Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
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,…
- Phuket News
Phuket ‘Halal Expo’ starts April 30
PHUKET CITY: Phuket is set to host the “World of Halal Science, Industry & Business International Conference 2009” and “Halal Expo”, aimed at turning the southern region into a center of the halal-related industry. Winai Dahlan, dean of the faculty of allied health sciences at Chulalongkorn University, said the dual events were scheduled to be held between April 30 and…
- Phuket News
Phuket to host halal expo
PHUKET CITY: Phuket is set to host the “World of Halal Science, Industry & Business International Conference 2009” and “Halal Expo”, aimed at turning the southern region into a center of the halal-related industry. Winai Dahlan, dean of the faculty of allied health sciences at Chulalongkorn University, said the dual events were scheduled to be held between April 30 and…
- Phuket News
PAD concert to go on despite Sondhi shooting
SAPHAN HIN, PHUKET: The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) benefit concert will go on as scheduled tomorrow night, despite the shooting of PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul early this morning. Phuket PAD coordinator Aparat Chartchutikumjorn told the Gazette today that Mr Sondhi is now in a stable condition and able to speak after surgeons at Vajira Hospital in Bangkok successfully removed…
- Phuket News
Gov promises action on sea gypsy issues
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop has promised to investigate and clear up issues faced by the impoverished sea gypsy community in Rawai. The announcement came following a protest at Phuket Provincial Hall on April 7 by members of the ’30 Communities Network’ who demanded the Governor take swift action to solve disputes over land ownership and issues over access to utilities.…
- Phuket News
PAD leader Sondhi in serious condition after shooting
PHUKET / BANGKOK: Sondhi Limthongkul, media mogul and one of the five core leaders of the yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), is in serious condition after being shot in the head early this morning. One of the attackers’ bullets hit his left skull, causing a brain hemorrhage, Vajira Hospital Director Dr Chaiwun Charoenchoktavee said. Doctors are conducting an urgent…
- Phuket News
AirAsia to open ticket office in Patong
PHUKET CITY: As part of its plan to develop Phuket as a second aviation hub for Thailand, Thai AirAsia hopes to establish direct air links with major cities in the region and will set up a sales office on the beach road in Patong, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) told the Gazette.Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapol Bijleveld says that the…
- Phuket News
Phuket Immigration open today
PHUKET CITY: All Immigration offices in Thailand are open and offering a full range of services today and tomorrow, despite Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva having declared the two days as an extended government holiday following anti-government protests in the capital and other parts of the country.The decision to open Immigration offices nationwide is meant to ease the burden on foreign…
- Phuket News
Thailand weakened, but government stronger after riots
PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced yesterday that the state of emergency would remain in place even though the authorities had managed to bring the anti-government protests to a tentatively peaceful conclusion. “The situation has eased and is almost back to normal. But the mission of the emergency decree has not been completed. The government will not be careless, and…
- Phuket News
Bangkok protests may be breaking up
PHUKET: Government TV Channel 11 reported late this morning that Veera Musigapong, a Thaksin supporter and red-shirt leader, told the protesters at Government House in Bangkok to disperse. Weng Tojitrakan, another red-shirted leader, asked soldiers to move back by 20 meters so that the protesters could pick up their belongings and leave the site. Veera told the crowd that the…
- Phuket News
Province to spend Bt1m on drug detection technology
TAH CHAT CHAI, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop has approved the purchase of two state-of-the-art detection devices, one for explosives and the other for contraband. The devices will be used at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint.The Alpha 6 detectors, which cost around 500,000 baht each, use “molecular resonance” technology to detect the presence of drugs and explosives from up to…
- Phuket News
Big bikes a big boost to Phuket
PHUKET: Organizers of Phuket Bike Week have reported record-breaking attendance at this year’s event with about 7,000 bikers and enthusiasts making their way to the island from ‘chapters’ all over the world to take part in a variety of activities that were held between April 10 and 12. Events over the three days under the theme “Global Warming, Riding for Peace”,…
- Phuket News
Phuket Songkran marred by road deaths
PHUKET: Phuket’s Songkran celebrations have been marred by the deaths of two Thai citizens and one foreigner in motorcycle accidents. Chotinrin Gerdsom of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said that over April 10-11 there were 11 road accidents, with 12 injuries and the death of an 18-year-old Thai man. Ekkachai Jantuang died in hospital on April 11…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport operating normally
PHUKET (thephuketinsider.com): A visit to Phuket International Airport this morning confirmed that flights between Phuket and Bangkok are operating as usual, despite the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday. Thai Airways staff as well as those of other airlines say there has been no disruption of scheduled flights.Phuket Airport Director, Wicha Nernlop…
- Phuket News
Breaking News: State of Emergency declared in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced a State of Emergency in the Nation’s capital as well as neighboring provinces Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya. Phuket and other southern provinces are not affected. Speaking on TV at 5:20 this afternoon (Sunday), the PM asked the public not to panic with the chaos caused by…
- Phuket News
Governor assigns deputies to oversee Songkran checkpoints
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop has assigned three of his vice-governors to oversee checkpoint inspections on the island during the Songkran holiday period. Worapoj Ratthasima will be responsible for Muang District, Tri Augkaradacha for Thalang District and Smith Palawatvichai for Kathu District. Gov Wichai made the announcement outside Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday. As well as the nine primary checkpoints previously…
- Phuket News
Governor leads oath of allegiance
PA KHLOK, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday morning led a large number of government officers and local politicians from across Thalang District in a ceremony swearing their allegiance to HM The King and the rule of law. The ceremony, held at the Pa Khlok Administration Office, was held to mark “Senior’s Day” in Pa Khlok, as the entire month…
- Phuket News
EU blacklisting irrelevant: One-Two-Go chairman
PHUKET: The chairman of One-Two-Go says the recent addition of the carrier to a European Union blacklist will have no effect on the company, which has never flown to Europe. One-Two-Go’s addition to the updated blacklist was announced in a press release yesterday. To view the release, click here. One-Two-Go chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai told the Gazette this afternoon that the…
- Phuket News
Developers put luxury projects on hold
BANGKOK / PHUKET: Resort-area residential projects that are worth more than 10 billion baht have been put on hold now that demand from foreign investors is showing a significant drop since last year. The key areas affected are Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui. According to a survey by The Nation newspaper last week, a number of property…
- Phuket News
Poor communities protest at Provincial Hall
PHUKET: A crowd of several hundred people from poor communities in Phuket gathered in the grounds of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to demand swift action be taken by the Phuket Governor to improve living conditions in their communities. The sit-in was organized by the ’30 Communities Network’, which comprises poor communities in Phuket, including the Pla Katak Pattana Community…
- Phuket News
Over 1,700 men take part in military conscription draw
PHUKET CITY: Over 1,700 young men presented themselves to draw lots in the annual military conscription lottery that took place in Phuket from April 1 to 4. The draws were conducted at the Kathu Witthayalai School in Kathu District on April 1, the Thalang Pranangsang School in Thalang District on April 2 and the Phibul Songkraam School in Muang District…
- Phuket News
Summer camp for convicts
PHUKET CITY: Some lucky inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison are taking part in an experimental four-day “scout camp” education and training workshop between April 7-10. The wide-ranging program, including academic and vocational classes as well as a moral training session, is a good break in the tedium of life behind bars for those attending. In all, 55 men and 25 woman volunteered for…
- Phuket News
Google Maps now available for Phuket Classifieds
PHUKET: Initially introduced as a feature in the Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, Google Maps were launched this morning at Phuket’s primary classified marketplace, the Island Trader Online. Classified advertisers can now pinpoint precisely where the item, property or business they’re advertising is located – a major benefit in a community where postal addresses are often more confounding than enlightening.…
- Phuket News
‘8 x 100’ sweeps the South
PHUKET: A new recreational drug cocktail known as “8 x 100”, a direct descendant of the “4 x 100” that came to prominence in 2006, is now sweeping the Deep South, security officials say. Thanu Neuang-uthai of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for Region 4 said that he had visited many provinces in the region and found that the drug…
- Phuket News
Phuket Rajabhat students protest UDD actions
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Rajabhat University student organization has released a statement condemning the actions of “certain individuals and groups” which it claims are violating the sanctity of the institution of the Thai monarchy. Though the statement does not mention any names, it clearly refers to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his red-shirted supporters in the United Front for…
- Phuket News
Phuket Prem supporters demonstrate
PHUKET CITY: Hundreds of Prem Supporters’ Association members from around the South on April 2 marched through the streets of Phuket City in support of General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council.Around 300-400 mostly yellow-shirted members of the organization took part in the demonstration, which assembled at Queen Sirikit Park at around 12:30pm.Some of the protesters came from as…
- Phuket News
Singaporean jailed for alleged fraud
PHUKET CITY: A Singaporean man was arrested by Phuket City Police last week for allegedly defrauding an American citizen of 25,300 baht in a bogus business directory scam.Eric Snyder, 64, of the Jairak Enterprise consulting firm said he paid the money to Marcus Tan for advertising in “Info Phuket“, described as a “business listing and traveler’s guide book”.The guide was…
- Phuket News
300,000 protesters to confront Thai government
BANGKOK: Wednesday [April 8] is D-Day for the mobilization of 300,000 red-shirted Thaksin supporters for a showdown with the government. Organizers like Natthawut Saikua are demanding the House’s dissolution, a general election, and the resignation of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. Natthawut said yesterday the April 8 rally would be an historic event. He has promised that the red…
- Phuket News
Province unveils Songkran safety strategy
PHUKET CITY: As in years past, the provincial government is advising the public on how to safely enjoy the upcoming Songkran Festival – and warning people who endanger others that they risk fines or arrest. At a meeting chaired by Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday, the Governor called on police and some 50 representatives of local…
- Phuket News
Former town councilor shot in head
CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a former deputy mayor wanted for shooting another local politician in the head outside a mom-and-pop store last night. Cherng Talay Police received a report of the shooting at about 9:30pm. At the scene, outside a small grocery store on the road from Cherng Talay to Ban Don,…
