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5,000 law enforcement officials to ensure
general election in Pattaya is a clean one
Police on watch for armed thugs
Chonburi Governor Pracha
Taerat, city officials and police want to
ensure fair elections on December 23.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Chonburi Province communities and the provincial police are readying
themselves for the general election on December 23, with local residents
rallying in support of the policy against vote buying, and the police on
high alert for armed thugs.
Residents held a rally in support of holding a clean election in the Pattaya
Beach Road Soi 4 area on November 28, marching to Bali Hai Pier to promote
the message.
Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat said that it was the official policy of the
interim military government that the election be a completely clean one, and
said that the people of the province are all in favor of this.
Chonburi Provincial Police Headquarters has meanwhile begun a surveillance
program to seek out criminal elements that might try and influence voters.
Pracha said that although the national target is to get at least 70 percent
of the electorate out to the hustings, in Chonburi Province the policy is to
get no less than 75 percent out to exercise their right to vote.
Chonburi election Zone 2, which includes Sattahip, Banglamung (Pattaya),
parts of Laem Chabang and Sriracha, will have 5,000 law enforcement officers
consisting of police, military personnel and civil volunteers out on the
streets to ensure that the voting is free and fair.
Pattaya Mail chief crime reporter raises funds
for temple study hall
Boonlua Chatree (back, center)
and friends managed to collect enough in donations to help build a study
hall at Klong Klon Temple.
Pattaya Mail Staff
Chief crime reporter for the Pattaya Mail Boonlua Chatree received more than
800,000 baht during a Kathin ceremony that will go towards constructing a
study hall for Klong Klon Temple.
Boonlua along with Utai Jueliang, owner of Utai Roopapan Pattaya Gold Shop
and beauty salon owner Miss Chalong Sriaritanon organized the ceremony
specifically to raise funds for the temple, which is located at Klong Klon,
Samut Songkram.
Pattaya Mail appointed Boonlua to raise funds, which will be presented in
honor of His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday.
In total, 808,880 baht was donated by Buddhists and other kindhearted
people. Klong Klon Temple is an impoverished temple located on a seashore
site. A study hall is being built, but the temple lacks funds for
construction materials. The amount raised will therefore be used for this
purpose.
Development center for the disabled moves towards construction phase
Suporntham Mongkolsawat (2nd
right) and his team from the Redemptorist Vocational School discuss plans
for the center with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn (right).
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City is planning to build a Disabled Peoples’ Ability
Development Center on Soi Thepprasit 7, and on November 26 Suporntham
Mongkolsawat, director of the Redemptorist Vocational School in Pattaya led
a group to Pattaya City Hall for discussions with Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn.
Suporntham said the center was intended to help the disabled to fully
develop their abilities in various skills, giving them the freedom to earn a
living and to show other disabled people that they too can reach their own
potential.
Pattaya City has already constructed a Youth Sports Center on Soi Thepprasit
7, and the proposed disabled center would be built on a nearby plot of land.
Much of the discussion therefore covered the management of the construction
works.
Suporntham said that an approximate area of 3 rai 16 square wah would be
used for the center, and that the facilities would include research areas
and a gym.
Two garbage barges to be
purchased for Koh Larn collections
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City will purchase two more garbage collection barges with
the intention of resolving the pile-ups of refuse on Koh Larn.
Wachirawit Kudklang, acting on behalf of the assistant director of the
Pattaya City Koh Larn Branch Office said that in the chiefs of the divisions
meeting held on November 27 it was decided to propose the acquisition of
extra garbage collection vessels for the island.
Pattaya City at present uses a single barge that collects rubbish from Koh
Larn and takes it to a collection point near the Pattaya Sea Rescue Unit.
Earlier it was calculated that a collection once per day was enough in the
context of the number of residents and visitors on the island.
The volume of garbage since that time has, however, grown, and although the
schedule remains daily the boat cannot handle the weight of a complete day’s
worth of refuse.
Further, there is the problem of the barge itself, which has been providing
this service since 2003 and is no longer in a reliable condition. Sometimes
it breaks down and on occasions several days have been needed for repairs,
leaving the island’s rubbish uncollected.
This in turn has led to problems of bad odor, as the garbage deteriorates.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said the purchasing department has been
directed to arrange the acquisition of two more garbage delivery boats to
alleviate the problem.
Colorful balloons to brighten sky
in honor of HM the King’s birthday
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
At last count, over 30 international hot air balloons had signed up to
participate in an 80th birthday celebration for His Majesty the King.
 The
event is scheduled for December 8-12 and will be held at the Pattaya
Learning Resort College of Innovative Education at Thammasat University in
Chonburi.
Just some of the magical
balloons that will be up, up and away in Pattaya this week.
Balloonist from Asia, Europe and America will be taking part.
An air show is also planned, and will feature paragliding, hang gliding,
parachuting, para-motoring, sky diving, remote controlled model airplanes,
ultra light aircraft, and fireworks.
On the ground, activities will include motocross training and mountain
biking, jazz concerts, an Australian band provided by Australian Consul
Robin Hamilton-Coates, and souvenir booths.
Local retailers protest over ‘biased’
survey conducted by Lotus Express
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A row has erupted over the validity of research findings into the proposed
Tesco Lotus Express convenience store, with local retailers saying that the
results of a survey conducted by the owners, which showed a majority of
residents in favor of the store, cannot be relied upon.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn suggests the protesting group conduct their own
study.
Responding to demands by the association representing the retailers that a
completely neutral survey be undertaken, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn has
suggested the retailers conduct their own study, and that the results of
both surveys would then be submitted to the governor of Chonburi Province.
The Federation of Thais Opposing Foreign Retailers have represented the
local retailers in filing complaints against the opening of the Tesco Lotus
Express convenience store, a brand name under the giant Tesco Lotus retail
group, succeeding in gaining a temporary halt on construction.
Tesco Lotus Express, which would be the first in Pattaya, would be a 24-hour
convenience store covering an area of up to 360 square meters on Soi
Nernplabwan.
The owners of the store, Ek-Chai Distribution System Co Ltd have countered
by commissioning a research team led by Dr Akaranant Kidsom and Dr
Chayongkan Pamornmast from Mahanokorn University of Technology to conduct a
survey on public attitudes towards the proposed store.
The team interviewed 437 Pattaya inhabitants in different occupations. The
results showed that 90 percent of them used the main Tesco Lotus store, with
50 percent of them being positive on its convenience and the competitive
prices of its goods. Of those questioned, 57 percent thought that the
opening of the small convenience store sub-branch would be beneficial. Only
16 percent disagreed, while 27 percent were neutral.
The local retailers have predictably not been pleased with the research
findings, saying that the survey was biased. They remain against the opening
of the store, and say that an official research unit or other neutral and
believable entity should undertake another survey.
Mayor Niran, however, has said that the retailers are welcome to provide
their own research team and that the results from their survey would be sent
together with the results from the first survey to the Chonburi governor,
who would then make a decision on whether or not construction on the
proposed store could be completed and the store allowed to open for
business.
“There must be impartiality for both sides according to the scope of the
law,” the mayor said. “Therefore, the retailers have been asked to conduct
research, this time focusing on the specific area where the sub-branch would
be located.
“This would provide a clear target group, and the two surveys should between
them provide a clear picture.”
Communities vow to see a clean election
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
leads representatives of Pattaya’s 27 communities to swear an oath in front
of a photo of His Majesty the King.
All promised to not buy or sell votes.
Chatchanan Boonnak
Representatives of all the 27 communities within Pattaya City
gathered at the Tappaya Room at Pattaya City Hall on November 29 where Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn conducted a ceremony that vowed to keep clean the
voting during the general election on December 23.
Pattaya City permanent secretary Sittiprap Muangkoom said that the ceremony
followed the policy of the interim government in which all citizens are
asked to refrain from buying or selling votes.
Sittiprap added that Pattaya is also determined to get at least 75 percent
of the electorate within the city’s jurisdiction out to the polling
stations.
Also taking the oath for a clean election alongside the 27 communities were
representatives of the 10 schools within Pattaya City.
Russian held on charges
of using counterfeit dollars
Boonlua Chatree
A Russian man has been arrested for paying for goods at Royal Garden
Plaza with counterfeit US dollars.
 An
expert is brought in to confirm that the bills are counterfeit.
Police were called out on November 28 by Miss Narin Raksachat, the
35-year-old manager of a shop selling imported brand-name clothing. Also at
the scene, being detained by security officers, was a 29-year-old Russian
named as Ego Roy Denis. He was holding a bag containing newly purchased
clothes. A total of 600 US dollars was pronounced by an expert as being
counterfeit.
Taken to Pattaya Police Station for questioning, Denis stated that he had
received the dollars in his home country, where he had used money from the
same batch to buy a car and had had no problems. He therefore had no doubts
about bringing the money to Thailand and using it here.
A watch vendor named Chokdee Insuwan, 39, came to the police station while
Denis was being questioned, to say that the Russian had also used the
counterfeit dollars to purchase two watches from him. He asked to get his
watches back, and also filed a report.
Gang of four pickpockets arrested
Theerarak Suthatiwong
A gang of four pickpockets were arrested when they tried to steal
money from a tourist on a baht bus but were caught and detained by locals.
 Pornthip
Thumthong points out the miscreants.
Police were called out during the afternoon of November 27 to Soi Buakao
where two sisters, Miss Goi Iam-saard, 22, and Miss Usa Iam-saard, 25, were
being held along with two transvestites, Bancha Yotyingyong, 22, and Akom
Chotang. Waiting with them was their intended victim, 53-year-old Michael
Ashworth from Northern Ireland.
Ashworth stated that he had taken a baht bus from his hotel to go to the Tuk
Com IT Mall for a meal. When the vehicle arrived on Soi Buakao, Goi tried to
pick his pocket when he wasn’t paying attention. However, he realized and
shouted for help. Goi and her sister, who was also on the bus, attempted to
get out and get away on the motorcycle that Bancha and Akom were riding, but
passers-by stopped and detained them.
While the four thieves were being questioned at Pattaya Police Station, Mrs
Pornthip Thumthong, a 40-year-old resident of Surin came in and identified
them as the gang who had stolen money from her and her husband in front of
Chai Mongkol Temple two weeks previously. A further charge was therefore
added.
Officers said that the four were well known to the police, having been
arrested many times. They all came from the same slum area on Thepprasit
Road Soi 7. The Yamaha Fino motorcycle that police had impounded when they
were arrested was a stolen one, with false number plates. The four have all
been charged with theft.
Two tourists injured
by exploding bottle rocket
Boonlua Chatree
Two foreign visitors were hurt during Loy Krathong night when a
bottle rocket they were igniting exploded.
The incident happened just after midnight on November 25 at Pattaya Beach,
just opposite the Best Friend Bar.
Officers from Pattaya Police Station and rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon
Foundation went to the scene, where they found a crowd of Thai and foreign
tourists on the beach. The remains of a large bottle rocket were found next
to a beach umbrella. The two injured people had already been transported to
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, and the officers and Tourist Police officers went
to question them.
At the hospital was Marinus Louwere, a 62-year-old citizen of Holland, who
had been seriously injured to the stomach. The other injured person was Haas
Olaf, a 52-year-old German national, who had minor injuries to his right
arm.
The injured men were friends who had come to Pattaya Beach to celebrate the
Loy Krathong festival. They had purchased the large bottle rocket to set off
for amusement. Louwerse ignited the rocket, which rather than going up into
the sky had exploded, the fragments causing the injuries to the two men.
Pol Col Noppadon Wongnorm, superintendent at Pattaya Police Station had
earlier called on all officers to enforce the policy of getting rid of
bottle rocket and fireworks vendors, who were illegally distributing
fireworks. Despite this, there were still vendors selling their potentially
dangerous goods during the evening of the festival.
Driver of 18-wheeler dies as his truck capsizes
Police and rescue workers
arrive on the scene, but too late to save the driver.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
The driver of an 18-wheel truck died when he dozed off at the wheel
while driving from Maptaput in Rayong to Laem Chabang.
The accident occurred just after midnight on November 23 on Highway 36, near
the Bira racetrack. Officers from Banglamung Police Station went to the
scene together with rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Foundation, who took
special cutting and lifting equipment with them.
The 18-wheel Isuzu truck belonging to the Sor Boonlua Company had crashed on
the shoulder of the road. The truck was upside down in a thicket
approximately 5 meters off the road, and the container loaded with cassava
starch had careened off the highway and was badly damaged.
Rescue workers found the driver wedged behind the steering wheel of the
vehicle. He was critically injured and died as rescuers struggled to
extricate him from the wreckage, which took about 40 minutes.
He was identified as Jiradet Karawigo, age 29, a resident of Khon Kaen. His
injuries included broken legs and arms, serious injuries to the face, and a
fractured skull. Officers transferred the body to Banglamung Hospital, and
afterwards contacted the deceased man’s company and relatives.
Police have assumed that the cause of the accident was because the driver
had dozed off, although there is the possibility that another vehicle had
cut in front of him, causing him to lose control.
Blessings for King Taksin
on 29th anniversary of monument
Nine Buddhists monks (four not
shown) chanted on behalf of Pattaya City.
Pattaya’s city councilors,
administrators, and employees attend the ceremony in front of the King
Taksin the Great Monument in front of Pattaya City Hall.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
A religious ceremony was held on November 29 at the King Taksin the
Great Monument in front of Pattaya City Hall, to commemorate the 29th
anniversary of the monument having been erected.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn led the ceremony, which is conducted each
year for the paying of respects to King Taksin and to pray for the support
of Pattaya City and those who work for the administration of the city.
The ceremony started at 9:00 a.m. and at 10 a.m. the mayor lit a candle for
the Tripikata, and nine Buddhist monks chanted. This was followed by a
Brahmin ceremony, and the presenting of food to the monks.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
(front, center) leads the city’s administration and employees in paying
respect to the Great King Taksin.
Sattahip vows to guard against election day abuses
Sattahip District Chief Narong
Theerachantarangkul led the gathering, along with the chief of Bangsarae
Sub-district Chin Kaewsang and Kasem Hosuwan, head of the Bangsarae
Sub-district Administrative Organization.
Patcharapol Panrak
Village chiefs and representatives of communities throughout
Sattahip have taken part in a rally vowing to ensure that the general
election on December 23 is clean and free from vote buying and selling.
Sattahip District Chief Narong Theerachantarangkul led the gathering, along
with the chief of Bangsarae Sub-district Chin Kaewsang and Kasem Hosuwan,
head of the Bangsarae Sub-district Administrative Organization.
Village chiefs, community chairmen, public health volunteers, village
scouts, civil protection volunteers and local residents gathered to sign a
declaration of intent, supporting a free and fair election.
Narong said the gathering was in accord with national policy set by the
interim government and that it was important every citizen understood that
the government stood behind his or her right to a free vote.
Chin said that community representatives have already agreed that they will
cooperate with the Election Committee to monitor the election campaigners
who are coming into the area. This is so that they won’t be allowed to buy
votes. Representatives will guard the villages before election day, and each
village has sworn to operate under the system of democracy.
3,000 municipal representatives from across the nation sign blessings book for HM the King
Political candidates were
invited along to discuss how the administrative organizations could play a
role in developing an enduring democracy.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Representatives of more than 3,000 sub-district administrative
organizations from all over the country gathered at Ambassador City in
Jomtien on November 17 where they signed a book to pay their respects to His
Majesty the King.
The gathering was organized by the Foundation to Support Knowledge for
Social Development and Welfare, which also invited political candidates
along to discuss how the administrative organizations could play a role in
developing an enduring democracy.
Akapol Sorasuchat, deputy leader of the Chart Thai Party told the
representatives that Chart Thai has a policy that focuses on the
distribution of power, and that supports local administrations with strong
budgetary support.
Monthol Chatsuwan, Matchima Party candidate for Zone 8 said that his party
supports welfare as a policy, and that welfare would be distributed fairly
to the people should Matchima form the next government.
Piaboon Watanasiritham, deputy prime minister led the sub-district
administrative organization representatives in signing a book of blessings
to His Majesty.
Gen Pradit Bunkerd, advisor to the Minister of Interior and head of the
organizing committee for the event said that more than 3,000 sub-district
administrative organizations signed the book, which would be presented to
His Majesty through the Bureau of the Royal Household.
At 7:00 p.m. that evening, Gen Pradit led the representatives and other
officials, totaling some 5,000 people, in lighting candles to express their
devotion to His Majesty.
Seafood festival to be held at Laem Chabang
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Laem Chabang Municipality is to hold a festival devoted to eating
crab, fishing for squid, and bird watching.
Laem Chabang Mayor Bunlert Nomsilp has announced that the festival, which
will be held over the period December 12 to 15 at Laem Chabang Beach, is for
the duel purpose of raising funds for the community and promoting an
interest in the natural resources of the area.
Live performances will also take place, with a folk singing contest, a dance
for the elderly, and a Miss Fishery competition for the children of
fisherfolk. One of the main attractions will be a squid fishing boat that
will take visitors out to sea in the evenings to allow them to experience
night fishing. Seafood stands will serve fresh and preserved seafood.
Walking Street Committee voices concern at reduced New Year festival
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Walking Street Committee members have voiced concern that Pattaya
City has cut back the number of days of New Year celebrations to just one,
December 31, instead of having three full days of activities as was done
with the previous New Year.
 Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh
Local businesses say that tourists will not make the special journey just
for the New Year countdown, and that they will lose revenue because of this.
Deputy Mayors Ronakit Ekasingh and Verawat Khakhay presided over a meeting
of the Walking Street Committee on November 28 during which the New Year
festivities were discussed.
Sunthon Gangsirikul, deputy chairman of the committee said that the
committee members didn’t understand the decision, because in the past
Pattaya City has received a significant amount of revenue from tourists
during this festival.
Further, said Sunthon, although the number of days has been reduced from
three to one, the budget remains the same for the event as last year, at 3
million baht.
Ronakit said that a concentrated day of activities is planned, as it was
felt that this in itself would be an attraction. The budget remains the same
because well-known actors, actresses and singers will be invited. City hall
feels that visitors will take part in the one-day festival because of the
special atmosphere of Pattaya.
Naklua-Pattaya Lions stage charity concert
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Naklua-Pattaya Lions Club will hold a charity concert at
Banglamung School sports field on Friday December 7.
A briefing was recently held at Pattaya City Hall to announce the event,
presided over by Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn, Naklua-Pattaya Lions
president Yongyut Sukthongchaikul, and chairman of the organizing committee
Sansern Silsamathi.
Yongyut said that the concert would star Pongthep Kradonchamnan, “the
Honorary Farmer of Poetry” along with the Maleehuana band. The music will
revolve around the lives of ordinary working-class people.
Tickets are 200 baht, and are being distributed at the Sophon Cable TV Co
and Banglamung Cable TV Co.
During the briefing, Naklua-Pattaya Lions Club also presented 20 safety
helmets valued at 86,000 baht to the Pattaya Civilian Volunteers. Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh received the helmets on their behalf.
Naklua-Pattaya Lions Club
presented 20 safety helmets to the Pattaya Civilian Volunteers, accepted by
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (center, wearing tie).
YWCA visits scholarship students on Koh Larn
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
A group from the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center, led by chairwoman
Dujduan Ruangwettiwong and Nittaya Patimasongkroh, who heads the YWCA Loving
at Different Ages project paid a visit to Koh Larn on November 15 to visit
the 16 YWCA scholarship students at Pattaya School No 10.
 YWCA
members visit 16 YWCA scholarship students to evaluate their scholastic
results.
Nittaya said there were four students who between them had received two
special YWCA scholarships of 10,000 baht each, while 12 students in the
primary school class had received ordinary scholarships of 1,800 baht each
on August 21.
The 16 students presented their scholastic results, and lots of them had
better grades. The four students with special scholarships had satisfactory
scholastic results. Among the 12 students with standard scholarships, those
in primary school classes 5 and 6 had the best scholastic results.
The YWCA will add two scholarships worth 10,000 baht for students in need,
with the YWCA committee selecting whom the scholarships should go to.
Two vats of ice cream were distributed to the Pattaya School No 10 students.
They wished Dujduan a happy birthday, and a cake was cut for all those
children with birthdays during the month.
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