June 25 05 Pp01
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 12 Issue 26 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 June 25 - July 1, 2005 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 20 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Tsunami More questions ‘has caused increase IN THIS ISSUE NEWS: Thailand opens consu- aired over aid in piracy’ late on Langkawi; Governor airs ideas for boosting Phuket By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Pages 2 & 3 PHUKET: The national com- INSIDE STORY: Cigarette ban mander of the Marine Police, Pol law going up in smoke? Maj Gen Suraphol Thuanthong, Pages 4 & 5 visited Phuket on June 18 to dis- cuss ways of protecting vessels AROUND THE ISLAND: A tree- mendous fella. Page 6 going through the Straits of Ma- lacca from pirate attacks, which AROUND THE REGION: B5bn he said have become more fre- for Koh Tao? Page 8 quent since the tsunami. PEOPLE: Just like starting over Gen Suraphol said, “We on Phi Phi. Pages 10 & 11 don’t really have accurate statis- tics, because not all cases are re- LIFESTYLE: Thai style for ty- ported, but I think the trend of ing the knot. Pages 12 & 13 attacks has been increasing since SPA MAGIC: The aspiring the tsunami, as poorer people Aspara Spa. Page 14 struggle to recover from it.” On June 1, the Thai skip- AFTER DARK: Timber Hut per of a tanker taking fuel from rocks on and on. Page 15 Rayong, on Thailand’s Eastern NEW! BETWEEN THE LINES: Seaboard, to Krabi was captured Stolen tsunami cash and in the Straits, a long-time haunt CEO government. Page 21 of pirates, and held for ransom. The pirates initially de- USINESS Booze restrictions B : manded US$1 million (about 40 begin to bite. Hotel occu- million baht) for his release. pancy statistics; Money Talks. Sources in the Marine Office told Page 23 the Gazette he was freed after the SPORT: Kruse coast to fourth ship’s owners in Bangkok paid in class at Le Mans; Beach Deputy PM Vissanu Kreangam, center, inspects one of the new alarm towers on Patong Beach US$40,000 (1.6 million baht). volleyball. Page 25 with Patong Mayor Pian Keesin (left), Vice-Governor Winai Buapradit (2nd from left) and Patong Gen Suraphol, who neither Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal (right). confirmed nor denied the details PROPERTY: Doven; Home of the Week: Rawai; Construc- about the ransom, said, “The tion Update: Baan Paradise; By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Speaking at the Thai Tsu- Prime Minister Thaksin phoned captain is safe, but we need to Gardening: Glory be for Bert. & Anongnat Sartpisut nami Victim Identification Cen- me and told me to be tenacious take action to ensure that the sea Pages 28-30 ter near Chalong, he said, “Lo- in the matter of tsunami dona- is safe and peaceful. PHUKET: Six months after the cal people are still complaining tion money. We’ve heard so “I don’t want to see this tsunami, local people in the to MPs and to the Prime Minis- much about this money and yet happening again, even outside PLUS stricken areas are still asking the ter that they are not getting any it’s not being used. Thai territorial waters. We must same question: “When will we help from the government. “I have asked many gov- raise awareness among fisher- QUEER NEWS 4; AROUND THE receive our compensation?” “But when we check with ernment officers involved and men and other people on the sea NATION 7; HAPPENINGS 9; OUT- The man given the job of government officers they say they say they have received no about the danger from pirates.” SIDE IN, BOOKS 16; KIDS 17; answering that question, Deputy they are doing their jobs cor- requests for money. We will have He continued, “It is crucial HOROSCOPES, PATTAYA, MOTOR- Prime Minister Vissanu Krea- rectly. So we [have to] check to bring this matter before the that we network with our neigh- ING, STOOL PIGEON 18 & 19; ngam, appointed by Prime Min- again.” Cabinet very soon,” he said. bors, especially Malaysia and In- EDITORIAL, LETTERS 20; ISSUES ister Thaksin Shinawatra as The Deputy PM said that “The donation money donesia, and especially on inci- & ANSWERS 21; COMPUTERS, chairman of the Tsunami Victim there seems to be a difference of should not be spent on basic in- dents that happen outside Thai ON THE MOVE 22; THE TIME Administration, came to the re- opinion between local officials frastructure such as roads or waters. We are working with our MACHINE, DIARY, WINE 26; gion on June 18 for a one-day and the general public in regards schools. The money is meant for neighbors to coordinate informa- GUEST CHEF 27; CLASSIFIEDS 32-39. tour of inspection and to hear to the tsunami funding. victims,” he added. tion, which may solve this prob- local grievances. “When I was in Phang Nga, Continued on page 2 lem.” 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS June 25 - July 1, 2005 Questions over tsunami aid Thailand opens From page 1 “We have to restore and new consulate give back to the locals what was taken away from them as soon as possible. We also have to reno- vate the tourism areas. For the on Langkawi next high season we should be ready with full accommodation of the Ministry of Foreign Af- [and] facilities,” he added. By Gazette Staff As for compensation paid fairs, told the Gazette that the consulate should make life a lot to the families of those missing PHUKET: In a drive to promote easier for regular “visa runners” after the wave, K. Vissanu was relations between Thailand and unequivocal. “We will push to Malaysia, a Thai consulate open- and commuters between Thai- land and Malaysia. change the laws regarding miss- ed on the Malaysian island of He said, “There is no Tour- ing persons and their families. At Langkawi, just south of the Thai present things take far too long. border, on June 10. ism Authority of Thailand office in Langkawi, so the Thai consu- The missing victims’ relatives The consulate’s opening late will make life a lot more should be able to go ahead with Another ‘Love Phuket’ winner was chaired by the Thai Minis- compensation claims.” ter of Foreign Affairs, Kantathi comfortable for tourists who The latest winner in the Gazette’s “We Love Phuket” campaign, want information about traveling The day before the Deputy Suphamong, and Dr Mahathir Arunvalaya Raess, collects her prize of a round of golf at the Mohamad, the former Prime within Thailand. At the same PM arrived, the new chief of the Phuket Country Club, from Phatsara “Yui” Raktammakit of the Phuket Provincial Office of Di- Minister of Malaysia, who is time we can take better care of Gazette’s Classified Advertising team. Thai residents in Langkawi.” saster Prevention and Mitigation known to have a particular affec- Each week the Gazette prints the license plate numbers tion for the island where, decades K. Sihasak added, “It’s an (ODPM), Boonchai Somjai, re- of six cars that have been spotted carrying “We Love Phuket” leased figures showing that more ago, he practiced medicine. improvement in terms of tourism stickers. Check page 10 to see whether your car number is destination links, and will be use- than a billion baht has been spent Sihasak Phuangketkeow, among them. If it is, you’re a winner! ful to the people who visit south- in Phuket on tsunami relief. Director General of Information K. Boonchai, who took up ern Thailand, especially Phuket, then continue on to Langkawi. the position of Phuket ODPM “We have been discussing chief just the day before his an- Penang expert advises on restoration nouncement, said that aid from plans to link the two destinations ever since Dr Mahathir was the ODPM so far totaled more PHUKET CITY: City authorities buildings in the oldest part of “The clinic looks very nice Prime Minister. Having a Thai than 67 million baht and that the have been given advice on pre- Phuket City. to older people because it has Tsunami Relief Fund had spent serving and enhancing historic She said, “I have seen both memories of the past, but at the consulate on Langkawi could help make these plans come to more than 71 million baht in pro- Phuket old town by an expert in good and bad repair of old build- same time it looks very modern fruition.” viding relief. heritage and conservation from ings in Penang, and [in my talks] for young people. So [the archi- The bulk of state aid has Penang. I gave examples of [both]. I think tect] is extremely clever.” He did not address the lack of direct air services between come through the many govern- Dr Gwynn Jenkins, a Pe- they could be used as examples Dr Jenkins was invited to Phuket and Langkawi. Currently, ment departments, and thus far nang-based British consultant in for any new development in Phuket by local historian Asst totals more than 706 million baht. architectural heritage and cul- Phuket.” Prof Pranee Sakulpipatana, who the quickest route involves a dogleg through Kuala Lumpur. The Phuket Provincial Ad- tural anthropology, met last week An example of what Dr said, “If we take away our his- More facilities for those ministration Organization has with Deputy Mayor Sornsiri Jenkins hopes can be achieved in tory we create landscapes with- spent more than 41 million baht Koopongsakorn and leading Phuket is the Moa Marut Clinic out identity. planning “visa hops” will be- come available in July when the in relief aid, while NGOs and members of the municipality’s on Thalang Rd. She said, “The “As a consultant on archi- first phase of the Treasure Island charities have put forward more public works department to share clinic has a very beautiful design.