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ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE Full sail for PIMEX Boat show glides into the weekend at Royal Phuket Marina INSIDE TODAY January 11 - 17, 2014 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht ‘WATER-SAFETY SUMMIT MUST BE HELD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’ Off-duty cop charged with bar girl death A PATONG police officer faces murder charges for the shooting death of a Bangla bar worker late last month. Sgt Pongsakorn Tre- Gov fights for eyuth was suspended from active duty after he alleg- edly pulled out a gun, removed the magazine and, forgetting there was still a bullet in the chamber in a drunken stupor, attem- pted to show 27-year-old Sawitree Kaewin how a person could be held from Safer Phuket behind with a gun pointed National protests at his or her head. Full story Page 3 delay summit; water Scrambling to save lives on safety stays course Patong Hill A BUDGET has been By Chutharat Plerin secured to widen the road over Patong Hill in the hope POLITICAL unrest may have forced the post- of preventing accidents ponement of the Coastal Waters Safety Summit such as the recent double- this week, but the ongoing protests will not pre- fatality runaway bus crash. vent the landmark event from occurring after Full story Page 3 the February 2 election. “The event may have been postponed, but it must be held as soon as possible,” Phuket Gov- Protest blocks ernor Maitri Inthusut told the Gazette this week. MP candidate “I fully support the Safer Phuket project [which organized the summit]. Although there registration are many departments that each stage water- PROTESTERS prevented safety campaigns, it is much better for us to all but one candidate from develop a co-ordinated approach to keep tour- registering for the contro- ists safe,” he said. versial February 2 national Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat election in a continued Theerakulpisut rated the summit as “critical” in demonstration of anti- improving water safety on and around the island. government sentiment on “We see that it is very important… the island. Continued on Page 8 Despite the delay, Governor Maitri Inthusut maintains his resolve to push forward. Photo: Saran Mitrarat Full story Page 4 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS January 11 - 17, 2014 Angry protesters avail By Kritsada Mueanhawong Property HUNDREDS of angry anti- Discover the global real government protesters on Sunday night forced the organizers of the estate market at Dubai annual Phuket Red Cross Fair to property expo. Page 16 cancel a live concert by Thai rock star Sek Loso, who was to per- form the closing show at the fair. Health Sek “Seksan Sukpimai” Loso was Watch for the warning one of many Thai celebrities who signs of potential joined a publicity campaign calling on voters to cast their ballots at the alcoholism. Page 36 upcoming February 2 election. His participation in the campaign, Explore however, drew much criticism from anti-government factions, who Dodge the crowds with posted angry comments on the Sek an idyllic getaway to Loso Facebook page. Koh Racha. Page 40 Sek fired back at his online crit- ics, swearing at them in a post that Protesters demand no Sek at the Phuket Red Cross Fair. was later pulled down from his Boats Facebook page. blew their whistles and started explained. Indulge in a myriad of Determined to prevent the rock heading home. About 20 meters away was Mr star from taking the stage, hun- Two rival Burmese gangs were Min Min, 26, who was seriously marine pleasures at dreds of protesters massed at the among the fair-goers leaving the injured with stab wounds. PIMEX 2014.Page 43 fair at Saphan Hin. event. They ran into each other Two other men, Mr Moo, 24, Phuket Red Cross President outside of Saphan Hin and a battle and Mr Pao, 22, were found in- Pawinee Inthusut attempted to talk broke out, said Capt Udom jured and in tears across from the Education the protesters into disbanding, but Petcharat of the Phuket City Police. Phuket Immigration Office nearby. BISP unites to build the angry crowd refused to budge. Police called to the scene found The men were taken to Vachira medical mission ship About an hour later, at 10:30pm, the body of Mr Min, 23, who had Phuket Hospital. officials announced that the con- been stabbed with a sharpened “Mr Min Min died en route,” on campus. Page 44 cert was cancelled. Protesters steel construction rod, Capt Udom Capt Udom said. Sport Both of Phuket’s pro Electrifying prison-escape attempt footy squads get ready AN ATTEMPTED jailbreak from Rapin Nichanon. for 2014. Page 50 Phuket Prison came to a shocking Mr Worawut was sentenced halt at 12:30pm on January 4 when to 2 years and 6 months in jail an inmate trying to escape was elec- for a theft conviction on March trified by wires strung across the 29 last year. top of one of the perimeter walls. “That sentence was com- Alerted to the escape attempt, pounded by another theft conviction prison guards ran to the east wall, that saw 1 year and 9 months added where they found 45-year-old A prisoner attempts to escape. to his sentence. He is currently on Worawut Rordbhut unconscious, back to ground. trial for two more cases of theft,” hanging upside down with his left “We believe he was attempt- Chief Rapin explained. leg tangled in barbed wire. ing to break out because he was “He will now be charged with Rescue workers, with help very homesick, as that is what attempting to escape from prison,” from other inmates, were quickly he told our guards before his at- Chief Rapin confirmed. called to bring Mr Worawut tempt,” said Phuket Prison Chief – Kritsada Mueanhawong January 11 - 17, 2014 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Bus crash spurs B10mn budget By Saran Mitrarat in Bangkok and is expect to be New Year’s Eve prompted Phuket approved in March,” he added. Governor Maitri Inthusut to call THE Phuket Highways Office has The project will see 500 meters on the Phuket Land Transport secured 10 million baht to widen of Phra Barami Road expanded to Office (PLTO) to draw up a list the road at the bottom of Patong four lanes, starting in front of the of suggestions to prevent more Hill in the hope of preventing more abandoned Crest resort and end- fatal accidents from occurring on fatal bus crashes brought on by ing at the junction in front of the notorious incline. brake failure. Patong Temple. PLTO Chief Transport Techni- The news follows a runaway “The expansion will take 150 cian Jaturong Kaewkasi presented tour bus slamming into five ve- days to complete. We will expand a list of nine recommendations to hicles, including one motorcycle, the road when we install larger the governor on January 1. killing two people and leaving drains along the roadside so “Over the years, there have 26 others injured on both projects can be been many accidents on Patong December 29. finished at the same Hill involving buses or trucks that The bus, loaded with time,” Mr Samak ex- have had brake failure. These Russian and Thai tour- plained. accidents have cost many lives,” ists, stopped only after However, Mr Mr Jaturong said. ramming a concrete Samak admitted that Among the suggestions was to barrier and hitting a little more could be ban all buses and trucks travelling power pole in front of done to make the road over Patong Hill at all times, and Wat Suwankiriwong safer. transfer passengers to and from (Patong Temple). “There is not Patong by van. “We have drawn up Jaturong Kaewkasi enough room to re- Another suggestion was to a plan to expand the duce the incline on the enforce a maximum age for all road from three to four lanes. This descent into Patong. If you want buses and trucks travelling over should help traffic flow and re- to make driving into Patong safer, Patong Hill. duce the need for drivers to use I recommend we build a tunnel Governor Maitri led officials on their brakes so much,” Phuket through the hills as soon as pos- an inspection of the site on Janu- Highways Office Director Samak sible,” he said. ary 3 to evaluate the efficacy of Luedwonghad said. “Some people will be negatively the nine suggestions. “We already have the 10 mil- affected by such a project, but it “We will now raise our ideas lion baht budget required. The will help save lives,” Mr Samak with business owners to see if they construction plan has been sub- noted. have any valuable suggestions,” The runaway bus came to a crushing halt after slamming into a power mitted to the Ministry of Transport The horrific bus crash before Mr Jaturong explained. pole, leaving two people dead and 26 injured. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong Officers take down taxi drivers A STING operation involving an Lt Sakson, saying that if he tried undercover policeman disguised to pick up any guests in the area as a taxi driver has put two taxi without a voucher he would have drivers behind bars. a problem with them. Pamorn Maipuek, 40, and Nara- A team of police officers then thid Wangaree, 27, were charged rushed in and arrested both men. for threatening the plainclothes They face up to three years im- officer, who was attempting to prisonment, a fine of up to 60,000 WEAPON: 11mm handgun VICTIM: Sawitree Kaewin pick up guests at Avista Hideway baht or both.