ANDAMAN Edition PHUKET’S LEADING NEWSPAPER... SINCE 1993 Now NATIONWIDE CHECK Tuk-tukOUT OUR PHUKETdriver PROPERTYPratin FREE REVIEWwith his INSIDE All theside-entry latest THIS property newsvehicle ISSUE and Regsfeatures mean he fromhas toPhuket rent ain rear- one FREE special supplement.entry model. 63,000 copies printed! June 9 - 15, 2012 PhuketGazette.Net In partnership with The Nation 25 Baht NEW WARNING SIGNS POSTED ON THE BEACHES IN SEVEN LANGUAGES TO SAVE TOURISTS Beach drownings spark tourist safety measures Governor pushes for SMS Welcome to our surf warnings on all inbound new look Gazette tourist mobile phones READERS will be quick to note that the Phuket Gazette’s Andaman Edition has a new face this week. Now in our 20th year of By Kritsada Mueanhawong publication, this change in design style does not foretell any change in editorial NEW signs warning tourists in seven languages of the policy. Though we remain tabloid in physical danger of swimming in treacherous monsoon season surf format to ensure ease of handling for our readers, our editorial policy continues to have been posted along Phuket’s southern beaches. ‘say no’ to flamboyance or sensationalism Meanwhile, the Governor is pushing for all tourists en- in news reports. tering the country to receive an automated message on With 45,000 copies in circulation every their mobile phones warning them also to beware the mon- week since the launch of our Nationwide soon surf. and Airline Editions two years ago, the The move follows a spate of drownings in Phuket in Phuket Gazette continues as the island’s leading publication – not only in print, but recent weeks, including three tourists. also on line where we enjoy the highest In Karon, which has consistently recorded the most rankings accorded by Google to any website drowning deaths in recent years, the municipality has in or about Phuket. posted 15 large warning signs at highly-visible locations If you are reading this aboard any of the along Kata, Kata Noi and Karon beaches. The warnings, 11 major international airlines serving clearly stating the dangers of ignoring red warning flags, Thailand (see page 33), you know that the compact size of our airline edition is are in seven languages: Thai, Chinese, English, Russian, optimized for reader convenience, and that French, Korean and German. the content presented is strictly about Supachai Janphet, chief of the Sea Rescue Center, wants Phuket. After all, it’s this island that inspired tourists to understand the risks they are taking if they en- you to pick up the Phuket Gazette. ter the surf where red flags are flying. “Karon Municipality has put up big notice boards at the popular tourist areas for the past four years warning tour- EMERGENCY BUDGET Yellow shirts in Phuket ists not to swim in red flag areas. The signs also advise Democrat supporters staged a mass rally caution when swimming in designated ‘safe zones’ during REQUESTED AS RAINS ARRIVE in Phuket Town last Friday to bolster sup- this time of year,” he said. port in their efforts to block the reconcilia- The safe zones, marked with yellow-red pennants, in- A last-minute push to fix the Patong Hill road tion bills they claim will allow Thaksin dicate areas where lifeguards are at the ready to assist… is underway as fears of another landslip on Shinawatra to return to Thailand a free man. Continued on Page 2 the traffic-heavy hill grow. Full story on page 3 Full story on Page 3 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS June 9 - 15, 2012 New signs hoped to News There are no winners in stave off drownings the battle for custody of a child. Page 6-7 From page 1 swimmers in distress. Lifeguards Aviation establish these zones after moni- toring them for the presence of That Thai smile: Thai riptides. Although lifeguards try to Airways’ hybrid low-cost warn swimmers by placing red carrier. Page 16 flags along beaches, they routinely have to rescue overconfident swimmers who pay no heed to In Focus warnings. Hot Topic: The man in “We often hear the excuse that they are an athlete or a strong the incinerator hot seat swimmer,” he lamented. interviewed. Page 14 The latest victim in Karon, 33- year-old Denis Korobogatov of Red Flag: The sea is dangerous. You should NOT go into the water. Explore Russia, entered the surf at Karon messages to greet tourists who ar- Telecom about this,” Governor Tri Beach on the afternoon of May rive at Phuket Airport and activate added. Dragon Breath: How to 31. He was quickly pulled offshore their mobile phones there using “in- He also postulated that it might breathe fire without by the notorious “permanent rip” ternational roaming” services. be possible to transmit similar that forms offshore from the burning. Page 19 Information about dangerous messages to all mobile phone us- Thavorn Palm Beach Resort an- surf conditions and other impor- ers as they enter the local network. nually at this time of year. tant information could follow the The initiative is just one of Environment Two lifeguards rushed to his initial greeting, said the governor. many technological solutions the Phuket’s environmental assistance and pulled him ashore “I have discussed this with my provincial government is working within about five minutes, but he IT team and I see a high possibil- on in the aftermath of two public decline in pictures by was announced dead on arrival at ity it could really happen. I also panics that followed a pair of large Chusak. Page 20-21 hospital. want tourists arriving in Phuket earthquakes off the coast of Meanwhile, Phuket Governor for the first time to get the im- Sumatra on April 11. Tri Augkaradacha is working on a pression this is a truly international Confusion and panic resulted Property Watch more high-tech approach to warn destination,” he said. when a tsunami warning was is- Why Pattaya is beating tourists. His office has been in “I have also spoken with Phuket sued, local mobile phone networks communication with several tele- Phuket in the condo Office of the National Broadcast- crashed, and the public were un- communications firms to find a ing and Telecommunications able to get information through the sales battle. Page 30 way to develop automatic text Commission, TOT and CAT state-run media. Footballer accused of rape released on bail Ranong rattled by 4.0 quake THE professional footballer signed found that the woman was still in AN EARTHQUAKE registering 4.0 with Krabi FC who stands ac- a state of shock over the incident. on the Richter scale struck Ranong cused of raping an American ex- After giving police a detailed province, to the north of Phuket, change student has been released description of the man, the woman just before 1pm on June 4, shak- on bail, the Gazette has learned. was sent to Krabi Hospital for an ing houses along the coast and scat- An officer at the Krabi Provin- examination and further treatment. tering villagers in fear. cial Court confirmed that the man “I was given orders not to re- Ranong is best known among was presented to the court and veal any information regarding the Phuket expats and long-stay tour- released on bail, but the officer case. All I can say is that we held ists as the jump-off point for “visa declined to give any further infor- [the man] for 24 hours, in accor- runs” to Myanmar. The red lines show the fault line mation. dance with the law, and then sent Paiboon Aiamsuwan, director of running along the Ranong coast. “I was given orders not to re- him to Krabi Provincial Court,” the Thai Meteorological Department tains in Ngao subdistrict,” Mr veal any information regarding the said Col Amornrat. (TMD) monitoring station in Paiboon said. case. Previously he was held at Although the alleged victim’s Ranong, confirmed that the epicen- The quake was the result of the cells at the court. Police are tourist-popular Nopparat Thara name and the name and nationality ter of the earthquake was located movement along the Ranong Fault, now collecting evidence for their Beach in Ao Nang on the night of of the accused were included in the under the beachfront area of Ngao a series of subfaults starting in case,” said Lt Col Amornrat May 31. He was arrested by Krabi original reports in Thai media, the in Ranong’s Muang District. Prachuap Khiri Khan province that Sudthigerd of Krabi City Police. City Police next day. Gazette is withholding the names “The quake was felt all over extend all the way south along the The man has reportedly denied The woman was taken to a lo- until the victim chooses to be pub- Muang District, but the strongest Andaman Coast, pass under the allegation, which claims he cal clinic for treatment of injuries licly known or police formally tremors were reported at the Ranong province and end in the raped a 23-year-old American ex- to her face. press charges against the accused. beachfront area near the moun- Andaman Sea, he explained. change student at the Police visited the clinic and – Orawin Narabal June 9 - 15, 2012 PHUKET NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Rally against reconciliation By Kritsada Mueanhawong Pheu Thai Party-led government has made every possible attempt LEADING Democrat Party mem- to have Mr Thaksin acquitted and Phuket PAD bers arrived in Phuket last Friday the 46 billion baht seized from him to ramp up support in their fight returned. left out of to block the reconciliation bills the “The bills were written with the ruling Pheu Thai Party are aiming intention of clearing Mr Thaksin protest loop to pass through Parliament.