Boonlua Chatree
A Thai woman who had been arguing with her Swiss husband died when she fell from the balcony of their 5th floor apartment.
Police from Dongtan sub-station were called out at 12:30 a.m. on August 6 to the Majestic Condo on Soi Bunkanchanaram Temple. They found Mrs Duangchan Anuchon, age 34, lying injured next to the swimming pool. Officers transferred her to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but the medical team could not save her life.
John Peter, a 61-year-old Swiss national, told police that the two of them had been living together in the rented apartment for seven months. On this evening they had been drinking in the apartment and Duangchan had asked him for money so that she could go out with friends. He said that he refused and would not let her leave the room, as she was drunk and he was worried about her.
Duangchan flew into a rage and began to throw things around. She said she would commit suicide and ran out onto the balcony. She climbed up and warned him not to come any closer. The tenants on the floor beneath tried to persuade her to calm down, but she jumped. Her body hit a tree branch and she landed beside the pool, sustaining head and other injuries, and later died.
Police searched the apartment, noting that property had been thrown around and that there were footprints on the edge of the balcony. They also interviewed witnesses. Preliminary findings are that Duangchan’s death was suicide brought on by alcohol consumption.

Teenage thieves snatch Australian’s gold necklace

Boonlua Chatree
An Australian man who had his gold necklace snatched by two teenage thieves pursued and caught them, but his necklace had disappeared.
Banglamung police station received a report at 6 p.m. on August 7 that a foreign man on the back of a motorcycle taxi had been robbed at the railroad tracks on Soi Sanam Golf Pornprapawitee Road. Two youths on a green Honda motorcycle had snatched his 18-carat gold necklace, weighing 18 grams and valued at 20,000 baht. The thieves had been caught by the victim and motorcycle taxi driver, and were being detained.
At the scene police found Dahmang Mansour, a 33-year-old Australian national, detaining the two youths. The thieves were Ae, age 15, and Aou, age 16. Both are alias names. Officers searched them but could find only an 18-carat locket. There was no sign of the necklace. The youths were taken to Banglamung police station.
Mansour told police that he was sitting on the back of the motorcycle taxi going to see his friend on Soi 3, Nongpreu, in order to go out to Pattaya beach. When the motorcycle arrived at the railroad tracks, the two youths appeared alongside on their motorcycle and snatched his necklace. He and the motorcycle taxi driver went in pursuit and caught the two, but there was no sign of his necklace, only the locket.
The two youths denied the robbery. They said they didn’t know why the men had chased them down and grabbed them. If they snatched the property, then why didn’t they have it? The police asked them how the 18-carat locket came to be in their possession. The two boys insisted that it was not theirs. They have been charged with robbery.

Microwave oven short-circuit causes beer bar blaze

Boonlua Chatree
Firefighters prevented the spread of a blaze caused when a microwave oven combusted at a beer bar at dawn on August 5.

A microwave oven combusted at a beer bar at dawn on August 5, causing a mess but only minor damages.

City councilor Sanit Boonmachai accompanied police and the three fire engines that raced to the Rose and Scissor commercial building on Soi Akone, Thepprasit Road.
Smoke was coming out of the ground-floor beer bar, which was closed. A sliding galvanized iron door was in place. Inside, the firemen found that the microwave oven in the kitchen behind the shop was burning. The flames had spread, damaging a refrigerator. The firemen were able to quickly extinguish the fire.
Ms Aruayrin Pakthong, the 26-year-old owner of the shop, said she had taken it over from her friend, who had opened this beer bar many years ago. After work she always closed up the shop, and no one lived there. Her own residence was opposite the shop.
Investigators believe that a short-circuit in the microwave had caused the fire, as the oven was an old one. The flames had damaged only the refrigerator, and had been extinguished before they spread to the shop. Damage was estimated at only 7,000 baht.

Police patrols reorganized for faster response to street crime

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Police patrols have been reorganized into a more systematic format that will allow for greater efficiency and more ground to be covered.
This was decided at a monthly meeting of senior police officers that took place on August 4 at the Grand Sole Hotel, with Pol Col Somnuk Changate, superintendent of Pattaya police station, Pol Lt Col Nattasit Boonnuam, deputy superintendent of crime suppression, and Pol Lt Col Chanapat Nawalak, deputy superintendent of investigation amongst those present.
The objective of the meetings is to discuss procedural problems of each division and to find ways of increasing efficiency, and the focus this month was on how to adjust the police patrols to increase the safety of residents and tourists.
Pattaya police have recently been praised by the provincial police commander for the number of arrests made in narcotics cases and in cases of motorcycle theft. There has, however, been an increase in bag snatching, because of widespread economic problems.
To combat this and other instances of street crime, the patrol system has been changed, with officers now working to a “chessboard” method that allows faster response and greater efficiency.
Pol Col Somnuk also advised the meeting that the commander of the Provincial Constabulary Region 2, Pol Lt Gen Jongrak Juthanon, has now returned to the metropolitan police, his former location, and that Pol Maj Gen Atsawin Kwanmuang is taking his place.

City hall and Redemptorist Center combine to help 30 severely disabled people

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City, in cooperation with the Redemptorist Center, organized a special event for the disabled on August 9 and 10 as part of the drive to bring about greater integration of the disabled into society.

Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon presents an opening speech about greater integration of the disabled into society.
The opening ceremony was held at the Redemptorist Job Center conference room on August 9 with Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon presiding and 30 seriously disabled people taking part, plus another 20 carers and minders.
Events over the two days included an educational visit to Nong Nooch Garden where the visitors enjoyed a dance performance and an elephant show, and a trip to Jomtien Beach.
The greater integration of the disabled into society has been given extra impetus since His Majesty the King gave a speech on the importance of ensuring disabled people have every opportunity to enjoy life the same as everyone else, and to become productive members of society for themselves, their families, and the community in general.
Pattaya City and the Redemptorist Center decided on the two-day event for 30 severely disabled people so they could meet and exchange experiences and make new friends. Pattaya City supported this project with a budget of 60,000 baht.
Pattaya City also helps disabled people with financial support, paying 500 baht per month to individuals who have no opportunity of supporting themselves. Other help is given in the form of equipment such as wheelchairs and walking sticks.

The entire entourage enjoyed the show at Nong Nooch Garden.

Court gathers to pay respects to Father of Thai Law

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya Provincial Court Judge Mrs Prathumporn Kamnerdrit presided over the Rapee Day events on August 7, with court officials from all departments including judges, prosecutors, court officials, police officers, prison officials, teachers and students gathering in memory of the Father of Thai Law.

Prince Rapee, the Father of Thai Law.
A religious ceremony was held during the morning, and the varied events during the day included a football match for people involved in various aspects of the law to cement friendships.
Court director Amnuay Kanarak said that the Juvenile Court, District Court and Provincial Court all observed Rapee Day. The Juvenile Court has rights and duties over all cases concerning minors less than 18 years old. The District Court oversees cases resulting in imprisonment of not more than three months. The Provincial Court judges all miscellaneous cases up to the death penalty.
Pattaya City is classified with a Provincial Court because it has less of a responsibility area. There are only two districts and three sub-districts (namely Banglamung District and Sattahip District, and Bung Sub-district, Thungsukla Sub-district and Borwin Sub-district), and therefore the court can examine all cases.

Pattaya Provincial Court Judge Mrs Prathumporn Kamnerdrit and many local dignitaries involved with Thai law attended the Rapee Day Buddhist ceremony at Pattaya Provincial Court.
Many law experts took part in a demonstration of techniques, showing how a judge, prosecutor, lawyer, police officer and jailer interact. Premprecha Dibbayawan gave advice about choosing law as a career.
In the afternoon a football friendly was held, with the Pattaya Judgment Team versus the Police Team. The Police Team won when a penalty shot took the score to 5:4, and the competition ended with a party among the organizations.
Prince Rapee, the 14th son of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, went to Britain to study law. He did this because at that time many countries that had treaties with Thailand did not accept Thai law as being equal to that of their own and there were continual international disputes.
Prince Rapee obtained his degree and came back to serve at the Royal Secretariat Office and in the Privy Council. He undertook the revision of the entire Thai legal system, published new laws and brought the system into line with the legal systems in more advanced countries. Under the pressure of colonial powers threatening the region, the revision and modernization of the law was carried out at an abnormally fast pace.
Rapee fell ill in 1920 and went to Paris for medical treatment. He died there on August 7 of the same year, at the age of 47. His students brought his ashes back to Bangkok. The date is now commemorated every year as Rapee Day.

Mobile exhibition shows students how to help combat global warming

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A mobile exhibition designed to show young people how they can help in the fight against global warming by reducing energy usage and taking other positive steps in conservation was staged at Burapha University on August 8.

Wassachai Sidtibut, director of the Safety Support and Environment Office at Toyota Motor Thailand Co, Prof Dr Sanit Aksornkaew, president of the Thailand Environmental Institute, and Prof Somsak Phanthuwattana, vice president of research at Burapha University plant trees at Burapha University.
The campaign is organized by the Thailand Environmental Institute and Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd and aims to spread knowledge and understanding about the climate and weather changes throughout the four regions of Thailand.
Young people from Rayong, Chonburi, Srakaew, Chachoengsao and Chantaburi attended the event at Burapha University, where they met environmental experts and representatives of private sector organizations involved in conservation.

There were many exhibitions on display to pass along knowledge of the project.
Prof Dr Sanit Aksornkaew, president of the Thailand Environmental Institute, Wassachai Sidtibut, director of the Safety Support and Environment Office at Toyota Motor Thailand Co, and Prof Somsak Phanthuwattana, vice president of research at Burapha University gathered to plant trees in the university grounds.
Prof Sanit said everyone could play a part in reducing climate change by cutting down on energy use, and by avoiding using automobiles for short distance travel. One liter of gasoline consumed increases carbon dioxide by approximately 2.3 kg, he said. We can help solve this problem by increasing areas of forest and greenery in urban areas, as one growing tree can absorb 8 kg of carbon dioxide per year.

Officials briefed on upgrading of Sub-district Village Fund

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Former member of parliament for Chonburi Wittaya Khunplome on August 8 presided over a meeting to brief Eastern region officials on changes to the legal and administrative structure of the Sub-district Village and Community Fund.

Former member of parliament for Chonburi Wittaya Khunplome receives a souvenir from Ruangsak Sattayapipat, chairman of the Nah Pratat Sub-district Administration.

Held at the Convention Hall in Ambassador City, Jomtien, approximately 500 Sub-district Village Fund officers attended the two-day meeting from Chonburi, Chantaburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Srakaew, Nakhon Nayok and Samut Prakarn.
Directors of the Fund Santi Uthaiphan and Suwit Khunkitti looked at the way in which administration and legal requirements would change, and at likely developments over the next five years. This was in light of changes taking place following the Sub-district Village and Community Fund Act of 2004. In future the system will cover a greater diversity of responsibilities, and the meeting was held to help officials understand the nature of the changes.
The Sub-district Village and Community Fund is a government initiative, having been set up in 2001 to be the village and community capital fund for developments in the economy and social matters. It also increases local ability for self-capital fund management and administration to strengthen local societies and economies.

‘Gray panther’ tells of pleasure in spreading knowledge and skills

Stephan Roth
Members of the DSU, the German-speaking club, held their monthly business luncheon on August 5 at the Dusit Resort.
Managing director of TGI-ITS Walter Kretschmar chaired the meeting, welcoming attending members and introducing the Dusit Resort’s new resident manager, Marcus Wirsching, who will be playing a leading role in organizing future meetings.

Walter Kretschmar (center) welcomes the guests, Prof Dr Ing Werner Deleroi (left) and Marcus Wirsching, resident-manager of the Dusit-Resort, Pattaya.

Kretschmar then introduced Prof Dr Ing Werner Deleroi, a member of the Senior Expert Service (SES), whose head office is in Bonn.
Prof Deleroi is working on his second SES project here in Thailand, helping to develop golf carts. His field of training is electrical engineering and during his professional life he has for long periods been engaged with electric engines and machines. For four years he has been working on projects for the service, having been in India and China in addition to his two periods in Thailand.
Members of the DSU heard how the organization operates. The SES is a non-profit corporation and its sole shareholder is the Senior Experten Service Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (Foundation of German Industry for International Cooperation).
The SES was launched in 1983 under the auspices of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It offers specialists the opportunity to pass on their knowledge and talents to others at home and abroad. They work as senior experts in an honorary capacity and assist in training skilled workers and executive staff. They provide the foundation for self-help, and consequently make an important contribution towards safeguarding the future.
The senior experts are from over 50 sectors and they operate primarily with small and medium-sized companies in threshold countries and the developing world. They are also working with the European Union and the German Association for Technical Collaboration (GTZ) and for the German Development Service (DED).
In 2003 the SES celebrated its 20th anniversary. Amongst the variety of projects, the senior experts have helped to introduce solar technology to Kenya, bake new types of bread in Vietnam and clean wastewater from a Chinese paper factory. Closer to home they have collaborated with employees in a German advertising agency in Coburg to significantly reduce the time required to process small orders. For the senior experts themselves, they expand their own horizons by meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and taking on new tasks.
The senior experts have operated in nearly 14,000 insets in 152 different countries. Deciding criterions for an operation include raising productivity and effectiveness, creation and protection of work places, and protecting the natural environment. The SES cannot operate in the arms industries or in the fields of high-tech and high-chems. Senior experts are financially independent and work on an honorary basis.
Currently there are more than 7,000 senior experts on the list from a spread of specialist fields, and they are proud of their nickname, the “Gray Panthers.” They love their work and are happy to pass on their skills and knowledge in return for the pleasure of helping people who will in turn use the experience to benefit others. In this, said Prof Deleroi, they are good representatives of the German economy.

The participants pose for posterity before the lecture started.

City hall to set up education fund for needy students

Narisa Nitikarn
Directors of all the schools under the Pattaya City school system gathered at Pattaya School No 2 on August 9 to discuss the distribution of 22 scholarships worth 10,000 baht each.

(From left) Tawatchai Rattanyoo, director of the Education Department in Pattaya City, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn and Chanatpong Chaubmee, deputy chief administrator of Pattaya City.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn and attended by deputy chief administrator of Pattaya City Chanatpong Chaubmee and director of the Education Department Tawatchai Rattanyoo.
The education committee said that this year 22 scholarships worth 10,000 baht each (there were 12 scholarships, and 10 more will be added) will be distributed to students in the secondary school classes in Pattaya City schools 1 -10.
School results are not essential in considering allocating the scholarships, said Wutisak. The idea is to be fair to all students at different scholastic levels who need financial support. Most private organizations that distribute scholarships to students award them to those with the highest scholastic achievements and who are in need. These scholarships from the public sector should be open to all.
Wutisak added that the distribution of scholarships is commendable, but Pattaya City has in the past donated relatively little, even with a surplus in the budget. City hall will therefore set up an Education Fund to support students to have an opportunity to learn at high levels.
The deputy mayor added that the progress of expenditure of the scholarship money should be closely monitored and controlled, because some students were misusing their funds. Their parents wound up using them for their own needs. Each school director must strictly control this matter.

Administrators given guidance on changes to local government processes

Sonthaya Khunplome, advisor to the acting prime minister, on August 8 at the Tide Resort Hotel in Bang Saen presided over a seminar designed to set out the administration of the budgetary course of Chonburi province for the next seven years.
Organized by the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization to support all other local administration organizations, the event was designed as a development roadmap and was attended by over 300 people concerned with local politics and administration.
Amongst those present were former Chonburi members of parliament Wittaya Khunplome, Sanga Tanawong, Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Pinyo Tanwiset, chairman of the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization, and his deputy, Rewat Pollok-In.
Pinyo, who organized the meeting, said that the Local Administration Organization Act of 1999 had resulted in many central authorities transferring their duties, budget and personnel to local administrations. However, this process was sometimes affected by political, economic and social situations in Thailand, which resulted in changing and adjusting the plan corresponding to events.
All of this was confusing to the local administrators and personnel, hence the decision to hold this seminar, said Pinyo.
After the official opening ceremony a number of experts gave their advice over the two-day period from August 8 to 9.

Underwater World and Sriracha sign accord on sea turtle conservation

Narisa Nitikarn
An agreement was signed on August 1 between Underwater World and Sriracha municipality that will help conserve the sea turtle population within the area.
The signing was conducted by Sriracha Mayor Chatchai Timkrachang and general manager of Underwater World David Hong, with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn presenting the ceremony.

Sriracha Mayor Chatchai Timkrachang (left) and David Hong (right), general manager of Underwater World in Pattaya, sign an agreement to help preserve sea turtles.
This year sees a major campaign for the conservation of sea turtles, many of which are hunted for their beautiful shells. Amongst the species in danger are the Hawksbill Turtle and the Green Turtle.
Chatchai said that the sea turtle population is decreasing rapidly, and certain species may become extinct unless action is taken to protect them. Sriracha municipality has set up the Sea Turtle Conservation Center at Koh Loy to cultivate and look after injured sea turtles before releasing them back into nature.

The Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Sriracha exchanged a hawksbill turtle, a rare sea turtle that needs special care and rest, with Underwater World in Pattaya.
This cooperative signing is another move to preserve the sea turtle, said Chatchai. After the signing, Underwater World donated microchips and electronic equipment to track sea turtles. The company also donated money to help support the Sea Turtle Conservation Center.

Beach umbrella vendors offered cash prizes to keep their concession areas clean

Cleanup campaign will run for one year

Narisa Nitikarn
Locals, tourists and schoolchildren together helped to clean the beachfront on August 8 in a campaign that is also involving beach umbrella and sun lounger vendors.
Volunteers gathered in front of Royal Garden Plaza, the project being coordinated by Tourist Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Wuttichart Luaensucant, chairwoman of YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center Nitaya Patimasongkroh, and president of Pattaya Marina Rotary Club Dr Olivier Meyer. More than 200 students from Pattaya School No 7 took part.

(From left) Dr. Olivier Meyer, president of the Rotary Club Pattaya Marina 2006-2007, Nitaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center, Pol. Lt. Col. Wuttichart Luaensucant, Pattaya Tourist Police Inspector at the beginning of the event.
The cleanup was organized as part of the celebrations honoring the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, which took place on August 12.
Nitaya said that the campaign will run through to July next year, and will continue to involve beach umbrella and sun-lounger vendors, tourists and youngsters. A monthly competition for the beach umbrella and sun-lounger vendors is to be held to see who can keep their concession areas the most clean and tidy. Cash prizes are being offered: first prize is 3,000 baht, and second and third places will win 2,000 baht and 1,000 baht respectively. There is also a consolation prize of 500 baht.

Personnel from every organization actively worked together to clean up the garbage in the Pattaya beach area.
This is being done because without the cooperation of the concession holders the project to keep the beach clean will not be successful, said Nitaya. The first prize giving will take place on September 20, and the monthly winners will be up for a grand prize on September 20 next year.
Locals, tourists and students rolled up their sleeves and cleared away garbage all the way along the front from Mike Shopping Mall to the old South Pattaya Pier. Along with the umbrella vendors, other beach workers such as the Thai traditional massage ladies actively took part.