ANDAMAN Edition Volume 19 Issue 4 January 28 - February 3, 2012 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht Bangkok squad to Patong Mayor Pian Keesin Patong Tunnel tackle illegal taxis to begin ‘within By Warisa Temram up a working committee to keep 6 months’: Pian chipping away at the problems, but PATONG Mayor Pian Keesin A TEAM of Ministry of Interior it takes a lot of time and effort. expects to get Cabinet approval (MoI) officials from Bangkok will One initiative, by the Phuket for the multi-billion baht Patong arrive in Phuket in February to Land Transportation Office and Tunnel project “within six tackle the island’s long-standing Department of Local Administra- months”. problems with “black plate” taxis tion, has been to encourage illegal The project is now under and their drivers, Phuket Gover- taxi drivers to upgrade their ve- review by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, nor Tri Augkaradacha announced hicles so they could be registered Mayor Pian said on Tuesday. this week. as genuine taxis. “According to our survey, 86.3 The move follows a number of Once the “black plate” taxi was per cent of the high-ranking serious complaints received by the fully and legally registered as a government officers who have ministry regarding “black plate” “green plate” taxi, the driver could seen the project details agree it taxis, the local name for regular then continue to work as a legiti- should commence… So I believe we will receive the go-ahead vehicles used illegally as taxis. mate taxi driver – with no within six months,” he said. Among the complaints to be punishment at all for the years At a public meeting held in July addressed are threatening behav- worked outside the law. 2011, project consultants ior by drivers and unfair prices, said HOME TURF: A driver of an illegal taxi argues with an official at Phuket But the project has so far en- Airport during a crackdown in 2009. Photo: Gazette file announced the proposed route Gov Tri. joyed only limited success, said for a 3km tunnel. “We are always receiving com- Most complaints came from MoI,” said Governor Tri. Gov Tri. “Some ‘black plate’ taxi However the route sparked opposition from members of plaints about ‘black plate’ taxis, Patong, Kata, Karon and Sakoo, “Now the Ministry of Interior drivers have registered with us. Patong’s Ban Mon Community, which can be found at most tour- he added. is to send an ‘ad-hoc’ team to Our next step is to install meters in who feared they would be ist attractions in Phuket. The move for Bangkok to send Phuket to solve problems with their cars, but there are some rules inadequately compensated for “The top complaint is that le- a team down to deal with the situ- ‘black plate’ taxis. They plan to that prevent us from doing this, expropriated land needed for the gitimate taxis can’t access certain ation follows complaints being come in February,” he added. such as the age of the vehicles. project. locations where local ‘black plate’ made directly to ministry officials Governor Tri, who has had a “Buying a new car is expensive, At that meeting, study project manager Pongchanit Chuwiruch taxi drivers operate. in Bangkok, he said. difficult time with public transport that’s why not many of the driv- said the tunnel could be “Sometimes, the drivers have “I heard that people filed com- issues, said he appreciated the ers want to register their cars as completed in six years “if all tried to steal passengers from plaints about ‘black plate’ taxis support from Bangkok. taxis and make them legal. This is went well”. other drivers and fighting has en- ripping people off with the Prime “We didn’t just watch the prob- why we seem so slow in solving – Chutharat Plerin sued,” said Governor Tri. Minister’s Office as well as the lem and do nothing about it. I set this problem,” he said. Alleged mastermind of ‘Ae Inside’ murder still at large ATSADAKORN “Pod” Seedokbuab, 48, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, has not been “We got the wrong name because man who police believe ordered the assas- seen since Phuket Provincial Police Com- through our investigation we learned that sination of Phuket newsman Wisut “Ae In- mander Chonasit Wattanavrangku announced Tossaporn gave the wrong name to Thalang side” Tangwitthayaporn earlier this month, a warrant for his arrest last Saturday. Police when he was charged with criminal remains at large. Meanwhile, Col Chote has also confirmed association in 2007 in Thalang. Phuket City Police Superintendent Col that police have been mistakenly searching “He wanted to hide his name from many Chote Chidchai confirmed on Wednesday for the wrong person as the alleged gunman. other crimes, including a murder in that police were still hunting Atsadakorn and Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, arrested on Janu- Phetchburi in 2004,” Col Chote explained. two other suspects for their roles in the ary 16 for his alleged part in the murder as “We realized the true name of the gun- murder of Mr Wisut, who was shot dead in the getaway driver, named Sanya Klinchum, man only after we were informed by broad daylight on January 12. 36, as the gunman. Cha-am Police that the real Sanya Klinchum, Atsadakorn, the owner of Phuket cable However, Col Chote on Wednesday con- a village chief assistant in Cha-am, presented TV company KPP Cable and at the time of firmed to the Gazette, “Actually, the gunman himself and showed his ID card,” he said. Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangku believes his disappearance a Vice President of the is Tossaporn Ketkaew.” – Atchaa Khamlo all three suspects have fled Phuket. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS January 28 - February 3, 2012 ‘Fake monks’ tapping News tourists for cash, alms NACC to investigate high-level corruption in By Warisa Temram land deals. Page 6 THE ‘monk police’ of Phuket are warning everyone on the island of Live Wire con men who are impersonating Buddhist monks and tricking lo- Top tips to avoid having cals and tourists into giving them your bank account money. emptied. Page 12 “High season in Phuket at- tracts a lot of these con men who dress like Buddhist monks to get Culture money, which really isn’t appro- Classical music for priate. We found that most are from Cambodia, here in Phuket everyone at Mom Tri’s on tourist visas, though there are place. Page 15 Thai fake-monks too,” said Chatpawit Jinapong, Director of Entertainment the Phuket branch of the National Office of Buddhism, which op- Chatpawit Jinapong warns of fake ‘monks’ collecting donations from Punchline brings you erates directly under the Prime tourists and locals in Phuket. Photo: Warisa Temram ‘Whose line is it Minister’s Office. Mr Chatpawit. people likely for to offer money On casual observation the “We have caught more than 10 instead of food. By far the big- anyway?’ Page 17 phony monks appear to be collect- and Phuket Immigration have de- gest giveaway is those who collect ing alms as part of a merit making ported them,” he said. alms after 8am,” he said. Property ceremony. However, their true Mr Chatpawit went on to ex- Though they have caught doz- objective is to collect money rather plain how to spot the bogus ens of the con men, Mr Chatpawit Sansiri launches the than other offerings such as food. monks, who often operate in busy says he and his team of five of- second dCondo in “Thai monks follow a very places such as markets and tour- ficers still have much to do. Phuket. Page 27 strict monastic code and they do ist attractions. “The penalty for impersonating not collect alms after 8am, “Fake monks are not calm a monk is a 3,000 baht or up to whereas these fake monks are when collecting alms. They are three months imprisonment,” he Sport collecting alms all day long,” said frequently looking to identify added. Adult futsal league season nine kicks off in Phuket. Page 48 Safety measures at death bend All safe after tour bus fire causing more road accidents FINNISH tourists on a tour to THE village headman of Baan Kho them,” he added. Laem Phromthep had a sudden En has called for more safety fea- Highways Department Phuket change of itinerary on January 24 tures to be installed at the notori- Office deputy chief Pramote ex- when their Phuket tour bus burst ous “death bend” on Thepkrasattri plained they had already installed into flames on a hilly stretch of Road where the small community concrete blocks along the left side road in Karon. resides in the north of Phuket. of the left lane southbound to The incident occurred at about Somnuek Patee made his plea separate traffic heading toward 8:30am near to the entrance to at a high-powered meeting to re- Phuket Town from the slow-mov- Centara Grand Beach Resort view safety measures put in place ing vehicles using the shoulder Phuket on Wiset Road, a curvy after a four-year-old boy and his along the curve. coastal road that connects the re- aunt were killed in an accident at “We have already installed con- sort towns of Patong and Karon. The driver attempted to fight the the site in November. Village chief Somnuek Patee crete blocks along 310 meters of “The blaze started suddenly, fire before ordering an evacuation. “The plastic traffic poles [in- see the speed bumps [and cars hit the road. We are now waiting to with some smoke coming out of Photo: Atchaa Khamlo stalled between the southbound them from behind],” said Mr install the blocks along a further the bottom of the bus.