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Long Live Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
Caring Mother of the Thai Nation
August 12 is a very special day in the history of the Thai
Kingdom this year, as it is the day the entire nation celebrates the auspicious
occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 6th Cycle Birthday.
Today’s edition of the Pattaya Mail incorporates, with our
profound love and respect, a special tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, on
the auspicious occasion of this, Her Sixth Cycle, Seventy-Second Birthday.
With the permission of the Bureau of the Royal Household, we
are privileged to publish exclusive photographs and the Royal Insignia designed
especially for the Queen’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary.
To mark this once in a lifetime occasion, the Pattaya Mail
has published a commemorative book entitled “Her Majesty Queen Sirikit:
Caring Mother of the Thai Nation” by Pattaya Mail special correspondent Peter
Cummins.
The Pattaya Mail, indeed the entire kingdom, humbly offers our best wishes
to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. We also encourage everyone to do something nice
for your mother, as August 12 is Mothers Day. Happy Mothers Day!
Mayor says city is working to solve Jomtien sewerage problem
Wastewater is pouring into the bay
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
In response to a host of complaints from residents and
business owners over the release of sewage into the sea in front of
Somprasong plaza, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Public Works Director
Wirat Jirasripaiboon met with reporters on August 4 at the beachfront to
quell the problems.
 Mayor
Niran informed reporters about the city’s plans to solve Jomtien’s
waster water problem.
Black murky waste was pouring out of the drainage system
and onto the beach, turning the sand and water black.
The mayor told reporters that the city is working on
solving the problem. “The city administration has already allotted funds
to solve the problem of wastewater flowing into the waters. The wastewater
treatment plant in Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram is about 10 years old. The
equipment is in need of replacing and as such we have received 150 million
baht from the central government to repair the facility and replace the
equipment, including pipes and pumps. The plant treats water from the
Thappraya Road and Jomtien areas and handles about 20,000 cubic meters per
day. It takes clean water from the bay via a relay pump to treat the
sewerage. The pump broke down last night and engineers are now working on
fixing it. Hence the wastewater now flowing into the sea.”
When asked when the revamped wastewater treatment station
would be complete, Wirat Jirasripaiboon answered, “The project should be
complete within the next three months, including resurfacing the road, and
repairing drainage and main water systems. It is already around 90 percent
complete with only the drainage system and the machinery needing to be
replaced. During that time we will not be able to treat the water but as for
this recent problem we should resolve it within the week after which there
will still be some leakage until the treatment plant is finished.”
According to Wirat, once complete the renovated water treatment plant
will be fully functional and provide the same high level of water treatment
as Pattaya’s main plant in Soi Wat Nongyai. “The newly refitted plant
will also be more energy efficient,” concluded Wirat.
Chonburi residents join forces to plant trees on Larn Island in honor of HM the Queen
Reforestation project continues nationwide
Suchada Tupchai
Over 1,000 people joined a mass tree-planting project on
Larn Island, starting at 10 a.m. on August 6 in honor of HM the Queen’s
sixth cycle (72nd) birthday celebrations.
H.E.
Miltiadis Hiskakis from the Embassy of Greece in Bangkok climbs a hill on
Larn Island to plant a tree and take part in the day’s activities.
The project, jointly organized by the Electrical
Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Chonburi and Pattaya
administrations, the Royal Thai Navy and private enterprise, was aimed at
promoting environmental conservation and enhancing the Larn Island’s
natural resources.
Special guest of the day, H.E. Miltiadis Hiskakis from
the Embassy of Greece in Bangkok, joined in the day’s activities along
with local dignitaries and residents.
EGAT representative Kitti Sirikawin, vice governor of
EGAT transport development said, “In accordance with the central
government’s forest conservation project to honor HM the King’s 50-year
reign, over 5 million rai throughout Thailand has been planted. We at EGAT
are just one of the many organizations supporting the re-forestation
project. In the first phase over 320,000 rai of land from 1997 to 2001 was
planted. In the fourth year we were confident of the project’s success
through the next phase and will complete the project in 2007. EGAT has given
50,000 rai as well as promote the idea and provide aid to farmers.
“Now on the occasion of HM the Queen’s 72nd birthday
we are pleased to join in to help with planting trees on 200 rai on Larn
Island and we will care for the project over the next 2 years before handing
it over to the forestry department,” concluded Kitti.
Mayor Niran told the group the city is supporting the
idea of environmental conservation and called for cooperation from residents
and visitors. The city has been a part of the project since 1999 when HM the
Queen at the Chitralada Dusit Palace on August 11 declared that everyone
should pay better attention to the environment and forests.
“This is similar to making merit for the land that
supports us and we must maintain our commitment to environmental
conservation,” said Mayor Niran.
Once the ceremonies were complete everyone slowly made their way planting
a variety of species of trees on the island including Tamarind, Burmese
Rosewood, and Thai Cassia trees. The soil and conditions on Larn Island are
ideal for these species of trees as very little care is needed.
New joint service link centers open in Chonburi
Centers to provide more convenience for public
Decha Chalermyart
In accordance with government restructuring, new service
centers for various government organizations are now available from a single
office. The newly formed ‘Service Link’ for residents is aimed at easing
the run around for various private and government services.
New centers have already sprouted up and will provide
service from Chonburi Muang district, Banglamung, Pattaya Nongprue
sub-district, electrical authority, water authority and the TOT Plc
(Telephone Organization of Thailand Plc).
Residents will be able to access services such as
building permits, requesting a house number, requesting water and
electricity (both temporary and permanent connection) and telephone numbers.
Banglamung residents can visit the joint center during
weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Pattaya office is located opposite Tesco Lotus on
North Pattaya Road in front of Pattaya City Hall. Further details can be
obtained from the Pattaya public relations department on 038 410 200
ext.191-2.
Anti drink and drive rally to arrive in Pattaya from Bangkok this weekend
Two days of activities planned
Suchada Tupchai
An anti drink and drive rally will make its way from
Bangkok on Saturday and arrive at the Bali Hai pier, South Pattaya where the
‘Mao Mai Kup’ (Drunk, don’t drive, aka Drink smart, drive safe)
Foundation intends to the send the message to residents and visitors alike.
The foundation founded in 1995 has campaigned for a
tougher stance on drink driving in Thailand. Driving under the influence
results in thousands of deaths annually.
Damrong Puttatarn, foundation president, revealed in a
meeting at city hall that statistics from 1995 to 2002 show that 105,998
people have died in traffic accidents resulting from alcohol and a further
2,820,600 had been injured in the same period, mostly in motorcycle
accidents. The losses in human life and resources cost the nation over 100
billion baht per year.
The convoy will leave Bangkok and make its way through
Chonburi and Sriracha, ending up at Bali Hai pier where two days of
activities will take place. There will be a procession down Pattaya Second
Road, starting at the Pattaya Royal Palace Hotel and finishing at Bali Hai
pier.
The TAT and Pattaya City agreed to cooperate and support
the project which is targeting the high risk age group from 15 to 29 years
old.
City instructs motorcycle taxi riders on road and safety rules
Seminar stresses adherence to regulations
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
As part of the city’s efforts to improve its general
image and reduce problems, over 200 motorcycle taxi riders were given a
seminar at Pattaya City Hall on August 4. Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai led the proceedings during the afternoon,
addressing various problems and looking for solutions.
 Pol.
Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya traffic inspector lectures on what
standards need implementing.
In accordance with the central government’s fight
against ‘dark influences’, many of which extort motorcycle taxi ranks,
discussions were held over the effects and how to resolve problems. 1 in 15
ranks are subject to Mafioso style controls.
In conjunction with such problems, the issues of pricing
and road safety were also addressed during the afternoon seminar. Many of the
attendees showed a basic knowledge of the traffic laws and as such were
instructed on the finer details as well as given practical safety
instructions.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya traffic inspector
said, “According to statistics, there are over 200 taxi ranks with over
3,000 motorcycle riders servicing them. If we do not address the inherent
problems now and implement controls, the problems will escalate. The need to
plan and implement an association that will govern standard pricing
structures and instill standards among taxi ranks is needed. To do this a
committee must be elected from each major rank.
“The committee will have the duties of inspecting ranks, ensuring that
prices are maintained, and observing behavior, especially concerning anything
to do with illegal drugs or criminal activities. The penalty should be
immediate ejection as it could permanently damage the profitability of the
rank. The Pattaya police will create a form for each rider at all taxi ranks
containing personal details to ensure standards are kept,” Somchai said.
Baywatch
Night prowlers steal covers for cash in Soi Bonkai
Decha Chalimyart
The drain covers that are missing from
the road created great heartache for people in Soi Bonkai, Moo. 10,
Pratamnak Road, and apparently no one is taking any action for their
disappearance.
 One
of the motorcycle riders told his story to reporters. He said that one
morning the lid was there but when he went to sleep and woke up, the iron
cover was just gone like it evaporated into the air or something. He said
some of the community members believe that there is a group of garbage
pickers who quietly prowl along the streets looking for these grated sewage
covers when no pedestrians are in sight, remove the covers and slip into
the dark. He said these gangs would hunt for everything that can be turned
into cash, such as plastic wears, paper cartons, bottles, or thrown away
pieces of metal in any shape and yes! our sewages covers.
He said these sneakers made a fortune out of the objects.
The Soi Bonkai dweller said it is especially dangerous at night for car or
motorcycle drivers when they have to swerve away from the holes and
sometimes they accidentally hit the other parties on the road. He said some
had their vehicles towed out of the damned holes. He pleaded for the mayor
and his administration to find the culprits and punish them. He suggested
it might be a wiser idea to fix the covers permanently to the roads to
prevent similar incidents from happening.
Dane arrested for erecting illicit business
Selling generic Viagra on the streets
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya police are now using undercover crime prevention
volunteers, many of them falangs, to crack down hard on local crime. Their
latest victim was 48-year-old Danish tourist Finn Germane Quotrup who was
caught selling Kamagra, a generic form of Viagra, in the beer bar areas around
town.
 Finn
Germane Quotrup from Denmark was arrested last week for illegally selling
erectile dysfunction pills to tourists.
When police learned what Quotrup was getting up to, they
enlisted the help of undercover crime prevention volunteers to set up a
drug buying sting.
At 11 p.m. on August 3, police arrested Quotrup as he
wandered through the beer bars on Soi 11. Undercover officers using marked
banknotes had lured him into selling two erectile dysfunction pills. Once
the sale was made, officers moved in and arrested the Dane.
Quotrup was caught with sixty-eight 100mg Kamagra pills.
He was transferred to the tourist police station for questioning where he
admitted to selling the drug at 200-300 baht profit per pill, with his
market being tourists looking for a good night out.
The Dane was charged with selling pharmaceuticals without an appropriate
license, as well as working illegally. He now faces jail time and
deportation.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Drunk arrested for
disturbing the peace
A drunken man, claiming to be from Pattani, in
Thailand’s troubled south, created a scene at the Pattaya Memorial
Hospital after requesting doctors to treat an imaginary wound. Hospital
staff did not find any wounds on the man’s body and instructed him to go
home.
Unsatisfied with the answer the drunken southerner began
causing a ruckus inside the hospital and police were called in to quell his
violence.
Two police officers and two security guards managed to
detain the man after a struggle and he was escorted to Soi 9 police station
to spend the night in the lock up for his own safety as well as that of
others.
Officers were unable to question the man due to his
advanced state of inebriation and charged him with drunk and disorderly
behavior in public.
Mabprachan gambling
den raided
Banglamung police continuing on their crusade against
gambling learned of a gambling den in the Mabprachan area. Their
investigation led them to the home of Pien Boonchun, 40. Police stormed the
woman’s residence where they arrested 17 people enjoying a card game.
Police confiscated 2 decks of cards, gambling paraphernalia and the princely
sum of 100 baht.
Pien Boonchun, house owner, admitted to running a
gambling den and was subsequently charged for this heinous act. The
remaining criminals were charged and fined accordingly.
Eight detained in gambling
den raid
Pattaya criminal investigation units raided a Soi Bongkot
house at midnight, August 5, after investigations led them to believe the
house was used as a gambling den.
As officers entered the building they found eight people
in the process of playing Hi-Lo for money. Police confiscated the dice,
gambling mat and a large bundle of cash totaling 120 baht.
All eight were charged with engaging in illegal gambling
activities with the house owner, Prateep Nardsawat receiving a bonus charge
of allowing illegal activities to take place on the premises. Songwon
Boonkwang also had her charges increased after she was found to be the
organizer of the gambling ring. All are now facing legal proceedings.
Woman fails in suicide
attempt
A 50-year-old woman who attempted to commit suicide was
rushed to Banglamung Hospital where doctors were able to save her.
Police and Sawang Boriboon personnel broke into the
woman’s home in the Baan Sapsombat Villa compound at around 11.30 p.m. on
August 4. Once inside, police found a rope tied to a fan, a bottle of
antidepressants and two empty bottles of beer.
Apparently the woman was on antidepressants to help
combat her manic depression due to her husband having run off with another
woman and refusing to come home.
Once she regained consciousness in the hospital, the woman revealed that
she had decided to end it all. Her plan was to overdose on the prescription
drugs and hang herself. While going through the throws she had bought two
large bottles of beer to drink before. Having never drank beer before, she
passed out before she could execute her plan.
Armed Briton arrested
for selling pirated goods
Boonlua Chatree
Criminal investigation officers hot on the trail of
pirated goods distributors raided a house in Nongprue where Darren Flaun,
32, from the United Kingdom was found.
 Darren
Flaun was caught with a loaded weapon and a cache of fake brand name goods.
Initial investigations led police to the house because
Flaun was allegedly selling fake brand name goods. However, police were
surprised when they discovered the foreigner was carrying a holstered 9mm
pistol with 22 rounds of ammunition in two magazines.
Flaun was immediately detained and officers searched the
premises. They discovered clothing and accessories from a number of brands,
all of which were copies.
Flaun was taken to the Banglamung station where he was
questioned. During the interrogation Flaun revealed that he had purchased
the gun from an unknown Thai man for 100,000 baht. He said the dealer told
him that foreigners could own guns in Thailand.
Flaun was charged with illegally carrying a loaded weapon in a
residential area, selling pirated brand name goods and breach of the
intellectual property act. He was remanded into custody and now awaits
legal proceedings.
Motorcycle taxi driver
resorts to theft to settle debt
‘Perp’ finds crime doesn’t pay
Boonlua Chatree
A stony broke motorcycle taxi rider was arrested by
Pattaya police following a ride-by theft of a mobile phone from an Omani
tourist at around 9 p.m. on August 3. Pattaya police, acting information
from Abdoullah Almaimani, arrested the culprit shortly after the crime. The
victim had described the thief as a Thai man in his late teens.
Police managed to locate the thief, later identified as
Piyachart Piammul, 18, a Banglamung resident. Piyachart, who worked as a
motorcycle taxi at the entrance of Soi Khaonoi, told officers that he was
desperate due to the loss of his wallet and was unable pay for his
motorcycle installment. He added that this was his first attempt at such an
act and that he staked out the foreigner after leaving the Marine Bar
complex in South Pattaya.
Police were less than sympathetic and charged the 18 year old man with
theft, detaining him the Soi 9 lockup.
Fire destroys vehicles and damages home
Neighbor’s quick response limits destruction
Boonlua Chatree
In the early hours of August 5 an alert resident raised
the alarm that a fire was in progress at The Village housing project on
Pattaya Third Road.
Firefighters and police rushed to the scene to find two
motorcycles and the house they were parked in front of ablaze.
 A
neighbor points to the area where the fire broke out.
Firefighters took just 20 minutes to extinguish the
blaze, and neighbors lent a hand to save the property. The two motorcycles
were destroyed. A car parked in the driveway of the empty house was
slightly damaged, as was the house.
The owner of the vehicles, Sommai Yimlamai who lived
next door, told police that the owner of the house, who lives in Bangkok,
had given her permission to park them in the driveway and that no one was
at the residence when the fire broke out.
The neighbor who reported the fire told police that she
had heard an explosion and went outside to investigate. Ratree Kesornram
said she was awakened by the bang and upon going out to investigate saw the
fire. Shortly after, the fuel tank on one the bikes exploded, adding to the
blaze.
She said she called the fire department and police
before alerting neighbors. Police and fire inspectors examined the area and
removed the electrical box fearing it could cause a further problem.
Initial investigations point to the origin of the fire
as coming from one of the motorcycles and possibly through an electrical
fault in the wiring. The heat may well have ignited the fuel causing the
explosion.
Police are attempting to contact the homeowner to inform her of the
damage and will continue the investigation into the cause.
Unidentified body discovered in Huay Yai cassava field
Boonlua Chatree
The half naked body of an unidentified Thai man in his
50s was discovered in a Huay cassava field on Tuesday afternoon, August 3.
Residents walking through the field made the grisly find and reported it to
Banglamung police.
Initial examinations revealed that he had been dead
approximately 5 hours before being discovered. A search of the area turned
up a plastic bag with the man’s shorts but no identification was present.
No evidence of a struggle was noted and police were at loss as to why the
man was murdered.
They do suspect that, due to the dead man’s age and
the nature of his wounds, he was quite well to do. Police surmise that the
man’s fair skin and the way in which he was killed, by a blow to the head
causing a broken neck, as well as tire tracks near field show that he was
killed elsewhere and dumped in the field.
Residents, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of
retribution told police that they heard a vehicle drive in and out of the
field earlier that day but thought nothing of it.
The body was sent to the forensic institute for an autopsy, and police
continue their investigation seeking the man’s identity.
Pattaya Sports Club assisting Plutaluang Community
On Wednesday July 28, PSC’s charity chairman, Bernie
Tuppin delivered a shipment of rice, noodles and milk powder to the
Plutaluang Community Hospital. The food, valued at B 10,000, was the first
delivery of what is to be a monthly donation to aid their Quality of Life
Programme.
 Special
thanks to Bjarne Neilsen (maroon shirt) who has kindly volunteered to
purchase and deliver the goods each month.
This small community hospital is located on Highway 331
in the Kilosip area and caters to the needs of the surrounding villages. In
all, a dozen villages with a population of almost 25,000 people are visited
by their mobile clinic, which delivers care and medical attention to those
unable to travel to the hospital.
Careful recording of each hamlet’s overall well being
helps to identify families in real need of care and assistance. Many cases
of malnutrition amongst smaller children are identified on each trip made
by the hospital staff.
PSC’s
charity chairman, Bernie Tuppin (center) delivered a shipment of rice,
noodles and milk powder to the Plutaluang Community Hospital on July 28.
Pattaya Sports Club was approached to see if they could
be of assistance and after subsequent meetings with the administration it
was decided that they could best help by making some dry foods available to
be distributed on these visits. Pattaya Sports Club has committed to supply
this aid for one year, after which the situation will be reviewed.
Special thanks must go to Bjarne Neilsen, the club’s long serving
registrar, who has kindly volunteered to purchase and deliver the goods
each month. This help given by the Pattaya Sports Club, while helpful, is
by no means sufficient to solve the problem. Should you, your service club
or social group feel inclined to help you could contact the charity
chairman at PSC or deliver goods to the club’s office.
Saensuk Municipality and Chonburi PAO announce Laem Tan Festival
As the Eastern Seaboard is currently in the midst of the
low season, the Provincial Administration Organization (PAO), Saensuk
Municipality and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are holding the Laem Tan
Festival to encourage more visitors to the province.
The festival is due to take place from midday until
midnight August 27 - 29 on Laem Tan Beach in Bangsaen.
The carnival style atmosphere will feature plenty of
games, rides and contests and a large seafood promotion as well as a free
concert by famous Thai bands Endorphin, Taxi and Thai country singers (Luk
Toong). A fancy dress theme will also accompany the three day festivities.
Sontaya Khunplome, Tourism and Sport minister will preside over the opening
ceremonies.
Further information can gained through the TAT Central Region 3 office on
038 427 667, 038 428 750.
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