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Swing Set Collapse Kills Youngster
PA KHLOCK: A seven-year-old boy was killed last Thursday when a playground swing set collapsed during a morning recess at Ban Para School. Witnesses told Thalang District police that primary student Saroj Lawan was swinging on the apparatus with another male classmate at around 11 o’clock on the morning of November 26 when it suddenly collapsed. A metal support struck…
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Europeans Check In For Long Stays
BANGKOK: When it comes to taking a holiday in Thailand, German and Swiss tourists check in for the longest stays. Vacationers from the two European countries remained, on average, in the Kingdom longer than any other segment surveyed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in its just-released detailed statistical report for the first half of the year. From January…
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Search Continues For Suspects
PHUKET TOWN: Police investigators are continuing their manhunt for two Thai male suspects wanted in connection with the October 27 shooting of Sea Canoe Thailand Day Trip Operation Manager Panwong Hirunchai. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Kongpol Suwannaraks told the Gazette yesterday that the suspected gunman and getaway motorbike driver, both Thai males, remain at large. Three teams of investigators have…
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Officials Keeping Eye On Jet-skis
PHUKET: As the high season gets underway, authorities are keeping a close watch on jet-ski rental businesses operating on west coast beaches to ensure compliance with provincial regulations. Vice Governor Amnuay Sanguannam is overseeing the joint enforcement efforts of district, harbor, marine and police officials. Weekly reports are being filed by the various departments with the vice governor’s office in…
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Immigration To “Encourage” Registration
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Phirojana Paresakul, Superintendent of the Phuket Immigration Office, told the Gazette today that his office will be “encouraging” all aliens who remain in Thailand for longer than 90 days to notify the department of their residential address every three months as required by law. He stated that the law would be strictly enforced by his officers…
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Survey Reveals Room At The Inn
PHUKET TOWN: Last-minute vacationers hoping to reserve a room along Phuket’s sun-drenched beaches for a year-end holiday are coming up empty. But while seaside accommodation from Nai Yang to Nai Harn is booked solid from Christmas through the first weekend of the New Year, there is room at the inn in Phuket Town. A random telephone survey conducted today by…
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Suspect Nabbed In Yacht Burglary
CHALONG BAY: Police arrested a suspect yesterday in the theft of nearly 200,000 baht in cash and personal effects from a foreign flag yacht moored in this popular bay. Prakit Thongnok, 23, was charged in connection with a theft last month of items on board a yacht owned by Maria Gonzales. According to police, the suspect, a Songkhla native who…
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Doctor Testifies In Murder Trial
PHUKET TOWN: A doctor who examined the body of Roger Jennings testified in court yesterday that the 56-year-old British publican died from a loss of blood following 19 stab wounds. Dr Somchai Chaichayanon of Kathu Hospital was the only witness called to the stand on Monday before Phuket Provincial Court Judge Amornpoj Kulwijit in the ongoing trial of two suspects…
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Student Prostitutes Among Seven Arrested
PHUKET TOWN: Undercover officers from the Phuket Tourist Police raided a home near Sapan Hin and arrested a 50-year-old man along with six female suspects – including two 15-year-old twins – on prostitution charges. Posing as customers, the two plainclothes officers entered the residence on Soi Tonphol, Phuket Road, shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday and inquired about sex services from…
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Europeans Fuel September Gain
BANGKOK: International tourist arrivals at Bangkok International Airport registered a 17.8 percent year-on-year gain in September, the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced. European markets, led by the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, contributed to the double-digit increase. A total of 29,315 UK tourists arrived at the airport during the month, a gain of more than 10,000 arrivals compared to September last…
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Poll Confirms Perceptions Of Local Driving
PHUKET TOWN: In the Gazette Poll for the week ended at noon today, 71.8% of the 662 participants responded “Yes, absolutely” to the question, “Do you feel that driving in Phuket is too risky?” 21.4% voted “No, not really,” and 6.8% said they didn’t know. The perception that driving here is excessively risky was strongest among local foreign residents, 85%…
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Officials Raid Illegal Tin Refinery
PHUKET TOWN: Following undercover surveillance by mineral resources officers, authorities raided a sand processing yard fronting for an illegal tin refinery. Phuket Town Police Superintendent Pol Col Chalit Tintanee and Phuket Mineral Resources Department Chief Panya Worathammaporn, along with officers of both departments, descended on the 15-rai facility, located at 163/5 Wichitsongkram Road, at 5:30 Wednesday afternoon and uncovered five…
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Dengue Fever Cases Skyrocket
PHUKET: Reported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the province during the first ten months of 1998 have surpassed the combined total of the past three years. Provincial Health Officer Dr Boonriang Chuchaisangrat told the Gazette today that 755 cases of the mosquito-borne virus were documented by his department through the end of October. The ten-month total is more…
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Leonids Viewing Washed Out
PHUKET: The much-anticipated sighting of the Leonids meteorite shower never materialized for local stargazers who gathered overnight at two popular viewpoints. By 11 p.m. on Monday, small groups had arrived at Laem Promthep, (at the southern end of the island), hoping to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon predicted to appear between midnight and 5 o’clock this morning. Over at…
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Tests Confirm Drugs in 15 Samples
PHUKET TOWN: Fifteen of 51 urine samples sent to a regional health department testing laboratory in Trang following the raid at the At Eaze Music House in September have tested positive for amphetamines, Phuket Provincial Health Officer Dr Boonriang Chuchaisangrat told the Gazette today. The urinalyses were carried out to confirm initial results obtained by local health officers who conducted…
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Vacationers Getting Soaked
PHUKET: Heavy rainshowers are giving the high tourist season a wet start as precipitation for the first half of the month has surpassed last November’s total rainfall. The Southwestern Meteorological Center told the Gazette today that a total of 252.6 millimeters of rain was recorded during the first 15 days of this month at the bureau’s monitoring station at Phuket…
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Local Internet Poll Launched
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Gazette has announced the launching today of a weekly opinion poll on its websites. Focusing on strictly local issues of interest to the island’s residents and legions of tourists, the Gazette Poll appears on both the Phuket Residents’ Page (www.phket.loxinfo.co.th/~gazette) and on the Phuket Gazette Online at thethaiger.com. The results of each poll, broken down into…
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Business Start-ups Outpace Closures
PHUKET TOWN: Nearly 100 new businesses filed registration documents during September and October, the Phuket Commercial Registration Department reported. A total of 57 ‘company limited’ and 41 partnership registrations were recorded. The department said that 21 firms ceased operations in the province during the period, of which 17 were limited liability companies and four were partnerships.
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All Eyes Will Be On The Sky
PHUKET: Plans are underway to accommodate local astronomy buffs hoping to catch a glimpse of the Leonids meteorite shower predicted for next week. Sakchai Petchchuay, an astronomy professor at Rajabhat Institute Phuket, will be on hand at the school’s soccer field late Tuesday night and well into the wee hours of Wednesday morning to assist students and residents in spotting…
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Motorcycle Accident Claims Foreigner
KALIM: A motorcycle accident on Phrabaramee Road north of Patong claimed the life of a 35-year-old South African man and seriously injured his female passenger on Wednesday afternoon. Kathu district police said Daniel Gensen, an employee of Singapore-based Sun Cruises, lost control of his 1,200 cc rented motorcycle and crashed shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday while traveling southbound on the…
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Child Advocacy Group Gets Formal OK
PHUKET: After a two-year procedural undertaking, the island’s children’s advocacy organization is now legally registered. The Child-Watch Phuket Association announced it has received formal approval of its registration by the National Culture Committee. The association currently has five ongoing projects to help improve the quality of life for Phuket’s underprivileged children. Among the projects are three facilities: a child recreation…
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Animal Support Group Fundraiser
CHALONG: The Phuket Animal Support Group (PASG) has announced it will hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, November 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Jimmy’s Lighthouse. Tickets, priced at 300 baht apiece, include a Thai buffet, one drink and entertainment. Organizers will also conduct raffles and auctions as part of the event. Proceeds will go toward PASG’s ongoing programs…
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Monkeys Move To Prime Time
PHUKET TOWN: Early morning visitors to Rang Hill are getting more than a panoramic view of the city. Reports of monkeys swinging in the trees and foraging for food are giving the well-known park some new attention. Natthanit Nithiwiroon, the morning disc jockey on radio station FM 89, said she’s been spotting up to two dozen monkeys a day in…
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Vegas-Phuket Links Discussed
PHUKET: Student exchanges, international flight service and Internet promotions were among the topics discussed between representatives of Phuket and Las Vegas during a Sister Cities visit to the American entertainment capital by a delegation led by Governor Chadej Insawang. The Phuket delegation, which included local officials, prominent business operators and members of the media, returned to the island yesterday following…
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Fundraiser Total Tops 300,000 Baht
PHUKET: Organizers of a fundraiser for motorbike accident victim Michael Ilijash have reported that 338,000 baht was raised at last Thursday night’s event at Jimmy’s Lighthouse. Proceeds from the evening will be used to help settle outstanding medical bills totalling approximately 600,000 baht at Wachira General Hospital in Phuket and Songkhla Nakarin Hospital in Hat Yai. The event was attended…
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Pupils Have It Made In The Shade
KOH KAEW: Dulwich International College students will be busy planting trees today and tomorrow as part of the ongoing “Shadier Phuket” project. Led by Phuket Provincial Council member and Shadier Phuket Director Dr Prasit Konavipong, pupils and staff will be planting 400 donated seedlings on the campus grounds and another 600 on adjacent property.
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Carrier Offers Half-Price Tickets
PHUKET: Pacific Leisure (Thailand), a preferred agent for Lauda Air, has announced that the carrier is offering a 50 percent discount on one-way and round-trip business class seats between Thailand and Europe in celebration of its expanded flight service. The special offer applies to business class seats on Lauda Air flights originating at Phuket or Bangkok. The discount, however, does…
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Arrivals Surge In October
MAI KHAO: Domestic and international passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport surged last month as both categories recorded double-digit, year-on-year increases, an airport spokesman announced today. Last month, 85,611 passengers disembarked from domestic flights, up 26 percent from October 1997 when 67,698 arrivals were recorded. International arrivals rose 17 percent, with 38,092 passengers for the month. In October 1997, there…
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Officials Report 15 New AIDS Cases
PHUKET TOWN: Government health officials recorded 15 new cases of AIDS in Phuket province and three deaths from AIDS-related complications during the one-month reporting period ending October 19. The Phuket Provincial Health Department has recorded 780 cases of AIDS since it began keeping records in January, 1989. A total of 265 deaths attributed to AIDS-related complications have been recorded during…
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Foreign Ministers Meeting In Phuket
KARON: Foreign Affairs Minister Surin Pitsuwan is in Phuket today as part of an official visit by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Abdul Samad Azad. This morning, the two participated in a roundtable discussion with leaders of the local Muslim community at the Phuket Arcadia Hotel and Resort. Before returning to Bangkok later today, the Thai minister will lead an orientation tour…
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