Education is the key to Kingdom’s economic survival

Sage words from Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said that, given the country’s current economic situation, the nation’s universities must strive to develop the educational system in order to meet anticipated changes. The ultimate goal, he said, is to achieve the required level of education needed to instill the knowledge to compete in the years to come.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (center) presided over the opening of Burapha University’s conference “The University and the Way to the Kingdom’s Survival”.

The Prime Minister made these comments in his opening speech at a special conference entitled “The University and the Way to the Kingdom’s Survival” organized by Burapha University and held at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel on November 20th.

Burapha Rector Doctor Phasuk Kunlawanich hosted the conference, and a panel of noted speakers lectured to an audience of over 300.

Rector Phasuk agreed with the Prime Minister, saying that the changes taking place in the world as the year 2000 approaches are causing Thailand to meet with national level problems involving the economy, government and society as a whole.

The theme of the conference was to meet and discuss solutions to the current problems affecting the country, and to exchange ideas and consider how universities can contribute by providing direction.

Elephants on parade this weekend

Honoring His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday

Seventy-two elephants, one representing each year that has passed since the birth of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, will be parading through the streets of Pattaya this weekend in a majestic celebration of HM the King’s 6th cycle birthday.

The festival will be divided into two segments. In the first, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on 26 November, 33 schools in Banglamung will participate in ceremonies and parade around the Naklua Market. 2,000 school children (and parents) will march with the elephants and carry banners honoring the King’s birthday and sixth cycle.

Then on the afternoon of 27 November starting at 1:00 p.m., the parade of 72 elephants will begin at the King Taksin monument in front of Pattaya City Hall, head to the Dolphin Circle, through to Pattaya Beach Road and ultimately end on Theprasit Road.

Buffets will be located along the route for spectators to buy food for the elephants. Elephant rides will also be available for the price of 250 baht per person for a 400-meter ride. All proceeds and other donations will go towards Royal Family Charities.

Land dispute rages in Huay Yai

Residents disputing ownership

 Residents in Huay Yai Sub-District are in an uproar over an area of land owned by a former Kamnan named Pheo Srimat.

Residents from Moo 2 in Huay Yai Sub-District show documents indicating the land in question is actually public property and not owned by the 60-year-old daughter-in-law of a former Kamnan.

Residents say that over 40 years ago the former Kamnan owned a large area of land in the district but was not using it to its full potential. The Kamnan allowed poorer residents in the area to use the land. One or two rai of land was “given” to different persons to raise various crops so they could earn a living.

This went on for over 20 years until Kamnan Pheo’s son married a woman named Tukata, who soon took over the land and built a house.

However, Tukata rarely stayed at the home, as she worked in the district town. She allegedly did not associate with the residents, probably due to her social status. This caused residents to become very dissatisfied, as they were no longer able to use the land.

The situation became even more strained when Tukata announced the land belonged to her husband’s father and declared the residents could no longer use it. The residents feared pursuing the issue because Tukata apparently had connections in the district.

Earlier this year one of the residents questioned the matter with district land officials. The land officials were able to locate documents that seem to indicate the land in question is actually public property.

However, the length of time passing and all the officials from that era retiring left questions unanswered as to whether the land ever belonged to the former Kamnan or whether Tukata merely seized public property that time forgot about.

Residents have signed petitions requesting the matter be investigated and resolved once and for all..

Hundreds denounce drugs

Take sacred water vow to fight the “plague”

As many as 200 officials and residents from 13 communities took an oath, drank sacred ceremonial water and vowed to stay away from drugs as a tribute to His Majesty the King’s 72nd, 6th cycle birthday.

Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat led hundreds of community members to drink sacred water and vow to fight against illegal drugs.

Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat presided over the sacred water ceremony at Ban Nong Yai Temple on 18 November.

Leaders and family members from the community gathered to take part in the ceremony to conform to the policy from the Ministry of Interior and direction from the Prime Minister to stress prevention and suppression of the current drug problem plaguing our society. Communities throughout the nation are striving to help reduce, if not solve, the problem.

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan also led a separate ceremony to present a symbolic flag identifying a drug free community in Ban Ket Noi, Nong Pla Lai Sub-District.

The community of Nong Ket Noi was awarded the symbolic flag after cleaning up their area assuring authorities that no drugs were being bought or sold and all addicts were entered into drug treatment programs.

The community residents are leading the way for the rest of the district and, in addition, intend to report any new drug related information observed in the area to the Banglamung District Police.

Advertisers spanning Asia assemble at AdAsia

Prepare for the new millennium

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Korn Dabbaransri presided over the opening ceremony of the International Advertising Conference AdAsia ‘99 at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) in the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.

His Excellency Korn Dabbaransri (center), the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health presided over the opening ceremony of AdAsia ’99 at PEACH at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Seen welcoming the Deputy Prime Minister is Panga Vathanakul (left), Managing Director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort and Pornsiri Rojmeta (right), Chaiwoman of the AdAsia ’99 Organizing Committee and President of the Advertising Association of Thailand.

Advertisers from all over Asia arrived at the conference on November 20th and listened to noted international speakers lecturing on the changes approaching in the year 2000 and beyond and how they will be affecting every country the world over.

New ideas and opinions relating to advertising were presented in five important areas: Asian Desires, Interactive Media in the Future, Direction of Constructive Thought in the Future, Agencies Directing the Future and the New World Generation.

Royal Thai Police inspect Foreign Mafia Suppression Center

A group of high-level police officers from the office of the Director-General visited the Foreign Mafia Suppression Center to inspect its progress.

The center recently received 3 million baht from the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police. The funds were allocated to upgrade the services and equipment at the center.

Deputy Director-General of the Crime Suppression Division, Police Gen. Pornsak Durongkavibulya and Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 2, Lt. Gen. Somchai Prabhasabhakdi.

Deputy Director-General of the Crime Suppression Division, Police Gen. Pornsak Durongkavibulya led the group of inspecting high-ranking police officers, and was accompanied by the Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 2, Lt. Gen. Somchai Prabhasabhakdi.

The Foreign Mafia Suppression Center was originally located in Saen Sukh Municipality but was moved to Pattaya to better handle the increase in foreign mafia activities.

Police Gen. Pornsak said the mission of the center is to suppress all kinds of foreign crime. This includes stolen vehicles sold in neighboring countries, tax evasion, and rounding up foreigner criminals residing in Pattaya. The center also gives top priority to any crime involving minors lured into the sex trade, as well as drug related incidents involving foreigners.

City approves funds for improvements

Pattaya City Council approved over 4 million baht funding for three projects in the city in what may be the last items budgeted for and decided by the city council before the administration is dissolved and replaced by the new constitution.

A 2,000,000 baht budget was approved for an area beautification gardening project at the entrance to South Pattaya, a public lighting project on Central Pattaya Road was allocated 650,000 baht and 1.5 million baht was allocated to purchase a multi-purpose vehicle.

The city maintenance division has resubmitted plans for the two beautification projects, which are expected to be approved. The plans include an automatic sprinkler system for the garden areas entering Pattaya rather than depending on manpower and water trucks.

The multi-purpose vehicle will be used by the city administration in conducting business activities and other affairs when visiting dignitaries come to Pattaya. Initially, the council decided on a Volkswagen van at a cost of 2.5 million baht but the council members decided to look for another model and economize due to the limited funds left in the budget.

City to fix flooded area at Center Condo

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and city maintenance personnel paid a visit to the area behind the Center Condo near the Chayamongkon Temple to inspect the water drainage system. The area has been heavily flooded for weeks.

The inspectors identified that the cause was a combination of incomplete sections and areas where the drainage pipes were higher than the road, preventing the water from draining properly.

Mayor Pairat called an emergency meeting of the city council to allocate the necessary funds to correct the problem. The cost is estimated at
approximately 2 million baht.

The mayor said that the city intends to correct the problem straight away, and when such problems are identified, the city can respond to the call and get action initiated when needed.

Police round up katoeys

Raid bars and the beach

Pattaya’s police conducted investigations of bars in South Pattaya on 14 November and found four girls dancing in the nude at the Spy Girl Bar in Pattaya Land 1. The four girls and the manager/owner were arrested.

The owner, Rampheung La-Ongjan, was fined 2,000 baht and each of the dancers was fined 500 baht.

On the same evening, six “girls of the second category” (katoeys) were arrested by the same police unit for accosting tourists along Pattaya Beach Road. Each was charged with engaging in prostitution and will go to trial.

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Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk