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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Officials, residents and tourists celebrate Coronation Day

Sattahip citizens take oath of unity

City officials pledge unity

Entire town discounts for tourists being discussed

Boat park brought up for public discussion

City pledges support for national unity

Armed robbers injure five after daring gold robbery

Four arrested in ya ice bust

Mystery skulls found at sea

Anti rabies shots given to stray animals

Community leaders train for society

Thailand proposes investment on transportation to Germany

Some delay in free school uniforms


Officials, residents and tourists celebrate Coronation Day

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
(Now former) Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun led local officials and residents to celebrate Coronation Day on May 5.
The Coronation Day ceremony was held in Suporn Weerawan Meeting Hall at Chon Klaya School, chaired by Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun and attended by government officials, local politicians and residents.

(Former) Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun leads residents to praise HM the King on Coronation Day May 5.

The governor said all were assembled to honor His Majesty the King on the day of his coronation.
“History has shown that His Majesty has worked tirelessly for his citizens and developed the nation’s prosperity.
“His Majesty wishes us to live righteously for the benefit and happiness of all our people.
“On this great auspicious occasion we swear an oath of loyalty and will try at full capacity to develop ourselves and the nation according to His Majesty’s royal mission,” said the Governor.
The Chonburi Cultural Office received a total of 455 Buddha relics from the president of the Commission for Religion, Ethics, Arts and Culture in the Commission Meeting Room at the Senate building. The items will be distributed to schools in the province to be housed in shrines.
Governor Surapon also chaired the presentation ceremony of these relics to the school in the three school zones: zone 1 with its 152 schools, zone 2 with 137 schools and zone 3 with 166 schools.
The same evening Deputy Governor Pisit Bunchuang also chaired another celebration on the Chonburi Town Hall field for Coronation Day and the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s coronation, which will take place in 2010.
Joining the event were civil servants, military personnel, police, arbiters, prosecutors, senators, members of parliament, local administration staff and members of the Red Cross.
They offered flower trays to pay respect to His Majesty the King and swore an oath allegiance to the monarchy.


Sattahip citizens take oath of unity

Officials gather in Sattahip to pledge their allegiance to King and country.

Patcharapol Panrak
Government officials and about 1,000 Sattahip people gathered to fly the national flag and show their support for national unity in accordance with the latest campaign to stop using violence to harm the country.
Yellow shirt and red shirt members alike, merchants, government workers and youngsters gathered on May 1 at Sattahip District Office, led by Sattahip District Chief Chaichan Iamcharoen to take an oath of loyalty in a campaign to “Stop attacking Thailand.”
Chaichan said that currently Thai society is divided which has led to violence and damaged the country’s image. In the past when the country was in crisis, officials would still perform their duty with discipline.
They should act under the guidance of moral principles and in response to His Majesty the King’s wishes for his people to live harmoniously together.
Government officers must be neutral and realize that they cannot let divisions continue, otherwise society could split completely and civil war ensue. Thai people may kill each other and destroy the nation’s unity.
Participants at the May Day meeting took an oath comprising nine points:
1. All parties stop using violence. 2. Everyone respect each other and the law and not take liberty to end other people’s freedom. 3. Opposing parties to end their conflict peacefully with political leaders, political parties, members of parliament, not agitating animosity and stop any actions that don’t conform to our system of democracy.
4. Stop the encroachment on the monarchy and using it for political purposes. 5. State officials operate fairly according to the law. 6. The mass media works responsibly and not make declarations for political or financial benefit and not create hatred in the community.
7. Financial supporters and those working for the benefit of others not stop their support. 8. Government operates correctly and clearly in accordance with the Constitution. 9. State employees and the public who love the nation relay this oath of loyalty to people still in conflict.


City officials pledge unity

Officials show unity by waving flags, singing songs
and asking their compatriots to “Stop attacking Thailand”.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
1,000 Pattaya City officials loudly sang the national anthem together to show unity in protecting national institutions in the latest “Stop attacking Thailand campaign” of the Ministry of Interior.
On May 4 Mayor Itthipol Khunplome convened the patriotic ceremony for his officials at the King Taksin the Great statue in front of Pattaya City Hall.
City workers mustered up their best tuneful voices to sing the national anthem while linking their hands.
Along with other provincial governments, the Chonburi administration was ordered to make a pledge to the national institutions and encourage residents to do so by paying respect to pictures of Their Majesties the King and Queen and sign their names in support of the country and monarchy.
The mayor urged Pattaya citizens to do their best to help promote tourism and solve the nation’s political and economic problems.


Entire town discounts for tourists being discussed

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
“Travel an entire day, discount the entire town project” this May through July is being discussed by the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization and tourism entrepreneurs as a way to bring tourists back to Pattaya.

Former Tourism and Sports Minister Sonthaya Khunplome.

On May 4, tourism entrepreneurs in Pattaya met to discuss this as a solution to increase tourism for the rest of the year, after visitors stayed away to avoid the recent political conflict.
Sonthaya Khunplome, former Minister of Tourism and Sports, Kasem Wattanatam, Chonburi deputy governor, and Mayor Itthipol Khunplome also attended the meeting.
The mayor said that the violent protests on April 12 at the ASEAN Summit at Royal Cliff Beach Resort and elsewhere in Pattaya resulted in a tourism and economic crisis.
He said because of this, tourism vaulted to the top of the agenda at the April 21 Cabinet meeting.
From May through July there will be public relations and tourism support activities which will try to reboot Pattaya’s economy as fast as possible, the mayor said.
For example, drawing lots to win accommodation in a 5-star hotel, or other gift vouchers. Costs are paid from an annual tourism promotion budget from the provincial administration.
Sonthaya explained that tourism committees have already been selected, with the mayor as chairman. The committees are cooperating with tourism operators such as hotels, guest houses, restaurants, supermarkets and spas by providing sales and gift vouchers for customers.
The project is divided into three periods, the first one being for May to July which would be supported by a budget from the provincial organization.
The second is for July through September and the last one September through October which might be supported by a budget from the central government.
“In the first period we will focus on ads and public relations in print media, TV and on billboards promoting attractive places at discount prices.
“We also plan to provide more interesting tourism activities; for example the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair May 14 - 17, and Thailand Grand Sale in June,” Sonthaya said.


Boat park brought up for public discussion

An artist’s rendering of the new boat park at Bali Hai.

Pramote Channgam
Plans are going ahead well for a new 735-million baht mooring and boat park able to accommodate 370 boats near Bali Hai in Pattaya, expected to be ready by August next year.
Some 100 tourist boat operators came to voice their views at a public meeting on the new facility on April 30 at the multi-purpose building in the Sea Rescue Center at Bali Hai. Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, city administrators, advisors and consultants conducting a feasibility study were on hand to listen to their concerns.
Officials heard public opinions on how the project might affect residents living nearby, and the general environment.
The mayor said that this plan was sent to the government last year, looking for approval for the 735 million baht budget, and that the Budgeting Bureau has now approved that financial support.
However, original plans initially called for an eight-storey building, but this was found to be too complicated for the area, and ultimately unsuited for the parking of large boats.
So two million baht was spent to hire a consultant company to help revise the plan and design the harbor to be easier to use.
Oceanography specialist Commander Wiroon Chotibute, representing of the consultant firm, said the new construction plan has been completed.
He reported that there would be one car park built behind the Bali Hai sea port. This would have advanced technology including an elevator system for each floor. He said the boat park has been designed in the form of a hydro lift. The boat park would also include a maintenance garage and would be built to international standards.
“This boat park will not affect the environment and it will look tidy as well as beautiful,” he said.
Some worries were voiced at the meeting about parking facilities and equipment standards. But consultant staff assured people in attendance that the system would meet world standards and would not cause any environmental problems.


City pledges support for national unity

Mayor Itthipol Khunplome signs his name to show
his respect for Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Saksiri Uraiworn
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome recently led government officials in signing their names to show their respect for Their Majesties the King and Queen.
On April 29 at city hall, Mayor Itthipol, his deputy mayors, City Council Chairman Tavich Chaisawangwong, and city employees gathered to sign their names to bless Their Majesties with the goal of protecting important national institutions.
This activity followed an urgent policy from the Ministry of Interior for all provinces to encourage the protection of important national institutions to create social unity and harmony in the country.
The city therefore calls on its residents to show their loyalty and support for the nation, religion and the monarchy. Images of Their Majesties have been installed and people are invited to sign their names to pledge their support.
Mayor Itthipol said that currently there are movements and events that adversely affect national unity with some elements in the population causing problems for people and damaging property.
The public is invited to join in signing to pledge their support for national unity during official hours every day in May at city hall.


Armed robbers injure five after daring gold robbery

Boonlua Chatree
Three men armed with military assault rifles robbed a gold shop in Jomtien and escaped with gold jewelry worth 300 million baht. During their escape they exchanged fierce gunfire with pursuing police, wounding an officer and four children.
The wounded escaped serious injury.

During the reenactment of the crime for police and the media, Kamol shows how he leaned out of the window to fire at pursuing police, as Surachart (seated in the driver’s seat) shows how he drove the getaway car.
The heist took place in the morning on May 4. The Yaowarat Gold Shop was the victim.
Police believe up to six men were involved. Three have already been taken into custody, whilst three more are being sought for questioning.
Police have in custody Kasem Klindee, 35, from Pattaya, Surachart Yodthong, 25, from Rayong and Kamol Saengperm, 36, from Chonburi.
Kamol and Surachart were arrested in Bangkok, and a huge stockpile of war weapons and ammunition were seized from them. Kamol also had 14 gold necklaces in his position at the time of the arrest. Surachart had 18 gold necklaces.
All were charged with attempted murder of a police officer, armed robbery, possession of war weapons and with being accomplices of other armed robbery suspects still at large.
Surachart has admitted to being the getaway driver. Kamol has confessed to firing his war weapon inside the gold shop whilst two other suspects swiped the gold. He named the two other suspects as “Dam”, a Pattaya taxi driver, and “Sorn” from Rayong. Police have not released the name of the sixth suspect.

This capture from the shop’s CCTV camera shows the armed robbery in process.
Kasem has denied all charges, although Kamol and Surachart have allegedly named him as being the brains of the operation as well as providing the vehicles.
Kamol and Surachart told police that on the morning of the robbery, they had gathered at Kasem’s house in Kao Maikeow. Surachat said drove the Toyota Vios along with Sorn and another robber, to pick up Kamol at his house in Sansuk, Chonburi.
Police received the robbery was in progress call at 9 a.m. on May 4. Pol Lt-Col Chalermkat Sirimak at the Dongtan police sub-station sent officers to the Yaowarat Gold Shop and a chase ensued. Roadblocks were set up and a police helicopter was called in. The armed robbers fled along Sukhumvit Road.
The car used in the hold-up, a Toyota Vios, was spotted parked in Soi Chaiyapruek near the Indoor Sports Stadium in Pattaya. As police patrol cars closed in, the suspects opened fire with their automatic weapons, the hail of bullets bursting the front tires of a police pickup and riddling its engine, which stopped immediately.
The potentially deadly barrage pierced the right door of the car and wounded Police Sergeant Siam Pho-ngarm, 38, the head of the suppression police squad. He was shot in the right leg and right shoulder. He was rushed to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Stray bullets also hit two boys and two girls who were walking along the road. Kestsara Buasir, 8, was hit in her left leg, Phichachaphan Phanchart, 8, in her right leg, Jamorn Chuabangkoo, 14, was shot in his right shoulder and right leg and Akanis Chaiphan, 14, in his right leg. All were taken to Banglamung Hospital.
The Toyota then sped from the scene of the firefight. The driver appeared very familiar with the routes through the cassava fields in Tambon Khao Maikeow in Banglamung.
Pol Maj-Gen Niwat Chan-itthikol, deputy commissioner for the Region 2 Provincial Police Bureau, called out 100 policemen from Banglamung and Sriracha stations and a police helicopter to chase the robbers.
Police found the Toyota parked in the front of a house in Soi Saisukhon in Banglamung District. House owner Prasert Prempree, 50, said he saw three men leaving the Toyota and driving away in a pickup.
Suspect Kasem was tracked down and arrested in front of his father’s house at Tambon Khao Maikeow at about midnight on May 5. He denies all charges.
Police collected as evidence for DNA testing a white shirt found thrown away in the cassava fields, suspecting that Kasem had changed shirts then came out from the fields to meet police.
Yaowarat Gold Shop is a three-storey shop house only about 300 meters from the Dongtan police sub-station on Jomtien Beach.
Owner Malinee Mantoonprayuk, 50, and customer Rungthiwa Aksorn, 47, still shaken, recounted the dramatic hold-up.
Malinee told police that she was weighing a one-baht golden necklace belonging to Rungthiwa, who was going to pawn it to the shop.
Three robbers, tall with fair skin, all hooded and dressed all in black, barged into the shop, firing the automatic weapons into the back gate and shouting for them to get down on the floor.
According to the police, the men took only two minutes to do their work before fleeing. Whilst firing their guns into the sky, they jumped into a getaway Toyota waiting with a driver at the ready.
Police said CCTV video showed that the robbers were very skillful, specialized in using the war weapons and had prepared the robbery well.
At the scene police found eleven AK47 and M16 used cartridges scattered on the floor among the broken shelves. The robbers grabbed gold necklaces, and wrest laces from four trays, weighing in total about 300 baht.
In another twist to the drama, Pol Lt Col Chanathat Nawalak, deputy superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, received an order from Pol General Thanee Somboonsap, deputy national police chief, to take the 11 spent cartridges for further testing at the Forensic Police Division to see if the weapons were the same ones used in the attack on Sondhi Limthongkul, the People’s Action for Democracy leader, in Bangkok last month. At press time the results had not been made public.


Four arrested in ya ice bust

Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya police have arrested four alleged drug dealers with about two million baht worth of ya ice being smuggled in from Poipet in Cambodia.
On May 3, 2009 policeman Chaleumsak Teirnthongsri and his investigation team rounded up the four suspects from separate locations.
Thongchai (Krao), 30, was arrested in Banglamung allegedly with 0.7 grams of ya ice in his possession. Akaraj Srivitat, 40, and Atchara Kavichai, 27, were arrested at Pakarang Resort in Sattahip allegedly with 765 grams of ya ice. Napawan (Ning) Soisri, 28, was arrested in Central Pattaya allegedly with 180 amphetamine tablets.
Police said urine samples of all accused tested positive to the drug.
Police Private Chaleumsak said that Thongchai was a drug dealer in Pattaya from whom undercover police sought to buy amphetamines.
According to police, Thongchai then ordered ya ice from Akaraj who was an important agent. He ordered 50 grams of ya ice each time for 50,000 baht to sell on to teenagers and tourists in Pattaya.
Police said Thongchai cooperated with them to call and order 765 grams of ya ice from Akaraj by transferring money to the bank account of Akaraj’s girlfriend Atchara.
Police said Akaraj bought ya ice from Aranyaprathet Market near Poipet in Cambodia then drove to the appointment place at Pakarang Resort.
There, police were waiting and pounced on Akaraj and Atchara, allegedly while they were carrying amphetamines. Police said the pair dealt in the drug to make money to gamble at gambling dens in Cambodia.


Mystery skulls found at sea

Patcharapol Panrak
Mysterious human skulls being dragged up in fishing nets in the Gulf of Thailand are again puzzling fishermen.

A rescue worker holds up one of the skulls local fishermen found in their nets.

On May 6, Pramote Thosakul, village head of Samaesarn District in Chonburi, said that in 1993 fishermen found several sealed containers in 25-50 meters of water in three areas. Some believe this is where the skulls are coming from.
The first container is between Koh Pai and Koh Kram. The second is further away - about 30 nautical miles south, and the third location is in the east of Koh Jan in Samaesarn Bay.
Allegedly the fishermen thought the containers were filled with things of value, so kept them secret.
However, over the years the fishermen have found as many as 100 human skulls in their nets. The skulls were taken to local temples to be cremated.
A Sawangrojana Organization officer said, “Many years ago we received many human skulls from fishermen who reported to the Navy to pick them up. Since then, we have not heard anything about human skulls … until last two months.”
Some people are speculating that the human remains may belong to people who went missing during the 1992 Bloody May crackdown. Human rights activists and relatives of the missing are asking Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva to look into the matter.


Anti rabies shots given to stray animals

Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip’s village chief is providing anti-rabies vaccinations for villagers’ pets and stray dogs and cats during the summer.

This lucky pup gets a shot in the behind.

On May 4 Saisunee Panpet, chief of Sattahip sub-district, Pichet Panpet, formerly of Sattahip Sub-district Administrative Organization village no. 3, along with the village committee gathered to provide a vaccination service point on the sports field at Sattahip Naval Base Factory.
Many residents took advantage of the service and brought their dogs and cats in for vaccination.
Saisunee said that this project was set up to reduce risks from dog bites. The goal was to prevent and control rabies in dogs and cats and the transmission of viruses from dogs to humans.
Services being offered were free rabies vaccinations, neutering of dogs and cats, technical advice and information on rabies.
People responsible for animals are urged to bring in their domestic animals for annual vaccination which will protect them. The program also vaccinates and sterilizes stray dogs and cats.


Community leaders train for society

Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Department of Probation of the Ministry of Justice brought together teachers and community leaders in Chonburi to participate in training under the slogan “Empowering community collaboration.”

Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn opens the training.

On May 7 at the Police Resort and Convention, Ministry of Justice, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn opened the ceremony for the training.
This objective is to allow local people to take part in activities organized by the government. The project has been operating since 2006 and has organized many productive activities aimed at training community leaders to take on roles, obligations and leadership in the community.
A total of 350 people are in the justice training network at present.


Thailand proposes investment on transportation to Germany

The Ministry of Transport has proposed to the German government that it invest in Thailand’s transport system after it expressed interest in investing in vehicles and development of alternative energy businesses in the kingdom.
The proposal was made during a meeting of the 2nd Thai-German Joint Economic Committee (JEC) held in Berlin by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu to German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Accompanied by senior officials from the Board of Trade of Thailand (BTT), Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Bankers’ Association (TBA), Korbsak told the meeting that Thailand is facing economic problems similar to those of Germany and must create confidence for consumers and investors through short and long term projects, as well as boost trade and investment with other countries.
This meeting, he said, would help lay out strategies to persuade more foreign businesses to invest in Thailand.
The German economic minister said that the trade agreement between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has not achieved very much headway, but he hoped that trade and investment relations between Thailand and Germany could help improve trade between the two larger groupings.
Germany was Thailand’s number one trading partner among the European countries in 2008 in terms of value.
Thailand in 2008 imported goods valued at US$4.495 billion from Germany while its exports were valued at $3.198 billion. Major goods imported from Germany are electrical appliances, medical and scientific equipment, while Thailand exports computers, garments, rubber and canned food. (TNA)


Some delay in free school uniforms

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City will distribute free school uniforms to all students in public schools as part of the government’s policy of free public schooling.
But not all students may receive their two free uniforms allotted in the first semester. Some may receive their uniforms in the second semester due to budgetary delay.
Pattaya’s Education Office is asking parents to be patient as the procedure takes “quite awhile,” but confirms that uniforms will be available for every student.

Chintana Wetchote confirms that students will receive their free uniforms in line with the government’s policy.

Many parents have asked when the free uniforms will be ready as students in Pattaya have not received them yet.
Chintana Wetchote, project chief said, “There has been a delay on the budget allocation to Pattaya City … funds may not be in time for the uniform to be distributed this upcoming semester but surely will be done for next semester.”
In the past the city had funded free uniforms for some students, 30% to elementary school students and 20% to secondary school students, with schools selecting which needy students qualified to receive them.
“Parents must understand that all students will receive two free uniforms for sure but they may be delayed until the second semester. The city does not want parents to buy too many new uniforms for their children but better wait for the free ones to save some money,” Chintana said.