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ROYAL
LAUNCH FOR BIGGEST AIDS CONFERENCE
The Princess is welcomed
by Khun Tassanee Sungkird, assistant managing director of Lotus PSK Hotel.
The 5th of its kind and the first ever in Asia, the International Conference
on Home and Community care for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS was opened
by Her Royal Highness Princess Somsawali at the Lotus PSK Hotel last month.
Over 3,000 delegates from all over the world met to hear that Asia can
avoid devastation by the disease such as that suffered in Africa. Although
almost half a million Asians had died in 2001 out of an infected population
of 7.1 million, correct care and treatment could prevent deaths said Dr
Alvaro Bermejo of the organising International Federation of Red cross
and Red Crescent Societies.
Patients' representatives in Thailand called for cheaper and better
medication and more information on how patients could protect themselves
from "opportunistic" diseases. The rights of patients to be accepted
in society and the continued unsafe sex practices by many HIV-positive
people were among the early items on the agenda of the 4 day event.
TWO
DIED IN DRUGS SHOOT OUT
The leader of a drugs gang and an army officer died when a special task
force swooped on a house in Mae Kon village, Chang Dao on December 7th.
The daughter of the drugs chief and other gang members fled with cash and
speed pills as Lt Sornrawi Boon-in lay bleeding to death from a wound from
a home-made gun.
Death sentences for 9
The village headman of Ban Dai near Chiang Saen, a former police sergeant
major and 2 other men have been sentenced to death in Chiangrai for drugs
dealing and related weapons offences.
In a seperate case, 3 brothers and 2 friends arrested while trying to
sell 90,000 metamphetamine pills in 1998 in the car park of the Little
Duck Hotel, Chiangrai, were given death sentences in Bangkok. A draft bill
is ready to go before parliament to introduce lethal injections - instead
of shooting - as Thailand's method of capital punishment.
RAFT
RESCUE
A 54 year old Swedish tourist who broke a leg in a fall from rocks was
ferried to hospital on a home made raft near Mae Taeng.
Marie Granbarg was in a party of 13 Swedes who became lost in a forest
last month. After finding them, police and tour guides spent 7 hours making
the raft to give her the smoothest ride to Ban Sop Kai clinic.
A week earlier a 27 year old Dutchman was much less fortunate and died
falling into a 30 metre deep crevice at night time in Mae Hong Son.
CHIANGMAI-JINGHONG TAKES OFF
Thailand's developing links with China have taken another step forwards
with Bangkok Airways new Bangkok-Chiangmai-Jinghong service, taking tourists
to the Mekong River destination which numerically has overtaken Yunnan
province's capital, Kunming, in visitor popularity.
Jinghong attracts 6 to 8 million Chinese tourists each year and the
link to Chiangmai will be promoted directly to them. Bangkok Airways president
has called on the Thai government to establish a consulate in the Chinese
resort. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday services use a 70-seat ATR72 aircraft.
143 BAHT PER DAY
That's the minimum government-sanctioned wage for Chiangmai workers,
and the National Wage Committee has approved a 3 baht increase in Lamphun
to bring their figure to 136 baht. Highest rates are for Bangkok, Phuket
and 5 other Provinces at 165 baht per day.
Inflation this year is expected to be contained at 2%, mainly due to
more stable oil prices, said the director general of the Internal Trade
Department.
Manufacturing down, farming up
Manufacturing industries in the north had declined over the past 10
months by as much as 3.3% in some cases, announced a northern researcher
for the central bank. But higher farm prices had boosted buying power,
average crop prices rising by 4.7% and employment was affectd only slightly.
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING?
Click for larger photograph
Almost! This metal bas relief of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen actually
represents an aircraft of the 64th Sentai, wich was stationed here at Chiangmai.
Framed in dark Thai timber, each piece is numbered and only 1000 pieces
will ever be produced. Made by Thai craftsmen with care.
Measurement: 24 x 15 x 3.5 cm
email: gmorning@chiangmai-online.com
PRICE: 1000 BAHT
PAYMENT CAN BE MADE ONLINE
VISA & MASTER CARD WELCOME
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HEALTH
CARE FROM 10b PER DAY
Health care which gives up to 300,000 baht's worth of medical treatment
per hospital visit, yet costs only 10b per day, is expanding rapidly in
Thailand. BUPA-Blue Cross, with 20 years experience in the Kingdom, now
offers treatment at over 250 hospitals and clinics.
Schemes are open to individuals of all ages and there are corporate
packages which form part of staff incentive packages. More from BUPA-Blue
Cross in Chiangmai on 053-218222 or e-mail: vcs@bluecross.co.th
ON
YOUR BIKE
The biggest ever northern Big Bike Gathering went smoothly last month
with some 400 two wheeled transports of delight on display at Thapae Gate
and touring around northern routes. Some bikes came from as far away as
Singapore, while some bikers flew in from all over the world to ride machines
which are rented or stored here.
Prominent among the assembled characters were the Jesters Motor Cycle
Club, Pattaya, who raise tens of thousands of baht annually for local charities.
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ON
YOUR TRIKE
A brand new tricycle for disabled people now costs only 6,700b from
the Chiangmai Disabled Center, Ratchapakinai Road. Khun Nongkram of the
Empress Hotel demonstrates the self-propelled vehicle, custom-built versions
of which can be bought by donors for Thai people who could never afford
one themselves.
PUBLIC
WARNINGS
Clothing like this won't get you fined, but is totally unacceptable
in Thai society. Short are OK, but naked tops and trunks are a no-no.
On the streets: Chiangmai is a very safe city and the only crime
to regularly target visitors is bag-snatching by youngsters on motorcycles
in poorly lit areas near the bigger hotels. The Tourist Police advise against
the use of handbags and shoulder bags as an effective deterrent.
At home: the "Nigerian scam" is on it's way to your
e-mail in ever more intriguing forms and is spreading out from new addresses
in South Africa and Tanzania. First, it was straightforward dishonest business
transactions needing your help in exchange for vast rewards ("but
send a deposit first to show your good standing!"); then some poor
entrapped African was desperate for you to collect millions of dollars
from an airport locker - and last month we wept for Lady Marjam Abocha,
appealing to you to urgently move her very last 50m US$ through the banking
system in return for a large slice of it. This month, Dr Sino Ali Juma,
"eldest son of the former vice-president of Tanzania" desperately
needs to launder 16.3m US$ through your account on behalf of his late father.
What we liked about this version was the mixed English. "My late father
dies at the age of 63 later this year"! Ominous! Ignore! Delete!
PANDERING
TO POPULAR DEMAND
The award-winning Chiangmai Zoo at the foot of Doi Suthep introduced
a baby giraffe recently, and is preparing for the arrival of a pair of
rare pandas from China. The gentle black and white giants are being loaned
by the Chinese government to Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and
will be air lifted here to the PM's home Province as soon as their new
enclosure is completed.
NEWS
OF THE FUTURE
· 'Thai-Foreigner Inter-marriage' is the title of a talk
scheduled for January 8th at the Informal Northern Thai Group. Dr Erik
Cohen is the speaker, 7.30pm the time and tastefully re-decorated Alliance
Francaise, Charoenprathet Road the venue.
· American author and humour writer Cheri Potter opens her 3rd
annual 'Creative Writing for Beginners' course at Raintree Resource
Center at 7.00pm on January 17th. Fees are only 300b each for a course
which lasts until mid-March and pre-booking on 053 262660 or e-mail
to cheryl2@loxinfo.co.th
is essential. "Chiangmai is full of amateur writers - and most don't
know how good they are!" she enthuses.
· Her Royal Highness Princess Ratanaratchasuda will preside
over the graduation ceremony of 5,000 Chiang Mai University students on
January 24th.
· Chiangmai's annual Flower Festival is scheduled for
February 1-3rd this year, opening with a parade from Nawarat Bridge to
Buak Hard Park where most displays will be based.
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