News
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Second incinerator “not likely’
PHUKET CITY: Phuket will likely have to wait for a new government before getting a second incinerator to deal with the island’s increasing volume of trash, Wisut Singkhachornworakul, Advisor to the Ministry of Interior, told a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday.During the meeting, held to discuss problems faced by the province, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana said that…
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Highways Office applies for “new’ Sarasin Bridge
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) will apply to the Highways Department headquarters in Bangkok for permission to start researching costs and possible designs for a new bridge off the island.PPHO Chief Supphasak Nunsang told the Gazette, “We will include a proposal for a new Sarasin Bridge in our 2008 budget, but first we need to draw up…
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Burn victim Saijai slowly healing
PHUKET: Saijai Phromdaen, the woman set on fire at Patong Beach in February, is continuing to improve at Vachira Phuket Hospital, where she is undergoing skin graft surgery. Pennee Phromdaen, K. Saijai’s mother, told the Gazette that Saijai’s wounds are healing properly and she is now able to speak, eat basic foods and wash herself. “Every day she exercises by…
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Police to press charges over sea gypsy assault
PHUKET: Police are preparing to press grievous bodily harm charges against a businessman accused of cutting the oxygen line of a sea gypsy diving off Nui Beach in January, Lt Col Peerapan Meemak of Chalong Police Station announced at a meeting at Provincial Hall to discuss Rawai sea gypsies’ fishing rights.“I received a report from two sea gypsies on January…
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BIS to teach English at Phuket schools
PHUKET: British International School (BIS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to teach English-language classes at five Phuket schools.BIS teachers will teach English at Muang Phuket School, Kathu Wittaya School, Cherng Talay Wittayakom School, Baan Maireab School and Thalang Phra Nangsang School.OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thephabutr said, “The OrBorJor is committed to developing education…
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Youth arrested for See Kor stabbing
TUNG TONG: A young man was arrested early Sunday morning for the murder of 20-year-old Thanongsak Umpaisakul, who was stabbed to death outside See Kor market at dawn the previous day.Thongchai “Lan” Noomueang, 22, was riding his motorbike around Saphan Hin with a group of friends when police caught up with him and presented him with an arrest warrant for…
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Legal fracas over alleged swindling of dive boat
BANGKOK: Two Norwegian operators of the 85-million-baht M/Y Viking of The Orient have sought help from the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) in Bangkok, claiming they were cheated when one of their Thai employees signed ownership of the vessel over to a local moneylender to cover an unpaid debt of seven million baht.Norwegians Einar Meling, Managing Director of Viking Cruises…
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License plate auction raises B11.62m
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) and Pun-Neung Co Ltd’s third car license plate number auction at Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel March 17 and 18 raised 11.62 million baht, which will be donated to the Road Safety Fund to help victims of road accidents and to support traffic safety education in schools.The previous such auction in 2005 raised…
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Patong one-way to stay
PATONG: The one-way traffic system in Patong will stay after the 90-day trial period is over, the Superintendent of Kathu District Police Station has told the Gazette. Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen said the system would definitely remain in place, though with improvements to meet the demands of people in Patong. To this end, a survey will be carried out to gauge…
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Gov moves to evict Chalong encroachers
CHALONG: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit will head a committee aimed at evicting encroachers from government land off Soi Songkul, where three homes were badly damaged last November in a bombing believed to have been motivated by a land rights dispute.Tawicha Chaithong, who heads the Phuket Administrative and Justice Enhancement Group, said there are three areas of greatest concern: Klong Mudong…
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“Ko Noi’ gunman arrested at wedding
PHUKET: Almost a year after well-known Phuket businessman Preecha “Ko Noi” Kraitas was gunned down in Rawai, police in Petchaburi arrested the alleged gunman at a wedding reception on March 9.Lt Col Somyot Chimplee of Petchaburi Provincial Police told the Gazette that Petchaburi native Samrerng Klaising was arrested as he stood in a wedding reception line waiting to wish good…
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Chalong policeman’s wife arrested for Phichai murder
CHALONG: Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, today confirmed that the wife of a Chalong police officer has been arrested for allegedly hiring four men to kill 44-year-old construction contractor Phichai Wanlayapetch, who was gunned down after dropping his child off at a Chalong day care center on February 26. Col Chalit declined to name the officer, but…
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Water shortages imminent – ODPM Chief
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM) has identified 43 areas in Phuket that are expected to suffer water shortages in upcoming weeks with some areas already trucking in emergency water supplies.Some areas in Thalang are expected to run dry within days, said Phuket ODPM Chief Aroon Kerdsom.“We know from previous years where the trouble spots…
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Govt dedicates 238 rai for B1.4bn sports complex
MAI KHAO: The Treasury Department has signed an agreement with the Phuket Sports and Recreation Development (SRD) Office allowing 238 rai of government land in Mai Khao to be used for a sports training complex costing 1.4 billion baht.The agreement was signed February 23 by Tamrong Tongtan, Head of the Phuket Provincial Treasury Office, and Promchote Traivate, Head of the…
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Arrests for illegal firearms rise
PHUKET: Twenty-five people were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms from February 1 to 28, compared with 10 arrests during the same period in January, according to the latest crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.Gambling again saw the most arrests with 260 people charged, and 57 people were arrested for drug-related cases.Cases involving ya bah (methamphetamine) totaled 31, with…
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“Red tide’ blooms cause murky conditions
PHUKET: Many of the island’s beaches are experiencing algal blooms that are causing murky conditions commonly called “red tides”, but marine biologists say the situation is not dangerous and sea conditions are expected to return to normal soon.Suree Satapoomin, a researcher at the Phuket Marine Biological Center, told the Gazette that the blooms were first detected on west coast beaches,…
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Charity gorge
PATONG: Gluttony and generosity will go hand-in-hand this weekend, when 80 contestants take part in Jungceylon’s first-ever “EAT-A-THON” to raise money to buy lunches for poor local students.Jungceylon Public Relation’s Manager Slilla Svetsreni explained that on Friday, Saturday and Sunday contestants will compete in devouring four categories of fast food to be provided by sponsors Burger King, Swensen’s ice cream,…
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Island gears up for Heroines’ Festival
PHUKET: This year’s festival honoring the heroine sisters of Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Sri Soontorn will include traditional dances, games and a mountain bike race during the three-day celebration. The festival, a commemoration of Phuket’s victory over the Burmese incursion of 1785, will be held at Baan Riang in Thalang, near the heroines’ monument from March 11 to 13. The…
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Teen murder suspect arrested
RASSADA: Police on Saturday arrested another member of the glue-sniffing youth gang wanted in connection with the murder of Keittirat Longnawa, a 31-year-old transsexual and glue addict who was beaten and had his throat slashed January 31.Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Thitinun “Wung” Vongnayat, arrested in his Rassada home at about 1 am.Phuket City Police Investigations Inspector Lt Col…
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License plate auction to top 10 million baht
PHUKET: A total of 301 “lucky” numbers will be up for bid at Phuket’s third two-day auction of auto license plates, starting at 8:30 am on March 17 and 18 at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel.Suraphon Tanrungruangthawee, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPLTO), told the Gazette that there will be a variety of categories of numbers up for…
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Sterne swings to lead Johnnie Walker Classic
PHUKET: In a late charge this afternoon, South African Richard Sterne finished 13 under par to head the leaderboard going into final day of play in the Johnnie Walker Classic 2007 tomorrow.Yesterday’s leaders, Oliver Wilson from the UK and South African Anton Haig were put to a series of challenges throughout the day. The first challenge came from another experienced…
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Khun Sao murder suspect still at large
KATHU: The suspected accomplice in the stabbing murder of 40-year old Nongyin “Sao” Sengton is still at large.Khun Sao was murdered in her home near the Tung Tong Market on November 27 last year. She was a long-term companion of property owner Tavorn Kajkla, also known as Pae Lian.She was found with 15 deep stab wounds, and her gold necklace…
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Johnnie Walker Classic: Haig matches course record, Wilson leads
By Oliver Bates PHUKET: The second day of the Johnnie Walker Classic saw a reversal of fortunes for the top players as Englishman Oliver Wilson took the lead at -10, while South African Anton Haig equaled Greg Norman’s course record with a 8-under round of 64, leaving him in second place going into the playoffs.Today’s play saw some wild shots and…
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Bars urged to close over Buddhist holiday
PHUKET: The Makha Bucha holiday will again be marked by closed bars this year as police request all establishments that serve alcohol to shut down for the Buddhist celebration tomorrow.Makha Bucha commemorates the day when 1,250 of Buddha’s disciples convened to hear the Buddha’s preachings. It also marks the day when Buddha announced that he would enter nirvana in three…
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“Saijai Aid’ launched to aid burn victim
PHUKET: People wanting to make direct donations to aid the recovery of burn victim Saijai Phromdaen, who was set on fire by an itinerant glue addict at Patong Beach on February 13, can now do so via the Internet or by visiting Vachira Phuket Hospital. Dr Jerry Hoss, who is organizing the aid drive, told the Gazette that K. Saijai…
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Patong hotel owner shot
PHUKET CITY: Suppakon “Ko Yin” Ektaweechot, owner of the Hyton Leelavadee Resort in Patong, was shot in the back with a shotgun on Sunday evening as he was eating dinner at Ban Panun Restaurant on Rassada Anusorn Rd in Phuket City.He is now recovering at Vachira Phuket Hospital and reported to be in a stable condition.Lt Col Ampolwat Seangraung, Investigating…
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More people register as living in Phuket
PHUKET: Between January 31 and February 20, 3,203 people registered with the government as living in Phuket, bringing the island’s official population to 312,074.Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Piya Bharatasilpin reported the increase to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit on Tuesday.The registrations are in response to the Governor calling for island residents to register as living in Phuket so that the…
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Traffic safety spurs Central Festival access restriction
PHUKET CITY: From March 15 access to and egress from Central Festival Phuket from Wichit Songkhram Rd will be restricted.In an effort to reduce traffic tailbacks and the high number of accidents at the location, Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch has ordered that the center line along Wichit Songkhram Rd where traffic stops to enter Central Festival Phuket…
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Kamala OrBorTor President removed over corruption allegations
KAMALA: Jaral Sararak, President of Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), has been dismissed over allegations of rampant corruption.The order removing him from office, signed February 23 by Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa, followed an investigation requested by Sorranun Sane, Chairman of the OrBorTor Board.K. Khantee told the Gazette, “We have investigated Jaral many times for a lack of transparency in…
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Gov gets tough on bars, violence and encroachment
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has ordered police to continue their crackdown on bars in Patong opening after hours, saying that there were no exceptions in the law for “tourist provinces”.At the Phuket Provincial Security Committee’s monthly meeting at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth asked the Governor to clarify…
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