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No go for building alongside Jomtien Second Road
Move intended to dampen
land speculation
Narisa Nitikarn
Pattaya City Council has agreed on a motion proposed by city
officials to prohibit the construction of buildings alongside the newly
built Jomtien Second Road.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn and the city council have decided to prohibit
building along Jomtien Second Road.
This is intended to help prevent land speculation and allow for the
possibility of widening the road in future.
At a council meeting on September 27 at Pattaya City Hall, the
administrative division submitted a motion for approval prohibiting the
construction of new buildings along both sides of Jomtien Second Road, from
the Matchanu Roundabout to the Chaiyapruek Junction Road, and along
Chaiyapruek Road back to Jomtien Second Road.
Tavich Chaiswangwong, chairman of Pattaya City Council presided over the
meeting.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn submitted the proposal to the meeting to ask
for its approval. He said that the administrative sector had the intention
of answering future traffic problems along Jomtien Second Road by using
legal measures to control building activity.
During holiday times especially, Jomtien First Road is clogged with traffic.
Jomtien Second Road is currently under construction to allow this part of
Pattaya to develop in an orderly fashion, and to lay new utilities such as
power supplies, waterworks and telephone lines. The road has six-lanes, two
of which will form hard shoulders, and it will funnel through-traffic away
from Jomtien First Road.
The proposal put to the council and passed by them was to prohibit
construction of buildings and modifications to buildings at a distance of 10
meters from the center of both sides of the road. The motion also covered
the prohibiting of building at Pattaya Second Road where it connects to
North Pattaya and Jomtien Second Road.
Preventing new buildings being erected alongside the new road will help to
control land prices and allow for the future widening of the road when
traffic increases.
PAOs will seek
changes to election rules at later date
Educational level of officials
cause for concern
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Thailand Provincial Association Organization held a seminar at the
Ambassador City in Jomtien on October 2 in which heads of Provincial
Association Organizations from all over the country met to exchange their
views and experiences.
 Somporn
Chaibangyang, director-general of the Local Organization Administration
Promotion Department, Ministry of Interior, said that the educational
standards of PAO officers is a concern.
Bunyakiat Rakchatcharoen, director of the Election Administration Division
was invited as one of the speakers to describe the rules and regulations
governing elections of officials for the PAOs.
He said that the forthcoming elections next year would remain unchanged in
format, as the Legislative Council would have no time to amend the election
law. He added, however, that for future elections, the Thailand PAO would be
proposing changes, but that these will need to be discussed in detail before
any definite proposals can be made.
Somporn Chaibangyang, director general of Local Organization Administration
Promotion Department, Ministry of Interior, said that one major cause of
concern was the educational standards of PAO officers. At least 90 percent
of them had not attained even a bachelor level degree. Although
administrators with lower-level qualifications could usually do their work
properly, higher education was necessary in a more indirect level because it
helped to raise the operational level of an organization and to thwart the
machinations of corrupt politicians.
Pattaya will ordain 80 monks
to celebrate HM the King’s birthday
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City is preparing to ordain 80 Buddhist monks over the period
December 4 to 10 to honor His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday.
 Wannapa
Wannasri, head of the Technical Education Bureau, voiced concern over the
location for the ritual shaving of the monks’ heads, which takes place
outside Pattaya City Hall.
A meeting was held at Pattaya City Hall on October 3 to discuss the
ordinations, which will take place at Jittapawan College. Concerns were
raised by the Education Department, which was worried about the tidiness of
the location for the ritual shaving of the monks’ heads, which takes place
outside Pattaya City Hall.
This will be the fourth consecutive year that an ordination ceremony of this
kind has been held. The hair shaving ceremony will take place on December 3.
Wannapa Wannasri, head of the Technical Education Bureau, voiced concern
over the location.
“It would be better if this event took place at Jittapawan College,” said
Wannapa. “This is a more suitable location with lots of bathrooms to support
the candidates for the Buddhist priesthood, and it has a more spacious area
for this ceremony.”
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon said using Jittapawan College would
restrict the number of people who could view the ceremony, and that the
Pattaya City Hall location allowed the greatest number of visitors.
After the ordination ceremony on December 4, the monks will be assigned to
different temples, including Jittapawan College, Pachumkongka Temple, and
Putthiwararam Temple.
Chonburi Province is also organizing a mass ordination ceremony, which will
take place on October 14. There are 20 temples associated with this project,
with 1,653 candidates.
No more favoritism in selecting
staff says governor
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi’s governor says that when a position in any of the Local
Administration Organizations becomes vacant, then applications must be
opened to the public, with no favoritism being permitted.
 Governor
Pracha Taerat says that when a position in any of the Local Administration
Organizations becomes vacant, then applications must be opened to the
public, with no favoritism being permitted.
The Local Administration Organizations in Chonburi Province have received a
directive from the governor, and are reviewing their recruitment processes.
Governor Pracha Taerat said a vacant position must be announced to the
province within seven days. The selection must not take more than 60 days.
Pracha was speaking at the meeting of the Chonburi Province Local
Administration Organizations recently at the Royal Twin Palace in Pattaya.
He said that only by fair recruitment methods could standards be improved,
with qualified people for efficient management of local areas.
Local Administration Organizations have many inefficient people hidden away
within their departments, said the governor, because there has not been a
fair system of selection and nepotism has been rife. From now on selection
must be on an open basis, with a committee to examine the qualifications and
suitability of applicants.
Pracha also issued a directive for the Local Administration Organizations in
the province to prepare security for the many international events that will
be held during October. These include the ICCA Congress, which will be held
over the period October 27 to 31, the Honda LPGA Thailand 2007 Golf
competition from October 25 to 28 at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Golf
Course, and the 136th Chonburi Buffalo Race on October 24, at the field in
front of the Chonburi District Office.
Trees planted in global warming initiative
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Motor cavalcades set out from Bangkok and other key cities in
Thailand on September 28 and 29, dispersing in 27 different directions to
promote the message of global warming throughout the country.
 As
part of the World Tourism Day initiative, trees were planted in the hopes of
regaining the fight against Global warming. The goal was to plant three
plants per person.
The rally was part of a series of activities organized by the Tourism
Authority of Thailand to celebrate the World Tourism Organization’s World
Tourism Day, which took place on September 27.
In Bangkok, the caravan of cars started from the Phra Meru Grounds and went
in five directions, heading for Chonburi, Petchburi, Nakhonnayok,
Kanchanaburi and Sukhothai.
Elsewhere in Thailand, cars set out from TAT regional offices all over
Thailand. There were four routes covered in Northern Thailand, eight in the
Central region, five in the Northeast, and five in the South.
Along the various routes, the motorcades stopped to plant trees at
predetermined spots, a symbol of the need to combat global warning.
In Chonburi Province, the trees were planted at Siri Charoenwat Plantation,
located at Khao Chi-On next to Yanasangwararam Temple in Najomtien,
Sattahip. The area here covers 3,900 rai and comes under the Forest
Plantation Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the
Environment.
Participants in the parade brought 500 saplings for planting, including
hopea, margosa and cassia trees.
Wear polite attire when presenting flowers to image of
HM the King says deputy mayor
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City has issued a statement requesting everyone presenting
flowers to the image of His Majesty the King during the celebrations
surrounding His Majesty’s 80th birthday to dress in polite and appropriate
clothing.
 Deputy
Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon says that people dressed impolitely will not
be allowed to present trays to honor HM the King on December 5.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon presided over a meeting on October 3 to
review and plan the arrangements for the celebrations.
Wattana said that a parade would be held on the day, December 5, starting
from the front of the Royal Garden Plaza and proceeding along Beach Road to
end at Bali Hai Pier. Silver and gold trays will be presented in front of
His Majesty the King’s image, followed by the lighting of candles for a
blessing.
Wattana said that it was important that everyone taking part in the
celebrations wear polite attire, and he asked for the public’s cooperation
in wearing a yellow shirt, which is the symbol of the 60th anniversary of
His Majesty’s accession to the throne.
The deputy mayor said that anyone wearing inappropriate attire while
presenting the trays at this ceremony would not be allowed to access His
Majesty’s image. This measure was being implemented because during the 60th
anniversary celebrations some groups had dressed in jeans and sandals.
Wattana said that it was important to show respect, and also important that
this occasion showed Pattaya City in a favorable light in terms of the
appearance and behavior of its citizens.
Bay Watch: Payphone booths’ number is up
Vimolrat Singnikorn
In these days of mobile telephones there is not so much need for
payphone booths, as is evidenced by the dilapidated state of these seven
booths in front of the Telephone Organization of Thailand offices.
None of the booths has a door, and the roofs of some are broken. They look,
quite frankly, nasty. Not a nice advertisement for our increasingly
high-tech, clean and green international city.
The booths should either be completely restored, or removed. Quickly.
Eight gamblers arrested
in illegal dice game
Hiding their heads in shame,
these dastardly gamblers were arrested in Banglamung.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Police who busted an illegal gambling den managed to detain only
eight of an estimated 50 gamblers, the rest fleeing into the night.
Banglamung police carried out the raid at 12:30 a.m. on October 4 at an
abandoned house on Soi Chaiyapornvithee 25.
The house was located in a mango garden 50 meters away from the road. About
10 cars and 20 motorbikes were parked around the house, and there were about
40 pairs of shoes outside the door. Police could clearly hear the sounds of
a game of dice in progress. Yet when the officers announced themselves the
gamblers scattered and only eight people were held. Police also impounded a
number of vehicles.
No one amongst those arrested has admitted to being the banker in the game
or the owner of the house.
Bang Den banged-up on car theft charges
Pattaya Tourist Police congratulated
on their role in busting gang
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Police have arrested a man known to them as Bang Den, and long suspected as
being the ringleader of a Central Thailand gang of car thieves, following
investigations that began with Pattaya Tourist Police stopping a vehicle in
Central Pattaya on September 18.
 “Bang
Den” was arrested when local tourist police were able to break up his car
theft gang.
Tourist Police became suspicious of a black Honda Jazz bearing a Bangkok
license plate that had been parked at the Central Pattaya entrance to
Sukhumvit Road during that evening.
The driver, 18-year-old Arthid Srisalab, was unable to produce any documents
to show them. His passenger, Wutthipong Arthorn, claimed that the vehicle
had been purchased from a man named as Mr Tong, whose real name was unknown,
for 85,000 baht.
When the officers checked inside the car, they found that the registration
number on the inside of the windshield had been modified.
Both Arthid and Wutthipong were residents at an address in Pakkred, in
Nonthaburi, and when officers checked they found the car had earlier been
registered as stolen at Pakkred Police Station. The officers then contacted
Pol Lt Gen Thanee Somboonsrap, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police
bureau that investigates vehicle theft, to ask for his help in widening
their inquiries.
Through the help of the central bureau, it was established that Arthid and
Wutthipong had bought the car from a gang of car thieves based in Central
Thailand. The leader of the gang was known to police as Bang Den, real name
Ratthachai Areesawat, 36, and a warrant was obtained for his arrest. He was
seized in front of the Carrefour department store in Bangyai, on the
Talingchan-Supan Road in Saothonghin, Nonthaburi.
Police also arrested three other members of the gang, namely Yanadet
Kongton, 35, of Lampang, and two brothers, Somsak Thongfak, 32, and Somchai
Thongfak, 23, of Pakkred. Two pistols and 251 ya ba pills were found amongst
the possessions of the gang. Investigators also tracked down a number of
cars and motorcycles that had been stolen and hidden at several locations in
Bangkok.
Bang Den admitted to the theft of the Honda Jazz and the other vehicles. He
said there was no fixed pattern for the thefts, and the taking of a vehicle
depended on the opportunity. He said that for choice the gang chose Honda
Jazz because they were easy to steal. They are uncomplicated cars, said Bang
Den, and once inside the thief is able to insert a steel tool into the
ignition, start the car, and drive it away. They sold the stolen cars for
approximately 60,000 baht each.
Pol Lt Gen Thanee said that Bang Den was in the police files for car theft
and that he was long suspected of being the ringleader of a gang. Pattaya
Tourist Police were congratulated by the commander for their vigilance in
stopping a suspicious car, and expanding inquiries that resulted in the
breakup of the gang.
Bomb planted outside Pothisarn garage was work of unhappy customer
Boonlua Chatree
A bomb planted at a Pattaya garage and which fortunately failed to
explode is believed to have been the work of a disgruntled customer.
 The
bomb disposal team investigates the explosive device.
Police received a report at 5 p.m. on October 2 that a bomb had been found
outside a garage near Pothisarn Market, on Soi Pothisarn.
At the scene the officers found an M76 type bomb. They sealed off the area
and contacted Captain Somkhuam Sangthong, head of the bomb disposal unit at
the Royal Thai Navy Ordnance Department. Experts neutralized the device,
which took about 30 minutes. Capt Somkhuam confirmed it was an M76 that had
been primed for action, but that the detonator had failed.
Owner of the garage, 25-year-old Chatchai Tanakan stated that he had closed
the premises to take a rest and that Theerayut Kongmee, a 28-year-old
mechanic found the bomb when he went along to open up.
Chatchai said that on the previous day, October 1, he had received a threat
via an SMS message. He assumed the threat had come from a man he named as Mr
Beer, who had brought a BMW in for the engine to be repaired and the sound
system to be adjusted. The total bill came to 300,000 baht.
Beer test-drove the car and said he was unhappy with the work done. He asked
for a refund, which led to a heated dispute with the threat of violence.
Police investigations established that at about 4 p.m. on the day the bomb
was found, two men riding a gray-colored motorcycle had passed the garage.
They are being treated as suspects, and police inquiries continue.
Traditional buffalo races about to begin
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi Buffalo Races will be held over the period October 23 to 25
at the field in front of Chonburi District Office, the 136th time for this
popular traditional event that is held annually on the day before the full
moon of the 11th lunar month.
Chonburi Province, Chonburi Municipality and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand stage the races jointly.
Races will be held in the midget, small and large size categories. Along
with the buffalo races are a buffalo fancy dress contest, a healthy buffalo
contest, a farm equipment parade, and the Miss Farmer Pageant.
There are also games and sports competitions, including kite flying, Thai
boxing, and a chess tournament.
For more information please contact the Chonburi Municipality at tel 038
283958 ext 138, or Chonburi Public Relations Office at tel. 038 279448.
Middle East gets priority in next year’s advertising budget
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A substantial part of next year’s 20 million baht budget for
promoting Pattaya City will be spent on wooing the Middle East tourism
markets.
 Deputy
Mayor
Verawat Khakhay
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay on September 29 presided over a meeting of the
marketing and advertising committee to draw up plans for next year.
From this amount, 2 million baht will be spent on promoting Pattaya with a
campaign run in conjunction with an Asian low-cost airline. There will also
be an agents’ fam trip and seminar that is costed out at 2.8 million baht.
Between 2 and 3 million baht will be spent on the ITB fair in Berlin,
Germany. The remaining budget, totaling about 12 million baht, will go into
promoting Pattaya in specific markets, mainly Russia, India and the Middle
East.
Vegetarian festival sales are down in wake of national turmoil
Young maidens dressed in
Chinese costumes help announce
the festival at city hall.
Vimolrat Singnikorn and Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
In what is a sign of the troubled times, the amount of food being
ordered during the traditional vegetarian festival period is down by as much
as 50 percent compared to last year, and it looks as if the Pattaya 2007
Vegetarian Festival will be a far more subdued event than that of 2006.
 Lapatsarada
Buaklao, a vegetable monger at Naklua Market said that even though the
number of vegetarians seems to be increasing, sales are down.
The final program was announced at an October 2 briefing at Pattaya City
Hall, led by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn along with Wisit
Chaowalitnititham, president of the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation
in Pattaya and Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Central Region 3 Office.
Pattaya Vegetarian Festival is being held from October 10 to 20, centered on
the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation offices, where on the first day
Hongtae fried rice noodles was whisked up in the biggest pan in Thailand.
Weighing 997 kg, this huge pan served noodles to 1,500 people. As an extra
auspicious symbol, 2,000 plums were also distributed to the ceremony
attendees.
Observers and merchants have, however, reported that the traditional
vegetarian period this year is far less busy than last year, with people
being more economic in buying the necessary vegetarian goods, rice noodles,
vegetables and fruit.
Lapatsarada Buaklao, a vegetable monger at Naklua Market said that even
though the number of vegetarians seems to be increasing, the Thai economy is
down. This is reflected in the vegetable wholesale and retail sectors, and
in the volume of produce being bought for the festival period.
Nusara Songkaew, a vegetarian goods and food vendor at Wat Chaimongkol
Market in South Pattaya said that her shop usually does good business every
year during the vegetarian festival. This year she has been displaying extra
vegetarian produce since September 30, but people are simply not buying at
the same levels as last year, even though there is little difference in the
prices. Rice noodles are 65 baht instead of 60 baht compared to last year,
but her sales are down by half.
Nusara said that the mood this year is different, because of the economic
problems and an unstable political system. These are the reasons why people
are not spending so much.
One buyer gave his own view. “There are lots of costs to bear, increases in
gas prices, mistrust in the economic future, and the need to wait for a new
political administration. For all these reasons people are obligated to
economize for a while.”
Magic moments as 10 master magicians gather for festival
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Ten master magicians from around the world will attend the 1st
Pattaya International Magic Festival, to be held over the period October 17
to 21.
 Itthipol
Khunplome (left), chief advisor to the mayor, and Sub. Lt. Chaiwat
Charoensuk, director TAT Central Region 3, announce the upcoming magic
festival.
The event is being organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya
Magicians’ Club and Alangkarn Theatre, and was announced on October 2 at the
Tuxedo Theatre.
Ten master magicians from 10 different countries will display their magical
talents, including Franz Harary of America, Keiko Muto from Japan, Xio Run,
the Asian Magicians 2006 champion, P J Wan from Taiwan, and Ger Copper from
the Netherlands. Representing Thailand is Philip, a member of the
Professional Magicians’ Club.
Over the period October 17 to 19, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. there will be
competitions and magical equipment on sale at Central Festival Center in
Pattaya. Entry is free. From October 20 to 21 there will be magicians’ show
from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Alangkarn Theater. Entry fees are 500 baht,
800 baht and 1,000 baht.
For more information call Tuxedo Theatre at tel 038 488880, or go to
www.pattayamagicfestival2007.com and www.tuxedo-magic.com. Or contact the
Call Centers at 1672 (TAT) and 1337 (Pattaya City Hall).
Elderly American man found dead
Boonlua Chatree
An elderly American man suffering from depression apparently killed
himself by placing a plastic bag over his head.
Franklin Lynman Nooner, aged 67 and originally from California, was found
dead in his house on Soi Nongketyai 9 in Nongplalai. His son discovered the
body.
Police and Sawang Boriboon officers were called out to the scene, a luxury
one-story house with its own swimming pool, at 7 p.m. on October 2. Inside
the bedroom they found the deceased. He had covered his head with a white
plastic bag and tied it at his neck with shoelaces. He had been dead for
about one hour. Two goodbye letters were found in the room.
Franklin Lynman Nooner Jnr, 46, the son of the deceased, stated in tears
that his father worked in computer software. He had bought a house in
Pattaya for his retirement. Five months previously he had an accident that
caused a burst blood vessel in his brain, which had led to partial
paralysis.
Franklin Jnr said he had made a decision to come to Thailand to take care of
his father. Last month his father had tried to commit suicide by cutting his
leg with a knife, but he was found in time and taken to hospital.
On this final occasion, his father had been alone in the house. When
Franklin Jnr returned he found his father dead. Police say that the deceased
was in a state of despair over his medical condition, and did not want to be
a burden to anyone. The body was transferred to the Medical Jurisprudence
Institute to confirm the cause of death.
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