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  NEWS

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Elephant run down by train

Health Ministry wants hotels to supply condoms to guests

Rental van driver arrested for murder

Dolphin washes up on Pattaya Beach

Elderly man hacks to death step-granddaughter

Pregnant woman pilfers Swedish tourists’ holiday money

Pattaya City officials visit Koh Larn Community

Pattaya named fire safety high-risk area

General Election set for early January

MUST 2000 Exhibition and Conferences joined by BOI and EGAT

SOS Rice 2000 campaign underway

21st Infantry Regiment remembered at Korean War ceremony

Sikh Community invites Pattaya citizens to donate blood

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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