Solutions to Sukhumvit Road tangle urgently needed

Decha Chalermyart

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and his team are looking into the possibility of employing a team of private consultants to aid in solving Pattaya’s immediate and long term traffic problems.

On November 16, the mayor met with Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai, Pattaya’s traffic inspector, Dr. Thawatchai Laosirihongtong, traffic and transport research and development director, and relevant government departments to discuss the matter.

Discussions centered on finding quality solutions to the city’s transport and traffic problems, and the idea of employing a team of professional consultants specializing on the issue was put forth. The consulting team would conduct research projects and advise administrators on methods to solve various problems, keeping in mind the effect these would have on the general pubic and city businesses.

A survey of the city’s road system and motorists’ behavior would be part of the initial stages of the project, which could eventually lead to a decision on the direction traffic should flow on Pattaya Second Road. A traffic light system and using an Area Traffic Control system at a cost of 2.5 million baht would be used to complete the project assessment. The budget allotment has yet to be approved by the council, as there are a number of points that must be amended under the current system.

Dr. Thawatchai Laosirihongtong, responsible for the current program, said he would need at least 12 months to completely rehash the city’s transport system and that he would begin one week after the contract was finalized.

Dr. Thawatchai went on to say, “In the long term plan, the consultants would present a conceptual design program to improve flow on the increasingly busy Sukhumvit Road - from the Kratinglai intersection down to the Soi Chaiyrapruk traffic lights. The project sheet for the plan would include modifications to the main road as well as costs involved in improving conditions.”

Boonlua Chatree

Shortly after 5 a.m. on November 10 Pol. Lt. Col. Omsin Sukgarnkar, criminal investigation inspector on duty received a report that a foreigner had pistol whipped and pointed the gun at a motorcycle taxi rider at a group of beer bars near Tops Supermarket, Central Pattaya Road. The foreigner drove off at high speed in his Toyota pickup on his way to Sukhumvit and north to Bangkok.

Christopher John Hall and his alleged victims.

Police located the pick up truck with the driver on Sukhumvit a short time later. Officers detained the man and found a loaded .38 caliber pistol in his car with one shell having been discharged from the chamber.

The foreigner, identified as Christopher John Hall, 35 from Stockport in the UK was charged with attempted murder - a life sentence if found guilty - unauthorized possession of an unlicensed weapon, carrying a loaded weapon inside the city and public area without significant reason, and use of a loaded weapon in public.

Hall denied all charges and refused to answer questions or sign documents without legal representation. Hall was led off to the holding cell, pending court action.

During the initial questioning, alleged victims began showing up at the station to file reports.

Allegedly Hall had been drinking at the Jantr beer bar till closing time. Unwilling to leave he became aggressive and pistol whipped a member of the staff before walking out. Hall later then threatened a nearby motorcycle taxi rider, identified as Anong Kaewkhum, 31, with the loaded gun.

Anong told police that his rank was near the bar and that the foreigner had walked up to him and pressed the gun to his stomach. Reacting to the situation Anong said he pushed Hall’s hand away before a bullet was discharged. Anong added that he had never met the man and didn’t know why he tried to shoot him. He said he informed police after foreigner left the scene.

Pornchai Pansa, 28, told police that Hall had pistol whipped him around the ear for no apparent reason and had also held the pistol on him. Pornchai said he fled the area fearing for his life.

Chartsinghnart Butpetch, 26 told a similar story as did Panida Rabiabcokesoong, 21, service staff at the bar who alleged Hall also assaulted them.

Boonlua Chatree

At 3 a.m. on November 18, a Toyota pickup truck caught fire while parked in front of a South Road shopping center.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within 30 minutes.

Flames creep out from under the hood of Mongkol Ladardok’s pickup truck.

Once the flames were doused, police questioned the pickups’ owner, Mongkol Ladardok, 30, who told police he was in the process of delivering stock for a stall in front of Chaiyamongkhol Temple in South Pattaya and was taking it from the back tray when the flames erupted. He added that he remembered seeing a flash of blue just before the fire started in the engine bay.

Police impounded the vehicle for fire investigators to look into the cause of the fire, which caused approximately 100,000 baht damage to the vehicle.

Suchada Tupchai

As the trouble in the south of Thailand continues, so does the need for peace. Officials are racking their brains and joining forces to attempt to solve the ongoing problems.

On November 16, HM Queen Sirikit, speaking on the three provinces where the problems were centered said, “I ask everyone to help each other, help His Majesty’s government to think of a solution to help stop the killing. Not bring guns to help but offer encouragement and voice your criticisms. I believe that all Thai’s should join together in finding a solution and not leave it for the government to sort out alone.”

Her Majesty revealed a number of opinions and ideas on the increasing violence in the country’s south. The prime minister called a cabinet meeting and called upon the nation to make 62 million origami cranes as a symbol of peace - the same number as the population of Thailand - in time for HM the King’s birthday of December 5 and that they be taken to the 3 provinces in the south to encourage a cease in the violence and create peace instead of chaos.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after the meeting, began the first step and called for the Thai nation to fold the cranes in unison representing the traditional dove of peace. Many see this symbolic gesture as the first step while others fail to see its relevance (i.e., what are people in the south going to do with 62 million origami doves?). Still, millions around Thailand feel that all efforts towards the peace process are worth trying - as it affects their fellow Thais.

The unschooled - not knowing how to or where to send their cranes – or even if they will help - have been bombarded with a heavy PR campaign in an effort to encourage unity and power among the common man to reach the goal of 62 million for this important national day.

The problems appear insurmountable but the efforts are a move to wake the consciences of the separatist movement to return to a peaceful way of life and review their actions and take into account the loss of lives because of it. The act is one showing that everyone together can change the situation as many ask why are these people creating unrest and what do they want. The answer is not yet clear. How long it will continue remains questionable. It is, however; clear that the nation and its people must act as one.

The prayers of the Thai people are for earnest and long-lasting peace on the streets in the 3 provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, instead of blood and tears flowing daily.