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Kingdom of Thailand celebrates Wan Chatramongkhol
(Coronation Day) May 5
Monday, May 5 marks the 58th anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty
King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. The day is celebrated as a national
holiday and all government offices and commercial banks will be closed.
Whist being crowned King of Thailand, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama
IX), His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great took a sacred oath to
rule with Righteousness, for the Benefit and Happiness of the Thai People,
which He has done magnificently, garnering tremendous respect from His
people. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great is the longest reigning monarch
in the world. Long Live the King!
Each year on the 5th of May, the Kingdom of Thailand commemorates the day
when, in 1950, the Coronation Ceremony was held for His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX).
His Majesty the King, after studying in Europe, returned to Thailand and was
crowned King during an elaborate and highly intricate ceremony that out
lavished all previous coronations in Thailand.
A week prior to His being crowned King, on April 28, 1950, H.M. King
Bhumibol and Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitayakara were married. Following the
Coronation the King returned to Switzerland to continue studying.
The Coronation Ceremony reinforces the stature of the Kings of Thailand. The
first such elaborate ceremony was performed when Pho Khun Phamuang succeeded
Pho Khun Bangklangthao as the ruling King of Muang Sukhothai. Phaya Lithai,
a former leader in Sukhothai, left a historical record in stone describing
the coronation ceremony in Sukhothai at Wat Srikhum.
In the beginning of the Ratanakosin era, the first King in the Chakri
Dynasty (HM King Buddhayodfa the Great) took the title of Rama I and moved
the capital of Siam from Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya
River, and constructed Krung Ratanakosin (Bangkok). In the process of
building the Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
the first King in the House of Chakri refined the coronation ceremony,
establishing important protocol that has lasted to this day. All Kings to
follow not undergoing the coronation ceremony would be unable to assume the
term “Phrabat” in front of the King’s title of “Somdej Phrachaoyuhua”, and
more significantly, the symbol of the nine-tiered umbrella would also not be
permissible or officially recognized.
The elaborate coronation ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the
Great included all the ancient rituals required for assuming the full title
and the nine-tiered umbrella. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej then bestowed the
honor posthumously on His brother HM King Ananda Mahidol. HM King Bhumibol
Adulyadej’s benevolent act raised HM King Ananda Mahidol’s regal status from
seven to a nine-tiered umbrella.
During the reign of HM King Mongkut (Rama IV), Buddhist monks and Brahmin
priests were incorporated into the coronation ceremony to conduct rituals to
sanctify the auspicious occasion. Previously the ceremony was arranged and
conducted by the Royal Palace staff and members of the Royal Household.
The annual coronation ceremony is currently a three -day affair, starting
with a ritual “tham boon” ceremony on May 3 to honor the King’s ancestors.
Later on the first day, another ceremony is performed, whereby flags of
honor are issued to distinguish various military units.
The following day, Buddhist ceremonies continue with chanting rituals,
prayers and Brahman priests announcing the auspicious occasion forthcoming
the next day (May 5).
On the 5th of May, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX)
conducts a merit making ceremony, presenting offerings to Buddhist monks,
and leads a “Wien Thien” ceremony, walking three times around sacred grounds
at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
In the evening the King conducts another sacred ceremony: changing the
yellow cloth on the Emerald Buddha, the guardian symbol protecting the Thai
people, which was transferred from Thonburi to Wat Phra Kaew by Rama I.
Many rooms in the Royal Palace are opened for public viewing on Coronation
Day. Auspicious ceremonies are performed and displays depicting Royal
achievements are exhibited to reconfirm the King’s stature.
Irrigation Department worries
about water supply for next year
Enough water for this year, though
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi Royal Irrigation Department is confident that there is
enough water in reserve for this year, but has expressed concern that there
may not be enough for 2009.
 Boonsom
Yutithampinyo
Boonsom Yutithampinyo, head of the Water Management and Irrigation System
Improvement Department, said that there are eight different reservoirs of
medium and large size in Chonburi Province, and that they should be enough
to provide enough water through the dry season this year.
There are, however, concerns over next year, says Boonsom, because much
depends on the reserves that can be built up during the rainy season. If
there is not enough rain this year, supplies could well be affected next
year.
Boonsom said that much was learned during the drought of 2005, when the
Royal Irrigation Department, East Water Co., Ltd., and the Provincial
Waterworks Authority, the bodies responsible, realized the scale of the
problems facing them.
Action subsequently taken included the laying of water pipes from the
Bangpakong River to Bangpra Reservoir, from Prasae Reservoir in Rayong
Province to Nongplalai Reservoir, also in Rayong Province, and from Bangpra
Reservoir to the water distribution system for the Pattaya City area. The
reasons for the problem that occurred in 2005 were therefore resolved, he
said.
There is currently 39.7 million cubic meters of water in Bangpra Reservoir.
In 2005 at this time of year there was only 27 million cubic meters. The
quantity of water from other reservoirs is more than it was in 2005. The
present total stands at 67 million cubic meters, compared to the 40 million
cubic meters in 2005. It is now nearly the rainy season, so there will be no
lack of water this year.
Boonsom said that Chonburi Province requires approximately 170 million cubic
meters of water each year. The quantity of water usually available in the
reservoirs is 180 million cubic meters. Supply is therefore about equal to
demand, but the growth of industry, population and tourism means that other
resources would have to be added.
Amongst the Royal Irrigation Department projects is a scheme to lay water
pipes from the Chao Phraya Basin via Chaiyanuchit Canal in Chachengsao
Province for storage in Bangpra Reservoir. The capacity of the reservoir is
117 million cubic meters, but only 41 million cubic meters flows into the
reservoir each year. Approximately 70 million cubic meters can be stored in
Bangpra Reservoir during the rainy season. Boonsom said that the design for
this project has been completed, and it now awaits a budget.
There are also projects to extend the capacity of the Mabwaisom and
Huykainao reservoirs in Banglamung District by 9.5 million cubic meters.
These are also planned and await a budget. Also there are plans to expand
Klongluang Reservoir to 98 million cubic meters. If these three projects go
ahead, then the province would have enough capacity for the next 20 to 30
years.
City Elections this weekend
No alcohol sales this weekend - again
Alisa Phantusak, Surat
Mekawarakul and Itthipol Khunplome wish each other luck before the showdown.
Elections for Pattaya City mayor and city council will be
held this Sunday, May 4, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. With this, the Election
Commission has announced that once again, alcohol sales and public
celebrations are prohibited from 6 p.m. Saturday, May 3, until midnight
Sunday, May 4.
The main contenders for mayor are: Alisa Phantusak has been assigned No 1,
Itthipol Khunplome No 2, Surat Mekawarakul No 3, Ms Supawanee Wiriyawattana
No 4, and Tanawa Kaewphuthong No 5.
Similarly, each of the 81 candidates running for the Pattaya Council seats
has been allocated an election number.
85 ballot stations have been set up around Pattaya City. Pattaya School No 2
has been selected as the venue for counting the mayoral votes. The count for
Pattaya councilors in Zone 1 will be at Banglamung District Hall, the Zone 2
count will be at Nongyai Temple, Zone 3 at Pattaya School No 5, and Zone 4
at Pattaya School No 7.
Wittaya Khunplome
wins Chonburi PAO election
Eyes now turn towards brother
Itthipol’s candidature in Pattaya City
Staff reporters
Wittaya Khunplome has been elected chairman of the Chonburi
Provincial Administrative Organization, receiving the majority of the votes
cast on April 27.
The election for chairman and councilors of the Chonburi PAO was quiet,
partly because it was raining all day, the same as in another four provinces
that held elections, namely Nonthaburi, Songkla, Chantaburi, and Lampang.
 Wittaya
Khunplome is congratulated on his victory by his mother Satil.
Wittaya Khunplome, candidate number 1 on the ballot forms was elected
chairman of the Chonburi PAO, while his Rao Rak Chonburi Party won in 33 of
the total of 36 election zones for the PAO Council.
In Banglamung District, there were seven election zones covering the
sub-districts of Banglamung, Kaomaikaew, Naklua, Takiantia, Nongplalai,
Pong, Nongprue, Pattaya City, and Huay-yai. After opening the ballet boxes
at 8 a.m. the atmosphere was quiet, as only a few people came to use their
right to vote. The weather was a factor, because it rained heavily all day.
Director of the Chonburi Provincial Election Commission Poonsak Sangkaew
earlier in the day estimated a turnout of no more than 40 percent, which
proved to be very accurate when the count was finished. From the total of
843,593 people who had the right to vote, only 334,104, or 39.6 percent, did
so.
Poonsak said that although the number of those voting had been low, the
election appeared to have been a clean one. It was an honest election, he
said.
There were three candidates running for the position of chairman of Chonburi
PAO. They were Wittaya Khunplome, who has served five times as a member of
the Chonburi PAO, Araya Wiwatwanit, who was supported by the Democratic
Party, and Chaichalerm Pitakpalin, an independent candidate.
Wittaya received a total of 214,515 votes, while Araya received 87,991 votes
and Chaichalerm received only 5,864 votes.
The Rao Rak Chonburi Party now controls the Chonburi Provincial
Administrative Organization Council, with 33 out of the 36 councilors, the
others being two from the Democratic Party, and one independent. They
represent Muang District, Panasnikom District, and Koh Srichang District.
Sontaya Khunplome congratulated his brother for the achievements in this
election. The next step for the Khunplome family is the mayoral election in
Pattaya City, where another brother, Itthipol Khunplome, is a candidate.
The election for the Pattaya City mayor will be held on May 4, from 8 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Entertainment areas in Pattaya will stop selling alcohol at 6:00
p.m. on May 3 until 12.00 midnight May 4.
Last chance on the campaign
trail for mayoral candidates
Pulling out all the stops to try to get elected
Alisa Phantusak sent a
flotilla of 100 motorcycles
from Tiffany’s Theater out around the city.
The candidates for the mayoral election on May 4 are
taking their last promotional opportunities in the few days left available
to them as Pattaya prepares to go to the polling stations and vote for the
person they want to run the city for the next four years.
Pattaya Fah Mai (New Sky) candidate Alisa Phantusak, allocated number 1 on
the voting slips, sent a flotilla of 100 motorcycles from Tiffany’s Theater
out around the city.
 Itthipol
Khunplome met with 60 beer bar operators to promote his message.
Decorated with flags, posters, and signboards and carrying members of her
team around the streets where they explained her policies and handed out
information to the public, the bikes were an attention grabbing idea. Alisa
meanwhile pleaded for every rightful voter to come out of their homes on May
4, saying that everyone had the right to be part of setting up a new
direction for Pattaya City’s future.
Rao Rak Pattaya leader Itthipol Khunplome, candidate number 2, met with 60
beer bar operators to promote his strategies to enhance the reputation of
Pattaya as one of the world’s most famous destinations. Itthipol divided his
team into many groups, who then made their way through the streets and
little sois of the city to get to talk to people and listen to their
opinions.
Surat Mekhawarakul, candidate number 3 held a grand parade where he invited
along key members of the Democrat Party and set up stages for them to speak
at four major locations, namely Larn Pho Market in Naklua, Poi Pet Market in
Soi Nern Plub Wan, Bua Khao Market in Central Pattaya, and Fly Bird Market
in Soi Land Department, South Pattaya.
The remaining two candidates seemed to prefer a quieter life and did not
create too much of a fuss in telling people how they would change Pattaya
for the benefit of its citizens and visitors.
Surat Mekhawarakul held a
grand parade with key members
of the Democrat Party and set up stages for them to speak at four major
locations.
Trouble brews on the beach as vendors refuse to give up their work locations
Security forces on standby
Military and police officers
have been brought in to enforce
the governor’s mandate to begin thinning out local beaches
from an overabundance of beach bed vendors.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya’s beach bed and umbrella vendors have declared that they
want an extension of their deadline of two or three months for removing
themselves from the beach, having ignored the April 20 deadline, and have
submitted a request for a review of their case by the Ministry of Interior.
The governor of Chonburi had earlier announced that vendors holding
concession areas on Pattaya, Jomtien and Koh Larn beaches would be allotted
only one plot per person, in a bid to clear the beaches of the undisciplined
sprawl of vendors that was taking up an unacceptable area of public land.
April 20 was set as the deadline for the closure of the existing lots and
the reallocation of new lots that had been drawn up following a survey of
the beach areas.
On April 18, however, 100 representatives of the vendors, led by independent
lawyer Kal Pimsakul held a press conference to say they had just returned
from filing a complaint over impartiality at the Ministry of Interior. The
Minister of Interior had received this complaint personally on April 17.
Kal said that the complaint had three main issues. The first stated that a
decision be held over until the rainy season, as the current period is a
peak one for the vendors and they don’t want to lose income. The second
issue stated that there should be more participation by the vendors in the
management of the lots. The third issue related to the possible cancellation
of the rights to hold lots by those who were filing complaints.
Kal added that the vendors did not have the intention of opposing the
governor, and that they only wanted to protect their rights to their work
locations that they had operated for a long period of time, and legally. He
said that the vendors believed they had not operated illegally or trespassed
on public property as was claimed.
On April 20, Chonburi Deputy Governor Komsan Ekachai arrived at Pattaya City
Hall to witness whether or not the deadline for vacating the old lots was to
be observed, and the new lots come into use. Pattaya permanent secretary
Sittiprap Muangkoom briefed him on the situation.
It now seems possible that the dispute between the authorities and the
vendors will escalate, as the vendors have indicated clearly they do not
intend to give up what they consider to be their rights to the work
locations. The Chonburi governor’s office has therefore prepared a security
force several hundred strong and consisting of members of the military,
Chonburi Provincial Police, Pattaya and Banglamung police stations,
Banglamung Civil Volunteers, and Pattaya Municipality Police to put down any
incidents.
Deputy Governor Komsan has briefed the security force to perform their
duties in a sociable manner and to be gentle with the vendors. Municipality
Police officers have been posted to 10 locations and are inspecting the
vendors’ activities. So far, no violence has occurred.
German on the lam found in Pattaya beer bar
Boonlua Chatree
A German man on the lam has been arrested at a beer bar in Pattaya,
following a coordinated investigation between the Hamburg Prosecutor’s
Office in Germany, the German Embassy in Thailand, and Pattaya Immigration
Office.
 Immigration
police arrest Dirk Michelmann (left), wanted on charges of evading an EU
arrest warrant involving counterfeit credit cards.
At 5 p.m. on April 23, Pol Col Itthipol Ittisarnronnachai, superintendent at
Pattaya Immigration Office received a request from the German Embassy to
arrest a German man in connection with 62 offenses involving counterfeit
credit cards. The embassy said he had entered Thailand and was hiding in
Pattaya with fake documents.
Pattaya Immigration investigations traced the man, Dirk Michelmann, a
40-year-old native of Hamburg. His records revealed he had entered Thailand
on January 16 and was lodging at the Mod Beer Bar on Soi 6 and Pattaya
Second Road.
Officers went to the bar where they found Michelmann sitting and drinking
beer. He was arrested on charges of evading a warrant of arrest from the EU,
which had been issued by the Hamburg Prosecutor’s Office on September 14,
2007. The Hamburg Prosecutor had charged him with falsifying documents, and
counterfeiting credit cards in a total of 62 cases. He was alleged to have
fraudulently obtained amounts totaling between 5 and 6 million baht from his
activities. Michelmann was escorted to Pattaya Police Station for
questioning, and for deportation arrangements to be made.
Pol Col Ittipol said he had also been charged with overstaying his visit to
Thailand, and that he is now blacklisted according to the Immigration Act
Section 12 (7) of 1979.
Motorcycle thieves wanting money for Songkran
fun stab Danish man
Boonlua Chatree
Two youths who wanted money to enjoy the Songkran festivities and
attempted to rob an elderly Danish man, stabbing him when he put up
resistance, were traced by police and have been arrested.
 Paisorn
(left) and his underage accomplice are being charged with armed robbery,
assault with a deadly weapon and other related charges.
Sattahip Police Station received a report at 3 p.m. on April 19 that two
robbers had stabbed Joergen Christian Rasmusen, a 63-year-old Danish
national residing at a house in Najomtien. He had been transferred to
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, where he was being treated for two wounds to his
back and one to the left side of his chest.
Two days later, on April 21, police led by Sattahip Police Station
superintendent Pol Col Supathee Bunkrong arrested the two robbers on
Sukhumvit Road, in front of the Ambassador City Hotel in Jomtien. They were
identified as Paisorn Priamjai, age 20, of Najomtien, and a 16-year-old
minor from Nongprue. They were riding the gray Honda Wave motorcycle they
had used in their attack on Rasmusen.
The two were escorted to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, where their victim
identified them as his attackers.
Paisorn stated that he and the youth had attempted to rob Rasmusen for money
to enjoy Songkran Wan Lai Day. The youth was the rider and he was the
passenger. Paisorn snatched the victim’s bag, but panicked when the man
struggled and shouted for help, and had stabbed him. The two then fled the
scene on their motorcycle.
Cousins arrested for
snatching go-go girl’s bag
Boonlua Chatree
Two young thieves who indulged in a little festive robbery during
the Songkran period were arrested when they tried to snatch the handbag of a
go-go dancer.
Pattaya Police Station received a report at 2:30 a.m. on April 15 that two
youths had used a motorcycle to rob a woman who was riding her motorcycle
home. The crime occurred at the traffic light on Second Road before Pradul
Market in Central Pattaya. The miscreants were, however, pursued and
detained by passers-by, who caught them in front of the Gulf Siam Hotel on
North Pattaya Road, still in possession of the stolen property.
They were identified as Anuwat Prommeta, age 18, of Mahasarakam Province,
and his 14-year-old cousin, a primary school class 6 student in Mahasarakam.
They were in possession of evidence consisting of a black Yamaha Mio, a red
handbag with 670 baht and a Nokia cell phone that belonged to the victim.
Ms Chanjira Piapue, a 20-year-old go-go dancer from Zakura 69 on Walking
Street, said that she was traveling with two friends on the same motorbike
back from work along Second Road, and that they intended to have a meal on
Soi Nernplabwan. At the traffic light, Anuwat, who was riding another
motorcycle with his younger cousin as passenger, came up behind them. Both
were wearing full-face helmets. As the light turned green, the 14-year-old
cousin snatched her handbag and the two attempted to speed away.
The two thieves are cousins, with the younger visiting Pattaya during his
school vacation. The two admitted that they had gone around robbing people
to raise money for Songkran enjoyment.
Belgian man runs
down bag snatcher
Theerarak Suthatiwong
A bag snatcher was caught when his victims chased after him on his
motorcycle and ran him down.
 Victims
are shown pointing at bag snatcher Moo Singbun.
Pattaya Police Station received a report at 3:30 p.m. on April 24 that a
thief was being detained at the corner of Soi Jirapol and Third Road. At the
scene, they found a crowd surrounding Moo Singbun, 27, a car care center
employee. In his possession Moo had a black bag that contained 6,700 baht,
two mobile phones, an ATM card, and documents. Lying nearby on its side was
an orange-gray Honda Wave motorcycle.
Kurt Vandenbussche, a 37-year-old Belgian national together with his partner
Ms Wanna Thawornchon, 21, a resident of Srakaew identified Moo as the man
who had snatched the bag from them.
Vandenbussche said that he had been riding the motorbike back to his place
on Soi AR in Central Pattaya, with Wanna as his passenger. In front of the
X-Cite Discotheque on Third Road, Moo and another man had appeared on a
motorcycle and snatched Wanna’s handbag, which she had placed on her lap.
Then they tried to escape down Soi Jirapol.
Vandenbussche had chased them down to the middle of the soi and collided
with them, which caused him and the bag snatchers to be thrown off the
motorbikes. Villagers were able to help detain one of the bag snatchers, but
the other was able to escape. Wanna sustained bruises in the collision.
Moo said that he and a friend named Tu (unknown name and surname) had
snatched the bag because they needed money to go out. They had done this
before. He was taken to the police station, where officers hoped to learn
more about the elusive Tu.
Dharma meditation
sessions held for
Chonburi Town Hall staff
Guiding participants along a moral course
Chonburi Governor Pracha
Taerat and others participate in a Dharma meditation session at Chonburi
Town Hall.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat headed the participants at a Dharma
meditation session held in the Charoendham Room on the 2nd floor of Chonburi
Town Hall on April 23.
The session, which was led by Abbot Dr Maha Pairoh Thitasilo of Srakaew
Temple in Angthong, was held for officials, students and members of the
public, and designed to guide participants along a moral course that would
help them with good governance and a good life.
Governor Pracha said that meditation and instruction could set moral
principals for everyone, and lead to a happier society. The Dharma
meditation sessions are being held twice a month at this venue, starting at
1:30 p.m.
Red Cross provides relief
for Pothisan fire victims
More help coming for community that lost everything in blaze
Banglamung District Chief
Mongkol Thammakittikhun (left) presents 3,000 baht to help victims of the
April 12 fire in the Pothisan Soi 1 Community.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Banglamung Red Cross has presented 60,000 baht to the victims of the
fire that occurred at the Pothisan Soi 1 Community on April 12.
No one was injured in the fire, but about 20 houses were damaged and three
vehicles destroyed. Damage from the blaze, which was caused by a short
circuit, totaled approximately 5 million baht.
Banglamung District Chief Mongkol Thammakittikhun led representatives of the
Banglamung Red Cross and the Social Welfare Division of Pattaya City in the
presentation on April 23, donating money to help 20 families who had their
homes destroyed. Each family will receive 3,000 baht in assistance.
Mongkol said this was the first step in providing aid to the victims, and
that the Banglamung Red Cross would further inquire about what other help is
needed, and follow up with donations of supplies.
Officials from Banglamung District and Pattaya City Hall are conducting a
survey on the extent of the damage, which will be submitted to the
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Chonburi.
Pattaya City Hall has said that no houses can be erected on the site for a
period of 45 days after the fire, as the area must be fully checked first.
Somporn Sansuk, who had moved to the Pothisan Soi 1 Community from Yasothorn
Province and worked as a vendor on the beach was at work when the fire broke
out. Somporn, who rushed home when hearing the news to find the family home
ablaze, said that they had nothing left, only the clothes they were wearing.
Sawang Boriboon Foundation and other organizations assisted by donating
clothing and other supplies. The victims of the fire stayed with their
relatives, and those who had no relatives stayed in tents where their houses
had been, because they didn’t know where else to go. Some of them built
small huts with scraps of wood that had not caught fire, Somporn said.
Vagrant children rounded up for education camp
Aims to eventually release them
as responsible members of society
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Vagrant children are being rounded up by the police, ready for
transferring to the 4th San Fan Camp, which will be held at Wiwat Polamuang
Naval School 3, under the Royal Thai Marine Corps at Sattahip Naval Base.
 Panom
Rod-Iam
A meeting was held on April 21 at Pattaya City Hall during which standards
were established under which the children will be sent to the camp, which
aims to re-educate them and release them as responsible members of society.
Panom Rod-Iam of the Social Development and Welfare Office said that the
emphasis would be on children between the ages of eight and 15 who do not
appear to have any families to support them.
The camp will be held over a period of 45 days, from April 29 to June 12.
The official opening ceremony was set for May 1.
Arrests of vagrant children in Pattaya started on April 28 at 11 p.m., with
police and volunteer police officers helping to round up the youngsters. The
World Vision Foundation of Thailand already has seven children ready to
attend the project, and the aim is for 30 of them to attend the camp.
Panom said that training would be divided into seven subject groups. There
would be nine hours devoted to the dangers of narcotics and communicable
diseases, 116 hours for the development of moral intelligence and individual
consultation, 29 hours for the development of self-discipline, 36 hours for
occupational study, 16 hours for community work including taking part in a
walk rally, and other activities that included outside learning visits, such
as visiting Prabat Namphu Temple in Lopburi.
Youngsters from South
to attend leadership camp
To focus on hotel business
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The 2nd Youth Leader Camp for pre-college level students from the
three Southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat is to be held over
the period May 3 to 10 in cooperation with the Pinnacle Hotel Resort and
Spas group.
 Dr.
Wongphum Wanasin
The project, which was initiated and is being led by Dr Wongphum Wanasin,
president of the Youth Leader Development Foundation, follows on from the
success of the first camp, held from October 15 to 18 last year.
This year, the youngsters will stay at the Pinnacle Hotel Lumpini and the
Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Hotel Resort and Spa.
Attendees of the project are students from the three Southern provinces in
secondary school and pre-college level, with the focus of the course on the
hotel business.
Forty percent of the course time will be devoted to basic hotel knowledge,
consisting of restaurant service, cooking, living room management, and front
desk service. Another 40 percent will be for leadership training. Ten
percent of the time will be dedicated to learning about economic efficiency,
with the remainder set aside for sports activities.
Travel fair and golf contest promotes tourism during low season
Begins this weekend at Central Festival Business Center
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is organizing a special travel
fair and golf competition to promote tourism in the Eastern region during
the low season.
A briefing was held on April 24 in the 10th floor meeting room of the TAT
headquarters in Bangkok during which Chatpong Chatput, deputy governor of
Chonburi Province, Chaisong Churit, director of the TAT Central Region
Division, Wasan Temsiripong, deputy chairman of the Chonburi Tourism Club,
and Kunthorn Meesomon, chairman of the Eastern Region Golf Club outlined the
plans for the Chonburi Travel Fair and Chonburi-Pattaya Golf Festival 2008.
 A
dance promoting the TAT travel fair.
The fair, which will be held from May 3 to 5 at Pattaya Central Festival
Business Center, is being organized in cooperation with the TAT in Region 3,
Chonburi Province, Pattaya City, and the Chonburi Tourism Club.
Discount packages will be sold at the fair booths. Outlets including hotels,
spas and golf courses would offer special prices, as would leading tourist
attractions including Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Mini Siam, Alcazar,
Tiffany’s, the Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm, Sriracha
Tiger Zoo, and Underwater World.
To attract the crowds there would also be a stage for live performances at
the fair, and games and quizzes with many prizes on offer.
The golf festival being held alongside the fair is being staged in
cooperation with the Eastern Region Golf Course Club.
A golf competition will be held at 12 golf courses in the Eastern region as
a way of promoting the game during the low season, which extends from May to
October. The courses are Khao Kheow Country Club, Laem Chabang International
Golf Country Club, Burapha Golf Course, Wangjan Golf Course, Treasure Hill
Golf Course, Eastern Star Golf Course, Phoenix Golf Course, Rayong Green
Valley Golf Course, Emerald Golf Course, Pattana Golf Course, Plutaluang
Golf Course, and Greenwood Golf Course.
The competition will hold matches the first Saturday of every month starting
at 12 noon. Each month, 288 players will be selected. These will be divided
for competition throughout the 12 golf courses at the same time each month.
This means there will be two winners in the competition each month, and
another two lucky people will be drawn. The competition will be completed in
six months, with the final rounds at Siam Country Golf Course and Burapha
Golf Course on October 4.
Anyone interested in competing can apply at the Call Center at tel
02-669-5450.
Two Navy warships head for
Vietnam under friendship pact
Military dogs search vessels before departure
Military guard dogs thoroughly
search the HTMS Narathiwat and the HTMS Sriracha before leaving for Ho Chi
Minh City.
Patcharapol Panrak
Two Royal Thai Navy warships have traveled to Vietnam under an
initiative to cement relationships, and to help support stability at the
border.
Military guard dogs thoroughly searched the HTMS Narathiwat and the HTMS
Sriracha before they left for the port of Ho Chi Minh City on April 21.
Vice Admiral Chaiwat Pukkarat, commander-in-chief of the First Fleet at
Sattahip presided over the ceremony to see off the two ships from Laemtian
Port. Rear Admiral Pachon Ramkomut was assigned as commander of the two
vessels.
Vice Admiral Chaiwat said that the visit is designed to help promote
friendly military relations, and to provide support along the border.
Vietnam is like a sister country, he said, and navy vessels from both
countries regularly and cooperatively patrol the sea border, and always ask
for support from each other.
Training for the military forces on board the ships would also be a feature
of the journey, especially sea rescue training, said the vice admiral.
Immediately before the two warships left Sattahip, the Naval Ordnance
Department brought in two specially trained guard dogs to search for
incendiary devices and illegal items that might have been stowed on board.
This, said Vice Admiral Chaiwat was a safety precaution, and to prevent the
possibility of any problems when they anchored at Ho Chi Minh City.
Somsak Yonoppapan, the deputy governor of Trat Province joined the Navy
forces for the journey to Vietnam. Trat is a border province, and Somsak was
due to meet with Vietnamese border officials to exchange views and
information.
HM the King honors Walter Meyer by giving Royal Earth for his burial
Pramote Channgam
The family of Walter Leo Meyer gathered at St Niklaus Church on
April 24 to lay to rest one of Pattaya’s best loved and longest established
residents. The service was honored by the official gift from His Majesty the
King of Royal Soil, which was to be buried with Walter, and was presented by
His Majesty’s representatives.
 Her
Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn gracefully
conferred wreaths to place on his grave. Shown here, HM the Queen’s wreath
is to the left, HRH Princess Sirindhorn’s wreath is to the right.
Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn also
gracefully conferred wreaths to place on his grave.
Walter Meyer passed away peacefully on April 19.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej gracefully conferred a royal specimen of
earth for the burial ceremony, the earth symbolizing that he has been laid
to rest on Royal Ground.
 Panga
Vathanakul, managing director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, performs the
eulogy.
His deep catholic faith was also to the tremendous benefit of the Holy
Redeemer Church of Thailand. Pattaya’s St. Niklaus-Church (1967) and the
cemetery (1966) on Sukhumvit Road were built on more than 11,000 square
meters of land donated by him to the Church. He was also actively involved
in the establishment, fund raising and support of the Pattaya Orphanage. In
1987, he built the first multi-use hall, Dorothy Hall.
Meyer’s religious activities went beyond the Catholic Church and beyond
Pattaya, for he also donated 5 million baht to build the Swiss Pavilion at
Yanasangwararam Temple to present to His Majesty the King on His Majesty’s
fifth 12-year cycle anniversary.
Meyer had worked with the Berli Jucker Company since 1946, and played an
important professional role. He offered company shares to the public, and
Berli Jucker was the first of seven companies to be listed on the Stock
Exchange of Thailand, which opened in 1974.
At the age of 65 in 1980, Meyer resigned from the company administration but
was appointed chief executor of the company from 1981 to 1991.
Amongst his awards, he was in 1974 named Boss of the Year by the Secretary
Association.
A representative of HM the
King places Royal Earth
on top of the coffin during the funeral ceremonies.
The Meyer family brings the
soil His Majesty the King graciously
conferred for Walter Meyer’s burial.
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