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Charges of incompetence and graft flare up over garbage disposal
Garbage talk once again
stirs city council ire
Suchada Tupchai
The issue of waste collection flared up again during the
Pattaya council meeting at city hall on July 26 when city councilor Sanit
Boonmarchai sparked a heated debate with his allegations of graft and
incompetence.
Over 100 students from Pattaya schools 3 and 4 were privy to
the fireworks as Sanit lashed out at those he held responsible.
“On the issue of the waste collection system and keeping
the city clean, I have seen many meetings on this but no progress has been
made,” said Sanit. “There are a number of areas that have been neglected
and the quality of work is of a poor standard.
“I don’t know how the areas are divided up and who is
responsible. I would like to know because inspections have been made and
cleaners and contractors are haphazard in their actions. Garbage trucks are
dropping waste on the streets as they drive along. Not as agreed or presented
in the supposed training seminars.”
Sanit continued, “I ask for the truth. The supervisor
responsible for the city’s cleaning duties, who works as both the head of the
Public Health Department and acting head of the cleaning department is not
doing his job.
“Thousands have asked the question and no answer has been
forthcoming, as with the receipts for trash collection. What sort of system is
the administration running? Each day the trash collectors are not performing
their duties properly and there are rules governing this.
“The acting head of the department has opened his own
garbage recycling plant, and when staff refuse to sell the rubbish to the
business, they are singled out and harassed. I want to know, are there any
other rules outside the city’s regulations that we should know about that
would cause such problems?”
Following Sanit’s allegations, council chairman Tawit
Chaisawangwong asked him whether any staff members had informed the city or
legal authorities as to any breach of the law. He said it was a matter for the
city administration, not the police, but if the game was to be played it should
be done through the relevant channels and the city management informed to
investigate the accusations.
“It is our job to do the right thing and assist in running
the city, not only point out problems,” said Tawit.
The mayor responded by saying that the city has a set system
of garbage collection, both by city employees and the contractor. “The zones
are clearly defined, as are the regulations and laws governing the city. They
are very clear, as are the penalties if the rules are broken.”
Sanit refuted the comments, “The authority and operations
are different. There are no guidelines and in reality, after inspecting the
work, staff are selling the garbage to the department supervisor. This alone is
losing income for the city and only benefits the staff who follow the
supervisor’s orders, not the city and not the public. How do you intend to
deal with it? Ask members of the public to volunteer to ask the questions?”
Wuttisak Rermkijakarn, deputy mayor in charge of the Public
Health and Environment Department stepped in. “Pramote Sapsaeng, supervisor
of the public health section has been appointed acting head of the cleaning
department after the previous person was transferred to another position. He is
only filling in and not as you have suggested for personal gain,” he said.
“Being responsible for this area, I look after the people
and know how they work, but what Sanit is saying is incorrect. It only
denigrates those government officers who work hard.”
Pramote Sapsaeng, at the center of the furor, denied
Sanit’s allegations saying that he was doing his job.
“I am working within the guidelines of the law. As for the
tape of today’s meeting, it will be taken for legal consultation, as the
council chairman has suggested. Anything outside my duty to the city is my
personal right to conduct business,” he declared.
Through the rest of the council meeting a broad range of
topics were raised including social order and control of entertainment venues.
A recurring subject is the continuing construction of venues on Pattaya Third
Road, aka Chalermprakiat Road. Staff at some venues sit outside and call to
potential customers, which is considered unsightly. Councilors are calling for
further controls on this.
Mayor Niran voiced his concerns over the numerous problems
the city is facing, specifically after the council’s suggestions on the
inconsistency of enforcement.
“Whatever we do, we must move forward and continue enforcing the laws or
Pattaya will slip back to the way it was. The administration must forge ahead
and be strong. The duties to look after this section will be handed to (new)
deputy mayor Ronakit Ekasingh to enforce and search for better methods of
enforcement,” said Niran.
Disabled people’s quality
of life discussed at seminar
Suchada
Tupchai
Developing leadership skills for the disabled and
ensuring that government structures are designed to help them integrate
with society was the subject of a seminar held by the Redemptorist
Foundation in conjunction with the social development and human stability
department.
Presiding over the event at Redemptorist Foundation
Hall was Chonburi Deputy Governor Somsak Yonokphan. Father Banchong
Chaiyara, who heads the foundation’s division responsible for helping
the disabled was also present, along with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
and local organization leaders.
Kitti Boonyuen, from the Social Development and Human
Stability Department, explained the Thai constitution’s stance on
devolving power to local administrations and local communities, and how
that related to the disabled people within the community.
It was deemed important that heads of local
administrations provide the structure for the disabled, to allow them
their correct rights and opportunities in society.
Father Banchong, as director of the Redemptorist
Foundation for Disabled Development, said the foundation is a private
organization that provides support, education, and occupational training.
The foundation is already active in training for leadership skills and in
ensuring the disabled know best how to use the facilities available for
them to overcome their disabilities.
Mayor Niran was one of the speakers, describing how Pattaya City
organizes its own facilities for the disabled.
Planting trees to help redress balance of nature
Narisa Nitikarn
Pattaya Provincial Court held a tree planting activity on
July 20 as part of the One Man One Tree One Rain for the Thai People
project.
Between them, directing judge of the court, Wirot
Tulaphan, Judge Pratheep Thapattanon, and representatives of government
departments, bureaus and Pattaya and Banglamung police stations planted over
60 trees.

Planting
trees for the One Man One Tree One Rain project.
The One Man One Tree One Rain project was initiated by
the Ministry of the Interior in May to help bring balance back to nature and
to foster love and respect for our natural resources. If each person plants
one tree, there will be 64 million new trees, helping the ecology back to
the stage it was in before logging, pollution and environmental degradation
took their toll.
Judge Wirot said that Pattaya Provincial Court holds an
annual tree planting event, and that as Chonburi province was responding to
the Interior Ministry project as part of the Buddhist Lent celebrations,
they had decided to hold a joint ceremony this year.
Amongst those present were Police Colonel Somnuk Changate, superintendent
at Pattaya Police Station, Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn, and Mrs
Wanaporn Jaemjumrat, director of the sanitation and environment department.
Street kids support program meets with some success
But concerns remain
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
City and government departments have met at city hall to
review progress on a project designed to tackle Pattaya’s street children
problem.
The Youth Sai Yai Rak project has involved 30 street
children attending training sessions to improve their self-esteem and
education. The children were taken off the street when found begging or
involved in inappropriate activities for their age.
Although progress on the scheme itself was found
satisfactory, concerns have been raised about what will happen to the
children next. Of the total of 30, all except one of whom were from outside
provinces, 18 have elected to stay in Pattaya and continue their education
at the Princess Sirindhorn Vocational Training College. The remaining 12
were taken home by family members.
Wuttisak Rermkijakarn, Pattaya deputy mayor who chaired
the meeting, voiced his concerns.
“The children who have taken part in the 15-day
training course have shown marked improvement in their psychological status.
However, the concern is of those who have been taken home by their parents.
They came here trying to get away from an unhappy home life. As for the
other 18, we will continue to monitor their progress.”
During the meeting, the issue of child prostitution was
raised with information being revealed that a Thai man, known as “Bao”
was notorious for arranging young boys, mainly aged 11 to 15, to meet with
foreign pedophiles in the infamous Soi Sunee Plaza, South Pattaya.
Supakorn Nojar, Redemptorist Street Kids Center manager
said, “We have spoken to the children and they have told of this man’s
activities. He only deals with foreign customers. We have information on
him. His name is Sawat Pornhomsrikaew, aka Bao, 39, and he is a prominent
agent in the city. He pretends to be the children’s guardian when they are
caught and traces them down until he can coax them back into service.
“We must cooperate with the Pattaya tourist police on
this matter and put a stop to such activities. If indeed this is true, he
must be found and prosecuted,” said Wuttisak. (see related story on
page 4)
The children involved in the 15-day training camp
underwent a program encouraging them to change their life for the better
rather than continue in the never-ending cycle of crime, drugs and
antisocial behavior.
Diverting river water proposed as solution for industry
and agriculture
Suchada Tupchai
Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Jarusombat has revealed plans
to ease water shortages on the Eastern Seaboard following a meeting with the
Department of Irrigation and Natural Resource and Environment Ministry
committees on July 25.
The aim is to ease the problem in the region’s
industrial and agricultural sectors. The irrigation department has suggested
the Rayong River be gated to stop the flow of water into the ocean and that
it then be pumped to supply the Maptaput industrial estates via the
Eastwater Company’s facilities. This would result in 220,000 cubic metres
being retained, much faster than the planned 2007 project. A water gate
would be used regulate flow.
“The Bangpkong River project will be used if the crisis
reaches a breaking point and the need for a regulating gate is also
needed,” said Pinij. “This will need to be proposed to the cabinet for
further approval and will include other developments for the river.
“Whatever the case may be, the irrigation department
has informed the meeting that water will be transported from the Chao Phraya
River through klongs Rapeepat, Rama 6, Minburi, Patrew and Chachaoengsao,
which will yield around 50 million cubic metres.”
The deputy prime minister announced the plan to expedite
current work in progress to boost levels in water reservoirs, and was
confident with the current rainfall there would be enough water available
for the next 200 days.
Yongyut Tiyapairat, natural resources and environment
minister said, “Work in dredging various reservoirs is on schedule and
should be completed by August 15. Water bores are being drilled to provide
additional supplies of up to 180,000 cubic metres.
“Throughout the meeting we have tried to ensure a
standard level for industry and requested plants inform us of their needs to
facilitate this. They can do this by calling 1362. In the event of residents
protesting the case that we are only looking after the industrial sector in
Rayong, we have already informed them of our intentions to ensure they also
have enough water for agriculture.”
Samart Chokkanapitak, department of irrigation
director-general, informed the meeting that water levels in Rayong’s two
main reservoirs had increased due to recent rainfall and through the
artificial rain project.
“We have seen an increase of around two to three
hundred thousand cubic metres in the Dok Krai and Prasair reservoirs,” he
said. “The current crisis has been greatly eased. However, we must prepare
to bring water to these main facilities to avoid any future problems for
industry and agriculture.”
Pattaya Immigration presents new strategies to enhance efficiency
Narisa
Nitikarn
Chonburi police superintendent Pol Maj Gen Anan
Jaroenchasri and his deputy Pol Col Bundit Khunjak were in Pattaya last week
to listen to a report by Pattaya Immigration superintendent Pol Col Ittipol
Ittisarnronnachai on the progress being made by his department.

Pol Maj
Gen Anan Jaroenchasri , Chonburi Police superintendent speaks with reporters.
The immigration superintendent reported that his
department had reassigned various duties in order to spread responsibilities
in the various sections under four main strategies.
The first is to improve and develop immigration services
using modern technology to increase the speed and quality of the processes.
This includes the addition of a new immigration service centre at the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital, which has been successful to date.
Other aspects in the various strategies include the
implementation of a wide area computer network connecting the Pattaya
Immigration office to Sriracha and Sichang offices, with the main data being
stored in Pattaya.
Pol Col Ittipol also revealed that the Pattaya Immigration
office has endeavored to develop its personnel through training in the areas
of investigation, suppression and work procedures.
Apart from these development strategies, Pattaya
Immigration office is set to move to new premises later this year, located in
Jomtien Soi 5 behind the Jomtien Thani Hotel. The new 25 million baht
facility will have ample car parking, a vast difference to the Soi 8 offices.
Construction is approximately 80 percent finished with the final stages due
for completion within the next two months. This will be followed by
installation of the electronic systems and transferring of data, due for
completion towards the end of the year.
Pol Maj Gen Anan said, “Even with these ongoing
developments it is important to focus on the work. Complaints and corruption
are still pandemic in the system but I can say that there are no Chonburi
officials who exhibit this behavior.
“As for having contact with foreigners, there must be even more
development to improve and the various immigration offices must move in the
same direction,” Pol Maj Gen Anan said.
Seawater desalination system is latest proposal for easing shortages
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
With the city still contemplating mass water shortages,
private companies are scrambling to propose projects to ease the problem.
The latest is from K & N Thailand Co Ltd, with company president Mike
Nolan and sales manager Korn Apipat meeting with the mayor to introduce
themselves and discuss their proposal. The company is suggesting seawater
as the source for producing tap water.
The mayor isn’t convinced seawater is the way to go.
He said the base production needed is 40,000 cubic metres of water per day
and that the aim is to use wastewater, which is in abundance, over the use
of seawater, which is a costly process.
Undeterred, the company reps presented their offer of a
production unit at the cost of 16 million baht. Each unit produces 2,400 cu
m per day.
The mayor asked the company men to check the water at
the wastewater plant for further consideration and to come back with a more
informed proposal.
Once complete, a breakdown in cost and maintenance would
be needed, with the mayor saying that the city would need at least 10 units
to produce 24,000 cu metres per day.
This is the third company to present such proposals to
the city, but K & N’s Korn is confident. “The company is the only
one in Thailand that can successfully produce fresh water from seawater,”
he said. “Other companies tend to be distributors and sell equipment. We
can provide the equipment at a better price than the others. The system has
been tried in Thailand with the navy and Boonrawd Brewery. Both have been
successful in producing potable water from natural sources.”
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary
donates raincoats to police
Narisa Nitikarn
The Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club, appreciating that the
rainy season is not going to make the job of Pattaya police any easier,
donated raincoats to the police station on July 20.

Police
Colonel Somnuk Changate, superintendent at Pattaya Police Station, receives
the raincoats from Chris Gibbins, president of the Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary
Club.
Police Colonel Somnuk Changate, superintendent at Pattaya Police Station,
received the 50 raincoats from Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club and the Ge Laurant
Foundation. The donation ceremony was led by Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary president,
Chris Gibbins, who said distribution of raincoats through the usual state
channels wasn’t enough for the needs of the traffic police. Jomtien-Pattaya
Rotary Club frequently works in close cooperation with the Pattaya police, he
said, and they had resolved on this donation to protect officers from the
elements.
Tourist police arrest pedophile agent
Boonlua Chatree
Following information received from a number of street
children taking part in the city’s “Youth Sai Yai Rak” project, Pattaya
tourist police set about arresting the man responsible for selling the kids’
services out to foreign pedophiles.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Panya Mamen, tourist police commander, led the
undercover operation to lure Sawat “Bao” Pornhomsrikaew into committing
further crimes. He was also known to feed the children glue and methamphetamines
to ensure they remained loyal.
Sawat
“Bao” Pornhomsrikaew (center) being paraded in front of the media after he
was caught for promoting child prostitution.
Undercover tourist police volunteers set about locating
Sawat, who was found in a hotel on Soi Chaiyapoon. A deal was made and Sawat
delivered 11-year-old ‘A’ (not his real name) to the undercover volunteer.
The signal was triggered and officers moved in, arresting Sawat in possession
the marked bank notes. They also detained the boy for questioning.
In custody Sawat, 39, originally from Krabi, confessed to
taking in boys aged 11-13 and acting as an agent exclusively for foreign
customers. He said he would arrange the meeting and split the fees with the
boys, a business that provided a good income for him over the past 5 years.
Police recorded the statements and charged Sawat “Bao”
Pornhomsrikaew with human trafficking, acting as an agent and promoting
prostitution of minors under the age of 15. He was remanded into custody for
further court proceedings.
The young boy was admitted to a welfare institute where he
would participate in the “Youth Sai Yai Rak” project and receive an
education under the watchful eye of authorities.
Following the arrest, tourist police held a press conference
to announce Sawat’s arrest.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Panya Mamen, tourist police commander told reporters, “The
arrest was made through an investigation under the National Police Bureau’s
crack down on human trafficking and orders to pursue such cases with avid
interest and ensure all perpetrators are caught.”
Karaoke bar owner shoots
man in row over wife
Boonlua Chatree
Police are hunting for the owner of the Karawa Karaoke
Bar after a shooting incident that occurred over a dispute involving the
man’s wife.
Pattaya police received a report at 3:30 a.m. on July 22
that a man with a bullet wound was receiving treatment at Pattaya Memorial
Hospital.
Arriving at the hospital, officers found Somchai
Sasapuri, 35, who had been shot by a 0.38 caliber gun. The bullet had hit
him in the collarbone and come to rest in his left lung. He had also been
struck on the head with a blunt object. After treatment, he was pronounced
out of danger.
Somchai told officers he was playing snooker at a table
on Sub-Soi New World, off Soi Buakao in Pattaya Klang. Suddenly his boss,
named as Mr Ae, the owner of Karawa Karaoke, arrived in his pickup and
shouted at Somchai, saying that he was dishonest. Ae said he couldn’t
believe it because he had worked with him for over 10 years, but something
was wrong with his wife. Somchai claimed innocence, but Ae didn’t believe
him. He hit his head with the butt of the gun and then shot him and drove
his pickup away.
Police were unable to find Ae at the karaoke bar, and an
arrest warrant has been issued to bring him in.
Jealousy suspected in killing of attractive widow who owned gold shop
Boonlua Chatree
Armed men entered a gold shop and shot dead the
attractive widow who owned it, then fled without taking any of the gold.
Police suspect a jealous suitor is behind the killing.
The murder happened at around 3 p.m. on July 24, when
Banglamung Police Station received a report there had been a shooting at the
Patama Gold Shop, located in front of the Rungrot Market in Naklua.
Officers and a physician from Banglamung Hospital
arriving at the scene found the dead body of the shop’s owner, Mrs Patama
Naruemolsakulchai, 43, slumped over the corner of a showcase. She had been
stabbed in the chest and shot in the back with a 0.38 caliber weapon.
Kamol Intharasing, a 37-year old Lopburi man, told police
he was a close friend of the deceased, and they had known each other for
over a year. They were talking in the shop when two men about 25-30 years
old rode up outside on a red and black Honda Wave motorcycle without a
license plate. The driver was wearing a helmet with a closed face guard, and
the passenger was wearing a cap. The man wearing the cap stabbed Patama, who
tried to escape, and the man with the helmet shot her. The men then fled on
their motorcycle in the direction of Pattaya.
The police were, however, suspicious of Kamol’s
statement, and took him to Banglamung Police Station for further
investigation.
In the gold shop the police found a CCTV recorder, but
there was no tape in it. The assailants didn’t touch any of the gold in
the showcase, but the police found fingerprints there and on the door.
Police investigations have revealed that Patama was
married for three months to a man named Dang, who was from Rong Po
sub-district. A year ago she had opened her gold shop. Her financial
situation made her one of Naklua’s wealthier residents, and many men had
taken an interest in her.
Police are now working on two theories. One is that
Patama was killed when she attempted to stop the robbery. As nothing in the
shop was taken, however, they believe that the more likely possibility is
that a jealous paramour was involved. The deceased was an attractive widow,
and had a strong outspoken personality. Investigations continue.
Police briefs
Immigration crackdown nets
48 illegal immigrants
A crackdown by Pattaya Immigration police saw the arrest
of 48 illegal alien workers along with their three escort drivers during the
period July 16 to 18.
Pattaya Immigration superintendent Pol Col Ittipol
Ittisarnronnachai and Chonburi police commander Major General Anand
Charoenchasri led the questioning of the workers.
Those seized were 38 males and 10 females, classified as
19 beggars, six vendors and 23 workers. The three drivers, seized along with
their pickup trucks, were charged with helping aliens gain illegal entry
into Thailand, and harboring them secretly.
Pirated goods vendor
busted
Armed with an arrest warrant, police raided a small
warehouse in Windy Plaza, South Pattaya on July 27 as part of their
investigations into the production and sale of pirated goods.
Wuttidech Jongkae, 21, was found with copied brand name
jeans and numerous other items of clothing and bags. Police also discovered
100 pornographic VCDs. Wuttidech was charged with violating the intellectual
property act and with selling pornography.
Shakedown of tour guides
to weed out the frauds
As an increasing number of tour groups visit the region,
tourist police are stepping up the process of validating tour guides,
checking on the guides’ documentation and on their itineraries.
“Under the 1992 law, all tour guides must be licensed.
It is important that we inspect them to ensure they are doing their job
correctly and not leading their tours astray by offering low quality goods
and services at inflated prices,” Pol Lt Col Wuttichart Lueansukhan,
Pattaya tourist police inspector told reporters.
In addition to checking licenses, tourist police are
handing out pamphlets to visitors. The campaign will continue, and guides
will be regularly questioned on the reason behind their visits to various
sites in an effort to weed out bogus guides from the system.
Medication may have caused British man to jump to his death
Boonlua Chatree
Police were called to a bar in Soi Yamato around 8 p.m.
on July 27 following a report of a foreigner jumping off the fourth floor of
the building.
Officers arrived to find the naked body of Derek Edwards,
42, from the UK on the road as crowds gathered in the soi. The deceased was
taken to the forensic hospital for examination.
Piyawan Booncharoen, 27, the deceased’s wife, told
police that Edwards was an alcoholic and had tried to give up drinking for
Buddhist Lent. He had visited a hospital to help him with the addiction.
Doctors gave him medication to assist with the process.
She said that over the previous three days, Edwards would
run around naked and that on one occasion police were called in to detain
him. He was doing the same when he ran to the fourth floor of the bar
building and jumped.
Witnesses in the area, both Thai and foreign, gave
similar accounts of the incident. Officers went to the man’s room where
they found medication that they kept as evidence.
Pattaya Mail on TV surges ahead of the field
Staff Reporters
Negotiations were thorough yet cordial, and when all the
T’s had been crossed and the I’s dotted, Associated Press Television
News and Pattaya Mail Media Co. Ltd operators of the Pattaya Mail on TV show
signed an agreement whereby PMTV acquired the license and rights to receive
and broadcast world class APTN news, features and entertainment shows on our
TV programme.
Achan
Kan blesses the contract between APTN and PMTV.
To ensure that the usage of these services were to be
managed by broadcasters with the highest levels of professionalism and
integrity, YK Chan, APTN Regional Executive - Asia flew in from Hong Kong to
meet our company executives.
Satisfied with what he saw of our company and the
intentions of our operations, which sought to bring only the best to the
Pattaya television audiences, APTN decided to sign an agreement of
cooperation with Pattaya Mail Media.
On the auspicious occasion of the 12th anniversary of the
Pattaya Mail newspaper, on the 23rd of July, Phra Khru Patrakijviboon
(Acharn Kan), abbot of Wat Huay Yai Temple led 8 monks in religious
ceremonies to bless the Pattaya Mail and all our staff.
Chanyuth
Hentrakul, Conburi MP, extends is good wishes to both signatories of the
agreement.
As part of the ceremonies Acharn Kan blessed the
Agreement documents between APTN and Pattaya Mail Media Co. Ltd. by calling
on all that is scared to safeguard and augment this commitment by both
parties, to ensure unbounded success of this new venture.
Flanked by dignitaries such as Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, Santsak Ngamphiches, former MP and advisor to the deputy
minister of interior, Sutham Phanthusak, international commissioner of the
National Scouts Organization of Thailand, Andrew Khoo GM of the Hard Rock
Hotel, along with Dan Dorothy, executive editor, Kamolthep Malhotra
assistant manager of Pattaya Mail Media Co. Ltd., Tony Malhotra, director of
sales & marketing, Primprao Somsri, executive manager of sales &
marketing and witnessed by hundreds of guest at the ceremonies, Peter
Malhotra signed the documents auguring in the launch of a new phenomenon in
Pattaya Television history.

Peter
Malhotra holds up the signed documents as the VIPs look on. Seated l-r are
Sutham Phanthusak, Santsak Ngampiches, Mayor Niran Wathanasartsathorn and
Andrew Khoo. Standing l-r, Kamolthep ‘Prince’ Malhotra, Tony Malhotra,
Dan Dorothy and Primprao Somsri.
Pattaya Mail on TV is now the first regional television
program in Thailand to develop and employ the services of APTN, the
world’s oldest and largest news organization.
YK Chan, APTN regional executive - Asia said, “I am so
pleased to be part of the new venture of the Pattaya Mail. Associated Press
(AP) has long been associated with Pattaya Mail through the print media and
this new cooperation between APTN and PMTV will definitely be of enormous
benefit to the Pattaya community.
“With more news sources available to audiences than
ever before, the need for accurate reporting has never been more in demand.
“APTN has over 80 bureaus in 67 countries linked by a
network of global satellites, covering news around the clock and throughout
the world. APTN is renowned for its team of committed newsgathering talent
in every corner of the world with the expertise at providing ‘live’
shots from global flashpoints whenever news breaks.
“We are there to support and assist Pattaya Mail in this challenging
endeavour and wish the PMTV team all the success.”
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