News
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Democrats cruise to Phuket victory
PHUKET CITY: On a day when over 74% of registered voters in the province made it to the polls, official results from yesteday’s general election saw Democrat Party candidates Rewat Areerob and Tossaporn Thepabutr winning both of Phuket’s two constituency MP seats by huge margins. Also, two-time constituency MP Chalermlak Kebsup-Democrat will likely return to parliament as a party list…
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Security guard, 26, murdered in Kamala
KAMALA: Police are investigating the murder of a security guard found beaten and shot to death outside a room at an apartment building in Kamala on Saturday afternoon.Duty Officer Pol Lt Chaiyapong Thamasurin of the Kamala Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Jirasak Khundamri, who was employed as a security guard by a private firm in Cherng Talay. He was…
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Democrats file complaint against smear campaign
PHUKET CITY: On the eve of the national general election yesterday, Democrat Party MP candidates for Phuket Tossaporn Thepabutr and Rewat Areerob on Saturday handed a petition to the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) complaining that leaflets attacking them have been distributed around the island in violation of election law.The pair of political hopefuls handed the complaint and a copy of…
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Luangpoo Supha, 114, blesses “safe teddies’
CHALONG: Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha traveled to Wat Luang Phu Supha Saturday morning to present 2,000 “Nong Prodpai” (“safe sister bear”) teddy bears for blessing by revered monk Luangpoo Supha.The teddy bears are to be distributed to motorists at police checkpoints during the “seven days of danger” period, from December 28 to January 3.Luangpoo Supha, who is reputed to be…
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Phuket welcomes first Estonia charter flight
MAI KHAO: The first charter flight from Tallinn in the Republic of Estonia to Phuket touched down at Phuket International Airport on December 19.At 8 pm, a group of 220 Finnish and Estonian tourists arrived in Phuket aboard a Boeing 757-200 operated by Air Finland.The tourists were welcomed by members of the local press, Phuket International Airport Deputy Director Yutthana…
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DDPM-Phuket announces road-safety campaign
PHUKET CITY: In its annual attempt to limit road carnage over the holiday period, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket) will once again organize a multi-agency effort to promote safe driving during the “seven days of danger” period, from December 28 to January 3.DDPM-Phuket Chief Chotenarin Kerdsom said in an official DDPM-Phuket press release the annual migration of…
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Ya bah bust in Thalang
THALANG: During a sting operation near the Heroines’ Monument yesterday, Phuket Provincial Police special investigations unit arrested a Thalang man for possession of 400 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills with intent to sell.Lt Anukul Nukate of Thalang Police explained that undercover police arranged to meet Surachai Maimad, 29, at 3 pm on Srisoonthorn Rd [Route 4025] to buy the pills for…
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Going out with a bang
YALA: The risk of being blown to smithereens has become an fact of everyday life for people in the Deep South as attacks by insurgents continue to occur on an almost daily basis. However, the insurgents are not the only threat in such a weapons-saturated environment. Even close friends can be dangerous, as five young men found out when their…
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Incombustible cleric
RANONG: Funerals of esteemed monks are always auspicious occasions for believers, a chance to bid farewell to a spiritual leader and wonder what rewards he will get for his life-long accumulation of merit. At the funeral of an abbot in Ranong, the deceased clergyman’s spiritual power was reportedly so strong that his mortal remains refused to burn. Phrakhru Praphasawiriyakhun, abbot…
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Deadly debate
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: Political discussions can get a little heated the aworld over, but in Thailand few provinces are more renowned for fiery political debate than Nakhon Sri Thammarat, where formerly close friendships have been known to fall to pieces over political disagreement. In the latest case, however, the debate turned fatal. In the early hours of November 8, Wichan…
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Couple arrested, 2000 pills seized in ya bah bust
THALANG: Thalang Police made two arrests and confiscated about 2,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills on December 13, said Maj Anukul Nuket of Thalang Police Station.The arrests were made after an undercover police officer posing as a buyer arranged to buy 400 ya bah pills for 90,000 baht from Sitthichai Prasit, 20, a native of Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, and Kanjana…
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Phuket prisoners pardoned
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Prison yesterday released 147 prisoners, 136 were men and 11 women, at 9 am following a royal decree from HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej to mark his 80th birthday.Also released from Baan Bang Jo detention center were two women and two men who had been detained there instead of paying fines.The royal decree was issued on December…
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Tsunami memorial services
PHUKET-PHANG NGA: To mark the third anniversary of the Asian tsunami on December 26, a number of services will be held throughout the region. In Patong, there will a merit-making ceremony at Loma Park involving 108 Buddhist monks, along with speeches and a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims, from 10 am to 10:30 am.Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit…
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Woman dies in cliff-side tumble
THALANG (Kom Chad Luek, Gazette): Police have ruled as accidental the death of a 20-year-old woman who fell 20 meters down a seaside cliff near Nai Thon Beach yesterday morning while she was on a motorcycle tour of the island with friends.Lt Col Somkid Khaosang of Tah Chat Chai police station identified the deceased as Savittree Pinmuang, from Nong Bua…
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Land acquisition funds approved for Chalong dam
CHALONG: Some 160 million baht for the final land acquisition for the Klong Krata reservoir project has been approved and landowners will receive compensation payments within two months.News that the funding had been made available under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was reported during a project update meeting chaired by Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday…
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Bars must close this weekend – and the next
PHUKET: The upcoming general election will be a sobering experience for the island’s party people, as a ban on alcohol sales will force bars to close for two consecutive weekends – starting at 6 pm tomorrow night.Phuket Election Commission Director Supap Akkam this morning confirmed that the new election law prohibits alcohol sales not only on election day, but during…
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Supreme Court upholds SorPorKor ruling
PHUKET CITY: (Nation/Gazette): The Supreme Court yesterday confirmed an appellate decision to evict members of the Tantiwit family from a 69-rai plot designated for landless farmers in Kathu.“The national-land-reform [SorPorKor] program is reserved for farmers. Non-farming individuals are not qualified to utilize land-reform plots,” the High Court said in its verdict, read out at the Phuket Provincial Court Building.The Supreme…
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Gambling tops crime stats
PHUKET: Gambling topped the latest crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police, with 228 arrests in November.Drug-related cases accounted for 109 arrests, of which 49 involved ya bah (methamphetamine) with a total of 3,170.5 pills seized.Twenty-seven people were arrested for the use of cannabis, with 9.2 kilograms confiscated. There were 15 arrests for inhalant abuse and nine for possession of…
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Three years on: Phuket marks tsunami anniversary
PATONG: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is organizing Light Up Phuket on December 26 to mark the third anniversary of the tsunami tragedy in 2004.More than 100,000 candles will be lit along the three-kilometer stretch of sand at Patong Beach.At 10:50 am, 108 monks will pray during a ceremony at Loma Park, Patong.Candles will be placed in the sand on…
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B-negative blood needed urgently
PHUKET CITY: The blood bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital is in urgent need of type B Rhesus-negative blood to treat a patient needing a blood transfusion. Anyone with this blood type is urged to contact the hospital as soon as possible.Donations of any blood type are also welcome and first-time and regular donors with at least three months since their…
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Home blaze in Koh Kaew
KOH KAEW: A house near Muslim Wittaya Phuket School in Koh Kaew caught fire early in the evening of December 9, causing damages estimated at 500,000 baht. No injuries were reported.Phuket City Police Duty OfficerPol Lt Somchai Noobun described the gutted dwelling as a one-story property in a small soi near the school. He identified the homeowner as Amarin Phinyo,…
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Ax meets knife in battle of brothers
KAMALA: Five men were hospitalized after a bloody fight following an accusation of attempted rape at a Kamala construction site workers’ camp on Monday night.Pol Sub Lt Charnsarawut Saeng-aroon of Kamala Police Station reported that the fight, involving an ax and a 12-inch blade, broke out between two pairs of brothers after the wife of a construction worker alleged that…
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Jelik wins King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Under pressure for a perfect start in strong winds this morning, Ray Roberts’ Quantum Racing crossed the start line just three seconds before the start horn sounded, leaving Frank Pong’s 75-foot Jelik to sail off round the course and win the 21st King’s Cup Regatta.The windiest King’s Cup since 1994 sorted the men from the boys to end on…
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Blackouts scheduled for Chalong and Wichit
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has announced scheduled blackouts that will leave residents in Wichit and Chalong without power on December 12 and 13.The power cuts will allow the authority to carry out necessary maintenance and inspection work on high-voltage power lines in both vicinities.The areas will be affected as follows:December 12, 9 am to 5 pm.WICHIT: Pattana…
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New company to operate airport limos
TAH CHAT CHAI: Phuket Mai Khao Co Ltd has won a concession to operate a new taxi and passenger van service at Phuket International Airport (PIA). The company will operate 60 vans and 20 cars under a three-year concession won with a bid of 33 million baht, Phuket Airport Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree told the Gazette.The company can begin…
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Phuket companies score at property awards
BANGKOK: Phuket-based property companies took home four of 13 awards at the 2007 Thailand Property Awards, held in Bangkok December 1.The Yamu was awarded the Best Resort Villa Development prize, Royal Phuket Marina won in the Best Resort Condo Development category, while the Lighthouse Club Green Development Award went to West Sands in Mai Khao. Siam Real Estate was awarded…
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Gangs war with “swords’ at Saphan Hin
SAPHAN HIN: Two gangs each of about 40 teenagers battled with long-bladed weapons, reported as swords, at Saphan Hin about 1 am on Sunday. In the melee, a 16-year-old died after being struck down while riding his motorbike and a member of the same gang fled his attackers by jumping into Klong Bangyai, but with his right hand severed and…
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Cop shoots self by accident
WICHIT: A police officer on a solo stakeout on Monday accidentally shot himself in the wrist, the Gazette has learned.Following up a report that an officer had been shot by motorcycle thieves, the Gazette today spoke to Sgt Rakchart Suksrinuan of the Phuket City Police.Speaking from a hospital bed at Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he is being treated, Sgt Rakchart…
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Long Live The King
PHUKET: In honor of HM Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday today, more than 100 yachts taking part in the 21st King’s Cup Regatta completed a sail-past salute before taking to deeper waters for today’s racing.If it were not for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej being a keen yachtsman and master craftsman of sailing dinghies, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta would not…
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Protesters continue attack on Cherng Talay Tesco
THALANG: With construction of the new Laguna Tesco-Lotus Market in Cherng Talay nearing completion, the development continues to be marred in controversy after representatives from Cherng Talay Municipality measured the area of the site on November 26 and declared the construction legal in a subsequent report.Samarn Krohlek and Apisit Ngarnpresertkit, leaders of a local protest against the store, joined Thalang…
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