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Sun spectacular for Pattaya
Boonlua Chatree
A solar phenomenon over Pattaya had people gazing upwards in wonderment on
June 1, as for two hours and nine minutes the sun was surrounded by a corona
of seven colors.
Traditionalists believe that a higher spirit was bringing prosperity and
blessings, whilst the more pragmatic explained that conditions high in the
atmosphere created a spectrum effect that filters out the various colors and
produces what appears to be a series of rings around the sun.
Thais have always paid religious observance to the sun, the name Pra Atid
giving it a god-like status. This is reflected in the symbolism of objects
such as the state umbrella used by monks on a pilgrimage, which represents
them as being surrounded by sunlight.
The scientific explanation for the solar corona phenomenon is that it begins
in the lowest layer of the atmosphere, which is called the troposphere. Air
in the troposphere is heated from the ground up. Under certain conditions,
when the troposphere becomes unstable due to a combination of heat and
rainfall, the sun’s rays are refracted in a similar way to the creation of a
rainbow and a series of haloes can be seen around the sun.
This solar phenomenon sometimes occurs at the end of the rainy season, and
the beginning of winter. The usual time is from before 10 a.m. to after
midday, after which the sun’s heat stabilizes the atmospheric conditions.
Seldom does the phenomenon occur after midday, as it did on June 1.
The weather during this particular day was not too hot, and there was no
rain. It is believed that a windstorm elsewhere helped to create this odd
but very welcome effect.
The solar phenomenon was viewed with particular excitement from the offices
of the Pattaya Mail, as it coincided with the upcoming 14th anniversary of
the founding of the newspaper.
Police check
foreign passports
at Niran Grand Condo
Narisa Nitikarn
A police swoop on Niran Grand Condo to check the documentation of foreign
passport holders resulted in just one Russian man being unable to present
his passport.
 Pol.
Col. Sutin Suppuang (right), superintendent at the Pattaya Police Station,
thoroughly checks each room.
The raid by more than 50 local officers and volunteers took place on May 23
and was led by Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, superintendent of Pattaya
Immigration Office and Pol Col Sutin Suppuang, superintendent of Pattaya
Police Station. It was carried out with the full cooperation of the owner of
the Niran Grand Condo.
A check of the records revealed that foreigners occupied more than 500 rooms
of the building, which is more than half of all the rooms. However, only 10
percent of them could be verified.
In one of the rooms, a Russian named Burkovski Vitali, age 51, was unable to
present his passport, saying that it was with his friend in Bangkok. He was
initially put on a charge of illegal entry into Thailand.
The Immigration Act of Thailand for 1979 says that when an alien has
received permission to stay temporarily in the country, the owner or
operator of the residence at which he or she is staying must notify the
authorities within 24 hours of time of arrival. Any foreigner who intends
staying here longer than 90 days needs to notify Immigration.
Pol Col Ittipol said that Pattaya Immigration Office has a modern service
and that hotel and guesthouse operators can immediately provide
notifications through the internet, rather than visit the bureau.
He added that one of the main operational problems for Immigration in
Pattaya was in communicating with Russian and French people, because often
these two nationalities cannot speak English. However, Immigration has
volunteer interpreters who provide support.
The Immigration Office needs better cooperation from operators of small
hotels and guesthouses, but this is growing, he said. Immigration had
initially begun its internet registration program with a target based on the
accommodations within the Provincial Police Region 2, and with the
cooperation of Banglamung and Pattaya police stations.
Ittipol said control of the large number of aliens visiting and residing in
Pattaya was essential if the city was to remain a stable and secure place.
Baht buses make
a profit of 1.4M baht
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya’s baht buses made a profit of 1.4 million baht last year, according
to Jamlong Sukprom, chairman of the Pattaya Baht Bus Taxi Co Ltd, the
cooperative under which all the drivers and vehicles work.
Jamlong was addressing the cooperative’s annual general meeting and the
figure quoted was for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
Officers from the Chonburi Traffic Department attended the meeting, as did
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and his advisor Itthipol Khunplome.
The meeting was held at the Town in Town Hotel on May 25. After the
financial results were read out and a summary of the committee work
reported, Jamlong said that each member of the cooperative would receive 50
baht for each taxi number, and a 100 baht dividend.
Isuzu presented jackets to the drivers to thank the cooperative for buying
so many Isuzu trucks.
Jamlong said that currently there are 412 members with more than 700 baht
buses. Capital for operations at the end of December 31, 2006 was
10,610,270.36 baht. This amount included a debt of 1,191,965.56 baht. The
capital stock of 663,000 baht accumulated a capital of 4,819,887.40 baht,
and a profit for the year of 1,405,779.88 baht was declared.
Municipal police issued with warning
No more bribe taking says city hall
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
City hall has issued a warning to Pattaya’s municipal police after receiving
complaints about their conduct, and has given them three months in which to
improve their standards.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn says he is ready to punish inappropriate acts
performed by municipality police.
The warning was issued on May 31 by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, after a Pattaya lawyer was asked to look into
the complaints that had been made over abuse of police powers.
Ronakit said the warning amounted to a performance policy concerning honesty
and adherence to lawful practices, and makes it clear that extortion of
money from people is illegal. He pointed out that the municipal police have
an employment contract that is renewed every year, and that any officer
found committing acts against the regulations could find himself in
contractual difficulties.
Niran said that the current image of Pattaya’s municipal police is opposite
to that of policy, and that the city’s image suffers accordingly.
The mayor said that city hall policy divides police work into three distinct
areas, namely Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien. However, officers are only
carrying out their duties in certain areas, and neglecting others. A new
understanding needs to be created in which the police revise their
operational coverage.
Niran said that if the present problems are found to persist within the next
two to three months, offending officers might have to be removed from duty.
“They should be proud to conduct their duties,” said the mayor, “even though
their work requires a high level of endurance.
“Senior officers should behave well, and set an example for the others.
Ultimately, this is all good for Pattaya’s international reputation.”
East West complains increase in garbage
is beyond contract responsibility
East West Management Co Ltd is
currently handling 40 tons more garbage than their original contract called
for, and they don’t particularly like it.
Wanwadee Wongwan
East West Management Co Ltd, the company that has a concession from Pattaya
City to manage garbage collection, has lodged a complaint, saying that it
has to bear the brunt of disposing of garbage that has been increasing
steadily in volume for the past five years, when the agreement first
started.
The company has therefore asked to return a 40-ton surplus to the city for
the authorities to take responsibility.
In this way, says East West, their collection vehicles can operate with
greater efficiency and standards of garbage collection would be improved.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay met with East West representatives on May 23 to
discuss the proposal.
Pattaya City has a seven-year contract with East West Management Co Ltd,
which is currently in its fifth year. The contract states that the company
will manage 210 tons of garbage per day. In reality, the amount of garbage
has increased to 250 tons per day. East West has therefore asked to return
the surplus of 40 tons of garbage per day.
At the time of going to press, it had not yet been decided what the city
will do about the extra trash.
Laying of water pipes will
be completed this month
Pattaya Waterworks takes responsibility for any accidents
A spokesman from Pattaya
Waterworks has said that laying the water pipeline from the South Pattaya
junction to Chaimongkol Temple is finished, and that the surface is now
being repaired.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City Council has complained to Pattaya Waterworks over the delays in
laying pipelines, saying that digging up the roads to install the pipes has
not been done in an orderly manner and that accidents and delays have
resulted.
Pattaya Waterworks in reply has guaranteed the pipelaying project will be
ready this month, and said that it is ready to take responsibility for any
accidents occurring as a direct result of the work.
The complaint arose on May 30 at Pattaya City Hall, when council chairman
Tavich Chaiswangwong chaired a meeting that included Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, deputy mayors Wutisak Rermkitkarn, Ronakit Ekasingh and
Wattana Chantawaranon, and council members and department heads.
Councilor Faruk Wongborisuthi raised a question on the duration of the
waterworks project, especially the section at Soi Photisarn in North
Pattaya. There have been frequent accidents because of the condition of the
road, and extensive media coverage has resulted. This situation, he said,
was detrimental to public safety and to the image of the city, and he asked
who would take responsibility, as the project does not come under city
hall’s immediate jurisdiction.
Paithoon Orachorn, assistant manager of Pattaya Waterworks replied that the
laying of the pipeline would be completed at the end of June.
There are five locations currently underway. Pipes are being laid at
Sukhumvit Road from North Pattaya to the Naklua Canal Bridge, and from
Sukhumvit Soi 75 to the beginning of Soi Railway. From the South Pattaya
junction road to Chaimongkol Temple, the pipeline is completed and the road
surface is now being repaired. Laying of the pipes from Pattaya Waterworks,
near the railway, to Soi Sukhumvit 75 is now completed and the water
pressure is being tested. The last area is on Soi Kao Talo, where pipelaying
is finished and pressure testing is being carried out.
Bangsaen Mahankhon Co Ltd will take over the responsibility for the repair
of the road, and has said works would be completed on time. Pattaya
Waterworks has already provided protection to the public, said Paithoon, and
will take responsibility for all accidents that occur because of its
operations.
Drunken monks on rampage burn and eat dog, attack owner
Boonlua Chatree
Two monks on a pilgrimage along with their attendant got drunk on whisky,
burned a dog alive and then ate it, threw the dog’s owner onto the fire, and
fled into the woods.
Officers from Pattaya Police Station along with Sawang Boriboon Foundation
rescuers were called out during the afternoon of May 27 to a wooded grove
opposite Betong Fishing Park on Soi Momluang Chuenjai Restaurant, in Naklua
Sub-district.
There they found a group of homeless people who collected recyclables, and
who had built a shelter to live in. Two of the men were lying seriously
injured on a pile of plastic bottles. Wirat Jantamara, 43, a resident of
Prachinburi Province was in a state of unconscious. He had knife wounds to
the head and was covered in blood. Sompong Tuisakda, 38, was also
unconscious. He had a knife wound to the head, and his body was burned and
covered in blisters.
Rescue workers rushed the two men to Banglamung Hospital.
Mrs Prae Khampook, 42, Wirat’s wife, said that her husband and Sompong had
had a quarrel with two monks who were on a pilgrimage in that area, along
with their attendant. The monks and their follower were drinking whisky, and
they became completely drunk. Then they caught the female dog that the group
had trained to be a guard dog, and burned her to death. They then ate her
while drinking more whisky.
Wirat and Sompong tried to stop them, but both the monks and their follower
attacked them with a piece of wood and a knife. They grabbed Sompong and
threw him into the fire. The monks and their attendant then fled.
Police examined the area the monks were residing in, which was about 50
meters away from the scene. Rather then being the traditional tent for
wandering monks, it was a wooden shelter with a zinc roof. Inside the
shelter were mattresses, alms bowls and robes. There were bottles of whisky
and beer lying on the ground. Officers also found a 1-foot long fruit knife
and a piece of lumber with blood on it, and kept them as evidence.
The officers then went in search of the miscreants. Within 15 minutes they
had arrested monk Winij Dechawaro, also known as Winij Suwannarit, age 50,
from Sawangbhumidol Temple in Sawang Daeng Din District, Sakorn Nakorn
Province. Arrested with Winij was Yiam Srisawet, 26, of Kaenghangmaew
District, Chantaburi Province, attendant to the two monks.
They were arrested in the wooded grove only about 200 meters away from the
scene, having returned in a state of extreme drunkenness to collect their
clothing.
At the police station, Winij stated that he had been a monk for two years
and had come on a pilgrimage to Pattaya three months ago. He admitted to
injuring the two men, saying that he, Yiam, and a monk from the same temple,
aged 40 but of an unknown name and who had subsequently escaped, had been
sitting together drinking. Two men had approached to confront them, and as
they were afraid the monks and their follower attacked them.
Police, however, disbelieved their story, because a motorcycle taxi rider
and villagers near the scene had witnessed events and given statements. They
said they saw the monks and their follower catch a black dog, burn it, and
then eat it. The owner of the dog tried to stop them, but he was attacked
and seriously injured, as was another man.
Police took Winij to Abbot Pisaljariyapiwat of Chaimongkol Temple in South
Pattaya to have him expelled from the monks’ order, so that they may
initiate legal proceedings. The monk who escaped is currently being sought.
Villagers in the area further said they had contacted the Department of
Religious Affairs many times about the behavior of this monk, stating that
he regularly liked to drink. When he went out to ask for food, he threw the
offerings away if he did not want them. Villagers believed he was a fake
monk.
Woman helping drunk across
the road is killed by motorcycle
Boonlua Chatree
A woman who helped a drunken person to cross the road was hit and killed by
a motorcycle while crossing back.
The accident happened at 1:30 a.m. on May 27 in front of Rong Po Market on
Sukhumvit Road. Police and Sawang Boriboon rescue workers arriving at the
scene found the dead body of 39-year-old Miss Aumjit Sisan lying on the
Pattaya City side of the road. She had died from multiple injuries.
Approximately 50 meters away lying in the median ditch was a completely
wrecked large red and white Suzuki GSX 1,300 R motorcycle with no license
plate. There were two helmets lying nearby. Two injured people had already
been transferred to Banglamung Hospital. They were identified later as a
brother and sister from Bangkok, Sompob Daket, age 29, and Ms Suthita Daket,
age 14.
Witnesses said that the motorcycle had been traveling from the Bangkok
direction towards Pattaya City. Approaching a flashing yellow traffic light,
the bike had accelerated to get across the intersection. At the same moment
the deceased had passed in front of the vehicle and the driver had been
unable to react in time. The motorcycle hit the pedestrian with full force
and then crashed into the ditch.
Ms Jitranut Sisan, 21, the deceased woman’s daughter said that her mother
had helped her cousin, who was drunk, to cross the road. She had hurried to
cross back and clearly had not seen the motorcycle.
A volunteer Sawang Boriboon rescue worker, 22-year-old Sarayut Nowworn, was
at the scene when the accident occurred. He had gone first to assist the
motorcycle riders before turning to attend the deceased. Some youths, who
Sarayut said were drunk, objected to his sense of priorities and assaulted
him. Sarayut has filed a complaint with the police.
Two charged
with marijuana possession
Boonlua Chatree
Two men riding a motorcycle without wearing crash helmets were flagged down
by police and found to be carrying marijuana.
The incident happened at 01.00 hrs on May 29. A traffic policeman on duty at
Pattaya Beach Road saw the two men riding a black Yamaha Fino, and pulled
them over. The pair tried to make a run for it but were apprehended at the
entrance to Walking Street. They were searched and one pack of marijuana was
found in the right trouser pocket of the driver, 24-year-old Opaat Manthong.
The passenger was identified as Arthit Laengdee, 20.
Opaat told officers that he borrowed the motorcycle from a foreign friend to
show off to girls and then invited Arthit to accompany him. Opaat then went
to buy marijuana from a friend at Soi 12 Beach Road for 100 baht for his own
consumption. Arthit said he knew nothing about the marijuana. Police charged
Opaat with possession of a Class 5 drug.
Police then carried out urine tests on the pair and results proved that both
had traces of illegal substances in their bodies. Further charges were
added.
13 bullets kill pool player
who kept on winning
Boonlua Chatree
A man who lost nearly 100,000 baht playing pool at a pub on Third Road
decided to cut his losses by shooting his competitor dead.
Pol Col Sutin Suppuang, superintendent at Pattaya Police Station, led a team
of officers to the 93 Mike Pub, located near the South Pattaya traffic
lights, at 04:30 a.m. on May 29.
They found the pub in a state of disarray, with broken glass and blood on
the floor. The customers had fled when the shooting began, many of them
gathering outside when the perpetrators, a group of four men, took off by
car for Sukhumvit Road, heading in the direction of Bangkok.
The victim had already been transferred to Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where
he was identified as Marc Suwansaenee, age 28, of Banglamung. He had been
shot six times in the chest, once in the neck, twice in the body, twice in
the left arm, and once to the left and the right leg. He died on his way to
hospital.
Police collected a total of fourteen 9mm caliber bullet casings from the
scene.
Witnesses told police that a group of about 10 young men and women had
arrived in cars from Bangkok. They began drinking heavily, and challenged
Marc, a local man who was drinking in the pub, to a game of pool for a
20,000 baht bet. They lost the game, and played several more at 20,000 baht
per game. As their debts mounted, the group became nervous.
Marc wanted to stop playing, because he didn’t want the group to lose more
money than they had. The group wanted to play on. One of them suggested
upping the bet to 30,000 baht per game, but he lost that too. Tempers rose,
and a fight broke out in which several bystanders were injured and
considerable damage was caused. Unable to beat the locals, the Bangkok group
withdrew to their cars. One of them took a gun from one of the vehicles and
ran after Marc, shooting at him. Marc tried to escape but the gunman
followed and continued shooting until he ran out of bullets.
The Bangkok gang then fled, but they left one of their cars behind. Police
are now following up on the owner of the vehicle.
Pol Col Sutin observed that the pub had been operating after licensing
hours. The outlet had on a previous occasion been closed for the same
offense. He said action would be taken against the owner to avoid further
outbreaks of violence.
Supanimit Foundation initiates project for vagabond children
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City has been selected by the Supanimit Foundation of Thailand for a
pilot project in which community volunteers help to prevent the problem of
homeless children.
 Mrs
Sudjai Nakphian, head of the Supanimit program in Pattaya, presents a thank
you souvenir to Pattaya administrative chief Somsak Charoenpol.
Mrs Sudjai Nakphian, who heads the Supanimit program in Pattaya, and Pattaya
administrative chief Somsak Charoenpol, announced the project on May 28 at
Pattaya City Hall.
Training for the volunteers has begun under a program that includes 50
vagabond children, and is led by Supakorn Noja, director for the Development
of Children and the Protection of Children’s Welfare, who has more than 10
years’ work experience in supporting homeless children.
Mrs Sudjai said the Supanimit Foundation has two supporting roles. One is to
protect and advise children in schools, who may be at risk. Personnel from
the foundation visit schools in Pattaya every two months for discussions
with children over their domestic problems and also on sexual topics. The
other support role involves children who have become homeless, there being
an estimated 200 in Pattaya. Most of them, boys and girls, survive by
providing sexual services.
The Supanimit Foundation has created the Small House in the Big Forest
project to help and support vagabond children, providing activities such as
sports and music for them. There are currently more than 20 children in this
program.
Data reveals that Pattaya City has more homeless children than anywhere else
in Chonburi Province. This stems from the large undeclared population who
come to Pattaya in search of work. Pattaya’s estimated 200 homeless children
is 80 percent higher than anywhere else in the province. Most of these
children are from Issan families.
The Supanimit Foundation of Thailand is a Christian organization for helping
children and underprivileged people, and was founded 30 years ago.
Social Benefits road show
rolls into Roi Lang
Narisa Nitikarn
The Social Benefits Division mobile unit rolled into the Roi Lang Community
on May 24, providing free services and bags of necessities to residents.
 Students
from the Redemptorist Vocational School provided electrical appliance
repairs.
The day’s activities were sponsored by Tesco Lotus who provided 55 bags of
rice, Pattaya District Office which provided 100 bags of essential items and
Pattaya Rotary Club which provided 67 bags of essential items and 1,000 baht
each to five elderly members of the community, namely Mrs Samniang Siripim,
Mrs Tang Wanthai, Mrs Bunnak Longsomboon Mrs Wanida Hungtrakul and Mrs Duon
Trairin.
Yaowalak Dhiraphongse, chairperson of the Roi Lang Community Committee
decided who should receive the Pattaya Rotary Club cash donations, the
decision being based on income and age.
Free haircuts were provided to community members by the Vocational Training
Center, and the Redemptorist Vocational School provided electrical appliance
repairs. Pattaya Social Benefits Division took masseurs who had been trained
by the division to provide free foot massages to community members. Miss
Pannee Limcharoen said that this enabled trainees to gain experience, and
questionnaires were also given to those who received the foot massages to
give feedback on their level of satisfaction.
Masseurs in training from the
Pattaya Social Benefits Division provided free foot massages for community
members.
Scout Camp project teaches youngsters to stay away from drugs
Patcharapol Panrak
More than 80 schoolchildren took part in a Boy and Girl Scouts Camp Project
organized by Air and Coastal Defense Command and opened by the division’s
commander, Rear Admiral Chaiwat Sriakkharin, at the 23rd Air Defense
Battalion Command Division on May 24.
 Rear
Admiral Chaiwat Sriakkharin inspects the troops during the Scout Camp.
Commander Sataporn Wajarat, chief of the Civil Affairs Division organized
the training camp under the Royal Thai Navy’s policy of helping the younger
members of society to reject bad influences and to grow into responsible and
mature citizens.
A total of 83 students from primary school classes 5 and 6 at Juksamet
School, a school in an area that is under the responsibility of Air and
Coastal Defense Command, attended the camp, which took place over a period
of three nights.
Campers were given a presentation on how to resist drugs when offered by
friends in their homes or at school, or during visits to leisure
attractions. Training was also given for the youngsters to act as junior
school tour guides, particularly in relation to the Sea Turtle Conservation
Center, which comes under the responsibility of Air and Coastal Defense.
Tighter control for motorcycle taxis
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Representatives of more than 500 motorcycle taxi stands have been told that
closer control of the number of authorized riders will be exercised in
future to make the system more orderly and accountable.
 Pol.
Lt. Col. Sirichai Khruprasertwattana, deputy superintendent of Crime
Prevention and Suppression at the Pattaya Police Station, says that all
motorbike taxis need to register their (yellow) license plates.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh held a meeting at Pattaya City Hall on May 23
with Chaowalit Saeng-Uthai, deputy head of Banglamung District and Pol Lt
Col Sirichai Khruprasertwattana, deputy superintendent at Pattaya Police
Station amongst those present to reach an agreement with the motorcycle taxi
ranks.
More than 500 motorcycle taxi ranks from Banglamung District, Pattaya City
and other areas were represented at the meeting.
Ronakit said that at present there are 121 motorbike stands registered in
Pattaya City, with 1,400 riders. In Banglamung District there are more than
300 stands, with 3,986 riders. Whenever a new residential development or
condominium is constructed, a new motorcycle taxi stand is immediately
started. It was therefore necessary for city hall officers to work in
cooperation with the police and the motorcycle taxi operators to ensure that
the system is maintained in an orderly manner.
This means also, said Ronakit, that a limit would be placed on the number of
motorbike taxis in future.
Pol Lt Col Sirichai said that a record of all motorcycle taxi riders would
be kept, and that the registering of the yellow license plate of the bike
would be carried out in accordance with the public vehicle rules. A
waistcoat or jacket must be worn by each rider with set size letters clearly
marked, he said.
Funds donated to 11 temples for purchasing robes
Phra Wijan Sasanakij (left),
abbot of the Kratinglai Temple, receives a cashier’s check from Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn (center) and Pattaya City Council member Banlue
Kullavanijaya (right) to be used at the temple.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City has presented funds for robes to 11 temples within the area,
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and councilor Banlue Kullavanijaya donating
the money as a cashier’s check at a ceremony on May 16.
The donation was part of the city’s policy of helping to support the local
temples, and as part of the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary of
His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne.
Pattaya City Council had earlier passed a resolution approving a sum of 5.5
million baht for supporting the temples, and of this amount 500,000 baht was
presented for the robes. It was not immediately made available what the
other 5 million baht will be used for.
Amongst the temples receiving the donation are Mai Hadkratuengthong Temple,
Nongyai Temple, Kratinglai Temple, Sawangfaprutaram Temple, and Photisamphan
Temple.
Public Health Department holds talk
on stubbing out the smoking habit
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A talk on the dangers of tobacco smoking was held on May 30, the day before
World No Tobacco Day, at Ban Sukawadee.
 The
police helper encourages children not to smoke.
The Protection and Drug Addiction Treatment Office of the Public Health and
Environmental Department of Pattaya City invited Col Dr Pongsak Tangkana to
give the talk, and the session was presided over by Chonburi Deputy Governor
Roengsak Mahavinitchaimontri.
Dr Panya Chotitaewan, chairman of Saha Farm Co Ltd supported the event by
providing the location. There was an exhibition and a lung testing service
provided by Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, and the public relations team of
police officers from Pattaya Police Station weighed in to help with
demonstrations.
Smoking is the source of many medical problems, and the latest data from the
National Bureau reveals that the largest numbers of Thailand’s smokers are
found in the 15-24 years age category. There are two million smokers from
this age-band across the nation, representing 15.9 percent of the group,
with a ratio of one girl smoker to 44 males.
Dr Pongsak’s talk also highlighted the problems of secondhand smoke, saying
that it contains the same toxins smokers inhale and that although it is in a
greatly diluted form it can still affect people surrounding the smoker.
Roengsak said the number of young people taking up smoking is increasing. He
asked for cooperation from each public bureau to arrange non-smoking areas,
and to inform young smokers about the dangers of tobacco.
Thailand provides assistance to Cambodia to prevent spread of avian flu
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Equipment and expert help is being provided by the Livestock Department to
the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to help
prevent the spread of avian flu.
Veterinarian Ms Chaweewan Liawvijak, deputy director of the Livestock
Department representing the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Nu
Niw, Cambodian deputy minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed
an agreement at the Aran Mermaid Hotel in Aranyapratet, Sra Kaew on May 21
on the handover of equipment and expertise.
This was done under a cabinet resolution dated 19 July 2006 in which the
Thai government agreed to provide assistance to Cambodia over a three-year
period and under a budget of 5.34 million baht.
Amongst the equipment is disinfectant and protective clothing for operatives
working in the field.
Also provided were 38 sets of lab testing equipment, and specialists will be
sent to provide assistance and increase the potential and efficiency in
testing for the avian flu and other livestock viruses to help prevent their
spread within Cambodia and across the borders.
Cambodia is currently controlling outbreaks of avian flu in seven provinces.
Seven people have died of the virus.
Foundation stone is laid
for King Taksin Monument
Chonburi Deputy Governor
Komsan Ekachai hammers the auspicious wood at the King Taksin the Great
Monument foundation stone laying ceremony.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Chonburi Deputy Governor Komsan Ekachai, with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
also present, laid the foundation stone for the monument to King Taksin the
Great at Kao Prayai on May 27.
A large crowd of officials and members of the public attended the ceremony,
the majority of them wearing yellow shirts.
Ten Buddhist monks conducted the religious ceremony and Deputy Governor
Komsan lit candles and joss sticks for the Tripikata worship, before the
laying of the foundation stone, which was accompanied by Brahman rites.
Mayor Niran said that a monument to King Taksin was erected outside Pattaya
City Hall on December 28, 1990, for people to pay their respects. However,
the monument is located in an official area, which can be inconvenient for
people bringing offerings.
It was therefore decided to erect a more convenient and impressive monument
to King Taksin, the savior of the Thai nation at the time of the Burmese
invasion in the latter half of the 18th century. The site at Kao Prayai
covers an area of 1 rai 2 ngan, and the monument itself will be about 300 sq
m in area. With its ocean-facing position on the mountain, the monument is
expected to become a tourist attraction.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay said that a final decision has been made on the
design of the figure, and the King will be depicted riding a horse. The
figure will be twice life-size. However, the designs from the Fine Arts
Department are awaited before confirmation of the construction price.
King Taksin was born on April 17, 1734, and reigned from 1768 to 1782. He
was an army general, and shortly before Ayutthaya fell in 1767 he had been
promoted to governor of Kamphaengphet Province. Taksin cut his way out of
the beleaguered city, leading a small army east to Chonburi, and stopped the
troops to rest in Tabya Sub-district, site of the present Pattaya City. He
then returned and drove out the Burmese, and was subsequently crowned king.
Somtam competition adds spice to day of fun for the elderly
The elderly folks truly
enjoyed making somtam and watching the judges taste it.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A day of fun and games was organized for the elderly on May 26 at Pattaya
School No 2 by the Social Welfare Department. Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
made the opening speech and mayoral advisor Itthipol Khunplome was present,
along with a number of Pattaya City councilors.
Senior citizens from the Elderly Club of Banglamung Hospital, the Ban
Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center for Older Persons, and more
than 150 elderly people from 12 communities in Pattaya City attended the
event.
Ms Arunrasamee Boonkerd of the Social Welfare Department said that the city
regularly organizes activities for the elderly, but this was the first time
that so many senior citizens had been brought in from the various
communities.
One of the highlights of the event was a somtam making competition, in which
12 teams of three people took part. This ended with “The Somtam Song”, with
participants singing and even dancing to the music. There were three prizes
for the competition, of 1,500 baht, 1,000 baht and 500 baht, going
respectively to the Ban Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center for
Older Persons Team, the Elderly Team from the Soi Post Office Community, and
the Elderly Team from Banglamung Hospital.
Other activities during what proved to be a very successful day included a
balloon dance, hula-hoop games, and free foot massages.
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