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Gov’t to organise referendum
BANGKOK (The Nation): In a bid to find ways to solve the ongoing political chaos, the Samak government agreed this morning to conduct a “public referendum”, Culture Minister Somsak Kietsuranond announced this afternoon.He quoted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej as saying that the referendum is the best solution to the problem.The decision was made at a special cabinet meeting conducted this…
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PM Samak still stonewalling
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted in an address to the nation on Radio Thailand this morning that he would not step down, quashing widespread expectations that he would finally resign.Samak has been driven into a tight corner, suffering two blows in a row yesterday. The first came when Army chief Anupong Paochinda told him that the military would not…
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Buffalo ladyboys’ carjack capers
CHIANG MAI: If you happened to have been out drinking in Chiang Mai over the last few months and, after a few too many beers, decided to do the responsible thing and pull over in your car for a rest to sober up before weaving on home, then you may have come across the Buffalo Ladyboy Gang. The gang has…
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Bogus cop, broken heart
CHIANG MAI: Some women simply fall head over heels for a man in uniform. One love-sick Bangkok native, presumably with this in mind, found himself in trouble recently after impersonating a police officer in a bid to win the heart of a pretty Lanna girl. According to the girl’s neighbors, her pursuer, calling himself Pol Maj Krittanan Rattaradee, moved in…
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Phuket PAD protests continue; government utilities threatened
PHUKET CITY: About 1,000 protesters marched on Provincial Hall this afternoon in support of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrations in Bangkok. The PAD wants Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.The large crowd was bolstered by many people who had turned out to rally against the violence in Bangkok last night that left one PAD member dead and several others…
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Pian keeps digging for Patong tunnel
PATONG: Pian Keesin, the recently re-elected Mayor of Patong, yesterday announced he will continue with his plan to build a tunnel under the hills separating the popular beach resort town from Phuket City.“We plan to set up a budget to study and research the impact of building a tunnel, in the hope that – if there are no objections –…
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Highways Office chief told to speed up Chalong Circle removal
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima has told Saroj Suwinchai, the chief of the Phuket Provincial Highways Office, and Paiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), to get going on removing Chalong Circle.At the monthly Governor Meets Press meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, V/Gov Worapoj said, “It’s too old and not attractive for people who pass by…
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Phuket ICT a “no show” at Chinese expo
PHUKET: The project to have representatives from Phuket businesses and other organizations promote Phuket’s information and communications technology (ICT) prowess at the 5th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, next month has failed due to lack of interest. The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) aimed to run 69 presentation booths at the event (click here for earlier report).…
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Phuket PAD assembling at Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters began gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall (Sala Klaang) at 8 am this morning, their numbers increasing all morning to reach about 500 by 11:30 am. The protesters, taking cover from the sun under six tents, plan to board five tour buses to Bangkok to join fellow PAD protesters in the capital. The…
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State of Emergency announced in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej this morning announced a state of emergency in Bangkok, following a clash between the pro and anti-government supporters at about 1:30 am.Reasoning that some groups of people caused disturbances in Bangkok that affect peace and security, Samak announced the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.The prime minister’s order…
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Lost in Transit: airport closure cost B250m a day
PHUKET AIRPORT: Losses of an estimated 250 million baht per day have been reported to an ad-hoc committee set up to monitor and control safety at Phuket International Airport following the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) anti-government protests. Phuket International Airport was closed at 4:50 pm on Friday and did not re-open until 11 am yesterday. Marking the return to…
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“Bang Hem’ wins Pa Khlok OrBorTor presidency
PA KHLOK: In unofficial results of balloting held yesterday, Athipong Khongnam defeated incumbent Panya Samphaorat by 261 votes to win the presidency of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Turnout saw 6,307 of the sub-district’s 8,131 eligible voters (77.6 %) making it to the six polling stations, which were open from 8 am to 3 pm. Voters also cast…
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Thousands head home as airport re-opens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport re-opened yesterday, with thousands of tourists crowding the departures hall while arrivals started to trickle in. Marking the return of inbound flights at about 3:30 pm was the arrival of a THAI Airways 777 from Bangkok with more than two hundred tourists aboard, the first plane to land on the island since Peoples Alliance for Democracy protesters forced…
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Phuket Airport reopens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport has re-opened, two days after protesters stormed the facility, forcing it to close.Although there are still protestors at the gate to the facility, the first flight is expected to land within the next 15 minutes. More than 1,000 People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters on Friday overran the main gate. Some parts of the main terminal were damaged,…
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Phuket Airport still locked down
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport continues closed. An airport official who asked not to be named told the Gazette this this morning that although the furor of the protesters has abated somewhat, the mob’s dedication to keeping the airport closed remains firm.The same trusted source notes that it is not possible for airport management to make an estimate as to when the facility might be open again.The number of outbound…
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Phuket Airport remains shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as the People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that…
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PAD PROTEST: Gov calls emergency meeting
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has called an emergency meeting of his top staff, including Vice-Governors Smith Palawatwichai, Worapoj Ratthasima and Tri Augkaradacha.
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PAD PROTEST: Airport runway clear, but still no flights
PHUKET AIRPORT: Police have persuaded protesters to leave the runway at Phuket International Airport, the Gazette has learned.Protesters left the landing strip on the agreement from airport officials that flights would not resume until their demands had been met.
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PAD PROTEST: Phuket Airport overrun, runways blocked
PHUKET AIRPORT: At about 4:45 pm today, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters breached the main gate at Phuket International Airport, made their way into the main terminal and smashed the windows of the VIP lounge. Several hundred protesters stormed the runways and airport officials have ordered a halt to all air traffic. Police have been called in from around…
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Police gear up for Veggiefest 2008
PHUKET CITY: With the start of the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival just a month away, Phuket City Police met representatives of all participating Chinese shrines to ask for their co-operation in keeping this year’s event as safe and orderly as possible. Attending the meeting on August 25 were Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Tinthanee, Phuket City Police Superintendent Nos…
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Anti-government rally crowd at Phuket Airport reaches 1,000
PHUKET: More police have been called in from around the province to supervise anti-government protesters at Phuket International Airport as crowd numbers reach 1,000. No reports of violence.
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Phuket Airport blocked by anti-government rally
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport has evacuated passengers and closed its doors this afternoon as about 500 supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have gathered there in a rally calling for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.Protesters have blocked the road to the airport and are allowing foreigners access to it on foot only, and only until 3 pm, after which, the…
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Patong floods in downpours
PATONG: Heavy rain this morning flooded Patong’s busy streets.An officer at the Patong Municpality office of the Department for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation told the Gazette that the flooding was at its worst about midday, as the rains continued to fall and the drains had yet to deal with the deluge that had already hit the resort town.The water was deepest along…
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Bus crash causes injury, commuter misery
THALANG: Four people were injured when a bus with bald tires overturned on Thepkrasattri Rd this morning, leaving commuters stuck in a traffic tailback stretching well over five kilometers long.Seksan Konsakorn of Thalang District Police told the Gazette the six-wheel bus lost control in wet conditions on a curve near Tha Reua Shine, where it crashed into a roadside power…
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Bars raided over music copyright
PHUKET: Entertainment venues around the island were raided last week in a clampdown on copyright violations. Several bar operators were fined for illegally playing copyrighted music in their bars and ordered to obtain licenses to allow them to play music at their establishments. The raids were instigated by a team of about 20 representatives from RPK Publishing. Music collections and…
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International hotel school gets Governor’s support
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday voiced his support for an international hotel school to be opened on the island.Representing Orion Hotel Schools, Swiss national Lothar Schudt of Jasmin Consulting Property Management yesterday met Governor Niran at Provincial Hall to seek support and clear the way for plans to be drawn up and investors sought for the new school.Orion…
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Gen Apirak asks for patience in murder investigations
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong has assured the public that investigators are working hard to bring to justice those responsible for a slew of unsolved murders that have shocked the island in recent months. Speaking after a press conference on August 20, Gen Apirak said provincial police investigators and specialists from Bangkok were working hard on three…
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Phuket Reporters Club President dies in car crash
PHUKET: Phuket Reporters Club President Thongtuan Sukmuang and four fellow Thai Rath newspaper reporters died in a fiery road accident in Narathiwat about midday yesterday.Khun Thongtuan, 51, and his colleagues were on their way to Narathiwat for the funeral of fellow reporter Chalee Boonsawat, who died in the August 21 insurgent car bomb attack in Sungai Kolok.Their van overturned after…
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Phuket protesters join Bangkok Siege, demand PM’s resignation
PHUKET: As the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) makes its final drive to oust Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, media in Bangkok have reported that NBT broadcast stations were being raided around the nation.However, NBT reporter Chaiwut Poungsuwan today told the Gazette that the NBT station in Phuket, located at the top of Rang Hill in Phuket City, is safe and sound.“NBT…
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Speed, guns and ganja confiscated in crackdown
PHUKET CITY: Following his order of a crackdown on crime, Phuket’s top cop has announced that several drug- and gun-related arrests were made recently in different parts of the island.Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong said that recent swoops in various locations had included the seizure of 390 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills that had been stashed in a hole in the…
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