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Elephant run down
by train
Mahout blames himself for carelessness
He said that during his rush to get ready for the
wedding he carelessly fastened the chain and Phang Daeng was able to work
her way free and wander over to the greener grass near the train tracks,
where she was hit by a passing train.
Wichien said he was deeply upset over the loss of his
elephant due to his own carelessness.
Wichien brought Phang Daeng to the “Suan Chang”
elephant entertainment area three years ago where the two have been
employed since.
The management at “Suan Chang” and other mahouts
helped with contributions to arrange transportation to remove Phang Daeng
from the scene of the accident and prepare her funeral ceremony at the
Bang Lamung temple.
Health Ministry
wants hotels to supply condoms to guests
Choose Pattaya and Phuket as test areas
The Ministry of Health has come up with a plan to
decrease the number of sexually transmitted diseases. The ministry wants
hotels to distribute condoms to their customers, and has chosen Pattaya
and Phuket to pilot their project.
Somchai Jirawatana from the Chonburi Contagious Disease
Control Office said the plan is mainly directed at controlling the spread
of AIDS. He expects some agencies and organizations to accept the plan,
but concedes the idea may have some negative implications.
Somchai met with members of the Pattaya Hotel
Association on November 8 at the Green Park Hotel to explain the plan and
clarify the ministry’s position on the matter, and said that it was
entirely up to individual businesses whether or not to participate in the
plan.
Pattaya Hotel Association Chairman Suwat Praebhiromrat
said the plan would certainly be viewed as a positive step in the
appropriate direction by most of the community, and a good number of hotel
patrons and tourists would realize the importance of the intended purpose.
However, the plan could also be viewed in a negative
context that would have a detrimental impact on the city’s reputation
and ultimately affect business.
Suwat was also concerned as to how the information may
be portrayed in the media. He spoke of the need for special public
relations planning and surveying opinions from association members and the
public prior to implementation.
Manit Bunchim, TAT’s Pattaya office director, agreed
that the matter should be carefully considered given how Pattaya contends
with other tourist cities for business.
Rental van driver
arrested for murder
Admits to slitting German tourist’s throat
Jurint Khaosa-ad was arrested in Nakorn Sawan on November
10 and brought back to Pattaya to stand trial for the October 24 murder of
German tourist Guenter Girresser.
Jurint
Khaosa-ad was arrested for the murder of German tourist Guenter Girresser.
Jurint slit Girresser’s throat during a fight at the
V.I.P. beer bar on Pattaya-Naklua Road after Girresser allegedly refused to
pay Jurint his fee for a rental van. Girresser, 44, died in hospital four
days later.
Pattaya tourist police issued an arrest warrant for
Jurint Khaosa-ad based on evidence gathered at the scene and testimony from
eyewitnesses.
Police Maj. Powaris Lilasiri, chief inspector of tourist
police department 3 in Pattaya, led the investigation team that tracked down
Jurint, who was hiding out in Nakorn Sawan, an area known in Thai circles
for having assassins for hire.
Jurint was apprehended at a roadblock set up by Ladyao
municipal police in Nakorn Sawan. He was then turned over to Pattaya tourist
police and escorted back to Pattaya.
Jurint admitted to the assault, but told police that he
had no intentions of killing Girresser. He said the German’s refusal to
pay for the use of his van irritated him and when he tried to collect the
fee, the intensity of the argument flared. Jurint said he became enraged
further when Girresser pushed him around and used abusive behavior. He said
he retaliated by using the ignition key to slash out at Girresser’s head,
although witnesses to the assault reported seeing Jurint using a knife.
Jurint said that after he realized what he had done, he
fled in fear, not sure of what to do or where to go.
The reasons for Girresser’s refusal to pay for the cost
of hiring the van and driver are still unclear, but may become evident when
Jurint stands trial.
Jurint has been turned over to Pattaya municipal police
for further disposition until going to trial.
Dolphin washes up
on Pattaya Beach
Seal mammal disappearing from area waters
Tourists packed along Pattaya Beach near Soi 2 were
enjoying the ocean breeze during the noon hour on November 7 when a
two-meter long, 200-pound, deceased “monk’s bowl head” dolphin
floated up on the shore.
Tourists
on Pattaya Beach were confronted with the disturbing sight of a dead
dolphin washing up on shore.
The Pattaya Rescue Service, the Pattaya Sanitation
Environmental Department and the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation were
called in to handle the situation. They transferred the dolphin to the
Burapha University Ocean Research Center in Bang Saen for an official
examination to determine the cause of death.
Older fishermen and long time residents of Pattaya can
attest that dolphins were once abundant in area waters. Monk’s bowl head
dolphins and white dolphins often mixed together to play in front of Bali
High Point.
Elderly man hacks
to death step-granddaughter
Wife seriously injured
Seventy-nine year old Pornma Charoensuk, aka Pek,
described by neighbors as a “mean old drunk”, took a scythe and hacked
his 19-year-old step-granddaughter to death. During the gruesome crime he
also severely cut the arm of his 82-year-old wife, Mrs. Thawil Mali.
Seventy-nine
year old Pornma Charoensuk took a scythe and hacked his 19-year-old
step-granddaughter to death.
Pek then escaped into the darkness prompting a massive
police manhunt for his capture and arrest.
This murder took place in Ban Tungkha, Huay Yai on
November 12.
When police and Sawang Boriboon Rescue personnel
arrived on the scene, 19-year-old Yuphin Mali lay dead on a cement bench
in front of the house. Yuphin’s grandmother had already been transported
to Bang Lamung Hospital.
Witnesses described Pek as a worthless drunk with a
mean disposition who had taken up with Mrs. Thawil about three years ago.
One witness told police she overheard Pek and Yuphin
engaged in a heated argument. When she went to see what was going on, she
witnessed Pek walking from the back of the house with a heavy curved knife
in hand. He then struck Yuphin with the knife over her head several times.
When Mrs. Thawil jumped in to prevent the senseless act, she nearly had
her arm severed.
Police searched the dense area behind the house all
through the night. By early morning he was found cowering about two
kilometers away.
Pek was taken to the Bang Lamung police station where
he gave his account of what took place, saying that he became totally
enraged when Miss Yuphin told him to turn the radio down while cursing him
for his drunken idle ways. He said he was unable to accept Yuphin’s
disrespectful accusations and he seized the curved knife and took out his
drunken frustrations on her.
Pek has been charged with homicide and attempted
homicide for injuring Mrs. Thawil. Mrs. Thawil was later reported to be in
stable condition at Bang Lamung Hospital.
Pregnant woman
pilfers Swedish tourists’ holiday money
Grabbed the loot from Bangkok to Pattaya bus
A 33-year-old woman, nearly nine months pregnant,
snatched a money belt containing 8,500 baht and over 4,000 dollars in
Swedish currency from Hans Axel Gunnar Forssell when the Bangkok to
Pattaya bus stopped at the North Pattaya station on November 5.
Pattaya tourist police foiled her getaway, however,
when they managed to corner her as she was trying to escape.
Tim
Wongsiri, nearly nine months pregnant, in an act of desperation tried to
steal traveling money from a pair of Swedish tourists.
The woman was identified as Tim Wongsiri from
Suphanburi. She told police she was sitting on the bus near Forssell and
his traveling companion, Ms. Monika Goj, and observed the large amount of
cash in the money belt. She said she was on her way to see the father of
her unborn child in Pattaya, and desperately in need of money to help pay
for the baby’s delivery, she said she seized the opportunity to steal
the belt full of money.
She was charged for attempted robbery and turned over
to the Pattaya municipal police for further disposition.
The money was returned to Forssell.
Pattaya City
officials visit Koh Larn Community
Vaccinate children, provide community
services
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Reumkijitkarn and a team of
officials from city hall visited Koh Larn Island in order to provide
services to the community. Officers from the Environmental and Health
department tested food and drinks in various establishments, and a team of
doctors vaccinated some 400 children on the island, while veterinarians
sterilized some of the island’s stray animals.
About
400 children on Larn Island received vaccinations as part of a Pattaya
City community service project.
A beach cleaning program was implemented to remove
unsightly garbage and improve the image of the island, making it more
attractive for the tourist trade.
The Deputy mayor said, “ In the past, Koh Larn was
difficult to access and now with a population of over 1000, it is
necessary to implement such a program.”
The city will provide a regular service to the Koh Larn
Community every 3 months.
Pattaya named fire
safety high-risk area
NSCT says improvements needed
National Safety Council of Thailand (NSCT) office
director Wibhak Thonchai said that Chonburi, and especially Pattaya, are
considered high-risk areas in regards to fire safety. This, he said, is due
to the many hotels in the area.
National
Safety Council of Thailand’s office director Wibhak Thonchai explained
improvements are needed in Pattaya’s fire prevention and control.
Wibhak expressed particular concern for the large number
of hotels over seven stories high. He said that many were without adequate
fire prevention control measures, and he asked local fire officials to
conduct inspections and enforce stringent compliance with fire prevention
controls. Some hotels have up to 57 floors, he said, but the ladder
extension equipment available in Pattaya can only accommodate up to a height
of 10 floors. In addition, he said that there are only 66 people assigned to
local fire departments, where twice the number is required.
Director Wibhak expressed his concerns at a conference he
chaired on November 8 with officials from Pattaya city hall and the Pattaya
fire department.
The NSCT has been tasked by the prime minister’s office
to follow-up Pattaya’s progress in correcting deficiencies in the city’s
fire prevention and safety procedures.
Past incidents prompting the central government’s
concern include the1997 fire at the Royal Jomtien Hotel (renamed the Jomtien
Palm Beach Resort) that resulted in approximately 100 deaths and many more
injuries, and last year’s fire at the Thai Oil Refinery, along with a more
recent fire at the same location.
Director Wibhak also told the conference that regulations
are being drafted to govern increased safety standards in high-rise
structures. These regulations will require third party life and property
insurance coverage.
The NSCT will cooperate with Burapha University to
arrange fire and accident prevention instruction for members of the private
sector, business community, local levels of government and personnel from
the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation.
A few weeks ago, during a review of the safety procedures
implemented at the Royal Jomtien Hotel, it was pointed out that the hotel
was on fire for 30 minutes before Pattaya public assistance officers were
even notified, a very poor response when compared to the 10-minute
international standard.
Budget allocations to support the purchase of added
equipment for the Pattaya fire department are planned for in the 2001
budget, including ladder extension equipment to accommodate levels above 22
stories high.
General Election
set for early January
Candidates to be announced soon
The general election for members of parliament and a
new prime minister has been scheduled for January 6, 2001, after His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great approved dissolution of the
house on November 9.
The general election is in accordance with the 1997
constitution stipulating the responsibility of the Thai people to take
advantage of their voting rights according to voting districts and party
list candidates.
The various parties are finalizing party lists and
those not already announced should be publicizing their completed lists by
November 19. They will then divide their lists into respective voting
areas from November 20-24.
The election commission will disseminate lists of
eligible voters to voting stations 20 days prior to election day.
Overseas voting is scheduled to take place from
December 5-7 and voters reaching the age of 18 by January 1, 2001 are
eligible to vote in advance from December 29-30. Official results from the
January 6 election should be announced on February 5, 2001.
In order to make the general election completely fair
and just, the constitutional court decided to give the election commission
the authority to deprive election rights of candidates found guilty of
illegal conduct both prior to and following the announcement of election
results.
The election commission also has the authority to
nullify all ballots electing a candidate or political party proven to be
involved in altering the election outcome. However, no action will be
taken against voters who elect candidates found guilty of corrupt
practices.
MUST 2000
Exhibition and Conferences joined by BOI and EGAT
The annual event for the development of the Eastern
Seaboard industries and investment, MUST 2000 will be held for the third
consecutive year at PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition And Conference Hall), at the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort in South Pattaya from November 23 to 25. The
exhibition and conference topics will be co-organized by Thailand’s most
prominent names in the field of industry and investment.
The main co-organizers of the event include the
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Board of
Investment of Thailand (BOI), the Ministry of Industry, the Thailand-Japan
Technology Promotion Association (TPA) and the Maptaphut Maintenance Club
(MMC). These organizations will both exhibit and conduct more than 100
conference topics related to the investment and industrial development of
the Eastern Seaboard.
The opening ceremony will be presided over by
dignitaries from the Ministry of Industry, EGAT and BOI, who will reveal
to the public the trends and the future policy regarding industries and
investment for the Eastern Seaboard region, while the conference topics
will range from investment policies to industrial and engineering
applications. During the event there will be an exhibition by Thailand’s
leading industrial suppliers. The event is open for the public, targeting
all those related in the industries of the Eastern Seaboard.
The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) in
cooperation with various governmental organizations will be providing a
one-stop service for investment, import exports and matters regarding VISA
and work permits for expatriates in the Eastern Seaboard, plus an
investment clinic for investors and industrialists during the entire
period of MUST 2000 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the BOI and government
pavilion.
MUST 2000 exhibition and conference is deemed as the
most established event for the industrial and investment development of
the Eastern Seaboard and will attract over 5000 professionals in the
related field to Pattaya, the Eastern Seaboard’s hub for business and
recreation.
SOS Rice 2000
campaign underway
Charitable effort to feed needy children
The annual SOS Rice campaign is underway, with donation
boxes set up at various locations in Pattaya and Chonburi.
PBTA
president Surat Mekawarakul, chairman of the SOS Rice program, and Father
Pichan Chaiseri chaired a meeting with members of the SOS Rice committee
to announce plans for this year’s program.
PBTA president and SOS Rice chairman Surat Mekawarakul
said this year the campaign will be carried out in two separate programs.
For the first program, the donation boxes were set up on November 6 and
will remain in place until January 29, 2001. For the second program,
tables will be set up to take donations at different shopping centers in
Pattaya and Chonburi from January 1-5, 2001.
A celebration will be held at the A-1 Royal Cruise
Hotel on February 4 to announce the results of this year’s campaign.
Pattaya Business and Tourism Association President
Surat Mekawarakul, Father Pichan Chaiseri and members of the SOS Rice
Committee announced the plans for this year’s program at a committee
meeting on November 2 at the Royal Garden.
The SOS Rice Program was first started in 1986, and has
continued each year raising funds for disadvantaged families in the
Chonburi area. Last year the campaign assisted approximately 1,300
children and raised almost 207,000 baht for 12 separate projects, such as
the Ban Phoonsri Upatham Drug Treatment Center, Jomtien Children
Development Center, the Chameleon AIDS Center, Life Line Center 1,
Redemptorist Home for the Elderly, Pattaya Children’s Welfare
Foundation, Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind, Pattaya Sot
Pre-school, Redemptorist Vocational School, Bang Lamung Children’s Home,
Sirinthorn Professional Training Center and Pattaya Redemptorist Home for
Street Children. Additionally, rice worth almost 11,000 baht was donated
by the public.
21st Infantry
Regiment remembered at Korean War ceremony
Flowers and wreaths were laid at the Veterans of the
Korean War Memorial at the 21st Infantry Regiment’s Camp
Nawamintharachanee in Chonburi on November 3 to honor fallen comrades in
arms on the 50th anniversary of the conflict.
The
Korean Ambassador to Thailand addresses the troops at a ceremony honoring
Thai soldiers who participated in the Korean War.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Thai Army, General
Surayut Chunlanon and the Korean Ambassador to Thailand presided over the
ceremony.
The memorial honors the Thai soldiers who participated
in the United Nation’s multi-national force during the Korean War. A
special tribute was given to the Thai soldiers taking part in the
courageous battle and defense of “Pork Chop Hill” from November 1-11,
1952.
The Thai soldiers from the 21st Infantry Regiment
highly distinguished themselves under the command of General Walker, the
United States 8th Army Commander.
Sikh Community
invites Pattaya citizens to donate blood
The Sikh Community of Pattaya, led by president Amrik
Singh Kalra, invites one and all to celebrate His Majesty the King’s
Birthday by donating blood to the Thai Red Cross.
Amrik Singh appeals to residents of Pattaya whether
they are Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians or Muslims to congregate at
the Sikh temple on Soi 17 in South Pattaya on Thursday November 23,
between 9 a.m. and noon.
The purpose of this humanitarian exercise is for all
the people in Thailand, be they Thai Nationals or other nationalities to
show their love and loyalty to His Majesty the King by making merit and
donating blood to the Thai Red Cross. The blood donated could save many
lives in critical need. The Sikh community plays an active role in our
community by assisting in many forms of charity work and looking after the
welfare of the needy whenever possible.
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
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