Udon Thani News & Events

[Oytopikos]

Woman involved in loansharking activities busted by Udon Thani police

UDON THANI, 23 June 2014 (NNT) - Police in Udon Thani province have arrested a middle-aged woman who runs an illegal automobile pawn shop that charges unusually high interest rates.

40 year-old Jintana Wongchari has been apprehended by the Udon Thani Provincial Police for charging her clients at least 20 percent interest per month, which is beyond the rate specified by the law. According to police, Ms. Jintara also did not have a valid license to operate this pawn shop.

For this reason, they’ve confiscated at least two automobiles, 123 motorbikes, several car keys, and other related documents found under her possession.

Investigations reveal that many of cars in her pawn shop were illegal. Some of these cars were also stolen by somebody else and then resold here.

Among the cars that were confiscated, at least 50 of them were cars under finance, 51 of them were privately-owned cars, and 22 of them were still pending investigation.


-- NNT 2014-06-23

[halfway inn]

FIRE AT TOP WORLD SUPERMARKET

Top World inferno causes over 100 million baht



UDON THANI: A landmark supermarket which had been in business for 20 years in Udon Thani province has become a legend now after it caught fire and completely burned to the ground.

The fire occurred at about 1.00 a.m. Thursday at Top World supermarket, which comprised one 3- storey and 4-storey buildings connected to each other.

The fire started at the fourth floor of the warehouse building where lots of plastic, paper and mosquito spray cans were kept.

There were sporadic explosions during the fire while more than 20 fire engines sprayed water to stop it from spreading to other building in the compound.

But some witnesses said the fire started from an office room on the ground floor.

It took firemen until this morning before the fire was kept under control.

The supermarket owner said his property which include buildings and goods in warehouses worth more than 100 million baht.

The cause of fire is under investigation by forensic police.

[Oytopikos]

Old 'GI City' now a major hub in Northeast


From being known as a "GI City" due to the US Airforce base that was once there, Udon Thani has transformed from a simple peaceful town into a leading hub in the Northeast, buzzing with businesses catering to investors, locals, and traders from neighbouring provinces and nearby Laos. As urbanised as any other major Thai city, Udon is flooded with brand-name goods and malls and people there, especially teenagers, have leisure choices equal to those of their peers in Bangkok.

A 17-year-old high school student, "Pop", said that rapid development had vastly improved Udon. "If I want to go eat, shop and do things it is very convenient," she said. "We can just hop on motorbikes and go to malls without asking to be driven there by our parents."

The pressure on the wallets of the youngsters, however, balances out this convenience.

"Now we have plenty of choices but we don't have enough money to buy them," complained Pop. "We have to spend carefully as the earnings of our parents and the money they give to us remains the same. Sometimes we just hang out in malls without buying anything."

Aum, a graduate from Udon Thani Rajabhat University, said that more people are spending their leisure time clubbing or watching football matches and drinking at pubs.

As he prefers shopping, he admitted that his personal expenses are high because he buys tempting, and often unnecessary, things. He claimed that crime has become more of an issue as people were robbing and stealing in order to get the things they want. Heavy traffic has also become a problem as more locals take to their vehicles to get places. The roads are also packed with visitors from nearby provinces and from Laos. Fortunately the jams only occur at certain periods of day and cannot be compared to the ones in Bangkok.

"Udon Thani used to be a peaceful place and people were not so selfish," said Aum. "The appearance of all these malls and condos have changed that. People feel pressure to dress more fashionably and spend more money at malls such as Central Plaza and UD Town, which are both beautifully decorated and offer brand-name goods."

Aum's fellow-student Thanyalak Woranoi, 24, said the city has become a real hub for entertainment. The two main malls often host events and there are many restaurants where she and her friends can go and split the bill. "Before our choices were limited to Nong Prachak and parks where we eat picnic-style or ride bicycles together," she said.

Although Udon Thani is now more urbanised, people are still kind and welcoming, hence many visitors from Laos liked to visit and make large purchases, she said.

A Laotian tourist, identified only as Noi, said she liked to shop at air-conditioned Udon Thani malls because of the large selection of products.

In addition to shopping, Udon Thani is a favourite destination for Laotians seeking medical treatment due to its profusion of trustworthy private hospitals.

Meanwhile, those with money to spare can also take advantage of the many services from Udon Thani International Airport, including flights to Phuket, Koh Samui or even South Korea.


The Nation

[halfway inn]

"SHOPPER'S PARADISE"

Udon Thani: Already considered a "shopper's paradise", Udon Thani is becoming more like Bangkok with retail areas and new condominiums changing lifestyles to suit emerging trends.

"Udon Thani is considered a shopping paradise because the goods on offer are of premium quality and vary in grade-levels.

This has enticed people from neighboring countries to come and shop because the goods are of no less quality than that of Bangkok," Sawat Teeraratnukulchai, chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce said.

Many projects have opened in Udon Thani to include retail stores like Central Plaza, open-air malls like UD Town, as well as hotels, condo blocks and wholesale stores.

Condominiums in particular, Sawat said, would completely alter the way locals live.

These projects were not yet complete and there was a large number of reservations for new condos.

He said the new projects in Udon Thani would change locals - make them more like city residents and economically improve society, so it was similar to the capital.

This was because locals would have to adjust to the current situation and the fact land prices have become much more expensive.

But compared to Bangkok, Udon does not have problems in terms of traffic.

"People who live in condos bought them in the hope of being closer to their workplace or shopping districts. Some buy them as second homes," he said.

Unlike Bangkokians, who wish to avoid traffic by buying condos located next to the Skytrain, locals in Udon buy them for other reasons.

"… because they want to follow trends of the new generation. Some still have to drive to work or some just walk to their offices. Others buy them for their children.

"In the case of foreigners, they buy condos as places for vacationing because neighboring countries like Lao PDR often use the international airport at Udon Thani.

"When they come here, these people do not need to stay in hotels but are able to move into their condos, which are much more comfortable, cheaper and safer."

Because locals were not afraid to spend money - for shopping, dining or and traveling - lifestyles had changed greatly.

Apichart Sinthuma, a manager of CP Land, said that "Kalpapruek Condominium" would be the first group to complete condos in the area.

He also revealed that the reason why many foreigners were buying condos in Udon Thani was because of its growing economy - believing that Udon was a port city in the northeast which would grow even more after the opening of the AEC, as it connects to neighboring states such as Laos, Vietnam, and China.


the nation (19-07 2014)

[Oytopikos]

Udon Thani has been taking steps to prepare for the possibility of an Ebola infection

Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatchwela from Udon Thani Public Health Department, gave an opening speech on “Preparation for an Ebola Infection in Udon Thani” at a conference with 450 participants from all related departments.

Jeerapa Wattanakool, head of the Disease Control Unit of Udon Thani Public Health, mentioned that the world has found 3,967 people infected by Ebola and the disease has already killed over 2,105 people. However, no report of any infection in Thailand has ever been confirmed.

However, there are risks for Thai people traveling to infected areas in Africa and also the possibility of infected people traveling to Thailand, which could lead to transmission of the disease. Were that the case, a plan would be needed to manage an emergency situation with the most efficiency in every possible way, added Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatchwela. -

http://thainews.prd.go.th

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 Udon Thani has won renewed fame, to add to its notoriety when CNN proclaimed the city's Bua Dang the second strangest lake in the world. This time, the region has staged the largest Thai dance, held to pay homage to Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom on January 18th, 2014. The huge occasion was attended by over 20,000 participants, thousands of whom joined a mass Thai dance. The Guinness Book of World Records has now confirmed it was the largest Thai dance, beating the previous record set in Chonburi, with 5,121 participants.

Mr. Seni Jitkasem, the Governor of Udon Thani, revealed that on January 18th, they organized an event to celebrate the 121st year of Udon Thani's founding, and to pay homage to Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom, who established the city. Thousands of people participated on the day as members of the audience or as dancers in the event at Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom Ground, in front of the Rajabhat Udon Thani University. Representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records were present as well. 5,121 participants were expected to join the dance; however, the number increased to 5,255. Participants in the dance had to wear the same traditional costume and dance in the same traditional pattern.

The Udon Thani Governor has confirmed the good news saying that on August 11th, 2014, the Guinness World Records confirmed that the January 18th dance achieved a record for the largest Thai dance in the world, consisting of 5,255 participants.


http://www.pattayamail.com/news/the-guinness-book-of-world-records-confirms-udon-thani-breaks-record-of-world-largest-traditional-dance-40802#sthash.hMHA5jUm.dpuf


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 Udon Thani Vice Governor has presided over the opening ceremony of ‘2014 To Be Number One Camp: the lecturer training course’ which was attended by six associated authorities from 20 districts, such as administrative personnel, community developers, teachers, police, and public health authorities.

The government has raised the prevention of narcotic use to the national agenda and launched measures to resolve drug problems and treat drug addicts.

Udon Thani has reported 400,000 drug addicts under treatment in 2014, and 3,232 narcotic cases. There were 2,076 drug users from October 2013 to September 2014 which was an increase on the preceding years.

The lecturer training course in Udon Thani was conducted by public health institutes and other organizations integrated by the government to train authorities about narcotic treatments for drug users, while focusing on operation quality not quantity. -

 http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5709090010008#sthash.zFYJ2nKA.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

Weeks after police released an 80-year-old man accused of raping three minors and pimping them out to six other senior men, authorities re-arrested him and others after the victims’ families took their story to the press.

Udon Thani police announced yesterday the arrests of Somdee Nam-asa, 80, and five other men aged 60 to 72 for raping three teen girls aged 12, 13 and 15.

One other senior man reportedly fled and has gone to ground in Bangkok.

The three victims, who are cousins, were taken to the police by their mothers on Sept. 9 to accuse Somdee, their neighbor, of raping them several times since March and threatening to kill them if they told anyone.

Somdee then started selling the girls to other senior men in the area for a THB500 commission while he would bribe the victims with THB200 to 400 cash each time.

The victims were sent for a physical examination while Somdee was arrested three days later before released on bail – only to return the village and threaten the victims anew.

Living in fear, the mothers took the story to the Thai Radio Center and Damrongdhama Center, a rights organization, prompting the arrest of six other old men. Four of the men confessed of buying sexual services from the the victims, but claimed they couldn’t “get it up” in the end.

Despite the old men’s protestations of innocence through impotence, Police said they’ll go forward collecting evidence to prosecute them, Thairath reported.

“Whether they were willing or not, it is still illegal,” police said. “Threatening the family of the victims will be also included in the prosecution. Police will gather evidence and witnesses to prosecute these men. Even though they denied the charges.”

http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/10/03/7-senior-men-rape-3-teens

[Oytopikos]

Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula on Friday recommended that container yards help develop the northeastern province of Udon Thani into a trade centre for the Northeast.


The deputy prime minister, who supervises economic affairs, was in Udon Thani to open a finance exposition. There he said that he saw the future of Udon Thani as more than a location for industrial estates. The province could become the centre of the region because a double-tracked railroad would reach it in the future, he said

If Udon Thani had an intermodal yard where freight containers can be shifted between trains and trucks quickly, the province could become a trade centre, he said.

If that happened, people of Udon Thani could make their livings from trade and the value of trade in the province would outnumber the value of local industries, MR Pridiyathorn said

Udon Thani governor Nopawat Singsakda said the gross domestic product of Udon Thani amounted to 94 billion baht yearly, the third-highest GDP among northeastern provinces after Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon  Kaen, and the 25th biggest GDP among all provinces in the country.

The per-capita annual income in Udon Thani was 75,000 baht and it was likely to increase steadily due to the growth of trade, investment, production and service businesses in the province, the governor said. The per capita income of northeasterners stood at 48,000 baht per year, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/438124/deputy-pm-sees-udon-as-trade-hub.

[Oytopikos]

UDON THANI, 18 October 2014 (NNT) – Mr. Noppawat Singhsakda, , the Governor of Udon Thani yesterday welcomed a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Ning Fu Kui, during which they discussed wide ranging issues, particularly economic cooperation.

The Chinese ambassador informed the governor of the Chinese government’s interest to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Thailand. He said his visit was also to gain first-hand information on the construction of a rail route between Bangkok and Nong Khai which China is pushing for.

The provincial governor on this occasion urged Chinese investment in agricultural processing plants in the province which has a wide range of produce such as rice, cassava, cane and rubber.

The ambassador said he would convey the information to the Chinese private sector and also invited the Udon Thani Governor and officials to visit China to observe its agricultural processing industry. -


http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNPOL5710180010008#sthash.bD44EVz5.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

Six members of an alleged loan-sharking gang were were arrested in separate raids in Udon Thani on Wednesday.

A joint police-military squad captured Thawatchai Paengpeng and Wutthichai Daengna in tambon Ban Chan district following complaints that they were charging exorbitant interest rates and intimidating borrowers who failed to pay up daily, police said.

Officers took the two suspects to a rented room on Soi Nong Tu in Muang district, which allegedly served as the gang's office. Four more gang members were arrested there: Sanya Thongpa, Chatkaew Ormala, Padungsil Huaythaisong and Suthat Hommuangyoo.

Investigators seized loan contracts, 65,000 baht in cash, six mobile phones, 34 boxes of name cards, 29 ledgers, a car and four motorcycles.

Police said the suspects confessed they had worked for a loan shark in the Central Plains to providing illegal loans to customers, with a monthly interest rate of 20% for loans between 1,000 and 10,000 baht.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/439002/6-busted-in-loan-shark-raids

Police said each collector received a monthly salary of 7,000 baht. They were asked to collect at least 40,000 baht a day. Name cards were handed out to potential debtors in markets and villages. Those who wanted to borrow money had to give the gang copies of their ID cards and home registration and they had to sign a loan contract with one person acting as a loan guarantor. The suspects said they would ride motorcycles to collect debts plus interest from debtors. They were detained for further legal action.

[Oytopikos]

I'm not dead yet: Grandma returns to life at funeral
By Coconuts Bangkok

UDON THANI: -- A 95-year-old woman rose from the dead at her funeral in Udon Thani on Wednesday.

An elderly woman identified as Tieb Boongate reportedly died Tuesday of old age at a Bangkok hospital, but as her relatives clasped her hands to say goodbye at the funeral, they felt a pulse on her wrist.

Fortunately for Tieb, she’d instructed her family not to use embalming fluid to preserve her body after she died.

Her family told the press they were sure grandma was dead as her body was hard and cold, but at the funeral it started to feel warm as if she was sleeping.

[Oytopikos]

UDON THANI, 2 November 2014 - The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment visited the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project site in Udon Thani to develop positive working conditions and to improve the quality of life for farmers.

The Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paochinda, along with Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Gen. Daopong Rattanasuwan and the Secretary-General of the Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation M.R. Disnadda Diskul today observed the work of the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project site in Nong Wua So district, Udon Thani province.

The governor of Udon Thani Noppawat Singhasakda welcomed the ministers and their followers and led them to observe the integrated farming model and the community enterprise of the Ban Khok Lam - Sang Aram rice mill.

The integrated farming model is a farm designed with soil rehabilitation which is used to create soil more suitable for cultivation of different kinds of plants.

Another project the ministers visited was the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project of the Huay Klai reservoir, a royal project which is the model of the Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation.

This Irrigation Management Project is a water management project by the water users. The project helped in increasing the water reserve capacity in the reservoir network (Ang-Poung).

The Irrigation Management Project also established three funds for farmers, the fund for pig farming, the fund for animal medicines, and the fund for cattle farming. These funds are intended to alleviate the costs for farmers which would in turn benefit the local communities in Udon Thani.


http://www.pattayamail.com/news/ministers-visited-irrigation-management-site-in-udon-thani-42486#sthash.yMTyHOGB.dpuf

[Oytopikos]

13-year-old girl drown when boats capsize in Udon Thani lake

A 13-year-old girl drowned Thursday night when she and 13 others took three small boats to float their krathong on a small lake of their village in Udon Thani's Muang district.
Police said the accident happened at 9 pm.

The three boats were tied together and when one of them capsized the two others sank. The body of Songsiri Pithak was retrieved some 15 minutes after the accident.

The Nation

[Oytopikos]

To Laos, by way of Isaan


UDON THANI: -- The tourism sector gears up for the Asean Economic Community with a package that takes in attractions on both sides of the Mekong

Ask any tourist who has spent time in Thailand's Northeast and he or she will without doubt speak fondly of Udon Thani.

One of the four major cities in the region, Udon Thani isn't merely famous for the archaeological site of Ban Chiang - always a hit with visitors - but also for one of the world's strangest lakes, Nong Harn.

Located about 45 kilometres from the city, Nong Harn has won praise from travel websites around the world and indeed this year was ranked the world's second strangest lake after Jellyfish Lake in Palau by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Known locally as Talay Bua Daeng, literally "the sea of red lotuses", the yearly sprouting of thousands of red flowers covers the entire 22,500-rai of the lake from October to March. It's even pretty without the blossoms, with boats taking tourists to admire the gorgeous scenery all year round.

Now the lake is being promoted in a new package that also takes in Nong Khai and Vientiane.

"This new Thailand-Laos package is a real bargain as it draws on the competence of several hotels and a guaranteed tour agency, thus ensuring convenience and safety," says Tanakorn Weerachatyanukul, president of the Udon Thani Tourist Business Association.

"Most Thai tourists travel to Udon Thani to make merit. Now, we are encouraging them to do more than spend time at the temples and also experience the forest, the scenery along the Mekong River and the laid-back lifestyle of the Lao capital.

"We know from a survey conducted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand that more than 200,000 Vietnamese come to this region every year. They travel by car through Laos then visit Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani. They are not really temple-goers - to them Buddhism in more in the mind - but they love Ban Chiang and Ban Lung Ho as well as the region's superb restaurants and nightlife," Tanakorn explains.

"The Laotians are here all the time; I think they consider Udon Thani province as the outskirts of their own country! The distances are nothing. It is just 40km from Udon to Nong Bua Lamphu, 70km to Sakon Nakhon's Sawang Daen Din district and 75km to Vientiane.

"A visit can be educational too. The Ricefields Hotel just outside Ban Chiang is currently hosting a group of American students who are here to learn about rice cultivation and farming," he concludes.

A popular meditation venue, Wat Pa Phu Kon is once of the first stops on the package tour. Completed in 2013, the blue-roofed temple sits on top of a hill amid unspoilt forest and is home to Phra Phuttha Saiyat Lokkanat Satsada Maha Muni, which at 20-metres-long, is the biggest marble reclining Buddha in the world.

From there, it's just a short car trip to the river. There, a boat awaits to take visitors along the Mekong to important sites in Thailand and Laos. The first stop is Phon Phisai, right on the border between the two countries. It will serve as a permanent checkpoint when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) gets underway next year.

Located in Nong Khai province, Phon Phisai was originally known as Pak Huay Luang and is home to several important temples. Wat Luang Phisai Jitiyaram, which was built in 1915, boasts a standing Buddha while Wat Rai Nong Plong has a 40-metre-long reclining Buddha. The Naga structure at Wat Thai is said to mark the entrance to the serpent deity's underwater cave and is several stories high.

Another interesting spot is the Phu Foi Lom Ecotourism Project, where visitors are invited to learn about the environment. There's also a chance to do hiking and bicycling.

Phu Foi Lom is named after the lichen that once carpeted the dense forest but has become scarce with the deterioration in the forest's fertility. The forest is also home to a prehistoric park displaying life-size sculptures of the dinosaurs that once roamed the region.

Another must-see in Udon Thani is Kham Chanod. Located at Wat Sirisuttho in Wang Thong district, it sits on the banks of a lake is said to be another home of the great Naga.

The area is also supposedly haunted by Phi Jang Nang, the ghost associated with outdoor cinemas. Legend has it that the spirit entered the area while outdoor cinema company Jamjan was screening a comedy and reduced the audience to absolute silence. When the screening was over, the site became a cemetery.

While Vietnamese visitors might prefer to give the temples a miss, they flock in the hundreds to Thai Puan Ethnic House in Ban Chiang for Isaan food and performances of folk music and dance.

Once known as Thai Puan, the Ban Chiang community prides itself on its ancestry and is happy to dress in the traditional costumes associated with this group.

The last day of the package tour is spent in Vientiane with brief stops at Wat Si Muang, the golden stupa of Pha That Luang and the Patuxai war monument.



_ The three-day, two-night package of Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Vientiane is priced at Bt4,990, excluding airfare to Udon Thani. It's available at tour agencies.

 


 


-- The Nation 2014-11-08

[Oytopikos]

UDON THANI: -- A 25-year-old German man was admitted to the ICU after he was allegedly attacked by drunk teenagers in Udon Thani who wanted to imitate the brutal murder of two Briton tourists on Koh Tao island in September.

Police say the German man was sitting with two Thai friends near a park in Udon Thani's Muang District in the early morning of 15 November when three Thai teenagers suddenly attacked him with a garden hoe.

The man is now being treated for severe injuries in the ICU at Udon Thani Hospital. Medical workers say he suffered wounds on his face and skull that required immediate operation. According to a doctor at the hospital, there's only "50-50" percent chance that he will survive.

The attack also left one of the German's friends with a broken arm, police say.

Police have arrested three suspects, two 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old, in connection with the crime.

Pol.Col. Surin Chaichomphu, deputy commander of Udon Thani Police, announced the arrests of the two men, named Thanakorn Khusuwan and Surachet Sripolmuang, at the press conference yesterday. The third suspect, nicknamed Wuth, was not present at the press conference because he is a minor.

According to Pol.Col. Surin, both men confessed to assaulting the German man.




-- Khaosod English 2014-11-17

[Oytopikos]

THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly yesterday approved the Culture Ministry's proposal to nominate Udon Thani's Phu Phra Bat Park as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asked me what the benefits were for the historical park to be granted World Heritage Site status," Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat told reporters. "It will definitely benefit the country, because not only will it make us proud of our nation, we will also earn respect from other nations. Also it will boost tourism and increase the earnings of locals.

"Plus, if there is a natural disaster, we will get funding from Unesco to restore the area, as we did when the Ayutthaya historical park was flooded," he said.

Situated in Ban Phue district, the park features ruins and objects dating back to prehistoric times as well as to the Dvaravati, Lopburi, and Lan Xang periods.

The Culture Ministry will submit the nomination to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage head office in Paris on Sunday, before preparing for the final presentation on December 1. Unesco will announce its decision on June 1 next year.

The Culture Ministry will also add the 700-year-old town of Chiang Mai to the "tentative list" for Unesco's World Heritage Site status.

The capital of the Lanna empire offers art and culture and is filled with historical architecture.

The Nation