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Crown Prince sanctifies opening of Pattaya Provincial Courthouse
Pattaya has changed - and for the better
Drug addict prostitutes wife and forces children to beg in the streets
56-year-old woman caught with 200 yaba pills
Tourist causes scene in South Pattaya
Hungry thief caught stealing a bicycle
Swiss tourist arrested for yaba Found going berserk in South Pattaya Boonlua Chatree Georg Werner Ettlin, 42, a Swiss national, was arrested last week for possession of methamphetamines and disturbing the peace. Ettlin was still throwing a fit when police arrived at Soi Jularat off Thepprasit Road on the early afternoon of September 17.
Police took Ettlin into custody and a search of his person produced two-methamphetamine pills in his pocket. His room was also searched and police found an apparatus used for ingesting methamphetamine drugs. Ettlin later confessed to causing the disturbance and told police he had ingested the drug the previous evening after purchasing three pills at a cost of 150 baht each. Ettlin was charged with illegal possession and consumption of the class 1 illegal narcotic, and he also faces an additional charge for causing a disturbance.
PBTA budgeting funds to support drug prevention in the workplace To include police checks and random testing The PBTA approved a 3-million baht budget to promote drug prevention measures in the workforce. The plan calls for a combined project involving various private organizations, the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter, Pattaya’s Hotel Association, local officials and all police agencies in the area. Under the plan, employers would have background investigations conducted on employees. These checks would look at police records and screen for prior criminal or drug related activities. Employers would also submit employees to random urine testing to look for illegal substance abuse, as well as root out any employee involved in the sale of drugs. Portions of the funding for the plan would be used in conjunction with police investigations, and monetary incentives would be set aside to reward persons, to include police officers, involved in successfully deterring drug related activities. The plan was discussed during the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association’s September meeting at Mike’s Shopping Mall. The director of the Tourist Authority of Thailand central region 3 office Manit Boonchim also attended the meeting, which was chaired by PBTA president Surat Mekhawarkul.
Entertainment chairman denies involvement with call to block roads Says it’s better to wait for zoning Boonlua Chatree Preecha Sanguansak, chairman of Pattaya’s entertainment business committee, contacted Pattaya’s city police to put it “on record” that his committee had nothing to do with fliers circulated earlier this month calling for blocking off roads in protest of the Minister of Interior’s 2 a.m. bar closing crackdown.
The fliers were circulated throughout the city’s entertainment locales earlier this month, and were aimed at drumming up support to assemble a large crowd to block off North Pattaya Road in front of City Hall. Initial reports were that the fliers were produced and circulated by the Pattaya entertainment business committee, and included a follow-on plan to block traffic on Sukhumvit Road in protest of the government’s crackdown. The plans never came to fruition, and Preecha was quick to point out to police that he and his committee had nothing to do with the grass roots protest. “As far as everyone was concerned,” he said, “it seemed clear that the committee and local government officials, including the provincial governor, understood things would remain under control until zoning was decided, which is expected to happen sometime in October, with Pattaya being the first area settled.” Sources seem to suggest that the fliers were the work of a local bar that had been a target of police crackdowns on drug activities before the MOI started directing stricter action. The suspected business was closed due to drug related activities being conducted on the premises, and the owner is now under investigation for instigating the protest.
Volunteers receive ocean emergency aid training Chakrapong Akkaranant Twenty volunteers on September 10th completed the first segment of emergency medical aid training from resident experts at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. The volunteers learned emergency medical first aid, how to assist people involved in water accidents and proper techniques for transferring the injured. At the completion of this first round of training, Pattaya’s deputy mayor, Nirand Watanasadsathorn presided over a ceremony at the hospital and presented certificates to the 20 volunteers. The city administration incorporated plans for a new Ocean Emergency Aid Center as part of the on-going construction of the Bali High Pier. The city arranged the training of volunteers to man the center after the prime minister’s deputy, Pongpol Adireksarn, last month emphasized that all beach areas having large concentrations of tourists should arrange to have qualified personnel staffing emergency aid centers. Nirand said the trained emergency aid volunteers would be good for the City of Pattaya, and would reassure tourists that assistance is available from competent personnel standing by to react to emergencies off the shores of Pattaya.
TAT says the crisis may affect tourism But with careful planning this may turn positive Pradech Payakvichien, the governor of the TAT stated during the Thailand Travel Mart 2001 Festival that the TAT, the Thai Hotel Association and travel agents are working on ways to minimize the impact on tourism caused by the world crisis from the attacks on the US last week.
In his statement, Pradech said, “It’s impossible to predict a situation which is changing all the time. But we can monitor every market and set up a data center. Activities to create confidence are most important.” The TAT is targeting honeymooners from South Korea and Japan who usually visit Hawaii. The main theme of the tourism drive is to promote Thailand as a calm and peaceful destination free from religious conflict.
A Festival for October - Chonburi Buffalo Races by Suchard Krephitmai This is a festival close to home that we can all enjoy: the Chonburi Buffalo Race. These races have been going for centuries in the province. As we know, the water buffalo is a very important part of Thai agriculture and still in many areas of Thailand the main work machine of the farm. This could be classed as an annual holiday for the buffalo, a break from ploughing the fields, when he gets a chance for a little excitement. Man and beast get a chance to compete together and it’s very exciting, good fun, and well worth a trip. The races are held annually in October, this year on the 1st. There are races in Muang District of Chonburi Province and other races also taking place at around the same time in Ban Bung and Nong Yai District. The farmers bring the buffaloes dressed appropriately for the occasion in multicoloured satin and they all gather at the front of city hall. There are many other events and attractions going on at the same time. For instance, the Thai breweries organize a Beer Festival with plenty of traditional Thai cuisine to sample as well. And don’t forget the Beauty Contest where the young ladies vie for the title of “Nong Nang Ban Na” farm maiden. There are also various other fun-filled activities to see and take part in. Then, in the evening it’s party time and there is music and cultural performances. For more information contact the Tourist Authority of Thailand telephone: (02) 694-1222.
Updated every Friday Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk. |
The
Dusit Resort displayed its beautiful properties at TTM.
Presenting
our fair city to the world at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort booth during the
Thailand Travel Mart 2001 held at PEACH.
The
Montien Hotels Group was kept quite busy answering questions and showing off
the wonders of Thailand for TTM delegates.
A
British tourist, whose name was not released, caused a bit of a stir last
week. Police were called in after the obviously inebriated man began
staggering around the streets in the area of 2nd Road and Pattaya Land Soi
1 with a folding knife in his hands. Passing drivers, worried about what
he might do, contacted police, who promptly disarmed him and escorted him
to the police station, where they gave him a short holiday in crowbar
hotel.
Georg
Werner Ettlin was arrested for possession of narcotics after throwing a
conniption fit on Soi Jularat off Thepprasit Road.
Preecha
Sanguansak, chairman of Pattaya’s entertainment business committee, told
police that his committee was not involved with fliers calling for blocking
off roads in protest of the Minister of Interior’s 2 a.m. bar closing
crackdown.
TAT
governor Pradech Payakvichien addresses the Thailand Travel Mart 2001.