Phuket Gazette - Daily News

Royalists protest Nitirat group in Phuket

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:27:32 GMT

PHUKET: A small group of Phuket royalists gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall to show their opposition to efforts by the Nitirat group of scholars in Bangkok to amend Chapter 2 of the Constitution and article 112 of the Criminal Code, which deal with lese majeste.

The group of about 20 protesters arrived at 10am with a letter of protest, which was accepted on behalf of Phuket Governor Tri Augaradacha by his deputy Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak.

Led by Don Limnanthaphisit and Saman Kohlek, many members of the protest group carried signs berating the seven Thammasat Universtiy law professors.

Chevy Phuket to hold 'Family Rally', marine life release

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:29:36 GMT

PHUKET: The Chevrolet dealership in Phuket is holding a "family car rally" and marine wildlife release ceremony on April 1 to help restore the ocean environment.

Organized by Chevrolet Phuket with support from Phuket Marine Biological Center and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Phuket Town, this family event is limited to one hundred cars. Although the event is sponsored by Chevrolet, owners of cars of any make are invited to take part.

Phuket to launch anti-AIDS campaign on Valentine's Day

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:04:00 GMT

PHUKET: Public health officials will launch a �Getting to Zero AIDS� campaign on Valentine's Day to combat HIV/AIDS in Phuket, which has the highest incidence of HIV infection in Thailand, according to government statistics.

The campaign will kick-off with a festival on February 14 at Phuket Rajabhat University, said Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) chief Sak Tanchaikul.

There will be AIDS prevention exhibits, a student stage performance about high-risk behavior, and a debate and lecture by medical experts, said PPHO Chief Sak.

Phuket medical tourism threatened by taxi thuggery

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:00:37 GMT

PHUKET: One of Phuket�s leading hospitals has complained that �taxi mafia� are preventing its drivers from picking up patients staying at certain resort hotels.

The complaint was one of many aired at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on the topic of tourists being cheated in Phuket. The meeting was chaired by new Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa.

Phuket weather radar out of service

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:04:00 GMT

PHUKET: The weather radar at Phuket Airport has been out of service for almost a week, but a technician at Phuket Airport says it should be operational again in a few days.

According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) website, the Phuket weather radar has been out of operation since midday last Friday.

Narongsak Gumroob, a radar technician at the TMD's Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) at the airport, blamed the problem on a technical glitch that is now being addressed.

Phuket Update: British tourist 'stabber' awaits trial in Krabi

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:58:00 GMT

PHUKET: A Thai man accused of stabbing a young British tourist at a beach party on Phi Phi Island last year is in Krabi Provincial Prison awaiting trial.

Hamed Poonyung, 23, has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly

4 Swedes, 1 Thai dead in horror smash near Phuket

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:11:00 GMT

PHUKET: Two young Swedish couples and their Thai driver were killed instantly yesterday morning when their rented car was hit head-on by a six-wheel refrigerator truck in Takua Thung District, Phang Nga.

The dead were identified by their ID cards as:

Elin Marita Hedbris, 21
Frida Madeleine Falk, 22
Anders Tobias Larsson, 22
Johan Olof Nikolas Svensson, 22
Wichit Phromluang, 26, from Udon Thani

According to Swedish media reports, the two couples were from the town of Varberg and were on a three-week holiday. They had been staying in Patong.

Phuket Live Wire: Protect yourself from ATM skimming

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:30:02 GMT

PHUKET: Recently the Gazette ran a story about ATM skimming, describing how two long-term Phuket residents lost hundreds of thousands of baht at the hands of clever thieves. The banks involved came up with good advice: use ATMs either inside or at the front of bank branches; use ATMs from major banks as they have better anti-tamper systems and beware of people milling about or offering to help with your transactions. But there is much more than you can do, and it isn�t all that difficult.

Phuket and Andaman hotel occupancy at 66.5% in 2011: THA

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:58:11 GMT

PHUKET: Hotels in Phuket and other Andaman coast provinces enjoyed the highest occupancy rates in Thailand in 2011, the Thai Hotels Association has announced.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations on Monday, Thai Hotels Association (THA) President Prakit Chinamourphong said there was a chance that Thai hotels could raise room rates by 5-8 per cent this year, in line with the anticipated 8-10-percentage-point growth in occupancy.

However, prices cannot be raised much, as tourists have lingering concerns over floods.

Bangkok squad to tackle illegal taxis

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 09:11:11 GMT

PHUKET: A team of Ministry of Interior (MoI) officials from Bangkok will arrive in Phuket in the coming weeks to tackle the island�s long-standing problems with �black plate� taxis and their drivers, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has announced.

The move follows a number of serious complaints received by the ministry regarding �black plate� taxis, the local name for regular vehicles used illegally as taxis.

Among the complaints to be addressed are threatening behavior by drivers and unfair prices, said Gov Tri.

Pheu Thai to consider Phuket special administrative zone

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:03:22 GMT

PHUKET: A peaceful protest for later closing times on Patong�s renowned Soi Bangla on Saturday may have finally encouraged the government to consider making Patong a special administrative zone.

Government Spokesman Prompong Nopparit, in Phuket on Saturday, pledged to take up the issue with Pheu Thai ministers at a meeting in Bangkok today.

The outcome of that meeting has yet to be announced.

Phuket school kids busted on meth

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:19:16 GMT

PHUKET: Six students in their first year of secondary school have been caught skipping school to get high on ya bah (methamphetamine) in an abandoned disco in the heart of Phuket Town.

First year secondary school students (Matthayom 1) are typically 13 years old.

The six students, all enrolled at an unspecified school under the administration of Phuket City Municipality, were caught red-handed by truancy officers.

Phuket expat reunited with �best friend� Micky

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:16:45 GMT

PHUKET: Long-term Phuket expat Frank Lamine has been reunited with his lost dog �Micky�, but his fears of dog-nappers operating at Nai Harn Beach remain.

Mr Lamine lost Mickey on January 22. After checking with police, he learned that Rawai Municipality has CCTV cameras posted at the beach.

'Case closed' on mystery death of Brazilian in Phuket

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:03:00 GMT

PHUKET: The body of a Brazilian tourist found dead in a Phuket guest house last month has been returned to his family in New Zealand. Relatives do not think the death was suspicious, Patong Police say.

Patong Hospital officers confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that according to hospital records the body of Daniel Rocha Jordan Brasileiro, 30, was claimed by the Brazilian consular staff on January 4.

Parents the cure for corruption curse: Phuket poll

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:57:08 GMT

PHUKET: Parents and guardians play the key role in the effort to instill a much-needed �anti-corruption� mentality in our youth, a majority of Phuket Gazette readers feel.

In the online poll launched two weeks ago, the Gazette asked readers: �In the effort to instill an �anti-corruption� mentality in our youth, which group do you feel plays the most influential role?�

The �parents and guardians� option was the clear winner, with 66.6% of the votes overall.