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The votes are in -
Pattaya has a new mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn takes narrow victory
Staff
Reporters
Pattaya’s voting public has had their say, and most
said that Niran Wattanasartsathorn was the best choice on the ticket to hold
the office of Pattaya Mayor.
 After
years serving Pattaya as deputy mayor, Niran Wattanasartsathorn is ready to
sit in the mayor’s chair for at least the next four years.
Although at the time of going to press the results were
still unofficial, the initial tally showed that Niran garnered 13,336 votes,
over two-thousand more than his nearest rival, Surat Mekavarakul’s 11,238.
Wichien Tangtumsatid finished a distant third with 2,430
votes, followed by Pol. Sgt. Maj. Veerapol Ponsuwinai with 106 and Busaba
Nummohd with 95 votes.
 Former
Mayor Pairat Sutithamrongsawat performs his civic duty and casts his vote in
the mayoral and city council elections on Saturday, March 27.
Over half of Pattaya’s 56,681 registered voters turned
up at the polls in four electorates on Saturday March 27 to decide who will
run the city for the next four years.
There was some confusion over the new voting process
which used numbers rather than names - a muddle that seems to plague
elections around the globe - and which resulted in many invalid votes.
However, election monitoring officials, local police and
Pisit Ketphasook, Chonburi provincial CEO, kept a close watch on the
proceedings at each of the polling stations.
Voting began at 8 a.m., and when the polls closed at 3
p.m., all ballot boxes were taken amid tight security to Pattaya School No.
2 where the counting process began. As the ballots were counted, real-time
results were displayed on a large computer screen, which was eagerly watched
by voters and candidates.
Allegedly, there were some minor infringements on the
election laws, as some candidates reportedly broke the rules by attending
parties and funerals. Election monitors are obligated to investigate the
allegations and decide the outcome.
Niran
Wattanasartsathorn and his winning Thai Rak Thai Pattaya Development team.
Last Saturday’s balloting was also held to elect
members to sit on Pattaya’s 24-seat city council. Six candidates from each
of the four electorates were voted in, most of whom are members of the Thai
Rak Thai Pattaya Development Party, and many familiar faces were re-elected.
The unofficial results are as follows:
Electorate 1: Urit Nantasurasak, Wanchai Supapornpasupat,
Mongkol Deedamrong, Jindarpar Suwattarporn, Issarin Boriboonnarkom and
Bunlue Kulawanich.
Electorate 2: Adisorn Pollukin, Chootiphan Kamolnart,
Parnote Kanawatanakul, Somchai Chaonar, Manote Nongyai and Farouk
Wonborisoot.
Electorate 3: Pisai Panomwan na Ayuthaya, Rattanchai
Sutthidechanai, Tongsuk Tongnart, Wittaya Pollukin, Suwit Nongyai and Sanit
Boonmarchai.
Electorate 4: Taweet Chaisawangwong, Praiwal Aromchuen,
Vichai Rodpia, Phantusak Saengjantr, Thongchai Artsong and Amnuay
Sompongtham.
Providing there are no discrepancies in the vote
counting, the official results are due to be announced shortly.
Extravagant opening for Alangkarn
The new one billion baht Pattaya attraction,
Alangkarn Extravaganza Show, debuted on March 27 with an opening show at its
2,000-seat theater in Jomtien Beach.
Minister of
Tourism and Sport Sontaya Khunpluem (left center) presided over the opening
ceremonies.
A packed house of invited guests from the travel industry,
local government and Pattaya business community were the first to view the
presentation of Thai history and culture, with over 140 performers on a
90-metre wrap-around stage, accompanied by pyrotechnics and light displays.
Managing director, Suttikorn Jearpaitoon, said his company,
J2K Management, would be promoting the attraction to a primarily overseas
market this year in conjunction with his father’s property, the Twin Towers
Hotel Bangkok.
The new one
billion baht Alangkarn Extravaganza Show debuted on March 27 at its 2,000-seat
theater in Jomtien Beach.
“We were at ITB this month and we will continue to attend
worldwide trade shows. We are also talking with the Tourism Authority of
Thailand and, once Alangkarn gets going, we will be receiving the promotional
support of their overseas offices,” he said.
Minister of Tourism and Sport Sontaya Khunpluem presided over the opening
ceremonies. (TTG Asia)
THA-Eastern Chapter elects new president and committee
Bundarik Kusolvitya to lead organization for the next two years
Suchada Tupchai
The Thai Hotels Association-Eastern Chapter (THA-EC) held
their annual general meeting last week, during which they elected a new
president and committee to steer the association for next two years.
Chatchawal Supachayanont recently stood down from two
tough but successful years.
Santsak
Ngamphiches (4th
left) presents a bouquet of flowers to congratulate Bundarik Kusolvitya, the
new THA-EC president, as (from left) Anthapol Wannakij, Suwat Paephriomrat,
Thanet Supornsaharungsi, (Santsak and Bundarik), Chatchawal Supachayanont,
Alisa Phanthusak and Peter Malhotra look on.
The AGM, held at the Dusit Resort Pattaya, also reviewed
past activities and presented future plans to boost the region’s tourism
and travel business.
However, the main objective was the elections, conducted
with its internal special election monitoring committee headed up by Santsak
Ngamphichet, advisor to the minister of tourism and sports, Peter Malhotra,
managing director of the Pattaya Mail, Anthapol Wannakij, TAT Central Region
3 deputy director, Suwat Paephriomrat, Pattaya Hotel Association president
and Thanet Supornsaharungsi, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association (PBTA).
The election process was swift with Bundarik Kusolvitya,
past vice president taking the chair as president for the next two years. He
will be ably assisted by vice presidents Rungtip Suksrikarn, Chatchawal
Supachayanont and Alisa Phanthusak.
Buntrik said that the focus over the next two years will
be to continue to develop the hotel industry and Pattaya’s image in the
marketplace.
Once the elections were completed, past THA-EC president
Chatchawal Supachayanont outlined the activities and obstacles carried out
while he governed the association, pointing out major events such the
International Travel Bourse (ITB) 2002 in Berlin, Pattaya Music Festival,
Thai tour Thai, every month campaign, the eastern bartender championships,
increased hotel security training scheme and the hosting of the 2003 APEC
travel conference in Pattaya.
Bundarik added that the new committee will continue to
build on what has been created to further benefit Pattaya and association
members over the next two years.
Happy Birthday
HRH Princess Ubolratana
Pattaya Mail
humbly joins the Kingdom of Thailand in wishing Her Royal Highness Princess
Ubolratana a most happy birthday on April 5.
Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana was born on April
5, 1951, in Lausanne Switzerland. She is the eldest daughter of HM the King
and Queen. Most recently, HRH Princess Ubolratana has shown a very keen
interest in the way Thailand is being promoted by the TAT, and March 18,
2002, was a historic moment for Pattaya City when HRH Princess Ubolratana
welcomed nearly a thousand guests to the Pattaya Night presentation at the
International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin
Thailand to introduce electronic voting machine in 2005
The Election Commission of Thailand is confident that the
country will be ready to use the electronic voting machine in 2005 that will
help prevent vote-rigging in the near future.
Election Commissioner Veerachai Naewboonnien spoke of the
new move while observing a demonstration project to train election staff on
how to use the device on the eve of the Pattaya City elections held on March
27. The electronic voting machine was introduced at the training.
The election commissioner said that 100 electronic voting
machines had been distributed throughout the country for a trial basis. He
explained that people in remote areas will have opportunities to cast their
votes by the new method, which will rid the country of election fraud such
as missing ballots and spoiled ballots.
Veerachai said that after studies on the electronic
voting system were conducted, the election law amendment would be proposed
to the cabinet for further actions. He said the electronic voting would kick
off next year, and would be applied to all polling stations across the
country in 2007. (TNA)
Tuk.Com Pattaya center for IT customers to open this August
Largest IT retail center on the Eastern Seaboard
Suchada Tupchai
Somkuan Nok-Hong, president of the Chonburi Chamber of
Commerce and chief director of Sriteppatan Co. Ltd., recently gave
prospective vendors an introduction to the premises during the launch of
Tuk.Com Pattaya under the campaign called “Turn Anything on Tuk.Com
Pattaya” at the company’s Sriracha branch.
 Somkuan
Nok-Hong, president of the Chonburi Chamber of Commerce and chief director
of Sriteppatan Co. Ltd., presided over the proceedings.
Somkuan said that plans and construction are underway for
the new Tuk.Com Pattaya in South Pattaya after successfully creating the
largest IT retail center on the Eastern Seaboard with the Sriracha premises.
The new project in Pattaya will be bigger and become the
region’s main center for computer, mobile phone and IT technology
retailing on the Eastern Seaboard.
 A
special show was produced to announce the new Tuk.Com branch being built in
South Pattaya.
The aim of the launch was to provide current vendors a
good chance to reserve space before others. As part of the launch a special
show and entertainment activities were held to thank all supporters. At
midday, registration was opened for all potential vendors at the new 8-story
project building, currently under construction.
Tuk.Com Pattaya is scheduled to open this August and will effectively be
the largest in this region of Thailand.
Walking Street go-go bar busted for nudity
Naughty go-go’s are still no-no’s
Boonlua Chatree
Crime suppression police on their regular tour of
entertainment venues arrived at the Champion A-Go-Go bar in Walking Street just
in time to catch the nude show.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on March 26, they witnessed three women
dancing naked on stage. However, since nudity is illegal here in Pattaya, they
couldn’t allow any encores, and instead stormed the bar and ordered the women
to get dressed, the music turned down and instructed all ogling customers out of
the bar.
 Dancers
at a Walking Street go-go bar were arrested, fined and released for allegedly
shedding their modesty along with their clothes.
Reticent police detained the owner/manager, identified as
Paitoon Kiyapaet, 39, and escorted the dancers to Soi 9 police station for
questioning and to file charges.
The girls told police that they were paid 11,000 baht per
month and received a commission on drinks as remuneration for their lack of
modesty. They said the used the funds to support their families, sick buffalos,
“brothers” and other relatives, living or otherwise, in the northeast.
Quite accustomed to hearing similar stories, police remained
unimpressed, giving them a stern warning and fining each 500 baht before taking
their personal details and releasing them on their own accord.
Police took a tougher stance against Paitoon, fining him a greater amount,
and relating to him that his business possibly faces closure under the stiff
penalties associated with the entertainment laws for allowing such acts in an
entertainment venue.
Three-month-old baby found dumped near garbage bin
Infant reported to be in good health
Boonlua Chatree
Banglamung officers were called to a dumpsite in Soi
Laplae, just off Nernplubwan, following the discovery of a 3-month-old baby
boy next to a garbage bin.
Sawang Boriboon volunteer Suthon Bensukmark, 29, found
the boy in a basket beside the rubbish tip at around 2.30 a.m. on March 26
and reported the discovery to police.
 Receiving
a tough start to life, this 3-month-old baby was abandoned next to a garbage
bin.
The child, half naked, was covered n mosquito bites.
Officers took the baby to the Banglamung Hospital for care and physical
examination. Doctors gave the child a bath before treating him for mosquito
bites and exposure. Results of the tests came back clear, and the child was
pronounced to be in good health.
Police attending the scene questioned nearby residents
who had heard the baby cry. They told police that they noticed a young man
and woman on a motorcycle leaving ‘something’ at the garbage site before
speeding off.
Officers surmise that the young couple were the child’s parents and did
not have the resources to support a baby. Police are searching for the pair
and authorities are coordinating with local welfare organizations to care
for the child.
Police arrest Naklua bar owner in connection with forced prostitution ring
Manhunt traps suspect not far from the crime
Boonlua Chatree
Regional and local police arrested Pacharapong Lukngoh,
owner of the 1000 Dollar Karaoke Bar in Naklua, as he drove his pick-up
truck along the street. A roadblock finally brought an end to the search as
officers captured the suspect in a soi behind Banglamung Hospital.
An arrest warrant had been issued for Pacharapong in
connection with a forced prostitution ring following a raid on a karaoke bar
on March 12 during which police rescued fourteen female “sex prisoners”
being held on the premises.
 Pacharapong
Lukngoh, owner of the 1000 Dollar Karaoke Bar in Naklua, was arrested for
allegedly detaining women for prostitution.
During the March 12 raid, officers had demanded all doors
to be opened and found two of the women locked in rooms, beaten and abused.
Owner Pacharapong managed to escape the raid.
The frightened but grateful women had revealed to police
that all were lured with promises of jobs, but instead were held as
prisoners and forced to sell their bodies to Thais and foreigners. Their
escape was prevented via intimidation or lock-up.
Intensive investigation and a combined effort between
Banglamung and provincial police led to the whereabouts and arrest of the
37-year-old bar owner Pacharapong, originally from Yasothon. Police spotted
Pacharapong as he drove his car in Soi 9999, behind the Banglamung Hospital.
Once in custody, Pacharapong was charged with deprivation of liberty,
illegal detention, assault, illegally operating a business without a license
and prostitution.
A report was submitted to the Chonburi CEO after the raid. According to
the law, if convicted, the owner’s business can be closed, and even the
building could be demolished.
American tourist falls dead on a Naklua beach
Heart attack thought to be cause of death
Boonlua Chatree
Local police and emergency officials were called to a Naklua
hotel following a report of the death of an elderly US tourist on the
beachfront. Officials rushed to the hotel to recover the body of Edward Johnson,
who had apparently suffered a heart attack following an afternoon frolic in the
water.
Witnesses told officers they had witnessed the man riding a
‘banana boat’ before returning to shore. Initially, no one was aware that he
had died, as it appeared he was just lying down on the sand.
The body was taken to the police forensic institute for a
post mortem examination to determine the actual cause of death while officials
informed the embassy.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Drunken lover shoots estranged girlfriend and then himself
Police responded to a call at an apartment block in South
Pattaya after residents reported hearing gunshots from a 5th floor
apartment. Officers arrived on the scene to discover two bodies inside the
room, that of Jorn Chalartyam, 37, and his estranged 37-year-old girlfriend
Renu Khunthong. Beside the body of Jorn were several cans and bottles of
beer along with a 38 revolver.
People living in the apartment building who knew the
woman, Renu, told police that she had broken up with Jorn, a garbage truck
driver from Bangkok. Officers learned that Jorn had come to Pattaya to plead
with Renu to go back with him and when she refused he began drinking. In a
fit of drunken jealousy he allegedly shot Renu before drinking his last beer
and turning the gun on himself.
Both bodies were taken to the morgue for further
examination and funeral rites.
House burglars arrested
Criminal investigation officers recently arrested a group
of youths in connection with the burglary of a house owned by a Swiss
resident and his Thai wife. The thieves made off with over 1 million baht in
goods and cash from a safe located within the house.
Officers arrested Suriya Jeawdee, 20, Sutat Jimkhuntod,
21, Damronsak Nooyong, 18, and another youth for the break-in and theft. The
thieves robbed the Bangsaray premises after the occupants went out for
dinner. The victims returned home to find their valuables and the 25 kg.
safe missing.
While in custody, the three young men admitted to their
crimes, saying that they had planned the robbery. They said they opened the
safe and cleaned out its contents before dumping it in a pond in Sattahip.
All four were charged with breaking and entering and theft, and are facing
lengthy jail terms.
Man shot in derri่re while drinking at roadside bar
Police were called to Banglamung Hospital following the
admittance of 21-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his posterior.
Officers arrived to find surgeons removing the bullet from a .38 pistol
lodged in the buttock of Piyapong Yasawoot.
Piyapong told police that he was drinking in a small
roadside bar in North Pattaya when two men rode past on a red Honda
motorcycle. He said they shot at him three times.
Local residents rushed him to the hospital before
informing police. Police surmise that the shooting was related to the fact
that Piyapong had had a previous altercation with the shooter, but they are
still investigating the case.
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