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Tramway would be
beneficial for city says Senate commission
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Communication Commission of the Senate has agreed that a
proposed tramway system for Pattaya and a tunnel under the Sukhumvit
intersections would be of great benefit to the city.
 Wittaya
Khunplome (right), chairman of the Chonburi Provincial Administrative
Organization, reports the present situation to Jaruk Anupong (left),
chairman of the Communications Commission of the Senate.
Jaruk Anupong, chairman of the Communication Commission and a team of more
than 30 people conducted an educational visit to Pattaya on August 18 to
discuss development plans with Wittaya Khunplome, chairman of the Chonburi
Provincial Administrative Organization, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, and
Niran Wattanasartsathorn, chief advisor to the mayor.
Pichet Uthaivatananon, director of the Pattaya City Public Works Office
described the traffic situation in the city, saying that congestion was bad
at certain times, especially weekends.
A long-term solution to the traffic jams that are such a feature of
Sukhumvit Road is a tunnel under the intersections, with a study being
undertaken at present to draw up a concept plan.
Another project would be the development of a tramway system, which would
encourage residents to use public transport rather than automobiles, and be
more convenient for tourists.
Jaruk said that the main reason for the Communication Commission’s visit to
Pattaya was to see the problem close up. He said that there have been
problems and obstacles frustrating the development of an efficient Eastern
region communications system, going beyond Pattaya and affecting Chonburi
Province and neighboring provinces.
Jaruk also mentioned the development of a railway that would run between
Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya, which he said would support international
aims to conserve the world’s energy resources by reducing fuel wasted on
land transportation.
He said that the tramway should be developed, because it would be a
beneficial step for Pattaya, but that a full-scale study needs to be
undertaken first to determine the effects such a system would have.
He added too that there would be a necessity for drivers to have more
respect for the traffic laws if a tramway was to be built along Pattaya’s
roads.
Wittaya voiced his support for the train system, which he said would be
important for the development of Chonburi’s economy, and that of the Eastern
region. He said there is a large volume of goods being transported to and
from Laem Chabang Port, and that the costs by road transportation are high
as well as adding to the nation’s oil bill.
2M baht budget
set for Loy Krathong
Pramote Channgam
Pattaya City will spend a budget of 2 million baht for this year’s Loy
Krathong celebrations, following a decision made during a meeting of the
organizing committee at Pattaya City Hall during the afternoon of August 13.
 The
city’s organized activities for the Loy Krathong Festival will take place on
Wednesday November 12 at Bali Hai Pier.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and included city
councilors along with relevant government department heads.
The Loy Krathong Festival will take place on Wednesday November 12 at Bali
Hai Pier, with city hall taking all responsibility for organizing the event.
Amongst the attractions will be performances by students from the 10 schools
under Pattaya City jurisdiction, and it has been decided that the overall
style of the festivities will be traditional, with the decor designed to
evoke the atmosphere of a temple fair.
Soi 6 opens community hall
Soi 6 community poses with
city administrators at the new community hall.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Soi 6 opened its new community hall on August 14, with Deputy Mayor Wutisak
Rermkitkarn cutting the official ribbon and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh
and city councilors Rattanchai Sutthidechanai, Wittaya Phonlookin and Visal
Petchtrakul amongst the guests present.
The ceremony started at 10 a.m. with guests bringing flowers and gifts, and
nine Buddhist monks from Wat Chaimongkol in South Pattaya chanting and
sprinkling holy water. After the ceremony was complete, the guests were
offered lunch.
Kraipob Unwun, chairman of the Soi 6 Yodsak Community said that this
location had originally been used for the Pattaya City Public Health Office.
After the office was relocated, the building had stood empty. The community
had approached city hall to have the usage changed to a community hall,
where residents of the area could gather and hold various activities.
Plans for the hall include provision of information, local meetings,
training courses, and social events.
Grand cleanup sees 500 people take to the streets and beaches
Pramote Channgam
More than 500 people took part in a grand cleanup of Pattaya on August 18 as
part of the celebrations and merit making that were organized to honor the
birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.
 Teams
are out in full force, cleaning the city streets.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh opened the event, which was organized in
association with the Pattaya Department of Public Health and Environment’s
Sanitation Management Office.
Navy midshipmen from the Recruit Training Center, government officers, and
officials from the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation joined members of the
public in cleaning the roads, sidewalks and vacant plots of land. They
trimmed the trees along the roadsides and picked up garbage from the streets
and the beaches. They also cleaned out the city drainage pipes and the
canal.
The 500 people were deployed systematically throughout the city, with teams
covering Soi Wua Chon Wua to Soi 999, Soi Phothisarn 8 to Soi 999, Soi
Naklua 12 to the Ancient Palace, Soi Naklua 14 to Soi Blind School, Soi
Naklua 18 to Saranchon on Soi Naklua 16/2, Soi Naklua 18/1 to Soi Vichian
18/2, Soi Zigma to Soi Somprasong, Soi Somprasong to the Dongtan Curve, and
Soi 5 to Soi 7 in Jomtien.
Ronakit said that the organization of the cleaning teams had been good, and
that in addition to expressing loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, the project
had made a real contribution to the appearance and the cleanliness of
Pattaya.
Garbage overflows
at Mount Petch dump
The garbage heap on Petch
Mountain has long drawn complaints.
Patcharapol Panrak
Garbage is overflowing at a Sattahip dump, owing to action taken by
residents in Sriracha District, who have prevented transfers of rubbish
to the waste disposal center in their neighborhood.
Residents in the area of the Khao Petch rubbish tip, which is located in
Moo 3 in Sattahip Sub-district, lodged a complaint on August 18, saying
that the rubbish is overflowing into the road and has become a source of
foul odors, insects, and polluted water that is flowing into the lower
areas and contaminating consumable water.
The tip is under the responsibility of the Sattahip Sub-district
Administrative Organization, as is the Municipal Waste Management
Services Transfer Station that was built there under a 150 million baht
budget by the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization.
Although the idea is to transfer garbage from here to the Chonburi Waste
Disposal Center at Moo 11 in Bangpra Sub-district, Sriracha District,
people who live in Moo 4, 5, and 11 in Bangpra had gathered to protest
against the bringing in of garbage from more than 20 locations to dump
at the center.
Consequently, the volume of garbage being dumped at Petch Mountain has
swamped the facility.
Pairoj Malakun na Ayuthaya, former head of the Sattahip Sub-district
Administrative Organization said he was aware of the garbage problems at
Petch. He said the center had been built by Chonburi Provincial
Administrative Organization and had been a source of complaints from
residents for some time. No action had been taken, and the residents had
eventually blocked garbage transfers.
The garbage heap on Petch Mountain has long drawn complaints, as the
high elevation of the land on which the dump is sited has a significant
effect on a large number of people.
Tsunami threat to Pattaya
is low says Navy
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Officers from the Naval Hydrographic Department gave a talk on August 22
on the possibility of Pattaya suffering a tsunami, the chances of which
are estimated to be very low.
 Captain
Prasit Chantorn of the Naval Hydrographic Department says that chances are
remote that Pattaya would suffer a tsunami.
The talk was arranged between Pattaya City and the Navy, and was intended
for officials involved in marine tourism, sea rescue, and fishing.
Subjects covered included the earthquake database for tsunamis, technology
available for observing long-distance information, and the use of the
Geographic Information System and maritime maps.
Captain Prasit Chantorn of the Naval Hydrographic Department was the key
speaker, saying that a tsunami would hardly ever occur at Pattaya because
the wave is generated when the crust of the earth moves at a very deep water
level. This might be in three or four kilometers of water. However, the Gulf
of Thailand is only 85 meters at its deepest point.
Captain Prasit said that observing a tsunami warning quickly is essential,
and that people should immediately leave the beach and move to higher
ground, or a safe place. A ship at sea should immediately be taken far from
the shore.
The other speakers from the Naval Hydrographic Department were Lt Cmdr
Suksan Suesakun, Captain Nattawut Prateepaplin, and Lt Cmdr Rithidet
Kethong.
World’s biggest Sothorn Buddha planned for Mt Ma Poot
Workers begin clearing the
land to build the world’s largest Sothorn Buddha figure on top of Ma Poot
Mountain.
Patcharapol Panrak
Rayong is planning to build the world’s largest Sothorn Buddha
figure on top of Ma Poot Mountain and to plant extensive tracts of forest on
the hillsides, as part of a project to promote this area as a nature reserve
and tourist attraction.
The Pananikom Sub-district Administrative Organization in Rayong Province is
working with Petroleum Public Company Limited to develop this zone on an
area of 100 rai.
Buddhist monk Chan Chantasilo, who is in charge of the meditation institute
on Ma Poot Mountain said that Nikom Rungroj, chairman of the Pananikom
Sub-district Administrative Organization had initiated the tree-planting
project to honor His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday.
The Buddha figure will measure 20 meters at its base and be located on top
of the mountain. The cornerstone laying ceremony was scheduled for August
25, with Rayong Governor Chitpong Ritthiprasarn officiating.
Fruit trees will be included in the planting, and there will also be a
parking lot and restrooms.
Three sea turtles released into the wild
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Underwater World Pattaya released three sea turtles into the ocean on August
14 at Koh Loi Public Park in Sriracha Municipality, with Sriracha Mayor
Chatchai Timkrachang and Underwater World general manager David Hong leading
the ceremony.
 Sriracha
Mayor Chatchai Timkrachang (left) and David Hong (right), general manager of
Pattaya Underwater World, prepare to release a sea turtle.
The sea turtle project has been organized jointly between Underwater World
and Sriracha Municipality as a way of allowing students and the general
public to observe the lives of the turtles, and also to support sea turtle
conservation, in which Underwater World is an acknowledged learning
resource.
The sea turtles that were released on this occasion were hatched in 2006.
Although only two years old, they were already too large for their living
quarters, and it was felt the time had come to release them into the wild.
All three were female turtles, two of them from the Kra species and the
other a Tanook. Another three turtles will take the place of these three at
Underwater World, and when their time comes they too will be released.
Chatchai said the arrangement was for Underwater World to have three sea
turtles each time, so they could be studied by youngsters and members of the
public on a continuing basis.
Many of the municipality’s sea turtles have been handed in by inhabitants
and fishermen who have found them stuck in fishing nets, or ill turtles that
have been found during fishing trips. Marine specialists then cure them
before returning the creatures to their origins. Each year the municipality
returns a number of the turtles to the ocean, at a ceremony at Koh Kram.
The Navy Base also hands over turtles to be cared for. Currently there are
108 sea turtles under the responsibility of the municipality, most of them
being of the Kra and Tanook species.
Chatchai said that the municipality attaches microchips to the turtles, and
that the creatures are weighed and have their skulls measured every three
months.
Snatch-thief unable to change his ways is arrested again
Boonlua Chatree
An 18-year-old snatch-thief just out of jail for theft was caught
for committing the same crime when with a friend he grabbed the gold chain
of an American tourist and fled.
The victim, 55-year-old Gary Zimmerman, notified Pattaya Police Station of
the theft at 5 p.m. on August 17. He said that two men on a motorcycle had
snatched his 2-baht gold chain and Buddha amulet as he was walking on the
beach in the area of the Dolphin Roundabout.
 Victim
Gary Zimmerman points to the thief that snatched his gold chain.
Zimmerman was able to describe the dark blue Honda Wave motorbike and
provide the license plate number. He said the thieves had ridden away in the
direction of Central Pattaya Road.
Officers set up a roadblock and traced the two thieves to the soi behind the
Carrefour department store. One of them was arrested and identified as Henry
Suetrong, 18, a resident of Nongprue. He had the necklace and amulet
containing an image of Somdet Nangphaya in his possession.
Taken to Pattaya Police Station where station superintendent Pol Col
Noppadol Wongnom questioned him, the youth said he was of mixed German and
Thai parentage. He had just been freed from jail, where he had served time
for snatch-thieving. He kindly supplied the name of his accomplice as Bhanya
Sodsaeng, 19, of Banglamung, and police have applied for an arrest warrant.
Police sweep of beach
nets more than 200
Boonlua Chatree
A task force of 100 regular police officers and another 50
volunteers conducted a massive sweep of Pattaya’s beachfront during the
early hours of August 18 in an attempt to rid the place of prostitutes,
transvestites, hawkers and beggars.
 Police
conducted a massive sweep of Pattaya’s beachfront.
The officers, who were commanded by Pattaya Police Station superintendent
Pol Col Nopadol Wongnom, arrested a total of 229 people: 60 homeless men, 49
female prostitutes, and 120 itinerant flower vendors who were selling
flowers to tourists in the beer bars and in front of entertainment
complexes.
They were taken to Pattaya Police Station where they were tested for drugs.
A total of 29 proved positive, and were charged. The other 200 were charged
with loitering, fined 100 baht each, and released.
Piggybank robber caught and beaten by villagers
Patcharapol Panrak
A thief who rather unadvisedly broke into the house of a former
sub-district headsman and stole two gold piggybanks was caught and severely
beaten by angry local residents.
 When
police arrived, villagers had already detained, and smacked around the
thief.
Sattahip Police Station was advised during the morning of August 15 by the
former headsman, Chalerm Prachongsilp, that a thief had broken into his
house at Moo 3 in Bangsarae Sub-district, and that a group of neighbors was
detaining the intruder.
Police went to the scene, where they found Chalerm and about 10 other people
restraining a man identified as 20-year-old Warawoot Saekow, who was cut and
bruised to his face and body from being beaten by his captors.
Chalerm told the officers that he had been out buying groceries and had
dropped the house key into a box in front of the house. Only one hour later,
he got home to discover that the door had been opened. He was sure that
there was an uninvited visitor sneaking around in the house. He quietly
asked neighbors to get help. As a group of neighbors arrived at the front of
the house, the intruder attempted to run out of the front entrance with a
black bag. He was caught, and after a fight during which he was knocked to
the ground, the thief was restrained.
Warawoot admitted to the police that he was addicted to ya ba,
methamphetamine. He decided to rob the house because he needed money to buy
the drugs. He had waited patiently outside in the bushes for some time until
the owner had left, dropping his key into the box. Inside the house,
Warawoot looked around but anything of value was too large to move. He ended
up choosing the two gold piggybanks, which he said was a mistake because it
wasn’t worth the risk of getting caught and beaten up just for the coins
inside.
Taiwanese man arrested
for smuggling drugs
Boonlua Chatree
A Taiwanese man was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country
when police raided a room at View Talay Condominium on Thappraya Road.
 Police
arrested a Taiwanese man and Thai woman in separate drug busts.
Pol Col Nopadol Wongnom, superintendent of Pattaya Police Station held a
press briefing during the early evening of August 17 to announce the arrest.
He said that police had been investigating the activities of the man,
identified as Liu Cheng Hung, 34. Officers had entered Liu’s room on the
15th floor of Building A at View Talay, where they found a bag containing
8.3 grams of flaked narcotic ice, and a bag containing 6.1 grams of
ketamine.
Liu admitted smuggling the drugs in from Taiwan and said he planned to sell
them to customers in Pattaya to raise money for his tourism activities. He
was charged with possession of a Class 1 drug for the ice, and was also
charged for being in possession of the ketamine, which is illegal in
Thailand.
During the media briefing, Pol Col Nopadol also announced the arrest of a
Thai woman relating to a separate drugs case.
He said that undercover officers used 60,000 baht to trick a female dealer
into selling them 400 ya ba pills, arranging to meet her at the entrance to
Tungtanman Soi 12. When the dealer showed up with the drugs, she was
arrested.
She was identified as Miss Tiwaporn Pratummas, 34. She was in possession of
100 ya ba pills, and when police took her back to her house address at Moo 8
in Nongprue, they discovered a total of 340 ya ba pills concealed in a blue
PVC pipe 1 meter long, which was buried behind the house.
Tiwaporn said she had purchased the drugs from an unknown Thai man at a time
when her brother was arrested because she needed money as a guarantee for
her brother. She was charged with being in possession of a Class 1 narcotic.
Navy plants trees in honor of HM the Queen
Thai Navy officers plant trees
in honor
of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday on August 12.
Patcharapol Panrak
The Royal Thai Navy planted trees on August 12 in honor of the birthday of
Her Majesty the Queen.
Vice Admiral Srivisut Ratarun, commander of Sattahip Navy Base together with
officers from the Air Force Base, representatives of the government and
private sectors and of the local community gathered in front of an image of
Her Majesty at the entrance gate of Laem Pu Chao, on the route to the Prince
Chumporn Memorial.
Vice Admiral Srivisut said one of the concerns of Her Majesty was the
nation’s water supply, as so much of the watershed forest has been
destroyed, and that even now there is great destruction going on in
Thailand’s forests without sufficient replanting.
He said that planting the trees at the Navy barracks was being done to add
greenery and to conserve the natural environment. The planting was also to
promote the idea of conservation to the people of Thailand, so that they
will be more aware of the importance of natural resources.
HRH Princess Soamsawalee sends 1,600 aid packages to flooded Nong Khai
Navy personnel load up
packages of essential supplies
destined for flood victims in Nong Khai
province.
Patcharapol Panrak
Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee has sent 1,600 packages of
essential supplies to flood victims in Nong Khai province.
On August 15, 2008, the 1,600 Royal Supplements from Friends in Need at the
Volunteer Foundation of the Thai Red Cross together with a further 25
packages for monks at Nong Khai were loaded into a container and transported
via Royal Thai Navy trucks to U-Tapao International Airport.
Mrs Somthawin Yangyoo, undersecretary of Her Royal Highness supervised the
packaging and transportation of the supplies, which was undertaken by 25
members of the Tai Chi Chuan Club in Sattahip Municipality, and 215
personnel from the Recruit Training Center at the Naval Education
Department.
The supplies arrived at their destination the following morning, where Dr
Damrong Rianprayoon and Dr Pichit Suwanpakorn, vice chairman of Friends in
Need at the Volunteer Foundation of the Thai Red Cross had been appointed by
Her Royal Highness to distribute the packages during the afternoon of August
16.
The Navy also provided a low-deck truck to transport the supplies to the
flooded areas.
Her Royal Highness is chairwoman of Friends in Need at the Volunteer
Foundation of the Thai Red Cross.
900 trees planted
at Chee Chan Mountain
People from the government and
private sector lent their hands to plant 900 cassia fistula trees in order
to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday
and to support the
campaign to reduce global warming.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Nine hundred Cassia fistula trees have been planted at Chee Chan
Mountain as an environmental conservation measure and to commemorate the
80th birthday of His Majesty the King.
BBTV Channel 7 cooperated with Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd, Singh
Cooperation Co Ltd and the Tourism Authority of Thailand on behalf of the
committee of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2007 golf tournament to organize the
project.
The planting of the 900 trees was done at Chee Chan Mountain along rural
road Number 3, in Najomtien Sub-district. Two shelters were also provided
for those traveling on foot through the area.
Surang Prempri, managing director of BBTV Channel 7 and Phitak
Pruetthisarikorn, director of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd together
with Narong Theerachantarangkul, Sattahip District chief led the planting
ceremony on August 20.
Surang said this was the second stage of the planting project organized
after the golf tournament held on October 25 to 28 last year at the Siam
Country Club’s Old Course. The tournament committee had organized a charity
night party for the purpose of raising funds to spend on this public benefit
project.
There were two intentions to the project, that of celebrating the 80th
birthday of His Majesty the King, and that of campaigning to reduce global
warming.
The first stage of the planting took place on December 11, when 99 trees
were planted. The second stage saw 900 trees planted.
Pattaya website upgraded as visitor arrivals plummet 30%
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Pattaya’s website is being upgraded in an attempt to attract more
visitors to the city, following a report from the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Pattaya office that shows the number of Thai and foreign tourists
fell by 30 percent during the first six months of this year.
 Mayor
Itthipol Khunplome
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome chaired a meeting of the commission of advisors at
Pattaya City Hall on August 15 to discuss development strategy on transport,
tourism, education, information technology and communications, water supply,
and alternative energy resources.
This was the first meeting for the commission, which is led by Dr Witsanu
Palayanon and has been formed to follow through on the promises made by
Itthipol during his election campaign.
As a matter of urgency, the decision was made to upgrade the Pattaya website
www.pattaya.go.th, adding more photographs and providing more information on
the attractions and on the islands off Pattaya’s coastline.
Itthipol said it was important to act quickly to enhance the image of
Pattaya, after discovering from the TAT that the number of visitors had
dropped by 30 percent during the first half of this year.
The commission of strategy advisors derives its authority from Code 48 (3)
of the Pattaya City Administration Act of BE 2542 (1999), concerning the
performance of the mayor of Pattaya City. Its functions include providing
advice on policy and procedures relating to development strategy, and
evaluating progress. The commission will meet on the 2nd of each month.
Communities enjoy a day of sport
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
(center) and Niran Wattanasartsathorn,
chief advisor to the mayor set off fireworks to open the games.
Red team cheerleaders give it
their all.
Heave! The orange team wins
the tug-o-war.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opened Pattaya Community Sports Day on August 9 at
Banglamung School, together with his chief advisor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
and a number of city councilors.
 Youngsters
on the national team perform rhythmic gymnastics.
The competitions were divided into six teams: red, yellow, green, orange,
blue and purple.
Games included petanque, football, tug-of-war and musical chairs, with the
band of Pattaya School No 2 providing musical intervals. The tug-of-war was
a highlight of the day, fought between the orange and the purple teams, with
the orange team emerging victorious.
Itthipol said the intention of the games was for people to enjoy healthy
outdoor activities and to promote friendship through sport. He said that it
was taking part that was important, not winning.
Navy takes delivery
of new survey ship
Patcharapol Panrak
The Royal Thai Navy has taken delivery of an oceanographic survey
ship, the HTMS Pharuehatsabodi Sermsamutranupab, that will undertake
surveying and mapping, environmental and marine resources conservation
projects, sea rescues, and mine detection operations.
 HTMS
Pharuehatsabodi Sermsamutranupab underway in Laemtien Port, Sattahip.
Admiral Satirapan Kaeyanon, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy
ordered the construction of the multi-purpose vessel, which was built by
Unithai Shipyard and Engineering Co Ltd at Sriracha.
The ceremony to lay the keel of the ship was held on August 25, 2006, and
she was launched on Valentine’s Day, February 14, this year. Subsequently
she has undergone sea trials and the testing of her engines and equipment.
August 19 saw the ship delivered to Laemtien Port in Sattahip, where Admiral
Satirapan officially received her from Unithai Shipyard and Engineering.
HTMS Pharuehatsabodi will replace a number of other decommissioned smaller
vessels and be deployed in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman.
Assigned as Multi-purpose Vessel No 813, the ship was named HTMS
Pharuehatsabodi Sermsamutranupab by His Majesty the King.
The vessel is 66 meters 30 centimeters long, and 13 meters 20 centimeters
wide. It requires a waterway that is 3 meters 25 centimeters deep. It has a
normal displacement of 1,344 tons, and 1,636 tons for load displacement. The
range is 3,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots, including 10
knots for operations over a 15-day period.
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