Three down, none to go

The three men who sawed they’re way out of jail are back behind bars in a spectacular comeback.
Sakaro Saembaet, a Turk, Said Sobaret, an Iranian and Ahmed Braham, an Iraqi, all accused with robbery, burglary, and conspiracy were posing as tourists in a hotel. This week sees the capture of the last of the three.
There have been no statements made yet, but the police wished the media and the public to see that the three incorrigible robbers are behind bars again. There will be more news on this as the police continue questioning the accused men.

Another speed dealer busted

The Pattaya Division of the Crime Suppression Police, learning that Chonburi is a major centre for the sales of methamphetamine, are using various reports and ‘tip-offs’ to form a plan to arrest dealers.
Implementing their plan, an undercover police officer searched out one dealer, taking 200 baht in cash with him, and requested to buy the drug. But the dealer in question refused to sell. The police cunningly changed their strategy and instead of using banknotes, used 200 baht in 10 baht coins on their second attempt. The teenage dealer then sold them 2 tablets at the price of 100 baht each.
As soon as the sale was made, a group of officers burst into the house and performed a search. They found 70 tablets in a toy gun used for playing video games, another 15 hidden in the stuffing of a doll and 180 tablets hidden behind a large ceramic water jar. The total street value of these tablets was 4,990 baht.
Police also found equipment for the ingestion of this drug and 14 more incriminating items.
The dealer, Thongchai Piyawong, 19, confessed that his suppliers were teenagers who brought the drug to him on a motorcycle without licence tags. Thongchai said he purchased 200 tablets at a time.
He told his customers that the only monetary denominations he would take for the drug were 10 baht coins. This was to prevent marked banknotes being given him by undercover police.
After questioning Thong-chai, police were able to arrest 1 other dealer with 100 methamphetamine tablets in his possession.
Sujarit Pajchimnan, governor or Chonburi said that anyone who had any information which would help police to please call (038) 274-441-2 or write to Post Office Box 101, Chonburi General Post Office, 2000. Suppliers of information need not give their names or addresses.

Prime Minister to consider Pattaya improvements

by Kittisak Khamthong
The results of a meeting between the Pattaya City Administration and business sector with the Prime Minister should prove to be a barometer of the central government’s dedication to solving Pattaya’s problems.
The Prime Minister was informed of some of some of the city’s needs and it is hoped he will give serious con-sideration to removing the obstacles which are ham-pering the city.
The report was submitted under the title “For Pattaya’s Revival and Development”. The report was divided into 9 sections.
Yet there are still 3 projects which have not received the approval of the Environ-mental Standards Committee. These are the landfill project, the waste water treatment plant and the building of a pier for tourist’s use. There is also the project to enlarge Pattaya Beach. These and other important projects are on hold because of the lack of budget for present con-sideration.
Pairat Sutthithamrong-sawat, Mayor of Pattaya, and Songsak Yomjinda, City Manager met with the Prime Minister to be ‘whips’ in having these problems dealt with as soon as possible in order to realise Pattaya’s potential. The two men also wished to expedite projects which were given the go-ahead under the Anand Panyarachun administration concerning developing Pattaya as a respectable tourist destination.
One project which has great support from the public but is being hindered by ‘influences’ is to have a bona-fide bus system in Pattaya. This project would end the never ending problems which both locals and tourists have with surly baht bas drivers.
Another situation which the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association and the general public wish to see is the relocation of so-called ‘beer-bars’ to areas which are designated by the government. These eyesores, with their loud music, drunken foreigners and tacky looking ‘service-girls’ are a real boil on the face of the city. Ms. Sophin Thepjug said it was embarrassing to hear foreign friends and tourists complain about these girls shouting obscenities at them. She said many men who offered a polite “No, thank-you” had to undergo the indignity of having these girls attempt to drag them into the bars physically.
Chatpong Chatphut said that he felt some dialogue and study should be done before scrapping the mini-buses for a regular bus line. Since that time, there has been a bus-drivers’ workshop to instruct them in deportment’.
Other projects discussed were: making Larn Island an eco-tourism destination, and making U-tapao Airport an international commercial air centre, even if it is in function only.
Pattaya now awaits answers to all these questions from the cabinet. Over to you, honourable ministers.

Another small ya-ba bust

Police confiscated porn flicks and speed.

Continuing law enforce-ment’s war on amphetamines, a Pattaya policeman, posing as a Taiwanese tourist, approached an unidentified Pattaya man suspected of dealing drugs, and asked to buy three speed tablets. The man willingly sold them for 100 baht each, whereupon the policeman revealed his identity and arrested the dealer.
Police took the suspect to his residence and found his 2 house-mates watching porno-graphic films. Upon searching the house, they found a grand total of 17 amphetamine tablets.
The seller admitted he had been selling amphetamines for more than a year but stopped this business for about 2 weeks when the police crackdown began. He then took up the business again. He adamantly refused to reveal his supplier. Police kept him on charges of possession of a schedule 1 substance.

Bangkok miss Camerooned

Pierre Thierre de Thole and Imbalhim Modie, both natives of Cameroon, were caught with their hands in the purse of a Bangkok miss.

Ms. Somporn Rorsing filed a complaint with police and asked them to arrest Mr. Pierre Thierre de Thole, 17, and Mr. Imbalhim Modie, 27, both natives of Cameroon. She said that they had defrauded her of 50,000 baht. This had happened in her room in Bangkok while she was taking a shower.
After receiving a tip that the men had fled to Pattaya, police conducted a search around the beer bar area of Pattaya. Further clues led them to the P.J. Apartment, where they found both men in mid-embrace with two Thai ‘miss-bodies’. Police made their arrest and brought the men to the police station for questioning.
The Camerooners admitted to taking the woman’s money but said they were sorry as they had already spent it all on goods, services and Thai prostitutes.

March is “rabies vaccinations” month

This month is the beginning of the campaign for rabies vaccinations for all domestic animals. The provincial government is encouraging all those who keep any warm-blooded livestock or pets to have them vaccinated against this disease which is fatal in 99% of cases.
11 people have died from rabies in the past 2 years and most of the bites causing the disease have come from infected household pets.
With the hot season beginning, the chances of animals becoming infected increases. Children are at most risk of infection.
Everyone is encouraged to take the time to prevent unnecessary infections from this killer disease.

Litter-free areas to be expanded

Reports from the Public Relations Department of Pattaya City are that the heavy measures taken in the fight to stamp out litter and litterers will be expanded to cover a wider area.
Pattaya’s original anti-litter campaign, responding to the national government’s law to ban littering throughout the country, began January 1st, 1997, and was focused mainly on the “Golden Mile” and Soi Bunkot in South Pattaya. Litterers were apprehended and the city says that they are now receiving full co-operation from the residents of those areas.
Pattaya has now decided to expand the ‘litter free’ area to include many other areas of the city. Any litter fiends caught dirtying these areas will be fined up to 2,000 baht.
The city asks for everyone’s full co-operation in this innovative campaign.

Hanged Briton may be victim of gangsters

In a follow up to our report on the death of Briton Geoffrey Chapman, found hanging from a pier in Sriracha on February 23 (Pattaya Mail, Vol. V No. 9, 28 Feb.) there is now speculation that he may have been the victim of local gangsters.
The Daily Telegraph in Great Briton has reported that, although the Thai police investigating the death believe that he may have committed suicide, there is reason to believe that foul play was involved.
Chapman, who was found hanging from the balcony of the Fisheries Department building in Sriracha, had one rope tied around his neck and another had been tied around his waist and ankles and attached to a rock which dragged his body underwater.
The body of Mr. Chapman, a pylon erector who was on holiday in Thailand, was spotted by a security guard at the fisheries building when the tide went out. Officially, the Thai authorities are treating the death as a suicide, but one local source said that it bore the hallmarks of a killing by local gangsters. Chapman had only about 5 baht in his pocket and may have been robbed. His local bank account also only had a minute amount in it, and two large withdrawals had been made in the past two weeks.
Autopsy results won’t become available for at least another month.

Employee’s reaction scares off robber

Police question the night clerk after the robber wanna-be fled the scene.

An employee at the Wood-lands Resort was on duty at 5:10 a.m. when a man came in and purported to wish to check in. When he saw that there were no other people, he opened his coat and revealed a gun with which he threatened the employee.
The employee panicked, ran through the window at the rear of the counter, and yelled for the guard. This reaction caused the potential robber to panic, and he ran away, not expecting this kind of scenario.
The guard, Mr. Samuh Kaewsanga, gave chase, but the frightened robber jumped on a red Suzuki motorcycle and sped off in the direction of Banglamung.
The hotel employee said the would be robber was tall, slender and had a mous-tache.

Soaked assailant fished from sea

After thirty minutes of folly, police were finally able to fish the assailant out of the sea.

Generating a rather comic spectacle last weekend, Yai Phasuphan, a security guard with the Trisin Security Co., Ltd., after assaulting Paitoon Khruawang, 20, with a pair of handcuffs, jumped off Pattaya Pier in an attempt to avoid arrest when officers arrived on the scene.
The victim, Paitoon told police that he and some friends had come to the pier to fish. When Mr. Yai arrived, he threw a bottle at them, alleged that he was a police officer, and asked the men why didn’t they wai him as a sign of respect. Paitoon complied and apologised, but Yai seemed to be in a rather sour mood, so he began beating Paitoon on the head with his handcuffs, causing many lacerations.
When Paitoon saw the arrival of police officers, he yelled for help. When Yai saw the real police, he tried to escape by jumping off the pier into the sea. He then swam under the pier in an attempt to avoid arrest and it took police more than 30 minutes to catch the wet and very cold culprit.
Yai has been charged with assault and inflicting bodily harm.

Drunken monk flashes brethren

The saddened monk is taken off the streets before he does any more damage to his and his religion’s image.

A drunken Buddhist monk, wandering around flashing passers-by in the South Pattaya Market last week, caused quite a commotion that involved police officers, tourist volun-teers, media and onlookers.
At the scene of the incident, tourist volunteers found the 44 year old monk walking in a stumbling manner, every step followed by bemused citizens. From time to time, the priest would lift his sacerdotal underwear and expose himself.
The monk’s antics were offensive to devout Buddhists, so, at the request of onlookers, and since no police officers were present at the time of the incident, tourist volunteers intervened, clothed the monk and brought him to Tourist Police Headquarters.
But when the volunteers reached the Tourist police station, they were scolded by a non-commissioned officer who said they had no right to harass monks (because tricky clauses in the law exist in which touching a monk can cause considerable problems for police officers). The non-com also stated that the volunteers had exceeded their authority, and that they authority to arrest the monk lay with the Pattaya regional police.
When reporters supported the volunteer’s claims that they were just trying to help keep the monk from embarrassing himself further, the non-commissioned officer became very angry and sarcastic with reporters and told them rudely, using insulting pronouns, that he was not interested in what the reporters thought and that they could do whatever they wanted. The unsuitable response from a guardian of the law prompted reporters to question his sworn oath, “The Refuge of All People and Tourists”.
The monk, Phra Phiksusong Chayawat Wanyara, is resident at Chaimonkol Temple in South Pattaya. He told police that reason for his behaviour was a death of a family member, and that he was one of the official readers of the Dhamma at the funeral. While walking back to the temple in his unhappy state, he saw a group of old friends who invited him to sit down for a drink.
He bought his own bottle of Mekhong and drank it mixed with a certain brand of pep-tonic, mixing only 3 bottles of pep-tonic with one bottle of whisky. This ratio can have positively psychedelic effects. Thoroughly sozzled, he began his lurch back to the temple. Taunted by a group of citizens on his way, he began flashing them and was arrested.
The monk had been ordained for three months as he had made a promise while very ill as a layman that if he recovered he would enter the priesthood.
After the scene at the police station, the monk was taken to Sawang Fa Temple before being released.

Unrest amongst sago farmers

Hundreds of sago farmers gather at the Chonburi Provincial Hall to try and get fairer prices.

Recently 500 sago ( the tuber from which Monosodium Glutamate, tapioca and other products are derived) farmers gathered in front of the Chonburi Provincial Hall in an attempt to talk with Mr. Sujarit Pajchimnan, the Governor of Chonburi.
The purpose was to inform the governor that the middlemen were refusing to buy the tubers at the price set by the Royal Government’s Ministry of Commerce.
These tubers have always been a controversial issue as scientists have shown how quickly they rob the soil of nutrients. There have also been other drawbacks, such as the falling world demand for Monosodium Glutamate, the deforestation necessary to support this tuber, which is ever in constant need of new soil, or dangerous chemical fertilisers. Other products derived from Sago are tapioca and animal feed.
A few years ago, His Majesty the King took great interest in reforesting the country through introducing crops which would be more permanent parts of the landscape and benefit and regenerate failing ecosystems. This was due to His Majesty’s great concern over the detrimental effects of Eucalyptus trees on the soil and wildlife. One ideal solution His Majesty conceived was planting Cashew trees. These large shade trees, which are a source of cashews, which are a highly desirable cash crop, are a soil renewer. Being long lived trees, they give opportunities for watershed regeneration, wildlife habitats and reforestation. The trees take about 7 years to produce their first crop. Unfortunately, many profit minded people complained that some trees did not produce. So, the vampiric Sago continues to be the crop of choice for many farmers who have no other choice.
The group of farmers made these 3 demands; That the Treasury Department of Price Standardisation raise the price of Sago this week. 2. That all Tapioca buyers in the province who are willing to buy submit their names and the amount they will buy on a daily basis one day in advance. Third, the farmers demanded that the provincial government send officials to the tapioca buyers who buy on a daily basis and that the middlemen buy from Chonburi farmers first.
After this, the governor and other concerned officials called the tapioca buyers to a meeting at Provincial Hall for a meeting with the farmers.
The buyers agreed to purchase the tubers according to their starch content. They would pay 1 baht per kilogram for Sago with 25% starch. If the starch content was more or less, the buyers would raise or lower the price by three satang per percentile of starch. The next agreement was that 13 different firms would alternate in buying on a daily basis. They would purchase no more than 100 tons per day. The buyers also agreed to buy only from farmers registered with the Chonburi Agricultural Department.

Protecting Thailand’s seas

General Boonsak Kam-haeng Rithirong, Secretary of National Security, revealed to reporters that he has established policies for solving problems of crime in Thailand’s seas. This was done at a three day seminar held at the Royal Jomtien Hotel, Pattaya, where more than 80 officials attended.
A ‘round table’ brainstorming session was held concerning protecting Thailand’s interests and stopping out crime in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The basic idea was the establishment of centres at strategic points and conducting a constant ‘Bay Watch’ style surveillance system.
This idea will be presented to the National Security Council. Thailand is now realising the wealth of animate and inanimate resources on her shores and in her seas. Experts are alarmed at the profligacy with which these resources are destroyed and overused. There is no solid policy concerning ongoing conservation of marine resources.
The country now realises that a large part of Thailand’s wealth lies in her marine resources and how many people derive their livelihood from these. Keeping the sea lanes safe, the docks environmentally clean and protecting marine life are therefore of paramount importance.
This project will entail co-operation between different government agencies and the institution of an inter-agency legal structure.

Cride coeur from Pattaya

Pattaya again plays host to a host of members of the Fourth Estate, those privileged beings with whom the city has enjoyed a love-hate relationship for so many years.
We love you when you say nice things about us, we hate you when you don’t.
Too often in the last few years it has appeared to us that “you-all” have been concentrating on the negative aspects of the city and ignoring the positive ones. We’d like to ask you , not to broaden your view—which we know is already broad—but to broaden your reporting.
We know that Pattaya has its bagnios, its go-go bars and its sometimes raucous beer-bars. But which of your home cities, we enquire, does not? Is there someone there from Salt Lake City? If so don’t answer that!
Pattaya is a young and vital city, founded on tourism and relying on it. The operative words are young, and reliance. We are young enough not to have outgrown the gawkiness of adolescence, we have not yet managed to overcome the acne of youth and this shows in our sometimes potholed and grubby streets and less than dignified behaviour. We are also young enough to be hurt by criticism, which we as every adolescent would, believe to be unjust. We are not yet old and blasé enough to shrug off the criticism of our less-than-perfect aspects—as would London of Soho, New York of Harlem, and every other city of its seedier side—and our economy relies on your goodwill and on that of those you will attract to our shores by a few kind words about us.
We must also ask you to believe that we are trying hard to do better. Our hoteliers, businessmen (Oops! We mean businesspersons) and trades-people agonise over the ills of the city and devote much of their time and resources trying, with very little help from those who should provide it, to improve things.
We would like to request that when you see something of which you do not approve, spare a thought as to whom is responsible. The income from the tourist returns to the central government in taxes and is dribbled back in budgeted allocations too small for us to make any real improvement. The police force is not under the control of the city and dances to its own tune. We too would love to have clean streets and unsullied pavements, we too abhor public displays of lewdness and the exploitation of underage children—and we try to do something about it.
When you feel you must criticise such things, point not the finger at Pattaya, but at those who deny us our share of the income we have generated in order to correct them; at law keepers whose agenda is related, perhaps, more to ensuring that they receive their slice of the cake than it is to keeping the law.
We ask also that you try to colour your vision with the more positive aspects of what we have to offer. Pattaya is fun, the sea and islands are great, we have long tree shaded beaches and the discos are definitely humming, the go-go bars are not all lewd, and the choice of restaurants and different ethnic cuisines is unrivalled in any city of its size in the world. Of the gay bars the least that can be said is that unwilling youths are thereby relieved of the attentions of their patrons.
Now go out and have fun—we are confident that you will find it in Pattaya.

Prominent Pattayans welcome FCCT

We welcome all our colleagues of the foreign media and hope you will see many of the good and beautiful things in Pattaya on this visit which you have not seen before. The Media Association of Pattaya hopes that these will be useful in writing stories which will be of interest to the people of your various countries and give Pattaya a positive reputation. Virat Kijsom President of the Media Association of Pattaya.

I would like to welcome all the FCCT members who have come to Pattaya and hope that this will be the first of many visits. Somwang Petchtrakull, President of the Ruang Khao Club of Pattaya and President of the Alcazar Co. Ltd.

In the name of the Hotel Association of the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand, we are happy to see members of the FCCT coming to Pattaya from every area of the world. As you will see, Pattaya has over 40,000 hotel rooms, all of which are cheaper than those of most other destinations. There are many beautiful sights to see and places to visit, many of which you will have the opportunity to experience on this visit. We are constantly working at bringing our facilities and utilities up to the highest standard. We think you will notice a change for the better in Pattaya and we hope you will take this news back to your various countries and publics. Sutham Phantu-sak, President of the Hotel Association of the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is honoured that members of the FCCT have chosen to visit Pattaya. Pattaya is not only a city, but a part of Thailand as it is the most famous tourist destination in Thailand. Pattaya attracts both Thai and foreign tourists. There was a long period when Pattaya was caught in storms of controversy about her image as a tourist destination. This controversy had a negative impact on Thailand’s image in general. This controversy was caused by a small sector of society and happens in every society which is materially developed. Thailand has not been the only country to experience such problems. These problems have been being worked on and are being solved by co-operation of the private and public sectors. Visitors to Thailand and Pattaya have seen this change occurring. We hope that you will learn the truth on this visit and have the opportunity to gather valuable information to disseminate abroad. We hope this visit, at the invitation of the Pattaya Mail newspaper, will achieve this goal. We hope you all enjoy your stay in Pattaya and in Thailand! Seri Wangphaichit, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

On behalf of the business community of Pattaya, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all FCCT members who are visiting Pattaya this forthcoming weekend. We are very honoured and delighted to have you with us. Thank you for taking the time to visit us here and I sincerely hope that you will gain a valuable insight into the community here and benefit from the exchange of ideas during the seminars. Also, apart from the hospitality to enjoy, I hope you can take time off to indulge in the wide range of tourist facilities available here which will further acquaint you with Pattaya’s scenic and cultural treasures. With warmest wishes, Mrs. Panga Vatha-nakul, Managing Director, Royal Cliff Beach Resort.

On behalf of Pattaya City, I’m very much delighted to have the great honour and privilege of welcoming our honoured guests and delegation to the international family resort and sport city. Songsak Yomjinda, Pattaya City Manager.

All the people of Pattaya wish to welcome the members of the FCCT to this event. Sansak Ngarmphiches, Head of the Government Committee on Tourism and Chonburi Member of Parliament.

A warm welcome to all members of the FCCT to Pattaya. Chanyuth Hengtrakul, President of the Chonburi Provincial Council.

Pattaya welcomes all members of the Media and other organisations. Pairat Suthi-thamrongsawat, Mayor of Pattaya.

Welcome to the new Pattaya. Chatpong Chatphut, Bang-lamung District Head

I would like to welcome all FCCT members to Pattaya in the name of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Setha-phan Buddhani, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Region 3.

Welcome to all the members of the FCCT to Pattaya. We hope everyone enjoys their stay. Police Colonel Kasem Sangkhaphn, Chief Superintendent, Banglamung Regional Police.

The police are the friends of the tourists. Welcome to all members of the FCCT. Police Lt. Colonel Prakarn Prajong, Deputy Chief Superintendent of the Banglamung Regional Police.

We welcome all as brothers and sisters in the Thai traditional fashion. May we work together in making Pattaya a family tourist destination. Pol. Major Jongsak Yeamlamool, Commander of the Tourist Police for Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard.

It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome all the members of the FCCT on their visit to Pattaya. I hope you all have a good time and leave with information about Chonburi and its many attractions. It is our sincere wish that all of you return for another visit. Suphadit Maneeratcha-ratsri, President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA).

It is a pleasure to welcome members of the FCCT to the new Pattaya which is now being developed so it may once again be a world tourist destination. Sophin Thepjug, Past President of PBTA.

Welcome to Pattaya, FCCT

from Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pajchimnan

It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity to welcome members of the FCCT and members of the Pattaya Mail to this ‘working holiday’ The Pattaya Mail is the first and only English language newspaper in Pattaya.
I would also like to welcome all business people and officials of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. I hope everyone will take advantage of the opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions while in Pattaya.
The main purpose of this gathering is to exchange ideas and listen to opinions which will contribute to Pattaya’s tourist industry. This is due to the damaging reports Pattaya has been receiving from the foreign press.
Our desire is for unbiased, non-sensational reporting concerning Pattaya. We ask that all stories be thoroughly checked before submitting them for publication. This will be a great help in reviving Pattaya’s tourist industry.
Chonburi has historically been an important province since its founding in Siam’s Ayuthaya period in the 16th century. Chonburi has her own historical importance, local customs and culture which give the province a definite identity. Especially interesting are the differences between the lifestyles of the rural and city people.
Pattaya has many fascinating destinations for the tourist who is truly interested in learning about one facet of Thai culture.
Chonburi is strategically located to be the door to the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand. It is a centre of communi-cations, transport, education, public health, and banking/finance.
Chonburi sees the importance of the inflow of investment which will contribute to her progress. Because of this, we are expediting the creation of a basic infrastructure.
Chonburi has a total land area of 4,363 sq. Kilometres. It is divided into 10 districts, 92 sub-districts, 688 villages, 6 municipalities, and Pattaya which is an independent city unit.
In the name of Chonburi Province, I would like to thank all attendees for honouring us with their presence. May we all learn from each other and enjoy the conference.