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Victims of High Five fire provide chilling account
“It’s a Christmas miracle he survived,” one witness said
Elfi Seitz
 Norwegian
Hans Mueller is afraid that he will lose the use of his leg.
On Christmas Eve last week, an electric transformer
exploded next to the High Five Hotel on Soi & in Central Pattaya. As
reported in Pattaya Mail last week, there were no fatalities, but there were
a number of injuries ranging from rather minor to quite severe. In the
aftermath of the terrifying event, Pattaya Mail managed to talk with some of
the victims. Here is what we found out:
All who were interviewed agreed that the firefighters did
a great job and were true heroes of this sad event, as was the staff of the
neighboring Sunbeam Hotel, who did their utmost to console and help the
injured. But almost all lamented the lack of fire security at the High Five
Hotel.
 Laurent
Betourne praises the prudence and care of the Sunbeam Hotel staff.
German citizen Manfred (last name withheld) and his Thai
girlfriend said they were in their room on the third floor of the hotel when
they heard strange noises from the street.
They wanted to leave their room, but dark smoke hindered
them. They returned to the room and used bed sheets to try to climb down
from the balcony. But when Manfred stepped on the balcony balustrade, it
broke and he fell onto the grounds of the Sunbeam Hotel. He was lucky and
broke only one toe and has a few bruises on his arms and legs.
 William
Koerber rests in his hospital bed. This young man has a long road of
rehabilitation ahead of him.
“I think the security in this hotel is a scandal
compared to European standards. There was no fire alarm and not enough
ladders to help the people down. Worse yet, the fire escape leads back into
the hotel and not to the outside,” Manfred said.
Gnter Franke, another German from Stuttgart, was
asleep in his room on the fourth floor when he heard the elevator alarm
before the lights went out. Opening his door, he saw the heavy smoke. Since
his room had no balcony and the fire-escape was not in reach, he quickly
soaked all his clothes and took the only way out for him: through the fire
and smoke all the way down the stairs. “It was either me or the fire. I am
lucky I made it,” he said. He was full of praise for the manager of the
hotel, who immediately came to help him. Suffering from smoke inhalation, he
managed to get to a hospital by himself.
 Unfortunately,
as luck would have it, the end of this fire escape led back into the hotel
to an area quite close to the fire.
Norwegian sailor Hans Mueller said it was his first time
in Pattaya. At the outbreak of the fire he was on the sixth floor with his
girlfriend. A room maid knocked on his door and when he opened it, he saw
that the floor was full of smoke. His girlfriend found the way to the fire
escape, but many people were there already and they were pushing to get out.
Hans fell to the ground next to the Sunbeam Hotel, injuring his leg. His
unharmed girlfriend brought him to the hospital.
American William Koerber is at the Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital and will have to stay there for many weeks. The young man was
staying in his room on the 10th floor when at 12:55 (afternoon) he tried to
go outside to visit his brother John in Jomtien. He hadn’t heard a fire
alarm and was shocked to see the heavy smoke. He couldn’t reach the
nearest fire escape, so crawled on his hands and knees to the other one.
“I made it down to the 6th floor I guess, but then the
smoke was so heavy that I couldn’t manage anymore. So I tried to reach the
window to climb down the window bars, but unfortunately they didn’t hold
my weight and I fell down all the way,” he remembers.
William also landed on the grounds of the Sunbeam Hotel
and all who watched his fall in horror thought he must be dead. But he
survived. Staff at the Sunbeam Hotel cared for him until, according to some
witnesses, the ambulance arrived about an hour later. He suffered several
breaks on both feet and legs, hips, pelvis and left arm. After two emergency
operations, he will have another operation next week and from then, “all
is in God’s hands” according to his brother. John added, “We are happy
he survived and has no real major injuries like a broken back or skull. I
most probably wouldn’t have survived this fall.”
An English couple who witnessed the horror unfolding
said, “All of a sudden smoke engulfed everything and we saw people running
down the fire escape. It was horrible chaos. When we heard that the young
American we saw falling had survived, we thought this was a true Christmas
miracle.”
Laurent Betourne, former GM of the Mercure Hotel in
Pattaya, at that time was a guest at the Sunbeam Hotel with his wife
Cristina and his three kids. Laurent said, “The actions of the staff of
the Sunbeam Hotel were exemplary. They went from room to room, asking people
to leave the hotel quietly, since there was danger that fire could spread.
They also took very good care of the injured until the ambulances
arrived.”
Over 3,000 people attend Road Safety campaign launch in Pattaya
Replace those useless helmets with proper ones
Damri Muangkaew
As the good Doctor Iain Corness says, “If you have a
100 baht head, where a 100 baht helmet.” Although officials used different
words, they basically said the same thing as part of the message they were
sending to over 3,000 motorcyclists, residents and officials who attended
the launch of Pattaya’s road safety campaign.
The event, presided over by deputy Prime Minister
Jutharont Chaisaeng, began with the release of thousands of riders from city
hall, who made their way down to Bali Hai and on to Jomtien.
 Thousands
of riders participated in Pattaya’s Road Safety campaign last week, and
are shown here leaving Bali Hai Pier on their way to Jomtien.
The campaign, specifically aimed at getting motorcyclists
to wear helmets, turn on their lights and ensure they carry their licenses,
also included the destruction of faulty or bogus helmets, which would
otherwise have no efficacy in the event of an accident.
The policy, handed down by the Thaksin government, was
aimed at reducing the number of road deaths over the New Year period. The
campaign will continue throughout the new year, as authorities will be
focusing on the main issues of wearing proper helmets, vehicle
roadworthiness and an anti-drink and drive campaign.
As of December 29, police have been instructed to
clampdown on riders who disobey the rules, as well as those having
abnormally loud vehicles. Fines have been increased for offences and they
will apparently be on the lookout for riders who go against the flow of
traffic.
Over the past year, 809 people in Chonburi were injured
in accidents, the majority riding motorcycles. In Pattaya alone over the
same period last year, 20 deaths were reported with countless others being
seriously injured ranging from disablement to severe head injuries.
The Thaksin government’s policy also states that if an
officer of the law fails to enforce the law then that officer should also be
charged accordingly.
Attempts to carry out such programs in Pattaya have been
many and it is yet to be seen if this one is successful, since the majority
of motorcycle riders have no idea of what road safety is and what is
required to survive on the road. Time will tell.
PM predicts no vote buying in next election
PM hints that Thai Rak Thai will become one party in a one-party system
Suchada Tupchai
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said last week at the
Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel during the December 26-27 Thai Rak Thai national
convention there that he believes there will be no vote buying in the next
general election in 2005.
The PM predicted that people will vote for the party they
support, rather than being guided by influential figures. He predicted this
would be so due to the government’s crackdown on influential figures.
 Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that next year will be a very good one for
Thailand, and predicted that the Thai Rak Thai party will be in power for a long
time to come.
“We believe that in the next general election, eligible
voters will each vote for their favorite parties, taking the parties’ policies
and performances into consideration, rather than being guided by rewards from
influential figures and groups, including politicians,” he projected.
The Thai leader also expects that his TRT Party would still
be in power over the next four consecutive terms, four years each, given the
popularity his party has gained from the public in all regions.
Premier Thaksin also said that he believes his TRT Party
could in fact become the one party in a one-party government in the next term,
as he expects his party would win over 400 seats in the next general election in
2005.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak shared PM
Thaksin’s optimism, and in fact predicted that 2004 would be a “golden
year” and that Thailand could reach “First World status” at an economic
level comparable to Singapore, Korea and Taiwan.
“While the world is not very stable today, Thailand is
adopting stable politics, a strengthened economy and peaceful society. Next year
is going to be the golden year for Thailand to step forward as part of the First
World like Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan,” Dr Somkid said.
Prime Minister Thaksin did, however, say that this wouldn’t
come without hard work. He stressed to conference members that the government
must work harder over the next year for the benefit and development for the
nation’s people. He added that the aim is to increase exports so as to
outweigh imports by bolstering the One Tambon One Product concept and continue
to promote Thailand’s products on the world market.
“We must ensure that the demand for our products outweigh
our ability to produce. The market is large and we must strike accordingly to
ensure that reserves remain high and Thailand reduces its foreign debt,” said
PM Thaksin, adding that Thailand had already paid 300 billion baht against
debtors.
The PM ended the 3-day conference by saying that 2003 was a
year to fight against drugs and poverty. “The war on drugs has been a success
at a certain level, and next year we intend to strike out against those who
cause suffering or cheat the populace as well as bring communications within the
country to a new high using the latest technology available.”
“As of January 1, an emergency call center will begin
operation 24/7. Callers will be able to access ministries and ministerial staff
by dialing 1111 to voice their grievances and suffering. As in traditional
times, the bell will ring for those who have been done wrong by and those who
cause such suffering will be dealt with accordingly and swiftly,” concluded
the PM.
Complaints of shoddy workmanship prompt mayor to survey Dongtan drainage construction
Smelly drains covered with unsafe material
Suchada Tupchai
After a stream of complaints by residents and tourists
concerning the poor quality of construction methods and materials in a
revamp of the Dongtan drainage system in Jomtien, Mayor Pairat
Sutithamrongsawat led a team of municipal officers and engineers on a survey
of the construction site. What he found was rather less than agreeable.
To begin wit, some of the drains were filled with refuse
and emitted a foul smell. Plus, a 490-meter section of the new drainage
system has been covered with flimsy concrete slabs. The small slabs, 20cm
wide x 45cm long and just 6 centimeters thick are, according to the mayor,
totally inadequate and not up to standard.
 As
the mayor looks on, a local official tests the strength of the concrete
slabs being used to cover the new drainage system in Jomtien. The cover
obviously didn’t pass the test, so the mayor ordered the concrete covers
be replaced with steel grates.
The Dongtan drainage project, which began on September 6
and is due to be completed by February 2, 2004, at a cost of 4 million baht,
was contracted out to the Chonburi Boonkrit Construction Partner Co. Ltd.
The company was contracted to install 656 meters of drainage system along
the beachfront area to facilitate better drainage during the rainy season
and reduce beach erosion.
The city is the project owner, and with the recent
inspection it appears they are not satisfied with the construction quality.
Amnuay Narake, Pattaya civil engineer in charge of the
project explained that the decision to use the concrete covers was made due
to the fact that this relevant section has no vehicular traffic and that it
did not require the expensive metal grates.
However, the mayor, unsatisfied with the reasoning,
ordered that the project be stopped until such time as all the drain covers
replaced with steel grates to improve water flow off the road surface. Steel
grates are significantly stronger than the concrete being used and safer for
the general public.
Mayor Pairat added that such poor construction is
dangerous and that the potential for accidents is much greater, also making
this unacceptable, and ordered the company to conform to the standards
required by the city.
During the survey, city officers noted the foul stench
from the drains and ordered them to be cleaned of debris. This also prompted
the mayor to order officials to survey other projects under progress.
The mayor commented that numerous points need to be
corrected as soon as possible and that follow up inspection be carried out
by city employees to ensure that the area is clean and free of problems, and
that the flow of water remains unimpaired, particularly any ‘clean’
water which flows into the bay. He promised to keep a close eye on the
projects to ensure that they are completed properly.
Bay Watch
Bad
driving? Or just plain bad karma?
Swedish national seriously injured in Christmas road carnage
Accident totals both cars and a nearby telephone box
Boonlua Chatree
Per Christer Gustafsson was on his way home from celebrating
Christmas Eve when his car was stuck by another vehicle. The 48-year-old Swede
was seriously injured and taken to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital following the
accident. He was admitted to the emergency room and was listed as in a serious
but stable condition.
 A
Christmas Eve accident on Sukhumvit Road put a Swedish resident in the hospital
and totaled two cars and a phone box.
The accident occurred at 2.45 a.m. on Christmas morning as
the foreign resident attempted to cross Sukhumvit Road in his car when it was
struck by an oncoming vehicle. The other car, driven by Amnuay Hoburapa was
driving into Pattaya when the accident occurred. The force of the impact all but
destroyed both cars as well as a telephone box on the roadside. Fortunately no
one was using the phone box at the time of the collision.
Amnuay, 43, who was uninjured in the accident, told police
that he had driven to Pattaya from Bangkok. Traveling reasonably quickly he said
he saw the other car cut in front of him and was forced to brake. However, the
wheels locked and he slid into the other vehicle and careered into the phone
box.
Banglamung police reconstructed the accident and impounded
both vehicles pending further investigation.
Unscrupulous thieves fleece tourists’ hotel rooms following the High Five hotel fire
Some thieves have no dignity
Boonlua Chatree
Opportunistic thieves raided two hotel rooms at the High Five
shortly after a Christmas Eve blaze engulfed the building. On Christmas day,
Mark Langley, 28, and Gregory Bell, 39, both from the United Kingdom filed
separate police reports on the loss of cash and valuables from their 5th floor
rooms.
 As
if experiencing a terrifying hotel fire wasn’t enough, some of the guests
returned after the fire to find that valuables they had left in the room had
been stolen by lowlife thieves.
Langley, who was staying in room 5007, discovered 25,000 baht
and 190 pounds sterling missing as well as a gold necklace and ring after
fleeing the blaze on December 24.
Gregory Ryan, in room 5008, also returned to his room to
discover 29,000 baht, 240 pounds sterling, a gold necklace, gold ring and
numerous other items missing. They urged police to find the culprits and bring
them to justice in hope of having their cash and belongings returned to them.
Pol. Gen. Amnuay Petchsiri, deputy chief of the National
Police Bureau visited the hotel and instructed local officers to seriously
investigate the cause of fire, whether the hotel had the appropriate operating
licenses and had accident and fire insurance.
Pol. Gen. Amnuay ordered investigation officers to question
all hotel employees and anyone else who may have entered the hotel after the
fire broke out and ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.
Police arrest man connected with August shooting of German tourist
Four months is not long enough to escape Pattaya police
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya’s criminal investigation officers arrested
21-year-old Antawut Chaeku in connection with the shooting of a German tourist
and his female companion in August 2003 outside a Naklua Hotel.
 Antawut
realized he shouldn’t a ought a done it when police gave him his very own
silver colored bracelets to wear to his new home behind bars with many of his
other thieving, conniving low-life friends.
The August attack left the German tourist with a bullet wound
to the neck and his companion with one in her hand when criminals stole a gold
necklace valued at around 5,000 baht in the very early hours of the morning.
Officers confiscated the criminal’s motorcycle, which he
used in the robbery and charged Antawut, aka Bill, with theft, possession of an
illegal weapon, and causing grievous bodily harm.
News of the arrest reached the desk of Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak
Jutanont, Region 2 commander, who made his way to Pattaya police station. During
the visit Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak ordered local officers to respond immediately to
any crime committed against tourists and to ensure that they arrest any
suspects.
“Pattaya is a tourist city and we cannot have such low-life
criminals attacking tourists. This type of crime (mugging tourists) is
unacceptable and must be stopped. Local precincts must protect the lives and
property of tourists at all costs,” Jongrak said.
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