Andaman News Wed. 19 Dec.

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Rajaphat University students campaign for people to come out to cast their vote in the general election.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215723

The students’ procession aimed at encouraging eligible voters in the university to come out to vote in the general election on December 23rd 2007. They also gave out leaflets explaining the election law for this year. The procession campaign drew interest from their fellow students. The student participants expressed their wish that they want new voters to come out to exercise their rights and contribute to a clear and clear election. If they want to see democracy in the country, then they must cast their votes for the representatives as members of parliament.

MiniVDO: Phang Nga police go on patrols in crime prevention and suppression in preparation for the general election.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215722

Phang Nga Governor Wichai Praisa-nbop started the dispatch of police officers from the Phang Nga Town police station to go on patrol in crime prevention and suppression. The provincial police chief Pol. Major General Preecha Samutpaoraya said the officers will be strict with arms or weapons, explosive devices, gunmen and other crime activities which may affect the general election, before and after. This is in response to the Police Department’s policy in contributing to a clean and clear election.

MiniVDO: The schedules of activities for the tsunami commemorative events in Phuket have now been released.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215721

The 3rd year commemorative event in Phuket will be arranged both at day and evening times. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT’s release, the remembrance session will be held at 10.00 – 10.35 am on Patong beach, along with religious ceremonies which Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit will lead. At the same time, around 10 to 12 midday, the Japanese Association in Phuket is arranging a ceremony at the memorial site near Kamala Beach Hotel. In the evening, the commemorative ceremony will take place from6pm at Loma or Dolphin Park on the beachside. The event to be arranged by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation will have a one minute silence in respect of the victims, candle lights, and a Light Up Patong on the beach. The ceremony will be presided over by the Tourism and Sports Minister Suwit Yodmani.

MiniVDO: Easy Network Marketing Company members in Phuket submit a letter to the Prime Minister through the Phuket Governor backing the company

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215723

A group of Easy Network Marketing company associates including the manager, Phuket branch, Watcharin Amornsing and around 100 members came to submit their petition to the Prime Minister through Phuket authority. They stated that they were not cheated by the company’s owner Patom Anyasakul, but were affected after the man was arrested for cheating as the company have to cease operations plus its assets are also being freezed. They said when the company cannot operate, then the members suffer economically. They explained that they did not experience any illegal acts or being paid the dividends by the company as they want the authority to realize that. The company’s executive was earlier arrested for cheating as a number of people reported that it did not pay a profit in terms of dividend for them. The official who received the letter told them to pass on the document to Bangkok.

The US Ambassador calls for applications to his Fund for Cultural Preservation 2008

The U.S. Embassy announced to Andaman News the 2008 call for proposals for the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. The fund was established to help countries preserve cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures. Since its inception in 2001, the fund has helped preserve cultural sites, practices, and objects that are historically or culturally significant. The deadline for submitting a proposal is January 11, 2008. Proposals may be submitted in support of a cultural site or sites. This might include, but is not limited to, preservation of an archaeological or historical site, sacred place or monument; an archaeological survey; preservation management planning; and documentation of a site. An object or collection of objects from a site, a museum or similar institution; and other forms of traditional cultural expression. This might include recording traditional music or dance forms. More details are on the Embassy’s website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov

Application fees for U.S. Non-Immigrant Visas to rise in 2008

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok informed Andaman News that effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for U.S. non-immigrant visas will increase from $100.00 (3,600.00 baht) to $131.00 (4,454.00 baht). This worldwide increase will allow the U.S. Department of State to recover the costs of security and other enhancements to the non-immigrant visa application process. The application fee can continue to be paid at any one of 246 designated Thai Post locations nationwide. At the same time, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok will adjust the Consular Exchange Rate from 36 baht per dollar to 34 baht per dollar. With this exchange rate adjustment, the purchase price of the appointment PIN will decrease from 432 baht to 408 baht for the Web PIN and from 720 baht to 680 baht for the Phone PIN. More details are on the Embassy’s website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov

MiniVDO: More trees were added into a mangrove area in Phuket.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215717

Local villagers and students in Laem Sai of Thepkasarttri sub-district helped plant trees in the local mangrove area as part of their good deeds in tribute to HM the King. The activity is co-organized by the provincial Agriculture Office and Thepkasarttri sub-district Administration Organization. Two thousand saplings of mangrove trees were added to the area. The activity also aimed at promoting awareness among local people and children for natural resources conservation. The chief of Phuket Agricultural office Somchai Hengwatcharapaiboon said they selected the area as it is sheltered from storms and waves and has a high percentage of survival for young trees while local people are also aware of the nature’s value.

Special & interview - Phuket Sunshine Village at Ko Sirey inaugurated by President of French Red Cross, on 17 December

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215716

The Phuket Sunshine Village, a new home compound for tsunami affected orphans and underprivileged children located at Ko Sirey on the east side of Phuket city welcomed the President of the French Red Cross, Jean Francois Mattei, and his entourage who came to visit & inaugurate the home they generously funded the construction for, together with members of Lions Club of Andaman Sea, Childwatch and other donors and staff, and of course the adorable children who benefited from their assistance. After signing the visitors’ guestbook, and viewing some of the 45 children’s and their live-in mothers impressive handicrafts, including pictures, cloth, necklaces, baskets, the entourage and supporters, including the Thai Red Cross, were joined by Vice Governor Smith Phalawatwichai and heard Dr Supaluck Kanjanmethakul, MD of the Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation, thank the French Red Cross President and his organization for its large investment of funds:

The Vice Governor gave a speech in Thai, in which he wished the Village success in its aims. The French Red Cross President spoke in French, translated into Thai; He presented Dr Supaluck a gold coin token of his admiration.

Then Frank Couture, a member of the Lions Club & Sunshine Village Foundation, introduced probably the highlight of the afternoon, a performance by the young cute children dressed in traditional Thai costumes dancing . Let’s enjoy watching and listening to some excerpts now: Then more performances showed the influence of Chinese and sea gypsies’ communities that live nearby the Sunshine Village: let’s enjoy some more Then the Vice Governor and President unveiled a new sign at the front of the compound. The President went on a tour of the compound with the children as escorts and guides. The colourful buildings & playground are testimony to the love and care gone into every detail here. The children showed him some of their daily activities and toys, & the marble stone officially marked his inauguration.

After posing for one more photograph, he concluded his visit by telling us that the Sunshine Village was really worth the financial and moral support of the French Red Cross: “because our first mission is to prepare our children to be adults….. The French people paid about 1.2 million Euros … all the sun in the Sunshine Village.” (www.PhuketSunshineVillage.org)

Special - Tsunami affected residents & sea gypsies Ko Sirey Phuket

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215715

As the 3rd anniversary of the tsunami incident in the Andaman is approaching, our special report today looks at ways of life of local residents who experienced the disaster 3 years ago, to see how they learnt to live with nature today:

Ah-jeh Pramongkit never takes a morning off for work. An old spoon/spade and a small bucket are tools she uses for collecting local clams. When there is low tide at Laem Tukkae, where the sea gypsies live, this type of clam would be picked for food. Walking on the beach to collect shells for 60 year Ah-jeh is not so easy now as her right leg is quite weak due to an injury caused by running in panic a few times after the 2004 tsunami. Ah-jeh admitted that even though 3 years have passed, she never forgot the scary experience on December 26th 2004.

Laem Tukkae in Koh Sireh on the east side of Phuket is home to a small sea gypsy’s community where Ah-jeh and her relatives live. Their way of lives are simple, the men go out fishing, repairing fishing tools while the women would deal with fish or sea animals they caught for a living. Even though they still fear any time they learn of the strong earthquakes, the authority’s tsunami evacuation drill last July contributed to their comfort, as well as better understanding of how to learn and handle such natural disasters. The community members follow official news and follow the guidelines.

Despite being a small community with only around two or three hundred population there, a tiny one compared to other tourist locations on the Andaman coast, any single human life is worth the same. The government put one tsunami warning tower here while tsunami evacuation signs are also put up along the village routes to indicate safe evacuation shelters designated at Ban Koh Sireh School and on the hill where a temple is situated 2 kilometres away. The tricycles are their vehicles of choice to take family members to safe places in time of danger. At least they know where to head for after learning about threats for natural disasters.

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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, Wednesday 19 December 2007 & http://news.prd.go.th