Ad- Phukana Eye front K. Ann Volume 15 Issue 22 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555May 31 - June 6, 2008 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Secret list of Airport expansion ‘influential people’ IN THIS ISSUE funds approved drawn up NEWS: OrBorJor council con- By Sompratch Saowakhon venes; Brit shot and robbed. By Janyaporn Morel Pages 2 & 3 PHUKET: A confidential black- MAI KHAO: Airports of Thai- list of “influential people” in INSIDE STORY: What’s the land (AOT) is set to inject 5 bil- Phuket’s criminal underworld has deal with dioxins? lion baht into the expansion of been drawn up as part of a na- Pages 4 & 5 Phuket International Airport tionwide government campaign to AROUND THE REGION: Boat- (PIA) to bring its capacity up to monitor individuals who “pose a ers prepate to face-off in 11.5 million passengers by the threat to society”. Samui. Page 7 year 2016 – an increase of 77% Phuket Vice-Governor Tri over current capacity. Augkaradacha on May 26 met AROUND THE SOUTH: Fisher- men having a rough time at The announcement was senior provincial officers at Pro- sea. Page 8 made on May 23 by Deputy vincial Hall to finalize the list be- Transport Minister Songsak fore sending it to Phuket Gover- AROUND THE NATION: Thai Thongsri, who joined Phuket nor Niran Kalayanamit for ap- children need to kick the habit. Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratha- proval. Page 9 sima, PIA Director Wicha Nern- The final list was compiled AROUND THE ISLAND: Turning lop and other officials from AOT based on whether individuals are on a dime in the Phuket Jet and PIA in a meeting and inspec- known to be involved in any of Boat. Page 10 tion tour of the airport. 18 criminal activities, including In 2007, PIA had a total of offenses related to drugs, gam- CHEAP EATS: Noodle queen 38,368 flights, a 32.4% rise from bling, illegal migrant laborers, serves up a bowlful. 2006, with 5.47 million passen- smuggling, hiring hitmen and Page 12 gers using the airport, a 22.6% Phuket’s taxi “mafia”, said V/ PEOPLE: Germany’s first lady increase over the previous year. Gov Tri. is a model citizen. The sharp rise is attributed to the “To be on the list, an indi- Pages 14 & 15 growing popularity of low-cost vidual must also have a network carriers. This aerial photograph illustrates why the solitary runway at Phuket of people working for him or her, SPORTS: Swim gala at BIS; This year, AOT expects the or be known to have the support SEA Junior athletics champi- International Airport, with the Andaman Sea at one end and a main airport to accommodate 41,000 road at the other, cannot be extended much beyond its 3,000 meters. of a powerful person, such as a onship; Turtle fun run. flights and about six million pas- government officer,” he added. Pages 34 & 35 sengers. of the existing international ter- tional Airport be designated as a It was not revealed how PROPERTY: Construction Up- Following the 516-million- minal into a domestic passenger relief airport for PIA when traf- many names are on the list or date; Home of the Week; De- baht expansion of the interna- terminal, a new cargo building, fic exceeds capacity, K. Songsak whether those blacklisted have cor: Doin’ it for the kids; Prop- tional terminal completed last new roads and improved trans- said. been convicted of crimes. erty Watch: Condos aiming year, the airport can now handle port systems, a parking garage The deputy transport min- The district chief and po- for the sky. Pages 37-42 up to 6.5 million passengers per for the international terminal, im- ister on May 25 also visited the lice superintendents of each of year. provements in car parking areas, intended site of the island’s sec- Phuket’s three districts – Muang, PLUS The 5-billion-baht funding and a new airport office and air- ond bus station on Thepkrasattri Thalang and Kathu – compiled will cover the development plan line offices. Rd, near Super Cheap in Koh and passed on to the provincial QUEER N EWS 6; HAPPENINGS 16; for fiscal years 2009 to 2011, said However, the two-year Kaew. committee a list of known “influ- ANDAMAN RANT 17; LIFESTYLE K. Songsak. plan does not address the air- Construction has been de- ential people” in their respective 18 & 19; MOTORING 20; WHAT’S Beyond that, AOT will port’s main limiting factor: that layed because none of the six districts. ON 21; TAKE A BREAK 23 & need to provide more funding in its single 3,000-meter runway construction firms who took out “The governor and the pro- 24; YOUTH ’ N ASIA, PATTAYA 26; order for the airport to be able to can only accommodate 20 flights plans for the work tendered a bid, vincial police commander must BOOKS, THAI 101 27; EDITO- welcome 15 million visitors by per hour and is too short to al- which they say underestimates now sign and confirm the list,” RIAL, LETTERS 28; GOVERNOR’S 2020, he said. low for safe takeoff of fully- actual cost of materials. he said. LETTER, ISSUES & ANSWERS 29; The 2009-2011 budget will laden jumbo jets or mammoth K. Songsak advised local “We will be monitoring all LAYING DOWN THE LAW, HORO- cover the construction of more Airbus 380s. officials to review the plan and of the people on the list so that if SCOPES 30; COMPUTERS 31; taxiways and 11 parking bays for Given this restraint, AOT is adjust the bid specifications to there are any crimes we think BUSINESS AND M ONEY 32 & 33; aircraft, a new international pas- intending to propose to the Trans- bring them in line with rising mar- they are involved in, we can CLASSIFIEDS 43-55. senger terminal, the modification port Ministry that Krabi Interna- ket prices. Continued on page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS May 31 - June 6, 2008 From page 1 Secret list OrBorJor council gets down to business By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang the first instance, but has the power to call a consultants: Arsin Arammetapong (tourism compiled re-vote or decide on a vote in the case of a issues), Jirayut Songyot (quality-of-life is- PHUKET: In the inaugural sitting of the new deadlock. sues), Somchai Duangkhae (education) and easily arrest them,” he added. Phuket Provincial Administration Organiza- In other OrBorJor business, Sanit Jirasak Tortip (Societal issues and Islamic Although the list will not be tion (OrBorJor) council on May 21, Pradit Siriwat (Thalang District 5, Thepkrasattri) relations). released to the media, V/Gov Tri Sangjan secured 18 votes of the 24-seat coun- was voted vice-chairman and Teera Jiasakul Presiding over the provincial council ses- confirmed that all the people on cil to be elected council chairman. (Muang District 10, Wichit) was voted sec- sion was Phuket Governor Niran Kalaya- the list live in Phuket. K. Pradit, who represents Muang Dis- ond vice-chairman. namit. Also present were Phuket Vice-Gov- The list is similar to black- trict 11, in Wichit, bested Somkuan Tansakul, Kraiwut Kumban was voted OrBorJor ernor Smith Palawatwichai and Phuket Pro- lists drawn up by the government the only other candidate nominated to con- Secretary. vincial Police Chief Maj Gen Decha Bud- during Thailand’s war on drugs test the position. OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising nampetch. under the Thaksin regime. Black- K. Somkuan represents Muang District appointed Chawalit Na Nakhon and Soratam OrBorJor Chief Administrative Officer listed individuals were targeted as 1, comprising Samkong in Phuket City. Jinda as his vice-presidents. (Palad) Manop Leelasuthanon served as sec- part of an intensive nationwide As chairman, K. Pradit does not vote in Four people were named OrBorJor retary for the proceedings. crackdown on drugs, which saw extra-judicial killings by police of more than 2,000 alleged drug deal- SIPA helps to ers. Thailand’s latest war on Phuket’s antiques fast-track drugs began on April 2 this year, although neither Governor Niran nor V/Gov Tri were available to yacht confirm or deny a link to this lat- registrations est blacklist. all accounted for American By Sompratch Saowakhon By Janyaporn Morel THALANG: After a nationwide PHUKET: The Phuket Office of commits spate of thefts and damage to the Software Industry Promotion important cultural and religious Agency (SIPA) has announced suicide in sites, Phuket Vice-Governor its plan for a first step in creating Worapoj Ratthasima on May 22 a true one-stop service for yacht Chalong paid a visit to Thalang National and crew registrations at Ao Museum to make sure its collec- Chalong pier. tion, for which the Fine Arts De- In February, SIPA was CHALONG: According to a busi- partment is responsible, remains tasked with creating a “device” ness card left at the hotel where safe. to help track yachts visiting Thai he took his life, a man found Thalang Museum Curator waters, as well as streamlining hanged in a rented room in Chalong Atjima Nukong told him all the procedures among the Marine, on May 19 was American dive museum’s items were accounted Immigration and Customs offices instructor Adrian Martin. for and being properly protected. in charge of processing the On the evening of May 13, V/Gov Worapoj’s inspection yachts, crew and cargo at the staff at Ao Chalong Mansion re- followed Fine Arts Department pier. ported to police that the guest in director-general Kriengkrai SIPA Specialist Pracha room 206, on the third-floor of the Sampat-chalit’s call for better Asawaweera, at a meeting at the Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima (center) speaks to local small shophouse hotel, had used security measures at historical Phuket Provincial Administration officials about the condition of the Heroines’ Monument, which was Organization (OrBorJor) office an electrical cord to hang himself sites nationwide after high-profile built in 1967 to honor Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthon.