Laila, Ubon Ratchathani, AP

Flood damage totals over Bt1m in all houses near Moon river in the early of this month.

Over 2,000 families, who live across Moon River in Ubon Ratchathani province, unwillingly face the damage with at least 20,000 baht per house and the entire damage stand at Bt1 million, the municipal officer of Warinchumrap, said yesterday.

The Warinchumrap municipality who takes responsibility for flood problem reported that flood almost covered all of houses that located across Moon River in Sathitnimankan road area. The damage is now over one million baht but the real number was expected to be much higher because it seems to be continued.

One of the villagers, Kaew Swangngam a 62 years old woman, faces 30,000 baht house's damage. Her house is flooded to the first floor. "I think I have to pay for the damage like in last year", she said.

Flood also leads many thieves and one of the innocent victims loses her things inside her house. "I have to check my house to make sure that it's fine", said Atchana Promla, a 41 years old that flood damages her house and costs over 50,000 baht.

Villagers who get flood damage said that there is no money support from the municipality and they all have to pay the damage cost by themselves.

By…YungYing

The 6th election to find a parliament of Ubon Ratchathani Constituency 10, Northeasthern of Thailand got the unofficially winner from Thai Rak Thai Party and detected no evidences of any wrong doing after waste a lot of money used in 5 times reelection.

Thailand set the election to choose parliaments in any areas since January 6, 2001. But in Ubon Ratchathani, which had 11 polling booths, the Election Commission (EC) officers and Ubon people found the Committing fraud of the candidates between the campaign by giving money or things to people in several constituencies, therefore the EC had to consider the election to invalidate for 5 times especially for the Constituency 10.

The EC of Ubon Ratchathani held the 6th reelection on September 10, 2002 and can got the unofficially winner, Kittipong Thiamsuwan from Thai Rak Thai Party received 33,504 votes, beating Rassadorn Party candidates who got 20,320 votes. "We found the evidences of wrongdoing of the candidates from people and other authorities who concerned with us that some candidates gave money or promised to give money or things with people, which againsted laws.

The EC had to prove and consider those petitions that the candidates made cheated or not.

"If we found as they are suspected, we will give punishments to them because it is our authority even we have to hold the reelection again and again." Said The EC officer, Sukanya.

The chairman of the Election Commission of Thailand (ETC), Niyom Ratmaruek said, "The punishments for the wrong candidates can be red card:the punishments for the wrong candidates to let them cannot offer to be candidates in any elections, and yellow card: the punishment for the wrong candidates who win the election will not be endorsed by EC. So when we meet the evidences of any wrongdoing of any candidates we have to reelect in any cases."

The budget used in each polling booths are ß700,000 which the EC of any provinces of Thailand will organizes these budget from first day they pronounce to have an election until the election finish. They used the budget to prepare people and give knowledge what will happen and what people have to involve in; they have to promote all of candidates also. A lot of budget wastes in election if the candidates make the wrongdoing, as there are so many times reelections as Ubon Ratchathani.

However Thailand, the country face the economy crisis, has to waste a lot of money in so many times by-elections. Thai government expect to use these money to improve the democracy system to be better and more transparent which will lead Thai people to vote the good chief to develop their country as well.

Ubon Ratchathani, Northeastern, Thailand - By Siriwan Saengrat

Mr.Paruchat Panduang. The president of the Student Union Council of Ubon Ratchathani University said to the reporter yesterday that he was really glad to see students' encouragement toward the early rector election.

On 30 September 2002 Mr.Phaitune Inkasuwan, the Rector of Ubon Ratchathani University, will finish his term on ,so the university's board has to propose the list of the candidates to the ministry of university for the consideration of the new rector.

And the informal list is revealed that there are
five candidates sent by the university to compete with another four outsiders.

This time the atmosphere during the election in university is rather different from the other years because there are some students try to involve in the election by writing some slogan to encourage the other students to be interested in this election.

However, Mr.Chaiwit Jiravigrankul, a teacher in English Department said about the movement of the students in this time that it was a good starting point for students to be involved in the election but they did not have adequate information about the candidates sometimes they could be easily induced, so students should tried not to get into the system abruptly but carefully.

Ubon Ratchathani By Marchima Bunrueng

A 17-year-old man died in a hail of bullets from motorcyclist gangsters in Suppasitprasongs Hospital on Sunday night.

Police Captain Apinan Phrumlamung said that he was informed to stop on heavy shooting near the emergency room of the hospital about 3.10 am. on September,8

"Mingchai, a headmaster of Kongbin Ubon Songkro's was died after 30 minute cured. He was shot in the left arm. One of the bullets passed through one of his lungs and went through the left side of his heart.", said Doctor Chaithuch Rukratchakan.

The victim's friend named Nut said that before his friend was shot he and his friends went to challenging the mysterious place near Ubon Ratchathani University and watching the motorcycle competition on Jangsanit road.

When he was going home, Mingchai faced his old enemy gangster who his friend had a quarrel with.

No shots were fired at his friend.

LAMPOON MEEPARP
UBU NEWS

Department of Languages organized the English Camp 2002 at the faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University, to promote the LA freshmen's using English outside classes in everyday life during 7-8 September 2002 when the students could feel the atmospheres of fun and warmth.

Ajarn Chaiwit Jiravigrankul, a key person who was responsible for the project, and English teachers both Thais and foreigners gave their hands to hold the event. This year, there were so many participants; there were 4 Thai teachers of English, 6 foreign teachers, 21 senior students who were staff and 93 first-year students.

"Most of them come from different places and have different English background and the camp would help them share their experiences. They could also gain their confidence from

the camp, using English without worry about grammar and their grades," said Ajarn Tharinee Boonyuen, a camp observer.

The main objectives of the project are to offer the LA students, especially the freshmen and older generations, more chances to practice English skills and to get to know one another a little bit closer. Moreover, they would learn different foreign cultures from native speakers and how to deal with people.

The students would be introduced to the concepts of how to learn the language outside their class rooms and they would be encouraged to establish positive attitudes toward the target language so that they can enhance their English performance through variety of activities.

"The staff was helpful and enthusiastic, and they were very responsible people. Most of the students were happy, learning English with fun. Over all, we are very satisfied with the result that was worth making investment in time and budget," said Ajarn Chaiwit Jiravigrankul.

"If possible, other instructors of other courses such as sociology, physical education, or music who can speak English and also senior teachers from our faculty should join such event, giving advice, comments or compliments to improve the next camps. There should be no excuses not to participate in," said the deputy chair of the Liberal Arts English camp 2002, who has observed English camps since the first time.

Kanlaya Prachumrashi UBU NEWS

On September 9, more than thousands of people are crowded to buy the central bank's new 100ß banknote, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the admission of currency note in Thailand.

The Bank of Thailand molded memorial100ß banknotes to celebrate that occasion for 15 billion banknote that people have the quota to change only 20 notes per person.

A specialty of the new 100ß banknote is the royalty picture of two great King; fifth reign and present reign on the front page. It causes many collectors are so enlightened and want them in their possession.

In Ubon Ratchathani, many people are interested in changing new currency note, and line up in early morning.

Disappointedly, some people have to go home with empty-handed. " I await for 2 hours to change the new banknote but I got only 4 notes." said Sunan Dijam, a fruit seller.

Actually, the new banknote sold out after 3-4 hours, most people still waiting for change them. Some of them are dissatisfied and very angry.

They blamed and accused the authorities that they hoard the new 100ß banknote. " Everyone knows well that some authorities corner those notes to seek

for exorbitant profit." Said Sudapa Thanuwat, one of many people who lose to change the new currency note. Although, the authorities of treasury affairs, Ubon Ratchathani announced that the bank notes use up, many people still surround and line up densely.

Korrawin Amporn, one of the officers in the treasury affairs of Ubon Ratchathani revealed that the Bank of Thailand has the quota of new 100ß banknote for 100,000 notes and the people are limited to change 10 notes per person. She added that the demand of changing the new 100ß banknote is increasing but the Bank of Thailand has to portion this banknote to all provinces.

However, the treasury affairs announce that there is one more chance to exchange the new 100ß banknote on September 23 at 08.30-11.30 a.m.