|
Kingdom celebrated
Princess Chulabhorn’s Birthday July 4
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, the youngest
child of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and Queen Sirikit,
was born on July 4, 1957 at the Royal Dusit Palace in Bangkok. The same
day Princess Chulabhorn was born His Majesty King Bhumibol presided over a
graduation ceremony at the Chulalongkorn University, hence the selection
of the Princess’ name commemorating the auspicious occasion.
Princess Chulabhorn is the fourth child in the Royal
Family. She has two older sisters, Princess Ubol Ratana and Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn, and an older brother, the Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn.
In 1982 Princess Chulabhorn was married to Flight
Lieutenant Virayuth Didyasarin, a fighter pilot, and they have two
daughters, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Siribhachudhabhorn and Princess
Adityadornkitikhun.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn graduated from
the Faculty of Science and Arts at Kasetsart University with a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Organic Chemistry, First Class Honors, in 1979. Her
Royal Highness completed her doctorate work in organic chemistry in 1985,
and received her Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Mahidol University in
July of the same year. As a gifted scientist, she was awarded the coveted
Einstein Gold Medal in 1986. On December 1, 1987, she set up the
Chulabhorn Research Institute to promote scientific research in Thailand,
and she has lectured on a number of occasions before academic groups
abroad.
In 1981, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn was
presented the rank of captain in the Navy and Air Force. In the same year
she was appointed as a professor in the Scientific Division at the Royal
Thai Navy Air Force Academy.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn has been
instrumental in conducting programs that research ways to improve
conditions for Thai people and give them occupational skills to support
themselves. She has visited with the people of Thailand, traveling to many
provinces throughout the Kingdom, initiating various programs such as
Special Occupational Skills and the Royal Sai Jai Thai Foundation.
She sits at the head of the King Mongkut Hospital
Foundation and heads the Chulabhorn Research Institute, which facilitates
scientific technology whilst seeking ways to improve the quality of life
for people in Thailand.
Another of Her initiatives includes the “Tabtim Siam
Project” which is an all inclusive program working to preserve and
govern natural resources with the added goals of reviving the natural
environment and developing the quality of life for people residing near
the Thai-Cambodian border. The work involves improving occupational
skills, providing public utilities and agricultural assistance.
Jomtien and Naklua
parking lot concessions open to private sector
Veerachai Somchart
The city is looking for interested takers to manage two
parking lot concessions, one at the old market next to Lan Phot Courtyard in
Naklua and the other located at the Jomtien Beach walkway.
 The
city wants to lease out the concession for the newly completed Jomtien
parking lot to a private contractor.
Construction at the Jomtien Beach walkway parking lot was
completed using a city budget of just over 2-million baht. Concrete was laid
over an area of 2,800 square meters and should be able to accommodate up to
57 cars and 151 motorbikes. Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said parking
fees were set at ten baht per car and five baht for motorbikes. He said this
should return an average of 337,500 baht each month at the Jomtien parking
lot.
The city wants to lease out the concession for the
Jomtien lot to a private contractor. The price for the concession will be
50,000 baht per year, plus a monthly rental fee of 30,000 baht.
Surveys conducted at the Lan Phot parking lot in Naklua
show that an average of 2,900 baht per day, or around 87,000 baht per month,
would be collected, whilst charging vehicles the same price as in Jomtien.
The city plans to lease it out as concession as well, but at a lesser rate.
The city is asking for 30,000 baht up front plus a monthly rental fee of
20,000 baht.
The city is anxiously waiting for sincere offers for what
is considered two highly profitable business opportunities.
Buddhist Lent
begins today
Buddhist Lent, or “Khao Pansaa” begins today, July
6. Asalhabucha Day, an important holy day for Buddhists, this year was
observed yesterday, July 5.
Khao Pansaa is recognized as a government holiday. Many
people take time off from work in recognition of the importance of the
Buddhist Holy Day.
Khao Pansaa falls on the first full moon (1 kham) of
the Buddhist Lunar calendar during the eighth month of every year (which
this year equates to July 6) and ends on the 15th full moon (15 kham) of
the 11th month of the Buddhist calendar, or in mid-October.
The term “Khao Pansaa” can also translate to
entering the months of the rainy season when monks return to the temple
for the duration of the rains, usually to the temple where they were
ordained, where they stay for approximately three months. The monks are
not to depart the temples to stay overnight at any other location during
this time, although there are a few exceptions (i.e., matters relating to
survival). Instead, monks remain in temples, discussing and studying
Buddhist scriptures, following Buddhist disciplines, meditating and
performing ritual ceremonies.
Important functions requiring the usual presence of
monks are avoided during this period and traditional Thai marriages are
scheduled at other times because all monks must remain in the temples.
Followers of Buddhism all over Thailand will attend
temples in the morning of Khao Pansaa, bringing food, necessity items,
money, the traditional candles, garments and ceremonial items for the
monks.
For those people having devout faith they may refrain
from the recognized eight offences for the duration of the three month
rainy season just as monks do, while others may give up a single vice,
with yet others recognizing the 5-8 offences just for the day.
Everyone is invited to participate in the temple
ceremonies and to refrain from offensive behavior for the day and to also
make the same effort thereafter.
Market vendors
implied in bogus monk scam
5 monks, 2 imposters brought in for
questioning
Chakrapong Akkaranant
Vendors at the South Pattaya Market opposite Wat
Chaiyamongkol and the Phra Adul Market on Central Road have been
implicated in a “hire a monk” scam. The vendors allegedly hired at
least two monk impersonators to stand in front of their shops in the wee
hours of the morning to entice tourists and locals to buy alms from their
shops to give to the monks.
 Deputy
mayor Nirand Watanasatsatorn, city hall officers and city police broke up
the bogus monk scam being played out during the middle of the night in
Pattaya.
City hall first learned of the crime when people began
complaining that the monks were appearing at the markets at an unusual
hour, too early for the normal practice of collecting alms.
Deputy mayor Nirand Watanasatsatorn last week led city
hall officers and city police on a late night investigation of the
situation. They found seven men wearing Buddhist robes and carrying alms
bowls at 3.30 a.m. All seven were questioned and taken to Wat
Chaiyamongkol to meet with the abbot to explain their appearance at the
unusual time.
Five of the seven monks were able to produce authentic
documentation identifying them as true monks. The other two eventually
admitted to masquerading as monks, and told of the deceitful plan
allegedly organized by different vendors in the market.
The five authentic monks were thoroughly admonished by
the abbot of Wat Chaiyamongkol, Phrakhrubaidika Anant Thamasoto. He told
them how their behavior negatively affects the Buddhist order of the
Sangha and the intended purpose of collecting alms and making merit. The
five monks were then released with a warning not to appear prior to the
appropriate hour to collect offerings in Pattaya.
The two men masquerading as monks were identified as
Wan Samang, 54, and Mana Thongsonthi, 55. They told police some of the
vendors at the two markets hired them for 300-500 baht a night to stand in
front of the food stalls holding their collection bowls. The two men said
they were to wait around from 3.00-7.00 a.m. for unknowing tourists and
locals getting off of work or returning home. The idea was for the
loitering monks to attract the late night crowd’s attention and take
offerings from them (which were being purchased at the stalls where the
monk impersonators were standing) under the pretense that the good
citizens at the hour would miss the opportunity to offer alms at the usual
time at sunrise.
Police recorded the imposters’ personal information
and confiscated all of the Buddhist items in their possession before
releasing them with a strict warning not to be picked up again defacing
the Buddhist order of the Sangha.
The deputy mayor said he intends to pursue the matter
further after considering a suitable course of action to take up with the
enterprising vendors described as masterminding the deceitful scheme to
increase business.
Mayor says 80% of
business will not be affected by Beach Road widening
Veerachai Somchart
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said that 80% of the
businesses along Beach Road would be unaffected by the city’s plan to
expand the width of the walkway an additional eight meters from Dolphin
Runabout to South Pattaya Road.
The mayor also said that a recent survey shows that
most of the businesses on Beach Road that would be affected would only
need to renovate an area of one meter, with some having to make allowances
for 2-3 meters.
The city administration plans to widen the width of
Beach Road eight meters in accordance with prescribed dimensions in the
building control act of 1975, established by the Ministry of Interior for
roads in tourist locations along the coast, such as Phuket and Pattaya.
The expanded width would provide convenient walkways next to businesses
and present a more scenic and orderly appearance in Pattaya.
There is still no specific date for when this will
begin.
Land, building and business owners on Beach Road,
however, don’t necessarily agree with the plan, and feel the proposed
width is beyond reason.
Former mayor of Pattaya Suchai Ruayrin, representing a
group of business owners who feel jeopardized by the plan, submitted a
document to the city administration outlining their views on the widening
plan, which included some requests they hope the city will consider.
The document implied that the majority of businesses on
Beach Road were in agreement that it would be beneficial to widen the road
from North to South Pattaya; however, they feel that only an additional
2-3 meters would be needed.
The document also specified an overall consensus that
if Beach Road was to be widened to the width regulated by the Ministry of
Interior, then all roads in Pattaya falling into the same category should
be widened as well.
The document further emphasized that the city has been
unable to correct the problem of rental vehicles and vendors obstructing
much of the walking space. The business owners said that if they have to
undergo extensive renovations so that the city could widen Beach Road,
they want the city to ensure rental vehicles and vendors do not obstruct
the area.
Mayor Pairat said that the widening project on Beach
Road was first segment of a larger plan to widen other roads around the
city and end the problem of businesses encroaching onto public property.
As for the problem of motorbikes for hire and rental
vehicles obstructing the roads and walkways, the mayor said the city plans
to designate parking areas, which he said should alleviate that particular
problem.
Mayor Pairat also suggested that if full cooperation
was not received in removing obstructing buildings, the city would resort
to taking legal action. The mayor seemed confident that the city would
prevail, although he said the city would rather achieve the results in a
less severe fashion.
Irish swindler
arrested in Pattaya
Boonlua Chatree
Miss Chidabha Khyansaeng, 40, a resident of Chiang Mai
contacted Chiang Mai Municipal Police to report a foreigner named Nigel
Beardsley had deceived her out of more than B200,000 before disappearing
with her car. The report was relayed to all tourist locations around the
country and alert police officers in Pattaya spotted a suspect fitting the
description on June 28.
 Beardsley,
in handcuffs, looks on as police view his new color TV.
The Pattaya Foreign Crime Suppression Center followed
up the information and found the suspect lounging on Jomtien’s Dongtan
Beach. After police made a positive identification of him from his British
passport, 38-year-old Nigel Beardsley from Northern Ireland was arrested.
Police searched Beardsley’s room at the Kaokrarat
Condominium in Soi Arunotai and confiscated an assortment of documents,
two recently purchased color televisions, a satellite dish and a variety
of other expensive electrical products. Also found on the premises were
two packets containing compressed cannabis, four-methamphetamine pills, a
small packet of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Beardsley was allegedly able to convince the
40-year-old businesswoman in Chiang Mai that he was privy to a method of
selling gold at triple the value. Miss Chidabha was apparently captivated
by the prospect and provided Nigel with B210,000 and her personal gold
jewelry weighing 12 baht. She also allowed him to use her Toyota in order
to close the deal. After he didn’t return, she became suspicious and
contacted police.
Pattaya police are charging Nigel with possession of
class 1 and 5 illegal substances. He will also be returned to Chiang Mai
to face further charges after Miss Chidabha is contacted to collect
whatever she can identify as rightfully belonging to her.
City to take action
against Marina Inn
Pattaya City is upset with the Marina Inn’s attempts to
combat beach erosion, and it now appears the city will take the owner of the
hotel to court.
 City
hall says this construction at the Marina Inn in Naklua is an unauthorized
encroachment onto public property and has ordered its removal.
The Marina Inn, which is owned by Ms. Wilanda Inchatra,
is located off the Pattaya-Naklua Road in Soi 12. Management of the hotel
recently built a sea wall and concrete beach steps along the beach near the
Naklua fishing pier.
City hall says the construction is not in compliance with
Article 8 of the Ministry of Interior’s Building Control Act of 1979, and
that the wall is encroaching on public property. They want to take action
before the situation gets out of hand, like the Nang Nual Restaurant in
South Pattaya.
City officials inspected the area on April 5 and issued
an order to cease construction and for the removal of a wall approximately
100 meters long. Similar to the Nang Nual Restaurant case, city hall gave
the Marina Inn 30 days to complete the action or come up with documents
authorizing the new construction. Also similar to the Nang Nual Restaurant
case, to date no steps have been taken.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and city officials
investigated the site on June 28. In addition to the wall, the mayor and
accompanying officials noticed the concrete and stone terrace on the shore,
along with a garden area and pathways which the city claims are unauthorized
encroachment onto public property.
Afterwards the mayor said the city intends to take the
necessary steps to achieve results. He said that legal action has already
been initiated, and that the city has collected data from the district land
office and other agencies to support the city’s case.
TOT changing
telephone numbers
The Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) is changing
telephone numbers in Thailand, to take effect from 5th July 2001.
“According to the rapid increase in telephone demand,
current telephone numbers can not respond to subscribers’ requirements,”
a written announcement from the TOT read. “Without adding new numbers to
serve the increasing demand, this problem can effect business operators and
others.
“The Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) would
like to inform (subscribers) that there will be a New Numbering Plan all
over Thailand. TOT has indicated the area codes to be part of the new
telephone numbers for every system including fixed line telephones and
mobile phones (except special numbers such as 191, 1133). For making calls,
the area codes need to be dialed first, followed with designated numbers;
however, the charge rates will be the same. This Thailand New Numbering Plan
will be have the least affect on subscribers and provide an additional 90
million numbers to serve for the next 15-20 years.”
The TOT gave the following examples:
Bangkok Metropolitan Area - Existing Number (02) 505-1212
- New Number 02505-1212
Provincial Area - Existing Number (035) 244-192 - New
Number 035244-192
Mobile Phone - Existing Number (01) 441-0505 - New Number
01441-0505
Overseas calls will remain unchanged.
The written message continued, “For making special
number calls such as 1133, 191 and overseas calls, there will be no change,
except 17 restoration service changes to 1177 + number such as
1177-0-2505-1000.
“For PABX users, please contact sales representatives
for upgrading software in order to serve with New Numbering Plan. The
Thailand New Numbering Plan (became) officially effective on July 5, 2001.
For subscribers convenience, TOT will allow the existing system to be used
for one month after the effective date.”
For further information, please contact Call Center #
1100 (free of charge), e-mail: new [email protected] or visit TOT’s website:
www.tot.or.th/new numbering
Gold scam victim
locates con artist 5-days after incident
Chakrapong Akkaranant
Miss Chiriya Pratheepsen, 24, was the victim of con game
arranged by three women that resulted in the loss of her gold necklace,
bracelet and ring weighing 6-baht. The incident occurred on June 22 at the
Big C store on 2nd Road when Chiriya was approached by one of the three
women and talked into accompanying her off the premises to meet up with two
other women.
 Saowanee
Yusuk was arrested for her part in a gold thieving con game.
Chiriya later told police that she was unable to explain
what all transpired after leaving Big C, but when she regained her senses
she was by herself and without her gold jewelry. She told police that it was
as if she was drugged and recalls almost willingly handing over her
valuables.
Realizing she was the victim of a planned con game she
returned to Big C day after day hoping to run into the band of swindlers.
One of the three women was finally spotted on June 28 and Chiraya contacted
police.
Saowanee Yusuk, 30, was arrested and eventually confessed
to committing as many as 20 such scams in Pattaya with her two partners. She
also admitted to committing other scams in Bangkok and other areas.
Saowanee told police how women alone wearing a lot of
gold were searched out at markets and shopping centers. She said after
engaging them in friendly conversation or luring them in with a money making
proposition or the promise of a reward, the victims were taken away to a
secluded area and relieved of their valuables.
Pictures of Saowanee’s two partners in crime were made
available and police expect to have both in custody soon. Other victims of
similar scams are urged to come in and make positive identification and
provide any information to assist police in arresting the two women still at
large.
Survivor takes on
new role in SE Asian jungles
by Ensign Christina Skacan,
Commander Destroyer Squadron One Public Affairs
Surrounded by sights and sounds of the Thai jungle near
Sattahip, U.S. Marines learned lessons they might not get in Camp Lejeune,
N.C., or Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Here, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness And
Training, or LF-CARAT, Marines listened intently to specific instructions
from their Thai counterparts on how to calm and catch a cobra.
 LF-CARAT
Marines received an animated brief on how to find and cook food, build
shelter, access water and treat sickness and injury with indigenous jungle
materials.
“We are sure we increase our capabilities every time we
train together,” said Cmdr. Somkeart Ponprayoon, reconnaissance battalion
commander, Royal Thai Marines.
“The terrain in Thailand is absolutely different from
the U.S. We can teach you many things you have never seen before - important
survival skills in areas that may be new to you,” he added.
Subduing a cobra captivated the attention of every
Marine, American and Thai. With an ability to see only a 45-degree radius, a
cobra can be calmed by pushing its head to the ground. Thai experts taught
U. S. Marines how to stay out of the cobra’s view and to deftly use one
unseen hand to reduce the snake from the striking position and grab it by
the tail or neck.
 Marines
listened intently to specific instructions from their Thai counterparts on
how to calm and catch a cobra.
“We’re here to learn from the Royal Thai Marines -
some of the most skilled jungle warriors in the world,” said 2nd Lt. David
Herron, assistant operations officer for LF-CARAT, headquartered in Okinawa
Japan.
LF-CARAT Marines received an animated brief on how to
find and cook food, build shelter, access water and treat sickness and
injury with indigenous jungle materials.
“Use everything,” said Sgt. Maj. Yodrug Pranom.
He prepared a display of the edible, inedible and
poisonous plants and animals to punctuate his eight steps to jungle
survival. Pranom says first size-up the situation. He warns that undue haste
makes waste and says to remember where you are using the sun, moon and
stars. In the jungle, Pranom advises to vanquish fear and panic, improvise
everything, value living, act like the natives and learn the basic survival
skills before you enter the jungle.
“There are 13,000 plants in Thailand, 50 percent are
edible.”
Fragrant Thai lemon grass effectively repels mosquitoes,
so Thai farmers ground and blend it with water to spray on their crops. U.S.
Marines learned that Thai ginger helps reduce fever; Thai eggplant assists
blood clotting, and Thai peas provide a good source of protein.
“All the fruit looks so good. It is interesting to
learn what you can eat and what you can’t,” noted Lance Cpl. Robert
Zaring.
Pranom encouraged the U.S. Marines to touch, taste and
smell over 50 Thai foods found in the wild. He gave them some basic guidance
every jungle-surviving Marine needs.
“If you see monkey eat, you eat. If monkey no eat, you
no eat - you eat the monkey.”
U.S. Marines shared tips and their expertise in an area
more familiar to them with their Thai counterparts - urban warfare.
“You have taught me about military operations in urban
terrain, close quarters battle and an amphibious raid,” said Lt. Srimawong
Samart.
CARAT, a series of bilateral exercises, takes place
throughout Southeast Asia each year. It aims to build interoperability and
regional cooperation. In addition to valuable information, Marines also gain
new friends during the exercises.
“When you come here it is not the U.S. Marines, but our
friends coming to visit,” said Ponprayoon, a participant in previous
CARATs who has trained in the States at Fort Benning, Ga. and Quantico, Va.
LF-CARAT Marines embarked USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in Japan
before heading to Southeast Asia. USS Wadsworth (FFG 9), USS Curts (FFG 38),
all homeported in San Diego, Calif., are also taking part in this seventh
annual CARAT exercise.
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 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
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
|
|
