Loard Buddha image at Khao Cheechan dedicated to the King of Thailand

Governor vows to eradicate crime and vice in Pattaya

Foreigners to receive special “attention”

Chakrapong Akkaranant

Chonburi governor, Chadet Insawang has vowed to eradicate crime and vice in Pattaya in the New Year. Along with the sub-committees he set up with the private sector to investigate particular problem areas in the city (reported last week in Pattaya Mail), the governor has also said he plans to investigate foreigners residing in Pattaya and try to eliminate foreign run nightspots offering unacceptable entertainment.

A recent inspection team, led by the deputy governor, Supoj Laowalsiri (center) covered nightspots located in the Soi V.C. area and around the Pattaya Land sois, but no significant problems were noted and it appeared businesses were complying with the social reform policies.

The initial stage of the governor’s anti-crime and vice plan is to implement new measures to weed out entertainment businesses not complying with central government policies on implementing social reforms. The three specific areas identified were businesses offering lewd entertainment, nightspots with underage patrons, and premises allowing drug transactions and related activities. The governor has issued instructions to close down any business in violation of the regulations covering the three main areas.

Four additional special units have been established to work on the problems. Chonburi deputy governor, Supoj Laowalsiri is in charge of one unit, the deputy commander of the provincial police, Pol. Col. Chalermpol Srisompoch, heads the second unit. The Banglamung district chief officer, Chaen Cheunsiva leads another unit, and in charge of the fourth group is the Pattaya chief of police, Pol. Col. Phadungsak Ubekhanon.

Each unit is made up of officials from public health offices, excise officers, and local police. There will be a weekly rotation of personnel.

“Snap inspections, as well as routine inspections will be carried out,” Governor Chadet said, “because many businesses employ lookouts to attempt to give advance warnings on official inspections.”

The governor also said he plans to review the current procedures used to grant permits, as he plans to prevent foreign run nightspots, operating in the name of Thai wives, from continuing to conduct unsavory businesses. “Business activities need to be continually monitored,” Governor Chadet said, “especially following the issue of a new permit in order to verify the type of business which was described in the new application.”

The governor is also considering a plan to limit the number of entertainment venues, to keep socially unacceptable displays from spoiling the Chonburi area. The governor also said laws are under review to preclude ambiguity and to close loopholes allowing suspects to evade arrest.

Tourism will not be affected by euro changeover

Local reactions to upcoming historic changeover mixed

On January 1, 2002, euro notes and coins will go into circulation in 12 euro-zone member states (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland) and will replace the respective national notes and coins in the biggest currency switch in history. UK, Denmark and Sweden are EU members but not members of the euro-zone.

Locally, reactions to the changeover are mixed, with some hotels and businesses promising to continue to accept old currencies for as long as possible, with others stating that they will accept only euros after January 1, 2002.

The general feeling with Pattaya’s tourist businesses is that the changeover will be “no problem”, as it is an “international problem – not local”, and that it has been long coming and tourists will be well prepared. The changeover is the final step in a long process that saw the creation of the euro on January 1, 1999.

Overseas tourist agencies are well aware of the changeover and would have been advising tourists from euro-zone member states to make sure their cash and traveler’s cheques are in the new euro currency and not the old currencies of their respective nations.

Local banks contacted by the Pattaya Mail have been somewhat vague, but the consensus seems to be that they will follow the policies set by the Central Bank of Thailand. A spokesperson from the Bank of Asia, for instance, said unofficially that they would continue to accept the German Mark until February, but was uncertain about other currencies.

In Europe, the changeover period, during which both the euro and national currencies will be used together – the so-called dual circulation – will take between four weeks and two months. It is anticipated that the bulk of cash transactions will be in euro by January 15, 2002 – only two weeks after “E-day”, or euro day. However, member states’ national central banks will continue to exchange old currencies for new euros for an indefinite or a very long period of time.

There will be seven euro banknotes: EUR 5, EUR 10, EUR 20, EUR 50, EUR 100, EUR 200 and EUR 500.

As of December 23, 2001, the exchange rates from national currencies to euros are as follows: Austrian schilling 13.7603, Belgian franc 40.3399, Deutsche Mark 1.95583, Dutch guilder 2.20371, Finnish markka 5.94573, French franc 6.55957, Greek drachma 340.750, Irish pound 0.787564, Italian lira 1936.27, Luxembourg franc 40.3399, Portuguese escudo 200.482, Spanish peseta 166.386.

Deputy Prime Minister suggests tourists should take a long(er) walk

by Boonlua Chatree

Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intrawitayanunt likes the Walking Street concept so much, he suggested it be extended all the way to the municipal police station near Soi 9.

The deputy prime minister, who oversees tourism in the Kingdom, toured Pattaya earlier this month and indicated he was sincerely interested in promoting tourism and ways to expand tourism in Pattaya.

Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intrawitayanunt, flanked by Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (left) and local businessmen, toured Walking Street and suggested perhaps it should be extended a kilometer or two.

Following a tour through the Walking Street in South Pattaya, he said he was genuinely impressed and thought Walking Street had much potential to attract even more tourists. He suggested the pedestrian mall be extended by a few more kilometers making a more complete zone for tourists’ enjoyment.

The deputy prime minister also suggested that extending the pedestrian zone all the way to the Pattaya municipal police station might help reduce some of the current traffic problems and would be well suited to promoting further tourism in Pattaya.

Safety tips for the New Year’s Eve celebration

Public service message from the Chonburi Administration

Since December 2000, the Chonburi administration has been tracking different causes of death and serious injuries, and keeping statistics to set direction for implementing corrective action. Not surprisingly, traffic accidents were the chief cause of death and serious injury during the period. Incidents involving physical assault and self-mutilation were next on the list.

Dr. Narong Sahamethapat, from the Chonburi public health office, revealed statistics recorded in the past year show 6,449 traffic accidents involving injury in the province, 287 of which were fatal. The majority of deaths were people between the ages of 15-45. Many of the traffic accidents involved alcohol, and certified protective headgear could have prevented a good many of the deaths involving motorbikes.

Travelers on the road during this New Year’s celebration are encouraged to use extra caution while driving, stay fully aware on the road, obey all traffic regulations and use safety belts, even if on the way out for a short trek. Use protective headgear when driving motorbikes. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and make other driving arrangements for someone too drunk to drive.

If going away for the holiday period, other safety considerations to follow include making preparations to deter burglars while away from home. It is best to have someone remain at the home, not only to deter burglars but also to guard against fire.

Other safety recommendations from the Chonburi provincial public health office include taking care to consume only foods prepared under sanitary conditions and avoid eating raw meats or foods that may have been contaminated or appear to be spoiled.

For their final tip, the health office recommends the use of condoms for anyone engaging in sexual contact with a newly acquainted sex partner in order to avoid becoming a new AIDS statistic.

Remain alert and take extra care so you can fully enjoy the New Year celebration and continue enjoying life in 2002.

Happy New Year

Three arrested for looting decorative rocks from Larn Island

Chakrapong Akkaranant

Kampol Kathosong, 30, Prakob Nachaiserm, 27, and Mano Wonglakhorn, 28, were arrested for looting decorative rocks from Larn Island. The area is a protected national park.

Tourists and residents at Samae Beach on Larn Island alerted Pattaya tourist police that the looters were digging up and hauling off decorative colored rocks from the beach during late night hours.

The chief inspector at the Pattaya tourist police station, Pol. Maj Noradech Klomtuksing, had police stakeout the area in order to catch the culprits in the act. The December 21 stakeout was successful, as the police arrested all three after witnessing them hastily digging up rocks and filling bags on Samae Beach.

The thieves told police that a man only known as “Porn” hired them to collect the decorative rocks under the cover of darkness when the tide was low. Each trip they took away 20-30 fertilizer bags filled with rocks, for which they were paid 150 baht apiece. They admitted to collecting the rocks for the past eight months.

They told police the rocks were delivered to a woman identified as Preeda (Jiaw) Makkhun on the coast of Udom Bay in Sriracha.

All three men were charged with destroying the natural environment and plundering nationally protected resources from property designated as a controlled environmental preservation area.

Preeda Makkhun will likely be receiving a visit from authorities interested in expanding the investigation.

Local police to learn the lingo

Northern woman launches into drug-induced strip

Gone but forgotten - HRH Prince Admiral Chumporn Khet-Udomsak

Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001  Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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