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A most happy birthday to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Her Royal Highness Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn supports education from pre-school to tertiary
levels; and mother and child care.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was
born on April 2, 1955, the third child of Their Majesties the King and Queen
of Thailand.
HRH the Princess studied from kindergarten to high school at Chitralada
School in Bangkok. She ranked first in the National School Examinations in
the primary level (grade 7) in 1967 and in upper secondary level (grade 12)
in 1972.
Ranked fourth in the National University Entrance Examination, HRH the
Princess enrolled in the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University and
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, first class honor, and a gold
medal in History in 1976. She continued her studies in two graduate programs
concurrently, obtaining an M.A. in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and
Cambodian) from Silpakorn University in 1978, and an M.A. in Pali and
Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn University in 1980. She enrolled in a doctoral
program at Srinakharinwirot University (former College of Education) in
1981, and was awarded a doctoral degree in Developmental Education in 1987.
The principle of using education as a means for community and social
development, which HRH the Princess acquired during her doctoral studies
along with her former experiences in the field, has provided her with a
solid base for her subsequent involvement in community development
activities.
In addition to her formal degree programs, HRH the Princess has attended
several training courses and workshops to enhance her knowledge and skills
in effective integrated development. These subjects include computer,
cartography, meteorology, survey and photogrammetry, remote sensing and
geographic information system and nutrition.
HRH the Princess has acquired first-hand experiences in working on
development projects initiated by Their Majesties the King and Queen. These
projects involve a number of diversified fields including health and
hygiene, education, water resource development, agriculture and cottage
industry by regularly accompanying Their Majesties on visits to remote areas
since the age of sixteen.
From these experiences, HRH the Princess has developed special interests in
agricultural extension to improve school children’s nutritional conditions;
supports education from pre-school to tertiary levels; and mother and child
care. She has also concentrated on helping the handicapped, especially in
using information technology (IT) to develop independent living and learning
skills.
HRH the Princess runs several philanthropic organizations and foundations.
She has been Executive Vice President of the Thai Red Cross Society since
1977; Executive Chairperson of the Chaipattana Foundation (in charge of His
Majesty’s development and environmental preservation projects), Ananda
Mahidol Foundation (to promote higher education), the King Rama II
Foundation (to conserve and promote Thai Culture); President of the Sai Jai
Thai Foundation (to support disabled veterans), Prince Mahidol Award
Foundation (to award prizes annually to members of the international
community for outstanding performances in the fields of medicine and public
health); and Adviser to the Committee of Thai Junior Encyclopedia Project by
Royal Command of H.M. the King.
HRH the Princess began her teaching career in 1979 when she started teaching
the General Education Program at Chulalongkorn University. A year later, she
joined the Department of Law and Social Sciences, in the Academic Division
of Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Presently she is Director of the
Department of History, and has played an active part in revising its
curriculum. She also supervises the Thai Music Club at the Academy.
Occasionally HRH the Princess gives special lectures at several other
institutions and regularly attends academic conferences and seminars both in
and outside the country.
In addition, HRH the Princess represents Their Majesties in various royal
functions. She also presides over ceremonies as well as other social and
charity functions all through the year. In 1991, HRH the Princess was
awarded the Magsaysay Award for Public Service.
HRH the Princess likes to travel around the Kingdom and abroad to obtain
knowledge of physical geography and peoples’ varied lifestyles. One of her
favorite pastimes is writing articles, poetry and short stories. Proceeds
from her written accounts of her overseas travels are the main source of
income for the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation which was set up
in 1979 to support needy students in schools, vocational colleges and
universities.
HRH the Princess loves Thai literature and studies literature of other
countries. She enjoys playing classical Thai instruments and practicing Thai
classical dancing. She also paints and is keen on sports, including jogging,
swimming, biking and trekking - which gives her an opportunity to learn
about plants, trees and geographical features of the areas.
In addition to her knowledge of Pali, Sanskrit and Cambodian, HRH the
Princess is communicative in both English and French and has been learning
Chinese, German and Latin.
Happy Birthday
HRH Princess Ubolratana
Pattaya Mail humbly joins the
Kingdom of Thailand in wishing Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana a most
happy birthday on April 5.
Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
Sirivadhana Phannavadi was born on April 5, 1951, in Lausanne Switzerland.
She is the eldest daughter Their Majesties the King and Queen.
HRH Princess Ubolratana continues to show a very keen interest in the way
Thailand is being promoted by the TAT. Just last month HRH Princess
Ubolratana graced the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin.
HRH Princess Ubolratana is a very devoted leader of young people in the
campaign against drugs, and as such has instituted and keenly watches over
the To Be Number One project, encouraging family values, music and sport as
alternatives to drug use. She has also set up the Khun Poom project to
assist autistic children in Thailand.
Motorway finish
delayed to mid 2010
Workers continue to work on
Sections 3-4 of Highway No. 7. Problems
with land reclamation have delayed completion.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Land appropriation and demolition of buildings will delay the
completion of National Road No. 7 (Motorway) from Chonburi to Pattaya for at
least another year. The new target date for completion is some time in June
2010.
Currently 70% complete, the latest negotiations with landowners have paved
the way for the construction of the last sections of the highway to go
ahead.
The Department of Highways approved construction of Highway No. 7 as an
urgent project to accommodate the growing volume of traffic to and from
Pattaya City. The project has a construction budget of two billion baht,
approved by the previous Cabinet.
The motorway will provide a faster route for people to travel between
Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya.
Ruangrug Boonyanipat, senior project engineer, reported that construction
has been slowed by negotiations on the ownership of land over the last
sections of the highway and work has been suspended once again, this time
since April 2008.
But those talks have been completed and it is estimated that Section 3 will
be finished by the beginning of October 2009.
In Section 4, landowners are removing their property from commercial
buildings and apartments that are scheduled for demolition, to be finished
around May 2009.
Construction of Section 4 has progressed 58% and is set to be completed by
the beginning of April.
Whether toll will be charged for using the highway when completed is a
decision being made by a committee, Ruangrug said.
The construction budget was divided into four sections:
Sections 1 and 2 started from km 4+100 and ended at km 42+400, a distance of
38.3 km. A standard super highway was built with four traffic lanes each
3.50 meters wide.
The traffic is divided by a “concrete type II barrier,” the road surface is
25-cm thick concrete with electrical lighting installed throughout and there
are eight overpass u-turns.
Sections 3-4 of the motorway are located in Banglamung District requiring
new landscaping. The lanes are 10.80 meters wide and the inside and outside
shoulders are one meter and three meters wide. The road surface and
shoulders are made of ferro-concrete to a thickness of 25 cm and electrical
lighting and traffic lights are being installed on the highway.
The highway section is a depressed median measuring 1,050 meters in width
with six overpasses at 2+919 km, 4+341 km, 5+065 km, 6+177 km, 7+773 km, and
8+674 km.
These sections end in North Pattaya opposite the PTT gasoline station.
The flyover connecting into
Sukhumvit Road stands ready to receive traffic once the motor way is
completed. (Inset) Ruangrug Boonyanipat, senior project engineer for Highway
No. 7 section 3-4.
Pattaya red shirts protest
Pattaya red shirts gather at
Pattaya School #7
before heading up to Sanam Luang.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Over 700 Pattaya red-shirted protesters opposing the government organized a
“democracy-lover” event at the sports field of Pattaya City School #7 before
moving on to Bangkok for a mass protest on March 26.
The gathering at the school field in Baan Nong Pang Kae seemed more like a
party when it received a telephone call from former minister and now their
fugitive leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Nattawut Saikeua, a leader of the National United Front Against Dictatorship
(UDD), went on stage to attack Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the
People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
About 8.30 p.m. the expected phone call came through from Thaksin. Through a
bad line, protesters heard Thaksin say, “I would like to thank Pattaya
citizens for sacrificing your time for democracy…”
During the evening many speakers took turns on stage to denounce the
government, PAD and military for “closing down the airports and hurting
tourism, causing unemployment and increasing drug use.”
All were then invited to attend the protest at Sanam Luang on March 26.
Beach erosion threatens Bangsarae
Bangsarae Beach in
Sattahip is eroding away, and locals don’t like it.
Patcharapol Panrak
The beautiful Bangsarae Beach in Sattahip with its clear water
has been almost washed away by rough seas. The tourism industry based
around it is under severe threat.
To make matters worse, poor timing in the repairs of the beachfront road
closed the road at the height of the school summer holidays when the
beach is most frequented, resulting in beach businesses suffering loss
of income.
Tourists are turning away disappointed from the beach now because its
sand has been washed away by big waves. Large boulders are being dumped
to protect it, in addition to a concrete breakwater wall that has
spoiled the scenery.
When it is high tide people cannot swim, being afraid of colliding with
the rocks. Only at low tide can people swim in some places but rue the
fact that the previously beautiful scenery is fast disappearing.
Residents are regretting the damage to the beach but accept the fact
that it is largely being caused by natural forces. But they say also
that in part the beach was affected by human construction which
obstructed existing waterways, causing changes downstream and damaging
the beach.
It is considered a very difficult task to remedy the beach erosion as it
goes on every day.
Locals say that if the beach is not protected from damage then tourism
may come to an end. Seafood entrepreneurs, dry seafood vendors and
restaurants are already feeling the pinch.
Beach vendor Pol Chansit, 44, who sells fried eggs, boiled sweet
potatoes, soybeans, taro and quail eggs, said that the summer school
vacation time was the best time to make money at the beach.
“If this situation is allowed to continue, then tourists won’t come and
it will badly affect local daily life,” she said.
Bank offers to help
cash stimulus cheques
Bangkok Bank officials detail
the bank’s services
to cash the national grant cheques.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Bangkok Bank is offering to cash government cheques for receivers of
the 2,000 baht stimulus grant to low-income earners.
On March 25 at city hall, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn, Prawit
Phukasemwarangkul, vice president and manager of the Bangkok Bank Pattaya
Branch, and Chawit Rassamee, manager of the Bangkok Bank Public Company
Limited Sattahip Branch, outlined the bank’s service.
The government project is to handout national grant cheques of 2,000 baht to
earners with income less than 15,000 baht throughout the country to boost
consumer spending power and stimulate the country’s economy.
Prawit said his bank would provide convenient service for the recipients of
the cheques in Chonburi at the fee to the government of approximately
200,000 baht.
The Social Insurance Office is handing out the cheques for Pattaya City and
Banglamung District to approximately 25,000 recipients from April 2-3 at
Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
The bank will provide service to immediately cash the cheques for customers
who present necessary documents to bank employees. “The aim is to avoid
cheques being lost or copied,” he said.
Chanwit said recipients of the cheques must withdraw the money in cash, or
deposit the cheque within 108 days from the date it was issued. Otherwise it
cannot be used to withdraw money or deposit into a bank account. If this
happens, recipients must contact the Social Insurance Office.
They must not forget their original ID cards so that both the office and the
bank can verify them on the list before the cheque is processed.
As for withdrawing on behalf of another person, it will only be done for one
other person by presenting the cheque and original ID card of that person
along with a copy of the owner of the cheque’s ID card.
For other conveniences such as depositing the money directly in an account,
the bank will deposit it within five working days according to the agreement
with the Social Insurance Office.
Recipients of the cheques can cash them at Bangkok Banks throughout the
country.
The Bangkok Bank Pattaya City Branch and Sattahip District Branch will
extend their service hours to 8.30 a.m. - 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The
sub-branches on Pattaya Beach, Sukhumvit Road, in Central Pattaya, and in
Bunthaworn will extend their service hours until 8 pm as well.
Branches at department stores will provide normal services from 10 a.m. to 8
p.m.
For more information please contact the National Gift Cheque Center Service
at tel. 0-2645-5888 from March 26 - April 30 from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. every day.
Roadwork poses danger
Patcharapol Panrak
Complaints are being made by residents about unfinished road work in
Soi Yangngram in Sattahip. The project to install water drainage pipes has
left dangerous holes with sharp iron sticking out, just waiting to injure
pedestrians and motorcyclists.
 Unfinished
road work, leaving poorly marked hazards, has locals up in arms.
Careless construction workers have left the unfinished roadwork unprotected
by any safety signs or barriers.
On March 24 reporters were called in by residents to see that, from the wall
of Thammasirisuksa Sattahip School up to about one kilometer to the east in
the soi, the road had become very narrow with iron pieces stuck out all over
the place waiting for nasty accidents to happen.
Peng Buahom, Sattahip municipal deputy chief, said that the development was
to reduce flooding but acknowledged that the area was very dangerous,
especially at night.
The complaints had been passed on to Municipal Chief Pairoj Malakul Na
Ayutthaya for action, he said.
Police talk man
out of suicide leap
Boonlua Chatree
Police rescuers were able to talk a Pichit man from committing
suicide by throwing himself off the top floor of the Royal Garden Plaza
department store in Pattaya because his pregnant wife had left him.
 Police
attempt to talk a Pichit man out of committing suicide.
In the dramatic and tragic scene, Niran Wongsri, 31, balanced himself
precariously behind the billboard in front of the mall and threatened to
jump. A large crowd held its collective breath while police hurried to place
a large air cushion underneath him.
Crafty police negotiators persuaded the man to speak to his wife on the
phone and give up his suicide attempt.
At 1 p.m. on March 19, Pol Col Sarayut Sanguanpokai, superintendent at the
Pattaya Police Station, rushed to the scene. A crane was commissioned in
case it was needed in the rescue.
Niran said he was a roof installation technician and lived with Suwanne
Deengam, 22, for more than three months. She was three months pregnant.
On March 17 he went out to drink with friends and left his wife alone in
their room. When he returned he had an argument with her and didn’t see her
when he woke up.
He looked for her but could not find her and came to Pattaya from Pisit
because he knew his partner had friends here.
Desperate, he intended to “sarcastically commit suicide.” Niran was
satisfied after police put him in touch with his wife and climbed down to
safety, to the relief of all.
Police raid sex show
Boonlua Chatree
Police raided The Hell Club in the heart of Pattaya for alleged lewd
shows and publications on the Internet, and arrested its American owner.
At 12.20 a.m. on March 19 Pol. Lt-Col. Kreetha Tanpanarat from the Pattaya
police station led police to the club located at Soi LK Metro in Central
Pattaya after receiving information about the club’s alleged sexual
activities being broadcast on the Internet.
Police arrested Jack Richy Daigle, 48, who presented himself as the owner of
the club and seized the club’s business license. They also detained 13
female employees who underwent urine testing.
The basement of a four-story commercial building was opened as a beer bar
and club and the upper floor was the stage for the lewd shows while the side
of the building was used for accommodation, according to police.
Found in the establishment were sex toys, gels, leather collars, sex
enhancement pills, condoms, pornographic CDs, and a variety of “lewd show
objects” that police kept as evidence.
Fire guts worship house
Firefighters tackle a fire at Thep Norasingh
House.
Boonlua Chatree
Thep Norasingh House caught fire at 4.30 p.m. on March 25, requiring
three fire engines to put out the blaze.
Pol. Lt.-Col. A-Nan Thamchaikul at the Pattaya Police Station scrambled the
firefighters to the Home Bazaar next to the Rung Ruang Tour’s
Pattaya-Bangkok bus station on North Pattaya Road.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh accompanied Col A-Nan to the scene.
The large fire gutted the worship center on a Buddhist holy day when it was
closed.
Supakit Tachapim, 52, and a medium at the center, said he normally stayed at
the house but went out that holiday. He found the house on fire when he
returned and raised the alarm.
The cause of the fire is not yet known but may have been sparked by lit
incense sticks used for worshipping and then spread by wind.
Damages have not yet been estimated.
Swede attacked and robbed
Boonlua Chatree
A Swedish citizen, wounded in an attack and robbed of all he had on
Jomtien Beach, spent 20 days begging in the city unable to pay for medical
treatment until a Pattaya Mail reporter gave him a helping hand.
 Petersson
says thanks to the local people that helped him survive his ordeal.
Reporter Boonlua Chatree went to help Carl Roger Petersson, 56, who was
found wandering around Select Furniture located behind the Big C Department
Store in South Pattaya and receiving some assistance by residents there.
Petersson was nursing an inflamed right hand, other injuries on both arms
and feet, eye infection, a swollen wound on the head and was covered in
blisters.
He had been sleeping on the beach, begging for food from local residents.
The Swedish Embassy was contacted to provide immediate support and reporter
Boonlua himself took the injured man to Banglamung Hospital for treatment.
At 6 p.m. on March 25, Pol. Lt-Col. Anan Thamchaikul at the Pattaya Police
Station was asked by the Swedish Embassy to help Petersson.
Police brought the injured man to the Pattaya Police Station where the man
recounted his sad plight.
He said that he had visited Koh Chang before coming to Pattaya on February
20. He arrived in the evening and went to Jomtien Beach to sit down to enjoy
the scenery.
Suddenly a Thai man struck him on the head and body with a weapon which
caused him to lose consciousness for more than a day. He woke up and noticed
that all of his property was gone including his passport. He begged for
money from people to survive and slept by the roadside and had no money for
treatment.
Police liaised with the Swedish Embassy before allowing Boonlua to take him
to hospital for treatment where a doctor said Petersson would need to remain
for two days whilst waiting for the embassy to arrange his return home.
Big police bust nets ya ba
Police bring out the suspects,
putting them on display for the media.
Patcharapol Panrak
Around 100 Narcotics Police in Region 1 fanned into the Samaesarn
community in Sattahip in an early morning raid netting 11 drug-trafficking
suspects and 4,000 ya ba pills.
At 5.45 a.m., Pol. Maj-Gen. Sorasak Yenprem, commander of Narcotics Police
Region Command 1, spearheaded a large contingent of narcotics suppression
teams who surrounded the area and searched 11 locations in the community.
Nipon Kaewruanthong, 32, from Samutprakarn, was arrested and charged with
illegal possession of 4,000 ya ba pills, and Sommai Sangadchoey, 20,
Pornwimon Emsiri, 32, and Nantawan Bunlah, 22, were arrested for being
associated with him.
Sommai Rangappai, 48, from Pichit, Pirom Buarod, 27, and Chakkrit Chanchaem,
24, from Phitsanulok, were arrested and charged with distributing ya ice
after police allegedly found four ya ice packs in their possession.
Satit Nongyai, 20, was arrested for allegedly consuming narcotics and three
Burmese were charged with illegally entering the Kingdom.
Maj-Gen. Sorasak said that this community was raided for narcotics in line
with strategic policy from the government to suppress narcotics in Thai
society.
Seminar eases stress for southern officials
Officials from the five
southern provinces take part in icebreakers to create unity.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Eighty-eight government officials from five southern provinces
troubled by Muslim separatists attended a six-day seminar in Pattaya
designed to ease their stress and improve their efficiency and quality of
life.
On March 23, the Office of the Civil Service Commission cooperated with
Burapha University to provide the support program to officials from Yala,
Pattani, Narathiwat and districts in Songkla and Satun.
The aim was for the government workers to relax briefly from the pressure of
working in a risky work environment and to promote unity and good relations
between the officials.
The seminar revealed that most of the officials who attended had problems
with work stress and their environment. They gained new experiences from the
learning activities in this seminar that could be adapted to their work.
The break was appreciated by some officials who said that they were able to
have deep sleep and be comfortable after attending the seminar.
The southern officials visited Nong Nooch Tropical Garden where they heard a
lecture on “How do you manage the organization and personnel for success?”
They visited the Sattahip Naval Base and received a lecture about “Managing
organization and personnel” and visited the Chakri Naruebet Royal Ship at
the Deep Water Harbor in Sattahip.
Officials to close
Pattaya Beach
Road for Songkran
Saksiri Uraiworn
Beach Road in Pattaya will be closed to motorized traffic during
local Songkran celebrations on April 19, officials have decided.
Songkran will be celebrated in the rest of the kingdom from April 13-15 as
usual, and locally from April 18-20, also as usual.
 Deputy
Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon.
On March 25 at city hall, Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon provided
details of the annual festival at a meeting attended by Pattaya Permanent
Secretary Sittiprap Muangkoom, Rattanachai Sutidechanai, Pattaya MP for
district 3 and other officials.
In the morning, a parade will take a Buddha statue and monks from the South
Pattaya intersection with Pattaya 2nd Road to the Dolphin roundabout for the
public to pay respect while enjoying the water festival activities.
Deputy Mayor Wattana said that Beach Road would be closed on April 19 from 9
a.m. to 10 p.m., from the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya all the way to
Walking Street to prevent traffic jams, as a big crowd is expected as usual.
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