Year: 1999

  • Phuket NewsRises in Immigration fees put on hold | Thaiger

    Rises in Immigration fees put on hold

    PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office, like all other Immigration offices in Thailand, has rescinded steep rises in visa and other fees which were introduced recently. The rises, which quadrupled the existing fees, were contained in a new immigration law brought into force on November 12. However, a subsequent notice from Immigration headquarters in Bangkok on November 29 ordered the new…

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  • Phuket NewsKaraoka and Hi Fidelity neck-and-neck | Thaiger

    Karaoka and Hi Fidelity neck-and-neck

    KATA: With one day’s sailing still to go in the King’s Cup regatta, a clear winner has yet to emerge in the premier division, the Racing Class, with Neil Pride’s Hi Fidelity and Ray Ordoveza’s Karaoka continuing to slug it out for top honors. The regatta went into its fourth day without major problems, other than the continued strong winds…

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  • Phuket News1999 sees higher than normal suicide rate | Thaiger

    1999 sees higher than normal suicide rate

    PHUKET: The number of suicides in Phuket this year has been higher than in most previous years, Dr Boonriang Chuchaisangrat, Chief of the Phuket Health Office, told the Gazette today. In previous years, between 12 and 20 suicides a year have been recorded, he said, but this year so far there have been “more than 20”. Of these, the highest…

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  • Phuket News“Too sexy’ policewomen get a dressing-down | Thaiger

    “Too sexy’ policewomen get a dressing-down

    BANGKOK (AFP): Policewomen in Thailand were today ordered to cover up, after a top police chief complained that too many officers were wearing miniskirts and body-hugging uniforms. “A number of policewomen wore too tight uniforms with short skirts, colorful makeup and have dyed hair,” said a government statement. Pol Lt Gen Somchai Milindangkura said a special team had been established…

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  • Phuket NewsFickle winds for second day of King’s Cup | Thaiger

    Fickle winds for second day of King’s Cup

    KATA: The King’s Cup fleet arrived in Phuket yesterday after two days’ racing, the first between Krabi and Phi-Phi and the second from Phi-Phi to Phuket. The day started well, with promising 10-knot winds. But these died away during the afternoon. In the evening, with all the boats moored off Kata beach and the crews onshore sampling a variety of…

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  • Phuket NewsTough contest brewing for municipal seats | Thaiger

    Tough contest brewing for municipal seats

    PHUKET TOWN: December 25 will see hot competition between 54 candidates from three political parties – the Young People’s Party, the People’s Party and the Creative Party – and four independent candidates for the 18 seats on the Phuket Town Municipal Council. The Municipality, which is expecting about half of Phuket Town’s 42,417 registered voters to make their mark, has…

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  • Phuket NewsFive die in flash floods in southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Five die in flash floods in southern Thailand

    BANGKOK (AFP): Five people are dead and hundreds have been evacuated from their homes after a tropical depression sparked flash floods in southern Thailand. Two boys, aged seven and nine, were swept away by floodwaters in Yala province. Three other people drowned in nearby Pattani, Songkla and Chumporn provinces after a tropical storm hit the west coast of the Gulf…

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  • Phuket NewsMan hangs himself after wage cut | Thaiger

    Man hangs himself after wage cut

    PHUKET TOWN: A man was found dead yesterday morning, hanging from a beam in the room he rented in Tambon Rassada, a half-empty tube of glue on the floor nearby. The body of Anucha Foythong, 21, a native of Phang Nga, was discovered when a neighbor looked through a window and saw him hanging from the rafter. The dead man…

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  • Phuket NewsSwiss snorkeler drowns off Racha Noi | Thaiger

    Swiss snorkeler drowns off Racha Noi

    PHUKET: A Swiss man drowned on Friday while snorkeling with family and friends off Racha Noi Island. The man, Carlo Wellinger, 45, was on holiday in Phuket, staying at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Beach in Bang Tao. Police said it appeared that Mr Wellinger fainted while swimming. Before he could be pulled from the water, a wave dragged him under.…

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  • Phuket NewsMemory loss holds Gazettes to a draw | Thaiger

    Memory loss holds Gazettes to a draw

    SAPHAN HIN: The Phuket Gazettes and the Bangkok British Club (BBC) battled to a 5-5 draw on Saturday in their annual 15-a-side match. Victory would have gone to the Gazettes, were it not for a mental lapse by Thiti Tandavanitk. Toward the end of the third quarter, he made it past the BBC tryline but forgot to touch down, much…

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  • Phuket NewsRefinery fire put out, death toll rises to five | Thaiger

    Refinery fire put out, death toll rises to five

    SI RACHA (AFP): Thai firefighters yesterday finally put out a fire which had raged at an oil refinery for 35 hours. By that time the death toll had risen to five, with the discovery of more bodies at the site of the initial explosion and subsequent fire. The blaze started after the blast ripped through a storage tank at the…

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  • Phuket News400,000 fish released to mark King’s birthday | Thaiger

    400,000 fish released to mark King’s birthday

    KATHU: The Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office today released 400,000 fish in the Bang Wat reservoir as part of the celebrations to mark the 72nd birthday of HM the King. Also present at the fish release was Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamut. Chada Wangboonkong, Deputy Chief Officer of the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office told the Gazette that 100,000 of the fish had…

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  • Phuket NewsGambling again tops crime statistics | Thaiger

    Gambling again tops crime statistics

    PHUKET: Gambling cases once again topped the crime lists in Phuket for the period November 1 through 25, according to statistics released today by the Phuket Provincial Police. A total of 184 people were arrested for gambling in the course of 94 police raids. Following close behind were illegal immigrants, 173 of whom were caught in the same period. Drugs…

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  • Phuket NewsTwo dead, 15 hurt in refinery explosion | Thaiger

    Two dead, 15 hurt in refinery explosion

    SI RACHA (AFP): A huge fire devoured millions of litres of oil today after a string of explosions ripped through a refinery here, killing two people and injuring 15. Sheets of flame soared 100 meters into the air as hundreds of firemen battled to stop the blaze from engulfing the entire structure run by Thai Oil Co, some 70 kilometers…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket MP to press for probe into immigration laws | Thaiger

    Phuket MP to press for probe into immigration laws

    PHUKET: Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, Phuket’s Member of Parliament, has agreed to help foreigners living in Thailand by pushing for a top-level inquiry into the way the country’s immigration laws are applied. Khun Anchalee was shown Section 5 of the Alien Registration Act which – as reported in the Gazette on October 15 – requires all foreigners to register with police and…

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  • Phuket NewsDead whale examined by biologists at Cape Panwa | Thaiger

    Dead whale examined by biologists at Cape Panwa

    CAPE PANWA: A dead whale was brought by fisherman from Phang Nga Bay to the Phuket Marine Biological Center this morning for an autopsy. Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, a biologist at the Center, identified the 4.3 meter long animal as a Bryde’s Whale of one to two years of age. He told the Gazette that the ‘fragrant’ whale had been dead for…

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  • Phuket NewsAngry chicken fanciers besiege Governor | Thaiger

    Angry chicken fanciers besiege Governor

    PHUKET OWN: An angry crowd of more than 100 people protested in front of the Phuket Town Police Station yesterday, alleging the police had used unnecessary force on Sunday evening when arresting Rassada villagers for betting on cock-fighting. Among those arrested were three members of the Tambon Rassada Administration Organization. They were released on bail Monday morning, but returned to…

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  • Phuket NewsPolice issue sketch of foreign gunman | Thaiger

    Police issue sketch of foreign gunman

    CHERNG TALAY: Thai police have issued a sketch of a Western gunman wanted for murdering Thai restaurateur Lor-man Karnjanasadoong last Tuesday at Bang Tao Beach. The gunman is described as being about 170 cm tall, with pale skin and a silver cap on an upper right tooth. Police believe the man goes by the name “Oliver” and that he is…

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  • Phuket NewsSingapore, Thailand sign deal on civil servants | Thaiger

    Singapore, Thailand sign deal on civil servants

    SINGAPORE, Nov 28 (AFP): Singapore and Thailand have signed an agreement to improve ties and exchange ideas about civil servants, the Sunday Times reported this morning. It said the agreement, signed yesterday, is aimed at upgrading the quality of civil servants in “both” countries. The Thai government has been slow to upgrade its civil service, one of the most bureaucratic…

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  • Phuket NewsHealthy elephant contest held in Phuket | Thaiger

    Healthy elephant contest held in Phuket

    CHERNG THALAY: “Jintana”, a magnificent 30-year-old cow from the Lagoon Elephant Trekking Club, was declared “Phuket’s healthiest elephant” and given an award and cash prize by Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamut in a ceremony held at the Dusit Laguna Resort on Thursday night. The occasion was organized by the Elephant Help Project, a charity created to promote and oversee the well-being…

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  • Phuket NewsSketch of murder suspect hits glitch | Thaiger

    Sketch of murder suspect hits glitch

    PHUKET: Composition of a police sketch of the foreigner wanted for killing a Thai restaurateur three days ago has hit a snag: the computer used to create the sketches is unable to handle Western faces. Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, told the Gazette that “Yesterday my officers took the witness [the dead man’s wife] to…

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  • Phuket NewsMan arrested for three robberies | Thaiger

    Man arrested for three robberies

    PHUKET: Leng Permthong, 21, a construction worker from Ranong province, was arrested last night for robbing three petrol stations during the past few weeks. The arrest confirmed police suspicions, reported earlier in the online Gazette, that the same individual was responsible for all three robberies. When questioned by Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, superintendent of Muang police station, Leng admitted committing…

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  • Phuket NewsRanong crossing reopens for visa runs | Thaiger

    Ranong crossing reopens for visa runs

    RANONG: Following a visit to Myanmar by Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan on Monday, border crossings between Thailand and Burma reopened yesterday afternoon, allowing foreigners from Phuket once more to take a long-tail boat from Ranong Town to the Burmese side to renew their visas. Although some media announced that all border crossings had opened yesterday morning, Ranong was initially…

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  • Phuket NewsIndonesia arrests 56 Thai ships | Thaiger

    Indonesia arrests 56 Thai ships

    JAKARTA (AFP): The Indonesian navy has arrested 56 Thai ships and 1,276 crewmen for illegally fishing in the country’s waters, the official Antara news agency reported earlier today. “The 56 Thai ships with their 1,276 crew have been arrested and taken to Sabang from Rusa island in Western Aceh,” said Colonel Syahrin Abdurrahman, who heads the navy base in Sabang…

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  • Phuket News“Farang’ gunman kills Thai restaurant owner | Thaiger

    “Farang’ gunman kills Thai restaurant owner

    BANG TAO: A Thai restaurant owner was shot dead in front of his wife yesterday by a gunman the victim’s spouse described as a ‘farang’ (Caucasian foreigner). Pol Lt Col Chalit Kaewyarat of Cherng Talay Police Station told the Gazette that the dead man was identified as Lor-man Karnjanasadoong, 46, owner of the Alex Restaurant on Bang Tao Beach. He…

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  • Phuket News

    Execution of woman is first in 20 years

    BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand has executed its first female prisoner in two decades, the Corrections Department said in a statement today. It said that Samai Barn-in, 59, was executed by firing squad late yesterday, along with two men. She received the death sentence after police found four kilograms of heroin in her possession in 1994. She had 12 previous convictions for…

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  • Phuket NewsSwiss Tourist Drowns at Karon Beach | Thaiger

    Swiss Tourist Drowns at Karon Beach

    KARON: A Swiss student, Andrea Antonio Tavecchio, drowned yesterday morning in front of the Phuket Arcadia Hotel at Karon Beach. He was 24 years old. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of the Chalong Police station told the Gazette that Mr Tavecchio and three friends went for a swim together. His friends reported that he was carried out to sea and in…

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  • Phuket NewsPolice target criminals who prey on tourists | Thaiger

    Police target criminals who prey on tourists

    BANGKOK (AFP): In a major publicity drive ahead of His Majesty The King’s birthday celebrations next month, Thai police today launched a nationwide crackdown on criminals who target tourists. The operation was launched simultaneously by the national Tourist Police in major centres around the country, officers said. “This sweep is against any illegal activity involving tourism, illegal tour operators, unfair…

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  • Phuket NewsTourist’s purse snatched in Patong | Thaiger

    Tourist’s purse snatched in Patong

    PATONG: Two men who appeared to be Thai snatched a handbag from a Japanese tourist while she walked along a road at Patong Beach at approximately 7:40 pm on Saturday. According to Pol Capt Boonlert On-klang, the case investigator, Nana Nishizawa, 23, reported that two men were involved. One, described by Ms Nishizawa as a young Thai with long hair,…

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  • Phuket NewsAnother murder in the fishing port | Thaiger

    Another murder in the fishing port

    PHUKET TOWN: A man thought to be a fisherman was murdered in front of a warehouse on Soi Si Sena in Phuket’s fishing port on Saturday night. Pol Capt Surat Muangsri of the Phuket Town District Police Station told the Gazette that the man, as yet unidentified, was wearing a black T-shirt and brown shorts. On his right shoulder was…

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  • Phuket NewsCabinet approves huge hike in work permit fees | Thaiger

    Cabinet approves huge hike in work permit fees

    BANGKOK: A proposal by the Ministry of Labor to raise the price of renewing a work permit has been passed by the Thai Cabinet, bringing massive rises in fees a step closer. The proposal must be ratified by Parliament before the change in legislation comes into effect. This may take up to a year. Should the proposed legislation be accepted…

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  • Phuket NewsCall for divers to join Koh Kai clean-up | Thaiger

    Call for divers to join Koh Kai clean-up

    PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police and the Phuket Diving Club will be cleaning the sea floor off Koh Kai on Saturday and Sunday, (November 20 and 21), and are inviting all divers to join them. Pol Lt Col Chaleampol Maliwan, inspector of the Phuket Marine Police, explained that there are now growing numbers of tourists diving off Koh Kai, so it…

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  • Phuket NewsTHAI to suspend 20 overseas flights amid Y2K fears | Thaiger

    THAI to suspend 20 overseas flights amid Y2K fears

    BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Airways International (THAI) will suspend 20 international flights over the New Year due to fears the Y2K bug could affect air traffic safety, THAI president Thamnoon Wanglee said late today. “No domestic flights will be affected, only 20 flights to Europe, Australia, and Sri Lanka will be suspended,” he said. A senior Thai government minister this week…

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  • Phuket NewsTour Boats Burn at Ao Por Pier | Thaiger

    Tour Boats Burn at Ao Por Pier

    THALANG: Two boats belonging to Lucky Canoe Co Ltd, one of Phuket’s leading sea canoe operators, burned and sank at Ao Por Pier last night. At 8 pm, a fire broke out on the Lucky Canoe 1 and quickly spread to Lucky Canoe 2 which was docked next to her. Initial estimates put the damage at approximately 10 million baht.…

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  • Phuket NewsPoliceman commits suicide | Thaiger

    Policeman commits suicide

    KATHU: A nephew of an assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, himself a police officer, committed suicide yesterday morning in Tung Tong, three days before he was due to be married, because he was depressed that he did not have enough money to pay for the wedding. Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, told…

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  • Phuket NewsThree witnesses testify in Jennings murder trial | Thaiger

    Three witnesses testify in Jennings murder trial

    PHUKET: Three witnesses appeared on the stand this morning in the trial of Nongnut Tungkaburi and Kraisorn Kamnoun for their alleged involvement in the December 15, 1997 murder of Roger Jennings, Nongnut’s common-law husband. The first witness, Weeranat Kammanochart, 22, a cashier at the Alice Bar, owned by Jennings and Nongnut, testified that Mr Jennings and Nongnut were nice people.…

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  • Phuket NewsPirates arrested with hijacked vessel | Thaiger

    Pirates arrested with hijacked vessel

    PHUKET: Authorities in Bombay have arrested the pirates who seized a Japanese freighter off the coast of Indonesia on October 22, Phuket Marine Police said today. The pirates set the crew of the vessel, the Alondra Rainbow, adrift on a raft on October 29. They were found 11 days later by Thai fishermen who brought them to Phuket. Pol Col…

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