Month: August 2004
- Phuket News
One drowns, one disappears at Karon
KARON: A Singaporean tourist drowned off Karon Beach yesterday afternoon, while another is missing after disappearing under large waves. A third, in the same incident, was rescued from a similar fate.The three Singaporeans were all from a party of six who arrived in Phuket on Friday.A Tourist Rescue Center (TRC) worker stationed at Kata, who declined to be named, told…
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The love that lasts
SUPHAN BURI: Love is sweeter the second time round for Suphan Buri newlyweds Sunthon Thanabutr, 74, and Sumrith Aom-aerm, 75. The love-struck third-agers, both of whom have been married and widowed, knew each other more than half a century before their chance meeting at an “Elders’ Day” event held at Wat Pho Takuan earlier this year. K. Sumrith said that,…
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Port information hotline launched
CHALONG: The Phuket Port Control Center (PPCC) at Chalong Pier has launched Thailand’s first 24-hour bilingual automated port information service as part of its Phuket ePort project.By calling the Bangkok number Tel: 02-3659696, people can access information in Thai and English on port control procedures, contact details of government offices, and general information about Phuket.Dr Rattana Wetprasit, Acting Manager of…
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Pian back in Patong hot seat
PATONG: It’s official: more than two months since his apparent election as Mayor in the June 21 town council elections, Pian Keesin can finally take office after his victory was confirmed by the Central Election Commission.K. Pian, a former mayor of the town who lost office in a council coup in October 2001, will now face a daunting challenge in straightening…
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One more year for Udomsak
PHUKET: Udomsak Usawarangkura is to be Governor of Phuket for at least one more year.K. Udomsak’s name did not feature in a list of governors who are being promoted or moved on this year. As a result, he told a meeting of senior government officers this morning at Phuket Provincial Hall, “We will be working together for at least one…
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Policeman’s killer caught
TRANG: Police have arrested Sompong “Jorm” Prayongyam, one of the two men alleged to have been invloved in a vicious attack on Kathu police officer Pol Sgt Pramual Thongaugsorn that led to his death.Sgt Pramual, who was being treated at the Bangkok Phuket Hospital for severe head injuries, later died when his parents requested that he be removed from life…
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Pongtorn murder investigation shelved
PHUKET: The investigation into the assassination of land official Pongtorn Hiranyaburana, who was shot dead on the way to his home in Surat Thani in April last year, has officially been shelved, pending further evidence being presented to the police.K. Pongtorn was the Deputy Chief of the Phuket Provincial Land Office (PPLO) and was ordered to look into the issuing…
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Skeleton found in Kathu
KATHU: A human skeleton wearing a watch, bra and jeans was found among trees behind the Kathu Health Center on Wichit Songkram Rd early on Monday evening.The remains are undergoing forensic examination to determine whether they are those of Phuket native Wimonmas Bannalang, 34, a cashier at the Buffalo Steakhouse at Karon, who went missing in July.K. Wimonmas was last…
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Makro opens tomorrow
PHUKET: Wholesaling giant Makro opens its 27th Thai branch on Wichit Songkhram Rd tomorrow, raising the number of hypermarkets on the island to three.At least 1,000 guests are expected to attend the official opening, and the store has arranged three additional parking areas to accommodate them all. Makro Southern Area Manager Noppachai Meetam told the Gazette that sales of memberships,…
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Court orders Anchalee’s husband to quit land
PHUKET: The Phuket Appeal Court yesterday overturned a judgement of the Provincial Court and ordered Tossaporn Thepabutr to quit 98 rai of land in the Nakkerd Hills in Karon. K. Tossaporn is the husband of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr. The successful appeal was made by the Provincial Land Reform Office (PLRO), which argued that K. Tossaporn…
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Policeman dies from beating
PATONG: A police sergeant from Kathu who was beaten into a coma on Sunday by two assailants has died in the Bangkok Phuket Hospital from bleeding in the brain.Pol Lt Col Chawalit Niemwadee, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that he had been informed on Tuesday by the hospital that Pol Sgt Pramual Thongaugsorn died from severe…
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Thaksin rejects “pearly’ underpasses
PHUKET: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in Phuket today for just one hour, turned down a proposal to build two underpasses on the bypass road at a cost of 800 million baht.Instead, he said, the provincial authorities should look at the example of Dindaeng in Bangkok, where a single tunnel, long enough to reach from Phuket’s Samkong intersection to the Darasamut…
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Deputy PM defends Phang Nga pipeline
THALANG: In his first press conference today in Phuket, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Lipatapanlop defended the government’s plan to build an oil pipeline across Phang Nga, saying that it will not affect tourism in the region.Speaking to the press at Phuket International Airport this morning, the former Chart Pattana leader, who joined Thai Rak Thai as Deputy PM two and…
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50 million baht for “health hub’ Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Health Ministry is to spend 50 million baht promoting Phuket as a health hub of Asia, Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan announced today.In Phuket for a health conference organized by her ministry, K. Sudarat said the money had already been allocated and would be spent before the end of the year on developing health tourism schemes for the…
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Cops and fobbers
BANGKOK: A former security guard at the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok was arrested on August 8 for impersonating a police officer and illegal possession of a firearm, police said. Following reports of gunfire at 5 am , two police officers from the Makkasan Police station found Theerapong Sawaiprekon, 30, in a police uniform at the scene. The former security guard…
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Repellent behavior
CHERNG TALAY: A 17-year-old boy high on a cocktail of cola and crushed mosquito-repellent coils attacked a Buddhist nun with a meat cleaver in her quarters in the morning of August 19. The nun received 205 stitches for 16 wounds to her head and upper body and is said to be in a “worrisome” condition at Wachira Phuket Hospital. The…
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Runway extension plan under fire
PHUKET CITY: Plans by the Airports Authority of Thailand (AAT) to extend the 3,000-meter runway at Phuket International Airport by 700m came under fire today from Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, President of the Phuket Provincial Organization, at a meeting at The Metropole hotel.The extension is deemed necessary by the AAT to allow fully-laden Boeing 747-400 airliners – used extensively on routes to…
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Figures show huge property boom
PHUKET: Figures indicating how the property industry in Phuket is booming were presented yesterday by the Phuket Real Estate Club (PREC).At a conference on the southern Thai economy, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, PREC Secretary Thanit Prateepnathalang said that between January and July this year, property companies applied for permission to build 43 new developments. Of these, 28…
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Warning to Khao Lak: don’t overbuild
PHUKET CITY: Tourists may turn their backs on Khao Lak if the rapid development there continues, the Deputy Director of the local Tourism Authority of Thailand office has warned, while oversupply of accommodation in Phuket is leaving nearly half the island’s hotel rooms lying empty.Napasorn Kakai told a conference on the southern economy at the Royal Phuket City Hotel on…
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Tourist drowns at Karon Beach
KARON: A Bahraini tourist drowned on Saturday evening at Karon Beach while trying to help one of his children who had gotten into difficulty in the sea.The victim has been named as Ahmed Turani, 41, who had been staying with his family at Karon Buri resort.Pol Capt Vicharn Suwannasit, of Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that the victim had been…
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Phummisak set to turn off free water
PHUKET CITY: The era of free water will come to an end soon for Phuket City as the owner of tin mines from which the free water comes begins charging for it.In the past, much of the city’s water was supplied free of charge from tin mines controlled by former mayor Phummisak Hongyok.K. Phummisak, whose company, Anuphas & Sons, is…
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Briton arrested for murder
CHALONG: Briton Michael John Taylor, 40, who was last week questioned by police and then released, has been arrested on a charge of murdering his girlfriend on August 17.Police say they have statements from eight people confirming their belief that Taylor, known locally as “Mick the Pom”, murdered 27-year-old Jantra Weangta at the home they shared in Chalong.Pol Maj Jessada…
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Cop beaten into coma, attacker kills self
PATONG: A police sergeant from Kathu is in a coma in Bangkok Phuket Hospital after a severe beating by two men, one of whom subsequently shot himself with the sergeant’s gun.The beating took place at 5:30 am yesterday at a noodle shop in Nanai Rd. Reconstructing events, investigators found that Pol Sgt Pramual Thongaugsorn, who was off-duty, went to the…
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Cop wanted for murder surrenders
PHUKET: Pol Cpl Nanthawat Thongwanbua, the policeman alleged to have murdered his golf caddy girlfriend, has surrendered to his colleagues at Tung Tong Police Station.Pol Maj Ampholwathana Saengruang, inspector of Tung Tong Police Station, said Nanthawat surrendered on Thursday and was brought before the court yesterday. “He is being held in the cells at the court,” the major added.Nanthawat is…
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Ease rules for foreigners, Gov urges Bangkok
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangura told Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday that the government will need to make life easier for foreigners if Phuket is ever to develop into the “international city” envisioned by the government.“Yesterday I met with the DPM Suwat to discuss preparations for the arrival of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra next week,” he told the Gazette…
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No terrorists in Phuket – Vice-Governor
PHUKET: Phuket is free of terrorists, Vice-Governor Pongpow Ketthong asserted this week.Addressing an anti-terrorism seminar at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, V/Gov Pongpow told his audience of officials that the fact that the gathering was taking place did not mean there were terrorists in Phuket, but it was important to take steps to reduce the chances of terrorist activity occurring…
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Sudarat to attend medical conference
PHUKET CITY: Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan is to attend a national conference on “Healthy Living” in Phuket City next week.The minister will be at the Royal Phuket City Hotel on Wednesday (August 25) to present awards to people judged to have done significant medical research in Thailand.The conference, which will run from Tuesday to Friday, is expected to be…
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Immigration clarifies bank account rules
PHUKET CITY: Foreigners living in Phuket and applying for permit-to-stay extensions on the basis of marriage or retirement status do not need to “freeze” the minimum bank balance in their bank accounts, Phuket Immigration has announced.“Foreigners applying for a one-year permit to stay based on marriage or retirement do not have to freeze the money in their accounts,” explained Pol…
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Makro to open next week
PHUKET: Just four months after construction began on the site, the island’s latest superstore, Phuket, will open on Friday next week (August 27). The store, off Wichit Songkram Rd, is the cash-and-carry wholesale giant’s 27th branch in Thailand. Products for sale will include fresh and frozen food, beverages, snacks, electrical goods, stationery, office automation equipment and household products.Makro‘s stated strategy…
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Briton questioned over murder
CHALONG: A sombre mood has settled over the Chalong yachting community after police questioned Briton Michael John Taylor, 40, over the murder of his 28-year-old live-in girlfriend Jantra Weangta, from Tak, who was found dead in their home early yesterday morning.Mr Taylor, known locally as “Mick the Pom” and a regular sailor in Phuket regattas, was questioned by police after…
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Bird ‘flu and Sars safeguards upgraded
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has stepped up measures aimed at keeping bird ‘flu and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) out of Phuket.The new procedures have been introduced after new cases of bird ‘flu were reported in Vietnam.Until September, health officers will be in Tah Chat Chai to inspect and monitor poultry arriving from the mainland over…
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Police trap outboard motor thief
TAH CHAT CHAI: Undercover police yesterday successfully laid a trap for a man who, it is alleged, specialized in stealing outboard motors.Narongvet Chariew, 30, from Nakhon Ratchasima, was caught in possession of two Mercury outboards, a Yamaha outboard and a fuel tank, after undercover police set up a meeting to “buy” a motor from him.The Superintendent of Tah Chat Chai…
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Sriyada to run for TRT. Wisut too?
PHUKET: As the national election scheduled for February, 2005, draws near, the ruling Thai Rak Thai party has announced that Dr Sriyada Palimapan will again be its candidate for District 1, which encompasses Phuket City and nearby areas.Former Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrborJor) Vice-President Wisut Santikun says that he is considering a Thai Rak Thai approach to run as its…
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Crack worship
SUKHOTHAI: Villagers who discovered a long crack in a wall surrounding Khong Pong temple in Sri Samrong District believe it was made by an angry naga, or serpent-god. The crack was first noted on July 22, when pupils came to ask temple administrator Sawai Pradit why the 200-year-old temple had cracks resembling a serpent’s track around its exterior wall. Dumbfounded,…
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Five more arrested for credit card fraud
PATONG: Five Malaysians were arrested on Saturday for using fake credit cards to buy mobile phones at Ploi Telecom shop, Sai Namyen Rd – the same shop where five Filipinos were arrested earlier in the week for attempting the same crime. The accused, a woman named by police as Neoh Paik Poh and four men named as Jerry Hong Siong…
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Three murdered in one night
PHUKET: Three men were killed in three separate incidents in a night of violence in Phuket.The first victim was 21-year-old Amnart Niget, of Chumpon, who was fatally shot outside the Summer Hotel in Phatipat Road, Phuket City, at 2am on 12 August.Two hours later, a restaurant employee was beaten to death by a gang of teenagers, also in Phuket City.And,…
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Thailand, Malaysia to drop border passes
PHUKET: Thailand and Malaysia today agreed in principal to do away with the current system of passes that allow nationals from the two countries to cross the border without a visa.Under the agreement, future cross-border travel will require no more than the presentation of “smart cards”, systems for which are now being developed by both nations. The announcement followed a…
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