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Speeding up the new Pattaya Hospital project

From Pattaya Daily News

The deputy Mayor of Pattaya city is speeding up the Pattaya Hospital project in order to ease a shortage of beds in the Pattaya area. The construction plan has been progressed more than 90%. Pattaya Hospital should be in service in 2010

There will be a tender by the end of this year. After that, the construction would be commenced by early next year, and the project should be completed in 2010.

Pattaya hospital will be situated on the side of Public health center, on 6,788 sqm. It will be a five storey building. The service for outside patients is on the ground floor. Health check up and Dental clinic is on the second floor including operation rooms. General patients and special rooms with 60 beds is on the third floor. Special patients with 24 rooms are on the fourth floor. The meeting room and Physical therapy is on the fifth floor.

91 Storey Ocean Tower given planning permission

The site is already cleared and is opposite Jomtien market down the road from the Chonburi tax office

From Pattaya City News

Khun Prachar, Governor of Chonburi Province chaired a meeting to discuss plans for the Ocean 1 Tower.

This is an ambitious 91 floor condominium complex comprising 611 units and a shopping plaza, 200 meters from Jomtien Beach.

The concept is owned by the Siam Best Enterprises Co Ltd and has encountered some problems in the planning stages as environmental concerns have delayed planning applications for the building.

This meeting confirmed that those concerns have now been addressed and a survey of 500 local residents resulted in no objections to the building.

Planning permission has now been granted and construction, which will take 5 years, is expected to start soon.

Pattaya to host water sports and equestrian events

No doubt there will be a crackdown on gogo dancing events during this period, lest it interferes with athletic performances. No doubt the authorities will also be concerned about the cultural image of Pattaya as reported by all the sport journalists in town.

From Pattaya Daily News

Pattaya is ready for joint hosting the 24th SEA Games 2007.  Water Sports and Horse Back Riding events will take place here from 6 – 16 December 2007.

• Canoe, Kayak, Rowing and Long boat racing will be at Maab Prachan reservoir, Banglamung.
• Equestrian events such as: Dressage, Jumping and Eventing will be at Horseshoe Point, Pattaya.
• Sailing will be at Marina Yacht club, Jomtien
• Windsurfing will be on Jomtien beach
• The Triathlon will be in front of Ambassador City Jomtien hotel.

Deckchair fee set at 30 Baht

Will the police now implement deckchair raids and ensure that they are not operating after hours and that girls are wearing at least bikinis? No mention of checking music licenses, I think they are missing a trick there.

From Pattaya City News

Khun Tawich, the Chairman of Pattaya City Council led a meeting at Pattaya City Hall to discuss regulations pertaining to Deckchair operators on Jomtien Beach.

47 operators attended the meeting and were told that each separate area cannot contain more that 40 Deckchairs and 35 Umbrellas and they cannot charge more than 30 Baht per customer.

They are permitted to offer Deckchair services only between 7am and 6.30pm.

Delegates were also told to ensure that their allotted sections of beach must be kept clean at all times. Pattaya City Security Officers will monitor the operators closely and anyone in breach of the regulations will be subject to fines and temporary closure orders.

Wind turbines installed on Koh Lan

From The Nation

Pattaya's nearby Koh Lan island community will soon rely on the wind to supply some of its energy requirements. It will be the first wind-energy plant developed by Thai technologists tailored to suit local climate and weather conditions.

After eight months of work, 45 sets of wind turbines with 4.5-kilowatt (KW) capacity each have been installed. Dr Weerachai Ruaynarin of Rajamongkol University Thanyaburi, who designed and developed the plant, says test runs are being conducted now and the turbines will be fully operational in a month: The Bt84-million wind plant will be able to generate enough electricity to light up 100 houses all day long, with around 200 kilowatts of installed capacity. It might not be a sizeable part of the island's electricity consumption but it could solve the problem of erratic electricity supply in the island today.

It will be a new tourist destination and landmark for Pattaya, while promoting the city's green energy policy, Pattaya's Deputy Mayor Royankij Akasing told The Nation: The real value of this project is in its educational purpose. It will have a great role in raising public awareness in this renewable and clean energy source. It will also serve as a site for visiting and training students in wind-energy engineering and operation.

Significantly lower hotel occupancy in Pattaya

From The Nation

Hotel operators around the country are reporting declining average occupancy rates and blaming the country's political problems and currency fluctuations...[and visa restrictions, continuous police bar raids, murder/rape of tourists, restrictions on foreigners in business...and crippling mortgages and taxes back home in Farangland].

Thai Hotels Association (THA) vice president Prakit Chinamourpong said hotels in most regions were running at lower occupancy rates than in the same period last year.

However, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Phornsiri Manoharn has reported a 3.3-per-cent increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of the year and says the lower hotel-occupancy rates are due to the fact that there are more hotels and not fewer tourists.

THA figures show that the average occupancy rate for small hotels in Bangkok last month was 70%, down from 78%in August 2006.

At Pattaya's hotels, the average occupancy rate last month was 56%, down from 68% in August 2006. However, hotels in Phuket and Khao Lak showed an increase of 10-20% to reach 40% last month, due mainly to the recovery of tourism along the Andaman Coast.

In order to boost the number of inbound tourists, the TAT is increasing its international trade shows and foreign roadshows from three or four events a year to eight to 10.

The latest event involved promoting Thailand's tourism products in southeastern China. Phornsiri said the TAT hoped to attract close to 1 million Chinese tourists this year, especially "high-end" travellers.

Police spoil fun on the beach

From The Nation

Five Japanese men and two Japanese women were arrested along with three Thai men in Pattaya late Wednesday night when police found them shooting a porn movie.

Police raided make-shift huts on the beach near Jittaphawan Temple in Naklua and found a Thai man in the act with a Japanese woman while others were filming them at 15 minutes after midnight.

All were taken to the Bang Lamung police station. They will be taken to the Pattaya Court for fining after which they will be released, police said.

Jomtien killer will appeal

At the time of the murder, there was a boom in Russian tourists. The number of Russian visitors seemed to evapourate within a couple of months of the murder. Presumably Pattaya has been deleted from Russian holiday brochures.

From the BBC see full article

A Thai court has sentenced a local man to death for the murder of two Russian women in the beach resort of Pattaya in February.

Tatyana Tsimfer and Liubov Svirkova were found shot dead in deckchairs on Jomtien Beach.

Anuchit Lamlert confessed to killing them during a robbery because he was afraid they would remember his face.

Anuchit's father, Suchart, said he would appeal against the verdict.

Thai law dictates that an automatic appeal must be held within 30 days for all death sentences.

The country's last execution was carried out in December 2003, when three convicted drug traffickers and a murderer were killed by lethal injection.

Garbage reporting in Britain's Favourite newspaper

From The Sun see full article

Scores of teenage male prostitutes and transvestites battled with clubs, knives and petrol bombs in a three-day “gay war”.

Police arrested two young men after one bar was set ablaze and another was completely ransacked in the Thailand resort of Pattaya.

Foreigners including British tourists fled the area, 100 miles east of Bangkok.

The area is famed for gay sex tourism but the trade is in recession.

It is thought the feud erupted when two male hookers, known as “ladyboys” argued over a foreign client. During street fighting a gun was fired into one gay bar.

Pattaya is popular with British sex tourists.

Teenage boys are available there for as little as £12. Prostitution is illegal but cops are paid to turn a blind eye.

The majority of the resort’s foreign gay bars are thought to be owned by Britons.

A culturally worthy event at Bali Hai Pier

It doesn't quite seem right to promote 'culturally worthy' events when the authorities are trying to spoil our night life fun with continuous bar raids.

From Pattaya Daily News

To celebrate His Majesty The King’s 80th Birthday on 5 December 2007, Chonburi Province has opened the Five Regions of Cultural Road for Tourists in Chonburi at Bali Hai Pier from 23 –26 August.

Pracha Tae-Rat, Mayor of Chonburi Province led a blessing to His Majesty, The King, before the Blessing Dance from Jantaburi Dancing Art College; and followed by Folklore Art performance from Jordan, part of an exchange of culture project between Jordan and Thailand.

There are many displays and activities on offer, including: Culture of The North, Northeast, South, Central and the East Regions of Thailand.

In addition, there are exhibits about tourism in Chonburi Province such as: Baan Sukhawadee, Nong Nuch Tropical Village, Million Year Stone park, the Crocodile Farm, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Khao Keaw Open Zoo, Tiffany Cabaret, Alcazar Cabaret and the Sanctuary Castle. There is also Arts in the Open Field for youth and students to join in the activities and present their works of art under patronage of the Ministry of Censorship.

PCNFM 105 radio station specifically for farangs

From Pattaya Today: Night March
PCNFM also available on the Internet at www.pcnfm.com

Badged as PCNFM 105 it is on air 24-hours a day, seven days a week and plays classic songs from the late 1960s onwards as well as the best of the latest modern music.

There’s no Thai music or rap, trance, house, hip-hop, garage, dustbin, or whatever other name car alarm goes by these days.

It is operated by the same people who run the Pattaya City News channel.

Yes2Day for farang oldies on 96.0 FM

Tune into the new Pattaya People radio station, Yes2Day. Broadcasting on 96.0 FM, the station features golden oldies music - Elvis to The Supremes - as well as community news, legal info, local features and event calendars. Stay tuned for updates!

New cinema opens in Pattaya

From Thai Visa
See also Major Cineplex for programming etc

The new 'Avenue' mall on 2nd Road opposite Soi 13 has partially opened.

There is a new McDonalds and  the 8 screen Major Cineplex has opened.

The ticket price is 120 and they have VIP love seats for 500 for a couple

Possibility of nuclear power station near Pattaya

From the Bangkok Post

The armed forces have offered a naval base near Pattaya as a possible site for a nuclear power plant if other sites face opposition.

The government has yet to finalise a decision on whether to build such a plant.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont recently dusted off the plan, suspended for more than 20 years, citing the need for energy security.

The government considers Ranong, Chumphon and Surat Thani as the best sites, as they are close to the sea. The station needs water to cool its reactors.

A source said the naval base in Sattahip district fitted the conditions required for such a plant: 'Geographically, the Sattahip navy base is suitable as the water there is deep and it is remote from the local community.

Construction of the plant would take five years to complete and a decision on where to build it could be reached by October.

Korb Krittayakeeron, a former National Science and Technology Development Agency official, is chairman of a committee on the feasibility of the plant, with six sub-committees also looking at the issue.

Court decides that it is too close to the sea

From the Bangkok Post
See also Pattaya Jomtien Condos

Residents of the Jomthien Complex Condotel have won a case at the Bangkok Supreme Administrative Court affirming their request for a temporary halt to the construction of a high-rise condominium on Jomthien beach in Pattaya.

The court upheld the decision of the Administrative Court in Rayong in a dispute that centred on the construction of the 1.15-billion-baht View Talay Jomthien Project 7, which would rise 27 storeys or about 81 metres.

The final hearing on whether the project could proceed in its present form is scheduled to be held in the Rayong Court next Wednesday.

The dispute centres on whether a project of the height in question could be constructed at the location, as the 10 plaintiffs argued that buildings cannot exceed 14 metres in height on the site because it is less than 200 metres from the mean sea level.

View Talay Jomthien Condominium (1999) Co Ltd, the project's developer, explained to the Supreme Administrative Court that halting construction would cause damages of about 500 million baht to the company.

When the court in Rayong issued its injunction to halt the construction in April, the company had already invested about 100 million baht in the project, which is scheduled to be complete in 2009. Therefore, the company appealed the decision of the Rayong court and asked to continue with the construction.

Richard Haines, one of the plaintiffs, said the Supreme Administration Court's decision upheld the Interior Ministry's regulation No. 9, announced in 1978, which allows only buildings of no more than 14 metres high to be built in areas 200 metres from the mean sea level: View Talay started its 27-storey building at 100 metres from the mean sea level, so the project is 100 metres too close to the shoreline.

Foreigners residing in Pattaya to be tracked down

I thought the blacklist named those not allowed into Thailand. Hardly likely to flash their passports around at hotels

Based on an article from Pattaya City News

Police Colonel Itipon, the Superintendent of the Immigration Office announced a new scheme which will link to four Police Stations in Pattaya to ensure that blacklisted Foreigners and Foreigners who need to be contacted by Police for any reason can be easily located.

Utilizing a budget of 850,000 Baht from the Immigration Office a computer link between the Immigration Office, Pattaya Police Station, Banglamung Police Station and the Tourist Police Station will soon be installed and it is hoped that the four Police Divisions will be able to work together to track down foreigners residing here in Pattaya City.

Computer shop moves location

Thanks to DavidT

DCO, Danny Speight's "Discount Computer Outlet" has moved from Pattaya Klang to Soi Chayapruk 2.

Heading south down the Suhkumvit, there are traffic lights at South Pattaya Road, Soi Khao Talo, Soi Thapprasit, Soi Wat Boon and then comes the Soi Chayapruk crossroads.

Turn left there and the new single shophouse is about 200 metres on the left with a DCO sign outside.

Police do their bit to add to sexual frustration

From Pattaya City News

Nataporn Book Shop in South Pattaya appears to be a normal book shop, however at the rear of the shop, an illegal pornographic magazine shop was being operated.

Details were given to Police Major Chayagrit, from the Undercover Unit at Pattaya Police Station who sent one of his officers to the shop to confirm the presence of these illegal items.

This was followed by a Police Raid where the owner of the shop, Khun Duen aged 74 was arrested and thousands of sex magazines were confiscated. At the Police Station, Khun Duen explained that she had told her Grandson to order these magazines from Bangkok after realizing there was a demand for these items. They had only just started selling the magazines when the Police raid took place. Khun Duen is now facing charges relating to the sale of pornographic items.

 
German man gunned down

From Pattaya City News

Heinrich Hermann Friedrich aged 63 from Germany was found dead lying in the road next to his motorbike and initial inspections determined the victim had sustained four gun shots.

His current partner, Khun Nantha aged 25 soon arrived at the scene. The pair had been together for 1 year 8 months.

Freidrich was previously married to Khun Roongnapar aged 32. Khun Nantha explained that Freidrich had purchased the house he and his new partner were living in at a cost of 5 Million Baht.

This house was purchased in the name of Khun Roongnapar. The house was then leased to Freidrich for a period of 30 years. When the pair split, Khun Roongnapar initiated a civil lawsuit to recover her asset and remove Freidrich from the house. She subsequently lost the case and Freidrich was permitted by the court to remain in the house.

Witnesses mentioned hearing four shots and saw two men on a motorbike following the victim moments earlier who double-backed after the shooting and appeared to check the victim to ensure he was dead. No items were stolen suggesting this may have been a contracted killing. Police are now investigating this murder and at the moment are exploring all possibilities.

Update: Confession

29th June

Police interrogated the former wife of a murdered German ex-policeman. She confessed that she was an accomplice in the murder and that she conspired with another former husband, an Italian, to hire a French gunman and a Thai gunman to kill him.

Update: Captured

3rd July

A French gunman, Jean-Marc Andre Thivind, the suspected killer of Heinrich Hermann Friedrich, the murdered German ex- policeman, has finally been arrested after he fled upcountry. The fugitive was eventually tracked down in Sukhothai province.

 
Home to Pattaya Mongers FC?

From The Pattaya Mail

A soccer field with 20,000 spectator seats will be the main addition to the new facilities at the Indoor Stadium, following Pattaya City’s acquisition of the stadium from the Sports Authority of Thailand at the beginning of this year.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said that Chonburi Eastern Sports Field would be located on an area of more than 200 rai. Constructed to international standards, it would be used to support regional and national competitions.

Immigration confirms need for foreigners to register place of residence

From Pattaya City News

On Friday afternoon a large group of hotel, guest house and condo owners and managers attended a meeting conducted by Colonel Itipon, the chief of Pattaya’s Immigration police.

The colonel told attendees the Immigration Department intends to enforce the regulations regarding the registration of all foreigners who stay in the Pattaya-Jomtien area, whether they are here as tourists for a few days or weeks or are living in houses or condos.

Colonel Itipon said all hotels, guest houses and landlords must notify Immigration within 24 hours of the arrival of a new resident or guest and people with 90-day visas must report to Immigration and give their place of residence as each three-monthly date falls due.

Chonburi trialling the monitoring of the movements of farangs

From The Pattaya Mail

British system to monitor the movements of the foreign community at Pong Sub-district, in Banglamung, has been launched under an initiative begun by Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat.

Pratheep said this area has several permanent foreign inhabitants and that the purpose of this project is for official departments to improve their "communications and cooperation".

The reason for starting this program under the Pong Sub-district Administration Organization is because the area is not a large one, Pratheep explained: Currently there are about 500 people, mainly from Europe and America living there. In the event the project is successful, it will be extended to another area such as the Muang Nongprue Municipality.

Director John T Bone not to be prosecuted

From X Biz see full article

British pornographer John Gilbert Bowen, aka John T. Bone, has reported on his blog that Thai prosecutors have dropped the various pornography offenses he was charged with in April. Bowen told XBIZ he is leaving the country and will be in the U.S. in a few days.

Bowen and two associates were arrested in April for filming and selling pornography in an apartment complex; police seized all of his equipment, including cameras, computers and a customer list. Both the production and sale of adult material is illegal in Thailand.

Bowen said that the prosecutor decided there was no case to answer, telling Bowen that he is free to leave the country.

Believe me, it will take no time at all to pick up my laundry and head for the airport, Bowen said: returning to Thailand "would be madness,".

Bowen has directed hundreds of DVD lines for companies including Platinum Blue, Metro, Heatwave, Zane and others. He is best known for directing Annabel Chong in The World’s Biggest Gang Bang.

 
Making it easy for you to stay?

From Pattaya Daily News

Pattaya City Immigration, in collaboration with Pattaya Police made a sweep on 23rd May of Niran Grand Condominium, Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya,

A team of 150 team inspected people in the condo. The team was looking for persons committing immigration violations with expired visas or no passports.

Searching over 4000 rooms in the extensive 4 building Condominium, the team discovered only one Russian without a passport.

The Immigration Team has informed all hospitality accommodation operators such as hotels, condominiums, guesthouses etc. of the current rules and regulations, governed by Immigration Law 1979, sections 38 and 39, and Pattaya Plan-50. All operators are required by law to report any foreigners they have staying at their premises within 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in a maximum fine of 5,000 Baht or 200 Baht per day.

 
Gangs of immigration officers steam through condos checking for passports and visas

From Pattaya Secrets

About 60 immigration officers went from condo to condo this week, knocking on the doors demanding to see passports. One poor fellow who was renewing his passport because every page was full was fined for not being able to show it.

 
Copy DVD distributor arrested

The trouble for the authorities is that apart from the first few weeks of release, the copies are simply better than the censored, region locked, speak Thai, official versions.

From Pattaya Daily News

On the 19th May 2007, the Pattaya Tourist Police Inspector, was informed of a copy DVD operation on Soi Buakhao.

Police arrested the operators with the evidence of 1,020 un-copyrighted disks. A man confessed to buying them from "Klong Thom" in Bangkok for 45 baht apiece and planned to sell them to agents for 70 baht. The agents usually came to buy the VCDs and DVDs from the house and resold them for 100 – 150 baht apiece which resulted in a good income for him, as well as, the agents.

Pol.Lt.Col Wuthichart Luensukan declared that it is the police policy to confiscate all goods that violate copyright laws and arrest those who copy and sell such material.

 
Database proposed to monitor behaviour of foreign visitors

Based on an article from The Pattaya Mail

Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat has proposed that urgent methods be implemented to monitor the behavior of foreign visitors.

On April 12, Banglamung district chief Pratheep Jongsuebthum called a meeting of representatives of Banglamung Police Station, Pattaya Police Station, the Tourist Police, the Immigration Police, the Center for the Suppression of International Criminals and Crime, TAT Central Region 3 Office, the Banglamung District Administrative Division and other tourism related organizations to find a way of monitoring the behavior of foreign visitors.

Local police stations had jointly discussed various methods but recognize the fact that their effectiveness is limited without the input of information from the many organizations and businesses that have dealings with foreign visitors.

Pratheep said a database that includes information such as the purpose of visitors in entering Thailand, their place of lodging, and the names of those with whom they were staying, would provide a valuable basis for investigation when a crime is committed. He urged everyone present to create a method in which this information could be provided.

Pattaya Immigration Police said that most of the wrongdoers obtained a short length visa, and the fact they had to leave Thailand to renew their visa made the following up of investigations and the making of arrests a difficult matter. Immigration officials proposed that villages having a large number of foreign inhabitants should elect a group leader who would declare details concerning the foreigners in the village to the Immigration Police.

 
Court suspends construction of sea view blocking condo

From the Bangkok Post

The Administrative Court in Rayong has issued an injunction against View Talay to temporarily halt construction of its 27-storey condominium on Jomtien Beach.

The case was filed by 10 owners of units in the Jomthien Complex Condotel against Pattaya City officials and the View Talay developer. They complained that city officials illegally issued a construction permit for the company to build the high-rise in an area where the height limit was 14 metres.

The plaintiffs based their case on the 1978 ministerial regulation that prohibits buildings from exceeding 14 metres in height if they are situated 200 metres or less from the sea. They also said the new building would obstruct their sea view.

Therefore, they asked the court to revoke the construction permit and temporarily suspend work until a verdict is reached.

On Monday, the Administrative Court granted the injunction to halt construction, saying that the plaintiffs and city officials disagreed on the starting point from which to measure the building's height.

The disagreement concerns whether the mean water level or the low-tide mark are used as the base measurement point for the building site.

Richard Haines, one of plaintiffs, said the court's decision could set a standard for developers and also set a precedent for Thailand: Thailand is a country of laws but no one has ever challenged [inappropriate building] before. Let's stand up and let's make sure that everyone understands that there is a law in Thailand and we are protected.

 
and shipping them to Isaan

I used to be bothered by the local soi dogs but they are so used to getting a good kicking that they tend to keep their distance. My lady is not so neutral though, she had to get a course of 6 rabies injections after a dog bite

From Jil in Pattaya see full article

There are some aspects of Thailand that Thai people simply cannot perceive as a problem, until it becomes part of every foreign tourist's list of complaints about their visit to Thailand. Soi dogs are a perfect example of this.

These miserable stray dogs have been a part of Thai villages and neighborhoods for all of Thai history. They are accepted to be as much a part of Thailand as the geckos and water beetles that permeate this country.

However, when foreigners see a forlorn, mangy, starving, pustule-covered dog limping, or a vicious dog threatening a garbage collector, it's quite unsettling. Thai people consider it to merely be a part of the natural way of things. Foreigners think something should be done about it.

Now, it looks as if Pattaya will be rounding up soi dogs and shipping them up to a preserve somewhere in Isaan.

From Sophon

From Pattaya People

Sophon Cable TV have cooperated with Korean Cable TV to provide a new Internet service to Pattaya.

A High Speed Internet Service will provide extra service to Sophon Cable TV members using the equipment and network. Members will be able to receive both Cable TV and hi speed internet at the same time.

The first 3 months is for free, after which there will be a monthly fee – still to be determined. Furthermore, subscribers will have the possibility to extend the number of TV programmes to 40 – 60 for a monthly fee also to be determined.

To receive these additional programmes the subscriber needs a decoder, which will be provided by Sophon Cable TV. There is also a plan to increase the reach of Sophon cable into new areas.

Director John T Bone arrested

From X Biz see full article

Pattaya police arrested the noted porn film maker John Bowen, aka John T. Bone, along with two associates. According to the Pattaya Daily News, the trio will be charged with various offences in relation to the production and sale of pornography and could face deportation.

Pattaya Police Maj. Chaikrit Thong-in issued the warrant for Bowen’s arrest, which was served at a Pratamnak apartment complex he used to film adult content. Police seized movie cameras, toys, digital cameras, 300 mini-DV tapes, 200 DVD and VCD movies, a customer list and laptop computers, according to reports.

Also arrested were Kyle Micgram, aka Vin Cross, Bowen’s close friend and photographer who helms the "Asian Fever" series for Hustler Video, and Paul Sangsuwan, aka Chuck Wow, Bowen’s talent recruiter and translator, who also directs for Platinum Blue Productions among others.

Police discovered a fully functional porn studio in the apartment Bowen rented, complete with lighting, flash equipment and costumes. Bowen allegedly admitted to police that he rented the apartment five months ago and used it to shoot local girls and katoeys for his various websites and DVDs.

Bowen has directed hundreds of DVD lines for companies including Platinum Blue, Metro, Heatwave, Zane and others. He is best known for directing Annabel Chong in The World’s Biggest Gang Bang.

The Pattaya Daily News reported that Bowen would likely be deported after he wends his way through the Thai justice system.

Compulsory online hotel registration

Of course what we really want to know is how this will effect short time hotels

From Pattaya Daily News see full article

Pattaya Immigration is to install a centralised, online system linked to all the accommodation providers in the city to log the comings and goings of guests, especially foreigners.

The Immigration Police, also stipulated that this system is compulsory and specifies by law that all legally licensed accommodation premises must report to Immigration details of customers who check into their properties within 24 hours (according to the Immigrant Act, year 1979). The penalties for non-compliance by any hotel or accommodation operator is a fine of between 2000-10000 Baht.

 
Condo owners go to court

Umm...there are an awful lot of 14m buildings within 200m of the sea. Someone pointed out the Jomtien Complex Condotel is itself within 200m of the sea. Perhaps if they win their case they will have to also demolish their own condo.

From Pattaya Today

Ten plaintiffs living at the 32 storey Jomtien Complex Condotel have filed an administrative court case against Pattaya city hall for issuing what their lawyers describe as a “questionable building permit” for a 27 storey condominium, View Talay Project 7. The View Talay 7 would be built right in front of the Jomtien Complex Condotel and block its sea view.

The case will be heard at Rayong court and the city administration has been allocated November 28 this year to explain to the court why the new construction should go ahead.

The plaintiffs say that the proposed building is in breach of assurances given years ago, would block the sea view of many residents, create pollution and is, in any case, in breach of various control acts, including those specifying no large structures 200 meters or less from the beach.

Pattaya mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn upheld the legality of the new construction, View Talay 7, and it is this ruling which is being challenged in court. At that time the mayor wrote to complainants that the proposed high-rise did not contradict the laws on town planning and environmental protection and argued that the project was lawful as it was for purposes of “dwelling” rather than commerce.

 
Disco on 3rd Road

From Thai Visa

There were reports of a fire on the morning of 27th March at the X-Zyte nightclub and disco on 3rd Road. I was way after hours though, so hopefully few people will have been inside.

Damage did not appear extensive from a passing drive by later in the morning

Update: Not Much Damage

From Pattaya People

The alarm was rised at 5 am on 27th March. When the fire brigade arrived they found the fire burning on the second floor inside the pub area. The only person that was there was the engineer, Udom Tangchaisue who notified the police. They were able to put out the blaze within 30 minutes.

After the fire was out the officials inspected the scene together with the owner and found that luckily not much damage had been done and as soon as this is fixed the venue will open again soon. As for the cause of the fire; more investigations are still being made.

 
For copyright police raid

From Pattaya City News

An interesting story now from the Dum Phone Shop in South Pattaya. The owner of the shop is Khun Pichai who called in journalists regarding an incident which occurred on Wednesday night at his shop which was caught on tape.

He explained that a group of 6 armed men claiming to be Police Officers working in the Copyright Department entered his shop and demanded to inspect his laptop.

Khun Pichai correctly asked the men for their Police Identification Badges and a search warrant issued by the court. Both failed to materialize which aroused suspicion.

The 6 men were not polite and one of the men was even carrying his firearm in his hand as if he was either about to use it or was prepared to threaten the shop owner with the weapon. Khun Pichai decided to film the men and gave us a copy of the tape. The men were clearly not happy with the filming and initially demanded the filming to cease. The brave shop owner stated that this was his shop and he was fully within his rights to take the pictures.

Eventually the men decided to leave the shop without checking the laptop despite them wanting to take the man and his computer to Pattaya Police Station for further investigation. Khun Pichai made a police report of the incident and officers at Pattaya Police Station promised to investigate this matter. We have had it confirmed from an anonymous source that the group are genuine Police Officers who will now most likely be disciplined.

We advise all business operators watching this program to not panic if confronted by so-called Copyright Police. Firstly, check their Police ID cards and then demand they produce a search warrant. If neither are produced call the emergency Police number 191 and refuse access to any computer until the local Police arrive.

 
March 16-18th at Pattaya Indoor Sports Stadium

From Pattaya Daily News

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) will hold another concert this year, with the hope that it will share the success of last year’s festival, which raised 500 million Baht.

Singers from Japan, South Korea, Australia and other countries of the Pacific Rim will be invited to represent the diversity of music on the Asian continent. His Majesty the King’s music will be also played and sung.

The event will be held for 3 days, from 16th – 18th March at Pattaya Indoor Sports’ Stadium at Chaiyapreuk I Road. There will be two stages at the festival, one general and the other, an Indy stage.

Various artists will alternate between the two stages such as Ta-Ta Young, Babywalk, Reef, Dr. Octopus, T-Bone, Ampol Lampoon, Clash, Seal, Paradox, Kala, Palmi, Film Rataphum, Ponglang Sa-on, Girli-Berri and Ai Nahm among others.

 
Pattaya Chat forum returns

From Pattaya Chat

Rowan Atkinson once said of Pattaya Chat (if memory serves): Up and down like a whore's draws

But what the hell, it had a popular following and I am sure that many readers will be happy to hear of its return

Jomtien Beach murders may be down to robbery

From the Bangkok Post

Police have arrested a man on bail from a previous armed robbery on charges of killing two Russian women tourists at Jomtien beach last week. He was turned in by his former girlfriend.

The man was identified as Anuchit Lamlert, 24, a native of Chon Buri province, where Pattaya and Jomtien are located.

Police said he admitted the crime, saying he had tried to rob the two women, Livbov Svirkova and Tatiana Tsimfer.

However, they screamed for help, so he shot them several times to silence them. He then fled on a motorcycle along Soi Chaiyapruek, which links Jomtien beach and Sukhumvit road.

Anuchit had a previous criminal record. He had been charged with robbing a Korean tourist of baht, Korean won and US dollars on Jan 27. He was freed on bail.

Pol Lt-Gen Assawin said the suspect said he acted alone in the killing, but police suspected he had accomplices, such as motorcycle and gun owners.

Developments about the Jomtien beach murders

From The Nation

Police investigating the slaying of two Russian women who were shot dead as they waited for the sun to rise at Jomtien beach last Saturday are searching for two men, one of whom may have been a foreign national.

Video footage of the scene and a roadway show the gunman driven on a motorcycle by a tall, hefty man who appears to be a foreigner, police said.

Police believe he may have been on the same Siberian Air flight that carried the two women to Thailand on February 16, a senior police commander said yesterday.

Lt-General Assawin Khwanmueng said investigators were examining the passenger list of the charter flight, SBI 849. There were 201 passengers, including 10 children, he said.

Video footage from surveillance cameras showed a lone gunman shooting 10 rounds at the victims before fleeing on a waiting motorcycle driven by another male. Based on the images from the video footage, Police say the killer is a tall and thin, non-western male.

They say footage from cameras at U Tapao airport, where flight SBI 849 landed, will be checked for more clues.

Police are also questioning unregistered tour guides to identify the one the women had hired shortly after they arrived. The male guide has disappeared, but his image is on a video camera belonging to one of the victims.

Pattaya police have questioned a Russian male who knew both victims and visited sites with them. The unidentified man and another Russian male were seen chatting with the women on Friday afternoon.pe route.

Acting Police Chief Seripisut Temiyavej said he believed the murders could have been ordered or carried out by foreign gangs in Pattaya. He threatened to take action against Pattaya's police for failing to deal with the problem of foreign gangs.

Pattaya police chief Colonel Suthin Phuangsab said he believed the gunman was a Thai. He claimed that there were no foreign gangs in Pattaya.