Coal dumping causing health threats in Sriracha

This pile of Lignite coal is causing a lot of problems for residents of a small suburb of Sriracha.

One hundred residents of the Surasak District of Sriracha, feeling they are the victims of the Unique Mining Service and Sales Ltd. heartlessness, are readying a petition to be signed and served to the Governor of Chonburi and the Department of Environmental Protection. They are calling for a swift inspection to be carried out as to whether this company’s activities are a danger to nearby human and animal life.
The problems began when the large company began using about 7 rai of land which they had rented from local people as a temporary storage place for mining products, mainly a mountain sized pile of Lignite coal which has been dumped in the area. The dust and grit from this low grade coal has now become a health hazard to humans, domestic animals and wild-life in the area. The noise pollution is also thunderous, with the work and dumping going on all day and all night. The residents cannot sleep, and cannot drink the water which is now polluted by Lignite dust. The whole area has become filthy and unliveable.
The owner of this company, located on Soi Asoke in Bangkok, is Mr. Niphon Sawasuchart.
The news media went on a fact finding trip to the area and found that the area in which the mountain of coal is kept is surrounded by a Zinc fence. The roads are deep in lignite dust, so residents must use detours and have no use of their usual roads. Only large dump trucks are able to navigate these roads.
Mr. Phichit Phlaikeaw, the headman of village 4, told reporters that in the area of his jurisdiction, it is true that the owners of the land have rented the land to the company. But as it is causing great hardship for the people in the area, he feels that it is the responsibility of officials to make some rules for the company to follow. This way, no-one would be adversely affected.
He said that this had been going on for more than 20 days and he had already reported it to the district chief of Sriracha.
The former headman told reporters that residents are now developing skin rashes and irritation from the coal dust. Throat irritation is rampant, especially among children. People cannot eat and are having digestive problems. He has collected a sample of the substance to give to the environmental authorities of Chonburi.

Brit tourist injures local

Beardon is all smiles as he winges out of 300 baht of his victim’s hospital bill.

Mr. M. B. Beardon (sic), 42, an Englishman staying in South Pattaya, was arrested by police in front of the Marine Bar for drunk and disorderly behaviour and endangering the safety of others.
Beardon, a prime example of how to give farangs a bad name in this country, became drunk on Christmas Day, the holiest of the European year, and began throwing firecrackers at passing people. His last explosive projectile fell into the lap of Ms. Somtuan Phonharn, 27, who was sitting nearby drinking beer. As it carried a very large charge, it caused her great pain and she screamed, just as police were passing. Officials rushed Somtuan to Pattaya Memorial Hospital where doctors treated her wounds.
Police arrested Beardon, but Somtuan said she would not press charges if Beardon paid her hospital bill which came to 1000 baht. Beardon, still drunk, would only offer her 700 baht. Somtuan accepted.
No matter; police still pressed charges against Beardon for drunken disorderly behaviour and endangering others’ safety.

Not good at Wonderful

The battered Norwegian Rossett brothers await a night in the pen after tearing up the Wonderful Bar on Soi Yamoto.

Two Norwegians and a Belgian engaged in internecine warfare this Christmas at the Wonderful Bar on Soi Yamoto in Pattaya. On December 25th, police sent a squad of officers to quell a battle between the foreigners at the scene.
Police found three European men in the process of destroying the bar in a melee of flying fists and hurtling bottles. There were broken chairs galore as a herd of tourists watched the violent Yule dance. Police arrested the three and took them to the Pattaya Police Station.
Frankie Debusseur, 36, a Belgian, and two Norwegian brothers, Gary and Harald Rossett, 31 and 28, were the three culprits. While Debusseur was drinking at the bar, one of the Norwegians, who was very intoxicated, threw empty bottles of beer into the bar area, damaging property and endangering customers. Debusseur, not being able to stand this type of behaviour any more, decided to have a word with them and got slugged in the face. This got Frankie angry and he returned the punch. The fight was long and wasn’t broken up until police arrived.
The bar owner kindly did not press charges and neither did Frankie. Nonetheless, the naughty Norwegians were charged with drunk and disorderly conduct.

Five Precepts to Hold for the New Year

By Kittisak Khamthong

We are now entering a new year. The year of the rat has given way to the year of the cow. From Buddhist Era 2539, we have entered 2540. Everyone is wishing each other well and most of us mean it. We all hope that ourselves and our friends have a happy and prosperous year. But remember, wishes don’t always make these things so. If those who receive our good wishes do not have ethics and moral precepts they will not find happiness.
Especially in this time of economies which spiral downwards like a bottomless whirlpool, it is sometimes difficult not to be caught up in the “do anything to survive” ethic. It is especially during troubled times that we should try and hold to precepts which save us from becoming our own victims.
Five precepts which can take us through these troubled times are: Diligence, Endurance, Economy, Honesty and Filial Piety.
Diligence: To do your life’s work and support oneself without doing undesirable things.
Endurance: To endure and work through hardship, to endure frustration and break through it, and to endure others who may have bad intentions toward one without seeking revenge.
Economy: Do not indulge in frivolous spending for short term gratification. Use your financial resources for things that are necessary. Remember, it’s not how much you earn that’s important, it’s how much you spend that can cause serious financial problems.
Honesty: No “hidden agendas”. These are many in today’s “I want” society. Be open. If you want something of someone or something face them or it honestly. Do not be circuitous in speech or behaviour.
Filial Piety: Realise your indebtedness to those who have helped you in the past and present. Always have respect for those who have helped you, even in the smallest way, through difficult times and periods of your life. Remember to pay your filial debts according to your ability. This is called Kataveti , which is a Sanskrit derived Thai word. If a wealthy person has given you shelter in a time of stress, it does not mean that the Dhamma demands that you reciprocate in exact kind. But filial piety demands the act of reciprocation.
People who follow the first three of these precepts will bring contentment upon themselves. Following the last two brings happiness to others.
The Lord Buddha prophesied that this era would be exactly as it is now. If we can see with our eyes that this is the truth, we can know in our hearts that these precepts will bring us closer to the universal Godhead.

Youths arrested with ecstasin

Four teenagers were caught trying to sell an illegal drug.

Pattaya police, out on patrol for possible narcotics offences, arrested 4 teenage males at the Pattaya Market on December 16th and charged them with possession of illicit drugs.
Police made the arrest after they noticed the boys circling the area between the market and the pier on two motorcycles in a most suspicious manner. Police stopped them, then searched both of the bikes and the 4 teenage riders. They found packages of white pills, stamped with a question mark, in the pockets of all 4 teenagers.
From interrogation, police found that the boys, all from other provinces, had one pill in each of their pockets. The boys said that these were sedatives or tranquillisers that they had obtained from one Mr. Samarn Sima to sell for 100 baht each.
Further investigation revealed that the active drug in the pills was ecstasin (sic) which supposedly exerts a powerful aphrodisiac effect. (Note to readers: There has not yet been found one drug or substance which is a true aphrodisiac and these so called ‘love drugs’ are often dangerous and can have very bad side effects.)
The Crime Suppression Division charged the 4 youths with possession of illegal drugs without a license to sell or take the drugs. As to what action police are going to take against the supplier, Samarn, there was no mention.

Government addresses illegal aliens

Parliament recently passed a bill addressing the multitude of illegal immigrants who have come to Thailand to find work. The bill gives directives on the supervision of illegal labour to make it function in a more orderly fashion and has made a step by step plan for illegal labour from Laos, Burma and Cambodia. This bill has also provided guidelines for the registration of illegal immigrants who entered the Kingdom before November 29th, 1996, allowing them to stay illegally for two years.
In response to this bill, Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pajchimnan presided over a recent meeting concerning illegal labour in Chonburi. This meeting was to discuss and consider the problems and various hardships on illegal labour in the province. No details were released, other than statistics for the area.
As for the 11,511 illegal immigrants who have applied with the government to stay illegally, 4,596 are Burmese males, 1,454 Burmese females, 644 male Laotians, 286 female Laotians, 1,707 Cambodian males and 293 Cambodian females.
There are currently 2,824 aliens who have applied to work illegally but have not yet been processed. Most are involved in illegal fishing, domestic work and agriculture.

Hoof and mouth eradication

Dr. Vijit Sukhpes, the Vice-Director of the Department of Livestock Control, gave a news conference at the Jomtien Palace Hotel, Pattaya on the occasion of his participation at the Hoof and Mouth Disease Control Convention.
Dr. Vijit said that 9 provinces had been designated as disease free areas by the Livestock Control Department. He also said that the hoof and mouth problem should be brought under control by 1997 with a vaccination of all livestock in the 9 provinces.
Dr. Vijit went on to say that hoof and mouth disease is a major obstacle which prevents the export of Thai livestock, and the government has major plans to eradicate it by careful monitoring of livestock Thailand has also received encouragement and support from neighbouring countries in this campaign. All countries concerned will carefully monitor the movement of livestock along borders.

Navy celebrates 73rd birthday

At 8:05 am on December 19, Admiral Tawatchai Liang-phibun, Vice Commander of the Naval Command for Sattahip, presided over the anniversary of the founding of Sattahip Battleship Base. The ceremony was also to celebrate the birthday of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Chumporn, Admiral and founder of the Royal Thai Navy.
Many former Royal Thai Navy Commanders were present at the ceremony. Merit was made and food offered to monks. Over 30 scholarships for children of naval personnel were also presented. There was also an award for the ‘model Naval barracks’.
The Royal Thai Navy was founded 73 years ago on the 19th of December 1923. At that time, 3 Naval division were set up. They were the torpedo boat division, the aircraft division and the battleship division.

Poisoning tourists must be stopped, now!

Editorial By Kittisak Khamthong
Pattaya has experienced a rash of drugging-robberies since the beginning of December, 1996. These have been perpetrated on tourists of all nationalities by Thai women who are seemingly all involved in prostitution. Their method is to offer sexual services and then, when alone with the “client”, drug them and rob them. Four of these incidents involving seven tourists have been major news stories, locally and abroad. Out of the eight persons who committed these crimes, only two have been arrested, even though they have been identified by the victims.
The drugging of tourists is a major blight on Pattaya’s tourist industry and Thailand’s image. It is only one of the ways in which the country’s credibility as a civilised nation is being destroyed. Other factors which contribute to this are prostitution, AIDS, and the general exploitation of tourists by an avaricious minority and a lax police force. One could put the major portion of the blame on the lackadaisical attitude of the law enforcement branch of the Royal Thai Government, whose responsibility it is to catch these criminals and file cases against them. These undesirable elements should be prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law allows. Meticulous investigations must be conducted as to how this epidemic started as there is ‘some dark influence’ behind these crimes , for if one observes law officials carefully, there seems to be a very cavalier attitude toward these incidents.
No-one knows what drug is being used in the poisonings and there seems to be a suspicious lack of interest in investigating the source of this deadly substance which is being used on tourists. How can such a potent drug be obtained, if not from a source which probably has expertise in the field of medicines and anaesthetic drugs?
If there were no ‘dark influences’ behind these incidents, many people would look at this as another ‘minor’ social problem. But this is not an issue in which one can respond with ‘Mai Pen Rai’, this is another of Thailand’s social problems which cannot be solved as we are but ‘citizens’ and don’t control the country. It is an international problem which cannot be ignored.
Each time one of these poisonings occurs, victims and other tourists take these stories back to their home countries and tell family, friends and the public in general. One person telling this story will reach another 3 or 4 and increase geometrically. For each person who tells the story, a thousand people will end up hearing it.
If this problem is not solved very quickly, who will want to come to a country such as Thailand, where even the whores are capable and willing to kill for a small amount of money. Thailand will become known as a totally unsafe destination for tourists.
The following statistics are from four different cases which happened within a few weeks:
Case 1: November 29th: Purvis, a tourist from the middle-east, is poisoned with drugged beer at The Palm Lodge. 60,000 baht was stolen from him. He had been approached by a young woman as soon as he got off the bus at the Pattaya Bus Station. The bus driver was in collusion with this woman. They have not yet been apprehended.
Case 2: December 1st: Steffan Klose (sic) a German national, is drugged in the Sawadee Court Hotel in the same manner. He also had 60,000 baht stolen. Upon regaining consciousness at the hospital, he filed a complaint with Pattaya Police. The same method was used, i.e., he was approached by a young woman who took him from the Pattaya Pier.
Case 2: Follow-up. On December 3rd, Klose led police to arrest Ms. Savitri Karnabut, 19, and Mr. Samak Duangsiri, 23. Both confessed and are now in custody awaiting trial.
Case 3: On December 20th, Mr. Kushihara Yoshikaki, a Japanese national and Mr. Sakda Prakorbkaew, a Thai tourist, friends, were both drugged at the Cherry Hotel and lost tens of thousands of baht. The culprit was a prostitute who worked the area of South Pattaya. Police have not yet been able to make any arrests.
Case 4: On December 26th, Austrian nationals Peter S., Franz F., and Friedrich D., (all of whom wish to remain anonymous) were drugged in the manner of the other three cases, i.e. beer laced with poison, at a North Pattaya resort. The perpetrators were 4 Thai prostitutes, approx., 25-30 years old. These women stole cash and valuables after drugging the men. The police have not been able to apprehend these women.
The police allege that they have not been able to arrest the remaining criminals due to lack of evidence and witnesses. They say there is no way to track these criminals when there is a clear pattern to each of the crimes. Each incident was apparently planned in the same fashion and carefully carried out. This is the police’s excuse for their eluding arrest.
These crimes are so well organised that the three poisoners at the North Pattaya resort even had a getaway car waiting for them. Before the victims were found the criminals had slipped away.
In every case, when the police questioned employees of the hotels where the incidents took place and tried to find a trail to follow, hotel employees apparently knew nothing. This was due to the lack of any traces of registration of the temporary ‘visitors’ on the hotel’s part.
Another fact is the hotels had no surveillance cameras. There was no record of cars which entered and left the hotel. These omissions left the criminals an easy way to commit these crimes.
A way to help police to solve such crimes in an efficient manner would be for hotels to keep personal records on all their employees. Records such as Thai Citizen personal ID cards and house registries to prevent hotel employees being accomplices in crimes. Hotels should have thorough registration information on guests and those who enter their rooms at any time.
Hotel security should take photographs and license numbers of all vehicles entering and leaving the hotel. Passes should be issued as is common practice in the lots of shopping malls. Security staff should be aware of physical characteristics of all non-guests entering the hotel. This may sound difficult, but if done regularly, will become a habit.
At present, Pattaya needs co-operation from all sectors in solving problems, especially crimes against tourists. This should begin at service establishments, hotels and entertainment places throughout Pattaya. All should give law enforcement officers necessary co-operation.
The police should be more efficient in giving workshops and ways for the various establishments and their employees to prevent and solve problems. Owners should be informed how to observe and prevent possible criminal behaviour, by knowing when to notify law enforcement officers of possible criminal elements which are ‘setting-up’ their establishments in organised fashion.
The prehistoric police methods should be updated and modern technological crime prevention and solving equipment should be provided by the government.
Pol. Lt. Col. Prakarn Prajong, Deputy Commander of the Pattaya Police, said the police were not being complacent and ‘sleeping’ on this problem. He said investigations had been ordered and were in the process of being done, but he felt that the crimes were carried out and criminals then fled to areas out of their jurisdiction. He said these gangs were using tourists lack of circumspection to lure them into these traps. The police cannot yet sort out who is who.
Tourist must be first to protect themselves. This is said as all of the drugging crimes were committed by prostitutes. These prostitutes were also ‘freelance’ and did not work in a bar or entertainment establishment which had proper records on them. This makes it almost impossible for police to find the perpetrators of these crimes.
Police say the way to stop all such crimes is for tourists not to use the service of prostitutes at all.
But if one must use sexual services of women they don’t know be sure that the prostitute is registered with a bar.
Police say if all tourists follow this advice and an incident such as the above should happen, it will be very easy to apprehend the perpetrator. Police ask for tourists’ co-operation in this matter.
Every society has both good and bad elements. But if all with good intentions work together and use a bit of common sense it will considerably diminish the bad elements of society.

Local

Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Mayor of Pattaya, led members of the City Council, the Provincial Council, MPs and others from all sectors of Pattaya’s society in presenting offerings at the monument of King Taksin the Great. The mayor also spoke about this year being the occasion of Pattaya’s 18th year as a municipality.

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Mr. Sujarit Pajchimnan, Governor of Chonburi, led a party to honour His Majesty the King at the Montien Hotel, Pattaya, attended by prominent members of the business community.

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Mr. Rewat Phonlukin, Member of the Chonburi Provincial Council, Banglamung, gave scholarships to children of the Isarn Society of Pattaya. The scholarships were presented at the Society’s annual New Year’s Party.