Search Results for: Tak
- Phuket News
One drowns, one disappears at Karon
KARON: A Singaporean tourist drowned off Karon Beach yesterday afternoon, while another is missing after disappearing under large waves. A third, in the same incident, was rescued from a similar fate.The three Singaporeans were all from a party of six who arrived in Phuket on Friday.A Tourist Rescue Center (TRC) worker stationed at Kata, who declined to be named, told…
- Thailand News
The love that lasts
SUPHAN BURI: Love is sweeter the second time round for Suphan Buri newlyweds Sunthon Thanabutr, 74, and Sumrith Aom-aerm, 75. The love-struck third-agers, both of whom have been married and widowed, knew each other more than half a century before their chance meeting at an “Elders’ Day” event held at Wat Pho Takuan earlier this year. K. Sumrith said that,…
- Phuket News
Pian back in Patong hot seat
PATONG: It’s official: more than two months since his apparent election as Mayor in the June 21 town council elections, Pian Keesin can finally take office after his victory was confirmed by the Central Election Commission.K. Pian, a former mayor of the town who lost office in a council coup in October 2001, will now face a daunting challenge in straightening…
- Phuket News
One more year for Udomsak
PHUKET: Udomsak Usawarangkura is to be Governor of Phuket for at least one more year.K. Udomsak’s name did not feature in a list of governors who are being promoted or moved on this year. As a result, he told a meeting of senior government officers this morning at Phuket Provincial Hall, “We will be working together for at least one…
- Phuket News
Thaksin rejects “pearly’ underpasses
PHUKET: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in Phuket today for just one hour, turned down a proposal to build two underpasses on the bypass road at a cost of 800 million baht.Instead, he said, the provincial authorities should look at the example of Dindaeng in Bangkok, where a single tunnel, long enough to reach from Phuket’s Samkong intersection to the Darasamut…
- Phuket News
50 million baht for “health hub’ Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Health Ministry is to spend 50 million baht promoting Phuket as a health hub of Asia, Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan announced today.In Phuket for a health conference organized by her ministry, K. Sudarat said the money had already been allocated and would be spent before the end of the year on developing health tourism schemes for the…
- Phuket News
Runway extension plan under fire
PHUKET CITY: Plans by the Airports Authority of Thailand (AAT) to extend the 3,000-meter runway at Phuket International Airport by 700m came under fire today from Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, President of the Phuket Provincial Organization, at a meeting at The Metropole hotel.The extension is deemed necessary by the AAT to allow fully-laden Boeing 747-400 airliners – used extensively on routes to…
- Phuket News
No terrorists in Phuket – Vice-Governor
PHUKET: Phuket is free of terrorists, Vice-Governor Pongpow Ketthong asserted this week.Addressing an anti-terrorism seminar at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, V/Gov Pongpow told his audience of officials that the fact that the gathering was taking place did not mean there were terrorists in Phuket, but it was important to take steps to reduce the chances of terrorist activity occurring…
- Phuket News
Briton questioned over murder
CHALONG: A sombre mood has settled over the Chalong yachting community after police questioned Briton Michael John Taylor, 40, over the murder of his 28-year-old live-in girlfriend Jantra Weangta, from Tak, who was found dead in their home early yesterday morning.Mr Taylor, known locally as “Mick the Pom” and a regular sailor in Phuket regattas, was questioned by police after…
- Phuket News
Bird ‘flu and Sars safeguards upgraded
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has stepped up measures aimed at keeping bird ‘flu and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) out of Phuket.The new procedures have been introduced after new cases of bird ‘flu were reported in Vietnam.Until September, health officers will be in Tah Chat Chai to inspect and monitor poultry arriving from the mainland over…
- Phuket News
Sriyada to run for TRT. Wisut too?
PHUKET: As the national election scheduled for February, 2005, draws near, the ruling Thai Rak Thai party has announced that Dr Sriyada Palimapan will again be its candidate for District 1, which encompasses Phuket City and nearby areas.Former Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrborJor) Vice-President Wisut Santikun says that he is considering a Thai Rak Thai approach to run as its…
- Phuket News
Three murdered in one night
PHUKET: Three men were killed in three separate incidents in a night of violence in Phuket.The first victim was 21-year-old Amnart Niget, of Chumpon, who was fatally shot outside the Summer Hotel in Phatipat Road, Phuket City, at 2am on 12 August.Two hours later, a restaurant employee was beaten to death by a gang of teenagers, also in Phuket City.And,…
- Phuket News
Phang Nga OrBorJor elect new chairman
PHANG NGA: Members of Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) have elected Arkhom Thongjerm as their new Chairman to replace Nithas Siribenjakul, who was gunned down at Takuapa Bus Terminus on July 30.Phang Nga OrBorJor Deputy Chaiman Chot Chatpong told the Gazette that K. Arkhom – the only nominee – was elected unanimously at the OrBorJor‘s meeting on August 13.Members…
- Phuket News
“Burmese Cemetery’ claims 2 more victims
PHUKET CITY: The bodies of two men, both believed to have been Burmese nationals, have been found in Phuket City within two days of each other.Police report that both men, thus far unidentified, appear to have been stabbed to death.The first corpse was found in the afternoon of Saturday in mangroves behind a Burmese workers’ camp near Tah Chin Canal,…
- Phuket News
Phang Nga OrBorJor replace slain chairman
PHANG NGA: Members of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) have chosen not one, but two, chairmen who will take turns as replacements for Nithas Siribenjakul, who was gunned down at Takuapa bus terminus on July 30.Phang Nga OrBorJor deputy chairman Suthas Boonchot today told the Gazette that Arkom Thongjerm from Tap Put district will hold the post for…
- Phuket News
Immigration goes online to boost security
PHUKET CITY: The Immigration Police have launched a project in Phuket that will eventually allow hotels and homeowners all over Thailand to report required data about their guests via the Internet. The project is intended to help combat terrorism and monitor the movements of suspicious foreigners visiting Thailand. Following refinement of the pilot project in Phuket, the system will then…
- Phuket News
“13 reasons to kill’ Phang Nga politician
PHANG NGA: Police investigating Friday’s assassination of Nithat Siribenjakul, chairman of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), told the Gazette today that Nithat was involved in no fewer than 13 conflicts, any of which might have triggered his murder.Nithat was gunned down by at least three men riding in the back of a black Isuzu pickup as he drove…
- Phuket News
Phang Nga politician assassinated
PHANG NGA: Nithat Siribenjakul, the chairman of the Phang Nga Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), was gunned down in a hail of bullets at the Takuapa bus terminus about 8 pm last night.Police officers investigating the murder told the Gazette that K. Nithat was heading home after visiting a fellow OrBorJor member.“K. Nithat drove his Jeep Cherokee into the parking lot…
- Phuket News
New airport proposed for Phang Nga
PHANG NGA: The Deputy–Minister of the Transport Ministry, Vichet Kasemthongsri, has backed a proposal to upgrade a disused World War II airfield into a new airport to serve Phang Nga Province, at a projected cost of 900 million baht. K. Vichet gave his backing during a visit on Saturday to the disused airstrip on Koh Kho Khao, an island off…
- Phuket News
Burmese sought over stabbing murder
KATHU: A Burmese worker is being sought by police after the corpse of a motorbike taxi driver was found last week by villagers near Talay Keeree village, in the foothills around Kathu.The body, with 15 stab wounds in it, was identified as that of 45-year-old Narongsak Bunyalertnimit from Phatthalung, a van driver with the Take-A-Trip travel agency, who worked as…
- Phuket News
Businessman ordered off SorPorKor land
PHUKET: The Phuket Appeal Court today overturned a judgment of the Provincial Court and ordered Phuket businessman Narong Nopdara to vacate 21 rai of land in the Nakkerd Hills in Karon.The successful appeal was launched by the Phuket Land Reform Office (ALRO), which argued that Narong was not entitled to occupy land issued under the SorPorKor land reform program, which…
- Phuket News
Hotels president slams oil pipeline plan
NAI YANG: Vichit Na Ranong, a former senator and current President of the Thai Hotels Association, yesterday spoke out against the oil pipeline slated to be built in Phang Nga, saying, “It will ruin all tourism here and we will never get it back.”Speaking at the opening of the new convention facilities at his Pearl Village Hotel in Nai Yang,…
- Phuket News
Government plans marina at Chalong
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has announced that Phuket province plans to build a marina in Chalong Bay. The announcement was made during a seminar at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, attended by about 80 participants from both government and private sectors. Panjit Pissawong, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, told the Gazette that Chalong Bay is the most…
- Phuket News
OrBorJor sets up planning board
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has set up a committee of professional town planners and architects to study ways in which Phuket’s development can be better regulated. The committee, which will work together with the Phuket Public Works and Town Planning Office, will focus initally on architectural issues.At an open meeting of the OrBorJor on July 16,…
- Phuket News
Giant Buddha gets go-ahead
KARON: Construction of the controversial Mingmongkol Buddha image atop Nakkerd Hill will resume next month, now that the Royal Forest Department (RFD) has issued a paper authorizing work on the project to continue.The authorization stipulates that the project remain in compliance with the original plan and that steps be taken to minimize further erosion at the project site.Work on the…
- Phuket News
American found dead in Patong hotel
PATONG: Police are investigating the death of 43-year-old American Chris John Beyer, who was found dead at the Expat Hotel on Thursday with his hands bound and a black garbage bag over his head. Housekeepers discovered the body about two days after noting a rank odor in room 120, where Mr Beyer had been staying since July 9. Expat Hotel…
- Phuket News
Free HIV treatment launched
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Social Insurance Office today announced its part in the first publicly-funded scheme to make medicine available free to HIV-positive people following the scheme’s launch on the penultimate day of the XV International Aids Conference in Bangkok. As of August 1, Thais registered as resident in a province or foreigners registered for social security will be able…
- Phuket News
Mystery over Yakuza gangster’s death
KARON: The January 6 death of known Yakuza gangster, Kenji Maehama, 30, (as reported in the Gazette Online the following day) is being investigated by Japanese crime fighters to determine whether he was murdered.Mr Kenji arrived on Phuket with his stepfather and two friends on January 5, staying at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort. The following day Mr Kenji reportedly…
- Phuket News
Yanui remains confirmed as missing dive instructor
RAWAI: Autopsy results have confirmed that the skeletal remains recovered at Yanui beach on June 10 are those of missing Dutch dive instructor David Wiewel, who disappeared on March 26 after leaving his Kata home to take a walk. Supatra Wiewel, wife of the deceased, told the Gazette that the bones had been cremated in Phuket after the Police Department’s…
- Phuket News
Duo arrested for snatching
PHUKET CITY: Two young men were arrested yesterday on charges of snatching and receiving stolen property. Police said that Sampan “Ab” Pantunit, 18, and Prakij “Tum” Nariwandee, 20, confessed to snatching a variety of items from their victims but denied receiving stolen goods. Also arrested was the unnamed owner of the SR mobile phone shop on Damrong Rd, who was…