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City Council wants action
on traffic problems
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City Councilor Banlue Kullavanijaya is pressing for urgent action on
the city’s traffic problems, saying that despite many meetings there have
yet to be any concrete solutions.
 Pattaya
city councilors Banlue Kullavanijaya (right) and Manoch Nongyai discuss the
u-turn problems on Sukhumvit Road.
Banlue in his capacity as chairman of the Public Works and Public Utilities
Extraordinary Committee called a meeting of the committee and responsible
officials on November 9, along with members of the City Council’s four
districts.
Sukhumvit Road is a particularly urgent case, said
Banlue. The traffic problems there are major ones, especially at the U-turn
points.
Councilor Sanit Boonmachai said that many solutions have been proposed,
especially for the U-turns at the front of the Toyota showroom, in front of
the highway police headquarters and at Soi Hnong Krabok, but city hall
hasn’t implemented them. Police and rescue services statistics reveal that
many accidents have occurred at these spots, resulting in the loss of life
and damage to property. It was therefore proposed that measures be
implemented as a matter of urgency.
Director of Pattaya Public Works Department Pichet Uthaivatananon said a
team of researchers are ready to propose plans for the long-term and that
this includes the U-turns, but he agreed the matter is urgent and that it is
time city hall took action. Pichet said solutions would be submitted to
administrators.
Councilors reject Town
of Infinity design
Symbol should have more Thai meaning
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City Councilors have turned down the initial design for the proposed
Town of Infinity symbol, saying that any symbol used for Pattaya should have
more Thai emphasis.
 Another
idea put forth by Nawat Thongsawang, an architect with Februar Image Co.,
Ltd., as an alternative to the Town of Infinity design.
Nawat Thongsawang, architect with Februar Image Co Ltd, submitted a design
for the symbol that would be mounted on the north and south Pattaya arches
to a meeting at city hall on November 8. Amongst those at the presentation
were Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon,
and director of the Public Works Department Pichet Uthaivatananon.On
September 21 Nawat had submitted the arch design for both main entries to
Pattaya City. The Town of Infinity logo, adapting the symbol for infinity,
would be erected at the Krathinglai Junction for approaches from the north,
and on the Sattahip road for the southern entrance. Nawat said the concept
was to blend a maritime design with the infinity symbol, and to make the
arches especially dramatic at night with spectacular lighting.
City Councilors examined the design for both arches, but concluded any
design should have more of a Thai symbolic meaning to blend with Pattaya’s
identity. Nawat said that the company would rethink the design and resubmit
it.
Police seize fireworks
during Loy Krathong
Boonlua Chatree
Police arrested several fireworks vendors during the Loy Krathong
festival in an effort to reduce the danger to tourists and to property.
 Police
confiscated a cache of fireworks during the Loy Krathong holiday.
Of the fireworks that were confiscated, Pol Col Suthin Srappuang,
superintendent at Pattaya Police Station said there were dangerous items
such as the plastic floating hot air lanterns. Two had already come down
onto roofs, causing fires and injuring a person.
Suthin warned that during the New Year period police would not just be
looking for fireworks and confiscating them, but that they would arrest all
those selling them. He asked shopkeepers not to sell these items during
festive periods, as they pose a danger to everyone.
Italian arrested for engaging 14-year-old prostitute
Boonlua Chatree
An Italian man has been arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old girl who
was soliciting her services along Beach Road.
Tourist police from Division 4 along with Supakorn Noja, director of the
Child Protection and Development Center, followed up a report from a tourist
that an underage girl was propositioning foreign visitors on Pattaya Beach
Road around the entrance to Soi 10.
Officers went to investigate and discovered that a foreign man had taken the
girl to 75 Mansion on Soi Nokkao. They followed and found that the man and
girl were in room 214. It took about an hour for police to obtain a room key
from a 75 Mansion employee, but eventually they succeeded and were able to
gain entry to the room to investigate.
In the room was Massimo Magini, a 32-year-old Italian national, naked in bed
with a 14-year-old girl. The two were taken to the Tourist Police Station
for questioning.
The girl stated that she had performed sexual services with the foreigner
for 500 baht, and showed the 500 baht to the police.
Magini said that another man who lived in 75 Mansion, named as 57-year-old
Tullio Buonguerrieri, had introduced him to the girl. Magini was charged
with the statutory rape of a girl under 15 years old, whether she consented
to it or not. Police also obtained an arrest warrant for Buonguerrieri, and
brought him in for questioning.
The girl was taken to Banglamung Hospital for a medical examination to
submit as evidence for the case, and from there she was taken to the
Children’s Protection and Development Center in Pattaya.
Four injured in Loy Krathong motorcycle gang shooting
Boonlua Chatree
Two bystanders were injured in front of The Village on Third Road during the
night of Loy Krathong by stray bullets from local teenage gangs riding
around on motorcycles shooting at each other.
Police were called out at 1:30 a.m. on November 6. Arriving at the scene the
officers found two .22 caliber shell casings on the road, and two other
bullets. There were bullet holes in an advertisement hoarding on the side of
the road. Four injured people had already been sent to hospital, two of them
to Pattaya Memorial Hospital and the other two Banglamung Hospital.
Eyewitnesses said that about 20 youths had arrived on 10 motorcycles from
the Central Pattaya direction. Other youths had arrived from the South
Pattaya direction, and the first group had shot at the second group before
all the riders had fled.
The two injured people at Banglamung Hospital were from the second group of
youths. A-non Sukawattana, age 19, had a bullet wound to his right thumb,
and Pichet Promtem, 21, had been shot in his upper right arm. The two people
at Pattaya Memorial Hospital had been injured by stray bullets. They were
named as Wut Krongkaew, 32, a motorcycle taxi driver who had received a
flesh wound to his right shoulder, and Ms Saithan Sophon, 13, who had been
shot in the back and seriously injured. She was transferred for further
treatment to Chonburi Hospital.
Pichet said that he had gone with another 10 friends, male and female, to
the Loy Krathong festivities at Jomtien Beach. Afterwards they had driven
around on their motorcycles. Another group of youths, totaling about 20
people and riding 10 motorbikes, arrived from the opposite direction and
shot at his group five times.
Vendor dies as speeding car plows into food stalls on Sukhumvit Road
Atid Udomsrap left a trail of carnage when he
lost control of his car whilst racing on Sukhumvit Highway.
Boonlua Chatree
A food vendor was killed when a car speeding along Sukhumvit swerved to
avoid a pothole and careered into a row of food stalls on the roadside.
The incident happened just after midnight on November 8, on the stretch of
highway heading in the Sattahip direction, and close to Soi Nongkrabork.
Police and officers from Sawang Boriboon Foundation arrived quickly at the
scene, and 10 injured people were transferred to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
Many food stalls had been destroyed by the bronze-gray Honda Civic that had
crashed into them, and nine motorcycles were badly damaged. The injured
included a five-month-pregnant woman, and another person whose leg was
nearly severed.
The car stopped approximately 50 meters away from the scene. Inside were the
driver, 20-year-old Atid Udomsrap, and a passenger. Both had minor injuries
and were transferred to the same hospital as their victims.
Under what was left of a roti food stand was the dead body of the stand’s
owner, 35-year-old Mrs Taen Bunman. She had been struck directly by the
front of the car.
Atid told police he was driving the car back to his house in Sattahip with
his friend. On the way back he was using Sukhumvit Highway as a drag strip.
He was traveling at a high rate of speed to race another car, swerved to
avoid a pothole and then lost control. The car plowed into the food stalls
and customers.
Atid has been charged with reckless driving causing injury, and with
vehicular manslaughter.
Committee will resolve problems
of Koh Larn passenger boat operators
The passenger boat entrepreneurs listen intently
to city hall suggestions to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The dispute between passenger boat operators plying the Pattaya Pier-Tawaen
Beach route moved closer to being resolved on November 2 when Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh organized a meeting with them to sort out the problems
concerning overlapping routes and conflicting times.
At the root of the problem lies the increase in the number of boat operators
on the run out to the Koh Larn destination.
Along with the operators and city hall officials, officers from Chonburi
Water Transportation Department 6 also attended the meeting.
An earlier meeting had asked the operators for unity and mutual cooperation,
and the next stage is the formation of a committee made up from the
operators and associated officials that would resolve its own points of
dispute.
Wittaya Chaiyanukulkitti, head of the Pattaya division of Water Transport
Department 6, said that the department should play an active role in finding
a solution to organizing the routes.
Ronakit said that the operators would be divided into three groups, namely
those that serviced the Tawaen and Ta Nahban routes, and the chartered boat
operators.
Teams ready for traditional longboat races
Children from Wat Pong School
put on a performance during the city hall announcement that the Pattaya long
boat races will be held November 18 and 19 at Mabprachan reservoir.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Twenty teams from around the country have now been finalized for the
traditional longboat races that will be held on Mabprachan Reservoir over
the weekend of November 18 and 19.
A briefing was held at Pattaya City Hall on November 10 to announce the
teams, who will be competing for the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and
HRH Princess Soamsawalee Cups.
The Pong Sub-district Administrative Organization in conjunction with
Nongprue Municipality, Pattaya City, Tourism Authority of Thailand Central
Regional Office 3, and Chonburi Province Administrative Organization is
organizing the races.
Conducting the briefing were Sonthaya Khunplome, former minister of tourism
and sports, Rewat Pollook-in, deputy head of the Chonburi Province
Administrative Organization, and Pattaya Deputy Mayor Wattana
Chantanawaranon.
The longboat competition will be divided into three categories. The largest
boats, each with 55 oarsmen, will compete for the HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn Cup and the top prize of 100,000 baht. In the second category,
boats with 30 oarsmen will compete for the HRH Princess Soamsawalee Cup and
a prize of 50,000 baht. The third category is for small boats, competing for
a trophy and 10,000 baht.
Other events that will take place during the races will include buffalo
racing, a windsurfing competition, and two long drum competitions. Products
from Chonburi Province will also be for sale.
The races will take place on November 18 and 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pattaya allocates 16 million baht
for public relations campaigns
Narisa Nitikarn
A budget of 16 million baht has been allocated for public relations
campaigns next year.
 Police
Captain Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of TAT Central Region Office Region 3
discusses allocation of the budget.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay chaired a meeting at Pattaya District Office on
November 7, with director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office Region
3 Chaiwat Charoensuk, and a number of tourism professionals also present.
Verawat said the previous budget provided to the TAT had been 15 million
baht and that for next year the amount had been increased to 16 million. In
order not to delay withdrawals of the budget, the meeting was being held to
discuss the allocations.
Chaiwat said that 10 million should be allocated for international public
relations, 2 million should go to promote Pattaya’s image, and 4 million for
domestic public relations activities and urgent projects.
Chaiwat added that the budget would be allocated in more detail, which would
take about a week and be finalized at a subsequent meeting.
Colorful Charity Day at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital on November 4 organized a Charity Day for agencies
involved with charity organizations in Pattaya to sell goods and generate
funds, and to promote their own charitable causes.
 Goods
that ranged from engraved mirrors to insecticide-free vegetables were on
sale during Bangkok Pattaya Hospital’s Charity Day on November 4.
Organizations taking part in the event at the hospital included the Rotary
Club Pattaya Marina, Jesters Care for Kids, the Lions Club, and Pattaya
International Ladies Club. They sold goods that ranged from engraved mirrors
to insecticide-free vegetables, and reported satisfying interest and sales.
This colorful event was well attended, not only by the different
associations and organizations but also by members of the public and
hospital staff.
The Street Kids stand was beautifully presented, with articles from Northern
Thailand drawing the most attention, and to add an authentic flavor some of
the kids were wearing traditional hill tribe costume.
Singing performances, and the children from Ban Jing Jai dancing to music
added further color to the event.
Adding an authentic flavor,
some of the kids were wearing traditional hill tribe costume.
Thep Prasat Temple
installs Brahma images
in Crystal Buddha Image Hall
The temple’s deputy abbot,
Bunsong Chanthimo, along with officers and devotees built four Brahma images
and paraded them three times around the Crystal Buddha Image Hall.
Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip’s Thep Prasat Temple, alternatively known as Wat Tao Than, built
its Crystal Buddha Image Hall to install a Buddha image and an image of the
temple’s former abbot, Sompong Acharo, whose body did not decay after death
and who consequently has become a figure of adulation amongst the faithful.
A Brahma ceremony to install images was led by the temple’s deputy abbot,
Bunsong Chanthimo on November 4. Captain Chainarong Kaowiset, deputy
commander-in-chief of the Air and Coastal Defense Command, Royal Thai Navy,
along with officers and devotees built four Brahma images and paraded them
three times around the Crystal Buddha Image Hall. The images were then
placed in the hall, facing north, south, east and west.
The Brahma installation is expected to attract many worshippers from all
parts of Thailand and from overseas.
Electronic tagging planned
to combat the number of stray dogs
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Burapha University in cooperation with the Thai Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals is working on ways to control the
number of stray dogs and is implanting microchips in dogs in Chonburi
province to study their behavior patterns.
 In
the future all stray dogs in Chonburi will have a microchip implanted.
Assist Prof Charee Maneesri, vice president of academic affairs at Burapha
University, and Sawan Saengbanlang, secretary general of the TSPCA,
described progress on this project, which got underway late in March in the
Koh Si Chang district of Chonburi.
Personnel began collecting data on stray dogs and cats on Koh Si Chang by
implanting microchips in them. More than 400 animals were tagged in this
way. Researchers will now be able to follow the lifecycles of the animals
and observe their migration habits, which would make it easier to control
the number of stray animals in future.
Sawan said that TSPCA statistics reveal the number of stray dogs and cats is
increasing to a worrying degree. There are many deaths in Thailand each year
from rabies, and the problem needs to be controlled and prevented. He
welcomed the cooperation with Burapha University.
Assist Prof Charee said the number of stray dogs in the immediate area
around the university is increasing. The university hosts major gatherings,
such as the Buddhist Association of Thailand congress in which delegates
will attend from all over the Kingdom, and controlling the number of stray
dogs and cats is a necessary health and safety precaution.
At present, vaccinations are given to the strays to prevent the spread of
disease. The next step is to implant 100 dogs and cats in the area with
microchips to study their lives and behavior patterns.
Full Moon Party helps boost
Koh Larn as tourism destination
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Koh Larn’s Nual Beach held its Full Moon Party on November 4 and 5, the
second following the success of the original party last year.
 A
Klong Sabadchai dance was performed to open the Full Moon Party on Koh Larn.
Organized by Pattaya’s Beer Bar Entrepreneur Association in cooperation with
city hall, the party was opened by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn with
Pattaya City Council chairman Tavich Chaisawangwong, and attracted Thai and
foreign tourists alike.
Mayor Niran said that the city is promoting Koh Larn as a tourism
destination, and that other recent activities have included a video
recording for the Miss Thailand contest at Samae Beach in September and a
visit by the transvestite participants in the Miss International Queen
pageant last month.
 Two
bearcats were brought in from Khao Kheow Open Zoo to add a little local
color.
The number of tourists visiting Koh Larn has recently increased by 30
percent, said Niran, and the numbers are expected grow even more with the
exposure that Koh Larn is receiving.
“Pattaya City cooperated with police officers, municipality police, and
uniformed and non-uniformed officers to prepare a team responsible for
safety and drug prevention at the Full Moon Party,” Niran added.
Opening under torchlight and with a Northern traditional Klong Sabadchai
dance, the party also featured games booths and vendor stalls. Two bearcats
were brought in from Khao Kheow Open Zoo to add a little local color.
The atmosphere at the Full
Moon Party was filled with enjoyment and smiling tourists.
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