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Minister of Interior sets off first Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair in Pattaya
Hundreds crowd Walking Street - traffic problems elsewhere
Minister of Interior Purachai Piumsombun banged the
gong three times last Saturday, February 23, to officially start the first
“Amazing Thai Wisdom at Pattaya City”.
Following his opening speech, and those of other
prominent officials, the minister of interior toured the length of the new
walking street, observing all the exhibits whilst being accompanied by a
victory drum marching band.
An estimate of several hundreds of people crowded into
a 2-kilometer section of Beach Road that had been blocked off to traffic
as part of the government’s project to promote tourism and save energy.
 Minister
of Interior Pol. Capt. Purachai Piumsombun strikes the gong to start the
Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair in Pattaya last Saturday. Organizers plan to
continue the energy conservation and tourist promotion program for at
least the next 51 weeks.
Billed as a “fun-filled, enjoyable fair that is to
continue for every Saturday to come,” the first edition featured Thai
dancing, victory drums, Thai boxing, handicrafts, and Thai language
puzzles and games - a veritable cornucopia of tourist attractions.
However, not all was rosy in Fun City. With one-third
of the inner city’s major north-south arteries closed off, traffic was
snarled in other areas, and at a standstill at the Central Road - 2nd Road
intersection.
 Minister
Purachai enjoys a laugh with a coconut carver set up on Beach Road.
Most of the side streets leading to and from South
Beach Road were also closed off, although some of this may have been done
for security reasons due to the minister of interior being here, and as
yet there has been no confirmation if this will be the norm.
Chonburi’s Provincial Office has organized the weekly
event, with the intent of emulating the “Amazing Walking Street at Silom”
in Bangkok. In an English language statement, the Chonburi Provincial
Office explained the rationale and background of the event:
“In compliance with the government’s policy on the
conservation of energy, the reduction of pollution and the promotion of
tourism, the National Energy Policy Office was recently assigned to launch
the project ‘Amazing Walking Street at Silom’ (Bangkok) ... His
Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intrawityanunt has, therefore,
established a policy for provinces with major tourist attractions to adapt
the project to suit each area to be further implemented in order to
stimulate the national economy as well as promote the tourism industry.
“Since a large number of tourists have been attracted
to Chonburi, especially to Pattaya each year, in addition to the fact that
several tourist routes in Pattaya are always crowded with cars and
motorcycles, which are used in the daily life of the people and have
polluted the city, Chonburi Provincial Office has planned to close some
streets and develop them to be walking streets. Appropriate activities
will be arranged to suit the local tradition and culture as well as the
community’s way of life, and to be eventually integrated as sustainable
walking streets under the project of ‘Amazing Thai Wisdom at Mueang
Pattaya, Chonburi’.”
Victory
drums sound during the opening ceremony.
The release goes on to list the objectives, two of
which are: “to stimulate people to understand as well as recognize the
significance of less use of personal vehicles and more use of public
transport and walking in order to help save petrol and reduce pollution in
the street” and “to comply with the social order policy by changing
the attitude of Thai as well as foreign visitors to Pattaya from visiting
entertainment places to admiring natural beauty and the cultural heritage
of the Thai people instead.”
Activities listed in the release include entertainment
such as “musical performances, Alcazar/Tiffany shows, cheerleader shows
...” as well as “cultural performances, product displays and sales,
demonstrations and community activities”.
Funding of 5 million baht is being provided by the
Energy Conservation Promotion Fund, with the rest coming from the City of
Pattaya and the private sector.
The release also lists “expected results”, which
include, “Energy is saved and pollution within Pattaya City is
reduced,” and “There are more sustainable cultural attractions as well
as places for displays of Thai wisdom in Chonburi ...”
The government introduced program “one tambon - one
product” is also being highlighted, allowing the opportunity for area
programs to exhibit locally produced wares and improve sales during the
fair.
Chonburi governor Chadej Insawang said that the fair
will continue every Saturday on Pattaya Beach Road from the Nova Lodge at
Central Road all the way to Bali High Cape. Beginning at noon the
two-kilometer distance will be closed to motor traffic until 2.00 a.m.
The governor also announced another interesting goal in
Pattaya’s future: setting an example for other areas to follow by
turning Beach Road into a weapons free zone, to include police officers
not on duty.
The governor also said that in the foreseeable future,
the “one tambon - one product” program will be expanded to 10 more
districts in Chonburi to enhance the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair and
publicize it to visitors from around the world. The governor also once
again encouraged hotels in Pattaya to support the program by purchasing
items to be used in the hotel business.
Governor Chadej also said other positive actions are
being accomplished during the weekly fare, including preventing
unauthorized vendors, hawkers, and prostitutes from loitering on Beach
Road.
During the first event, additional personnel to support
traffic control was pre-arranged with assistance from community volunteers
and police officers from adjacent areas, and an emergency action response
force was on stand-by prepared to react to emergencies.
Traffic controls began at noon on Saturday, closing off
Pattaya Beach Road from Central to South Pattaya Road, and which opened
again at 2 a.m. Sunday. Pattaya 2nd and 3rd Roads became the main avenues
allowing north and south bound traffic to off-set the portion of Pattaya
Beach Road closed to motor traffic.
This week, March 2, highlights of the event will
include flower making and arranging, hand woven hammocks, handicrafts in
creating plaits and bags, “kheeta muay Thai”, musical shows from the
students in Banglamung and Pattaya (marching bands), sword fighting,
takraw games, Thai boxing, Thai classical dances, Thai herbs festival and
exhibits, Thai quiz and comedy, traditional Thai massage, word puzzles,
clay sculpture, and ending with music on the beach.
Crackdown to continue for an “undetermined length of time”
District reviews status of MOI social reform policies
Vichan Pladplueng
Banglamung district chief officer Chaen Chernsiva said
that since many night entertainment spots continue to ignore requests to
comply with the Ministry of Interior’s policy on social reform, the
crackdown would have to continue for an undetermined length of time.
The district chief made the statement following a
recent a monthly status report provided him by district, city and
immigration police.
High ranking police at the meeting revealed that since
the Ministry of Interior began its social reform policy six months ago,
four nightspots in Pattaya have been permanently closed, five others were
shut down for 30-day periods for operating after-hours, and two places are
still under watch following warnings. Nine entertainment establishments
recommended for permanent closure are still awaiting the governor’s
decision.
The Banglamung district chief said he considers the
actions taken to be in the right direction, but made it clear that
inspecting the many nightspots in the district requires continuous
coverage. A number of volunteer groups are assisting police in the
Banglamung area.
He reemphasized efforts will continue targeting the
three main areas: suppression of drug use and trafficking in nightspots,
preventing underage people from frequenting nightspots, and eliminating
sexually explicit entertainment from the nightspot scene.
The chief of Pattaya police, Pol. Col. Phadungsak
Ubekhanon reasserted his stance and said he has repeatedly urged his
officers to conduct duties strictly in accordance with station directives.
He said particular attention has been directed at ensuring nightspots are
closing at the prescribed times. Each night, teams of police officers at
the supervisory level are tasked to cover all the pubs, bars and larger
entertainment spots in Pattaya, ensuring the MOI policies are followed,
Pol. Col. Phadungsak said.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Erbab, representing Pattaya’s
immigration police, said that his men, assisted by members from the
provincial welfare office and local tourist police, have picked up over
200 people, mainly from Cambodia and Myanmar, who are now facing
deportation for illegally residing in Pattaya.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Erbab also said other
investigations involving background checks and behavioral patterns are
underway to identify foreign tourists operating illegal businesses in
Pattaya. He anticipates the number of violators to be over 1,000.
Tourists watch in amazement as giraffe gives birth at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Mother and calf ok after 3-hour ordeal
Vichan Pladplueng
It was a scene that could have been straight off the
National Geographic Channel, except it was live. On February 10, a throng
of tourists watched with amazement and concern throughout a 3-hour ordeal
at Khao Kheow Open Zoo when a mother giraffe gave birth to a spindly
little calf.
 Shortly
after its birth, the spindly youngster takes its first few steps as mom
and a friend watch intently.
Visitors to the zoo began to gather when they noticed
the bulging and very pregnant giraffe begin to nervously pace back and
forth. When her water broke, zoo attendants immediately called for
veterinarians to come and assist the impending birth.
Eventually, the tall and graceful animal stopped, took
a balanced stance on its long, spindly legs, and a pushed a tiny head
through the birth canal. The mother giraffe then resumed walking, trying
to assist the birth, but it was apparent that she was having a hard time
releasing the dangling baby giraffe.
Everyone witnessing the event - vets, visitors and
staff - looked on with increasing concern as the hours passed by. When the
veterinarians tried to approach the mother to assist the birth, she kept
backing away and would not let them near.
When her efforts continued for almost three hours and
her strength began flagging, vets finally decided to prepare a mixture of
water and medication to assist the rest of the birth.
At long last the baby giraffe was released, ending the
ordeal in a successful birth with both mother and baby in fine condition.
The crowd went wild with cheers of relief, acknowledging the rare event
they had just witnessed.
Mesmerized, the crowd watched on as the mother used her
nose and tongue to prod her baby’s face toward her nipples to suckle.
Anthaporn Sriheran from the zoo’s public relations
office explained that since giraffes are so rare in Thailand, the
management at Khao Kheow Open Zoo was delighted to receive 16 giraffes
from Africa in 1997. The 16 giraffes, four males and 12 females were
divided up and some were sent to zoos in Chiang Mai and Korat, with only a
few kept at Khao Kheow.
Anthaporn said that giraffes usually start to mate at
the age of 3 to 4 years. The gestation period for a giraffe is anywhere
from 420 to 468 days. The female usually gives birth to a single
offspring. Baby giraffes stop nursing at 10 months. The female begins
mating again and will engage males every 14 days until impregnated. The
giraffe’s average life span is 20 to 30 years.
Beginning March 1st - No more helmet-less motorcyclists
Police to begin renewed diligence in enforcing helmet law
Chakrapong Akkaranant
Beginning March 1, police will renew their diligence in
the strict enforcement of the motorbike protective headgear requirement
for both driver and passengers in all parts of Chonburi.
Chonburi governor Chadej Insawang said publicizing the
stricter enforcement started in January and police began issuing warnings
during February. Beginning March 1, violators will be fined, Chadej said.
Governor Chadej made the announcement at a February 21
police assessment panel meeting. During the meetings, held each month,
leading police officers from Chonburi, Pattaya and Banglamung meet with
the governor to discuss solutions to problems and follow-up on past
actions. Members from local government and the private sector are included
at each meeting.
Another topic of discussion at the meeting was the drug
epidemic involving today’s youth. It was decided to begin maintaining a
computerized database at the Provincial Police Bureau to collect
information on juvenile gangs and young people involved in drug related
activities. Police units in Chonburi Muang District, Pattaya City,
Banglamung District and Sattahip District are to start reporting
information on a monthly basis.
Governor Chadej said he is resolute in his convictions
to continue fighting the drug problem in his jurisdiction.
Local ID to be changed to smart cards next year
Thai citizens may have smart identity cards as early as
next year. The cabinet has recently approved in principle a plan to launch
the modern ID system, according to deputy government spokeswoman Nahathai
Tiewpai-ngam.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra first raised the idea
at a revolving cabinet meeting in the country’s northern resort province
of Chiang Mai last July. He feels the time has come when a new and more
efficient citizen ID will lessen the burden of producing all hard-copy
documents Thais must now summit for various reasons and in an array of
everyday circumstances.
Education minister Suvit Khunkitti, who also heads the
government’s e-committee, was authorized to work out the details of the
plan with agencies concerned and to report to the cabinet within 30 days.
The proposed smart cards will contain Thai citizens’ major personal
records, namely house registration, social security, and tax codes, as
well as insurance and healthcare numbers.
The cabinet sees the plan as benefiting Thai citizens
if the new system can be made secure enough to keep the personal records
confidential. (TNA)
Local disabled group asks for more cooperation
Taking government and private sector to task over promise to make Pattaya user-friendly for elderly and disabled
Members of the Chonburi Development Group for the
Disabled are taking the city to task over the city’s recent announcement
that Pattaya will set an example for others in regards to conveniences for
the elderly and physically challenged.
 Supatham
Mongkolsawat (left), headmaster at the Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational
School, Prakij Inthisit, chairman of the Chonburi Development Group for
Disabled Persons, both key persons pushing for conveniences to accommodate
persons with physical disabilities, went before city fathers to provide
input on the city’s plan to provide conveniences for the elderly and
disabled.
Pattaya City administrators announced they have plans
to make Pattaya the first location in Thailand that provides a full-range
of conveniences for disabled persons. They plan to do this by integrating
necessary requirements into all city development plans, including public
transportation, schools and businesses.
Prakij Inthisit, chairman of the Chonburi Development
Group for Disabled Persons, and members of the group met again with city
administrators and representatives from area hotels, schools and tourist
related businesses in Pattaya on February 19 at Pattaya City Hall.
The meeting revealed, not surprisingly, that budget
constraints top the list of obstacles to achieving the city’s ambitious
plan. However, a general unfamiliarity with the logistics and particulars
that would be needed to upgrade city services, government buildings,
shops, residential areas, and transportation facilities are also enormous
hurdles which Pattaya must somehow overcome.
During the discussion, it was acknowledged that
government employees, police, and staff in hotels and commercial
establishments will also need to be familiarized with particular
requirements that are vital to the elderly and disabled in order to insure
their mobility and convenience.
Prakij pointed out that in developed countries around
the world it is already standard practice to integrate the needs of people
with diminished physical capacity into city development plans.
Developed nations also demand that commercial and
residential developers incorporate into their construction plans special
restroom facilities, wheelchair ramps, public telephones, walkways for the
blind, lifts and public transportation accommodations that will not only
serve the public at large but also accommodate the elderly or disabled.
Pattaya will have to prepare itself to address all of these issues in
order to become a “user friendly city” for everyone in its environs.
As many as 500 million people world wide have physical
disabilities. In Thailand there are 300,000 people with physical
disabilities who are registered with welfare department under the minister
of interior. It is estimated that another 5 million disabled individuals
live at home and are not included in the official registry.
Statistics provided by the Tourist Authority of
Thailand revealed that during the period from 1999-2000, 5% of the
tourists visiting Thailand had physical disabilities. The group
constitutes a significant number of tourists that Pattaya could
accommodate if services were modernized.
Pattaya’s mayor told the group that the city’s
policy still stands, but he reminded them that progress may be slow for
some time to come. Pattaya’s development through the years has been
haphazard and chaotic. To reverse this trend will need money and public
support.
A public relations scheme is being activated to
increase community awareness on the importance of integrating physically
disabled persons into the social structure, and as useful entities in the
work force. The campaign will request support from area businesses to
integrate necessary conveniences. In addition, an emblem is being designed
for businesses to display to inform the public they have facilities for
the disabled.
A 102 million baht budget has been received from the
TAT for beautifying areas in the city, and has been allocated for making
improvements on Pattaya Beach Road, 2nd and 3rd Road with conveniences for
physically disabled persons included in the plans. The work will probably
begin in June and when completed some progress in this area will be
visibly clear.
During the first few days in March of this year, 40-50
people from the United Nations representing disabled persons are coming to
Pattaya, with the mission of confirming developments are underway to
provide conveniences for disabled persons.
City considers closing Pattaya Slaughterhouse
City-run facility not up to standards
City administrators and the Nong Prue shareholders in
Pattaya Slaughterhouse are considering whether to permanently close the
facility.
The slaughterhouse has been the target of continuous
complaints about its sanitation standards and the resulting environmental
issues.
There is a privately owned slaughterhouse in Pattaya
that would benefit from increased business should the city-run facility be
shut down.
The Pattaya Slaughterhouse, located on 2-rai of land in
Soi Thua Ngok opposite the district waterworks office building in Nong
Prue District, has been in Pattaya City’s control since Naklua
sub-district transferred the business operation over to the city 24-years
ago.
On February 20, a shareholders meeting was set up at
city hall to discuss the possibility of permanently closing the business.
Over time, the facility has received 30 million baht in
improvements. Mai Chaiyanit admitted that further improvements to correct
the problems associated with the local environment and the water reservoir
nearby were impractical.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said that the
suggestion to close the slaughterhouse came from government offices
related to the on-going business. He said the meeting was held to consider
the various aspects involved if the decision is made to close down the
business.
According to Suphap Phakdee from Chonburi’s domestic
animal control office, the relatively new slaughterhouse operated by the
private sector in Pattaya is much more efficiently run, better at assuring
sanitary standards for consumers and probably has the highest operational
standards in the eastern region.
Suphap also said a main concern is the inspecting of
animals for disease prior to slaughter, and the Pattaya Slaughterhouse has
not been able to maintain the desired level of standards in this area.
Before any decision is finalized all parties involved
will submit different aspects for consideration.
City council saga continues
Six councilors on the hot seat as MOI receives outline of complaints
Veerachai Somchart
Six city council members implicated in unauthorized
construction in Jomtien are still under fire, and the matter has reached
higher levels.
Tongchai Adsong, Phraiwal Aromchyn, Amnuay Somphongtham,
Manoch Nongyai, Phansak Saengchant and Thanawat Manhadee have been
implicated in a road construction scandal in Jomtien.
Last week when minister of interior Purachai Piumsombun
was in town to open the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair, he was handed a document
summing up the matter and asked to intervene. The minister of interior
only responded that he would later give the information his full
attention.
The document was hand delivered to the minister of
interior by Veerasak Chynkrut and Vichien Tangthamsathit, led by a lawyer
named Veerachai Sumetsawas.
Sources also say that the chairman of the National
Counter Corruption Commission, Ophat Arunint, was also provided a copy
during his visit to Pattaya on the same day.
The implication is that some or all of the six council
members have a conflict of interest with the construction project. A 1999
Pattaya city administrative ordnance, article 18, stipulates city
administrators are prohibited from having direct or indirect connections
with contracts substantiating a conflict of interest.
The road construction in question began last December,
and although it is being carried out on public land, it has yet to receive
proper authorization from the city, and is ongoing with no apparent
budget. Landfill from the city’s old trash disposal site is being
transported to the site by Adsong dump trucks.
Another peculiarity involves the width of the road.
Apparently the councilors are implying the road is over 14 meters wide,
but city maintenance workers dispute the claim and reported that the
actual road is only 6-8 meters wide.
The area under construction is 700 meters of unimproved
swamp area off Chaiyapruk Road, located at the end of the Pattaya City
boundary line. Portions of the area are in Jomtien, also allegedly on
public property.
There are only three homes in the immediate area,
implying that this is the extent of the community benefiting from the
project. The heavy construction equipment used is not under any city
contract, implying no city budget supports the project, and over 1,000
truckloads of landfill have been dumped at a location near the
construction site on land belonging to a person only revealed as Mrs.
Kanidstha.
Council members have formed a city investigation
committee chaired by city council chairman, Thawich Chaisawangwong to look
into the matter. The governor of Chonburi is also carrying out his own,
separate investigation.
The city council met on February 19, when the six
council members were on the hot seat answering questions and defending
their actions. City council chairman, Thawich Chaisawangwong announced
that fault was found, although the 6 council members had initial
intentions of providing a well-needed service for the community, and he
didn’t believe there was any conflict of interest involved.
He said one fault seems to lie with the verbal request
to obtain landfill from a city project that never received written
authorization from the mayor, and the main fault is that shortcuts were
taken to avoid the required bureaucratic steps.
City councilors will meet again on March 19 to try to
resolve the matter and find out if any members are guilty.
There has yet to be any mention of criminal wrongdoing
or of civic court actions.
Wat Chaimongkol wins property dispute in South Pattaya
However, shops allegedly never got building permits
Representatives of Wat Chaimongkol have won the
property dispute in South Pattaya, proving that the land does indeed
belong to the temple. However, shops built on temple land allegedly never
got building permits, and may still face demolition.
 Wat
Chaimongkol has proven that this disputed stretch of land does belong to
them, but the shops built there allegedly never received city approval.
The dispute first began when the city ordered a group
of buildings be removed at the 2nd Road and South Pattaya intersection,
saying they had been built on public property. At that time,
representatives of the temple stepped in saying the land is not public
property, that it belongs to the temple and the temple has the right to
rent the land.
The group of buildings in question are a row of 26
partitioned shops, five-meters deep, at the South Pattaya and 2nd Road
corner, including the Boon Bua Shopping Plaza and continuing north on 2nd
Road for more than 50 meters up to the old Mike Shopping Mall. Currently,
each shop pays about 1,000 baht a month to the temple.
In his capacity as speaker for the temple committee,
Surat Mekhawarakul discussed the matter during a meeting on February 19
with Banglamung assistant district officer Phitaya Rungprasert.
After reviewing legal documents produced by the temple
administrators, it was determined that the land in question does in fact
belong to Wat Chaimongkol. However, it was also determined that the 26
partitioned buildings in question had never received city approval to
implement construction, and how some deeds, dated in 1969, were acquired
remains a mystery.
The temple is situated on 30 rai of land, and documents
proving ownership date back to 1943. Other documentation shows that the
city obtained the temple’s permission to build that section of 2nd Road
through temple grounds.
Pattaya mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat said in early
December 2001 that despite what evidence the temple produces, the matter
boils down to shops and buildings not having the proper authorization to
build and set up business at the location.
A proposal has been submitted and is now under
consideration that would have the city issue the required construction
permits to make the buildings legal.
The temple began renting spaces along the stretch of
land in 1957 at 300 baht per month. Rents were raised twice since and the
current 1,000 baht rent could be renegotiated when leases expire this
July.
Motorcycle purse snatchers strike again
Tourists robbed on Beach Road again near Soi 1
Boonlua Chatree
A married couple from France were robbed whilst walking
along Pattaya Beach Road at 12.30 a.m. on February 19 near the same spot
where a German couple were victimized about a week earlier.
Mr. Cha Lazarus, age 63, and Mrs. Pierrette Lazarus,
age 50, had just left their hotel after exchanging money in the lobby and
were waiting for a baht bus on their way to South Pattaya.
 Mrs.
Lazarus holds up all that is left of her purse after the motorcycle
bandits ripped it off her shoulder whilst she and her husband were waiting
for a baht bus. The crime was the second reported from the same area
within as many weeks.
Two riders on a motorbike drove up and grabbed
Pierrette’s purse and continued driving away.
Mrs. Lazarus later told police that she fought back but
was left holding only the carrying strap to her purse. Inside the purse
was B20,000 and their hotel room key.
The couple was unable to provide police with much
detail on the suspects. They described the assailants as 17-20 years old,
riding a red motorbike, but due to the darkness and sudden surprise they
could provide no other details.
Mr. and Mrs. Lazarus said that the traumatic experience
left them feeling as though they had been violated. The distraught couple
said they never expected such an incident would occur in a world-renowned
tourist location. Both wonder if justice will be served within the short
time remaining in their vacation.
Accepting that they may never be compensated for their
loss, and that their attackers most likely would remain on the loose to
terrorize other tourists is very disturbing for the French couple. Both
said that if this type of occurrence happens in Pattaya, and police are
unable to make the streets in Pattaya safe, then the Tourist Authority of
Thailand should take measures to ensure sufficient protection is provided
for tourists.
Motorcycle gang shootout terrorizes neighborhood
Four gang members hospitalized with gunshot wounds
A pair of warring motorcycle gangs clashed in a Nong
Prue neighborhood at about 10.30 p.m. on February 15. The resulting
shootout sent shopkeepers and bystanders running for cover, and landed at
least four gang members in the hospital with gunshot wounds.
The encounter was brief, but stray gunfire riddled
shophouse doors and parked cars nearby. Luckily, none of the bystanders
were hurt.
Mrs. Kanya Noknoi, who owns a shophouse near where the
fighting erupted, was the first to call Banglamung police after the
shooting had ceased. She said the gang members from both gangs had already
fled, taking their wounded members with them.
Police tracked down four of the gang members, aged
15-24 years, who were undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Each had
shotgun wounds in their lower extremities; each were hit with 4-8 pellets.
Others allegedly received only minor injuries during the fight.
Mrs. Kanya told police that about 20 riders on
motorcycles raced up in front of her shop in Moo 1, Nong Prue. She said
she and family members were sitting outside in the front of the shop and
assumed it was a gang of juveniles terrorizing the streets with racing
motorcycles, but moments later another group of motorcycles came roaring
up and a gun battle broke out.
District police inspector, Pol. Lt. Col. Natasit
Boonnuam disclosed that the two gangs had been involved in an altercation
the previous night, but no weapons were used. He said police broke up the
first fight and issued warnings that arrests would be made if the
confrontation continued.
Pol. Lt. Col. Natasit said that one gang is from Ban
Nong Prue and the other is from Mapyalia, in the vicinity of Siam Country
Club Road near the Map Prachan reservoir. Leaders of both gangs were
arrested.
Chonburi on March 1 to begin intensified action on illegal foreign laborers
Businesses hiring illegal workers will also be subject to fines and imprisonment
Chonburi deputy governor Veerawit Viwatnawavich
announced that beginning March 1, more intensified actions will be taken
to correct problems connected with illegal foreigner laborers in Pattaya.
Two action groups have been organized to conduct
investigations on two specific categories of foreigners, targeting those
working without work permits, and those with legal work permits but
working outside of parameters authorized.
The investigations are to commence starting March 1,
and violators will be prosecuted according to the law. People involved in
hiring the violators found working without authorized permits or
conducting unauthorized business will also will be prosecuted according to
the law, Veerawit said.
Veerawit is the designated leader of the committee
formed by members of the government and private sector (G&PS) tasked
with correcting problems in Pattaya connected with foreign laborers, which
includes other related problems with foreigners operating businesses in
the area.
He specified that in the case of someone found guilty
of hiring foreigners without legal work permits the penalty includes up to
3-years imprisonment and up to B60,000 in fines, and a combination of both
is possible. The foreigner found guilty of working without a permit is
subject to no more than 3-months imprisonment and no more than a B50,000
fine, or possibly both fine and time in jail.
The second group, foreigners with legal work permits
but found guilty of conducting work other than what was specified in the
initial work permit request, faces no more than 1-month imprisonment and
fined no more than B2,000, or both. The person responsible for hiring that
person would be subject to the same penalties.
The commissioner of the Office of Police Immigration,
Pol. Lt. Gen. Hemaraj Thareethai has notified all 54 immigration points
around the country of his stringent policy to implement action to prevent
and suppress illegal entry into the Kingdom. Special emphasis is being
placed on apprehending those responsible for organizing transportation for
illegal laborers and contacting employers or harboring illegal laborers
for illegal employment. According to Immigration Act 1979, article 63, the
maximum penalty is 10-years imprisonment and a fine of no more than
B100,000. Article 64 covers related offences and comprises a maximum
penalty of 5-years imprisonment and no more than B50,000 in fines.
The duties of the immigration police fall under the
policies issued by the National Police Bureau, and policies emphasizing
more stringent measures, including sweeps through designated locations
picking up foreigners illegally in the Kingdom, is to continue throughout
the remainder of the year.
During the first 3-months of action, authorities will
assess the overall situation and put the main emphasis on illegal laborers
from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Investigations covering workers at
factories, industrial plants and other locations are also underway with
successful results expected.
Two teens caught stealing mobile phones
Also charged with possession of yaba
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya police were notified 20 minutes past midnight
on February 19 that two thieves were driving off on a motorbike after
stealing a mobile phone from a victim stopped at an intersection in Soi
Bua Khao.
Police officers on duty in the vicinity were radioed
and were able to corner the motorbike as it was racing through South
Pattaya Road side streets.
The passenger on the bike temporarily alluded arrest
after being dropped off, but police caught the driver, only identified as
“Cha”, a 15-year-old male. Cha was arrested and charged with theft and
possession of two methamphetamine pills.
His 16-year old partner in crime was taken into custody
shortly after and both admitted to numerous thefts carried out in a
similar manner.
Both boys were staying at different addresses in Moo 5
in Naklua, and are now in custody waiting for an appearance in court that
will probably end up providing them with new living arrangements.
The boys and a third youth identified but still at
large usually targeted victims with mobile phones attached to their
wastes, and who were stopped at red lights or in similar situations. The
rider on the back of the motorbike would grab the phone, after which the
driver would speed away before the victim could react.
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