Ad- Phukana Eye front K. Ann Volume 15 Issue 10 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555March 8 - 14, 2008 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Anchalee Police to enforce resigns OrBorJor IN THIS ISSUE 2 am bar curfew presidency NEWS: Police chief trans- fered; Cop shops upgraded; By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Classic boat ravaged by fire. Pages 2 & 3 PATONG: Bar, discotheque and PHUKET: Anchalee Vanich pub owners will be given a 90- Tephabutra, president of the INSIDE STORY: Is Phang Nga day grace period before police ready for take off? Phuket Provincial Administration begin to strictly enforce a 2 am Pages 4 & 5 Organization (OrBorJor), on closing time at all nightlife ven- February 29 tendered her resig- AROUND THE NATION: Fat kids ues on the island, authorities have nation to the Governor’s Office, raise concerns about health announced. the Gazette has confirmed. in Thailand. Page 7 Starting at 2 am on Febru- Manus Nooluck, Secretary ary 26, police presence was un- AROUND THE REGION: Rains to Phuket Governor Niran Kala- wreak havoc on Khao Lak’s expectedly heavy on Soi Bangla yanamit, on March 1 confirmed roads. Page 8 and along nearby roads that receipt of the letter. No reason make up the heart of Phuket’s was given for the resignation, he AROUND THE SOUTH: ‘Silenc- nightlife entertainment industry. said. ing killing’ shakes up Krabi. Their presence sparked A source in the OrBorJor Page 9 fears of a crackdown on bars and said the move is intended to al- AROUND THE ISLAND: Patong pubs, many of which have in re- low K. Anchalee to turn her at- post office goes high-tech. cent months been staying open tention to full-time campaigning Page 10 well past the mandatory closing in her attempt to recapture the time of 2 am that applies to most OrBorJor presidency seat. DINING OUT: Nick Davies has venues in the area. K. Anchalee’s current term a vealy good time. Page 12 Fearing possible arrests as OrBorJor president ends on PEOPLE: Crafty boatman and fines, owners were quick to March 13. New elections must shows he’s a man of fiber. close up shop. be held before April 27, accord- Pages 14 & 15 On February 28 and 29, ing to Election Commission law. also starting at 2 am, Kathu Dis- She does not want political SPORTS: Fobissea Games; trict Chief Khantee Silapa ac- Karate kids belt up; Cricket; Patong Entertainment Business Association President Sompetch opponents to complain that she is companied Kathu Police Super- Moosophon (pictured) plans to meet Kathu District Chief Khantee unfairly using her position to can- Darts league heats up; ACYC. intendent Col Grissak Song- Pages 34 & 35 to push for Patong to be exempted from the 2 am closing. vass for votes, the source said. moonnak and other high-ranking K. Manus said that Gover- PROPERTY: Construction Up- officers from the Kathu Police Noting that pubs and night- put in place in early 2004 under nor Niran was unable to person- date; Property Watch; Gar- on more inspection tours in clubs were used by youths as a the controversial “Social Order” ally accept the resignation be- dening: Bert discovers home- Patong. place to experiment with and campaign launched by Pol Capt cause he had left for Germany, grown beauty; Decor: All Again, bar owners were trade in narcotics, he said bet- Purachai Piemsomboon, interior where he will attend the Inter- shook up with a ’50s flash- quick to close down and there ter compliance with existing minister during the first Thaksin national Tourism Bourse (ITB) back. Pages 37-42 were no reports of arrests, but closing times would be a key administration. trade show in Berlin. the show of force by authorities part of his campaign against The order by Minister The resignation has been PLUS sent a clear signal to venue own- drug abuse. Purachai, who initially pushed for turned over to acting-governor ers that failure to observe the Minister Chalerm threat- a closing time of midnight to Worapoj Ratthasima, he said. QUEER N EWS 6; HAPPENINGS 16; mandatory closing time of 2 am ened to punish police officers, keep minors out of nightclubs, While the Election Commis- AMBROSIA 17; LIFESTYLE 18 & will no longer be accepted. district chiefs and other officials resulted in non-violent protests sion has yet to announce the date 19; ANDAMAN R ANT 20; WHAT’S Nightclub owners will be who fail to strictly enforce anti- by hundreds of nightlife work- of the OrBorJor election or ac- ON 21; TAKE A B REAK 23 & 24; given 90 days, starting from Feb- drug measures at entertainment ers in Patong, where the previ- cept candidacies for OrBorJor TALES OF A TRAVELER 26; BOOKS, ruary 28, before police will begin venues, Phuket Governor Niran ous closing time had been 4 am. seats, the election is expected to WORD C OURT 27; EDITORIAL, LET- arresting bar owners who fail to Kalyanamit said at the monthly In the end, special “nightlife become a two-horse race between TERS 28; FIRST PERSON, ISSUES AND comply, Col Grissak told the Ga- meeting of provincial govern- zones” were established where K. Anchalee and former Phuket ANSWERS 29; MAKING TRACKS, zette a few days later. ment officers, which he chaired venues with a special license Senator Paiboon Upatising. HOROSCOPES 30; COMPUTERS 31; The new initiative follows an at Phuket Provincial Hall on the could remain open until 2 am, K. Paiboon is the developer BUSINESS AND MONEY 32 & 33; order by newly-installed Interior morning of February 27. while those outside the zone of the island’s many Phuket Villa CLASSIFIEDS 43-55. Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung. Current closing times were Continued on page 2 residential estates. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS March 8 - 14, 2008 From page one were required to close at 1 am. PIH founder However, the strict en- Police stations upgraded forcement of closing times slack- passes away ened considerably while the By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn Formerly, chiefs of these stations fell country was under post-coup under the authority of the Superintendent of martial law and remained slack PHUKET: As part of a nationwide reorgani- the District Police Station to which they were PHUKET CITY: Dr Anuroj Tharasiriroj, 66, after the National Legislative zation of the Royal Thai Police Force, attached. founder of Phuket International Hospital Assembly was appointed as the Phuket’s four subdistrict police stations have The stations that have been upgraded are (PIH), died at 3 am February 28 after a long interim government. been upgraded to district police stations, ef- Kamala Police Station, Tung Tong Police Sta- battle against cancer of the large intestine. While there were reports of fective from an order dating back to January tion, Cherng Talay Police Station and Tah Chat Dr Anuroj founded Siriroj Hospital on some unlicensed beer bars being 16. Chai Police Station. The four district stations Krabi Rd, Phuket City, in 1982. The hospital closed down in Kathu after Min- Col Phuwanart Rithawej, Phuket Pro- are Muang, Kathu, Thalang and Chalong. opened with just 35 beds. ister Chalerm’s order, Kathu Dis- vincial Police Superintendent of General Meanwhile, Phuket Provincial Police The hospital moved to its current site trict Chief Khantee denied that Staff, said that the order is intended to im- continue to lobby police headquarters in on the bypass road in 1993 and began trading either officials or police had been prove investigation work, budget manage- Bangkok to establish independent police sta- under the name of Phuket International Hos- distributing yellow warning cards ment and prepare for an expected influx of tions for Karon and Wichit. pital (PIH), where Dr Anuroj served as presi- to venues found in violation, as police officers. An indication the initiative has support dent until his death. reported by one Thai-language The order stipulated that all subdistrict came when Police Region 8 Commander Lt Dr Anuroj is survived by his wife, Dr newspaper. police stations in Phuket were to be upgraded Gen Thanee Thawichsee visited Karon Com- Supanee, his three daughters – Dr Lalita “Now we are forcing all to district police station status and all their munity Police Box to preside over the dona- Singhatiraj, Dr Patriya Watcharong and bars to send their guests home at chiefs promoted to District Police Superin- tion of two Toyota Yaris vehicles for police Aunjira Tharasiriroj – and his son, K. 2 am, but we are not charging tendents. patrols. Ekaphol. them. We also found some ven- ues employing girls under 18 and By Sompratch Saowakhon closed them down,” Chief Khan- tee told the Gazette. THALANG: Royal Thai Police The 2 am closing time would Commissioner Gen Sereepisut Top cop transfered cost local businesses money, but Taemeeyavej had a busy day in both the laws and goals of the Phuket February 28, attending anti-drug campaign need to be two important dedication ceremo- respected, he said. nies. after Phuket visit “I believe that if nightlife ven- However, it turned out to be ues close up at 2 am, tourists will his last day as national police chief Asked about Col Porn- begin their night out on the town as Prime Minister Samak Sun- prasert Karnjanarin, who is un- earlier. daravej on February 29 an- der investigation for misappro- This is also a good opportu- nounced his abrupt transfer to a priation of foreign-donated funds nity to let tourists know about the temporary post in the Prime intended for the Thai Tsunami anti-drug campaign,” he said. Minister’s Office. Victim Identification (TTVI) cen- Sompetch Moosophon, Gen Sereepisut arrived in ter, Gen Sereepisut said that Col president of the Patong Entertain- Phuket from Bangkok February Pornprasert’s recent resignation ment Business Association 28 and at 2 pm attended the for- from the force would have no ef- (PEBA), said he plans to meet mal handover of the new, 38-mil- fect on the investigation.