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Random check reveals some drinking water suppliers unlicensed and with substandard products
Random tests will continue
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A random survey by city hall sanitary inspectors working in
cooperation with Banglamung Hospital has revealed drinking water suppliers
selling substandard water, working in uncontrolled surroundings, and lacking in
official documentation.
Inspectors first visited the TPI drinking water factory at
Soi Sukhumvit 43 in Naklua, and the SodSai factory, which is two blocks away.
The packing rooms and filling processes were found to be substandard, with
toxic substances present.
The Rose factory on Thappraya Road revealed similar
deficiencies, and also proved to be unlicensed. The inspectors halted
production because of the low standards of the water and the fake labels that
were being used. For the water already bottled, police attached a toxic
substance notice.
The inspections were carried out under the direction of
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn and Dusit Chantaracha, pharmacist at
Banglamung Hospital. The companies in breach of the regulations have been given
15 days to arrange their licenses and upgrade their processes. If they do not
take action they will be prosecuted.
Wuttisak said that Pattaya City lacks water and he voiced concern about
people buying drinking water unfit for consumption. The random tests will
continue, he said.
Mayor orders klong dug out and land encroachers removed
City cleaning up smelly
South Pattaya klon Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
South Pattaya klong is being given a facelift and the
area cleaned up to facilitate water flow, following a city hall decision
to remove the stagnant water and lessen the risk of mosquito breeding.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (left) and Witoon Muangsri, special corrections
officer survey the start of removing vegetation, silt and sand from the
South Pattaya klong.
On Monday afternoon, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
inspected the start of work beside the grounds of the Siam Bayshore Hotel,
telling reporters that he also intends to remove all illegal buildings
from both sides of the waterway.
"The project is in cooperation with the special
corrections facility, with 20 prisoners working daily to cut down trees
and remove grass from the klong," said Niran. "There will also
be a backhoe widening the klong and removing dirt, sand and silt from the
water."
Niran went on to say that the klong is one of the
city's oldest and has been left alone for a long time.
The klong is the main water runaway for rainwater in
the area and because of the dirt, silt, grass and trees, water flow had
stopped, causing a horrendous smell in the area. Once cleaned, water will
flow easily to the Bali Water treatment facility before being released
into the sea.
Concerning building encroachment, Niran said, "We
(the city) have ordered the removal of buildings on both sides, and there
are only a few left. Once fully completed we can then work on improving
the public area."
Residents on either side have had to put up with not
only the smell but the area has become a mosquito breeding ground and
potentially dangerous due to the spread of hemorrhagic and dengue fever.
"There is a need to improve Pattaya's environment and this is just
part of the process," said the mayor.
Naklua market to be renovated under 23mn baht budget
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City council has approved a 23 million baht
budget for the renovation of the Naklua market. The allowance is part of the
2006 city budget and aims to provide the cleanest and most up-to-date market
in the city.
 Tawit
Chaisawangwong, city council chairman announces budget approval for the
Naklua market renovations to take place.
City Council Chairman Tawit Chaisawangwong formally
announced the budget approval, which comes under the responsibility of
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn. Difficulties had earlier arisen over the
slow payment processes from the 2004 budget for upgrading the market.
The city will rent space at the closed Siam Nimitr Cinema
for 20,000 baht per month, allowing vendors to operate on the property
before the renovations take place in 2006.
During the city council meeting, the importance of maintaining quality of
life for residents and to provide the best facilities for them made way for
the large figure to be approved. The current market is a mixture of fresh
and dried foodstuffs as well as packaged items and has been a popular market
for Naklua and nearby residents for a number of generations.
More shops to be added
to Bali Hai Pier
Proposals to be monitored for effect on tourism
Suchada
Tupchai
South Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier is to have an increased
number of booths, city hall has decided, with a close watch kept on the
content and activities of the booths to ensure nothing is done that might be
detrimental to tourism.
The decision was taken at a committee meeting chaired by
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and attended by business people involved in
the issue.
Private organizations had been invited to submit tenders
for the lease of buildings on the pier, where some properties are already
leased out on a yearly basis to businessman Wichian Semsri at a rent of
105,000 baht per annum.
The initiative was seen as a positive step towards
benefiting members of the general public including tourists who visit and
use the pier.
The new booths will be available at a rent of 6,000 baht
a month. The lessee will advise exactly the purpose of his business, and if
he wishes to extend the range of activities he will need prior permission,
and possibly face a higher rental.
Financial department director Mrs Taweelap Sumetamornrat
had raised the question of inappropriate usage, but added that she had
already surveyed potential lessees and no unacceptable development was
planned.
Business people leasing the current booths use them to
provide services to tourists such as selling souvenirs and food. The
committee will monitor all proposed changes to ensure they have no
detrimental effect on tourism.
Academics called in to help solve social problems
Narisa
Nitikarn
Pattaya’s growing social woes are to be addressed by
the city administration by enlisting the help of Thammasart University
academics. Head of the research team is Anayamanie Buranakanond, from the
Thammasart University Faculty of Social Administration, along with Somchai
Sirorat from the Chonburi office of Social Development and Human Security.
 Somchai
Sirorat (left) from the Chonburi office of Social Development and Human
Security and Anayamanie Buranakanond (right), from the university Faculty of
Social Administration chair the initial meeting to begin researching the
city’s social ills.
The pair chaired the initial meeting at city hall to
discuss the ideas aimed at solving Pattaya’s social problems, particularly
concerning the elderly, homeless and street children as well as those plying
personal services.
“In order to find out these social ills we must learn
from those affected and in the thick of the problems,” said Anayamanie,
who went on to say the study must include three main objectives. “These
would involve questioning residents in the highly populated areas of North,
Central and South Pattaya. Researchers would need to talk with those
involved in the particular issues - service girls and boys, street children
and the elderly - to gain the relevant information and reasons for their
situation. Once the information has been gathered business owners and staff
need to be questioned for their opinions on the processes of improving the
community as well as finding out what everyone needs and wants.”
Somchai added that the idea for the project was supported
by the mayor who sees the need to find the roots of the city’s social ills
and work from there.
“Mayor Niran views the city’s social development as
an important project. This includes all sectors of the community from the
disabled, the elderly and the underprivileged. The city has a number of
departments responsible for these issues but nothing has ever been done at a
professional level about these issues,” he said.
“Hence his support for getting to the root of the problems through
cooperation with Thammasart University, which is a first for Pattaya.”
Petition demands urgent action from PM on water crisis
Local organizations say they aren’t receiving the full truth
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Private organizations in Pattaya have presented a petition
to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, calling for urgent action on the water
crisis.
Thanet Supornsaharungsi, president of Pattaya Business and
Tourism Association (PBTA), and Bundarik Kusolvitya, Thai Hotel
Association-Easter Chapter (THA-EC) president, handed the petition to local
MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul on August 16 for onward transmission.
Thanet
Supornsaharungsi, PBTA president hands the documents to MP Chanyuth
Hengtrakul. The petition calls for urgent and decisive action from the PM to
resolve the region’s water shortage.
The committee that organized the petition said that the
private sector, along with the general public, has yet to see any clear
progress in rectifying the current lack of water in the region.
Thanet said the situation has worsened and has become a
matter of urgency.
“Business operators and residents are facing severe
difficulties, especially as we approach the coming tourist season,” he
said. “The main problem is that the responsible departments and companies -
the Department of Irrigation and East Water Company - have reported that
there is just enough water. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Thanet went on to say that the business community is not
receiving the full facts and it is clear that the problem is getting worse
with no resolution in sight.
Both the PBTA and THA-EC joined forces to present a clear case to give to
the prime minister, complete with details of the real problem the region is
facing. The document calls for earnest efforts in helping solve the water
shortage on a short, medium and long term basis, as well as other suggestions
including the request of a 400 million baht budget for a desalination plant
and additions to the rainmaking project.
City prepares for tourism mega-meetings
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Pattaya will be the host for four major international
tourism meetings this year and next, with the opportunity for the city to
shine up its image and offer the delegates a warm and impressive welcome.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presided over a meeting
on August 16 to oversee the arrangements. Attending was deputy chief of the
Chonburi executive Rewat Polluk-In, Royal Cliff Beach Resort managing
director Panga Vathanakul, and representatives of TAT Central Region 3 and
various hospitality and tourism related organizations.
Panga
Vathanakul (right), managing director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort,
Bundarik Kusolvitya (center), chairwoman of the Thai Hotel Association
Eastern Chapter and Alisa Phanthusak (left), vice-president of Thai Hotel
Association Eastern Chapter present their thoughts and ideas at the
meeting.
All of the meetings will be held at the Pattaya
Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH).
October 11-13 this year will see Incentive Travel &
Meeting Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World Asia-Pacific (CTW)
staged, and it is expected that about 1,000 members will participate.
Next year sees the PATA Conference, to be held from
April 18-29. This will be a major meeting of international tourist
organizations and enterprises, and media such CNN, BBC and international
newspapers and magazines will be heavily represented. October 10-12 the
IT&CMA and CTW meetings will return, and a few days later, from October
16-18, the Skๅl World Congress, a gathering of about 2,000 delegates,
will assemble.
Having these meetings in Pattaya is a major coup as they
will gather together some of the leading figures in the tourism industry.
Mayor Niran said the city administration will give its
full support to all the meetings but he was worried that major construction
work to be carried out throughout the city, and along Beach Road in
particular, may have a negative effect on the tourism image.
Pichet U-thaiwattananon, director of the engineering department, said
that completion of the Beach Road footpath will be brought forward, and
decorative trees planted to ensure the seafront is a showpiece for the
city.
Media urged to report
on all human rights abuses
Suchada Tupchai
Members of the media from seven eastern provinces joined a
seminar hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, held at
the Star Hotel in Rayong on August 13.
The seminar was aimed at further educating local
journalists on the issue of human rights, and was attended by 50 members of
the media from Chonburi, Prachinburi, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Chantaburi and
Trat.
Assistant Professor Jaran Ditapichai, Thailand Human Rights
Commissioner, presented a lecture on communication and the freedom of the
press, and chaired an open debate concerning the obstacles and problems on
reporting.
The seminar also touched on the Thai constitution, amended
in 1997 to protect the rights of the people.
Worint Tiamjarat, Human Rights legal committee director,
urged the media to report honestly and present the facts to the public on
breaches of human rights.
“The constitution is not a special remedy for the media;
there are rules that govern this profession and protect the people,” said
Worint. “It is time for the media to join together and remain strong against
human rights abuses. This includes protests and reportage on people taking
advantage of the misfortunes of others.
“Some members of the media have been subjected to such
violations as well and it would be pertinent for you (the media) to study the
constitution and the laws both here and abroad for the better of not only the
profession but society.”
More funding for volunteer police
To lighten regular police workload
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Volunteer police at Pattaya police station will receive extra
funding from city hall under an agreement that will lighten the workload of the
regular police officers.
Chairman of the volunteer police Adisak Anawatchasuk met with
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn to discuss proposals put forward earlier for
extending the scope of the volunteers.
Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn said that city hall will provide funding to increase the
city’s volunteer police force.
The mayor said he wished to see a trained volunteer police
force of 150 officers who would all wear a standard uniform, and that city hall
was willing to provide the funds for this. Mayor Niran added that all voluntary
police should carry an ID card. Any volunteer failing to carry out his duties
properly would not have the ID renewed on expiry.
Adisak said that the volunteer officers would work in two shifts, namely
18:00 to 23:00 and 23:00 to 03:00, and that they would be deployed to areas
where they were likely to encounter criminal activities. They would operate
under the overall control of Police Major Sutham Chaoseethong, Pattaya police
crime suppression officer, in order to make a positive contribution to society.
Pattaya Immigration police arrest convicted paedophile wanted in Germany
Pattaya Mail/AP
On Monday August 22, Pattaya immigration police arrested
Thomas Sassen, 42, a convicted German paedophile wanted in Berlin, Germany.
Pol.
Col. Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai (left) and his team look over Sassen and
various photographs that were found in his possession.
Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai chief of Immigration
police in Pattaya, received an arrest warrant from the German embassy on
August 16 requesting assistance in the detention of Sassen. Immigration
police arrested him in front of his Central Pattaya apartment block.
Sassen had earlier served a prison sentence in Germany
and had been convicted for 29 counts of paedophilia and distribution of
pornography. A formal news release said prosecutors in Berlin had issued an
arrest warrant for Sassen because he had committed acts of paedophilia and
distributed pornography after completing his earlier jail term in 2001.
Sassen said he has been living in Thailand for two years,
and had worked as a translator for the Pattaya Blatt, the German
language newspaper for the past few months.
“He asked for a work permit, but when we went to check
on him, he had a small storefront, which didn’t have any business. He
didn’t seem to have money, so we checked with German authorities on
him,” Maj. Gen. Suwat Tamrongsisakul, immigration bureau commander said.
“It turned out he had molested children.”
Suwat said Sassen’s visa was revoked, and deported back
to Germany later that day where he faces jail for his offences.
Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai told reporters during
Monday’s press conference that the Immigration department maintains a
close watch for foreigners considered dangerous to society to prevent them
from entering and residing in Thailand. All offenders will be deported and
blacklisted and will not be permitted from entering Thailand again.
Pattaya Mail asked Pol Col Ittipol to advice
businesses on how they could investigate and prevent foreigners with
criminal records in their home countries from deceiving them into getting
employment. Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Blatt will publish this
full report at a later date.
Announcement
It has been in the
news that on 22 August 2005 Mr. Thomas Sassen from Germany
was arrested by Pattaya Police at his residence in room
#405 of an apartment in Pattaya Central Road on a charge
of child abuse following an arrest warrant issued by a
German court. The news also mentioned that Mr. Thomas was
a resident of Pattaya and worked as a translator for Pattaya
Blatt newspaper.
Pattaya Mail
and Pattaya Blatt newspapers would like to state
the fact that when Mr. Thomas Sassen came to apply for
work at Pattaya Blatt he showed supporting
documents with his application, which were in good order,
which would allow him to obtain a work permit for the work
for which he applied, as a German – English translator.
The management of Pattaya Mail
and Pattaya Blatt were not aware of his personal
background and in fact, Pattaya Mail and Pattaya
Blatt newspapers have always cooperated with the
authorities to suppress crimes committed by foreigners who
cover up their criminal backgrounds, of any kind, in
Pattaya City. Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Blatt
newspapers are always ready to cooperate with the
authorities to fight against all kinds of crime, including
the event that occurred this past week.
แถลงการณ์หนังสือพิมพ์พัยาเมล์และพัทยาบลัทท์
ตามที่มีข่าวว่า
ชาวเยอร์มัน
นาย โทมัส
เซสเซ่น
ได้ถูกพนักงานสอบสวนจับกุมในข้อหา
กระทำทารุนทางเพศตามหมายจับของศาลประเทศเยอร์มันนี
โดยถูกจับกุมเมื่อวันที่
22 สิงหาคม 2548
ณ
ห้องหมายเลขที่
405
ในอาพาร์ทเม็น
แห๋งหนึ่งในถนนพัทยากลาง
โดยเนื้อข่าวได้ระบุว่า
นายโทมัส
พักอาศัยอยู่ในเมืองพัทยาและได้ทำงานในฐานะผู้แปลข่าวให้หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาบลัทท์
หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาเมล์และพัทยาบลัทท์ขอเรียนชี้แจงข้อเท็จจริงว่า
นายโทมัส
เซสเซ่น
ได้มาสมัครงานที่หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาเมล์
โดยได้มีเอกสารประกอบการรับสมัครงานครบถ้วน
จนทำให้สามารถขอใบอนุญาตทำงานได้ตามกฎหมาย
หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาเมล์จึงได้รับไว้ให้ทำงาน
ในฐานะผู้แปลข่าว
โดยฝ่ายบริหารของหนังสือพิมพ์ทั้งสองฉบับไม่ทราบถึงความประพฤติ
ส่วนตัวของนายโทมัส
เซสเซ่นมาก่อน
ซึ่งตามความเป็นจริง
หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาเมล์
และ
หนังสือพิมพ์พัทยาบลัทท์
ต่างมีวัตถุประสงค์ที่จะร่วมมือกับทางราชการ
ที่จะกำจัดชาวต่างชาติที่
แอบแฝงมาก่ออาชยากรรมในรูปแบบต่างๆ
ในเมืองพัทยามาโดยตลอด
และยังคงพร้อมที่จะให้ความ
ร่วมมือกับทางราชการเพื่อต่อต้านอาชยากรรม
รวมทั้งคดีที่เกิดขี้นในครั้งนี้
จึงเรียนมาเพื่อทราบโดยทั่วกัน
Randy teen robs helpful friend
Needed money for ya ba and prostitute
Patcharapol Panrak
Shortly after midnight on August 17, a man rode up to
Sattahip police station on a black Suzuki motorcycle and promptly collapsed.
He was covered in blood and officers immediately called Rotjanathamasathan
Sattahip Foundation, who rushed him to Queen Sirikit Hospital.
Naret Buapheng, 26, was found to have a knife wound to
his stomach and three cuts to his face. He complained of discomfort in his
chest and internal bleeding was suspected.
The injured man told police that he was riding his
motorcycle from his rented room in Sattahip, intending to go to Chaopraya
Karaoke on Sattahip Beach Road. A youth he named as Fuse, aged about 16,
approached and asked for a lift so he could use the services of a prostitute
at an address in the soi beside the Rotjanathamasathan Sattahip Foundation.
Naret took the youth to the entrance to the soi. The
teenager then demanded money from Naret, before taking a knife from his
trouser pocket and stabbing him. He slashed Naret’s face three times then
took the money and ran away. Naret rode his motorcycle to the police station
to ask for help.
This area is known as a haunt for ya ba pushers and for
prostitutes, and there is frequently trouble with youths here mugging
passersby. There is also fighting between rival gangs. Local inhabitants are
afraid to go out at night and although they have complained to the police on
many occasions the problem appears to remain unsolved.
Man showing off with gun arrested
Boonlua Chatree
A police patrol car traveling along Sukhumvit Road at
North Pattaya early in the morning of August 18 spotted a bronze Toyota
pickup carrying six or seven men and one man standing beside the road
holding a gun. When police approached him the man ran off. He was pursued,
caught and arrested.
Prawit
Wahhab was arrested for showing off his “friends” 12-guage home made
handgun.
Officers confiscated a Thai-made gun loaded with a
12-gauge shotgun shell. The man was identified as Prawit Wahhab, 25, from
Krabi province.
Prawit said his friend owned the gun and that he (Prawit) carried it only
to show off and had no intention of firing it. Nonetheless, he was charged
with illegally carrying a gun and ammunition.
Police get real and haul away bogus cop
Boonlua Chatree
A man posing as an undercover police officer and throwing
his weight around in a karaoke bar tried to pull rank on real police
officers and was arrested.
The real police received a call from Mrs Ampraisri
Oysiri, 44, saying that a man impersonating a police lieutenant colonel was
disrupting her business by asking for ID cards and frightening potential
customers away.
Police Captain Somchai Mongkolwong and other officers
went in a patrol car to the scene, where they found a man dressed in black
pants and a green T-shirt acting with excessive authority and demanding to
see customers’ documentation.
When Captain Somchai asked for the man’s
identification, the “lieutenant colonel” refused, saying he was of
higher rank than the attending officers. He said he was on an undercover
narcotics assignment. He demanded Somchai’s ID and added some pithy
comments about the patrol’s policing procedures.
Captain Somchai promptly produced his license and
arrested the man. Police investigations later revealed the imposter to be
Seksan Thongsri, age 43. He has been charged with impersonating a police
officer. His motive was not made available.
Soi Yodsak Community celebrates founding
Narisa Nitikarn
 Inhabitants
from Soi Yodsak participate in the annual merit making ceremony.
Chairman of the Soi Yodsak Community Wil Wattanalerthiran
presided over the community’s annual merit making ceremony on August 17,
with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Mayor Weerawat Khakai,
councilors Sanit Bunmachai and Pisai Panomwan na Ayutthaya, and city hall
officials also taking part.
This community and Pattaya City were established at the same time. Soi
Yodsak residents and entrepreneurs bring food and sweets as offerings, with
the ceremonies being blessed by nine monks from Wat Phothisamphan.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit meets the people and speaks of life as deputy mayor
Narisa Nitikarn
City hall’s monthly meet the people campaign saw
Ronakit Ekasingh, recently appointed deputy mayor, speaking about his
duties.
Ronakit said he is responsible for a number of important
issues including municipal duties, Larn Island development and marine
safety, to name a few.
Ronakit
Ekasingh, Pattaya deputy mayor, speaks about his duties during the taping of
the September edition of “City Management Meets the People”.
“As far as the municipal duties are concerned it’s a
balance of understanding what needs to be done and the effectiveness of
municipal officers doing their job correctly,” he said. “It means
forging a good relationship and cooperation between the officers, vendors
and residents. If an officer is out of order people can call 038 231 201 to
report them.”
Ronakit said that of the important matters, the most
urgent is that of street children and sex workers. This is also part of the
municipal officers’ duties.
“We have installed CCTV cameras to monitor public
areas, and the actions of these people are well known by our employees,”
said Ronakit.
The deputy mayor added that the many problems will
eventually subside, specifically concerning street children, but further
cooperation from the business community and the community is necessary for
success.
“The children are the nation’s future and we must
work to help them. Sopin Thappajug, Chonburi Family and Juvenile Court
associate judge has been instrumental in providing help and education for
these children. Pattaya has become a main center for meetings and
conventions in Thailand and it is necessary to create confidence for these
visitors and that we maintain our overall good standing and continue
developing the city for the better.”
Ronakit went on to say that Larn Island is another area
in the process of rapid development and very popular with tourists. He
stresses the need for quality development, right down to the automation and
online capabilities of local infrastructure to provide ease and convenience
for everyone concerned, including marine safety.
“As Pattaya is a seaside resort, the need for greater
safety on the water is paramount and with this comes the need for improved
water rescue operations. Hence, the recent purchase of the new 72 million
baht vessel to be used for such operations in providing aid to those off the
shores of Pattaya and surrounding waters.
“We (the city) are striving to create better quality services using the
latest technology as part of our tourism development strategies to create
more confidence in the future.”
Drawing for Mom competition attracts 1,000 children to Pacific Park
Suchada Tupchai
Pacific Park Sriracha celebrated Mother’s Day by
organizing the “Drawing for Mom in 2005” contest, with about 1,000
children taking part and crowds of parents watching on at the Promotion
Floor on the 1st floor and Pacific Hall on the 4th floor.
 Children
concentrate on “Drawing for Mom”.
Ability and imagination were the ideas behind the
drawings, with the children encouraged to depict mother and child
relationships. The competition was classified in two levels, primary and
secondary school, with scholarships worth a total of 24,000 baht as prizes.
Advisor to the Prime Minister Sontaya Khunplome also presented plaques to
the contestants.
Pacific Park handed out the drawing equipment and materials, with the
children working in colored chalk, water colors, poster paints and other
media. After the judging, the children presented their work as a gift to
their mothers.
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