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Landfill project given green light
Three step plan outlined to begin the operation
The area of South Pattaya known as the “Golden Mile”
is scheduled for demolition to make room for a landfill and park project.
After nearly a year of wrangling, Pattaya is now responding
to the directive issued in August of 1996 by the National Environmental Board
which ordered the 101 illegal business to be removed from South Pattaya Beach,
paving the way for the implementation of the South Pattaya Landfill project.
The plan for the removal of these businesses was sent to the National
Environmental Board for consideration, and the Board has now approved the plan,
giving the city the go-ahead to proceed with it.
Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pajchimanan signed order No. 1132/2540 in May of 1997,
which gives permission for a committee to be set up to oversee the demolition of
these illegal buildings.
The committee has been holding closed door meetings to avoid media attention and
to surreptitiously create a plan to implement the changes without interference
from the influential figures who stand to be adversely affected.
There have not yet been any meetings between the trespassers and the
authorities, probably due to the potential volatile reaction of the trespassers
against authorities trying to do their job. It has been predicted that this
problem will cause present and future political candidates problems as this
issue will be one on which their platforms will be judged. The next election
will be on August 17th of this year.
This potentially powerful committee consists of Mr. Songkram Korsuthiwarakul,
Deputy Governor of Chonburi; Police General Kongdech Choosri, Head of the
Chonburi Police Department; the Chonburi Department of Roads and Highways; the
Head of the Chonburi Provincial Office; the District Chief of Banglamung; the
Chonburi Civil Planning Office; the Director of the Office for the Environment
of the East; the Port Authority of Region 6, Chonburi; the Head of the Chonburi
Land Office, the Commander of the Regional Police for Banglamung; the Deputy
Director of the Pattaya City Police; the Pattaya City Manager, the Director of
the Pattaya Municipal Works Division; the Head of the City Director’s Office;
the Director of Municipal Planning for Pattaya; and the Legal Office of Pattaya
City.
During a recent meeting at Pattaya City Hall that lasted almost 4 hours, members
discussed a varied agenda, including order No. 1132/2540, the problems of the
illegal businesses, the implementing of the tear-down, and the methods of how to
accomplish this according to the plan.
The head of the committee, Deputy Governor Songkram Korsuthiwarakul, reported
the committee had planned a three stage program for the removal of the
buildings: 1. To make a land map of those who had rights to the land according
to various and confusing laws governing the size and categories and which also
concerned the various types of edifices constructed. 2. To conduct a survey to
record the various amounts of other assets in the area of the illegal buildings.
3. To distribute documents giving rights to land holders who have illegal
edifices in the area. Two cases would be considered in this; those who had
documents which gave them rights to the land, and those who had no documents
giving them rights to the land.
These two cases have been further divided in to two methods of implementation,
as follows: 1. The owners of the illegal buildings having land rights
(determined by the Roads Department from surveys done by a private consulting
company of the ‘suitability’ and deleterious effects on the environment of the
Program for the Revival of Pattaya. In 1994, it was found that 11 buildings had
title deeds, with three people holding the rights to the various buildings. 24
buildings had Sor-Kor 1 ‘rights of possession’ documents. In these cases, the
following is to be done. Land rights will be investigated and the manner in
which the documents were obtained will examined to prove their legality. This
will be done by the Land Department and the Banglamung District Authority.
If the documents are found to be in order, the City of Pattaya and the District
of Banglamung must then engage in negotiations to buy the land and buildings. If
no agreement can be reached, the law demanding the land be returned to the Crown
will be invoked.
If the documents are found to be illegal, the Provincial Governor will be
requested to invoke the power of law 61 or Pattaya City will ask Banglamung
District to sue the trespassers for constructing buildings on public property.
These will be criminal suits and fall under the jurisdiction of the Land
Department. Damages and compensation will be sought from trespassers under civil
and commercial law. In the case that these edifices extend out into the water,
they will be charged under the Thai waterways law. The Department of the Port
Authority will be directly responsible for invoking these laws and filing suit
with Pattaya City, which will implement the removal of the construction. If the
trespasser refuses to remove the buildings, the Department of the Port Authority
will file suit in a court of law. The court will then have the authority to
allow the Department of the Port Authority to remove the buildings itself.
The second case which is being considered is those who have no documents stating
that they have any right to the use of the land. Surveys by the Roads Department
shows that 66 buildings fall under this category. The following will be done;
Pattaya City, Banglamung District and the Land Department will negotiate proper
compensation for the trespassers. If no agreement is reached, the City of
Pattaya and the District of Banglamung will file cases in a court of law
requesting compensation. If the edifices extend out into the water,
responsibility will be fall to the Port Authority, as in the former case.
These two methods have been carefully considered by the committee and it is
possible to implement them if the trespassers refuse to co-operate. This is
being done for the good of the Thai nation and society in general. The committee
says it is time this problem is solved.
As many as 101 illegal businesses
have encroached on public land, many jutting out over the ocean, and will be
torn down in compliance with order No. 1132/2540 signed by Chonburi Governor
Sujarit Pajchimanan in May of this year.
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Missing Brit found dead
Confessed murderers lead police to body.
Martin John Hurd’s body was found
last week after he had been missing since October of last year.
On June 12 police arrested Bundit Leuangpramual, aka ‘Jack’,
22, Pakorn Praditliem, 27, and Damrongkiat Na Nakorn, 25, in connection with the
disappearance and murder of 62 year old British national Martin John Hurd, who
had been missing since October of last year.
The British Embassy last October had requested as-sistance from the Thai police
to help them in locating Hurd after he had disappeared from Pattaya. Hurd had
been the manager of the Classic Inn Hotel on Soi Buakao.
Hurd was alleged to have had a propensity for barboys in Pattaya, and after
extensive investigations, officers came to the conclusion that Hurd had been
murdered by male gay bar workers over a feud involving non-payment of drug
money.
Witnesses had last seen Hurd leave the Khon Klai Ban Restaurant with the owner.
Police also knew that Hurd had had relationships with the above mentioned bar
workers, so decided to interrogate them.
The three men confessed to having planned the murder in August of 1996. Damrong
told police he had rented a motorcar and invited Hurd to go to Hin Jorn Hill,
near the Mai Kaew waterfalls. Damrongkiat then drove to the Classic Inn Hotel
and collected Hut and ‘Jack’. They told Hurd they were going to take him for a
jaunt to Kanjanaburi. A man named ‘Tam’ was driving.
Along the way, the three men strangled Hurd with a rope the bought during the
journey from a local mini-mart. They then dug a hole and buried Hut’s body near
where they had murdered him after taking 55,000 baht from him.
The police squad then took the three men to the scene of the murder, and after
being shown where they had buried him, exhumed the body. All of Hut’s
identification had been burned after the murder.
The three men told police that they had become angry with Hurd over the sale of
amphetamines. Hurd had agreed to pay them 15,000 baht a month to sell the drug
in the Pattaya area, but then refused to pay them as agreed.
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Drunken German
goes berserk
Even though he was vastly
outnumbered, Jory Mauer continued to struggle with police as they tried to
arrest him.
Mrs. Jaroon Maneechai, Manager of the Grand Hotel,
telephoned for police assistance, saying that a foreign tourist was
intoxicated and beating-up on her and her staff. She asked police for
expeditious aid.
Two squad cars rushed to the hotel.
Officers found a German tourist, Jory Mauer, 33, in a drunken rage,
thrashing hotel staff. Police closed in to subdue him but were thrown to the
floor as the man refused to allow police to arrest him. Police called in
re-enforcements and officers managed to arrest and handcuff him, although he
still kicked and struggled while handcuffed.
Police tried to question Mauer at the station to no avail as he was so
intoxicated that he refused to co-operate. He was sent to the cooler to cool
off.
The next morning, police charged Mauer with assaulting an officer of the
law, resisting arrest and causing a public disturbance, disturbing the peace
and being a general nuisance. He now awaits trial.
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Kuwaiti detained for possession of heroin
A special detachment of the Crime Suppression Division,
acting on tips and investigations, learned that a Kuwaiti staying at the OD
Hotel was buying large amounts of heroin.
Police were told he was returning to the hotel in mini-bus No. 244. The
special division set up a ‘stake-out’ to apprehend the man, and at 3:00 AM
on June 15th the mini-bus arrived at the hotel with the suspect. Police
approached the man, Hatim Alaan, 33, and performed a body search during
which officers found 4.03 grams of pure heroin. Police took the man and his
accomplice, Ms. Ratiya Yordkamol, 45, in for questioning.
The two suspects confessed, with Hatim saying he had made a connection
through Ratiya to purchase the substance for his own use. Hatim had
apparently engaged the mini-bus in advance which gave police their lead.
Hatim bought the heroin in Bang Pakong as he would have had to pay 5000 baht
for the same amount in Pattaya.
Both were charged with possession of heroin.
Jealous husband murders rival
Choochart Kosolrord, 31, construction supervisor for the
Vamet (sic) Technology Centre Company in Sriracha, was shot to death in the
company’s offices by the jealous husband of a woman Choolchart had been
seeing on the sly.
 Jealously
led Police Officer Atkawee Achirayarat to murder Choochart Kosolrord.
The guard, who had been at the scene of the shooting, told police that
Choochart had been sitting at his desk in the office when two men drove into
the compound, enquiring after Choochart. The guard was not the least
suspicious of these men as both were well dressed and appeared to be quite
wealthy.
The guard, who was required to issue temporary passes to visitors, said the
two men refused to surrender their ID cards. Like most guards, he dared not
argue with anyone so wealthy, so the two drove blithely by him and stopped
their car in the parking area.
The guard reported that shouts issued from the office for more than 30
minutes. He then heard a shot and saw Choochart fly off his chair and slump
to the floor.
The two gunmen then ran out, jumped into their jeep and drove out in such a
hurry that they collided with the kiosk in which the guard was standing. The
kiosk toppled.
Choochart had been shot 4 times. Employees had rushed Choochart to the Laem
Chabang Memorial Hospital but he was DOA.
Questioning the company security guard at the scene of the shooting, police
learned that the perpetrators had escaped in a black jeep. The guard noted
the license number.
Police set up roadblocks and checked the origin of the licence tag. The jeep
belonged to Mrs. Ornuma Achirayarat, 27, owner of the 777 Bungalow in
Banglamung.
While searching for the assassins, police received a radio call that the two
gunman had turned themselves in.
Police Officer Atkawee Achirayarat, 28, of the Pattaya Police, husband of
Mrs. Ornuma, confessed to being the trigger man in the shooting. Sombat
Khumkhrong, Mrs. Ornuma’s father, confessed to being his accomplice.
Police learned that the police officer had killed Choochart due to sexual
jealousy. Choochart had been seeing the policeman’s wife on a regular basis,
and had also somehow managed to get Ornuma to give him over 2 million baht.
Choochart used part of this money to buy a Mercedes-Benz and would take
Ornuma for drives in it, during which time they would slip into ‘short-time’
hotels.
Ornuma’s husband said he had pleaded with Choochart and asked him to stop
seeing his wife and return the money he had pried out of the confused woman,
but the cocksure lover said, “you stop her from seeing me. She’s your wife.
I’m not forcing her to do anything.” The unwise Choochart then continued,
saying, “As for the money, what are you going to do about it?”
As soon as the last remark had left Choochart’s mouth, the young policeman
could not stand it anymore and began shooting Choochart.
He later realised what he had done and surrendered to his colleagues at the
police station, claiming he did it in a fit of passion and momentary
insanity.
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Confusion leads to arrest of
undercover narcotics officer
At 1:00 a.m. on June 14th Police Lt. Colonel Pasakorn
Nilkham, an inspector with the Drug Enforcement Division of the Crime
Suppression Division in Pattaya and a group of officers had learned of drug
activity in South Pattaya.
The officers had been informed that heroin was being sold. The Drug Agency
therefore organised a ‘sting’ operation, in which office Narong
Thamakornburi was to pose as a heroin buyer.
What narcotics officers did not know was that Pattaya plain clothes police
officers, Sergeant Udom Kanjana-vichien and officer Arjharn Arjasamiti, were
watching the narcotics officer and found his behaviour rather strange.
As the narcotics officer was mounting his motorcycle, the two plain clothes
officers arrested him. The narcotics officer showed the two plainclothes
officers his identification and asked the police why they were arresting him
as he was on a very important job. The two city officers did not believe him
and confiscated his 38 calibre pistol.
The narcotics officer tried to wrest his gun away from the two plainclothes
officers, but it was two against one. The two plainclothes officers were
shocked at his temerity and began to pistol whip the narcotics officer on
the head and shoulders. He put up quite a fight, but one blow was delivered
to a very sensitive area and the keeled over. He was then handcuffed and
taken to the Pattaya police station.
Lt. Colonel Pasakorn, the head of the ‘sting’ operation, rushed to Pattaya
police station. Lt Colonel Pasakorn and Lt. Colonel Attaphon Namnarth
questioned all concerned in the Crime Suppression office.
Thirty minutes passed and the wounded narcotics officer Narong emerged from
the meeting to visit a physician, returning approximately 30 minutes later.
Upon his return, raucous shouting ensued from inside the room. A moment
later the two plain clothes police officers walked out of the room. They
were overheard complaining, ‘who does he think he is, wanting 50,000 baht in
damages. It’s not our fault that there was confusion’. The Crime Suppression
Lt. Colonel said that if an agree-ment could not be reached a law suit would
be filed.
Why the two plainclothes policemen did not arrest the narcotics officer
immediately upon learning that he was carrying a weapon is not known. The
two policemen say although they had been observing him, they were only told
at the last moment by residents of the area that he was carrying a weapon.
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General Jaturit to open Pattaya branch of Thai Sikh Internal Security Association
General Jaturit Phromsakha Na
Sakol Nakorn.
General Jaturit Phromsakha Na Sakol Nakorn, who is now
Commander of Internal Security, will be in Chonburi on June 22 to open the
Thai-Sikh Internal Security Office at the Thai-Sikh Temple or Guru Dwara on
Soi 17, Pattaya. All Thai-Sikhs are welcome to attend.
This is to enhance co-operation between the government and private
organisations in maintaining security within the country. The Sikh community
in Pattaya is devoted to help maintain Thailand’s internal security in an
open manner with their own organisation which is recognised by the Royal
Thai Government. It is the only non-governmental organisation which is
recognised and approved by the Department of Internal Security.
The Thai Sikh Internal Security Association was formed by about two dozen
young Thai Sikhs in September, 1985. It has steadily grown, and recently was
registered officially with the help of the Thai Military Romano Suanluang.
The primary aim of the Association is to forge close relations between the
Sikhs and the Thais and to help the poor and the less fortunate. With their
many charitable works, they have provided relief to fire and flood victims,
and whenever there is a disaster the association organizes the distribution
of free food, clothing and other needed supplies.
General Jaturit Phromsakha Na Sakol Nakorn studied at St. Gabriel’s School
and Triem Udom Suksa, at the Military Academy, and the Naval Post-Graduate
School in Senior International Defence Management, United States of America.
The General entered Government Service in 1964. He is now the co-ordinator
for Army and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and became Secretary of the Army
in 1991.
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Sriracha to celebrate Fruit Day 1997
Sriracha administrators
announced the Fruit Day 1997 festival will be held from June 27 - 29.
The administration of Sriracha District announced
Sriracha’s official ‘Fruit Day, 1997’ festival will be held from Friday June
27 to Sunday, June 29th in front of Robinson’s shopping centre in Sriracha.
Mr. Tawat Photongkhan, Head of Sriracha District, said that the area was
blessed with a topography which allowed many types of fruit to be grown.
Some of the well known products of the province are jackfruit, Krathorn and
fragrant Coconuts.
Some crops are now having problems as prices are low. The district therefor
thought it would be good for the public to be reminded of the wonderful
variety of fruits available.
Luscious golden melons, juicy jujubes, sweet pineapple, and oranges packed
with sunshine goodness are only some of the delights which will be
available.
During the festival, there will be a contest for ‘the biggest fruit’ and
renowned Batavian Pineapples will be on sale. A fruit basket arranging
contest will also be held. Favourite fruits will be available at very low
prices.
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Second transition coordination meeting
(seated) Mr. Padet (third left); Mr. Hoang N.
Tran, Program Manager of FAA (fourth left); Mr. K.P. Rimal, Technical
Officer CNS of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (second
right) and Mr. Bhumisathit Jampathom, Vice President of Aerothai (right)
among the participants.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), jointly with the Aero-nautical
Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) Ltd., led by President Captain Padet
Limpisvasti recently pre-sided at the opening of the 2nd ATN Transition and
Coordination meeting at Napalai C Dusit Resort in Pattaya. The aims of the
transition meeting were to develop guidelines for an evolutionary transition
and to the ground-to ground component of the Aeronautical
Telecom-munications Net-work.
Saen Sukh voted cleanest city
Saen Sukh Mayor Somchai Khunpluem accepts his
town’s award for being the cleanest city in Thailand.
The Association of Mayors of Thailand, lead by His Excellency Aatharn
Siripoon, Mayor of Khon Kaen City, held a meeting at the Dusit Resort in
Pattaya on June 3-6 for 147 mayors from various cities in Thailand.
Pattaya and Bangkok, which have differently constituted governments, were
also invited to this meeting, making a total of 149 communities represented.
Along with other items of business, awards were presented to various cities
to recognise their progress in certain areas. Chonburi’s own Saen Sukh
Municipality was given the ‘cleanest city in Thailand’ award.
After the award was announced, Somchai Khun-pluem, the Mayor of Saen Sukh,
gave a press interview. Mayor Somchai, or ‘Kamnan Poh’, told reporters that
he had not expected Saen Sukh to win the award, but was both proud and happy
to receive it. He told reporters that this award would be a source of pride
to all residents and civil servants of Saen Sukh.
The mayor continued, saying that the populace of Saen Sukh realised that
cleanliness could attract visitors. The cleaning is done with equipment
purchased by the city and is done on a regular basis.
The city received a plaque and certificate of praise.
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