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U.S. Navy’s largest bilateral exercise in Thailand underway
by Lt. Leslie Hull-Ryde
The United States exercises with Thai forces more than
40 times a year. Half of those are Navy exercises. The largest annual Navy
exchange here began Monday, June 10.
Charge
D’Affaires Ravic R. Huso, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, left, and Adm. Prassert
Boonsong, commander in chief, Royal Thai Navy kick off annual Cooperation
Afloat Readiness and Training exercises in Sattahip. The eighth CARAT
brings 1,400 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen together
with 2,600 Thai counterparts with Frigate Squadron Two. In addition to
in-port and at-sea exercises, the troops will volunteer their free time
for community outreach projects. (Photo by PHAN Jimmie Crockett)
Approximately 1,400 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and
Coast Guardsmen moored in Thailand for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training exercises.
“CARAT 2002 is expected to improve skills, abilities
and experiences of all participating naval officers,” said Adm. Prassert
Boonsong, commander in chief, Royal Thai Navy.
Crews of USS Vincennes (CG-49), USS Anchorage (LSD-36),
USS George Philip (FFG-12), USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722) and USS Salvor (ARS
52) make up the U.S. CARAT Task Group. The team includes 300 Marines from
Okinawa, Japan, known as Landing Force CARAT.
The Americans will work with 2,600 of their Thai
counterparts from Frigate Squadron Two of the Royal Thai Fleet.
“The exercise would not be complete and effective if
all of you did not improve yourselves and your skills,” said Prassert to
CARAT troops from both countries.
“Therefore, you should use all your energy and
knowledge to get the most out of this exercise which could be helpful in
the future.”
The eighth annual CARAT exercise here aims to increase
interoperability and enhance regional cooperation. It will include in-port
professional symposia and at-sea exercises, culminating in an amphibious
landing exercise.
“This year’s exercise is intended to ensure that
Thai and U.S. forces are prepared to work together to meet real-world
challenges if necessary,” said Charge D’Affaires Ravic R. Huso with
the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok.
“I am sure this combined exercise will deepen the
close personal relationships between U.S. and Thai Sailors and Marines, as
well as increase our force readiness.”
Adm.
Prassert Boonsong, commander in chief, Royal Thai Navy greets the troops
as Thailand’s only aircraft carrier, the RTN Chakri Naribet looms
ominously in the background.
That relationship spans a 200-year period. It’s
strengthened through community outreach programs that make up part of the
exercise’s schedule of events.
Seabees with Mobile Construction Battalion 1 and their
Thai partners will build a multipurpose room at the Wat Prachummitbumroong
School, Ban Chang, Rayong. Doctors, dentists and Army veterinarians will
conduct free clinics for villagers in the Chonburi and Rayong areas. And
Sailors and Marines will volunteer their free time to paint local schools
and help teach young students English.
“CARAT 2002 is symbolic of the great relationship
enjoyed by both countries,” says Prassert. “It is important that the
Thai Navy always realizes this.”
The bilateral exercise also takes place in Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines every summer.
Over a hundred tuk-tuks converge on Pattaya
1 million baht raised during rally against AIDS
Last Saturday, June 8, over a hundred tuk-tuks shook,
rattled and rolled all the way from Bangkok to Pattaya for this year’s
Bartercard (Thailand) and Durex ‘Tuk Tuk Rally 2002’ against AIDS.
The sponsored event raised over 1 million baht for the
Population and Community Development Association (PDA), led by the famous
Meechai Variavaidhya.
 Tuk-tuks
and condoms flowed out into the streets near the Cabbages and Condoms
Resort.
The tuk-tuks set off from Bangkok at 8.30 a.m. from
Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant-PDA on Sukhumvit Soi 12, heading to
their final destination of Cabbages & Condoms Resort, Pratamnak Soi 4
(opposite Asia Hotel) Pattaya.
Along the way, from Sukhumvit-Bangna Trat Highway to
Chonburi, passing through Bangsaen, Bangpra, Sriracha, Laem Chabang, and
Pattaya, the noisy little transports were made to stop at five
time-control points for participants to play games before rushing to
Central Pattaya, Beach Road, Pratamnak Road, and then to the finish line.
Winners of the rally were announced at the dinner on
the same day held by the swimming pool at the Cabbages & Condoms
Resort.
Graham Brain, managing director of Bartercard
(Thailand) Co, Ltd., presented awards to Ronnachit-Khunsunthorn, the
first-prize winners; Buncha-Lersak, the first runners-up; and Scott-Kamolrat,
the second runners-up. The Best Decorated Tuk-Tuk Award went to the
Castrol team.
Ronnachit
and Khunsunthorn, the winners of the 2nd Tuk-Tuk Rally proudly hold up
their trophy after receiving it from Meechai Variavaidhya (2nd right).
Graham said, “The Tuk-Tuk Rally 2002, which is the second time
we’ve held this event, was very successful. We are happy with steady
support from our sponsors such as Castrol, Uni-Thai Group, SKF Baring,
E-Thailand, Nationwide Insurance, Metro Magazine, Pattaya Mail, Singha,
and more. Aside from all the fun we shared at the rally, we raised 1
million baht to donate to charity ... for the needy in outer provinces of
Thailand, following the PDA’s project of family planning and their
anti-AIDS campaign. PDA is a non-profit organization running activities to
prevent people from getting AIDS. Along with running anti-AIDS projects
and sexually transmitted diseases campaigns, we will earmark some of the
funds for providing free condoms and vasectomies ... for the benefit of
society.
Tour boat operators protest that there aren’t enough parking spaces
Can’t fit 400 boats into 190 slips
Veerachai Somchart
The city wants tour boat operators to stop using
Pattaya Beach as a parking lot and the boat operators aren’t happy about
it.
City administrators say that since there are so many
tour boats using Pattaya Beach to pick up and drop off passengers, the
situation has become hazardous for swimmers and a nuisance for sunbathers.
The city wants the boat operators to stop using the beach and instead use
the new pier being built on Bali High Peninsula, or park their boats at
home.
City administrators are also trying to forbid tour
buses from parking on Beach Road to load and unload passengers, as it is
obstructing traffic.
However, Sanit Boonmachai, president of the Pattaya
Tour Boat Association complained that there isn’t enough room at the new
pier to handle all the tour boats now operating out of Pattaya.
Sanit said the associations’ boats “number more
than 400, excluding those currently parking at the new pier. The new pier
only has enough room to park 190 boats, and will not provide enough space
for us. We do not agree (with the city’s mandate).”
He went on to say that if the city would allow the association to
continue to park their boats on Pattaya Beach, the association would work
out a system with members of the association, whereas as many as possible
would relocate to the new pier.
City calls on Buddhist values to help solve trash problem
Organizes merit-making recycling ceremony
Suchada Tupchai
With the city bogged down in excess trash and fervently
trying to find a solution to the problem (see related story page 3), the
administration came up with a clever idea to tackle at least part of the
problem. City administrators called on the Buddhist values of the
community to instill a sense of environmental awareness.
 This
cycle appears to have been recycled a few times, and was an amusing
attraction at the city’s recycling merit making ceremony and parade on
June 4.
As one administrator put it, Thai people’s everyday
lives interact with the teachings of Buddhism and religious institutions,
so the administrative authorities plan is to combine their efforts with
the clergy in various districts to remind citizens that a respect for our
natural resources, wildlife, air and general environment falls in line
with the teachings of Lord Buddha.
To get the program going, Mayor Pairat
Suthithamrongsawat presided over the opening ceremony of a merit making
recycling ceremony at Pattaya Municipal School 9 on June 4th.
The ceremony was similar to other typical merit-making
ceremonies, as robes were presented to Buddhist monks and donations were
made to the temple, but in a unique way. To make merit, people collected
recyclable trash and sold it, and the money they raised was donated to
charity. The money earned from selling recycled products was also used to
decorate a merit tree made of recycled materials. The tree was eventually
presented to the monks at the Wat.
Part of the funds raised will be used for constructing
an environmentally friendly crematorium at Pothisampan Temple for deceased
that have no known relatives.
When the merit making activities finished, donations of
recycled trash from around the city were presented. Afterwards a very
creative parade of recycled trash filed through the streets from the Dusit
Resort to Pattaya Municipal School 9.
School kids and citizens clean up Pattaya for World Environmental Day 2002
Beach cleaning, recycling, drawing competitions and shows make for a fun day for all
Suchada Tupchai
A huge contingent of participating children from
Pattaya municipal schools and people from private and governmental sectors
took part in a multitude of festivities to mark World Environmental Day
2002.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat chaired the opening of
the campaign held at Beach Road, Soi 4 on June 5.
School
children happily spent a day on the beach, tidying up the area to do their
part for World Environmental Day 2002.
The occasion marked acknowledgment of World
Environmental Day, declared a special day by the United Nations shortly
after the United Nations ‘UN Conference on Human Environment’ on June
5, 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden. June 5 was declared World Environmental Day
as a tribute to the conference, conservation of Earth’s environment, and
the United Nations Environmental Program.
Under the wordy motto ‘Let the world recover, bring
back brightness to life, care for Pattaya, care for the environment’, a
number of activities were held as part of the campaign, including a
recycle-merit ceremony, drawing competition, beach cleaning, and
performances from different schools and communities. The objective of
organizing the activities was to raise public environmental awareness, and
have fun doing it.
Campaign activities were supported by different
organizations such as Pattaya’s municipal and private schools, Royal
Thai Navy, Thailand Hotel Association Eastern Chapter, business operators
in Pattaya, and CP Interfood Co, Ltd.
Submarine launch gets the go ahead
National Institute of Science and Technology study approve
Plans to operate a submarine in Pattaya’s waters,
called the Sea Walker Project, was given the go-ahead last week at a
meeting between the project’s directors, officials from the TAT and
committee members from the National Institute of Science and Technology.
The approval was given after a study was undertaken by
the National Institute of Science and Technology.
A license to operate the submarine was originally
denied based on the lack of information provided by the operator. So, the
company handed the issue over to the institute to find the best possible
solution, and after a study that encompassed all aspects of safety and
environmental impact, the project was authorized to proceed.
Suchart Sailamai, director of the study, said that the
most important aspect of the project is to maintain a high level of
safety, ensuring there is enough light and oxygen in the submarine. It is
also vital that this project does not in any way damage marine life in the
waters.
Based on the study, the project could provide great
potential and expand to Phuket and other seaside tourist areas in the
nation. “This is an exciting opportunity for Thailand to promote a new
facet of tourism in a category which other countries in the region have
yet to initiate,” Suchart said.
Other companies have tried to open underwater tours in
the past but have failed due to the confusion and lack of information
provided by the relevant government bodies. This project, specifically
handled by a national institute, has succeeded and officials hope it will
promote new growth in the local economy.
Pattaya’s city council appears to be slightly in disarray
Important 5-year plan due for submission
Suchada Tupchai
With the city’s important 5-year plan due for
submission, Pattaya’s city council is giving the appearance of being in
disarray. Some administrators are saying that members aren’t showing up
for important meetings, while some council members are complaining that
they aren’t being given sufficient notification as to when their
projects are coming up for debate. It is not known whether they feel it
necessary to attend meetings when their own personal projects aren’t
being discussed.
Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat and his four deputy
mayors did turn up for a June 4 council meeting, chaired by the president
of the council, Tawit Chaisawangwong.
Many issues were on the agenda for the meeting,
including hygiene, environment, municipal cremation, service charges for
garbage collection, mosquito elimination, and the 5-year city development
plan.
The most crucial issue was the 5-year city development
plan, as there are many projects being proposed that still need to be
worked out. Apparently sufficient information on much of the plan has yet
to be collected, and drafting policies are not being done to a unified
standard.
Councilmen Praiwan Arromchuen and Issarin Bariboonnakom
said they agreed with the 5-year development plan, but added that
Pattaya’s administrative officers should be precise at their job,
especially when projects for the development plan are being proposed. For
instance, they said, the same standards should be used when purchasing
cars and motorcycles for senior officers in each division, and members of
the council should be given sufficient notification when functional
assembly meetings are called. They said that many council members did not
receive notification of when their project proposals were to be reviewed.
Regarding this, in typical political-speak an officer
of Pattaya’s division of academic and city planning, responsible for
collecting information for Pattaya council’s assembly meetings said,
“The process of proposing projects with detailed information to the
council is important, as we need to request our budget allocation from the
Bureau of the Budget. Fortunately, from next year on, Pattaya will have a
more than 1,000 million baht budget per year. As for notification, we have
already distributed notification letters to the council members, but it
appears that only 2 members are attending the meeting.”
The debate continued until Tawit Chaisawangwong
adjourned the meeting, urging administrative officers to handle their work
more carefully and precisely, and set up a functional committee to monitor
the council’s administrative procedures.
Pattaya City still trying to solve waste disposal problem
Chat Thai Co. given choice: accept new conditions or step aside
Suchada Tupchai
Pattaya City currently has 210 tons of excess waste
that somehow needs to be disposed. The Chat Thai Co. Ltd., a private firm
now under contract with the city administration, has been responsible for
a portion of garbage collection and disposal, while the city is
responsible for the rest. Currently, the city administration is
responsible for 30% of the disposal and Chat Thai Co. Ltd is contracted
for the handling of the balance.
At a recent meeting at city hall called by Mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat to discuss an approach to solving the problem, a new
system was proposed that would be a “full-circle” waste disposal
scheme, encompassing garbage collection, sorting, transport and removal.
Additional garbage trucks are needed and more attention will be focused on
the correct way of sorting trash. The administration is now finalizing its
plan on how to get rid of the waste effectively and in an environmentally
friendly manner. The plan is to reduce the bulk of garbage by 30% before
transport for disposal in Kao Mai Kaew District.
Mayor Pairat said, “Since the contract with Chat Thai
Co, Ltd. will expire next year, we need to create a new strategy on how
the administration will manage waste disposal most effectively. It’s
possible the company may be awarded an extended concession if it complies
with the conditions of the new regulations set down by the administration.
If the company does not agree with the regulations, the administration
will then put the concession up for tender and other suppliers can submit
their bids.”
The proposed new waste disposal system will be more
costly than the current scheme. The process of outsourcing a private firm
to run the city’s waste disposal system, including employing workers,
fees to the firm and Pattaya City will cost over 4 million baht, which is
74% more than the cost to run the current system.
However, administrators expect the new system will
provide more effective waste disposal, especially in waste sorting and
dumping.
As part of the new system, a special ‘black box’
will be attached to each garbage truck in order to keep records on the
truck drivers’ operations. This new system, already used by the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration, has proved that the process of waste disposal
can be better monitored in relation to the workers’ mode of operation.
Pattaya’s Baht Bus Co-op elects new chairman
First goal will be to educate drivers on co-op’s regulations
Laor Thongpradap
Banjerd Kaewthongdee was elected Pattaya Baht Bus
Cooperative’s new chairman, replacing outgoing chairman Suthap Sukhochai.
Banjerd announced that his most pressing mission will
be to address the issues affecting the union in regard to raising funds,
and educating members on the Cooperative’s regulations. He said he
intends to stress enforcement of rules already in place for baht bus
drivers. He added that fares will be clearly posted on each vehicle in
order to prevent confusion and discourage mischievous behavior of drivers.
Banjerd was elected at the May 29 annual Pattaya Baht
Bus Cooperative election meeting held at the Grand Sole Hotel. Banglamung
Deputy District Governor Chaowarit Seanguthai, Nikorn Singkarum, head of
Public Transportation Banglamung District and 400 union members attended
the meeting to vote for a new chairman and form a new committee.
Before the election, Suthap Sukhochai, outgoing
chairman, presented the annual progress report of his term and proposed an
increase of the dividend value from 500 baht to 1,000 baht. He then
clarified the specific rights and actions that members can take according
to the new regulations of the Cooperation.
Attending members studied the new law of cooperative
regulations, Legislation Act of 1999, which is classified into 11 titles
and 109 items. This Act clearly addresses the rights, roles and duties of
the cooperative’s members.
Municipal officers from Vietnam visit Pattaya
Here to study Pattaya’s administrative techniques
Laor Thongpradap
A group of 42 municipal officers from Vietnam, led by
Vietnamese Minister Ta Trung Hieu, recently visited the resort to study
Pattaya’s administration techniques in different fields.
A
group of 42 municipal officers from Vietnam, led by Vietnamese Minister Ta
Trung Hieu, recently visited the resort to study Pattaya’s
administration techniques.
Minister Tra Trung Hieu said, “The objective of this
trip to Thailand is to learn about the administration system in Pattaya,
i.e. policy making, city planning, budget making, wastewater treatment
projects (including the new 1,800 million baht wastewater project), and
the educational system in Pattaya. We also want to discuss and exchange
points of views with policy makers.”
“Pattaya and Vietnam have much in common,” he
acknowledged. “Pattaya is an international tourist city in Thailand
while Vietnam’s Halong is also an international tourist destination.
Recently UNESCO announced the city of Halong as a World Heritage Site.
Also, Vietnam and Thailand are close neighbors with good relations,” he
said.
Tra Trung Hieu went on to say that Thailand and Vietnam
already have active cooperation and a number of knowledge-exchange
programs. He added, “With the Vietnamese qualities of enthusiasm and our
people’s hard-work ethic, we expect that in 30 years Vietnam will become
one of the most developed countries in this region.”
Slum houses leveled by fire
10 families left homeless
Boonlua Chatree
A tragic fire leveled a large number of dwellings in
Soi Buakhao just before midnight on June 5th. As police and firemen rushed
to the blaze, residents in the area were in a panic as they watched the
blaze take their homes. Crowded in the streets, carrying what few
belongings they could rescue, the victims stood in shock as firefighters
fought for 30 minutes to control the inferno.
 A
raging fire raised a Soi Buakhao slum, leaving 10 families homeless.
Police Captain Supot Amnajmankong, an investigative
officer questioned terrified victims to find out how the fire started.
According to one woman at the scene, the fire started at the house of Sub
San-air, age 65, who owned 6 houses close to her own. Luckily she was not
in her house when the fire began, but it quickly spread to houses nearby
and terrified residents fled their homes with whatever they could carry.
Ten houses were completely burned to the ground and 10
families were left homeless and in desperate need of help. Three of the
houses destroyed in the fire belonged to the following: Wisate Boonsaeng,
42, Nirun Sangob, 46, and Lek Jaidee, 54. The owners of the other 6 houses
have yet to be identified. The estimated loss was 1 million baht.
Lek Jaidee, one of the victims who was living in the
area said, “Last month a Pattaya police officer came to me and told me
to leave the house as there would construction starting for a road to
connect Soi Buakhao and Pattaya 3rd Road. I told him that I would
certainly move when the construction started. Now my house is burned down
and I don’t have any money left.”
The Sawang Boriboon Foundation set up a tent as a
temporary shelter for the fire victims, and brought food and clothes to
those who lost their houses.
Youth gang arrested for assault and theft
Said they did it to feed their drug and gambling habits
Vichan Pladplueng
Two youths identified as Anand Srotongdam and Khampol
Ruenmanee were arrested by officers from Pattaya’s Crime Suppression
Unit at the Central Festival Center and charged with assault and theft of
a motorbike.
Acting on information given by Anuchart Krobkaew, who
was severely beaten by the two men on May 31st before they stole his
motorbike, police apprehended the culprits and took them to jail for
questioning.
Under interrogation the pair confessed to the crime
saying that they had stolen the motorbike to break it down and sell it for
parts. They then used the money to gamble on the World Cup tournament and
purchase methamphetamines. They also admitted this was not the first time
they had done this.
Deputy Head of the Crime Suppression and Prevention
Unit at Pattaya police station, Pol. Lt. Col. Sakrapee Preawpanich said,
“Currently gangs in Pattaya are using motorbikes as get-away-vehicles
after robbing victims. Most of the time these criminals use the money to
purchase drugs. This plague of hoodlums has increased and their insidious
acts grow ever bolder since they now seek more money to gamble on the
World Cup.”
He added that the Pattaya Crime Suppression and
Prevention Unit is doing its utmost to ensure the safety of residents and
tourists alike on Pattaya’s streets.
Man shot dead on Pattaya Third Road
Altercation at local nightspot gets brutal
Vichan Pladplueng
Somkwan Phanpuk aged 30 died in hospital after being
shot 12 times in the back by a group of youths on Pattaya Third Road. The
crime occurred in the early hours of the morning of May 28th. Somkwan
dropped his girlfriend home after the couple had left the Dance Fever Pub.
As Somkwan was riding off two men on another motorbike rode up behind
Somkwan and brutally shot him 12 times in the back before fleeing.
Police arrived on the scene as the injured man was
being taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The dead man’s girlfriend, Jenjira, told police that
she and Somkwan had left the pub after a group of men had attempted to
pick her up at the disco. This had angered Somkwan and an argument
escalated to an exchange of blows. She said she urged Somkwan to leave the
situation and go home.
She said that Somkwan escorted her to her house, then
took his leave. As he was departing two men came from behind and coldly
fired twelve rounds into his back, sped off and left him for dead.
Investigating officers found shell casings at the scene
of the shooting which were later identified as coming from a 20 caliber
gun. They radioed the shooting to all available units to search for the
gunmen, but were unable to apprehend the two men, who police believe are
part of the group involved in the altercation at the Dance Fever Pub.
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