200 Senators tasked with correcting election laws

Meet in Jomtien to receive guidance

Thailand’s 200 recently elected senators met at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel on August 2nd for a seminar entitled, “Senators: the Hope of Thai Society”.

The King Prajadhipok Institute arranged the seminar and has direct academic facilitating obligations to the National Assembly, which has the urgent requirement of assembling a sense of order within the recently elected senate in order to properly function in an effective manner.

Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul addressed Thailand’s 200 newly-elected senators in Jomtien.

The institute’s difficult task at hand is to establish political stability, with the ultimate goal of improving government efficiency in accordance with the new constitution and most importantly, organizing the senate members who hold the chief responsibility of reviewing new legislation and controlling political hearings.

Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul, in his capacity as Chairman of the King Prajadhipok Institute, opened the seminar and presented a special lecture.

Senate Speaker Sanit Vorapanya and the Secretary of the King Prajadhipok Institute, Professor Borasak Uwannano also headed the seminar.

The 200 senators-elect are the result of five rounds of elections that started this past March and took five months to complete due to electoral irregularities.

The Chairman of the King Prajadhibok Institute, Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul said that the seminar’s title, “Senators: the Hope of Thai Society” was chosen to reflect the expectations held by Thai society regarding the responsibilities bestowed on the first elected group of 200 senators. The chairman’s opening statements identified the foremost issue facing the senate is one of correcting the election laws, which the national assembly, consisting of both the senate and the house of representatives, must ratify within the next 30 days.

Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai said the critical factors to be included when formulating the new election laws should be focused on three important areas beginning with creating government respect for human dignity, equality and civil liberties.

Secondly, imparting the use of government authority in a clear, concise and transparent manner involving all legal acts, judicial powers and administrative procedures that can be clearly visible with involvement from the various community groups.

Thirdly, the national assembly and government are expected to efficiently stabilize and administrate the country, thereby resolving important issues resulting in the people’s well being, but without sacrificing the nation’s sovereignty.

Mr. Bhichai also reiterated the stance that the elected senators are not to have any political party affiliations. This will insure that the intentions of all groups are successfully achieved.

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke encouraging words and was confidant that the 200 newly elected senators would out perform their predecessors. Also mentioned were the new constitution’s provisions including the general populous in making new legislation and reminding the group that politicians in high positions can be called for removal, making it clear that the desires of the people should be an overriding factor when making decisions.

In conclusion, Mr. Bhichai said the conditions identified are directed to the 500 members of the House of Representatives in addition to the 200 senators and are believed to be all-inclusive.

Entire 2nd Road may become one-way

Planning committee to research feasibillity

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat chaired a conference with representatives from city, district and highway police, the business community and the city administration at city hall on August 3rd to discuss traffic plans in the city.

The assembled group decided to organize a planning committee to research turning the portion of 2nd Road from Soi 1-14 into a one-way road. The committee will be composed of representatives from the city council, the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter, the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association and the city, district and highway police. The committee will also research other congested traffic areas in Pattaya including 3rd Road.

The highway police was thought to be the agency to coordinate the action on its own; however, the necessary funds to complete the plan must come from elsewhere to cover the cost of traffic lights, new road signs and painting directional arrows on the pavement. The research committee should have the plan ready in September and the mayor is coordinating the budget requirements, which may include a portion coming from the central government.

Vendors arrested peddling fake watches

340 watches confiscated, 2 arrests made

Two local vendors were arrested for selling fake name-brand watches during a nighttime raid on August 3rd. Many other vendors allegedly ran off and left their fake merchandise behind when they saw police coming.

A total of 340 fake watches were confiscated, bearing the names of well-known, expensive brands, including Rolex, Barring, Guchi, Omega, Christian Dior, and Rado.

Police arrested two vendors and confiscated 340 fake watches.

A group of 10 police officers, led by Pattaya Police Lt. Col. Wichit Paksa, organized the raid after receiving a number of complaints from Pattaya watch dealers selling genuine registered merchandise. The genuine dealers complained the vendors selling fakes were ruining their businesses.

The first arrest was made at the south end of Pattaya Beach Road where Thanu Bunsuwanlamlert, age 53, had set up to sell his fake merchandise. Thanu was charged with possession and the sale of 96 fake watches with registered trademarks.

The second arrest took place on Soi Yamoto. Sombat Inyu, age 26, was arrested for possession of nine watches.

The two men said they obtained their merchandise in Bangkok at prices ranging from 500-1500 baht apiece depending on the brands.

Police also confiscated fake watches left behind by fleeing vendors, and out of the total number of 340 watches confiscated, 135 were fake Rolexes, 68 were fake Barrings, with the remainder a mix of names.

Monks confronted on Pattaya streets at 3.30 a.m.

A group of monks aroused suspicion last week when making their morning rounds a bit too early.

Pattaya Police, accompanied by PBTA President Surat Mekawarakul and the Naklua Sub-district Dean Monk, questioned the group who were collecting alms near the South Pattaya Market at 3.30 a.m. on 2 August.

Police have recently been receiving reports of monks showing up in city market areas prior to the recognized hour around dawn, causing residents to suspect the activity involves disrespectful people posing as monks and collecting alms for personal profit.

A large number of monks were in the South Pattaya Market area when police arrived. Some allegedly dropped their collections when they saw the officers approaching, boarded vehicles and departed in a hurry.

The group of monks that didn’t flee were confronted and questioned by police as to why they were out so early, especially during the Buddhist Lent period. The monks explained they were from the outer provinces and were staying at the Piyamit Forrest Temple located in Huay Yai. As there was no food available and the temple was located so far out of the city, they were forced to come in early.

The monks were taken in for further questioning by the Dean Monk, Phra Khru Baidika Tamasoto from the Chayamongkol Temple, who was tasked with determining whether the apprehended people were truly monks or impostors tarnishing the reputation of Buddhism.

If found guilty the group will face charges in court.

Neighbors chase down auto thief

Quicker to run than to drive?

Suriya Promngam either has poor timing, is slow afoot, or is just plain inept at thievery. The 35-year-old native of Chachoengsao Province was caught sitting in a car he was about to steal by the son of the owner. In an attempt to flee, he was pursued and eventually caught by a posse of neighbors called in to help.

This inept car thief probably wishes the police had gotten to him before the neighbors.

Pattaya Police received a report at 3.00 a.m. on July 30th that a group of neighborhood citizens were chasing a thief along Sukhumvit Road in Nong Prue. When police arrived at the scene the alleged thief was sitting hunched over with his hands covering his bruised face and surrounded by a group of irritable residents.

Sittiporn Tevasakraksa immediately told police that the man was in the act of stealing his father’s pick-up truck parked in front of their home. The accused was identified as Suriya Promngam.

Sittiporn continued to describe to police how he was returning home and found Suriya sitting in the vehicle, which he distinctly recalls locking earlier in the evening. He said his father was sleeping and when he saw the man sitting in the truck he went up to him, asking what he thought he was doing. The man failed to respond to his question, and instead got out of the vehicle and darted off down the street.

Sittiporn said he chased him whilst calling out to his neighbors for help.

Suriya denied Sittiporn’s account of the events, saying he was merely standing next to the truck minding his own business.

Suriya was arrested and charged with attempted theft after police investigated the paper bag he was clutching and found inside it a mobile phone with charging unit, one screwdriver, one metal ruler and one key catch.

Police initiate August drug-crackdowns

4 arrests made so far

Pattaya Municipal Police received a directive issued by the Chonburi Provincial Police Commander ordering them to conduct an intensive operation from 1-30 August to suppress drug trafficking. The directive also ordered a complete report of the results thereof, at month’s end.

The orders specified setting up checkpoints at suspected roadways to intercept the transportation of drugs into and around the city by stopping and searching all suspect vehicles. In addition, a search warrant was issued identifying an address in Nong Prue as a possible drugs holding base.

The Pattaya Police Department’s August crackdown has so far resulted in 4 arrests.

Checkpoints along Soi S.S., Soi Kopai and Soi Chularat were set up starting on the morning of 2 August.

Another group of officers presented a search warrant to the owner of the suspected drug house in Nong Prue. The raid resulted in four arrests, as the police walked in whilst four addicts were using drugs. Police confiscated 15 methamphetamine pills and 12 small packs of marijuana.

The house owner, Surachai Cherdratanasakul, aged 44, was arrested for distributing methamphetamines and marijuana. The three others were later identified as a 14-year-old boy, a 34-year-old woman named Wadsana Bungthong and a 25-year-old woman named Bunting Prungniyom.

Surachai confessed to selling the drugs, claiming he obtained the marijuana and methamphetamines in Sattahip. He told police he bought the marijuana at 50 baht for a small packet, then sold it for 100-120 baht, or 50 baht for one cigarette filled with marijuana. The methamphetamines, bought at 60 baht per pill, sold for twice that amount.

Police also confiscated 58,020 baht in cash that Surchai said was the proceeds of his drug dealings. The three adults are awaiting trial and the minor was turned over to the juvenile protection agency.

Elderly woman comes to gruesome end

Medicine bought off street might have been the cause

Miss Kanidta Jaengjamrat found her 78-year old grandmother lying dead on the floor after returning from the South Pattaya Market on the morning of August 4th. Miss Kanidta later told police the condition of the body alarmed her so much she called police to come and investigate the cause of death.

Pattaya police and Sawang Boriboon Rescue unit personnel found the 78-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Nuan Jaengjamrat, lying on her side on the floor with blood coming out of every opening on her body, including eyes, nose, mouth, and areas along her arms and legs. The body was transferred to the Bang Lamung Hospital for doctors to examine.

Miss Kanidta said her grandmother had been suffering from breathing difficulties and asthma for over 10-years. She refused to see a doctor, instead relying on medicines she bought in local drug stores on the street. Miss Kanidta said her grandmother was also prone to forgetting to take her medicines on time.

Over 100 residents from Ban Nong Khla Mai in Sri Racha presented a petition identifying their ignored promises to the Deputy-Governor of the Thai Port Authority Waree Panbhoka at the Laem Chabang Port Office on the afternoon of 31 July. Waree maintains the position of Port Director.

The residents of Ban Nong Khla Mai, forced to relocate from Laem Chabang Port over 10 years ago, were moved to Ban Nong Khla Mai and Pak Klong in Bang Lamung District. The residents gave up their land and each of the 140 families (over 1,000 individuals) received compensation in the amount of 60-70,000 baht per rai.

Waree Panbhoka (left) and Tanom Chaidee (right) meet to discuss the unsolved issues.

Tanom Chaidee, representing the Ban Nong Khla Mai community, told the Port Authority Deputy-Governor that the Laem Chabang Port relocation agreement also included provisions to provide running water from the rural water-works department and to make road improvements at their new locations. None of which has taken place over the last 10 years. However, the Laem Chabang Municipal Mayor has provided drinking water for the community. The water that is available is red, murky and unfit for human consumption.

The petition calling for restitution also made reference to a recent local news article appearing in a Sri Racha newspaper. The article concerned the Minister of Industry’s visit to the Laem Chabang Port on 10 July, identifying representatives from the Laem Chabang Port informing the Minister, Suwad Liptapanlop, that the running water and roadways for the relocated residents have in fact been completed.

Tanom said that after reading the newspaper article, the community gathered to discuss the matter and decided to make their voice heard. They are asking for running water and paved roads by 2001.

Additionally, the petition calls for an investigation concerning the erroneous statements made by the representative from the Laem Chabang Port Office to the Minister of Industry.

Deputy-Governor of the Thai Port Authority Waree Panbhoka said the Nong Khla Mai community’s petition will have to be brought before the Port Committee, which includes Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan.

Waree indicated that the committee is scheduled to meet on 3 August to discuss this issue.

Pattaya Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) inaugural free vaccination clinic last Saturday was an unprecedented success. It involved three local vets from Dr. Nop Sukpanyatham’s and Dr. Sukit’s Naklua Clinics being on hand for four hours during which they managed to vaccinate over 100 community animals for rabies as well as performing seven spaying and neutering operations.

The PAWS team on site at Mike’s Shopping Center

Animals lovers turned up in their 100s bringing a wonderfully large assortment of animals from dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes to squirrels and even rabbits.

The clinic was held in the car park of Mike’s Shopping Center following on from the backing of the President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, Surat Mekavarakul, who acknowledges the need to do something to stop the unchecked growth of stray community animals in this tourist resort city.

PAWS President, Mrs Alvi Sinthuvanik said, “It was a fantastic turnout with this being our first clinic. It was heartening to see that people really do care about their animals.”

Founding President Mrs Mirin MacCarthy echoed her sentiments and said, “We are really grateful to all the vets and the people who have generously supported PAWS to make these events possible. Even without sufficient funds to build a refuge, PAWS will continue to hold these free vaccination clinics regularly. PAWS aims to do its best for animal family planning, and decrease the disease pool of rabies in the community by animal inoculations, and in addition to heighten awareness in the general public. Our target is to raise sponsorship of enough money to give Pattaya an animal refuge where sick and unwanted animals can be dealt with, returning them as healthy, disease free animals into the community, where possible.”

Aiding the PAWS personnel in their good work at the vaccination clinic was the management of the World Dog Centre who sent along two performing dogs to keep Pattaya’s pooches and their handlers entertained as the animals lined up for their “shots”.

While the PAWS personnel are all aware that this is but a small start in their fight against rabies and animal population control in the street dog and cat community, it is indeed a start. The Pattaya Mail congratulates the group and anyone who would like to make contact with PAWS can attend their meetings, which are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30 p.m. in Delaney’s Pub on Second Road. Contact beforehand can be made through the organization’s office bearers; details are published each week in the Pattaya Mail’s Clubs and Organizations listing.