Year: 2009

  • Phuket NewsGood support for Phuket Summer Season campaign

    Good support for Phuket Summer Season campaign

    PHUKET: Key Phuket tourism industry executives and Tourism officials gathered at The Chedi hotel on Surin Beach yesterday to show their support for the recently launched public relations campaign to promote Phuket Summer Season. The event, organized by Summer in Phuket campaign leader Nick Anthony, attracted about 200 participants who pledged to join forces in “canceling Low Season” and promoting the…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket well prepared for swine flu outbreak

    Phuket well prepared for swine flu outbreak

    PHUKET CITY: Despite no cases of “swine flu” being recorded in Thailand, public health officials are taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus into the country through Phuket Airport and other air gateways. Pongsawad Ratanasang, director of the Public Health Office, told the media he is not overly concerned by the danger posed to the island by this…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsSecond Phuket Airport road a top priority

    Second Phuket Airport road a top priority

    PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop will make construction of a second north-south artery the top priority among the four new road projects he will push for the island. Presently, Phuket has only Thepkrasattri Road to connect Phuket International Airport to most parts of the the island. With the airport’s planned upgrade allowing it to accommodate 11.5 million passengers a…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket Police gear up for planned Asean summit

    Phuket Police gear up for planned Asean summit

    PHUKET CITY: It was a busy day yesterday at Phuket City Police headquarters, where some 300 officers began two days of special training in how to deal forcefully but effectively with large crowds and riots.The training, ordered by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pigad Thantipong, was in reaction to the political turmoil in the capital and other parts of the country.It…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket dive boat accident relatives urged to file claims

    Phuket dive boat accident relatives urged to file claims

    PHUKET CITY: Relatives of several European victims of the Choke Somboon 19 disaster off Phuket Island have yet to file insurance claims with underwriter AIG, which is waiting to pay out 200,000 baht for each of the deceased.The seven victims – Swiss, German and Austrian – were covered under a mandatory group insurance policy taken out by Dive Asia Phuket,…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsThree Phuket businessmen charged with encroachment

    Three Phuket businessmen charged with encroachment

    PHUKET CITY: Three prominent Phuket businessmen yesterday morning presented themselves at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) headquarters in Bangkok to face allegations of land encroachment at Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga. Pol Lt Col Prawuth Wongsrinil, head of the DSI’s consumer and environment protection unit, identified the businessmen as Thawat, Tara and Prasit Tantipiriyakij. A fourth man, Bumrung…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsBurrowes free after paying 500 baht fine | Thaiger

    Burrowes free after paying 500 baht fine

    PHUKET CITY: The Simon Burrowes saga appears to have finally come to a conclusion as the Englishman pled guilty to a charge of being impolite to a state official and was fined 500 baht. Burrowes was due to fly back to the UK on January 31, but became involved in an altercation with Immigration Police officials at Phuket International Airport,…

    Read More »
  • Thailand NewsCharity box bandit nabbed by The Magnet | Thaiger

    Charity box bandit nabbed by The Magnet

    PHUKET CITY: For a combination of stupidity and lack of ethics, few crimes in Phuket in recent years match that of a man who tried to steal a charity donation box placed on the main counter of the Phuket City Police Station on April 21.At 12:30pm that day, a police officer noticed that the charity donation box for the Foundation…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPollution solution due in October, 2010

    Pollution solution due in October, 2010

    PHUKET CITY: Phuket City Municipality last week held a hearing to present to the public its plan to build a second waste-to-energy incinerator, scheduled to go on-line in October, 2010. About 300 government officers and members of the public attended the session, held last Thursday afternoon at the Phuket Merlin Hotel. Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima chaired the hearing and Phuket…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsSocial security contributions lowered | Thaiger

    Social security contributions lowered

    PHUKET: In a bid to increase spending, the Thai Social Security Fund (SSF) plans to lower monthly contributions from both employers and employees during the ongoing economic crisis. The Social Security Office board, which manages the fund, is scheduled to meet today to conclude details of the contribution reduction. “The reduction should be applicable for six months starting from June,”…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsSwine flu scanner installed at Phuket Airport | Thaiger

    Swine flu scanner installed at Phuket Airport

    PHUKET: Phuket International Airport and two other major Thai aviation gateways have installed thermo-scanners to screen foreign passengers for swine flu. The two other locations now using the infrared sensors are Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Chiang Mai International Airport. Travellers found with suspicious flu symptoms that could develop into the swine influenza will be asked to undergo treatment at the…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsAirport Authority lowers landing fees again

    Airport Authority lowers landing fees again

    MAI KHAO, PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AOT) is to make a further reduction in landing fees at the six airports under its control, including Phuket International Airport (PIA). In a bid to help struggling airlines battered by dire economic conditions and Thailand’s continuing political turmoil, fees will now be reduced by 30%. Parking fees will also be waived for aircraft…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsMother of murder suspect alleges corruption | Thaiger

    Mother of murder suspect alleges corruption

    PHUKET CITY: The mother of a suspect in the high-profile killing of Matichon journalist Athiwut Chainurat has accused a senior policeman of taking a bribe to secure her son’s release. Prasert Kaowseesot, 53-year-old mother of murder suspect Lamduan Kaowseesot, 31, took the case to the Nakhon Sri Thammarat Justice Center after the police officer allegedly failed to follow through with…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsTourism businesses urged to join Phuket re-branding launch | Thaiger

    Tourism businesses urged to join Phuket re-branding launch

    PHUKET, Thailand: A group of local hoteliers and businesses in Phuket have “cancelled” Low Season – April 15 through November 1 – and are renaming the period more appropriately as “Summer Season”, to better reflect the fact that Phuket is one of the world’s top year-round vacation and second home destinations. For further details about Summer in Phuket, visit www.summerinphuket.com…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsSamkong Bridge project nears completion

    Samkong Bridge project nears completion

    PHUKET CITY: Workers from the Phuket Rock Company toiled hard over the weekend making repairs to part of the Samkong Bridge, which supports two lanes of traffic on Yaowarat Road.The bridge, built in 1970, passes over Klong Bangyai near Bangkok Hospital in the busy Samkong part of Phuket City.Klong Bangyai, Phuket largest watercourse, drains water from large parts of Muang…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket may gain from bullish view on Thai markets | Thaiger

    Phuket may gain from bullish view on Thai markets

    PHUKET: Renowned investment guru Mark Mobius remains upbeat about the Thai stock market, due to its “undervalued prices and high dividend yields”. Speaking on Friday at a seminar in Bangkok entitled “The Thai Economy: If It Can Recover”, Mobius said the dividend yield on Thai shares currently averages about 5.5%, well above that of other emerging markets, which are at…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsGov Wichai to push four road projects for Phuket

    Gov Wichai to push four road projects for Phuket

    PHUKET CITY: In a bid to ease traffic congestion, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop will push four new road projects for the island. Gov Wichai told a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier this week that the ever-increasing number of cars on Phuket’s roads makes expansion of the island road network a necessity. The first project would be a new…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPrivate sector hails lifting of emergency decree | Thaiger

    Private sector hails lifting of emergency decree

    PHUKET CITY: The government’s lifting of the State of Emergency Decree in Bangkok and surrounding areas yesterday has drawn applause from the private-sector.Federation of Thai Industries chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said the move would help restore confidence in the country.The situation would return to normal in two weeks, he predictedHowever the government must move more quickly to explain the situation to…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsTourism outlook positive after lifting of emergency rule | Thaiger

    Tourism outlook positive after lifting of emergency rule

    PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has pledged to ensure peace and normalcy by relying on relevant laws following the lifting of emergency rule in Greater Bangkok yesterday. “It is the duty of my government to keep the peace, and I pledge to allay public concerns about security by invoking relevant laws without taking any extra measures,” he said. PM Abhisit…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsFrogmen plug leaking oil tank in Satun

    Frogmen plug leaking oil tank in Satun

    PHUKET CITY: A team of frogmen yesterday sealed a hole in the tank of a sunken fishing vessel off Satun’s Koh Lipe, stopping an oil leak that left some island beaches blackened earlier in the week. The oil leak was first noticed early last Saturday morning at Ao Pramong, on the north coast of Koh Lipe. In an all-day operation…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsGame shop killer surrenders

    Game shop killer surrenders

    PHUKET CITY: Ekawood Pipatratana, the video game center owner who accidentally shot and killed a 12-year-old boy in his shop on Wednesday, handed himself in to police today. Mr Ekawood, 43, dumped Amornthep “Gaga” Panya-sirikul’s body in marshland near Phuket International Airport before fleeing in his car to his wife in Bangkok. At a press conference at Phuket City Police…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsMob leader slams Cherng Talay Police | Thaiger

    Mob leader slams Cherng Talay Police

    CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: A member of the mob protesting alleged police inaction in the murder of a 12-year-old boy by an Internet cafe owner spoke with the Gazette late yesterday afternoon about why the group continued to block a stretch of Srisoonthorn Road through the night – even after the victim’s family had disbanded after meeting with the governor. Identifying…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsGaga’s mom talks to the Gazette, issues ultimatum to police | Thaiger

    Gaga’s mom talks to the Gazette, issues ultimatum to police

    CHERNG TALAY: The mother of slain schoolboy Amornthep “Gaga” Panya-sirikul is giving police five days to bring to justice the man who took her son’s life by shooting him in the head inside a computer game center yesterday afternoon. Gaga’s mother, Mrs Somjai Sudjit, told the Gazette today she took the boy’s remains home at 11am today after identifying Gaga…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsCherng Talay protesters finally disband

    Cherng Talay protesters finally disband

    CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: An adamant group of protesters continued to block a 300-meter stretch of Srisoonthorn Road in Baan Bang Tao most of today, demanding police catch the man responsible for the shooting murder of 12-year-old Amornthep “Gaga” Panya-sirikul. The group finally disbanded late this afternoon following unconfirmed reports that the shooter was about to turn himself in to authorities.…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsBoy killed in gun play gone wrong

    Boy killed in gun play gone wrong

    PHUKET, CHERNG TALAY: A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed following a gun play accident at an internet and games shop in Baan Bang Tao, Cherng Talay at about noon yesterday.The shooting occurred at Dr Com Electronic Center located opposite Baan Bang Tao School on Srisoonthorn Road when the owner of the cafe, Ekawood Pipatratana, 34, was showing off his…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket cancels ‘low season’ | Thaiger

    Phuket cancels ‘low season’

    PHUKET: A group of local hotels and other businesses in Phuket have “canceled” Low Season – April 15 through November 1 – and are renaming the period more appropriately: “Summer Season”. The new designation (‘re-branding’) is being undertaken to better reflect the fact that Phuket is one of the world’s top year-round vacation and second-home destinations. “We’re going to have…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsOil still leaking from sunken fishing boat off Koh Lipe | Thaiger

    Oil still leaking from sunken fishing boat off Koh Lipe

    PHUKET CITY: Oil continues to rise to the surface from a sunken fishing vessel off the coast of Satun, endangering marine life and threatening the tourism industry of nearby Koh Lipe. Yesterday, Alee Suksuwan, head of the Satun Provincial Environmental Protection department, visited the site where oil continues to break the surface from the fuel tank of the vessel, which…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsGov Wichai to push for reservoir at Kathu Waterfall

    Gov Wichai to push for reservoir at Kathu Waterfall

    KATHU, PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Office will seek a budget from the central government to construct a new reservoir at Kathu Waterfall in order to solve chronic dry season drought problems in the area. On Monday, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop toured the proposed project site, also a popular tourist destination. He was accompanied by Kathu District Chief Siripath Patakul, Kathu…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPM confirms plan for Phuket to host Asean summit in June

    PM confirms plan for Phuket to host Asean summit in June

    PHUKET: The government has tentatively chosen Phuket to host the Asean summit with six dialogue partners from the Asia-Pacific region in June, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday. The summit, initially to be held from April 10-12, had to be canceled after it was stormed by red-shirt protesters in Pattaya. Dates for the next summit could not be fixed yet because several…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsFisherman ends life by lethal injection with weed killer | Thaiger

    Fisherman ends life by lethal injection with weed killer

    RASSADA, PHUKET: A commercial fisherman allegedly cheated out of his pay by his employer ended his life yesterday morning by injecting himself with liquid weed killer. At 12:30pm on April 20, Phuket City Police duty inspector Pitak Sompong received a report from residents of Soi Hormok, off Srisuthat Road in Rassada Village 3, that they had found the body of…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsSatun oil spill clean-up starts today

    Satun oil spill clean-up starts today

    PHUKET CITY: The waters off part of the resort island of Koh Lipe in Satun were polluted last weekend by an oil slick, estimated by authorities to cover an area of about five kilometers. Koh Lipe is about 160 nautical miles from Phuket. Marine Police Region 3 Inspector Banjerd Manawetch was first notified of the slick by the crew of…

    Read More »
  • Thailand NewsHoly hole | Thaiger

    Holy hole

    NONG KHAI: Villagers in Phon Phisai and neighbouring districts have been flocking to Tambon Soem to pay respect to a mysterious hole that appeared in a rice field shortly before Songkran. Residents of Village 9 told reporters that one morning earlier this month, after a day and a night of constant rain, they heard a loud bang – like that…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPMBC treats injured 120kg green sea turtle

    PMBC treats injured 120kg green sea turtle

    CAPE PANWA, PHUKET: Veterinarians at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) are treating an enormous green sea turtle whose carapace was cracked open by fishermen operating illegally in the waters off Rawai Beach. PMBC biologist Kanjana Adulyankosol, who heads the PMBC’s endangered species unit, said a team of officers from the Marine and Coastal Resources Department Region 5 office in…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPhuket to host Asean summits | Thaiger

    Phuket to host Asean summits

    PHUKET: The abruptly suspended Asean Summit will be rescheduled in Phuket as soon as possible in an effort to restore foreign investors’ confidence in the country, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Pollabutr has announced. Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan said on Friday that the summit would take place no later than early June. Mr Alongkorn said the Asean Economic Summit would be…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPAD concert goes off without a hitch

    PAD concert goes off without a hitch

    SAPHAN HIN, PHUKET: Last night saw more than 30,000 yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) followers gather in a show of support for injured leader Sondhi Limthongkul at the sold-out PAD 6th political concert, which was aired nationwide on ASTV. Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, one of the PAD’s five core leaders, told the crowd he felt happy to see such…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News4 dead, 60 injured in Songkran road accidents

    4 dead, 60 injured in Songkran road accidents

    PHUKET CITY: The final tally for this years’ “Seven Days of Danger” road safety campaign over the Songkran holiday period in Phuket is four dead, with 60 people injured in 60 road accidents. The figures are almost identical to last year, when four were killed and 64 were injured in 64 accidents. In the annual accounting, only injuries requiring admittance…

    Read More »
  • Phuket NewsPolitical turmoil cost Phuket two direct flights from China | Thaiger

    Political turmoil cost Phuket two direct flights from China

    PHUKET CITY: Last week’s political turmoil in Bangkok has caused two Chinese airlines to shelve plans to launch direct flights to Phuket from Shanghai and Guangzhou. Following a tourism “roadshow” to mainland China, the Phuket Tourist Association’s Somboon Jirayus said that Shanghai Airlines was set to begin direct flights from Shanghai to Phuket, starting at the end of the month,…

    Read More »