Volume 17 Issue 20 News Desk - Tel: 076-273555 May 15 - 21, 2010 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Bomb planted at ASTV Leaders react to grenade at ‘yellow-shirt’ TV station PAPER bag contain- told the Gazette that the grenade INSIDE ing a live hand grenade was not the work of the red shirts. was found hanging “There is conflict within the Afrom the front door of PAD itself. For example, some the ASTV ‘yellow-shirt’ television PAD leaders have turned into network office in Phuket Town ‘multi-colors’. That’s a point to on May 11. consider, too,” he said. Bomb disposal police safely Phuket Provincial Police removed the device, an M67 Commander Pekad Tantipong said fragmentation grenade with its pin the act was probably the work of still in place, shortly after it was an individual or small group. discovered at 9am. It had been “I don’t believe this was wrapped in electrical tape and ordered by the red shirt leaders placed in a box inside a brown in Bangkok…I’m confident in Bank on Bird paper shopping bag that read saying this will not affect tour- As Ironman Les Bird’s Alpine “Save the World”. ism at all,” he said. climb nears, find out how he’s When detonated, an M67 Sarayuth Mallam, vice been preparing. has an average ‘casualty radius’ president of the Phuket Tourist Page 10 of 15 meters and a ‘fatality ra- Association, was less confident. dius’ of five meters; fragments CALM AND COLLECTED: A bomb disposal expert shows the M67 grenade. “We have tourists who love NEWS: Firefighters forget can reach as far as 250 meters Phuket, which has so far been who doesn’t like our news re- coming to Phuket, but what about their water; New bridge up- from the point of detonation. spared the political strife suffered ports...” others who have never been date; Bank fraud victim de- The office, in a shophouse in Bangkok in recent months. “Even though this time it here. Do you think they’ll dare mands compensation. complex on Soi Nimit 1, off Chana The office’s various media seems like they’re just threaten- come? Pages 2 - 5 Jaroen Road, is also home to the outlets had not printed or broad- ing us, it’s quite strong and seri- “Nobody can tell us when local office of the Manager Daily cast any provocative reports that ous because they used a real, dan- the situation in Bangkok will end. LIFESTYLE: Sweet with- newspaper and the Manager would warrant such an act and gerous weapon. I’m afraid it might That’s really bad, because Phuket out sugar down south; Lo- Online website. All are owned by none of the staff were involved happen again, but I’m not sure is like the living room of the house cal artist makes US im- media mogul and People’s Alliance in any personal disputes that where and when. But it might be that is Thailand. When people pression. for Democracy (PAD) leader would justify an attack on somewhere with a yellow-shirt hear about a bomb in Phuket no- Page 8 Sondhi Limthongkul. someone’s life, he said. connection,” she said. body will feel safe,” he said. GOOD LIVING: The Office representative Pra- But Phuket PAD coordina- Phuket red shirt leader Wisut Staff at the ASTV office Gazette spends a purr-fect sert Fuangfoo said he thought the tor Aparat Chartchutikumjorn ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwittayaporn, were shocked and greatly upset evening at the Black Cat grenade was planted as a threat said, “I believe this is from the speaking from the red shirt protest by the incident, Mr Prasert said. restaurant. or to ratchet up political tension in red shirts or someone in Phuket site in Rajaprasong in Bangkok, – Gazette reporters Page 13 A ROUND THE NATION 6; Drug cops still using suspect ‘Alpha 6’ device A ROUND THE ISLAND 7; LIFESTYLE 9; PEOPLE 10; ONTHS after the prime in February that the Science and dered to investigate the Alpha 6. EXPAT GALLERY 11; HAP- minister ordered tests Technology Ministry would test The Phuket Provincial Of- PENINGS 12; FEATURE 13; Mon all ‘molecular reso- the Alpha 6 after the similar fice also told the Gazette it had COMPUTERS 14; WHAT’S ON nance’ bomb and drug detectors, GT200 device was discredited. received no instructions to test the 15; BUSINESS & MONEY eight ‘Alpha 6’ devices are still Tests showed the GT200 devices. 16; TAKE A BREAK 17 & in active use by law enforcement detected explosives in just four of Of the eight devices used in 18; TSOWNDINGS, HOR- agencies in Phuket. 20 tries. The GT200 scandal em- Phuket, the Interior Ministry OSCOPES 19; EDITORIAL & Wirote Suwanwong, who barrassed the military, which bought six and Phuket Provincial LETTERS 20; FIRST PERSON heads the provincial drug sup- spent hundreds of millions of baht Office bought two. Photo by Fraser Morton AND ISSUES & ANSWERS 21; pression unit, said he had not been on the devices. Mr Wirote said the detec- SPORT 22 & 23; PROPERTY ordered to stop using the devices A source at the National tors, which sell for around 400,000 Alpha 6s cost about 400,000 baht. WATCH 24; CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 25; PROPERTY and never received reports that Electronics and Computer Tech- baht each, were still in use, though There are no plans to buy 26; EARTH MATTERS 27; they were being tested. nology Center, the branch of the not often. “We use them mostly more. “I think dogs are more ef- CLASSIFIED ADS 28-44. Mr Wirote’s comments science ministry that tested the to trick suspects, rather than for fective,” he said. came despite the announcement GT200, said it had not been or- detection,” he said. – Sitthipong Nongkaew 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS May 15 - 21, 2010 Affair cost man his life, cops say OLICE believe a man found riddled with bullets on May 7 may have been Drivingkilled for sleeping with P By the time firefighters with water arrived, the damage was done. the shooter’s girlfriend. The bloodied body of Somchai Kuamsap, 37, was dis- coveredchange by the side of Chao Fa Water blunder leaves East Road outside Seemum Mar- ket around 4am. He had been shot 14 times, lumberyard in cinders mostly in the head. LUMBERYARD in Mitigation office at Thepkrasattri inPolice believe Patong they know Thalang sustained hun- Municipality. who killed Mr Somchai and have A dreds of thousands of When they arrived, fire- a warrant for his arrest. The sus- baht in damage on May 9 after fighters realized with dismay that pect is the younger brother of a firefighters from Thepkrasattri the truck had not been filled Koh Samui police officer’s wife. Municipality rushed to fight the with water. Three Koreans witnessed blaze with an empty water tank. They called for help from the shooting, which happened The fire was still small when other local government offices, outside the Andaman Country the firefighters arrived, but after but could only watch as flames restaurant where Mr Somchai realizing their fire truck’s water quickly spread over piles of wood worked as a security guard. tank was empty they were help- and other flammable construction The two men’s dispute be- Fourteen casings were found at the scene. INSET: Somchai Kuamsap. less to stop the flames from en- materials. gan in the restaurant parking lot gulfing the godown. At least an hour later, 10 fire before moving to the sidewalk, First on the scene were The body was lying face Ten firetrucks from other trucks arrived from Cherng Talay, witnesses said. Phuket City Police Duty Officer down. There was a 9mm slug and parts of Phuket took three hours Koh Kaew and Srisoonthorn. The victim was not a re- Somchai Nuubun, Superintendent 14 casings scattered nearby. to eventually put out the flames. Shop owner Tueanjai Sara- porter for a Korean newspaper, Wanchai Ekpornpit, Inspector His identity card showed he Local residents reported the tho said it was too early to esti- as earlier reported. Wijak “The Magnet” Tarom and lived on Soi Samakkee off fire at Ta Wood Trading on Thep- mate the damage, but that it would Police found a slip in his other officers. They were ac- Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. krasattri northbound at about 2pm. run into hundreds of thousands of wallet indicating he was due to companied by Kusoldharm Foun- It did not look like a profes- The building was locked and baht. appear as a defendant in a rob- dation rescue workers, Vachira sional hit as the number of bul- there were no water sources The cause of the fire is thus bery case later this month. He Phuket Hospital doctors and po- lets fired suggested it was done nearby, so they called for help far unknown. was also carrying a knife. lice forensics specialists. in anger, Col Wanchai said. from the Disaster Prevention and – Gazette reporter Sedan sales rising against the odds AR dealerships in Phuket park on the island’s increasingly ported from the Isuzu Andaman are reporting that first congested streets, several dealer- Sales showroom in Koh Keaw. Cquarter sales are up about ships report. Charnchai Mahantakhun, 40 percent year-on-year, with Toyota Pearl Sales Man- general manager at BMW Barce- sales to foreigners accounting for ager Eakaphob Boonprasarn said lona Auto Phuket, said the sales as much as half of sales at some foreigners accounted for about 40 ratio between Thais and foreign- showrooms. percent of sales. ers was “almost equal” and that his Buyer preference is shifting The car to pick-up selling dealership had also experienced a from pick-ups and SUVs to pas- ratio was about 60:40, he said.