alanmorison

Anxiety about the weekend PAD concert on Phuket intensified today with the shooting of yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul, who was due to paly a key role.

A group of men in a pickup opened fire, spraying the vehicle with bullets, as Khun Sondhi, the best known leader of the yellow shirts, made his way to his newspaper and television office in Bangkok about 5am this morning.

Organiser's of Saturday's concert in Phuket City said security would be dramatically increased. Khun Sondhi's wounds put him in hospital, along with his driver.

Details at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/timely-pad-ph...000-sell-10999/

Anxiety about the weekend PAD concert on Phuket intensified today with the shooting of yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul, who was due to paly a key role.

A group of men in a pickup opened fire, spraying the vehicle with bullets, as Khun Sondhi, the best known leader of the yellow shirts, made his way to his newspaper and television office in Bangkok about 5am this morning.

Organiser's of Saturday's concert in Phuket City said security would be dramatically increased. Khun Sondhi's wounds put him in hospital, along with his driver.

Details at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/timely-pad-ph...000-sell-10999/

ALL Immigration offices around Thailand will open on Thursday and Friday this week to prevent the extra long Songkran holiday break from throwing the visa system into confusion.

The Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, Police Colonel Chanatpol Yongbunjerd, said today that the 10-day closure of government offices would not apply to Immigration offices.

People whose visas are due to be extended late this week will need to get their passports stamped as planned, either on border runs or at Immigration centres.

Details at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/immigration-o...y-friday-10992/

A LARGE crowd blocked the main road through Kamala last night in protest at a case involving the aftermath of a fight between two youths from neighboring villages. Police told Phuketwan that the crowd of about 200 people was angry that one of the youths, from Bang Tao, had been bailed and allowed to go free.

Details at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/kamala-street...st-knife-fight/

The french Chef is gone?

Gerd

A new chef started there quite recently, Madam Pie Cooker has been working in reception some four months now.

Now we can be sure they will have the best pies over there .

Which nationality has the new Chef please........

Gerd

Gerd, Isn't that totally off topic? What has the nationality of the chef to do with the quality of the cooking?

On a visit to Phuket, Germany's ambassador has blasted local Thai authorities for their failure to notify embassies about the arrests and deaths of citizens, as international convention dictates.

Offered the choice of meeting with a vice governor or to wait another 20 minutes for Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob, Dr Hanns H. Schumacher, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, decided he had waited long enough.

Having already waited 30 minutes, he dropped the diplomatic hand grenade before he left by saying:

''I as well as other European ambassadors are about to investigate the situation that too frequently, our embassies are not informed when our nationals are either detained or die in an area of jurisdiction of any police district in Thailand.

''Thailand has signed the international convention on consular affairs and it has the legal commitment to inform the embassies as soon as possible.

''I understand that this is not so much a question of good will. The authorities in Bangkok are quite cooperative.

''But it has to go down, trickle down, to the local police authorities. This was an issue I would have loved to discuss with the governor.''

It was the new Phuket governor's first day at work.

Full report at http://phuketwan.com/tourism/german-ambass...rs-blast-walks/

SIX PEOPLE are reported missing after a dive boat sank in a storm off the Andaman coast last night.

The boat contained 31 people, the Royal Navy told Phuketwan.

The navy said they were contacted by the diving company at 8.30am today, when a search began.

Updating report at phuketwan.com: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phang-nga-sto...at-six-missing/

IMMIGRATION officials plan to introduce a bar code system for processing arrivals and departures at Phuket and other Thai airports later this year, Phuketwan was told today.

The bar codes would be placed as stickers rather than stamps in all passports, the Chief of Immigration at Phuket Airport, Police General Suksopon Maneeson, said today.

The system would mean that an officer at an arrival or departure counter could have access to detailed information instantly via a computer screen, General Suksopon said.

He hopes the new system will make the arrival and departure process more efficient, but warns that it is likely to become slower.

The Immigration department's chief from Bangkok visited Phuket airport on Saturday to see for himself how crowded the airport becomes during its weekly 'rush hours.''

Today General Suksopon said: ''Why does everybody blame Immigration for delays?

''I would like to have 50 counters available at Phuket airport but the airport cannot provide us with more space.''

Full story: Thai Visa Bar Codes 'Coming Soon'

A BRITISH man has been charged with having sex with three underage boys on Phuket, and he may face a fourth count.

Police named him today as Dex J. Young. They said he was from Kenya, but travelled on a British passport.

Police say that a computer found at the house in Patong rented by the 41-year-old man contained an extensive collection of child pornography.

The updating report is at phuketwan: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/british-man-s...-patong-police/

Good point, sbk. Phuketwan is usually careful to say that these are police allegations, because confessions can be obtained by abuse or threats. Other media organisations take what the police say as fact, without the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. But last night, in quite extraordinary circumstances, the shooter confessed at Kathu police station without prompting - and seemingly, without duress. Nevertheless, he could recant and plead not guilty in court. Too often, the presumption is automatically of guilt. The second expat target may not have too much to worry about if the shooter is in custody and his hirer is being pursued. But maybe he should change his ways?

PHUKET POLICE say a professional hitman from Bangkok who killed a Canadian in Patong at the behest of a woman from Singapore planned to murder a second expat on the island.

The hitman confessed last night to one killing in Patong and told police that he had a second contract to murder another expat on Phuket.

The island's police chief, Major General Apirak Hongtong, said that Bangkok-based Somchai Mingjaiyen planned to wait a month after shooting dead a Canadian property developer, then carry out his second hit.

This would mean the killing of the second Phuket expat was scheduled for next week, or the week after.

Somchai Mingjaiyen was one of six accused presented to the media last night amid remarkable scenes at Kathu police station in Patong.

Details here: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/patong-killer...d-expat-murder/

Singapore woman accused: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/patong-murder...porean-accused/

A BRITISH publication claims a man is facing a two-year sentence in a ''hellish Thai prison'' on Phuket for ''being rude'' to an Immigration official. Although perhaps exaggerated, the allegations highlight the issue of overcrowding in Phuket Jail, as well as a rising incidence of crime.

Details at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/briton-jailed-phuket-rude/

CRIME is growing on Phuket in 2009 and the island's small police force is at full stretch, the Phuket Police Commander, Major General Apirak Hongtong, said today.

Major General Apirak told Phuketwan that last night's shooting death meant that there were now four outstanding Phuket murder investigations, with two of the killings involving expat residents.

Arrest warrants naming the suspects have been issued in the case of the murder of a Canadian property developer in Patong and the death by battery of a British man in his shophouse home-office near Tesco Lotus supermarket in Phuket City, Major General Apirak said.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/fourth-murder...-full-strectch/

CRIME is growing on Phuket in 2009 and the island's small police force is at full stretch, the Phuket Police Commander, Major General Apirak Hongtong, has told Phuketwan.

Major General Apirak said the latest shooting death meant that there are now four outstanding Phuket murder investigations, with two of the killings involving expat residents.

Arrest warrants naming the suspects have been issued in the case of the murder of a Canadian property developer in Patong and the death by battery of a British man in his shophouse home-office near Tesco Lotus supermarket in Phuket City, Major General Apirak said.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/fourth-murder...-full-strectch/

PHUKET'S private hospitals have been critical in providing medical care for residents and tourists because public facilities remain understaffed and overstretched. Patong Hospital especially has had chronic problems in finding staff because the small facility is operating on a budget not sufficient to serve the popular tourist town. Here's what the three major private hospitals say about standards of care:

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phukets-downt...lthy-hospitals/

HOPEFUL signs of life are flashing in the chasm of Phuket's low season, with early bookings for April and onwards at some resorts now rivalling those at the same time last year. The encouraging beacon flashes in the dark come amid continuing pain.

At the big end of town, the management at Laguna Phuket is taking a pay cut . . . and the Banyan Tree group has announced a substantial drop in profit for Q4 2008. Laguna Phuket, as Phuketwan reported in detail on October 30 last year, is also putting on hold the Angsana resort and other major projects, including Laguna Vietnam.

Details at Phuketwan: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/laguna-chiefs...-booking-boost/

CRIME is growing on Phuket in 2009 and the island's small police force is at full stretch, the Phuket Police Commander, Major General Apirak Hongtong, said today. His comments came after a Thai man aged about 40 was shot dead around 10pm last night in a killing on Sakdideat Road, which runs between Phuket City and Cape Panwa.

Full report at Phuketwan.com: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/fourth-murder...-full-strectch/

I believe a War On Mosquitos should be announced to prevent Thailand becoming a Mosquito Hub, any mosquitos or people caught associating with mosquitos should be shot.

Hmmm . . . I seem to remember a very sane and sensible world conference on dengue held on Phuket last year. Lots of experts came from everywhere. They didn't suggest we should be alarmed, just act sensibly. Could The Nation and its cohorts be overdosing on something? Perhaps the army has intervened yet again? Put the mosquitoes on boats, shove them offshore . . . no problem.

I believe a War On Mosquitos should be announced to prevent Thailand becoming a Mosquito Hub, any mosquitos or people caught associating with mosquitos should be shot.

Hmmm . . . I seem to remember a very sane and sensible world conference on dengue held on Phuket last year. Lots of experts came from everywhere. They didn't suggest we should be alarmed, just act sensibily. Could The Nation and its cohorts be overdosing on something? Perhaps the army has intervened yet again? Put the mosquitoes on boats, shove them offshore . . . no problem.

A UKRANIAN man has been arrested at luxurious premises in Chalong and accused of child abuse and Internet pornography.

Maxsim Shynkarenko, aged 31, was arrested on Friday by Tourist Police and was presents to the media today.

Mr Shynkarenko denies the allegations.

Details and Photo Album at: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-porno-...arrest-chalong/

Bikini and brute force Thailand's Similan islands, one of the world's top dive sites, is now also a destination where tourists may see boat people roughly handled by armed military on the beach.

Read a first-hand account and see the photos taken by a tourist who shared Donald Duck Bay beach with armed Navy personnel and bound and prone boatpeople

This is on the same Andaman coast that the New York Times this week labeled 'the luxury destination of the year' because of the quality of its five-star resorts. The boatpeople are then handed over to the Army, taken to a secret island, and recklessly returned to international waters, with only paddles for power.

It's here with photos: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/similans-tour...ple-mistreated/

I'm happy to make concessions to live here, too. There are some aspects of Western living that I am happy to leave behind.

But I doubt that too many tourists, from the West or elsewhere, share that attitude. There are safety standards that people have come to expect when they go on holiday to popular destinations.

Phuket is no longer considered to be an exotic journey, for risk-takers only. For the tourism industry to prosper, safety standards have to improve.

Huggy,

Appreciate and share your concerns. Horrifying, really . . . visitors and residents are entitled to expect international standards of safety on local beaches.

I suspect the lifeguard service has been suspended for being ineffective, although there are probably good people involved.

Trouble is, the sincere efforts to introduce a realistic culture where beaches are protected by lifeguards who are trained from teenagers, understand their responsibility and have the appropriate skills may take years.

Assuming the toll in 2008 is roughly the same as in 2007, it may take another five years (and about 100 more unnecessary deaths) before Phuket has the surf lifeguard system it needs.

That's the fast track. The slow track doesn't bear thinking about . . .

I guess that having a lifeguard who may or may not have a role to play is better than nothing at all. Surely they wouldn't take the money, and do nothing? Are you suggesting they fall asleep in those towers?

A RESCUE team is on standby at Nai Harn beach this afternoon following the death of a tourist at Karon and a spate of New Year near-drownings at Nai Harn.

So serious is a lack of official lifeguards now being treated that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation sent a team of five to Nai Harn beach this afternoon in case more rescues are required.

There have been no official paid lifeguards on Phuket's beaches since October because of a dispute over contracts.

Details at phuketwan.com: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-drowni...-rescues-alert/