Month: December 1999

  • Phuket NewsBitterness expressed in bad taste | Thaiger

    Bitterness expressed in bad taste

    BANGKOK (AFP and the Phuket Gazette): Thailand’s opposition leader has given arch-rival Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai food for thought this New Year — seven boxes of iodised eggs, often used to ward off retardation in children. General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said the eggs were “to nourish his brain and improve his intelligence,” according to local media reports today. “Eating the eggs…

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  • Phuket NewsMore accidents, fewer deaths on the island’s roads | Thaiger

    More accidents, fewer deaths on the island’s roads

    PHUKET TOWN: The latest year-to-date figures, those to December 20, show that 172 people, 153 of them on motorcycles, have died on Phuket’s highways this year. Last year at this time, 186 people had died, 164 of them on motorcycles. But there is no basis for optimism in these figures. In November, traffic accidents increased by 14% from the same…

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  • Phuket NewsDoctors warned on unnecessary caesarian births | Thaiger

    Doctors warned on unnecessary caesarian births

    BANGKOK, Dec 25 (AFP): Thai authorities have warned doctors they risk losing their licenses if they perform caesarians to insure that a baby is born on the first day of the new millennium. Some parents are pressuring doctors to undertake the operations because they want their baby born on the highly auspicious day. Supachai Khunaratanaphruek, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public…

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  • Phuket NewsVan Morrison band to perform in Phuket | Thaiger

    Van Morrison band to perform in Phuket

    PATONG: Van Morrison’s band, The Red Hot Pokers, and Stan Boardman, a famous British comedian, will appear at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Patong on Monday evening, January 3, 2000. The famous entertainers are coming to Phuket for a one night appearance after performing for a Royal audience at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on New Year’s Eve. Stuart Montgomery,…

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  • Phuket NewsCrackdown on illegal workers results in 375 arrests | Thaiger

    Crackdown on illegal workers results in 375 arrests

    PHUKET TOWN: A series of blockades and a sweep of construction sites in Phuket on December 19, 20, and 21 resulted in the arrest and deportation of 375 illegal Burmese immigrants. According to Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamat, the number of arrests and deporations could reach 600 by the end of the year. The arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown…

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  • Phuket NewsTwo boys arrested in murder of Australian tourist | Thaiger

    Two boys arrested in murder of Australian tourist

    PHUKET: Two boys suspected of murdering Cheree Joy Cobcroft, 24, an Australian tourist, on December 17 in Krabi were arrested on Christmas day at Rajabhat Phuket Institute. Pairoj Yoamyat, 19, and a boy of 15 were apprehended at 2 pm by police from Phuket Town and a special investigation team from Krabi. According to police, the two confessed to murdering…

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  • Phuket NewsArrests made in robbery and murder of Supercheap employee | Thaiger

    Arrests made in robbery and murder of Supercheap employee

    PHUKET: Police in Saraburi Province arrested three of the four-man gang suspected of robbing and murdering Jennarong Utoksaenee, 65, a manager of Supercheap, a large “warehouse” style store in Phuket Town. Khun Jennarong was shot dead in his car at 3:00 pm on September 6 while on his way to deposit 1.7 million baht in receipts from Supercheap. According to…

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  • Phuket NewsStarAid funds used to support several projects | Thaiger

    StarAid funds used to support several projects

    PHUKET TOWN: Funds raised from the StarAid event held at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket last June were used to organize a Christmas celebration for 30 HIV infected children at Vachira Hospital last Sunday. On the same day, 30,000 baht was donated to the slum village of Langho Prachum for the development of an HIV educational fund for the children…

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  • Phuket NewsYoung People’s Party dominates municipal elections | Thaiger

    Young People’s Party dominates municipal elections

    PHUKET: Results of the election for the Phuket Municipal Council have been released: the Young People’s Party won 13 seats, the Creative Party four seats, and the People’s Party one seat. Of the municipality’s 42,378 registered voters, only 53% voted in the election. Current Mayor Phumisak Hongyok is a member of the Young People’s Party so it appears likely that…

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  • Phuket NewsOccupancies soft at Phuket hotels | Thaiger

    Occupancies soft at Phuket hotels

    PHUKET: As can be seen in the data above, compiled from hotels the Gazette was able to contact today, the occupancy situation in Phuket is not robust. Room cancellations are rising, continuing a trend that started early in November. All the hotels represented in our chart report that the usual occupancy rate for this time of year is 80% or…

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  • Phuket NewsWeather has little impact on local business | Thaiger

    Weather has little impact on local business

    PHUKET: Amorn Chantanavivate, Director of the South Western Regional Meteorological Center, reports that the cold and windy weather Phuket has experienced over the past few days will continue until January. He warns all boats to be careful and urges small craft to remain in port until the weather improves. Local marine operators expect the weather to have little impact on…

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  • Phuket NewsSearch underway for Algerian hotel thief | Thaiger

    Search underway for Algerian hotel thief

    CHALONG: Phuket police are searching for an Algerian suspected of stealing money and other valuables from the rooms of tourists in small hotels and guest houses in Cherng Talay and Karon Beach. According to Pol Col Sathi Malakanont, superintendent of the Chalong Police Station, the man checks into an establishment, breaks into rooms, and then departs without checking out. The…

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  • Phuket News84 Burmese arrested in Chalong | Thaiger

    84 Burmese arrested in Chalong

    CHALONG: Police yesterday arrested 84 Burmese who were working illegally in the Chalong area. According to Pol Capt Thanate Poungmanee of Chalong Police Station, 54 of the 84 arrested were male. After the sweep, the Burmese were transferred to the Immigration Office in Phuket Town where their arrests were recorded. They were then immediately sent to the Thai-Burma border in…

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  • Phuket NewsLumberyard burns on Kwang Rd | Thaiger

    Lumberyard burns on Kwang Rd

    PHUKET TOWN: Chaijaras Kah Mai, a lumberyard on Kwang Rd, suffered damage estimated at 2 million baht when a fire swept through the premises at 1 am this morning. No deaths or injuries were reported. Strong winds and the highly combustible lumber forced firefighters to battle the blaze for almost two hours before putting it out. Pol Capt Surat Muangsri…

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  • Phuket NewsWoman arrested for illegal possession of fish | Thaiger

    Woman arrested for illegal possession of fish

    RAWAI: A woman has been arrested for possessing tropical fish of a protected species. Pol Lt Teerawat Liumsuwan from Chalong Station told the Gazette that police and officers from the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office raided a house at 5/3 Wiset Rd in Rawai last Friday evening. In the house they found about 40 fish of different protected species, 55 fish…

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  • Phuket NewsNo Westerners to be freed under amnesty | Thaiger

    No Westerners to be freed under amnesty

    PHUKET TOWN: Contrary to earlier expectations, no Westerners are to be released from Phuket Provincial Prison under the terms of the amnesty declared to mark the 72nd birthday of HM The King. A total of 159 people will be released tomorrow at 9 am. Of these, 16 are foreigners, 14 of them Burmese. The remaining two are Korean Jin Yong…

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  • Phuket NewsDiarrhea outbreak comes to an end | Thaiger

    Diarrhea outbreak comes to an end

    THALANG: The recent outbreak of severe diarrhea in the Thalang area is over, Dr Boonriang Chuchaisangrat, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office, has confirmed. All those affected have now gone home from hospital, and no new cases have been reported. The first case of severe diarrhea was reported on October 27 and was diagnosed as a strain known as…

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  • Phuket NewsPolice hunt for novice monk in tourist murder | Thaiger

    Police hunt for novice monk in tourist murder

    BANGKOK, Dec 21 (AFP) – Thai police said Tuesday they were hunting for a 14-year-old novice monk allegedly involved in the brutal murder and suspected rape of an Australian tourist in the southern beach resort of Krabi. Police Major Khejorn Siriwan said warrants had been issued for the novice and a 19-year-old man over the murder of Cheree Cobcroft, 24,…

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  • Phuket NewsAustralian woman murdered in Krabi | Thaiger

    Australian woman murdered in Krabi

    KRABI: Cheree Joy Cobcroft, 24, an Australian tourist, was brutally murdered in Krabi on Friday. Her body was found naked, hanging by a belt from a tree in the woods behind the Kaew Krowararam temple in Krabi Town. Her clothing and personal belongings were scattered on the ground below her. Police estimate the murder occurred between 6:00 am and 1:30…

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  • Phuket NewsMan drowns at Patong Beach | Thaiger

    Man drowns at Patong Beach

    PATONG: A man drowned while swimming 60 meters from shore in front of Loma Park at Patong Beach on Saturday afternoon. According to Pol Capt Boonlert Oonkrang of Kathu Police Station, the man waved his hand, yelling for help. He was eventually taken ashore by a tourist on a jet-ski, but died in the ambulance on the way to Patong…

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  • Phuket NewsChuan easily defeats no-confidence motion | Thaiger

    Chuan easily defeats no-confidence motion

    BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand’s government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament today after a bitter five-day debate in which it faced allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement. The majority of the six-party coalition led by the Democrat Party of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai held rock-steady in the vote in the lower House of Representatives. A total of 229 members supported the…

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  • Phuket NewsFrench-Swiss pair win Black Cat pétanque | Thaiger

    French-Swiss pair win Black Cat pétanque

    CHERNG TALAY: Frenchman Frederic Vignial and partner Eric Uldry of Switzerland shot 13-9 against Frenchman Franck de Lestapis and Australian Craig Ryan to win the Fifth Black Cat Pétanque Tournament at the Black Cat restaurant yesterday. The consolation round was won by a margin of 13 to 6 by yet another Frenchman, Marcel Lerat, and his Thai partner Somnuk Chunrat.…

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  • Phuket NewsFantasea still showing a loss – CEO | Thaiger

    Fantasea still showing a loss – CEO

    KAMALA: Pin Kewpaisal, President and CEO of Phuket Fantasea, admitted last night that the cultural theme park is still losing money but said that he remains optimistic about the future, and that he believes Fantasea is on the right track. Khun Pin didn’t reveal actual loses, but said Fantasea has to pay about 50 million baht a month just to…

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  • Phuket NewsMaikhao tambon boss commits suicide | Thaiger

    Maikhao tambon boss commits suicide

    MAIKHAO: The president of the Maikhao Tambon Administrative Council (OrBorTor) was found dead at his home at 164 Moo 3, Tambon Maikhao, Amphur Talang, early yesterday morning, having apparently committed suicide. Pol Capt Adul Nirapai of Phuket Town Police Station said the dead man, Boonchoo Rakrungsimansuk, 55, is believed to have died after swallowing about a liter of pesticide. Though…

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  • Phuket NewsMP shot after censure debate session | Thaiger

    MP shot after censure debate session

    BANGKOK (AFP): An MP from Thailand’s governing Democrat party was ambushed and shot after leaving the censure debate in Parliament, party officials said today. Parnawat Liangpongpan, an MP from Buriram province in Isarn, was attacked by a gunman outside his apartment in Bangkok as he got out of his car in the early hours of this morning. “He was shot…

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  • Phuket NewsBlue Canyon wins international award | Thaiger

    Blue Canyon wins international award

    PHUKET: The Blue Canyon Country Club was named Asian & Pacific Golf Resort of the Year 2000 in the recent Hertz International Golf Travel Awards ceremony, held in Portugal. It was also nominated in two other categories: Asian & Pacific Golf Course of the Year 2000, and Worldwide Golf Resort of the Year 2000. In last year’s Hertz awards, it…

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  • Phuket News

    Type A Negative blood urgently needed

    PHUKET TOWN: Bangkok Phuket Hospital has issued an urgent appeal for Type A Negative blood for an Austrian tourist who is bleeding internally. Alfred Edlinsel, 41, was rushed to the hospital yesterday with a ‘terrible’ stomach pain that subsequently deteriorated into gastric and intestinal bleeding. Mr Edlinsel’s medical record shows that he has had a stomach condition for years. The…

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  • Phuket NewsSeminar to promote Phuket to foreign investors | Thaiger

    Seminar to promote Phuket to foreign investors

    PHUKET: The Phuket Chamber of Commerce will conduct a seminar to encourage foreign investment in Phuket at a Board of Investment Fair that will be held in Bangkok from February 3-17. Charn Wongsatayanont, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, says, “The seminar will provide Phuket with an opportunity to point out the island’s strengths and potential as a place…

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  • Phuket NewsTown to get bus service soon, maybe (Part II) | Thaiger

    Town to get bus service soon, maybe (Part II)

    PHUKET TOWN: Attempts to get Phuket Town’s first real bus service up and running – originally scheduled to start last May – are still on, and are still inching toward reality. Samkhan Saengfai, managing director of PB Holdings, which has a seven-year operating license from the Phuket Provincial Transport Office, told the Gazette that the service has been delayed because…

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  • Phuket NewsCAT slashes Internet and video conference fees | Thaiger

    CAT slashes Internet and video conference fees

    PHUKET: The Phuket Telecommunications Center (PTC), a division of the Communication Authority of Thailand (CAT), has announced a 50% reduction in the fees charged for two of the services it provides. Internet connection fees have been cut from one baht a minute to 50 satang (the three baht fee for the first minute will remain unchanged). With a CATNET card,…

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  • Phuket NewsTwo dead, one injured in Patong shooting | Thaiger

    Two dead, one injured in Patong shooting

    PATONG: Two men were shot dead yesterday evening in a bar in the Royal Paradise complex on Rat-U-Tit Rd. A 16-year-old boy was severely injured by a stray bullet as he walked along the street outside. Pol Col Kokiat Wongworachart, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that Somkiat Nakwong, 25, and Somnuek Fahwan went to the bar together…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s power system said to be “Y2K-ready” | Thaiger

    Phuket’s power system said to be “Y2K-ready”

    PHUKET TOWN: The island’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) is now ready for whatever the Millennium may throw at it, says PEA vice president Kumnueng Tadsri Khun Kumnueng says the entire computer system has been upgraded to comply with standards set by the General Accounting Office. All elements of it have been tested and are Y2K-ready. But just in case the…

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  • Phuket NewsFive Westerners may be released from local prison | Thaiger

    Five Westerners may be released from local prison

    PHUKET: As many as five Westerners are expected to be on the list of people to be released from Phuket Provincial Prison in the next couple of days, in accordance with the nationwide amnesty declared to mark HM the King’s 72nd birthday. Exact numbers have yet to be ascertained, but Preeda Nijsiri, commander of Phuket Provincial Prison, said that the…

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  • Phuket NewsFour arrested with ya bah | Thaiger

    Four arrested with ya bah

    PHUKET: Police have arrested four people for ya bah violations in separate incidents at Kata Beach and Phuket Town. On Friday, plainclothes police arrested one man and two women at the public housing estate in Tambon Rassada, Phuket Town for possessing 778 tablets of ya bah with intent to sell. According to Pol Lt Col Manus Aemjareonchaikul, an inspector in…

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  • Phuket NewsSwiss dies in fall from mast of yacht | Thaiger

    Swiss dies in fall from mast of yacht

    PHUKET TOWN: Schmucki Gilgian, 58, from Switzerland died when he fell from the mast of his yacht while repairing it at the Boat Lagoon on Tuesday. Pol Capt Anukul Nookate told the Gazette that Mr. Schmucki died shortly after being admitted to the intensive care unit of Bangkok Phuket Hospital with severe chest and head injuries. A funeral is scheduled…

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  • Phuket NewsKaraoka victorious in King’s Cup Regatta | Thaiger

    Karaoka victorious in King’s Cup Regatta

    KATA: The King’s Cup Regatta ended today with Ray Ordoveza’s Karaoka winning the Racing Class division. Second place honors went to Pla Loma, while Australia Challenge finished third. The Regatta, which had been without controversy, didn’t end that way. At the start of yesterday’s Performance Cruising division race, Monsoon Blue was sunk when struck in the stern by Stormvogel. In…

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  • Phuket NewsNine arrested for gasoline smuggling | Thaiger

    Nine arrested for gasoline smuggling

    PHUKET: Marine Police on Wednesday seized two vessels and 116,000 liters of smuggled gasoline. Nine crew members of the two vessels were arrested. Pol Col Misakawan Buara, Superintendent of Phuket Marine Police said that his men had seized the Chockkrating 222, a modified fishing boat, with 110,000 liters of fuel on board, along with the Suapisarn 10 which had on…

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