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- Phuket News
Burmese boys escape detention center
PHUKET TOWN: Three Burmese boys escaped from the Juvenile Observation and Protection Center near Saphan Hin early yesterday morning. Two were recaptured within hours but the third is still at large. The escape, according to Pongsura Krainara, the center’s chief, took place at around 6 am when the three boys were detailed to help a guard at the center carry…
- Phuket News
Chinese cadres head for Phuket
PHUKET: After the brief holiday enjoyed by China’s President, Jiang Zemin, in Phuket last year, it seems that the island is becoming a vacation choice for senior communist cadres from the People’s Republic. Tomorrow sees the arrival of 17 communist officials, led by the president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Li Tieying, who is also a member of…
- Phuket News
Japanese tourist stabbed four times
PHUKET TOWN: A Japanese tourist who wanted to call his family – to tell them he had arrived safely in Phuket – was robbed and stabbed four times just after midnight yesterday, on his way to make the call. Pol Maj Adul Nirapai of Phuket Town Police Station said that Terai Osamu, 27, came to Phuket with friends and was…
- Phuket News
Health Office in hygiene drive
PHUKET: In a bid to raise the standards of local restaurants and food stalls, the Phuket Provincial Health Office has begun inspecting them and awarding those that meet its standards with a ‘Clean Food, Good Taste’ sign and certificate. Dr Boonrieng Chuchaisangrat, Chief of the Health Office, explained that Phuket is still very competitive in the regional tourism industry, and…
- Phuket News
Kao Mai likely to dominate new OrBorJor
PHUKET TOWN: Following a meeting today organized by the victorious Kao Mai party, which took nine of the 15 Provincial Administrative Council (OrBorJor) seats allocated to Phuket Town in Saturday’s elections, its appears that the party’s leader, Dr Prasit Koysiripong, will become President of the new council. Kao Mai has put together a coalition that includes the Thalang Group Party,…
- Phuket News
Former mayor still sought on murder charge
PHUKET: The former mayor of Patong, Dr Anan Ananthanawat, is still being sought by police three months after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of involvement in the murder of an ex-policeman. On October 21 last year, five men were arrested for their part in the killing of ex-Pol Sub-Lt Weerapol Panrod, who was shot dead in…
- Phuket News
PM opens Board of Investment Fair
BANGKOK (AFP): Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai was today due to open the two-week Board of Investment Fair 2000, designed to convince the world that the Thai economy has turned the corner and to lure foreign investors to bolster the recovery. The government is touting the fair, which opens to the public tomorrow and is expected to draw between three million…
- Phuket News
“The Beach”: Paradise lost or a tourism godsend?
BANGKOK (AFP): As environmentalists lament a potential paradise lost, Thailand’s tourism industry is hoping for a shot in the arm from next month’s release of Leonardo DiCaprio’s new movie “The Beach.” Despite a court battle over accusations that a beach was ruined during shooting of the film, authorities hope scenes of turquoise seas and heavenly beaches will spark a tourism…
- Phuket News
900 ya bah pills seized as police nab 3 dealers
PHUKET TOWN: Police revealed today that they arrested a woman and two men on January 4 on charges of possession of ya bah with intent to sell. They also seized more than 900 pills of the drug with an estimated street value of around 135,000 baht. Pol Lt Passakorn Sootthikul, of the narcotics division of the Phuket Town Police Station,…
- Phuket News
Police make reporting lost documents easier
PHUKET TOWN: Police here have opened three new booths to make it easier for local people and tourists to report the loss of documents. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new booths are at the intersection of Phang Nga Rd and Phuket Rd; in front of Suan Luang Park on Chaofa Rd; and at the public…
- Phuket News
Two found murdered near fishing port
PHUKET TOWN: Two men, thought to be fishermen, were found dead on Si Sena Rd near Phya Thai Hospital in Phuket Town, one on Tuesday and another yesterday. Pol Maj Vinai Kongkaew of the Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that the first body was found at around 10 pm on Tuesday. The man is believed to have died…
- Phuket News
StarAid funds used to support several projects
PHUKET TOWN: Funds raised from the StarAid event held at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket last June were used to organize a Christmas celebration for 30 HIV infected children at Vachira Hospital last Sunday. On the same day, 30,000 baht was donated to the slum village of Langho Prachum for the development of an HIV educational fund for the children…
- Phuket News
Blue Canyon wins international award
PHUKET: The Blue Canyon Country Club was named Asian & Pacific Golf Resort of the Year 2000 in the recent Hertz International Golf Travel Awards ceremony, held in Portugal. It was also nominated in two other categories: Asian & Pacific Golf Course of the Year 2000, and Worldwide Golf Resort of the Year 2000. In last year’s Hertz awards, it…
- Phuket News
Town to get bus service soon, maybe (Part II)
PHUKET TOWN: Attempts to get Phuket Town’s first real bus service up and running – originally scheduled to start last May – are still on, and are still inching toward reality. Samkhan Saengfai, managing director of PB Holdings, which has a seven-year operating license from the Phuket Provincial Transport Office, told the Gazette that the service has been delayed because…
- Phuket News
Rises in Immigration fees put on hold
PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office, like all other Immigration offices in Thailand, has rescinded steep rises in visa and other fees which were introduced recently. The rises, which quadrupled the existing fees, were contained in a new immigration law brought into force on November 12. However, a subsequent notice from Immigration headquarters in Bangkok on November 29 ordered the new…
- Phuket News
Karaoka and Hi Fidelity neck-and-neck
KATA: With one day’s sailing still to go in the King’s Cup regatta, a clear winner has yet to emerge in the premier division, the Racing Class, with Neil Pride’s Hi Fidelity and Ray Ordoveza’s Karaoka continuing to slug it out for top honors. The regatta went into its fourth day without major problems, other than the continued strong winds…
- Phuket News
THAI to suspend 20 overseas flights amid Y2K fears
BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Airways International (THAI) will suspend 20 international flights over the New Year due to fears the Y2K bug could affect air traffic safety, THAI president Thamnoon Wanglee said late today. “No domestic flights will be affected, only 20 flights to Europe, Australia, and Sri Lanka will be suspended,” he said. A senior Thai government minister this week…
- Phuket News
Reward for information on gas smugglers
PHUKET: The Ministry of Finance is offering rewards for anyone giving information that leads to the arrest of gasoline smugglers, it was announced today. The announcement came as Marine Police said they had stopped two vessels on Friday, arrested nine people, and confiscated more than 100,000 liters of fuel. Pol Lt Gen Luan Panrotthip, Commissioner of the Illegal Gasoline Suppression…
- Phuket News
Police launch raids in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police last night launched a series of raids aimed at catching illegal Burmese workers and cracking down on drug offenses and other crimes in Phuket Town. The raids, ordered by Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, began at 9 pm with 60 officers swooping on construction camps, the fishing port, rubber plantations, and shops.…
- Phuket News
Hospital director appeals for funds
PATONG: Dr Taweesak Netwong, the director of Patong Hospital, has appealed to the public to donate funds to help him in his plans to create Thailand’s first state-owned “international” hospital. Dr Taweesak told the Gazette that since Patong is in a unique location which requires it to deal with more tourists than any other hospital in Phuket, it needs upgrading.…
- Phuket News
Immigration Police crack the whip on foreigners
PHUKET: In a move reminiscent of the darker passages of a Kafka novel, Immigration Police in the province are visiting foreigners’ homes and demanding to see passports and visas. They say they plan to check up on every foreigner’s residential and work address every 90 days. The visits, which have raised the specter of a police state, have outraged a…
- Phuket News
Blue Canyon nominated for Hertz awards
PHUKET: Blue Canyon Country Club is one of six resorts in the region nominated for the titles of “Asia-Pacific Golf Resort of The Year” and “Asia-Pacific Golf Course of the Year” in the prestigious Hertz International Golf Travel Awards 2000. Only one other Thai golf club, the Laem Chabang International Country Club, received a nomination, in the golf course of…
- Phuket News
Hot competition in Junior X-Games
PATONG: Today’s ESPN/Junior X-Games semi-finals saw tough competition, especially in the sport climbing – bouldering category. Pipoy Cosculluesia and Tagoy Ledesma from the Philippines, Kim Dae Yaob from South Korea and Michael Foo from Malaysia topped the event, each clearing the two routes on their first try. In the female category of the same event, Shaina Gu from Taiwan and…
- World News
World News: Face of Bashar al-Assad’s government flees – diplomat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syrian spokesman flees country: diplomat Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Syrian foreign ministry spokesman, who was the most public face of Bashar al-Assad’s government as it battled a 20-month-old uprising, has fled the country, a diplomat in the region said yesterday. Jihad al-Makdissi, who is in…
- Phuket News
Weather blocks roads, cuts power and phones
PHUKET: The wet and windy weather of the past few days has caused flooding in several parts of the island, and knocked out power and telephones in a number of locations. Several roads have also been blocked by fallen trees or utility poles. The Bypass Road around Phuket Town was blocked this morning by a fallen tree, while another tree…
- Phuket News
Arrest warrant issued for former mayor of Patong
PHUKET: A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the former Mayor of Patong, Dr Anan Ananthanawat, on charges of involvement in last year’s murder of an ex-policeman. Pol Lt Col Paween Pongsirin, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that five men had already been arrested for involvement in the murder of the…
- Phuket News
Local “Shopper Card’ takes off
PHUKET TOWN: A discount card for Phuketians disillusioned with ‘international’ pricing and the gaps so often found between ‘Thai’ prices and those charged to locally resident foreigners, has met with strong demand following its October 4 launch. More than 40 “Shopper-friendly businesses” have signed on to the Gazette Shopper program, and requests for cards are being received at an average…
- Phuket News
Residents in fear after second murder in two days
PHUKET TOWN: People living in the area of the Fishing Port have asked police to step up patrols after two murders in as many days. Both victims were stabbed to death. The first body was found on Friday, as reported in the Gazette’s online news the following day. On Saturday, police were again called to the port area where another…
- Phuket News
Festival flag “may be one for the Guinness Book’
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization plans to contact the publishers of the Guinness Book of World Records to see whether a massive yellow flag, made specially for this year’s Vegetarian Festival, is a world record. The flag, which is 9,999 meters long and carries uplifting messages in Thai, may already be seen, running along the roadside from the…
- Phuket News
Woman found dead in Suan Luang Park
PHUKET TOWN: The body of a young Thai woman was found floating in a canal in Suan Luang Park on Chaofa Rd early Saturday morning. The body was discovered by a security guard in the park. He alerted police who, with the help of staff from the Kusonlatham Foundation, retrieved the corpse. Pol Maj Amnuay Kraiwutthianant, in charge of investigating…
