View Full Version : PattayaPower:KhunMayor (& KhunPho) Khunpleum
Note the sychophantic tone of this strange report on Kamnan's Poh's Birthday back in the happier times of 2004. 'Honorary Advisor' almost certainly did not involve any report writing!
http://www.pattayapeople.com/archive/news8-november2004.php
Kamnan Poh Celebrates His Birthday
The most influential person on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand is Khun Somchai Khunpleum, also known as 'Kamnan Poh' or the Mayor of Bangsaen
Every year thousands of people come to Khun Somchai's house to congratulate him on his birthday and that happened again this year on the 30th September. Civil servants, politicians, business people and representatives of clubs and organizations from all over the region always remember this date and never fail to come to this very auspicious birthday. It is indeed a fantastic and impressive sight to see all these people show their respect and devotion to their beloved kamnan.
A delegation of staff from Pattaya People led by Editor-in-Chief Mr. Niels Colov came to the house of Khun Somchai in Bangsaen to express our birthday greetings.
Khun Somchai has been the Honorary Advisor to Pattaya People Newspaper and Television for many years, and everyone here at the Pattaya People and we would like to express our heartfelt birthday wishes for him and his family on his birthday.
Some hope that Pattaya can change its image when stuff like this happens: -
29 November
Pattaya’s popular and hard working mayor Niran Wattanasarsathorn attended a media event at Long Beach hotel in Naklua to insist he would not be standing again for a second stint as mayor at the local election in just over a year’s time. He said he wanted to support the candidature of Mr Ittipol Khunpleum, the son of Somchai Khunpleum or “Kamnan Poa”, whose family is still very influential in Chonburi province.
Mayor Niran insisted that no pressures whatsoever had been brought to bear on him and that his decision to retire was taken in the best interests of the future of the resort. He said it was his privilege to have served as mayor during an unprecedented boom in tourist numbers, especially from overseas. Therefore, he explained, he wanted to stand down in favour of a new generation with more experience than he had of international affairs and travel. The meeting was presided over by Sonthaya Khunpleum, brother of Ittipol, who was at the ministry of tourism and sport during the former government led by Thaksin Shinawatra. Ittipol himself is a former assemblyman in Chonburi with many positions over a 20 year period in public office. He was educated abroad and is said to have a very good insider’s view of the development of Pattaya to date. Some other local worthies, with mayoral aspirations of their own, expressed disquiet over the announcement, saying that the elected position of mayor was now a foregone conclusion next time. It is well known that Kamnan Poa’s influence has lasted beyond his own exile outside the country and that the Khunpleum family has the resources and the contacts to carry the election. Niran Wattanasartsathorn has put a lot of effort into making the office of mayor a high profile one. He has pioneered meetings with constituents to hear their grievances and attended personally most of the big social and sports events of the Pattaya calendar. He has frequently visited sick or injured overseas tourists and has intervened when he felt that visitors had received a raw deal. His decision not to seek the position of mayor again after a single four year term has surprised most commentators.
http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=2004
He said he wanted to support the candidature of Mr Ittipol Khunpleum, the son of Somchai Khunpleum or “Kamnan Poa”...How fitting: itthiphon means "influence" (http://dict.longdo.com/?search=%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%98%E0%B8 %B4%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A5&service=) in Thai language..... :rolleyes: :D :(
Pattaya City News is currently running a 'spot the surname' competition. Entries can be posted below on the condition that only asterisks are used. The PCN obviously knows that it's OK to make the occasional wisecrack about local motorcycle taxi drivers, dumb farangs, bargirls and construction workers - but any further up the Pattaya foodchain is inadvisable:
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_18_05_50.htm
Campaign Team for election frontrunner to become the next Mayor of Pattaya presented to the media
At the Campaign Office of Khun Itipon, who is running for Mayor at the next elections which are due in 2008, a press conference was held to announce his intended policies should he be elected into office. Also at the press conference to offer their support of Khun Itipon were Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya, Khun Sontaya, former adviser to the Prime Minister, Khun Chanyut, former Member of Parliament and owner of Sophon Cable TV and other senior local government officers. Full details of Khun Itipons 4 year plan for Pattaya are due to be released in detail shortly and for now he is the only candidate who has entered the race for Mayor, however others are expected to join the race shortly.
There is absolutely no connection between this report and the previous one in this thread:
AMLO official is acquitted
A Chon Buri court yesterday acquitted a senior Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) official of unauthorised seizure of assets belonging to a daughter of fugitive Somchai Kunplome.
Somchai, an influential local figure, has been on the run since the Supreme Court last year upheld a conviction for corruption involving a landfill in Bang Lamung.
Somchai is better known as Kamnan Poh.
The Chon Buri District Court ruled that an AMLO deputy secretary-general Police Colonel Yutthabool Disamarn had authority to sign a warrant on behalf of his superior to freeze the assets of complainant Jiraphon Kunplome.
Jiraphon's lawyer Chamnarn Chadit said he would appeal the ruling.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/19/national/national_30034606.php
03 June 2007
Mr. Sonthaya Khunploem continue with his politic desires :confused:
Chon Buri group's leader affirms to go on with politics under Chart Thai’s shelter after the court ruling to disbanded from politic for five years.
Head of Chon Buri group and former Chart Thai Party member Mr. Sonthaya Khunploem (สนธยา คุณปลื้ม) reveals the Constitutional Tribunal’s verdict to all the Thai Rak Thai top politicians to take a break from political activities will not affect him and his Chon Buri group. Mr. Sonthaya says his group and himself are currently membership of Chart Thai Party and will be proceed in politic behind the scene. He affirms his group has acquired solid grounding and none of the member requested for joining the other party.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter01
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255006030012
Pattaya City News is currently running a 'spot the surname' competition. Entries can be posted below on the condition that only asterisks are used. The PCN obviously knows that it's OK to make the occasional wisecrack about local motorcycle taxi drivers, dumb farangs, bargirls and construction workers - but any further up the Pattaya foodchain is inadvisable:
Campaign Team for election frontrunner to become the next Mayor of Pattaya presented to the media
At the Campaign Office of Khun Itipon, who is running for Mayor at the next elections which are due in 2008, a press conference was held to announce his intended policies should he be elected into office. Also at the press conference to offer their support of Khun Itipon were Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya, Khun Sontaya, former adviser to the Prime Minister, Khun Chanyut, former Member of Parliament and owner of Sophon Cable TV and other senior local government officers. Full details of Khun Itipon's 4 year plan for Pattaya are due to be released in detail shortly and for now he is the only candidate who has entered the race for Mayor, however others are expected to join the race shortly.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_18_05_50.htm
But in fairness to Pattaya City News, they tend to picture things in such a way that the reader can figure out the ..... contradictions ..... for himself/herself:
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_27_08_50.htm
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/pic_webnews/27_08_1.jpg
[All Photographs: Pattaya City News - Itipon on the left]
Zeus Car Studio Grand Opening.
On Sunday Morning, Khun Itipon, adviser to the Mayor of Pattaya was guest of honor at the grand opening of a new care cleaning centre located in North Pattaya. The Zeus Car Studio offers motorists full cleaning facilities for their vehicles at a reasonable price. Khun Pacharapon, the owner of the business explained that he is running a special promotion at the moment where he will clean your car for only 100 Baht. This is part of a 40% discount promotion available on all products and services offered by the Car Studio. This promotion ends on 31st October.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/pic_webnews/27_08_1_4.jpg
Car-cleaning seems almost to be the afterthought in the article:
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/pic_webnews/27_08_1_5.jpg
Itipon means 'power', and as the son of the local mafia boss Kamnan Pho (who has now escaped from justice in Cambodia), he has it by the BMW busload. His brother also used to be a minister in one of the last 'real' Thaksin administrations. Itipon was always termed 'Special Advisor' by the last puppet who held the post. Note the obsequious (if somewhat sarcastic) tone of the local media:
Resounding victory for Khun Itipon, who is voted in as new Mayor of Pattaya
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/pic_webnews/05_05_1_2.jpg
[Photo: Pattaya City News - [Pattaya's version of the Popemobile!?]]
Our news today is dominated by the elections for Mayor of Pattaya which took place on Sunday. Following a long and sometimes controversial campaign, Pattaya has now chosen its next Mayor of Pattaya who will serve the City for the next 4 years. The winning candidate is Khun Itipon who was candidate number 2 on the ballot paper; he will be joined by his team of candidates 8 to 13 on the ballot, which feature a number of former Deputy Mayors and Pattaya councilors. During the vote count it quickly became apparent that Khun Itipon would win and would win by a considerable margin. The results of the election still require final ratification by the election commission; however the final voting figures were as follows: In first place with 17,743 votes was candidate number 2 on the election paper, Khun Itipon, in second place was candidate number 3, Khun Surat who polled 7,818 votes. Third place went to Khun Allissa with 6,111 votes. There were two other candidates on the ballot paper who polled a combined total of 96 votes. With 56% of the votes, it was a resounding victory for the former adviser to the Mayor and it is thought that Khun Itipon’s extensive experience in local government was the key to his success along with his youthful energy and attractive policies. He now joins his Brother, Khun Witaya in local government after he was voted as the head of the Chonburi Provincial Government on 27th April.
Voter turnout for the elections held on Sunday was high and initial indications suggest a turnout of between 50 and 70%. The vote count was supervised by the National Election Commission who were satisfied that the count was conducted in the correct manner.
Although the count was deemed to be in accordance with election regulations, controversy surrounded Khun Allisa, candidate number 1 throughout the campaign, during which she complained to Police regarding vandalism to a number of her election posters and on the election day itself, she presented evidence of a campaign letter originally written by her which had been copied and tampered with to persuade voters not to vote for her but instead cast their vote for candidate number 3, Khun Surat as she had no intention of accepting the position of Mayor and was tired of the campaign. We understand this is now in the hands of the Police but she does not intend to ask for a new election.
Following the win, on Sunday Night, Khun Itipon and his team toured the streets of Pattaya on Monday Morning to thank the people of Pattaya for choosing him and his team. The “V” sign which indicated Khun Itipon’s candidate number throughout the campaign became a “V” for victory.
So the future of Pattaya, at least for the next 4 years, is in the hands of Khun Itipon and some of his Policies and election promises will have won him many votes, others including a review of the late night entertainment industry here in Pattaya worry some business owners. Some of the major projects Khun Itipon wishes to undertake in the next 4 years include a citywide tram service and 12 year’s free education for students who study at government-controlled schools around Pattaya. These and other policies will require substantial budgets which are ultimately controlled by central government in Bangkok.
We wish Khun Itipon much success in his term as Mayor of Pattaya and will be looking at his work very closely as we continue to cover City Hall Meetings and other public engagements that the Mayor attends.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_05_05_51.html
Mayor discusses his 15 point plan for improving Pattaya
http://www.pattayaone.net/pic_webnews/17_06_1.jpg
[Photo: Pattaya One News]
Khun Itipon, the Mayor of Pattaya chaired a Tuesday Morning Meeting at Pattaya City Hall to discuss a 15 point plan to improve Pattaya. Many of the ideas were presented to the public during Khun Itipon’s recent Election Campaign and he is now in a position where he can start to implement the 15 point plan as promised by him if he was to be elected as Mayor. Some of the issues discussed included the completion of a new 20,000 bed government-run Hospital, free education for students up to year 12, the construction of a new Tram network around Pattaya and a 2 year city-wide road upgrade program. The meeting assigned various government officials to each plan and the Mayor explained to delegates the importance of completing each plan within his first 4 years in office.
Following the meeting, Khun Itipon, led a religious ceremony attended by nine Buddist Monks in the grounds of Pattaya City Hall, to offer good luck to City Hall staff members.
http://www.pattayaone.net/news_17_06_51.html
No relation to the aristocratic Khun .... Pluem - Bangkok gubernatorial candidate & TV personality:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=3288
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=3342
Hundreds turn out to wish the Mayor well at his newly purchased House in Naklua
http://www.pattayaone.net/pic_webnews/19_06_1.jpg
[Photo: Pattaya One News Online]
Early on Thursday Morning, we attended a religious ceremony at the new house of Pattaya’s Mayor, Khun Itipon. The ceremony was slightly delayed as local government officials including the Mayor concentrated on dealing with the aftermath of the flooding which occurred on Wednesday Night. Khun Itipon’s house situated in Soi 12 off the Naklua Road was recently purchased by the Mayor and sits on just over 1 Rai of land and as expected hundreds of well-wishers turned out to congratulate the Mayor on his new House. Many friends of the Mayor made merit by providing food and beverages for the event. Nineteen Monks from around Pattaya officiated at the ceremony which was attended by members of the Keunpleum Family along with many other local dignitaries.
http://www.pattayaone.net/news_19_06_51.html
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