|
Bar owners dismayed as closing times remain unchanged
No special privileges for Pattaya
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Entertainment outlet owners and operators are dismayed at
the government’s unchanging stance on closing times, following Deputy
Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornwat’s visit to Pattaya on Friday the 13th.
Somchai met with Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook at city
hall to discuss Interior Ministry policies and to investigate problems
associated with the social order campaign. Local officials filed work progress
reports and raised problems with the deputy minister, specifically the
detrimental effects to tourism related to the ministry’s policies concerning
entertainment venues.
Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, (back left) Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvut
(blue Aloha shirt), Suchai Ruayrin, former Pattaya mayor, Ronakit Ekasingh,
Acting Chief City Clerk and other officials seem to be enjoying their tour of
Walking
Following the discussions, Somchai and government officers
made their way to the Ambassador City Hotel in Jomtien to meet with bar owners
from throughout the province. Numerous business owners called for changes to
the policies concerning operating hours in the entertainment industry - asking
specifically for the closing times to be extended at least to 2 a.m., since
Pattaya is a major international tourist destination.
Somchai responded by calling for cooperation from businesses
in following the current regulations and strictly adhering to the zoning laws,
operating times, not allowing patrons under the age of 20 to enter venues,
keeping weapons and drugs out of their venues, not providing lewd shows, and
having correct licenses.
Many bar owners were dismayed over the response and walked
out of the meeting.
“Since Pattaya is a tourist city that attracts large
numbers of foreign visitors, and providing that there is no detrimental effect
to the image of Thailand through lewd entertainment, the idea of changing hours
will be supported in allowing operators to extend trading times,” said
Somchai. “But for the moment everyone around the country must follow the same
law.”
On Friday evening, Somchai was accompanied by the governor
and local politicians on a tour of Walking Street. The inspection was to verify
the reality of the situation and speak with tourists, Thai and foreign. A large
number of people the deputy minister spoke to support the idea of extending
operating hours for the entertainment industry and saw the need to amend
legislation if tourism was to enjoy its former success.
Other issues such as the water shortage were raised by residents, with
Somchai promising to meet with the water authority and the East Water Co Ltd to
urgently rectify the problem.
Solving child trafficking can only be done through co-operation
Suchada
Tupchai
A clear and efficient plan is needed to solve the child
trafficking problem in Pattaya, a panel of experts decided. Cooperation from
all departments involved is paramount.
These revelations came out of a conference staged at the
Diana Garden Resort on May 4, during which Somchai Sirorat, representing
social development and human security in Chonburi province, discussed the
problems of homeless children and human trafficking.
 Somchai
Sirorat, representing social development and human security in Chonburi
province, was presenter of the meeting to discuss human trafficking.
Somchai said that presently, one of the most worrying
statistics has to do with human trafficking, which ranks second amongst the
world’s highest income earners. Therefore it is very difficult to solve
this problem, he said.
Regarding homeless children and trafficking in Chonburi,
in Pattaya it is at an especially critical stage. There are many hidden ways
of trafficking. The department of social development and human security
regularly checks and has found that, for example, Soi Sunee Plaza in South
Pattaya usually has young boys offering sexual services. To solve this
problem we need cooperation from all associated departments, said Somchai.
An officer from the Redemptorist Street Kids Home in
Banglamung said that they see many kinds of sexual traffic. Some places have
opened as internet game shops, but have sexual service places beside them.
The centre knows from questioning the children that some places also deal in
drugs as well as sexual services. This makes it more difficult to clean up
because we cannot control all of the shops, he said.
Phisit Phoonpipat, of the Home for Children and the
Family, said that it’s an urgent problem to solve for the sake of the
prostituted children. “We have 445 sexual service boys and 90 percent of
them are in Pattaya,” he said. Most of them are homeless children. There
are more entrepreneurs opening this kind of service and that is why the
number of sexual service boys and girls is increasing.
We need a clear and efficient plan to solve this, said
Phisit. Homeless children always return to the same service after leaving
the Children’s Support Centre because they do not have the right mindset.
Most of them think that Pattaya is a paradise, and it’s easy to earn
money. The long-term solution needs professional training support, so that
the children will have honest work and will be safe in society.
Attending the meeting were representatives of government
departments and private organisations including the Social Welfare
Department in Pattaya City, Children’s Support House Ban Banglamung, the
Redemptorist Foundation in Pattaya, and YWCA (Bangkok-Pattaya). Also present
was Sopin Thappajug, assistant judge of the Chonburi Provincial Court,
Department of Juvenile and Family Cases.
Somchai concluded that on the global level we have recurring problems
that we haven’t solved, specifically homeless children and sexual services
of children, which never decrease. All departments must cooperate by
entering into the problem areas, not just by sitting in a conference room
devising solutions.
Experiments held to see if beach expansion is feasible
To see if new sand will withstand tidal flow
Narisa
Nitikarn
A trial beach expansion project began in North Pattaya
last Friday. City councillors brought in earthmoving equipment to increase
the beach area near the Dusit Resort Pattaya, under the watchful eye of
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and city councillor Bunlue Kulawanich.
 Bunlue
Kulawanich, city councillor, keeps a close eye on the progress of reshaping
the beach in North Pattaya.
The move is the brainchild of city councillors who see
the need to increase the beach area, and the initial steps were to test
whether the sand remained after two days of tidal flow.
“The city council thought up the idea, seeing that the
beach is a major attraction to many visitors. When it is low tide, the beach
looks quite unattractive and dirty. Once the section is complete we’ll
check to see if the sand remains in place. If so, then we will continue - if
not, then the idea will be scrapped,” said Bunlue, who is also responsible
for Pattaya Beach conservation and renovation.
“Pattaya hosts regular activities on a monthly basis and the project is
aimed at giving more space for these activities,” added Bunlue.
Santsak Ngamphiches throws hat into ring for senate race
Boonlua Chatree
Santsak Ngamphiches, former assistant to the minister of
public health, has declared that he will stand for election to the senate
for the next term of parliament. He told a press conference that he has the
backing of the Chonburi group, led by Somchai Khunplome, and that they have
asked him to stand as their candidate. Santsak added that he has already
resigned from all his political positions to be free to campaign.
 A
confident Santsak declared that it would be a historical event in Chonburi
politics if he didn’t win the election to be senate member for Zone 7.
He said that said that being a senator would be a new
experience in life for him. He also said that it was an expensive
experience, and that he is continually being reminded that he should never
underestimate each step in life.
“The Chonburi group has given me a chance to help my spirit and cheer
me on,” he said. “From now on I must work very hard to make the Chonburi
people trust and believe in me. I will ensure that the government
administration is fair and just, which will bring peace and prosperity to
our country.”
Twenty-seven community leaders nominated
Chosen to implement government poverty eradication policies
Narisa Nitikarn
Twenty-seven community leaders were nominated at a city hall
meeting on May 10 to act as advisors, linking their communities with city
authorities in the implementation of the central government’s national
economic and social development plan.
By using this plan, the central government hopes to eradicate
poverty in the kingdom and eventually raise the standard of living for all
citizens here. To accomplish this, the government needs a way to implement its
policies on a local level, starting with local governments and filtering on down
to a grassroots level.
 Deputy
Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn (right) co-chairs the meeting, whilst Pannee
Limcharoen (left), head of Pattaya’s Social Welfare Department, introduces the
meaning behind the government’s social welfare volunteer training project.
The 27 chosen community leaders will become social welfare
volunteers, passing along the central government’s policies to people in their
communities. These leaders will be put through training to better cope with
local situations.
Pannee Limcharoen, head of Pattaya’s Social Welfare
Department, said that the new social welfare volunteer training project allows
for participation of two volunteers from each community. The people chosen for
this training will be able to submit their names to the Social Welfare
Department, thereby making their appointments official.
Pannee went on to say that these people have been chosen because they have
demonstrated their ability and commitment to helping their community.
Buddhist Holy Day of Visakha Bucha May 22
Banks and government offices to close May 23
This coming week, on Sunday, May 22, one of
the most venerated holidays on the Buddhist calendar will be celebrated:
Visakha Bucha Day. Visakha Bucha Day marks the beginning of the Buddhist Era
2,548 years ago, and celebrates the miracle of the Buddha being born,
reaching enlightenment and passing away all on the same date.
Devout Buddhists will participate in ceremonies at nearby
temples, make merit in the morning by bringing alms to monks and listening to
sermons. Later in the evening devotees will continue assembling at temples to
conduct the “Wien Tien” ceremony, walking around sacred temple grounds
three times holding candles, joss sticks and flowers honoring the Buddha, the
Dhamma (Buddha’s teachings) and the Sangha, the Buddhist Monastic Order.
For this holiday, killing any kind of animal and drinking
alcohol or intoxicating substances is forbidden for 3 days. Wats are to be
adorned with lanterns, flowers and joss sticks as symbols of worship, and
skyrockets will be lit for three days to celebrate.
Since this year the holiday falls on a Sunday, banks and
government offices will observe the day, and be closed, on Monday, May 23.
City hall backs pension plan for the underprivileged
Debate ensues about regularity of payments
Narisa
Nitikarn
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn on May 9 conducted a
meeting to discuss the Social Development and Welfare Department’s new
project to support poverty-stricken elderly citizens, the handicapped, and
AIDS patients through a pension scheme.
Wuttisak said that the Ministry of Interior appointed
the local executive to arrange the pensions, and that city hall set up a
budget of 200,000 baht for this.
Pattaya, he said, has many underprivileged and abandoned
people. The statistics show there are troubled people in 27 communities,
and 90 people have been singled out for benefit money. These are people in
the 60-year-old range, along with 24 handicapped people and six AIDS
patients. The monthly benefit money for each person will be 300 baht for
the elderly, 500 baht for the handicapped and AIDS patients. The first
support money will be dispersed in September to the approved people, and
will be retrospective six months to April.
Regarding the six months being retrospective, councilor
Faruk Wongborisut said that the beneficiaries could die before they
received their funds if it took six months to pay them. The people hope to
receive this support money very quickly. He proposed the benefit money be
paid every month.
Pannee Limcharoen, head of Pattaya’s Social Welfare
Department, explained that out of this six-month process, officials would
need two months for a survey. If the sum had to be paid every month,
officials would waste too much time doing project surveys, and that would
reduce the quality of other work.
Wuttisak said that six months was too long a period for
the payments, yet if the money was paid every month it would strain the
capacity of the department. He suggested a realistic solution would be to
pay every three months.
Dr Panya and officials hold blessing ceremony for baby prince
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Dr
Panya Chotithewan, president of Union Farm Co Ltd, employees and company
groups cooperated with the 5th Royal Foundation, government departments and
private organisations to bless the newborn prince.
Following the Royal Palace declaration on the birth of a
son to HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Dr Panya Chotithewan, president
of Saha Union Farm Co Ltd, organised together with the 5th Royal Foundation,
government departments and private organizations, a ceremony for the blessing
of the baby.
Celebrations began at 11 a.m. on May 7, at Ban Sukhawadee
in Banglamung. People declared their loyalty by staging a parade and signing a
blessing book.
The new prince was born to His Royal Highness the Crown
Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Mom Srirat Mahidol na Ayutthaya at 6:35 p.m. on
April 29.
Woman arrested for importing and selling ecstasy pills
Cache had street value of 1.68 million baht
Boonlua Chatree
Police raided Inthana Apartments in Soi Sanam Muay,
Central Pattaya, on May 6 and arrested a woman on charges of importing the
drug ecstasy from the United Kingdom and distributing it in Pattaya
entertainment areas.
 Police
confiscated 2,100 pink ecstasy pills.
Miss Nanthaya (Oui) Poonmee, age 27, was holed up in Room
21 of the apartment building. Police inspected the room and found two round
boxes at the top of the bed, packed with 2,100 pink pills of ecstasy, with a
street value of 1.68 million baht. Ecstasy is a class 1 drug. She was taken
to the police station for questioning.
Nanthaya told police that she had received the drugs from
a British citizen, who she named as David Johnson, by mail. She admitted
distributing them in entertainment outlets for the price of 800 baht per
pill. She had allegedly already been charged with this offence twice before.
Police Colonel Somnuk Chantket, superintendent at Pattaya police station,
said that the police had investigated and knew Nanthaya was a big dealer,
with a foreigner sending her drugs from abroad. Officers had been on the
case and knew that she had a new order coming in, and had therefore moved in
to arrest her. Police are also following up on the foreigner who sent the
drugs by mail.
Jealousy may be behind murder of photo shop owner
Boonlua Chatree
Jealousy is the suspected motive in the May 6 shooting
death of Mrs Apiradee Malites, age 28, from Roi Lang in Naklua. Apiradee was
dead on arrival to the hospital at 2 a.m. on May 6.
Police Colonel Waratchai Srirattanawutti, Banglamung
police superintendent, led a team of officers to the hospital, where they
found the deceased woman in the emergency room, which was crowded with her
relatives. She had been shot three times by a .38 caliber weapon, once to
the right temple, once to the back of her skull, and a third shot to the
right shoulder. The third bullet had passed through her heart and lung and
lodged itself in the breast. The body was transferred for autopsy.
Miss Ratchanee Malites, 25, younger sister of the
deceased, told police that she was sitting in the front seat of a white
Honda Jazz being driven by her sister back from Bangkok to their residence
on Soi Loy Lang. Miss Angsuma Butdalee, 37, was in the back seat. On the way
back, Ekachai Angpasi, 32, former husband of the deceased, from whom he had
been separated for about three months, called Apiradee to hurry and pick up
their three-year old son Marc and five-year old daughter Mint, because he
had to go to another province urgently.
Apiradee drove the car to Pattaya Rungruang Village in
Soi Nern Plabwan and picked up the two children, who sat in the back of the
car with Angsuma. At the Soi Nern Plabwan crossroads, two Thai men wearing
helmets and riding a Honda Wave without license plates shot Apiradee in the
head and shoulder, a total of three shots, before riding away. Ratchanee
drove Apiradee to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but she passed away before
arriving there.
Apiradee owned a photo shop at the Regent Marina Hotel in
North Pattaya and Soi 6 in Central Pattaya. After finishing her relationship
with her husband she opened Mint Marc Photo and received orders from many
companies to take photos of tourists on Pattaya Beach. She was successful,
having 15 employees taking photos of tourists going by boat to Koh Larn,
selling them for 100 baht each.
Her husband, meanwhile, had taken a new wife, who worked
at her own photo business. Many tour companies worked with her.
Police are now investigating the theory that jealousy was
a motive for the murder.
Shoeshine boy attempts clean getaway with tourist’s mobile phone
Glue sniffer picks wrong target to steal from
Boonlua Chatree
Police, receiving a radio report at 2 a.m. on May 10 that
a gang working as shoe cleaners around the beer bars were robbing tourists
of their valuables, rushed to Soi 2 on Second Road where they were told a
foreigner had gone in pursuit of one of the thieves.
 Glue
sniffing shoeshine boy Wiwat Hongchada was arrested for stealing Big Al’s
mobile phone.
The officers set off in the direction of Soi 4, where
they found the foreigner had cornered his quarry in front of a gasoline
station about 200 metres from the scene of the robbery.
Finding the miscreant in possession of a Nokia model 3315
mobile phone and a plastic bag containing rubber glue, they arrested him. He
was identified as Naklua resident Wiwat Hongchada, 25, who looks more like
he’s 55. He told the officers he worked as a shoe cleaner. Looking for
customers, he saw a foreigner drinking beer in the bar with a mobile phone
beside him. Perhaps under the influence of the glue, and not seeing the size
and strength of his intended victim, he snatched the phone with the
intention of selling it to buy more glue for sniffing. Normally, he said, he
sniffed one can of rubber glue per day.
The owner of the mobile phone, a 41-year-old American named Al Harlow,
said that the thief snatched his mobile while he was drinking in the beer
bar. He suggested that police should clean up this problem because Pattaya
is a tourist location and should not lose its reputation because of thieving
workers.
Pregnant woman found hanging after lover jilts her
Boonlua Chatree
Police responding to a call went to the Five Pee Nong
apartment building on May 9, where in room 17 they found the body of a woman
hanging. They estimated she had been dead for three days.
The deceased was Mrs Chompoo Khamthong, 34, from Khung
Sampao sub-district, Manorom, in Chainat province. She was dressed in a
short black skirt and a black t-shirt. Under her legs lay a table. Police
transferred the body to Banglamung Hospital for autopsy.
Investigators found a letter in the room in which the
dead woman allegedly wrote she would take revenge with her own life and that
of her unborn baby on a motorcycle-taxi driver named Rung, who had
impregnated her three months ago. Rung would not take responsibility for the
child, said the letter, and he also had a new girlfriend. Each time Rung
brought his new lady to the room, she had to go out and sit under a tree on
Pattaya Beach, the letter said.
Along with the three-page letter, police found six broken
pornographic CDs in the room.
Students X-rayed
in drug clean-up drive
Narisa Nitikarn
The resurgence of drug use in Chonburi district and the
measures taken to counteract it were discussed by Chonburi Deputy Governor
Pisit Boonchuang at a meeting with Banglamung district chief Worawit
Saisupatphol and police officers from Pattaya and Banglamung police
stations.
 Chonburi
Deputy Governor Pisit Boonchuang chairs the meeting to discuss progress on
the third stage of the fight against drugs.
Worawit said that the first stage in cleaning up drug
use, which ran from March 8 to June 5 last year, had been successful, as had
the second stage, which was conducted from October 4 to December 3. These
two operations had reduced the volume of drugs, but now the problem was
beginning to return, hence the third clean-up stage which began on April 1
and will continue to June 30.
On the policy of medical treatment for drug users, Pisit
said it was difficult to stop those treated from turning back to drug abuse.
A Pattaya police representative declared that the officers are going to
check this closely, because they have drug consumers coming in for
treatment. Some are willing to be cured, but some have to be forced. Most of
the drug consumers were from the entertainment areas, and they cannot
regularly come in for treatment because of working at night and sleeping
during the day.
Pisit worried about the student sector. He questioned the
education administrators who said they were X-raying students who were felt
to be at high risk of consuming drugs during school holidays. Particularly
vulnerable are those in secondary and vocational schools, where the numbers
are growing.
“This performance plan is good,” said Pisit. “When
the parents, public health or other concerned persons are informed, then
they can be sure that their children will stay away from drugs when they
must go to school.”
Banglamung District Office plans to finish this X-ray project before June
26, which corresponds with World Drug Fighting Day.
Sanit hits out at “dirty and dangerous”
park construction
Suchada Tupchai
City councillor Sanit Boonmarchai accused administrators
of being lax over the work of the contractors at the new public park project
on Pratamnak Hill, saying that despite the 75 million baht cost there is
inefficiency and shoddy work, and that the conditions of the contract were
not being met.
Parts of
the new public park are still a mess.
The criticisms were made at the council meeting on May 10
at city hall, the first meeting for the second term, with city council
chairman Tawit Chaisawangwong and Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn in
attendance.
Sanit, producing photographs to back up his claims, asked
if the contractor had fulfilled all the terms of his contract.
Pichet Uthaiwattananon, director of building control,
addressed the meeting on the contract between Pattaya City and the Nong
Nooch Land and Garden Design Company. This contract was for the construction
amount of 75,930,000 baht, he said, with a second one signed. Pattaya City
acknowledged the work on January 12 this year and that all areas were as
according to the contract.
Sanit, however, said that the workers were still on site.
They still lived there, dried their clothes there, and carried out other
activities that created garbage and made the area unclean. Why were they
continuing their work, he asked.
Further, there were two electric lines strung on poles.
Only one line provided light, and some electric lines were already damaged
because of low-grade construction materials. This was not appropriate for
the beach.
On the hill there are problems with broken posts on the
side of the road, there are no signs to indicate the helicopter landing pad,
there are heaps of construction material and other garbage on the roadside,
and the footpaths are incomplete. Were all of these correct in accordance
with the contract, he asked.
Pichet spoke about the garbage on both sides of the road,
saying that the health and environment department will take care of it.
Regarding the workers that are still in residence, it is because some of
them must take care of the garden and trees. Concerning the electric posts,
they must be checked once again. For the helicopter area, an additional sign
can be made. Additional workers had been hired on April 1 to take care of
the park.
Sanit said he was ashamed when the administrators
declared that they would order the health and environment department to take
care of this. He said the contractors should take care of cleanliness and
all refuse. Pattaya City should not take responsibility because they have
already hired someone.
“I will leave all photos with the council chairman to
confirm my words to be true or not,” declared Sanit. “I disagree in
ordering the health and environment department to take responsibility for
cleanliness.
“I have said this before about the work. Normally the
public would be able to use this park, but the contractor is still allowing
the workers to work there, which makes everything dirty. The footpath cannot
be used either for walking or jogging because of the uncompleted work. Every
point is still unsafe, which is unfit for the 100 million baht budget.”
Sanit said that administrators must check the facts, and
that if they don’t correspond with the contract the contractor must take
responsibility, because the period of the contract will still be open for
two years.
Pattaya Mail reporters went to check the park and found that much of
what Sanit had to say appeared valid. Some places are dangerous, such as the
View Point, which is unsafe because of hurdles and fences. Further, the area
is not appropriate for a public park, being full of garbage and dark at
night.
City presents pick-up truck and
computer to Immigration police
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
At 10 a.m. on May 12 in front of the Pattaya Immigration
office, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Tawit Chaisawangwong, city
council chairman, handed over a new pick-up truck and computer equipment to
immigration superintendent Pol Col Itthipol Ithisarnronachai. The equipment
provided by the city is to be used for the purpose of allowing immigration
officers to carry out their duties more efficiently.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (2nd right) and Tawit Chaisawangwong (right), city
council chairman, hand over the car and office equipment to Pol Col Itthipol
Ithisarnronachai, Pattaya Immigration superintendent, who received the items
on behalf of the department.
“This support project for Pattaya government
departments was approved by the council with a budget of 625,000 baht and
specifically for law enforcement,” said Mayor Niran during the handover
ceremony. “In the past we (the city) have donated equipment to the Pattaya
police station and today we have purchased a four-door pick-up truck,
computer and two printers for use by the immigration police in carrying out
their duties and allow them to be more effective on the job.”
Pol Col Itthipol, in his address of thanks, said that until now his
officers had only two vehicles to detain people illegally residing in the
kingdom, and to use in crime prevention activities.
Editorial: Stubbing out
the smoking habit
Suchada Tupchai
On March 31 this year, the public health ministry
announced that graphic warnings must be printed on all cigarette packets and
tobacco products, aiming to reduce the number of people taking up the habit.
The illustrations depict various results on the dangers of smoking. The
amended regulations were part of the health ministry’s 1992 policies with
the last update being on January 19, 2004.
Thailand is the fourth country in the world to follow
this type of warning after Canada, Brazil and Singapore. The directive
coincides with regulations on the sale of cigarettes, with those under 18
supposedly being prevented from purchasing. The warning pictures on
cigarette packets are also part of the World Health Organisation treaty for
the control of tobacco (FCTC) with the results being announced near the end
of February this year. The aim is to scare potential smokers into avoiding
taking up the habit.
According to figures quoted by Time magazine on smoking
in Asia, 52,000 Thais die each year from smoking related illnesses. The
national bureau of statistics has also revealed figures as to the number of
regular smokers: in 2004, records showed 9.6 million smokers nationwide with
5.5 million in the 15 to 24 age group. This is exceptionally large,
particularly as many of these people don’t work or have any salaries.
Dr Prakit Watisathokkij, president of the Thai
anti-smoking campaign, has declared that the aim of creating an environment
where smoking is not preferable is needed and that such ideals need to be
implemented on a social level, starting with adults. These people must also
help in promoting the anti-smoking message. The strategy of providing such
graphic warnings in accordance with current laws is just one of the measures
that need to be taken to reduce levels.
Government policies on smoking are also being developed
to aid in the process, including tighter controls on manufacturing and the
national tobacco monopoly.
The national anti-smoking message is slowly gaining
momentum and is having results with latest figures revealing a significant
drop in the number of smokers to less than 4 million, eventually resulting
in less smoking-related deaths.
The campaign will heighten as on May 31, the annual World
Smoke Out Day is on once again. It’s a prime opportunity to do yourself a
favour and try and quit.
BAY WATCH
This photo, taken outside
Royal Garden Plaza, shows why pedestrian crossings will never work!
|
