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NEWS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Sun spectacular for Pattaya

Police check foreign passports at Niran Grand Condo

Baht buses make a profit of 1.4M baht

Municipal police issued with warning

East West complains increase in garbage is beyond contract responsibility

Laying of water pipes will be completed this month

Drunken monks on rampage burn and eat dog, attack owner

Woman helping drunk across the road is killed by motorcycle

Two charged with marijuana possession

13 bullets kill pool player who kept on winning

Supanimit Foundation initiates project for vagabond children

Social Benefits road show rolls into Roi Lang

Scout Camp project teaches youngsters to stay away from drugs

Tighter control for motorcycle taxis

Funds donated to 11 temples for purchasing robes

Public Health Department holds talk on stubbing out the smoking habit

Thailand provides assistance to Cambodia to prevent spread of avian flu

Foundation stone is laid for King Taksin Monument

Somtam competition adds spice to day of fun for the elderly


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.