News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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No bird ‘flu on Phuket – official
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Commercial Office has reassured consumers that no cases of avian ‘flu or diarrhea have been reported on Phuket – although huge numbers of chickens elsewhere in Asia have been affected. Archint Ongsakul, a commercial technician from the PPCO, told the Gazette today, “Phuket has no problem with this disease.” A watchdog group, the Consumer Force Association…
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Low-price airfare “open to all’
PHUKET TOWN: Confusion at some airline sub-agencies may have led to some customers missing out on a low-cost airfares promotion by Thai Airways International, an airline spokesman admitted today. “Perhaps some sub-agencies were not properly informed,” Viset Sontichai, Upper-Southern Thailand District Sales Manager for THAI, told the Gazette. “It’s possible that some agencies lost the correct information. THAI has about…
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Gov backs earlier bar closing
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura today came down squarely behind Bangkok’s push to introduce early closing for all entertainment venues. He added that he did not believe the island’s tourist trade would be affected because it was Phuket’s natural beauty that visitors came to see, an argument repeatedly put forward by his predecessor, Pongpayome Vasaputi. The governor’s comments put…
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Patong plans early-closing protest
PATONG: About 150 people from Patong’s entertainment industry met today to discuss measures to oppose government proposals to close the country’s nightlife at midnight. Hundreds more are expected to take part in a full-scale protest at 3 pm on Saturday. Talk of preemptive closures of bars in Patong from 1 am on January 19 was denied by local police as…
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Mystery over Russian girl’s death
CHERNG TALAY: Mystery surrounds the death of a 10-year-old Russian girl vacationing with her family at the five-star Dusit Laguna Resort Hotel. Police said they suspected the girl might have been electrocuted, but a senior Dusit manager rejected this theory, saying the hotel was awaiting the conclusions of doctors who were examining the body. The girl, named by police as…
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English boost for Phuket Town school
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Thai Hua School has reached a 3-million-baht agreement with the Singapore-based Stamford education group to expand the teaching of English at the school. Sombat Atiset, the President of the Kusolsongkroh Foundation, the charitable organization that runs the school, said that the new English course will be launched at the beginning of this year’s first semester, in…
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Reminder on foreigners’ wages
PHUKET: Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen, Deputy Inspector of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), has reminded foreigners that, starting on July 10 this year, new minimum wage requirements will come into effect for foreigners seeking one-year permits to stay in Thailand on the basis of holding work permits. He said the new rates, which will nearly double the minimum wage…
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Seven glue sniffers arrested
PHUKET TOWN: Seven glue sniffers came unstuck early yesterday morning when police officers on patrol caught them enjoying their preferred form of substance abuse, inhaling the vapor of rubber-based glue. Pol Col Apirak Hongthong, Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, and a sortie of officers were on their nightly midnight-to-6 am patrol when they came across five youngsters sniffing glue…
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Patong vendors’ chief cleared in searches
PHUKET: Police searches of six Phuket properties belonging to Patong Vendors’ Association President Somwang “Lae” Wonghan, 39, have failed to turn up any illegal firearms, Pol Lt Col Chartchai Nikorthanon, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, has told the Gazette. The raids, which were led by Phuket Town Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Paween Pongsirin and Phuket Town District…
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Food, water face strict testing
PHUKET TOWN: Island residents can look forward to improved hygiene in food and water production by the end of this year, according to a report issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its “Good Manufacturing Practice” (GMP) standards. More than 100 major establishments were tested between January 7 and 9, but only half passed the GMP standards. Speaking…
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Eye-for-an-eye justice
YASOTHORN: The family of an 11-year-old boy in Muang District’s tambon Khlum-ngen turned up at the local police station to file charges against the boy’s teacher, accusing her of spraying lime juice into their son’s eyes as a form of punishment. Pensri Thongwichai said that her son, Sapasit, developed an eye infection because of mistreatment by his teacher, Ajarn Pannee…
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Not a ghost of a chance
THALANG: When police cremated an unidentified murder victim without first conducting a religious ceremony, their actions came back to haunt them – literally. Fishermen discovered the body in the waters off Ao Por on the morning of December 10 – and it was not a pretty sight. Pol Maj Anan Jingjit of the Thalang Police Station said that they could…
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Arson possible cause of Cherng Talay blaze
CHERNG TALAY: Tum Salathai, a seafood restaurant on the entry road to Laguna Phuket, burned to the ground in the early hours of Wednesday. Police are investigating arson as one of two possible causes of the blaze. Restaurant manager Weerachai Srabua told the Gazette today that the blaze started at about 4 am. “People outside noticed the fire. They ran…
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Kota Bahru visa run “still safe’
PHUKET: Despite continuing violence in the south of Thailand, the visa officer at the Thai Consulate in Kota Bahru, Malaysia, insists that the security situation along the border is still calm and that many foreigners continue to arrive each day to renew visas. Kota Bahru is the Thai consulate closest to Phuket, and one of a few in the region…
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Cheap fares for Phuket-Bangkok flights
PHUKET: Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering a limited number of seats on its Phuket-Bangkok route at the low price of 3,400 baht return or 1,700 baht one-way. The seats are being allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and are most likely to be awarded to people paying for and collecting their tickets at least 48 hours in advance of a…
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War weapons recovered in Kathu
KATHU: Police recovered a briefcase full of explosives along a road in Kathu early Monday morning after investigating an anonymous tipoff. Responding to a call phoned in on the emergency 191 number at about 1:30 am on January 5, Deputy Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Col Apirak Hongthong ordered officers from Thung Thong Police sub-district to secure the location before…
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Laos travel warnings issued
WASHINGTON: The US Department of State has warned US citizens against travel in parts of Laos, including Vientiane province, routes along the Thai-Laos border, and on roads throughout the country, following a number of deadly attacks in recent months. The State Department said in its warning, issued yesterday (January 6), that the attacks, although not apparently directed at Americans or…
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Roads claim three lives over holidays
PHUKET: Three people were killed on Phuket roads from December 29-January 4, the same as over last year’s holiday period, despite a marked increase in the number of police checkpoints and arrests for drunk driving. There was, however, a dramatic decrease in the number of injuries recorded. Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura this morning told the Gazette that all three victims…
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Rivals set for Patong poll
PATONG: On the first day of applications for the Patong municipal elections, Mayoral candidate Pian Keesin of the newly-formed Rak Patong Team registered his candidacy with 18 other members seeking town council seats under the Rak Patong banner. Running against him will be Songserm Kebsup, older brother of Phuket Democrat party MP Chalermlak Kebsup, who registered his application along with…
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“Clean’ venues win award
PHUKET: In a move to recognize “appropriate” entertainment venues, the Phuket provincial government has awarded certificates and signs to five entertainment establishments on the island under its new “white entertainment” scheme. First to receive the awards are Tai Pan and Banana discotheques, in Patong, and Collector Pub, Timber Hut and Indian daeng (Red Indian) Pub in Phuket Town, which all…
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Plea to motorists to pay tax
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket vehicle owners have until February 25 to pay outstanding tax – and avoid hefty fines and other penalties, including cancellation of registration documents, the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office (PPTO) announced today. Prasit Amarapal, Chief of the PPTO, warned errant motorists that failure to respond to the February 25 deadline would result in drivers having to pay the…
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Hundreds flock to register as poor
PHUKET TOWN: Up to 800 people declared themselves “poor” on the first day of registration at the island’s three district offices in Phuket Town, Kathu and Thalang. The project – part of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s War on Poverty – is being piloted in eight provinces around the country. So far some 400,000 families, thought to be about 10% of…
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Reward for missing diver doubled
KAMALA: The reward being offered for information leading to the safe return of 25-year-old dive instructor Phikun “Nori” Srisaksungnoen, who has been missing since November 29, has been doubled to 100,000 baht. Mystified by K. Nori’s disappearance, close friend and workmate Marcus Etter increased the reward he first offered soon after she went missing. The last time he saw K.…
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Elite card price for expats to double
BANGKOK (The Nation): Expatriates will be charged two million baht next year for a Thailand Elite privilege card – double the current price – because they can use member services and facilities more often than foreign tourists or visiting businessmen. “We originally intended to set the price for expatriates at two million baht because of the many advantages they have,…
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Maritime safety highlighted
PHUKET TOWN: Although not citing any specific threat, Phuket Marine Police are implementing plans to work more closely with other agencies to gather and share intelligence. Deputy Commander of [the national] Marine Police, Pol Col Ularn Anekboon, said, “Phuket, like Koh Samui and Pattaya, has many marine tourist centers and we have to maintain security at all of them. “All…
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Dramatic increases in land value
PHUKET: Phuket property owners can expect higher land taxes in the new year as the Phuket Treasury Office (PTO) has announced an island-wide average increase of 65% in government-appraised land values. The new rates, which reflect the island’s continuing property boom, will be effective from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2007. The Bangkok-based Valuation Authority, which is responsible for…
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Death sentence for activist’s killer
BANGKOK: Bancha Noppawong, arrested for the 2001 murder of environmental activist Jurin Rachapol, has been convicted by a Bangkok court. He was handed the death penalty but is expected to appeal the sentence. K. Jurin was found shot dead on land close to the Wachara Prawn Farm – where Bancha worked – in Pa Khlok. A number of activists, including…
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Mayor leaves legacy of development
PHUKET TOWN: Projects totalling 70 million baht – including a park, high-tech traffic lights and a new symbolic sculpture – are under construction in Phuket Town, marking the end of an era for outgoing Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok. A 10-rai site on Thalang Rd – once home to the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority complex – is under development as a multi-use…
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Patong murder suspect arrested
PATONG: The alleged murderer of a go-go dancer is now in Phuket Provincial Prison, following his December 23 arrest in Bangkok by a team of Kathu Police investigators. The man, identified as 26-year-old Akharadech “James” Phusuwan, was arrested without struggle in his native Bangkok following an investigation led by Pol Maj Chawalit Petchsripia. Akharadech was wanted for the August 20…
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Tourist numbers tipped to rise
PHUKET: New airlines, new air routes and more charter flights should help to increase the number of tourists coming to Phuket next year by about 10%, Lt Cdr Boonchart Prompoon, Director of the Airports Authority of Thailand, Phuket, said on Wednesday. He was speaking at the launch of an “All Smiles All the Time” campaign at Phuket International Airport, a…
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