ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE From living memory DSI digs into archives, DNA and sea gypsies’ memories to establish ancestral land rights INSIDE TODAY August 24 - 30, 2013 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht Patong leader RAW SEWAGE BLOOMS LAP PATONG BEACH faces election fraud ruling THE Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Direc- tor signed the order for the deposition of influential Patong Mayor Pian Keesin. However, the director was vague on the details of the election fraud complaint filed against Mayor Pian and other Patong Adminis- trative officials. Full story on Page 3 Jungle-trek raids target 7 jumbo camps OFFICIALS raided seven elephant camps on the island to take DNA samples of seven elephants sus- pected of having been smuggled into Thailand from Myanmar. Officers believe the animals were brought over the border to be used in the trekking tourism industry. Full story on Page 6 swimming in polluted water. levels of untreated wastewater being released into Officials take decisive The tests will monitor levels of a variety of the sea,” Dr Pornsri explained. pollutants, but primarily focus on how much “The level of hydrocarbons will indicate how Family pleads action against foul tides wastewater is discharged into the waters at much oil [cooking oil, engine oil and other forms Phuket’s main tourist beaches, confirmed Dr of oil] is being released,” she added. for arrest of washing over tourists Pornsri Suthanaruk, director of the Phuket-based The results of each round of water-quality Regional Environmental Office 15. tests will be publicly available, Dr Pornsri as- Jintana killer “We will conduct instant tests on water tem- sured. THE husband of executed By Saran Mitrarat perature, salinity, alkalinity and clarity. We will “At this stage, we’re not sure if the results hotel human resources also conduct our own tests on dissolved oxygen will be posted online. We’re looking into that and director Jintana Mahattana- [DO] readings,” she explained. we will talk with the PMBC about how the data pak asked Phuket’s top cop IN THE wake of a tidal wave of complaints over Samples of beach water will be given to the is to be published,” she told the Gazette. to re-invigorate his offic- the seawater quality at the key west-coast beach Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) to test “It should take no longer than two weeks from ers’ hunt for the killer, of Patong, the Phuket Environmental Office will for plankton, phosphorous, chloroform bacteria when the samples are taken,” she added. months after the case begin conducting water-quality tests at the and hydrocarbons. Although as of Wednesday the PEC… appeared to have gone cold famous beach on Friday, August 23, as part of a “The tests for plankton, phosphorous and new campaign to ensure tourists are no longer chloroform bacteria will help us monitor elevated Continued on Page 4 Full story on Page 4 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS August 24 - 30, 2013 Assailant ‘Rocky’ Property The ins and outs of transferring your condo’s beats down tailor title deed. Page 15 By Chutharat Plerin Tech A NEPALESE tailor was beaten bloody by alleged business ac- Some of the cool tech quaintance “Rocky” on the Patong gadget releases of beach road on August 14, Phuket 2013. Pages 34 Police have reported. Responding to a call at 12:30am, police arrived at the southern end People of Thaweewong Road to find Nepali ‘Popera’ tenor Yves Aung Aung Latt bleeding profusely from several head wounds. Baron set to croon in “The man was covered in Phuket soon. Page 37 blood,” said Lt Col Pratuang Polmana of the Patong Police. “He had made an appointment History with some associates in Chalong Digging up the bones of to talk about business. But about Phuket’s sometimes 10 minutes after they arrived, a fight broke out and they started grisly past. Page 41 to attack him with brass knuckles and pieces of wood, then ran Explore away,” Col Pratuang explained. “Rescue workers took him to All aboard the world’s Patong Hospital,” he said. largest floating book Later Mr Aung was transferred Patong tailor Aung Aung Latt is recovering. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar fair. Page 44 to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where, on August 21, a hospital staffer said, him [Mr Aung],” the relative said. attacking ‘Rocky’, and they “Mr Aung is in our care and still re- The bloody duel between the two agreed for a compensation pay- Sport ceiving treatment. We have yet to tailors started about three months ment of 50,000 baht to be made,” After a short break, the set a date for him to be discharged.” ago over a business conflict derived the relative said. The Gazette was contacted by from competing for customers, Thai-Nepal Foundation President F1 action is set to kick a family member of Mr Latt after explained Mr Aung’s relative. Phanuphong Limbuprasertkul con- off again. Page 47 the incident. “Mr Aung was the one who at- firmed to the Gazette on August 17 “Rocky and his group attacked tacked first. He was arrested after that ‘Rocky’ had been arrested. Russian national found hanged British teen dies after eating single close to south coast landmark A RUSSIAN man was found dead cashew nut at family meal at mall on August 17, hanged from a tree A BRITISH boy on holiday with near Promthep Cape. his family went into shock and Chalong Police received a died after consuming a single report of the dead foreigner at cashew nut on the night of Au- about 8:30am. gust 19 in Patong. “We found the body of Vladimir Ethan Williams, 14, was taken Slobodenyuk, 29, hanging by a to Patong hospital, but died en length of nylon rope from a large route, Patong Hospital Director Dr Vista of Promthep Cape. Photo: Edwin acacia tree near the soccer field Sirichai Silapa-acha said. The 14-year-old was with visiting Phuket with family. Photo: Rajkumar Jonnala [close to the large wind turbines],” around the Nai Harn lagoon early Doctors believe that Ethan died said Thada Sodarak of the Saturday morning. either from an acute allergic reac- explained they had come to enjoy a side-dish, and that Ethan had Chalong Police. The body of Mr Slobodenyuk tion to the cashew nut or bronchial a holiday in Phuket. They went to only eaten a single one before he “It appears he died about three was first spotted by Rawai Mu- spasms brought about by bron- Karon Beach and then headed to went into shock,” Capt Patapee hours before we arrived,” Capt nicipality garbage-collectors, who chostenosis, a sudden narrowing Jungceylon in Patong for some said. Thada said. immediately called the police. of the bronchial tubes. shopping and dinner,” Patapee The family declined to have an Local residents told police that “We do not suspect foul play At about 8:30pm on August 19, Srichai of the Patong Police said. autopsy to determine the exact Mr Slobodenyuk appeared gloomy at this stage,” Capt Thada said. police were notified of the tragedy. “The family explained that they cause of death, Dr Sirichai said. as he conducted his usual walk – Kritsada Mueanhawong “We questioned the family, who had ordered some cashew nuts as – Thawit Bilabdullar August 24 - 30, 2013 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 In brief… Patong election fraud Reward offered for burglar of Party town’s biggest player, Pian Keesin, to face the music Democrat office By Chutharat Plerin removed from office and that A REWARD of 5,000 baht was another election be held. offered on August 21 for any THE Phuket Election Commission However, the order did not information leading to the arrest (PEC) Director, Kittipong stipulate a date for the election of a thief who is believed to have Thiengkunakrit, signed an order to be held. It also failed to clarify broken into the Democrat Party on July 29 to remove Patong whether or not Mayor Pian Phuket office not once, but twice Mayor Pian Keesin from office for would be allowed to run for re- this month. vote fraud. election. However, in talking with the Mr Kittipong explained that the Gazette, he was vague about the order from the OECT came well Provincial Hall details of the complaint filed that after the election, though election led him to dismiss one of Phuket’s law dictates that any complaint adds more CCTV, most powerful politicians. against electoral candidates be “Mayor Pian and other Patong filed within 30 days of the elec- tightens security Administrative officials are still in tion, because the provincial EC their positions because the order office has a full year to investi- A TOTAL of four high-definition we received from the Office of gate any claim. CCTV cameras have been added the Election Commission of Thai- The election law regarding the to the entrance and exit of the Pro- land (OECT) in Bangkok has yet complaints applies only to local vincial Hall complex following the to be finalized,” Mr Kittipong con- and provincial politicians through- bomb blast on the grounds on firmed. out Thailand, and does not apply August 1. “The complaint was filed to national politicians, he As an additional safety measure, all other entrances, including those against Mayor Pian and other The order did not clarify if Mr Pian could run again. Photo: Gazette file explained. Patong Administrative officials on Mr Kittipong reviewed, vetted designed for pedestrians only, September 11 last year, just nine Municipality council members Region 8, in Phuket Town. and endorsed the election results have been closed.