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Mayor under fire for park bridge project
PHUKET TOWN: About 20 members of the Rak Suan Luang Club (RSLC) today descended on Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok’s monthly press conference to protest the construction of a bridge in King Rama IX Park, better known as Suan Luang Park. Protest leaders handed Mayor Phummisak an official complaint to stop construction of a bridge over concerns that it will…
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Another murder in port area
PHUKET TOWN: The “Burmese Cemetery” has claimed yet another victim with a vicious weekend stabbing of a Burmese fisherman. Pol Lt Parichat Jaturonpan, of Phuket Town Police Station, said a motorbike taxi driver called police just after midnight on Sunday after seeing a man’s body by the side of Si Suthat Rd, near Rassada Port. Although police did not release…
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Pub hours extended for holidays
PHUKET: Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenond has confirmed that entertainment venues with a pub license will be allowed to remain open all night on both Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31). The official closing times on both dates have been set at 6 am the following morning. K. Pracha asked club operators for cooperation in refusing…
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Austrian hangs himself over illness
PATONG: Austrian tourist Gerhard Buchhart yesterday hanged himself from a crossbeam in his hotel bathroom, just two weeks after his 50th birthday. Pol Capt Serm Kwannimit, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that a hotel maid discovered his body about 3:40 pm when she checked his room at Paradise Mansion, on Rat-U-Thit Rd, after he failed to check out.…
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Burmese blamed for healthcare drain
PHUKET TOWN: The chiefs of the five government hospitals in Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket yesterday singled out Burmese laborers as a burden on hospital funds in the Andaman region. The comments were made at a top-level meeting of Public Health officials, including Public Health Deputy Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnog and Public Health Inspector Dr Narong Chayakul, at…
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Antiques seized in raid on shop
PHUKET TOWN: Police this morning raided antiques store Tommy Vintage and Collectibles, on Thalang Rd, and seized two antique carved wooden doors and an ornate Buddhist prayer table, all believed to be about 100 years old. Thamrongsak Sukhajiradej, the store’s Manager, was charged with selling antiques without a proper license. He told the Gazette that the antiques belonged his father.…
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Speedboat seized, owner sought
MAI KHAO: Phuket Marine Police last night seized the speedboat “Cedar Swan Tender” from a house near the Yacht Haven Marina. Pol Col Phira Boonliang, Superintendent of Phuket Marine Police, said, “The boat had been brought into the country illegally without any import duty paid on the hull or the engine.” He added that officers had tried to contact the…
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Booster for fight against polio
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is offering free poliomyelitis vaccinations to Thai and foreign children under the age of five. PPHO Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong explained that parents may take their children to any health center, hospital or medical clinic on December 18 to receive the primary polio vaccination, and on January 21 for a booster shot. “We…
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Policeman shot with own gun
THALANG: A policeman’s wife used her husband’s own pistol to shoot him dead yesterday morning after they had a heated argument near the Sarasin Bridge. Pratheuang “Tim” Saesue, 45, shot Pol Sgt Maj Siripong Aimjad, 35, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, at 10 am in front of many witnesses. She did not try to flee the scene. Pol Lt…
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Immigration Chief promoted
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), has been promoted to Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police. He will take up his new post on Monday (December 16). Speaking with the Gazette, Col Apirak said that in his new post he would continue the fight against all aspects of the illegal drugs trade. “We’ve…
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Taxi, tuk-tuk drivers block road in protest
KATA: A mob of 200 tuk-tuk and taxi drivers this morning blocked Koktanode Rd to protest safari tour companies depriving them of customers. The mob gathered at about 7 am near the junction with Patak Rd and demanded that four safari companies – Siam Safari, Island Safari, Southern Eco and Amazing Bhukit – continue to honor a verbal agreement reached…
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New rules to govern local elections
KATHU: New regulations coming into force on July 9 next year stipulate that committees set up by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (OECT) will oversee the running of local elections instead of officers from the Ministry of Interior. Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising made the announcement at a seminar on Friday entitled Distribution of Authority and Elections Under…
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Property auction sparks protest
PHUKET TOWN: About 50 people gathered outside the Merlin Hotel this morning to protest the sale of repossessed houses and land by Bangkok Bank. Noppon Siemhan, a lawyer and member of Phuket Property Protection, said that many properties at today’s auction would be sold at 50%-80% of the original value. “I think they should give a discount of 50%-80% to…
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Police find Kamnan killer’s shotgun
THALANG: Police have found the gun used in Sunday night’s hitman-style slaying of Moo Baan Saku’s village leader Somboon Panyawai, the area’s police chief said today. Pol Lt Col Jakrit Srisuwan, Chief of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette that the gun was found 300 meters from the scene of the shooting during an extensive search of the…
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Park chief deals with abuse claims
PATONG: Authorities at the Similan National Park are making changes to the ticketing system to stave off allegations of abuse and corruption. Representatives from about 30 dive companies met yesterday evening at Crissey Village with the park’s chief. Alistair Beveridge, President of the Phuket Chapter of the Dive Operator’s Club of Thailand (DOCT), told the gathering that he had been…
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Pla Loma leading King’s Cup race
PHUKET: Pla Loma has held onto the lead in the Racing division on the third day of the King’s Cup Regatta. Provisional series rankings for all classes are as follows: Racing 1. Pla Loma – Keith Moore, 2. Yo – Peter Ahern, 3. Linklaters Mandrake – Robert Elliot. Premier Cruising 1. Australian Maid – John Wardill, 2. Elektra – Marcel…
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Naked lady clue to mystery body
CHALONG: Police are hoping the tattoo of a naked lady will help them identify the body of a man found floating yesterday in Ao Chalong, near Koh Lone. The tattoo is on the right leg of the man, who appears to be either Thai or Burmese. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and baggy trousers and police think he…
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Winds tease King’s Cup racers again
KATA: The wind faded again after a good start to racing on day two of the King’s Cup Regatta yesterday. Winds of 10 to 12 knots at Phi Phi as the fleet headed for Kata on Phuket had faded by lunchtime. Some of the Racing Yachts failed to complete the course. In other groups, the first race was shortened to…
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New lists of visa exemptions
PHUKET: A revision of the lists of countries whose citizens can obtain a 15-day visa or a 30-day visa on arrival will come into effect on December 29. Visitors holding passports from specified countries for a temporary visit not exceeding 15 days can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. This list has been reduced from 96 countries…
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A feast for franchisees
PHUKET TOWN: The third Franchise B2B Thailand event will be held at The Metropole hotel on December 9 and 10, organized by the Department of Business Development. During the event there will be more than 70 Thai food and beverage and service franchises present to meet with potential franchisees. There will also be a seminar with lectures covering different topics…
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Beauty in a million
PHUKET: The new Miss Andaman 2002, Waraporn “Oy” Ongkaloy, was crowned on Saturday night and received her prizes – one million baht, a pearl necklace, a pearl crown, and the chance to spend a year promoting the Andaman coast. K. Oy, 21, also won the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Popular, netting another 150,000 baht. For the next year…
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Shotgun slaying by after-dinner killer
THALANG: A dinner with family and friends ended in the execution-style shotgun murder of a local leader at Nai Thon last night. Somboon Panyawai, 44, Kamnan of Baan Saku, was blasted as he walked across the road to return to his car parked about 40 meters away. His wife was already in the car. Police believe the killer, waiting among…
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Gusts hamper King&’s Cup opener
PHI PHI: A good breeze that aided the start of King’s Cup racing today vanished around noon, leaving some yachts fighting variable winds or drifting past the wrong side of gates. The wind was described as “very flukey”. In some instances, yachts were becalmed while others not far away managed to capture gusts. Despite conditions, there were finishes in every…
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Bar closed over lewd show
PATONG: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has temporarily closed a go-go bar in Patong’s Soi Seadragon after complaints that a lewd and immoral show was performed there. Two Norwegian tourists took photographs to Kathu police as evidence of Norwegian women competing with Thai bar girls in what they described as a “shameful performance.” At first the Pink Panther bar was fined…
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Sand sculpting a big draw despite rain
KARON: About 300 people gathered at Nong Harn yesterday and braved sporadic showers for the second Chula Phuket Sandsculpting Festival. More than 30 teams of five competed to make the best sand sculptures in four categories of entrants: school, college, hotels and the general public. Between 9 am and 3 pm, entrants took to the sand and made the best…
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Aussie, Canadian win triathlon
CHERNG TALAY: Australians once again had a strong showing in the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon, even though last year’s men’s and women’s champions both failed to reclaim the top spots in this morning’s competition. Among the men, Craig Alexander of Australia took first place, followed by American Tim De Boom, while last year’s winner, Courtney Atkinson of Australia, finished third.…
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King’s Cup racing to start Monday
PHI PHI: An expected 80 entries are gathering today at Phi Phi in preparation for the 16th King’s Cup Regatta (KC). The week of racing begins Monday off Phi Phi, followed by a Phi Phi-to-Phuket race, then three days of racing off the west coast of Phuket. The regatta wraps up in Kata on Saturday. Pundits are tipping Linklaters Mandrake…
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International boat show set for Phuket
PHUKET: An international boat show is to be held in Phuket at the end of next year. As well as being a venue for the boating industry, the Phuket International Marine Expo 2003 (PIMEX) will also showcase the Royal Phuket Marina Resort and Spa, which is due to be completed next year. Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT),…
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Immigration arrests drop substantially
PHUKET: The number of people arrested for illegal immigration dropped by more than half between October and November, police statistics show. Figures from November 1 to 25 show 95 people being arrested for illegal immigration, compared with 239 in the comparable period in October. Narcotics arrests and incidents remained about the same with 68 cases reported, and 93 arrests. This…
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Tourist drowns at Kamala
KAMALA: A 63-year-old Swiss tourist died in an ambulance on the way to hospital yesterday after being pulled from the sea at Kamala. Police named him as Alexander Jost, a regular visitor to the island who had been in Phuket on his latest visit since November 20. Pol Capt Narong Loypatumviroj, Inspector of Kathu Police Station, said that Thais and…
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