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Thai Oil offloading pipe leaks 30 tons of crude oil into the sea
Situation under control says Navy as slick moves away from Pattaya beaches
Patcharapol Parnrak
A pipe offloading crude from an oil tanker to a Thai Oil
refinery broke, spilling a large amount of oil into the sea and creating a
three-mile long slick.
The accident happened at Udom Cove, where the Tokyo oil
tanker Ryuho Maru had weighed anchor to offload.
Thai Oil officials sent out inspection boats to assess the
situation and cordon off the vessel. It took crew members on the tanker 30
minutes to close the valves, during which time not less than 30 tons of crude
oil spilled into the sea.
Vice Admiral Jamnong Kittpeerachol, commander-in-chief of
RTN Fleet Region 1 and coordinating with the Department of Sea Transport, the
Merchant Navy and Thai Oil said on November 21 that the situation was under
control.
Preparations are now being made from the air and coastal
inspection vessels to remedy the problem of the oil slick. Rear Admiral
Thaveewutt Phungpipatt, chief of staff RTN Fleet Region 1 together with the
Region 1 director Captain Ratsadang Theeranaet flew over the area in an S-76
helicopter. They inspected the area from Koh Larn, Koh Nok, Koh Khang Khao, Koh
Sichang and Pattaya Bay and found that the slick had split into two.
One part is to the east of Koh Khang Khao, and the other to
the north-west of the same island. The oil has also reached the beach of the
island to the north and east where a large number of houses are located.
Vice Admiral Jamnong said that patrol boats have been
relocated to patrol the area and helicopters are flying twice a day to report
on the movements of the slick.
Calculations carried out by the Navy Metrological Department
estimated that from its origin at 13 degrees 13 minutes north longitude 100
degrees 80 minutes latitude, the oil slick is moving at 230 degrees from Koh
Kangkaw and will not reach Pattaya or affect its tourism. Northerly winds are
also moving it away. The only area affected so far is Koh Kangkaaw.
Reporters interviewed Sanit Bunmarchai, member of Pattaya
City council and president of the administration committee for Pattaya order
who said that as soon as he heard the news he sent out rescue boats to inspect
the coast and coordinated with beach inspectors.
Officials reported to him that the situation was under control and no
sightings of oil slicks were reported. But inspections will continue to be
carried out to prepare in advance for the untoward.
Important regional issues discussed at AAPP Sixth General Assembly
Thailand’s Bhokin elected president of AAPP
Suchada Tupchai
Important regional issues were on the table when the
Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) Sixth General Assembly
got underway on November 20 at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The General
Assembly was held from November 19 to 24.
Delegates
gather for a group photo at the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace
(AAPP) Sixth General Assembly on November 20 at the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort.
Although publication deadlines prohibit full disclosure
of the details in this edition, initial reports confirmed that Pattaya
Pacts will be enacted emphasizing the strengthening of organizations, the
dangers of natural disasters and terrorism, and establishing funds for
relief purposes.
Dr Bhokin Bhalakula, president of the Thai Parliament
and president of the House of Representatives conducted the ceremony. Dr
Bhokin said that the assembly would focus on politics, stressing
parliamentary ambassadors to cooperate towards peace; on socio-economics
such as world trade negotiations with Hong Kong this coming December; on
the debt reduction fund for poor countries; on peace and stability,
reducing terrorism, drugs and the trafficking of people; and on equal
rights for women.
Attending the assembly were Suchon Chaleekure,
president of the Thai Senate, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, speaker of the House
of Representatives of Pakistan and president of the Fifth AAPP General
Assembly and president of AAPP, Tariq Shafig Khan, secretary of AAPP, and
representatives from 58 countries.
Pakistan’s Hussain said that the problems of poverty,
the depravation of rights and liberty, and aid in the event of natural
disasters are what the AAPP should be concerned about.
Each country should forget past disputes to bring
peace, he said. This doesn’t only mean the cessation of wars and
violence, but involves the betterment of the people’s quality of life.
Most importantly, he said, this requires the creation of organizations to
prepare for international situations that are constantly changing.
There were also ceremonies conducted to transfer the AAPP presidency to
Dr Bhokin, and the general secretary position to Phitoon Phumhiran.
Grand ordination ceremony will mark HM the King’s birthday
Suchada Tupchai
A grand ordaining ceremony is planned to take place on
the occasion of His Majesty the King’s birthday on December 5.
 Pratheep
Thab-Attranon, a judge at Pattaya Provincial Court, presided over the
meeting for the ordaining ceremony.
Judge Pratheep Thab-Attranon, of Pattaya Provincial
Court, presided over a meeting at city hall on November 10 to prepare for
the ceremony. Also in attendance was Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh as well
as representatives of official departments involved in the event.
The meeting decided that a total of 81 people should be ordained for the
seven-day period from December 2 - 9. The official ceremony will commence on
December 3 outside city hall, with the shaving of the heads of those to be
ordained. They will then be ordained into four temples, namely Krathinglai,
Sawangfapruttharam, NongYai and Chaimongkol. All those being ordained will
stay at Chittapawan College for the scheduled seven days.
Mayor heads up new bird flu training session for community leaders
Narisa
Nitikarn
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn was the opening presenter
at a training session at the Public Health Center on Soi Buakao designed to
provide further instruction for volunteer public health officers and
community representatives in the control of bird flu.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn
Also present was Mrs Wannaporn Chamchamrat, director of
the Public Health and Environment Department, and a lecturer from Banglamung
Hospital.
Mayor Niran said that city hall was intent on doing
everything it could to educate people and to control the bird flu situation,
for the fight against the infection begins with individuals being informed
and alert.
Local community leaders need to be aware of every possibility and to
convey their knowledge to the people of the villages. Only in this way could
the disease be prevented from spreading.
A day to remember as Pattaya celebrates 27 years as a city
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A ceremony to pay respects at the King Taksin Monument
and to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the date Pattaya transformed from a
municipality into a city was held on November 15.
 The
King Taksin Monument at the front of city hall.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presided over the
ceremonies with deputy mayors and government department heads, members of
the council and staff in attendance.
Pattaya City Council organizes the ceremonies each year
in remembrance of King Taksin, the founder of Pattaya and to bless the
government buildings and staff and to encourage them in carrying out their
duties.
This year the ceremonies got underway at 6 a.m. with the
mayor, city administrators, employees and guests in front of the King Taksin
Monument to pay their respects. At 8 a.m. the mayor lit the candles and
incense and nine monks led the religious ceremonies.
Mayor
Niran and city hall employees pay respects to the King Taksin Monument to
celebrate Pattaya’s 27th birthday.
History tells that two months before Ayutthaya fell to
the Burmese in 1767, Phra Ya Taksin, at the time Phra Ya Kamphaeng Phech,
saw that if the Siamese forces fought with the Burmese in the weak state
that they were in Ayutthaya would surely be lost. He retreated with 500
volunteers from Wat Phichai and headed to the southeast. During the retreat
he had four battles with the Burmese enemy.
Eventually he arrived at Chonburi with advance forces and
rested at the front of Wat Yai Inthararam before moving on to Chanthaburi.
On the way he stopped off at Baan Nong Phai (the site is now behind Pattaya
Municipal Police Station on Sukhumvit Road) in Naklua.
Volume 2 of the Royal Chronicles reads: “Presently Mr
Klom is the chief of the assembly and is waiting to bargain. Phra Ya
Kamphaeng Phech rides in on a male elephant carrying a loaded gun. The
waiting forces are awed by his majesty and come over to his side. The force
rests at a stream and next morning a Tuesday of the 6th waxing moon Mr Klom
led 10,000 troops to another district and the next day they arrived at
Jomtien and Tung Kai Tia, Sattahip and stayed one day. The locals called the
forces by the name of ‘Thap Pra Ya’ and later ‘Pattaya’”.
Pattaya’s day came on 29 June 1959 when the first four
trucks carrying 100 American soldiers each arrived from their base in
Nakhorn Ratchasima. They stayed at Pattaya Beach for one-week spells before
leaving as others arrived. This was the start of Pattaya’s tourism
industry and Pattaya transformed from a peaceful seaside village to what it
is today.
Prior to November 1978, Pattaya was part of Naklua
municipality. It expanded its boundaries to South Pattaya in 1964, covering
22.2 square kilometers.
Due to Pattaya’s rapid expansion into a local and
foreign tourist destination, the small district administration was unable to
manage its affairs. On November 29, 1978 the federal government gave Pattaya
special status to manage its own affairs. The city manager, as he was known
then, was charged with the day to day running of the newly formed city.
In 1997, when the kingdom adopted the newly amended constitution,
Pattaya’s city management was transformed into an elected government,
coming into full effect on November 30, 1999.
Police chief orders total eradication of lewd materials
Narisa
Nitikarn
Pol Col Somnuk Changate, superintendent of Pattaya
Municipal Police, has ordered the total eradication of pornographic materials
from the area by the government’s approaching D-Day this coming December.
 Pol
Col Somnuk Changate, superintendent of Pattaya Municipal Police, has ordered
the total eradication of pornographic materials from the area.
Speaking at a ceremony where he was officially elevating
27 police corporals to the rank of sergeant, Pol Col Somnuk said that the
government has targeted the elimination of lewd materials along with
materials breaching intellectual property laws. Officers will be sent to all
known areas where the materials are sold, and the help of private sector
organizations and shop owners is being requested.
The officers promoted were all graduates of Class 34 (Khao Noi 34)
Chonburi.
Motorcycle taxi driver rejected as police volunteer threatens to jump from telecoms mast
Boonlua Chatree
A motorcycle taxi driver suffering from despair climbed
the telecommunications mast outside the Communications Authority of
Thailand building on South Pattaya Road and threatened to jump.
Suksan
Buarabat threatens to jump from the telecommunications mast outside the
Communications Authority of Thailand building on South Pattaya Road.
Police were called out at 6 a.m. on November 15 by
Kachit Jitsubha, manager of Eastern Region Telecommunications
Administration Center, who said that a young man had climbed the mast.
Officers arriving at the scene found a youth, later
identified as Suksan Buarabat, 18, of Udon Thani, walking about on top of
the seven-story high structure and shouting that he wanted to die. He said
that he was in despair because he had applied to join the volunteer police
but was not accepted. Officers tried to calm him but he refused to come
down.
Pattaya Disaster Relief Agency was contacted to supply
air bags that were placed on the ground around the mast, and a
cherry-picker crane was sent to the site. Police talked to Suksan for more
than two hours, without avail. Finally they offered him a drink, into which
they had placed a sedative. When he became sleepy officers and rescue
workers grabbed him and took him off to Banglamung Hospital.
After Suksan had recovered he explained that he worked
as a motorcycle taxi driver on Pattaya Third Road. He said that some of his
friends had joined the volunteer police but that when he tried to do so he
was not accepted. He said he wanted to die. His friends told him to go and
jump off a telegraph pole. (With friends like that...)
Suksan told officers that he became confused as to whether he should die
or not and climbed the mast. Police told him that anybody can be a
volunteer police officer and if he sees anyone breaking the law in whatever
manner and reports it, he is then considered a volunteer police officer.
Bar worker with problems injured in roof fall
Boonlua Chatree
A woman who worked in a beer bar and who was undergoing
emotional stress fell in a drunken state from the roof of a four-story
building on Soi Skaw Beach, Pattaya Second Road, in the early hours of
November 13 and was treated in hospital for head injuries.
Mrs Duangta Duangdeethip, 35, a native of Khon Kaen, had
gone to the roof of the building that houses the Paew Beauty Salon. She was
intoxicated and crying, and dangling her legs over the edge of the building.
Villagers and tourists in the soi tried to convince her to come down, but she
was talking incoherently about her problems. Then she laid down, and
unexpectedly fell. She first hit the eave and then landed on the ground.
Police and Sawang Boriboon Foundation officers rushed her to Pattaya Memorial
Hospital. She had a wound to her head and was delirious.
Her colleagues said that Duangta was employed at the
Scandalic Hotel & Beer Bar opposite the scene. She left her two children
with her relatives in Khon Kaen. She sent them money monthly, but this month
she didn’t have money. Furthermore Duangta had introduced a friend to work
at her bar. The friend was advanced a 2,000 baht salary and then left. Duangta
worried that her boss would deduct it from her because she introduced the
friend. This was the reason she got drunk and climbed up on the roof.
Two Marines killed in the South are laid to rest
Chatchanan Chaisree
Marine officers gathered at the Marine Monument in
Sattahip on November 10 to pay their respects to two fallen colleagues who
lost their lives while on duty at Narathiwat, in Southern Thailand.
 Maj
Gen Torbun Kraireuk, deputy commander of the Marine Department presided over
the scattering of the two Marines’ cremated ashes.
Maj Gen Torbun Kraireuk, deputy commander of the Marine
Department, presided over the ceremony at which the names of the two dead
officers, Cap Winai Nakabut and Lt Com Khamthorn Thong-Iad, were inscribed
on the monument and their ashes scattered.
The two men met their deaths on the night of September
20. A gunman in a pickup truck had opened fire on a teashop, killing two
people and injuring five others. Villagers crowding around the scene assumed
the shooting was the work of undercover agents, and they became angry.
Officers sent to disburse the mob were forced to withdraw, but Cap Winai and
Lt Com Khamthorn were stranded when their car failed to start. They were
dragged from the vehicle, and their hands and feet were bound before they
were taken to a nearby house and beaten to death.
Her Majesty the Queen composed a personal letter to the commander of the
Marine Department in praise of the two Marines, and expressing her great
sorrow. Her Majesty asked the Marine forces not to be discouraged by the
shocking event, but to stand firm and continue with their duties.
Police nab couple who brought ya ba from Cambodia
Boonlua Chatree
Knowing from their investigations that a Cambodian woman
and a Thai man had brought a consignment of ya ba from Cambodia to sell in
Pattaya, police organized a sting operation.
Undercover officers withdrew 32,000 baht in cash, which
they entered into the Daily Record, and contacted the couple who had rented
a room at the S&B Apartments. An appointment was arranged at the room,
and when the undercover officers handed over the money police officers
immediately forced their way in, verified everything, and arrested the
dealers.
The man was identified as Wanchat Phongphan, 37, of
Pimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, while the woman was a Cambodian passport holder
named Mrs Mom Wi, age 31. They were found to be in possession of two packs
of ya ba, containing 198 pills. They were charged with possession of Class 1
drugs.
Jumbo celebrations as beautiful new baby is born
Khao Kheow Open Zoo celebrates birth of elephant
Suchada Tupchai
Khao Kheow Open Zoo had plenty to celebrate over Loy
Krathong, with the first baby elephant to have been born there in 27 years.
The baby, born to Phlaymongkol and Pangjim at 00.15 hrs on November 8, is a
beautiful baby daughter weighing 102.54 kilograms.
Mom
always stands close by to the lovely new member of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo
family.
Director of the Zoological Park Organization Sophon
Dumnui said the baby is in good health. Her father is 17-year-old
Phlaymongkol and her mother is 12-year-old Pangjim. The pregnancy lasted 22
months, the parents having mated in February last year. Pangjim was given to
the zoo by the people of Phrae province.
Currently eight elephants are resident at Khao Kheow,
three males and five females.
A prize of 10,000 baht will be awarded to the best name entry for the
new-born baby this coming New Year. For further details visit
http://www.khaokheowopenzoo.com
Baby tapir born in Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Suchada Tupchai
In the early hours of November 4 a tapir, a wildlife
species protected under Thai law, gave birth to a new member of Khao Kheow
Open Zoo. The newborn tapir, a male, is the seventh to be born at the zoo.
He is also the third offspring of his mother Nuuyai and his father Waeng.
 The
mother and her new offspring.
Zoo officials say his body is striped similar to that of
a watermelon. Nature does this to disguise young tapirs from predators and
the baby remains this color for the first four to six months. The tapirs’
natural habitat is thick forest near water where they forage for water based
vegetation in the mornings and evenings. The animals are extremely agile and
live in pairs, not groups.
The tapir is a protected animal under Thai law and a
strange little animal it is too, bearing the characteristics of many animals
rolled into one. The nose resembles an elephant’s tusk, the tail resembles
that of a bear, its body resembles a pig, the feet resemble those of a
rhinoceros. It has only three toes on the front feet and four on the back. A
tapir has a lifespan of about 30 years. It gives birth to its offspring
after a 390-395 day gestation period, only one being born at a time.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the Wildlife Adoption Project to
adopt elephants or tapirs to help with food and medical expenses may visit
www. khaokheowopenzoo.com or contact the public relations office of Khao
Kheow Open Zoo by calling 0 3829 8195 or 09-5446994, e-mail
[email protected] or simply donate to Krung Thai Bank Account
208-1-72002-7, account name Animal Care Fund.
Police briefs
Sattahip student killed by
bus on the Rayong motorway
Patcharapol Panrak
A 22-year-old student from Sattahip Technical College was
killed when a bus hit his motorcycle on the Bangkok-Rayong Motorway on
November 13.
The crash occurred on Highway 331 at the Khao Kae Praya
intersection. Police officers and rescue workers from Rojanthamsathan
Foundation Sattahip attended to the scene. The bus was carrying 35
passengers who were all suffering from shock.
The deceased was identified as Wassan Deedokmai of Choeng
Noen, Rayong, a fourth-year vocational technical student. Rescue workers
took the body to Sattahip Hospital for a post mortem.
Operator of the second-class air-conditioned bus was the
Transport Company Limited. Ticket inspector Panya Tojiaw told police that
the driver, Narong Subwong, 50, had fled the scene. Panaya said that before
the accident as the bus was heading towards Plutaluang on Highway 331 near
the market at Km 10 Sattahip, a motorcycle was in front. On approaching the
intersection the driver of the motorcycle was switching between one lane and
another and the bus hit him. The driver lost control and after 40 meters the
bus came to a standstill.
A witness told officers that the motorcycle driver was
trying to turn right but was unable to due to oncoming traffic and was
forced to remain in the middle lane where he was hit by the bus.
Gay man knifed to death
after refusing to sleep with visitor
Boonlua Chatree
A gay man was stabbed to death in a row house on South
Pattaya Road on November 14, his killer escaping with his victim’s
valuables.
Police found the body lying prone and wearing only black
shorts. Dr Somsak Sirithadthamrong, physician on duty at Banglamung
Hospital, said that the man had died instantly when he was stabbed in his
chest with an object that went three inches into his heart.
The dead man was identified as Wichan Somkanae, age 32.
He was a BA student at Aksorn Suksa Thepprasit School. In the room was
evidence of fighting, the TV was on and it was discovered later that some
assets of the deceased were missing. These included a 3 baht gold chain, a
diamond ring and an unknown amount in cash. Police assumed that the murderer
took all of this with him.
A witness said that Wichan was a former employee at a gay
bar in South Pattaya, but that he quit because of receiving support from his
British partner. He was unemployed and stayed alone in his room. He had been
watching TV in the room and a visitor had arrived on a motorcycle. The
visitor wanted to sleep with Wichan, who refused. They argued and the
visitor stabbed Wichan once before fleeing on the motorbike. The witness
said the killer had red hair and was about 165 cm tall. He was holding a
1-foot long knife covered with blood.
Uzbekistan girl has her
bag snatched by youths on motorcycle
Boonlua Chatree
A woman from Uzbekistan had her bag snatched at about 4
a.m. on November 16.
Ms Isaykina Suetlana, 20, ran into Pattaya police station crying and in a
state of shock. She told officers that she was staying at Nasa Hotel, and
that she had been out eating on Walking Street. She was returning to her
hotel when, at the entrance to Walking Street, two youths aged about 18 or
20 and riding a red motorcycle snatched her bag and sped off.
Inside the bag were her passport, other documents, a
mobile phone and other small items. She asked officers to help track down
the culprits; all that she wanted returned was her passport. Police are
still looking for the youths responsible.
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