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Mayor sacks deputy mayor Wirawat Khakhai
PM Thaksin and former Premiers to meet in Pattaya this weekend
Scottish tourist falls to his death from 13th floor
Beach vendor charged with sexual assault
Youth gang shoot-outs leave 2 dead
Intrusion onto public land resurfaces at Pattaya Land & House Wall obstructing road construction Claims that an outer wall constructed at the Pattaya Land & House project in Nong Prue has residents from Ban Maptato in Moo 13 up in arms. Village headman Wichot Wongsiriwimol went to the Banglamung district office to register a complaint that a 400 meter long wall erected by the housing project interferes with a public road. Portions of the roadway are restricted by the barrier, which reduces the thoroughfare to 8 meters in some areas. Road construction in the disputed area has now been halted. Officials from the department of lands went to check out the complaint, but found all the land markers removed. The district chief officer assured residents that he will have the officers from the department of lands complete surveys of the land, and if it is ascertained that the wall is encroaching on public land, he will order it removed. According to sources, a similar accusation was lodged over a year ago. At that time, project owner Mrs. Yaowalak Pisalwalerd responded by offering to purchase the area in question. The matter was not pursued.
Recycling bank program emphasised in city schools Vichan Pladplueng The 3-R principle of reduce, reuse, and recycle is the underlying philosophy of the national recycling campaign. The campaign is an educational tool stressing the hazards of careless waste and how to manage it, and is gaining wider recognition in Pattaya City schools. The recycle bank project selects reusable materials and turns trash into reusable items. Students from city school #9 are cooperating in the national recycling campaign. The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, Sonthaya Khunpleum chaired a ceremony at City School #9 on July 23, and signed an agreement with members of the provincial government and area schools which promises greater participation in the national environmental preservation campaign. Participating in the ceremony were Chonburi governor Sujarit Patchimnan, chairman of the provincial government administration Pinyo Tanwiset, and Chatree Chuayprasit, the president of the Environmental Quality Improvement Department. Sonthaya told the audience how vital it is to maintain the natural environment and presented some alarming statistics on Thailand’s waste production. More than 38,000 tons of waste was produced in the Kingdom each day in the year 2000. That equates to 0.62 kilos for every man, woman and child in the country. He also mentioned the many environmental projects and programs now underway around the nation which were supported with government money, but unfortunately met with resistance from local villagers. This shows the need for more public education on this subject. Pattaya schools, however, have proved their merit. Since January of this year, 10 local schools have recycled 30 tons of trash containing recyclable material, including 14 toms of glass, 10 tons of various paper, 4 tons of plastic bottles, and 2 tons of reusable metal alloys. This recycled waste was worth 50,000 baht in cash and a priceless learning experience for those who participated.
New traffic rules implemented on August 1 Side streets off Beach Road are now all one-way On August 1, the city put into effect traffic related changes involving Beach Road and all the sois between Beach Road and 2nd Road. The main change consists of turning the connecting streets between Pattaya Beach Road and 2nd Road into one-way streets from North Pattaya to South Pattaya Road. Sois 1, 3, 5, 6/1, 8, 9, 12, Soi Prasanee (Post Office) and Soi Pattayaland 2 are designated one-way with traffic to flow from the beach going towards 2nd Road. Sois 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, Soi Yamato and Pattayaland 1 are designated one-way with traffic to flow in the opposite direction from 2nd Road down to Pattaya Beach Road. Other changes include starting new parking controls specifically directed at rental vehicles for hire on Pattaya Beach Road. A total of 44 vehicle rental areas have been designated on Beach Road; the remaining rental vehicles have been directed to move into the side streets. Vehicles of any kind are prohibited from parking along Pattaya Beach Road from Central to South Pattaya Road during the hours of 6.00 p.m. to midnight. Other parking restrictions for tourists are to be designated in the future, and the city is considering charging parking fees. The changes were designed to help reduce some of the traffic congestion along Pattaya Beach Road and the streets connecting with 2nd Road. These initial changes resulted from research started last year to identify solutions to the city’s traffic problems.
A sparkling new addition to the Rotary Roundabout The Rotary Wheels on the Rotary Roundabout (where Second Road, North Pattaya Road, Beach Road and Naklua Road come together) have recently been inlaid with crystal. The donation to make this possible was made by Josef Aigner, the general manager of Crystelia-ACD Thailand. One of the beautiful crystal-inlaid Rotary Wheels at the Naklua roundabout. The crystals came from Swaroski which has been the leading manufacturer of high quality crystals in Austria for over a century. Aigner made the donation to the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya as gesture of love for his fellow man and his support for the ideals for which Rotary International stands. Nearly 30,000 individual crystals of varying size were set into the Rotary wheel with Swaroski’s special adhesive, which enables the crystals to maintain their luster with just a simple dusting once a month. Due to one the wheels having been stolen, the other two wheels have been removed for safekeeping. The work of restoring the beautiful statue at Rotary Roundabout is just one of the many projects supported by the Rotary Club where work continues in striving to make improvements in and around the city, making Pattaya a more attractive location for tourists and residents alike. Late Breaking News: Apparently, one of the Rotary Wheels was stolen from the roundabout, so as a precaution, the other wheels have been tucked away for safe keeping until a solution can be devised.
Too much methamphetamine sends another deluded man to the roof “Bring me the prime minister or I’ll jump!” Boonlua Chatree A crowd of frightened onlookers gathered to watch as a drug crazed man on the roof of a karaoke bar threatened to fling himself to the ground, and babbled about speaking to the prime minister. Prasert Duanchanteuk, high and paranoid, climbed up on the roof of a karaoke bar and threatened to jump. Prasert Duanchanteuk, a resident of Korat, had been drinking and popping methamphetamines in a karaoke bar near the Skaw Beach Hotel off Soi Bua Khao on the afternoon of July 22, then topped off this mixture with a bottle of M-150. When the yaba kicked in, he became enraged and paranoid, swearing someone was out to kill him. Climbing up onto the roof of the karaoke bar, Prasert’s tantrum escalated and his predicament became more precarious. Pattaya police and rescue workers from Swang Boriboon arrived to quell the disturbance, but by this time the young man was barely coherent, and in serious danger of falling. Sanit Boonmachai, chairman of the vendors committee on Pattaya Beach, assisted the police in appealing to whatever sense Prasert still possessed. While coaxing and cajoling the deranged man, rescuers used a hydrahilic lift to get close enough to Prasert to haul him off the roof. He then continued thrashing and kicking all the way to jail. Allowed to recuperate, Prasert was later charged with disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct while under the influence of an illegal substance.
Homemade pistol fails to stop 65-year-old man Shot twice by nephew Charoon Kosint, age 65, was shot twice in the chest at point blank range with a homemade gun, but was barely slowed down. “Super Uncle” (right) looks unharmed after taking two bullets to the chest. He said his Buddha amulet saved his life. The elderly gentleman told police that his nephew, Daeng Ryangyu, 24 was living with his niece, Noi, as husband and wife for the past three years, and during that time the couple had two children. Apparently married bliss was intermittent, for the couple fell into a heated argument. When Uncle Charoon saw the disagreement getting out of control, and feared his niece would come to harm, he tried to intervene. At this point, Daeng pulled out a primitive pistol and fired two .22 caliber bullets into Charoon’s chest. He was knocked to the ground, but was not seriously wounded. He believed the power his Buddhist image Phra Luang Phimpha saved his life. Neighbors called the police, and then pursued the crazed nephew into a field. When the escapee refused to surrender, villagers set the area ablaze and smoked him out. After arrest, Daeng told police he had consumed two methamphetamine pills, which he said caused him to go into a violent paranoia, culminating in the argument with his wife and the shooting of his uncle. He has been charged with assault and attempted murder.
461 police officers drink sacred water and pledge to stay drug-free 13 on Pattaya station list of suspects A unique ritual took place at the Wat Chaiyamonkol in South Pattaya on the evening of July 26. Deputy Police Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, Maj. Gen. Anant Charerncharsri, presided over a cermermony which saw 461 policemen from Pattaya’s municipal police station drink sacred water and swear an oath to remain forthright in the nation’s fight against drugs. Pattaya police officers drink sacred water and pledge to fight drugs. The pledge of allegiance took place before a life sized portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, and each officer who partook in the sacred water and pledged his obedience to the law risks ill health and bad luck if the oath is broken. Pattaya Pol. Chief Col. Phadungsak announced that policemen under his command are undergoing an intensive review in response to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent order for the National Police Bureau to consolidate a list of all officers suspected of extrajudicial involvement in drug related activities. He did say, however, that although some officers were suspect, evidence was needed to charge any individual. The police chief said that in a large police district such as Pattaya, where an extensive entertainment industry flourishes and a widely diversified social fabric exists, the temptation for some officers to slip into illicit behaviour can be enormous. Strict enforcement of closing times for entertainment venues and the prohibition of underage youths from these places are measures being taken to reduce the problem. Chief Phadungsak added that officers found guilty of involvement in the drug trade will be dealt with expediently, but may retained on duty following departmental correctional measures and behavioural changes.
Updated every Friday Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk. |