Chiangmai Mail - Vol. V No. 6 - Saturday February 4

Vol. V No. 6 - February 4 - February 10, 2006

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by Saichon Paewsoongnern, assisted by Teeraphon Deepet.

NEWS

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Forget the busses - Chiang Mai municipality now wants electric trains

Nopniwat Krailerg

When the mobile cabinet arrives for the next conference in Chiang Mai on February 6-7, 2006, various organizations have prepared an agenda to present to them for discussion and one subject on that list will be the Chiang Mai mass transport system. A feasibility study for this proposed project, with a budget of 48 million baht, has been carried out over the last eight months by academics of the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University. The study process is expected to be finished by mid year and hopefully government will approve the budget for construction.

Different types of vehicles are being considered for the Mass transport system and an electric train is now being studied as well. It is the continuation of a study that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning started ten years ago. The first electric train route would link Chiang Mai Night Safari to the International Horticulture Exposition and Chiang Mai International Convention and Product Display Hall with a 28 kilometer track.

This project is expected to cost 6-7 billion baht, which will cover the cost of the infrastructure with the actual vehicle to be used, yet to be decided. This will depend on the results of the study, but will certainly happen in Chiang Mai province within the next three years.

Businessmen in the tourism industry in Chiang Mai have predicted that this project will certainly be given the go-ahead because the government intends to support Chiang Mai as the center of communication of the Mekong River basin countries and to promote the province to be a center of economy, trade, investment and tourism. Because of Chiang Mai’s geographical location and popularity as an internationally renowned tourist destination, the city represents an ideal investment opportunity for the long term. Even with this project costing as much as 7 billion baht investors could expect to recoup their capital in 20 years. Well, that’s the theory anyway.

Chiang Mai province statement.

30 world scientists at 14th World Fertilizer Academy Conference

Preeyanoot Jittawong

The population of Chiang Mai had swollen over the past few days as around 600 interested parties from over 30 countries gathered at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel on January 22-27, 2006 to attend the 14th World Fertilizer Academy Conference organized by the Land Development Department in association with the private sector.

Apichat Jongkakul, deputy director-general of Land Development Department reported that the purpose of the meeting was to offer an opportunity for scientists from around the world to share their experience and knowledge in the field of fertilizer research and application techniques.

Experts in various fields gave lectures on such subjects as, humus-chemical fertilizer and food quality, soil conservation and adjustment and fertilization environment and its economic effect now and in the future.

The conference was officially opened by Chaiw at Sitthibut, director-general of Land Development Department and he was joined by Kongeak-wilad Rujiwattanapong, Chiang Mai deputy governor and Christian Hera, president of CIEC (The International Scientific Centre for Fertilizations)

Chaiwat said that Thailand was an agricultural country but its soil lacked fertility for around 60 percent of the entire cultivated area. Therefore to make it more fertile, could increase the country’s productivity and enhance the soil’s structure, which should lead to increased agriculture.

Dinosaur remains found in Phayao

38 mio baht authorized to develop area
Chiangmai Mail Reporters

Phayao province is to send experts to verify dinosaur remains in Chiang Muan district, before promoting it to be a tourism and study center and the government has approved 38 million baht for the process.

Ruangwan Buanoot, deputy governor of Phayao province disclosed that Warawut Sutheethorn, a geologist who was also a fossil expert,
had requested permission to check the dinosaur relics discovered at Tambon Baan Mang in Chiang Muan, which he believed to be about 135 million years old.

Warawut and his team are to travel there on January 31, after which the province, Baan Mang TAO, together with the private sector Chiang Muan Mine and local residents, will jointly plan to develop the site as an important tourism destination and a dinosaur study center.

Ruangwan said that fossil hunting has declined because of the lack of experts or specialists who are qualified to do it, plus budget constraints for the cost of excavation; adding that he was heartened by the fact that the cabinet had authorized 38 million baht for managing this world historical site.

2nd Thailand-EFTA Free Trade Area negotiation in Chiang Mai

Saksit Meesubkwang

Direk Konkleep, Mae Hong Son governor disclosed that the province had asked for participation from residents to jointly prevent forest fires, especially during the months from January to May every year, because of the immense damage they caused to the area. The governor also said that forest burning or any act causing fire was illegal and anybody found doing so, would be punished by imprisonment for at least five years and liable to be fined 50,000 baht maximum according to law.

Acts of this nature are considered a crime under the National Environment Conservation and Encouragement Act 1992, which says that any person, who causes damage to the environment, will be prosecuted and liable to a term in jail, or to be fined, or both.

Watchara Wathanyoo-kunakorn, head of Mae Hong Son Forest Fire Control Station reported that officers from his station in cooperation with Mae Hong Son province, district office and sectors concerned had eliminated weeds in areas he predicted were liable to cause fire in Muang, Mae Hong Son.

They will carry out controlled burning to produce fire-breaks only when their experience tells them it is safe to do so, when light winds and low temperatures make conditions suitable. This is to prevent a fire spreading too rapidly, making it easier to control, and thus affecting the environment as little as possible.

Controlled burning will take place at seven Tambons, Pha Bong, Pang Moo, Huay Pong, Mok Jampae, Huay Pha, Huay Poo Ling and Jong Kham in Muang district. The entire area to be burned totals 1,000 rai and will be carried out from February 3-25.

Mae Hong Son burns fire-breaks in seven Tambons

Chiangmai Mail Reporters

Chiang Rai PAO in cooperation with the organizers of Miss Thin Thai Ngam contest held the Chiang Rai Flower Festival 2006 and Miss Thin Thai Ngam pageant during January 14-18, 2006 at the military training center near Mae Fah Luang bridge.

Ratana Jongsutthanamanee, Chiang Rai PAO president said that this festival was arranged with the participation of Chiang Rai Municipality, as it is considered to be one of the province’s most important activities.. There were various plants displayed such as orchids, flowers and ornamental plant contests, as well as three, four and five star OTOP product displays and performances on stage.

Chiang Rai is the Northernmost province of Thailand and its climate is particularly suited for growing flowers, especially in winter when the weather is most appropriate for flowers, trees and ornamental plants. Consequently, Chiang Rai enjoys the well-deserved title City of Beautiful Flowers. The province urges all those who especially love trees and flowers to come and visit this festival next year. For more information log on to www.tttbroadband.com, www.thinthaingam.com and www.pracharatnews.com.

Flower festival in Chiang Rai as well as Miss Thin Thai Ngam

TNA

Thailand’s four northern provinces—Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Tak—which may be affected by earthquakes in neighboring countries will soon conduct rehearsals to deal with the possible
tremors, according to Director of the National Disaster Warning Centre Plodprasop Suraswadi.

The move was ordered by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following earthquakes in neighboring countries, particularly Myanmar, over the past three months which were felt by local residents in the four northern provinces, said Mr. Plod-prasop in Chiang Mai on Monday.

“Due to the recent earthquakes, particularly the latest one in Myanmar the past days measuring over 5 on the Richter scale, the premier has instructed that all the four provinces urgently conduct the rehearsals to prepare their people to properly deal with possible tremors in the future,” he told local journalists.

The rehearsals would be organized by provincial governors of each of the provinces and local disaster prevention and mitigation officials, he noted.

The prime minister also suggested that local residents and business firms check conditions of their houses and commercial buildings and improve them, if necessary, to meet the safety standard suggested by local authorities, said Mr. Plodprasop.

Chanthaburi and Chiang Mai PAOs to exchange agricultural products

Nopniwat Krailerg

Every year farmers face similar problems, with every grower harvesting at the same time and flooding the market with their produce, causing the price to fall drastically and the farmer loses money. Recently, agricultural produce and fruits grown around Chiang Mai such as longan, lychee and orange were produced by many farmers who unfortunately lost money due to the low price realized for their products on the open market.

With a view to changing this loss-making situation, Thanaphon Kitkarn, president of Chanthaburi PAO traveled to Chiang Mai and signed a cooperation contract with Chiang Mai PAO headed by the president Thawatwong Na Chiang Mai. The contract was in relation to agricultural products exchange and cooperation.

This year, Chanthaburi PAO has provided a fund of 10 million baht to help farmers and it is believed the contract with Chiang Mai PAO will be beneficial to the growers in both provinces. There will be purchasing points and product spread through agricultural cooperatives. If this scheme succeeds, other aspects of cooperation will be further considered.

Elephant hospital gets wind of Chiang Mai elephant problems

Nopniwat Krailerg

Mae Taeng Elephant Camp owner, Boonthong Chailert, 45, got wind of a problem with three of his elephants, Phang Kham Suk, 45, Phang Nong Mai, 10 and Plai Som Wang, 7. He sent them to the Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital at Tambon Wiang Tan in Hang Chat district, Lampang where the three elephants were diagnosed to be suffering from flatulence.

Vet. Weena Thongchew, Veterinarian of the hospital was aghast over the condition of the animals, but soon got to the bottom of the problem and treated the elephants with elephantine doses of aperients and to take tamarind which is good for the analeptic alimentary canal, before walking them around to encourage bowel movement until they recovered.

Later the same day, four elephants of Maesa Elephant Camp in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, were found to be in a similar condition. They were Phang Bun, 32, Phang Kham Moon, 50, Phang Thong Bai, 30 and Phang Kham Dee, 30. They also were treated in the hospital until they recovered and were allowed to return to the Mae Sa camp. Was this a new epidemic?

Vet. Weena, having a nose for this sort of problem, disclosed that the veterinary team believed that the elephants’ diet had been recently changed causing them to have upset stomachs. The owners of both camps were questioned closely and this proved to be the case. Mae Taeng Elephant Camp had fed them on Bana Grass instead of their usual diet of Kham Grass, causing the flatulence.

This kind of condition had occurred once before in the previous mid year in Mae Taeng Elephant Camp when the animals had been fed on Bana Grass, but then the Bana Grass had been sprayed with insecticide before cutting it for elephants. The doctor has stressed the importance of ensuring that any food given to the elephants should not be contaminated. Vet Weena was pleased that his doctors were able to get to the bottom of the elephants bowel condition and effect a cure, with the whole team coming up smelling of roses!

Lampang ceramics discounted for restaurant use

Chiangmai Mail Reporters

Sitthichai Surananboot, president of the Lampang Earthenware Association revealed the association’s policy to promote the use of ceramic containers in restaurants.

To encourage restaurants to join this project, Sitthichai promised that the owners would be able to purchase ceramics at a discounted price and would receive a certificate to show that their restaurant uses ceramic products manufactured in Lampang province. As well as restaurants, he hoped that local residents would use more ceramic dishes and bowls in their households.

He added that the associa-tion’s members had not cooperated well in the past, but he urged everyone’s to have enthusiasm for this year’s project and for members to be proud of their products, to promote them aggressively and to constantly seek new markets.

Chiang Mai garbage truck driver arrested in Lampang

Chiangmai Mail Reporter

A six-wheeled truck with a trailer attached, driven by Sommai Onnoi, 41, a Kamphaengphet resident, was spotted at a junction on the Lampang-Chiang Mai Superhighway, with its cargo of waste and foul water leaking on to the carriageway. Officers of the Civil Defense Volunteers of Nakorn Lam-pang municipality, on duty in the area on January 27th, witnessed the offence and arrested the driver, taking him before Surapol Tansuwan, Nakorn Lampang deputy mayor. Somnoi insisted that he was just transferring garbage from Chiang Mai to Kamphaengphet for the purpose of making fertilizer and was only passing through Lampang and not intending to dump garbage there. However, owing to the fact that the practice of illegal dumping was prevalent in Lampang, the deputy mayor chose not to believe the driver’s story, fining him 10,000 baht under the Nakorn Lampang Hygiene Keeping Act and impounded the vehicle until the fine was paid.

The owners of the lorry in Chiang Mai contacted Surapol Tansuwan, asking him to release the driver, claiming he was just passing through Lampang province, en route to Kamphaengphet. The caller also promised that this particular contract would be finished by February and there would not be any more garbage trucks passing through Lampang. However, the deputy mayor declined the lorry owners’ request, explaining that illegal garbage dumping in Lampang was causing a major problem to residents.

Realising he was not getting any further with that line of attack, the caller then tried to negotiate a discount to the drivers fine, but the deputy mayor, sticking to his hard-line approach, refused this request also. Eventually, coming to terms with the fact that in order to get his lorry returned and his driver released, the owner realized there was no alternative but to pay the full amount. Reluctantly he traveled from Chiang Mai to Lampang and parted with his money, leaving the municipality a poorer, but hopefully wiser, man.

590 highland people receive Thai nationality

Chiangmai Mail Reporters

Worakiart Somsoi, Chiang Rai Governor had the pleasant task of presenting ID cards granting Thai nationality to 590 Thai hill tribe and highland people living in three Tambons in Mae Fah Luang District.

To date, 76,612 highland people have applied for Thai nationality and 32,797 persons have already been successful in achieving this status, with 43,818 persons, mostly Akha, Lahu, and Tai tribes still waiting to be processed.

After receiving their ID cards and their Thai nationality, the fledgling Thai citizens proclaimed their allegiance to crown and country in front of photographs of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen and the leader of the religion that each person respected. They were overjoyed with their newfound status which would enable them to achieve better careers, earn higher wages and have rights according to the law as a Thai citizen.

Chiang Rai Governor Wora-kiart expressed the hope that they would respect and be loyal to the nation, religion, and the King; handle their responsibilities with honesty, be assiduous, industrious, and be economical, and live their lives according to the law of the nation.

THAI stops scheduled flights to Mae Hong Son

30 mio baht loss to local traders
Saksit Meesubkwang

Direk Konkleep, Mae Hong Son governor

Mae Hong Son governor, Direk Konkleep, disclosed that Thai Airways International (THAI) had suspended its scheduled service to Mae Hong Son since January 16, claiming the aircraft needed to be taken out of service for overdue maintenance. This is the longest time that Mae Hong Son has been without an airline service and it has had a massive impact on the local economy, as many tourists usually visit there during the winter, but have been unable to get flights to the area. Removing the aircraft from service could not have happened at a worse time, as this has affected many businesses such as hotels, resorts, restaurants and tourism destinations.

“I was questioned by many tourists, and the media, why the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son flight was stopped at a time when many people liked to visit Mae Hong Son. As the governor I am ultimately responsible for all the issues happening in Mae Hong Son, so I will present this case to mobile cabinet when they visit Chiang Mai on February 6-7,stressing the disruption and damage this has caused,” he said.

Poonsak Soonthornpani-chakit, president of the Mae Hong Son Chamber of Commerce said that Mae Hong Son was a principal tourist destination but stopping the regular flights had turned it into a no-go area, causing the loss of at least 30 million baht in revenue. If this kind of situation takes place regularly, tourists will turn away from Mae Hong Son and visit other provinces instead. However, the government and private sector have conferred with each other to try and deal with this problem. They said the obvious, that there should be another airplane put into service whilst the permanent one was being repaired. The province awaits an explanation from THAI and if it could no longer fulfill its obligations, the province will ask another airline to continue the service.

Wiang Kum Kam residents want a slice of the action

Nopniwat Krailerg

The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning has made a law controlling building construction and the raising of land levels at Wiang Kum Kam, it being the first such law to be passed in relation to building construction and land levels in Thailand.

The Board of Commissions of politics and security traveled there to learn of the problems being faced by the residents living around Wiang Kum Kam, in Saraphi, Chiang Mai. Owing to the historical significance of the area, the Fine Arts Department had purchased certain parcels of land belonging to long term residents. These residents were paid only 2,000 baht per square wah, but most villagers would have preferred not to have the money but to be allowed to manage the ancient site and to promote it as tourism location, for them to have the opportunity to earn income from tourism.

Porn Penpat, chairman of the board confirmed the residents’ lands would only be purchased if they were found to contain ancient remains. The residents would receive a fair price for that land and they would be allowed to jointly manage it as a tourism location, in partnership with the Fine Arts Department however, the Board of Commission would again consult with the department.

Pol. Col. Adisak Noisuwan, officer of Chiang Mai Provincial Office of Public Works and Town and Country Planning revealed that his department had passed the law controlling land height and building construction on land adjacent to Wiang Kum Kam. The law came into force on January 19 this year, controlling the dredging of land close to Wiang Kum Kam, to a maximum of 25 cm and the raising of land levels by not more than 25 cm. Similar restrictions apply to land around that area where people are not allowed to dredge deeper than 3 meters and to raise land levels by not more than 40 cm. Houses or buildings in
the immediate vicinity of Wiang Kum Kam are only allowed to construct to a maximum height of six meters and authorized solely for the purpose of single family dwelling houses, with buildings slightly further away allowed to be constructed to a maximum height of 12 meters. The law further stipulates that the roof must be Lanna style and the construction of factories and hotels are not permitted in the immediate area.

This is the first planning regulation in Thailand aimed at controlling development around a site of historical significance, such as Wiang Kum Kam, whilst still allowing local residents to take part in promoting the area and earning money from their efforts. How this latter aspect would be done is not in the regulations.

Contract farming blamed for increased land appropriation

Chiangmai Mail Reporter

SHAN News Agency reported local farmers in Muse on the Sino-Burma border have condemned the December 2nd contract farming agreement between Thailand and Burma as the cause of escalation in land seizures
in their township, report sources from northern Shan State.

37,000 acres of land in Muse, 175 km north of Lashio, have been earmarked for a rubber project. As a result, people in 16 villages have lost their tea, banana and firewood plantations as well as flower and fruit orchards.

Over the New Year holiday period in the neighboring township of Namhkam there was a massive crackdown by Shan State Army South troops that considerably upset the townspeople’s normal life, the peace in Muse being shattered by bulldozers that mowed down the plantations and orchards. “When Sai Htun Aye Soso-Pyay-Pyay, the owner of the bulldozers, was asked the reason for the outrage, he said he was only following the order from Gen Myint Hlaing (Commander of Northeastern Region Command),” said one of the village headmen, whose lands was also among those seized.

However, 20 acres of land belonging to Sai Yi Nawngkham, who surrendered in May and known to be a close associate of Sai Htun Aye, was reportedly left unscathed.

The unexpected move had brought tears to many. “Before this, we were not rich but had enough to eat,” a housewife with two children was quoted as saying. But all of a sudden we have become beggars”.

Informed farmers think it was the contract farming agreement between the two countries, concluded last month, that had brought the disaster to them. “Thailand may think they will be able to prevent an influx of migrants from Burma by the project,” said a businessman whose relatives are among the casualties. “But they can expect more of us to arrive in the coming days.”

According to Thai press reports, Burma had agreed to reserve 7 million hectares (17.5 million acres) to plant crops such as sugarcane, oil palm, maize, cassava and rubber to be supplied to factories in Thailand. “A win-win solution for both,” exclaimed Khunying Sudarat Keyura-
phan, agricultural minister of Thailand, at the signing. Apparently not quite as cut and dried.

78 illegal Burmese laborers arrested in Mae Sod

Chiangmai Mail Reporter

On January 27, as a result anonymous information, police learned of the presence of a large gathering of people, purported to be illegal Burmese laborers, hiding in an alley behind Tambon Wang Jao municipality fresh
market. Pol. Col. Somneuk Chamchoi, superintendent of Wang Jao Sub-District Police Station in Tak province, headed a force of officers to surround the group and arrest the illegal aliens.

At the scene, many alien laborers were found there, together with their belongings, but scattered when they saw the police. However the police managed to catch 78 people, males and females, including children and elderly people, none of whom had entry permits. They were taken to the police station and charged with entering the Kingdom illegally.

When questioned, a Karen-Burmese man admitted that they had traveled from Pha Ang city in Burma and entered Thailand in the Mae Sod district, Tak. He said that several hundred persons faced drought where they lived in Burma so they arranged to be smuggled over the border to enter Thailand in Mae Sod. Some had paid to go to Bangkok and all of them wished to earn some money to send back to their hometown. Each person had paid almost ten thousand baht for entering at Mae Sod in Wang Jao district and had hidden there for three days and two nights, waiting for an agent but were discovered by the police before the agent arrived. Everyone’s details were recorded before being transported back across the border into Burma.

Mobile cabinet meeting brings hundreds of officials to Chiang Mai hotels

Nopniwat Krailerg

Because of the extremely busy itinerary planned for the mobile cabinet meetingss in Chiang Mai early in February, Loyluan Boonak, deputy secretary-general of the PM, met with organizations in Chiang Mai to ascertain the readiness of everybody concerned, to ensure that the cabinet’s busy schedule will go smoothly. At this meeting, held on January 27th, Chiang Mai governor Suwat Tantipat and his staff reported on the progress of the preparations and questioned the Office of Secretariat of the Prime Minister about security requirements.

The deputy secretary-general of the PM said that arrival of the mobile cabinet for the conference would coincide with a visit to Chiang Mai Night Safari by Queen Sirikit.

The Office of Secretariat of the PM wants everyone to double check all the details concerning the conference and especially to check the security for the cabinet members staying at the Mandarin Oriental Dara Dhevi Resort.

In addition, 100 rooms have been booked in each of the Sheraton and Central Duangtawan hotels and the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel has reserved 70 rooms for the cabinet minister’s staff.

The cabinet will fly to Chiang Mai on February 6 before traveling by helicopters to visit 24 districts in the more remote areas. The chief officer of each district is responsible for the cabinet members security when they visit each district.

Mae Hong Son organizes bicycle competition

Conquer 1864 curves in 600 kilometers
Chiangmai Mail Reporters

Mae Hong Son province has arranged a bicycle competition during which entrants will be required to negotiate 1864 hairpin bends over a mountainous course of 600 kilometers and it is anticipated that many Thai and foreign bikers will be eager to participate in the event.

The competition will start at Chiang Mai and circle through Hot district and Aob Luang National Park to Mae Hong Son passing through Mae La Noi and Mae Sa Riang and after Khun Yuam the bikers will travel along the Pai river bank, reaching the finish line in Mae Hong Son district on February 13th. Arrangements will be made for the competitors to stay overnight in Mae Hong Son. All riders who are interested in entering the event should telephone 0-5361-1303. Entry is limited to 100 riders, and the deadline for application for entry forms is February 7, 2006.

Sabai Ice Factory, Sky Travel Company, and Mae Hong Son Public Relations office joined with the Mae Hong Son mountain bike club to hold the “Mae Hong Son Mountain Bike 2006” competition during February 9-18.

Ex-husband kills Tai tribeswoman after reconciliation request spurned

Nopniwat Krailerg

Pol. Lt. Col. Sawat Lahkad, duty inspector of Phuping Police Station revealed that police were called to a house in the Hua Lin Corner Community of Tambon Suthep on January 21. There they found the body of a female who had been killed by having her throat cut.

Enquiries in the neighborhood soon pointed to a suspect, namely the woman’s ex-husband who, witnesses revealed, had been attempting a reconciliation of their broken marriage. Further investigation revealed he was hiding in a house in Santitham Community on Hadsadisewee in Muang, Chiang Mai, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of a flick knife

When questioned by the police the man whose name is Chai or Jai, 35, a Tai tribesman of Burmese nationality, admitted he had killed the woman who was his ex-wife. Her name was Mon (last name unknown), 35, a Tai tribeswoman working in a bistro near Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Chai admitted that he killed the woman because he was jealous of her living with a new man. He drank with friends before riding his motorcycle to ask her for a reconciliation, but he was rejected so he killed her with the knife.

Thai man arrested after stealing 30,000 baht from tourists

Nopniwat Krailerg

Chiang Mai Police recently received complaints from two foreign tourists that they both had money stolen from their rooms. The two men, Ali Mohamad Salimshirazi, an Iranian national and Fahad Hedayati, a Canadian national said that 8,660 baht and 20,000 baht respectively had disappeared from their room in a guest house near Thapae Gate.

After investigations, Pol. Lt. Col. Thanet Wiboonkiart, investigation inspector of Muang Chiang Mai Police Station arrested Pharadorn Janthakong aka Kritty or Noom, 22, living in Saraphi district, Chiang Mai.. The offender confessed that after drinking and running out of money he entered a guest house and stole the money from two unoccupied rooms. He shared the money with some friends and said that he had done it because he was drunk. However, not that drunk that he was incapable of stealth!

Dangerous curve on Chiang Mai-Mae Rim route claims another victim

Nopniwat Krailerg

Suzuki Caribian after hitting an electricity post.

An accident occurred at 2 a.m. on January 30, in which a car hit an electricity post at the 18th kilometer, Chotana road, Baan Muang Pha curve. This is a notorious ‘black spot’, well known to the local community. Residents told investigating police officers that this curve had been the scene of many accidents in the past, with the owners of the houses near the curve having to repeatedly repair the fence after vehicles failed to negotiate the corner, usually as a result of driving too fast.

Police interviewed the driver of the car who was identified as Araya Phoosapan, a 49 year old male, who was slightly injured and also found to be under the influence of alcohol. He admitted that before the accident he had driven into town to meet his friends at the pub and then, when driving back to his home at Baan Pa Tiw, only 500 meters from the crash scene; he was drunk and was driving too fast when he crashed into roadside electricity post.

Chiang Mai ‘Ice’ party attracts Bangkok businessmen

Unfortunately also attracted police attention
Nopniwat Krailerg

Acting on an anonymous tip-off, Chiang Mai police raided a house on the Kulaphan housing estate, Chiang Mai, where they found Khanitha Sompetch, the house owner, together with nine businessmen and women aged 22 to 42 having a party, at which, all the people present at the house were taking drugs.

The offenders, on being questioned , revealed that they had come to Chiang Mai from Bangkok for the purpose of attending this party and taking drugs. All the offenders were arrested and two bags of ‘Ice’ and drug taking equipment were seized as evidence.

Pol. Col. Chamnan, who had received the tip-off, learned that the offenders made it a weekly routine to take drugs at this house. They bought ‘Ice’ from a hotel in Chiang Mai town, the location of which ONCB region 5 officers are endeavoring to find, but with 10 informants, this should be a fruitful exercise. Enquiries revealed that the offenders had no prior records of drug offences and that one of them was a movie star.

Police find drugs delivered by air male

Chiangmai Mail Reporter

Acting on an anonymous tip-off, police in Chiang Rai were alerted to a drugs shipment about to take place on a tour bus departing the Thai-Burmese border for a southern destination. As a result of this information, a police patrol that was on duty at Chiang Rai bus station, searched the bus and hoped to arrest the drug dealer.

The search of the Bangkok-Chiang Rai Sombat tour bus parked at the station revealed a suspect, but when he realized the police were closing in on to him, he tried to flee, but was quickly caught and placed under arrest.

A plastic bag containing 1,200 ya ba pills was discovered in his trouser pocket and he was identified as Man Udom Singthong, 22, an airman of Wing 2, Lopburi province. He was sent to Muang Chiang Rai Police Station and charged with possessing drugs with intent to sell. The airman admitted he had purchased the ya ba pills from the Mae Sai border and intended distributing them in Lopburi, to have extra money whilst serving as a member of the air force.

Chiang Mai Municipality prepares 3 billion baht wish list for mobile cabinet

Nopniwat Krailerg

Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai Mayor.

Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai Mayor said that during February 6-7 at the mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai, the municipality will request the National Economic and Social Development Council to grant funds for seven urgent projects which will cost three billion baht.

These include a learning center at the public park at the front of the train station, the Chiang Mai Software Park, a water purification project, a garbage disposal project by building a waste treatment center for Chiang Mai in almost 1,000 rai at Doi Loh district that would totally solve the waste disposal problem for the entire city; enlarging the Meng Rai bridge and build a new Nakhorn Ping Bridge enlarging the junction of Meun Dam Phra Khot road with Muang Samut road.

The Chiang Mai mayor reiterated that other items such as the Ping River dam in Chiang Mai municipality area to protect from flooding, is a large project that Chiang Mai province has requested funds for already.

PM addresses TAOs at poverty solving conference

Nopniwat Krailerg

Fresh on the heels of his much-vaunted ‘reality TV’ show where PM Thaksin Shinawatra dispensed largesse to the poor in a local area in Isaan, he took time off to address a ‘poverty solving’ conference for TAOs, organized in Chiang Mai.

Having styled himself as the “doctor” handing out the panacea for all poverty ills, he addressed the conference of assembled TAO administrators, saying that the 6,700 TAOs were organizations close to local citizens and were in a unique position to work closely with the district chief officers as well. In future, new technology would be used in every TAO so that they are immediately able to confer with the Ministry
of Interior or among other TAOs to share information on how best to resolve the residents’ concerns. He said that he would develop systems and technology at both village and country levels to improve the livelihoods of those who needed it most, adding that he would like the TAO to think of itself as a partner of the district chief officers, to help resolve problems for residents and help them to have better life. The incidence of drug use, ever a problem in poorer communities, recently has been reduced because of cooperation of TAOs. On a more positive note, he imparted good news that the project “One Laptop per Child” will be applied by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Each child is to be given a notebook computer with a 7.5 inches wide screen, to use instead of books and notebooks, concluding that he would like all Thai children to be intelligent, not just children from wealthier families. This concept of wealth equating with intelligence being something of his own making.

Surveys carried out by the Ministry of Interior, the government department
assigned by the PM to look after and tackle problems of the poorer people of Thailand, showed that 8,300,000 persons were facing problems falling into four main categories, debt, land, residence and employment.

However, Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, chairman of PM’s consultants and director of the Poverty Combating Center said that the PM regarded poverty as a high priority problem requiring urgent attention and pledged to do everything in his power to alleviate the situation of those caught in the poverty trap.

He added that the Pover-ty Combating Center had helped to resolve the problems of around 2 million people, but there were still over six million people out there requiring urgent assistance and he hoped that despite the massive workload, his department could ease everyone’s situation as soon as possible. “I am sure that before 2008, the government would accomplish a satisfactory solution to the poverty problem for everyone concerned,” he said.

Blaze at Cowboy Resort in Saraphi causes 300,000 baht damage

Nopniwat Krailerg

Damage estimated at around 300,000 baht was caused when the Cowboy Resort premises in Saraphi caught fire. The blaze occurred on January 25, 2006 and spread rapidly because the building was constructed entirely of teak. The fire-fighters had their work cut out to prevent the flames spreading to four nearby residences, requiring at least 30 minutes of drenching with fire hoses to extinguish the blaze.

Investigation of the event revealed that a TAO officer from Phichit province had stayed in the resort. He remembered smoking in his room, but could not recall extinguishing the cigarette before leaving. It may have started the blaze, however forensic police expect to verify the true cause of the fire and will release their findings soon.

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