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Bar owners petition for longer hours
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Following a week-long crackdown on bar-closing times by Banglamung
police, Pattaya bar owners have ratcheted up their campaign to have hours
extended, saying closing entertainment venues at their legal times is
costing them money.
Representatives from more than 500 city entertainment establishments signed
a petition presented to the Chonburi governor’s office Aug. 24, capping
several days of protests and meetings with city, district and provincial
officials.
The bar owners claim that closing between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., depending on
the bar’s location, is too early and that during tough economic times, they
are losing money.
What is needed, they said, is for the law to be changed or temporarily
ignored so bars can continue to operate until 4 a.m. or later, as they did
before.
Deputy Chonburi Gov. Sunthorn Ratanawaraha listened to the petitioners’
grievances at Pattaya City Hall, but said there was little he could do,
other than forward their petition to the Interior Ministry, which typically
has taken a hard line against late-night operations. It was the ministry’s
Office of Local Administration, which oversees the operations of all of
Thailand’s provinces, that ordered Banglamung authorities to shut down all
Walking Street bars and clubs at 3 a.m. from Aug. 15-22.
Sunthorn said closing times have been specified in the major Entertainment
Law for some time. He told the group that local authorities are working as
best they can with the central government to reach a solution, but that they
need to wait for their representatives to complete their talks.
However, many Pattaya entertainment clubs have already submitted a letter,
requesting extended service hours. It is hoped it will result in amendments
to the Interior Ministry rules.
Rayong residents’
complaint asks
for investment freeze
A group of 43 local residents living near the Maptaput
Industrial Estate in Rayong have filed a complaint with the Administrative
Court to seek an emergency hearing and an injunction to put on hold all
projects or activities at the country’s major industrial estate zone.
The residents complaint was directed against the eight-member National
Environment Board and agencies concerned.
They called for revocation of Tuesday’s Cabinet resolution allowing the
licensing of factories undergoing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
process.
The local residents claimed that the approval was not in accord with Article
67 of Thailand’s Constitution and that it will benefit investors doing
business in the pollution control zone, 250km southeast of Bangkok.
The law requires an assessment of the health impact and hearing the opinions
of Rayong stakeholders before the Cabinet licenses investment projects.
Moreover, the environmental impact of any project must be evaluated by an
independent environmental body, but the cabinet resolution approved licenses
based only on the EIA, the local residents said.
If it proceeds, the Cabinet resolution will affect local residents and the
environment, they claimed.
Suthi Atchasai, one of the local complainants on Thursday said if their
action to seek the court’s injunction is rejected, the Eastern Civil Network
will hold a mass gathering at the Maptaput Industrial Estate on September 9.
Rayong residents say they don’t want to hinder investment in the province
but that any industrial investment should be in line with the Constitution,
he explained.
Suthi warned that his group may blockade the port and the industrial estate
complex to voice their concern that the pollution problem in the province
has yet to be solved and it can become a long-standing problem.
He later said the court deferred urgent deliberation on the petition, saying
the complainants submitted incomplete information regarding the 76 projects
approved by the National Environment Board. In addition, the court also
wanted to have the National Environment Board to testify regarding the
petition. (TNA)
Another special day
Another special day is coming up this week. At 9 seconds
and 9 minutes past 9 o’clock on September 9, lucky number 9 will line up the
likes of which hasn’t been seen for 1,000 years, and won’t be seen again for
another 1,000 years. The official time and date will be 09:09:09 09/09/09.
It could be debated that a similar occurrence happened in 1999, but the key
word here is “similar”, as it wasn’t exactly the same.
With the number 9 being lucky, not only here in Thailand but in many Asian
cultures, one wonders if lottery tickets sales will skyrocket at that
particular point in time.
Labor Ministry looks to improve lagging Thai productivity
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Thailand’s workforce is not as productive as its Asian neighbors and
the Labor Ministry wants to know why.
“Data shows that the output by one Singaporean is equal to that of eight
Thai workers,” Labor Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong said at an Aug. 27 meeting
with the Federation of Thai Industries at Jomtien Beach’s Ambassador City
Hotel.
 Labor
Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong chairs the opening ceremony.
Competition among manufacturers for low-cost goods should mean Thailand
should have plenty of human resources and high numbers of capable workers,
the minister said. But that’s not the case. “Thailand doesn’t have much of a
workforce, partly because people are becoming older,” Phaithoon said.
“Therefore an adjustment needs to be made, starting with an increase in the
workforce’s ability and efficiency.”
Last week’s seminar was aimed at doing just that. Nakhon Silpa-Archa,
director general of the Department of Skills Development, said the workshop
was intended to promote the development of skills to increase productivity
among federation members, the Regional Skills Development Institute and
provincial Skills Development Centers throughout the country.
Working together under the 2002 Skills Development Act, various agencies
should be able to devise a plan that will help the Skill Development
Institute and regional centers cultivate human resources and increase local
production, strengthening the economy.
Paithun said the central government is also addressing the productivity
problem, but needs assistance from local groups in gathering data on the
current state of the workforce and its weaknesses.
The seminar also looked at ways to develop human resources put forward by
the National Economics and Social Development Board, a competition survey by
the Export-Import Bank and efforts to increase private productivity by the
Department of Skills Development.
Sattahip officials crack
down on illegal Bang Saray
Beach construction
Patcharapol Panrak
Officials are coming down hard to those who are trying to make
Sattahip’s Bang Saray Beach their own private back yards.
Sattahip District and Bang Saray Sub-district chiefs last week halted
construction of eight traditional Thai homes on the beachfront after it
was discovered the contractor had no permits or permission to actually
build there. Once construction was stopped, officials then went after
others whose residence already had been built without permission.
 Deputy
Chief Surachet Kaewkam checks houses being built on Bang Saray Beach and
found the owners could not provide any construction licenses.
Last week’s action sprung from a complaint by the Bang Saray Beach
Community Residents group that yet another eight golden teak homes were
being built right on the seafront. Villagers complained that not only
were there no permits for the homes, but that the builder should be
cited for trespassing.
Sattahip District Chief Chanchai Iamcharoen Aug. 21 ordered sub-district
and Pattaya Marine Department officers to inspect the construction and
enforce the law. Deputy Chief Surachet Kaewkam checked the owners of the
houses and found they could not provide any construction licenses and
were found to be trespassing.
A claim was filed against owner Kittipong Puangsombat, 37, of Chonburi
for trespassing and illegal construction.
Officials then moved against other projects already built along the
beachfront, ordering that buildings be taken down and any construction
halted.
Central Festival, students
clean up Pattaya Beach
Central Pattaya Beach staff
and students lend a hand in cleaning up the beach.
Saksiri Uraiworn
More than 100 Pattaya school children and employees of Central
Festival Pattaya Beach took to the sand to clean up Pattaya’s seascape.
The Aug. 25 project aimed at restoring Pattaya’s trademark tourist
attraction to its natural state was presided over by Deputy Mayor Verawat
Khakhay.
“The entire stretch of Pattaya beach is spectacular and has its own unique
appeal,” Verawat said. “However, many times, trash and rubbish are washed up
by the waves, causing a large rubbish deposit on the shore. This definitely
ruins the breathtaking seascape of Pattaya. Therefore, regular clean-ups
would help restore the beach to its natural beauty, which not only makes
Pattaya a better place to live in, but also helps prevent global warming.”
Commission urges 11th
Commandment: ‘Thais Shall Not Cheat’
Pattaya residents and public
servants attend a seminar
on how to stamp out corruption at all levels of society.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
With corruption eating away at all facets of society, everyone
should work together under the commandment that “Thais Shall Not Cheat,” the
head of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission told a group in
Pattaya.
The Aug. 24 “Thais Shall Not Cheat to Restore Thailand’s Economy” seminar,
presided over by Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, showed that corruption is
prevalent in duty collection, procurement, concessions, and in policy
development. It’s even present in the anti-corruption system.
Noppadol Petsawang, director of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption
Commission, said Thais need to work together to stamp out the problem, as it
impairs prosperity and economic growth. It’s present, he said, in every
system in the country, including national and local politics, military,
police and civil services as well as the cooperation between public and
private sectors.
“The government has the policy to encourage every sector to operate under
ethical integrity and good governance and campaign for the cultivation of a
‘Thais shall not cheat’ culture,” Noppadol said.
According to Noppadol, every sector needs to work together to prevent
corruption. The outcome of the new program will be evaluated by the PACC and
the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Pattaya defends prices charged for treated wastewater
Chatchanan Boonnak
Pattaya residents are upset that rates the city charges to treat
wastewater are higher than from other sources, but the city says the price
fairly covers the added cost of the environmentally friendly system.
At an Aug. 26 meeting with about 30 community members, Deputy Mayor Wutisak
Rermkitkarn said the prices charged for treated wastewater - which run from
3.5-4.5 baht per 1,000 liters of water - are fair when taking into account
all the expenses that go into treating wastewater.
“All parties need to cooperate as the wastewater treatment system is very
necessary in a tourist destination like Pattaya and fees have to be charged
in order to continue the operation,” Wutisak said. “Expenses include the
cost of the power, monthly wages, chemicals used, maintenance and the
millions of baht that are refunded into the environmental fund every month,
making high fees for wastewater treatment unavoidable.”
Under the current system, residences pay 3.5 baht for each 1,000-liter unit
of water. Medium-sized businesses, such as hostels, apartment houses and
small hotels, pay 4 baht per unit while large companies pay 4.5 baht per
unit. Private residents that use less than 20 units of water or are far from
a sewage connection are exempted from charges.
Those paying the fees, however, complained that the rates are higher than
for raw water from other sources and urged the city “to be fair” in what is
charged.
Storms cover Pattaya Beach in trash
A big storm washed up piles of
garbage onto Pattaya Beach.
Boonlua Chatree
Heavy showers may bring flowers, but they also bring a flood of
garbage to Pattaya’s beaches. Tourists hitting the sand after last week’s
rains came to the beach to find it covered with refuse coughed up by the
heavy seas.
Responding to complaints, a Pattaya Mail reporter saw that up to two
kilometers of Pattaya’s beachfront was encrusted with plastic bags, bamboo
poles, vegetables, fruits and wood scraps. Tourists wanted the city to clean
up the shoreline between Soi 6 and Pattaya’s old pier.
Tourists said the beach blight is making them rethink their annual Pattaya
holidays and would consider looking for cleaner destinations if the city
can’t keep the sand free of refuse.
Redemptorist Foundation wins award for television show
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Nearly two years after it hit the airwaves, a television show run by
Pattaya’s Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities has been
honored by HRH Princess Soamsawalee for airing stories about people
overcoming the challenges facing them.
 Worawut
Saraphan, executive vice president of the Redemptorist Foundation in Pattaya
receives an award for the “Talui Sib Tid” television program.
“Talui Sib Tid,” or “Overcoming Obstacles from All Directions,” was among 41
broadcasts, organizations and individuals honored by HRH the Princess in
July at Bangkok’s Chaophya Park Hotel. Redemptorist Foundation Executive
Vice President Worawut Saraphan accepted the broach and plaque from Her
Royal Highness.
The TV show first aired in October 2007, weekly featuring stories of
disabled persons overcoming challenges and achieving success. It can be seen
Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. on TNN2 / UBC8. Past episodes included features on
women’s power, freelance occupations, tourism promotion, volunteering,
organizations helping the disabled, disabled rights, moral support,
education, sports and more.
It was for that reason the show was selected by the Office of Welfare
Promotions and Protection of Children, Youth, Underprivileged and Elderly.
The awards were given to those offering outstanding benefits to people in
difficult situations. There were four categories of awards, consisting of
individuals, organizations, media outlets and handicapped persons exhibiting
outstanding behavior.
Skeleton found amidst burnt grass
Police and a forensic team
inspect
the scene where the skeletal remains were found.
Patcharapol Panrak
A former Chonburi university director clearing burned grass from his
property discovered the skeletal remains of a probable murder victim
instead.
Taib Tengtrairat, the retired head of the Chonburi College of Agriculture
and Technology, called police after finding the bones on his property about
30 meters from Sukhumvit Road.
Pol. Col Somchai Suntawanik identified the remains as male from the pelvic
bones and assumed the victim was Thai, as a yellow wristband honoring HM the
King was still on the wrist. It’s assumed the victim was murdered. However,
there have been no reports of missing persons in the neighborhood.
Tab said he’d burned wild grass on the land three days ago, but didn’t
notice any skeleton at the time. He added there was no smell from a body
during the fire, although he conceded the wind may have been blowing the
other way.
Police are continuing their investigation.
Police hunt for 5 Thais responsible for trafficking Cambodian mothers, children
Boonlua Chatree
Police are hunting for five Thai men who trafficked a group of
Cambodian mothers with small children as beggars in Pattaya’s entertainment
districts.
 Tourist
Police load some of the 25 apprehended Cambodian beggars into their pickup
truck on Aug. 29.
A team of 20 Tourist Police officers apprehended the women and children Aug.
29 but failed to catch their handlers. The Cambodians were quickly processed
for deportation, but the hunt for the human traffickers is ongoing.
The officers arrested 25 Cambodian beggars, most whom were mothers aged
25-40, and their children, most of which were under 10 years old. They’d
been smuggled into Thailand over the Srakaew and Chantaburi borders, then
tricked into working in Pattaya in exchange for lodging and just 100 baht
per day.
Officers said the beggars were shuttled about Pattaya on motorbikes, dropped
off for several hours on Walking Street, in beer bar districts and the
Thepprasit Market, among other places. Sometimes children would be left
alone, or with pets, to drum up sympathy from passersby. About every five
hours a Thai man would come by and collect the earnings, usually about 500
baht or more a day. Only 100 would be given to the Cambodian.
After questioning the first two dozen, police swept through the victims’
Naklua accommodations, finding an additional 16 young Cambodians, many of
whom were disabled and disfigured.
Chief Tourist Police Inspector Lt. Col. Suwan Un-Anan said the trafficking
gang has been under surveillance for some time and, although they escaped
immediate arrest, their identities are known and authorities have
photographs and other evidence that will soon lead to their capture.
Sattahip ‘Monks’ Assistant’ is tasty choice for snakes, centipedes
Patcharapol Panrak
Chakapan Khumthong gets bit so the monks he protects stay safe. This time,
however, it almost killed him.
 Rescuers
bring the once bitten, thrice shy “Monks’ Assistant 115” to Queen Sirikit
Hospital for treatment.
The 35-year-old rescuer from Sattahip’s Sawang Rojanathamsatahn Foundation,
who resides with the monks at Payum Temple, was bit by snake in the early
hours of Aug. 20 and, by the time help arrived, his arm was numb from the
poison. He was nearly unconscious.
Chakapan said the 1m black snake had come up through the floor, into his bed
and that he was bitten on the shoulder as he tried to brush it off.
It’s not the first time the rescuer, nicknamed “Monks’ Assistant 115,” has
had to get on the radio for help since joining the temple last month. He’s
already been bitten three times by centipedes, prompting several visits to
the local emergency room.
This time he was once again transferred to Queen Sirikit Hospital for
treatment.
Meatballs too hot to handle for one vendor
Oops! There goes my nomination
for street cook of the year.
Boonlua Chatree
Lesson to street vendors: If you’re going to talk, take the food off
the fire.
“Nong,” a 25-year-old meatball seller, learned that the hard way Aug. 24
when, after lighting the fire on his Banglamung cart, started chatting until
the meatballs caught fire.
Customers and police nearby panicked and in the ensuing chaos, Nong poured
water on the pot, which somehow allowed the fire to spread. The chef then
threw a towel on the whole mess, wisely turned off the gas and then simply
ran way, leaving the cart to shoulder without him.
No word on how the meatballs fared.
Police briefs
Staff reporters
English tourist drowned at Koh Larn
A British man attempting to swim to Koh Larn after a banana-boat ride
off its coast drowned Aug. 20.
The body of Kevin Patrick Michael Drumm, 53, was pulled from the sea by
Sawang Boriboon Pattaya and brought to Bali Hai Pier where it was turned
over to police. Investigators said he’d been enjoying water sports with
friends off Koh Larn before he set off to swim back to the island.
Walking Street go-go bar busted for obscene shows
Walking Street’s Rocket Club go-go bar was raided by officers led
by Banglamung District Chief Officer Mongkol Thamakittikhun Aug. 19 after
receiving reports obscene shows were taking place in the upstairs bar.
Officers arrived in time to witness three women performing a show before a
packed house. The women were fined and the bar’s owner, Apiwat Jangpol,
arrested on operating an pornographic entertainment enterprise.
Dancers and DJs caught with drugs
A group of off-duty DJs and coyote dancers were arrested Aug. 18
for engaging in a drug party at a Third Road apartment.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suppachat Piammanut led a team of 10 Banglamung police
officers to arrest five men and seven women caught with ya ice, ya ba,
marijuana and two handguns. All tested positive for drug use and were taken
to Banglamung Police Station.
Two drunk buddies settle argument with knives
Two drinking buddies were hospitalized after they tried to settle
a drunken argument with knives.
Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan medics arrived at the Deeden Apartment on Soi
Kopai to find Wattana Changtong, 35, and Cheudsit Bunkliang, 25, injured and
bleeding. Wattana had sustained deep knife wounds to the chest while
Cheudsit was bleeding profusely from the head after being clobbered with a
hard object. Both were taken to Banglamung Hospital.
Police said the men had gotten in a fight after drinking too much. Cheudsit
said the assault was merely a misunderstanding. Police were not convinced,
however, and will be looking more closely into the case.
Chonburi governor wants businesses connected to drug trade closed
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi Governor Senee Jittakasem wants to tear down businesses
that, even unknowingly, play host to drug dealers and users as he steps up
efforts to quell the area’s drug problem.
 Chonburi
Governor Senee Jittakasem.
In an Aug. 19 meeting with public officials and business owners, Senee said
officials need to concentrate on five areas - the province’s border, local
communities, families, schools and social organizations - in order to curb
the spread of drugs.
“Chonburi is considered to be a province with high numbers of social evils
such crime and drugs,” the governor said. “There are some establishments
which are used as drug-abuse centers and, even worse, sometimes the owners
of such places do nothing about it and allow the illegal activities to
continue. Therefore it is very important to abolish such places to prevent
the spread of drug abuse.”
Among the 300 targeted businesses are internet and gaming shops, hostels,
antique stores and restaurants selling alcohol, he said. Last week’s meeting
was aimed at informing authorities about the risks such places hold and
asking them to detail plans to deal with the problem during the balance of
the year.
The governor also hopes that business owners who attended the meeting will
act on their own to control activities on their property so that all
Chonburi residents can feel safe and secure about their environment.
‘Insurance Week’ aims
at covering all your bases
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
(seated, center) and the organizing committee announce the upcoming
insurance fair.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Insurance companies covering all sorts of mishaps will converge on Central
Festival Center in North Pattaya Sept. 4-6 for a city-sponsored insurance
fair.
Not only will policies covering death, injury, accidents, hospitalization,
fire and more be on offer, but educational seminars teaching people about
the benefits of insurance will be available.
Wipa Boonpanomchai, director of Insurance Commission Region 5, said
“Insurance Week,” cosponsored by the city, will promote life and financial
risk management and help people to develop financial readiness and cultivate
awareness of the benefits and importance of insurance.
Companies, associations, institutions and individuals in insurance business,
banks, mass media as well as the volunteers and youths in the nationwide
insurance networks of citizens will participate.
The local event mirrors a larger insurance confab at Bangkok’s Impact Arena
during the same timeframe and is just one of 14 regional insurance fairs
being held.
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