News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Survivor recounts life-or-death struggle
PHUKET: One of two recreational fisherman missing since Saturday when a boat capsized off Koh Racha Yai was finally rescued by Phuket Marine Police yesterday afternoon after surviving five days on a small, rocky island.The search for fellow missing fisherman Phuthong Tirawattana continues.Phuket Marine Police aboard the vessel Chawengsak Songkram picked up Surat “Dang” Boonserm, 53, about 4:30 pm yesterday…
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Drug bust nets over 5,000 ya bah pills
PHUKET CITY: A police drug bust on Wednesday resulted in two arrests and the seizure of 5,394 ya bah pills (methamphetamine), 41 kilograms of marijuana and over one million baht in cash and gold jewelry. Police are still looking for one more suspect in the case.The operation was led by Pol Lt Col Teeranat Kademee, Inspector of the Phuket Provincial…
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OrBorTor elections force alcohol ban
PHUKET: Starting tomorrow at 6 pm, sale of alcohol will be banned in all eight tambons holding elections on Sunday for tambon administration organization (OrBorTor) representatives.The ban will last until midnight on Sunday.The eight affected tambons are Chalong, Koh Kaew, Cherng Talay, Mai Khao, Srisoonthorn, Thepkrasattri, Sakoo and Kamala.A representative at the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) confirmed to the Gazette…
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Korean-guide saga rolls on
PHUKET: The fiery spat between the Phuket Guide Association (PGA) and Korean tour operators has reignited after the Korean tour operators’ representatives were barred from overseeing the Korean-language proficiency test being taken by Thai guides.Kim Tae Woen, chairman of the Korean Association, voiced his concerns about the testing arrangements, saying that only two people, handpicked by PGA President Panompol Thummachartaiyom,…
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Search continues for missing men after boat sinking
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Police and the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Command continue to search the waters around Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi for two missing men whose fishing boat capsized and sank in heavy seas late Sunday afternoon.Phuket Marine Police Inspector Lt Col Prasert Srikunnarat identified the two men as Surat Boonserm and Phuthong Tirawattana, both…
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Phuket needs foreign blood
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital’s blood bank is in need of new donors and Phuket’s foreign residents with Rhesus-negative blood are being called on to sign up as donors before the coming high season. The blood bank is joining up with Phuket Red Cross to collect the contact details of people living in Phuket with Rh-negative blood who can then be…
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TOT moves ahead with Phuket line expansion
PHUKET: TOT is expanding its coverage in Phuket with the addition of 11 telephone exchanges, switchboards that connect calls, this month, together providing 5,400 new phone lines for the island.Copper cabling across Phuket will also be upgraded to support high-speed ADSL Internet access and improve the quality of services offered.Many Phuket residents have been complaining about problems with telephone lines…
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“Visa extensions’ for dependents allowed – for now
PHUKET: Following news reports last month that the Immigration Bureau will no longer issue “permit to stay” extensions for spouses and families of holders of retirement visas, Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO) Superintendent Pol Col Ittipon Atchariyapradit has told the Gazette he will will continue issuing such extensions until he receives an order to stop doing so.“We are still issuing…
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New retail center planned for Phuket
RASSADA: A group of Thai investors have bought and cleared the only remaining section of undeveloped land at the Tesco-Lotus intersection with the intention of developing a large retail and entertainment complex there. Phuket Governor Niran Kalayananamit told the Gazette recently that the Bangkok-based investors had approached him to discuss the proposed development, which is still in its initial design phase.…
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Vegetarian Festival 2007 parade routes announced
PHUKET CITY: Traffic Police have co-ordinated with representatives from the nine major Chinese shrines in Phuket City that will stage parades during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival, to be held from October 11 to 19, in order to announce the parade routes for each shrine.Lt Col Theerawat Liamsuwan explained that the nine major shrines staging parades are:– Kuan Te Kun Shrine…
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Patong announces trash-sorting initiative
PATONG: Residents of Patong should get ready to start sorting their trash, as Patong Municipality plans to improve its waste management system by distributing plastic garbage bags in 10 colors, each designated for a particular category of waste.The scheme, developed jointly with the Thai Industrialist Development Forum (TIDF), was announced at a press conference hosted by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin…
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Governor calls for parental punishments
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has called for stricter punishments to be enforced on the parents of unruly teenagers who consistently break the law, after a spate of robberies by a gang of youths.At a Security Committee Meeting at Katina Hotel on Thursday, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent of General Staff Pol Col Peerayut Karajedee reported to Governor Niran on the…
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Phuket police facing manpower crisis
PHUKET: Some 10% of all police officers in Phuket have applied for transfers out of the province, with many citing overwork as their reason, adding to the problem of Phuket’s already understaffed police force.Word of the widespread dissatisfaction in the ranks came from Lt Gen Thanee Tavitcha, Commander of Royal Thai Police Region 8.Some 10% of Phuket’s current police force…
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Ranong border remains open
RANONG: Although protests across Myanmar have been met with violent crackdowns by the Burmese military, it’s business as usual for immigration services at Ranong, Pol Lt Col Parinya Pinpak, deputy superintendent of Ranong Immigration Office, has told the Gazette. “The only effect is that fewer Burmese will come to Thailand. However, commercial traffic will continue as usual. People can still…
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Monk-stabber to walk free
PHUKET CITY: A man arrested Thursday for stabbing a monk at a Phuket temple on Wednesday will walk free without being charged, as police believe him to be mentally unstable.Pol Capt Atthapol Wannasaengthong of the Phuket City Police told the Gazette that about 4 am Wednesday, Uthen “Pra Pinnateepo” Ronnarit, 52, was in his living quarters when he heard a…
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Air crash claims another life
PHUKET (Gazette, Nation): A 22-year-old Welsh woman being treated at Bangkok General Hospital in Bangkok after surviving the crash landing of One-Two-Go flight OG269 was confirmed dead today as a result of severe burns.Bethan Jones, 22, received severe burns to 50% of her body in the fire that followed the crash and was flown from Phuket to Bangkok on September…
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Red-shirt-Friday campaign sweeps Phuket
PHUKET: In a global groundswell of support for the people of Burma, SMS messages have been circulating around the island in the past few hours with the message: “In support of our incredibly brave friends in Burma: May all the people around the world wear a red shirt on Friday, September 28.”This message was brought to the Gazette‘s attention by…
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Last air-crash victims identified, repatriated
PHUKET CITY: The bodies of all 89 victims of One-Two-Go flight OG269 have been identified and the last three corpses, all Iranian, being kept at Phuket International Airport (PIA) were flown out yesterday afternoon.Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima announced the news at a special meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at the Phuket Public Health Office yesterday afternoon.He also reported…
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One-Two-Go crash probe points to wind shear, pilot decision
BANGKOK (Nation): The probe into the crash of One-Two-Go flight OG029 points to wind shear and the pilot’s decision to land despite weather warnings as likely causes, the air crash investigation committee has announced.“The initial finding, which encompasses the weather conditions at the time of the accident, communications between the tower and the crashed plane’s pilot as well as other…
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Reinard sets Phuket cycling record
PHUKET: Luxembourg national and local environmental activist Marco Reinard completed his 24-hour solo bike ride around Phuket at 6 pm on Saturday, arriving at Yoonique Stone bar, Nai Harn, the same place he had set off from the day before at 4.30 pm.Marco’s pedal-powered ride to promote environmental awareness covered a record 522 kilometers, clocking an average speed of 22kmh.…
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Patong Hill road being resurfaced
PATONG: In response to the large number of accidents on the section of Phra Barami Rd from Kathu to Patong – one of the busiest roads on the island – the Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) is spending nearly 10 million baht on resurfacing the road.PPHO Deputy Chief Nirong Khumtua explained to the Gazette, “We have received many complaints from…
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Norwegian dies after knife attack
RAWAI: Police are investigating the murder of a Norwegian man who was stabbed on the road from the Kata Viewpoint to Rawai just after midnight early Sunday morning and later died in hospital.Chalong Police Superintendent Col Chalit Kaewyarat identified the victim as Simen Sparra Knudsen, a Norwegian who had lived in Phuket for more than 20 years.Col Chalit said two…
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Reinard rides again
PHUKET: Luxembourg national and local environmental activist Marco Reinard is due to complete his 24-hour solo mountain bike marathon ride around Phuket at 4 pm today, arriving at Yoonique Stone bar, Nai Harn, the same place he set off from yesterday.Marco’s ride for environmental awareness is part of his continuing campaign to create awareness of pollution and environmental issues facing…
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One-Two-Go crash victims to each receive US$150,000
PHUKET AIRPORT: Survivors and the families of those who died in the crash landing of One-Two-Go flight OG269 on Sunday will each receive an insurance payout of US$150,000 (about 5 million baht), Udom Thantprasongchai, managing director of Orient Thai, which operates One-Two-Go, said today.Speaking to the press at Phuket Airport Office, K. Udom explained that One-Two-Go had already offered up…
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French mourn air-crash victims
PHUKET AIRPORT: A French delegation arrived in Phuket this morning to mourn the loss of 10 French nationals killed in Sunday’s One-Two-Go plane crash. Led by Rama Yade, Minister of State responsible for foreign affairs and human rights, the group arrived at the airport at 9:30 am and placed flowers before a metal storage container housing the bodies of 10 victims,…
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ICEC site decision deferred
PHUKET: Originally scheduled to be held today, the provincial committee meeting set to make a final decision on the site for Phuket’s long-awaited International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC) has been postponed until further notice. The reason for the postponement is that Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, who chairs the committee, was called to an urgent meeting today at Government House…
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OrBorTor gear up for elections
PHUKET: The Phuket Election Committee (PEC) today held a meeting to present ballots and ballot boxes to representatives from each Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) on behalf of the Central Election Commission in Bangkok. “Each OrBorTor must keep these things safe in a place where there is a security guard,” PEC Director Supap Akkam told the Gazette. Elections for OrBorTor councils…
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Poor turnout for Korean MOU signing
PHUKET CITY: After months of setbacks, debates and discussions, only 25 of the island’s 54 Korean tour operators signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ensuring that they will hire Thai tour guides.Kim Tae Woen, Chairman of the Korean Association, and Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima welcomed representatives from 25 of the island’s Korean tour operators to Phuket Provincial Hall and thanked…
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Death toll at 89, all bodies recovered
PHUKET: As Phuket woke up to memories of yesterday’s airport disaster, the death toll of those on board One-Two-Go flight OG269 stood at 89, including five crew members. A press conference held this morning at Phuket International Airport was attended by Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongchaoom; Kalaya Pakakrong, acting managing director of Airports of Thailand (AOT); Udom Thantiprasongchai, managing director…
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88 perish in One-Two-Go crash
PHUKET: Of the 130 passengers and crew aboard One-Two-Go flight OG269 that crash landed at Phuket International Airport about 3:45 pm today, only 42 survived the crash and fire that followed it. Of these, 15 were Thai nationals.At a press conference at the Airports Of Thailand office about 9 pm, Phuket Airport Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree said the crash…
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