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Junta woos Chinese; vows interim government within three months
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Junta chief woos Chinese The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday called on Chinese businessmen to help create a good understanding of the situation in post-coup Thailand in order to retain investments and tourists from China. The chief of the ruling…
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Ukraine crisis; Putin, Poroshenko break ice at D-Day event
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine crisis; Putin, Poroshenko break ice at D-Day event Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The leaders of Russia and Ukraine held their first talks on Friday since Moscow annexed Crimea, discussing ways to end their four-month conflict in a brief encounter during commemorations in France of…
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Taxi driver found with over B100mn in bank spurs money laundering investigation
PHUKET: The discovery of a taxi driver’s bank book that showed assets of more than 100 million baht has initiated investigations into possible money laundering. Officers discovered the bank book this morning while searching the home of the driver, who has not yet been named. “A number of drivers had unexpectedly high bank balances, and we intend to check each…
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Taxi driver turns in 30,000 baht in cash
PHUKET: A bag containing baht and euros totaling almost 30,000 baht left behind at Rassada Pier by a forgetful German student was turned in by a helpful van driver yesterday. Mongkol Khampanta, 43, the driver, found the bag sitting on a chair in front of his company’s kiosk at the pier, he told police. He immediately asked around and called…
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Destruction of Patong taxi booths underway
PHUKET: The destruction of 16 taxi booths in Patong is currently underway. Starting at 3pm this afternoon, Patong Police, officers from the Patong Municipality and volunteers began to tear down taxi booths throughout Patong. “We are targeting 16 booths. Some we have received complaints about, and some are obstructing traffic,” said Patong Police Chief Investigator Sutthichai Thianpho. The taxi drivers…
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Video Report: Get sweaty with a clean conscience: Phuket’s Clean the Beach Boot Camp tomorrow
PHUKET: After their one-year anniversary celebration to Phi Phi, Krix Luther and the Clean The Beach Boot Camp gang will be back on their home turf at Nai Harn Beach in southern Phuket tomorrow. Last month, over 50 eager boot camp participants, veterans and first-timers, piled onto Blue World Safaris’ speedy catamaran for the anniversary event, banking on a day…
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Breaking News: Phuket taxi driver arrested with B100mn
PHUKET: Police today arrested a Phuket taxi driver who had more than 100 million baht in his bank account. Officers are now investigating the origins of the funds and whether the suspect was involved in money laundering. — Woranut Pechdee
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Classic British Grumpy Old Man with passion for Phuket passes away
PHUKET: The Phuket expat community suffered another tragic loss to its ranks this week with the death of John Devenport, an avid classic car enthusiast and founding member of Phuket’s Grumpy Old Men Society (GOMS). Mr Devenport’s passing was announced to his Facebook friends in a post yesterday which read, “to all his Facebook friends we regret that John Devenport…
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Phuket shrine broken into; possibly robbed
PHUKET: Police are trying to track down the culprits involved in a break-in and possible robbery at the Tah Rua Shrine on Thepkrasattri Road in Srisoonthorn. “Cheng Kittipisarn, 73, who looks after the shrine, reported the break-in just after 8am today,” Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Cheng was waiting near an overturned…
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Beach club blues
PHUKET: I’ve heard it many times from long-term Phuket expats – over the years the island has changed for the worse. But it doesn’t take decades to notice the decline. For me it took just one year. Take what used to be my favorite Phuket beach – Layan. A half-moon of sand on the border of a national park, edged…
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Turning others’ bad reputations into profit
Manop Pukpaya, 46, has been working as a Phuket taxi driver since 1997. He has a certificate in sales marketing from Dusit Commercial College Bangkok and for the past three years has run his own taxi service.Here, he talks about how the bad reputation of taxi drivers in Phuket and a good online review helped him expand his business, and…
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South American saviors
PHUKET: Tourism officials are seeking to tap into the Brazilian travel market to help Thai tourism reach its revenue goal for the year despite the coup. Some 21 Brazilian travel agents recently concluded a tour of Phuket and the surrounding area and said they felt completely safe and did not fear the political situation after they arrived, said Anoma Wongyai,…
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Police arrest Phuket blockade leaders
PHUKET: As part of an ongoing campaign to clean Phuket of all people deemed by police to be a threat to the island’s tourism industry, officers have arrested three people for involvement in major street blockades. Police have arrest warrants for 23 people for their roles in the blockades, Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region…
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Memorial event to honor Phuket expat Graham Doven
PHUKET: Long-term Phuket expat Graham Doven, who passed away in Bangkok earlier this week (story here), will be honored with a ceremony on June 15 to scatter his ashes in Phang Nga Bay. The ceremony on the bay, where floating wreaths will be laid upon the water, will be followed by a memorial lunch at BB’s Restaurant at Tinlay Place…
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Indian PM ally says rape ‘sometimes right, sometimes wrong’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ally of India’s Modi says rape ‘sometimes right, sometimes wrong’ Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A lawmaker from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party has described rape as a social crime, saying “sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong”, in the latest controversial remarks by an…
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Pope fires entire board of Vatican financial watchdog
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pope fires entire board of Vatican financial watchdog Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pope Francis sacked the five-man board of the Vatican’s financial watchdog on Thursday – all Italians – in the latest move to break with an old guard associated with a murky past under…
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Three young Phuket sailors aim to represent Thailand at Welsh World Championships
PHUKET: Three young sailors who grew up in a local orphanage are preparing to be the first to represent Thailand in a world class sailing event in Wales in August. Ekkapot Kaenkaew and Theerapong Tokratoak, both 17, and Kartoon Jundet, 12, are members of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC), which has been invited to send competitors to the International…
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Junta eyes lifting curfew for World Cup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Curfew may be eased for World Cup The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday mulled whether to make curfew hours more flexible for the World Cup tournament, which kicks off next week. Junta spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said…
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World Cup gambling slated to reach B$43bn
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Cup gambling slated to reach B$43bn The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thais are expected to spend an estimated Bt69 billion during the upcoming football World Cup in Brazil – with gambling on matches forecast to generate Bt43.5 billion alone, according to a University of…
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Press chief charged over wife’s murder
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Press chief charged over wife’s murder The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: In a twist in the recent murder of the wife of the chairman of the Songkhla-based Press Association of Southern Thailand, police have arrested the husband and alleged he masterminded the killing. The arrest…
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Hong Kong recalls Tiananmen killings, China muffles dissent
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong recalls Tiananmen killings, China muffles dissent Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong on Wednesday to mark the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, while mainland China authorities…
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World leaders gather for D-Day tribute, hope for thaw on Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World leaders gather for D-Day tribute, hope for thaw on Ukraine Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: World leaders and veterans gather by the beaches of Normandy on Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings that helped turn the tables in World War…
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China sentences nine to death for terrorism in Xinjiang
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China sentences nine to death for terrorism in Xinjiang Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Authorities in China’s restive Xinjiang region sentenced nine people to death on Thursday for “violent terrorism” crimes, state media reported, as part of a nation-wide crackdown on separatist militants. China has launched…
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Video Report: Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…
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Illegal roaming abortion clinic shut down in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested two Myanmar nationals operating an illegal abortion clinic in Phuket during a sting operation today. Sein Maung, 54, and Thein Thein Htwg, 35, were taken into police custody after preparing to give an abortion to a three-months-pregnant woman. “We received a tip-off about the roaming abortion clinic, so we set up a mole to get the telephone…
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Swiss man crushed to death as cement truck tips on Karon Hill
PHUKET: A Phuket expat from Switzerland was crushed to death yesterday afternoon when a cement truck slid out of control on Karon Hill and crushed his car. Philippe Wagner, 46, died instantly, said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul of the Karon Police. “He was alone in the car when the accident happened,” he added. Mr Wagner was on Patak Road, travelling toward…
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Teach environmental awareness when they’re young: Phuket Governor
PHUKET: The key to lifelong environmental awareness is to teach children while they’re young, said Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today in his opening address to mark World Environment Day. Taking part in a global initiative to increase awareness about environmental concerns, Phuket launched a three-day event to mark the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) global day, this year held under…
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Krabi, Phang Nga next on list for curfew repeal
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to ask for the curfew to be lifted in Phuket’s neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga to ease public concerns and help tourism operators recover. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilor is planning to ask the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to remove the curfew in…
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Take it to the green with Environment Day in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s celebration of World Environment Day (WED) kicked off this morning as the province hosts a three-day event concluding on June 7. The event organizers’ goal is to encourage residents to take action against pollution and promote the preservation of the island for generations to come. The event will support this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) campaign called…
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Phuket’s Coup d’Taxi continues; cartels smashed
PHUKET: Police this morning continued their campaign to smash Phuket’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels by destroying illegal taxi stands in Cherng Talay, Kata-Karon and Kamala. Unlike the mass raids yesterday, when 73 drivers were arrested (story here), no soldiers from the Fourth Army Area Command in Nakhon Sri Thammarat were present to provide military support. An estimated 500 officers…
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