Prime Minister says economic recovery relies on industry

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said that industry in the provinces is playing a vital role in the nation’s economic recovery.

PM Chuan said that in order to compete in world trade, the government is prepared to reduce restrictions on exports to Europe and promote cooperation among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the goal of attracting foreign investment. “Resisting industrial expansion would be pointless,” he said.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai told the Thai Industrial Federation that industry in the provinces is playing a vital role in the nation’s economic recovery.

The Prime Minister made these statements whilst addressing government officials and members of the Thai Industrial Federation from 50 provinces last week at the Asian University of Science and Technology in Bang Lamung.

Although Thailand has exceptional agricultural abilities, the growing population has left little uncultivated land remaining in Thailand, making agricultural expansion nearly impossible. This leaves industry as the only alternative hope for recovery.

The Prime Minister said that industrial exports in 1999 accounted for 75% of all exports, and that the industry employs over four million people. Industrial exports in the last seven months have reached 28.6 billion (USD). Agricultural exports are minimal in comparison.

The industrial provinces of Rayong and Chonburi have the Kingdom’s highest annual average income per individual, with Rayong at 260,000 baht, and Chonburi at 229,000 baht per person. The Prime Minister said these figures have led to many changes in policy, including relaxing government restrictions on foreign investment, affording conveniences to industry and promoting the country’s capability to compete in world trade.

PM Chuan said that preparations underway to compete in world trade include disseminating Asian Investment Area (AIA) information and policies involving the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), as well as incorporating the use of the APEC Business Travel Card honored by 21 participating countries.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the Thai Industrial Federation’s other important role and responsibility, that of protecting the environment and considering the welfare of local communities near industrial sites.

Schaper murder investigation ends with arrest

Gay prostitute admits to the crime

The arrest and subsequent confession of 18-year-old gay prostitute Ekasit Klansaengthong on August 31st brought to a close a ten-day police manhunt for the murderer of 71-year-old German Udo Carl Ernst Schaper.

Schaper was found brutally stabbed to death in his South Pattaya condo on August 21st.

18-year-old gay prostitute Ekasit Klansaengthong was arrested on August 31st for the murder of 71-year-old German Udo Carl Ernst Schaper.

Evidence at the scene produced 11 suspects, all of whom were male prostitutes who allegedly had liaisons with Schaper prior to his death. During the first week of the investigation, police brought in 10 of the suspects for questioning. The 11th, Ekasit Klansaengthong had taken a leave of absence and had allegedly gone upcountry to visit relatives.

Ekasit was arrested outside a hotel in Lopburi on August 31st. A police spokesman said that Ekasit tried to flee but was easily apprehended.

Ekasit confessed to the murder, telling police that on the night in question he had stayed with Schaper on the understanding that he would be paid 500 baht for his services. The next morning he asked for his payment, but Shaper refused to pay, allegedly wanting him to perform another sexual favor before paying the agreed amount. An argument ensued and Schaper ordered him to leave.

Ekasit claimed Schaper’s alleged behavior enraged him to the point of madness and he grabbed a nearby knife and brutally stabbed him in the chest and neck. Following the murder he stole 22,500 baht in foreign currency and took Schaper’s watch before fleeing to Lopburi.

Chonburi Provincial Police Commander Maj. Gen. Phanupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya held a press conference on August 31 to announce Ekasit’s arrest. Pattaya Police Col. Pinit Satcharoen had offered a personal reward of 50,000 baht to anyone with information leading to the identification of the murderer.

Ekasit was taken to Schaper’s condo where he re-enacted the crime for police records. He has been charged with premeditated murder and theft.

Woman arrested for burglary

Items not recovered

A 30-year-old woman named Tadsanee Jantrabha was arrested on August 24 soon after the owner of a local coffee shop reported his home had been robbed.

Sunthorn Thiratadsuttichip told police that someone burgled his house and stole a brown leather bag containing 5 gold rings, a gold necklace with pendant worth 18,000 baht and 16,000 baht in cash.

Tadsanee Jantrabha was arrested for burglarizing a house.

A witness told police she saw a brown Mitsubishi vehicle with no license plates at the scene, and that a woman was driving.

A short while later, police spotted Tadsanee driving a vehicle that fit the description. Upon searching the vehicle, police found Sunthorn’s brown leather bag, but the bag only contained his driver’s license, identity card and a number of other personal papers. None of the valuable items reported stolen were in Tadsanee’s possession.

The witness was positive in her identification of the vehicle and of Tadsanee, and with the papers belonging to Sunthorn in her possession the evidence was sufficient enough to charge her with theft. She remains in custody whilst awaiting trial.

Yaba Mama jumps bail, later caught

Found trying to borrow money from friends

Mrs. La-Iad Ketchot, 48, was arrested near the Pattaya Memorial Hospital on August 28 after having jumped bail on drug charges in June.

La-Iad’s life on the run eventually ended with her arrest.

La-Iad was originally arrested for possession of 10 methamphetamine pills. She was charged with possession and sale of a class 1 drug. She was then released from jail after Somchai Kaewsong posted her 500,000 baht bail. Failing to appear in court, a warrant for her arrest was issued on June 7.

The Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya native was re-arrested on August 28th, but not before she attempted to run from police.

La-Iad told police she feared the court would decide to put her in jail for distributing class 1 drugs. She said she had been moving from place to place to avoid capture, staying at different hotels in and outside of Pattaya. She eventually ran out of money and had to contact friends for loans to continue avoiding arrest.

La-Iad is back in police custody and now faces an additional charge of failing to appear in court.

Two young children drown in pond

Left unattended for just a short while

Two five-year-old children drowned in a pond in Banglamung Sub-district on August 31st after being left unattended for just a short time.

The two had been left in the care of their grandmother whilst their parents were at work. The grandmother, Mrs. Sawat Saetang told police she was collecting olives near the pond behind the Thung Kad Temple. She had taken the children along, as she usually did.

Mrs. Sawat said she instructed the children to stay away from the water, then began picking olives in the nearby grove within watching distance. She said the children were playing together with the grandmother watching them from time to time while she picked olives.

She said that the last time she turned to check on them, she saw the boy floating face down in the pond. She said she ran for help, calling for the boy’s father Sunan.

Sunan and others quickly arrived and pulled the boy out of the pond. Fifteen minutes later they found the girl at the bottom of the pond. They administered first aid but the resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

After investigating the 50-metre wide pond area, police suspect the children walked out onto a small boat dock and fell into deep water.

Car thief claims nagging wife drove him to do it

Unsympathetic police throw him in jail

Thamnong Buntham was arrested last week for stealing a Mitsubishi pick-up filled with booze and cigarettes. His defense? He said his nagging wife drove him to do it.

Thamnong Buntham said his nagging wife drove him to steal a pick-up filled with booze and cigarettes.

Thamnong Buntham told police he and his wife had recently moved to Pattaya from Bangkok. He said his wife had previously been employed in a coffee shop in Bangkok, but took employment in a beer bar once the couple had settled in Pattaya. Thamnong said he was unable to find employment and this caused his wife to constantly nag him.

He said the nagging led to arguments, and eventually his wife disappeared with the rent money. Thamnong said he took to wandering the streets to avoid the pestering landlord.

Whilst walking the streets he came across the pick-up truck, which was loaded with cartons of cigarettes and bottles of whiskey. With the keys left in the ignition, he said the vehicle begged him to take the opportunity to make some easy money during his depressed state of mind.

He told police he was on his way to his home in Kanchanaburi, intending to abandon the vehicle before selling the booze and cigarettes to friends, while drinking away his personal problems in the process.

Police were unsympathetic and charged Thamnong misappropriating private property.

The stolen vehicle and merchandise were returned to their rightful owner, the daughter of a storeowner in Soi Bua Khao named Miss Phorphen. She commended the police for apprehending the thief in such a short time.

Jum and Jim turn seven

Khao Kheow Open Zoo holds gala celebration

Jum and Jim, the only twin elephants remaining alive in captivity in Thailand and the only female twin elephants in the world, turned seven years old on August 27th.

Jum and Jim celebrate their 7th birthday with friends at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo celebrated their seventh birthday by preparing a gigantic fruit buffet in their honor. Jum and Jim invited many of their elephant friends to take part in the celebration and help them devour the feast.

Visitors to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, including representatives from the Tourist Authority of Thailand, the Thai Elephant Preservation Foundation, the Thai Zoological Organization and the Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Withaya Khunpluem, signed a birthday card on a large piece of cloth.

The twin elephants were born on 27 August 1993 near the bridge crossing the Kwai River in Kanchanaburi Province. The mother of the twins, Phang Lam Duan, is from the Surin area and gave birth to Jum first at 6:00 a.m. Jim was born 15 minutes later.

It is highly unusual for an elephant to give birth to more than one baby at a time. Twin births are very dangerous, in part due to the amount of food required during pregnancy.

The elephants are supported by the Ban Pu Company Ltd., which bought Jum and Jim for one million baht and presented them to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in 1994.

The two elephants represented Thailand as a symbol of tourism during the 1998-1999 Amazing Thailand campaign. They were also the mascots of the 13th Asian Games, and have promoted many other activities throughout the country.

Creating a cohesive Chart Thai party in the region

The Chart Thai Region 7 officially opened its new office in Sattahip on August 25 with a grand ceremony conducted by Saensukh Municipal Mayor Somchai Khunpleum in his capacity as Chart Thai Director of the Eastern Region. Over 2,000 Chart Thai supporters attended the opening.

Chart Thai Director of the Eastern Region Somchai Khunpleum (front right) conducted the official opening ceremony for the Chart Thai’s new office in Sattahip.

Local dignitaries at the opening ceremony included the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism in the House of Representatives and Coordination Center Director Santsak Ngamphiches, Chonburi members of the House of Representatives and Deputy Minister of Interior Sonthaya Khunpluem.

Speaking in his capacity as Chonburi Development Plan Coordinator, Somchai Khunpleum said that the Chonburi government was hindered in the past by two elected parties competing for budget allocations. The unity within the Chart Thai Party is now viewed as making it a cohesive unit, capable of answering the needs of the voters.

The Sattahip Chart Thai Coordination Center is located in voting region 7, which consists of Sattahip, Huay Yai, Khao Mai Kaew, and the Pong districts. The center will function as the focal point in responding to the needs and complaints registered by residents from the area.

CDAD attempting to reduce stray population

The Chonburi Domestic Animal Department and volunteers from Pattaya vaccinated and neutered over 200 stray animals rounded up on August 28th at Jomtien Beach. The same service was provided to pets belonging to local residents.

The Chonburi Domestic Animal Department neutered and vaccinated over 200 strays on August 28th at Jomtien Beach.

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat was present during the opening of the activity. He commented on the need for the program and its goal of reducing the number of stray dogs and cats that continue to multiply and annoy both visiting tourists and local residents.

The project, which was started at the beginning of this year, has thus far vaccinated over 1,200 cats and dogs. 300 animals have been “fixed” under a plan to reduce the number of strays and thereby prevent rabies.

Additionally, 50 medical volunteers working in Pattaya have been trained in administering the procedures.