Camp teaches the teachers better English language skills

Narisa Nitikarn
An English Camp was held at Pattaya First School from January 27 to 29, with Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn presiding over the opening of the course that had 38 English teachers from Pattaya schools attending.

Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn presides over the start of the 2006 English Camp.

Three expert speakers from Pattaya MA Language Academy provided the training for the program, which was funded by a 124,850 baht budget provided by Pattaya City Council.
Thawatchai Rattanayoo, director of Pattaya Education Office, said that the English Camp was organized because Pattaya’s English teachers still lack knowledge-teaching skills.
Mayor Niran added that people have to be brave enough to speak English, for even if their usage is incorrect they will improve through speaking. English is now becoming a second everyday language in Thailand and is an important means of communication in Pattaya with all the foreign tourists. Teachers need to be given more confidence in using the language.
The English Camp was a happy affair with speakers from the Academy implementing a non-classroom like approach. The program kicked off with basic speaking and singing and communication between speakers and teachers.

Parade plans drawn up for carnival

Vimolrat Singnikorn
An event schedule is now being drawn up for Pattaya Carnival 2006, which will take place on its new agreed dates of February 24-26.
At a meeting with Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay on January 20, Sutichai Banloedaech, project manager of K Creator Co. Ltd., the company awarded the concession and a budget of 10 million baht to stage the carnival, presented a new set of plans to accommodate the change of the event’s date.
Six parades will be organized, having their starting point at the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya and ending at Bali Hai Pier.
There will be a parade competition divided into four categories. The fancy dress parade will be a team event with each team totaling not more than 100 members and staged under the concept of Pattaya Unlimited Colors. The judging criteria will be based on creativeness and how well the teams stayed within the concept of the event. The winning team will receive prize money of 100,000 baht.
The second category will be float decoration under the concept of Pattaya the Colorful City of the East. The floats can measure no more than four meters. The winning entry will receive 50,000 baht.
The third category is Body Painting under the concept of Pattaya Unlimited Colors, which again will be decided on creativity, with 10,000 baht going to the winner.
The fourth category is the Miss Pattaya Carnival 2006 in which the winner will receive 100,000 baht prize money.
The judges will start awarding points as soon as the parade sets off. At Bali Hai Pier two stages will be set up, a large one and a small one. The first is for the famous stars to perform and the second is for cultural shows performed by Pattaya organizations. OTOP products will be on sale at the event.

Illegal fishing is depleting stocks says squid fishing group

Patcharapol Panrak
Concerns are rising over fishermen using illegal ring nets and other illegal fishing practices that are damaging the environment and reducing the fish and squid population.
There is now considerable pressure upon the 300 squid fishing groups in Samaesarn who are finding their catch and their income dwindling fast, and fear that the local industry will soon cease altogether.

Small legal fishing boats are experiencing problems catching squid.

Thongchai Bamrungban, deputy chief of Samaesarn sub-district and chairman of the Samaesarn Squid Fishing Group said that for a long time the Samaesarn fishermen have been facing problems. The numbers of squid and fish are decreasing rapidly through fishing boats using large ring-nets, which are illegal. They use a light to attract the fish and then pull them in with the net. The holes in their nets are smaller than the legal limit, and a lot of small fish are caught as well. This means that the younger generation of fish is being caught, and consequently the stocks are depleting.
Thongchai said that it is important the authorities stop the ring-net fishing, because if they don’t the small, legal fishing boats will be put out of business. They have already requested a stop to this by writing to associated departments, but nothing has happened.

Royal Navy seizes 90,000 ya ba pills from speedboat

Boonlua Chatree
Vice Admiral Chamnong Kittipeerachol, commander of Region 1 Navy Headquarters and director of Region 1’s war on drugs, held a press conference with the Border Defense Regiment and the Police Drug Suppression Headquarters to announce a major haul of amphetamine pills.

Vice Admiral Chamnong Kittipeerachol (center) announces the navy’s haul of over 90,000 ya ba pills.

The vice admiral said he had received a report that there was to be delivery of a drug consignment at the southern point of Kho Kut, Trat. He ordered patrol boats into the area, led by Captain Phaitoon Khachamat. During the patrols two small speedboats were seen moored next to each other in the area and a search was carried out.
When the six-man crew of the smallest speedboat saw the approach of the patrol boat they jumped into the next boat and sped off into Cambodian territorial waters. Officers searched the remaining boat and found a foam box that contained 90,090 orange colored amphetamine pills. Officers are checking whether the boat is Thai or Cambodian and following up to find out the source of the drugs.

Three members of German family die in minibus tragedy

Narisa Nitikarn
Three members of a German family died when the minibus taking them from Pattaya to Don Muang Airport crashed into an 18-wheel truck that had broken down at the roadside. Police believe the driver of the minibus, who also died, fell asleep at the wheel.
The accident occurred at 11 a.m. on January 23, at a spot between Km 77 and 78 on the motorway to Bangkok.
Police and rescue workers from the Traikhunatham Foundation found an 18-wheel trailer broken down at the side of the road. Its driver was not at the scene. A Toyota minibus had crashed into the rear of the trailer and was completely wrecked.
The dead driver was identified as Suthep Chiangklang, 43. The three deceased German nationals were identified as Adolph Papalioni, 41, Mrs Stefan Papalioni, 40, and Paul Carl Papalioni, 12. One more foreign national, as yet unidentified, was seriously injured and was rushed to Chonburi Hospital in a state of unconsciousness.
Police investigations have revealed that the family were on their way to Don Muang Airport from Pattaya to fly back home.

Fisherman found murdered in Bangsaray

Residents of the small fishing village of Bangsaray near Sattahip called police when they discovered the corpse of a man under one of their houses.
At the scene police found the body of an unidentified dead man wearing a pair of shorts and a long sleeved shirt.
On closer inspection they saw that the man had been inflicted with many deep slashes by a sharp object to the face, while there was no marks of injury to the body.
On investigation, villagers told police that there is a group of ‘Mon’ fishermen who are hired hands and probably working illegally in the area.
They knew that there were two distinct groups of men who were at odds with each other. The conflicts were based on religious differences.
There were many instances of rowdy behavior, which erupted into gang fights. The dead man is believed to have been a victim of one such conflict.

Boonlua Chatree
A man was shot dead at Bali Hai Pier shortly after 5 a.m. on January 24 and another injured after a gang of youths began to make sexual advances towards the girls who had arrived with an earlier party.
Police went to the scene where they found a group of young men surrounding the dead body of one of their friends. The deceased was named as Srisuwan Sae-Ung, aged 23, from Naklua. He had been shot through the heart with a .32mm caliber weapon. One shell casing was found on the ground.
A second man, Piyaphan Bunpan, 25, had been wounded in his left arm and the bullet was still inside him. Police transferred him to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
Piyaphan and another member of the group, Ruangwit Suriyachan, 24, gave statements that the deceased and the group of friends were employees at the Palace on Pattaya Second Road. After finishing work they came to drink at the pier with other friends and their girlfriends. Later, a group of young men arrived in a black car, a red car, and on three or four motorcycles, and stopped near their group.
The newcomers played music from the car radio very loudly and started to make sexual advances towards the first group’s girlfriends. Piyaphan took his girlfriend home on a motorcycle, and then returned to the scene. The two groups began to argue. The deceased threw a soda bottle at the other group, whereupon one of them walked up and shot into them with a .32mm caliber weapon. Srisuwan received one shot to his chest and fell down, and Piyaphan took the second shot to his left arm. The assailants then fled.
Police say they know the group that carried out the shooting and an arrest is expected soon.

British father and son charged with stabbing man in bar brawl

Boonlua Chatree
A British man and his teenage son have been charged over a stabbing incident during a bar brawl that erupted over a football match.
Police were called out at 4:20 a.m. on January 25 when a fight between foreign nationals was reported at Boo Room Beer Bar in Soi Buakaow.
When officers arrived at the scene the foreign nationals were still fighting and the chairs and tables had been overturned. The bar girls had tried to break up the fight but the antagonists paid no heed.
Police moved in and arrested the three. Paul Jason Warhurst, 42, a British national had been stabbed in the left calf resulting in a gaping wound.
The other two, also British nationals, were named as Graeme Clifton, 50, and his son Jonathan Clifton, 17. Both had cuts and bruises. Police confiscated a 15-centimeter knife that was used in the stabbing. Police were unable to question the father and son on the spot due to the two men’s state of intoxication. Warhurst was taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
From preliminary investigations it was established that Graeme and Jonathan Clifton and Paul Warhurst were drinking in the bar while watching the football match between Arsenal and Wigan. The father and son were drunk, and shouting and screaming loudly as they cheered on their team, disturbing the other customers. Warhurst and his friends at the next table eventually stood up and reprimanded the pair. A fight broke out and spread, and eventually the place was in chaos. In the melee, Warhurst was stabbed. The Cliftons now face assault and injury charges.

Police briefs

Boonlua Chatree
Motorcycle youth beaten and robbed by ‘friends’
A gang of youths who invited a friend out for a motorcycle ride beat him up and stole his motorcycle.
Pattaya police station received a call at 4:10 a.m. on January 19 to say that a man had been assaulted and robbed in the woodlands on Soi 17 Daeng Dam Thepprasit, opposite Eden Curve.
Officers found 22-year-old Wongduan Saengthong in an unconsciousness state. He had been struck in the face and had suffered a fracture over his right eyebrow. There was evidence of fighting at the scene, along with two crash helmets with traces of blood, and a mirror from a Yamaha Mio motorcycle. The injured man was transferred to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Upon regaining consciousness, Wongduan told investigators that three of his friends, named as Jo, Nat and Ton, and another four had invited him to ride around Pattaya City. He rode his new red Honda Wave without a license plate. He and the others rode along the road followed by one bronze Honda Civic car. His friends drove into the woodland so he followed them. Then they turned upon him, hitting him in the face with their helmets. He lost consciousness and found out what had happened in the hospital later. His friends had taken his Honda Wave away.
Police are now pursuing Messrs Jo, Nat, Ton and the others, and as they already have records on motorcycle gang members, a resolution to the case is anticipated soon.
Pursuer on motorcycle kills one man and injures another
One man was shot dead and another injured when they were followed home from a karaoke bar.
The injured man was Komkrit Emsurin, age 27. Police received a call from Komkrit’s brother Paiboon at 2 a.m. on January 17 to say that his brother had been hurt and that he had taken him to Banglamung Hospital.
In the emergency room at the hospital officers found Komkrit had wounds from 9mm caliber bullets that had hit him in the back and ribs. The injured man stated that he had gone to the karaoke bar in front of Nongketnoi Temple with a friend named A-Nat Yuonyong, 27. At the karaoke bar he met an old enemy named Supot (Tia) Tokeelee. He was afraid that there would be a dispute again, so he suggested they go home.
Supot followed them on a motorcycle, and as the two men arrived at Nongket Yai Temple in Nongplalai, he shot at their motorbike. A-Nat was the passenger and fell off the bike. Komkrit also fell off but managed to get back on the vehicle and make his way to his brother’s home. Paiboon had then brought him to the hospital. He didn’t know what had happened to A-Nat.
Police proceeded to the scene at the sand pond at Moo 4, Nongplalai, which is the connecting road from Nongketnoi to Nongketyai. There they found the corpse of A-Nat lying on his back. He had been shot by a 9mm caliber weapon to his head and back.
It appears the assailant intended to shoot A-Nat rather than Komkrit. Police will now invite Supot in for questioning.

Armed forces pledge allegiance to Nation and King

Patcharapol Panrak
As part of the annual celebrations to mark Thai Armed Forces Day, Admiral Sateraphand Keyanon, commander of the Royal Thai Navy presided over the ceremonies at the Sattahip Royal Thai Navy Base, leading navy and marine personnel in pledging their allegiance to the highly venerated Thai Armed Forces Commemorative Victory flag symbolizing the nation, religion and the monarch.

Military personnel from all departments of the navy and marines performed a march to honor their past and pledge their devoted allegiance to the nation and to His Majesty the King.

The traditional ceremonies are held every year on January 25. The day commemorates the heroic and selfless deeds of all the brave soldiers who have served the nation and have helped to keep Thailand free from aggression and dominance.
Young men and women recruited throughout the year are considered to achieve full fledged soldiers status after their participation in these ceremonies of pledging to the Royal flag, which is presented to every regiment and division in all branches of the Thai armed forces by His Majesty the King.
In an elaborate show of uniformity and strength, military personnel from all departments of the navy and marines performed a march to honor their past and pledge their devoted allegiance to the nation and to His Majesty the King.

Admiral Sateraphand Keyanon, commander of the Royal Thai Navy presided over the Thai Armed Forces Day ceremonies at Sattahip Royal Thai Navy Base.

Cliff climbing toughens up course members for mountain combat

Chatchanan Chaisree
Sixty-five personnel from the military are now in the final stages of an amphibious training and combat course, held at Sattahip and designed to equip them for fighting in mountain, jungle and coastal terrain.

Special amphibious training and combat students repel a nearly shear cliff.
Captain Montree Sopha, chief of the special missions department, said the course participants undergo three months’ training, which is divided into a one-month location course, a one-month marine course, and a one-month combat course.
Cliff climbing is one of the main elements of training, with participants learning not just how to climb cliffs but also how to carry a wounded comrade up and down rock escarpments, and how to climb at night.
One participant, Pol Cap Thoranit Srisuk from Naraesuan Military Camp, in Prachuabkirikhan province, said he was very proud to attend this special training, and that he and the other course members will be able to pass on their skills to others.

Participants learn how to carry a wounded comrade up and down rock escarpments.

A look at Banglamung Police Resort

Chatchanan Chaisree
Police officers injured during the course of their duties and members of the public who have been hurt in giving support to an operation conducted by the Royal Thai Police are entitled to full rest and recreation facilities at a little-known resort in Pattaya, the Police Resort, located on the beach near the Banglamung Canal.

Pol Maj Jamnong Kawinam, inspector at the Police Resort.
The Police Resort has a lengthy history, having been established in 1957 by Pol Gen Phao Sriyanon, former director general of the Royal Thai Police.
Pol Maj Jamnong Kawinam, current inspector of the Police Resort, which comes under the Police Welfare Department, told Pattaya Mail that the resort occupies 106 rai of land abutting the Rong Poh fishing community, giving it a long beachfront area with relaxing shade from coconut and casuarina trees.
The main lodging structure is a large timber house and there are seminar rooms that can support 200 delegates. Full food and beverage services are provided, and there are recreational activities available.
For room reservations please contact the Police Welfare Department on tel 0 3824 1357, 0 382 40274 (24-hour service), or visit www.resort.police.go.th

Quiet lodging on the seaside suitable for holidays.

Only two of us on this beach.

City hall helps elderly set up own lawn bowls club

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A New Year party for the Elderly People of Pattaya Club was held at the Public Health Office on Soi Buakaow on January 24, with Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn presiding over the opening. The senior citizens enjoyed the opportunity to meet and have a meal together.

Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn sings along with the elderly.

Club president, Mrs Pranee Maneesarn, said there are at present 612 members, of whom 102 are men and 510 are women. Regular activities organized include exercise sessions, basic yoga, aerobics and lawn bowls. The club meets once a month and members go out to different communities to teach other senior citizens how to exercise and take care of their health.
The club asked for help from Pattaya City Council in setting up a Pattaya Lawn Bowls Club, with a standard lawn bowls field and equipment at the back of the Public Health Office. Presently the elderly play lawn bowls at two locations for ease of travel and organizers need transportation to take members to compete in other places.
Mayor Niran said that the council and he were ready to assist in everything and considerations would be held to determine suitability. He has already approved the lawn bowls court and other approvals are in the pipeline.