NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Beach Road prostitute stabs American tourist for refusing proposition

Great potential seen in Vietnam for tourism to Pattaya

City hall stages second AIDS awareness day for young people

Pattaya Immigration earns almost 9 million baht in January

Pattaya Carnival ready to roll

Sontaya Khunplome leads team of anti drink-driving campaigners

Youths hide anti-tank missile launcher near Ambassador City Hotel

Drunk German gets trashed

Elderly man jumps to death from 13th floor

Go-go girls were lewd with animals at Walking Street bar

Pattaya City transfers 30 children to train at Sai Yai Rak Camp No 2

Police briefs

200 marines from Navy base donate blood

Marines receive donation of 30 bulletproof vests

Chonburi MP for Zone 7 visits OTOP village

Tourist Police carry out spot checks on guides

Pattaya City Council to set up team of young ambassadors

Training program conducted for sea rescue officers

Marines step down from duties in the South and enter reserves

Tao Mahaprom takes the Princess Soamsawalee Cup

Beach Road prostitute stabs American tourist for refusing proposition

Boonlua Chatree
An American tourist was beaten up and stabbed to death on Beach Road in the early hours of February 11 by a prostitute and her pimp, apparently after declining the woman’s services.
A songtaew driver told Pattaya police that a foreign man had been stabbed at the entrance to Soi 7, only 50 meters away from the police station, and that he had taken the injured visitor to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
On arrival at the scene of the stabbing officers found a pool of blood at the entrance to Soi 7. A motorcycle taxi driver and tourists who had been drinking in a nearby bar said they had seen a Thai male and female on a pink unlicensed Yamaha Mio motorcycle. They were talking with the foreign man who subsequently ran across the road to the entrance of Soi 7 and that the Thai man ran after him kicking and punching him, and knocking him to the ground. The woman then walked over and stabbed him before the pair made their getaway.
Officers at the hospital found Tony Lindsey of Honolulu undergoing emergency treatment to injuries suffered to the lower abdomen, the right rib cage and right wrist. Doctors tried hard to save him, but due to the massive loss of blood and the severity of the injuries he died.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the woman is a prostitute who plies her trade along Beach Road and that her pimp is always close by. Police believe that the American tourist was propositioned by the woman, but refused and may have insulted her in the process. This resulted in the pimp beating him up before the woman stabbed him. Police are looking for the pair.


Great potential seen in Vietnam for tourism to Pattaya

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya council chairman, Tawit Chaisawangwong held a preparatory meeting on February 3 for the 32 administrators and councilors who were shortly to depart for a study tour of Vietnam, and to find ways of developing the tourist market for Pattaya amongst Vietnamese travelers.

Tawit Chaisawangwong, Pattaya council chairman, says that Vietnam holds great potential for medium and long-term growth in visitor arrivals.

Chattan Kunchorn Na Ayudhya, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3 office was one of those present to brief the group. He said one of the main messages to put across during the visit was Pattaya’s all-year-round activities.
Last year 74,200 Vietnamese tourists visited Pattaya. As a neighboring country the TAT believes that Vietnam holds great potential for medium and long-term growth in visitor arrivals.


City hall stages second AIDS awareness day for young people

Students from Pattaya City Schools attend “AIDS for Youth” training on the 4th floor of the Public Health Service Center on Soi Buakaow.  

Vimolrat Singnikorn
City hall conducted AIDS training for youth day on February 3, with Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn opening the session on the fourth floor of the Public Health Service Center on Soi Buakaow.
Pichet Charoenket, assistant dean of the Public Health Faculty at Burapha University presented a talk on AIDS problem to a gathering that included representatives from the 10 Pattaya City schools.
Data for 2004 reveals there were over a million AIDS cases in Thailand, and 70-80 new patients per day. Patterns of infection are changing. The numbers in the sexual service group are decreasing because of condom use, but there are an increasing number of young people and housewives becoming infected. This is because society is changing, and because these groups are using incorrect judgment. Young people often have sexual relations at school age without correct protection, and from this behavior spread the HIV virus.
Wutisak said this is the second training organized by city hall for young people. The first session was on December 6. The purpose of the training was to increase knowledge of the AIDS menace amongst young people. If the family institute is weak, parents will not give advice and guidance. The national AIDS prevention project stresses the development of the family and community for knowledge and understanding, so they will use their knowledge to protect themselves and their loved ones to stay away from AIDS infections.


Pattaya Immigration earns almost 9 million baht in January

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pol Col Ittipol Ittisanronachai, head of Pattaya Immigration, presented a report on February 1 that summed up the first month of the year, and the first full month in which immigration officials have been working in their new building.

Pol Col Ittipol Ittisanronachai summarizes the previous month’s activities.
In January the bureau completed two special projects, namely the Clean Project and the Breakfast Project, designed to raise the level of service provision to tourists.
Pol Col Ittipol said that two professors from Burapha University had been invited to give advice on long-term stable development of service procedures for visa extensions, as the Pattaya Bureau receives many extension applications on a daily basis.
During the month of January 2006, the bureau earned 8,917,400 baht income for the country.
On the subject of suppression results, members of the bureau arrested a Swedish national on the run from a theft offense and involvement in drugs. A Belgian national who had been on the run in Pattaya for four years for a murder he committed in his own country and for whom the Belgian Embassy had issued an arrest warrant, was also arrested. Immigration additionally arrested about 35 illegal workers.
The Immigration Department is to provide motorcycles for carrying out patrols around Pattaya, and other activities will also be introduced in connection with internet-based service provision.


Pattaya Carnival ready to roll

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Final arrangements have been completed for the Pattaya Carnival, to be held from February 24-26 and staged with a 10 million baht budget from city hall.
Sittiparp Muangkhum chaired a meeting to approve the final arrangements with Suthichai Banluedet, project director of K Creator Co Ltd and Sacaphorna Satacacharporn, the company’s project coordinator, and others. K Creator has the concession to organize the event using the 10 million baht budget.

Sacaphorna Satacacharporn (left), project coordinator for K. Creator Co., Ltd. and Suthichai Banluedet, project director, present final plans for Pattaya Carnival 2006.

Suthichai confirmed the parade would start from the Dolphin Traffic Circle in North Pattaya and proceed to Bali Hai Pier. The parade will pause at Pattaya Klang Sai Sam and the entry to Walking Street before reaching its destination, where there will be a dance show on stage hosted by emcees from the Good Luck Game program.
February 24 sees live performances, a car parade and body painting. On February 25 there is a show starring country singers Dao Mayuree and Apaporn Nakhon Sawan, and the first round of the Miss Pattaya Carnival 2006 competition will also take place on this day. There will be more live music shows on the 26th, together with the Miss Pattaya Carnival finals.
K Creator Co said that amongst the media outlets covering the event will be TV Channel 3, the Royal Thai Army Television Channel, ITV, FM 101.75, FM 105.75, and local and national newspapers and magazines.


Sontaya Khunplome leads team of anti drink-driving campaigners

Chatchanan Chaisree
Sontaya Khunplome, advisor to the prime minister, launched a new anti drink-driving campaign on February 10 with a parade that started in front of the Royal Palace Hotel on Second Pattaya Road.

Sontaya Khunplome, advisor to the prime minister, presides over the event.

Chonburi members of parliament and the mayor of Pattaya were also present. The event received great cooperation from the Anti Accident Alliance whose members include Chonburi MPs, the Chonburi probation services, Chonburi disaster relief services, Pattaya Municipal Police Station, the Pattaya Business Operators Association, Karabao Tawan Daeng Co Ltd, AP Honda Co Ltd and Mityon Pattaya Co Ltd.
Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn headed the parade of chopper bikes, with participants placing “Drink Don’t Drive” banners in Thai, English, Japanese and Chinese along the route, and handing out leaflets and stickers to passers-by.

The Drink Don’t Drive dolls send the message that drinking and driving can be hazardous to your health.


Youths hide anti-tank missile launcher near Ambassador City Hotel

Ordnance Department conducting urgent enquiries

Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip police are urgently pursuing enquiries as to how two youths managed to acquire an anti-tank missile that they hid near a construction site on Sukhumvit Road on the night of February 1.

Police examine the guided missile launcher that two youths somehow managed to obtain and hide on the outskirts of town.
A security guard at the View Talay Marina construction project notified police that at about 1 a.m. two youths in shorts had been seen carrying a long black tube that they hid at the approach to Bannammao Bridge on Sukhumvit Road km 157 before vanishing in the direction of Pattaya City.
The guard waited until morning to check and notify police, because at that time it was too dark to search the area.
Commander Adisak Kaewpirom of the Sattahip Naval Base went with police officers to the scene where they found an anti-tank missile launcher measuring 1.5 meters in length and weighing 25 kg. There was a code number on the side. The officers believe it was made in China, and have been in contact with the Royal Navy Ordnance Department to find out which division has this kind of guided missile in service.
The missile is still perfect for use, and seems to have been well kept. Normally it is accurate over a range of 300-500 meters. The place where it was found is next to the Bannammao canal, which connects to the seashore only 500 meters away from the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel.


Drunk German gets trashed

Boonlua Chatree
Receiving a report that a foreign national was laying unconscious on a rubbish heap in North Pattaya Soi 2, officers from Pattaya police station went to the scene at 2 a.m. on February 5.
They found German national Jens Willy Lemnitz, age 52, lying face up in a stinking mess on a pile of rubbish. While officers were helping him up to take him to hospital he woke up and walked over to Surapong Bunyong, 42, a local newspaper and television reporter and punched him, sending his glasses flying and injuring him. Just then an employee from Toy Bar Beer ran across the road and told officers that the man had refused to pay a 900 baht bill for drinks that he had consumed. The officers took him in for questioning.
Lemnitz was incapable of answering questions so for his own safety police locked him up for the night. On waking the next day at 1 p.m. he paid for his beer and paid 30,000 baht to the reporter whose face he had damaged. Police filed a report and let him go.


Elderly man jumps to death from 13th floor

Boonlua Chatree
An elderly Danish man apparently suffering from health problems allegedly jumped to his death from the 13th floor of a condominium in Soi Chaiyapruek on February 6.
Police and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation found the body of 71-year-old Jorgen Sondergaard lying face down on the concrete car park.
Manager of the 32-story condominium, Ronchai Preyanont, 43, told officers that Sondergaard had bought the unit many years ago and had lived there with his wife Mette Sondergaard, who was also Danish. Ronchai said the deceased was a retired doctor, and was a quiet man who kept himself to himself, mostly staying in his apartment or going out to play golf.
On this visit he had been staying at the condo for about three months, but his health seemed to have deteriorated and he had to use walking sticks. Sondergaard had given money to a security guard to go and buy some steel stepladders. While his wife was out he allegedly used the stepladders to climb onto the balcony, from where he jumped.


Go-go girls were lewd with animals at Walking Street bar

Boonlua Chatree
The owner of a go-go bar, along with five of the performers, have been charged following accusations that they were being lewd with animals.

Props used in the illegal shows included goldfish and other, non-living things like eggs and balloons.
Roger Lohanan, representing an animal rights group, on February 4 filed a claim with the tourist police, saying that he had received complaints from foreign tourists that a go-go bar on Soi 14, Walking Street, was being lewd and cruel to animals in a show.
Pol Maj Gen Panya Mamen, commander of the tourist police directed officers to enter the bar undercover, posing as tourists, and to take photos of the shows as evidence.
Police officers then presented themselves and ordered the bar to turn up the lights, promptly arresting five showgirls. Visitors were asked to leave.
The girls told the officers they earned 500 baht per night for the show. They were charged with shameful behavior, appearing naked in front of the public and performing lewd acts. Police also charged the bar owner, 27-year-old Mrs Paweenut Subkongsaeng, for allowing the show to take place.


Pattaya City transfers 30 children to train at Sai Yai Rak Camp No 2

Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn fully supports this project because of the concern over social problems.  

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Thirty vagrant children have begun their three-month Sai Yai Rak Camp group training at the Air Fighter and Coast Guard Command at Sattahip Naval Base. The second project of its kind, the camp is organized under the Pattaya Social Welfare Department and comes under the responsibility of Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn.
Sai Yai Rak Camp has the support and cooperation of many organizations both official and private, including the Air Fighter and Coast Guard Command, and Chonburi Provincial Court.
The three-month camp will end on April 9, a total of 90 days. Located at the People Development School on the Navy base, it is being attended by 30 youths between 10 and 18 years of age. The problems of these young people stem from disturbed family backgrounds and drug abuse.


Police briefs

Boonlua Chatree
Service lady dies in the act
A woman died during the provision of sexual services to a German tourist in the early hours of February 4.
Pattaya police station received a report from a hotel employee in Naklua that a Thai female was laying dead in one of the rooms. Officers and a doctor from Banglamung Hospital arrived at the scene where they found Herbert Hopfinger, 52, standing waiting for the officers to arrive.
Police examined the deceased who was identified as Mrs Samran Waree, 51, of Nakhorn Ratchasima. She was lying face up on the bed covered with a red quilt. Police removed the quilt and found the naked body, with her eyes wide open, and smiling. There were no signs of assault.
Hopfinger told officers that he was sat drinking alone in Connor’s Bar. He met the deceased and they agreed to come back to his hotel. They cleaned themselves up. They were making love for about five minutes when the lady went into shock and convulsions. He was also shocked and ran out of the room to get help from hotel staff who called in a doctor, but it was too late to save the woman.
Time is up for
copy-watch dealer
More than 1,000 copy-watches were seized by police from a single dealer on the evening of February 3, the haul having an estimated street value of over six million baht.
Police investigations had established that a dealer in illegally copyrighted goods was about to deliver supplies to customers at an open market on Soi Buakaow. Officers lay in wait until the arrival of a bronze Toyota pickup stacked with plastic boxes. They stopped the vehicle and found that the boxes were filled with watches.
The driver was identified as Sirichai Wisetsiriworachai, 31. He stated that the watches belonged to him. Rolexes constituted the bulk of the haul, numbering 800 watches, with 84 Cartier forgeries, 83 Christian Dior, 54 Gucci and 54 Omega making up most of the remainder.
Sirichai said that he had bought the illegal copyright watches for one million baht. If he could have sold them he would have made a profit of at least five million baht, he said. Police charged him with possession of illegal copies of copyrighted goods for distribution.
Teenager stabbed during karaoke bar row
A Pattaya teenager was hospitalized after being stabbed in the back during an argument with other youths at a karaoke bar.
Police received a report at 3 a.m. on January 28 that there was an injured man at a house in Super Villa Village, South Pattaya. At the scene officers found Weerayut Kerdnoi, 18, who had been stabbed twice in the back and was badly bruised from a beating. He was transferred for treatment to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
Witnesses said that Weerayut was attacked by youths from Kradok Karaoke, who had pursued him when he tried to escape by climbing a wall, and who had subsequently fled. Police went to search Kradok Karaoke. There were no customers or employees to be found, but the front window was broken and the officers found traces of someone climbing out over the back wall.
Motorcycle gang shoots two teenagers
Two teenagers riding a motorcycle on Sukhumvit Road were shot at four times by a gang of motorcycle youths, and badly injured.
Police were called out at 1 a.m. on February 5 to the scene in front of the Pattaya National Traffic Road Center. The injured youths had already gone to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for treatment, and other officers went to interview them there.
Choochai Polsrida, age 17 years, had been shot by a .38 caliber weapon to his right foot and to his back. A bullet was still in his body. Anuwat Klongsrap, age 18 years, had also been shot by a .38 caliber gun to his stomach and back right shoulder. He was in critical condition.
Choochai Polsrida said he was the passenger on a motorcycle driven by Anuwat. They had been accosted by a gang of over 20 youths on 10 motorcycles. One of the riders, conspicuous with a moustache and long hair, had shot at them four times. Anuwat had managed to ride to the hospital. The gang had fled. Police found one .38 caliber shell casing at the scene. Investigations continue.


200 marines from Navy base donate blood

Patcharapol Panrak
A mobile blood donation unit led by Laddawan Rattanawaraha, deputy president of the Red Cross Rayong and Rayong Hospital, visited the Air Fighter and Coast Guard Command at Sattahip to take blood donations from 200 officers and marines.
Captain Chongkol Meesawat, head of the training center, organized the donation session.
The Red Cross says that at present there is a great need for blood, particularly of the groups AB and A, for use in accident cases and in hemophilia, white blood cell cancer, and other diseases where blood needs to be replaced. Donations are welcomed at any time, and anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Rayong Red Cross and Rayong Hospital.

200 officers and marines from the training center donate blood for His Majesty The King’s 60 year thrown anniversary celebration.


Marines receive donation of 30 bulletproof vests

General Supachai Ingtulanont presents 30 bullet proof vests worth more than 400,000 baht to Captain Sivichai Sirisalee, Commander of the Royal Marines at Royal Navy Command Headquarters.

Patcharapol Panrak
Members of the Feng Shui Club and the Faa Fun Fai Club have made a donation of 30 bulletproof vests worth more than 400,000 baht to the Royal Marine Command.
Making the presentation at the Royal Navy Command Headquarters in Sattahip were General Supachai Ingtulanont, Narong Asakulkowit and Orasa Phanichakul. The jackets will be sent to those carrying out their duties in the three southernmost provinces.
Captain Sivichai thanked the delegation and said that there are not enough jackets to go around to supply those officers carrying out these very important duties for the nation. The jackets presented by the group can help to protect against handguns and M16s. Not only will the jackets help protect the physical body but will also boost the moral of the recipients.
The Feng Shui Club and the Faa Fun Fai Club decided to present the jackets due to the increasing severity of the situation in the south of the country.


Chonburi MP for Zone 7 visits OTOP village

Vice Admiral Roj Wipatphoomiprated (left) visits the Ban Khao Ing-Morn OTOP village in Sattahip.

Chatchanan Chaisree
Vice Admiral Roj Wipatphoomiprated, Chonburi MP for Zone 7, along with members of the “Pai Doo Phoo Than” program visited the Ban Khao Ing-Morn OTOP village in Sattahip on February 6, where they were welcomed by local administrative chief Natchaya Kuptaphan.
The visitors were presented with 5-star OTOP products that included fried mussel pancakes, artificial clay flowers and textile fibers, artificial flowers made from fish scales and from sa paper, bags made from ostrich eggshells, clay ceramics, and tasty fresh tofu milk.
Villagers explained that the OTOP products are doing well, with interest from overseas as well as from within Thailand. Ajarn Rungthiwa Muangsri regularly receives orders from Finland and Italy for clay and textile fiber artificial flowers. Plans are to continue developing OTOP products and quality.


Tourist Police carry out spot checks on guides

Boonlua Chatree
Tourist police set up a roadblock on the highway into Pattaya on the afternoon of February 8 for a spot check of tour guides bringing visitors into the city and surrounding areas.
Illegal tour guides and guides who take their tours into shops and restaurants where they are overcharged or otherwise cheated on goods and services continue to be a problem, and the police were stopping tour buses to demand documentation and trip route details from the guides.
A frequent complaint is that tourists have been taken to jewelry shops that sell them low-quality products at high prices. Chinese group tours are particularly prone to cheating by the tourist guides.
Pol Maj Col Panya Mamen, commander of the Tourist Police Department, said that his officers will continue to monitor the tour guides and set up checkpoints on the highways. He advises tourists to exercise caution and said that if any visitor feels that he or she has been cheated, the Tourist Police can be contacted at any time by calling 1155.

Tourist police set up a roadblock to check the legality of tour guides bringing visitors into the city and surrounding areas.


Pattaya City Council to set up team of young ambassadors

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Plans are being drawn up by city hall for a team of young tourism ambassadors who will promote the city and pass on their knowledge to others.
The concept was launched by Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay on February 6. Verawat said that along with its large number of international residents, more Thai people are moving to Pattaya, and not many of the population these days were actually born and bred in the city. City hall considers it important, therefore, to find people with the knowledge to pass on the history of Pattaya, especially among the young.

Verawat Khakhay, deputy mayor of Pattaya City, launches city hall’s plans to create a team of young tourism ambassadors.

The trainees have to be aged between 9 and 15 and be studying in Pattaya. They must have good communication skills and be prepared to carry out the duties of a young ambassador for a one-year period. Attendees will be taught the history of Pattaya administration, the image of Pattaya as a tourist destination, experiences from business operators, the situation in the hotels, food, tourism and social industries and information.
Furthermore, they will also go on field trips to tourist attractions like Wat Yansanworaram, Alcazar, Tiffany’s, and Underwater World. There is as yet no definite date for initiating the project, but it will be proposed a meeting of the council.


Training program conducted for sea rescue officers

Vimolrat Singnikorn
A training program for coastal and sea rescue officers was carried out on February 6, opened by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and with Chief Petty Officer First Class Chutipong Changpuok of the Special War Division of the Royal Navy Strategic Defense as speaker.

One of the sea rescue boats sits ready for use in emergencies.
Forty-four rescue officers of the Coastal and Sea Rescue Unit attended the program at the unit’s facility near Bali Hai Cape.
Pattaya City Council established the Coastal and Sea Rescue Unit to oversee sea safety for locals and tourists. Its jurisdiction covers four areas: Jomtien from Sigma Resort to Rachaworakun Yacht Club, from Rachaworakun Yacht Club to Dusit Resort, from Dusit Resort to Naklua Market and from Naklua Market to Krating Lai Canal. This total stretch of 15 kilometers is where large numbers of visitors go to relax and play water sports.
The sports in question include jet skis, banana boats, yachting, windsurfing and swimming. The program was held to improve efficiency and readiness of the operatives in carrying out rescue operations and to assure locals and tourists of their ability to provide assistance and promote safety.

Coastal and sea rescue officers attend the “Coastal and Sea Rescue Officers Training Program”.


Marines step down from duties in the South and enter reserves

Marines parade in front of their officers after returning from duty in the southern part of Thailand.  

Patcharapol Panrak
A special parade of Marines was conducted on January 31 to release personnel who have returned from a tour of duty in the South of Thailand.
Rear Admiral Pracha Silpsrikul conducted the parade at which the Marines will now become reservists. Captain Traikwan Krairuok, deputy commander of the training center, officially stood them down from active duty under Royal Naval order number 5/2006, releasing the 420th service Marine Group of 2003, Relief 4.
Although the Marines have been released from their active duty, they are a fit and experienced body of men who will be on standby for national defense duties. If the need arises they will be recalled.
Rear Admiral Pracha said that training for the Marines instills in the men a lifelong devotion to the Navy and to personal discipline, and that consequently they are regarded as being an example to the society in which they live regardless of whether or not they are active military personnel.


Tao Mahaprom takes the Princess Soamsawalee Cup

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Tao Mahaprom team took the Princess Soamsawalee Cup in the Thailand Dragon Dance Competition this year, collecting their prize on January 31 at a ceremony in Royal Garden Plaza.
Opening presenter of the awards was advisor to the prime minister Sontaya Khunplome. Adul Laohapol, president of the Rotary of Yaowarat, worked in conjunction with Pattaya City Council, TAT and Royal Garden Plaza Co Ltd in organizing the competition, held as part of the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.

The Tao Mahaprom Team won the Thailand Dragon Dance 2006 competition.

The event started on January 27, as the Chinese New Year festivities were getting underway. On the final day, January 31, six teams out of the total of 14 took part, with entries from Tao Mahaprom, Perm Wittaya School Nakhon Chaisri, Pichit, Prakhru Paowana Kittikhun, Sit Chao Por Jieo Tee Iea and Look Chaimongkol.
Dragon dancing is rather like gymnastics, but the individuals have to work in unison and to be consistent from head to tail. The body has movements that can be likened to a trombone and cymbals in the way it draws out and then comes together. When climbing, the dragon has to appear as if it really is climbing, and those working the dragon have to convince spectators that this is a moving, living creature and not a fancy-dress costume.
The winner of the Thailand Dragon Dance 2006 competition was the Tao Mahaprom team, receiving the Princess Soamsawalee Cup and 50,000 baht. Runner up was Perm Wittaya School Nakhon Chaisri, receiving 30,000 baht, and in third place was Sit Chao Por Jieo Tee Iea, receiving 20,000 baht.