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19-year-old boy drowns in construction hole on Jomtien Beach
Grieving father asks city mayor
why no warning signs were posted
Boonlua Chatree
The tragic death of a 19-year-old boy who fell into a
construction hole filled with water on Jomtien Beach and drowned prompted his
grieving father to demand answers from authorities as to why no warning signs
were posted. The father wants authorities to hold the contractor responsible
for his son’s death.
Supachai
Sridear (far left) met with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn (center) and Bunlue
Kulawanich, city councilor as to why there were no signs posted near the
construction site that led to the death of his son Nattakorn.
The tragic event occurred on October 30, while young
Nattakorn Sridear, from Bangkok, was walking along a strip of sand in front of
Jomtien Beach Resort. As he innocently strolled on the public beach, he fell
into a 6 meter deep hole where contractors were laying sewage pipe along the
beachfront. The hole was filled with water and Nattakorn could not swim. His
screaming brought tourists and residents running to help, but they were too
late. His father, Supachai, knelt over his dead son and wept.
The needless death of the young boy was the direct result of
negligence by the contractors laying the sewage pipe who had placed no warning
signs or indications that work was in progress, the father said. Had there been
clear signage and proper precautions taken for public safety, this tragedy
might never have occurred.
On November 1, Supachai Sridear, the dead boy’s father,
met with city officials demanding to find out who was responsible for the lack
of safety signs that led to his son’s death. He was met by City Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn and Bunlue Kulawanich, Pattaya city councilor.
Supachai told city officials, “I wanted to meet the mayor
because I want to ask the reason why there were no warning signs around the
construction site telling people of the danger. This is the reason why my son
died so unnecessarily.”
Mayor Niran replied, “Pattaya City will take
responsibility. It is severe enough not to warrant forgiveness as the city was
in the process of laying new sewerage pipes in the area and handed the
construction project over to the Bangsaen Mahanakhon Company as the contractor.
I have called in the project manager, Surasak Surakijbuar and instructed that
the company must also take responsibility.”
Surasak Surakijbuar, project manager for Bangsaen Mahanakhon
Company in charge of the Jomtien project met with Supachai Sridear and asked
for forgiveness over the tragic loss of his son. Surasak presented 200,000 baht
to pay for funeral expenses as compensation. Mayor Niran also said he
personally would care for one evening of prayers during the funeral rites.
Supachai was forgiving and accepted the city’s offer,
saying that his son’s death should not be needless and that it must be an
example of neglect that should not re-occur in Pattaya. He implored the city to
post relevant warnings at construction projects throughout the city.
Thirty-three new vehicles supplied to Pattaya police station
Increased patrol of city will reduce
crime say donators
Boonlua
Chatree
Pattaya police station on Soi 9 was presented with a new
patrol car, 2 pickup trucks and 30 new motorcycles on November 4. The
vehicles were provided by Pattaya City authorities and council members to
help police officers improve their service to the public.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (center) and city councilors hand over the
ceremonial key for the new vehicles to Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Juthanon,
Region 2 police commander.
Until now, the station sorely lacked enough patrol vehicles
to adequately cover this fast growing city. With the added means of
transportation, officers can more effectively perform their duties.
The formalities took place in front of the station and the
vehicles were handed over to Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak Juthanon, Region 2 police
commander, Pol. Maj. General Anan Jaroenchasri Chonburi police commander and
Pol. Col. Somnuk Changate, Pattaya police superintendent by Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, accompanied by city council members Pisai Panomwan Na
Ayuthaya, Bunlue Kulawanit and Farouk Wongborisut.
Pol. Lt Gen. Jongrak expressed his thanks. “It is my
pleasure to receive these new vehicles which are so badly needed, and I want to
thank the city and the public for their support for police activities. The
vehicles will be used to give added protection for residents and tourists and
to safeguard lives and property. Our officers have a large and busy
jurisdiction to protect and will now have the tools to more effectively patrol
their areas. They will also be useful to provide security for HSH Princess
Soamsawalee, who always travels by road from Bangkok to Pattaya for her
activities. Therefore the vehicles given by Pattaya City will be very useful
for the police to better carry out their duties.”
Royal Navy organizes environmental conservation project
Tree planting and beach cleaning pay tribute to HRM Queen Sirikit
Pacharapol Panrak
This year heralds Queen Sirikit’s auspicious 72nd
birthday and many projects around the kingdom have been organized in her
honor. One of Her Majesty’s most enduring wishes is to see the kingdom’s
natural environment preserved and enhanced.
In a move to honor this wish, Admiral Wichai Yuwanangkul,
Commander of Naval Operations in Sattahip presided over the opening of the
Dongtan Bay Conservation Project in celebration of Queen Sirikit’s 72nd
birthday, in front of the Officer’s Commission Club at Naval Operations.
Seventy three Palmyra palm trees were planted, which are
symbolic of Dongtan Bay, and a massive rubbish cleanup was organized by
naval personnel and the public to restore the beach to a pristine condition.
Vice Admiral Nakhon Aranyanak, chief of naval operations
explained the Dongtan Bay Conservation Project. “Dongtan Bay is a landmark
in Sattahip. The bay is beautiful - long and curving - and has thousands of
Palmyra palm trees. Some are old and have died because of the cruelties of
nature; therefore, the Royal Navy cooperates with official departments,
private organizations and residents in the local community to revive and
protect the heritage of Sattahip, so the next generation can know its
history,” he said.
Dongtan Bay is a natural cove which is vulnerable to refuse that washes
in from the sea such as plastic bags, parts of ring nets, and plastic
bottles. Since it is a popular tourist area, the beach needs to be kept
clean, so the navy and public arrange regular beach cleanups to keep it
appealing for visitors.
More training for civil volunteers to make city safer
Suchada Tupchai
A training session was recently held to extend and upgrade
education for Pattaya City’s Civil Volunteers to further their efficiency in
safeguarding the city’s residents and tourists.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn opened the session, held on
October 26 at Pattaya School No. 7, which was attended by 100 volunteers from
involved departments. Distinguished speakers from Pattaya police station,
Soldier Precinct 14, Chonburi, and Pattaya city officials told volunteers they
must increase their knowledge of new methods and technology which are geared
towards public safety.
 Volunteers
register before participating in the re-training.
The new training included aid in natural disasters, guarding
the city from crime, helping to prevent damage to life and property, first aid
assistance, improving public moral, training on how to handle security risks,
civil unrest and to remain in a state of readiness to help safeguard the city.
Commenting on the training course, Mayor Niran said, “We are conducting
this training course to increase the education of our volunteers and emphasize
their importance as valuable human resources that will enhance our city’s
growth, reputation and security. These volunteers will aid in making Pattaya a
safe and peaceful city for all.”
Surveillance cameras along Pattaya and Jomtien beaches approach second stage
CCTV monitors to act as crime busters
Suchada Tupchai
Pattaya City is in the process of installing TV monitors
along Pattaya and Jomtien beaches to help crime prevention and ensure the safety
of residents and tourists.
A recent meeting at city hall was held to finalize the
details of more installation points for the CCTV project. The first stage of the
project entailed 60 installations from North Pattaya to Jomtien Beach in front
of the information center, and is already 50 percent completed.
Apichart Puechphan, Pattaya’s deputy municipal clerk led
the meeting attended by representatives of concerned departments, project
committee members and a representative Tesco-Lotus Co. Ltd. Discussions centered
on the second stage of the CCTV project.
During the session Apichart said, “At the moment Pattaya
City uses high quality technology for crime prevention and law enforcement. We
are in now in the process of upgrading our technology and the CCTV project is
part of an overall move to improve security in the area. The first stage is
already 50 percent finished. We now need to address the second stage of the
project.
“Pattaya City is studying the second stage of 25
installations by continuing the first stage at the Information Center (opposite
Surf Kitchen Restaurant). CCTV technicians say each camera should have a
distance of about 4 - 5 km. The control center will be at Pattaya City Hall,
which must be updated. Technicians will build a second control center at the
Jomtien Information Center, named the ‘Chaiyrapruk Center’. When the 2
projects are completed along the Jomtien and Pattaya beaches they will have one
central control in Pattaya City which will connect with 5 sub-branch control
centers. This comprehensive method of surveillance should provide a considerable
increase in security for residents and tourists and will be a valuable aid to
law enforcement agencies in their duties.”
Pattaya Council holds first term extraordinary meeting
Community leader receives royal decoration
for donation to school project
Ariyawat
Nuamsawat
Chaired by city council member Tawit Chaisawangwong, a
3rd extraordinary meeting for the city management team’s first term was
held on November 2 and attended by administrators, department chiefs and
committee members. The main agenda addressed the district’s school system
and rules that regulate it. Donations from community members to support
education in the area were also acknowledged.
Respectful recognition was given to Narumol Putthanawarat
who donated 1 million baht in cash to Pattaya School No. 1 on September 6
for funding the school’s canteen school construction project. Narumol
received a special decoration from His Majesty the King for this exceptional
contribution to society and his tireless efforts to improve local education.
The meeting also discussed transferring the Photisamphan
Pittayakarn School and Banglamung School from the Education Department in
Chonburi to the jurisdiction of Pattaya City. This would upgrade the status
of the schools and allow students to come under a more extensive category
which would include primary, secondary and pre-college studies.
The proposal will be made to the education management
department of Pattaya City. The move would improve opportunities for more
hands-on management of the educational curriculum and remove the overlapping
jurisdiction which currently exists. This transfer will also allow
independent budget allocation for each school in order to improve education
and revamp school facilities.
City cracks down on roaming elephants
Authorities enlist public to help
Suchada
Tupchai
Everybody loves an elephant. These adorable jumbos are
part of Thailand’s heritage and culture, but the big city is not a safe
or healthy place for these animals to roam. Pattaya City is appealing to
the public to help protect elephants from harm by reporting wandering
elephants to the authorities.
 Wandering
elephants on the road, which are often seen in Thailand’s tourist towns.
Roaming elephants in Pattaya is a longstanding problem.
Mahouts bring their elephants into the city to beg from tourists in an effort to
make a living from the animal under their care. Not only do the jumbos make a
mess on public streets and create traffic hazards, but many tourists are
outraged at the sight of these poor elephants lumbering around in an environment
that puts their healthy and safety in jeopardy.
Sunai Leetanon, chief of the sanitation department in Pattaya
recently revealed that this problem is on the rise. It is illegal for elephants
to roam the city and the public is being urged not to feed or give money to
mahouts who are exploiting their animals, and to report the infraction to
Pattaya City authorities by calling tel. 038-410200 ext. 344, or tel. 038-420823
ext 16.
Participation by the public will help enforce the laws and protect the
animals. Pattaya City officials will see that they are relocated into a natural
habitat as soon as possible. These precious elephants need our protection and
deserve to live a happy life.
Soused Saudi skips out on bar tab
Lady bar owner wrestles him for the bill
Boonlua Chatree
Police received a report in the wee hours of the morning of
November 1 that a foreigner was assaulting a Thai woman on the beach in front
of the Royal Garden Hotel in South Pattaya. When officers arrived at the scene
they found a very inebriated Saudi man attempting to strangle a female bar
owner.
 Aljrais
Ahamad
Fahadm found out the hard way that not even trying to strangle the
barkeep could keep him from paying his tab.
Police finally broke up the scuffle and questioned both
parties about the problem. Amari Bar owner Supaporn Chaisaensuad, 34, told
officers the Saudi, later identified as 32-year-old Aljrais Ahamad Fahadm, had
been drinking at her bar from the time it opened until closing time and had run
up a tab of 1,540 baht. When closing time came round she asked him to pay the
bill. By this time he was very drunk. He adamantly refused to pay and walked
out. Undeterred, Supaporn, accompanied by one of her employees, followed the man
down the street and onto the beach, still insisting he pay up on the 10 bar
chits. She said Aljrais lost his temper and tried to throttle her rather than
cough up the money.
Too drunk to argue, Aljrais had little to say in his own defense. Supaporn
told officers she would let the matter go if the foreigner would pay his bill
plus 1,000 baht to compensate her for bodily harm. Alhrais agreed to this and
the police gave him a strict warning before letting him go.
German diamond
thief arrested in Pattaya
Boonlua Chatree
Acting on a tip off that a German man, wanted for theft in
Germany, might be hiding in Thailand, Pattaya Immigration police arrested
Carsten Killing, 42, on Pattaya Third Road as he was having his motorcycle
repaired.
 Evidently
there is no statute of limitations for jewelry theft in Germany, as Carsten
Killing was arrested in Pattaya for a crime he committed 12 years ago in
Hamburg.
Killing is wanted in Germany for the theft of 30,000 euros
worth of diamonds in Hamburg in 1992. Authorities moved in after someone tipped
them off to his whereabouts. It didn’t help his cause that he had overstayed
his visa.
Once in custody, Killing confessed to staying in Thailand for
over 2 years on an expired visa. He also confessed to the crime in Germany,
telling officers he had fled to Thailand to avoid prosecution. The German also
said he was in the process of getting a fake passport and that he was planning
to rob a Pattaya bank to leave the country with enough cash.
Immigration police charged him with illegally residing in the kingdom. They
have begun coordinating with German Embassy officials for his extradition to
face charges in Hamburg.
Two bogus cops slap woman for refusing their sexual advances
S&M doesn’t help
Boonlua Chatree
Two men from Bangkok, wearing police crime suppression
T-shirts, approached a Thai woman on South Pattaya’s Walking Street and made
her an indecent proposal. When she refused, they became angry and pulled her
hair and slapped her. Patrolling police officers spied the struggle and broke up
the fight. The trio was brought to the Pattaya police station for questioning.
 Trying
to bully their way into having their way with a young woman on Walking Street
landed these two in the care of Pattaya police. Perhaps flowers, dinner and a
movie might work a little better?
The woman, identified as Duangchan Kongkaew, 28, told
officers she was buying ice cream on the street when the two men approached her
and asked to take her to bed. When she said no, they became belligerent and
tried to intimidate her by telling her they were police and she should be more
cooperative like the women in Bangkok. She responded by saying that she didn’t
care if they were police, she was not going anywhere with them and she had done
nothing wrong. Irked by her stubbornness, the men grabbed her by the hair and
proceeded to slap her around, telling her they were going to teach her a lesson.
Officers at the station ran a check on the two men, identified as Aram
Maneekul and Natthakom Ruangsri, both 46, and found than neither of them were
police officers. When questioned about their behavior both men tried to show off
by saying they were very important people in Bangkok. Unimpressed, police
charged both men with causing bodily harm and fined them each 2,000 baht, before
they were released.
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Tipsy Aussie busted for
disorderly conduct
Tourist police detained an Australian man identified as Marc
Anthony, 35, for causing a public disturbance on Walking Street. Officers
received a complaint from concerned citizens that a foreigner was drunk and
disturbing customers at a beer bar and they wanted him to desist.
When the cops arrived, Anthony was obviously in his cups and
distressed. His friend was trying to calm him down, but to no avail. The
Australian sobered up considerably when he spied the uniforms. He was taken to
the station and was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct, and paid a fine.
After he made a promise to behave himself in the future, he was released. Still
not completely sober, he grumbled all the way out the door.
Two jailbirds nabbed with fake
pistol - No charges were pressed since gun and shells were not real
Cops recently nabbed a couple of hoodlums with rap sheets
after residents made a call to police at 2 a.m. that two Thai men were riding
through the streets threatening tourists with a gun.
Pattaya police responded to the report and set up road
blocks. Spying the two suspects on a motorcycle on Pattaya Second Road, officers
signaled them to stop. The pair sped on by, stripping some of their clothes off
and throwing them on the roadside in a desperate effort to disguise their
appearance. The ploy didn’t work as the police were in hot pursuit and finally
pulled them over near the Dolphin roundabout on the Pattaya/Naklua Road.
The culprits were identified as Panya Khunsri, Akon Phathong,
both 21 years old and both from Chonburi. A routine search found Panya in
possession of a .357 caliber pistol with 5 bullets, but closer inspection
revealed the gun and shells were fakes. Akom was searched but had nothing
illegal on his person. Officers brought both men down to the Pattaya police
station for questioning.
An investigation revealed that Akom was just released 2
months ago from jail for methamphetamine distribution. Panya had just done 3
years in prison for property theft, and had been released a little more than 2
months ago.
Pol. Maj. Sutham Chaoseethong said that charges couldn’t be
levied since the gun and shells found on Panya were fakes and Akom was not in
possession of anything illegal.
Man fights thief for
motorcycle
Motorcycle theft is rampant in Pattaya. But one owner figured
out a way to outsmart the villains. He had a bright idea that an electrician
could modify the starter on his daughter’s bike to make it harder to steal.
But some thieves just never give up.
Police received a report on from a man who said he was
physically restraining a thief who had tried to steal his motorcycle, and the
cops should hurry to the scene.
When officers arrived at the Soi Bon Kai residence, Prajak
Sophon, 33, had the culprit pinned to the ground. Officers took control of the
teenager, identified only as a 16 year old boy called ‘Chok’.
Prajak told officers he had been watching TV in his house and
heard someone trying to take his motorbike, which he had parked in front of his
house. He found the thief pushing the motorbike away from the house. Prajak said
shouted to the neighbors for help, then restrained the youngster.
Prajak’s daughter, owner of the motorcycle, told police she
had felt secure from theft since she had a technician modify the electrical
system; therefore a thief couldn’t start the motorbike and ride away with it.
Police questioned ‘Chok’ who confessed to the attempted
theft and admitted that he had stolen other motorcycles and had sold them to
fences for cash. “Chok’ didn’t appear remorseful for his crime. He was
charged with attempted theft and held over for court proceedings. This is one
perp who bragged he would do it again.
Princess Soamsawalee opens 10th PENSA conference at the Dusit Resort
HSH Princess Somsawali
presided over the opening ceremonies of the 10th Parenteral and Enteral
Nutrition Society of Asia (PENSA) conference held at the Dusit Resort
Pattaya.
Suchada Tupchai
HSH Princess Somsawali presided over the opening
ceremonies of the 10th Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Asia (PENSA)
conference held at the Dusit Resort Pattaya. The conference of specialists
from around the region met to attend a seminar titled ‘The future of
Nutrition and Cooperation among the Asian Region’.
Prof. Dr. Jomjakr Chantrasakul, PENSA chairman led the
discussions for the almost 500 conference participants. Doctors, nurses,
nutritional experts and research scientists from Thailand, China, Japan,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, India and Pakistan exchanged ideas and
discussed research on nutrition and how it can benefit the regional
population.
PENSA’s first meeting was held on November 6, 1995, for
interested members of the scientific community to gather to address the
issue.
The event was well supported by Thai and International
companies presenting their latest products set up at booths.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sornit Sintham, PENSA committee representative handed
over 100,000 baht to HSH Princess Somsawali for use in royal sponsored
charity projects. HSH officially declared the conference open, spoke with
meeting attendees and handed out certificates.
- EDITORIAL - Sorry! Dangerous warnings...
Suchada Tupchai
Over the past few months, Pattaya’s administration has
implemented many projects, including road resurfacing, laying new sewage
pipes and even placing all utilities underground along Beach Road. Many of
these projects are still in progress and create an inconvenience for
residents, making an ugly site at best. Despite this, many residents accept
this as part of progress.
The problem of construction and inconvenience faced
during projects are not long term but the real issue of warning signs and
information concerning the projects is!
The poor system of setting up clear warnings has been a
longstanding issue. Prime examples of this can be seen at numerous points
throughout the city’s major roads and sois, especially in the high density
community areas such as Siam Country Club Road, Soi Nernplubwan and Soi Khao
Noi - still under construction. Officials and contractors are essentially
racing against time to complete the projects and in doing so have not placed
proper warnings at certain dangerous sections for motorists and pedestrians,
especially at night.
Such a lack of safety standards has injured many and the
latest incident on Jomtien Beach where a young man lost his life is a prime
example of the lack of safety consideration given to any particular project.
There were no warning signs put up before the tragedy occurred.
This is not the first time the issue of a lack of clear
signage and warning to the general public has been raised. Residents,
tourists and the media have called on administrators and contractors to
rectify the lack of safety on numerous occasions to the point where many are
fed up with the lack of response.
Motorists must contend with poor road conditions, often
with huge potholes, but again no evidence of proper warning to road users -
generally it’s just a piece of reinforcing bar with a plastic bag tied to
it. Only those with good enough eyes and quick enough reflexes tend to
escape the obstacle course on city sois; many who don’t possess these
attributes end up injuring themselves.
As a tourist city, Pattaya has tens of thousands of
visitors from around the globe spending time and money during their stay,
creating steady growth. Such growth comes at a price, with many less than
favorable incidents occurring as a result. In truth, many can be avoided if
we stand back and look at the bigger picture. This city is undergoing rapid
growth and the Pattaya administration is focusing on taking an interest in
the residents, but they are making the same mistakes over and over again.
The mistakes are not earth shattering but administrators
should brainstorm on how to prevent history from reoccurring and ensure safe
practices during development projects. Public safety must be considered;
contractors and officials must take the responsibility and instill the
philosophy in various departments. Development projects, once completed,
should be looked upon as an achievement, and not having officials say
“sorry” again and again for the accidents that occurred during progress
due to the lack of clear information.
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