- Phuket News
2008 telephone book now on sale
PHUKET: The 2008 edition of the Gazette Guide, Phuket’s English-language yellow pages, goes on sale at noon today. The price of the directory is 140 baht. A list of retailers in Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Bangkok is available here. All businesses listed in the directory are entitled to one copy of the book at 70 baht, a…
- Phuket News
Party for the Little People
PHUKET: Parents around Thailand today have their hands full as the nation celebrates Children’s Day. To mark the annual event, free activities, prizes and entertainment are being held for youngsters around the island. Here, the Gazette has compiled a roundup of where to go and what to do to keep Phuket’s little people entertained on this special day. However, this…
- Phuket News
Banphaeo Hospital steps in to help OrBorJor
PHUKET CITY: Banphaeo Hospital in Samut Sakhon will next month sign a management contract agreeing to help the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) re-open the long-abandoned Phyathai Hospital as a public organization, to be run independently of the Public Health Ministry.OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra said that when the new facility opens, hopefully by the end of the year, it…
- Phuket News
Kho En “death bend’ roadworks complete by March
MAI KHAO: Roadworks to make the notorious Kho En “death bend” on Thepkrasattri Rd safer are about 40% complete and the section of road should be ready by the end of February, Saroj Suwinchai, director of the provincial office of the Highways Department, has told the Gazette.The Kho En curve is a notorious blackspot that has been the site of several…
- Phuket News
Frogman killed in Kata Bay fracas
KARON: Chalong Police are investigating the bizarre killing, apparently in self-defense, of an unknown frogman who attacked a Swiss yacht owner and a Thai woman late Wednesday night.The details of the case, as provided to the media at a press conference yesterday afternoon by Chalong Police Superintendent Col Saman Chainarong, are based on the eye-witness account of 25-year-old Trat native…
- Phuket News
“Crab Bank’ launched in Rassada
RASSADA: In a bid to increase dwindling crab stocks in local waters, the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office with other government and non-government organizations this morning held a ceremony to launch the island’s first “crab bank”, off the coast of Rassada Village 3.As part of the ceremony, nine monks blessed 250 saffron ribbons, which were tied around mangrove trees lining the…
- Phuket News
Saphan Hin gunfight leaves one dead
SAPHAN HIN: One youth was killed and three others injured following a gunfight with police that took place at about 1 am Sunday morning.Phuket City Police officers Maj Vichak Tarom and Sen Sgt Maj Suthon Pakdee were on patrol near the roundabout at Saphan Hin when the shooting took place.Maj Vichak told the Gazette that the officers saw a gang…
- Phuket News
Chalong Bay Marina expansion to be scaled back
PHUKET CITY: The second phase of the Chalong Bay Marina project is now being redrawn, following complaints from local fishermen to the National Human Rights Committee that its construction could harm the local environment and destroy their livelihoods. Wasan Panich, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, on January 7 chaired an ad-hoc committee meeting at the Phuket Merlin…
- Thailand News
Abbot aberration under investigation
NONTHABURI: When Commander Kritsapha Suksaengdao from the Department of Civil Aviation walked up to Luang Por Prasit Sithikaroh, abbot of Wat Sainoi, on December 26 and offered a polite wai, the abbot probably thought nothing of it. After all, the abbot was the most revered monk in the province and counted many high-ranking military and government officials among his throng…
- Thailand News
Attack of the 50-foot pret
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: In the increasingly litigious nations of the West, any accident in the work place, including those caused by the victim’s own stupidity, are an immediate opportunity for cash payouts. Apparently the concept hasn’t filtered down to rural Thailand, as shown recently by a man who, after losing both hands in a horrific crane accident, proceeded to blame…
- Thailand News
Villagers make murky discovery
BURIRAM: The discovery of ancient artifacts is always a cause for excitement. A common way to unearth such relics is at an archaeological dig, though just as often they are discovered by pure chance at construction sites. While some finds are more dramatic than others, few can beat a recent tale from Isarn of two 1,500-year-old Buddha images rising from…
- Phuket News
Man murders pregnant girlfriend
PHUKET CITY: An enraged man slashed the throat of his pregnant girlfriend as she was working at a 7-Eleven store in Phuket City at 3:45 am on January 7. He was arrested by police the same day as he was preparing to leave the island.Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha identified the victim as 26-year-old Vipaporn Yimaim, a native…
- Phuket News
Yamu marina a “test case’ for coastal development
PHUKET CITY: Human Rights Commissioner Wasan Panich, who is leading the investigation into whether permission should be granted for a marina to be built at Cape Yamu, yesterday announced the project was developing into a “test case” on guidelines for similar developments in the future.K. Wasan made the announcement at a public hearing at the Phuket Merlin Hotel, where people…
- Phuket News
EC to approve Democrat win tomorrow
PHUKET CITY: The Election Commission (EC) will confirm Democrat Party candidates Tossaporn Thepabutr and Rewat Areerob as the winners of the Phuket round of the December 23 general election, the Gazette was told today.A five-member EC team arrived in Phuket on Thursday to investigate a charge lodged by rival candidates claiming that K. Tossaporn’s wife, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor)…
- Phuket News
Police seek two Burmese for double murder at sea
RASSADA: Police are looking for two Burmese men wanted for the murder of a squid boat owner and his wife, whose bodies were pulled from the sea near Koh Dokmai late last week.The Gazette’s Thai-language affiliate newspaper Kom Chad Luek originally reported that the first body was discovered by fishermen off Koh Dokmai, some 30 kilometers west of Phuket City,…
- Phuket News
“Seven Days of Danger’ leaves 6 dead, 76 injured
PHUKET: The road toll in Phuket during the holiday season “seven days of danger”, from midnight December 28 to midnight last night, stands at six dead and 76 people injured in a total of 72 accidents, Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha was told today.Of the accidents reported during the period, two-thirds were attributed to alcohol and almost all of them involved…
- Phuket News
Blacklist threatened for bars that break request for “national mourning silence’
PHUKET (Kom Chad Luek, Gazette): Muang District Chief Wisit Kurattanavej this afternoon threatened to blacklist entertainment venues that do not follow the government’s request to observe the national mourning of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed away early yesterday morning.K. Wisit made the announcement at a meeting to discuss a ban on “entertainment noise” during the 15-day national mourning period,…
- Phuket News
Search launched for hotel worker lost at sea
KOH RACHA YAI: Phuket Marine Police are searching for a worker at The Racha resort who was washed overboard when a wave overturned the small catamaran he was sailing on early yesterday evening.Capt Chatchai Sakdee of Phuket Marine Police said that he received the initial report from the Third Area Naval Command. “The incident happened about 7 pm yesterday, about…
- Phuket News
Phi Phi pee turns deadly
KOH PHI PHI DON: An American tourist on holiday at Koh Phi Phi Don fell about five meters to his death after he stopped to relieve himself at a rocky outcrop on the way back to his bungalow after celebrating New Year’s Eve at a local bar.Sub Lt Noppadon Klompong of the Krabi Muang District Police outpost on Koh Phi…
- Phuket News
Nok Air quietly grounds Phuket-Haad Yai route
PHUKET: Nok Air has quietly suspended its loss-ridden Phuket-Haad Yai service, once again making it impossible to fly between Southern Thailand’s two busiest airports, the Gazette has learned.Nok Air Executive Vice-President for Marketing Sehapan Chumsai told the Gazette today there were not enough passengers to continue the service, which began June 6 last year using 150-seat Boeing 737-400 aircraft.The service…
- Phuket News
Thailand enters national mourning
PHUKET: The Royal Household Bureau today asked for staff at all government offices, state enterprises and educational institutions to fly the national flag at half-mast and to wear black for the next 15 days as a mark of respect for HRH Galyani Vadhana, who passed away early this morning.An emergency meeting of the Cabinet today concurred the request.Students, however, may…
- Phuket News
HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana passes away
BANGKOK (Nation): After months of receiving treatment for cancer, HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana’s condition deteriorated last night and she passed away 2.54 am this morning. She was 84.The Princess had been receiving treatment for cancer at Siriraj Hospital for months. Well-wishers had flocked to the hospital since the news spread that she was admitted.The Princess is the elder sister of…
- Phuket News
Phuket holiday road toll: 5 dead in 4 days
PHUKET: Figures issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket) for the first four days of the “seven days of danger” holiday road-safety campaign put the death toll from accidents in Phuket at five, including two foreigners.A total of 43 accidents were reported during the period that ended at midnight last night, with 48 people suffering injuries requiring…
- Phuket News
Protesters rally against third Tesco
WICHIT: Some 50 protesters gathered at Phuket Provincial Office on December 26 to protest the construction of a new Tesco-Lotus branch on Chao Fa East Rd, which if completed would become the retail juggernaut’s third branch on the island.The protesters, some of whom are vendors at the Moom Muang market near the proposed project site, converged at Provincial Hall about…
- Phuket News
Phuket land prices skyrocket
PHUKET: The tax man will have some jolly years ahead as the government-assessed land prices for many locations in Phuket are seeing triple-digit rates of growth.On Thursday, the Phuket Provincial Treasury Office (PPTO) confirmed details of the new land values, which were leaked to a Prachachart Turakij reporter in October (click here for full story).https://phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?fromsearch=yes&Id=6033Land appraisals are done every four…
- Phuket News
Windsurfers prepare for Phuket championship
PHUKET: The Eastern Windsurfing Club (EWC) is teaming up with the Windsurfing Association of Thailand and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand to present Thailand’s first international windsurfing rally championship from January 15 to 20.Competitors will race along the west coast of Phuket.The first day of racing, January 16, will take place from Nai Yang Beach to Surin Beach. On the second day,…
- Phuket News
Wife comatose after severe beating
PATONG: A 37-year-old woman is clinging to life at Vachira Phuket Hospital after her enraged husband of 20 years allegedly beat her over the head with a dumbbell early yesterday morning.Pol Lt Col Serm Kwannimit identified the victim as Dawan Harnsena, a native of Nongkhai and long-time Patong resident.After questioning the victim’s younger sister, police learned that Dawan’s likely assailant…
- Phuket News
“No water shortage in 2008,’ says Phuket waterworks chief
PHUKET CITY: An unusually wet December has kept Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu filled to capacity, while forecasts for continuing rainfall through March mean there is little reason to worry about water shortages in 2008, the head of the provincial waterworks authority said yesterday.Reporting to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at the monthly Phuket Provincial Security Council meeting at the Katina…
- Phuket News
Tsunami memorial service lights up Patong
PATONG: Some 700 people joined a memorial service for those who died in the tsunami three years ago, each placing a lit candle in the sand, basking the beach in a solemn glow.Guests and dignitries, including Swedish Ambassador Lennart Linner and Tourism and Sports Minister Dr Suwit Yodmanee, joined the event, giving speeches on loss, grief and recovery and laying…
- Phuket News
Corpse washes up at Tah Chat Chai
TAH CHAT CHAI: Police are trying to identify a body that washed up on Tah Chat Chai Beach about 2:30 pm yesterday.Pol Lt Damrong Songchuoy, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, said the body, now at Thalang Hospital, appears to be that of an Asian man, probably in his 40s.“There were no wounds or abrasions to indicate the man had…
