Andaman News Thursday 24 January

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Five thieves were caught in Phuket, with three being minors.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216082

Five people were arrested by police and brought to Phuket City police station for questioning. Two are adults being Prasit Intachad aged 24 and Sakchai Charoensuk aged 23 years old, while the other three are minors. The gang is reported to have borrowed other people’s motorbikes and rode them to snatch gold necklaces, handbags or hand-phones of motorcyclists on roads in Phuket, especially at Saphan Hin and nearby areas. The gang has been committing the crimes several times. Police said just before their arrest they had committed five crimes. After the crimes they would share the money while around 10 more gang members are still at large. Police ask gang victims to help identify the snatchers at the police station in Phuket City.

MiniVDO: 100% of teachers and students at Chalermprakiat School join the ‘To Be number One’ program.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216081

Joining the ‘To Be Number One’ program since 2003, all 100% of teachers and students at Chalermprakait School in Phuket have now become members of the project, graciously chaired by HM the King’s eldest daughter Princess Ubolratana. The project aims at promoting constructive or decent activities among young people in an attempt to keep them away from drugs or any indecent acts. The school yesterday was visited by the provincial committee to observe its activities which are clearly displayed at the school.

MiniVDO: Local beach operators in Phuket get new tents from a private company.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216080

70 four-legged beach tents were handed over to Patong Deputy Mayor Woranart Thongyon to pass on to local beach operators under the Patong Municipality’s area. The tents were donated by Nestle (Thailand) at the Loma public park in support of beach vendors and operators for their career and tidiness for the famous tourist beach of Patong. They are expected to be put along the 3 kilometre long beach front which hopefully will provide pleasant scenes for passer bys.

Koh Tapao Noi Island in Phuket will be promoted as an eco-tourism site.

Due to its fertility and as a habitat of rare birds like Hornbills, the Royal Thai Navy has a plan to develop the island of Tapao Noi as an ecotourism site. Navy friends and officials from Wichit Municipality made a visiting trip to the island and stated that the ecological impact needs to be studied before opening up the island for tourism. The island of Tapao Noi is known for being the home of a flock of Hornbills.

The OTOP Ocean sale fair is now being held in Phuket.

The OTOP Ocean fair is being held at Saphan Hin ground in Phuket City from now until 28th January. The fair was marked opened by Phuket Vice Governor Smith Palawatwichai on Tuesday evening. The provincial chief of Community Development Naeb Sinthong said the fair aims at providing more marketing channels for community products producers. The fair, co-organized by the provincial Community Development Office and the OTOP network, features 162 booths from all regions. They are food and beverage, fashion, decorative items and others.

Phuket plans to spend 22 million baht on anti-narcotic drug & suppression work, while officials are urged to strictly monitor the dealing activities at petrol stations.

During a meeting of officials concerning narcotic drug problems in Phuket, it was reported that minor retail dealers are increasing among the arrest cases. Responsible officials are also urged to step up measures and closely monitor the drug dealing activities at petrol stations in Muang and Thalang districts. Lists of the communities still spreading drugs were also mentioned including a community behind Naka Temple, Bangkontee community, Koh Kaew, Nakok and Saphan Ruam community. This fiscal year of 2008, Phuket province plans to spend 22 million baht budget on 70 projects to combat the drug issues, mostly amphetamines. 63 projects gear towards anti or prevention and suppression.

MICE Fast Track is now available for MICE travellers at airports.

The pioneer project to facilitate people who are traveling to the country under the MICE – Meeting Incentive Convention and Exhibition scheme will be offered a so-called ‘MICE Fast Track’ Services. The project, implemented now, is part of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau to impress travelers of such groups. This include their immigration procedure, having officials meeting them at the gate, going through immigration channels, taking care of luggage and directing to transportation for their destination. The first group to use the service are those who come for Bangkok International Conference on Avian Influenza 2008 during January 23- 25th . In the near future the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau will work with the Immigration Bureau to designate special MICE Lanes for the groups.

Interview - part 2 - Dr. Smith Dhammasaroj, Chairman of Committee & Advisor of the National Disaster Warning Centre

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216075

We turn now to the 2nd part of our interview with Dr. Smith Dhammasaroj, Chairman of Committee & Advisor of the National Disaster Warning Centre (or NDWC), during a his visit to Ko Lone Island, south east of Phuket to meet villagers about the Early Warning System, and after speaking at the International Symposium on Tsunamis, arranged by University of Tokyo, held in Phuket 22-24 January, & a local meeting of officials in 6 Andaman provinces on Tsunamis held at Royal Phuket City hotel 21 January. He also talks about the 1st Early Warning System buoy in the Indian Ocean funded by the US government, with 2 more to follow soon. Let’s join him now: ……...... We just heard last night that Dr Smith was hurt in a car accident near Ranong and is in hospital with injuries. We wish him a speedy recovery. ------ Contact: www.ndwc.or.th (in Thai) [email protected] Tel 1860

Special - Dog conch shells Hoy Chak Teen at Sri Borya Island in Krabi

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215819

50,000 dog conches, known in Thai as ‘Hoy Chak Teen’, were released into the sea off the Sri Boya Island in Krabi’s Nua Klong district in December in tribute to HM the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary. The location was chosen for the release of the sea creatures due to its natural fertility of sea grass and sea weeds in Thailand. It also originated the breeding of dog conch which today became famous sea food for the Andaman region. The activity was carried out by the Power Plant in Krabi under the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand or EGAT and local people of the Sri Borya Island.

Paitoon Suwanboriban, Director of Krabi Power plant : “We have consulted local villagers and they agreed, so we carry out the project. We just hope to increase the number of the dog conch.” The dog conch is now becoming Krabi’s cash animal as visitors to the province ask for the dish always listed in local restaurants’ menus. It costs around 120 baht per dish. The popularity with high market demand raised concern among locals that the dog conch would rapidly decline in number.

Local villager of Sri Borya Island in Krabi : “Villagers here used to collect a large amount of dog conch each day, as much as 10 kilograms per person. These days if you can collect 3 kilos that’s good enough. It declines sharply.” The concern led to Power Plant in Krabi conducting the cultivation and breeding and releasing baby ones into nature. They also took the opportunity to educate, to raise awareness among local residents to collect the sea food only when they are mature so that it leads to sustainable living of dog conch, with the sea grass and also the economy for people at large.

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from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) & Cable TV channel 1 at 8.30am + *maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, *possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket , Thursday 24 January 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th

(*Radio Stations usually collect CD from TV11 - today's CD is missing news #5-7, special, & beginning of interview due to caputre machine error)