Freak storm “worst in 30 years”

A freak storm that hit the Wang Chan district of Rayong devastated more than 1,000 rai of orchards and left 68 families homeless.
Assistant district chief Lamphun Yoyadee reported damage in the area is estimated at over 100 million baht, making it the worst storm to hit the area in 30 years.
The worst hit tambons were Plongta-iam, Chum Saeng and Wang Chan where violent gusts of wind from the monsoon uprooted trees, destroying large areas of rubber plantations and orchards.
One farmer alone, Pairat Hosot, had an estimated 10 million baht worth of damage done to his mangosteen, lambutan and durian orchards, leaving him on the verge of bankruptcy.

Wanted German criminal arrested

On 11 April, ca. 14:00, Pol. Lt. Thanomsak Indhrabutr and officers of the Pattaya Tourist Police, acting on a request from the German Liaison Office in Bangkok, arrested Hermann Michael Weber, a German citizen, with the charge of being in the Kingdom after his passport had been revoked by the German Embassy.

Hermann Michael Weber, wanted in Germany to face charges of fraud, was arrested by Tourist Police for being in the Kingdom without a proper passport.

The German Liaison Office in Bangkok stated that Hermann Michael Weber, born 13 September 1949 in Dresden, carrying passport no. 2450850491, is wanted in Germany to face charges for fraud and production of false documents. Hermann has altogether 196 outstanding warrants issued against him back in Berlin. The German Prosecutor’s Office in Berlin has issued an arrest warrant, no. 573-169/95, dated 24 January 1996.
Initial investigations by local police first led them to Jomtien Tip Condotel, room 812, where Hermann had been staying, but Hermann had moved before police arrived. Police then learned that he had moved to Best Inn on Soi Buakao, yet again he managed to elude police before they arrived to make the arrest. Police were finally able to track him down and arrest him on Soi Bongkot where he was sitting and drinking with friends.
Pattaya Mail’s intrepid reporter on the spot asked Hermann if he knew why he was arrested. He replied, “No, I am very surprised, but what can I do? I have been arrested once already (on charges of fraud) and was sentenced to two years in prison. But due to having a clean record, plus the fact that I confessed, they let me go on two years probation.”
Asked how he committed his crimes, Hermann replied, “The banks are so stupid. I used to stand nearby ATM machines and wait for people to withdraw money. They usually throw away their statement slips in the bucket under the machine. I would then just pick up the slip and use their name and bank numbers to apply for a credit card, using my P.O. Box address which I had prepared. A week later the credit cards would just lay there in my box. From then, all I had to do was spend,” Hermann answered with a laugh. “I’ve used the cards to spend a little over 60,000 DM.”
Further investigation revealed that what Hermann told us was true, that he has been to court and was released on probation, which should mean that he is now clean in the eyes of law. But the decision that was made by the first prosecutor was not accepted by the Highest Prosecution Office, and therefore Hermann was called back to face further charges. But he never showed up and a new arrest warrant was issued.

12 gauge eviction notice

The drunken landlord (foreground without shirt) continues to rant as police inspect his weapon (background).

Police received a report that a drunken, gun-happy maniac was on the loose in Banglamung. Rushing to the scene, police found Mr. Komol Maprang-oorn, 58, of Bangla-mung, standing holding a 12 gauge shotgun, shouting, “This is my damn house and I can shoot anyone I please!” Police gingerly rushed in and arrested him, confiscating his weapon, which they sent to ballistics experts at the Pattaya Police Station.
Officers also called in Mr. Thira Kaewintarabin, 46, and his wife, Nualyai Krajangjaeng, 26, from the house where they had hidden from their landlord’s outburst. The couple was also taken to the station.
Later at the police station, Kamol, still in a drunken state, was shouting that he was a rich man and owned many apartments, so, if he wanted to shoot anyone, where was the fault in it?
When asked by police why he shot at the couple, he said, “because I felt like it and why shouldn’t I as they haven’t paid their rent for this month.” He said they would be, “thrown out of the house and left to the mercy of the Palm trees and tropical breezes.”
The police explained to Mr. Komol, who continued to rant and rave, that even though he was rich, he would have to be prosecuted.
The young couple agreed to move out of the house, immediately.

Romeo the thief

Pattaya police received a complaint from Ms. Chompoo Sopha, 24, an employee at a beer bar, that she wished for the police to arrest a handsome Thai man. Apparently, he had lured her into a hotel and then robbed her.

Poor Ms. Chompoo,
lost all her gold.
The wronged girl tearfully told police that she was working at the bar when a very handsome Thai man came, sat down and began a conversation. They then made an agreement to go to a hotel for “professional” activities, which he said he would pay her an undisclosed amount.
She continued, saying that he was very well built and paid the 150 baht bar fine, so she readily agreed to go with him. She signed the hotel register herself at the young man’s urging. The man then went out and bought 7 cans of beer and before the poor girl knew it, she was intoxicated.
He then took off his 30 gram gold necklace and placed it around her neck. The man then took off her 7.5 gram gold bracelet and placed his own 15 gram gold bracelet on her wrist. Saying these were testaments of his love, he took her out of the hotel and took her back to her residence on a motorcycle.
To her great surprise, she soon discovered that all the gold he had given her was fake. She discussed this matter with friends before filing a complaint, during which time this veritable Apollo had come and rented one of the other girls at the bar who had more gold than she. Being afraid that her friend would be in danger, she decided to report the incident to the police.
Ms. Chompoo said she found it hard to believe that such a handsome fellow could do such things. When police explained that his good looks were the very thing which enabled him to do it she merely looked puzzled.
Police have not yet found the perpetrator.

Officer dies in senseless act

Police Captain Pongsak Kaditham, assistant inspector with the Phlu-Ta Luang regional police, told reporters that police officer Soros Nathi, 24, “accidentally” shot himself to death while foolishly playing with his firearm.
Captain Pongsak said that officer Soros had left the police station with 9 other officers to play a game of recreational football. On the way to the football field in Ban Chang, Soros took out his police department issue pistol and began playing with it.
His friends warned him, telling him to put the weapon away, but he did not listen. He foolishly put the gun to his temple and pulled the trigger three times. The gun did not fire. Pulling the trigger a fourth time, the gun fired and killed him instantly.
The other police officers, mystified, said he may have thought that the gun was empty or that he was “protected by spirits.”
Captain Pongsak said that his colleagues said he did not seem depressed or agitated in any way, but was acting in a totally irresponsible manner.
The Captain warns the public to respect all firearms and instruments which could be considered weapons, including knives. He said the police officer’s death should be an example that even a person trained in the use of weapons may become the victim of them.

Bang Saen Beach sculpture winner

This sculpture will be cast in Bronze to forever represent the importance of nature to mankind.

Somchai Khunpleum, Mayor of Saen Sukh Municipality, gave a news conference to announce Mr. Pasakorn Narknoi as the winning artist of the Bang Saen Beach Sculpture Contest.
The contest gave all in-terested a chance to submit ideas for sculptures, with the winner’s idea to be built and erected as a symbol of Bang Saen.
There were over 138 entries and Khun Somchai said he was very pleased, as the judges from the media, the civil and private sectors, and led by art experts, had made a unanimous decision.

Pasakorn Narknoi, the winning artist
The artist’s name will be engraved on the sculpture, which will be cast in metal and he will be awarded a cash prize of 50,000 baht.
The winning artist, Mr. Pasakorn Narknoi, was born in 1963 and is a Chonburi native. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from The King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Lard Krabang. He is now an architect with the 292 Design Company Ltd. His main field of work is architectural design of large buildings.
Explaining his sculpture, which is a montage of many species of fish swimming in a circular ascending line, he said he wanted to represent the importance of the sea in peoples lives. Aside from the beauty that the sea provides, it also provides a bounty of food in which fish are a part of the life cycle. Fish provide food for humans and other life forms and he wished to represent the fish’s beauty and the necessity for humans to preserve this wonderful gift of nature.
Pasakorn said his sculpture will be cast in bronze, which has a rich pinkish-red colour. Bronze is also more resistant to salt water and sea air than brass, which is used in much of the casting done in Thailand. The bronze used for the piece will consist of 87% copper, 10% tin, 2% zinc and 1% lead. The colouring of the statue will be patina colouring, a process in which acids are applied to the surface of the bronze. When bronze and the acids interact with air and sunlight over a period of 8-10 years, the colour grows increasingly rich and pleasing.

Pattaya Mail Photo Contest

Pattaya Mail is proud to announce our first ever Amateur Photo Contest.
From now until May 16 we will be accepting photographs taken by local photo enthusiasts with the theme “Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard”. In this open theme format, judges will be looking for still photos that represent the life and times of people, places and things in the greater Pattaya/Eastern Seaboard region.
Grand prize will be two nights accommodation in a double room at the Amari in Chiang Mai. The runner-up will receive two nights weekend complimentary lodging in a double room at Thai Garden Resort, including American break-fast. Third prize will be 1 night in the honeymoon suite at the Cliff Terrace, Royal Cliff Beach Resort. 10 consolation prizes will also be awarded.
Submitted entries should be color prints no larger than 8x10 (no slides). There is no limit to the number of entries per individual, but each entry must be made separately and include the entrant’s name, address, telephone number, and title of photo. Deadline for entries is Friday, May 16. Winners will be announced in the Friday, May 30th edition of Pattaya Mail.
Pattaya Mail will publish all winners, and all entries will remain the copyright of Pattaya Mail to be used for further promotions. Staff and family members of Pattaya Mail are not eligible for entry.
Good Luck!

Overcrowding leads to situation at school

Parents gather to try and force acceptance of their children into the Wat Pho Samphan Pitayakarn School in Banglamung.

A rather flattering but difficult situation occurred at the Wat Pho Samphan Pitayakarn in Banglamung last week. The school had openings for 45 new students, but more than 100 young scholars were brought by their parents to enrol in the school.
Mr. Phayung Sakinthanon, the director of the school, said that the new applicants were for the Mathayon 1-3 grades (7th-9th years of school). Mr. Phayung invited the parents into the meeting room to explain why all the new students could not be accepted.
The school now has 2,625 students enrolled and can efficaciously handle only 45 more. Mr. Phayung tried to convince the parents and guardians of the children to enrol their charges at other schools but they flatly refused. This meeting lasted more than 3 hours.
The parents said they refused to enrol their children at other schools as Wat Pho Samphan was the highest quality school in the area. The parents said the staff, teaching methods and materials were of the highest calibre and refused to even consider other schools.
Finally Mr. Phayungsak reluctantly gave in, saying he would have to overcrowd the classrooms and quickly hire new staff to accommodate the overflow. After hearing this, satisfied parents and children agreed to leave the building and return home.

Mobile unit visits public

Government Officials and volunteers in a new mobile public service unit met with members of the community who live in high density population areas.
Officials announced that the services donated to the public were free vaccinations for pets, dental examinations, and repair of electrical appliances. A demonstration of fire prevention methods.
The campaign against amphetamines continued and a demonstration and lecture on the dangers this drug was given.
Rice and dried foodstuffs were given to children and senior citizens. The day ended with a free concert for the public.

Predicting storms in the Gulf near Pattaya

The Meteorological Society of Thailand held a seminar on the ‘Improvement of the Prediction and Study of Marine Weather Patterns in the Mid-Pacific and Thai Tectonic Plate Area’. The seminar focused on oceanographic research and weather with participation by other concerned agencies such as the Fisheries Department, the Flood Research Department, The Royal Navy, the Port Authority and the National Research Council.
A lecture was given on the prevention of accidents in marine environments. The lecture focused on the origin and importance of research in these areas.
Due to the rapid growth in Thailand’s economy and especially her economic growth in various marine industries, prevention of aquatic accidents and the accurate reporting of marine meteorological phenomenon is of paramount importance. Thailand’s reputation for accurate weather reporting must become world standard for her to be recognised in the developed world. In the past the WMI sent experts to instruct Thailand in monitoring the wind and wave patterns.
Dr. Lim Ju Tick of the WMI of Malaysia came in 1991 and gave instruction courses to Thai meteorologists to develop as part of the Development of Marine Meteorology program. The agreement was that the WMI would provide subsidies of 408,000 baht for a two year period. Thailand was expected to raise the quality of her marine weather reporting and provide service equalling that of other nations in the region, thus increasing her ability in the marine area. Weather stations were to be built near ports and fishing areas. A model forecast and storm surge centre was to be built. Presently WMO has established Seacamp, which is like the above program, but is more cost-effective as the budget is coming from ASEAN member countries.

Comment; by Jay Patterson

The adjacent story is an illustration of a problem that is en-demic in all parts of Thailand. As in other countries, some schools are better than others. But very few parents analyse why this is.
There are certain schools which every parent wants their children to attend for various reasons. Some, because it will give their children upward social mobility in their future lives, as the schools are attended by ‘upper class’ children. Other schools, especially the Catholic schools, because of the quality of the teaching.
Whatever the reason, the number of students in these ‘desirable schools’ always exceeds their ability to teach efficiently.
These school’s reputations were made in the first 10 or 15 years after their establishment. The Catholic and a few Protestant institutions became quickly known for the quality of teachers, in the past, usually staffed with European nuns and brothers from Catholic teaching orders. The church provided much needed funds and European style education became available in a Siam just making contact with the West.
As European education was based on the student and not the teacher, religious teaching orders realised the necessity for keeping the classes relatively small. These schools were particularly strong in the areas of social studies, language arts and inculcating use of knowledge synthesis and imagination as opposed to wrote learning.
As these school’s repu-tation’s grew, more students wanted to enrol. When the administration of these schools was still controlled by European nuns and brothers, firm control was exercised over the student/teacher ratio and standards were maintained.
In the late 1950’s a new nationalism sprung-up in Thailand and more and more Thais were taking vows and becoming part of the Catholic education process. The European brothers and nuns were becoming ‘obsolete’ and leaving Thailand. The government was responsible for some of this pressure.
What the government did not acknowledge was that the very people who were obsolete had maintained these school’s high standards.
But in Thailand, once something has made a ‘name’ it can live on that alone for a long time. So after the departure of most of the founding orders, these schools kept their prestige, although there was a noticeable quality drop in educational standards. Parents would do anything to have their children attend these prestigious schools. The administrators, often being Thai nationals, could not, like a foreign Mother Superior, look parents in the eye and say ‘I’m very sorry, we’re not accepting any more students.’
The Mother Superior at one very famous Catholic School in Bangkok once accepted the daughter of a Prime Minister, but refused to allow her special privileges. This resulted in the Order being forced to leave Thailand. After much pressure from the local upper class, the Vatican and parents, the Order returned, not giving one inch to this prime minister’s wishes. With a mainly Thai adminis-tration this is not possible.
The result is now these school have up to 100 students in one class, lay teachers and the quality of education is variable. But these schools still have a ‘name’ and parents will pawn the family silver to enrol their children.
Only the Catholic schools have been mentioned here. Some of the famous government schools are able to limit the size of their student body. This is true of one or two Protestant schools which are well-known.
But times are changing and at the university level, sometimes a degree from one of the ‘prestigious 2 in Bangkok’ is not a guarantee of a job in a large multi-national corporation anymore.
Employers from these mega-corporations will often give special consideration to students who have completed a bachelor’s degree from Ramkamhaeng in 4 years. The reason is that at this university, class attendance is not mandatory and the student’s own initiative is the important thing. Those who complete a degree in 4 years are considered to have a great deal of self-discipline.
This was explained to me by an executive from a large corporation thus; It is very difficult to be admitted to the ‘big two’, but very easy to graduate. It is very easy to enter Ramkamhaeng, but one must have a great deal of self-discipline to graduate.’