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Phuket governor dishes out money, advice
PHUKET CITY: After dishing out 156,000 baht in cash to some of the island’s poorest families at a ceremony at the Phuket City Municipal Offices this week, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop dished out some advice. Phuket’s poor must work harder, stop gambling and not spend so much time watching bird singing contests, the governor told his audience. Otherwise, he said,…
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Phuket governor responds to explosive land claim
PHUKET CITY: The governor of Phuket, Wichai Phraisa-ngop, on Tuesday responded to explosive claims by a Thai research body that foreigners own 90 percent of the island’s beach land. The Thailand Research Foundation announced the results of its research into land ownership at a seminar attended by economics and law scholars last week. The Bangkok Post quoted Siriporn Sajjanont, a member…
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Mermaid baby given less than a month to live
PHUKET: ‘Nichipa’, the Burmese infant born with ‘mermaid syndrome’ in Phuket earlier this month, is still fighting for her life in Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Hospital in Haad Yai.However, doctors said they did not expect her to survive much longer.Her kidneys remained underdeveloped and her body had stopped expelling waste through the artificial waste orifice created for her, doctors…
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Andaman Sea storms sink Thai bulk-carrier
PHUKET: A Thai bulk-carrier ship transporting millions of baht worth of teak from Burma sank in the Andaman Sea just off Phang Nga province on Sunday. All crew on board the Chart 1 managed to escape on inflatable rafts. Vice Admiral Narong Tesvisarn, Commander of The Third Naval Area Command in Phang Nga, received a distress call from the crew…
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OPINION: Do foreigners really own 90% of Phuket’s beach front?
PHUKET: The front page story in today’s Bangkok Post which quotes a leading research body as saying foreigners own 90% of Phuket’s beach front land has certainly struck a sour note against foreign ownership of land in Thailand. The study, which was put together by the Thailand Research Fund, quotes a professor from Sukhothai Thammathirat University who says these holdings…
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Phuket’s sea gypsies face strict regime to repay debt
RAWAI, PHUKET: Many Moken sea gypsies living in a village close to Rawai Beach are still heavily in debt to violent loan sharks, despite the actions of a community organization which paid off more than half a million baht’s worth of their debts earlier this month. Now, the villagers have agreed to strict new rules aimed at helping them pay…
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Phuket school celebrates a century of “cultivating knowledge’
PHUKET CITY: Plukpanya Municipal School celebrated its 100th birthday on Saturday with a special Buddhist ceremony attended by pupils, teachers, alumni and other well-wishers. On April 29, 1909, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) opened the school, naming it Plukpanya, which means ‘cultivating knowledge’. The birthday celebration may have taken place a few months late, but it was nevertheless well attended, with more…
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Power cuts in Phuket tomorrow
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced there will be power cuts in some areas of the island tomorrow between 9am and 4pm. The cuts are required so maintenance on high-voltage wires can be carried out. Affected areas will include: Chao Fah West Road, east of Phuket Power Distribution Control Center 2, Thinawut Village Project 2, Thinawut…
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Phuket to become AirAsia regional hub
PHUKET CITY: Thai AirAsia will begin direct flight services to Phuket from several new major cities in the region starting by the end of the year, the low-cost carrier has announced. AirAsia will base five aircraft at Phuket International Airport as part of its plan to establish Phuket as an aviation hub, Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld told a press…
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Phuket’s ‘Coral Reef Squadron’ 90% destroyed: TDA
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s ‘Coral Reef Squadron’ sunk off Bang Tao Bay last November is 90 percent missing or destroyed, the Thai Dive Association admitted today. Rainer Gottwald, head of the Thai Dive Association (TDA) technical committee, said TDA divers visited the site on Wednesday and were only able to find one of the 10 aircraft that formed the artificial reef.…
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Racha Reef to be expanded off Phuket
RAWAI, PHUKET: Plans are afoot to expand an artificial reef off the coast of Koh Racha Yai Island, south of Phuket. Paitoon Panchaiyaphum, director of the Phuket-based southern regional office of the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Department (MCRCD), said the artificial reef had been a great success since its construction three years ago. “Our research shows lots of marine…
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Phuket tsunami evacuation drill this morning
PHUKET CITY: There will be a a full-scale tsunami warning and evacuation exercise in Phuket this morning starting at 10am, the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) has announced.The drill, to run until 12 noon, will also be conducted in Phang-Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, and Satun provinces. This is only a drill. Warning tower alarms will go off in all participating areas. The Phuket exercises…
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“Lovely Road, Lovely Phuket’ project launched
WICHIT, PHUKET: Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop presided over a tree-planting ceremony along the new road from Wichit to Kathu on Tuesday morning. Dubbed the ‘Lovely Roads, Lovely Phuket’ project, the initiative is one of many around the island in recent weeks marking the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit on August 12. Also in attendance was Senator Phummisak Hongyok, whose Anuphas Vividhkran…
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Mangroves planted in Phuket to honor HM The Queen
PA KHLOK, PHUKET: More than 200 villagers took part in a mangrove planting ceremony in Phuket yesterday to mark the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit. The event was organized by the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization and presided over by its president, Atipong Kongnam. Also taking part were students from the Weerasatri Anusorn Primary School, Phuket Panyanukul School for special…
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Phuket’s ‘little mermaid’ putting on weight
PHUKET CITY: The Burmese infant born with ‘mermaid syndrome’ in Phuket last week is now nursing on her own and putting on weight, doctors say. Doctors at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Hospital in Haad Yai, where the child is in her ninth day of treatment, said little Nichapa is now in stable condition. Last week doctors at the hospital…
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Dangerous dogs rounded up in Phuket City
PHUKET CITY: Phuket City vets rounded up a group of vicious stray dogs at a temple today following complaints that the dogs were biting worshipers and killing local cats. Phuket City Municipality veterinarian Boonsom Roongudom and two helpers took away at least 10 dangerous dogs from the grounds of Wat Langsarn in Phuket City this morning. The dogs were taken…
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Deputy PM orders investigation into Phuket jet-ski scams
PHUKET: Australian diplomats regard the problem of jet-ski rip-offs in Phuket so seriously they have complained to the prime minister, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop said yesterday.As a result, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has ordered a thorough investigation into scams on the island, particularly those involving jet-skis and motorcycle taxis, Gov Wichai said.There are about 300 jet-skis on five beaches…
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Asean summit not coming to Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The 15th Asean Summit meeting in October will take place in the twin resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin, not Phuket, the government has confirmed.Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of security issues, confirmed the decision this morning.With the island’s successful hosting of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meetings at the Laguna Phuket resort complex in Cherng Talay…
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Annissa Flynn wins surf titles in Kamala, Phuket
KAMALA, PHUKET: Eleven-year-old surf sensation Annissa Flynn stole the show on the final day of the King of the Jungle 2009 Quiksilver Thailand Surf Series event on Sunday, claiming both the women’s open and groms divisions on a great day of competition at Kamala Beach. Kata-based Flynn, who learned how to surf just two years ago, successfully defended the groms…
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Community group helps pay off Phuket sea gypsy loans
RAWAI, PHUKET: Threats of beatings and electrocution by loan sharks have abated for scores of Moken sea gypsies since a Phuket-based community organization stepped in to help. The ‘Poor’s Right to Develop Phuket Network’ (PRDPN) paid off debts worth more than half a million baht for 162 Rawai sea gypsies earlier this month. Nevertheless, hundreds of residents of the sea…
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OPINION: Thaksin’s plea rang hollow in Phuket
PHUKET: Here in Thailand’s ‘Solid South’, a bastion of support for the Democrat party, Phuket people were unlikely to have been impressed with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s emotional plea to His Majesty The King in Bangkok yesterday. Under the backdrop of the red-shirt rally seeking a royal pardon for him, Thaksin made an emotional plea – like a closing statement…
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Aussie carrier launches Phuket service
PHUKET CITY: Australian long-haul carrier V Australia yesterday announced Phuket as one of its two new destinations, with direct flights to the island from Brisbane and Melbourne set to begin later this year. Twice weekly flights to Phuket from Brisbane will begin on November 22, while once weekly flights from Melbourne will begin on December 3. As part of its…
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Jilted lover stabs girlfriend, plunges to death
KOH RACHA, PHUKET: A luxury resort on Racha Yai Island was left reeling after one of its employees stabbed another to death before plunging to his own demise. Harin Tipnarong, an electrician at The Racha resort, planned the murder after his girlfriend and colleague Voraporn Pithom told him she wanted to end their relationship, police said. Superintendent Chinarat Rittakananon of…
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Dane drowns in Phuket
KARON, PHUKET: A Danish tourist is the latest victim to have drowned in Phuket. Chalong Police investigator Boonlert Onklang identified the victim as 57-year-old Jorgen Hauge Andersen, who was vacationing in Phuket with his son Emil, 20. Both were staying at the Marina Phuket Resort, at the south end of Karon Beach. Mr Andersen and his son ignored the red…
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Phuket shark release to honor HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday
PHUKET CITY: In one of the many ceremonies that took place to mark the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit last week, 39 sharks and more than 10,000 other fish and marine animals were released into the sea off Phuket on Friday morning. The release was organized by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources through its Phuket Marine Biological Center…
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Phuket still in contention for Asean summit: PM
PHUKET CITY: It has not yet been finalized whether the 15th Asean Summit in October will be moved out of Phuket, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in a surprise announcement on Saturday. Pending further information from the state agencies concerned, the government would make the decision about the venue later this week, the prime minister said. The comments contradict a…
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Phuket FC record historic first point at Surakul
PHUKET CITY: Phuket FC registered their first ever point at home at Surakul Stadium following a keenly contested match against Krabi on Saturday night that ended 0-0. Phuket enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first 45 minutes, but it was Krabi who had the best chance to open the scoring when their striker was given time and space…
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British tourist in Phuket faces life for forgery
PHUKET CITY: A British tourist faces life in prison after being charged with forging English pound notes and trying to exchange them for Thai baht. According to Chalong Police, Martin William Pritchard, 52, from Bristol, went to the Karon branch of the Nakorn Luang Thai Bank and tried to exchange twenty 20-pound notes for 21,972 baht. The teller became suspicious…
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Phuket City’s Kaset Market gets a hose down
PHUKET CITY: A ‘big cleaning day’ was held at Kaset Market as part of celebrations marking the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit on Wednesday. Municipal workers, shopkeepers and volunteers all got behind the effort, spraying the floors of the market with high-pressure hoses, picking up garbage and scrubbing the filthy floors with detergent. Targeted for extermination by poison as part…
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New swine flu cases down 50% in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The number of new swine flu cases reported in Phuket has been reduced by almost half, with 271 reported cases and the death toll still at two. To help people who contract the type A(H1N1) virus that causes the disease, the Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) has signed contracts with 12 private clinics to distribute the the antiviral…
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