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  • Phuket double murder was drug deal gone sour

    Phuket double murder was drug deal gone sour

    PHUKET: Police have arrested two men for their part in the murders of a man and a woman whose bodies were dumped over a beachfront cliff in Nai Thon before dawn on Tuesday morning. Sittipong Chareonrak and Ammarin Pantip were presented to the media today at a press conference at Tah Chat Chai Checkpoint. The men were identified by Sanit…

  • Officials investigate more Phuket beach encroachment

    Officials investigate more Phuket beach encroachment

    PHUKET: A handful of bars and restaurants built on Bang Tao Beach are being investigated to determine whether or not they are encroaching on state land. Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak on Wednesday led a team of investigators to the site. Accompanying him were representatives from local authorities such as Cherng Talay Municipality, Thalang District Office, Phuket Marine Office and Cherng…

  • FC Phuket accept 5-2 loss | Thaiger

    FC Phuket accept 5-2 loss

    PHUKET – Quote of the day: “If we have to travel [to Bangkok FC] to play a mere six minutes, I think it will be an non beneficial waste of expense…and so we’ve made an official report stating this reason as why we won’t travel to play the rest of the game…and are ready to accept the loss with the…

  • Phuket braces for more heavy rain

    Phuket braces for more heavy rain

    PHUKET: June has started out as a very rainy month in Phuket, with sustained rainfall and thunderstorms covering the island. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) website reports rainfall reached a high of 100.2mm over the 24-hour period of June 1 with winds topping 64 kilometers per hour (kmh) at Phuket International Airport. Phuket’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation this…

  • Former meth addict saws own neck, dies

    Former meth addict saws own neck, dies

    A MENTALLY-ill man killed himself on a building site by pushing a rotating saw into his own neck, police said. Saemdam Police were called to the scene in Bang Khun Thian district in Bangkok after the body of Ek Boonmee, 34, was found next to the saw. Mr Ek’s father, Nawi Boon-mee, 56, told police that his son suffered from…

  • No more Glory for Robbie Fowler

    No more Glory for Robbie Fowler

    PHUKET SPORTS: Former Liverpool FC star Robbie Fowler is in Bangkok this weekend playing in the Tesco Lotus Masters football sevens tournament, which includes teams from Asia, Europe and a selection from Phuket. Known as “God” to the Liverpool faithful, Fowler joins other ex-professionals such as Lee Sharpe and Ian Rush at Patana International School in Bangkok for the annual…

  • Phuket F1 fans await Bahrain bid today

    Phuket F1 fans await Bahrain bid today

    PHUKET: Formula One fans in Phuket eagerly await a decision on whether the Bahrain Grand Prix, originally scheduled for March 13, will be re-scheduled to November 20 later this year. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone may move the season’s last race in Brazil back to October 2 which could result in the Indian GP being cancelled. Bahrain was due to host…

  • Phuket Live Wire: Still dreaming about 3G

    Phuket Live Wire: Still dreaming about 3G

    PHUKET: The easiest way to get 3G service in Phuket involves a trek to the True office in Phuket Town, in the little building in front of Robinson’s department store. There you will find several people who understand 3G (believe me, that’s quite an accomplishment), and they’ll set you up with 3G service. If you already have a True SIM…

  • ‘Streets of Phuket’ maps added to Gazette web news | Thaiger

    ‘Streets of Phuket’ maps added to Gazette web news

    PHUKET: By popular demand, Phuket Gazette online readers can now view accurate pop-up maps embedded in news stories with the single click of a mouse, thanks to a new partnership with IMAGE Asia and their best-selling Streets Of Phuket atlas. For example, see our news about the recently opened Phuket Provincial Administration Organization Hospital on Srisena Road. Click on the…

  • Phuket sailing legends line up for Raceweek

    Phuket sailing legends line up for Raceweek

    PHUKET SPORTS: The Six Senses Phuket Raceweek, winner of the Asia Boating Award for “Best Asian Regatta of the Year 2011”, returns with four days of international-standard yacht racing, from July 20 to 24. Now in its eighth year, the event attracts a host of yachts with a range of competitive standards across several classes. Critical to being voted best…

  • Phuket Democrats get police protection

    Phuket Democrats get police protection

    PHUKET: Phuket Democrat Party candidate Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr has been provided two police officers as personal bodyguards in the run-up to the July 3 election. Also to receive police protection is Wirasak Suksomboon, president of the Democrat Party office for Phuket 1 constituency. “I, Mrs Anchalee and the president [of the Democrat office] for Phuket 2 constituency, have requested security…

  • Showtime: Phuket candidates to do TV, radio spots | Thaiger

    Showtime: Phuket candidates to do TV, radio spots

    PHUKET: Phuket candidates in the upcoming July 3 general election are permitted to campaign through local TV and radio from June 13 to July 1. The Phuket Election Commission (PEC) discussed the regulation of campaigning through local broadcast media yesterday morning. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, who chaired the meeting, concluded that campaign advertising through local cable TV and radio would…

  • Phuket night clubber escapes disaster

    Phuket night clubber escapes disaster

    PHUKET: A Thai man whose surname translates to “likely to escape disaster” was walking home from a Phuket karaoke bar last night when he was assaulted and left for dead by the side of the the road in Thalang. When Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene just after midnight, they found 33-year-old Wiwat Khongrodpai lying on the road…

  • Fifa’s one horse race | Thaiger

    Fifa’s one horse race

    PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “We will put Fifa’s ship back on the right course in clear, transparent waters.” Sepp Blatter, again re-elected as president of FIFA, hopes to prevent his “family’s” vessel from being dashed on the reef of corruption. — Neil Quail

  • Phuket steps up fight against illegal timeshare touts

    Phuket steps up fight against illegal timeshare touts

    PHUKET: A multi-agency task force will be set up to investigate timeshare companies operating in Phuket, especially Patong. Tasked with investigating the companies, their workers and any officials involved in allowing the timeshare companies to operate, the “committee” is expected to launch an investigation by October, just before the annual tourism high season begins, Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak announced. The…

  • Phuket private aviation in rapid growth mode

    Phuket private aviation in rapid growth mode

    PHUKET: With the recent surge in interest in general aviation kindled by the opening of Phuket Airpark and its airshows [see video], the Phuket Gazette has added to its classified advertising pages a new page dedicated exclusively to the world of private flying in Thailand. The new page contains listings in six categories: Aircraft for Sale, Aircraft Wanted, Aircraft Sharing,…

  • Cricket and tax

    Cricket and tax

    PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “The ACG (Alan Cooke Ground) will in a small way do for cricket what the reduction in boat tax did for marine tourism.” Alan Cooke MBE in a small way underestimates the value of his legacy to Phuket cricket and sport. — Neil Quail

  • Phuket developers shine at int’l property awards

    Phuket developers shine at int’l property awards

    PHUKET: Phuket based developers have won top honors in the Asia Pacific Region division of the International Residential Property Awards. Since the inaugural awards in 1995, the competition has established itself as one of the premiere programs recognizing excellence in the field of residential property development. The 2011 Asia Pacific Awards set a new participation record with 21 countries taking…

  • New Phuket hospital opens its doors

    New Phuket hospital opens its doors

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital opened today with more than 200 people registering as patients. “The purpose of the hospital is to reduce the workload of other government hospitals. The OrBorJor bought the land and the Phyathai Hospital building and renovated it under a budget of 845 million baht,” explained OrBorJor Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Manop Leelasuthanon.…

  • Phuket Survivor: Man recounts murder ordeal

    Phuket Survivor: Man recounts murder ordeal

    PHUKET: The man who allegedly survived an attack in which his wife and another man were killed has said the trio were attacked by a group of men. Sanit Choocheun, a 54-year-old construction contractor from Krabi, said he survived the attack by playing dead. The bodies of Mr Sanit’s wife, Urai Limsakul, 50, and the other man, named only as…

  • Phuket Survivor: Man survives slaughter by “playing dead’

    Phuket Survivor: Man survives slaughter by “playing dead’

    PHUKET: Phuket police are investigating the murder of a man and woman whose bodies were discovered thrown off a cliff along a coastal road in Thalang this morning. The key witness, a man who apparently escaped the same fate by playing dead, is now in police custody and under heavy guard. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the deaths…

  • Crisis? What Crisis?

    Crisis? What Crisis?

    PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “Crisis? What Crisis? There is no crisis in football.” Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, confirming his delusions as to the state of world football. — Neil Quail

  • Phuket discharge: Officials confirm wastewater release “safe’ | Thaiger

    Phuket discharge: Officials confirm wastewater release “safe’

    PHUKET: Wastewater discharged into the sea at Karon and Kata beaches is safe, a review committee headed by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was told yesterday. Environmental engineer Siripong Pasari of Southern Thai Consulting Co Ltd was called in to explain to Gov Tri what exactly caused the discharge filmed by a German TV crew in Phuket earlier this month. The…

  • Phuket gets first dedicated cricket ground

    Phuket gets first dedicated cricket ground

    PHUKET: Construction of Phuket’s first dedicated cricket ground, to be called the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), will start on June 27. News of the development, announced on the ACG website, adds that the 10-rai site in the lakes area of Baan Lipon, will be called the ACG Cricket and Sports Ground. The sports facility will be mainly for cricket, but…

  • Fans fury forces FC Phuket coach to quit

    Fans fury forces FC Phuket coach to quit

    PHUKET: Sompong Wattana from Rajvithee FC will be the new coach of FC Phuket. The news was released at 5pm today, ahead of a scheduled sanctioned press release tomorrow. A fourth straight game without a win for FC Phuket incensed the team’s distraught fans yesterday and led to a blockade of Surakul Stadium by angry fans, known as the “Hulks”.…

  • Two more candidates register for Phuket polls

    Two more candidates register for Phuket polls

    PHUKET: Two more people on Saturday signed up as candidates to contest the Phuket 1 constituency in the July 3 national election. The last-minute registrations came on the last day the Phuket Election Commission would accept applications for candidacy. In the morning, Weerasak “Ko Sak” Woranetiwong registered as a candidate representing the Thaen Khun Phaendin Party, which is listed as…

  • The Phuket International Rugby 10s is a great tournament

    The Phuket International Rugby 10s is a great tournament

    Phuket Rugby 10s: “The Phuket International Rugby 10s is a great tournament and is certainly helping youth rugby in Thailand move from strength to strength.” Matthew Oakley MVO MBE – International Rugby Board (IRB) West Asia Project Manager and the 2011 Rugby 10s Referee’s Manager, commenting on the value of the 10s for the future of rugby in Thailand. —…

  • Contest to decide name for Phuket Town shortcut

    Contest to decide name for Phuket Town shortcut

    PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality will hold a contest to see who can think up the best name for the new road that connects Saphan Hin with Chao Fa East Road, with 10,000 baht going to the winner. The 50-million-baht road was officially opened in late December last year. It has thus far kept its uninspiring name Phang Muang Sai Khor…

  • Phuket stray sends Koreans plowing into power pole

    Phuket stray sends Koreans plowing into power pole

    PHUKET: Two Koreans were fortunate to escape serious injury when their car crashed into a power pole in Phuket early yesterday morning. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene just after midnight. Arriving at the crash site on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in Srisoonthorn subdistrict, they found the two Koreans – identified only as the driver Mrs Songjer and…

  • Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s

    Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s

    Phuket Rugby 10s: In a thrilling final played on Sunday evening at Karon Stadium, a robust Royal Thai Police (RTP) team stole the title from last year’s winners, Kriel Roosters by a score of 31 – 5. The game was full of big tackles and charging runs to the try line. The first half ended with RTP holding a 12…