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Police and local administrators tear down illegally built resort on Larn Island
Senior officer calls for tougher enforcement from the city
Suchada Tupchai
Over 100 police officers, municipal officials and senior
administrators stormed the Beach Club Resort on Koh Larn Tuesday. Their aim was
to tear down 8 buildings illegally built by Larn Island entrepreneur Nirote
Chuekaew.
Pol. Gen.
Seripisute Themiyawet (seated right), National Police Bureau Inspector-General
and head of the Forestry’s enforcement committee speaks with Nirote Chuekaew
(seated center) concerning the legal issues.
Pol. Gen. Seripisute Themiyawet, national police bureau
inspector-general and head of the Forestry’s enforcement committee led the
raid, along with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn. The dismantling of the resort
comes after the courts passed judgment on April 16, 2004, that Nirote had built
the structures illegally on public land under the 1979 building controls
legislation. The penalties for such offences include fines, prison, or both.
Nirote was ordered to remove the offending buildings but had failed to comply
with the law, and therefore the raid was executed. No mention was made as to
whether Nirote would be fined or imprisoned.
Pol. Gen. Seripisute said, “Pattaya City had sent notice
to Nirote to tear down the buildings but with no effect. Today we have police
present to ensure that the court orders are carried out and the structures are
torn down. This is also to ensure that the city continues investigations and
proceedings against the other 26 offenders who have also illegally built on
public land and that the same measures are equally taken against them. It’s
up to the city to proceed but more importantly strictly enforce the law
regardless of whoever they are or connections they have. The city must know how
to use the law effectively to avoid incidents like this; if they cannot do so
then problems will occur. At the same time Pol. Lt Gen Adisorn Nontree, Region
4 commander and Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont, region 2 commander will be on
call to look after such issues and ensure that government departments cooperate
closely to quickly solve such problems.”
Mayor Niran told reporters, “The buildings owned by Nirote
were built without approval. The city ordered that construction be halted under
the building control laws and that the structures be removed. However, the
owner failed to adhere to the orders, which is in direct defiance to the law.
We (the city) informed police before the issue went to court, which handed down
judgment for the building to be removed. Hence we have police and municipal
officers here to enforce the judgment peacefully. We will also invoice the
owner 140,000 baht for the removal of the buildings.”
Nirote Chuekaew, who was present and protested the police
action, informed the media that the land was his, which had he acquired some
time ago. “I didn’t know I had to get approval from the city build on ‘my
land’ beforehand. I began building and the construction was almost complete
before the orders came and they told me to tear it down. I’ve spent 4.7
million baht. Whatever the case may be, I have to accept the actions and let
them remove the buildings. As for the claims that I have built on public land,
I will fight that in court, since I have been here for a long time. I have
previously requested the land department measure the property and issue title
deeds ... I will fight these charges.”
Nirote continued to say that he hopes for justice and that the others who
are supposed to have illegally built be dealt with in the same manner. “There
are plenty of other places that have been built without approval on Koh Larn, I
only want to see that everyone receives equal treatment,” said Nirote.
May 30 is “World No Tobacco Day”
Public Health Centre in anti-smoking drive
Vimolrat
Singnikorn
This year, May 30 has been designated as World No Tobacco
Day. The event will be observed with a quit-smoking drive organised on the
second floor of the Public Health Centre on Soi Buakao, starting at 8:30
a.m.
Pattaya City is staging this event in cooperation with
Banglamung Hospital and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. It will be a free service,
providing a lung test, exhibition and a video presentation. A lucky draw is
also being held.
Pattaya’s first Give Up Cigarettes clinic has also just
opened at the Public Health Centre and is available to the public each
Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. without charge.
The World Health Organisation organizes World No Tobacco
Day each year to publicize the dangers of cigarettes to the health of the
smoker and nonsmoker. The first World No Tobacco Day was held on May 31,
1988.
Pattaya worst affected
by water shortages
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvut on May 20
called a meeting with provincial government departments, water authorities
and representatives of Eastwater Co Ltd to find ways to resolve the
province’s water shortage.
From March to May, Chonburi has experienced severe water
shortages. Residents, farmers and industry have had to cope with a lack of
this vital resource as the province’s eight main water reservoirs are at
levels of less than 50 percent.
The area in Chonburi most affected is Pattaya. Despite
efforts to ship in water for the five reservoirs serving Maprachan, Chark
Nok, Nhongklangdong, and Huay Yai Khunjit to boost supplies, an increasing
number of businesses and residents have been left without water, many for
days at a time.
The provincial government has made attempts to increase
the depth and width of reservoirs in readiness for the rainy season as part
of short-term measures. The long-term resolutions also include cooperation
with Eastwater Co Ltd, contracted to construct a pipeline from the
Bangpakong River in Chachoengsao to Chonburi’s largest reservoir at
Bangpra. The pipeline construction, due to begin in 2006 and be completed by
2014, will feed 40,000 to 60,000 litres per day into the reservoir.
Deputy Interior Minister Somchai said that Chonburi is an
important province in the nation’s economy, specifically in terms of
tourism and industry.
“In the near future we will cooperate with the various
ministries to help solve the problem and assist the province with a 200
million baht plus budget in order to stop detrimental effects to the
tourism, industry and agricultural sectors,” he said.
City hall takes up waste fee woes
East Waste Management Company says people are refusing to pay up
Narisa Nitikarn
Deputy town clerk Apichart Puechpan and city officers met
with representatives of East Waste Management Company at city hall on May
16. The company, which currently holds the contract for waste collection in
Pattaya, is having problems collecting fees from businesses and residents,
and had sought consultation with officials over the issue.
 Pattaya
health and environment department officials review the list of businesses
and residents yet to pay their monthly waste collection tariffs.
East Waste representatives submitted a list of names
beginning from April 2004. Apichart asked why the company had waited so long
to raise the issue with city hall since the figure was already quite
substantial.
East Waste said that a number of businesses had closed
down but there were many that simply refused to pay the rates when company
employees went to collect. They cited a number of cases where businesses
when presented with the bill of 700 baht complained that they had previously
paid 500 baht and refused to pay, or who were abusive about the services.
Pattaya health and environment department officers
suggested that an official letter stating the fees be distributed to all
concerned in order to aid the company recover their debts.
The document details East Waste presented to the city
include apartment blocks, guesthouses and hotels with the monthly fees yet
to be collected by the company reaching 243,605 baht.
City officers promised to do their best to help resolve the problem and
recover the debts.
PM reporters escape serious injury in car crash
Staff reporters
At around 2.30 p.m. on Monday, May 23, Pattaya Mail
reporters were in the process of making their way back to Pattaya after
covering the Fruit Festival in Rayong. As they approached an intersection, with
the light still green, a Mitsubishi Strada rammed into the side of their small
Daihatsu Mira. It was obvious neither driver saw the other car coming due to a
10-wheel truck that was waiting to turn at the intersection and blocking the
view. The Mira, containing three reporters, was pushed 10 metres and rolled
over onto its roof.
All
stitched up and at the police station to relay the chain of events as they saw
it, Ekachai, Chatchanan and Vimolrat.
Witnesses rushed to help Ekachai Kamolsri, Vimolrat
Singhnikorn and Chatchanan Chaisri as they crawled out through the car windows.
Ekachai Kamolsri, who had been driving, sustained numerous
cuts and bruises. Chatchanan, who was in the front passenger seat, received a
cut to her forehead, while Vimolrat escaped with a few minor cuts. Both Ekachai
and Chatchanan required stitches and were treated at a nearby hospital.
 The
state of the little Mira.
“If you look at the state of both cars, especially the
Mira, it’s a miracle we survived and only received minor cuts and bruises,”
said Ekachai. “The force of the collision created a huge sound and shocked
everyone. We’re very lucky.”
The other driver was uninjured in the accident. He was without insurance. He
claimed he was not at fault. This, however, has yet to be decided by police, as
the Mira was driving straight through the intersection on a green light.
Ceremony conducted for Prince Chumporn, Father of the Royal Thai Navy
Narisa
Nitikarn and Chatchanun Chaisri
Rear Admiral Amornthep na Bangchang led the ceremony on
May 19 to pay respects to the memory of Prince Chumporn Khet-Udomsak, Father
of the Royal Thai Navy. Conducted on Pratamnak Hill, the ceremony included
Commander Paisarn Dongwilahol, chief of the Navy radio station Sor Thor Ror
5, Navy officers, and members of the public.
The Buddhist ceremony started at 7 a.m., and at 9:29 a.m.
Rear Admiral Amornthep led the gathering in prayer for the Prince.
Many navy
families, led by Rear Admiral Amornthep na Bangchang, director of the
Communication Department at the Royal Thai Navy, participated in the ceremony
for Prince Chumporn Khet-Udomsak, Father of the Royal Thai Navy.
At the Naval Operations Department Vice Admiral Siwichai
Sirisalee also led a ceremony for Prince Chumporn, as did all other Navy
bases in Thailand.
HRH Prince Admiral Chumporn Khet-Udomsak, born on December
19, 1880, was the 28th son of the most beloved and revered King of Thailand,
H.M. King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V), and was the first son born to the
King’s consort, Chao Chom Hmod, whose father was Lord Lieutenant of the
Royal Court’s Defense Ministry.
In 1893 King Rama V sent the Prince to continue his
education in England. Returning to Thailand he took up the position of
Lieutenant Commander in 1900, and was a Royal Navy officer until 1923.
Amongst the Prince’s many achievements for the Royal
Navy was the creation of a flag and lamp signal system, initiation of a Naval
Academy, leading of sea training programmes abroad, and the creation of a
fire department. In 1920 he commanded a ship that sailed from Bangkok to
England, at that time the longest distance a Royal Thai Navy vessel had
travelled. In 1922 he asked King Rama VI to donate a plot of land in the
Sattahip area to establish the Naval Base.
It is to Prince Chumporn that the Royal Thai Navy owes its
current shape and success, and he has been given the official designation,
Father of the Royal Thai Navy.
In Thailand, there are 181 shrines and monuments dedicated to Prince
Chumporn Khet-Udomsak - in Bangkok alone there are 32.
Traffic jams plague the city
on school opening day
Suchada
Tupchai
Most of the schools in Pattaya City and Banglamung
opened their new school term on May 16, adding a huge volume of traffic to
roads already busy with people going to work.
Traffic
police control the morning traffic on the first day back at school.
Between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. traffic police and
volunteer officers were working full out to control the jams and keep
vehicles moving. The areas in front of Phothisamphan Pittayakarn School on
Naklua Road, Pattaya 8 School in South Pattaya, and Aksorn Sueksa School in
Naklua were particularly gridlocked.
An officer in front of Phothisamphan Pittayakarn School
said that this road usually has traffic jams in the morning because of the
rush hour with people going to work. Parents taking their children to
school greatly increase the traffic flow.
One parent said that there is always trouble during each new opening
school term. Parents usually bring their children to school because they
are afraid of accidents.
Police investigate former Srichang Island district chief
Land transfer deals under investigation
Saksit Meesubkwang
On May 17, Pol. Col. Suthep Koohawilai, inspector of
Kranuan Police Station, Khon Kaen traveled to Chiang Mai to inform Adul
Songchaikul, Phrao district chief officer, that he was investigating land
transfer deals made when Adul served on Srichang Island in Srichang
sub-district, Chonburi.
Adul Songchaikul had been the head of Srichang
sub-district, from September 13, 1987 to May 22, 1990, and approved land title
documents for residents in Srichang sub-district, but it later appeared that
the land was public or government services land. This had resulted in a court
case which has been dragging on for more than 10 years. Adul and other
officers concerned were accused of misdeeds, resulting in police officers from
Khon Kaen traveling to Chiang Mai to further investigate the chief officer.
Adul said that he was not afraid of the investigation and
was willing to cooperate.
Pol. Col. Suthep Koohawilai said that he would not comment
on this issue as he was aware of larger issues. However, Kwanchai
Wongnitikorn, deputy governor of Chiang Mai, said that it was not an arrest,
but only an investigation about the land document approvals during the time
Adul was on duty in Srichang. He would continue to work as Phrao district
chief officer for the time being.
Adul had only just become Phrao district chief officer two
weeks ago after moving from Doi Tao, Chiang Mai.
Dutchman accused of lewd behavior on Beach Road
Boonlua Chatree
Police received a complaint at 1:20am on May 12 from a
Mrs Saowalak Sutamai, 42, that she had been indecently assaulted by a
foreigner on Beach Road.
 Saowalak
Sutamai accused Dutchman Remt Jan Hoekstra of indecent behavior on Beach
Road.
Saowalak said that she had been sitting opposite the Nova
Lodge Hotel, near the fountain, when the foreigner came up to talk with her
and asked her to go to bed with him. She said she was stumped and didn’t
understand what he was saying. The foreigner then lifted her skirt and
groped her. She shouted at him, and he slapped her face. She was ashamed and
came to tell the police, because the foreigner was still at the scene.
Duty officer Police Major Weerawut Meelai and officers
went to the scene where they found a Dutchman, Remt Jan Hoekstra, 61,
sitting on the beach. Saowalak pointed him out and the officers took him to
the police station.
Hoekstra denied the accusations, saying that he had only
sat and chatted to Saowalak. Police impounded his passport before allowing
him to go free.
A police spokesman later explained that in this case they can only act if
the accuser requests prosecution. If she does, they have to obtain an arrest
warrant from the court on the basis of lewd behavior. If the two parties
make an agreement and don’t want to continue, then the police cannot
arrest anyone.
Norwegian jogger makes grisly discovery
Dead body on the trail
Boonlua Chatree
A Norwegian jogger made a gruesome discovery as he
traversed the Huay Ya countryside on Monday afternoon, May 16. Odd Lunde,
50, who is training for the upcoming Pattaya marathon, stumbled across the
naked body of a Thai man just a kilometer from Route 331.
He immediately informed Banglamung police, who arrived at
the scene and surveyed the area. They found no evidence to suggest the
man’s identity. Police surmised the man had been dead for at least three
days.
Lunde told police that he had been running in the area in
preparation for the marathon. He added that around midday on May 12, he had
seen a black pickup truck with six men in the area where he later found the
body. The men sped off when they saw him but Lunde thought nothing of it
until he noticed the smell on Monday afternoon.
As news spread of the discovery, police received a call
from Mrs Suki Inphitak, 39, telling them that her husband had disappeared on
May 12 and that maybe he was the man found. Police called her in to identify
the body and amid tears she confirmed it was her husband, Jing Inphitak, 41.
She told police that she last saw him on the morning of
May 12 and that she had tried to contact him on numerous occasions since but
to no avail.
She said that her husband had gone to Bangsaray, and
later that day police called her to say they found a black pickup truck
registered to her address, some 30 kilometers from where the body was found,
three days later.
Suki said her husband was involved with finding Cambodian
laborers for the local construction industry and would often transfer money
to their relatives in Cambodia. She went on to say that her husband had had
previous problems with other people involved in the same business and they
may well be the ones who killed him.
Police are now hunting for the killers.
Frenchman dies
in motorcycle crash
Receiving a report on May 17 that a
foreigner had been killed in a motorcycle accident in front of the Central
Festival Centre in North Pattaya, police went to the scene. They found
Berhab Abdul, a French national, age 22, lying on his back on the footpath
in a pool of blood.
The dead man was wearing an orange coloured t-shirt and
blue shorts. He had a broken skull and broken limbs. About 300 metres away
from him lay a damaged yellow Honda 600cc motorcycle that had left scrape
marks along the road.
Witnesses said that the deceased was racing his friend at
a high speed and went through a red light on Second Road in Central Pattaya.
Approaching the curve in North Pattaya he lost control of the motorcycle and
hit an iron post. The deceased wasn’t wearing a helmet, and he died from
head injuries.
Dutch national arrested
for producing lewd CDs
Acting on information that sexually lewd CDs were being
produced at an internet shop in Nongprue sub-district, police placed the
premises under observation on May 15 until at 10:30 p.m. a foreign suspect
showed up.
Entering the premises, the officers found Ronald Lemmen,
a Dutch national, age 45, was producing the material. A total of 130 CDs
were confiscated along with a computer that was being used to produce them.
He was charged with producing illegal lewd material for distribution and
commerce.
Lemmen was taken to Dongtan sub-branch police station.
Immigration police say they will revoke his right to live in the Kingdom.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Two injured in drive-by shooting
Two men were shot on Soi Petrakul in North Pattaya in the
early hours of May 12. Police responding to a call rushed to the scene where
they found Anon Chanthong, 22, and Sawaniti Kwannattri, 22, lying in blood
in the middle of the road. Both had been shot with a .38 calibre weapon.
A bullet had hit Anon in his right side at the lower
ribs, passed through his lung and lodged in his body. Sawaniti, just two
metres away from him, had been shot through the right elbow. Nearby was a
red Honda Wave motorcycle. Both men were transferred to Banglamung Hospital
for treatment.
Sawaniti told police that he had gone with Anon to watch
a movie at Big C. Anon had earlier had an argument with the gunman, who was
from another gang. The two of them came out of the cinema and rode off on
the red Honda Wave. At Soi Petrakul, two Thai men aged about 18 or 20 years
pulled alongside them on a blue Yamaha Mio motorcycle. One of them produced
a gun and shot three times. A bullet passed through Sawaniti’s elbow and
hit Anon, causing their motorcycle to crash. The gunman and his accomplice
fled, and a red Mazda pickup truck was seen to be escorting them as
protection.
Sawaniti was able to describe the two assailants, and
police are investigating.
Udon quarrel sees man
injured
Police received a report at 10 p.m. on May 13 that four
men had attacked and injured another man at the El Toro Restaurant on
Pattaya Second Road, and had then fled the scene in a white Toyota, driving
towards Sukhumvit Road in the direction of South Pattaya.
Officers found and stopped the car. Inside were four men,
named as Weerapol Bunhao, 23; Ampon Pongsuwan; Choojai Srilawong, 21; and
Atid Taweesrap, 20. All of them were from the northeastern province of Udon
Thani. Police also found a 1-foot long knife in the car and kept it as
evidence before taking them in for questioning.
The four admitted they had injured Anuchit Pasapo, 20,
because an argument had made them angry. Police charged them with injuring
another, but Anuchit didn’t want to claim any damages because he came from
the same hometown.
Police fined them 500 baht each before warning them and
letting them go free.
Pillion passenger had ya
ba
Police on patrol in Sukhumvit Road at 1:30 a.m. on May 16
noticed two men on a bronze Honda Wave motorcycle behaving in a suspicious
manner in front of the Rattakit Building.
The motorcycle was stopped and the driver identified as
Sakda Tomudbamrung, 21. Under the motorcycle seat was a license plate. The
police searched Sakda but found nothing illegal. They also searched the
passenger, Poka Thongra-A, 25, and found half a pill of ya ba in his wallet.
Poka was charged with illegal possession of a Class 1 drug and taken to
Pattaya police station.
Sakda gave a statement to the police in which he said he
had borrowed the motorcycle from his friend Pinit Thoonputha, 26, to ride
around. He took off the license plate to be stylish. He didn’t know about
any drugs carried by Poka. Sakda was released.
Poka said that he had bought the ya ba from a friend for
the price of 350 baht per pill, and had already consumed half of it before
the police arrested him.
Youth arrested for
carrying lethal weapon
Pattaya police apprehended Weerachai Sriwirot, age 20, a
Nongyai district resident, in front of a well-known night entertainment
venue on Pattaya Third Road for being in possession of a nine-shot 0.22mm
revolver. Weerachai, removed to Soi 9 for questioning, told police he was
asked by a friend, unidentified, to get an expert to repair the pistol.
Weerachai said his companion told him that he needed to
clear up a dispute with someone, and to be safe he needed to get the pistol
back into shape for use. Weerachai asked a motorcycle taxi driver, also
unidentified, in front of the entertainment venue to have a look at the
revolver and fix it for him.
Weerachai was arrested when patrolling officers spotted
him taking the handgun out from his waist and handing it to the motorcycle
taxi driver. Weerachai was charged with possessing and displaying a lethal
weapon in a public area.
Public Fair set for Friday May 27
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Public Service Fair will be staged on Friday May 27
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pattaya Muang 2 School. Admission is free of
charge.
Joint organisers of the fair are the Ministry of Social
Development and Human Security in association with city hall, the event
being staged as a community activity in accord with Pattaya City policy of
enhancing the quality of life for local residents.
Amongst the activities will be make-up services for the
ladies, haircuts for the gentlemen, foot massages, inexpensive goods for
purchase, OTOP products, electronic equipment checks and repairs,
presentation of scholarships, general medical checkups, educational games,
and other entertainment. There will also be a handicapped person
registration desk, professional advice, and a social welfare centre.
For more information please contact the social welfare
department in Pattaya City at tel. 038 371123-6 ext 195, 196.
Baywatch: Where are the workers?
Suchada Tupchai
Beach Road is in an unsightly state. The long haul to improving it, yet
again, seems to be taking longer than necessary, in no small part due to
disappearing work crews. The Pattaya Mail strolled along Beach Road on
Tuesday afternoon, May 17 at around 3 p.m. to find no one working. Despite
it still being government working hours (typically from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
there were no city officers or contractors in sight. Instead, building
materials were strewn about and large holes in the ground were blocking the
promenade. As we move closer to the rainy season, will there be more delays
and more excuses as to why the work is not completed, leaving many to ask
just what is going on with this project?!
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