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“Mick the Pom” murder case adjourned
PHUIKET CITY: Briton Michael John Taylor – known as “Mick the Pom” – appeared before Phuket Provincial Court this morning in the first hearing in his trial for the stabbing murder of his girlfriend, 28-year-old Jantra Weangta, on August 17 last year.The judge was told that both prosecution and defense lawyers needed more time to interview witnesses in the case.Prosecution…
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Prison governor dies in road accident
KRABI: The man appointed Chief of Phuket Prison just two months ago has been killed in a road accident.Saree Udom died when his car collided with a motorcycle then hit a tree, on Kho-Tor Rd in Krabi on January 22.K. Saree was on his way from Phuket to his house in Surat Thani. It is thought he died instantly, although…
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Seafood, water are safe – Health Ministry
PATONG: An investigation by the Ministry of Public Health has found that seafood and water in Phuket – including drinking, well and sea water – is free of contamination following the tsunami.The announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Dr Wanchai Thienthaworn, during a visit to Patong Hospital.The Director General of the Department of Medical Science (DMC),…
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B200m center to honor King’s grandson
PHUKET CITY: A 200-million-baht rehabilitation center for autistic children will be built at Wachira Phuket Hospital as a memorial to tsunami victim Bhumi Jensen, the 21-year-old grandson of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was killed by the tsunami.Dr Jessada Chungpaibultatana, Director of the Wachira Phuket Hospital, told the Gazette that the budget to build the five-story building will be provided…
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Search for missing Austrian child
PHUKET: The International Victim Coordination Center (IVCC) has appealed for help in tracing a three-year-old girl from Austria who is believed to have surivived the tsunami but been mistaken for a Thai child.MR Supinda Chakraband, of the IVCC, told the Gazette, “It is thought the little girl, who calls herself “Anita” and “Alexandra”, survived the tsunami but she is now…
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Singapore President honors tsunami dead
PHUKET: The President of Singapore, S R Nathan, yesterday visited Phuket and took part in a Buddhist ceremony for the victims of the tsunami.Pres Nathan was accompanied to the ceremony, at Wat Srisunthon in Thalang, by Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.The merit-making was also attended by Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr.Pres Nathan…
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THAI adjusts flights, Tiger Airways slashes fares
PHUKET: Thai national carrier THAI has denied claims that it has axed international flights to Phuket, although a spokesman has confirmed that two flights that previously stopped in Phuket now go to Bangkok instead.THAI’s District Sales Manager for Upper-Southern Thailand, Kalayapha Panich, told the Gazette, “Around 20 daily charter flights have been canceled, but THAI hasn’t canceled any [scheduled] flights.“THAI…
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Vendors appeal against ‘smart Patong’ plan
PATONG: Vendors and operators of other businesses have tried to persuade Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Santichai Euajongprasit and Patong Municipality Mayor Pian Keesin to allow them to trade on Patong Beach as they did before the tsunami.Around 300 fishermen, jet ski owners, beach masseurs, renters of umbrellas and beach beds, motorbike rental businesses and beach…
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Relief coordination group launched
THALANG: Some 85 people attended the first meeting of the Thailand Tsunami Recovery Group (TTRG) at Blue Canyon Golf Club, and three sub-groups were set up to help coordinate various aspects of the volunteer relief operation. Mark Weingard, who convened the meeting, explained that the TTRG would not be a charity itself, would not raise funds, and would not direct…
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Global IT leaders expected to attend Phuket conference
KARON: About 1,000 leaders in the global information technology (IT) industry, including Microsoft Senior Vice President Craig Mundie, are expected to attend a three-day conference in Phuket next month in order to restore international confidence in Phuket’s IT infrastructure after the December 26 tsunami.Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Dr Surapong Suebwonglee was quoted on the Software Industry Promotion Agency…
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South Korean forensics team arrives
PHUKET: South Korea has sent 11 forensic scientists to Phuket to help with the mammoth task of identifying tsunami victims.South Korea’s Ambassador to Thailand, Yoon Jee Joon, told Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura yesterday that the 11 experts would be working with the forensic team of Pol Gen Noppadol Somboonsap.Mr Yoon added that his government hoped to establish a permanent consulate…
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Tsunami-struck firms “need more help’
PATONG: The President of the Phuket Tourist Association has called on the government to do more to help the tourism industry recover from the tsunami.Pattanapong Aikwanich told a seminar yesterday at Club Andaman Beach Resort, Patong, called to discuss restoring Phuket’s spa businesses, “We are about 90% ready to do business now, but occupancy is currently only about 10%. We’re…
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FantaSea to close again until February
KAMALA: Phuket FantaSea opened its doors today for a special booking, but will close again from tomorrow until February 1, and possibly beyond that.The prominent tourist attraction closed on January 8, after the number of bookings plummeted following the tsunami.At that time, Managing Director Pin Kewkacha said that FantaSea had sustained damage totaling 60 to 70 million baht, and that,…
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TAT woos HK tour firms and media
KATA: Representatives from 50 media organizations and tour agencies in Hong Kong are in Phuket on a post-tsunami inspection tour intended to restore faith in Phuket’s tourism industry.The visit was organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in conjunction with Katathani Phuket Beach Resort and Evergloss Tours of Hong Kong.At a press conference, TAT Region 4 Director Suwalai Pinpradab…
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Tsunami-hit residents “must pay rent’
KAMALA: More than 300 residents gathered yesterday evening to hear Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura explain why they must start paying rent on land where they have lived for many years rent-free.Addressing the meeting at Kamala Police Station, Gov Udomsak said, “Government policy is to bring back tourists by reorganizing beaches and public places. If the places are restored and improved…
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Anti-malaria campaign launched
PA KHLOK: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today launched an anti-malaria campaign at the football field in Pa Khlok.Officers from the PPHO, local villagers, teachers and students, as well as volunteers and members of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), joined forces to clear up places where standing water would allow mosquitoes to breed, and fumigated areas to…
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TAT planning “Tsunami Trail’ tours
ANDAMAN: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to launch a “Tsunami Trail” tour in March, in collaboration with private tour companies.Sethapon Chindanon, the TAT’s Regional Director for the Americas, told the Gazette this morning that the tours would be aimed initially at the Thai market.“We are discussing the idea with tour companies, low-cost airlines and hotels, and are…
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Call for skilled volunteers
BANGKOK (The Nation): Officials in charge of the tsunami disaster clean-up in Khao Lak are seeking volunteers to handle duties seen as part of the next step, as the region moves beyond basic search-and-rescue operations.They said it is now the turn of web designers, translators, typists, community assistance officers, radio disc jockeys and call center staff.More than 100 such people…
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Five homes broken into
CHALONG: Five foreigners’ homes in Rawai were broken into on the night of January 16. Cash and mobile phones were stolen.Three of the houses are in Palm Garden Home, near Phuket Sea Shell on Wiset Rd, while the other two are in Bang Khontee, on Saiyuan Rd.The thief or thieves forced open burglar bars covering windows before climbing in.“We are…
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Swedish PM calls for ‘no warning’ probe
PHUKET: Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson has called for an investigation into why no warning was issued in the hours before Thailand was hit by a tsunami that killed more than 5,000 people including, possibly, as many as 1,000 Swedes.Speaking during a visit to Phuket with his counterparts from Norway and Finland, Kjell Magne Bondevik and Matti Vanhanen, Mr Persson…
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Central bank ready to launch soft loans
PHUKET: The Bank of Thailand (BoT) – the country’s central bank – decided yeterday to establish a system allowing tsunami-affected businesses to get soft loans at interest rates of no more than 2% a year. These loans would be channeled through the country’s commercial banks, which would repay the BoT at a rate of just 0.01% a year, Prasuksup Puangsokorn,…
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FantaSea to re-open on Wednesday
KAMALA: Phuket FantaSea is due to re-open on Wednesday (January 19), after closing for 10 days because of a fall in business caused by the tsunami.The theme park’s public relations director Sirikul Amaramorn told the Gazette today, “We have about 100 visitors booked to watch the opening show, and most of them are foreigners.”Before the tsunami, FantaSea had between 3,000…
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Planeload of Saudi aid arrives
PHUKET CITY: Medical supplies, tents, sleeping mats, blankets and 75 tons of food donated by the government of Saudi Arabia arrived in Phuket yesterday.The aid items, flown to Phuket on a special relief flight, were handed over to Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula at Phuket Provincial Hall.Saudi government officers visited the tsunami-stricken areas of southern Thailand last week.Hani A Mominah, Chargé…
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Canadian PM pledges help
PHUKET CITY: Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday visited Phuket and offered his country’s help in restoring the coastal environment and establishing a tsunami early warning system.Mr Martin met Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula at Phuket Provincial Hall, before visiting Kamala to talk with Canadian and Thai volunteers, and officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sorajak Kasemsuvan…
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Beach chair operators oppose recovery plan
PATONG: Operators of umbrella and beach chair rental businesses on Patong Beach are to ask the government to reconsider its plans for rebuilding the municipality after the December 26 tsunami.According to the plan, the number of beach umbrealls for rent on the beach would be reduced from 7,000 pre-tsunami to 1,500, and beach chairs and beds would be banned, replaced…
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Dogs helping people helping dogs
PHUKET: The Rotary Club of Phuket has teamed up with the Raksatt Small Animal Hospital & Pet Shop and the Chaipak Dog Training Center to form a group to help both pets and people suffering from post-tsunami stress.The coordinator of the Helping Tsunami Victims Through Dogs project, Anupan Boonchuen, noted that dogs can help relieve the suffering of tsunami victims…
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Scandinavian package airline to resume Phuket flights
PHUKET: MyTravel Airways, based at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, is to resume direct flights from Scandinavia to Phuket International Airport on February 3, bringing about 1,000 people a week to Phuket and Krabi.Torben Andersen, the airline’s Head of Information and PR, told the Gazette that the first resumed flight will leave Oslo, Norway, on February 3, with another departing from Stockholm…
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Residents ‘will resist’ Kamala plan
PHUKET: A 331 million-baht plan for the post-tsunami rebuilding of Kamala has set local residents against Phuket governor Udomsak Usawarangkura.Under the plan – drawn up after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for damaged areas to be reconstructed in a way that would make them “beautiful and safe” – residents would be prohibited from returning to homes near the beach, and…
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Industry Minister pledges B2bn in SME support
PATONG: Industry Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisan announced yesterday that the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) has earmarked 2 billion baht from its Venture Capital Fund to buy between 10% and 49% interest in tsunami-affected SMEs in order to provide much-needed cash flow. There will be no interest levied on the capital injection nor will the OSMEP claim any…
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DNA work complete in two weeks – Bhokin
PHUKET CITY: The bodies of approximately 2,200 unidentified tsunami victims are still awaiting extraction of DNA samples for analysis in China. Most are being kept at Wat Yanyao and Wat Bang Muang in Phang Nga, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula told a a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon.K. Bhokin said that forensic science teams can extract DNA samples…
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