|
Pattaya Bay improvement project requires further EIA study
Land reclamation plan to widen South Pattaya Beach
Suchada Tupchai
What South Pattaya Beach would look like, should the
proposed land reclamation happen, began to come into focus last week.
Representatives from the Associated Development Consultant Corporation Ltd (ASDECON)
presented city hall with their proposal, complete with an artist’s sketch of
what South Pattaya Beach could look like in the future.
 Representatives
from Associated Development Consultant Corporation Ltd (ASDECON) met with city
administrators to discuss their study.
The plans include a 40-meter wide beachfront from Walking
Street to Bali Hai, complete with public park, a lighthouse and clock tower. In
the sketch, however, the infamous 101 businesses that now reside in that area
appear to have been replaced by a series of boat docks.
 An
artist’s rendering of what South Pattaya Beach would look like should the
land reclamation project ever reach fruition.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the extension of
the South Pattaya beachfront still needs to be carried out, according to the
consulting company representatives who met with administrators at city hall
last week.
The intended project, which will reclaim land in South
Pattaya where the infamous 101 businesses lay, is now in it early stages but
initial studies as to the long-term environmental effects are inconclusive and
require further research, in accordance with 1992 government legislation. Other
factors include contract tenders and overall pricing structures.
At the meeting it was revealed that the current encroachment
of buildings is still cause for major concern and the present environmental
conditions in South Pattaya are quite bad.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn told the meeting, “This is one of the
larger projects in Pattaya and as such requires a consulting company to
investigate all aspects of it. Our aim is to provide the greatest benefit to
the city and its residents with minimal impact on the environment and society.
More importantly, it is the general public, who receives the greatest benefit,
who must offer their opinions as part of the study process.”
Sukhumvit to receive traffic light sensors
Pattaya traffic plans hatched at city hall
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
All major intersections on Sukhumvit Road will have
sensors installed within the year, the mayor revealed during a meeting on
Pattaya’s traffic problems held at City Hall.
 Pol.
Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya traffic superintendent, proposes the
Dolphin Roundabout be closed off to south-bound traffic during peak times to
ease traffic flow.
Mayor Niran explained, “The new 25 million baht traffic
sensors will be installed at the intersections of North, Central and South
Pattaya and Thepprasit roads. The system is computer controlled and allows
traffic lights to change according to load.”
The project is aimed at reducing major traffic snarls on
Sukhumvit Road and will be completely automatic. It comes as the local
government attempts to implement infrastructure development plans.
Pattaya traffic problems have shown a marked increase in
recent months and city officials and police discussed the options to solve
the issue.
The mayor added the he had noticed an increase in the
number of cars on the road, particularly at the Dolphin Roundabout, central
and south Pattaya intersections.
Suggestions were made to change the flow of traffic on
Pattaya Second Road down to Central Pattaya but the plan received vigorous
opposition. It was agreed, instead, that the Dolphin Roundabout be closed
off to south-bound traffic during peak times.
Excluding the potential of a microbus service, the idea of banning large
vehicles inside the city was raised, but it was agreed such action requires
further study over the next five to six months.
Work safety practices addressed at provincial electrical authority training seminar
Safety first
Decha Chalermyart
Back to basics and practical safety habits were the main
aims at a Provincial Electrical Authority training seminar last week.
Electricians and sub-contractors for the authority were in attendance to
improve their safety record.
 Pairat
Petchroj, service and engineering director, Provincial Electrical Authority,
Region 2 presided over the seminar opening.
The Provincial Electrical Authority, Region 2 organized the training
session to boost work safety by offering theoretical and realistic
maintenance, first aid, as well as legal advice for supervisors in the
construction industry, which employs over 1,200 people. This was the first
of three major training seminars scheduled to take place over the next
month.
Provincial auditors inspect new Pattaya call center
Time to check the bookkeeping
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Government transparency increased in Pattaya last week as
Chonburi financial auditors inspected Pattaya’s new 1 million baht Call
Center. Pattaya City and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects were
reviewed to see where the budget allowance had gone.
 Pichet
Trakunkanjan (right), Region 7 auditor inspects Pattaya’s new Call Center
to assess if the budget allowance was spent correctly.
Pichet Trakunkanjan, Region 7 auditor was met by Wirat
Khakahi, deputy Pattaya mayor and Niti Kongrut, TAT Central Region 3
director at city hall.
Pichet said, “The government system must be transparent
and auditors must be able to examine each case to see if the money is going
where it is supposed to and the investment is worthwhile.”
During the audit, nothing appeared out of place.
The Call Center, aimed at providing valuable tourist information, was
recently opened to provide confidence to city visitors. The previous number
038 371 172 has now been replaced with 1555, after a delay in service from
the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) Plc, and is now fully
functional.
City hands out food and clothes to sanitation staff
City displays show of appreciation
Decha Chalermyart
Caring for employee welfare is a high priority at Pattaya
City Hall. Wuttisak Rermkijakarn, Pattaya deputy mayor, in his role as head
of hygiene and the environment, handed over rice and clothing to 169
sanitation workers. These employees are on the streets day after day
cleaning up and collecting everybody’s trash, and it can be a tough and
thankless job. The presentation of items was a show of appreciation.
Deputy
Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn hands out necessities to city hall staff.
“Today’s donation is from the heart; we want to show
cleaning crews that they have not been forgotten and we aim to encourage
them to carry on with their difficult job in keeping the streets clean,”
said Wuttisak.
Local city councilors and members of the private sector supported the
city’s donation.
City hands over recycling bins to Pattaya schools
Color-coded trash containers make separation easy
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Future environmental conservation begins with the
children of today, as Pattaya sees it. In a move to get this idea across to
local school kids Wuttisak Rermkijikarn, Pattaya deputy mayor handed over
100 recycle bins to 15 of the city’s schools.
Wuttisak
Rermkijikarn, Pattaya deputy mayor dispensed over 100 recycle bins to local
schools.
The recycling program is gaining momentum with officials
increasingly emphasizing environmental care among students. Two sets of 3
bins - green for general wet waste and food scraps; yellow for dry
recyclable items such as plastic, paper and red for dangerous items such as
light bulb, fluorescent tubes, aerosol cans and batteries - were given to
Pattaya Schools 1-10, Potisamphan, Banglamung, Arksorn Pattaya, Navy School
and the Mareewit School. The color-coded trash bins signal the need for
separating waste.
Wuttisak spoke to school representatives during the
handover, “Our goal is to encourage children to get into the habit of
correctly separating the trash. The recyclable items can also be sold. We
(the city) will assess the program after 6 months.”
The deputy mayor added that a special merit making ceremony and recycle
competition will be held on September 17 behind the Pattaya Fire Station on
Third Road.
Council approves city planning, only after debating the maintenance issue
Coordination necessary to minimize disruption
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya’s three and five-year development plans
received approval from the city council last week after a heated debate on
the issue. The council called for further detailed studies on the plans.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn laid out the mid and long
term city development plans at a council meeting last week calling for
approval. “Pattaya is receiving more attention from visitors each year.
With the increase in tourism numbers, we must improve the transport system
in readiness for the new airport opening in the next 1-2 years and develop
public utilities. These plans are aimed at providing adequate
infrastructure to cope with the increase over the next 3-5 years,” said
the mayor.
Niran went on to say that cooperation between government
departments and organizations was also a necessary part of the plan.
City councilors called for a clearer outline from the
mayor to feature maintenance of existing projects as well as the traffic
congestion issue. They also requested that all plans be submitted with a
feasibility study to avoid any problems that may pop up during and after
the start of each project, particularly when digging up the city’s main
roads. They called for closer cooperation and communication with the
electrical, water and telephone organizations to ensure there was no double
work that may arise.
The meeting concluded with the mayor conceding to provide further
details and studies prior to the final approval of the development plans.
Soi 6 problems taken up with city hall
Service girls, congestion and parking woes wreak havoc
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Representatives from the Soi Yosdsak committee met with the
mayor and traffic superintendent to discuss land and parking troubles within
the narrow side street.
Soi 6 in all
its muddled glory
Orapin Boriboonakij, committee president informed the
meeting that the committee had met with building and business owners to
resolve public land encroachment issues. Orapin presented the evidence to the
meeting stating that committee had hired a lawyer to defend the accusations
that owners were encroaching on public property and that in fact that no one
was breaking the law. A legal document stating their case was submitted to the
Pattaya courts on July 20 this year. The mayor agreed to help the committee on
resolving the issue.
Next on the agenda was the major issue of parking. The
small soi is constantly troubled by haphazard parking conditions and a need
for order was called for. City officials called on Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai
Phongsai, Pattaya traffic superintendent to help solve the problem.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai suggested an odd and even parking
rule from midday to midday in which vehicles would alternately change sides of
the street.
One business owner later told the Pattaya Mail, “It’s a
bit of a ridiculous idea. The street’s already busy and changing side is
just going to create more havoc.”
The committee agreed to the trial pending an outcome.
The mayor touched on the issue of service girls sitting outside their
respective venues calling in customers. He told the meeting that people may
well be offended and requested that each venue have only 2-3 staff outside and
that they must be properly dressed.
Porn movie vendor tied up by local tourist police
Boonlua Chatree
What’s worse than a dirty old man? An old woman selling
movies for a living!
 Tieng
Chaeheng faces perhaps a year or two of bondage for selling porno CDs on the
streets.
That’s exactly what the Pattaya tourist police came across
when they entered Soi Pattayaland on patrol. Tieng Chaeheng, 52, was detained
after officers found her selling lewd material on the street with no heed to the
law. Officers confiscated 20 video CDs of X-rated movies.
Tieng told police that she bought the movies in Bangkok and had made a
healthy profit from selling her wares. She was charged with selling lewd
material and faces a stiff fine.
Walking Street
pot seller weeded out
Boonlua Chatree
Oops,
where did they come from? Must have been the thought in Garun’s mind when
police rounded the corner just as he was selling a bag of weed.
Drug dealing 101: don’t sell your wares in front of
police. That was the golden rule that Garun Thepnuam broke when a police
patrol witnessed the deal go down in South Pattaya.
Garun was caught selling marijuana to a foreign tourist in the middle of
the street just as police rounded the corner. A body search revealed a
plastic bag containing the drug and Garun was arrested and charged with
possession of a Class 5 drug.
Thai-Russian brawl leads to 7 arrests
Police confiscate two foot-long knifes
Boonlua Chatree
Police broke up a street brawl involving 7 Thais and 7
Russian men in South Pattaya early Friday morning. Both groups were armed
with knives and lumps of wood, and were chasing each other around Sois
Pattayaland 1, 2, 3. The group scattered when police arrived, but police
were able to detain 3 Thai men and 4 Russians. Two long knives were also
confiscated in the process.
Boonlet Inthasom, 23, confessed to owning the foot long
knives and was fined the princely sum of 100 baht on each count. The other
two Thai men, Aphichet Soypornmaharach, 31, and Saiy Saenghuachang, 32,
denied all charges of being the cause of the brawl and told police they saw
the foreigners beating a Thai.
“As Thai people we need to take care of our own and
when we saw the farangs beating and kicking another Thai we decided to
help,” said Saiy. The other four Thais fled when police arrived, including
the victim.
Police charged the 3 Thai men with assault and battery.
All three denied the charges.
The four Russians captured in the melee refused to give
any details or even speak to police and sat quietly through their stay in
Pattaya police station.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Man critically wounded in
attempted
motorcycle theft
A twenty year-old man was shot 3 times during an
attempted motorcycle robbery in the Mabprachan - Pong area. Police were
called to Banglamung Hospital shortly after 1 a.m. on August 29 where they
discovered Vicharn Monton in critical condition. He had been shot with a 9
mm pistol. Doctors rushed the man into surgery to remove the bullets but
were unsure whether he would live.
Investigations revealed that Vicharn worked in the Bowin
area and had just dropped off his sister at home after a day’s work. On
his way home three armed youths confronted him and demanded his bike. But
Vicharn was not willing to give up so easily, and apparently sped away from
the thugs as they fired four shots, three hitting Vicharn in the chest.
Residents nearby witnessed the crime and rushed the injured man to hospital.
Police surveyed the crime scene to discover the injured
man’s bike, kept by residents after rushing him to the hospital. They are
still searching for the criminals in question.
Youths fill up, won’t pay up, so beat up
The rising price of fuel at the pump and anti-social
behavior led to a Jet petrol station night manager being beaten up last
week.
Eight youths filled the tanks of their motorcycles, but
when pump attendant Mitree Maneejantr asked for them to pay up, the teen
thugs’ response was, “Too expensive, we’re not paying.”
Mitree called 22-year-old Wiwatanakorn Boontawee, who was
on duty as night manager. The incident escalated and the teens, armed with
knives and pieces of wood, began beating Wiwatanakorn.
Wiwatanakorn was taken to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
for treatment. Police were unable to catch the youths.
Children arrested for motorcycle theft
Two boys, aged 13 and 14, were arrested in Naklua after
stealing a motorcycle from a North Pattaya shop. The boys, who cannot be
named due to their being underage, claimed they were forced into committing
the offence.
Both children, in school year 7, admitted to stealing the
motorcycle saying that if they failed to produce they would be shot. The
pair went on to say that another student told them they would have to pay 60
baht per day protection money if they failed. They alleged that another
student called Toey carried a gun and they were afraid of him. Police
released the children into their parents’ custody after taking necessary
details. Police continue their investigation into the allegations.
Female drug dealer detained
Undercover police arrested a 23-year-old woman for
selling ya ba. The sting operation took place in the Joylee Hotel, Soi Bua
Khao.
Officers took Wasana Nanta into custody after she sold
police 10 methamphetamine pills. A search of her hotel room turned up a
further 24 tablets.
Wassan confessed to buying the drugs from a Pattaya agent
and selling them to local youths. She was charged with possession and
distribution a Class 1 illegal substance and faces a lengthy jail term.
Over 1,000 pirate CDs confiscated in police raid
Acting on a complaint, Pattaya police raided 4 stalls at
the Thepprasit markets. The raid netted over 1,000 CDs and DVDs as well as
equipment last Sunday evening.
Two stall holders were arrested - both minors - while two
others fled, leaving behind TVs, amplifiers and DVD players. Police
confiscated all materials and charged the 15 year old and 17 year old
culprits with selling and/or distributing pirated goods, in direct breach of
copyright laws. Police are continuing to search for the two vendors who fled
in the height of the raid.
Ex-con arrested for motorbike theft
Pattaya police arrested a Rayong man for motorcycle
theft. He had just recently been released from jail. The owner of the bike
accidentally left the keys in the ignition, making temptation too great for
the ex-con to resist.
Local police traced Kamol Punmalee to his Rayong
residence where they found the stolen bike. He confessed, staying that he
had just been released from prison and was looking for work. Because of his
record, no one would employ him. He intended to sell the motorcycle for
5,000 baht prior to being caught.
Kamol was charged with the theft and was sent back to
jail.
Editorial: The downward spiral of public safety - when will it end?
Suchada Tupchai
As the city sleeps and winds down after yet another busy day,
there are those who are afraid to close their eyes. It is out of fear, fear of
loss, fear of violation that causes them to remain vigilant against burglars.
“Willai” who lives in the Nong Yai community, not small
by any means, faces the problem of burglars on a regular basis. They flit
around, like annoying mosquitoes, avoiding police and crime prevention volunteer
patrols. She has had her house broken into on a number of occasions and even
neighborhood watch programs seem to have failed. What was once a safe and quiet
community is now one of constant suspicion.
Environmental and tourism problems seem to be the focus of
attention of the city administration to develop the city, with the government
throwing money at projects left, right and center to boost the long-term
economy. However, there is one issue they cannot dismiss: those who are
unemployed and have too much free time in a rapidly changing society.
Charlatans and thieves are steadfastly growing in numbers and
destroying lives and property in the city. The reason? The criminal elements
from around the country come to Pattaya in the hope of making easy money off
gullible and unsuspecting residents and tourists as law-enforcement police try
and cope with the increasing load of civil and criminal cases. Many victims
never see their belongings again as the case backlogs grow longer.
In spite of the increasing problems, officials are not
sitting on their hands.
In a meeting with the local media, Chonburi Deputy Governor
Phisit Boonchuang revealed that Pattaya has a myriad of people from all walks of
life. He compared Pattaya’s situation to that of Bangkok: an over-influx of
people, “... some good, some bad.”
Pattaya has a large number of crime prevention volunteers.
But is that enough? Especially when there are only 400 police officers to cover
a thriving city of tens of thousands. Proposals have been submitted to increase
police numbers to a minimum of 1,000 officers “in the interest of public
safety.”
The national and international media have long denigrated
Pattaya. Pattaya officials have always tried to portray a positive image, but
with the increase in crime it is time for the powers that be to wake up and face
reality. The problem is growing and decisive action must be taken. Actions that
must be clear, concise and enforced with as much gusto as the numerous projects
to improve the local landscape - or else their precious image and economy will
go down the drain as the social disease becomes an endemic part of Thai society.
Let’s hope they don’t leave it too long!
Asian U. community views AIDS
film documentary and presentation
Michael Catalanello PhD
A diverse group of Asian University staff and a few students
attended a campus screening of the AIDS documentary, Mercy (Medda) in August.
The film, directed by Jeanne Hallacy with Jamlong Saiyot,
tells the story of an eleven-year old Thai girl, Luk Nam, whose parents died of
AIDS. Although Luk Nam is HIV negative, as the story begins, her younger sister,
Nam Fon is seriously ill and living at an AIDS hospice, Mercy Center in the
Klong Toey area of Bangkok.
 Michael
Catalanello answers questions from the audience after the screening of
Mercy (Medda).
Narrated by Luk Nam in her own words, the film recounts the
joys and sorrows of these young people as they confront important issues of life
and death with remarkable courage and compassion. The film reveals how HIV/AIDS
affects not only those living and dying with the disease, but their family,
friends, health care providers, as well as the broader community.
Those in attendance at the Asian U. screening included
members of the faculty, administration, security, housekeeping and others from
the university’s ample support staff. Although most students were away on
break at the time of the screening, a few who were present on campus also
attended the event.
 University
Vice President Panit Nilubol addresses the gathering of staff and students.
As the documentary unfolds, Luk Nam tells of being summoned
from the girls’ home where she resided to provide help and emotional support
to her frail and ailing younger sister, Nam Fon. In the process, Luk Nam
befriends Poy, another girl at the centre who assists her with Nam Fon’s care
until Poy’s own life is cut short by AIDS complications. Nam Fon, who narrates
the story in her own words, eventually loses her sister as well, but finds
comfort and support provided by the remarkable community of caregivers
associated with the Mercy Centre.
Following the film, faculty member Dr. Michael Catalanello
and university vice president, Panit Nilubol provided facts and figures about
the local HIV epidemic in both English and Thai. The dramatic story of how
Thailand has been able to reverse the rate of new infections was recounted.
Strong and visionary leadership in the early 1990s, most notably by then Prime
Minister Anand Panyarachun, and director of Population & Community
Development Association, current Senator Mechai Viravaidya, is widely credited
with turning the epidemic around in Thailand, a feat accomplished by only a
handful of other countries.
The program reviewed the latest statistics from the Health
Ministry showing that rates of new infections in Thailand generally continue on
the decline. Nevertheless, an increase in HIV infections occurring among certain
segments of the population is a cause for serious concern.
One segment currently experiencing increasing rates of HIV
infections is young people in the 15 to 24 age range, the group from which
university students are typically drawn. Other groups experiencing increased
infection rates in Thailand, according to researchers, include injecting drug
users, men who have sex with men, mobile populations and seafarers.
Following the film and presentation, participants were given
an opportunity to ask questions and make comments on the issues raised by
HIV/AIDS and our responsibilities as an educational institution.
Organizers of the event at the university are planning to keep the spotlight
on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Future showings of Mercy and similar AIDS
related films are in the pipeline, according to Panit. Films like Mercy dealing
with the AIDS epidemic were offered in connection with the 2004 AIDS Film
Festival in Bangkok during the XV International AIDS Conference last July.
|
