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Kingdom honors HM King Chulalongkorn the Great
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Together with people all over the country, Pattaya residents
remembered HM King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, on Chulalongkorn Day on October
23.
Mongkol Thamakittikhun, Banglamung district chief, led a delegation of
government officials, police, and members of the media to lay wreaths at the
King’s statue in a ceremony to remember one of the country’s greatest and
certainly most-loved monarchs.
 Suwanthep
Malhotra (left) and Elfi Seitz (right) represent the Pattaya Mail Publishing
Company, which includes the Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Blatt, Chiang Mai Mail and
Pattaya Mail on TV, during the Chulalongkorn Day ceremony at the Banglamung
district office.
Representatives from Pattaya Provincial Court, Banglamung District
officials, police, Pattaya City Hall, schools, hotels, and Pattaya Mail
Publishing took turns offering flowers and prayers at the King’s statue.
Born on September 20, 1853 to Queen Thepsirindra and King Mongkut (Rama IV),
His Majesty King Chulalongkorn was on the throne from 1868-1910 in a reign
of 42 years until his death at the age of only 58.
His reign is still praised for its modernization of the country based on
European models and for its diplomacy in successfully safeguarding
Thailand’s independence in the middle of contending European colonial
powers.
HM King Chulalongkorn’s reforms involved almost every aspect of Thai life
including the abolition of slavery, improvement of the court system and the
establishment of the Ministry of Justice.
The monarch also created a variety of public services particularly in the
fields of health and education: religious education, teacher training
schools and sending students to study in Europe.
A powerhouse was constructed for a tram system in Bangkok, a railway was
built from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, the telegraph was established in
1878 and a waterworks system was constructed.
HM King Chulalongkorn was known for his ardent Thai nationalism and for his
skill in fending off the threat of European colonialism despite the fact
that large tracts of Siam still had to be ceded to Europeans during his
period.
He visited Europe twice, traveling to France, Russia, Germany, England,
Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark, bringing back modern
concepts and innovations back to his country.
HM King Chulalongkorn wanted to make people less subservient and in 1899 he
traveled extensively throughout the kingdom to personally investigate and
share his subjects’ conditions and aspirations, an event often known in Thai
as “Prapasstion”. He became a much-revered and beloved king who was often
called “Somdej Phra Piyamaharaj”.
He also established Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University at Mahatat
Temple, and Maha Mongkut Buddhist University at Bowornniwet Viharn Temple
for the education of monks and also built the Debsirintharawat Temple and
the Marble Temple in Bangkok.
HM King Chulalongkorn was also a writer of poetry, plays and prose leaving
more than 30 stories. He engaged European tutors including Anna Leonowens.
The original landmark Rama V equestrian monument was constructed during his
reign in the same pattern as Louis XIV’s monument in Paris, made in France
and shipped to Bangkok in 1908 with Rama V himself being there to unveil the
six-meters-high statue.
HM King Chulalongkorn the Great passed away on October 23, 1910 aged 58
years. His death brought great sorrow to the Thai people. On this day each
year the Thai people participate in wreath laying ceremonies throughout the
country.
New governor arrives in Chonburi
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Surapon Pongtadsirikun, formerly governor of Sakaew Province, has
been moved by the Ministry of Interior to become the new governor of
Chonburi.
 Governor
Surapon Pongtadsirikun makes merit at Nongkanam Temple in Panthong.
Pracha Taerat, the previous governor of Chonburi, became governor of
Surathani Province while Komsan Ekachai, deputy governor of Chonburi, took
up his new position as governor of Tak in the latest ministry reshuffles.
Governor Surapon’s wife Prisana was also automatically installed as
president of the Red Cross in Chonburi.
The new governor and his wife were welcomed with bouquets of flowers by
government officers, chiefs of local administrative organizations and
members of the public on October 21 at the Chonburi City Hall.
Later the governor also went to Nongkanam Temple in Panthong District to
make merit in a “kathinsamakee” (offering robes to monks at the end of the
Buddhist Lent) for good fortune at the start of his new position.
Surapon, 56, was born in Nakorn Sawan and has served in important government
positions. Since 1994 he has been: Chonburi district chief, chief of the
Office for the Secretary to the Minister of Interior, vice governor of
Sakaew Province, deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster
Prevention and Mitigation, magistrate 10 at the Ministry of Interior,
governor of Amnatcharoen Province and governor of Sakaew.
Sattahip mayor re-elected
Patcharapol Panrak
Pairoj Malakul na Ayutthaya has been narrowly re-elected as mayor of
Sattahip Municipality.
 Sattahip
Mayor Pairoj Malakul na Ayutthaya receives congratulations from one of his
constituents.
Election results show the mayor being re-elected with just 822 more votes
than rival candidate, former sub-district kamnan (chief) Natcha Banditsilp.
Paroj polled 5,878 votes to Natcha Banditsilp’s 5,056 votes, winning by just
822 votes to become mayor for another administrative term.
In the Sattahip Municipal Council membership election, unofficial results in
Region 1 showed that all six members of the “Modern Sattahip” team of Natcha
Banditasilp won their seats while in Region 2 only five members of Piroj’s
team won theirs.
The new mayor said that arrangement for the new administration should be
smooth according to normal procedure.
Pairoj said that even before the election results were ratified, he firstly
would like to extend his thanks to voters for their trust given to him to
have another opportunity to work for the municipality.
He vowed to work to the best of his ability for education, elderly people
and the underprivileged to improve the quality of life for all Sattahip
residents.
Heavy rain floods Sattahip
Patcharapol Panrak
Some four hours of torrential rain and storm earlier this month
quickly flooded Sattahip, stalled traffic and caused minor damages around
town.
Rain water about a meter deep flooded Sukhumvit 3rd Road at the Jedroirai
open market, halting traffic. The area behind Thongtip Market in Ban Taothan
and some 20 houses were flooded causing electricity black-out as residents
were forced to move belongings away from rising water.
Narong Boonbanjerdsri, mayor of Sattahip, ordered in water trucks to suck
out flood water and requested help from Sawangrojanthamasatarn Foundation
members to help direct traffic at one section of the road.
Hours after the storm, relief workers were still draining water and mopping
up.
Flooding in Sattahip is
causing quite a mess.
Possible solution found to illegal foreign guides challenge
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Authorities feel they have found a workable solution to the
problem of illegal Russian guides working in Pattaya. The idea is to
require tour companies bringing in Russian tourists to also employ Thai
guides to work with their Russian counterparts.
This arrangement would allow native Russian-speaking guides to legally
work here as foreign employees of the tour companies and to provide
Russian-language training for Thai guides who would at the same time be
able to contribute the local knowledge that foreign guides may lack.
After an early meeting failed to reach a conclusion, another meeting at
the Pattaya Immigration Office on October 14, attended by Pol. Col.
Itthipol Ittisarnronnachai, superintendent at Pattaya Immigration, Niti
Kongkrut, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3 Office,
Professional Tour Guide Association and tourism entrepreneurs, reached
an agreement.
The accord was put in writing and signed by all parties.
Phongphan Chansugree of the Professional Tour Guide Association of
Thailand said that unlicensed foreigners, especially in groups from
Russia, had secretly worked as guides for the tour companies bringing in
the tourists.
Thai nationals were hired to co-ordinate with police or as non-working
surrogate guides to prevent the arrest of the foreign guides, he said.
Some foreign-operated tour companies also organize low-quality tours to
undercut prices charged by Thai tour companies, “damaging Thailand’s
tourism and placing our tourist market in foreign hands.” This was
illegal according to the Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, he
said.
Tour entrepreneurs present said currently there were not many Thai
guides available who can speak Russian and some existing ones were not
qualified. The guide association needs to accelerate training and have
more members working in the industry.
Pol. Col. Itthipol proposed that both parties should take one step back
to find an obvious conclusion: tour companies should employ Thai guides
to work together with Russian guides so that the former can also learn
Russian.
The foreign guides then work as tour company employees to be under the
control of relevant Thai authorities, he said.
New car park and boat moorings approved for Bali Hai Pier
An artist’s rendering of the
project layout.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Planning for a multi-million baht beach-front project for new
moorings for 400 boats and parking space for 300 cars at Bali Hai Pier is
proceeding well with the presentation of the construction plan by
consultants.
Wirun Chotibud, project consultant for the Tesco Company, presented a model
layout of the 750 million baht project to Mayor Ittiphol Khunplome in the
conference room at Pattaya City Hall on October 15.
Wirun said original planning was based on enlarging the previous tourist
boat mooring at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya but since Pattaya City had
specified more space for land recreational usage, the company designed new
boating moorings expanding into the sea.
All boats will be docked to a floating breakwater some 500 meters in length,
equipped with 200 boat-lift buoys with “Hydro Life” systems, electricity,
water supply and security equipment including oil-spill removal ability.
The project is due to be completed in 2010.
Itthipol said the project has a budget allocated by the city for 2008-2010.
If the total budget of 750 million baht was not spent because of changes to
the plan then some money would be reallocated to other projects.
He said the plan as it stood raised three questions: the floating
breakwater’s strength against sea waves, regulatory limitations of the
Marine Department on structures encroaching into the sea and high and low
tidal levels that could damage moored boats which were worrying some
businesses and boat owners.
If these points can be resolved then an environmental impact study will be
conducted by the Chonburi Provincial Administration, he said.
Police ask for help
to identify attack victim
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya police are appealing to the public to help them identify a
foreigner recovering in Banglamung Hospital from a severe beating on the
head about a month ago which left him still in a coma.
 The
unconscious attack victim in hospital. Do you know this man?
Hospital staff said while the patient’s external head injuries had healed,
the man had not regained consciousness and could still not be identified.
The injured man, estimated in his thirties, has a tattoo on his right arm
showing five English alphabets A N I U D and another large tattoo of people
on his back.
The hospital asks anyone who can help identify the patient to please contact
nurse Pissamai Prohmkaew at Banglamung Hospital on 038-429-244-5 or
086-842-4553.
Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan Rescue Foundation workers attended to the man
found lying unconscious in bushes on Soi Chaiyapruek and Sukhumvit 91 on
September 24.
They said he had been severely beaten in the head and body with a blunt
instrument. He was wearing a black-and-white T-shirt and blue jeans. He was
taken first to the Banglamung Hospital then transferred to Chonburi Hospital
but was returned to the first hospital on October 15.
Jeerawat Sukhonsub, chief of Pattaya Municipal Police, and other municipal
officers visited the patient at the hospital on October 16 then appealed to
the media and the public to help them identify the man.
Hotels warned about
Chinese burglar gang
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Thai Hotels Association Eastern Chapter has sent a newsletter to
warn its members about a gang of three Chinese burglars who have already
broken in and stolen from rooms in four hotels.
The newsletter said one member of the gang, a medium-built Chinese national,
named as Wu Wei-kang in his passport, who did not speak English, would check
in for one night asking for a room on the higher floors, paying in advance
for his room.
Once there, he is joined by two accomplices, one fat and one thin. The three
men then would knock on doors to find rooms absent of occupants. They are
able open key-carded locked doors from inside using some instrument and they
can also break into safety boxes in the rooms.
Having burgled enough rooms, the man would check out.
The association said it had CCTV security video footage of the burglars at
work and had shown them to police since August.
British man falls
from balcony
Theerarak Suthatiwong
A British man accidentally fell from the fourth-floor balcony of his
rented room in Banglamung, sustaining broken ribs and head injuries.
Police said Sean Rosron, 50-year-old British national, was found lying on
the ground at Soi Chalermprakiat 17, Pattaya 3rd Road, on October 19 with
pieces of broken tiles scattered around him.
He was taken to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital after first aid was given to
him by the Pattaya Sawang Boriboon Foundation rescuers accompanying police.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sumeth Harnwisai from the Pattaya police station investigated
his room and found no evidence of foul play.
Police said the injured man was staying alone in his room where there was
still a full cup of coffee and a packet of cigarettes on a table on the
balcony. They said that the man may have been sitting on the balcony
railing, lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Elderly tourist catches
women “pickpockets”
Boonlua Chatree
A 71-year-old Danish tourist detained three woman on a baht-bus
until police arrived, accusing them of trying to pick his pocket.
Hassan Biko put himself at the end of the mini-bus to stop the women
escaping.
Pol. Col Noppadol Wongnom, Superintendent at the Pattaya Police Station, and
Pol. Capt. Chot Lamom, Vice and Crime Suppression, hurried to the front of
Soi Pattayaland and Pattaya 2nd Road and arrested the women on October 22.
Sunan Kiew-sa-ard, 39, Sunet Kiew-sa-ard, 41, from Nongprue and Pattama
Chan-um-nuoy, 21, from Naklua, all denied the charges.
Police said they found two packets of dry marijuana and two ya ba tablets on
the women.
Biko told police that he was on his way to Walking Street in the baht bus on
which the three women were passengers. He said Sunan sitting next to him
tried to pick his pocket.
When he realized what was happening, he grabbed her and shouted to the
driver to stop the bus and blocked the exit.
Police said the accused women, who were related, had been arrested many
times previously for similar offences but cases against them had been
dropped because most of the victims were tourists and didn’t stay in Pattaya
long enough to testify in court.
Police and victim stand over the three arrested
pick-pockets.
Puzzle over missing luxury yacht
Theerarak Suthatiwong
A luxury yacht named “Best” worth several million baht belonging to
a wealthy Pattaya business woman went missing from its mooring at the
Jomtien Yacht Club in a possible case of misunderstanding.
 Warida
Sae-Ung holds up a photo of her missing boat.
Warida Sae-Ung, 34, millionaire owner of Pattaya Floating Market and the
Lake View Restaurant in Pattaya, last May found only a cut rope where her
boat was moored at the Jomtien Yacht Club 3 Village and offered a 50,000
baht reward for its recovery.
Sattahip police are still seeking to interview Taewada “Blue” Sattabut, 30,
whom owner Warida has accused of stealing the yacht, in what they suspect to
be a complex case of misunderstanding about the boat’s ownership.
Manager of the yacht club, Chomphunut Temduang, told police that Taewada,
stepbrother of the former owner of the boat, had arranged with her to remove
the boat and came with men on May 12 to run it out to sea.
Owner Warida countered that she couldn’t understand why manager Chomphunut
would let someone who was not the yacht’s owner to take it away, unless she
herself was an accomplice in the theft.
Meanwhile Sawangwong Sattabut, 39, former owner of the yacht, denied
knowledge of any of this. She said her stepbrother used to look after the
yacht for her but since she sold it and a house to Warida, she had thought
nothing more about it.
Pol. Lt. Pitichon Terdkiatikul from the Sattahip Police Station said that
all this was probably a misunderstanding about who was actually the owner of
the yacht. He had tried to contact Taewada but still had not found him.
There will be a warrant out for his arrest if Taewada doesn’t come forward,
he said.
Long boats ready for competition
Left to right: Chonburi Deputy
Mayor Rewat Phonlookin,
Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit,
and Bannawat Jaiyungyuen, chief of Pong Sub-district announce
the upcoming longboat races.
Saksiri Uraiworn
All is being prepared to put those paddle blades in the water again
for the 8th annual Pattaya Traditional Long Boat Race and International Long
Boat Race on November 22-23. Competitors are vying for the royal trophy from
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The races on Mabprachan Reservoir in Banglamung District this year will be
divided into 3 categories: large boats with a maximum of 55 rowers with 12
boats participating, small boats with a maximum of 30 oarsmen with 8 boats
participating and international race with a maximum of 12 rowers with 8
boats racing.
Organizers have invited long boat crews from Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam,
Laos, Cambodia and Singapore to join in the competition.
The winner in the large boat category will collect HRH Princess Sirinthorn’s
Trophy along with 100,000 baht. Second and third place winners will receive
trophies and 50,000 and 30,000 baht respectively.
In the small boat category, the winner will receive a trophy from HRH
Princess Soamsawalee along with 50,000 baht. Second placers will receive a
trophy and 30,000 baht and 3 place winners will receive a trophy and 20,000
baht.
Winners in the international race will receive the same prizes.
Mai Chaiyanit, mayor of the Nongprue Municipality, said the long boat race
is a Thai traditional sport which has existed throughout history since
Ayutthaya was the capital.
It was a royal event held during the last portion of the rainy season, an
enduring very popular competition with a tradition passed down through the
generations.
It is usually held in all regions of Thailand at the end of Buddhist Lent.
This year the race again has good support from the Chonburi Provincial
Administration, the Rowing and Canoeing Association of Thailand and the
Sattahip Naval Base, he said.
City discusses bar
opening hours
City officials meet with
owners of entertainment establishments in Soi 6.
Staff reporters
City officials have agreed to the request of owners of entertainment
businesses in Soi 6 (Yodsak) in Central Pattaya to discuss longer opening
hours during which food and non-alcoholic drinks can be served, to help the
businesses survive the current declining trade.
Some 50 bar and restaurant owners met with city officials on October 15 to
lobby for longer opening hours during the high season to compensate for the
declining number of tourists due to the current economic crisis.
While agreeing to compromise on opening hours, City officials insisted that
the entertainment premises must operate within the law.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Pongtasit Pitchanan, deputy district chief of
Banglamung, and city counselors went to Soi 6 to meet the business owners on
location.
The officials were told that the owners had to open their bars and
restaurants earlier to gather more business but police came to crack down
and make arrests. The owners asked the city officials to understand the
situation better and be more supportive.
Pongtasit told the business owners that while the authorities would discuss
extending the opening hours, the owners themselves needed to keep their side
of the bargain and conform with regulations for the good of tourism.
He said for example that the women and transvestite sex workers who “dress
inappropriately and are too pushy” damage the overall image of Pattaya,
especially in the eye of members of the media.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh emphasized that everyone must accept and
follow regulations while Pattaya City would always provide as much support
to business as it possibly can.
More discussions will now be held to relax opening-hour regulations, he
said, as the meeting finished on a positive note.
Police receive
royal birthday flag
Chonburi police receive a flag
representing the
“116 days from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day.”
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Chonburi police received the “116 days from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day”
flag to honor His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen in a ceremony
also to award 7 outstanding volunteer police officers on October 21.
Pol. Lt.-Gen. Teerayuth Kitiwat, commander of the Provincial Police in
Region 2, presented the flag to the Chonburi Provincial Police. It was
accepted by its commander, Maj.-Gen. Bandit Khunachak at the ceremony in
front of the Chonburi Provincial Command Department.
This started five days of flag-raising activities to honor Their Majesties.
Maj.-Gen. Bandit said he saw the flag, which commemorates the days in
between the birthdays of the HM the King and HM the Queen, as a rallying
point for citizens to show their love and loyalty to the monarchy.
Police also took the opportunity to clean up the grounds where the honoring
event took place.
Jomtien Beach ready
to reggae
Vimolrat Singnikorn
If you hear music sounding very much like Bob Marley’s catchy songs
resounding from Jomtien Beach on November 1, you will have stumbled upon the
“Black Beach Boutique”, a little reggae festival happening at the beach
volleyball field.
 Organizers
Jakrit Thongsuk (left) and Thida Nakniyom (right) present details for the
musical festival this weekend.
Famous Thai bands such as T-Bone and Teddy Ska will be strutting the stage
and top DJs will keep the party going.
Organizers Jakrit Thongsuk and Thida Nakniyom presented details for the “I
Love Pattaya” musical festival and the “Black Beach Boutique” where young
and old will enjoy themselves, plus putting some needed tourist baht into
the economy.
The event is receiving good support from Pattaya City especially concerning
security at the location, they said.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay chaired the meeting on October 22 at Pattaya
City Hall to prepare for this event.
So feel free to let your Rastafarian twirlers down and be at the “Black
Beach Boutique” from 6 pm onwards on November 1.
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