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Fountain of Life Foundation begins new era in helping the disadvantaged
With the help of many, FOL opens new building on Third Road
Laor Thongpradap
The Fountain of Life Foundation began a new era last
Friday, May 31, when they officially opened their brand new building on
Pattaya Third Road. The new building is of course larger and more modern,
and the foundation will now be able to better help an even larger number
of underprivileged children from all over Pattaya.
 Fountain
of Life Children performed a beautiful dance to show their appreciation
for the new building on Pattaya Third Road. With the new, larger and more
modern building, the foundation will now be able to better help an even
larger number of underprivileged children from all over Pattaya.
Bishop Tienchai Samarnchit, of the Archdiocese in
Chantaburi (one of only 10 in Thailand), director of the Fountain of Life
Foundation, presided over the official opening of the new building.
The Good Shepard Sisters’ Fountain of Life built its
first classroom/shelter in North Pattaya with the help of the Jesters MC
in 1998, and since then, the Good Shepard Sisters have helped countless
underprivileged children from all over Pattaya. Currently, about 145-155
children come to use the facilities at the foundation each day.
 Takashi
Saito, ambassador of Japan to Thailand expressed his admiration for the
foundation’s enthusiasm and hard work in contributing to society. Japan
has donated 4,636,712 baht to the foundation through a Japanese “grass
roots” project set up to help women and children in developing
countries.
Most of the children coming to seek sanctuary at the
foundation were abandoned by their parents and families. Through the
provision of basic education and extra curricular activities, plus
training in areas such as dancing, foreign languages and arts, the
foundation functions to not only help these children, but also to prepare
them to enter public schools. So far, in the past 4 years the Foundation
of Life has been successful in helping 72 children enter public schools.
The foundation has also been running different projects
to help women and children who suffer from today’s social problems. For
instance, the Good Shepherd Sisters Center on Soi Bua Khao helps unwed
pregnant women and service girls, providing professional training so that
they are better able to help themselves and get ready for further
education.
Bishop
Tienchai Samarnchit, director of the Fountain of Life Foundation, cut the
ceremonial ribbon at the May 31 official opening of the new Fountain of
Life building on Pattaya Third Road.
Other programs in the foundation’s expanding social
work include Lady Leadership Training in Bangkok and upcountry; the
Regional Self-Help Center to provide professional training for women; and
the ‘Out Reach Project’ to help AIDS patients in Nong Kai Province.
The projects and activities run by the foundation have
made a large contribution to society, and are good examples of how the
government and private sectors can help each other try to solve today’s
social problems such as drugs, crime, prostitution, and teenage pregnancy.
In his opening speech at the new building, Bishop
Tienchai Samarnchit thanked everyone who had donated their time and money
to help construct the building. “With the new building,” he said,
“the foundation expects to provide more facilities in running its social
activities.” The Fountain of Life has gained support from many
organizations, including the Jesters Motorcycle Club, Pattaya
International Ladies Club, Pattaya Sports Club, Embassy of Japan, Rotary,
and others.
 Sister
Joan presented Lewis Underwood, charity activities organizer for the
Jesters Motorcycle Club, with a plaque of recognition for the club’s
continued support of the Fountain of Life.
Japan has donated 4,636,712 baht to the foundation, and
at the grand opening Tagashi Saito, ambassador of Japan to Thailand
expressed his admiration for the organization’s enthusiasm and hard work
in contributing to society. The financial support provided by the Japanese
government through the embassy is one of Japan’s “grass roots”
projects set up to help women and children in developing countries.
The Jesters MC, led by Lewis Underwood, charitable
activities organizer, has also given a great deal of support to the
foundation through many fund raising activities and the annual Care 4 Kids
charity drive.
Other organizations such as the PSC, PILC, led by
Laurence Fatus, and the Rotary Clubs in Pattaya have also donated time and
money to help provide facilities at the foundation, which include
activities rooms for children, a library, computers, canteen, and more.
Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, Father Bob
Suentens, Tagashi Saito, ambassador of Japan in Thailand; Chaen Chuensiva,
Banglamung district chief officer, representatives from Foster Wheeler
International Cooperation; and members of Jesters MC, PILC, Rotary and
Pattaya Sports Club were all at the grand opening.
Prisoners once again escape Pattaya jail during World Cup
One caught quickly, the other a while later
Vicharn Pladplueng
A tragedy of errors, some of which can be directly
traced to the World Cup being on TV at the time, led to the escape of two
prisoners from Pattaya jail.
Surasak Pongko-sang, 18 and, Noi Thasana, 23, took
advantage of World Cup fever to get a little taste of freedom. Surasak
only made it 100 meters away from the station and was quickly caught on
Soi 9, but Noi’s capture took just a bit longer.
At about 8 p.m. on May 31, deep into Senegal’s 1-0
upset of France in the opening match of World Cup 2002, Police Captain
Supoj Umnard-Munkong, an investigator at Pattaya police station, unable to
get any help from his World Cup watching police partners, decided to go
ahead and interrogate his prisoners alone. Whilst transferring them from
their holding cell to an interrogation room, the prisoners took advantage
of their two on one situation, broke out of their chains and made a break
for the rear exit of the police station.
Captain Supoj’s calls for help fell on deaf ears, as
the entire station was apparently riveted to the television set, watching
the exciting conclusion of the opening match.
Still on his own, Captain Supoj ran after the two and
managed to catch up with Surasak on Soi 9, just 100 meters away. Noi,
however, was a bit faster and managed to flee the scene.
After Captain Supoj had dragged Surasak back to his
holding cell, he sheepishly reported to his superior, Colonel Padungsak U-bekhanon
what had happened. By then the game must have already ended, for Colonel
Padungsak sent 100 officers out to look for the escaped prisoner. He also
reprimanded Captain Supoj for trying to interrogate the two prisoners
alone.
The 100-man posse searched every corner of the city,
but could not find Noi. Finally, at about 1 a.m., police received a call
from a concerned citizen in Naklua that a man with one wrist handcuffed
was loitering around Naklua Market.
Police rushed to the scene and did indeed spot him,
even though he tried his best to disguise his situation by keeping his
right hand planted in his pocket. The slippery character still managed to
run across Sukhumvit Road and evade capture, so more troops were called
in. With the increased manpower, police were finally able to corner him
and bring him back to jail.
Police Colonel Padungsak said he has set up a committee
to investigate Pol. Capt Supoj Umnard-Munkong for neglecting his duty and
allowing the prisoners to escape. It is police procedure to never have
less than two officers present during any interrogation.
Pol. Capt. Supoj Umnard-Munkong is training to become
chief inspector, which he was scheduled to complete in June.
A similar escape, manhunt and capture happened in
Pattaya during the last World Cup in 1998.
Ticket booth causes stir around South Pattaya pier
Blocking the way, ordered removed
Veerachai Somchart
The Rung Kiat Waree Co, Ltd. caused quite a stir around
Pattaya pier last week when they built a ticket booth at the entrance to
the pier. Commuters to Larn Island vehemently protested the booth, as they
said it blocked passage to the pier making it impossible to transport
goods, drinking water and food supplies to the island.
An
angry crowd gathered at South Pattaya pier last week to demonstrate the
construction of a ticket booth that they said blocked their way to the
pier. Since the company had only applied to the city to erect a sign and
not a booth, the mayor ordered the booth removed.
Ferry service operators gathered at the booth on May 30
to demonstrate against its construction, and seemed prepared to take
action when the mayor was called in to settle the dispute.
When Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and his officers
went to investigate the situation, they were greeted by a furious crowd
demanding the booth be removed.
The mayor did a little investigating and learned that
the company only applied for a license to erect a sign at the pier to
announce its boat schedule. Apparently there was nothing in the
application mentioning anything about erecting a ticket booth, so the
mayor ordered the booth removed.
The demonstrators were also angry that the company was
selling tickets to the island for only 20 baht per person. Many said they
couldn’t compete with such a low price and were losing business.
However, the demonstrators appeared satisfied with the
mayor’s decision to have the booth removed and the crowd eventually
dissolved.
Destitute couple gives away twin baby girls
No jobs, no money, no way to support their precious twins
Vichan Pladplueng
Saming Kaew Manee and Benjawan Sae Choo, both aged 24,
sired a set of beautiful twin girls on May 6. Although the day was the
happiest of their young lives, events soon turned tragic, as the couple
lost their jobs and eventually ran out of money, forcing them to beg on
the streets.
 Saming
and Benjawan, no longer able to support their baby twins, said a tearful
goodbye in front of Soi 10 when police and an official from a local
orphanage agreed to place them in the care of an orphanage.
At around 5 p.m. on May 25, police received a call that
the couple was begging in front of Soi 10 with their baby twin daughters,
and responded with an official from a local orphanage.
When the officials arrived at the scene Saming and
Benjawan were huddled in the middle of a crowd of mortified locals and
tourists and clinging to their tiny twins.
During questioning the couple revealed that they were
both out of work, having lost their jobs at a restaurant where they had
been employed until Benjawan got pregnant and delivered the twins on May
6th.
Broke and out of work they decided to give their twin
daughters away to anyone who would take care of them and could afford to
raise them.
They agreed to give up the babies to officials who
would then place them in the care of an orphanage.
Governor leads the way on Tobacco Free Sports Day 2002
New multipurpose square set up for exercise
Veerachai Somchart
Chonburi Governor Chadej Insawang led the way on
‘Challenge Day - Tobacco Free Day 2002’. An ex-smoker, the governor
led exercises and took part in sports activities on May 29, jointly
organized by the Chonburi Administration and the Sports Authority of
Thailand.
Governor Chadej also presided over the opening of a
multipurpose square in Chonburi to promote sports and exercise.
Chonburi
Governor Chadej Insawang officiated at the opening ceremony of this
year’s Tobacco Free Sports Day, leading citizens in exercises at the
province’s new multi-purpose square.
Governor Chadej admitted, “I smoked from the time I
was 18 until I was 45. All through those 27 smoking years, I felt that
smoking was not beneficial for me. Quite the contrary; I had become weaker
and the way it made me smell, I felt I looked disgusting in my wife and
children’s eyes. Now I have completely quit smoking for 10 years. I made
a decision and never turned back. After I quit it, I felt much healthier.
So, I would like to persuade those who still smoke to quit for the benefit
of your family and yourself.”
The objectives of the Sports Day activities were to
encourage Thai youths and citizens to play sports for the benefit of good
health, and to encourage them to quit smoking. The activities were held
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and included health checks, a sports and exercise
exhibition, running, and 5-player soccer.
The Chonburi administration also presented awards for
“The Triumph of Quitting Smoking” to those who could successfully quit
smoking. Classified by provincial and local administration level, the most
successful smoking quitters at each level were nominated to receive the
awards.
At the district level, the awards for the most
outstanding smoking quitters were won by Anek Pumrak from Muang District;
Mana Oraorn from Banbung District; and Chatchai Dednuwattanachai from
Sriracha District.
At the provincial level, the award was won by Pol. Col.
Noppadol Chaiyakit from Sattahip.
Business centers that have strictly followed the
Non-Smokers Protection Act also won prizes. The centers receiving these
awards were Big C Super Center Public Co, Ltd. (Pattaya branch); Central
Pattana Public Co, Ltd.; and Pacific Park Sriracha Department Store.
Thai President Food Co, Ltd. won the consolation prize
for having constantly and strictly organized activities to motivate
employees to quit smoking (under the ‘Ma Ma: Smoke Free Factory’
project).
May 31 was the World Health Organization (WHO) World
Tobacco Free Day.
Broken bearing at Pattaya Park Tower leaves tourist dangling 10-stories up
She passed out with fear before being rescued
Vichan Pladplueng
Twenty-three year old Suwannee Klairung from Ang-Thong
Province fainted with fear last week when a broken bearing at Pattaya Park
Tower left her dangling in the tower sling 10-stories above the ground.
It took technicians over 20 minutes to engage the
manual override as horrified friends watched. It took another 10 minutes
to safely get her to the ground.
 Suwannee
Klairung fainted with fear when a broken bearing at Pattaya Park Tower
left her dangling in the tower sling 10-stories above the ground.
Surapon Chareonsuppon, the managing director of the
Pattaya Park Hotel, said that the accident was caused by a ball bearing
cartridge breaking, which caused the whole system to automatically stop.
He said the machine does have a manual system for
safety reasons, which was put into effect during this crises. The reason
for the 30 minutes delay in bringing the woman to the ground, he said, was
that the engineering team wanted to take every precaution in ensuring her
safety.
The next morning, May 28, Mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat took city engineering department officials with him to
investigate the situation and found that the engineering team of the hotel
had already replaced all damaged parts and conducted a thorough check to
make sure it was up to required standards. Engineering staff rode the
sling to test it.
The mayor then ordered officials of the hotel to
provide him with a legal document from the engineering department of the
company that makes the machine to prove it is safe, and stressed that
engineers at the hotel should perform an annual check up. The mayor said
he will come to witness the annual check up.
 Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat took city engineering department officials with
him to investigate the situation and found that the engineering team of
the hotel had replaced all damaged parts.
Before anyone can ride the sling, or either of the
other two high-wire rides, he or she has to sign a waiver in both Thai and
English releasing the hotel from any liability for injury or death caused
by any type of accident on any of the three rides.
The victim, Suwannee Klairung, had come to Pattaya to
have a holiday with four friends. Her friends said that things started out
normally when Suwannee began her ride from the top of the tower, which is
about 170 meters from the ground. Unfortunately at the half-way point
things went horribly wrong when her ride stalled in the middle of the
line. She was stuck in the air, unable to get to the ground or return to
the starting point. Seeing her predicament, she fainted.
Thirty-minutes later when she was finally rescued, the
rescue team whisked her off to an ICU unit at Memorial Hospital.
Noppadol Buathong, general manager of the Pattaya Park
Hotel said that this is the first time anything like this has ever
happened. He said the Tower rides have been drawing a huge number of
tourists for over 5 years, and have never had a problem.
However, last October one of the elevators at the
Pattaya Park Beach Hotel dropped five stories when its overload system
malfunctioned. Seventeen passengers had squeezed into the elevator, which
is only rated to hold eleven. No one was seriously hurt, but all 17
suffered various minor injuries.
Supreme Command meets to discuss border town development projects
Suchada Tupchai
Chief of the Joint Operations Center for the Supreme
Command, Major General Aswin Panthunid opened proceedings for a meeting
here in Pattaya with over 100 people from various government and military
departments, including deputy governors from 30 provinces. The aim of the
meeting was to assess the range of success or failure of projects that
support and develop communities located on Thailand’s borders.
A project titled “Stability and Economic Development
for the Community” has drawn great interest from residents in the
villages situated near the borders. These communities are populated with
low-income families, as these areas have high unemployment and a lack of
business opportunities, which is aggravated by a history of cross-border
conflicts. Many people of working age and even entire families have
departed the region in search of work in more prosperous regions of the
country. Unfortunately, many of these displaced people are insufficiently
educated and migrate around the country as workers in the construction
industry.
The development projects implemented by the Supreme
Command, a branch of the Thai Defense department liaising with provincial
and local authorities, include providing basic education and vocational
training for residents in these communities. The various projects also
provide necessary infrastructure such as running water and electricity.
Major General Aswin said that number of positive
changes have occurred since the project inception. Under the policies of
the Ministry of Defense, headed by Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, life is
being restored to boarder communities. A great deal of cooperation and
assistance from community leaders and residents was forthcoming and by
targeting improvements in education, public health services and law
enforcement, they have even lowered the rate of skirmishes with
cross-border villages.
“It is encouraging to see positive results from these
projects. We will continue to monitor the progress and push ahead in the
years to come,” the major general said.
Koh Larn residents complain about trash incinerator delay
Want a faster response from Pattaya administrators
Suchada Tupchai
Residents on Koh Larn have complained to Pattaya
administrators that the delayed construction of the island’s trash
incinerator is causing students of nearby schools, local residents and
tourists much distress from the odor of accumulated waste. They said the
problem is escalating and they want a faster response from Pattaya city
hall.
The residents recently formed a committee, chaired by
Banchongsin Pansorn, and gathered for a formal meeting to discuss the
construction of the new trash incinerator and a wastewater treatment plant
on the island. Other pressing matters, such as placement of more street
lights and designating swimming areas were included on the agenda.
Residents also complained that the wastewater treatment
plant being constructed at Ta Waen Beach does not blend with the natural
environment and fear it will be an eye-sore. They suspect the technical
design is flawed and may not function efficiently. Dissenters at the
meeting have called for authorities to redesign it.
Improvements to Koh Larn are on the drawing board,
including increased law enforcement and measures for accident prevention.
However, the island lacks an adequate budget needed to implement the new
plans.
New anchorage areas to be enforced at Sriracha and Si Chang Island
Veerachai Somchart
Residents of Si Chang Island complain that careless
shipping activities near the island are causing environmental damage. They
said that cargo such as coal and cement are spilling into the sea, and
that something needs to be done.
The city management team’s solution is to divide
shipping areas used for transferring goods into three separate zones. The
first will be for big ships, the second zone for ships carrying dusty
goods such as sands, coal and cement, and the third area will be for oil
shipments. The city also plans to manage a special ship that would patrol
the area to clean up any spillage and keep the sea free from garbage.
To fund this plan, Chonburi Governor Chadej Insawang
said that it has become necessary to levy an environmental tax on tourists
visiting Koh Si Chang.
This tax is, however, opposed by the islanders. A team
led by Koh Si Chang District Officer Lerson Siripong has conducted a
general survey on the topic, and has deemed the tax unnecessary. But the
governor said the team might not have gathered adequate information, which
has led to their protest.
The issue was brought to the attention of Sonthaya
Khunpluem, the minister of Science, Technology and Environment, and will
be looked after by a committee appointed by the minister.
The committee will also be in charge of law enforcement
on the island and tasked to correct the chronic problems of poor waste
disposal and sea pollution. They will also administer the taxes collected
from tourists.
Governor Chadej said the revenue collected from the
taxes will be used to improve public facilities on the island. The project
is slated to begin next year.
Englishman thanks Buddhist amulets for surviving a shooting in South Pattaya
Armed robbers tried to make off with his gold chain
Boonlua Chatree
Englishman Gary Cooke gave thumbs up to reporters while
doctors at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital removed a bullet embedded his hip.
Cooke credited surviving his brush with death to the Buddhist amulets he
wears around his neck.
 Gary
Cooke gives the thumbs up while doctors remove the bullet lodged in his
upper thigh.
The shooting occurred last week in Soi Yensabai, South
Pattaya when Cooke was returning home from a night out with a friend.
Suddenly, two men, 20-25 years old forced Cooke to the side of the road
and demanded his half-baht gold chain.
Cooke refused to hand over the precious chain to the
youths and he told them they would have to shoot him first. That was not
the answer they were looking for.
Unfortunately the crooks took Cooke at his word. After
one youth fired a warning shot in the air, Cooke stubbornly held onto his
chain. Then the young brute shot him in the upper thigh and the bullet
lodged in the bone.
Cooke fell to the ground and screamed for help as the
youths fled. A passing motorcycle taxi driver who heard Cooke yelling sped
on to report the incident. Officers arrived at the scene to find Cooke
bleeding on the roadside. He was then taken to the hospital for treatment.
The cops radioed a unit to search for the culprits.
Innocent bystander shot by rampaging teen hooligans
Teens also shoot up police vehicle
Boonlua
Chatree
Apirak Pin-urai, 25, was rushed to Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his hand received while
standing in a public telephone booth on the morning of May 27th.
A teenage gang allegedly went on a shooting spree,
firing into a police station and police pick-up parked out front. A bullet
shattered the pick-up truck’s front windscreen.
 A
policeman points to the shattered windscreen of a police pick-up that had
been shot out by rampaging teens.
As police were inspecting the damaged police vehicle
they found a man about 20 meters away who had caught a stray bullet in the
hand.
Police later tracked down and arrested the driver of
the motorcycle on Jomtien Beach Road. The suspect was identified as
Boonsong Tripimol from Chumporn Province. Police confiscated his modified
motorbike, which had no plate number. Unfortunately the shooter continues
to avoid capture.
Pre-World Cup search for soccer hooligans in Pattaya turns up empty
Service girl says they’re hiding from the press
Boonlua Chatree
Maj. Gen. Sanit Meephan, commander of the Thai tourist
police, received a list from Interpol of 15 suspected soccer hooligans
believed to be in Thailand. The Japanese Embassy, plus the Swedish,
German, Belgian and English Interpol allegedly contributed to the list.
So, on the eve of the opening of the World Cup, the
commander, his deputy commander and superintendent led 200 officers on a
sweep through the night entertainment venues in Pattaya looking for the
suspects on the list. However, they apparently couldn’t find any
hooligans.
 Maj.
Gen. Sanit Meephan, commander of the Thai tourist police, visits with
football fans and media on his night out in Pattaya.
A service girl working at one of the bars visited
during the sweep said she hadn’t seen any hooligans for many days, and
offered her opinion that they were probably hiding from international
reporters who have converged on Pattaya looking for news about hooligans.
At the time, no mention was made as to whether the
suspects may have already found their way to the World Cup in Korea and/or
Japan, although it was reported recently that as many as nine suspected
hooligans have made it to one of the host countries, but were refused
entry.
Interpol (international police) revealed they have been
closely monitoring the 15 suspects, who they say can become violent when
cheering for their national teams, especially if their team loses.
Interpol said that these suspects have been known to cause riots, set fire
to shops and cars, and physically abuse the police and anyone cheering for
an opposing team.
Officials from host countries Korea and Japan told
police they believe all 15 are currently residing or doing businesses in
Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, or Krabi. Officials from the
Japanese Embassy related fears that these troublemakers might sneak into
their country and create problems, and asked Thai police to keep an eye on
them during the tournament.
Maj. Gen. Sanit said yet he cannot file any lawsuits
against the suspects, as they are legally holding tourist visas, but he
said they will be immediately jailed and blacklisted if they break the
law. He said that as of now, they aren’t blacklisted, but instead are on
what he called a “close watch list”.
Maj. Gen. Sanit asked that football fans in Pattaya
behave themselves and be sportsmanlike whether their teams win or lose. He
also warned non-violent fans to keep away from hooligans for their own
safety.
Largest IT center in the east opens in Sriracha
Suchada Tupchai
Comcity Sriracha was officially opened on June 1st,
presenting itself as the newest and biggest information technology (IT)
center on the Eastern Seaboard.
Sonthaya Khunpluem, minister of Science, Technology and
Environment who presided over the grand opening said, “Today people can
more easily obtain access to new information technology since it has been
effectively developed and become very cheap, especially in Chonburi, since
the Eastern Seaboard has become a hub of economics and education, and as
many professionals reside in the region.”
 Sonthaya
Khunpluem, minister of Science, Technology and Environment presided over
the grand opening.
At the grand opening, two other big IT centers opened
inside the building, IT City, the 7th branch of Thailand’s big IT
Superstores and EZ Art Center. Prof. Dr. Tienchai Sriwichit, chairman of
the executive board of IT City Co, Ltd. opened the IT superstores.
Ekachai Sirichirapattana, director of the company also
added, “We see a trend for future growth in IT superstores due to an
increase in the number of computer users every year, especially home PC
users. Also, the Internet has become very popular among Thais, resulting
in continuous growth in Thailand’s IT market. This year IT City will
increase its over 10-million baht investment on more than 8,000 IT
products, expanding branches into more provinces in order to absorb the
demands for IT products in Thailand.”
Surisak Tawan, executive board of EZ Art Eastern, Co,
Ltd. said, “We have imported computers and related equipment for sale in
Thailand, which have actually been on the Thai market for 3 months
already. We have had extremely good response from both sales and
customers. With our strategy of win-win solutions, EZ Art Eastern hopes to
target not only the market in Bangkok but also the provinces. With 18,000
square meters of space, this makes it the largest IT center in the
east.”
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