Andaman News Text Tuesday 13 November

[NBT TV Phuket]

item---1--

A Thief gang in Chalong and Rawai were caught with almost 70 items seized as evidence.

<p> Two thief gang members, Cheodchai Tuanchart, aged 27 and Kaewjai Suksabai, aged 35, were arrested by Chalong Police and charged with theft. The Chalong police superintendent Pol. Col. Samaan Chainarong said the two committed crime at night by riding around to break into houses especially those lived in by foreigners. They are reported to have conducted thefts several times in Chalong and Rawai. 66 items were seized as evidence including a car, notebook computer, mobile phones, Buddha amulets, and watches. Police are still searching for another two thieves, Prasert Nasorn and Piya Tuanchart.

item---2--

Phuket Customs seized pirated goods worth over 5 million baht.

<p> Pirated goods, comprising leading brand name garments and luggage worth over five million baht were seized by Phuket Customs on Friday. Reported to be the largest lot of such pirated items ever seized in Phuket, the goods were found at a house in Patong with Manote Srirat as the owner. He told officers he bought the goods from many suppliers. The Customs Region 4 Director Rakop Srisupa-at said the goods were smuggled in by ship from the lower south. They are suspected to have been manufactured in China and sent to sell to tourists during Phuket’s high season. The Customs Chief vowed to continue suppressing such illegal acts with the main focus on major dealers to avoid impacts on tourism. He also further stated that in Phuket there are two more major property right violators which are under investigation and expected to lead to arrests soon. The goods seized will undergo legal procedures before they are destroyed.

item---3--

A Phang-Nga Forestry official arrested illegal loggers.

<p> Phang Nga Forestry officials arrested Sontaya Petchsiri, aged 23, a Bang Toi native with illegally cut logs worth over 10,000 baht and seized the saw as evidence.

The arrest took place after officials were reported of illegal logging in the Koh Keam national reserved forest of Phang Nga’s BangToi sub-district. Sontaya was caught in action and charged with illegal logging.

Phang Nga imposes strict and severe penalties for deforestation and encourages the public to report to the authorities if they see or hear such illegal activities.

item---4--

Clients of a housing development project in Phuket filed complaints against the project to the Customer Protection Board claiming that the project fails to provide promised facilities.

<p> About 40 residents of Ban Suan Naramitr in Paklok of Thalang district filed complaints against the developers stating that they do not provide facilities and services as stated in their contracts. They include street lamps, security guards and garbage collection.

The representative, Sanit Suay-Ngam said they bought the houses in the project in 2002 and the developer vowed to build a clubhouse, public park and the public utilities but they failed to meet their expectations, saying the compound is dark and at risk from thieves. The Provincial Land Office will initially visit the project to investigate the facts.

item---5--

The first day for MP candidacy registration in Phuket was active.

<p> The registration of the Member of Parliament candidates took place at the Community Hall yesterday amidst supporters of each party. In the morning, candidates of three political parties arrived early and registered. They were Tossaporn Theppabutra and Rewat Areerob from the Democrat Party. Tossaporn is Mrs. Anchalee Vanit Theppabutra’s husband. The second party Phalang Prachachon or the People’s Power with dentist SriYada Shinnawatra and Wisut Santikul as candidates while Mr. Soranan Saneh and Somchart Somnam ran in for the Chart Thai party. The fourth political party which registered their candidacy yesterday was Ruam Jai Thai Chart Patana’s Chavis Thungku and Chaipitak Apichitsittikul.

After the draw for their numbers, the candidates came out to meet with their supporters who waited outside to cheer their candidates. This spiced up the active atmosphere. The Phuket Provincial Election Commissioner Tri Akkaradecha gave out a book called ‘Good people in the democratic system’ to candidates and emphasized that the campaign must be within the law. He also believes that the competition in Phuket would not be as fierce as other areas even though some reports indicates movements of gun-men. He said he instructed the provincial police chief to tighten up the checking measures at the police check points.

Item …. 6

The Soi Dog Foundation have been told to vacate the Thalang Dog pound.

<p> According to the Soi Dog Foundation, they received an official letter in October from the head of the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office thanking them for their help in the past 12 months, upgrading and improving the PPLO dog pound, but asking them to vacate the PPLO owned shelter. Soi Dog Foundation have spent over 2 million baht on improving the current shelter to make it a reasonable home for all the dogs in the pound, and continued to pay all the running costs of over 150,000 baht per month. They have also built a treatment center, and with the assistance of World Society for the Protection of Animals or WSPA an operating theatre at the pound. They have therefore now taken the step of renting land on a long term lease in Mai Khao, just north of the airport for a new pound. This land is in a very quiet location and also has a house on site which will convert easily to a clinic. They have now signed the lease and construction has commenced. They have the agreement of the PPLO that they can remove what are considered to be their dogs from the old pound. To build even a new basic shelter is going to cost conservatively 1 million baht. They currently have 50% of this money available but once it has been used to build the shelter, it will leave them in a precarious position financially. They are therefore making their plans and intentions known to all of their supporters and asking sponsors and donors to help in any way they can by donating towards this cost if they are able to. More info is on www.soidog.org

item--7---

The Phuket Public Health office warns the public of severe diarrhoea or cholera.

<p> Severe diarrhoea was found in many areas in all three districts of Phuket while the provincial Public Health managed to bring the situation under control. The Deputy Chief of Provincial Public Health Dr. Wiwat Sritamanote said the office issued warnings for people to be more cautious of their diets. He advised that people should consume well cooked food, and beware of seafood making sure that they are properly cooked. The office however sent out health officials to give advice to vendors and food sellers on hygiene issues.

Item--8---

The Amazing Phang-Nga 2007 Festival was held to mark the beginning of tourist season

<p> The Amazing Phang-Nga 2007 festival was held to mark the start of tourist season there. Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Phang-Nga province plus the Tourist Association, the festival was marked opened at the Club House of Phang-Nga Naval base’s Golf Club on November 11 and went on until yesterday. The activities included a walk rally, golf, mountain biking, canoeing, rafting, turtle releasing and appreciating Phang-Nga’s old town. In the evening, participants enjoy local cultural shows at the famous tourist destination of Khao Lak. Meanwhile during the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, the tourist operators on Koh Yao Noi organized the ‘Amazing Koh Yao’ festival to showcase the island’s diversity of tourism activities including home stay and local lifestyle to promote tourism there.

item--9---

The International Soccer 7s tournaments are still hoping to play at Karon Stadium.

<p> The organizers have revealed to Andaman News that their tournaments still plan to go ahead at Karon Stadium after all, with the 2nd Andaman International Soccer 7s on 17 November and the 5th Phuket International Soccer 7s on 24-25 November. About 50 teams from 15 countries will compete over 2 categories: Open and Masters. At the final, 18 cups and more than 200 medallions will be offered to the winners. Once again the playing field has been an issue this year in Phuket. A large amount of money was spent by the Patong Rotary Club to repair the Karon Stadium to a fantastic condition. Unfortunately the poor management of this stadium has resulted in the playing surface being partially destroyed a few months ago. However, they have been assured by the Tourist Authority of Thailand and the Karon Municipality that it will be in a good enough condition to handle both tournaments. But they are still exploring other options. More information can be found at: www.Thai7s.com

-----

Special Report:

The Phuket Yacht Club at the picturesque Ao Yon Bay near Cape Panwa on the south west side of Phuket, held their last Open Day Sunday the 30th of September, and despite the heavy rain quite a few residents, members, and visitors, both foreign and Thai, turned up to watch and join in

an informal and fun program of small dinghy sailing, canoe racing and especially international dragon boat racing, being held for the first time ever in Phuket.

We arrived as they were holding some short kayak or canoe races for several active kids, including Maxine, Lilo and Emma here who didn’t mind get wet and splashed in the rain and sea:

“How many … stick to canoeing.”

During the rain break, Bill Smith, secretary of the club, explained some of the club’s activities

and so-called adoption of sailing dinghies scheme, to attract more sponsors and provide a stable financial support for this small but long established club.

Then Mike Downard, from sponsors Sail in Asia showed the first two groups of willing oarsmen and women, some tips on how to row or stick their oars in, at the same time and rhythm for the dragon boats. Once they learnt the basics it was time to push their boats out and hit the water;

We went on board to experience the thrill and speed of these first timers:

together with the young drummers, keeping the beat in rhythm with the crew

“Racing any second now…. Drum drum”

They lined up for a couple of short races and did remarkably well to keep them in a straight line without crashing into each other.

After the races, one of the crews practiced a capsizing to know how to act in an emergency:

After they pulled in to shore we spoke to oarsman, and environmentalist Marco Reinhard, who recently cycled and canoed all round Phuket, and to Mike about this first outing for the crews:

“Well I think today went well… sorry to get you wet.”

Mike is willing to train and help crews form for proper races at PIMEX boat show on Sunday December 9th

“We’ve got about 10 weeks .. that’s all that’s involved.”

For more details on how to join or form dragon boat teams see www.phuketdragonboat.com or telephone Mike on 087 2810458.

While everyone was recharging their energy with a hearty BBQ and refreshments, we asked Katy Gooch, Sailing Secretary, more about the club’s regular sailing activities in the next few months:

“We’re hoping the Open Day … we’ve got good wind most of the year.”

For more information on Phuket Yacht Club please see website www.phuketyachtclub.info or contact Katy on 085 215 9185

----

Our interview was with Pornchai Prachaniyom, Chairman of Competitions & G.M. at the Thai Rugby Union association after a Press Conference on the ‘King’s Cup Rugby 80’ tournament to be held at Sanam Chai, in Phuket City, from 17-23 November, with Thailand, Australian (club), Laos & Sri Lanka playing on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, with the finals on Friday all at 5.30 & 7.15pm. He told us first the main reason for the tournament was to commemorate HM the King’s 80th birthday with an 80 kilograms average weight for most of teams:

……. Contact: www.ThaiRugbyUnion.com

[email protected]

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Tuesday 13 November 2007 (thainews.com still down)

We have tried to upload minivideos on video.google.com but not yet finished or sound level low, so better to watch on TV or listen on radio.

[NBT TV Phuket]

The video of news 1-9 is now on

& maybe http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4247680563889780984

The Special on Phuket Yacht Club & dragon boats is on

& maybe http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-325267357089949219

Interview Pornchai Prachaniyom, Chairman of Competitions, Thai Rugby Union, about King's Rugby 80 tournament in Phuket is on

& maybe http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4206180183405655982

but google seem slow to process our videos, and both YT & google sound levels are much lower than original files. Any advice anybody?