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Earthquakes and tidal waves bring 2004 to a close
Burmese earthquake activity felt in Chiang Mai
Staff reporters
An earthquake with the magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter
scale was felt in the northern part of Thailand at 8.30 a.m. on December 26.
The epicenter of this earthquake was reported to be in Burma.
One tourist in Chiang Mai was reported injured after
slipping down the stairs while she was running out of her condominium during
the earth tremor.
There were two main shocks, and many aftershocks
reported. The first earthquake, which only registered 1.8 on the Richter
scale, hit Mae Moh district of Lampang, and the second, 2.0 on the Richter
scale, reached Long district of Phrae. There were no reports of injuries or
damage in the two provinces.
Almost simultaneously a huge earthquake registering 8.9
on the Richter scale, with the epicenter off Sumatra in Indonesia, caused
tidal waves that swept across the region to Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.
Tens of thousands were killed and injured, including
hundreds killed and thousands injured in Phuket when tidal waves 5-10 meters
high tore through the coastal resort.
Other areas reporting injuries and devastation from tidal
waves were Songkhla, Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani.
Note: Chiang Mai Immigration has set up boxes for
donations of all kinds, be it clothes, blankets or money, for the victims in
Phuket. People can contact them if they want to assist.
Entertainment venues to stay open
all night for New Year
The
director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, Sujarit
Patchimnum announced that all night entertainment venues across the country
will be allowed to extend their opening hours on New Year Eve, December 31,
until 06:00 a.m. on January 1, 2005. (TNA
Organic crops on display
Royal Project introduces new vegetables
Saksit
Meesubkwang
The Royal Project’s Organic Vegetables and Fruit Fair was
held from December 23-26 at Chiang Mai University’s Art Museum, and was
presided over by Khunying Chao Rawiporn Sujaritkul and HSH Prince Bhisadej
Rajani, chairman of the Royal Project Foundation.
HSH Prince
Bhisadej Rajani (3rd left), chairman of the Royal Project Foundation, and
Ornnadda Tantipat (4th left) at the opening of the Royal Project Fair of organic
vegetables and fruit at Chiang Mai University’s Art Museum.
Organic vegetables and fruits from the Royal Project
Foundation were on sale at 20 booths and demonstrations of organic crops and
winter crops were given.
Celebrities Warut “O” Woratham, Methanee “Nino” and
Kelly Thanaphat demonstrated their favorite dishes using organic vegetable and
fruits.
HSH Prince Bhisadej said that the new healthy vegetable from
the Royal Project was a red carrot and this was introduced to people at the
fair. The red carrots are sweeter than other types.
According to HSH Prince Bhisadej, the crops grown by the
Royal Project have increased and at present there are approximately 80 types of
crops plus other winter crops.
Sales of Royal Project produce bring in around 1 million baht a day to the
project and its members, said HSH Prince Bhisadej.
Intellectual property
on show during Xmas Fair
Nopniwat Krailerg
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) Fair was held
at the Duang Tawan Hotel in Chiang Mai December 22-24, to provide information
about copyright law. The fair was held for the benefit of the Thai Intellectual
Property Defense Volunteers Association, special representatives of Thai
Intellectual Property, OTOP and SMEs manufacturers, bank officers, and another
600 concerned people.
 Anutin
Charnveerakul, deputy commerce minister (right) and Suwat Tantipat, Chiang
Mai governor.
Anutin Charnveerakul, deputy commerce minister, presided,
with Kanitsorn Nawanukroh, DIP director general and Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai
governor also assisting in the fair.
Deputy Commerce Minister Anutin said, “The DIP will
encourage people to realize the importance of copyright. It is anticipated that,
in 2005, copyright registrations will go up by 20 percent.
“DIP is now emphasizing youth education; therefore it’s
crucial to coordinate with the Ministry of Education to make children realize
the importance of intellectual property and creative thinking. This is a
national concern,” said Anutin.
The DIP has a five year plan, from 2003-2008, to create the
correct mentality and attitude towards intellectual property and to enlarge
cooperative links between client countries, such as China, the United States,
and Japan, including the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Thai Rak Thai administration under PM Thaksin Shinawatra
declared intellectual property to be an important policy in 2001. From then, the
government has been strict on the policy and suppresses the issue of pirate CD
and other items. In 2003, there were 5,509 cases of copyright infringement and
more than five million copy merchandise items were confiscated.
Whilst the administration may be congratulating itself, it appears there are
just as many vendors selling pirated goods to tourists as there were before.
Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2005 and the general election to clash
Organizers ask the MoI what to do
Staff
Reporters
Chiang Mai province is contacting the Minister of Interior
(MoI) and the Election Committee of Thailand (ECT) because the final day of the
Chiang Mai Flower Festival (February 6, 2005) clashes with the election day.
There was concern that some candidates might use the festival
for their election campaign by sponsoring activities. On the other hand, if the
festival is postponed by a week, the festival organizers and the province will
be affected as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has publicized the
festival dates worldwide.
Unsure of what to do, Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat
called a meeting on December 19 to discuss the situation with other associated
organizations. The meeting agreed that the province should contact the MoI and
the ECT to ask for suggestions and consideration of the date.
“The province will follow the resolution from the MoI and
the ECT regarding the flower festival and the nationwide general election,”
said Suwat.
However, Suwat suggested that while waiting for the
suggestion, the festival organizers should continue preparing for the festival
or it would not be ready in time.
Russian ambassador to promote Chiang Mai tourism
Saksit
Meesubkwang
Russian Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Yevgeny D. Ostrovenko met
Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat on December 20 to discuss investment
opportunities in technology and tourism between the two countries.
Governor Suwat suggested the ambassador should handle
investment in technology and discuss this with the minister, since the matter is
at a national level. The ambassador said Russia is looking at investments of up
to one billion dollars in 2005.
The ambassador suggested that Chiang Mai and Russia could
have tourism exchanges as they have such different weather and geography, said
Suwat. The Russian ambassador and Chiang Mai governor plan to launch direct
flights between Moscow and Chiang Mai to stimulate Russia-Chiang Mai tourism.
The Russian government grants 24 scholarships each year for
Thai students to further their education in Russia, but scholarships are only
for residents of Bangkok. The ambassador said it is his intention to extend
these to regional students from Chiang Mai.
French government sponsor ONCB in eradication of narcotic crops
Autsadaporn
Kamthai
Office of Narcotic Control Board (ONCB) called on all
countries facing illicit narcotic crop cultivation problems to join a workshop
on Utilization and Application of Satellite Imageries for Narcotic Crops Survey
held during December 21-22 at Duang Tawan Hotel, Chiang Mai.
Initially, the ONCB knew of around 2 million hectares of
potential opium poppy areas, covering 12 provinces of the Northern part of
Thailand. It is noted that most people involved with the illicit crops are hill
tribes in remote areas.
The ONCB has operated their Opium Eradication Campaign since
1984. Six years later the United States government introduced ground and aerial
survey for opium poppy cultivation in remote areas. In 1987, the French
government assisted the ONCB by sponsoring the use of SPOT Data to search for
narcotic plantations.
The opium eradication campaign reduced narcotic crop areas
from 8,776.64 hectares (54,854 rai) during 1984-1985 to 128.53 hectares (803.31
rai) in 2003-2004 so far, said Pol Maj Somchart Sawangnetr, deputy
secretary-general of the Office of Narcotic Control Board.
The ONCB report shows that the most effective opium
eradication during 2002-2004 was Loei, with 100 percent of opium crops
eradicated, followed by Phitsanulok with 99 percent eradicated, Mae Hong Son
with 98 percent eradicated and Chiang Mai with 91 percent of crops eradicated.
Conversely, the worst area for narcotic crop cultivation is
Kampaengphet, as within the period of 4 years the area under cultivation has
increased 260 percent.
With the support of the French government, the Regional
Training Center for Narcotic Crops Survey has trained officials from both
Thailand and neighboring countries. Lao PRD has eliminated 45 percent of its
narcotic crops and Burma has reduced its cultivation by only 30 percent.
More taxis planned for Chiang Mai in 2005
But the drivers have to go to charm school
Nopniwat Krailerg
In the middle of January, a taxi call center will be
established in front of the Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel on Sri Donchai Road, in the
downtown area, instead of at the Nakorn Lanna Transport Cooperatives. More taxis
will be put into service, and training courses will be held every Sunday for
taxi drivers to ensure good service, politeness, and ability to communicate in
English.
 Singhkham
Nunti, president of the Nakorn Lanna Transport Cooperatives and Taxi Service in
Chiang Mai.
Singhkham Nunti, the president of the Nakorn Lanna Tranport
Cooperatives said that currently there are 13 taxis, 2,791 red minibuses and 37
air-conditioned buses.
In 2005, the cooperatives aim to launch another 50-100 taxis
because the demand has been gradually increasing, with now an average of 20
calls to call center and 50 calls directly to the taxi drivers. An agreement has
been made with the Provincial Traffic and Transport Committee, that for every
new taxi, they will decommission one red minibus.
The new taxi services are being equally used by both Thais
and foreigners, said Singhkham. The daily income after deducting expenses is
around 1,000-1,500 baht per taxi. Every taxi can be contacted through radio
communication.
In 2005, good service is the most important, then vehicle
condition, service, politeness and ability to speak English. The Gems Gallery is
supporting the company by hiring an English teacher to teach 40 cooperative
members every Sunday. They also want a community radio station and the company
is now seeking a license from the government department.
To contact the call center, telephone 053-279291and 053-271242 from 7 a.m. to
8 p.m.
Public Health Ministry wants us to be ready for expected casualties
Nopniwat
Krailerg
A meeting of provincial Public Health doctors, emergency
room doctors and 500 other people concerned with the traffic accident
situation, was held to ensure all facilities are well prepared.
 Chiang
Mai Ram Hospital and the rescue team from Ruam Jai Foundation plan for
emergencies.
The rescue organizations were told by the Public Health
Department that they could expect 1,500 call-outs per day instead of the usual
300 casualties per day. Public and private hospitals are to keep their emergency
services on full alert.
Prof. Suchai Charoeanrattanakul, deputy public health
minister, presided over the meeting and spoke on medical emergency services in
2005. Prof. Suchai said that emergency problems have been increasing by a factor
of three to five over the past 10 years.
It could be seen that there were many casualties from
motorcycle accidents; however, there are more problems arising with chronic
diseases. The top causes of death are: 60 percent accidents, then heart attacks,
diabetes, and strokes.
Rescue teams need to be developed to ensure a better standard
of first aid treatment at the roadside. The deputy public heath minister also
assigned public doctors in Thailand to cover all remote areas. Each province
should have a medical office to help people in emergency.
The emergency services have to be ready for the influx from
New Year holidays during December 29 - January 4. They also need cooperation
from the military and the police for equipment and medical helicopters.
In emergencies call the help-line on 1669 which has links in
38 provinces, and in 2005, throughout the country in every tambon and district.
Hill Tribes make merit on UN international rice day
Sunthon Wongjomporn
The Karen’s Rice Merit Donation Network Committee held
their rice merit making and donation ceremonies to celebrate the United Nations
“International Rice Day” on December 16 at Ban Khun Tae in tambon Doi Kaew,
Chom Thong district, Chiang Mai.
After the
rice harvest, the Karen people will pay respect and show their gratitude for the
rice.
This rice donation has been done for 16 years, aiming to help
orphans, elderly people, and other disadvantaged persons living in the high
mountains.
The Rice Merit Donation is an ancient tradition and is considered an
important social event for the Karen people. The Karen believe that rice is
sacred since it gives life to every human, making merit with rice is far better
than with money because rice is closer to humans than money and it is
appreciated by the poor.
Karen
network celebrates the UN International Rice Day.
The solution to pollution is not high on the public agenda
Burning off still the number one cause it seems
Autsadaporn
Kamthai
Public participation in the solution to Chiang Mai’s
pollution problems has been negligible, a meeting of the Provincial
Pollution Working Group was told at Chiang Mai City Hall.
The working groups covered the areas of forest fires,
outdoor burning, industrial atmospheric contamination, burning agricultural
materials, BBQ food, construction sites and vehicle emission.
BBQ
cooking, prevalent throughout the city, is reputedly the second worst air
pollution offender.
According to data from Chiang Mai University’s Social
Research Institute (SRI), outdoor burning off is the biggest cause of pollution
in the Chiang Mai-Lamphun basin area, while BBQ food roasting by local vendors
is second. Other potential causes, such as vehicle emissions, construction
sites, and industrial pollution are ranked lower on the list.
The fact that people don’t know that outdoor burning causes
pollution and that it violates the Public Health Act, plus poor law enforcement,
are some of the main obstacles to solving Chiang Mai’s pollution crisis, said
Dr Duongchan Apavajirut Charoenmuang, an SRI researcher.
With such poor public participation, Chiang Mai’s air
pollution problem cannot be solved. Outdoor burning of leaves and garbage could
be observed at some schools and government areas, like the areas behind Chiang
Mai City Hall, said Dr Duongchan. Worse than that, some local administration
organizations keep promoting outdoor burning to their villagers by appointing a
‘burning day’ for the communities.
Assistant Muang district chief officer, Pongsak Wangsamur,
admitted that local people’s way of life in disposing of leaves and garbage is
a great barrier to solving the air pollution problems and their attitude needs
to be changed.
Poor public garbage management is also given as one cause of
air pollution, as leaves are not included, so local people and organizations
feel they must burn them to get rid of them.
According to the Chiang Mai Provincial Resource Office index,
the average air quality in Chiang Mai from November 2 - December 22 was 57
micrograms per cubic meter, which is considered ‘safe’ (the world
‘acceptable’ level is not greater than 120 micrograms per cubic meter).
The Pollution Control Department randomly checks Chiang Mai vehicle emissions
and have found that 80 percent are belching black smoke into the environment.
Cartoon characters coming to Kad Suan Kaew for National Children’s Day
Staff
reporters
Central Kad Suan Kaew is going ahead with plans to give
children the happiest National Children’s Day on January 8, with a Cartoon
World Fair.
The Cartoon World Fair is led by the children’s favorite
master of ceremonies “Na Toi” and is held annually to let the children
experience the cartoon characters, play and games.
 This
“Girl Team” participated in the Cosplay contest in last year’s Cartoon
World Fair. Children are invited again this year.
The Cartoon World Fair will allow the children’s
imaginations to run free in the cartoon world and encourage them to be self
confident and creative.
Some of the activities on the day are performances from 20
schools, meeting many popular cartoon characters, and a display of animated
cartoons from IT City and other games.
Another interesting activity is the animated cartoon called
“Chiang Mai Rascals Episode 1”. Children should not miss this because it is
produced by the Northern production team Creative Kingdom and is sent to
television stations overseas.
The highlight of the fair is the Cosplay contest. Children who are interested
in participating in the Cosplay contest please call the Central Kad Suan Kaew
public relations counter at 053 224 444 ext 19008 or apply in person at the
fair.
Mae Ngad Dam has sufficient water to outlast the drought
Nopniwat
Krailerg
So far, the Mae Ngad Dam in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai
has stored 290 million cubic meters of water for the dry season, which is
greater than the previous year’s water needs of 265 million cubic meters, said
Arjit Suwanichwong, head of the Mae Faek-Mae Ngad Water Distribution and
Maintenance Project. The dam can contain a maximum volume of 325 cubic meters of
water.
The Mae
Ngad Somboon Chol Dam in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai has enough water to
last the dry season.
Arjit assures all Chiang Mai dwellers to forget their worries
that only 60 percent of water needs could be supplied to face the drought.
According to Arjit, the water supply will be adequate for tap water and farming
during the dry season. He also said that the weirs which receive water from Mae
Faek, Tasala, Pya Kham and some dams in Lamphun would not dry up.
However, the area supplied by the Mae Taeng Canal would
experience some effects from the drought because the Mae Taeng Canal does not
have a reservoir to supply water and annually dries up, said Arjit. This might
produce a shortage of tap water at U-Mong in tambon Suthep. Other tap water
reservoirs using water from the Ping River will not be affected by the drought.
The Mae Faek-Mae Ngad Water Distribution and Maintenance Project has planned
out water distribution methods in advance of the dry season and encourages
farmers who have planted their paddy fields to use water sparingly.
Residents invited to improve the water quality in the Mae Kha Canal
Autsadaporn
Kamthai
Aiming to improve Chiang Mai’s environment, the Chiang Mai
Municipality has again poured Effective Microorganism (EM) to improve the water
quality in the city moats and Mae Kha Canal.
Students
pour EM into the Mae Kha Canal to improve the water quality.
The municipality did this with some pomp and circumstance and
an attempt to involve the community, with government officials, private company
employees, teachers and students gathering at the Mae Kha Canal on Autsadathorn
Road to pour the EM Solution to the canal.
“People gathered today to pour the EM Solution to revive the canal and make
great merit to honor His Majesty the King’s 77th Birthday,” said Chiang Mai
Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn.
Petrol stations are allowed to open 24 hours during festive season
Santa might need to refuel on trip back to North Pole
Nopniwat
Krailerg
The Ministry of Energy will allow petrol stations to stay
open 24 hours from December 25, 2004 to January 5, 2005 to serve travelers
during the New Year festival. Pohmmin Lertsuriyadech, energy minister, made the
announcement on December 23.
Countrywide
petrol stations can stay open for 24 hours from December 25, 2004 to January 5,
2005.
According to the minister, the purpose is to accommodate road
users who travel during the Christmas and New Year festivals.
After the festival period, all petrol stations have to shut
again from midnight to 5 a.m. to continue the national energy saving campaign.
Previously the minister had said there would be no exemptions, but he has
finally changed his mind. Perhaps Santa sent him a letter?
Border drug suppression results in another death
Nopniwat
Krailerg
Maj. Gen. Manus Paorik, commander of the Pha Muang Task
Force, has commanded his soldiers to increase their activities and patrol the
border areas to suppress drug trafficking gangs.
As part of this Xmas spirit, the soldiers of the 2nd and
127th Cavalry Divisions set up a sting operation at Ban A-runothai in tambon
Muang Na, Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai, purporting to buy drugs from one of
the drug gangs in the region. When the dealers appeared at the appointed time,
the soldiers were ready to continue the subterfuge, but the two dealers sensed a
trick and began firing at the soldiers.
However, since the other soldiers had surrounded the area,
they opened fire, and after the smoke cleared ten minutes later they found that
one of the dealers, Laowoo Sawyang had been killed, but the other had escaped. A
search of the body turned up 60,000 ya ba pills.
The ya ba tablets were sent to tambon Na Wai Police Station
for further investigation into their origin.
Italian tourist dies from cold-induced asthma in Mae Hong Son
Saksit
Meesubkwang
Drazia Peria, a 44-year-old Italian woman, apparently died of
asthma complications brought on by the cold weather.
Pai Hospital in Pai district, Mae Hong Son reported the death
to Pol Lt Col Suthat Chaimongkol, a Mae Hong Son tourist police officer on
December 15.
The police said that initial investigations revealed no
evidence of a struggle or foul play. The physician concluded that the cause of
death was as a result of her personal illness of asthma, most likely exacerbated
by the extreme cold at this time of year.
The woman’s husband told police that they had arrived in
Pai district, Mae Hong Son, on December 14. Shortly after their arrival, the
asthma flared up. This had occurred previously when she had been exposed to cold
weather. He took her to Pai Hospital, but she succumbed to the acute asthma
attack.
Pisit Puangsuwan, head of the Mae Hong Son Meteorology
Station, has warned Mae Hong Son citizens and tourists to rug up warmly,
especially on the high mountains where the weather is very cold at present.
Differ Pub puts on unexpected Xmas illuminations
3 million baht damage in blaze
Nopniwat
Krailerg
On the day before Xmas, a fire broke out at the Differ Pub
situated on the 2nd floor of 12 Huay Kaew building (adjacent to the Central Kad
Suan Kaew department store) causing 3 million baht damage.
 Firefighters
battle the inferno at the Differ Pub.
The fire took hold when the pub was closed in the afternoon.
The police suspect an electric short circuit was the cause.
10 fire engines were sent to the scene. The firefighters
spent 40 minutes extinguishing the fire but were hampered in their efforts by a
large crowd of people and the traffic on Huay Kaew Road.
After the fire was doused, forensic police searched the 150
square meter pub area, which was extensively damaged but fortunately the fire
did not spread into other buildings.
The owner of the Differ Pub, Supawat Baibua, 32, said that he
rented the pub from Thichakorn Sukhasawas, an owner of the 12 Huay Kaew
Building. He also claimed he always turned off the lights before closing the
pub. Supawat said that he did not know the cause of the fire. He didn’t
believe that it was arson as he doesn’t have any business conflicts.
Supawat also said that he was unlucky to suffer the fire
during the high season.
The forensic police are continuing with a detailed investigation.
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