HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Government survives no-confidence vote

Governor sees green at coffee council

Navy provides academic scholarships

Warning issued against hiring students during holidays

Sattahip supports disabled

Maptaput ruled a pollution control zone

Nongprue offers rabies shots

Police arrest armed loan sharks

Briton arrested with handgun

ATM thieves rob Irishman

British held for molesting boys

LTU International Airlines officially changes name to Air Berlin

German government and United Nations join forces to combat human trafficking

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Government survives no-confidence vote

Bangkok (AP) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last Saturday survived a no-confidence vote which was brought up to the parliament by the opposition after three months of power.
The opposition Puea Thai Party accused Abhisit and five other Cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, of dishonesty and abuse of power.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva smiles during a vote after the censor debate at parliament in Bangkok, Saturday, March 21. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)

Abhisit received 246 votes of support out of 449 members of the House of Representatives, while Kasit, who was criticized for his role in last year’s street protests that culminated in the siege of Bangkok’s airports, obtained 237 votes.
Four other Cabinet ministers also survived no-confidence votes tabled by the opposition.
Although the censure motions failed to bring down Abhisit’s coalition government, some political analysts said it would give momentum to street protests next week called by supporters of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a renewed attempt to topple the Democrat-led government.
Leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship have planned to hold a rally in Bangkok on Thursday.
In a commentary published Friday in the Bangkok Post, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of Chulalongkorn University’s Institute of Security and International Studies, said Abhisit’s government “has defied expectations by holding ground and beginning to consolidate its rule.”
“Mr. Abhisit now has the upper hand. Unless Puea Thai comes up with damning evidence on corruption and misrule, the Abhisit government is likely not only to survive but to build its nascent momentum for a lasting term,” Thitinan wrote.
Abhisit’s government came into power last December after political turbulence that toppled two governments led by Thaksin’s supporters last year.
The Puea Thai Party is the latest incarnation of Thaksin’s now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party with over 180 members of the parliament officially moved from the People Power Party, which was also disbanded by a court order last December after one of its executives was convicted of vote-buying.
Thaksin led Thailand from 2001 until he was ousted by a military coup in September 2006.
He fled the country in August last year shortly before a court sentenced him to two years in jail for breaking a conflict of interest law while he was in power.

Governor sees green at coffee council

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun plans to set up a committee to increase coordination among local organizations to develop the province in an environmentally-friendly way.

Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun speaks at the meeting at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

He gave the opening speech at the “coffee council” hosted by the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya on March 17, attended by Dr Krittawit Lertutsahakul, hospital director Pichit Kangwolkij and other guests from private and public sectors including the media.
The governor stressed the importance of improving efficiency in provincial management, requiring “cooperation from state agencies, societies and the private sectors to solve current problems in Chonburi to ensure that development proceeds according to plan.
“For example in agriculture there will be an increase in the use of organic fertilizers to replace chemically-made ones in the growing of non-toxic vegetables, herbs and fruits.
“Environmental strategies as well as societal strategies will be used to improve the standard of living in the province,” he said.
Surapon said Chonburi still lacks proper leadership and direction to implement existing strategies especially from within local communities and cooperation is really needed to work together better.
A coordinating development committee will help support further improvements, he said.

Navy provides academic scholarships

Youngsters line up to receive their scholarships from the Navy.

Patcharapol Panrak
Navy Region 1 earlier this month presented 19 academic scholarships to children of government officers with low income.
On March 13, Vice-Admiral Chaiyawat Puggarat, Commander of Naval Base Region 1, gave the scholarships to the youngsters, consisting of university degree scholarship for two students, and funding for high school, middle school, elementary school, primary school and kindergarten.
Captain Sucha Kiamtongkam, Director of Naval Forces, said that the academic scholarships were given to families that are really in need, and whose students meet educational selection criteria.
Vice-Admiral Chaiyawat said that this funding is given annually to boost the spirit of low income government officials.
“It’s not a lot of money but it will surely help ease their burden. Youths today will be leaders of the nation in the future therefore they must develop various skills including moral and ethic ones and not commit any sin,” he said.
The academic scholarships will be of much value for those who really seek knowledge and who must maintain their performance standard.
“Education is important for everyone but those with better academic achievements will gain more advantage in today’s competitive environment,” he said.

Warning issued against hiring students during holidays

Boonlua Chatree
Police and the Children and Women’s Protection Center distributed leaflets warning service providers not to employ children under 18 years of age during the school holiday for fear that students could be coerced into prostitution and narcotics.

Pol. Lt.-Col. Kreetha Tankanarak (left), Deputy Superintendent of the Police Group for Children’s Welfare at the Police Investigation Center in Region 2, along with Saksit Phosit (center), Pattaya City spokesman, and Pol. Col. Theerapol Jindaluang (right), Deputy Commander of Chonburi Police, distribute leaflets warning service providers that it is illegal to employ people under 18 years of age.

On March 18, Pol. Lt.-Col. Kreetha Tankanarak, Deputy Superintendent of the Police Group for Children’s Welfare at the Police Investigation Center in Region 2, and Saksit Phosit, Pattaya City spokesman distributed the leaflets warning that it’s illegal to employ people under 18 years of age in the service industry.
The purpose of this campaign is to protect youngsters from the provinces, especially from the north and northeast, who come to work in Pattaya during the long school holidays.
The students may find themselves being lured into child prostitution to make money and ruin their future by “mingling with the wrong people.”
Col Kreetha said that youngsters usually come to look for work in the city and some did not go back to school after having started working.
Public relations staff in enterprises were warned that police will strictly enforce the law on the employment of children.

Sattahip supports disabled

 Disabled folks receive medical care at the Sattahip municipal multi-purpose hall.

Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip Municipality is providing a living development program for 500 people with disabilities to create a community where the disabled can live together and with other residents in harmony.
On March 19 Sattahip Municipality Chief Pairoj Malakul Na Ayuttaya presided over the opening to support the disabled at the municipal multi-purpose hall.
Sumrit Chartsom, president of the Disability Association of Sattahip, outlined the objectives in the program designed to improve the standard of living of people with disabilities and to exchange opinions and ideas to help a total of 500 disabled in Sattahip.
Pairoj said that Sattahip Municipality had organized this support group, “Because we recognize the importance of people with disabilities of all ages and genders.
“We would like to encourage the disabled to gain the most out of life by sharing their experiences and co-operating in joint activities.
“This will help create solidarity amongst themselves and not to feel abandoned by families and societies and to ensure confidence that they can make a living on their own,” he said.
Pairoj said that this program has received assistance from Captain Teeranit Rueksasarn, director of Apakornkittiwong Hospital at Sattahip Naval Base, who brought medical teams to provide health checkups and counseling to people with disabilities.
He also made available an office with appliances to act as headquarters for the disability association.

Maptaput ruled a pollution control zone

Protesters prepare to leave Rayong on a long march to Bangkok to make sure the National Environment Board and the Federation of Thai Industries don’t appeal the Rayong Administrative Court’s decision to declare Maptaput a pollution control zone. On Tuesday, the National Environment Board decided to not appeal, thereby ending the need for further protest. For now.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Rayong Administrative Court has ruled in favor of protesting residents and ordered the National Environment Board (NAB) to declare the Maptaput Industrial Estate and surrounding districts a pollution zone that must be controlled within 60 days.
The NAB has decided not to appeal, and the Federation of Thai Industries has agreed to not pursue the matter with the national government.
On March 6 in the Rayong Administrative Organization conference room, Dr Kalaya Soponpanit, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, came down from Bangkok to talk with residents living around the industrial estate.
Sutti Atchasai, coordinator of the Eastern Peoples’ Network, sought the minister’s support on the following issues:
10 For the minister not to appeal against the Administrative Court’s judgment on Maptaput as otherwise “the case may be delayed for up to two years instead of being finished in one or two months.”
2) A request to accelerate approval of the proposed water and weather measurement instrument for Rayong because currently there are only two machines for the entire country and this is not adequate for monitoring the environment.
3) Local taxation for development as currently taxes paid by industries in Rayong remain in Bangkok. Tax revenue should stay in Rayong to be used to develop the province.
4) A data center or health checkup center in Rayong to monitor residents’ health in relation to the environment.
5) Acceleration of setting up a buffer area or green zone between industries and residential housing as the two zones are now being merged.
6) A school is required to teach environmental matters.
Wirat Meesapthong, head of the Environmental and Cultural Preservation in the Maenam Khu Sub-district, also submitted a letter of objection against constructing an iron smelting industry and asked for consideration to declare Pluakdaeng and nearby areas an environmental protection zone due to the water resources of Dokkrai, Nongplalai and Klongyai reservoirs.
After the discussion with residents Minister Kalaya said she would work with relevant entities to try to accommodate residents’ demands.
On March 3, the judges at the Rayong Administrative Court read their judgment in favor of the case of Charoen Detkhum and his group of 27 people in Maptaput who filed a complaint filed against the National Environment Board for negligence under the authority of the Promotion and Maintenance of National Environmental Quality Act B.E. 2535.
The court based its judgment also on documents from the Pollution Control Division tabled at National Environment Board meeting 11/2548, stating that the pollution problem in Maptaput area has affected the environment and public health.
In the Asia Industrial Estate in Banchang Sub-district, it was also found that the water at the seashore on Payoon Beach had bacteria and iron that are over the environmental safety standards.
The court ordered that the area be declared a pollution control area, which includes Maptaput Municipality and Nernpra, Mabkha and Thabma sub-districts of Rayong province.
The NAB has already listed 17 pollution control zones in 12 provinces in the country.

Nongprue offers rabies shots

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit last week launched a rabies vaccination campaign for this summer for dogs and cats.

Many owners bring their dogs and cats for vaccination.

The opening launch was attended by administrators, municipal councilors, Chonburi livestock officials, volunteers for public health and municipal employees on March 12 at the Chalermprakiat Health Park Stage.
Mayor Mai said that the campaign would give rabies vaccinations and birth control pills for domestic and stray dogs and cats throughout Nongprue with 17 service units providing the work.
The Chalermprakiat Health Park Stage itself has a service offering sterilization for dogs and cats in a campaign supported by the Chonburi Livestock Office and officials from the health station of the municipality.
“People can bring their domestic animals in to the units to receive shots to prevent rabies, which usually spreads during summer. Many owners of cats and dogs have come today,” the mayor said.

Police arrest armed loan sharks