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Legal wrangle may leave Vises tenants homeless
PATONG: Tenants staying at the Vises Hotel on Sainamyen Rd in Patong have filed a complaint at Kathu Police Station over an eviction order requiring them to leave the hotel by July 15.A court notice attached to the hotel door warns that the hotel has been repossessed by Photipoom Co Ltd. The notice also warns that there is to be no…
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Appeal for infant in need of heart operation
PHUKET: The British International School (BIS) Phuket is calling for donations to help pay for specialized medical treatment for three-month-old Ruby, daughter of the school’s art co-ordinator, Claire Lester. Ruby has been diagnosed with DiGeorge’s syndrome, a genetic disorder that has left her with a partially collapsed lung, pneumonia and requiring a heart operation. She is currently hospitalized in Bangkok and…
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Rain forces landslide warning
PHUKET: Following heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours, the Meteorological Department of Thailand has warned of flooding and possible landslides in Phuket.Flood-risk areas include Thepkrasattri Rd near Super Cheap, just north of Phuket City, and warnings of possible landslides have been issued for Patong and Kata.While 10mm of rain has fallen in Phuket City, some 30mm was recorded within a three-hour period at the…
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Brit wins TriBallistic in rough conditions
NAI YANG: After the weather closed in on the Indigo Pearl resort yesterday, it was thought the swim leg of the third TriBallistic race in the current series would be canceled, but the seas calmed sufficiently to allow the senior race to start with the scheduled 600-meter, open-water swim. The athletes had to fight hard through large waves. Briton Bryan…
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Thai guides angered by Russian substitutes
PHUKET: A group of about 10 Phuket tour guides on June 17 filed a complaint with Phuket Senator Thanyarat Atchariyachai, claiming that Russians were stealing their jobs by working as guides for Russian tour groups.K. Thanyarat, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, was in Phuket with fellow committee members to sound out local businesspeople and report to Cabinet what…
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Investors start eyeing Ao Phuket project
PHUKET: Two men representing a Norwegian marine engineering firm yesterday met Governor Niran Kalayanamit to show their interest in the Ao Phuket development project.The Norwegians were just two of a host of potential investors who have been inquiring about the development, Gov Niran said.Geir L Kjersem, Managing Director of LMG Marin, met the governor at 1:30 pm, accompanied by his…
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Russian found dead in Phuket City apartment
PHUKET CITY: Mystery surrounds the death of a Russian man who missed his flight out of Thailand on Wednesday and was found dead in his apartment yesterday afternoon.Lt Col Wijak Tarom, Phuket City Police Inspector for Investigations, identified the deceased as Oleg Syrus, 38.Col Wijak was alerted to Mr Syrus’ death at 4:30 pm by the management of Thanaporn Apartments…
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Press freedom vanishing from Thailand
BANGKOK (The Nation): In his speech before the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on Wednesday, Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan delivered what might best be described as a severe reality check for Thai citizens. Citing statistics from Freedom House, the New York-based monitor of media freedoms around the world, he noted that less than a decade ago Thailand ranked 29th…
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PM in urgent meeting with Army and Police chiefs
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday summoned Army chief General Anupong Paochinda and national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwant for an urgent meeting at his office.Sources said Samak ordered the two to beef up security at Government House in light of the threat by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to march to the seat of government on…
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Restaurant owner killed in Patong Hill shooting
TUNG TONG: Police are investigating the shooting murder of a seafood restaurant owner early yesterday evening that caused a multiple-car accident at the bottom of Patong Hill.Thung Thong Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakao identified the victim as 38-year-old Sirichai “Yod” Chaikoo, part owner of the 99 Seafood Restaurant on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd in Patong, opposite the Royal Paradise Hotel…
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Landowner lays claim to Laem Hin access road
KOH KAEW: Irate residents in Koh Kaew on Monday filed a petition to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit calling for aid in their ongoing dispute with a landlord over ownership of the road that leads to Laem Hin Pier.For about an hour on Friday, Apichart Kitprasarn blocked the road with a metal barrier, claiming that he was entitled to do so…
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AirAsia flight forced to land in Phuket – twice
MAI KHAO: AirAsia flight FD3024 from Phuket to Bangkok was forced to land twice shortly after takeoff at Phuket International Airport (PIA) yesterday evening.A passenger on the flight told a Gazette source, “I heard the sound of wind rushing and then the engines roar [shortly after takeoff] and thought something had happened, but the crew didn’t tell the passengers exactly…
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OrBorJor aims for Bt 80 million in room tax
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Organization Administration (OrBorJor) has set a target of 80 million baht in room tax revenue from hotels by the end of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30.The announcement was made by OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising, who admitted that some hotel operators still refuse to pay the tax, which is levied at 1% of the room rate…
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Number of drug arrests shoots up
PHUKET: Crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police show that the number of drug-related arrests in May was up 61% compared with the same month last year, while the number of arrests related to ya bah (methamphetamine) was twice the number for April.In May, there were 173 arrests for drug-related offenses, 101 of which involved ya bah, with a total…
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Clerk in bribe case to be summoned to court
BANGKOK (The Nation): The Supreme Court fact-finding committee on the 2-million-baht bribery scandal will later this week summon the lawyer’s clerk who allegedly handed a bag containing the money to a senior court official, a source said yesterday.The probe team, which consists of three Supreme Court judges, has spoken to the official in question, who said the clerk gave her…
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Burmese man held for “death truck’ tragedy
PHUKET: Phuket police have arrested a Burmese man suspected of organizing the human smuggling ring that led to the death of 54 Burmese migrant workers on April 9.He is also suspected of involvement in the execution of former Kathu Police officer Decho Kaewnabon last Wednesday.Speaking after the Governor Meets the Press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning, Phuket Police Commander Maj…
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Aussies dominate Laguna Marathon
CHERNG TALAY: Australian Stephen Paine completed the 42-kilometer course around the north end of the island in 2 hours 37 minutes and 52 seconds this morning to win the men’s championship title in this year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon. In second place was defending champion Brent Roeger from the US. He rounded the course in 2:41:57, six minutes faster than…
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Aussie wins Laguna Marathon
CHERNG TALAY: Australian Stephen Paine completed the 42-kilometer course around the north end of the island in 2 hours 37 minutes and 52 seconds this morning to win the men’s championship title in this year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon. In second place was defending champion Brent Roeger from the US. He rounded the course in 2:41:57, six minutes faster than…
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Oleydong to defend WBC title in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Boxing fans are in for a treat on Wednesday afternoon when undefeated WBC minimum-weight champ Oleydong Sithsamerchai (26-0, 10 KOs) makes his first title defense against 15th-ranked Junichi Ebisuoka of Japan. The 12-round title bout will take place at Saphan Hin. Admission is free of charge.Oleydong, whose real name is Kittipong Jaikrajang, is the pride of Rassada district in…
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Government threatens legal action against local TV networks
BANGKOK (The Nation): Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung Friday threatened to invoke Article 85 of the Criminal Code to take legal action against ASTV for broadcasting demonstrations of the People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD].Chalerm said cable TV operators in the provinces who relay broadcasts of ASTV to their subscribers would also be taken to task by the government if they do…
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Kamala residents seek suspension of troubled cop
KAMALA: About 30 local residents this morning met Kamala Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Winai Kongkeaw to demand that one of his officers be removed from active duty because his behavior was “dangerous”.At 11 am, the residents, including Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) representative Sontaya Soontarak and other elected officials, explained to Col Winai that a police lieutenant under his command had…
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“Pastrygate” scandal intensifies
BANGKOK (Daily Xpress): Top Supreme Court Justice Kriengchai Jungchatupit says he would have arrested the lawyer suspected of attempting to bribe judges “on the spot”.“If I had been there, I would have arrested him on the spot,” says Kriengchai. “I would not have let him take the money back. I would have charged him with contempt.“I have learned that the person who…
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Ex-cop executed in Patong
A former Kathu Police sergeant, dismissed for involvement in human trafficking and blacklisted as a threat to society, was shot dead early yesterday morning outside his home in Patong. After receiving a call at about 4:30 am, Kathu Police officers found the body of Decho Kaewnabon, 37, also known as “Sia Decho” or “Sergent Decho”, beside his car in Soi Kuan…
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Aussies, Thais dominate Samui Regatta
KOH SAMUI: Ray Roberts, the top Asian sailor for 2008, Matt Allen, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, and Andrew Short, also from the Sydney club, have won the top prizes in the International Racing Class (IRC)1, IRC 2 and Cruising Classes, respectively, in the 7th Samui International Yacht Regatta.Roberts, a regular racer in Phuket and Thailand, and…
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Chief Ombudsman hears Phuket complaints
PHUKET CITY: Phuket people’s top source of grief were problems stemming from land, Chief Ombudsman Gen Theeradej Meepien told reporters after two days of hearing complaints from Phuket residents.Gen Theeradej and his staff heard complaints from local people and held public information sessions explaining the role of the Ombudsman’s Office at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on June 3 and 4.“This…
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Seafood prices ready to soar?
PHUKET: Royal Thai Navy Chief Adm Narong Yutthawong, who once served as Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces, has met leading local fishing industry figures as part of his senatorial fact-finding tour into the impact of rising fuel prices on the nation’s fishing industry.At a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on June 4, Adm Narong said that his tour…
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Tsunami drill at Bang Tao
PHUKET CITY: A tsunami evacuation drill will be held at Bang Tao Beach on June 17, Chotenarin Kerdsom, chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), has told the Gazette.“All the commanding officers involved in the drill will meet at Laguna Beach Resort on June 16.“Then, from 9 am to midday on June 17,…
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4 cars destroyed in Toyota Pearl blaze
PHUKET CITY: Owners of three vehicles waiting for repairs will have to wait a little longer before being reunited with their cars following a fire at the Toyota Pearl Phuket showroom and garage on Thepkrasattri Rd early on Saturday. Initial estimates put the loss from the fire at about 4 million baht, with damage to seven vehicles, four of which were totally destroyed. Police said they…
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Gen Apirak returns to Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police yesterday morning held a ceremony bidding farewell Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth on his last day of duty as Phuket Provincial Police Commander and welcoming back his replacement, Pol Maj Apirak Hongthong.Gen Decha has been promoted to the position of commander of general staff at Police Region 8 headquarters in Surat Thani.Among those attending the ceremony were…
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Tawee still Karon Mayor
KARON: In the Karon municipal council election on Sunday, incumbent Mayor Tawee Tongcham, running unopposed, easily received the minimum 20% of all eligible votes required for him to reclaim the mayoral seat.Voter turnout was just over 60% of the 4,601 eligible voters. Of these, 2,269 people voted for Tawee.Eleven of the 12 regular council seats went to members of Tawee’s…
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