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Heavily laden truck overturns at Rincome intersection
Five vehicles damaged and traffic delayed for hours
Saksit
Meesubkwang
A truck loaded with sand suffered a brake failure and
overturned at the Rincome intersection, causing extensive damage to five
vehicles. The ensuing obstruction caused a traffic jam for several hours on
Huay Kaew Road.
Police surmise the truck was traveling at 40-60 kph when
colliding with the other vehicles. Luckily, no one was seriously injured.
Chiang Mai police said the truck driver, 48-year-old
Anant Maneerat of Kanjanaroj Kolkarn Company, was driving the truck from
Kuang Sing intersection to unload sand for construction projects for the
Suthep Tambon Administration.
He approached the Rincome intersection but could not pull
up in time. The truck then crashed into the car in front of it.
Attempting to avoid the car, the driver lost control of the truck, which
then overturned and hit a further two sedan cars and two pickups that were
parked on the left.
Storm brings down telephone pole
And a passing pick-up!
Jiraphat Warasin and
Autsadaporn Kamthai
During this week’s rains and windstorms, an old
telephone pole was brought down.
Unfortunately, the pole, on Muen Dam Pra Kod Road in
Chiang Mai, fell over as Bandit Chitchamnong was driving past in his
pick-up. The vehicle was extensively damaged, but the driver escaped injury.
A TT&T company spokesperson said the pole was blown
over by the strong gusty winds because it was very old and in a deteriorated
condition.
Bandit
Chitchamnong was obviously having a bad day, and by pure luck ended up with
extensive damage to his pickup. However, dangling telephone lines wasn’t
enough to stop the motorcycle traffic, just slow it down a little.
TT&T workers took about an hour to remove the pole and install a new
one, but telephone connections in the area were not disrupted.
Lamphun, not Chiang Mai, chosen for mobile Cabinet meeting
Perhaps their roads are better?
Nopniwat
Krailerg
The mobile cabinet is heading north, but has chosen to
meet in Lamphun instead of Chiang Mai. Governor Suwat Tantipat had
previously announced that the Cabinet will meet from June 28-30, and it was
presumed that this would be in Chiang Mai, as was the postponed meeting.
On the Cabinet’s agenda during its sojourn in the north
will be drugs and mafia, tourism, city and urban planning, as well as the
environment and preservation of nature campaigns.
Loy Luenboonak, deputy secretary-general to Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and his delegation has travelled to check on
the readiness of the venue. The Sala Prachakhom meeting hall at Lamphun City
Hall and Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai Temple have been chosen for the meeting.
Lamphun province governor, Thawatchai Satiennam has been
busy preparing for the mobile Cabinet meeting. He is expected to raise the
issues of water distribution and allocation from Mae Ngad-Mae Lao River,
water basin development and management, cattle farming under the concept
“One District One Farm” and other related matters.
For Chiang Mai province, issues to be discussed will be
in line with the current situation, especially the development plans for an
integrated administration strategy, following the government policy on
promoting Chiang Mai as the Greater Mekong sub-region hub in Southeast Asia.
PM Thaksin plans to plant Ratchapruek trees along the
Chiang Mai-Lamphun Superhighway as part of Chiang Mai City’s “Green and
Clean” development project. He will also visit the HIV/AIDS project in the
city’s Chiang Dao district.
Public seminar to discuss high-rise impact
Academics cite increased pollution and municipal chaos
Saksit Meesubkwang
The burgeoning high-rise buildings in Chiang Mai is
causing rising concern in the city’s academics. This was one feeling from
the Social Research Institute (SRI) of Chiang Mai University conference on
the many high buildings planned for Chiang Mai.
 Dr
Duangchan Charoenmuang, a researcher of the Social Research Institute which
plans to hold a public meeting on the impact of high-rise buildings on
Chiang Mai City.
Associate Professor Pongthep Wiwatsanadech, head of
Chiang Mai’s High Building Study, Assoc Prof Walawan Senarat, Assoc Prof
Dr Prasak Thawornyuttikarn, Dr Duangchan Charoenmuang and Assoc Prof Lamduan
Srisakda and 30 others participated in the conference.
Pongthep said that as a result of the government’s
attempt to promote Chiang Mai as a regional hub and gateway to Indochina, a
number of Thai and foreign investors were behind the construction of about
ten 5 star hotels. “If more high buildings are constructed in the city,
there will be many negative consequences such as pollution and traffic
jams,” he said.
Academics of the SRI are planning to hold a public
seminar entitled “Beautiful Chiang Mai City and the Crisis from High
Buildings” on June 25 at B P Chiang Mai Hotel.
Academics, lawyers, local politicians, religion representatives,
businessmen, students and residents of municipal areas are invited to attend
the seminar to exchange views and express their opinions on the impact of
the planned high-rise buildings. The seminar will start at 8 a.m. There will
be no charge for participants.
Royal Project moves from
the highlands onto the world’s stage
Saksit
Meesubkwang
The sustainable development project initiated by HM the
King has been teaching the world a welcome lesson.
This was the feeling at a seminar organized by Chiang
Mai University and the Office of Highland Agriculture Development of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Royal Project, entitled
“Sustainable Highland Development: From the Lessons Learnt in the Royal
Project to the World’s Stage”.
His
Serene Highness Prince Bhisadej Rajani (left), chairman of the Royal
Project Foundation, presided at the seminar at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel,
Chiang Mai.
His Serene Highness Prince Bhisadej Rajani, chairman of
the Royal Project Foundation, presided at the opening of the seminar held
at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, Chiang Mai. He said that His Majesty the
King is pleased to have initiated and financed the Royal Project since 1969
to develop highland agriculture, reduce drug cultivation and conserve
watershed forests.
In 1992, the Royal Project name was changed to the Royal
Project Foundation following HM the King’s initiative.
The Foundation has been operating for 30 years and has
eradicated opium cultivation from the kingdom. It has also helped raise the
standard of living of hill tribe farmers, boosting the overall conditions
of communities, natural resources and the environment in the highlands.
The achievement of the Foundation has attracted overseas
interest from Asia, North America and South America to study and observe
its operation in relation to the hill tribes, to hopefully use it as a
model in their own countries. Asian countries China, Laos, Cambodia,
Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines and Bhutan have shown
particular interest in the Foundation’s activities.
The Foundation has assisted Bhutan because of
similarities in the topography, lifestyles and poverty levels. Bhutan’s
plantation efforts were not as successful as Thailand’s so the Foundation
has been offering suggestions and exchanging information with that country.
At the beginning of this year, US Secretary of State
Colin Powell observed the operations of the Foundation. He expressed
admiration, saying it was the first foundation in the world that stopped
people from cultivating opium to grow alternative crops instead.
Academics and specialists from many institutions spoke at the seminar.
They included Assoc Prof Somporn Issawalanont from the Agricultural
Economics and Resource Department of Kasetsart University’s Faculty of
Economics; Dr Chipaka Sungkapitak from the Agricultural Economics
Department of Chiang Mai University; Chaiyasit Aneksampan, coordinator of
the Plantation Project of the Royal Project; Sorasith Saengprasert, adviser
to the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB); and Asst Prof Pittaya
Suamsiri, Dean of the Agricultural Faculty of CMU.
Ivory poachers leave elephants dying
De-tusked elephants suffer from jumbo infection
Nopniwat Krailerg
Seventeen Thai elephants have been successfully treated
for a painful and potentially fatal infection of the empty sockets left when
poachers removed their tusks for the ivory, but a further 33 are still
suffering.
Chiang Mai University’s dentistry and veterinary
medicine faculties are studying the infection, called ‘pulpitis’,
as they are concerned about a further reduction in Thailand’s elephant
population. One of the main causes of mortality is infection in the deep
cavity left after their tusks have been hacked out.
 Associate
Professor Suvichai Rojanasatien, the dean of the university’s Veterinary
Medicine Faculty, Chiang Mai University.
Associate Professor Suvichai Rojanasatien, the dean of the
university’s Veterinary Medicine Faculty spoke at a press conference
detailing a research project on treatment. This started in 2002 with funding
from the National Research Council. Last year research focused on elephant
infections and their treatment.
Statistics show that 50 wild elephants in Thailand died
between 1992-1998. Of these, 23 were hunted and killed for their ivory,
primarily in Nakhon Sawan, Lampang, and Chiang Rai provinces.
According to current research about 33 elephants in the
Upper Northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Uttaradit, Mae
Hong Son, Sukhothai, Phrae and Tak are suffering from pulpitis.
The professors said they are treated with calcium
hydrodcide, and intermediate restorative materials, “as in human
treatment”. Chiang Mai University’s dean of veterinary medicine added
that the faculty’s mobile unit will provide services and treatment to
affected elephants at elephant camps and other places in the next four
months.
Other academics involved were Assoc Prof Viratch Patanaporn, the dean of
the Faculty of Dentistry; Dr Patavee Kongkhuntien, deputy dean; veterinarian
teacher Chatchote Titaram of the Elephant and Wildlife Clinic Department, as
the head of the research project; veterinarian Thaweechoke Angkhawanitch, and
veterinarians from the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, National Elephant
Institute in Lampang, and Forestry Industry Organization.
9 million trees to honour HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great
Saksit Meesubkwang
To honour HM the King on the occasion of his 80th
birthday in 2007, Rachapruek trees have been planted at the Huai Tung Tao
Reservoir in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district. They were planted by the 33rd
Military Circle in conjunction with the 16th Conserved Forest Administration
and Management Office.
 Lt
Gen Picharnmeth Muangmanee (right), commander of the 3rd Army Region and
Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai governor (left), jointly press the button at the
tree planting ceremony.
Lt Gen Picharnmeth Muangmanee, commander of the Royal
Thai 3rd Army Region and Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat presided over
the planting ceremony. Over 500 soldiers, police, government officials,
students, merchants and the general public joined in.
Lt Gen Picharnmeth said that the government had
instigated the planting of nine million Rachapruek trees countrywide to
honour HM the King and follow his initiative and passion for the development
and conservation of nature and the environment.
The project also aims to popularise knowledge about the
Rachapruek, which is the national tree and flower, and an auspicious tree
for Thais. The project encourages citizens to preserve the nature and
environment by planting new trees to substitute those destroyed. The
Rachapruek flower is yellow in colour that signifies Monday, the day of HM
the King’s birthday.
The commander said that the Rachapruek planting would inspire everyone to
help meet the target of nine million trees planted before the King’s
birthday in 2007.
Northern provinces please deputy minister
Everything going according to plan says governor
Saksit
Kittinan Chiang Mai Public Relations Department
The deputy minister of the interior is a satisfied man,
as development projects in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son are
being carried out according to plan.
On June 11 Deputy Minister Pramual Rujanaseree listened
to progress reports on work assigned by PM Thaksin Shinawatra at briefings
organized at the Chiang Mai City Hall and listened to problems that the
northern authorities have encountered.
Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat briefed the deputy
minister about the progress, particularly the wastewater improvement plan,
the landscaping along the Mae Kha canal banks, as well as the dredging of
rapids, islets and cataracts to help the water flow into the canal.
Other projects include Lanna sculpture and handicraft
works along the Chiang Mai-San Kamphaeng Road, as well as the parallel road
along the Chiang Mai-Lamphun railway line, which fall under urban and city
planning.
The governor also reported that the construction of the
center for developing and distributing products of small and medium
enterprises (SME’s) is underway. Speaking on the tourism development plan,
he said that the provincial authorities have launched the “Green and
Clean” city plan to make Chiang Mai more beautiful, in line with
celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday in August.
Governor Suwat also explained that the primitive
lifestyle in local communities, and their traditions, culture and art would
be rediscovered. There would also be improvements to road islets,
landscaping, road surfaces and pavements, footpaths and eight main roads in
Chiang Mai City.
Hotels urged to cooperate in meeting criteria for uniform standards
Jiraphat
Warasin
A seminar was held in Chiang Mai to explain and set
uniform standards for hotels throughout Thailand, thereby helping to promote
the country as a world class destination.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration
with the Foundation of Tourism Industry and Service Standards and Personnel
Development, Thai Hotels Association (THA) and Thai Tourism Business
Association arranged the conference at the Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel. The aim
was to motivate improvements in the tourism industry in a systematic way.
 Mana
Chobtham (center), director of the TAT’s Tourism Product Promotions,
accompanied by Thongyu Supawittaya (left), of ATTA, and Sampan Panpat
(right), Foundation of Tourism Industry and Service Standards and Personnel
Development, at Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel.
The conference tried to reach consensus on hotel
standards with reliable criteria for both hoteliers and their guests. Mana
Chobtham, director of the TAT’s Tourism Product Promotions, said that the
conference should produce standard criteria for all 3,650 hotels in the
country with regard to construction, maintenance, facilities and services.
Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat has also asked the THA
in the province to meet every two months.
Sampan Panpat, a committee member of the Foundation, said
it had raised the subject of hotel ratings with the TAT 20 years ago because
foreign guests often queried the standards of Thai hotels, which have been
rated from 1-5 stars. Previously, guests relied on room rates to judge a
hotel’s rating which was unreliable.
Thailand has applied overseas rating systems for the past
three years, which TAT has been checking. However, not all hotels have
cooperated because they do not understand what standards are required and
what the benefits are. Some are also not confident their hotels come up to
scratch.
During 2003, 110 hotels joined as THA members but only 84
met the standards in the areas of the state of their buildings, maintenance
and their personnel’s language skills.
TAT is conferring with the National Economic and Social Development Board
to ask for government assistance with supporting funds for hotel
improvements, reduction in import tax on imported furniture and technologies
for hotels, and to arrange seminars for five star hotels to motivate other
hotels to register as members of the association, said Samphan.
Rural telephone users can now receive calls by radio waves
Wireless returns to favour!
Autsadaporn Kamthai and
Gerard Krebs
The TOT is responding to government policy that wishes to
see the entire population have access to telephone services in every rural
region in Thailand.
Wasukri Klapairee, senior executive vice-president of
Wireless Division, TOT Corporation announced this at a press conference held
at the Sheraton Hotel on June 10. He also introduced the promotion of its
new “Wireless Local Loop” (WLL) to the public.
TOT
staff introduce their “Wireless Local Loop” to the public at the
Sheraton Hotel, Chiang Mai.
TOT boosted its service by introducing the WLL which can
serve people in remote or rural areas better than the former system. The WLL
was created and developed by Kyocera Corporation, a leading Japanese
wireless communication system company. It differs from the previous system
in that it can send radio waves from the telephone centre into a
15-kilometre radius. An added advantage is that it is cheaper and quicker to
install, has lower maintenance costs and has durable accessories, Wasukri
said.
For the new system, telephone users will have to install
only a Single Line Subscriber Unit (SLSU) at their own house to convert the
radio waves into sound waves. Users will no longer have to install landlines
linking the telephone exchange to their houses.
The initial target group for this new system are rural
people who have not previously had a telephone service. TOT is encouraging
rural people to install its new WLL telephones by offering incentive prizes
valued at over 4 million baht for new clients who sign up by October 31. The
prizes include an Isuzu D-Max pickup, 60 Honda Wave motorcycles, and 150
gold necklaces. There will be five lucky draws at the TOT’s regional
offices in Khon Kaen, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Songkhla and Ayutthaya.
New customers will be charged 90 baht for the monthly service, with the
call rate of 1 baht a minute for local calls and 3 baht a minute for
long-distance calls. The cost of installation has been reduced from 3,584.50
baht to 2,000 baht to attract new clients.
Football mania gets under way in Chiang Mai
Jiraphat Warasin
EURO 2004 football fever is here, and Chiang Mai has
organised several activities to fan the flames until the finals on July 4.
On the 2nd Floor of Central Airport Plaza, Orange
Company, Zeazon Mobile Phone, Maxon By Loxlay, Top Games Shop, Don Tree
Season Co., Ltd and Forty-Five Organizer & Media Co., Ltd. have combined
to set up the “Orange Euro Stadium” to accompany the European football
fest.
 Football
fun and games at Central Airport Plaza, organized by Orange Company in
Chiang Mai.
The light-hearted activities are linked to football with
games such as the Euro free kick, hot kick, games commentary, and questions
and answers, with many prizes to be won. “There will also be live
telecasts of the EURO 2004,” said the Orange Company in Chiang Mai.
The activities are aimed particularly at youths to promote the anti-drug
campaign and encourage them to spend their leisure time playing sport and
games to benefit their health. However, this project is more likely to
encourage them to sit in front of TV and computer screens!
Luk Thung music contest winners get ready for Bangkok
Jiraphat
Warasin
Siam Yamaha Music Co. hosted the final round in the 4th
Luk Thung singing contest, for the northern region at the Central Airport
Plaza.
It selected the winning team to represent the North in
the annual national contest, when regional winners will vie for HRH Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s trophy at the Thailand Cultural Center in
Bangkok.
 The
team from Thungsaliam Shanuphathum School, Sukhothai was the winner and will
represent the North at the national contest in Bangkok.
The Luk Thung contest is held to raise awareness of this
genre of upcountry music which reflects the Thai national identity and
culture, as well as to improve the standards in the musical expression.
 Team
dancers from Faktha Vitthaya School, Uttaradit, shared the third runner-up
prize.
The judging committee came from the Siam Yamaha Music
Company. Each participating team consisted of a master of ceremonies, lead
vocals, dancers and their band. Eleven teams participated in the final
round, with the winner being the team from Thungsaliam Shanuphathum School
in Sukhothai province and the first runner-up the team from Janokrong School
in Phitsanulok.
Stolen vehicle retrieved on its way to Myanmar
Government officials implicated in scam
A stolen vehicle belonging to Prakit Arunkitchprakul, a
resident of Phetchaburi province, was seized by military rangers as the
driver was crossing a river in Mai Sai, heading into Myanmar from Thailand.
The 20 strong Pha Muang Task Force outfit from the 3107
Military Ranger Division retrieved the Toyota Sport at Ban Pangha, Tambon
Koh Chang, Mae Sai district. Interrogation of its eight occupants revealed
that the vehicle was headed for Myanmar to be sold on the black market.
Police investigating the incident have also said that
some government officials have been implicated in the heist.
Immigration is there to help
But they need your help to do it
Alastair
Connon
National Police Monitoring Committee (KTTR)
Immigration checkpoints around the world can be a
daunting experience for all travellers to foreign countries. And we all have
a strange feeling of pending doom or feel guilty when we approach passport
control.
 Head
of Chiangmai Immigration Bureau, Pol. Col. Jinabhadra Tansrisakul would like
to learn what you have to say about the Immigration Department.
A large part of the responsibilities of all Immigration
Bureaux world wide is to protect its citizens and visitors from any
potential threat and to stop illegal entry. However, contrary to most ideas,
Immigration is there to help and assist.
Chiang Mai Immigration’s commitment to improving
services continues, with the request from the head of Chiangmai Immigration
Bureau, Pol. Col. Jinabhadra Tansrisakul asking for comments from the
general public on his officers.
“The more feedback and comments that we receive the
better placed we are to provide a service that the public needs. It is only
through their comments and suggestions, good and bad, that can we provide
the service the public expects. I am particularly interested to hear
comments and I would like members of the public to contact me directly by
letter, telephone or email,” said the Superintendent.
Please mark your letter private and confidential and send
to:
FAO the Superintendent
Chiangmai Immigration
Mahidol Road
Muang, Chiangmai 50200 or By email to: superintendent
@chiangmai-immigration.com
Tel 0 5320 1755 / 0 5320 1756 or Fax 0 5327 7510.
Five dozy drug dealers trapped in sting operation
Thought they were making fun money
Undercover police looking to buy ya ba from five youths
were actually part of a sting operation, taking their ya ba tablets and then
arresting them.
The officers were from Muang Chiang Mai police station
and arrested the foolish five on June 7 confiscating 50 ya ba pills and drug
taking equipment.
The suspects confessed that they had bought the drugs
from a friend in Phayao province to sell to students around Chiang Mai at
150 baht per tablet.
Those arrested are 26-year-old Sakchai Srima, 25-year-old
Ittiphol Chansrinual, 23-year-old Bancha Chermua, 19-year-old Pornchai
Apaikawee and a 17-year-old who cannot be named as he is a minor. They all
worked at a garage near the Saeng Tawan junction. The suspects were charged
with possession of drugs for sale.
In their leisure time, the gang members took drugs
themselves and the money they made from selling drugs was spent on going out
at night to have fun.
They won’t be having much fun in the Muang Police fun
palace while awaiting their court appearance.
No more drugs through the mail says post office
Sniffer dogs with postman’s hats on the job
The Mae Sai post office in Chiang Rai is clamping down
on the practice of smuggling drugs through the mail.
Paiboon Sakyaphinant, head of the post office in Chiang
Rai’s Mae Sai district, says they have stepped up measures to prevent the
practice. Clients who send parcels must pack them at the post office in the
presence of post office officials. Senders of parcels that are packed and
sealed beforehand will have to produce their ID cards for a record to be
kept.
Post office officials have also asked for the
cooperation of the local police together with sniffer dogs to help search
for drugs hidden in postal items.
In another measure to stop drug smuggling, Mae Sai
police will set up checkpoints on the main roads as well as in front of the
border pass, to check on both pedestrians and cars crossing the border.
They will work in cooperation with soldiers of the Pha Muang Task Force,
Border Patrol Police, and Immigration Police.
Promiscuous men spreading HIV
Government turning its back on the problem claims health worker
Saksit
Meesubkwang
The AIDS pandemic is not being seriously tackled in
Thailand, and foetuses continue to be infected by mothers with HIV/AIDS at
an alarming rate, claims Dr Prakong Vithayasai, president of the Kua Darun
Children’s Foundation.
She said for the past seven years government agencies had
focused on prevention of the fatal disease, but could not continue to do so
indefinitely.
Surveys show that many of those infected with HIV are
married men who have intercourse with sex workers without using a condom.
These men then transmit the disease to their wives.
“It seemed that HIV/AIDS in Thai society could be
eradicated, but actually this problem has not been seriously tackled,” Dr
Prakong said. In previous years, the government allocated more than 50
million baht per year to support groups working to prevent and control the
disease. However, it has subsequently cut the budget allocation. “It is
very worrying since the small budget cannot have much effect,” she noted.
She appealed to the government not to ignore prevention
and control of the disease, as many of those affected are afraid to admit
their positive status. “The government seemed more concerned with its
‘War on Drugs’ campaign, and boosting the economy and investment, than
with taking care of the people in the country,” she said.
Dr Prakong and her husband, who is also a doctor, added
that they decided to take early retirement from government employ so that
they can devote themselves to working in society in a private capacity.
Her Foundation has about 520 affected children and
orphans. It needs public donations and help to care for these children.
For further information, contact Dr Prakong Vithayasai of
the Kua Darun Children’s Foundation, 181/208 Moo 3, Potaram Rd,
Chotananivade Housing Estate, Soi 6, Chang Puek district, Muang, Chiang Mai
50300 Thailand, tel/Fax.66-53-408424, website: www. support-the-Children.org
email: pvithay@med.cmu.ac.th
Chiang Mai puts plans forward to cope with flooding
Irrigation Office says no danger predicted at present
Nopniwat
Krailerg
To solve the problem of flooding, the Irrigation
Department is to put forward a proposal to the mobile Cabinet meeting, which
will be held in Lamphun June 28-30, for the construction of a reservoir in
Mae Taeng.
This proposed reservoir would decrease the volume and
velocity of water from the Ping River flowing down into the Chiang Mai
municipal areas.
Arjit Supanichwong, head of the Mae Faek-Mae Ngad Water
Distribution and Maintenance Project of the 1st Irrigation Office, said
Chiang Mai does not expect extensive, heavy rains this year and will not be
flooded. He said fears that water will be released if the Mae Ngad Dam
overflows are unfounded as it is currently only 40 percent full. Also, the
Mae Nguang Reservoir is only 20 percent capacity.
Chiang Mai Deputy Governor Kwanchai Wongnitikorn reported
that the Meteorological Department will issue warnings about expected heavy
rainfall. The Hydrographic Department will calculate the water volume and
direction and the Irrigation Department will alert the local public about
floods. In the event of flooding, the Civil Disaster Prevention Division
will cooperate with governmental offices to relieve the problem. The
Meteorological Department and the Hydrographic Department will report to the
Provincial Flood Committee on the flood situation every morning.
The governor of Chiang Mai will be asked to set up a team
to be directly responsible for addressing flooding. In the event of the
water level in the Mae Taeng Canal rising to dangerous levels, water from it
will be released into the Ping River in San Patong district and into the Mae
Hia Canal. Currently, Tambon Mae Hia has two reservoirs.
Flooding in the city usually happens on the Huay Kaew
Road because the Chang Klan Canal is no longer used. The water on Huay Kaew
Road builds up at the Rincome intersection before flowing to Pa Tun and
running down into the Ping River. Floodwaters in front of the Chiang Mai
Airport pass the Niyom Panich Building and run down to the city’s moat.
Presently, Chiang Mai faces potential flooding of the Mae
Taeng and Ping rivers, where there are no reservoirs or dams as
water-catchment areas. The Mae Ngad River, on the other hand, runs into the
Mae Ngad Dam.
Elderly woman robbed of jewellery in broad daylight
More of a snatch and nabbed, than snatch and grab
Nopniwat
Krailerg
An unemployed construction worker snatched a gold
necklace and amulet from an old woman, but he did not get far with his
booty.
Somsak Nammongkol, 26, a worker from Khon Kaen province,
had been a construction worker in Chiang Mai for six months, but found
himself unemployed and homeless.
 Somsak
Nammongkol (left) admitted to stealing a gold necklace and a Buddha amulet
from Buakiew Wattanatheebutre (right).
While walking through the Changpuak fresh market on June
7, he noticed 77-year-old Buakiew Wattanatheebutre wearing her necklace and
a gold Buddha amulet. He snatched it from her neck and ran off.
Police Lt Col Samphan Sirima of Changpuak police station
was alerted and sent Pol Capt Apisek Pisano, the chief of the police patrol,
to the scene of the crime to investigate. He spotted the suspect hiding in
grass near the market, and Somsak was arrested in connection with the theft,
to which he confessed.
He is homeless no longer, now being behind bars.
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