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Sad end for Lame One Tusk
Efforts to save ailing elephant fail
Story and photos by Apichart Weerawong
Associated Press
Khun Song, Chantaburi All of Thailand watched on with great sorrow as a
50-year-old elephant that had been rescued from a mud hole in the jungle in
Khun Song sub-district in Chantaburi province died last Saturday.
Thai vet Peeraporn Manee-on, briefs a group of
Thai students and teachers on treatment for the injured wild elephant.
The five-ton elephant, nicknamed Peh Nga Diew or Lame One Tusk, was buried
later in the day in a ceremony presided over by Buddhist monks, said Boonlue
Poolnil, an official at the Khao Ang Rue-Ni wildlife sanctuary where rescue
workers had battled in vain to save the animal.
Peeraporn Manee-on, a Thai vet, 2nd right, and a
forestry officer help push the elephant to stand on its feet after being
released from a backhoe during the rescue operation.
National newspapers for several days had been filled with pictures of the
elephant lying helpless in the mud hole, attempting to pour water on itself.
It had fallen into the hole and its left hind leg was stuck in deep mud,
caused by weeks of heavy rains, and the elephant was unable to lift itself
because of a previous injury to its right rear leg that had rendered the
animal partly lame, said Boonlue Poonnil, head of the wildlife sanctuary.
 The
elephant briefly stands on its feet after being lifted and released from a
backhoe but failed to stand on its feet, stumbled and lied on the ground
after the robes were released.
Veterinarians had already been treating Peh Nga Diew in the wild for several
months.
A dozen forestry workers and veterinarians were unsuccessful in initial
attempts to push the elephant out of the mud. They initially dug a hole
around the beast with a backhoe and tried to scoop it up to its feet. Then
they tried manpower to push the animal up but to no avail.
So to help keep its strength up and fight off infection they fed it
antibiotics and vitamins stuffed inside bananas.
Then on Thursday hopes rose as they fastened a sling around the animal and
to the scoop of a backhoe and hoisted it out of the mud. The elephant was
however too weak to stand on its own, and fell over on its side next to the
mud hole.
“It looked very weak and could not eat,” Boonlue said.
 Peeraporn
Manee-on looks dejectedly at Peh Nga Diew lying on the ground after lifting
it off a muddy ditch but failed to stand on its feet.
The medical team, unsure what to do next, decided to construct a care
station around the beast, and called for some elephant trainers, or mahouts,
to survey the situation on Friday.
“His condition has not changed. We tried to give him nutrients, water and
stimulants, so he started to have more energy. We were able to pull him out
of the hole,” said Teeraporn Maneeon, a veterinarian from the Department of
National Parks, Wildlife and Plants.
“But he was laying down for a long time, and his leg has gone numb, and from
blood tests, we found that his muscles also have problems,” he said. “So we
have to focus on nutrients, and give him medicine to reduce the infection in
his muscles.”
Teeraporn’s prognosis was initially guardedly optimistic.
“When his body is ready, there is a chance that he will stand again because
right now he has the will to help himself again,” he said. “At first, he
didn’t have the will at all.”
The experience had however proved to be an exhausting one, and despite the
attentions of its rescuers the elephant succumbed.
Elephants used to roam over much of Thailand, but only an estimated 3,000
wild elephants now survive in national parks and other sanctuaries such as
Khao Ang Rue-Ni, which sprawls over parts of five provinces in Eastern
Thailand. Deforestation has forced many to move into surrounding farming
communities in search of food.
A roughly equal number of elephants are domesticated, serving as tourist
attractions or as beggars that roam Bangkok and other cities with their
keepers.
Smart ID card now available for Pattaya residents
Vimolrat Singnikorn
City hall has asked Pattaya residents to apply for one of the new smart
ID cards that are replacing the old-style ID card, and which are
available free at Pattaya City Registration Office from 8:30 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 A
citizen shows off his new futuristic smart card.
Applicants should bring along their existing ID card, copies of house
registration documents, and a passport if they have one.
Smart ID cards are used for storage of personal data and for greater
ease of contact with official and private organizations. The Thai
government has implemented the new card so that all regular information
is readily accessible, and holders need to present only the one card
when they are using government or private organization services.
Amongst the information stored on the card or accessed electronically
via the national database are details of education, health, occupation
and address changes. A 13-digit personal number will be used to verify
the holder’s identity and access the information.
Southern archway to open
on Queen’s Birthday
Narisa Nitikarn
A ceremony to mark the opening of the new Walking Street southern approach
archway will be held on August 12, Her Majesty the Queen’s 74th birthday.
 The
almost complete archway at the southern entrance to Walking Street.
A meeting was held at Pattaya District Office on July 14, chaired by Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, to plan the details. The celebrations, which will
also usher in the extended period that Walking Street will be closed to
traffic, will be held over the period August 11 to 13.
There will be three stages set up for live performances, and there will be a
beer drinking competition open to local and foreign tourists throughout the
three days from 23.00-24.30 hrs.
On 12 August the official archway opening ceremony will include a magic show
and a cheerleader show. Walking Street will have one hour added to the time
it is closed to traffic, with vehicles not allowed nighttime access until
after 3 a.m.
Military takes part in training for chemical emergencies
Patcharapol Panrak
Special training for medical staff and rescue personnel in the event of a
disaster involving dangerous chemicals was carried out under the auspices of
Thailand’s armed forces on July 6.
 The
military medical team gives emergency treatment to a ‘victim’ affected by
dangerous chemicals.
The government supported this large project, which was carried out for the
Maptapud industrial community and designed for preparedness in any event
such as an overturned chemical truck, chemical leaks, or even the use of
chemicals by hostile forces.
Rear Admiral Suriya na Nakorn, deputy surgeon general presided over the
opening ceremony, while Vice Air Marshal Peerapan Prateeprat, Air Force
deputy surgeon general together with a group of specialists conducted
training for doctors and nurses from the Apakorn Kiatiwong Naval Hospital in
Sattahip and Queen Sirikit Hospital at the Naval Medical Department.
Captain Thirat Hatayeet, director of the medical department at Apakorn
Kiatiwong Naval Hospital conducted training for the Battalion Patrol at the
Marine Command Department in Sattahip.
This was the first time for an exercise of this kind involving two branches
of the armed forces, and personnel from the Navy and the Air Force took part
in the exercises.
Beer bar contest will encourage girls to smarten up their act
Beer bar girls asked to present a better image
of the city.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya’s beer bar girls are being asked to smarten up their act and try and
present a better image of the city for visitors.
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkitkarn on July 12 called a meeting of bar owners
and operators at Pattaya City Hall to discuss how this could be achieved.
Also attending were Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Central Region Office 3, and Pol Cap Jeerawat Sukhontasrap, deputy
inspector of Pattaya Tourist Police.
Wuttisak said that employees of beer bars frequently create a negative image
of Pattaya tourism, and he singled out those in the Naklua area and Pattaya
Soi 6 as being impolite with tourists and dressing inappropriately. This was
a source of many complaints, he said.
Pol Cap Jeerawat proposed a best beer bar competition, which would set a
good example and encourage other beer bars to improve their service.
The meeting agreed with the idea for a competition, which city hall will
further discuss with associated departments. Wuttisak also directed the
Social Welfare Department to provide stickers with important phone numbers
such as those of the police station and the tourist police to be put up in
the bars.
Miss Thailand finals to be held at Alangkarn Theater
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay
(5th left) attended the press conference announcing the Miss Thailand 2006
finals in Pattaya.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Miss Thailand 2006 contest will be held on Sunday September 3 at
Pattaya’s Alangkarn Theater, where the 18 finalists who have come through
the earlier heats will be vying for a cash prize of one million baht plus a
car.
Announcement of the Pattaya venue was made on July 6 at the Imperial Queen’s
Park Hotel in Bangkok. Making the presentation were ITV, the Vajiravudh
College Alumni, the National Council of Women of Thailand, the TAT and
Pattaya City.
Also on the stage were Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and five former Miss
Thailands, namely Panadda Wongphoodee (2000), Sujira Arunpipat (2001),
Patiporn Sitthipong (2002), Chalisa Boonkrongsrap (2003) and Sirinya
Sattayasai (2004).
Miss Thailand 2006 will be chosen from a selection of contestants between
the ages of 18 and 25, with the judges looking for presentation, charm,
personality and confidence along with beauty.This year 40 women will be
selected from all of the applicants on August 14, and from these 18 will be
selected on August 15, with these heats taking place at SC Park Hotel.
The 18 finalists will tour locations in Pattaya for the making of a
promotional video, and the finals will then take place on Sunday September 3
at Alangkarn Theatre, with ITV broadcasting live. The winning prize for Miss
Thailand 2006 is 1 million baht, plus a diamond crown and a car. Those
wishing to compete can apply at ITV, the Vajiravudh College Alumni, the
Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, the SC Park Hotel, or online at
www.missthailand.itv.co.th, up to August 6. More information is provided at
ITV Beauty Pageant, tel 0 2791 1586 or 0 2791 1580-82.
Northeastern rice products promoted in Pattaya
Operators urged to encourage sales to foreign markets
Apichart Phoechphan, (4th left) Pattaya
deputy district chief , Vichak Visetnoi, (4th right) Deputy Director
General of the Department of Foreign Trade and Somsak Yanokphan,
Chonburi District Chief and Suphakit Thamsatitman, (2nd right)
Banglamung District chief presided over the northeastern rice promotion.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Thai fragrant rice was being promoted at an event organized by the
Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce on July 14, when
rice-mill owners and rice producers from the Northeast were brought to
meet restaurant, hotel and tourism operators and relevant government
agencies in the Eastern region.
The event was held at the Dusit Resort and chaired by Vichak Visetnoi,
deputy director general of the Department of Foreign Trade.
Vichak said that the department has a project for branding Thai fragrant
rice as a premium product. This is being run with the cooperation of the
19 rice-growing provinces in the Northeast. Quality rice producing mills
are being selected and they receive a stamp of approval, allowing that
province to brand its rice products.
Additionally alliances have been created with 10 major government and
private sector organizations to help spread the image of Thai fragrant
rice among the target group of 14 million tourists who visit Thailand.
The campaign has been very successful in certain areas, especially in
the major tourism cities in the country. This is the first time that the
event has been held in the Eastern region, and a mini exhibition was
also held selling the different branded rices of the six provinces that
have already received the seal of approval. There are seven mills in
Buriram, 13 in Surin, two in Amnajcharoen, and one each in Roi-et,
Yasothorn and Ubon Rachathani.
Teenage Thai-British schoolgirl seized in car chase
Boonlua Chatree
A 17-year-old girl of Thai-British parentage has been arrested following
a car chase that ensued after police set up an undercover operation to snare
an amphetamines dealer.
Questioning of an arrested ya ba dealer had revealed contact details of
another dealer, aged only 17 and known by the name of Jack. Police mounted
an undercover operation and arranged to buy 400 ya ba pills from Jack at a
location on Thappraya Road.
 Rungyot
and Patty in police custody.
At the appointed time, officers surrounded the location and waited for the
dealer to appear. A bronze Honda Jazz with two men and a girl inside drove
up to the place, but realizing it was a police trap the car sped off in the
direction of South Pattaya.
Zigzagging through the sois with the police in pursuit, the car eventually
emerged onto Sukhumvit Road and headed in the direction of Chonburi. Police
caught up with the fugitives at the Soi Arunothai intersection. By this time
there were only two people inside, namely the driver, identified as
24-year-old Rungyot Saetae, and a 17-year-old Thai-British schoolgirl given
the alias Ms Patty. Police didn’t see Jack the ya ba dealer, who had jumped
out of the car during the pursuit.
Officers searched the vehicle and found 21 ya ba pills hidden in the horn
compartment. Rungyot said that Jack was from the soi next to Samakeetham
Temple and had hired him for two ya ba pills to pick up his girl Ms Patty
and deliver ya ba to a customer. When they arrived at the location of the
appointment they saw the police officers and fled. Jack jumped out during
the pursuit. They didn’t know about the hidden ya ba. Police detained both
of them for further investigation, and charged them with illegal cooperation
in possessing a Class 1 narcotic. Jumping Jack is currently being sought.
Teenagers arrested for armed robbery of Briton in his luxury home
Boonlua Chatree
Two teenage burglars have been arrested for breaking into the house of a
British man, tying him up, and making off with property worth more than
400,000 baht.
Police armed with a warrant issued by Pattaya District Court for the two,
identified only by the aliases of Nat, age 16, and Keng, 17, arrested them
during the afternoon of July 14 and took them to the house on Thappraya Soi
to reenact the crime (Pattaya Mail July 7).
The robbers re-enact their robbery at the scene of the crime.
Paul Edward Futcher, a 55-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom, said that
on the night of June 23 he had been working alone in the house when the two
boys broke in. They had a gun and forced him to open the safe before tying
him up and gagging him.
Police investigations have revealed that three people were involved in the
crime, with a man identified as Narong Rat-Enungkul, 29, as the gang leader.
Narong had previously been arrested by Pattaya police numerous times,
including five occasions for the possession of drugs and on other occasions
for more than 20 cases of burglary in Pattaya and Banglamung.
Arrest warrants were issued for the three, but Narong evaded police.
Officers found a fake gun and the clothes worn at the crime when making the
arrest of the two boys, who demonstrated how they entered the house. They
told officers that they had committed similar crimes throughout the area,
dividing the spoils between themselves. Police are still looking for Narong.
Residents rescue burning cable thief, then caste a curse of impotency on him
Patcharapol Panrak
Police and rescue workers from the Rojana Thammasataan Foundation rushed to
answer a call for help at 02:30 hrs on July 15 after a man fell from an
electricity pylon at Sattahip Electricity Generating Plant in Bang Srae
after receiving a shock.
Rescue workers look at the burnt body of the would-be cable thief.
The man, later identified as Panuwat Chantasee, 18, of Bang Srae was taken
to Somdet Hospital at the Sattahip Naval Base. He had suffered severe burns
to his body and was in critical condition.
Security personnel at Sattahip Electricity Generating Plant meanwhile
apprehended two of the victim’s friends, a male and female who had conspired
to steal copper earthing cables from the 22 kv electricity pylon and had
caused a massive blackout of Sattahip in the process.
Witnesses told officers that two motorcycles had parked near the pylon. They
heard a scream and ran out to investigate, and found the victim lying in a
drainage ditch burning. They smothered the flames and called for help.
Police and electricity authority officials carried out an inspection of the
area and found that six high-voltage earth cables had been cut and left
lying around. The two accomplices however fled the scene on their
motorcycles.
When the locals realized what had happened and the victim hadn’t died they
put a curse on him that his sexual organ would fail to operate for the rest
of his life. Police said he would be charged.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Three teenagers attempt to push stolen motorcycle home to
Sattahip
Three teenagers who came into Pattaya from Sattahip to steal a
motorcycle were arrested when they were seen attempting to push it all the
way home, as they couldn’t start the engine.
A police patrol saw the youths at 5:00 a.m. in the morning of July 13, at
the Pattaya City limits and heading in the direction of Sattahip. They were
on two motorcycles and were pushing a third motorbike on foot. Police
inspected the bike, a white Yamaha Mio, and found that it could not be
started as the lock was damaged. The officers found a T-shaped hexagon iron
on one of the other motorcycles.
The three, identified by the aliases Bat, Tangmo and Em, all 17 and all
residents of Putaluang in Sattahip, admitted they stole the motorcycle from
outside Honey Inn Thai Traditional Massage on Soi Bua Kao, in Pattaya Klang.
Police escorted them to be identified at the scene before taking them to
Pattaya police station for further investigation. The motorcycle’s owner, Ms
Warunee Muller, 31, the owner of the massage salon, was sleeping at the time
of the theft.
The youths stated that they had arranged with each other to steal something
in Pattaya City. They came from Sattahip at 1:00 a.m. They had prepared a
T-shaped hexagon iron to use as a robbery tool. They went from one building
to another looking for a Yamaha Mio, which they preferred, until they found
Warunee’s motorcycle parked in front of her shop. They forced the lock, but
couldn’t start the motorbike. Therefore they decided to push it by foot from
Pattaya back home to Sattahip.
The youths claimed this was the first time they had done this. They said
they had learned to prepare robbery tools from other teenagers in Sattahip.
Police charged them with theft.
Teenage bag snatch get away with amulet
Two teenage thieves snatched at a gold necklace and Buddha amulet worn by
the Thai wife of a British man, but were caught by police near the scene of
the crime.
Police received a report at 4:00 a.m. on July 14 from Anthony Brake, a
40-year-old British national who said he was on his way home with his Thai
wife Mrs Samning Brake after a night out in North Pattaya. They were riding
their motorcycle along Soi Paniedchang, in Naklua. The soi was deserted
until a motorcycle appeared with two youths, their faces hidden by helmets.
They rode alongside and the passenger snatched his wife’s 5-baht gold
necklace.
The necklace broke and the couple’s motorcycle capsized. The thieves made
off in the direction of Sukhumvit Road, holding only the amulet.
Police went in pursuit of the two youths and found them riding a red Honda
Wave 100. They were traveling on Sukhumvit Road at North Pattaya. Police
stopped them. The youths, both 17 years old, have been identified by the
aliases of B and Ya.
The victims were unable to make a positive identification, as the two
thieves had their faces covered, and the snatch caused the married couple’s
motorcycle to turn over in the road, injuring them both slightly. The amulet
was not found, and police believe it was discarded.
PBTA plans to promote Pattaya in the Ukraine
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association is planning on taking a
roadshow to the Ukraine from July 23 to 30 with the intention of opening up
new tourism markets there for Pattaya.
Tawit Chaisawangwong, City Council Chairman, Surat Mekavarakul, Past President of
PBTA, Chamroon Witsawachaiyaphan, VP,PBTA, and Thanet Supornsaharungsi
announce the road shows to promote Pattaya.
PBTA president Thanet Supornsaharungsi made the announcement at the
association’s monthly meeting, held on July 12 at the Green Park Resort.
Thanet said that the PBTA was working in cooperation with the Tourism
Authority of Thailand Central Region 3 office to take a roadshow through
Northeast Thailand, stopping off in Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchatani, Khon
Kaen and Udon Thani with the intention of increasing tourism during the low
season from July to August. The tour would also cross the Mekong to
Vientiane in Laos.
Thanet said that official and private organizations were being targeted,
with offers to stage their seminars and workshops in Pattaya at a special
price, together with attractive discounts at a large number of outlets such
as hotels, restaurants and stores.
The road show would then go on to the Ukraine, with the objective of
promoting Pattaya there and opening up new markets.
City hall promotes yoga
for healthy body and mind
Piyavadee Suvannahong
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay presided over a yoga workshop at the conference
room of the Public Health Center on June 29, held for city employees and
volunteer officers.
 Yogi
Sudjai Nilawat speaks of the benefits of practicing the ancient Indian
physical and mental exercises, which is intended to give control over the
body and mind.
Mrs Wannaporn Chaemchamrat, director of the Public Health and Environmental
Department, said the purpose of the project was for participants to improve
the health of their mind and body, which would result in greater work
efficiency.
The instructor was Sudjai Nilawat from the Kaehat Yoga Institute, who said
that yoga is gaining in popularity because it is not only an exercise but
relaxes the mind and improves respiration. It is useful for blood
circulation and a fine complexion, and can solve problems with the body’s
joints and bones.
Older people take more interest than youngsters, said Sudjai, and in fact
many younger people have a mistaken impression that yoga is for losing
weight, although it is better they use yoga exercises for weight control
than try other methods such as slimming pills.
The general public is also invited to yoga sessions, which are free and are
held each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. until August 24. For
further information please contact the Public Health Center on Soi Buakhao,
Tel. 038 420 823
Low-cost housing project gets launched at Jomtien
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The official opening of the Uea-a-thorn housing project in Jomtien took
place on June 30 at Pattaya City Hall, with former advisor to the prime
minister Sontaya Khunplome presiding.
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Stability, and the Ministry of
Finance had worked together on this project that allows underprivileged
people to own their own homes, and the two ministries had assigned the
National Housing Authority to construct the buildings.
 The project is launched with a burst of confetti as Sontaya Khunplome
symbolically opens the door to the new homes.
Uea-a-thorn is an apartment building with three floors and 117 units, each
with an approximate area of 33 sq m with one bedroom, one multi-purpose
room, one bathroom, and one kitchen/ washing area. The project is located on
Sukhumvit Km 155 in Jomtien, close to the Alangkarn Theater and opposite the
Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel. The approximate area is 151 rai. Construction
is being undertaken by Thanayong (Public) Co Ltd, and scheduled to be
completed within of 20 months.
Sontaya said that although Uea-a-thorn is located away from the city center,
this area is a thriving suburban area and home to many communities small and
large.
People who are eligible to apply for one of the housing units need to be
Thai nationals with a total family income of less than 22,000 baht per
month.
Happy Birthday Mayor Niran
Sittiparp Muangkhum, Pattaya
city clerk led city officials and staff to wish Mayor Niran a Happy Birthday
on the morning of July 12. Mayor Niran was born on July 12, 1960. He is a
native of Pattaya and has served the city in various capacities throughout
the years before being elected mayor. The staff of Pattaya Mail wishes him
many happy returns of the day and we hope that his birthday wish is to make
Pattaya a better, safer and cleaner place to live in for residents and
visitors alike.
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