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HRH Princess Sirindhorn officially opens second Bio Thailand 2003 Fair
Bio Thailand 2003 showcases latest in biotech research at PEACH
Suchada Tupchai
HRH Princess Sirindhorn officially opened the second Bio Thailand 2003 Fair presenting the latest research in biotechnology in the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. As the princess arrived, organizers paid their respects before the official opening ceremonies. Once the formalities were over Princess Sirindhorn was given a tour of the fair.
HRH Princess Sirindhorn enjoyed visiting the many booths at the Bio Thailand 2003 Fair held last weekend at PEACH.
Held from July 17-19, this year’s ‘Bio Thailand 2003: Technology for life’ was organized by the National Center for genetic engineering and technology, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The first Bio Thailand was launched in 2001 in Bangkok as part of the Thai government’s strategy to promote biotech research and development and encourage collaboration with research/academic institutes and industries around the globe, as well as seek investment in the biotech industry.
PEACH was chosen for the second event because of its location and ability to hold the 5,000 people expected to visit the fair, which featured over 50 booths from new biotech companies in Thailand and from abroad.
During the 3-day event scientific symposiums were held on topics such as biotechnology in medicine, agriculture and PR campaigns to bring further awareness to the public on the importance of the industry. Bio Thailand 2003 also doubled as a trade exhibition with booths exhibiting products and applications within the biotech field.
Visitors to the fair ranged from the general public to corporate executives, academics and representatives of government departments responsible for technology transfer, infrastructure, SME promotion and international funds management.
A number of new projects were presented at Bio Thailand 2003 such as research from a scientist who created music from DNA coding and an enzyme that aids the absorption of iron from food and other forms of biodiversity and nanotechnology.
Dazzling tourism and culture
representatives visit Pattaya City
Beauty pageant winners impressed with city’s attractive beaches
Suchada Tupchai
Representatives of Thailand’s Tourism and Culture program, Suphinya Chayaputi, first runner-up of Miss Thailand 2003 and the winner of Miss Personality, and second runner-up Eakchitra Khammeesrisukh, paid an official visit to Pattaya City recently. The city’s mayor, his administration team and Hard Rock Hotel staff and local press were present to give the ladies a warm welcome.
After a long and tiring day, the ladies, Pattaya city administration officials and press all replenished their strength with dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel.
This year, all four ladies, including Chalisa Boonkrongtham, Miss Thailand 2003, and Chanida Sattabut, Miss People, were assigned to promote Thailand’s tourism and culture to Thais and foreigners throughout the kingdom and to neighboring countries. They will be promoting the many campaigns created by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, including the latest, “Unseen in Thailand”. Coming to Pattaya was one of their missions designed to endorse the tourism sector here.
Both representatives attended the Pattaya Marathon 2003 and took some time off to ride on a jet ski with the mayor. The ladies also enjoyed the artificial rock climbing at Hard Rock Hotel and other fun activities provided by the city.
After a long and tiring day, the ladies, Pattaya city administration officials and press all replenished their strength with dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Suphinya and Eakchitra both declared that Pattaya Beach is clean and beautiful and they promised to encourage more people to visit Pattaya, as it is one of the best holiday destinations in Thailand.
Tighten your belts, higher visa fees coming in August
Immigration service prices nearly quadrupling
Chief of Immigration Police Pol. Col. Somsak Senaweenin told Pattaya Mail this week that yes, it is true, fees for visas, visa extensions, re-entry permits, resident permits, in fact all immigration services will be going up significantly on August 26.
The application fee for a visa extension, for example, will nearly quadruple, going from the current 500 baht charge up to 1,900 baht. Although the increase at this level is not insignificant, the nearly quadrupling of immigration service fees escalates as the length of stay increases, and will hit especially hard people applying for resident permits. The fee to submit a resident permit application, currently 2,000 baht, will rise to 7,600 baht, and the fee for receiving a residence permit book will go from 50,000 to 191,400 baht.
Immigration Chief Pol. Col. Somsak Senaweenin announced that immigration service fees will be nearly quadrupling on August 26.
The increases are a result of a new Ministry of Interior regulation, signed by Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha.
Immigration services most commonly used by foreign visitors and residents will be provided under the following price structure: Single entry transit visa 800 baht, single entry tourist visa 1,000 baht, single entry non-immigrant visa 2,000 baht, multiple entry non-immigrant visa (for use within one year) 5,000 baht, application for visa extension 1,900 baht, application for a single re-entry permit 1,000 baht, application for a multiple re-entry permit 3,800 baht, application for a residence permit 7,600 baht, approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book) 191,400 baht, approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book) for a foreigner married to a Thai, the spouse of a resident, and any of their children who have not reached the status of a Thai juristic person (i.e., unmarried children aged below 20 years) 95,700 baht.
Pattaya’s Fitness Park receiving a major facelift
Chalermprakiat Gardens to become beautiful again by December
Suchada Tupchai
Pattaya’s Fitness Park on Pratamnak Hill is receiving a new look, courtesy of the city. The new project will beautify the park and provide much needed infrastructure enabling more convenient use without damaging the environment. New walkways, lighting, water supply and drainage are to be installed.
A young family sits by and watches while the construction company “works feverishly” to complete the park beautification project on time. Ok, so maybe it’s lunchtime...
The park, known officially as Chalermprakiat Gardens, is one of the city administration’s beautifying projects geared to provide facilities for residents and tourists to enjoy Mother Nature close to the city. The project will cost 21,830,000 baht and should be completed by December 5 this year in honor of HM the King’s birthday celebrations. Some areas have already been completed and the contracting company, Thaiwat Engineering Co. Ltd. is working feverishly to complete the work on time.
This popular park is regularly used by residents and tourists as a place for exercising and these improvements will enhance the park’s beauty and the city’s image as a tourist haven.
Volunteers and hygiene supervisors receive accolades
Mayor presents certificates of training completion
Songklod Kaewvisit
Initiated at the beginning of this year, almost 200 people signed up to participate in a basic healthcare and community hygiene training program set up by the city. Those who satisfactorily completed the course will now be more qualified to help keep their communities clean and healthy.
Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat chaired a certificate presentation last week at Pattaya City Hall. The fundamental healthcare division and cleaning training session was initiated in January to train people who were interested in improving their community’s hygiene. The program drew an enthusiastic response and training sessions took place once every month. But the course was demanding and high standards were set for participants. After the completion of the 7th training session in July, only 25 volunteers and 43 cleaners passed the test and they proudly accepted their certificates of qualification.
“Ever growing, Pattaya and its environs now cover 208.1 square kilometers, and it was difficult for the public health department personnel of Pattaya City Hall to thoroughly check the cleanliness and health condition of people in every corner of the city,” said Mayor Pairat.
Dongprai Suwantrai receives a certificate from the mayor. Dongprai satisfactorily completed a basic healthcare and community hygiene training program set up by the city.
The mayor stressed that disadvantaged and poor families are the largest group at risk of disease infection because they not only live in unhygienic conditions but don’t have the money to go to proper hospitals and clinics to receive the right medical treatment.
Mayor Pairat said, “To lend a helping hand to others is the greatest act of nobility. Now these volunteers can apply their newly learned skills in their own villages’ health care units and can take their rightful place by giving assistance.”
A group of women also registered to train for cleaning. Forty-three qualified women are now knowledgeable about hygiene and know how to use the right equipment for cleaning their workplace at their respective health care units.
These training sessions aimed at raising the people’s awareness of public hygiene. Those who passed the course will go back to their villages and share their knowledge with members of their community.
The Ministry of Public Health is intent on improving the health of all citizens and urges every municipality in the kingdom to respond by giving proper training to volunteers in the hope that health awareness will spread to every village and every household in the near future.
Tesco Company Ltd. submits information on underwater resources preservation project to improve Pattaya City
Suchada Tupchai
Earlier this year Pattaya City hired Tesco Company Limited, a private natural resource research company, to examine the underwater environment near Larn Island and the other three main islands in Pattaya Bay to see whether it would be feasible to set them up as major tourist attractions that would accommodate large underwater excursions and generate vast revenue for the region.
Tesco Company was contracted to draw up an underwater map to show current coral reef abundance and suitability for the area to be opened for underwater tourism. The company is also doing research on the short and long-term potential damage that may occur from tourism activities.
During the last meeting Tesco Company presented the map and presented the city with new specifications on buoys to be anchored into the seabed to designate the coral reef and seaweed area for diving.
According to the plan, white buoys would designate coral reefs and sea preservative areas. A gap of approximately 50 meters would be appointed for each buoy. Red buoys would show the anchoring area with a ten meters gap between each buoy. The buoys’ size was specified at 50 centimeters in diameter.
After submitting the information it was decided that Tesco Company needs to do more research on buoy placement since the city’s committee was not completely satisfied with the plan. The committee concluded that the natural pattern of Pattaya Beach is quite complex and the plan needs to be more flexible. The committee requested that the company present a more detailed proposal at the next meeting.
Mayor says he will clean up Soi 7 and 8 in central Pattaya
Residents complain both sois are noisy, dirty and overflowing with greedy and careless shop and bar owners
Last Friday, Pattaya City Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat and his crew went on an inspection tour of Soi 7 and Soi 8 in central Pattaya after residents and motorists complained that these roads have become very congested, noisy, and dirty over the last few years. The sois are now so cluttered that traffic can barely navigate through the narrow spaces.
The mayor and his entourage talk with local entrepreneurs in Soi 7 & 8. Many say the area has become overcrowded and dirty, and that the mayor should use his good influence to remedy the situation.
After the inspection the mayor told the press that he agreed there were some rapacious shop and bar owners in both streets that have selfishly put up their signboards, tables, and chairs in the public zones and footpaths. The mayor said he had personally asked them to remove the obstructions but unfortunately only some of the owners had cooperated. He conceded the roads’ condition had been long neglected and he and his team saw wastewater and garbage carelessly thrown into the streets.
One of the residents in Soi 8 said he has been living in the soi for some time and agreed the conditions are getting worse. He said many tourists had openly expressed disgust at the dirtiness and complained how difficult it was to walk along this area.
City administrators said that they would enforce the law on those who stubbornly invade public areas and ask the department of pubic health to clean up the streets and solve the wastewater treatment problem of the two sois.
21 members of the infamous ‘Oshi Gang’ arrested sporting guns, knives and a hand grenade
Complaints about noisy party lead to police raid
Boonlua Chatree
The infamous ‘Oshi Gang’ known to terrorize residents, teenagers and known for gang rape, had 21 of their members captured and arrested in the area of Na-Jomtien after creating too much noise at a party.
Members of the navy, police and local administration surveyed the area in which the party was held after residents complained of excessive noise at 2 a.m.
During the raid, police found 21 youths aged 14 to 30 sitting and drinking at a house in Na-Jomtien. Police detained all 21 individuals after finding 2 pistols, a hunting knife, a pair of brass knuckles and a MK2 hand grenade.
Twenty-one members of the infamous Oshi gang were arrested last week in Jomtien.
Of the group one man owned up to owning the .32 caliber pistol with three rounds of ammunition. A 14 year old confessed to possessing the hunting knife but no one admitted to being the owner of the Chinese-made hand grenade.
Police received a double bonus when they discovered 17-year-old Montri Huayyai among the group. Montri had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with the gang rape of a 16-year-old technical college student earlier this year, during which 12 members of the Oshi gang kidnapped the girl at gunpoint and raped her in nearby bush land before fleeing the scene. Other gang members were previously captured and charged with the rape.
All 21 detainees were charged with illegal possession of military weapons and possession of loaded weapons. All were detained pending further court action.
The Oshi gang has members in the Sattahip, Banglamung, Pattaya and Nongprue districts and frequently commits violent acts against other youths and residents. The gang itself is comprised of mostly teenagers and has been a menace to society for a number of years. As members reach a certain age they are either caught and jailed or simply flee the district to avoid capture.
There are many more youths joining this gang on a regular basis, and although 21 of its members now face jail terms, the gang’s numbers are only slightly diminished.
Middle Eastern thieves make off with nearly 2 million baht in gold and cash after breaking into a vehicle, but missed the 8 million jackpot
Police confident in making an arrest
Boonlua Chatree
Local crime suppression and foreign crime suppression police units were called to a location in Soi 17, South Pattaya at 10 p.m. last Friday evening following the report of a vehicle break-in.
The thieves were described by witnesses as foreigners of Middle Eastern origin who used a skeleton key to gain access to a van owned by Sompong Sunsomkol, owner of a gold shop and factory in Bangkok. The culprits stole 1 out of 5 bags containing 316 grams of gold and 144,000 baht in cash totaling 1,944,000 baht. But the ‘perps’ missed the real jackpot since the other 4 bags contained 8 million baht worth of gold.
Leading the investigation, Pattaya police superintendent, Pol. Col. Kamolchai Tienrungroj told subordinates to question witnesses near the scene of the crime, located at the entrance of the Hollywood Disco in South Pattaya. Witnesses told officers that they saw three men parked a bronze-colored car approximately 15 meters from the parked van. The men got out of the car, walked up to the van and opened the driver’s door using a key. They snatched one bag out of the van, jumped back in their car and sped off.
Fingerprints were dusted from the van as evidence. Based on the description of the vehicle, officers traced it to a rental company which will provide more information to the men’s identities. Immigration police and local criminal investigation officers are confident in making a speedy arrest.
Thieves and pawnshop owners arrested with hundreds of stolen mobile phones
Boonlua Chatree
Do residents ever wonder where all our stolen mobile telephones end up? Last Friday at a press conference in Pattaya’s police station, officers announced the arrest and identities of two thieves and some illegal pawnshop owners. The two thieves were identified as Chittiwat Ruen-arom, and Somkiat Sampaongern, both 24 years old, and Naklua residents.
Robbers and fences were brought in to answer for their heinous crimes.
Police arrested the men after they stole a mobile phone and shoulder bag near an entertainment venue in North Pattaya. Confessing to their crime they said they have been stealing phones from people around Pattaya for some time and sold them to second-hand goods sellers in the Grand Hall Market.
Police also arrested the pawnshop operators and charged them with possession and sale of stolen goods. One hundred and fourteen mobile phones were confiscated from the pawnshops. The criminals told police that they spent their ill-gotten gains in local entertainment venues in town.
Two young women die in fatal motorbike accident with cement truck
Fiery crash might have been triggered by drunk driving
Boonlua Chatree
Earlier this week two young women died when they collided with a cement truck in Jomtien. The force of the collision ignited the motorbike on which the two women riding.
Police and Sawang Boriboon personnel were called to the accident scene in Jomtien at 9 p.m. last weekend. Arriving at the location they discovered the bodies of two young women, one was later identified as 17 year old Sararat Norasawat. The pair had been drinking heavily prior to the accident.
Witnesses told police they saw the two girls weaving on the road with one of the women carrying a bottle of whisky in her hand which both were drinking as they rode along. They weaved in out of traffic before crashing into the cement truck. The force of the collision ignited the motorbike causing it to explode. The pillion passenger was thrown from the bike. The cement truck driver fled the scene shortly after.
Both bodies were taken to the Banglamung hospital for an autopsy report. Police are still looking for the driver of the cement truck to supply more information.
Police officer expelled from force for allegedly spilling coffee on his superior
Does the punishment fit the crime? Not hardly...
Boonlua Chatree
Pol. Sgt. Khunthong U-Ngern was summoned to report to his superior on an investigative matter. During the interview Pol. Sgt. Khunthong U-Ngern accidentally knocked over his cup, spilling coffee onto some documents.
This irked the superior officer to the point that he made a complaint at the Banglamung police station, claiming that Pol. Sgt. Khunthong intentionally splashed coffee onto his clothes. He claimed that it was a deliberate show of disrespect to a senior officer. After some investigation, Banglamung police refused to accept the charge.
The superior police officer was not satisfied with this refusal and took the matter to a higher level in the police department. This resulted in the dismissal of Pol. Sgt. Khunthong from the police force.
Reporters who were present at the interview are rather confused as to why such drastic action was taken over such a small matter as spilling coffee on some papers. We wonder whether there is any hidden agenda to this incident.
Pol. Sgt. Khunthong is well known in the community as an honest and dedicated police officer and has performed his duties with distinction. We sometimes wonder how the police department operates in defining the qualities of their officers. There are good cops and there are bad cops. We only wish that the higher authorities in the police department would come down to investigate the truth about incidents such as this, so that good police officers may perform their duties without fear of persecution.
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