Artikel erschien März 2014

  • Ousted Pian back in the Phuket race for Patong mayor

    Ousted Pian back in the Phuket race for Patong mayor

    PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, recently found guilty of vote fraud, is back on the battlefield for the chance to reclaim his position as leader of Phuket’s premier party town. Registration opened yesterday for Patong Mayor potentials and municipality council members amid a crowd of supporters

  • Wastewater the source of rancid water on Phuket beach

    Wastewater the source of rancid water on Phuket beach

    PHUKET: The stinky, black water that blighted Karon Beach last month is the product of a faulty wastewater treatment system, Karon Village Chief (Kamnan) Winai Chidchiew revealed yesterday. Canals blocked by huge berms of soil and broken water pumps are the chief culprits, as they prevent water from being pumped from canals to treatment plants and cause more wastewater than normal to reach the last pumping station before the beach, Kamnan Winai explained

  • Phuket officials lay into landslide concerns caused by Big Buddha construction

    Phuket officials lay into landslide concerns caused by Big Buddha construction

    PHUKET: Landslide risks and water management concerns caused by the construction of Phuket’s Big Buddha image were on the table yesterday as officials met for the first time since work at the site slammed to a halt last month. Construction at the popular tourist attraction was put on hold after villagers filed a complaint and prompted an inspection of the site that revealed several violations and potential landslide hazards (story

  • Protected Phuket hillside slashed and burned

    Protected Phuket hillside slashed and burned

    PHUKET: Four rai of forest on a hillside in Kamala was obliterated on Tuesday night to make room for a rubber plantation. “The area has been ruined – all the trees were cut down and burned,” said Phuket Natural Resources and Environment Office Chief Kasem Sukwaree this morning.

  • Phuket Police set to launch nationwide manhunt for Patong headhunter killers

    Phuket Police set to launch nationwide manhunt for Patong headhunter killers

    PHUKET: Patong Police are preparing to send an alert to every police station in the country in the hopes of apprehending three prime suspects for the murder of Myanmar worker Wai Phyo Kyaw, 22, whose decapitated body was found dumped on Patong Hill on March 9 (

  • Phuket Police seek arrest warrants for suspects in alleged kidnapping of Russians

    Phuket Police seek arrest warrants for suspects in alleged kidnapping of Russians

    PHUKET: Phuket Police are seeking arrest warrants for the two prime suspects involved in the alleged kidnapping of a Russian couple. The woman, Iana Strizheus, 22, was badly injured and in shock when she was found by a maid at the Blue Garden Resort and Spa at about 6pm on Sunday.

  • Phuket aims for 729-million-baht biofuel production facility

    Phuket aims for 729-million-baht biofuel production facility

    PHUKET: The island may be in for a cleaner and greener future as Phuket officials plan to request 729 million baht to build a biofuel production facility. “Organic waste from the entire province will be sent to the plant. It will be processed and turned into biofuel and the leftover matter subsequently turned into compost,” said Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising at the final public Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) hearing on Friday.

  • Formal charges against Phuket protest leaders delayed

    Formal charges against Phuket protest leaders delayed

    PHUKET: Police delayed pressing formal charges today against five Phuket protest leaders for obstructing the February 2 national election and obstructing law enforcement officers. The five – Suratin Lian-udom, Sompop Konkeaw, Chartchai Chuachit, Saman Krohlek and Sanya Srimuang– were scheduled to appear at Thalang Police Station at 10am to witness the handing over of the case files to the Phuket Public Prosecutor.

  • Tourism Minister targets Phuket’s stolen passport trade

    Tourism Minister targets Phuket’s stolen passport trade

    PHUKET: Recent news of the stolen passports trade in Phuket and the recently found Russian kidnap victim prompted a visit from Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister to the island yesterday to meet with officials and get to the bottom of the issues. “I came to Phuket to follow up on the cases concerning the stolen passports used to board missing Flight MH370 and the Russians that were reported kidnapped,” said Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak.

  • Phuket police connect two local expats to Russian missing persons case

    Phuket police connect two local expats to Russian missing persons case

    PHUKET: Police have identified the two Caucasian men who were seen with “missing” Russian woman Iana Strizheus, found injured and in shock in a hotel room on Sunday. “We are searching for the two men, who work in Phuket. At this time, we can’t reveal their names without jeopardizing the case,” Phuket’s top cop Ong-art Phiwruangnont said at a press conference last night.