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Chonburi tax office wants local hypermarkets to pay VAT here
Large chains currently pay taxes only in Bangkok
During a formal meeting of provincial authorities,
Vichian Phuthivinyu, head of Chonburi’s taxation office said the tax
office has come up with 4 policies to induce international businesses
and/or supermarkets to pay the value added tax (VAT) at the local tax
office in Chonburi rather than letting the head branch pay in Bangkok.
Vichian said these big business branches are physically
located in Chonburi. “Our municipal and province budgets could use the
additional VAT revenue to support local infrastructure and community
projects,” he said.
Vichian added that some supermarkets have actually done
damage to the city, and should be responsible for it by paying taxes to
the local tax office in Chonburi and not in Bangkok where the tax money
does the local community no good.
According to Vichian, this matter was solved with Makro
Supermarket Chonburi and Big C Pattaya, but not for branches of other
multi-national chain stores.
His suggested four actions to
be taken toward resolving this issue are:
1. A letter will be sent to supermarkets concerned
asking for cooperation in submitting tax payment documents to the tax
office at their local area in Chonburi Province.
2. A request will be made for cooperation from
pertinent government offices in order to coordinate with Chonburi city
hall in rewriting tax laws.
3. Assurance will be given that Chonburi Province will
take responsibility for the tax collecting process in an effective and
fair manner.
4. Coordination with the Chonburi Industry Department,
Chonburi Department of Commerce, Economical Investment Center of East
Thailand, Chonburi Tax Office and its branches, the director of the Thai
Chamber of Commerce, and the director of Chonburi’s Industry Community
will build stronger motivation and relationships among the various
offices.
Pattaya Hygienic and Environment Bureau cleans up the beach
Children from Pattaya Schools 3, 7 and 8 lend a helping hand
Pattaya Hygienic and Environment Bureau recently
organized a beach cleanup from Central Road to South Pattaya. Children
from Pattaya Schools 3, 7 and 8 rolled up their sleeves and picked up
waste and debris along the seashore.
 School
children worked hard, but had fun doing it during the recent beach cleanup
project.
Locals and business people joined in the cleanup, which
is a continuation of a project begun last month. Thai children and members
of the community waited for low tides to clean up garbage and pick up
sharp stones and other objects which make wading near the shores a hazard.
Some shopkeepers even closed their businesses to join in the cleanup.
The youngsters really enjoyed this outing and were
delighted to be doing the community a well-needed service. They made some
extra pocket money, too. Collected waste was arranged in different
categories and could be exchanged for cash. Stones were worth 1 baht per
kilogram, wood and plastic sold for 2 baht per kilogram, and broken glass
and bottles were worth 3 baht a kilogram.
Drinking water was provided for everyone and although
the beachcombers were tired at the end of the day, everybody enjoyed the
event and were proud of the end result. The beach was clean and safe and
participants felt a sense of satisfaction from a job well done.
City’s less fortunate turn up en masse for city’s community service program
Receive free health check ups and necessities
Poor people living South Pattaya turned out en mass at the
Chaimongkol temple to receive free items and treatment from the city
administration as part of the city’s monthly service to needy residents.
Pattaya
city hall officials donated consumer goods to the city’s less fortunate
residents at Wat Chaimongkol.
The monthly community service program enables city
fathers to listen to issues raised by the less fortunate of the community as
well as provide much needed services such as free health check ups,
vaccinations, neutering of pets and donating day-to-day necessities.
Students from the Princess Sirindhorn Vocational College
happily provided free haircuts and city officials handed over consumer items
to those in need.
The large turnout in numbers is a sign of the times as
more and more local residents find it difficult to make ends meet. This
service provided by the city is one of the many projects initiated that aim
to address this problem.
Banglamung School holds “Fah Sai” (clear skies) anti-drug music contest
Secondary level students from Banglamung School held a
music contest called ‘Fah Sai’ (clear skies) Music Contest’ to
address the drug abuse issue. Popular DJ Tommy ‘Adisorn’ from Sunshine
Radio and 5 schoolteachers judged the competition.
 Banglamung
School kids competed for cash and prizes in the “Fah Sai” (clear
skies) anti-drug music contest.
Held on July 29 at the school’s multipurpose building
the event attracted a throng of interested students who were delighted to
participate in the activities.
The purpose of the event was to encourage students to
spend their time in a useful ways and develop unity among the students at
Banglamung School.
The competitions were divided into 2 categories:
Folksongs and full bands. Lyrics to music were to include anti-drug
messages.
The winner of the Folk Song category went to the Kanom
Thuay Ban Band, who got a cash price of 1,000 baht and the runners up were
the Wong Wien Band who received 500 baht.
Banglamung Center won the Full Band division, while
Cemetery finished runner up.
Rotary Organizations from USA and Thailand donate goods worth more than 1 million baht to support the “Huay Pong Home Project” Rayong
Laor Thongpradap
A fund-raiser arranged by Rotary organizations from the
United States and Thailand donated goods worth 1,125,000 baht to the
Eastern Child Welfare Protection Institution, also known as Huay Pong Home
Project in Rayong.
Led by Bruno Keller and Martin Brands from Rotary Club
Jomtien-Pattaya, contributions included 290 steel lockers for each of the
pupils, blankets and TVs. Donations for the vocational center such as
kitchen equipment, office equipment, megaphones, and items for the school
band and blood pressure meters were also provided.
(L to
R) Superintendent of the Huay Pong Home Preecha Jitbunjong, Rotary
sub-district governor of district 3340 (Region 3 Rayong) Natthakorn Lee,
president of the Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya Bruno Keller, Rotary Club
Jomtien-Pattaya international service director Martin Brands, Rayong
Provincial Social Welfare Inspector Phanita Kampoo Na Ayuthaya and Lewis
Underwood of the Jesters Pattaya all took part in a fund-raiser arranged
by Rotary organizations from the United States and Thailand that donated
goods worth 1,125,000 baht to the Eastern Child Welfare Protection
Institution, also known as Huay Pong Home Project in Rayong.
The Huang Pong Home project is carried out by the
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya. The official opening ceremony was held on
July 31 and presided by over by Department Inspector of Rayong Provincial
Social Welfare Inspector Phanita Kampoo Na Ayuthaya. Officials of the
department and members of social clubs that support the home attended the
ceremony.
Many socially active organizations contributed support
to this project including the British Community in Thailand Foundation for
the Needy. The Rayong Ladies Circle, which is currently involved in a
building maintenance repair program in conjunction with the Jesters Club
of Pattaya, led by Lewis Underwood, has been actively involved with the
Huay Pong Home for years.
Half of the 1,125,000 baht was raised by the Rotary
Club of Wilson and Rotary International (R.I.) District 7720 both from
North Carolina, USA, with the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and R.I
District 3340 from Northeastern Thailand and the Eastern Seaboard. The
other half was contributed by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary
International from worldwide donations received by Rotarians and other
contributors.
Superintendent of the Huay Pong Home Preecha Jitbunjong,
expressed his sincere gratitude in behalf of the residents of the home and
said that this was the largest donation ever received. He explained that
the home has been allocated a budget by the Thai government but the amount
is limited.
The Eastern Child Welfare Protection Institution comes
under the umbrella of the Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Labor
and Social Welfare. It is located in the Huey Pong community in Muang
District, Rayong Province. The facility has two compounds, one for girls
and one for boys. The institution houses children from a variety of
unfortunate backgrounds; broken homes, kids who’ve had brushes with the
law, orphans, abandoned children and those suffering from AIDS. The
institution receives these children from all over Thailand. The youngsters
are referred to them by provincial social welfare departments.
Huay Pong Home focuses on giving these children a
healthy and safe living environment. It also provides education, health
care and vocational training. Up to the age of 12 residents of the home
attend the institution’s primary school. After 12 they enter local
public schools in the area. Vocational training and job skills for the
boys include mechanics, welding, carpentry, upholstery and barbering.
Girls are trained as hairdressers and beauticians, dressmakers and are
taught various handicrafts. When young people turn 18 the Huey Pong Home
will assist in finding jobs for them in the community.
Superstar Capricorn’s offshore gambling raises a few eyebrows
Ruled OK, as gambling doesn’t happen in Thai waters
Gambling is not presently legal in Thailand, although its
legalization is a topic that surfaces every few years. Since it’s a
political football, it’s been kicked around a lot. The idea has recently
surfaced again due to statistics that show that the nation is losing revenue
to neighboring countries that allow gambling. The world-class cruise-ship
Capricorn, which is fitted with casino facilities, is the latest target of
controversy.
 The
Star Cruises’ Superstar Capricorn has recently come under the scrutiny of
the central government, but has been found to be operating within
regulations.
Arguments over Superstar Capricorn cruise ship’s casino
facilities have been making headlines in the national papers. The
government’s opposition party submitted a petition to Wan Mohammed Nor
Matha, Minister of Communications. The petition asked for an official
investigation into whether gambling activities on the cruise ship are taking
place inside the Kingdom’s territorial waters.
The lavish cruise ship was registered May 3, 2002, and is
authorized to provide a variety of first-class services, including a casino,
but the casino must not be opened when the ship is inside the 12 mile limit
from the Kingdom’s shore. Minors are also strictly barred from entering
the casino.
The casino can only legally open their doors to gamblers
when it is in international waters, which takes about 3-4 hours after the
ship sails. The marine police are allegedly watching the operation to make
sure the casino doesn’t open until the ship is outside Thai national
boundaries.
Governor Chadej Insawang said that the authorities have
sent undercover police on board to look for any illegal activities, and so
far have found the ship clear of any misconduct. He has reported his
findings to Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun.
Residents call attention to dangerous deserted building in Soi 5
Huge multi-storied building is deteriorating
Residents living on Soi 5 Beach Road have registered
complaints about a large abandoned building and the dangers it presents to
the area. Long deserted, the huge multi-storied building is deteriorating.
Pieces of concrete are falling into the street, and the heavy equipment
that was left during construction is rusting and falling apart.
Pedestrians are in danger of being hit by falling debris. Construction on
the building stopped through lack of funds and has been deserted for
nearly 10 years. People living in the area want something done about it.
 Abandoned
for a decade, this building on Soi 5 is beginning to deteriorate and local
residents want somebody to do something about it.
On July 26 the Government and Private Sector (G&PS)
committee held a meeting to find a solution to safeguard pedestrians from
accidents.
Sithiphap Muangkhum, director of Pattaya City’s
structural planning office said complaints over the fear of accidents in
the area were at one time dealt with by having the authorities remove some
of the more dangerous broken pieces of concrete or unstable parts of
equipment.
According to Sithiphap, the building contractors were
contacted and said they would be responsible for any damages if anything
happened. They asked for one year to deal with the situation. But
residents have been watching this abandoned building deteriorate for
nearly a decade and feel more decisive action should be taken.
The building contractor has submitted a paper asking
for official authorization of construction delays 5 times in the past 5
years. Still no protective measures have been taken to ensure the safety
of the residents’ lives and property. Not even a net has been installed
around the parameter of the building to prevent falling debris and protect
the lives and property of residents.
Chonburi Governor Chadej Insawang said the building
contract’s authorization paper issued by city hall could be permanently
seized.
Governor Chadej reminded the committee about an
incident in Nakorn Ratchasima Province about 10 years ago where a hotel in
the city collapsed and killed over a hundred people. After a hearing, the
city’s structural planning office director was found guilty of
dereliction of duty and received a jail sentence of 10 years.
Governor Chadej stated that likewise, if any accident
like this happens in Pattaya City, the involved government body would be
held be responsible.
City still plans to close the beach the last Wednesday of every month
But adopt “try it and see” approach
Pattaya City is following up on the latest plan to keep
order on the beaches. Vendors on Pattaya Beach have been requested to
refrain from selling along the beach on the last Wednesday of each month
in order for maintenance and clean-up crews to have full access to the
area.
 Pattaya’s
Deputy Mayor Niran Wattanasatsathorn led a group of city officers on an
inspection of Pattaya Beach and declared the result satisfactory and that
the beach was fairly neat and clean.
To make sure the plan goes smoothly, Pattaya’s Deputy
Mayor Niran Wattanasatsathorn led a group of city officers to inspect
Pattaya Beach’s present condition and to observe the business owners’
cooperation with the city authorities’ request.
The closure of the beach area to vendors on the last
Wednesday of every month is to promote a regular beach clean up to all
business people that have their shops, beach beds, and concessions
situated along the beach area. Reduced congestion one day a month will
make the job of keeping the beach and the walkway clean easier for
everyone involved.
The deputy mayor declared the result satisfactory and
that the beach was fairly neat and clean. There are still some objections
from local people who are fearful of losing income because of the one day
a month restriction. However, Deputy Mayor Niran said that most people
have consented to cooperate with the province’s policy.
Referring to lingering objections, the deputy mayor
said he wants to carry on with the plan for a few months to evaluate the
results and see if the policy is really working. If the results are
positive and the beach is cleaner and less chaotic, it will be easier to
convince dissenters who oppose the new order. However, if there is not a
noticeable improvement and income from vendors is seriously affected, the
city is willing to make some adjustments so that the negative impact is
less severe.
Local baht buses battle it out for passengers
Feuding between competing baht bus drivers culminated in flared tempers
and gunshots in Central Pattaya last week. The melee ended when Winai
Suparak was arrested in possession of a .38 caliber pistol with one round
still in the chamber and after firing two shots at a rival driver.
 Winai
Suparak (seated) was charged with possessing an unlicensed weapon,
carrying and firing a loaded weapon in a public place after he shot at a
rival baht bus driver during an argument about who should be first in the
queue.
The crime occurred at 10.30 p.m. on August 1 outside a
restaurant on Central Pattaya Road when Buan Rattanakaew went to take his
place in the queue of baht buses. Buan, who is legally registered to pick
up passengers in Pattaya was told leave the queue immediately by Winai.
Winai, who was illegally operating in Pattaya, as he
was only registered to pick up passengers from Sattahip to Naklua, began
abusing Buan. Unable to hold his temper, Buan exchanged blows with Winai,
who in turn pulled out a gun and squeezed off two shots before police
arrived on the scene.
Upon seeing police Winai threw away his gun and tried
to make a run for it; however, Pattaya’s local constabulary were quicker
afoot and managed to capture the gun-totting miscreant.
When police questioned Buan at the scene, he told them
that he was entitled to park in the queue legally and had done so daily.
However, he was told repeatedly to leave by a number other drivers from
the Rak Chonburi group, who used the queue illegally to pick up
passengers.
Unable take anymore abuse, Buan finally lost his temper
and struck Winai. Then Winai fired two shots at Buan, missing both times.
Buan told police that he did not want to press charges but instead wanted
all the illicit drivers to leave the area to those who had right of way.
The interrogation continued with Winai Suparak, who was
supposedly at the head of the queue at the Central Pattaya Road location.
Winai admitted to telling Buan to leave the queue saying he would not
allow drivers to park there. Winai said when he had told the other driver
to leave, the man attacked him and he fired his gun in self-defense.
Winai added that he had purchased the gun in Laos and
used it to protect himself when on the queue, as there were always
disputes in the queue between legal drivers and those who were not
registered to operate in the area.
Whilst Buan did not press charges, police did. Winai
Suparak was charged with possessing an unlicensed weapon, carrying and
firing a loaded weapon in a public place. He is now waiting for in a queue
for his day in court.
Police officer brutally beats motorcycle taxi driver during bout of road rage
Witnesses coming to his rescue told to “stay out of it”
Local motorcycle taxi driver Therdthai Romsakul
complained to police that he was brutally beaten by a police officer at
the entrance to Siam Country Club Road.
Therdthai, aged 25, told Pattaya police on July 31 that
he was riding along Sukhumvit Road, delivering a passenger to her
destination, when a speeding car tried to cut across in front of him to
enter Siam Country Club Road. Fearful of a dangerous collision, he hit his
breaks to avoid an accident. Unfortunately his breaking blocked the car
from going through. The angry motorist, a uniformed policeman, stopped his
car, got out and an argument ensued. The cop lost his temper and viciously
kicked and punched Therdthai.
 Therdthai,
friends and family complained that the young motorcycle taxi driver was
cruelly beaten by a uniformed officer in a bout of road rage.
A group of motorcyclists who stopped to see what was
going on were shocked at the policeman’s ferocity and came to
Therdthai’s rescue. The good Samaritans then took Therdthai to Pattaya
Memorial Hospital to have his facial wound treated.
While making out the police report, officers asked
Therdthai to come back to the police station the next day in order to
identify the policeman who attacked him. Therdthai returned at the
appointed time, but the cop never showed and Therdthai was told to go home
and someone would get back to him at a future time.
But surprisingly, that was not the end of the story.
When Therdthai went back to identify his attacker the
first time and the officer did not show, he felt this might be a signal
that he was being put off. The police officer was off duty and the
incident may not have been regarded as a police matter.
However, Therdthai’s father, Thonglor Romsakul was
adamant about pursuing the matter and wanted the accused, Pol. Sgt. Komsun
Nuamanong to face the consequences of his actions. Thonglor said that his
son was humiliated in front of other people. He said although his son’s
job was humble, Therdthai was making an honest living. He felt it unjust
that an officer of the law might get away with such a violent attack on an
innocent citizen. He stated that a peace officer’s duty was to protect
and serve.
Witnesses who saw the incident came forth and
identified Pol. Sgt. Komsun Nuamanong, a Pattaya court police officer, and
described how he had viciously beaten Therdthai Romsakul to the ground
despite pleas from them to stop. They told of how the officer refused to
listen and instead told them to “stay out of it.”
The officer, although working at the courts, is under
jurisdiction of the Pattaya police station and was ordered to police
headquarters to answer charges of assault and grievous bodily harm.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sakrapee Priewpanich, deputy chief of
Pattaya police said, “I will see that matter is resolved between the two
parties as quickly as possible.”
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