Volume 14 Issue 34 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555August 25 - 31, 2007 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Phuket votes ‘yes’ Murray released IN THIS ISSUE to new constitution on bail NEWS: Garbage mountain By Sompratch Saowakhon PHUKET: Six weeks after En- summit; AOT cuts number of glishman David Murray was airport limos; Rugby returns. PHUKET: In the August 19 na- charged with the murder without Pages 2 & 3 tional referendum of the draft intent in the death of his eight- year-old stepson, Narid “Curry” INSIDE STORY: Rajabhat dis- constitution, Phuket residents Budtharai, he is out on bail with grace: Toilets and other facili- overwhelmingly accepted the a court date yet to be set. ties failing. Pages 4 & 5 new charter with 88.9% of all those voting in favor compared Angered by the slow re- AROUND THE NATION: Gay with just 9.6% opposed. sponse, Curry’s natural father rights; Boxing jailbird; The remaining ballots, just Pissanu Badtharai asked for sup- Wombs for rent. Page 7 under 1.5% of the total cast, were port from the Bangkok-based Pavena Foundation for abused AROUND THE REGION: Expats deemed as spoiled. bemoan flip-side of tourism; The official results were women and children. The foun- Flooding dangers. Page 8 posted by the Phuket Election dation has sent a letter support- Commission (PEC) on a board ing K. Pissanu to the Provincial AROUND THE SOUTH: Bravery outside the PEC counting center Police Region 8 Commander Lt turns fatal; Military crack- Gen Thanee Thawichsee. down. Page 9 at Saphan Hin Gymnasium 3 about 7:30 pm on the evening of The officer in charge of the AROUND THE ISLAND: Commu- August 19. case, Tung Tong Police investi- nity foundation empowers Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit casts his ballot in the August gator Lt Col Passakorn Sonthikul, Turnout for the referen- 19 referendum on the draft constitution at the voting station at Phuket people. Page 10 dum, the first of its kind in told the Gazette on August 21 that Phuket City Municipality offices. Photo by Yongyot Preuksarak. a court date had yet to be set for PEOPLE: Ten-year art project Thailand’s history, was slightly below the target figure 60%. voters in favor and 7,468 op- Party, which has long held sway Murray. brings smiles to the island. “The court has allowed Pages 14 & 15 Some 57.6% of the island’s posed. There were also 1,007 in Phuket and most other south- 215,433 registered voters found spoiled ballots. ern provinces, came out in favor David out on bail, but I’m still in- FIRST PERSON: Minister calls their way to the polls, despite In Kathu district, 17,272 of of a “yes” vote in the run-up to vestigating the case and still for more recycling, not another heavy rains throughout much of the 30,556 registered voters the polling. questioning Ramida Murray incinerator. Page 27 the day and the fact that the (56.5%) cast ballots, with 15,254 Nationwide, the charter [Curry’s mother].” island’s many entertainment es- in favor and 1,797 opposed. passed with 57.6% in favor and It was K. Ramida who first SPORTS: Thai sailing victory; told the police that her husband Straits Games; Phuket golf; tablishments were operating as There were 221 spoiled ballots. 42.1% opposed. usual. In Thalang district, 32,392 A total of 25,978,954 vot- had killed Curry. In the police Darts; Tennis tourneys. report she said that Murray Pages 34 & 35 Island-wide figures had of the 54,072 registered voters ers (57.6%) of the kingdom’s 109,493 in favor of the new char- (59.9%) cast ballots, with 29,195 45,093,055 eligible voters exer- kicked the boy in the chest, PROPERTY: Gardening: Rub- ter and just 11,878 opposed, with voters in favor and 2,613 op- cised their right. knocking him to fall to the floor. ber tapping; Decor: Rainbow 1,812 spoiled ballots. posed. There were 584 spoiled Opposition was highest in He lost consciousness when his showers, Construction: In Muang district, 73,519 of ballots. Isarn and the North, where vot- head hit the floor and later died. Shooting range; Property the 130,805 registered voters The results were hardly ers in some provinces opposed the Mr Budtharai, an ethnic Watch: Buyers’ advice. (56.2%) cast ballots, with 65,044 surprising after the Democrat constitution by a wide margin. Nepali, said that he has taken his Pages 36-39 second son, who is autistic and shows scars and bruises allegedly PLUS Dengue fever claims two lives in Phuket caused by Murray’s beatings, to another province to live with his QUEER NEWS 6; GUEST C HEF 13; PHUKET CITY: Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong, “We have officers from the agency going grandmother. HAPPENINGS 16; MOTORING 17; chief of Phuket Provincial Health Office, told the around Phuket publicizing the dangers. We will also Mr Budtharai said that one LIFESTYLE 18; ANDAMAN RANT Gazette that there has been an outbreak of den- teach people about ways to protect themselves and of his concerns was that the 20; AMBROSIA, TSOWNDINGS 21; gue fever in Thailand, with two confirmed deaths their families from dengue fever. charges against Murray would TAKE A BREAK 23 & 24; in Phuket this year. Both victims were adults aged “As the main carrier of this disease is a com- be dropped because he is an En- BOOKS, DIARY 25; EDITORIAL, between 25 to 35, he said. mon mosquito, families must take care to disrupt glish citizen. Because of that, the LETTERS 26; MAKING TRACKS Last year there were no deaths associated their breeding cycles and protect themselves from Pavena Foundation and Mr 28; HOROSCOPES 29; COMPUT- with dengue, although 136 people contracted the being bitten in order to prevent this deadly disease Budtharai also sent a letter to the ERS 30; BUSINESS AND M ONEY 32 disease. As of mid-August this year, more than 200 from spreading,” Dr Wanchai said. British Embassy requesting sup- & 33; CLASSIFIEDS 40-51. people had come down with the viral disease. – Sompratch Saowakhon port and fairness. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS August 25 - 31, 2007 Thousands Loans offered for hard-hit shrimp farmers affected by By Anand Singh & Janyaporn Morel not exceeding two million baht. The deposit which has been running for two months with period will extend until October of this year, three locations in Phuket, will continue until flooding and PHUKET: With shrimp prices still on the and farmers have four months to withdraw the prices rise. On average, the shrimp festi- skids, the Phuket Internal Trade Office their stock after deposit. val has sales of 1.5 tons per day, at an aver- (PITO) announced August 15 that they will The nationwide program will have age price of 140 baht per kilogram. landslides now accept shrimp as collateral for loans re- shrimp stored in one of seven cold storage quested by registered shrimp farmers in units around the country, but Phuket farmers The locations for the shrimp festival are: By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang Phuket. must travel to the nearest unit, in Songkhla, • The Esso service station on During a Governor Meets the Press to receive the loan. Thepkrasattri Rd, near Supercheap, open PHANG NGA, SURAT THANI: meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, PITO K. Somphot said that about 109 tons of daily from 8 am to 1 pm. Residents of Phang Nga and Chief Somphot Sangkhapong said that the shrimp, valued at 15.3 million baht, have al- • The Phuket Provincial Commercial Surat Thani provinces were office will accept Pacific white shrimp, also ready been deposited from nine farmers in Affair Office, opposite Seng Ho Bookstore evacuated from their homes as known as white vannamei shrimp, for any Phuket. on Montri Rd in Phuket City, open Monday days of continuous heavy rains farmer who wants a loan. This is the latest scheme, following the to Friday, 3 pm to 6 pm. and flash floods from August 16 Deposited stock must consist of 40 to Blue Flag Shrimp Festival, to help farmers • The Moom Muang Market on Chao to 19 caused extensive damage 60 shrimp per kilogram, priced between 105 hard-hit by lower prices this year. Fa East Rd, daily from 8 am to 6 pm, or until and prompted flood warnings in and 140 baht per kilogram, with a total value K. Somphot said the shrimp festival, stock runs out. other provinces. According to reports from the Department of Disaster Pre- vention and Mitigation Office in Free SME Phang Nga, there have been no US donates bomb deaths in the province from the development rising waters. However, five of eight of the seminar province’s districts have suffered blanket to Phuket substantial damage. PHUKET CITY: Intel Micro More than 1,500 houses By Semacote Suganya Electronics will join forces with were flooded in Phang Nga prov- TOT to present a free seminar ince between August 16 to 19 PATONG: A US Embassy offi- titled “The key to SME develop- with heavy winds and flash floods cial on August 15 presented a ment” at The Metropole hotel on inundating Takuapa, Kuraburi, “bomb blanket” to Kathu Police August 31. Koh Yao, Thap Put and Tai Station in a ceremony attended The seminar will provide Muang districts. by Phuket Provincial Police Com- information on how local small- In Kuraburi, 600 homes mander Maj Gen Decha Bud- and medium-seized enterprises were damaged and 2,500 people nampetch. can adapt and better compete in affected when landslides blocked Scott Bernat, Chief of the today’s highly competitive roads.