Phuket

Mob blocks Laguna entrance

Published

18 years ago

March 19, 2002

Mob blocks Laguna entrance | The Thaiger

CHERNG TALAY: About 300 villagers from Cherng Talay blocked the entrance to Laguna Phuket today to protest over a variety of grievances against the operators of the five-star resort complex. The mob blocked hotel cars, taxis and buses, with the result that resort guests arriving or departing were forced to carry their bags through the picket lines. The protest started last night outside the offices of Laguna Services Co, which looks after common services for the resort area, such as laundry and gardening. The protestors, from nearby Baan Don, were objecting to moves by the company to fence off land from which Laguna draws its water supply. The Baan Don villagers argued that there was a traditional right of way across the land that should not be blocked. Today, the mob expanded as the villagers’ ranks were swelled by protestors from other parts of Cherng Talay, using PA systems to broadcast a variety of grievances against Laguna Phuket. The protest then moved to the main entrance of the complex. One of the protest leaders, giving his name only as “Chid”, told the Gazette, “The land was closed yesterday, which made villagers very angry, especially because we were told by about 10 guards that we were not allowed to enter the place. “The guards had guns and they brought a sign in Thai saying ‘Private Property’, which they erected at the front of the gate,” K. Chid said. Viwat Doktean, chairman of the Cherng Talay Sub-District Administrative Organization, explained, “This piece of land covers about five rai, which used to be public land. It was called Suan Chalerm Prakiat [the King’s Garden]. “Villagers used to bring food and goods there to sell to tourists, making the place very dirty, so we turned it into a public park. Thai Wah [Laguna’s parent company] agreed to take care of the park in return for being allowed to lay a path to the beach for resort guests.” Late yesterday afternoon, villagers went to the Cherng Talay Police Station and accused Thai Wah of encroaching on public land. Laguna Resorts and Hotels Managing Director James Batt told the Gazette that the land being fenced off is part-owned by the company, and is where the Laguna complex gets its water – which is why Laguna wished to protect it. “This got the attention of the Baan Don villagers, so they formed a mob last night. So this morning we were dealing with that issue. That was basically settled but some villagers from other parts – anyone who ever had an issue with Laguna – jumped on the bandwagon and the thing grew a little bit.” He said that intervention by Vice-Governor Manit Wattanasen had been invaluable in taking the heat out of the situation. “I sat down with K. Niyom [Tassaneetipagorn, Assistant Vice-President of Thai Wah], the Thalang District Officer, [local politician] Kamnan Sommit, Vice-Governor Manit and some of the community leaders to discuss the problems. “To be honest, some of the complaints were as banal as, ‘We don’t think so-and-so should work for Laguna Resorts any more.’ In addition, there was a problem with a title deed on a public lagoon, which we’d never heard about before. “V/Gov Manit did an excellent job. Any principal issues will now be handled in a less heated and better moderated environment, in discussion between three villagers, three people from the government, and three from us.” By 6 this evening, the protestors had melted away, the complex was as serene as ever, and five-star guests were no longer forced to carry their luggage.

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Crime

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft

Published

4 hours ago

October 18, 2019

Greeley Pulitzer

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Patong Police

Patong Police have yet to develop any tangible leads tracking down a foreigner who made off with US$30,000 in cash from a currency exchange booth in Kalim, north of Patong in Phuket, last Tuesday.

The man is about 168 centimetres tall with grey hair and around 60 years old, Patong police told The Phuket News.

“We have no clue what nationality he is.”

He was last seen at the currency exchange booth wearing a purple polo shirt, blue jeans and black cap. Police have checked hotels in the area, police stations across the island and Phuket Immigration, but have yet to join the dots and come up with firm leads.

“Investigators have checked CCTV in the area and collected what evidence we have but we still do not know the man’s name or where he was staying.”

The man had visited the booth several times before Tuesday, when he disappeared with the $30,000 in US banknotes, according to police.

“It was always small amounts”, he added, noting that the amounts didn’t warrant staff at the exchange booth to check the man’s passport before making the exchange.

The man arrived at the booth again at about 1pm on Tuesday, saying that he had 900,000 baht cash to exchange.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Crime

Mystery surrounds security guard found dead in his Phuket room

Published

22 hours ago

October 17, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: Phuket Hot News

The security guard of a hotel in Nai Yang, northern Phuket, 52 year old Yingyot Butsabong, from Maha Sarakham province, was found dead yesterday (October 16) in his room. Police remain mystified how the man came to grief.

A woman named Supattra received a call from the hotel he worked at and was informed that he didn’t show up at work yesterday, so she went to his apartment to check on him.

She saw that his room was locked from the inside, so used the key she had in her possession to open the room and found Yingyot laying on the floor, face down. She thought he was just sleeping so she tried to wake him up but once she flipped him, she found that he already passed away.

She immediately called Saku police, and once on the scene, police found that there was some blood on the floor. The man had a 2 centimetre wound on his left eyebrow which was deep into his skull. There was also a wound on his chin about 1 centimetre long and about a centimetre deep. His left eye had a bruise which looked like he was attacked by a hard object.

Police report that he had been dead for around four hours in the room.

The room was not ransacked and there was no sign of fighting or theft. His body has been sent to Thalang Hospital for a detailed autopsy and to look into the cause of death.

SOURCE: Phuket Hot News

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People

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people

Published

3 days ago

October 15, 2019

Nattha Thepbamrung

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | The Thaiger

On October 18, the ‘Always Smile Journey’ group and its partners will host an exhibition with plenty of fun activities at the Yak Yai Market, near Chalong Circle, in Phuket. This event was designed to raise funds to provide free English classes for underprivileged people on the island of Phuket on Saturdays and Sundays. The group does not accept donations but aims to raise money through the sales of the products available at the event.

From 2 pm to 8 pm, there will be a number of artists, musicians and performers who will keep the attendees entertained along the way. There will be a short film about His Majesty King Rama 9 as well as fun activities and games for kids and families, which are all free of charge.

The big bike crew is also a part of this event. They will ride a parade from Rawai Beach heading to the market and showcase their gorgeous two-wheel buddies.

One of the highlights of the Always Smile Journey exhibition is the ‘Happening’ artists group, who will draw and paint a picture of the His Majesty King Rama 9 under the name ‘Street Art King Bhumibol’ on a 4×10 meter sign live at the event so the guests will experience this large-scale art in action. The Happening will also offer portrait sketching for the participants.

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | News by The Thaiger

One of the works created by the Happening team; a painting of HM the King Rama 9 on a huge wall (Photo credit: Chawat Chumpasan)

There will also be some western menus available at the event which will be donated to underprivileged children.

This free English class project has over seven years of experience through its cooperation working with individuals and other charity organizations. Throughout the years, the group visited several areas such as Ban Laem Hoy School, Ban Bopud School and Ban Angthong School in Samui, Surat Thani province, Ban Bueng Ao Oun School and Ban Kakoh Rayong, in Surin province, Jalae Village of Lahu (Muser) in Chiang Rai province, as well as community education centers in Siem Reap, Cambodia and in Luang Prabang, in Laos.

This event is a cooperation between several groups, including Happening, Yak Yai Market and Arrow Media, Tattoo artist group, Thonburi Art School Alumni, International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, big bike group from Phuket, artists/performers/musicians from many provinces as well as several businesses across Phuket.

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