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Happy Birthday HRH Princess Chulabhorn
(Photo courtesy of the Bureau of the Royal
Household)
Peter Cummins,
Special Correspondent
Born on July 4, 1957, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak is the
youngest daughter of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen
Sirikit of Thailand and herself has two daughters, the princesses
Siribhachudhabhorn and Adityadhornkitikhun.
Princess Chulabhorn graduated from the Faculty of Science and Arts at
Kasetsart University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organic Chemistry,
First Class Honours, in 1979, following with a doctorate in 1985, being
awarded a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Organic Chemistry from Mahidol
University in July of that year, capping off a record of excellent academic
achievement.
In 1986, she was appointed as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of
Chemistry in London and was awarded the Einstein Gold Medal by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The following
year, she undertook post-doctoral studies in Germany, and has since been a
visiting professor at universities in Japan, Germany, and the United States,
as well as holding Honorary Doctorates from nine universities around the
world.
Her Royal Highness is chairperson of the working group on the Chemistry of
Natural Products collaborative program between the Japanese Society for the
Promotion of Science and the National Research Council of Thailand. HRH the
Princess has received international recognition for her scientific
accomplishments, resulting in her appointment to various United Nations
posts, namely special advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme
and member of the Special High-Level Council for the International Decade
for Natural Disaster Reduction of the United Nations.
Chiang Mai mayor stands down, promises to run for re-election
Phitsanu Thepthong /Elena Edwards
At a recent press conference at the Municipality building, Chiang
Mai Mayor Dr Duentemduang na Chiengmai told a large group of supportive and
cheering people, including representatives of the local media, that she and
the municipality’s administrators had followed the ongoing deliberations of
the Election Commissioner, the Supreme Administrative Court, and the results
from the Royal Decree with interest.
 Dr
Duentemduang na Chiengmai, pictured during her address to the Chiang Mai
Friends’ Group, assuring her listeners that she would stand for re-election
and continue her fight both for the city she loves and for all Kon Chiang
Mai (People of Chiang Mai).
In her address, she announced that, ‘Today, I received an official letter
from the Governor of Chiang Mai, Amornphan Nimanant; however, the content of
the letter was unclear as regards the correct procedure. Therefore, after
discussion with the municipality’s administrators, I decided that, as many
urgent projects which would benefit the city and its residents have been put
on hold due to the nature of this issue, to suspend my mayoral duties as
from today’.
Dr Duentemduang stated that, since her election by the people of Chiang Mai,
she has performed all her duties according to the relevant laws, rules and
regulations which govern her office as Mayor. She noted that she had
initiated many successful projects for the improvement of facilities and the
benefit of the community.
 Dr
Duentemduang na Chiengmai, shown paying homage at the Buddhist shrine in the
grounds of the Municipal Offices after her recent press conference.
As previously reported, during her 2003 election campaign, her
qualifications as a candidate had been considered adequate according to the
law; however, this was challenged in the courts by the opposition during the
months following her landslide victory, leading to a battle over a
previously set precedent, which has not, it seems, yet been resolved
satisfactorily.
As a result of Dr. Duentemduang’s decision to stand down, a further mayoral
election will be called. To enthusiastic applause, the ex-mayor announced
that she was determined to stand for re-election, in order to continue her
work for the city and its residents. She also stated that, if elected, she
would inaugurate an anti-corruption campaign in order to ensure that
government and municipal funds are used only to the benefit of Chiang Mai
City.
Following her address, many cheering people crowded onto the podium with
bouquets of flowers; Dr. Duentemduang was clearly touched by the support she
had received, warmly thanking everyone. After paying her respects to the
Municipality’s revered Buddha images and to the Spirit House and Buddhist
shrine in the grounds, she left by car, having told reporters that she was
determined to run for re-election.
The following day, June 25, Dr. Duentemduang was the guest of honour at the
monthly meeting of the Chiang Mai Friends’ Group, held at JJ Markets. She
began her address to the group by saying that she was happy to be able to
relax at last amongst warm, good-hearted people, and continued by stating
that those who were against her had not succeeded in their aim of forcing
her out of Chiang Mai, the city of her birth, which she loves and which she
has served to the best of her ability as mayor. ‘Although I am not yet
certain of the date of the new mayoral election’, she said, ‘I will stand
for re-election, and fight for the chance to honour the promises I have made
to all Kon Chiang Mai (People of Chiang Mai). There are so many
things yet to do, for the good of the city and all its residents; if I am
re-elected, I will work honestly and hard, and continue to fight for what is
right’.
Scandinavian retirees targeted
by Banana Paradise Marketing
Phitsanu Thepthong
Long stay and retiree Scandinavians will soon have their own
dedicated product supplier for hotels, resorts, condominiums, and second
homes for rent or purchase.
 CEO
Helge Knosmoen
The Banana Paradise Marketing Co Ltd, part of the Banana Paradise Group,
will open in Kad Suan Kaew at the end of July, and will present Banana
Paradise Village, Banana Paradise Hotels and Banana Paradise Residences to
this niche market. With a Thai Air flight now operating from Oslo to
Bangkok, the company’s CEO, Helge Knosmoen and its president, Phakhaphol
Laowkhajornpob, are forecasting a bright outlook for an increase in the
number of visitors to Thailand from the Scandinavian countries.
As well as long stay and retiree assistance, Banana Paradise will be
offering time-share deals of 2, 4 and 6 weeks over a three-year period, to
give tourists a chance to sample the Thailand lifestyle in Chiang Mai, Koh
Samui, Koh Tao and Krabi.. Banana Paradise Village in Chiang Mai’s San
Kamphaeng district, established in conjunction with Fah Luang Housing
Estate, will promote affordable quality homes and an array of other services
including food, healthcare, housekeeping, transportation, and activities.
 President
Phakhaphol Laowkhajornpobb
To aid the company’s concept, joint venture projects are being developed
with existing companies whose philosophies are similar.
In order to facilitate the service, all documentation, contracts, etc, will
be in the client’s own language, and its representatives are also happy to
offer assistance with obtaining ‘retirement’ visas for long –stay clients.
Sales and management staff includes nationals from Scandinavia, England,
Germany, France and USA as well as Thailand, and the company has 20 years of
experience in the property market worldwide. For more information, please
visit. www.2thaiparadise.eu
Pesticide contamination endangers the lives of Northern elephants
CMM reporters
Following the recently reported death of at least one elephant from
eating vegetables contaminated by pesticides, a veterinarian from the
Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation has expressed his concern about the
unregulated use of hazardous chemicals by northern growers.
Veterinarian Preecha Phuangkham, quoting the results of recent surveys in
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phrae and Tak provinces, stated that high
levels of toxic chemicals were found in herbicides used by growers of rice,
corn and cabbages. Supplies of grass, vegetables and water are being
contaminated by over-use of weedkillers and pesticides, endangering the
lives of elephants in the 5 provinces.
In a recent case, an elephant was found to have a serious problem with its
nervous system; on examination at the Lampang Elephant Hospital, a high
concentration of accumulated toxic chemicals was found in its body.
Preecha believes that many more elephants are suffering illnesses and the
destruction of their immune systems caused by the excessive and uninformed
use of fertilisers in the north, and that the severity of the problem is
increasing daily. He has warned mahouts and elephant camp owners that they
should be aware of the dangers of allowing their elephants to graze in areas
where toxic chemicals are being used, and that they should also check the
toxic content of feed supplied by growers.
Second official report on fatal
Phuket air crash blames pilot error
CMM reporters
Earlier this year, this paper carried a report on findings by the
Thai Department of Civil Aviation, (TCA), concerning the cause of the fatal
One-Two-Go air crash which occurred at Phuket Airport during a tropical
storm, resulting in the death of 90 passengers and crew, including the pilot
and co-pilot.
The report condemned both One-Two-Go and its parent company, Orient Air,
citing the lack of a proper maintenance system, the ignoring of regulations
governing pilot flight hours, a lack of oversight by management on
maintenance and safety issues, and falsified pilot proficiency test
certificates. It also stated that mandatory safety training was not carried
out and that no checks as to pilots’ familiarity with flight operations
manuals were made. Subsequently, as a result of investigations into the
report, European Union aviation authorities blacklisted One-Two-Go, banning
the airline from European Union air space for safety reasons, and
invalidating EU based passenger travel insurance for those using the airline
in South East Asia.
Recently, a further TCA report on the cause of the crash was cited in the UK
media as having been further delayed, causing questions to be asked in the
UK parliament on behalf of 4 British passengers killed in the crash, whose
inquests were not able to take place as a result of the delay.
Two weeks ago, a report finally appeared on the TCA’s website. It apparently
contradicted much of the earlier report by placing the blame for the crash
solely on pilot error and fatigue as the primary causes, with explanatory
notes mentioning failure to follow standard operating procedure, failure to
properly operate equipment, lack of co-ordination and inadequate reactions
between the two pilots, and pilot fatigue. A brief mention was made of
worsening weather conditions, no mention was made of incorrect maintenance,
poor management oversight, or the breaking of aviation law regarding both
pilot flying hours and other safety issues, all outlined in the first
report.
However, the report did urge that One-Two-Go upgrade and intensify its
flight and emergency training procedures, adjust its schedules to allow both
pilots and cabin crew adequate rest periods, upgrade its safety management
and actually encourage its employees to report infringements of aviation law
and irregularities in the areas of safety and maintenance. It remains to be
seen whether the report will be considered adequate to reassure travellers.
One-Two-Go officials were not available for comment.
The paedophilia presentation at
Chiang Mai Friends’ Group meeting
Elena Edwards
JJ Markets was the chosen venue for last week’s monthly Chiang
Mai Friends’ Group’s meeting, and what a meeting it was! Beginning as
usual with dinner, friends and Kon Chiang Mai both Thai and farang
gathered in anticipation of a very significant presentation by Becky
Lomax and Frank J.Weicks on the controversial and distressing subject of
paedophiles and sex tourism.
 Becky
Lomax, shown during the presentation on paedophilia, given in
conjunction with Frank J. Weicks during the recent meeting of the Chiang
Mai Friends’ Group at JJ Markets.
Prior to the presentation, Duenpen Chaladlam, (Boong), the group’s
president, began the meeting by welcoming all, and especially the guest
of honour for the evening, Chiang Mai’s ex-mayor, Dr. Duentemduang na
Chiengmai. The first topic concerned street elephants in the city, and
included a request that anyone who saw mahouts begging with their
elephants should immediately call either Boong on 085-037- 2048, or
Anchalee Kalmapijit, the owner of Elephant Life Experience. The giant
pachyderms are not suited to city streets, and efforts are being made to
re-educate and relocate their mahouts to safer areas.
A request was also made that Friends, (and their friends), should submit
their favourite recipes to Boong or to the Foundation for the Education
of Rural Children, (FERC), who are cooperating in the printing and
publication of the ‘Friends’ Cookbook’. The cookbook will be in English
and Thai, with colour photos of the dishes; the proceeds of its sale
will go to FERC. Ingredients should be easily available in Chiang Mai,
and recipes should be sent in for publication by the beginning of
October.
Becky Lomax and Frank J.Weicks are qualified professionals in the field
of paedophilia, its causes and consequences, and have worked extensively
for 30 years both in the USA and, for the last 10 years, in Thailand
with specialist police and other dedicated teams. The focus of their
presentation was to create awareness of paedophiles’ profiles, their
modus operandi and their psychology, in the hope that recognition and
identification of paedophiliac behaviour patterns in the community might
help protect children. An extensive and exacting description of the
ethnicity, habits and identifiable behaviour patterns of such men, (and,
infrequently, women), was given, and included the means by which victims
are lured and forced into illegal sex.
Paedophiles can be any nationality and any age – particularly since the
introduction of Viagra onto the world market – an example of a 78-year
old man from Pattaya, convicted but possibly not yet imprisoned, was
given. All social and economic groups contain paedophiles, as do all
occupations. They may be married or single, but will rarely have an
extensive group of adult friends who do not seek sex with minors. They
will, however, form a network with others of their persuasion, and often
share victims.
Most paedophiles, however, have one characteristic in common – they are
‘collectors’, in the sense that they will hoard everything, and never
throw anything away. They will often focus on poorer areas where street
children congregate, and will use a number of recognisable strategies to
entrap their victims. These range from offering money, (either to the
child or its parents), buying presents and providing shelter and food,
to appeals for assistance, (as in ‘please help me find my dog’), and
enticements such as , ‘come inside, I have something special to show
you’. All inducements are aimed at gaining the trust of the child; if
the abuser is an authority figure such as a teacher, policeman or
religious leader, it is difficult for a child to resist, particularly in
societies where respect for authority is considered paramount.
Here in Asia, paedophiles are often found as volunteers in schools and
foundations, both in towns and in rural districts. Another example,
again from Pattaya, given by Becky, involved a paedophile who came to
the kingdom as a missionary, thus gaining the trust of his victims.
Paedophiles strongly believe, even after they are caught – most of those
arrested have already abused between 30 and 50 victims – that they are
helping children in the sense of being surrogate parents. After sex has
taken place, victims are trapped into continuing to allow the abuse by
fear and threats of exposure to parents or teachers. When the abuser has
no further use for a specific victim, the child will be discarded like a
broken toy.
Sex tourism, which is responsible for several million visits to
south-east Asia each year, brings with it many paedophiles who have
researched suitable locations on the internet, through publications and
through specialist travel agencies set up to serve their preferences.
These agencies have contacts with accommodation and social venues such
as bars and restaurants, and are able to, literally, provide paedophiles
with all the information and services they require in their obsessive
search for victims. Links also exist with human traffickers and child
porn filmmakers and purveyors. It is estimated that profits from
paedophilia and child porn, of which at least 20% involves violence and
rape, are responsible for between 2 and 14% of the area’s gross domestic
product.
Some reasons why south-east Asia is are favourite destination are
obvious; some are lees so. Poverty, statelessness, lax or ill-defined
laws, abandoned children, a lack of education and a lack of specific
training in law-enforcement all exacerbate the problem, leaving young
lives irrevocably damaged and abusers seldom reported or prosecuted.
Victims are inevitably traumatised, with long-term post-traumatic stress
disorder being a common reaction. Abused boys may become violent men,
girls may be unable to form relationships and often drift into
prostitution. Self-harm and depression are common effects of a history
of sexual abuse as a child. Put quite simply, victims never truly
recover; their lives are wrecked.
Members of the public who are concerned about suspected paedophiles
operating in their area may contact Duenpen Chaladlam at the Chiang Mai
Friends’ email address, btsthailand@gmail. com , who then will contact
the appropriate people. Perhaps we should also remember that, ‘All it
needs for evil to triumph is for the good to do nothing’.
Monday July 1st is a bank holiday in Thailand, all banks will be closed
Wednesday, July 1 is the annual Mid-year closing of all banks. This is a
bank holiday, and not a public holiday, so other offices and businesses
will still be open. Many currency exchange booths will also be open, but
all major bank branches will be closed for the day.
Chiang Mai to become S.E
Asia’s movie production hub
CMM reporters
Following several previous reports that Chiang Mai is the next
destination for movie moguls wanting to save on production costs, a Los
Angeles – based property developer specialising in entertainment
industry sites has expressed strong interest in developing a film studio
complex close to the city.
Creative Kingdom Inc, which also has animation production facilities in
Thailand and China, will work in conjunction with experienced local film
producer Chris Lowenstein’s established production services company,
Living Films, on the CNX Movie World Studios development, which should
be completed within 3 years at an estimated cost of $250 million. Phases
2 and 3 will follow, to be completed within four years, and costing a
further $4 million, with investments from property companies in the
Middle East, South Africa and the US.
Creative Kingdom’s CEO, Eduardo Robles, stated that the project will
serve as the hub of South-East Asia’s booming film industry, with 8
sound stages, workshops and post-production facilities. Creative
Kingdom’s business development manager, Bernie Harrera, considers that
Chiang Mai has good weather, better economics than Bangkok, and an
international airport which improves logistics and communications,
adding that Thailand doesn’t have enough state-of-the-art studios, and
what studios it has are mostly in the south.
The Thai government is committed to prioritising an increase in the
number of international productions as part of its film development
programme. Hollywood movies such as ‘Rambo’ and ‘Street Fighter’ were
among the 56 foreign films that were shot in the country last year.
KNU border bases abandoned,
Karen refugees forcibly repatriated
CMM Reporters
Following the displacement of thousands of Karen nationals during the
escalation of the conflict along the Thai/Burmese border, Karen National
Union, (KNU), sources have indicated that troops of its military wing,
the Karen National Liberation Army, (KNLA), will be withdrawn from its
bases in the area.
The decision was made as a result of information that troops from the
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, (DKBA), a breakaway group from the KNLA
now allied with the Burmese Army, have been ordered to fight on the
frontline, while Burmese troops stay at the rear and support with mortar
fire. The order would have resulted in Karen fighting Karen, and the
loss of many men. Karen sources state that guerrilla tactics will be
used against the combined Burmese/ DKBA force in future.
It has been reported that the DKBA has been ordered by the Burmese
regime to locally recruit soldiers to act as border guard militia, and
to clear all KNLA military bases in the area in preparation for the
upcoming 2010 general election
Meanwhile, many of the 4,000- plus Karen refugees who fled across the
border into Thailand are being forced by the Thai authorities to return
to Burma, according to local sources. The Karen Women Organisation,
(KWO), issued a statement last week saying it was deeply concerned about
the repatriation of Karen families and appealing for international
action to help the refugees. Aid groups, including the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees, and Thai authorities are now discussing
the problem.
KWO Secretary Dah Eh Kler said, ‘Thai authorities should at least wait
and assess the situation. Forcing these people to return during the
rainy season to places where they still have every reason to fear for
their lives is inhuman and a violation of their rights’, adding that the
repatriated Karen faced human rights abuses, rape and even death. Two
women, aged 17 and 18, were caught by Burmese army soldiers in Kwee Law
Plo village in Pa-an district when their husbands fled into the jungle.
The soldiers raped and then murdered the women, one of whom was
pregnant.
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