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Mayor elect Niran Wattanasartsathorn ready to take the reigns
Thanks the populace for their votes whilst waiting for official results
Suchada
Tupchai
The official results still aren’t in, but Pattaya’s
“unofficial” mayor-elect Niran Wattanasartsathorn is already prepared to
begin taking control of the city.
Unofficially, Niran Wattanasartsathorn garnered 13,336
votes in the March 27 elections, 2098 votes more than first time mayoral
candidate and prominent Pattaya businessman, Surat Mekavarakul, who
bolstered 11,238 votes.
Provided there are no protests or illegal activities, the
formal announcement from the Election Monitoring Committee (EMC) should be
forthcoming within the next 15 days.
Niran and his team haven’t been sitting idly by, as
they have gained permission from the EMC to go out into the city and thank
the people that voted for them.
Niran has vowed to do his best for the city. He has
served as deputy mayor for a number of years, and now relishes the chance to
take over the helm of the local administration.
“I don’t know when the official results of the
election will be posted but we will have to wait. If there are no hiccups,
we should know within the next couple of weeks,” Niran said in an
interview on Tuesday, April 6.
“Right now I am just thanking residents for their
support and trust, the EMC has approved this, but in reality I don’t feel
pressured in any way, because I am ready to do my best for Pattaya. I just
want to say thank you,” added Niran.
Niran Wattanasartsathorn is head of the Thai Rak
Thai-Pattaya Development party and has the backing and support of Saensuk
Mayor Somchai Khunpluem.
Niran added that he intends to call the first council meeting 15 days
after the official announcement is made to review work plans, schedules and
projects to improve the city and keep it moving in a positive direction.
Record heat wave cooks Thailand
Could be hottest summer since 1960
Thailand is bracing itself for one of the
hottest summers ever. The Meteorological Department warned the public on
March 31 that temperatures could reach as high as 43 degrees Celsius.
According to the department’s director-general Anant
Thansathit, Thailand can expect three or four more tropical summer storms
before the hot season recedes, with temperatures up a full 1-2 degrees over
last year.
Anant also forecast heavy rain during the Songkran
holiday period, warning motorists to take care on slippery roads. However,
he noted that the rain was unlikely to be sufficient for farmers, as water
levels in reservoirs are at record lows due to a 20 percent drop in rainfall
last year.
It is not clear whether temperatures will break the
record of 44.5 degrees Celsius, recorded in the northeastern Uttaradit
Province in 1960.
Authorities taking authoritarian approach to this year’s Songkran festivities
Traffic will still be a big headache
City administrators are taking a bold new approach to try
and minimize road casualties and unpleasant incidents during this year’s
Songkran festivities.
The following rules will be enforced from April 12-19: 1)
No water throwing after 6 p.m.; 2) The sale and use of PVC or pipe water
canons, plastic bags, dirty or colored water and powder will be prohibited;
3) Selling to the underaged and/or already inebriated, and carrying alcohol
and/or any weapons will be prohibited; 4) The safety helmet law for
motorcyclists will be enforced, as will the law against drinking and
driving; 5) Water wars on the road will be prohibited.
 Pol.
Lt. Col Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya’s traffic superintendent, expressed his
ideas about how to handle the heavy traffic expected during the Songkran
holidays.
The city’s notice calls for people to follow the rules,
be careful, and asks for public cooperation to help keep the region safer
and preserve the traditional spirit of the Songkran holiday season.
The announcement was made on April 2 when Sittiparp
Muangkhum, Pattaya engineering chief, presided over a city hall meeting on
security measures to prepare for the large number of tourists that will be
flowing into Pattaya during the Songkran holidays. Police officers and other
associated officials in Pattaya attended the meeting.
Due to the heavy casualties last year, the meeting mainly
dealt with strategies to handle possible troubles, especially traffic jams
and car accidents.
Pol. Lt. Col Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya’s traffic
superintendent said, “Traffic jams are definitely going to be a big
problem because of the great amount of tourists coming to Pattaya over the
Songkran holidays. Other foreseeable problems are arguments and fights among
drunken tourists, which might lead to casualties. So this year we intend to
focus on a campaign against ‘drunk driving’, ‘safety with helmet’,
‘safety belt, saving lives’ and ‘reducing speed’. I believe the
campaign will reduce the casualties in the upcoming holidays”.
Somchai added, “Some service spots will be provided
April 12 to 19 to assist tourists and people participating in the Songkran
activities. People can ask for information about routes and can take a rest
at the provided places. Officers will be on duty in many spots where most
people gather for water throwing”.
PBTA promoting international tourism
To put more effort into the Russian market
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Over the past year or so, a lot of time, effort and money
have been put into promoting internal tourism, i.e., Thais touring Thailand.
However, it appears that perhaps the Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association, headed by president Thanet Supornsaharungsi, might be starting
to break that trend, as the influential organization at their last annual
general meeting focused more on promoting the international tourism market.
 Thanet
Supornsaharungsi (right), president of Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association, presented a souvenir to Dr. Nitipoom Nawarut, who lectured the
PBTA on “Pattaya and the way to becoming a world class tourist city”.
Dr. Nitipoom Nawarut, a renowned academic and Thai Rath
newspaper columnist, was brought in to address the meeting, held March 30 at
Garden Seaview Hotel in Pattaya. Dr. Nitipoom gave a lecture titled,
“Pattaya and the way to becoming a world class tourist city”.
Dr. Nitipoom said, “Apart from the entertainment
industry and famous natural sites, Pattaya City should promote a tourist
attraction focusing on Thai culture. This will impress foreigners a lot ...
We should also pay more attention to the Russian tourism market rather than
Chinese group tours.”
During the AGM, PBTA members also looked back on the past
year to see what worked well, and what might not have worked up to
expectations.
Members agreed that the most positive project promoted during the last
fiscal year was the Pattaya 4 Fun project, a collaboration between the PBTA,
Pattaya City and the Region 3 Tourism Authority of Thailand. The project was
aimed at increasing foreign tourism and, through domestic tourism, recovering
from the lowered economy caused by the SARS scare.
Community development seminar held to promote social stability
No one likes an unstable social
Suchada Tupchai
The national housing agency recently hosted a seminar at
the Town in Town Hotel for community members, promoting community
development and stability for local communities in and around the region.
 Pornniran
Nootawong (inset), one of the presenters at the seminar, promotes the 5Cs:
‘Clean, Clear, Convenient, Contented and Custom-creation’, (i.e. create
good habits).
The aim was to promote further stability in households
via the 5C rule (5S in Thai), which translates to: ‘Clean, Clear,
Convenient, Contented and Custom-creation’, (i.e. create good habits), as
the basis for maintaining a healthy household culture.
The national housing agency has been focusing on creating houses for low
income families and creating stability within these individual family units
as well as caring for government housing and accommodation projects for
employees by following the relevant government policies.
Banglamung vocational college to perform roadside service for weary travelers
An effort to reduce the region’s accident rate
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The road toll on Thailand’s roads each year is
phenomenal, especially over the traditional Thai New Year or Songkran
festival. As part of the effort to reduce accidents through vehicle
malfunction and/or weariness, the Banglamung Vocational College launched a
practical campaign to aid the community as well as give students practical
onsite training.
 Students
from the mechanical course will check over cars and bikes to ensure that
everything is working properly for safer travel.
The launch of the project was held lat Monday afternoon
at the old Regional Transport Office, located opposite the Cholchan Hotel on
Sukhumvit Road. Attending the proceedings were students from the college
carrying out the services as well as Surapol Tiensuwan, Banglamung district
chief presiding, and college committee secretary Somkid Uampeng.
The service point will enable motorists to have their
cars and motorcycles inspected by students from the motor mechanic course
while the students from the foot massage courses will provide invigorating
foot massages on weary motorists. The campaign, which began on Monday, will
continue until April 19 from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily.
 The
roadside service tent where students will provide for motorists.
Somkid Uampeng said that the program would give the
students practical on job training and ready them for full time service to
the community, as well as help reduce accidents on that stretch of road,
benefiting everyone involved.
Surapol Tiensuwan said, “I am delighted to see Banglamung Vocational
College join in this community based project over the Songkran period and
provide service to the community and tourists alike. It is a wonderful idea
and I would hope to see the effort continue to grow in the future,
especially over the Songkran season.”
Severe diarrhea prompts government action
The Ministry of Public Health recently pledged a review of
public health measures, as figures emerged showing that nearly 1,000 people had
already contracted severe diarrhea this hot season, up 14 times from the same
period last year.
Speaking at a workshop on disease control in Chiang Mai, Dr.
Vallop Thaineua, permanent secretary for public health, warned that diarrhea was
more virulent than ever this year due to the unusually hot and dry weather
conditions. The workshop was organized to find ways to develop a unified
approach to deal with diarrhea; an approach that can be followed by public
health officials at all levels.
Dr. Vallop spoke of the need to draw up strict measures to
monitor and prevent severe diarrhea, as well as to treat diarrhea patients on a
24-hour basis.
“Diarrhea is a symptom of communicable disease which crops
up every year. We have asked every province to monitor places where diarrhea
emerges, such as construction camps, markets and places where there are
immigrant labor populations”, he said.
The permanent secretary also urged the public to ensure that
all the food they consumed was well cooked, and to wash their hands after using
the toilet.
Government figures suggest that for every one person admitted
to hospital for severe diarrhea, another four people from the same community are
probably suffering from the same symptoms, but do not receive medical treatment.
These people, in turn, transmit the disease to others. (TNA)
Thai Navy shows off its strength during annual exercises
Launches C-801 and Exocet missiles
Pacharapol Panrak and Boonlua Chatree
Four divisions of the Royal Thai Navy recently wound up a
two-week annual training exercise in the Gulf of Thailand by conducting
target practice with both Exocet and C-801 missiles.
 Admiral
Chumpon Pajusanont, commander in chief, Royal Thai Navy, observes the
missile launch from the HMS Chakrinarubet.
Admiral Chumpon Pajusanont, commander in chief, Royal
Thai Navy presided over the closing ceremony of the annual training
exercises and observed the missile launch from the HMS Chakrinarubet.
The joint exercises included the Thai Coast Guard, Naval
Defense, Thai Marine Corps, the Air and Coastal Defense Commands and 17
other training divisions.
 In previous years, the Navy has had to combine its
training exercises with other units in order to adhere to strict budget
guidelines without shirking their duties to protect Thai waters.
 The
HMS Bangpakong launches an ‘Exocet’ missile.
According Admiral Pajusanont, “The economic crisis in
1997 caused the government to reduce the military budget, tightening budgets
for general training exercises, especially the navy, which requires constant
maintenance to its fleet and needs to keep up with the technological race in
the use of advanced surveillance and weaponry in order to maintain readiness
should the need arise.”
Admiral Vichai Yuwanangkoon, commander in chief of the
Royal Thai Fleet operation, headed up the operations for the finale. “We
launched 10 missiles 7 times with 80% accuracy, each of them not being
loaded with explosives due to the enormous cost. The missiles are considered
to be crucial weapons for the navy which can effectively be used for
national protection.”
The ‘Exocet’ was made in France with special attack qualities on
water to protect harbors, seaports and communication routes, including
natural gas rigs. It is constructed of lightweight materials, is small in
size and had high accuracy. The C-801 is a Chinese made missile primarily
used as a ground-attack missile with the similar abilities as the
‘Excoset’, but it is slightly bigger.
Teen hoodlums shoot bank guards
No obvious reason for shooting
Boonlua Chatree
A pair of teen thugs rode up to the Bank of Ayuthaya’s
Rongpoh branch at around 11.30 p.m. on March 30 and opened fire on the
bank’s security guards. There was no attempt to rob the bank, and it
appears that the shooting was no more than a local thug trying to “prove
himself” to other local thugs.
 One
of the security guards at the Bank of Ayuthaya’s Rongpoh branch is
bandaged up after being shot by young thugs out to make a name for
themselves.
The injured security guards, identified as Nuttawoot
Merndee and Winai Namjantdee, were taken to Banglamung Hospital for
treatment of multiple wounds from shotgun pellets. Both were in stable
condition.
After coming out of surgery, the men told police that
that they had just gone on duty when two young men, aged 17-18, rode up on a
motorcycle and shot them.
The pillion passenger, a young man named Ya, a local thug
trying to make a name for himself, had pulled out a Thai made gun and shot
them for no apparent reason before fleeing the scene.
Police are well aware of this particular miscreant, and
know him as “Chaiyabowin”. He is notorious for his illegal and
aggressive activities.
Officers went to the man’s home but failed to locate the criminal. When
he is caught he will face charges of attempted murder.
Disco thieves done doing
the five-fingered shuffle
Boonlua Chatree
Two women out for a night on the town at the Hollywood Disco
in South Pattaya were the victims of would-be thieves Parinya Ruangsri and Anand
Akornant.
Fortunately for the ladies, there are still some good people
around, as two men spotted and detained the criminals after discovering them in
the men’s toilets inside the popular local nightspot dumping the women’s
purses and make-up into the garbage bin.
Police were called to the discotheque at around 2.30 a.m. on
April 1 following the report of two men being apprehended for stealing. Officers
arrived on the scene to be met by the women Kanuennij Burana, 23, and Samunrat
Gongkraifang, 20, both of whom told officers that the two men who stolen their
purses while on the dance floor were being kept at bay by two other patrons.
Officers moved in to take over the situation, and arrested
Parinya Ruangsri and Anand Akornant. Both later confessed to their crimes saying
they did not have enough money to pay for their drinks and decided to relieve
the ladies of their purses carelessly left on the table while they danced.
Both told police that they had removed the cash before
dumping make-up, personal documents and silver into the toilet bowl and the
garbage bin before they were caught by the two other men, later identified as
Vichit Tathartrai and Pachapol Khaengrang in the men’s bathroom.
Parinya Ruangsri and Anand Akornant were taken to the station
and later charged with theft.
Pattaya’s fitness park becoming a haven for juvenile delinquents
Sex parties, drink and drugs irk residents
Boonlua Chatree
Last year Pattaya City spent millions of baht on a
project to refurbish and beautify the Chalermprakiat fitness park on
Pratamnak Hill. Now, it has descended into a public den of iniquity used by
local youths who have no sense of propriety. Respectable families and
tourists are steering clear of this fine facility because the once lovely
salas are now the venue for sordid teen sex, drug parties, and used as
toilets. How did the park fall into ill repute in such a short time?
Local residents are so fed up with these lurid activities
that they called on reporters to bring to light the negligence of not only
city officials but also call attention to the descent into decadence of the
nation’s teens.
At around 2 a.m. on April 1, reporters inspected the park
to discover groups of teens at various locations engaging each other in dark
corners of these buildings, provided as shade during daylight hours. A walk
around the track and closer inspection of the salas revealed a number of
used condoms had been discarded and the mephitic stench of feces pervading
the air.
Despite the cost of improving the city’s image, the
familiar tone of apathy from officials rings true when it comes to taking
care of public places. A lot of planning and money went into this project.
When the park re-opened with grand fanfare, Pattaya had a public park to be
proud of. The walking tracks had light posts installed for ambiance and
security. But when this reporter visited the park in the wee hours of the
morning, the lights had not been turned on, leaving the dark corners as a
haven for meretricious activities and drug use, with the potential to
escalate into a high crime area due to the absence of law enforcement or
municipal officers patrolling the park at night.
This kind of blatant negligence on the part of law
enforcement will eventually leave the park facilities in the state they were
in prior to renovation - in a state of disrepair. When will officialdom
learn from their past mistakes? Maybe they won’t, time will tell, as
Pattaya sees a new administration looming on the horizon and can awaken
their own hebetudes to govern efficiently.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Off duty policeman drowns while looking for
mussels
Pol. Sgt Maj. Kiatsak Nilyaem drowned while looking for
fresh water mussels near the Thammasart Meeting Center in the Pong
sub-district. Resident who saw the Pattaya police officer wading in the
water reported his disappearance to the Banglamung police station at around
3.30 p.m. on March 29.
Banglamung officers and Sawang Boriboon personnel arrived
at the location to help residents look for the body.
The policeman allegedly hadn’t slept after completing
the graveyard shift at Pattaya police station the previous night.
Rescue personnel discovered the body in 3-4 meters of
water and initial examination revealed that he had been dead for
approximately 2 hours. He was taken to the forensic institute for a post
mortem examination.
Tracing the course of events leading up to the tragedy,
Pol. Sgt Maj. Kiatsak Nilyaem, a call operator at Pattaya Police station had
finished his shift at 8 a.m. that day and had apparently went looking for
fresh water mussels in the area, diving down to collect the food source.
Police suspect that he suffered shock as a result of the
water temperature and lack of sleep causing him to drown.
Two teens arrested for ride by theft
The decay of society has become inherently worse with an
increase in the number of crimes committed by local youths. In a recent
case, two 14-year-old boys were detained by Pattaya police for their
participation in a ride by theft in North Pattaya.
Police patrolling the north end of Beach Road stopped for
23-year-old Manat Panchaiyaphum, who told them that he had just become the
target of a ride by theft. The officers radioed ahead to other units who,
shortly thereafter, detained two youths in connection with the crime.
The two boys, identified only as Kay and Nueng, both 14,
confessed to their involvement, telling officers that it was their first
time carrying out such an act and they had followed in the footsteps of
their 17-year-old ‘friend’ Sathit, who lived near them in the Khao Mai
Kaew area.
When asked why they had committed the crime, they
replied, “We saw our friend earning good money from doing it and wanted
the same.” A response that startled the officers and reporters.
How long must Pattaya be subjected to youth crime and
when will the relevant authorities and parents wake up and take
responsibility to reduce the criminal element among the city’s youth?
Irishman hauled in for skipping out on 2,000 baht bar bill
Rescued by service girl
Boonlua Chatree
Irishman Alan John Wileman drank perhaps a bit too much
the other night, and when it came time to pay his 2,000 baht bar bill, he
realized he didn’t have enough money to cover the tab, so allegedly just
walked to another bar nearby and continued to imbibe.
 Who
needs money to drink? Evidently not Irishman Alan John Wileman, who, on this
occasion anyway, apparently was rescued when a service girl showed up at the
police station to pay his outstanding 2,000 baht bar bill.
However, this didn’t sit too well with Jarunee
“Tim” Sopha, owner of the Pla Sport Beer Bar on Pattaya Second Road, so
she duly called in the police for help.
When police arrived shortly after 2.30 a.m., they easily
found the Irishman sitting and drinking at a nearby bar. After Tim pointed
her accusing finger, identifying the culprit, police escorted Wileman to the
police station.
Tim told police that she called for all bills to be
checked at closing time, but Wileman refused and simply went to another bar
to continue his libation activities.
Upon questioning the Irishman, he revealed that he had
incurred the bar bill and that when the woman had called for the ‘check
bin’ he did not have the money to pay and simply moved.
Police told Wileman that he could be facing criminal
charges, but at that moment Wileman called for assistance in the form of a
generous service girl who paid the bill, hence ending the confrontation.
With the matter resolved, Wileman turned on his heels, arrogantly slapped
his behind in the face of the police and strutted out of the station.
Emerson Electric rolls the 3,000,000th
scroll compressor off the assembly line
Marks a historic achievement at the Copeland Rayong manufacturing plant
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The 3 millionth compressor unit, manufactured in Thailand
by the Copeland Corporation, a division of US based Emerson Electric
Corporation, rolled off the production line on April 1 2004. Steve Stewart,
Vice President & General Manager of Copeland Asia Operations, Bruce
Hoppe, Managing Director, senior management and their production staff
celebrated and lauded the company’s milestone at its Rayong factory.
 Bruce
Hoppe, managing director of Emerson Electric (Thailand) gives one of his
motivational speeches to the 800 employees who had gathered for their
monthly assembly just before the birth of the new baby.
In his speech to the 800 strong staff, Bruce Hoppe said,
“It has been less than a year and a half since the 2 millionth compressor
rolled off the assembly line and now we have built 3 million. Very soon we
will build our 4 millionth Copeland Scroll compressor as we put our second
assembly line into operation. The operations of our Thailand plant have been
very successful through your great ideas, hard work and dedication to
quality. We can be proud of the fact that the best Copeland compressors in
the world are built right here in this plant. I thank you for a great year
and this will be a big win for all of you as there will be many more jobs
created.”
Steve Stewart,
vice president & general manager Asia operations applauds the birth of
the 3 millionth scroll compressor built at the Rayong plant.
Steve Stewart added, “I am very happy to be back here
in Thailand. It is like my second home. Having been here since the start-up
days, I am so proud to see that you have made this plant into one of the
best there is in our group. From the beginning when only 41,091 units were
produced in 1997, I am thrilled, just like all of you, to see the 3,000,000 th
compressor roll off the line. It is indeed a proud day for all of us. I am
also extremely pleased to see that so many of you are still with us after so
many years. Our team will continue to grow. We must remind ourselves of what
we do well in our company and most important for all for us and all of Asia
is to protect the environment.”
 Bruce
Hoppe (center) escorts Peter Malhotra (left) and Drew Noyes (right) towards
the production line to witness the 3,000,000th scroll compressor roll off
the production line.
All 800 staff joined in the party as Steve, Bruce, and
staff signed their names on the legendary compressor and then cut a birthday
cake to mark the occasion of this milestone manufacturing achievement.
 Steve
Stewart and Bruce Hoppe celebrate the auspicious occasion by cutting the
‘birthday’ cake.
Since starting production in 1996, the factory has now
produced over three million scroll compressors. They have also surpassed
6.75 million hours worked without a single lost-time incident.
 Over US$120 million has been invested in the Rayong
factory, which occupies more than 26,400 sq. meters of floor space. Copeland
produces scroll compressors and serves air conditioning system manufacturers
across Asia, Europe, and the United States. The Rayong facility is one of
Copeland’s best factories and since inception has achieved ISO 9001 and
ISO 14001 accreditation.
 In conclusion Bruce Hoppe said, “Copeland has focused on expanding its
manufacturing, engineering, and sales and marketing capabilities in Asia to
support Asian customers with the leading global technology and the best
local service. Copeland Asia-Pacific is a full service, fully capable entity
with 5 manufacturing facilities in Asia, 14 sales offices and over 2,000
people. In Thailand, customers are best supported by our strong team of
sales and engineering support in Bangkok and operations in Rayong. Our
customers are assured that we are here to support them through excellence in
both manufacturing and customer service.”
(L-R) Steve,
Bruce and a pretty employee sign their names on the historic compressor.
All 800 staff
holding hundreds of colorful balloons gather for a group photograph with the
newest member of the Copeland scroll compressor family.
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