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Over 1,000 protesters attempt to gatecrash Thai-US free trade talks in Pattaya
Claim the agreement will destroy the lives of average Thais
Pattaya Mail Reporters
Well over 1,000 people carrying banners, signs and chanting
protests made their way to the entrance of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort on
Tuesday to protest against the third round of Thai-US Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) negotiations being held in Pattaya from April 4-8.
The angry but peaceful mob made it as far as the Royal Cliff
property’s front gate where they were held back by more than 100 police and
security officers and a fire truck.
 Witoon
Lianjumroon (left), Life and Intellectual Property Organization director,
representing protesters said, “Thai people don’t know what’s happening
with the current negotiations.”
Emotions ran high when they were refused entry to the hotel.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Pol. Col. Somnuk Changate, Pattaya police
superintendent, attempted a dialogue with the demonstrators while refusing them
entry, and although the protesters remained persistent, no violence or arrests
were made.
Carrying banners stating “Thailand is not for sale”,
“No FTA”, “You negotiate, we die”, and wearing “No FTA” headbands
and “Life is not for sale” T-shirts, some of the protesters carried
cardboard effigies of PM Thaksin Shinawatra made to look like Adolph Hitler and
US President George Bush made to look like Superman and carrying an “FTA
Missile”.
Nitya
Pibulsongkram, head of the Thai negotiating team for the Thai-US Free Trade
Agreement and past Foreign Ministry permanent secretary reassured protestors,
“We will take your problems into consideration.”
The group’s main message was twofold: First, they want to
be included in the FTA talks, or at least informed about what is going on
during the negotiations, and second, they were protesting clauses being
included in the FTA that would expand intellectual property rights protection,
which they say is against the spirit of free trade.
“The US demands on intellectual property rights, such as
protection of life forms, extension of patent protection periods, data
exclusivity, etc., if agreed to, will have a serious and widespread adverse
impact on the Thai people in terms of access to medicines, will make plant and
animal species more expensive, and will create the problem of a monopoly on
factors of agricultural production,” said an FTA Watch statement.
Over 1,000
protesters made their way to the entrance of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort to
protest against the third round of Thai-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations
being held in Pattaya.
Eventually 15 representatives were allowed to speak with
members of the Thai negotiation committee to vent their grievances and listen
to progress on the negotiations.
Witoon Lianjumroon, Life and Intellectual Property
Organization director, representing protesters said, “Thai people don’t
know what’s happening with the current negotiations ... Our negotiators do
not appear to know where they stand with US negotiators. The conditions are
very general; i.e., not only pertaining to tax breaks but right down to opening
up services such as electricity, water, communications.
“They give US investors the same rights as Thai people and
allow them to encroach on agriculture, medicine and intellectual property
issues with the Thai government unable to regulate them and look out for the
benefits of the Thai people.
“The US wants Thailand to be a part of the Union for the
Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) treaty in order to control new
plant varieties without any rights given to the land owners. This would include
species like Jasmine rice, Monthong Durian, and certain types of Rambutans.
Such actions would severely affect the Thai agriculture community and would
force them to buy expensive seeds.”
Another protestor told reporters, “The FTA negotiations
will allow the Thai government to open the doors to foreign investors and
businesses without being governed by Thai law. But the government would have to
take care of the foreign investor and allow them to introduce and plant GMO
(genetically modified organic) products in Thailand under the special FTA
economic conditions, which have not yet been proved to be safe ... The most
important issue is that of patents, in extending the period of patent
protection beyond 20 years, in recognizing patents on all life forms, and in
restricting the use of compulsory licensing. This is purely a demand to protect
the business interests of US companies.”
Protestors presented officials a petition outlining their
demands and expressing concern over U.S. demands for intellectual property
rights restrictions that could block Thailand from producing affordable copies
of American-made anti-AIDS drugs, putting local patients at risk. They said
that the restrictions are more restrictive than the TRIPS (trade related
aspects of intellectual property rights) agreement from the World Trade
Organization, and are against the spirit of the Doha declaration. They called
for a halt to all talks until information was made public and more transparent.
They also called for a referendum to be held so that voters could decide
whether Thailand should sign the FTA with the US. They said that signing the
FTA is an extremely important matter for Thailand and for the lives and
livelihoods of Thai people in all professions, both now and in the future.
Nitya Pibulsongkram, head of the Thai negotiating team for
the Thai-US Free Trade Agreement and past foreign ministry permanent secretary
reassured protestors, “We will take your problems into consideration during
talks with the US, but we cannot reveal all the details. The negotiations
between the two countries have more or less just begun. This is just the third
round of talks and that is what they are, discussions, nothing has been agreed
upon between the representatives on 17 main points. The are no conclusions as
yet.”
The 15 protesting representatives called on the Thai
committee to allow them to sit in on the talks and have the opportunity to
speak with US representatives. They were refused. After an hour, the group left
the meeting room to face their fellow protestors, promising to continue their
protest.
The group, whilst upset at the news, remained calm. However, before leaving,
the protesters performed a “Sabb Chang” ceremony on the effigy of George
Bush to place a curse on the spirit and send it away. This entails pouring salt
and chili over it, chanting around it, then burning it. Protestors also
promised that if talks continued, they would perform the same on PM Thaksin’s
effigy.
Twenty-five man fishing crew rescued from burning vessel
More drama on the high seas
Patcharapol Panrak
Twenty-five crewmembers were rescued from the 23-meter
fishing vessel “Chok Kosit 4” last week when the vessel caught fire 28
nautical miles from Koh Chang in Trat province.
Fishing boats in the area were first on the scene and
attempted to douse the blaze with seawater jettisoned through their onboard
pumps, but this proved unsuccessful. Crewmembers allegedly stayed onboard the
Chok Kosit 4, attempting to control the blaze until Navy units arrived on the
scene.
This photo,
taken from a Navy helicopter, shows three fishing vessels attempting to
extinguish the fire aboard the Chok Kosit 4.
The Royal Thai Coast Guard was able to extinguish the fire
with foam.
None of the 25 crewmembers were seriously hurt. The Chok
Kosit 4, however, received extensive damage and was later towed to shore.
RTN Vice Adm. Jamnong Kittipeerachol, Region 1 Naval
commander, dispatched two navy Bell helicopters to the scene to aid in rescue
efforts.
Once the fire was under control, the boat’s captain told navy officers that
the fire began from an electrical short circuit in the engine room and spread
quickly through the wooden vessel.
Government takes strong measures to cut death toll during Songkran
The Thai government has banned the sale of
liquor at petrol stations across the country and all police will be on duty
in a bid to reduce road accidents during the Songkran holiday.
During the water festival holiday, April 13-15, millions
of migrant workers will travel home and there will be large numbers of Thai
and foreign holidaymakers.
The government wants to reduce road fatalities during
Songkran by 15 % from last year, to less than 637 deaths, the Deputy Prime
Minister and Interior Minister Chitchai Wannasathit announced.
There will be checkpoints conducting random breath tests
to try to curb the number of drunk drivers - one of the major causes of
accidents.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the
authorities will strictly enforce a ban on liquor sales at petrol stations.
There will be no break for the police force during
Songkran, Pol. Gen. Chitchai said. He said he would be inspecting the police
in the field during the holiday period. (TNA)
Pattaya Construction Committee to take tough action on advertising
signs and unsightly cables
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya’s committee for overseeing construction utilities
issues announced the next phase in dealing with oversized signage and unsightly
cables throughout the city.
Bunlue Kulawanit, city councilor and committee chairman,
chaired a meeting at city hall last week and announced affirmative action on
the issue. Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn sat in on the meeting and offered his
opinions.
Unsightly
telephone and TV cables will hopefully soon be a thing of the past.
Bunlue revealed that many of the offending signs had already
been removed, but more action is required at the earliest possible point in
time.
“The committee has decided to revamp local sign
regulations and post short term signs at various points in North, Central and
South Pattaya. Additionally these signs will be available for businesses for a
fee of 200 baht per point,” said Bunlue.
The committee chairman added that the temporary signs would
have no more than four per site, be no more than 50 cm wide and 5 meters long,
and that in future no signage would be allowed on power poles or at the
entrance to sois.
“The new advertising signs along Sukhumvit are also
available and people should contact the city engineering department,” said
Bunlue.
The topic of unsightly cables was also addressed. The cables have been
hanging haphazardly throughout the city for a number of years and now the
administration, through the committee, will cooperate with TOT, TT&T and
cable companies to rectify the situation and put things in order to create a
better look for Pattaya.
City sets Bali Hai management rates
Conditions set to benefit residents and tourists
Narisa Nitikarl
After numerous meetings and discussions, Pattaya’s city
administration has finally come up with rental rates for the Bali Hai pier
building and terrace. The announcement was made at a meeting on Friday April 1
at city hall.
Pattaya’s deputy mayor, Wirawat Khakhai, chaired the
meeting. The mayor, committee members and senior administrators were in
attendance. The aim of the new rates is to create revenue for the city and keep
them low enough to benefit residents and visitors alike.
“The rates for the Bali Hai building, which includes 3
rooms with another to be built, toilets, kiosk and terrace areas are as
follows. Three offices are 24,000 baht per month with the fourth being set at a
pro rata amount; toilets 30,000 baht per month, kiosk area with a maximum of 6
carts is 18,000 per month and the terrace area goes for 30,000 baht per month.
The total amount is 102,000 per month in rent for the company that rents the
areas. A 2 year contract will be drawn up with extra conditions set for the
terrace area,” said Wirawat.
Rates for boats using the pier were also announced, with the
final amount differing from original discussions. The committee in charge of
the issue announced that fees would be charged on a month-to-month basis at a
flat rate of 3,000 baht per month. Vessels using the pier must also conform to
the regulations set down by the city, including registration with the city.
Now that the rates for the pier have been officially announced, the contract
will be put out to tender to private enterprise.
FBI and Pattaya immigration police arrest US national in connection with 11 million dollar scam
Boonlua Chatree
Eight years of investigation by the US Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) led them to Pattaya in search of Eugene Marcel Carriere.
Carriere, 55, wanted by the US government in connection with an 11 million
dollar fraud case, during which as many as 800 people were allegedly defrauded
by as much as 100,000 dollars in an internet scam. US courts had issued an
arrest warrant for Carriere and his partner James Stanley Eberhart, 64.
At 11 p.m. on March 31, a US FBI agent armed with a US
arrest warrant and Pattaya immigration police arrested Eugene Carriere at his
home in the Jomtien Yacht Club. Immigration officers asked for Carriere’s
passport, only to be told that Carriere had thrown it away after entering
through a Cambodian checkpoint in 1996, when Carriere fled the US.
 FBI
agent Robert Cahill jr. (left) and Colonel Ittiphon Ittisanronnachai (right),
Pattaya Immigration superintendent present Eugene Carriere to the media at
the Soi 8 Immigration office after Carriere’s arrest.
Police searched the home, which Carriere had rented for
50,000 baht per month, and found a large amount of cash (Thai baht and US
dollars) in a safety box. This was confiscated, as were other assets.
At the immigration office, FBI officer Robert Cahill jr.
questioned Carriere on the whereabouts of his partner in crime, James Stanley
Eberhart, 64. Carriere told officers that they had split up and went their
separate ways after arriving in South East Asia.
Thai immigration police charged Eugene Marcel Carriere with
illegally entering and residing in the kingdom and blocked any potential for
bail. Eugene Carriere will face Thai courts on these charges and once released,
will be deported back to the United States to face the court on fraud charges.
James Eberhart is still at large. The FBI believes he is still in South East
Asia.
Israeli arrested for drug possession
Boonlua Chatree
Police last week arrested a 43-year-old Israeli national for
possession of drugs. Police detained the man at an apartment in the Niran condo
complex in Soi Arunotai on Wednesday night, March 29.
 Israeli
national Buskila Avarahan was arrested for possession of 0.7 grams of
crystal methamphetamine.
Police received information that a foreigner was allegedly
selling crystal methamphetamine, known as ‘Ice”, which led to the arrest of
Buskila Avarahan in the apartment complex.
As police entered the man’s room he was seen to stuff a
bag into his mouth. Officers eventually forced Avarahan to spit it out and
found that the bag contained 0.7 grams of the drug.
Avarahan was taken to Soi 9 and charged with possession of a class one
illegal drug.
Sattahip police surmise Norwegian resident dies from medicine overdose
Patcharapol
Panrak
Sattahip police and rescue workers responded to an emergency
call in Bang Saray from Yaothida Braten that Marus Olsen, 28, a friend of her
husband had died in his room.
Officers arrived on the scene to find the man’s naked body
inside the room. The man, an amputee, had a large amount of medicine next to
him.
Police questioned the woman, who told them that her husband,
also from Norway, had brought Olsen to the house after he had fallen down the
stairs numerous times at his rented South Pattaya apartment.
Yaothida added that Marus was stressed out and had already
attempted to harm himself. Doctors in Norway had amputated his leg following a
serious car accident.
Police examined the body and the room and found no obvious
evidence of a struggle and suspected that the man had overdosed on prescription
medication, which caused his heart to fail.
The body was sent to the forensic institute in Bangkok for a
post mortem examination.
Woman arrested for pimping her 14-year-old daughter
Boonlua Chatree
Police received complaints from Thai tourists that a Thai
woman was seen trying to sell her daughter for sexual services to foreign
tourists.
Pattaya tourist police responded to the complaint and
observed the woman’s activities before setting up a sting operation.
Wongdoen
Phanmai was arrested for pimping her 14-year-old daughter.
Shortly after midnight on Monday evening, March 28, Pattaya
tourist police used a foreign tourist police volunteer and marked banknotes to
set up the sting.
The woman allegedly left her daughter in a Jomtien hotel
room with the foreign police volunteer, and was arrested on her way out of the
hotel. She had the marked banknotes with her at the time.
The woman, Wongdoen Phanmai, 33, told officers that she was
visiting Pattaya and that she and her daughter had run out of money. She said
they were unable to get back home or pay the hotel bill.
She allegedly that both her and her daughter came up with
the idea, and that the 14-year-old girl was willing to make money for her
mother.
Wongdoen Phanmai was charged providing a minor, under 15,
for sexual services, whether the minor was willing or not, and led off to jail
pending a court appearance.
The young girl was sent to a welfare institution to receive counseling.
Police briefs
Body of man found floating in body
suspected to be local musician
Patcharapol Panrak
A fishing vessel netted a gruesome catch in Pattaya bay this
week. The body of a Thai man was hauled into the boat. The man’s throat had
been cut and a heavy stone had been attached to the body to weigh it down in
the water.
Police tending to the case had no idea who the man was and
sent the body to the forensic institute for an examination.
Possible relatives of the dead man later came forth but
could not give a positive identification. However, a group of Pattaya musicians
viewed the body and identified him as Bancha Puengsook, 38.
They told officers that Bancha had gone missing around March
20, which fits the estimated time the body had been in the sea.
They felt that it had to be their friend as the body was
found in an area near his home in Huay Yai.
They added that Bancha had an affair with a Thai woman and
believed that the woman’s estranged husband had something to do with his
death. Bancha thought the woman had a foreign husband, but this had turned out
to be false, and the real husband had allegedly threatened to shoot Bancha over
the affair.
Police are investigating the case to find the murderer and
the real motive behind the killing.
Careless baht bus driver
spills diesel
at major intersection causing numerous accidents
Patcharapol Panrak
The increase in fuel prices at the pump has created some
fear among business operators. One Sattahip baht bus driver loaded up
containers of fuel before the price rise, packing the containers in the back of
his baht bus before going home. But on the way, he spilled fuel at a major
intersection.
Over 10 motorcycle accidents, resulting in injuries, were
recorded on the same section of road.
Residents in the area told officials that they saw a baht
bus pull out from a nearby fuel station, leaking diesel from the containers
stored in the truck.
Wipawan Konton, 38, and her 3-year-old daughter were just
two of the victims from the fuel spill. Wipawan said the wheels of her bike
just slipped out from under her.
Sattahip officials learned of the event and took action,
attempting to wash the diesel from the road surface but with little effect.
Sand was later placed over the fuel to solve the immediate problem to ensure
resident’s safety.
Police left red faced after
arresting
innocent men
Boonlua Chatree
Over 50 policemen were left red faced and apologizing as
they arrested two men working at a South Pattaya karaoke bar. The operation
took place at around 12.30 a.m. on Monday morning when crime prevention
volunteers reported the two men were possible suspects in a tourist theft.
The two men, identified as Preecha Areechong and Bunpot
Buntat, were detained and cuffed after pulling up outside their work place on a
motorcycle. They were very surprised when officers slammed the handcuffs on
them, prompting the two men to demand why they were being arrested.
Police informed them of the allegations, but they refuted
the claims and said they worked for their income and did not steal from
anybody. They also demanded that the victim of the alleged crime to show up to
clear them.
Police, with no hard evidence, recorded the men’s details
and released them on their own accord.
Amorn Nakhon Market food vendors receive health department training
Told to cut down on preservatives
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
In the interest of consumer safety, the Pattaya Health,
Hygiene and Environmental Department and the Chonburi Public Health Department
met with 220 vendors at the Amorn Nakhon and New Naklua markets to educate them
on food safety under the “Clean Food, Good Taste” campaign.
The education seminar comes following recent inspections at
the markets whereby vendors were found to be using excessive amounts of
preservative substances to keep their products looking fresh. The use of such
substances was found in almost all vendor stalls.
Health
department officials examine food for preservatives at the Amorn Nakhon Market.
Pramote Supsaeng, Public Health Management supervisor who
presided over the opening of the training session, revealed that use of
preservatives in food is restricted to enable consumers a choice. He said,
“We have seen an increase in these substances, especially in the fresh food
sector and in particular meats. The abnormal levels of borax and formalin for
example have brought about concern for public safety.”
Pramote said officials continuously inspect all fresh food
markets, but the Naklua markets turned up the most negative results. There is a
need to implement tighter controls and standards to curb the use of
preservatives.
During the training session, officials demonstrated
inspection procedures and provided information on the various substances and
how it affects fresh food and the consumers.
Officials called for cooperation from market vendors to be their eyes and
ears in reducing the problem in Naklua.
- EDITORIAL: Songkran - time
for some common sense
Suchada Tupchai
Mark Twain once wrote, “I’ve found that common sense
ain’t so common,” and unfortunately, this is never truer than during the
Songkran festivities. For the sake of hundreds of families who could reach
the end of the holidays minus one or more of their cherished brothers,
sisters, mothers or fathers, hopefully this year more people will attempt to
prove this adage wrong.
Yes, the hottest months of the year are once again upon
us, and this means that Thailand’s wet festival stands directly in front
of us. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is heavily promoting this festival,
and estimates that at least 100,000 tourists will visit Thailand over the
festival period and create 3 billion baht in cash flow for the country. The
TAT’s campaign, based on traditional activities, aims to promote this to
rest of the world.
The picture of fun during the nation’s hot season, and
this year in particular as the mercury soars higher, is now known throughout
the region and the western world, but currently that picture is much
different than the original concept meant it to be. People, specifically the
youth and alcohol fuelled visitors and residents, have transformed a gentle
festival into something it shouldn’t be, too often ending in loss of life
and property.
The central government is again focusing on reducing the
road toll over the Songkran holidays. Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra wants
to see at least a 15 percent reduction in the national road toll over a
10-day period. This would bring the target down to no more than 637 road
deaths, which is still far too many. To try and accomplish this, alcohol
sales are being limited and police will be performing vigilant breath
testing. Also, all police officers will be working throughout the 10 days
over the traditional Thai New Year period.
The Highway Police Department has set up over 100 service
centers along main routes out of Bangkok to assist motorists to reach their
homes in the provinces safely. These service centers will have mechanics on
duty to fix any vehicle problems, and the centers will act as rest stops for
tired motorists. Police officials are also urging motorists to check their
vehicles before making the trip. Extra police will be on duty to control
traffic and keep it flowing steadily.
A new regulation that is being enforced might also help
reduce accidents, and therefore the death toll, on the kingdom’s roads.
This year, police will strictly enforce a ban on water throwing on the main
roads during Songkran. People found breaking the regulation could be fined
up to 400 baht.
People last year once again went “overboard” during
Songkran, and the ‘fun’ ended 654 lives. The most common causes were
negligence on the roads and drunk driving. This loss of life and property,
for the sake of fun, is sad indeed. This year, everyone must focus on
safety, and, more importantly, remember to practice common sense during
Songkran. Please, remember its origins.
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