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The Kingdom rejoices as our beloved King celebrates His 79th Birthday
Diamond Jubilee celebrations continue
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
(center) leads government officials and the populace in a candle lit
ceremony.
The festivities began early at
Banglamung District Office when residents, public officials, students and
guests presented alms to 80 monks from temples in and around Pattaya, in
honour of His Majesty.
Staff Reporters
December the 5th is considered to be the most important day for the Thai
people, for on this day, we celebrate our beloved King’s birthday. This day
is also considered National Day and Father’s Day.
 Dr.
Olivier Meyer (3rd right) President of the Pattaya Marina Rotary Club leads
his members to present alms during the morning ceremonies in Banglamung.
As His Majesty reached his 79th birthday this year, the Thai nation
celebrated again, with every person from the youngest to the oldest renewing
their pledge of loyalty and devotion to our great King.
In Pattaya, the streets resembled a huge sunflower field, as thousands of
residents were adorned in yellow, HM the King’s color, as they gathered to
pay homage and respect to HM the King and wish him the happiest of
birthdays.
The festivities began early at Banglamung District Office when residents,
public officials, students and guests presented alms to 80 monks from
temples in and around Pattaya, in honour of His Majesty.
 Seemingly
blessed by His Majesty the King on Father’s Day.
After the religious ceremonies, government officials from all government
organizations and members of the public gathered to pay homage to His
Majesty. Nine Banglamung village headmen were then presented with Royal
decorations, which they received with the highest of reverance from in front
of a life-size portrait of His Majesty the King. This was followed with the
placing of the traditional gold and silver ornaments at the foot of a large
portrait of HM the King as a sign of love and respect for the father of the
Thai nation.
The populace was then led in reading a proclamation pledging their loyalty
and good intentions to lead their lives on the path of righteousness and
truth. The people also pledged to help in uniting all the people of Thailand
to live together in peace and harmony.
In the afternoon, a parade of more than 3000 people walked down Beach Road
towards Bali Hai pier where the evening ceremonies were held. A run in
honour of His Majesty was also organized.
Citizens from all walks of life, including both the public and private
sector, turned out in huge numbers to queue up to pay their respects by
placing their gold and silver ornaments at the foot of His Majesty’s
portrait.
The evening ceremony was presided over by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn,
who led the multitude of joyful people in reconfirming their pledge and
devotion to our beloved King. At the auspicious hour, which was also
observed by people all over Thailand, candles were lit and the night air was
filled with the voices of thousands of people singing songs of praise to
Their Majesties the King and Queen.
The evening ceremonies culminated with the firing of hundreds of fireworks
into the night sky bringing cheers of joyfulness from the populace.
Many venues around town also organized Father’s Day activities.
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya invited more than 50 grandmothers and grandfathers
from Banglamung for dinner and shows, followed by a candlelit ceremony, led
by Hard Rock GM Andrew Khoo, to pay homage to HM the King.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo was the preferred choice for thousands of people
celebrating Father’s Day. So many, in fact, that traffic jams started early,
with tail-backs as long as 6 kilometers. The featured new attraction at the
zoo was tulips from Chiang Mai, as well as many special Father’s Day
activities.
This year marked a milestone in the annals of Thai history as Thailand is
holding a year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s
accession to the Throne on June 9, 1946. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
the Great, the Ninth King of the Rama Dynasty is the world’s longest
reigning and serving Monarch.
The populace was then led in reading a proclamation
pledging their loyalty and good intentions to lead their lives on the path
of righteousness and truth. The people also pledged to help in uniting all
the people of Thailand to live together in peace and harmony.
In the afternoon, a parade of more than 3000 people walked down Beach Road
towards Bali Hai pier where the evening ceremonies were held. A run in
honour of His Majesty was also organized.
Citizens from all walks of life, including both the public and private
sector, turned out in huge numbers to queue up to pay their respects by
placing their gold and silver ornaments at the foot of His Majesty’s
portrait.
The evening ceremony was presided over by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn,
who led the multitude of joyful people in reconfirming their pledge and
devotion to our beloved King. At the auspicious hour, which was also
observed by people all over Thailand, candles were lit and the night air was
filled with the voices of thousands of people singing songs of praise to
Their Majesties the King and Queen.
The evening ceremonies culminated with the firing of hundreds of fireworks
into the night sky bringing cheers of joyfulness from the populace.
Many venues around town also organized Father’s Day activities.
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya invited more than 50 grandmothers and grandfathers
from Banglamung for dinner and shows, followed by a candlelit ceremony, led
by Hard Rock GM Andrew Khoo, to pay homage to HM the King.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo was the preferred choice for thousands of people
celebrating Father’s Day. So many, in fact, that traffic jams started early,
with tail-backs as long as 6 kilometers. The featured new attraction at the
zoo was tulips from Chiang Mai, as well as many special Father’s Day
activities.
This year marked a milestone in the annals of Thai history as Thailand is
holding a year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s
accession to the Throne on June 9, 1946. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
the Great, the Ninth King of the Rama Dynasty is the world’s longest
reigning and serving Monarch.
The Royal Thai Military looked
impressive in leading the parade.
The Pattaya Mail team proudly
takes part in the parade.
Thousands of candles light up
the lawn at Bali Hai pier.
The Thai-Sikh community in
Pattaya show great respect in their paying homage to HM the King and wishing
him the happiest of birthdays.
Mayor leads ceremony to pay respect to King Taksin on the 28th anniversary of Pattaya City’s founding
Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya City Administrators, and officials present
offerings to The Great King Taksin at the King Taksin Monument in front of
Pattaya City Hall.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
City hall on November 29 organized a ceremony to pay respect to King Taksin
the Great, an event that also celebrated the 28th anniversary of Pattaya
City being established.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presided over the ceremony along with deputy
mayors, city councilors, heads of departments, and Pattaya City employees.
November being the month that Pattaya City was established, city hall has
selected this month to also pay respect to King Taksin, who is considered
Pattaya’s founding father.
The ceremony began at 9 a.m. with participants gathered in front of the King
Taksin Monument to present offerings. At 10 a.m. the mayor lit candles and
joss sticks and nine monks led the Buddhist ceremony.
Pattaya’s story is generally considered to have begun in 1767. Burma had
invaded Thailand, sacking the city of Ayutthaya. A Thai general named
Kampaengpetch grouped an army together and began a long march towards the
Burmese forces, pausing both at the present Wat Yaiintararam and at
Bannongpai, on Sukhumvit Road, the area where Pattaya Provincial Police
Station is now located.
Kampaengpetch routed the Burmese forces, driving them forever out of
Thailand, and acceded to the Thai throne as King Taksin.
Pattaya City was created on November 29, 1978, having risen quickly from
fishing village to city municipality status largely under the impetus of
Thailand’s burgeoning tourism industry.
Mai Chaiyanit elected first mayor
of Nongprue Municipality
Historic election marks transformation from sub-district status
Boonlua Chatree
Mai Chaiyanit has been elected the first mayor of Nongprue Municipality in a
historic election that followed the transformation of the former Nongprue
Sub-district to municipality status.
 Mai
Chaiyanit, the future Mayor of Nongprue Municipality easily won the
election.
Two candidates stood for the position in the November 26 election, namely
Mai who was former chairman of the Nongprue Sub-district administration, and
Apisret Saksek.
The election was held to also appoint council members, the municipality
being divided into three zones and 43 administrative units. There needed to
be six council members for each zone, a total of 18 people.
Mai’s Nongprue Development Group fielded 18 candidates, and a large number
of independents also stood. In Zone 1 there were a total of 22 candidates,
Zone 2 had 10, and Zone 3 had nine. Consequently, the excitement leading up
to the voting was intense, especially in Zone 1.
On the morning of November 26 the election committee opened polling stations
at the temples and public buildings designated as official locations.
Approximately 30,000 people were registered to vote.
After the polling stations closed the voting boxes were taken to the
Nongprue Municipality offices. There the votes for each zone were counted, a
process that finished at 1 a.m. on November 27.
Mai Chaiyanit became mayor with 6,693 votes, his rival Apisret Saksek
trailing him but still garnering a respectable 2,883 votes.
Mai’s Nongprue Development Group swept the board in Zone 1, its candidates
taking all six locations within the three zones. Those taking office are
Somchai Chimwiset (1,930 votes), Wichai Luangmuang (1,855), Man Indharapitak
(1,730), Wichan Biaklai (1,683), Surasit Ratchasee (1,431), and Yongyuth
Charoenrat (1,384).
In Zone 2, two Nongprue Development Group candidates, Paibun Bilsalem and
Yaya Sensuree, lost to two independents but the other four places went to
Mai’s men. The results were Wirat Pattanangam (2,166), Somsak Jaedaman
(2,051), Preecha Wongsiriwimol (1,862), Wira Thabphan (1,645), Sanga
Yuthanama (independent, 1,616), and Sanor Sroisakul (independent, 1,521).
In Zone 3, the Nongprue Development Group won outright with Wanchai Saenngam
(1,947), Suwat Ratchatawattanakul (1,923), Narong Polluk-In (1,849), Prayut
Panprasong (1,824), 5), Tiang Amhae (1,747), and Tasana Petchsisi (1,725).
Protestors say no sea view for Jomtien Complex when View Talay is completed
Protestors set off down
Jomtien Beach, demanding the city stop construction of a condominium that
will eventually block their view of the ocean.
Boonlua Chatree
The view from the point of view of View Talay No 7, a new condominium
complex that is to be built in front of the Jomtien Complex building, became
less rosy when more than 100 local residents and foreigners who live in the
latter building organized a mass protest, saying the new block will block
their view.
Protestors gathered at 2 p.m. on November 29 in front of the Jomtien Complex
on Jomtien Beach, demanding that construction of View Talay Project No 7 by
View Talay Co Ltd be stopped.
Signs in Thai and English were held aloft, and the protestors then moved to
Pattaya City Hall, where six of them met with Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3
Office Chaiwat Charoensuk, and Pichet Uthaivatananon, head of the Pattaya
City engineering department.
Mrs Napaporn Srinoi, a 46-year-old resident of Jomtien Complex, who led the
group of six, said that the land to build View Talay Condo No 7 initially
belonged to Jomtien Complex Co Ltd. The company sold the land to a developer
under the understanding that a seven-floor condominium building would be
erected. It was subsequently discovered that permission had been given for a
27-story project. Foundation work has already begun.
Niran said that the plans to build View Talay Condo No 7 were correct and in
order. As the project came within the jurisdiction of the Department of
Natural Resources and the Environment, the department had given permission
to build. After that the building plans were presented to Pattaya City.
After being checked, they were found to adhere correctly to the building
regulations.
Pattaya City does not have the power to stop the construction, said Niran,
and the law doesn’t have the power to force the stoppage of any construction
blocking the view.
Wattana discusses further ways to reduce number of beggars
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon on November 30 held a meeting at
Pattaya City Hall to try and find some solutions to the problem of homeless
people and beggars in the city.
 Deputy
Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon is trying to find some solutions to the
problem of homeless people and beggars in the city.
Attending the meeting were representatives of the Social Welfare and
Stability Office of Chonburi Province, Pattaya Police Station, Pattaya
Immigration, and the Tourist Police Station 4 in Division 2 of the Tourist
Police Department.
Statistics for 2005 show that Pattaya City arrested 535 homeless children
and beggars during that year, and placed them with social welfare
establishments for further help. During 2006, to date, there have been 390
arrests, showing a significant decrease.
However, with the aim of Pattaya City becoming a town without homeless
children or beggars, city hall is making a concerted effort with local
departments and bureaus to further eradicate the problem.
Wattana said that there are two aspects to this aim, one being that it helps
those who suffer from problems of homelessness and acute poverty, and the
other being that Pattaya’s image as an attractive city is enhanced.
Soi Honey Inn entrepreneurs request delay in drainage project
Entrepreneurs from Soi Honey
Inn gathered to ask Pattaya City to postpone construction until high season
is over.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Businesspeople from Soi Honey Inn and the immediate vicinity in South
Pattaya on November 30 petitioned city hall to delay the laying of drainage
pipes in their area until the high season was over, as they felt the project
would inconvenience visitors and have a negative effect on business.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh met the
protestors at Pattaya City Hall.
The Soi Honey Inn area is particularly prone to retaining water after heavy
rain, and city hall has scheduled a drainage project that would involve
digging up large areas of road and sidewalk. The project was, however,
scheduled to begin during the prime season for tourism.
Niran said he sympathized with the problems of the protestors, and responded
to their request by postponing the construction project until May 1 next
year, by which time Pattaya’s high season will be over.
Norwegian bar owner who slapped bar girl is stabbed with broken bottle
Boonlua Chatree
A Norwegian beer bar owner who argued with a bargirl and slapped her was
injured when she fought back with a broken beer bottle.
 Terje
Salvesfn (left) and Somnuk Puangmanee, neither willing to make amends,
threatened to press charges against each other.
Police were called out at 2 a.m. on November 30 to the Collate Beer Bar at
the beginning of Soi 12 and Second Road. The officers found Terje Salvesfn,
a 43-year-old Norwegian national who owned the bar, bleeding heavily from
cuts to his right arm and hand that had been caused by a broken bottle. His
Thai wife was helping him stand.
Salvesfn was still arguing with Ms Somnuk Puangmanee, a 33-year-old bargirl
from the Tim Beer Bar. Her neck was bruised and her face was red from being
slapped. In her hand was a broken beer bottle with its jagged edges covered
in blood.
Police established that Salvesfn was Somnuk’s former boss, and that she had
left his employ to work at the nearby Tim Beer Bar. Bad blood developed
between the two, which led to the fight.
Somnuk told police that she ran back to her bar but the Norwegian followed
her, so she grabbed a beer bottle and broke it on the table, then stabbed
him with the jagged end. It was not established why she had gone to
Salvesfn’s bar in the first place.
Neither party was willing to make amends, and both threatened to press
charges. Police took them to hospital for treatment.
Truck collides with school bus injuring
3 kindergarten students
Patcharapol Panrak
Three children were injured when a 10-wheel truck collided with a Julathep
School bus that was taking kindergarten children back to their homes.
 3
kindergarten students were injured when a 10-wheel truck hit their school
bus.
The accident, which happened late in the afternoon of November 24, occurred
at the Soi Suk-Iam intersection, in Bangsarae, Sattahip.
Police received a report on the accident at 5:30 p.m. At the scene, officers
found that a green Isuzu truck, driven by 55-year-old Nop Sanga-Iam, had
struck the yellow bus in the center of its right side. A local citizen had
rushed the injured to Queen Sirikit Hospital, at the Navy Medical
Department.
The injured were a seven year old boy who sustained injuries to his left
hip, a seven year old girl who had injuries to her right ear, and a five
year old girl. Also injured was 27-year-old Yuttana Chomdokmai, the driver
of the school bus, who sustained chest injuries from the steering wheel of
his vehicle.
Yuttana said he had taken a group of primary school students to attend the
Buddha Buttara Camp at Srong Metta Wanaram Temple, and collected 10
kindergarten students to take back to their homes. He left the temple and
when he arrived at the Soi Suk-Iam junction a 10-wheel truck collided with
his bus.
Police charged both drivers with reckless driving.
German chef caught taking videos of schoolgirls in playground
Boonlua Chatree
Police have detained a German chef who was recording a video of schoolgirls
playing in a public park near to Watsuthawas School.
 Heinrich
Telser was arrested for filming schoolgirls’ underwear.
Two members of the public, a Thai woman and her foreign husband, reported
the man’s suspicious behavior to the officer in charge at a nearby police
box. Officers observed the man standing behind a tree about 50 meters from
where children were playing on playground equipment, and saw that he was
using a video camera.
The police approached him. He was identified as Heinrich Telser, a
53-year-old German national who worked as a chef at the Ganischger-Hof
restaurant in Bochano, Italy. Officers checked the Sony video camera that he
was using and found he had recorded uniformed female school students playing
on a slide, and that the video zoomed in on them under their skirts. Telser
was taken to Banglamung Police Station for questioning.
He stated he had been staying in Pattaya for two months at the Pattaya Klang
Condominium on Soi Nokkao. He was due to return to his own country the
following day. Telser said he had just purchased a Sony video camera from a
camera shop in Pattaya City, and was testing the zoom lens by standing away
from the playground and zooming in on the children playing.
The couple who had reported the man to the police said they were collecting
their child, who was a student at Watsuthawas School, when they noticed a
man standing behind a tree with a video camera. They notified the police.
Pol Col Nopadol Sornsamran, superintendent at Banglamung Police Station,
said that as a first step Telser was being charged under Code 397, which
includes acts of public nuisance and can result in a jail term of one month
or a 1,000 baht fine, or both. Telser was fined 1,000 baht, but police have
searched his residence to see if he is in possession of any other obscene
materials.
Russian injured as para-sail towrope snags on light pole
Boonlua Chatree
A Russian man para-sailing at Jomtien Beach had his leg broken when his tow
rope snagged on a lamppost as he was descending to the beach.
Police from Dongtan Sub-branch Police Station were called out at 4:30 p.m.
on November 29 along with officers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation. The
accident had occurred near the entrance to Soi 18. Mrturpla Tonov, a
32-year-old Russian national, was wearing a swimsuit and para-sailing
equipment. His parachute was still entangled with a light pole on the beach.
After he was freed he was taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for treatment.
Chalard Larpwethee, age 39, the owner of the speedboat named Larpwethee that
had been towing Tonov was questioned. He said Tonov had rented a parachute
for 500 baht and had been pulled into the air three times. With the session
ending, Tonov was being brought back. As he was descending onto the beach,
the tow cable became entangled with a light pole, and Tonov was pulled into
the pole, hitting it heavily before he fell to the ground.
Chalard said he would pay for the man’s medical treatment.
Royal Thai Navy conducts ceremony on King Rama VI Memorial Day
Admiral Sathirapan Kaeyanon,
commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces, presides over the wreath laying
ceremony on King Rama VI Memorial Day.
Patcharapol Panrak
Admiral Sathirapan Kaeyanon, commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces,
presided over a wreath laying ceremony on King Rama VI Memorial Day,
November 25, at the King Rama VI Monument at Km 6 on the Sattahip-Rayong
Road.
Representatives of government departments, state enterprises, private
organizations and educational institutes attended the ceremony.
King Rama VI, the sixth King of the Chakri Dynasty, passed away on November
25, 1925. Each year ceremonies are held throughout the country in his
memory.
Carnival set for beginning of May 2007
High hopes for stimulating tourism but budget is cut by 50%
Last year’s Pattaya Carnival
was a colorful and fun event.
Narisa Nitikarn
Pattaya Carnival 2007 will be held early in May, and although its budget has
been cut by 50 percent the carnival is intended to stimulate tourism during
the low season.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay held a meeting at Pattaya City Hall on November
30 along with councilor Pisai Panomwan na Ayutthaya and representatives of
the Tourism Authority of Thailand, hotel operators, and local business
people.
Verawat said that the carnival must evolve its own unique identity that can
be associated with Pattaya, and that the intention is to hold the event
every year.
The meeting discussed the schedule, and agreed the carnival should take
place over the period Friday to Sunday during the first week of May. This is
during the low season, and the intention is to encourage tourists to travel
to Pattaya.
The focus of the carnival will be discussed at a subsequent meeting, the
main objective being that it will be a better event than the previous one.
A budget of 5 million baht has been allocated, 50 percent less than the
budget for the carnival this year, which was 10 million baht.
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