Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Thailand News
Bogus cop, broken heart
CHIANG MAI: Some women simply fall head over heels for a man in uniform. One love-sick Bangkok native, presumably with this in mind, found himself in trouble recently after impersonating a police officer in a bid to win the heart of a pretty Lanna girl. According to the girl’s neighbors, her pursuer, calling himself Pol Maj Krittanan Rattaradee, moved in…
- Phuket News
PAD to leave Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: Encouraged by recent developments in the capital, local members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) say they will end their protest at Phuket Provincial Hall today. Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “The government ordered a state of emergency in Bangkok, but the Thai military refused to disperse the protesters. This refusal of the military…
- Phuket News
Phuket PAD protests continue; government utilities threatened
PHUKET CITY: About 1,000 protesters marched on Provincial Hall this afternoon in support of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrations in Bangkok. The PAD wants Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.The large crowd was bolstered by many people who had turned out to rally against the violence in Bangkok last night that left one PAD member dead and several others…
- Phuket News
Pian keeps digging for Patong tunnel
PATONG: Pian Keesin, the recently re-elected Mayor of Patong, yesterday announced he will continue with his plan to build a tunnel under the hills separating the popular beach resort town from Phuket City.“We plan to set up a budget to study and research the impact of building a tunnel, in the hope that – if there are no objections –…
- Phuket News
Phuket ICT a “no show” at Chinese expo
PHUKET: The project to have representatives from Phuket businesses and other organizations promote Phuket’s information and communications technology (ICT) prowess at the 5th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, next month has failed due to lack of interest. The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) aimed to run 69 presentation booths at the event (click here for earlier report).…
- Phuket News
Japanese tourists cancel trips to Phuket
PHUKET: More than half of the Japanese tourists who planned to visit Phuket over the next week have canceled their bookings due to concerns over political unrest in Thailand.Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Chirayus yesterday told the Gazette that despite the reopening of Phuket International Airport on Sunday, there have been many cancellations among foreign tour groups. Cancellation rates…
- Phuket News
Phuket PAD assembling at Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters began gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall (Sala Klaang) at 8 am this morning, their numbers increasing all morning to reach about 500 by 11:30 am. The protesters, taking cover from the sun under six tents, plan to board five tour buses to Bangkok to join fellow PAD protesters in the capital. The…
- Phuket News
State of Emergency announced in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej this morning announced a state of emergency in Bangkok, following a clash between the pro and anti-government supporters at about 1:30 am.Reasoning that some groups of people caused disturbances in Bangkok that affect peace and security, Samak announced the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.The prime minister’s order…
- Phuket News
“Bang Hem’ wins Pa Khlok OrBorTor presidency
PA KHLOK: In unofficial results of balloting held yesterday, Athipong Khongnam defeated incumbent Panya Samphaorat by 261 votes to win the presidency of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Turnout saw 6,307 of the sub-district’s 8,131 eligible voters (77.6 %) making it to the six polling stations, which were open from 8 am to 3 pm. Voters also cast…
- Phuket News
Airport closure work of infiltrators: Phuket PAD
PHUKET CITY: In a stunning development, the Phuket chapter of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its affiliate Phuket Watch have denied involvement in the violence and forced closure of Phuket International Airport that left thousands of tourists stranded over the weekend. At a press conference at the Phuket office of Manager newspaper today, Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup…
- Phuket News
Thousands head home as airport re-opens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport re-opened yesterday, with thousands of tourists crowding the departures hall while arrivals started to trickle in. Marking the return of inbound flights at about 3:30 pm was the arrival of a THAI Airways 777 from Bangkok with more than two hundred tourists aboard, the first plane to land on the island since Peoples Alliance for Democracy protesters forced…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport reopens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport has re-opened, two days after protesters stormed the facility, forcing it to close.Although there are still protestors at the gate to the facility, the first flight is expected to land within the next 15 minutes. More than 1,000 People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters on Friday overran the main gate. Some parts of the main terminal were damaged,…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport remains shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as the People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that…
- Phuket News
Phuket International Airport still shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that no…
- Phuket News
PAD PROTEST: Gov calls emergency meeting
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has called an emergency meeting of his top staff, including Vice-Governors Smith Palawatwichai, Worapoj Ratthasima and Tri Augkaradacha.
- Phuket News
PAD PROTEST: Airport runway clear, but still no flights
PHUKET AIRPORT: Police have persuaded protesters to leave the runway at Phuket International Airport, the Gazette has learned.Protesters left the landing strip on the agreement from airport officials that flights would not resume until their demands had been met.
- Phuket News
Police gear up for Veggiefest 2008
PHUKET CITY: With the start of the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival just a month away, Phuket City Police met representatives of all participating Chinese shrines to ask for their co-operation in keeping this year’s event as safe and orderly as possible. Attending the meeting on August 25 were Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Tinthanee, Phuket City Police Superintendent Nos…
- Phuket News
Spaniard falls to his death in Patong
PATONG: Police are treating the death of a Spanish man who this morning fell from the balcony of his room on the seventh floor of the Club Andaman Beach Resort as a likely suicide.He fell from the same floor where a female US marine fell to her death in June.Kathu Police Duty Officer Patak Khwunna told the Gazette that he…
- Phuket News
Anti-government rally crowd at Phuket Airport reaches 1,000
PHUKET: More police have been called in from around the province to supervise anti-government protesters at Phuket International Airport as crowd numbers reach 1,000. No reports of violence.
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport blocked by anti-government rally
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport has evacuated passengers and closed its doors this afternoon as about 500 supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have gathered there in a rally calling for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.Protesters have blocked the road to the airport and are allowing foreigners access to it on foot only, and only until 3 pm, after which, the…
- Phuket News
Bus crash causes injury, commuter misery
THALANG: Four people were injured when a bus with bald tires overturned on Thepkrasattri Rd this morning, leaving commuters stuck in a traffic tailback stretching well over five kilometers long.Seksan Konsakorn of Thalang District Police told the Gazette the six-wheel bus lost control in wet conditions on a curve near Tha Reua Shine, where it crashed into a roadside power…
- Phuket News
17 arrested in gambling den sweep
PHUKET: In the latest bid to crackdown on illegal gambling on the island, 17 people were arrested in two weekend raids led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong. On Saturday, eight were arrested in a suspected “high-low” gambling den in Tung Tong. Police charged four women – Tassanee Klaharn, 37, Thaworn Sudjai, 35, Supawadee Klaharn, 35, and Songsak Buathong,…
- Phuket News
Bars raided over music copyright
PHUKET: Entertainment venues around the island were raided last week in a clampdown on copyright violations. Several bar operators were fined for illegally playing copyrighted music in their bars and ordered to obtain licenses to allow them to play music at their establishments. The raids were instigated by a team of about 20 representatives from RPK Publishing. Music collections and…
- Phuket News
International hotel school gets Governor’s support
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday voiced his support for an international hotel school to be opened on the island.Representing Orion Hotel Schools, Swiss national Lothar Schudt of Jasmin Consulting Property Management yesterday met Governor Niran at Provincial Hall to seek support and clear the way for plans to be drawn up and investors sought for the new school.Orion…
- Phuket News
Phuket Reporters Club President dies in car crash
PHUKET: Phuket Reporters Club President Thongtuan Sukmuang and four fellow Thai Rath newspaper reporters died in a fiery road accident in Narathiwat about midday yesterday.Khun Thongtuan, 51, and his colleagues were on their way to Narathiwat for the funeral of fellow reporter Chalee Boonsawat, who died in the August 21 insurgent car bomb attack in Sungai Kolok.Their van overturned after…
- Phuket News
Apirak defends poor progress in catching killers
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong has assured the public that investigators are working hard to bring to justice to those responsible for a slew of unsolved murders that have shocked the island in recent months.Speaking after a press conference on August 20, Gen Apirak said provincial police investigators and specialists from Bangkok were working hard on three…
- Phuket News
Phuket protesters join Bangkok Siege, demand PM’s resignation
PHUKET: As the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) makes its final drive to oust Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, media in Bangkok have reported that NBT broadcast stations were being raided around the nation.However, NBT reporter Chaiwut Poungsuwan today told the Gazette that the NBT station in Phuket, located at the top of Rang Hill in Phuket City, is safe and sound.“NBT…
- Cannabis News
Speed, guns and ganja confiscated in crackdown
PHUKET CITY: Following his order of a crackdown on crime, Phuket’s top cop has announced that several drug- and gun-related arrests were made recently in different parts of the island.Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong said that recent swoops in various locations had included the seizure of 390 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills that had been stashed in a hole in the…
- Phuket News
Hanna Backlund murderer given life sentence
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Court today sentenced Akkaradej (‘Chon’) Tankae to life imprisonment for the murder of Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund, who was stabbed to death at Mai Khao Beach in broad daylight on March 15.The sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment because Chon made a full confession, said the judge, who made reference to the negative…
- Phuket News
Phuket plays its part in War on Terror
AO MAKHAM: An unremarkable, privately-owned ship carrying thousands of tons of military hardware and humanitarian aid sailed quietly into Phuket waters last week, slipping away virtually unnoticed a few days later as the cargo vessel went on to play a supporting role in regional SEACAT (South East Asian Co-operation Against Terrorism) exercises.The privately owned Danish-built ship Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr…
