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Over 1,000 people attend ceremonies to
commemorate the 100th day of Father Ray’s passing
Statue of beloved priest unveiled amidst praise and tears
Suchada
Tupchai
Over 1,000 adults and children attended the 100th day
ceremonies to commemorate the passing of Pattaya’s most beloved Catholic
priest, Father Ray Brennan, who passed away on August 16 this year.
 An
evening mass was held to commemorate 100 days of Father Ray’s passing.
Held on the grounds of the Pattaya Orphanage on Sunday
November 23, banners and tributes placed throughout the grounds held the
theme of the of day, “Father Raymond A. Brennan - No greater love has a
man who dedicated his life to others”. Children from all five projects,
teachers, nun, priests and residents paid their respects to a man who had
helped thousands in his lifetime.
 A
candlelight procession began the evening mass.
Bishop Tienchai Samajit presided over the opening
ceremonies and held a mass which included the history of father Ray’s
life.
During the emotionally charged gathering, a statue of
Father Ray was unveiled. The statue was created by Ajarn Prawat Raksiam, one
of Thailand’s leading sculptors, and was funded solely by donations that
poured into the Orphanage for this purpose.
 Wreaths
of flowers were placed at the base of the new Father Ray memorial statue.
Former students and orphans from the Orphanage, as well
current students in the Orphanage’s Schools for the Deaf, the Blind, and
the Street Kids project, all contributed to this memorial for their
“Father”.
All who attended laid wreaths and flowers to honor the man who gave so
much to improve the lives of others. Father Ray now lies in eternal peace in
the very place where his heart belonged - forever close to his children.
Children,
teachers, staff and residents paid their respects to their Father.
Prime Minister Taksin
predicts increase in GDP
PM highlights closing ceremonies of National Chamber of Commerce meeting in Pattaya
Staff reporters
Prime Minster Taksin Shinawatra forecast an increase in
Gross Domestic Production (GDP) up to 8 percent next year, when he addressed
the closing ceremonies of the 21st National Chamber of Commerce meeting at
the Ambassador City Hotel Jomtien on Sunday November 23.
 The
prime minister told members at the National Chamber of Commerce annual
meeting, “Our budget surplus has risen from 31 billion US dollars to 41
billion ... Thailand has paid off the IMF loan and a further 70 billion in
foreign debt...”
The PM was the special guest of honor as he spoke to
nation’s business community.
Prime Minister
Taksin predicted GDP would increase up to 8%.
During his speech the prime minister said, “The Thai
economy has changed significantly. During the ’97 crash there were 10
million poor in the country; now that number has been reduced to 7.8
million. Our budget surplus has also risen from 31 billion US dollars to 41
billion and Thailand has paid off the IMF loan and a further 70 billion in
foreign debts, with only 51 billion remaining.
“This year’s forecast GDP has been maintained at a
solid 6 percent and our goal is to increase that to over 8 percent next year
... To achieve that goal the government intends to increase support in the
agricultural and service industries,” Thaksin said.
During the weekend meeting the issue of transport
logistics was discussed with emphasis put on changing the bureaucracy to
improve the overall situation.
The national chamber of commerce meeting called for a
reduction in bureaucracy and focus on improving national exports in cluster
markets including the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) projects, tourist
services, and reinforce upcoming markets in fashion, gems, leather and
textiles, as well as the fishing industries currently paving the way to
domestic economic growth through exports.
The National Chamber of Commerce holds annual meetings for the provincial
branches, which includes many of the country’s top business leaders. The
National Chamber is also celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Banglamung officials ring bell to toll an end to narcotics in the region
Citizens asked to help keep communities drug free
Suchada Tupchai
Banglamung officials are continuing their campaign in the war
against narcotics. The latest campaign, which began at the beginning of October,
and ends before HM the King’s birthday, is a final push to eradicate drugs
from every corner of the country.
 Hundreds
of local officials gathered at the Banglamung District Office to vow to continue
the war on drugs.
On Thursday afternoon, Surapol Tiensuwan, Banglamung district
chief headed up the final drive by calling droves of district officials, police,
crime prevention volunteers and residents to attend a ceremony at the Banglamung
district office.
Surapol said, “We must rid our society of this menace once
and for all. Under the directions of the central government we must succeed in
doing so for the honor of His Majesty.”
The national war on drugs had drawn criticism for the harsh tactics in
February where over 1,000 suspected dealers were found dead around the nation.
However, the initial tactics worked and reduction has been apparent. The change
in focus now is to place some of the responsibility on the general populace.
Ordinary citizens are being asked to remain vigilant and help authorities to
control the problem by informing officials on buyers and sellers of narcotics.
400 staff and customers were tested for drug use last week, and 396 passed the test.
Boonlua Chatree
Law enforcement officers are finding the renewed drive
against drug use and trafficking is starting to pay off. More than 60 police
and Banglamung officers recently inspected over 40 venues in South Pattaya
where they tested over 400 staff and customers on the premises.
Only four tested positive, and all four were discovered working in one of
the many bars in the notorious Sunee Plaza area. The four offenders, aged
between 17 and 20, were charged with use of class 1 illegal drug use after
results showed traces of methamphetamine.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort hosts seminar on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in tourism
The Royal Cliff Beach Resort hosted a training/information
seminar on Implementation of the Code of Conduct (CC) for the Protection of
Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The seminar was jointly
organized by ECPAT International and the Institute for Integrative Tourism and
Development (also known as Respect).
 Austrian
Ambassador to Thailand, His Excellency Dr. Herbert Traxl (center), Respect
project manager Astrid Winkler (2nd from left), general manager of the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort Alexander Haeusler (right), resident manager of the Royal
Cliff Grand Ranjith Chandrasiri (left) and other seminar participants.
Director of the Tourism Service Development Bureau, Ms.
Niramol Pliencharoon was on hand to open the event, and a special honorary
guest, His Excellency Dr. Herbert Traxl, Austrian Ambassador to Thailand, also
graced the occasion to show his support for this important issue.
ECPAT International is a global network dedicated to
eliminating the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or CSEC. It
currently comprises 71 groups in 62 countries. The international secretariat is
based in Bangkok, Thailand. Respect is a professional non-profit association and
service office of the Austrian development cooperation, which makes a strong
stand for responsible and sustainable tourism, especially in developing
countries.
Thief stabs Norwegian tourist during mugging attempt in Jomtien restaurant
Foreigner fights back to keep his valuables
Boonlua Chatree
A young thief stabbed a Norwegian tourist after the
tourist refused to give up his bag to the thug. Police were called to a
restaurant on Jomtien Beach Road at 9.30 p.m. on November 18 after staff
reported the crime. Officers arrived on the scene to find 47 year old Kennen
Huagen (sic), writhing in pain from a stab wound to right upper chest. The
restaurant owner, Praiwan Chaiysant, age 39, was also stabbed in the chest.
Both victims were immediately transferred to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
for treatment.
 Kennen
lays on a hospital gurney, recovering from his wounds after a mugger stabbed
him during a robbery attempt.
Restaurant staff described the incident saying apparently Kennen had
placed his bag on the table while he was eating dinner in the restaurant.
The bag contained his wallet and other important items. Suddenly a Thai man
appeared from nowhere and attempted to make off with the bag, but Kennen
refused to give up his property and a tussle ensued. Trying to gain the
upper hand, the thief produced a knife and stabbed the tourist. When
restaurant owner Praiwan screamed for help, the thief stabbed her and made
his getaway, empty handed. The would-be thief remains at large.
Thief runs amok in South Pattaya apartment block
Rape and pillage on his agenda
Pattaya police were called to an apartment block earlier this week after
receiving a report that someone had broken into 13 apartments and stolen a
large amount of valuables from rented rooms. Police arrived on the scene
where they were met by Jakra Srihad and his younger sister. The pair
reported the crime after discovering that the thief had used a crowbar to
gain entry into the apartments.
Police began a search of the building and discovered a
woman tied up and naked on the bed in one of the rooms. The thief had tied
her up and raped her before clearing the room of valuables. Police untied
her and spoke with her after she got dressed.
The woman, identified only as Kwanjai, age 20, told
officers that she was soundly sleeping off the previous night’s
overindulgence when the man broke into her room. He pulled out a knife and
threatened her to remain silent before tying her up and raping her. After he
finished violating her, he then ransacked the room stealing 1,000 baht in
cash and other items before leaving. She described the man as Thai in his
late 20’s to early 30’s. Other rooms were unoccupied as the remaining
tenants had already gone to work.
The apartment block owner told police that she also had
been victimized. Just two months ago some one had broken into the apartments
and she personally lost over 100,000 baht in cash and jewelry. She added
that this was not the first time such a break-in had happened and as such
she was losing revenue because of frightened tenants. She said that after
each incident a formal police report was made but local officers had failed
to produce any results.
Criminal investigation officers dusted for fingerprints
and collected further evidence in the case.
Two men arrested for brutal murder of Dutch national
Mutilated corpse found in Banglamung rubbish dump
Boonlua Chatree
Two men, including a municipal official, have been
arrested and charged with the brutal murder of Jules Marcel Nicol Odekerken,
a Dutch News agent and freelance reporter.
 Confessed
murderer Seksan Pornhommana reenacts the crime for police.
The body of Jules Marcel Nicol Odekerken, 46, was found
early Monday morning on November 17 in a rubbish bin behind Bavaria Village
in Banglamung. The victim, almost unrecognizable, had been strangled, shot
in the back and a large concrete post had been slammed on top of the body,
disfiguring most facial features.
Later that day police found the dead man’s bloodstained
vehicle on Sukhumvit Road near Central Pattaya. The car was taken to
Banglamung police station where forensic teams went through it looking for
clues.
 Anupong
Suthithani, a municipal public works officer in the southern province of
Chumporn, denied the charges, but evidence against him is piling up.
Regional police officials became involved after receiving
news of the brutal crime. The dead man’s wife, Malissa Pornhommana, her
brother, Seksan Pornhommana, and two of their friends were brought in for an
interview. They were released but were told not to leave the area.
Following an all night interrogation, Seksan Pornhommana
eventually confessed to the crime saying that the instigator was a man by
the name of Anupong Suthithani, a municipal public works officer in the
southern province of Chumporn. A warrant for the arrest of Anupong aka
‘Daeng’ was immediately issued and he was arrested at his office in
Chumporn on November 18 and extradited to Pattaya for questioning.
On Wednesday November 19, Seksan re-enacted the crime and
described how he and Anupong strangled the foreigner and transported the
body by car to the garbage site. Anupong told police that he agreed to help
the municipal officer after ‘Daeng’ had helped clear him of a theft
charge in the province of Suratthani a few years ago.
Through a re-enactment of the slaying, Seksan told police
how they strangled the man as Anupong drove the car to the dumpsite.
However, when Odekerken regained his senses, the foreigner was shot in the
back, tossed into the rubbish tip and a large concrete block was dropped on
the victim’s head. The car was subsequently abandoned on Sukhumvit Road,
near Central Pattaya.
Anupong denied any involvement in the killing; however,
he did say that he had stayed at the residence over the Loy Krathong
festival to watch the long boat races before flying back to Chumporn for
work. Investigating officers say that although he is within his rights to
deny the charges, they have enough evidence for a conviction. Anupong has
been detained and refused bail.
Seksan explained to police that since Anupong’s
involvement in clearing his previous criminal case, the man had become fond
of his sister and he suspected that they were lovers. Officers also suspect
that another motive for the attack was the fact that Odekerken had a large
amount of assets and two life insurance policies in Thailand and abroad,
estimated at a total value of around 200 million baht.
The plot thickened as Anupong continued to maintain his
innocence, claiming that he did not know the dead man or his wife. Those
close to the Malissa Pornhommana told investigating officers a different
story, saying that Daeng had a child with Malissa a number of years ago and
that he had also threatened to kill her if she did not hand over money and a
vehicle.
Police called in on Malissa, Odekerken’s legal wife who
told police that the story was in fact true and that Daeng had threatened to
kill her in the past. Officers confiscated photos of the pair together as
further evidence after which she went into hiding fearing reprisals from
Daeng’s dark influences.
The two men have been charged with first-degree murder
and if found guilty, they could be sentenced to death.
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