|
Thailand mourns the loss of the grandson of H.M. the King
The Associated Press
The grandson of the country’s king died after giant waves
struck the resort areas of southern Thailand, it was announced Monday.
The body of 21-year-old Khun Poom Jensen, accompanied by his
mother, Princess Ubolratana, was flown to Bangkok aboard a private airplane,
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters.
The plane was piloted by H.R.H. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn,
the princess’ brother.
The princess and her son were vacationing when
earthquake-spawned tidal waves struck the beaches and islands in the region,
popular with Thais and international tourists alike.
Officials earlier indicated that Khun Poom, a lover of
outdoor sports, was
jet-skiing when the huge waves surged toward the beach,
leaving more than 860
people dead, according to the Interior Ministry.
Thailand’s royal family, and especially King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, is highly revered.
A seven-day Buddhist funeral service for Khun Poom Jensen
began Monday at the Grand Palace
in Bangkok.
We join the Thai nation in mourning this tragic loss.
Oh sorry world,
with thee we weep
Following the earthquake off Sumatra, an international disaster
of a magnitude that has not been seen for many decades devastated coastal areas
in SE Asia.
The loss of life, which is now into the ten of thousands,
spans more than just the countries that were hit by the giant tidal waves, with
visiting international holiday makers being swept away with the ferocity of the
tsunamis.
In a world that has been split apart by wars based on many
secular or religious ideals, we can only hope that one outcome from the horrors
of this disaster will be a shared sympathy for all the peoples of this world,
which may help unite our fragmented planet.
Pattaya Mail Publishing, through all its media outlets,
joins with the world’s mourners, and hopes that the many words of condolence
can help shattered families find some strength to live through the next few
months.
There can be no loss greater than a mother’s for her
children, husbands for their wives, and by children left orphaned and homeless.
We can only imagine, but words can never express the loss. That loss crosses all
boundaries, and we hope that the many aid agencies who have swung into action in
the affected countries will have the support that they, in turn, need to provide
immediate care and shelter.
At this time, which is normally the festive season, we should
all stop and remember that we have enough dangers from what we call
“natural” disasters. We should not add to those with man-made conflicts. The
world has enough suffering.
May their personal gods go with all those who have been lost,
and give strength to those who have been left to grieve.
Families, friends reunite after tsunami,
search for loved ones among dead
By Alisa Tang
Associated Press
Phuket, Thailand (AP) - A large
billboard of Thailand’s king, split into pieces, lay in a heap Monday, facing
the destruction on this beach in the aftermath of the earthquake-induced tidal
wave that turned the area’s bar-lined beach into a pile of broken sticks.
Families and friends, separated by the waves, had tearful
reunions after a day of fear that their loved ones had been swept away on this
normally idyllic island and international resort.
Katri Seppanen, 27, of Helsinki, Finland, walked around
barefoot, in her salt water-stained T-shirt and skirt, at the Patong Hospital
waiting room where she spent the night with her mother and sister. She had a
bandaged cut on her leg.
“The water went back, back, back, so far away, and
everyone wondered what it was - a full moon or what? Then we saw the wave come,
and we ran,” said a tearful Seppanen, who was on the island’s popular
Patong Beach with her family. The wave washed over their heads and separated
them, and they found each other two hours later.
Julie Robertson, 34, of Brisbane, Australia, found her
mother, sister and friend Monday morning and screamed in relief upon seeing
them at the Amari Hotel on Patong Beach. “I’m upset, but I’m happy,”
said Robertson.
Fifty-eight half-naked and swimming suit-clad corpses lay in
rows outside the Patong Hospital emergency room. Three babies under the age of
one were among the victims. A photo of one baby was posted on the wall of
victims.
A monk collecting alms, curious foreign tourists and
onlookers walked among the debris on the beach, where one car was stacked on
top of another, and upended beach chairs lined the roads and storefronts for a
few hundred meters inland.
Among the first items set upright were toppled Buddhist
statues. Greg Miller, 55, of Honolulu, Hawaii, said when he felt the earthquake
from his beachfront guesthouse room, he knew from experience at home to
immediately look at the ocean for signs of what was to come. “I finally got a
car and managed to get into the hills. I called my friend and warned him not to
come, but he drove down here anyway. His car was swept up by the water into the
hills, flipping over four times on the way,” Miller said of his friend who
survived.
Tinsel holiday garlands swung from wrecked bars and stores.
There were “Merry Christmas” signs on the walls that remained standing, and
on one beachfront steak house, a festive foil banner read only “Happy New”
with the third word dangling loosely from the awning.
There was no looting seen as police blocked off some streets
from pedestrians and cars but many shopkeepers spent the night in their stores
just in case.
John Krueger, 34, of Winter Park, Colorado, described being
inside his bungalow Sunday on Khao Luk Beach, north of Phuket, with his wife,
Romina Canton, 26, of Rosario, Argentina, when the water filled it and blew it
apart. “The water rushed under the bungalow, brought our floor up and raised
us to the ceiling. The water blew out our doors, our windows and the back
concrete wall.
“My wife was swept away with the wall, and I had to bust
my way through the roof,” Krueger said while waiting to talk to a U.S.
Embassy official at Phuket City Hall.
He said he was sucked 8-10 feet (2.4-3 meters) under the water, and his wife
was dragged out into the ocean for more than an hour until a wave brought her
back to land again. He nearly tore his little finger in half when breaking
through the roof, and his wife broke her nose, her foot and suffered scratches
all over her body. “It was like white water rafting... She was naked on the
beach because she had just gotten out of the shower. It was like being in a
washing machine,” Krueger said.
Pattaya mayor announces city is prepared to
help in wake of southern tidal wave destruction
Suchada Tupchai
In the wake of Sunday’s destructive tidal wave throughout
Asia, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn met with Pattaya Mail reporters to
announce the city’s plans to support those affected. As the news broke, Mayor
Niran called on city administrators to set up emergency donation points around
the city as part of the national aid efforts.
“We have coordinated efforts with the local Social Welfare
Department in arranging emergency relief stations where residents can donate
items for people affected by the disaster. Donation points have been arranged
at city hall, various shopping centers and largely occupied areas. Our aim is
to provide what is needed,” said Niran.
The mayor said that a special call center in Pattaya has
also been organized at the Social Welfare Department as to where donations can
be given. Call 038 410 200 ext. 195 or 196.
When asked as to whether tragedies such as this would affect
tourism, the mayor answered, “Yes, particularly in the south for tourists,
residents and business operators. As for Pattaya we have been lucky in not
being affected as yet. Most people know that the tragedy occurred in the
Andaman Sea and that Pattaya is more or less protected in the Gulf of Siam.
Whatever the case may be, residents should be aware. Even though the earthquake
and tsunami hasn’t affected Pattaya, people should spare a thought for their
fellow man as the country faces this natural disaster. I would hope that
everyone joins together in helping during this period.”
Many hundreds of people have died in the southern provinces
of Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Krabi, Pang Na and Phi Phi Island.
The Thai media is constantly providing updates and providing information on
how to help. Details of injured and loss of life can be found by calling the
Narentorn Center at the Public Health Ministry by calling 1669.
Tidal wave lands Swedish boy on treetop
Phuket, Thailand (AP) - The Skold
family, barely beginning their holiday on the tropical isle of Phuket, was
trapped inside their seaside bungalow by the rising waters of the
earthquake-spawned waves Sunday.
“The water went out then came back in very, very quickly,
taking everything with it,” Kjell Skold, the father, told the Phuket Gazette.
“When the water came into the bungalow, we put everything on the beds. All
the windows were closed, so the water kept pushing everything up toward the
roof.
“It pushed us up to the roof, then the roof came off and
we floated away.”
Washed back down to dry land, Skold and his wife Bibi
managed to get their seven-year-old daughter, Stephanie, to safety in a high
cement building on Phuket’s Bang Tao beach. Then they realized their
10-year-old son, Sebastian, was missing.
Searching, they found him a few minutes later and about 200
meters (yards) away, sitting in a tree where the surging waters had deposited
him. “I can’t put into words what it feels like to be missing your son,”
Skold told the island’s English-language newspaper.
Nearly 200 people were listed as dead with thousands injured
from the earthquake-driven waters which engulfed beaches and islands in
southern Thailand Sunday. The death toll was widely expected to rise.
The family, from Gothenburg, were four days into a
three-week holiday. “We were supposed to be going to Koh Lanta today, but
we’ve lost everything. This is all we have,” said Skold holding up a single
backpack.
Another Swedish family went to see the chaos caused by the
first wave to hit Phuket’s Karon Beach, only to find themselves caught up in
the second wave.
“We were standing there taking pictures and the wave
started coming back, faster and faster, so we started to run away, faster and
faster, but my parents didn’t run fast enough,” said Marie Holmberg who was
vacationing with her parents, Denis and Gun Larsson.
The Larssons were knocked over by a wave and hit by rubbish
floating in the water but managed to escape. Holmberg’s father was treated at
Phuket’s International Hospital for a badly damaged toe and other cuts and
bruises.
Polio vaccine drive at Pattaya City Hall
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
As the fight to eradicate polio from Thailand continues,
a vaccination program was set up at city hall on December 21. Children under
5 years old were given vaccinations to protect them from this crippling
disease. On the day, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presided over the
proceedings, which were carried out by the Public Health Department.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn helps the polio eradication campaign by
administering an oral vaccine.
Polio eradication is of global concern and Thailand has
made much progress in fighting the disease. A nationwide movement has
targeted the risk group of children under 5 and free vaccinations programs
are offered throughout the country.
Polio is a concern in Pattaya because the city is
overcrowded, has many immigrant workers and is an international tourist
destination. These make it vulnerable to diseases being brought into the
area from other lands.
The Sanitary and Environment Department in Pattaya City
is making sure there is no outbreak of polio in the community.
Representatives from 27 communities have made the vaccine available to the
public. Twenty kindergarten schools in Pattaya City, Banglamung District,
and 28 child development centers have the polio vaccine. Because of poor
record keeping, it is not known how many children are already protected,
therefore all children are vaccinated. Children should receive this polio
vaccination twice a year, December 21, 2004 and January 18, 2005.
Pattaya Festival to be resurrected next year
Shorter time frame needs unique Pattaya theme
Suchada Tupchai
A brainstorming meeting about resurrecting the annual
Pattaya Festival was recently held at city hall. The discussions tabled
during the meeting focused on creating a more unique festival atmosphere
specific to Pattaya and reducing the time frame of the event.
Deputy Mayor Wirawat Khakhai presided over the session
on Tuesday, as city councilors and government department heads presented
their ideas on how to create a more festive atmosphere and move away from
the regular activities.
Jidapar Suwattanaporn, city councilor said, “Based on
past activities, when the festival was held over 7 days and in numerous
places such as Pattaya and Jomtien Beach as well as on stage, the event
proved to be too much and failed to provide any real entertainment value. I
believe that 3 days would be enough, but they must be carried out in a much
more extravagant fashion and focus on exciting activities, including a
parade.”
The Pattaya Festival, which was last held in 2000, was
part of the annual Pattaya events calendar and held during the Songkran
period each year, traditionally over 7 days from April 12-19.
Sittiparp Muangkhum, acting city clerk agreed with the
idea to reduce the number of days of the festival, adding that the city
should make it a point to create an event unique to Pattaya, and that it
should be different from other activities in the yearly calendar.
Pisai Panomwan Na Ayuthaya, city councilor agreed with
the concept, proposing that cooperation from all government departments and
private enterprise would be necessary to host the festival. “The only
exception would be for an events management company to organize the stage
shows and some of the activities,” said Pisai.
Discussions continued with numerous suggestions on the
dates and time as well as various activities to be included; however,
further discussions will be held at future meetings with the organizing
committee.
The city council has already approved a budget allowance
of 10 million baht to hold the festival in 2005. The content and
orchestration of the event is now the main concern.
Senior police at regional meeting address tourist safety in Pattaya
Boonlua Chatree
Police and government officials from three Eastern provinces
met in Pattaya to discuss the strategies and operations to promote further
safety for tourists in Pattaya. Pattaya was selected as the first place to
implement the government policy, as the city is a well-known destination.
 Pol.
Gen. Nopodol Somboonsup chairs the meeting on strategies and operations to
promote further safety for tourists in Pattaya.
Pol. Gen. Nopodol Somboonsup, legal advisor and head of the
committee for tourism promotion and safety, chaired the meeting at city hall on
December 20. He called for decisive action and implementation of the
government’ policy on security standards for visitors over the following year.
The prime minister has instructed tighter security measures
for tourists visiting Thailand. The tourism industry plays a main part in the
nation’s economy and the need for safety has become paramount. PM Taksin
Shinawatra handed the responsibility to Suwat Liptapollop, deputy prime minister
who in turn outlined the strategy after discussing the topic with a committee of
senior police officials, which included Pol. Gen. Nopodol Somboonsup. They
selected Pattaya as the first place to carry out the new standards because of
its important tourism status.
Senior officers from the Highway, Tourist, Water, Excise,
Revenue, Immigration and Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police units from
Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat attended the strategy meeting, held at
city hall.
Pol. Gen. Nopodol Somboonsup called for close cooperation between all police
departments as well as private enterprise to ensure that visitors are treated
fairly and provided with suitable safety standards from relevant government
departments to encourage them to return to Thailand for future holidays.
City Scope: Happy New Year from city hall
Suchada Tupchai
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and his four deputies wished
Pattaya residents a happy and prosperous New Year during a joint declaration on
behalf of the city, thanking the people of Pattaya for allowing them the
opportunity to serve the city.
Pattaya’s
city administration, led by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, wishes everyone a
very happy and prosperous New Year.
“In the time I have spent in the city administration I have
seen many changes. The city is growing and changing and we are working to make
the city more livable for residents; there are many projects that are underway,
been completed and due to start. They are all aimed at making Pattaya a safer
and more convenient place to live ... the development is for the benefit of the
city and its residents,” said Niran.
“I’m confident that Pattaya’s development for a better
economy, a better society and cultural promotion will bring the city up to a
world class standard. All of which we are working towards the many projects that
have been undertaken to improve the city. The city’s residents are an
important part of the process. We must cooperate and sacrifice to make it
better. As mayor I am confident, with the help of residents, that the city is
doing its best to make Pattaya a better place,” continued Niran.
“As we move into 2005, I and the city management and government department
heads call on all things sacred and holy, and we convey our wishes to the people
of Pattaya, that they have a very happy and prosperous time and that all your
dreams become a reality over the following year,” Mayor Niran said.
Finnish tourist dies in South Pattaya road accident
Boonlua Chatree
At 10 p.m. on December 17, Noi Koolchia rammed his
pickup into a motorcycle, killing the motorcyclist, 50-year-old Finnish
tourist Jari Pekka Maekela. Witnesses reported that Noi had attempted to
flee the scene, but his truck had caught on fire, leaving him without the
means to avoid capture.
Noi
Koolchia (inset) attempted to flee the scene after a fatal accident, but his
pickup caught fire.
The accident occurred at the beginning of South Pattaya
Soi 1, Village No. 10. When Pol. Lt. Col. Preecha Samrit, traffic
investigator at the Pattaya police station, and his officers arrived they
found Jari Pekka Maekela lying in the road suffering from a broken neck
and fractured arms and legs. An ambulance was dispatched to take the
victim to the hospital, but unfortunately the man was pronounced DOA.
Noi Koolchia told police that he didn’t see the
motorcycle and didn’t know that it was lodged under his pickup when he
tried to flee the scene in a panic. Because he tried to take off at a high
speed, sparks from the motorcycle underneath the pickup started a fire,
burning both the motorcycle and the pickup.
Noi was detained for questioning, then charged with reckless driving,
manslaughter, attempting to flee the scene of a fatal accident and for not
immediately stopping to notify the nearest police officer after damaging
property.
German charged with first degree murder of wife
Boonlua
Chatree
Police have charged Gerhard Funck Detlef, 50, with first
degree murder of his common law wife whose body was found near the Pattaya
Courts on December 10. She was identified by relatives as Yim ‘Jeab’
Wangabklang, 35, a native of Kalasin.
Police believe
they have their man, Gerhard Funck Detlef (seated right) who they’ve charged
with first degree murder of his wife.
Detlef was detained for visa overstay on December 20, as
police investigators search his house for further evidence in the case. The
house is located just over 100 meters from where the body was found.
Neighbors told police that pair argued constantly and on
December 8 they were overheard arguing about money. Apparently the woman
screamed for help before everything went silent. Neighbors alleged they saw
Detlef take something out the back of the house in a black plastic bag.
During the search of the house on December 20, police found
incriminating evidence, and later surmised that the motive financial. Detlef was
allegedly involved in trafficking women overseas under the guise of a marriage
agency. Police belief that 50,000 baht was transferred into Yim Wangabklang’s
bank account, but she refused to pass it along to Detlef, which police surmise
was the cause of the argument.
Gerhard Funck Detlef, denied all allegations, but was charged
with murder in the first degree.
American resident jumps to his death from a Jomtien condo
Boonlua Chatree
Police were called to a grisly scene at the Jomtien Plaza
condo shortly after 2 a.m. on December 23. Robert George Weisser, 59, had
jumped to his death from his 23rd floor apartment.
Initial examinations showed that Weisser had also tried to
hang himself. Officers proceeded to the man’s apartment, calling for condo
security to use a spare key to open the door.
The inspection showed no signs of struggle and police found
a suicide note and the man’s passport.
Shortly thereafter, Weissman’s girlfriend arrived at the
condo. Thongbai Somimmadun, 35, told police that she knew Robert was ill and
that he was facing financial difficulties, but could not give further details,
as she did not know. Thongbai said she was out of the apartment when the
incident occurred.
Police sent Robert Weisser’s body to the forensic
institute for further examination. They are treating the event as a suicide and
have informed US embassy officials.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Police arrest
extortionists
claiming to work for Pattaya superintendent
Following a string of complaints from over 100 beer bars,
motorcycle taxi ranks and karaoke venues, Pattaya police arrested two men
for extortion and impersonating police officers.
The investigation revealed that the two men, later
identified as Somporn Potesuwan, 30, and Narongrit Chotsawat, 40, had been
collecting 5,000 baht the 3rd of every month from over 100 venues. Their
operation had been successful for 8 months before police moved in to arrest
them in a sting operation.
The sting took place at the Hotman Karaoke Bar in Soi
Chaiyapoon, with undercover officers carrying marked bills. When the two men
entered and made threats, undercover police handed them the money and
signaled officers to move in.
A search of the men found a fake pistol on Narongrit and
in their pickup officers discovered two swords. Both men were taken to Soi 9
police station to face the man they claimed to work for, who was not
impressed at the damage created by the two criminals.
Somporn Potesuwan claimed he knew nothing of the
operation; only that Narongrit had asked him to accompany him on the
collection rounds, each time stating that they were collecting
‘protection’ money for the superintendent. If the venue failed to pay
the men would respond with veiled threats by saying they would not be
responsible for what happened.
Police also confiscated a list of 143 names and dates of
collection over the previous 8 months as evidence in the case against the
men.
Both were charged with extortion, theft of property, and
impersonating police officers. They face over five years in prison if found
guilty.
Ukrainian diners escape serious injury when restaurant collapses
Unlucky couple enjoying a meal when
the roof falls on their heads
Boonlua Chatree
A Ukrainian couple received only minor cuts and bruises
after the roof of the restaurant they were eating in collapsed on top of them.
They were the only two patrons inside the Food and Drink Restaurant at the
Natural Park Resort Jomtien.
 Would
you like a side order of excitement with your meal? That’s what Ukrainian
tourists Ivan Robadan and Chorotha Freevar received when the restaurant roof
fell on their heads.
Sunanta Rungroje, Natural Park Resort Jomtien general
manager, called police and rescue teams to help rescue efforts after the
incident occurred on Sunday, December 19 at around 9 p.m. A Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital ambulance also rushed to the scene.
Officials arrived to find the 20 x 30 meter structure in
rubble. First appearances revealed that six wooden poles supporting the roof
gave way causing it the collapse. Rescuers found the two tourists, later
identified as Ivan Robadan, 42, and Chorotha Freevar, 36, both from the
Ukraine, with only minor facial injuries. There were transported to the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital for treatment and later released.
Police questioned the hotel’s general manager who said she
had no idea how the roof of the restaurant collapsed and that despite the
unfortunate luck of the hotel’s two guests, the restaurant is normally full
of diners. Sunanta said the hotel would take care of all medical and
accommodation expenses of the two injured guests.
Police attending the scene said the two tourists were lucky and that had
there been more people, someone could well have died as a result. Police said
they would continue to look into the cause of the collapse.
EDITORIAL: A New Year gift to choose
Suchada Tupchai
As the New Year celebrations begin, and as Thailand joins
the world in celebrating the beginning of a new year, throughout the country
people are preparing for the festivities. However, the reality has a dark
side; a problem that plagues the New Year festivities year after year: the
number of deaths on the nation’s roads. Last year, 701 people were killed
and 29,407 injured on Thailand’s roads during the New Year celebrations.
This year, the anti-drink and drive campaign is receiving
the most special attention. The campaign is aiming to significantly reduce
road deaths and injuries caused by drunk drivers.
Jaturon Chaisaeng, deputy prime minister and director of
the Road Safety Center, recently revealed that the goal, as always, is to
reduce the road death toll and number of injuries caused by vehicle
accidents. He said, however, that this is going to be difficult; one reason
being that the number of vehicles on Thailand’s roads has more than
doubled in 2004.
Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra has announced the goal
is a 10% reduction in these figures, to no more 631 deaths and 26,467
injuries. He called a meeting with all relevant departments to enforce road
laws and promote the anti-drink and drive message. Figures this year will be
recorded from 1 a.m. on December 29, 2004 to January 4, 2005.
Chonburi and Pattaya have been specifically targeted, as
Chonburi is the province ranked third in the number of deaths and injuries,
behind Nakhon Rachasima and Chiang Mai. Provincial officials here are
intending to crack down on drunk drivers, and they want reduce the number of
deaths to no more than 20 here in Chonburi. They, too, realize that this is
going to be a tough battle, given the increasing number of vehicles and lack
of traffic enforcement.
New Year is a time for celebration and festive fun. We
can give ourselves the gift of happiness as we welcome in the New Year;
begin with a new lifestyle and new things, or we can start the year on a sad
note, with once again the loss of too many lives. Too many accidents are
caused by negligence and lack of responsibility, by people who do not value
their own lives or that of others. The choice is obvious. Let’s hope this
year everyone makes the right one.
Anti-drink and drive campaign kicks off in Pattaya
Decha Chalermyart
A special procession focusing on the ‘Don’t drink and
drive’ campaign kicked off in front of the Royal Garden Plaza.
Participants walking in procession carried signs in a number of languages
warning people of the danger, as they made their way along Beach Road down
to Bali Hai pier.
Pol.
Gen. Wutti Liptapanlop (right), Central Investigation Bureau deputy
commissioner, walks with procession participants who carried signs warning
of the dangers of drunk driving.
Pol. Gen. Wutti Liptapanlop, Central Investigation Bureau
deputy commissioner presided over the ceremonies, along with Preecha
Kamolbutr, Chonburi deputy governor and Pol. Maj. Gen. Panya Mamen, tourist
police superintendent. They were joined by hundreds of residents, businesses
and local police officers.
The anti-drink drive campaign comes as everyone
celebrates the New Year festivities. Drunk drivers account for over 50
percent of accidents on Thailand’s roads over the period. Statistics from
the Ministry of Public Health revealed that from December 29, 2003 to
January 4, 2004 there were 29,407 people injured on Thailand’s roads -
equating to 152 people per hour.
The campaign this year is to reduce these frightening
statistics over the New Year period. Figures from 2001 also show that at
least 15.3 million people over the age of 15 regularly consume alcohol, and
estimates put the figure increasing by at least 260,000 each year.
Alcohol reduces drivers’ abilities to react and make correct judgments.
The procession on Tuesday, December 21 offered some realistic shots and
skits on the dangers of drunk driving as well as urge everyone to stay safe.
Police presence stepped up in Pattaya over New Year holidays
Boonlua Chatree
As the tourist season is now in full swing and the year-end
festivities increase, police and crime prevention volunteers were given their
orders to provide safety and service for Pattaya’s visitors.
Over 400 police and volunteers were present at city hall on
Tuesday, December 21 where Pol. Gen. Wutti Liptapanlop, Central Investigation
Bureau deputy commissioner presided over the deployment ceremonies.
 Pol.
Gen. Wutti Liptapanlop, Central Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner
presided over the deployment ceremonies.
The increased police activities are aimed at reducing crime
and enforcing traffic laws over the Christmas - New Year period.
A heavy campaign against drunk driving is also underway to
reduce the number of accidents and fatalities as residents and visitors
celebrate. In addition, patrols have been increased for Pattaya’s New Year
Festival, beginning on Christmas Day December 25 through to January 1.
Four hundred-plus officers and volunteers using 60 patrol cars, 50
motorcycles, and 10 bicycles left city hall to carry out their duties. Sawang
Boriboon foundation volunteers, tourist police and tourist police volunteers
were also present at city hall for the ceremonial deployment.
Pattaya City and Jomtien receive massive cleanup, again
Servicemen perform cleanup duty as tribute
to His Majesty the King
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Over 1,000 servicemen were brought in from the Royal Thai
Navy’s New Sailor Training Center to help clean up the city to show dedication
to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.
In the morning of December 15, city officials, sailors from
the New Sailor Training Center in Sattahip, and members of the Pattaya City
Entrepreneur Federation gathered in front of city hall to prepare for an annual
city cleanup as a confirmation of their loyalty to the King.
 Pattaya
Entrepreneur Foundation members joined in on the cleanup, and appeared to be
having a good time.
Participation from the sailors was led by Captain Anuchat
Indharasen, assistant commander of the New Sailor Training Center, Naval
Operations. A determined force of a thousand new sailors, Health and
Environmental officers from Pattaya City, and 200 people from the Pattaya
Entrepreneur Foundation stood ready to make Pattaya and its immediate environs
squeaky clean.
Before the operations began, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
and his counselors paid their respects to the King Taksin Monument, and
presented souvenirs to Captain Anuchat Indharasen, thanking him for bringing so
many sailors to participate in this activity.
The project was daunting in scale. The cleanup covered all
areas in Pattaya City and Jomtien, including the Dusit Resort curve, Pattaya
Central Beach, South Pattaya, Soi Wong Amart, Soi Nong Yai, Soi 999, Soi
Petchtrakul, and the stretch of Jomtien Beach. The tireless sailors cut weeds
from beside the road and collected garbage and sharp stones on Pattaya Beach.
Backbreaking work, but the effect was outstanding.
Commenting on the activity, Mayor Niran said, “We want the
public to be part of environmental preservation ... Because Pattaya has crowded
residential areas and many sois and roads, the city doesn’t have enough
cleanup officers to cover all areas. Therefore we had to ask the New Sailors
Training Center to help us with this weak point. We also had very good
attendance from the Naval Command Department to revive Pattaya’s environment.
This cleanup drive will serve as a good example for the public as well. The
effort was a huge success and everyone involved deserves praise and thanks.”
|
