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Princess oversees keel laying for new Navy patrol boat
HRH
Princess Sirindhorn anoints the laying of the keel for the Royal Thai Navy’s
latest coastal patrol vessel at the Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Shipyard in
Sattahip.
Chonburi PR
HRH Princess Sirindhorn oversaw the laying of the keel
for the Royal Thai Navy’s latest coastal patrol vessel at the Mahidol
Adulyadej Naval Shipyard in Sattahip.
The Aug. 23 ceremony marked the start of construction on
the vessel being built to honor HM the King on his 84th birthday in
December. The 90-meter ship will see service in the Andaman Sea to both
protect the coastline and assist vessels in distress.
The “Tor 994” is the first patrol boat built since the
Tor 990 was commissioned to honor HM the King on his 80th birthday. It will
be 13.5 m. wide, have a nearly 4 m. draft and a top speed of 23 knots. It
will be armed with a single 76 mm. Italian cannon and two 30 mm. guns from
the United Kingdom. It will carry a complement of 89 sailors and will be
able to land one helicopter at a time.
Princess opens Mother’s Day photo exhibit at Royal Garden
HRH Princess Soamsawalee views a
photo exhibition aimed at raising funds for the Thai Red Cross and reducing
the transmission of AIDS from mothers to children.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
HRH Princess Soamsawalee cut the ribbon opening a
Mother’s Day photo exhibition aimed at raising funds for the Thai Red Cross
and reducing the transmission of AIDS from mothers to children.
The Aug. 19 exhibit at Pattaya’s Royal Garden Plaza is an
annual event thrown by the mall to honor HM the Queen for her Aug. 12
birthday, which is celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand.
This year’s theme focused on AIDS risks to children and
was comprised of 43 photographs taken by primary and secondary school
students and members of the general public. Nearly 350 photos were submitted
for consideration and the princess witnessed the award presentation to those
whose pictures where chosen for the royal event by the Royal Photographic
Society of Thailand.
Mother, son escape injury in Sattahip car fire
Patcharapol Panrak
A mother and her 7-year-old son narrowly escaped injury
when their LPG-gasoline hybrid sedan burst into flames.
La-ong Longsiew, 33, said she was driving her son back
from the doctor’s office on Sukhumvit Road Aug. 23 when she switched over
from liquefied petroleum gas to gasoline at kilometer marker 174. The engine
started knocking, so she pulled over and the car died. It wouldn’t turn over
when she tried to restart and, frustrated, she tried switching back to LPG.
At that point, she heard a sharp crack and the engine
burst into flames. Fearing the LPG tank would explode she grabbed her son
and fled as the entire front part of the car was engulfed in flames. Neither
was hurt.
Sattahip fire trucks blocked off traffic on Sukhumvit for
10 minutes as they extinguished the burning Mitsubishi Lancer. The LPG tank
did not explode.
Mayor backs tax breaks, road shows to reignite tourism
Phasakorn Channgam
Continuing efforts to support businesses hard-hit by the
tourism downturn, Pattaya and tourism-promotion officials are cutting water
bills for hotels, lobbying to have tax payment schedules extended and will
spend 20 million baht next year to promote the city overseas.
At an Aug. 18 Pattaya Business & Tourism Association
meeting, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome reviewed the indicatives the government
has taken to entice tourists back to Thailand following this spring’s deadly
riots in Bangkok. Authorities have already spent 22.5 million baht on
publicity surrounding the Pattaya Grand Sale campaign and is now working on
lowering costs to tourism-related businesses, he said.
One example is the bill for wastewater treatment.
Kunplome said hotels that were getting a 50 percent break on their bills
will now have their bills lowered by 75 percent.
The city is also petitioning the Ministry of Interior to
allow hotels more time to pay their taxes and to allow payments to be made
in installments. Even though the ministry has failed to act on a
tax-exemption request made earlier this summer by the Thai Hotels
Association Eastern Chapter, the mayor said he was confident he would get an
answer from Bangkok in the next few months.
Finally, Kunplome noted, the Tourism Authority of
Thailand is preparing a 20 million baht budget to stage overseas “road
shows” to promote Pattaya, focusing on such attractions as fireworks
demonstrations, concerts and sporting exhibitions.
Pattaya Mail reporter honored for assistance in June gunmen arrests
Staff reporters
The Pattaya Mail’s veteran crime reporter has
been commended by police for his help in the arrest of gunmen who shot
into the air near Walking Street in June.
Boonlua Chatree (right) is presented a commendation
by Pattaya Police Superintendent Col. Nantawut Suwanla-Ong.
Boonlua Chatree was presented the commendation by
Pattaya Police Superintendent Col. Nantawut Suwanla-Ong during a
scholarships and awards ceremony at the Caesar’s Palace Hotel Aug. 25.
Boonlua was around Soi Diamond June 1 when 16
suspects being pursued by police fired four times into the air, scaring
tourists and damaging the tourist area’s reputation. Boonlua blocked
Second Road with is pickup truck, allowing officers to apprehend the
shooters and four guns.
Nantawut called Boonlua’s actions “courageous” and
called him a good example for all full-time and volunteer police
officials.
Sattahip residents again fall victim to
flooding as officials continue blame game
Another rain storm = more flooding in Sattahip.
Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip residents continue to suffer from severe
flooding with the 700 Rai Market area taking the brunt of recent storms as
public officials struggle to complete a long-delayed drainage pipe.
Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri again had to face a battery
of angry residents Aug. 20 as storm water inundated more than 20 homes along
Sukhumvit Road at kilometer marker 172. Tanker trucks took nearly two hours
to remove the meter of water drenching the 700 Rai Market area as residents
scrambled to cut off power and get valuables to high ground.
Deputy Mayor Trithep Tosawongchai again took the city’s
line of blaming the Sattahip District Highway Department for the flooding,
saying the Sukhumvit corridor lies under its jurisdiction but that the
department doesn’t have the equipment or funds to perform emergency water
pumping.
Narong said the city has set aside 4 million baht for
2011 to complete a partially completed drainage pipeline that has left
Sukhumvit torn up for months and subject to flooding during nearly any heavy
rainstorm.
Residents, caught in the middle of finger-pointing
between the city and Highway Department, have had enough, taking to the
streets in protest last month demanding their public officials stop
posturing and work together to help the people.
Polluted runoff kills 60 percent of Sriracha mussel farms
Workers
sort through the mussel crop, culling out the dead shellfish.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Storm runoff and sewage flushed into the sea by heavy
rains is believed responsible for a mass die-off at Sriracha mussel farms,
with damage estimated at more than 10 million baht.
Mussel farmers complained Aug. 17 that the rainy season
has caused a large amount of polluted fresh water to drain into the sea,
inundating their floating offshore farming baskets. The storm drainage is
also suspected of containing industrial waste and sewage, resulting in a
large red algae bloom that killed the mussels.
Farmer Thani Rattananon said 60 percent of the shellfish
in nine floating baskets have died, wiping out 60 percent of his crop. About
40 farmers in all have been victimized by the pollution.
Pattaya Police chief vows Sept. 1
crackdown on traffic-snarling baht buses
Starting
this week, police plan to get tough on baht bus drivers that cause traffic
problems by parking in no parking zones.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Pattaya’s police chief said starting Sept. 1 he would
begin cracking down on traffic-snarling baht bus drivers.
At an Aug. 25 meeting with the Pattaya Transport
Cooperative, Superintendent Col. Nantawut Suwanla-Ong said songthaew drivers
will face fines of up to 1,000 baht for double-parking, blocking traffic and
continuing their usual “park anywhere” antics.
Starting this week, police will begin issuing tickets for
drivers who don’t stop at regular bus stops. Initial fines will be capped at
400 baht with repeat offenders being charged 1,000 baht.
Co-op President Tawat Puakbunnak said there are 700 taxis
operating in Pattaya and that the cooperative has tried to reign in traffic
law scofflaws, with patrols running throughout the city every two days and
fines of 100 baht for offenders.
Nantawut also suggested that baht bus cooperative members
help police in reducing taxi-related crime by modifying their passenger
compartments so thieves cannot reach over benches to snatch necklaces and
handbags. Either raise the side bars or enlarge advertising so it rises
higher than the passengers’ necks, he suggested.
The police chief also asked for drivers to be more alert
to gangs of pickpockets that might try to use their vehicles for crime.
Tawat said the cooperative is happy to help police and
will create a model modified truck to show drivers.
However, he said, the cooperative would also like the
police’s help in curbing illegal taxis working in the area that damage the
cooperative’s reputation by refusing to pick up or deliver customers to
their desired destinations and causing other problems.
100 Pattaya residents complain city’s tourism plans turning beachfront
into low-rent swap meet
The “Love Pattaya / Protect Pattaya Group”
protests against
staging any more market fairs on the beach.
Phasakorn Channgam
A group of 100 Pattaya residents and business leaders has
complained to city leaders this summer’s series of outdoor markets is
turning the picturesque beachfront into a low-rent swap meet.
The “Love Pattaya / Protect Pattaya Group” filed a letter
with city hall urging officials not to follow through on rumored plans to
lease out a chunk of Pattaya Beach to a private operator to hold weekend
outdoor markets for the next three years.
“The beach is a place for Thai and foreign tourists to
enjoy the nice scenery and sea,” the group’s letter said. “Currently you
have been letting vendors ruin this. Did you ever realize the effects that
would come later?”
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh denied the city has any
plans to lease the beachfront or open a permanent market. He called the
rumor entirely false and said that the many markets that have been staged
are aimed at trying to revive tourism to Pattaya after the spring’s deadly
“red shirt” riots that left 90 people dead over two months.
Still, group member Sithi Srichai, a deejay for FM 101.25
radio, claims the city has gone too far with the beachfront sales and that
vendors have damaged flowers and plants and set up shop where they were not
authorized to sell. He said his group would take swift and stern action to
block any regular outdoor market along Beach Road.
Chonburi police break up Colombian burglary ring
Police
bring out for display 4 of the 5 Colombian suspects.
Boonlua Chatree
Chonburi Police have arrested five Colombian men alleged
to have stolen more than 5 million baht during burglaries in the province.
Eimer David Galindo Arteaga, 23; Michel Leandro Alba
Rincon, 25; Jorge Ivan Cardona Sanchez, 21; Giovanni Sanchez, 25, and
Ricardo David, 25, were taken into custody Aug. 19 at the View Talay 5
condominium complex in Jomtien Beach where they were found packing up goods
to ship back to South America. Recovered was jewelry, computers, cameras,
shoes, perfume, cosmetics, tools, luggage, books and foreign currency valued
at more than 5 million baht.
Authorities believe the men are connected to another
Colombian gang suspected of robbing Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok.
Police said victims were residents of single homes in
Pattaya and other districts in Chonburi, including a police colonel. More
than 30 victims have turned up to check if their property is among the
stolen goods.
Pattaya city guard
arrested for extortion
Boonlua Chatree
A Pattaya municipal guard was arrested on extortion
charges after a Bali Hai Pier food vendor complained to police he was being
shaken down by a corrupt city hall worker.
Tanongsak Chimluang (seated) has extortion charges
explained to him.
Tanongsak Chimluang, 43, was arrested Aug. 20 as he
collected the balance of a 6,500 monthly bribe he allegedly was demanding
from 30-year-old Yuthana Malirat. The food vendor had filed a complaint with
police that he didn’t have the funds to pay the city worker each month and
investigators supplied him four marked 1,000 baht bills.
The exchange was recorded on tape with police officers
witnessing it. Yet confronted with the marked bills and tape, Tanongsak
still denied the charges.
Yuthana said Tanongsak told him he either had to pay the
monthly protection money or be arrested and his business shut down by the
city. However, municipal guard chief, Maj. Jirawat Sukhonsap, and Pattaya
City Council member Sanit Boonmachai both denied any knowledge of any case
against the food vendor.
‘Flooding ahead’ sign on sunny day confuses Sukhumvit motorists
Despite
what the sign says, the road ahead really isn’t closed due to flooding.
Patcharapol Panrak
Construction crews that placed a “flooding ahead” sign on
a sunny Sukhumvit Road incited a flood of complaints as confused drivers
made time-wasting detours and U-turns.
The sign at Sukhumvit Soi 51 told drivers the road ahead
was closed due to flooding when, in fact, only the right lane was closed due
to road work. As a result, waves of vehicles made unnecessary U-turns or
diverted to Road No. 332 toward U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport.
Drivers who later discovered road crews threw up whatever
sign they had available to divert drivers from the right lane were less than
pleased. It’s not the first time the “flooding ahead” sign was wrongly used.
The same thing happened during the Aug. 12-15 Mother’s Day holiday.
Aussie beaten, robbed in
allegedly unprovoked attack
Boonlua Chatree
An Australian man was hospitalized after he claims he was
beaten and robbed by five Thai men without provocation.
Rescue workers help bring Australian Ramin Nazari in to
receive medical aid.
Ramin Nazari, 38, sustained bruises from punches and
kicks to his face, legs and abdomen in the Aug. 19 attack on Second Road at
Soi 6 in North Pattaya. He said he was robbed for 5,000 baht and $400 in
U.S. currency.
Nazari said he was merely walking past Soi 6 before 9
p.m. when the five men jumped him. He fell to the ground and others joined
in, he said.
Police are looking into the matter.
Huay Yai police arrest 6 teenagers for alleged raping 2 students
The victims (back right, wearing balaclavas)
point to the rapists, all minors.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Huay Yai police have arrested six teenagers in the gang
rape of two girls, ages 15 and 17.
The suspects, all minors, were taken into custody Aug. 24
after the victims, class 1 and class 2 students at a Huay Yai vocational
school, filed charges with police that they were gang raped in the Tara
Resort in Banglamung.
A 15-year-old who admitted to initiating the assault said
the victims were actually his girlfriend and one of her friends. He and his
sweetheart’s friend picked her up from the Tesco-Lotus department store in
South Pattaya under the premise of attending a concert on Jomtien Beach.
Saying he could not take two passengers on his bike, the teen called another
youth. The two boys then drove to the resort where they rented a room and
forced them to have sex. They then allegedly called four other teens to join
in.
The attack could have been worse. The suspect admitted
that 10 older teen males were on their way to the resort to partake. They
said they took the girls home before the others arrived.
Shocked parents urged authorities to take swift action
against the assailants and to force hotels to thoroughly check
identification cards and not rent rooms to minors.
Suspected Colombian burglar twice escapes police custody
Theerarak Suthathiwong
One of four Colombian men arrested earlier this month for
burglarizing Pattaya-area homes has twice managed to escape from police,
even after being shot twice.
Eimer David Galindo Arteaga has been caught, again, after
twice escaping police custody.
Eimer David Galindo Arteaga, 23, escaped from officers
taking him to Pattaya Provincial Court Aug. 19 and was recaptured after
being shot twice while fleeing through a wooded area near the courthouse. He
again managed to elude police guards at Chonburi Hospital Aug. 22 where he
was taken for treatment. He was again recaptured at a bar in Laem Chabang.
Arteaga was one of five Colombians alleged to have stolen
more than 5 million baht during burglaries of single-family homes in remote
areas of Pattaya and Chonburi. Captured packing up valuables to ship back to
South America, the men are suspected of being connected to a larger
Colombian burglary gang in Bangkok.
The suspect sustained gunshot wounds to the hip and
shoulder after slipping out of restraints during his courthouse escape.
Initially treated at Banglamung Hospital, Arteaga underwent surgery at
Chonburi Hospital. Despite his wounds and still fitted with a catheter, he
managed to escape the hospital and jump on a motorcycle taxi to flee back to
Pattaya.
Chonburi officers notified local law enforcement of the
escape, speculating he’d take Sukhumvit Road to reach Pattaya. The getaway
bike was tracked down in Laem Chabang where Arteaga was again returned to
custody where one would expected he’d be kept under closer watch.
Saha Farm CEO celebrates 60th birthday
Saha
Farm CEO Manoonsak Chottaewan celebrated his 60th birthday
in style at the company’s Ban Sukhawadee mansion.
Thanachot Anuwan
Political and business leaders turned out in force to
help the head of Saha Farm Group Ltd. celebrate his 60th birthday at the
company’s Ban Sukhawadee mansion.
Manoonsak Chottaewan, Saha’s chief executive officer, was
congratulated by former public health and industry ministers, retired MPs
and others at the Aug. 16 party.
The high powered guest list included former Minister of
Public Health Korn Thaparangsi, former Minister of Industry Chanchai
Chairungruang, former Deputy Minister of Public Health Sansak Ngampichet,
and former Chonburi MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul.
The event capped an auspicious day for the CEO. His
birthday began with a merit-making ceremony in the morning and reception for
guests offering gifts in the afternoon.
The host provided a Chinese table of food and beverages
for the party and featured singers and artists from throughout the country.
Thais oblige hungry ghosts
during Chinese festival
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Thais celebrated the Chinese “Hungry Ghosts
Festival” Aug. 24 with fruit, flowers and burning fake money.
Pattayans of Chinese lineage celebrate the Chinese
“Hungry Ghosts Festival” with fruit, flowers and burning fake money.
Celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month,
the festival marks the day when hell’s doors open and ghosts take a
month-long holiday among the living. Hungry from their time in the
underworld, offerings of temperate fruit and meat are made, along with
flowers.
The occasion also calls for ghosts to be given “hell
money” - facsimiles of real currency - which is later burned.
Thais of Chinese descent celebrated the day in Pattaya by
heading to the market. There they found pork and chicken at normal prices,
but orange honeysuckle and Chinese pears were suddenly much more expensive.
Flowers, too, went up in price for the day.
Vendors claimed heavy rains in northern Thailand were
responsible for the price increases, but skeptical ghost followers responded
by simply buying less than last year.
Sriracha dragon fruit farmers hit by plant disease seek government help
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Dragon fruit farmers in Sriracha are asking for urgent
help from the government after an apparent bacterial disease wiped out 80
percent of their earnings.
Bunchoo Prakongkaew, owner of the Sriracha Dragon Fruit
Farm, shows where an unknown affliction swept through farms, yellowing
leaves and causing the cactus fruit to rot on the tree.
Bunchoo Prakongkaew, owner of the Sriracha Dragon Fruit
Farm, said an unknown affliction has swept through farms, yellowing leaves
and causing the cactus fruit to rot on the tree. Farmers applied anti-fungal
spray, but that had little effect.
While it’s unknown exactly what caused the rot, similar
outbreaks and symptoms have been documented in Malaysia and were caused by a
bacterium. Farmers suspect heavy rains have contributed to the problem.
Bunchoo said farmers have asked government experts to
look into the problem and provide aid to him and others who have lost 80
percent of their income.
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