Year: 2004
- Phuket News
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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Phang Nga OrBorJor elect new chairman
PHANG NGA: Members of Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) have elected Arkhom Thongjerm as their new Chairman to replace Nithas Siribenjakul, who was gunned down at Takuapa Bus Terminus on July 30.Phang Nga OrBorJor Deputy Chaiman Chot Chatpong told the Gazette that K. Arkhom – the only nominee – was elected unanimously at the OrBorJor‘s meeting on August 13.Members…
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Filipinos arrested over fake credit card
KATHU: Police on Monday arrested four men and a woman from the Philippines for using a fake credit card to buy expensive goods from a mobile phone shop in Patong.Pol Col Chalit Thinthanee, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told a press conference yesterday that the Filipinos were arrested at 11:55 pm at Ploy Telecom on Sainamyen Rd after shopowner Patchar Budtayotee…
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Caddy’s killer to surrender “soon’
TUNG TONG: Police in Tung Tong are waiting for a colleague, Cpl Nanthawat Thongkwanbua, to surrender and answer allegations that he killed his girlfriend, 23-year-old Supanee Yongtong, on Sunday.Nanthawat’s father told police that he would bring his son to the police station to answer the murder charge “in the next two or three days”.The victim, a caddy at the Loch…
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Surprise opinions at Patong plan public hearing
PATONG: A public hearing to discuss a town plan for Patong took place at Patong City Hall yesterday. The meeting drew about 80 people, an assortment of government officers, academics, local businessmen and residents.Listening to the feedback were researchers from Consultants of Technology (COT) Co, a Bangkok-based consulting firm, and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Town &…
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“Burmese Cemetery’ claims 2 more victims
PHUKET CITY: The bodies of two men, both believed to have been Burmese nationals, have been found in Phuket City within two days of each other.Police report that both men, thus far unidentified, appear to have been stabbed to death.The first corpse was found in the afternoon of Saturday in mangroves behind a Burmese workers’ camp near Tah Chin Canal,…
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Chuan denies Phuket MPs plan to defect
PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has confirmed that Phuket’s two members of parliament will stand as Democrat candidates in the upcoming general election, quashing rumors that one or both of them were planning to defect to the Thai Rak Thai party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.K. Chuan made his remarks yesterday while chairing the closing ceremony of the Cherng…
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Police Super’s bright idea
TAH CHAT CHAI: Officers from Tah Chat Chai Police Station will join forces with motorcycle dealer Phuket Numsang on August 14 and 15 to modify motorcycle headlights so that they come on automatically when the bike’s engine is started.The modifications will be provided free of charge to anyone bringing a bike to the Tah Chat Chai police checkpoint, just south…
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New science website launched
BANGKOK (The Nation): The National Science and Technology Development Agency, the Council of Science and The Nation Group have combined their resources to launch a Thai-language website, https://www.myscientists.com, aimed at the country’s scientific and medical communities. The Nation‘s editor, Pana Janviroj, explained, “We hope that anyone interested in science will not only visit the website, but will also contribute articles,…
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Engineer dies in hotel blast
PATONG: One man was killed and another was injured by an explosion at the Novotel Coralia Resort in Patong on Saturday.Police named the dead man as Chanyud Intrachai, 20, from Phuket. His colleague, 27-year-old Kittipong Kaileard, is recovering at home.Pol Maj Sanguan Muangtham of Kathu Police Station would not disclose details of the incident to the Gazette because, he said,…
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Phang Nga OrBorJor replace slain chairman
PHANG NGA: Members of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) have chosen not one, but two, chairmen who will take turns as replacements for Nithas Siribenjakul, who was gunned down at Takuapa bus terminus on July 30.Phang Nga OrBorJor deputy chairman Suthas Boonchot today told the Gazette that Arkom Thongjerm from Tap Put district will hold the post for…
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Police target teenagers on motorbikes
PHUKET: Police have launched a crackdown on traffic offenses, with particular focus on teenagers on motorbikes, Pol Col Kokiat Wongvorachart, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Police has announced.During the crackdown, which is part of a national road safety campaign that will continue until December 31, police expect to make safety and ownership checks on more than 200,000 vehicles in Phuket…
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Immigration goes online to boost security
PHUKET CITY: The Immigration Police have launched a project in Phuket that will eventually allow hotels and homeowners all over Thailand to report required data about their guests via the Internet. The project is intended to help combat terrorism and monitor the movements of suspicious foreigners visiting Thailand. Following refinement of the pilot project in Phuket, the system will then…
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Gov to talk fast for B2bn
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura will have just 10 minutes to propose development projects costing 2 billion baht to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a whistle-stop visit by the PM on August 25.Speaking after a meeting this morning to prepare for the PM’s visit to Phuket, Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) Chief Wanchai Wattanasiri told the Gazette that the PPHO plans…
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Not enough “neighbor laborers’ – employers
PHUKET: A total of 31,473 Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian laborers were registered with the government before the August 1 deadline, but local employers say that many more are needed.Khitti Nuisri, the Deputy Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Service Office (ESO), explained today that 21,444 “neighbor laborers” were registered in Phuket City before the deadline, along with 5,399 in Kathu…
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Plans to tap Thaksin’s B100bn promise
PHUKET: The Phuket provincial government plans to ask Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for funding for projects to aid Phuket’s development during the PM’s visit to Phuket on August 26 and 27 as part of his tour of the South.At the beginning of last year, PM Thaksin promised more than 100 billion baht to develop Phuket into the country’s biggest economic…
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Turk insists he is an FBI agent
PATONG: Police say that Turkish citizen Tuncay Orser, who was arrested on Friday for possession of a fake ID card identifying him as an agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), continues to insist that he is a genuine FBI operative on a mission to hunt down international terrorists.Orser, 31, was arrested after he showed what he said…
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“13 reasons to kill’ Phang Nga politician
PHANG NGA: Police investigating Friday’s assassination of Nithat Siribenjakul, chairman of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), told the Gazette today that Nithat was involved in no fewer than 13 conflicts, any of which might have triggered his murder.Nithat was gunned down by at least three men riding in the back of a black Isuzu pickup as he drove…
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Gambling tops crime figures
PHUKET: Gambling has once again topped the crime statistics in Phuket, with 163 arrests recorded between July 1 and 25.The latest police figures show that other common crimes included possession or use of illegal narcotics, with 72 arrests and 541.05 ya bah (methamphetamine) tablets seized; and illegal immigration, with 43 people arrested.Twenty eight people were arrested on prostitution-related charges while seven…
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Phang Nga politician assassinated
PHANG NGA: Nithat Siribenjakul, the chairman of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), was gunned down in a hail of bullets at the Takuapa bus terminus about 8 pm last night.Police officers investigating the murder told the Gazette that K. Nithat was heading home after visiting a fellow OrBorJor member.“K. Nithat drove his Jeep Cherokee into the parking lot…
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Bars urged to close for two days
PHUKET: Police have requested bar and nightclub owners, alcohol sellers and butchers to close for the next two days out of respect for Buddhist religious holidays.Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette this evening, “We have asked night venues and places selling alcohol to close on Asarnha Bucha Day [tomorrow] and on Buddhist Lent…
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FantaSea owner facing smuggling charge
BANGKOK (The Nation): The owner of Safari World and Phuket FantaSea will be charged with illegally importing orangutans, Forestry Police commander Maj Gen Sawek Pinsinchai said yesterday.Safari World and FantaSea managing director and owner Pin Kiewkacha is accused of violating provision 23 of the Wildlife Conservation Law by importing orangutans without permission, and provision 53 for concealing the wildlife. The two…
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Crackdown on peddlers and ladyboys
PATONG: Police yesterday evening arrested about 30 people in a crackdown aimed at reducing the number of street peddlers pestering tourists to buy trinkets, plastic flowers, garlands or, in some cases, sex.Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that Kathu police officers arrested about 30 vendors who annoyed tourists walking along the beach road by…
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Stab victim recovering
PHUKET CITY: Briton Aden Simpson, 21, a teacher at Satree Phuket School who was stabbed on July 16, has been discharged from Wachira Phuket Hospital.Pol Capt Sathit Noorit, of Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette today, “Mr Simpson is still recovering, but he is feeling better and has left the hospital.”Now that Mr Simpson is feeling better, said Capt…
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High-tech cameras to boost security
PHUKET: Provided that the money is forthcoming, 100 security cameras using the latest-generation Internet communications protocol will be installed at 70 points across the island, including the tourist areas of Patong, Karon and Kata, to deter crime and monitor traffic flow.Manoo Ordeedolchest, President of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa), told the Gazette, “The idea originally came from the former…
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