News
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Tsunami dead moved to Phuket
PHUKET: Work began today to move the bodies of more than a thousand non-Asian victims of the tsunami from Phang Nga to the Mai Khao Cemetery in Phuket.The cemetery is close to Phuket international Airport, and the move is intended to make it easier for bodies, once identified, to be repatriated by air.Bodies believed to be Asian will remain in…
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World Tourism Organization to meet in Kata
KATA: The World Tourism Organization (WTO) Executive Council will hold an emergency meeting at the Kata Beach Resort on January 31 and February 1, to draw up plans to accelerate the recovery of tourism industries affected by the December 26 tsunami.Kata Group President and Phuket Chamber of Commerce Chairman Pamuke Achariyachai said today, “The WTO has invited national and international…
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Mystery over Kamala body
KAMALA: Police have so far been unable to identify an apparent murder victim whose body was discovered by villagers in Kamala last weekend.The body was discovered by residents of Kamala village 6 on the sands of Nai Yea Beach, at the south end of Kamala Bay, at about 6 pm on Saturday night. A worker with the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation,…
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Speedboat sinks, 7 dead, others missing
KOH SAMUI: Seven people have drowned and another six or seven are still missing after a speedboat returning to Koh Samui after a full moon party on Koh Pha-ngan abruptly capsized and sank early this morningSpeaking with the Gazette at midday today, Pol Col Arkom Saisamai, Superintendent of Samui Police Station, told the Gazette that about 35 passengers were aboard…
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90 firms to exhibit at Home Show Asia
PHUKET CITY: More than 90 of Thailand’s top homeware, interior design and décor specialists are due to take part in the first Home Show Asia, to be held in Phuket from March 25 to 27. The show, at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, will feature the latest in contemporary Asian living, ranging from soft furnishings to high-end furniture to state-of-the-art…
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Govt help needed fast – tourism bodies
KARON: “We’re trying to help ourselves, but we can’t do it on our own.” That was the message sent out to the government by representatives of the six tsunami-hit provinces of Thailand after they met in Phuket.Delegates from tourist associations in all six provinces told the Andaman Tourism Restoration Committee meeting at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa how…
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“Mick the Pom” murder case adjourned
PHUIKET CITY: Briton Michael John Taylor – known as “Mick the Pom” – appeared before Phuket Provincial Court this morning in the first hearing in his trial for the stabbing murder of his girlfriend, 28-year-old Jantra Weangta, on August 17 last year.The judge was told that both prosecution and defense lawyers needed more time to interview witnesses in the case.Prosecution…
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Prison governor dies in road accident
KRABI: The man appointed Chief of Phuket Prison just two months ago has been killed in a road accident.Saree Udom died when his car collided with a motorcycle then hit a tree, on Kho-Tor Rd in Krabi on January 22.K. Saree was on his way from Phuket to his house in Surat Thani. It is thought he died instantly, although…
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B200m center to honor King’s grandson
PHUKET CITY: A 200-million-baht rehabilitation center for autistic children will be built at Wachira Phuket Hospital as a memorial to tsunami victim Bhumi Jensen, the 21-year-old grandson of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was killed by the tsunami.Dr Jessada Chungpaibultatana, Director of the Wachira Phuket Hospital, told the Gazette that the budget to build the five-story building will be provided…
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Patong remembers victims
PATONG: About 500 people attended an interdenominational memorial service held at Loma Park this morning for the victims of the tsunami. The ceremony, organized by The Patong Business Operators’ Club, Patong Hospital and Patong Municipality, was to remember those who perished in the tsunami and to help bring peace of mind to those still suffering from its after-effects. Clerics from…
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Search for missing Austrian child
PHUKET: The International Victim Coordination Center (IVCC) has appealed for help in tracing a three-year-old girl from Austria who is believed to have surivived the tsunami but been mistaken for a Thai child.MR Supinda Chakraband, of the IVCC, told the Gazette, “It is thought the little girl, who calls herself “Anita” and “Alexandra”, survived the tsunami but she is now…
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Singapore President honors tsunami dead
PHUKET: The President of Singapore, S R Nathan, yesterday visited Phuket and took part in a Buddhist ceremony for the victims of the tsunami.Pres Nathan was accompanied to the ceremony, at Wat Srisunthon in Thalang, by Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.The merit-making was also attended by Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr.Pres Nathan…
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Vendors appeal against ‘smart Patong’ plan
PATONG: Vendors and operators of other businesses have tried to persuade Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Santichai Euajongprasit and Patong Municipality Mayor Pian Keesin to allow them to trade on Patong Beach as they did before the tsunami.Around 300 fishermen, jet ski owners, beach masseurs, renters of umbrellas and beach beds, motorbike rental businesses and beach…
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Phuket moved, or maybe it didn’t
PHUKET: There is no proof that Phuket has shifted 15 centimeters to the southwest following the December 26 earthquake, according to Dr Adichart Surinkum of the Geotechnic Division of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).“Evidence is still being collected and displacement modeling is continuing to determine if movement took place,” he told the Gazette today. “Surveying all the areas involved…
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Relief coordination group launched
THALANG: Some 85 people attended the first meeting of the Thailand Tsunami Recovery Group (TTRG) at Blue Canyon Golf Club, and three sub-groups were set up to help coordinate various aspects of the volunteer relief operation. Mark Weingard, who convened the meeting, explained that the TTRG would not be a charity itself, would not raise funds, and would not direct…
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Global IT leaders expected to attend Phuket conference
KARON: About 1,000 leaders in the global information technology (IT) industry, including Microsoft Senior Vice President Craig Mundie, are expected to attend a three-day conference in Phuket next month in order to restore international confidence in Phuket’s IT infrastructure after the December 26 tsunami.Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Dr Surapong Suebwonglee was quoted on the Software Industry Promotion Agency…
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Tsunami-struck firms “need more help’
PATONG: The President of the Phuket Tourist Association has called on the government to do more to help the tourism industry recover from the tsunami.Pattanapong Aikwanich told a seminar yesterday at Club Andaman Beach Resort, Patong, called to discuss restoring Phuket’s spa businesses, “We are about 90% ready to do business now, but occupancy is currently only about 10%. We’re…
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Family fears for “missing’ survivor’s safety
PHUKET: The family of Isabell Eriksson, a 24-year-old Swedish woman, have made a plea for information regarding her whereabouts, after receiving reports from two sources that she survived the tsunami.Ms Eriksson was, according to her family, staying with three friends at a hotel in the Khao Lak area when the tsunami struck. The family told the Gazette that the friends…
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FantaSea to close again until February
KAMALA: Phuket FantaSea opened its doors today for a special booking, but will close again from tomorrow until February 1, and possibly beyond that.The prominent tourist attraction closed on January 8, after the number of bookings plummeted following the tsunami.At that time, Managing Director Pin Kewkacha said that FantaSea had sustained damage totaling 60 to 70 million baht, and that,…
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TAT woos HK tour firms and media
KATA: Representatives from 50 media organizations and tour agencies in Hong Kong are in Phuket on a post-tsunami inspection tour intended to restore faith in Phuket’s tourism industry.The visit was organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in conjunction with Katathani Phuket Beach Resort and Evergloss Tours of Hong Kong.At a press conference, TAT Region 4 Director Suwalai Pinpradab…
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Anti-malaria campaign launched
PA KHLOK: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today launched an anti-malaria campaign at the football field in Pa Khlok.Officers from the PPHO, local villagers, teachers and students, as well as volunteers and members of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), joined forces to clear up places where standing water would allow mosquitoes to breed, and fumigated areas to…
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Meeting to organize long-term aid
PHUKET: A meeting is to be held on Thursday evening (January 20) in an attempt to bring together the dozens – if not hundreds – of volunteer groups currently providing aid to tsunami victims. The convener of the meeting, Mark Weingard, explained that the meeting will focus on long-term help for the victims, with all parties working together “to ensure…
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TAT planning “Tsunami Trail’ tours
ANDAMAN: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to launch a “Tsunami Trail” tour in March, in collaboration with private tour companies.Sethapon Chindanon, the TAT’s Regional Director for the Americas, told the Gazette this morning that the tours would be aimed initially at the Thai market.“We are discussing the idea with tour companies, low-cost airlines and hotels, and are…
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Call for skilled volunteers
BANGKOK (The Nation): Officials in charge of the tsunami disaster clean-up in Khao Lak are seeking volunteers to handle duties seen as part of the next step, as the region moves beyond basic search-and-rescue operations.They said it is now the turn of web designers, translators, typists, community assistance officers, radio disc jockeys and call center staff.More than 100 such people…
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Swedish PM calls for ‘no warning’ probe
PHUKET: Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson has called for an investigation into why no warning was issued in the hours before Thailand was hit by a tsunami that killed more than 5,000 people including, possibly, as many as 1,000 Swedes.Speaking during a visit to Phuket with his counterparts from Norway and Finland, Kjell Magne Bondevik and Matti Vanhanen, Mr Persson…
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Confusion over tsunami corpses
PHUKET CITY: Within two weeks, corpses of all tsunami victims currently being stored at Wat Yan Yao and Wat Bang Muang in Takua Pa will be transferred to the Sea Gypsy cemetery in Mai Khao, where they will be kept in cold storage containers pending identification by relatives, Phuket Police said yesterday.Speaking at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, Phuket Provincial Police…
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Central bank ready to launch soft loans
PHUKET: The Bank of Thailand (BoT) – the country’s central bank – decided yeterday to establish a system allowing tsunami-affected businesses to get soft loans at interest rates of no more than 2% a year. These loans would be channeled through the country’s commercial banks, which would repay the BoT at a rate of just 0.01% a year, Prasuksup Puangsokorn,…
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FantaSea to re-open on Wednesday
KAMALA: Phuket FantaSea is due to re-open on Wednesday (January 19), after closing for 10 days because of a fall in business caused by the tsunami.The theme park’s public relations director Sirikul Amaramorn told the Gazette today, “We have about 100 visitors booked to watch the opening show, and most of them are foreigners.”Before the tsunami, FantaSea had between 3,000…
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Canadian PM pledges help
PHUKET CITY: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday visited Phuket and offered his country’s help in restoring the coastal environment and establishing a tsunami early warning system.Mr Martin met Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula at Phuket Provincial Hall, before visiting Kamala to talk with Canadian and Thai volunteers, and officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sorajak Kasemsuvan…
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Rugby 10s to raise funds for tsunami orphans
PHUKET: The 7th AirAsia International Phuket Rugby 10s will be held at the Karon Municipal Stadium on May 28 and 29, with the profits going to an scholarship fund for orphans. Patrick Cotter, Chairman of the Phuket Vagabonds RFC, said, “We plan to set up a scholarship fund for children orphaned [by the tsunami] to ensure that they can at…
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