THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, May 24 – Thursday, May 30, 2019 Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 21 20 Baht MAN IMPERSONATES POLICE, ROBS WOMAN AT GUNPOINT > PAGE 3 NEWS PAGE 3 A marine official conducts a survey on a damaged reef Student arrested off Phuket. Photo: DMCR in Bangkok over MARINE Thalang Riot RANGERS LIFE PAGE 11 Coral gardeners restoring reefs at Maya Bay DMCR CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PROTECT DIVE SITES, PRISTINE MARINE AREAS Tanyaluk Sakoot Director-General Jatuporn Buruspat DMCR. After their applications are investigations and provide support [email protected] told The Phuket News this week. approved, Marine Rangers are issued in developing marine conservation “We don’t have enough officers to an official ID card and can directly projects. he Department of Marine and cover all marine resources, especially report any complaints or activities They are also empowered to work SPORT PAGE 32 Coastal Resources (DMCR) those around Phuket. We want to im- damaging marine sites to the DMCR closely with officials and assist in Tis calling for people – Thai prove the quality of the protection of through a web portal. investigations under the supervision Carballo wins or foreign – to volunteer as “Ma- our natural resources, with protection From there, other Marine Rang- of officials who have the power to rine Rangers” in order to protect for all areas where human activities ers and DMCR officials in the area arrest offenders. Singha Laguna coral reefs and other coastal areas, affect the marine environment,” Mr communicate through a LINE group, Chat Chalarat, head of the Par- Phuket Open including mangroves, from damage Jatuporn explained. and local DMCR officials can launch ticipation Promotion Department at by irresponsible tour operators or “We are open to Thais and for- an investigation into any serious the DMCR Region 9 office, told The other unscrupulous parties. eigners joining this project. The more complaints. Phuket News that the key areas where “We need more Marine Rangers people, the better. We have not even In addition to supporting marine Marine Rangers are needed around who have pure hearts to protect coral set a limit on how many people can officials with light public exercises Phuket are Coral Island, Koh Mai reefs, protected marine animals, become Marine Rangers,” he added. such as clean-ups, joining events and Thon and the Racha Yai and Racha mangroves and other valuable natural Under the Marine Ranger project, helping with reef-restoration projects, Noi islands. resources along the west coast of which was first launched in March Marine Rangers are empowered “I worry very much about how Thailand, including Phuket,” DMCR last year, volunteers register with the to assist officials with conducting human activities, both people living... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 [email protected] Weapons, drugs haul seized in post-Songkran News blitz > p4 Phuket Town underground cable works to finish early Four dead as pickup slams THE PROJECT TO BURY power and communication head-on into local tour bus cables along parts of Phang The Phuket News while Miss Saijai Butden, 25, Nga Rd and Rassada Rd will [email protected] and Mr Hem Yanrang, 51, were be completed well ahead of the both pronounced dead later by projected October deadline, he 23-year-old driver hospital doctors. the chief of the Phuket office of a pickup truck who The seven other passengers of the Public Works and Town The news was delivered Tsurvived a high-speed in the pickup truck were all Planning & Country Planning during an inspection last head-on collision into a tour taken to hospital. The seven Department (DPT-Phuket) has Wednesday (May 15). Photo: bus heading from Krabi to were named by police as Miss announced. PR Dept Phuket on Monday (May Somreuthai Khanatpeu, 57; The works to install the 20) – killing four people in Miss Sudarat Chantharawet, cables underground along cations cables underground the process – will be charged 22; Mr Charat Thampuek, Rassada Rd will be completed before switching the system with reckless driving causing Four people died in the high-impact collision. Photo: 23; Mr Konkrit Lanah, 26; before the end of August, and over,” he said. death, police have confirmed. Courtesy of Wat Khao Chareutham Rescue Foundation Mrs Kanya Kasirak, 37; Miss the works along Phang Nga Rd Works along the 577 me- Lt Col Witthaya Sinjamreu Wanna Karimkan, 39; and Mrs will be completed by the end tres of Phang Nga Rd is about of Phang Nga Muang Police sengers,” Col Witthaya said. speed, wipe out one motorbike Manuwat Hama, 17. of June, DPT-Phuket Tawee 60% complete, Mr Tawee Station told The Phuket News The collision occurred at and then slam head-on into Col Witthaya was unable Homhuan has confirmed. explained. on Tuesday (May 21) that the 7:48am, Col Witthaya con- the tour bus. to give detailed descriptions Mr Tawee delivered the Once this section is coml- pickup driver, Sarawut Nam- firmed. The accident occurred The motorbike driver, Mr of the extent of injuries any of news during an inspection pete, work will continue on sai, who remains in hospital for on the main road Route 4311, Saman Yomdoi, 63, survived, the seven had suffered. of the works last Wednesday completing the project along heavy bruises and contusions between Thap Put and Phang but his passenger Mrs Jeah The bus was carrying 13 (May 15). the contracted 375m of Ras- sustained in the impact, will Nga Town, in Baan Bangsiad Yomdoi, 57, was pronounced Chinese tourists and two Mr Tawee explained that sada Rd, he added. be charged. in Moo 4, Tambon Bang Toei,” dead at hospital. tour guides, Col Witthaya all the power cables have Under the original contract, “I have already questioned he said. Of the three passengers confirmed. already been installed un- the work began on July 25, him at the hospital. He said he Four people died from inju- in the pickup truck who died “None of them, including derground. 2017 and was to be finished fell asleep behind the wheel ries sustained in the accident, from their injuries, Nikorn the driver, suffered any serious “We now just need to finish by July 20 last year. while returning from working which saw the pickup truck Khaokheak, 42, was pro- injuries in the accident,” Col installing all the communi- The Phuket News at a shrimp farm with 11 pas- cross the central reservation at nounced dead at the scene, Witthaya said. Volunteers called to protect coral reefs from destruction Continued from page 1 province, home to Koh Samui resources and time,” he said. tion (DNP) discovered that Coral, Cauliflower Coral and ...here and tourists, are affect- and Koh Pha-ngan, has 72. Registering online through some 10% of coral off Nai Mushroom Coral were killed ing the local marine environ- Woefully, Krabi province, the main Marine Rangers Yang Beach is dead because by bleaching. Some 30% is ment,” Mr Chat said. home to Phi Phi Island and portal, which launched only of bleaching while 30% more damaged by bleaching, but “We want to show people Maya Bay, has just 17. two weeks ago, is simple, but is damaged. still alive,” one of the offic- the impact they are having “We still need more people the website is still in Thai- The discovery was made ers confirmed to The Phuket Some 30% of coral off Nai with corals being broken, to join us. Right now we have language only. during a joint inspection by News. Yang beach have been bleached and damaged by tour- about 400 volunteers in our However, Mr Chat pointed the Phuket Marine National Still the forecast is optimis- damaged by beaching, while ism activities, how sea grass area who have registered to out, “An English version is Park Operation Center 2 and tic due to changing weather 10% are dead. Photo: DNP areas are being depleted and help protect marine and coastal under construction right now.” Sirinath National Park last conditions. marine animals in reef areas resources – but we have only “In the meantime, foreign- Thursday (May 16). “We found that the water may help coral to survive,” are being affected,” he added. about 20 marine officials, that ers wanting to register can call “Officers from the Phuket temperature in this area has the officer added. According to the Marine is not enough,” Mr Chat said. the DMCR at 02-14111392 or Marine National Park Op- already begun to decrease. No specific date for the Rangers official website (http:// “But with volunteers cover- 02-1411394,” he said. eration Center 2 and Sirinath So far it has fallen down to next inspection was set as it mr.dmcr.go.th), there are 159 ing different areas, they can The push to boost the Ma- National Park checked the 29ºC from 31ºC on Apr 30,” all depends on the weather registered volunteers in Phuket help us by sending pictures, rine Ranger network comes condition of coral at the depth the officer said. conditions. and Phang Nga has a healthy videos and reports. We can as specialists from the De- of 1.5 to five metres off Nai “We expect the situation 266. speed up our response to any partment of Natural Parks, Yang beach. We found that to improve. Cloudy sky, rains, Additional reporting by In comparison, Surat Thani incidents, and we can save Wildlife and Plant Conserva- 10% of Staghorn Coral, Hump strong winds, high waves – all Waranya Prompinpiras thephuketnews THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2019 PHUKET NEWS 3 Man, 21, arrested over riot Student accused of role in siege of Thalang Police Station in 2015 Waranya Prompinpiras was aware that Mr Setthawut has named in the arrest warrant, and he [email protected] denied the charges and told police posted bail by submitting a Chanote in Bangkok that he was not even land title deed as surety,” he added.