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Fastest buffalo
in the East
By Alisa Tang
Associated Press Writer
The jockey rides bareback astride the water buffalo’s
rump, slaps him with a switch and bumps along on his sprinting steed down a
130-meter (427-foot) strip. That’s if the buffalo cooperates.
Jockeys
battle for supremacy in the 131st annual traditional water buffalo races in
Chonburi last weekend. More on page 5. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Other buffaloes, perhaps happier wallowing around muddy
rice fields than stampeding down a race track, kick their hoofs in the dirt
at the starting line or buck their riders before they reach the finish.
All the while, a joking announcer excitedly narrates the
spectacle, poking fun at the lads who can’t stay aboard their hurtling
beasts.
Thousands of people Sunday flocked for this entertainment
in downtown Chonburi, 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of Bangkok, at the
131st annual water buffalo festival.
The day’s events, which also included a buffalo beauty
pageant, a Miss Farmer beauty contest and a comic buffalo costume contest,
perfectly exemplified a favored Thai attitude to life - “sanuk,” meaning
fun.
Adul Boran, a 39-year-old water buffalo jockey, has been
racing for 28 years for the good times associated with the unorthodox sport.
“I don’t get paid for it, but my friends and I get
together three days a week to train with our buffaloes just for fun,” he
said.
The festival was started as a social event for farmers
who gathered from around the country in Chonburi to trade their goods.
(Left)
One of the featured attractions was the “Most Beautiful Buffalo”
contest; one of the top entrants is shown here with an equally beautiful
mount.
“In the olden days, we used to race on farm
buffaloes,” said Bang Supapon, 75, who raced for 20 years until the 1970s.
“It would teach them to work faster in the fields.”
Later, farm work was mechanized, he said, but the
buffalo-running tradition con-
tinued. Now the buffaloes don’t have the extra burden of field labor.
“We raise the buffaloes just to race them. They don’t
work at all,” said Boonyeun Chamchap, as she stood under a tent with her
five racing animals to shield them from the scorching sun.
“Our fastest one cost us 80,000 baht (US$1,800). We
definitely don’t get our money’s worth, but we have a great time racing
them,” she said.
The day’s grand prize is 5,000 baht (US$114), while
runners-up win farm equipment.
Boonyeun, who also has buffaloes tilling the family sugar
cane fields, said farm buffaloes are much bigger than the racers because of
the strenuous work they must perform.
“None of the buffaloes that race today are farm buffaloes,” she said.
“Nowadays, farm buffaloes are in the beauty pageant.”
Residents on Soi 17 in South Pattaya call for speedy completion of road construction
Songklod Kaewvisit
Fed up with the mess and inconvenience of road
construction on Soi 17 and Soi Yensabai, residents and businesses are
demanding the contracting company finish its work as soon as possible.
Residents are angry at the delays and complain the construction is making it
difficult to gain access to their homes.
Unmarked
hazards are especially dangerous for motorcyclists after dark.
The project began in March of this year and is still not
completed. In addition to the mess and inconvenience critics point out the
area under construction is dangerous. The contractor has placed no warning
signs for vehicular traffic and pedestrians and the road is an impassable
mass of rubble. A number of motorcyclists have already been injured.
One resident on Soi Waraporn who sells food in the market
area near Day Night Plaza said, “It is almost impossible to navigate the
area with my push cart. I have to go the long way around and it’s a
complete waste of time and energy. All I want is for those responsible to
finish their work and leave as quickly as possible.”
Business operators in the area say their revenue has
decreased because of the messy road conditions and the inconvenience. They
complain that no one wants travel down the soi anymore.
According to the notice board the due date for completion
was September 11 at a total cost of almost 8 million baht. Not only has that
date come and gone, but the state of the project makes it obvious that it is
far from completion.
Residents are angry about the delays. The ongoing
construction is making their lives miserable and the lack of professionalism
has left them suspicious that even when the road is finished the contractor
will not clean up the mess.
They want the city engineering department to take responsibility to
ensure the project provides warning signs while work is still in progress
and make sure the road is completed without further delay.
Residents and tourists want beggars and obnoxious vendors removed so they can navigate the footpaths
A barrage of complaints has been pouring into City Hall
about vendors selling goods along Pattaya’s Beach Road and those blocking
traffic on Pattaya Land 1-2-3 and Soi Post Office. Beggars are also
soliciting in this area and residents and business operators want something
done about it. Even tourists are complaining to officials about the
nuisance.
In response, Niran Wattanasatsathorn, Pattaya’s deputy
mayor in charge of public welfare, led a team of 20 officials to inspect the
area. Niran admitted that his office has been flooded by pleas for help from
both residents and tourists who want the city to act on the problem.
People complained they cannot use the sidewalks because
vendors have taken over the space and set up tables, chairs and pushcarts.
Pedestrians are forced into the road and entrances to legitimate business
are blocked. Niran noted that there were also a lot of irresponsible
business owners who selfishly set their tables and chairs on the public
walkways all over the city. He said that people have a right to walk on city
footpaths and these obstructions make it impossible.
The inspection team detained a large number of beggars
and street vendors and confiscated their goods. Offenders were taken to the
police station and registered. Once registered, police who catch vendors
illegally obstructing footpaths will not be given a second chance.
City prepares to implement safety standards for boat operators
Council member says “no one checking for regulations compliance”
In a meeting at city hall last week, Deputy Mayor Niran
Wattanasatsathorn and city council members addressed the issue of safety
procedures for boat operators in the waters off Pattaya. The council had
already set up a committee to monitor the group to implement and enforce
safety procedures for boat owners and tour operators.
However, council member Sanit Boonmachai informed the
council that even though there are regulations pertaining to water safety
currently in place, there has been no effort by officials to check whether
anyone is following the regulations or if business operators are complying.
“If Pattaya were to experience a boating tragedy in the bay, we still
don’t have the proper equipment or trained personnel to cope with a major
accident,” he said.
Sanit went on to say, “The city is still missing
quality safety controls, and there is a lack of equipment and personnel
despite the fact that the city is supposed to have its own governing
authority under special legislation. There are still no effective standards
in place and if it continues it will destroy the future of tourism in the
area.”
In response, Petty Officer 1st Class Chalermchai Boonieam,
head of the of Coast Guard in charge of safety informed the meeting, “The
city is not sleeping on this issue. The mayor has already prepared a plan of
action to implement safety controls in the bay area. Every vessel must
register and request permission from the harbormaster to operate. As for the
lack of equipment, we’ve had equipment since 1980, which is still in use
but due for renewal. The local and central government have already approved
a budget allocation. By the end of the year, we will receive an additional 9
boats complete with the necessary equipment to ensure safety measures are in
place.”
Pattaya mayor inspects beach walkways
Finds that there is still room for improvement
Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat said that progress is now
visible along the refurbished walkways in Pattaya City and Jomtien Beach
areas. The new beautification plans are not yet complete, but enforcement of
order and tidiness along the beach is now noticeable.
The
mayor took his entourage out to inspect the walkways near the beach, and
found that there is still room for improvement.
In spite of some delays and disorganization from
construction contractors, the city’s firm stance encouraging vendors and
businesses to cooperate with new policies is producing results, the mayor
said. However, some beach vendors feel they are being treated unfairly and
not all completed work is up to standards.
Mayor Pairat recently led a group of city officials and
media to investigate the beach areas in front of Soi 12 and 13 after a group
of beach vendors complained of the injustice in not allowing them to operate
their businesses along the beach walkways.
Lo and behold, the inspection revealed construction work
in some sections is not acceptable. Inspectors also noted that some work is
still unfinished and workmanship is poor. The width of the pavement is not
uniform in some sections. A 2 meter wide area has been designated for the
walkway and some parts do not conform to specifications.
A few spaces allocated for beachgoers and leisure
activity are still being occupied by motorcycle taxis and vendors who force
pedestrians off the footpath and into the road, which sometimes causes
accidents.
The new pedestrian walkways are one of the many projects in the works to
improve life in Pattaya and Jomtien and make the beach areas more attractive
and user-friendly. More upgrades are planned and the mayor warned vendors
they will have to make way for more construction.
“Sea walking” tour companies get tenuous reprieve
Must coordinate with the standards set by the authorities
The Science and Technology Institute and Tourism
Authority of Thailand say that sea-walker companies can operate, but they
must coordinate with the standards set by the authorities.
Sutham Petchket, head of the Larn Island sub-district,
along with Pattaya City Hall administration officials and members recently
held a meeting to discuss the outcome of studies made regarding standards
for sea-walking activities and equipment used in the industry.
Suwanchai
Ritthirak (right), head of the Travel and Guide Registration Office,
Bangkok, and Manit Boonchim (left), director of the TAT Pattaya office
discuss the safety standards of local sea walking tours.
At the meeting held at City Hall on Oct. 5, Suwanchai
Ritthirak, head of the Travel and Guide Registration Office, Bangkok, said
as yet there is no governmental body to control business operators in
tourist destinations such as Pattaya.
Last year authorities introduced restrictions on
sea-walking activities since there could be some danger involved. They also
sued some sea-walker companies that were operating without regard to safety
standards, saying that some companies were providing extremely low standards
of service. These irresponsible operators used equipment that did not come
up to specifications and were risking human lives. The matter was brought to
the attention of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
TAT asked the Science and Technology Institute of
Thailand (STI) to examine the service standards of sea-walker companies in
Pattaya. STI acknowledged that sea-walking as an industry has growth
potential and could bring revenue into the Kingdom, but must be regulated.
STI stressed that this type of business cannot be allowed
to endanger the natural environment. It must be subject to high standards
and close monitoring by officials. Specifications of equipment must be of
international standard and carefully controlled.
There are a total of 9 sea-walking companies operating in
Pattaya. These companies usually take their clients to Larn and Saak Islands
to do sea-walking.
STI has asked for cooperation from Pattaya City Hall and all involved
officials to more thoroughly study the standard of services given to
tourists. The final report is being drafted and will be presented to TAT.
Region 2 police officers meet to discuss crime prevention
Donate money to the slain officer’s family
Boonlua Chatree
Concerned about the recent bombing of a tourist nightclub
on the Indonesian island of Bali, head of region 2 police, Pol. Lt. Gen.
Pakorn Sumpakij called a meeting of local officers to discuss necessary
precautions needed for crime prevention in the region.
Pol.
Lt. Gen. Pakorn Sumpakij presented a check for 1 million baht on behalf of
the Bank of Ayuthaya to Pol. Sgt. Maj. Songkitti Mannechote’s family. The
officer was slain while attempting to foil a bank robbery in August.
At the meeting, Mechai Wacharwong, assistant to general
manager of the Bank of Ayuthaya was present to hand over 1 million baht to
Panmanee Mannechote and her 3 children, the family of Pol. Sgt. Maj.
Songkitti Mannechote who was slain while attempting to foil the bank robbery
in the Bank of Ayuthaya’s South Pattaya Branch on August 30 this year.
Local government figures and high-ranking police officers
were also present for the ceremonial presentation to the family.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakorn addressed the recent bombing in
Bali, saying that not only did he admonish such actions but emphasized the
fact that all measures should be taken by regional and local authorities to
prevent such an event from occurring in Pattaya and the region.
Pakorn instructed each department to step up patrols and
watch the behavior of anyone under suspicion in order to protect the lives
of residents and tourists. He added entertainment venues will receive
particular attention. Any vehicles left unattended for any length of time in
such places will be observed with suspicion.
“Although an incident like this is unlikely in Pattaya
or elsewhere in Thailand, we must make plans to prevent terrorist acts on
Thai soil and have already called for assistance from the army to trace
suspicious characters both local and foreign. However, should an incident
such as that in Bali occur, timing and interdepartmental cooperation in
arranging evacuation procedures and facilitation of treating the injured
must be paramount,” said Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakorn.
“I don’t think Thailand is a target for these people but we must take
the necessary precautions regardless,” concluded the police chief.
Pattaya police committee meets to discuss Pattaya’s image as Sin City
Suchada Tupchai
Concerned about Pattaya’s image, especially since the
region has the honor of hosting thousands of young people from all over the
world during the World Scout Jamboree, a meeting was called to discuss the
issue of Pattaya’s image as a Sin City. The local committee in charge of
community and police affairs, a group of about 20 individuals including new
member Panga Vathanakul, managing director of Royal Cliff Beach Resort,
wants to eradicate the town’s reputation as sex city.
(L to
R) Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekkanon, Surat Mekavarakul, Pol. Lt. Col. Sakrapee
Preawphanit, Sopin Thappajug, and new committee member Panga Vathanakul
discuss how to change Pattaya’s reputation.
Held at the Pattaya police station, the agenda called for
ways to temper Pattaya’s unsavory image and shield children and families
who will be attending the Jamboree held from December 28th 2002 to January
7th 2003.
Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekkanon, who chaired the meeting
told committee members, “At present I suggest we look very closely at
entertainment nightspots frequented by tourists in Pattaya - a process which
already under process. Moreover we need to implement controls on those bars
and pubs that have staff outside trying to coerce customers into their
establishments, particularly on Beach Road. I suggest that only those staff
with a permit be allowed to do so as one method of control. We will require
street patrols and volunteer services to enforce this control
effectively.”
Pol. Lt. Col. Sakrapee Preawphanit added that he will
organize a meeting with business owners to facilitate understanding and gain
cooperation from them.
The authorities want to prepare measures to resolve this issue and be
ready to enforce the policies by December 28, the first day of the World
Scout Jamboree. If the new regulations are successful and improve the
overall image of the city they will continue to be enforced.
German national and a Cambodian boy arrested for engaging in illegal activities
German may face charges of pedophilia
Police arrested a German citizen named Kurt Earn Peo
Labafeldi (sic) aged 57, and a Cambodian boy at a hotel on Pratamnak Road in
South Pattaya while they were lying naked on a bed performing sex acts.
During a search of the room police found a used condom
and a tube of Vaseline on the floor.
The boy admitted to officers that he entered Thailand 2
months ago with a group of others who were aided by a Thai agent who
collected 3,000 baht from each of the illegal immigrants. Then the agent
brought him to Pattaya and dropped him off to fend for himself.
The Cambodian youngster told police he haunted the
Jomtien and Pattaya Beach area soliciting clients for sex, asking from
500-1,000 baht to perform services to foreigners. The boy had been staying
with Labafeldi for only 2 days when the cops burst in and arrested them. The
young boy told authorities he was over 18 years old but police intend to
verify the his legal age and will keep him in custody until then.
Meanwhile Labafeldi has been charged with harboring an
illegal immigrant and if authorities can prove the Cambodian boy is less
than 15 years old the German national will face charges of pedophilia.
Man arrested for waving around his gun, trying to impress women
Police not impressed
Boonlua Chatree
Montri Rachatinpan, aged 21, was arrested in Soi Sanam
Muay, near Soi Buakow after concerned residents reported to police that a
man was waving a gun around in the area, trying to impress the fairer sex.
 Montri
Rachatinpan was trying to impress the fairer sex by waiving around a .38
caliber pistol on Soi Sanam Muay, near Soi Buakow. Police weren’t
impressed.
Police rushed to the scene to find the man waving the gun
“without regard for safety” or attempt to hide it from anyone. Officers
immediately pounced on the man relieving him of his weapon before taking him
to the police station for questioning.
Montri admitted to holding the gun but claimed it
belonged to friend in Soi Nernplubwan and said that his friend, identified
as Aun, had given the unregistered 0.38 caliber pistol with no serial
number, to him for safe keeping in the event that someone might steal it and
use it for less than righteous motives. Police, however, failed see
Montri’s reasoning since he was proudly displaying his weapon in a public
place.
The man was charged with illegally carrying a weapon in a public place
and possession of a firearm without a license. Montri will now have to try
and impress the judge to try and get off lightly from the charges.
Locals give motorcycle thief a thrashing
Police come to thief’s rescue, then arrest him
Prasitichai Pothong, a 23-year-old Banglamung resident
received the beating of his life after he tried to steal a motorcycle from
the front of an entertainment venue on Pattaya Third Road, near Soi Jirapon
in the early hours of October 17.
Residents
who caught Prasitichai Pothong trying to steal Kwantong Chukaew’s
motorcycle wanted to prove that crime truly does not pay. It appears they
got their point across.
The owner of the bike, Kwantong Chukaew called for help
from residents as he spotted Prasitichai trying to steal his bike. In
response, 10 people chased the would-be thief beating him to the ground,
leaving the man with a split lip and bleeding until a passing police unit
arrived to take over the situation.
Police detained Prasitichai, who had worked in a bar in south Pattaya,
and took him to the station for further questioning away from the nasty mob.
Despite being battered and bruised police charged him with theft, placing
him in the safety of the Pattaya prison.
Police briefs
Local farmer killed by train
Last week Monday, a man identified as Sanan Mithanan, a
26-year-old farm worker, was tragically cut in half by a moving train as he
attempted to cross the tracks.
During an interview with the dead man’s co-worker,
Sompin Jamwong, investigating officers learned that Sanan worked in nearby
cassava fields. Sompin said that the deceased was a heavy drinker and Monday
was his day off.
Witnesses in the area said they had seen Sanan walking
along railway tracks in a drunken stupor. No one paid much attention until
the train blew its horn and they heard the sound of grinding metal as the
locomotive tried to stop. Unfortunately, Sanan was mangled under the wheels
of the train.
The remains were transferred to the Banglamung Hospital
for relatives to commence religious ceremonies.
Another police raid in South Pattaya results in 7 arrests for illegal
drug use
The crackdown on drug abuse in Pattaya continues with the
police crime prevention and suppression unit acting on information passed by
concerned residents. This time they swooped down on an entertainment venue
in Soi 17 in South Pattaya. Over 30 people were tested for drug use, 7 of
which tested positive for drug use. They were taken to Pattaya police
station and charged accordingly.
Pol. Lt. Col. Krit Seriprasertchok said, “There are a
number of locations in the city where police have information on drug
activity. We are investigating each and every report on users and dealers.
The Pattaya police are not standing still on the issue of drugs and we have
received a great deal of cooperation from the community that will ultimately
lead to the prosecution of offenders.”
Local residents can report suspicious activities to the
Pattaya police station by telephoning 038 420 802-5 at any time day or
night.
Woman arrested for stealing gold necklace says she copped the ornament to
help a friend
A local woman recently claimed she turned to theft to
help a friend in need. Pranone Muangkaewsikhao was arrested by police for
stealing a gold necklace from Duangrudee Jaronenporn during a visit to the
other woman’s apartment.
Police officers coordinated a search for the thief and
found her at a beer bar in South Pattaya showing off her newly acquired
trophy. Officers arrested her on the spot and took her to the station for
questioning.
During interrogation, Pranone confessed to taking the
necklace from Duangrudee when she had visited the woman’s apartment. She
waited until the other woman stepped out of the room and nicked the
necklace.
In her defense she said she was going to pawn the gold for cash to help a
pregnant friend who had no money to pay for hospitals and was soon to give
birth. But she was told the necklace was only 14K gold and could get no
money for it. Unmoved by her story police charged her with theft.
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