforts in covering the many activities conducted by naval personnel, particularly during the initial crackdown on narcotics throughout the country and leading issues relating to the various aspects of environmental protection which are included in naval duties. The latter also aided the promotion of more visitors to the base over the year. The base itself is open to Thai nationals and is a popular spot for families on the weekend.

The commander wished members of the media and their families good health and prosperity. To show their appreciation, naval personnel handed out small gifts to partygoers at the end of the evening.


As tribute to King’s birthday, Thailand to become ‘drug-free’ by December 2

The government is determined to intensify its war on narcotics so that a plan to declare Thailand as a drug-free kingdom is achieved by December 2, according to Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

The interior minister stated that the government’s war on drugs, launched on February 1 this year, will be intensified in all communities nationwide between October 2 and December 2. The collaborative move was agreed upon by intelligence agencies, the Narcotics Control Board, and other agencies concerned in a recent meeting held in Bangkok. The meeting also discussed a long-term plan to fight against drug trafficking and on providing treatments for drugs addicts.

The interior minister said, “These efforts are aimed to pay tribute to His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his birthday anniversary, which falls on December 5,” the interior minister said. (TNA)


City asks for increased water patrols in Pattaya Bay

Main goal: stricter rules for boat operators and safety for swimmers

Suchada Tupchai

Pattaya City administration is preparing to increase water patrols in Pattaya Bay to improve safety and security on the waters. The city’s jurisdiction ends on the beachfront and it needs cooperation from water police and port authorities to make the bay a safer place for swimmers and boats.

Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat demands safe waterways for the community.

Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat called a recent meeting with water police, port officials and rescue personnel to inform them of the upcoming plans to improve safety and create order out of the present chaos on the waterways.

The mayor said, “Traffic in Pattaya Bay is chaotic and it is time to implement strict controls over the city’s boats operator for the benefit of safety, security and the environment. There are currently a multitude of problems that must be solved, especially improved safety for swimmers.”

During the meeting the mayor urged cooperation between the city, water police and the port authorities to strictly patrol the bay area to ensure that boat operators, private or otherwise, followed the safety regulations. The three organizations agreed with the policy but called for further consultation with boat operators before the next scheduled meeting to resolve this issue.


Sriracha receives over 230 million baht for coastal beautification projects

Public park, bridge and Loy Island renovations to soak up the bulk of the budget

Veerachai Somchart

Sriracha municipality mayor, Chatchai Timkrachang disclosed during a recent press conference that Sriracha has been allocated a total of 230,639,000 baht for a number of coastal renovation projects.

Mayor Chatchai said the government was concerned about infrastructure development and natural beauty of Thailand’s east coast, especially spots where there are communities and tourist attractions. “Improvements along the Sriracha and Pattaya City coastlines will be given more priority,” the mayor said.

One of the main renovation projects underway in Sriracha is the renovation of 25,000 square meters of coastal area near the health park. Gardens, walkways, bicycle paths, a public park and sightseeing viewpoint will be built at a cost of 34,452,000 baht.

Chatchai pointed out that Sriracha is experiencing rapid growth. The town has expanded substantially and the population has increased dramatically during the past 10 years. More commercial shops, super malls, hospitals, and academic institutes have been established in the area, along with accompanying infrastructure.

“One of the most important projects now in progress in our area is the new concrete bridge being built to Loy Island. The construction started in January of this year and is scheduled for completion in December 2004,” said Chatchai.

Mayor Chatchai explained that the old sand and stone bridge has been in use for almost 60 years and its deteriorating condition will eventually create a safety hazard. The old bridge design also blocks the normal flow of water and not only discolors the sea but garbage collects on the beach during certain months of the year. The mayor said the new four-lane concrete bridge was designed to reinstate the natural passage of seawater.

“Besides the bridge, souvenir shops, restaurants, and a museum will be constructed to attract more visitors to Loy Island, which should earn about twenty million baht each year,” said the mayor.

The list of projects is as follows: The first is a renovation of the 25,000 square meter coast area near the health park that will cost 34,452,000 baht. Gardens, walkways and bicycle paths, a public park and sightseeing viewpoint will be included. The second project is a 560-meter concrete bridge that links Sriracha mainland and Loy Island at a cost of 69,770,000 baht.

Another venture is the huge renovation of Loy Island. A soil protection dam, souvenir shops, a museum, restrooms, a public park, a turtle breeding center, and gardens will be built on the island. 60,417,000 baht will be spent to complete the entire construction.

All the projects are expected to complete by the end of the year 2004.

Pattaya City was also allocated 26 million baht for the construction of a parking area, walk-run path, a water fountain, restrooms, tree and grass plantation, and a proper beach volleyball court.


Three members of the infamous ‘Oshi’ gang arrested in connection with numerous thefts

Pressure in Sattahip drives them to Pattaya

Boonlua Chatree

The Oshi gang is back in the news again as three members were arrested for stealing motorcycles. Police officers confiscated 5 motorbikes during the arrest. Special crime investigation units arrested the 3 young thugs outside the Lin Lin mini-mart in Banglamung. The trio was using the area as a base of operations for their criminal activities.

Three more Oshi thugs are off the street.

Police held a press conference to announce the capture of the hoodlums, who were identified as Somchai Imbab, Chatchai Taosingh and Jarisak Tupmsuk, all residents of Sattahip. The 5 motorbikes that were confiscated were used in crimes such as ‘ride-by’ thefts, and other nefarious deeds.

The three men confessed to their crimes and admitted that they preyed on unsuspecting victims in the Jomtien Beach area prior to being arrested. They also said they had broken off from the Oshi gang because Sattahip police had created so much pressure to weed out gangs in their jurisdiction that they couldn’t successfully operate anymore. All three teenage thugs were charged with theft and using deadly weapons and could face a long stint in jail.


Foreign Crime Suppression officers arrest German for bounced cheque

Extradited to Pattaya to face charges of fraud

Boonlua Chatree

Two years after the initial arrest warrant was issued, German national Fritz Meyer, 34, was finally extradited to Pattaya to face charges of fraud after his arrest in Bangkok.

The arrest warrant was issued in November 2001 after Fritz Meyer signed a cheque for one million baht over to Karl Albert Danes, but the cheque ‘bounced’ at the bank due to insufficient funds.

German national Fritz Meyer was finally arrested in Bangkok two years after the initial warrant for his arrest was issued. Meyer was extradited to Pattaya to face charges of fraud.

Danes made a formal complaint to police at the time, but before officers could nab the swindler, he fled the country. The arrest warrant remained active, however.

Meyer recently returned to Thailand to sell his house and land in the Mabprachan area and was successful in doing so. Meyer was allegedly connected with a number of housing scams prior to his leaving Thailand. He now remains in detention at the local jail as he awaits court proceedings on charges of fraud regarding the ‘rubber’ cheque.


Police briefs

Boonlua Chatree

Woman shot by teenage thugs after argument in Naklua karaoke bar

A young woman from Naklua was shot dead in front of her home after returning from a night out with friends at a nearby karaoke bar. The woman had had an argument with a group of teenagers at the same bar and had complained to the owner about the noise and disturbance the youngsters were causing.

Police and rescue personnel were called to Soi Tua-ngok in Naklua just after midnight on September 8. Senior police and criminal investigation officers arrived on the scene to find the body of 24 year old Ari Ruitwai laying in front her house with a bullet wound to the head from a .38 caliber pistol.

Officers questioned witnesses and owners of the house at which the shooting occurred. They told police that Ari had gone out for the night with 3 other friends to a karaoke bar. Apparently the women were enjoying their time out when a noisy group of 20-30 teenagers entered the establishment and began acting obnoxious. The teens requested the volume of the music be increased to an ear-splitting level and Ari went to the manager to complain and ask that the volume be turned down. The discussions escalated into a full-blown argument with Ari exchanging harsh words with a 16-year-old teenager, identified only as Noom.

The women decided to depart the establishment after seeing their complaints were being ignored and upon leaving, Ari verbally lashed out at the group. Ari arrived home and relayed the incident to her husband, Chawalit Wayagate who subsequently went back to the bar to confront the juvenile delinquents and a fistfight ensued, with the teen coming off second best.

As Chawalit left the bar a group of 20 bikes followed him home and began stirring up trouble in the village. Ari went outside to abuse the group, yet again. The teenage thug, Noom, pulled out a gun and shot Ari in the head.

The group is a known gang that hangs out in North Pattaya. Police are now tracking their movements and expect to make an arrest soon.

More vendors
arrested for selling pirated merchandise

The latest crackdown by the central government entails wiping out the copied goods industry in Thailand. The most recent spate of raids by Pattaya police took them to a Beach Road shopping center. Officers stormed the ground floor of the busy complex and proceeded to remove bags, shirts, jeans and other copied material from vendor’s stalls. The raid netted over 300,000 baht worth of wholesale goods from four vendors with an estimated retail of 1-2 million baht.

The four vendors, three women and one man, were taken to Pattaya police station for questioning and were charged with selling pirated goods and copyright infringement. All face severe penalties under the latest government legislation introduced to stamp out this popular but illegal trade in Thailand.


Drunken tourist slaps Thai woman during ‘right-of-way’ dispute

Thai motorist stops in soi for soused pedestrians and fight ensues

Boonlua Chatree

Pattaya police received a call around midnight regarding an incident of physical assault in Soi 6, Pattaya 2nd Road. When officers arrived at the scene they found two drunken tourists and a Thai couple; the latter had called in the report claiming they were victims of the attack.

Hands bound behind his back, and with what awaits him in jail, maybe in the future this tourist will think twice before slapping anyone.

Duangporn Khamdee, age 24, and his wife Prangthip Khamkaew told police that they were driving down Soi 6 on their way home when they came upon two tourists who were obviously drunk and were walking down the middle of the soi.

According to the couple, they waited for the tourists to step aside and let their car pass. However, the tourists did not give way and continued to block the road. When the driver asked for cooperation, one of the tourists angrily banged his fist on the car. Prangthip stepped out of the vehicle to halt this wild behavior. The tourist, however, was not in the mood for compromise. He turned to her and brutally smacked her in the face. Duangporn and other witnesses tried stop him from further attacking Prangthip. The two tourists did not back off. They turned on Duangporn and began hitting him as well.

Officers took the inebriated tourists to the Pattaya police station and booked them on charges of physical assault and drunk and disorderly behavior.


Foreigner asks for help at Pattaya Mail office after being robbed by a youth gang

Fed up after a month of no response from police

Boonlua Chatree

British citizen, Anthony Richard Baker, age 58, met with Pattaya Mail Newspaper’s crime reporter last week to seek assistance. Baker told our reporter that on the night of August 5, 2003, he was mugged by a couple of young Thai men while he was riding on his motorcycle on a dark short-cut trail behind Diana Garden Resort, North Pattaya.

British citizen Anthony Richard Baker met with Pattaya Mail last week to seek assistance. Anthony was mugged in August, and has yet to gain any satisfaction from the police.

Baker said the young robbers, ages between 18 and 20 years, approached him on their motorcycle and threatened him at gunpoint to stop and hand over his belongings to them. He said they relieved him of 1,800 baht. Baker said he reported the crime to Pattaya police on the same night, but had not received any news from the police even though he had been waiting over a month for a response. He asked our reporter to follow up on the matter for him.

Baker also passed on a request to the city’s mayor to install more lights in the dark sois and streets of Pattaya City for the safety of residents. He said he did not want to see crimes like this happening to others.


Grand Sole Hotel staff receives safety and security training

Suchada Tupchai

The staff at the Grand Sole Hotel recently attended a security and safety-training seminar on the hotel’s premises to increase their knowledge of safety precautions and procedures and boost awareness of how important it is to ensure the security of their guests.

The fire police demonstrate the “sleeve”, a new safety devise that helps people evacuate from higher floors during a fire. It’s a strange feeling, but one comes out the bottom unharmed and safe from danger.

The annual seminar was conducted by officials from the volunteer crime prevention sector, police and city police officers. Numerous procedures and security measures were presented to the hotel staff to ensure that hotel guests and their property remain safe and secure during their stay in the hotel and in Pattaya.

Emergency protocols were explained should an incident occur such as an accident, fire or worse. A practical training session in firefighting was also held with many of the seminar attendees performing well. Such seminars are now common in the hotel industry in Pattaya, as the importance of security and safety of guests is a top priority.

Hotel staff gets hands-on training in how to deal with a fire emergency.