Controversy heats up in Laem Chabang

Officials tear down structures while residents away

Laem Chabang villagers’ intense quarrel with Laem Chabang port officials heated to the boiling point last week when officials attempted to tear down one of their villages.

The area torn down by seaky port officials.

On April 7th, Sane Phoothong, chairman of the village committee, along with 9 other committee members, were having a meeting at the Laem Chabang municipality office.

While they were away, Laem Chabang port officials from the legal department took along engineers and police officials from the Phuthon police station, to dismantle the village.

After having removed about 100 meters, they got to Khun Surachai Thenjia’s home located at the front of Laem Chabang temple. Surachai’s people wouldn’t budge, so the officials started threatening to take legal actions against them if they tried to obstruct.

By this time, Sane Phoothong and his 9 committee members received word of what was going on. As soon they found out, they rushed to the village in order to try to stop the process.

Both sides tried to discuss the matter, along with more than 100 villagers, for over an hour but could not reach an agreement. Gradually the tension rose and the discussions turned into a serious quarrel.

In the end, port officials rushed back to their vehicles and drove away from the scene.

The chairman and committee members of the village reported that should there be any reason for such an act, it should be discussed in order to try to come to a mutual agreement.

None of the villagers know why the sudden decision was made to dismantle the village, since it had been there for 10 years.

In a related matter, earlier that day, Khun Sane Phoothong, more than 40 villagers, policeman Preecha Jansawang from the investigation division and policeman Sathit Charoenpiphop went to Laem Chabang police station to claim damages to their reputation. Allegedly, Thai Rath and a local newspaper on the 19th of March made false news reports that policeman Longkorn Jiratitikarn from the Laem Chabang officials had an attempt made on his life. The story alleged that a duo on a motorcycle attempted to murder him in the vicinity of the village in front of more than 100 witnesses. But in fact not one person saw or witnessed anything as such.

Villagers are now afraid this story may deter tourists from visiting their village were they sell dried seafood and other products.

Thieves make off with 1 million baht

Break into German businessman’s parked BMW

Jörg Dawid left 1 million baht on the front seat of his BMW while he went into a bank to do some business. When he returned, his window was smashed and the money was gone.

Mr. Jörg, a German national and the Managing Director of the German Thai Group Company in Naklua, reported to police that vandals broke the passenger side window and stole the 1 million Baht while he was parked outside the North Pattaya branch of the Thai Danu Bank.

Police inspect the crime scene where Jörg Dawid had 1 million baht stolen from the front seat of his automobile.

Mr. Jörg explained to police that he first went to Bangkok Bank on 2nd Road and withdrew 1.7 million baht. He then drove to Thai Danu Bank in North Pattaya. There, he took out 1 million baht and put it in a brown paper bag, then put the rest in a black bag. He put the black bag under the seat and left the paper bag on the passenger seat of his BMW while he went into the Thai Danu Bank to withdraw a further 700,000 baht for his business expenses.

Ten minutes later he came out to discover that the passenger side window had been smashed and the brown bag was missing.

One witness, a 13 year old restaurant employee, told police that a silver Toyota Soluna had parked in front of the BMW. Two of the three men inside the Soluna got out of the car, went to the BMW and used a hammer to break the window. The third person stayed in the car waiting for the other two to return, then took off towards the beach.

Police quickly alerted the Pattaya and Chonburi police stations to set up road blocks to inspect every silver Toyota Soluna they could find.

Police also went to Bangkok Bank and learned that the 3 suspects had been seen in the bank when Mr. Jörg was withdrawing the money. Police asked the bank to retrieve the security camera video tape which will help to identify them.

Police believe that they have a good chance in catching the suspects.

28 Khmer beggars arrested

Using children’s money for gambling

Twenty-eight illegal Cambodian immigrants were arrested last week for gambling and begging.

Apparently, the 28 had rented an entire floor of an apartment building in South Pattaya. The immigrants would send their children out to beg, whilst sitting in the apartment building, gambling.

Illegal Khmer immigrants and their children were rounded up to be sent back to Cambodia.

Their existence was brought to the attention of police by neighbors who were complaining that the gambling parties were so loud they were disturbing the peace of the neighborhood.

Khun Sombat (surname unknown) was named as head of the gang. He was taken to the police station for further interrogation.

Police learned that the group sent their children, some as young as 5 years old, out selling chewing gum to foreigners and begging from them.

When enough money was collected, they would then sit in a circle to fulfill their gambling habits.

All 28 were arrested and await trial before they get deported back to their country.

Woman’s body found in Pattaya

Police unable to identify

Police last week received a report from Banglamung Hospital that a baht bus of unknown registration number arrived carrying the body of a female. The driver asked staff on duty to treat her, but was told that she died on the way to the hospital. Police were called in as the hospital could not establish her ID.

The deceased woman was Thai, between 20 to 30 years old. She had no ID or any personal valuables in her possession. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans shorts and a blue and white-striped T-shirt.

Police believe she may have died from swallowing poison, or she may have been suffering from some kind of sickness.

Police handed over the body to the Sawang Boriboon Foundation to be taken to Nitivet Institute for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Police were told that the baht bus that delivered the body to Banglamung Hospital took off before anyone could notice its registration number.

Doctors told police that the woman died between 10 to 20 minutes before she arrived at the hospital, and must have died on her way there.

At present police are still unable to identify the body or the cause of death. They ask that if anyone has any knowledge of the deceased, please contact Pattaya police.

Attempt made on life of Sriracha chief

Hotel employees foil bomb attempt

At 9:00 a.m. on the 9th of April, Sriracha policeman Chatcahwang Rohddumrong received a report that someone had planted a bomb under a blue Mitsubishi Pajero parked inside the Villa-in Hotel on Juemjomphon Road in Sriracha.

Arriving on the scene, police soon learned that the car belonged to Khun Pinit Prajaksaenkul (a.k.a. Koobue), Chairman of the Sriracha Municipality Office.

Khun Pinit is a popular figure in Sriracha and is friendly with Somchai Khunpluem (Kamnan Po), Mayor of Saensuk Municipality.

Police tried to keep the incident confidential and brought in bomb diffusion expert Somjai Phuangrohd, formerly of the border police. Inspecting the bomb, which was adhered directly under the driver’s seat, policeman Somjai noticed that the suspect(s) had not as yet connected the wires to activate the devise.

Police investigations revealed that Khun Pinit owns the hotel and usually parks his car there.

Questioning hotel staff, police learned that the night before the incident, two men checked into the hotel and took the room nearest to Khun Pinit’s car. At around midnight, a staff member noticed the two men "fooling around" under the car. When the men saw that staff had noticed them, they began to strangle the staff member, threatening him not to tell anyone. They then quickly checked out.

Staff quickly reported the incident to the manager of the hotel, who in turn informed Khun Pinit and the police.

Police are still unable to determine the cause and the criminals.

They said that Khun Pinit is a very popular man in Sriracha and has several businesses. He usually likes to travel alone and doesn’t like to be escorted by bodyguards, as he is confident that he has nothing to be afraid of. In this case however, police astutely surmised that someone is after him.

Mayor attempts to clean up illegal market

Market causing residents to complain

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithumrongsawat and City Manager Niran Saatsathorn last week took a trip to tidy up the Kraenthon flea market, and to set rules and regulations.

The mayor and city manager took along the media for proof that the Kraenthon flea market was becoming a nuisance to the local residents in the area. They did this after receiving an official complaint from those residents.

The mayor and his entourage inspect the Kraenthon flea market.

The Market is located at the tip of Soi Buakhao, intersecting with South Pattaya Road.

The market has been set up in a chaotic manner and is a danger to young children. Most of the vendors erect their tents and extend their shops out on to the road, almost blocking access to South Pattaya Road.

Khun Pairat said that he needed to speak to the person in charge of the market and that rules and regulations must be set. He said that most vendors there are tax evaders, and it wouldn’t surprise him if some of the goods on sale were hot items stolen from other shops.

He carried on, saying that at the end of the day the prices of the so called bargains were not much different from the ones in shops that pay their taxes.

Finally, the mayor asked local residents to help him in solving the problem by immediately notifying him. He said that in Pattaya the norm is to keep trying to help each other.

Later, the owner of the Kraenthon flea market, Khun Chua (surname unknown), came to visit the mayor and promised that he will make sure he puts everything in order and clean up the current mess. He admitted that there are many illegal vendors operating there.

City responds to flooding criticism

Targets three areas for improvement

Three areas of Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya and vicinity are continuously flooded each time there is heavy rainfall. The South Pattaya Road junction area, North Pattaya Road in the Wat Nong Yai and Pattaya School #4 vicinity, and in Naklua around Klong Puek Plab.

Flooding is a chronic problem on Sukhumvit Highway.

Last month, Khun Somsak Surapasti, president of the public health authority who is responsible for flooding problems in Pattaya, reported that the city has plans to combat the ongoing problems.

The South Pattaya Road junction area has been a problem for the past 5 years. The area does have a drainage system, but it has been blocked ever since the Mobile station built a connecting drain pipe to it.

In 1997, Pattaya City requested an estimate of 10 million baht to solve the problem by building a 2.50 x 5 meter drainage pipeline. Yet, as recently as the 30th of March, the area became flooded again by a freak storm. City Hall explained that they expect to complete the project in the very near future.

The North Pattaya Road in the Wat Nong Yai and Pattaya School #4 vicinity is currently going through the final stages of the 1,800 baht wastewater treatment project. There is still the problem of building a drainage system to cross Sukhumvit Road to link with the new project. Engineers speculate that the project will be completed within a month.

Regarding the area in Naklua around Klong Puek Plab, engineers state it will take approximately two more months before pumping equipment will be installed.

Khun Sitiphap Muangkhum, director of the engineering division, said that in Naklua there are 3 locations where water runs into the sea. On the day of the flooding, all three were closed due to the construction work going on. Once that is complete it will solve the problem.

Rayong DJs fighting drug abuse

Take novel approach to teach school children

DJs at Rayong’s radio station are doing what they can to help stamp out drug abuse in our schools.

Using the powerful appeal of their media, the DJs are teaching a select group of students how to be broadcasters. They are using the anti-drug message as their tool.

Khun Worawit Nitaya of the Rayong radio station (standing center) escorted 20 students from different schools in Rayong involved with the “Young DJs Anti-Drug Campaign” to visit the Ban Phoonsri drug rehabilitation center in Pattaya. Colonel Jirat Pichitpai, head of the center, was there to welcome them.

The selected students are being given the chance to train in the proper way of speaking on the radio, as well as how to make radio station announcements. That way, they can pass on the anti-drug message to other students at their schools.

On April 6th, the "Young DJs Anti-Drug Campaigners of Rayong" visited the Ban Phoonsri Drug Rehabilitation Center in Pattaya. Worawit Nijaya, news editor of the Rayong radio station, supervised their visit.

Police Colonel Jirat Pichiphai, who heads the center, welcomed the group and presented a speech on the problems and dangers of using drugs, especially amphetamines.

They were also welcomed by Khun Kittisak Khamthong, Editor of Pattaya Mail.

Another group of 40 students from Rachaphat Jankasem Institute in Bangkok also came to visit the center.

Khun Jirat talked about how amphetamines are affecting students at a very young age. He said it is necessary to guide them and make them aware of the consequences and effects in taking such drugs.

After the speech, the young DJs were given the opportunity to talk to addicted children, aged from 13 to 20 years.

Following the meeting, the students were treated to a lunch at Melapraphao Restaurant in Soi Siam Country Club. Khun Khunthong Ougeun, the owner of Mela, treated the children to lunch as a gesture of support for their anti drug program.

PBTA elects new president

Supadit Maneeratjaratsee steps down

Surat Mekahewarakul was elected as the new president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) on April 8th. Khun Surat ran unopposed.

The election was called after former president Supadit Maneeratjaratsee stepped down shortly after being elected for his second term. Although he ran unopposed, opponents of his election claimed malfeasance in the election process. Being the fair and honest businessman that he is, Supadit chose to step down rather than perpetuate bad feelings in the association.

Khun Supadit Maneeratjaratsee (left), former president of the PBTA, presents a bouquet of flowers to president-elect Khun Surat Mekawarakul congratulating him on his new position.

The new PBTA committee was also elected on April 8. The elections took place in the Ratree Room of the Royal Garden Resort.

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamronsawat was invited to chair the meeting temporarily to help in the voting process.

After some initial chaos, during which time some of the former committee also stepped down, 14 new committee members were elected in addition to the president.

The new committee is as follows: Anusak Rodboonmee, Pisai Phanomwan Na Ayuthaya, Jumroon Wisawachaiphun, Thanete Supharasaphusrangsree, Narit Pecharat, Police Sukhumviputhanon, and Visit Ed Adkhara in Public Relations: Charoensree Suriyachai as Head of Registration; Somchai Manothaworn, Preecha Pithong, Surajitt Golatree, Suchai Ruayrin and Bill Golatree.

The meeting was well-attended and attracted many members who had not been to a PBTA meeting in a long time. The occasion also increased membership, as some came for the first time and applied for membership.

Afterwards, president-elect Surat thanked the members for their vote and added that he wishes for the association to help bring back the image of Pattaya the way it was 25 years ago, or at least partly as when Pattaya was still clean and admirable and when Thai culture still existed. "We should join and work as one towards a better Pattaya," he said.

Charity football for needy school children

The Chonburi Administration Authority, in cooperation with Pattaya City, are organizing what they are billing as the "Greatest Charity Football Competition" to raise funds for school computers.

The match, scheduled to take place at Pattaya School #7 on April 25th, will be between a V.I.P Pattaya-Chonburi team and a Maeng Po Lo Kluen team. The main goal of the match is to raise funds to buy computers for school children in order to modernize 10 schools in Pattaya.

The organizing committee consists of Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Chanyut Hengtrakul, Chairman of the Chonburi Council, Amorn Malhotra, President of the Tourist Police Volunteers, Pol. Lt. Col. Supaseth Chokechai, Pattaya Tourist Police Chief, and Thongloh Amphueng, President of Banglamung Security Volunteers.

Chanyut Hengtrakul said, "Many of the schools in Pattaya are still desperately lacking study equipment. This is because the budgets given to each school from the Ministry of Education are very small and arrive late. This certainly effects the quality of education for over 8,000 school children."

The Maeng Po Lo Kluen football team is made up of many stars of Thailand who have agreed to support the idea, and therefore stand up and participate in the project.

Somchai Khunpluem (Kamnan Poh), Mayor of Saensuk Municipality, will lead the V.I.P Pattaya-Chonburi team.

Tickets for the charity event are 30 baht for children and 50 baht for adults. They are being sold at Sophon Cable Office, Lotus Supermarket, Mike Department Store and Pattaya City Hall.

Pattaya School #8 may be expanded

City Council in consent with the project

Currently only 2 schools in Pattaya are able to accommodate students past the P6 level. Pattaya School #8 is prepared to expand to become the third.

However, a tight budget might make the expansion difficult to implement.

Pattaya School #8 is set to become only the third school in Pattaya able to handle students beyond the P6 level.

Tirat Prasertphimyo, Member of the Pattaya City Council and committee member of Pattaya School #8, made a motion to Pattaya City Council to expand the school’s education system. He said the committee members, teachers and professors of Pattaya School #8 are prepared to go ahead with the expansion plan.

Tirat said it was necessary to improve the level of education for Mathayom 1 onwards. He went on to say that at present there are more than 1000 students per year who complete the P6 level, but do not continue their education.

There are only two schools who accommodate the upper levels, Banglamung School and Photi Samphun Pittiyakhan. However, there are many students who can not continue studying in these schools because of, among other reasons, the costs involved.

Thaworn Boonsawat, Deputy City Manager, said that due to budget constraints, teachers (at Pattaya School #8) may have to increase their working hours. "If this year we are unable to find more teachers and remain short of manpower, then the present teachers and professors may have to teach for 1 or two more years. This matter must be discussed with the teachers."

He said he has asked to increase the amount allocated from the treasury to support the education system.

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