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Top Local Stories from
Pattaya Info
Issue #280 September 3, 2008
Bangkok Governor Election
Set for October 5
The date for Bangkok’s gubernatorial election has been confirmed for October 5. City Clerk Pongsak Semsant said the ongoing rally
by the People’s Alliance for Democracy would not affect the schedule, adding that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to deploy 100 city police officers to ensure that the registration of candidates goes ahead smoothly. He said a campaign will be launched to make people aware of the upcoming election.
Celebrating a Milestone in
Thai-Myanmar Relations
The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Myanmar. Several commemorative events and activities have been planned in both countries throughout the year.
As part of the celebration of the milestone in Thai-Myanmar relations, Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said that the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon planned to construct decorative posts and a chain fence around the two Maha Bodhi trees and install a commemorative plaque at Mahapasana Cave in Myanmar. The two Maha Bodhi trees were planted by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand during their state visit in March 1960.
For centuries, he said, Thai and Myanmar peoples have been bound together by common religious beliefs and shared culture and traditions. Through constant changes in the political and economic landscape, Theravada Buddhism has been, and remains, one of the strongest ties between the two countries.
During his visit to Myanmar on August 23 and 24, Mr. Tej presented a donation of almost 3,000 US dollars from the Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidhayalaya University in Thailand to the International Institute of Abhidhamma to support the Institute’s activities. He said that, as an institute dedicated to the propagation of the Abhidhamma in English, the International Institute of Abhidhamma helps to spread deeper understanding of the Buddha’s higher teachings.
The Thai Foreign Minister also presented a contribution of two million baht to Professor Kyaw Myint, Minister for Health of Myanmar, to help improve Tachileik Hospital. The contribution was part of the activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He said that for the past three years, the Thai government has undertaken several initiatives with the Myanmar government to improve the facilities and services of Tachileik Hospital. The aim was to enable the hospital to provide efficient health care and services to the Myanmar people. Mae Sai District Hospital in northern Thailand also provides a wide range of training courses for health personnel from Tachileik Hospital.
In the aftermath of cyclone Nargis, which swept through Myanmar in May this year, Thailand was the first country to send in relief supplies to Myanmar. In this regard, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej pointed out that cyclone Nargis also brought Thailand and Myanmar closer. Thailand assisted and supported its Myanmar friends to the best of its ability during the relief efforts. It is now coordinating closely with many other countries to help Myanmar recover fully as soon as possible.
Thailand is ready to extend further assistance in accordance with Myanmar’s needs. Both countries will cooperate more closely, not only as neighbors sharing a long common border, but also as members of the same ASEAN family.
National Mourning for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana during the Royal Cremation Period
Thai people will wear black in mourning for three days, from November 14 to 16, during the royal cremation of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra.
The Cabinet, during its meeting on August 26, approved the proposal by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, calling on people to mourn for the Princess during the period. Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of His Majesty the King, passed away on January 2, 2008 at the age of 84.
As part of the three-day mourning period, the Cabinet asked various entertainment places to stop their entertainment programs, or reduce them. Radio and television stations were asked to monitor their programs to ensure that they would be appropriate for a period of national mourning. All government offices, state enterprises, and educational institutions have been told to fly the national flag at half mast during the period.
Much progress has been made now for the construction of the royal crematorium for the late Princess at the Sanam Luang ceremonial site in Bangkok. The Fine Arts Department, under the Ministry of Culture, will allow the general public to observe the construction of the royal crematorium.
Permanent Secretary for Culture Vira Rojpojchanarat said that a tour of the royal crematorium would be held every Sunday, starting from September 7. The tour would be arranged three times a day, each comprising not more than 50 persons.
Visitors would be given a guidebook containing details of the crematorium and other components. Resource persons and experts from the Fine Arts Department will lead visitors to view the crematorium and give them explanations to broaden their knowledge and understanding about the royal cremation and crematorium. Interested persons wishing to join the tour may register at the Ministry of Culture, tel. 0-2422-8851-7.
Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Department will hold an exhibition in memory of Princess Galyani Vadhana at the National Archives in Commemoration of His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani province. Beginning on September 1, the exhibition “Spectrum,” or “Saeng Nueng Khue Rung Ngam,” presents the life and work of the Princess and her talents.
The Princess is comparable to a light shining throughout the Kingdom; the spectrum of light represents her seven characteristics, namely simplicity, energy, courtesy, kindness, knowledge, dedication, and grace.
There will be a display of more than 100 drawings created by primary schoolchildren on the topic “Princess Galyani Vadhana in My Heart.” Also on display will be rare pictures of the Princess. This event also features a cultural show staged by the Joe Louis Theater, the Princess’ favorite performer.
State Railway Board Resigns after Labor Union Goes on Strike
Members of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board resigned en masse after train services nationwide were suspended for the fifth consecutive day. SRT Board Chairman Somsak Boonthong announced that all board members chose to resign to show their responsibility to the railways strike, which has caused trouble to passengers nationwide. He said the board did not agree with the union, which linked their jobs to national political issues not specifically related to their employment.
Thailand Open 2008
The only men’s top-level professional tennis tournament in Southeast Asia, the ATP Thailand Open is now in its sixth year as part of the ATP Tour and returns to Bangkok from September 21-28, 2008. The Thailand Open is the only ATP Tour event ever to be held in the region, and has played host to some of the biggest names in men’s tennis.
In 2003 with Paradorn-mania at its height after the Thai ace had become the first Asian player to crack the world top 10, the Thailand Open was born and the excitement surrounding “Ball” was a large part of the success of the first event.
However, the event quickly proved that it was not just an opportunity for Paradorn to show his stuff to his home fans.
Over the past five years, the Thailand Open has welcomed some of the biggest names in men’s tennis. In the inaugural event in 2003, the field was headlined by then world #1 Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero as well as fellow top 10 stars Carlos Moya and Paradorn. Paradorn made the quarter finals but in the end it was big serving American Taylor Dent who took the title beating Ferrero in straight sets in the first final, and Israeli duo Jonathon Erlich and Andy Ram won the first of their two Thailand Open doubles titles.
In 2004 the event grew even bigger attracting more spectators as well as the world’s #1 and #2 players: Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. Russia’s Marat Safin was another top-five player who made it to the event. And after two dream semi-finals: Federer vs. Paradorn and Roddick vs. Safin, the final was a clash between the top two players in the world with Federer emerging victorious.
The following year saw Federer return to defend his title against the likes of Aussie Lleyton Hewitt and Germany’s Tommy Haas but it was a then unheralded Scot named Andy Murray who surprised everyone by making his first ATP Tour final and taking it up to Federer all the way in the tight final match.
In 2006, the tournament featured more top names in one year than ever before. The stellar lineup included then world #3 Ivan Ljubicic, #9 James Blake as well as the returning Murray, Tim Henman, Safin, Ferrero and Paradorn. James Blake took home the King’s Cup trophy after a convincing win over Ljubicic.
Last year saw Dmitry Tursunov beat Germany’s Benjamin Becker in the singles final but for local fans the highlight of the tournament was the unexpected breakthrough of local twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana who collected their first ATP Tour doubles title beating Nicolas Mahut and Michael Llodra in front of an ecstatic crowd of 10,000.
Over the past five years, the Thailand Open has grown and grown and we have been fortunate to have seen many of the world’s top players compete in Bangkok. And now in 2008 we look forward to welcoming back Novak Djokovic - who last competed as a a17-year-old wildcard recipient - and Marat Safin, as well as the return to top tennis of Paradorn Srichaphan, and are excited to welcome for the first time Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Note : Call 02 262 3456 or log on to www.thailandopen.org or www.thaiticketmajor.com for more details.
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