03-07-2015

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

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Phuket’s UFC Veteran Mike ‘Quick’ Swick heads to Las Vegas for the fight of his life.

Mike Swick of AKA Thailand training camp in Rawai is on the comeback road. Photo: Mitch Viquez

Chris Husted ecededitor@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket’s UFC welterweight veteran Mike “Quick” Swick will return to the ring for the first time in over two years when he takes on up-and-coming star Alex Garcia at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 11.

The arena is the same venue where Floyd Mayweather and Manny

Pacquiao battled in ‘The Fight of the Century’ just last month. The main event, dubbed UFC 189, will feature two world title events – the much-anticipated world featherweight championship bout between Jose Aldo and Irishman Conor McGregor and the welterweight world title match between Robbie Lawler and Canadian contender Rory Macdonald.

UFC president Dana White announced in May that the 16,800-seat

MGM Grand venue in Las Vegas was already sold out for the event.

Despite usually being sheepish about pay-per-view figures ahead of fight nights, White also reported that preliminary figures already showed that the event, to be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass, will easily clear one million payper-view buys.

That prediction is still growing.

Many countries without pay-per-view

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

@thephuketnews

access will broadcast the event on Fox Sports and it will be watched by tens of millions worldwide.

That puts Swick centre stage after years of recovering from esophageal spasm – a recovery made entirely in Phuket while building and training in his new world-class facility at AKA Thailand with his partner, coach and Phuket business guru Blair Speers.

“Alex Garcia will be no pushover,” Blair admits…

NEWS

PAGE 5

Top official faces corruption allegations

LIFE

PAGE 18

Rest, revive with essential road-stop yoga

SPORT

PAGE 40

Youngsters dive into lifetime opportunity

News 2

PHUKET NEWS

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execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Tourism Minister’s visit to Phuket hijacked by van, bus drivers > page 7

On the road to revival Continued from page 1 …“Alex has a 12-2 record with two close-decision losses.

He is young, powerful, explosive and athletic and while we are going into this extremely confident, we have left nothing to chance. This will have been one of Mike’s best fight camps and we have done everything we could in preparation to get this victory.”

In his return to UFC, Mike means business.

“I was given some choices [of opponents] for my return fight, but if I’m going back I have to show that I’m serious, that means a serious opponent,” he told The Phuket News before flying out of Phuket on June 24.

Debilitating bouts of esophageal spasm, after years of misdiagnoses, led to a crunching end to a comeback in 2007.

Mike, who had been living off and on in Thailand since 2000, made his permanent move to the island in 2012 to begin his partnership with Blair in building one of the premier MMA and Muay Thai training facilities in the world, AKA Thailand in Rawai.

And it is to that move and to Phuket’s “stress-free” en-

Mick Swick powers uphilll in Rawai with Koh Lon in the background. Photo: Mitch Viquez vironment for training that he credits his second revival.

“It’s a gift,” he said.

The penny dropped only four months ago, while training Stateside where he returned for the birth of his second daughter Savannah.

“I was training and it just hit me. I have never been as fit or as healthy before in my life.

It’s a second chance,” he said.

Mike, who celebrated his 36th birthday in Phuket on June 19, is no longer on medications for his condition and is now a much more powerful and larger welterweight (170lb) walking

around at nearly 200 pounds.

His condition at its height made it impossible to eat many foods and he was unable to eat four hours before sleeping. He couldn’t put on any size and found it nearly impossible to even maintain his weight. He was having to fight in the UFC 170lb division a very weak and smaller version of himself.

“Now I’m fine. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m fine,” he said. “The natural diet easily available here, focussing on building my dream – this state-of-the-art training centre – and just the

lack of pressure has made it all come together.”

For a man who was one of the original members on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, which took UFC to the world, and who graced the poster as his real-life character recreated as the official trainer on The UFC’s Ultimate Trainer video game on Xbox and PlayStation, not being in the spotlight has done the trick.

“Being here in Phuket has really let me focus on my training. You can’t do that anywhere else as good as you can here,” he explained.

“When you train in the States, as soon as you leave the gym you’re confronted with all sorts of distractions. Your phone keeps ringing, people are busy all around you. Here, you don’t have that. There is no need to engage in all the stressful aspects of just living.

“If you’re starting to get worked up over your training or a fight coming up, you can take time out. You’re already surrounded by nature, and then there’s the beaches. There’s nothing more relaxing than taking time out on a beach to clear your head and regain your focus on training.”

Mike is currently taking up a week of training at the AKA global head facility in San Jose.

“That’s so I can acclimatise before the fight. I’ll be in Vegas the following week,” he said.

“For me, it’s a win-win. I can’t lose. Many people are wondering if I will return to my old self, one thing I can tell them is I won’t, I am coming back better, stronger, faster and more confident than ever.

This is the best Mike Swick that has ever been. Thank you Phuket.”

Bus flips, throws passengers onto road The pink bus was travelling from Saphan Hin towards the vocational college when it flipped.

ONE STUDENT WAS INjured when the pink public bus she was travelling on missed a bend and flipped near the Saphan Hin Sports Centre last Friday (June 26).

Phuket City police were called to the scene at 1:30pm to find the bus on its side on Bang Yai Rd in Saphan Hin. A vocational college stu-

dent, 17-year-old Arthitaya Sirisophono, was lying on the ground crying for help.

Ms Arthitaya suffered only scratches and bruises, but was taken to Vachira Hospital for x-rays after receiving first aid at the scene.

The driver of the bus, Boonlert Posri, 48, who managed to climb from the vehicle

after the crash had not fled the scene and was waiting for police to arrive.

A witness told police that the bus passed the sports centre and was heading towards the vocational college with Ms Arthiaya and the conductor in the back. When the bus reached the bend the driver lost control and crashed.

Both of the people in the back were thrown from the vehicle and landed on the road.

The conductor also only suffered minor injuries.

Police are currently investigating to find the cause of the crash. No charges have yet been made.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket FantaSea is keeping all quiet on Safari World plans. Photo: Peter Dickinson

Safari World rumours dismissed PLANS TO SPEND B1.35 billion developing land adjacent to Phuket FantaSea in Kamala into a new attraction and facilities have been dismissed by a company representative.

The announcement of the new development were reported earlier this year, as announced by Safari World Plc, the company behind Phuket FantaSea. However a public relations representative from Safari World told The Phuket News that they had no plans for a Safari World to be developed in Phuket.

“If we hear any news about this we will inform the media,” she said.

It was initially reported that Safari World would invest through its subsidiary Phuket FantaSea Plc, operator of the Phuket FantaSea theme park, to build a new theme park on a 62-rai plot next to the existing site in Kamala.

It was stated that construction of the theme park would start by mid-year and take about a year and a half to complete.

Matt Pond

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Dolphinarium a step closer to launch date Matt Pond editor1@classactmedia.co.th

T

he necessary changes needed for the Nemo dolphinarium in Phuket to be approved are complete and the facility’s structures have been approved, The Phuket News has learned.

The changes included installing cooling systems to lower the water temperature in the dolphinarium pool; installing air conditioning in the main arena; raising the Ph level of the water; and the addition of a second pool.

An official from the Department of Fisheries who did not want to be named told The Phuket News, “We received notification from a company named Phuket Aqua about the dolphinarium in June 2014.

“They told us the building was completed late last year.

However, after inspecting it our committee did not pass it for approval and changes were needed.

“The building has since been improved, and was approved by our office in May,”

The Nemo dolphinarium has received approval for the facility, but has yet to gain permission to import dolphins. she said.

However, this does not mean that the facility has the official go ahead to open as a dolphinarium as the paperwork required for importing the dolphins has yet to be received, she added.

The concept of opening a dolphinarium in Phuket received much criticism, by island residents and by world-famous environmentalist groups such as Sea Shepherd.

In an open letter to the “Phuket Tourism Board” (presumably the Tourism Authority of Thailand) and

the Fisheries Department, Sea Shepherd asserted that some of the dolphins bound for the Nemo dolphinarium are coming from Ukraine, but were originally captured off the Japanese fishing village of Taiji, site of an infamous annual slaughter of dolphins at “the Cove”.

According to the CITES convention, trade in dolphins is not allowed when: the import is for primarily commercial purposes or for purposes which are considered detrimental to the survival of the species; the export is considered to

The bus full of Chinese tourists struck Nattawut Jaiphaew while he was attempting to flee police.

Chinese tour bus slams drugs suspect amid escape attempt A MAN ARRESTED ON drug charges was taken to hospital with a broken leg last Friday night (June 26) after he was hit by a tour bus while attempting to flee Thalang police.

The bus full of Chinese tourists slammed into Nattawut Jaiphaew, 23, as he sprinted across Thepkrasattri Rd at about 9pm. The force of the impact shattered the windscreen.

Nuttawut was arrested @thephuketnews

in Srisoontorn for illegal possession of Category 1 drug the day before and was being held at Thalang police station for questioning, explained Sub Lt Sakorn Burananat of the Thalang police.

When officers brought Nuttawut out for processing, he saw the front door open – and promptly bolted through it, he explained.

All traffic police in the area were notified to keep

an eye out for him. Within 30 minutes, Nuttawut was found hiding in temple grounds at Wat Phra Tong nearby.

Surrounded by police Nattawut attempted to run across the busy road, and was truck by the bus.

“Nattawut will now be charged with attempting to escape arrest, in addition to his drug charge,” Sub Lt Sakorn confirmed.

Eakkapop Thongtub

be detrimental to the survival of the species; the specimens have been obtained illegally; or the proposed recipient is not suitably equipped to house and care for the animals.

Meanwhile, the trade in bottlenose dolphins is allowed under certain conditions: the export must not be detrimental to the survival of the species and the animals must have been legally obtained and exported. Shipments must also be in accordance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations.

The official said, “We don’t know what type of dolphins they are or where they will come from yet, but many dolphins are imported from Japan.

So the CITES documents must be checked carefully.

“If they are found to breach the CITES convention then they will not be allowed.”

The official also explained that if they do allow the dolphins to be used at the dolphinarium, then officials from the Department of Fisheries will visit the venue every year to ensure standards are being maintained and met.

PHUKET NEWS

3

A sign at Phuket International Airport highlights the precautions to take to avoid spreading germs.

Mers patients test negative for virus TWO PATIENTS, INCLUDing a 7-month-old Korean baby, quarantined for suspected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) last week have tested negative for the killer virus, the Phuket health chief has confirmed.

“The 7-month-old Korean baby and a 30-year-old Thai woman were admitted to hospital in Phuket on Thursday night (June 25) due to high fever,” said Dr Kajonsak Kaewjamras, chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO).

“In accordance with our prescribed preventative measures, the two were separated, with one taken to Vachira Hospital and the other to the

PPAO hospital, and kept in isolation.

“They have both been tested for the Mers virus, and both tested negative,” he confirmed to The Phuket News today (June 27).

“However, they are still in the hospital and hospital staff are monitoring their condition closely. They will be tested again if needed.”

The PPHO has so far quarantined six people for Mers.

All have tested negative.

“So far Phuket has had no confirmed reports of Mers, but we are continuing to keep a look out for anyone persons suspected of having the virus,” said Dr Kajonsak.

Darawan Naknakhon

4

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM Phuket Seven Day Weather Forecast SAT JULY 4

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Wind 28 km/h

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he 50-foot wooden sailing yacht stranded on Kata Beach since April 1 has finally been moved, but the owners will now have to present themselves to the Phuket Marine Office to claim their broken boat.

The ketch Inisfail was left stranded on the beach by a storm on April 1 despite efforts to save the boat by the two Australian men on board at the time.

The Aussies, who reportedly own the yacht, were en route from Ranong near the Myanmar border to Chalong, on Phuket’s east coast, when

crane on board arrived last Friday (June 26).

The f loating crane recovered the Inisfail, though both the mizzen and main masts are now broken. What other damage the boat has suffered has yet to be made clear.

Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut confirmed to The Phuket News that he ordered the boat to be recovered from the tourist-popular beach.

“I ordered off icers to recover the boat only after The salvage resulted in broken masts. Photo: John Petherick receiving permission from they were caught off-guard the yacht, which had become the owner,” he said. “I think by foul weather and their boat a tourist attraction in itself, the owner tried to have it blown ashore. from the sand had failed recovered before, but those Efforts to safely recover until a huge barge with a efforts failed.”

The Marine Office had to hire a private barge with a crane to reclaim the boat, an enterprise costing between B700,000 and B800,000 that Mr Phuriphat said he personally paid out of pocket.

“The boat is being held by the Phuket Marine Office, and I am still waiting for the two Australians to present themselves,” he said.

“After all this time, the boat still has not been registered with our office as entering Phuket waters, and the cost of moving the boat should be paid by the owners.

That is their responsibility.

“I am waiting for them at the Phuket Marine Office now.”

How to renew my SIM card after phone stolen?

aged, lost or stolen. In all cases, you must present ID when you request the new SIM in person.

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Question Will the mandatory registration of my SIM card, which requires with a photo of my face and presentation of my passport, make it easier to block calls if my phone is stolen?

Answer If your phone is stolen, you can visit any AIS outlet or Telewiz shop nationwide and have your service temporarily suspended within 30 minutes. For more information

call the AIS Call Centre at 1175.

– A staffer at the AIS call centre Registering your SIM will help us to detect and recover your phone faster in event of theft, but if your SIM has been lost or stolen, you must first file a report to the police and bring that report to the DTAC outlet with you when requesting your new SIM. DTAC will replace your SIM card if it has been dam-

If your SIM has been lost or stolen, you must first inform the local police and bring the police report and your ID or passport with you to the TrueMove centre when requesting a new SIM card. It may take some time for us to confirm that your phone has been registered and to confirm that you are indeed the registered owner of the SIM number you are requesting.

For more information call the TrueMove Call Centre at 1331.

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A laboratory worker for French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur holds up vaccines for certain strains of dengue fever that are expected to become availbale soon.

Photo: Sanofi Pasteur / Patrick Boulen

Were you told about dengue?

THE ANNUAL SOUTHWEST monsoon winds have arrived in Phuket and brought with them the usual thunderstorms and heavy rain – and ensuing bouts of influenza and dengue.

Staff at Vachira Hospital confirmed to The Phuket News last week that although the number of patients admitted for flu or dengue so far this year is on the rise, the number is “no more than usual” for this time of year.

While the world is focused on outbreaks of Mers (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), local health authorities are taking measures to contain any outbreaks of that kind on the island – but are they doing enough to help stop the spread of dengue, which affects thousands of people on the island each year?

Many campaigns are held each year to raise awareness about dengue among Thais, but is enough being done to warn foreigners?

To this, The Phuket News asks readers in our latest poll: “Do you think the government does enough to warn foreigners about dengue?”

Replies available are: Yes, foreigners are given ample warning about dengue Yes, but there is room for improvement Not really, I see some effort to warn foreigners, but not enough No, foreigners receive little to no warning about dengue Dengue? What’s dengue?

To cast your vote, visitThePhuketNews.com/poll thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

PHUKET NEWS

5

Paiboon faces graft probe

Top elected official investigated for corruption in hospital deal

P

aiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO or OrBorJor) is among dozens of senior officials to have been suspended or transferred by order of the prime minister, pending investigations into corruption allegations.

The mass transfer and suspension from office of at least seven of the top elected provincial officials were carried out on June 25 under orders

by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chano-cha by use of the controversial Article 44 of the interim constitution, said national reports.

A total of 29 senior officials and civil servants were transferred to inactive posts and 42 executives of local bodies were suspended from

duty without pay pending corruption investigations.

According to Thai media, Mr Paiboon was among seven OrBorJor chiefs to be suspended without salary, pending investigations. The other OrBorJor chiefs represented the provinces Lampang, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Phanom, Yasothon and Samut Prakarn.

Contacted by The Phuket News the next day, Mr Paiboon said: “I have no comment about it.”

PPAO Vice President Chawalit Na Nakorn announced at a meeting on June 26 that Mr Paiboon had been suspended from duty because of matters relating to the PPAO Hospital.

“The Office of the Auditor General of Thailand (OAG) is looking into different aspects regarding the

hospital. However, the NCPO has not said that the PPAO is corrupt,” he said.

“Our priority is the people of Phuket, and we work openly. Last year we received an award for our honest working. We also received another award for our good organisation.

“The OAG might not see why a hospital for Phuket people is important and I cannot change what the NCPO commands.

“The NCPO receives information from the OAG and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). However, I have not yet seen that the NACC has officially sent a committee to check us.

“I am confident about this matter because the truth is the truth and that is why I have dared to be in front of

Phi Phi tourist found hanged

Suspects, drugs and guns.

Police hunt major drug dealer

POLICE ARE CURRENTly on the hunt for Somsak Pankhao who is, they say, one of Phuket’s biggest drug dealers, after two of his roommates were arrested with drugs and guns in Srisoonthon last week.

Thammanoon Kaewsrinuan, 31, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat and Klongsiri Rongsakulm, 24, from Udon Thani, were arrested on June 22 at Moo Baan Phanason on Thepkassattri Rd, The two were found in possession 240.8 grams of crystal meth (ya ice), 50 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), an unregistered M3 submachine gun, two magazines, an unregistered Luger Po8 pistol, 28 rounds of .45 bullets, 10 rounds of 9mm bullets, six .32 bullets, 11 rounds of 6.35 bullets, digital scales and drug-taking paraphernalia.

The arrests, along with that of Nontapon Chaipakdee on June 17 for drug possession, led to the suspects naming Somsak as their dealer.

Police attempted to set up a sting operation on Somsak, but were unsuccessful.

Thammanon and Klongsiri were now being held on charges of possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and possessing unregistered firearms. @thephuketnews

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATing the death of a German woman found hanged at Phi Phi Island last Friday (June 26).

Krabi Marine Police transported the body of the woman, identified as 26-year-old Katharina Jolanthe Rebacz, from Phi Phi Hospital to Krabi Hospital on Monday.

“We have asked doctors to confirm the cause of death and to report anything suspicious,” said Krabi investigator Lt Seksan Boonlerd.

Local residents found Ms Rebacz hanged from a tree by a nylon rope at Ao Por beach at about sunset last Friday.

Ms Rebacz, who had tattoos on her right arm and both upper arms, was dressed in a black t-shirt with a zebra head print and black shorts.

Katharina Rebacz, 26.

Police also found a note written in German tucked under her shirt inside her bra.

“We have asked for native German-speakers to help with translating the letter. It may reveal some clue,” said Lt Seksan.

Doctors at Phi Phi Hospital told police that Ms Rebacz had been dead for six to 10 hours before her body was found.

“We have yet to rule this case as suicide or rule out any foul play,” Lt Seksan said Eakkapop Thongtub

Located 500 m From Jungceylon

Paiboon Upatising has been suspended from office, pending an investigation into the PPAO Hospital. the media today, he added.

“The people of Phuket should not worry. Even though Mr Paiboon cannot work at the moment I as vice president of PPAO will still take care

of the Phuket people.

“Mr Paiboon had planned to work for the PPAO for another three years and to work for the people of Phuket,” he concluded.

Tons of meat seized in beef smuggler raid T WO TONS OF M EAT were seized when Royal Thai Navy troops raided a coldstorage facility north of Phuket Town last Friday (June 26).

Acting on a tip-off, 25 officers raided a house in Soi Siangtai, Rassada.

At the back of the house, officers found a makeshift cold room equipped with a security camera.

Officials have yet to confirm the origins of the meat.

With no persons home, the Navy personnel forced opened the door, to find an estimated B1 million of meat

in sealed bags.

Somboon Intarat, 55, soon arrived home to find his stash had been raided. He presented officers documents that he said proved his meat import business was legitimate.

However, officers said they had yet to confirm that the meat was imported from the countries that he had permits for. Eakkapop Thongtub

6

PHUKET NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

DSI probes B14bn beach land claim Suthicha Sirirat

T

he Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has launched a probe into a claim for a Chanote title deed to be issued for 200 rai of Phuket beachfront property with an estimated value of B14 billion.

The site in question is a twokilometre stretch of sand from Layan Beach to Laypang Beach, in Cherng Talay, which is deemed to be in Sirinart National Park.

DSI deputy director-general Pong-In Intarakhao and Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, director of the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Environment Crime, led an inspection of the site last Friday (June 26).

Joining the leading crime-busters were Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Songkhaosuttirak and Jirasak Chukwamdee, who is the director of the Protected Areas regional office under the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

The investigation was launched after a complaint filed by the DNP alleged that the land was within the national park boundary, said

Navy officers talk to the sea gypsy community.

Sea gypsy land dispute sees Navy in stand-off DSI deputy director-general Pong-In Intarakhao inspected the site of the alleged beach encroachment in person.

Col Pong-In. “We suspect that the entire area – which the owner has applied to be upgraded to Chanote status – is trying to be claimed by use of ‘flying SorKor 1’,” he said.

A ‘flying SorKor 1’ attempts to use a SorKor 1 land-use document to claim ownership of an entirely different plot elsewhere.

Col Pong-In said that aerial photographs and other documents related to the area showed that the land under investigation was once sea.

“Aerial pictures and other documents prove that in the past this area

was covered by sea, and later dirt and debris were deposited to form the land,” he said.

“The area has since been fenced off and marked ‘Private property.

Do not enter’ for land that is clearly public property.”

Investigators will file their reports directly to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong with a request to investigate the alleged encroachment, he added.

“The person attempting to claim ownership of this land and any government officials involved in this claim will be investigated,” Col Pong-In vowed.

SEA GYPSIES HAVE ALLEGED that more than 40 men told them to leave Rawai beach last week when the henchmen set up a tent to block the entrance to the sea gypsy community.

Rawai Municipality officials were called to the village at 11am on June 25 to find a tent had been set up to block the entrance to part of the village sea gypsies use to worship their ancestors.

The men allegedly also ordered the villagers to demolish a sala used for worshipping.

Chalong police were also called to the area to help officials ease the tension between the men and a large group of sea gypsies who had gathered.

Lt Col Sathit Noorit from

Chalong police organised an immediate meeting with sea gypsy representative, Sanit Shairshoa, and a man said to be the leader of the group of 40 men.

The group of men were asked to remove the tent as it blocked the entrance to the community.

However, rather than removing it they moved it to another position.

As a result, the Royal Thai Navy were called, who then told the leader and his group to leave and remove the tent because the land is under investigation and the area should not be blocked.

The men removed the tent, but insisted that two men remain at the site to protect the disputed land, which the Navy allowed.

Darawan Naknakhon

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Minister’s visit hijacked by bus, van driver mob said that his office had so far identified 100 businesses that were suspected of breaking foreign-investment laws.

“The Department of Business Development will continue a deeper investigation into these businesses while Customs will track down for their tax payments.”

Nattha Thepbamrung editor@classactmedia.co.th

M

inister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul arrived in Phuket last week to hear complaints about the illegal antics in the island’s tourism industry.

But before she could enter Provincial Hall on June 26, the minister was confronted by a group of tour bus and van drivers complaining that jewellery stores were using their own employees to chauffeur their own customers.

After hearing their complaints, Minister Kobkarn finally made her way to the meeting inside the building, where she heard that hundreds of drivers had lost their jobs over the issue.

“About 400 to 500 buses and vans have had to stop running because Chinese tour companies and jewellery shops are working together by using the jewellery shops’ buses and vans,” said Kanlaya Rakwaree, deputy president

Tourism Minister Kobkarn (right) was confronted by the drivers at Phuket Provincial Hall. of the Andaman Tourism Association.

“This makes it even cheaper for them to offer transportation [to customers], and increases the profit they make from customers’ purchases.”

The cost-cutting practice of bringing transport costs “in-house” was also spreading to other businesses in the tourism sector, Ms Kanyala said.

“Chinese tour companies are doing it, and so are duty-

free shops, latex shops, spas, leather shops, souvenir shops and restaurants.”

Illegal guides Ms Kobkarn also heard that efforts were underway to arrest illegal guides working on the island.

“There are about 5,000 tour guides registered to work in Phuket. This number is enough for the whole tourism industry,” said Santi Pawai,

Monks face Taxis, tuk-tuks roped in probe for ‘bad driver’ crackdown living amid PU BL IC T R A N SP ORT including taxi, tukforest land drivers, tuk, public bus and van drivers TWO HUTS OCCUPIED BY monks and believed to be on Royal Forest Land were investigated by Phuket authorities on June 26. One of the monks is to be investigated by the Phuket branch of the National Office of Buddhism.

Officials led by Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosuthirak inspected the huts on Mai Sibsong Hill in Chalong after they received a complaint from local residents stating that monks were illegally erecting buildings and living on forest land.

“We have to be strict. It is Royal Forest Land so nobody should be allowed to build accommodation here. If we let it continue there will be more and more people repeating this,” said V/Gov Somkiet.

“This land is on one of the highest hills on the island and has some of the cleanest and purest water. Therefore, if people live on this land it is likely that the water will become contaminate. Many people drink this water,” he added.

Nattha Thepbamrung @thephuketnews

in Phuket, now face heftier punishments following a series of bus crashes and safety incidents in Bangkok that made national headlines.

The new penalties were announced by Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general Teerapong Rodprasert on June 24.

Any public drivers found guilty of such dangerous driving or other inappropriate behaviour would now face fines of up to B5,000 and could be suspended from driving for 30 days. They will also be forced to undergo a safe

Public transport passenger van divers are also affected. driving course.

Companies can now be fined from B10,000 to B40,000 for transgressions or for the antics committed by their staff.

For serious offences, the company may have its operating license revoked and the driver may have his or her licence cancelled immediately.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

director of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

“We are rushing to track down 200 illegal foreign tour guides who are freely working now. When they get caught, they will be deported,” he warned.

Nominees Regarding tour companies illegally using foreign nominees as shareholders, Mr Santi

Rubber ripoffs Ms Kobkarn also heard complaints from Karon hotel operators, saying that Chinese tour companies had stopped sending guests to hotels in that area because latex mattress and pillow vendors in front of many hotels were selling their products cheaper than the places where the tour companies were taking Chinese tourists to.

Chinese tourists themselves had been verbally and physically attacking tour guides for ripping them off, Ms Kobkarn heard, and the latex shop’s operators have been “visited” by people claiming to be authorities and threatening to close down the businesses.

7

Complaints that the tourists may be paying inflated prices were also filed.

Chinese guides questioned over blessing tours T WO PH U K E T T O U R guides have had their guide licenses seized and a shop on temple grounds at Wat Kathu is under investigation following complaints about Chinese tourists making donations for – and receiving – special blessings from a monk.

“Some people, including the monks, said they had no idea whether or not what the tourists were told in Chinese was accurate, or possibly damaging to the image of Buddhism,” said Santi Pawai, director of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

However, Mr Santi admitted that the raid uncovered no illegalities.

“We will talk with the owner and advise all other shops like this to come in for basic religious training,” he said. Eakkapop Thongtub

Opinion 8

OPINION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

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EDITORIAL The Corruption Purge: Pay it forward

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STEVEN LAYNE Managing Editor editor@classactmedia.co.th From the USA; BA in Communication Arts from Bangkok University International College; seven years’ experience at Nation Junior Magazine, Bangkok Recorder, Phuket. net, Farangs.com and Phuket Gazette.

CHRIS HUSTED Executive Editor 084 307 7408 execeditor@classactmedia.co.th Fifteen years working in news and covering local issues and events in Phuket, with 18-month hiatus spent working for the Brunei Times on Borneo. From Queensland, Australia; 10 years living in the UK before moving to Phuket in 2000. Degree in business management. Spare time spent sailing or with family.

DALIA HILMI Life Editor editor1@classactmedia.co.th Originally from Canada; BA in Sociology from the University of Birmingham in the UK and an MA in Online/Print Journalism from the University of the Arts in London. Three years experience for Britain’s third-biggest publisher, Immediate Media, as well as Bauer Media and InStyle magazine.

MATTHEW POND News & Sports Editor editor3@classactmedia.co.th Originally from the UK; Has four years experience as editor and reporter for Phuketindex.com magazine and website, and InPhuket magazine.

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I

n case any readers missed it, Paiboon Upatising was suspended from office last week pending an investigation into alleged corruption. (See page 5.)

Paiboon, as president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO), is – or was – the head of the elected administrative body for the entire island, unlike the provincial governor, appointed by the Interior Ministry in Bangkok.

You’d think that this news would create an almighty buzz on Phuket, especially after a year under military rule installed by a coup staged under the very banner of clearing corruption, and especially after the great taxi mafia takedown of 2014 that saw Patong patriarch Pian Keesin and two of his sons arrested.

But that didn’t happen.

Interest in this one spiked, then tanked.

If there were any barometer of how much an issue affects people, it is how quickly it falls from interest, but it’s not likely that interest plunged in the Paiboon case because people are not affected if such claims are true. More likely is that it came as no surprise, especially as corruption is so widely perceived to be endemic throughout every level of officialdom in the country.

Paiboon is not alone in facing blanket allegations of corruption. Hundreds of officials around the country have been transferred, suspended or otherwise sidelined, all because they were named by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as suspected of corruption.

The sad hilarity of it all is how anyone could be innocent in a system of institutionalised corruption. Even officials who are only bystanders to the goings-on around them are

guilty of complicity.

Also keep in mind that only weeks ago Tarit Pengdith was deposed as the head of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for being “unusually wealthy” and accused of choosing his targets of investigation – an odd accusation as Tarit worked under the orders of an executive committee, just as the NACC does. Who is responsible for what remains to be seen.

The NACC would do well to stay clear of any similar vagaries. Also absent from the NACC’s list of suspected corrupt officials were police.

As long as the NACC maintains its supposed purge in the name of clearing corruption all is well, but as soon as it falters, even in perception of choosing its targets, it will look like nothing more than an enforced power shift rippling through the country, changing only the players, but not the game.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Phuket earthquakes: prepare for the worst, says expert Airborne suicide prevented on Boeing 737 plane to Hat Yai Two Thalang Tesco theives arrested in Krabi Aussie yacht stranded on Phuket beach recovered, but broken and seized Russian tourist beaten to death in Pattaya British tourists slain in Tunisia seaside massacre Phuket beach club faces Navy demolition B riti sh man found hanged at his Phuket home Doctor rules death of 69-year-old American found in Patong bed as heart failure Phuket dolphinarium a step closer to reality

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Who do they think they’re fooling?!

Re: Aussie yacht stranded on Phuket beach recovered, but broken and seized It should have been done within few days of the beaching on Kata Beach. Today that boat has no commercial value and show the poor management from local authorities. I do not think so that the owners will come back to Thailand to pay the bill or even to be arrested at the airport.

Asterix Things never change, there was a similar case some 15 years ago. Two Russians, father and son with no money got stranded, same area. The private yachting community tried to help but was blocked by the Kata authorities, including stopping a crane from passing through.

Asking price was in those days 40.000 baht just to get permit to help them. So the price has going up to, how much?! The rescue should have been done right after they run aground,the barge was anyway all the time at the world famous marina construction site in Chalong.

So the Phuket Marine Office Chief is now the proud owner

of a lot of firewood. Not even an Aussi would be so stupid to come and claim this wreck and pay, what, 700,000-800.000 Baht! Joke of the year! Horst BigA

Smiles is a forward-looking country, and does not need another one of these hellholes.

Keep the beautiful Island of Phuket a dolphin-free zone. elflove1

Phuket doesn’t need more captive animals!

Alternative solutions exist

Re: Phuket dolphinarium a step closer to reality This is really disgraceful. Who in Phuket actually wants this?

Let’s do what we do best in Phuket - exploit animals even more. Let’s entertain those ignorant tourists. Just when I thought head way was being made.

Shame on the Thai Fisheries Department for allowing this.

Celi Re: Skal International Phuket & Southern Thailand say no to dolphinarium People of Phuket, please, please read The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy, the books that expose the true horrors of the captive dolphin industry. This story is already being adopted by the good people of Pattaya after one of the book’s co-authors appeared on Good Morning Pattaya and Pattaya Mail TV early last year. The Land of

Re: Opinion: Phuket’s power consumption ‘an insatiable thirst’ Why is there no solar energy planning on the island?

Crayman

Not in my lifetime Re: Poll: Phuket votes for bus network Yeah, I’m not going to hold my breath on this. The Tuk Tuk mafia continues to own Phuket.

Pinot

Why such a cruel punishment?

Re: Reckless driver faces B1,000 fine after felling Phuket lamp post with SUV Wow! A U.S.$29 fine. That will sure get other driver’s attention!

Foot Oooo... a whole 1,000 baht!

Ridiculous and pathetic, and

certainly nothing that fits this reckless and irresponsible act.

Richard Vickers Driving too fast, in Phuket, surely not!! He lost control after a downpour, I’m guessing his single brain cell didn’t tell him that roads are dangerous when wet and to drive more carefully, just like the rest of the drivers who drive carefully, not too fast and with consideration for other road users!

Malczx7r

A scarcity of common sense Re: Phuket drain-construction delays blamed on lack of sand Plenty of sand in the drains here in phuket on Nanai Road.

Hartmut That’s the best excuse ever. We can all appreciate how difficult it must be to get sand here.

Chalong Yes of course Phuket being an island and having beaches full of sand I can see why you’d have problems getting sand! haha, That must be the lamest excuse ever!

Malczx7r

Have an opinion? Comment on stories at thephuketnews.com thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

THAILAND NEWS

9

Rallying against coal plant S

outhern tourist operators have called on the government to scrap plans for the construction of an 800-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Krabi for fear of its impact on the resort province.

Watana Thanasakcharoen, chairman of the Southern Chamber of Commerce, said Andaman coastal provinces did not need a project with a power generation goal designed to support the needs of the industrial sector over that of local people.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) said 45 per cent of power generated from the coal-fired power plant will go to the industrial sector, 30pc to households and 9pc to the tourism sector.

But Mr Watana insisted: “There’s no doubt the coal-fired power plant project is going to meet industrial needs rather than those of locals.”

The government says it will press ahead with the project, with construction expected to start by the end of the year.

Thailand depends heavily on natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand and from Myanmar for electricity generation. The government plans to cut back the amount of natural gas for power production from 65pc in 2015 to 55pc in 2028.

It also wants to raise the use of coal and lignite from 19pc in 2015

@thephuketnews

PEOPLE POWER: Activists from the Save Andaman group staged a protest last month, and on Tuesday (June 30) travel agents gathered to oppose the plans by Egat for a coal-fired plant in Krabi to supply energy-starved southern provinces. Photo: Post Today to 21pc in 2028, when 5pc of power production will also come from nuclear power.

The proposed power plant in Krabi has drawn opposition from environmentalists and residents who fear pollution will drive tourists from its pristine beaches and ruin villagers’ health.

Coal-fired plants have a negative image in Thailand due to the country’s experience with the Mae Moh lignite power plant in Lampang.

After a 12-year court battle, the Supreme Administrative Court this year ordered Egat to pay compensation to Mae Moh villagers whose health and farmland had been damaged by toxic pollutants from the plant.

Environmental impact assessment reports for the Krabi power plant, and for a sea port to import coal shipments to power the plant, are being scrutinised by the Office of Natural Resources and Environ-

mental Policy and Planning.

Mr Watana said any benefits from the power plant could not compensate for the potential loss of tourism in Krabi and along the Andaman coast.

He said tourism in the Andaman provinces generated more than B300 billion last year, and could make B400bn this year.

Krabi’s tourism alone generated more than B60bn in 2013, likely to reach B70bn by this year.

“Krabi should be a tourism province and focus on promoting eco-tourism,” he said.

Krabi residents draw their main source of income from tourism, fishing and agriculture, giving the province a high economic value compared with nearby provinces.

Amarit Siripornchuthakul, president of the Krabi Tourism Association, said environmental-friendly tourism would attract more visitors to Thailand.

“So it’s important for the Thai tourism sector to support the withdrawal of the coal-fired power plant project, and instead promote renewable energy alternatives,” he said.

He said Krabi has high potential for developing renewable energy as it has a large palm oil plantation and the government should promote this instead of coal power.

“The government must decide whether it will conserve Thailand’s pristine seas that create a number of tourism-related businesses and attract large numbers of foreign tourists, or if it will promote a coal-fired power plant that the world agrees is environmentally harmful,” he said.

Egat insists the Krabi plant will be equipped with leading technology and use high-quality coal imported from Indonesia and Australia, and there will not be a repeat of the Mae Moh experience. Bangkok Post

10 THAILAND NEWS

Many markets where shrimp are sold are likely to close by the weekend. Photo: Environmental Justice Foundation

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

‘Oral sex’ disco to shut for ten days

P Fishing operators time is finally up OPERATORS OF FISHING trawlers have run out of time to register their vessels as the government attempts to clean up the industry, says Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha.

He turned down requests on Tuesday (June 30) by trawler operators to delay by three months the measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The operators had been warned to comply with the regulations for several months ahead of the start date, which fell on Wednesday (July 1), but they failed to take proper action, Gen Prayut said.

By Tuesday, operators were required to register their trawlers, and ensure their fishing gear was up to standard, or face legal action.

The crackdown follows the European Union’s (EU) yellow card, or final warning, against

IUU fishing practices, which it said Thailand must correct, or face a ban on seafood exports to EU countries.

“I’ve given them a chance to comply [with the regulations] for some time. How many grace periods do we have to grant them? It can’t be like this forever. We gave them several months,” Gen Prayut said.

The operators of about 3,000 medium-sized trawlers in 22 coastal provinces have been keeping their vessels in port rather than heading out to fish as the new measures take effect.

The resulting drop in seafood supply is forcing major seafood markets in several provinces to close, said Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice-president of the National Fisheries Association of Thailand. Bangkok Post

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

olice have ordered a nightclub in Pattaya to close down for ten days after a photo of a woman appearing to perform oral sex in the venue circulated on social media.

Calling the incident “shockingly” inappropriate and unlawful, police tracked down the club, named 808 Disco Club, on Pattaya’s Walking Street and interrogated the staff on Sunday night (June 29).

A security guard told police the photo was taken shortly before the club closed at around 3am on Sunday He said the people in the photo, a Korean man and Thai woman, were both clients of the bar at the time, and were kicked out as soon as security staff noticed what they were doing.

Police said the club’s owners will not face legal action for the lewd act because their staff quickly expelled the couple.

However, the club was ordered to shut down for ten days because police discovered that the management has not been keeping records of its employees, as is required by regulations.

Pol Col Sukthat Pumpan-

who directs the Ministry’s Women and Families Department.

“For example, the Netherlands has zoning regulations.

There’s an exclusive space for sexual shows, with restrictions on the age of the clients,” he explained.

“There’s clear and appropriate regulations for equipment, and laws specifically for tourism and service in those zones. It’s Police question a member of staff from the 808 Disco Club an option for tourists. Anyone in Pattaya on Sunday (June 29). Photo Khaosod English who doesn’t want to see lewd muang, the superintendent of pening again,” he said. and sexual shows doesn’t have Although prostitution and to visit those zones.”

Pattaya Police Station, said officers are still working to sex shows are banned under H o w e v e r, S a n p e t c h track down the pair in the Thai laws, businesses operate Suphabowornsatient, the direcphoto and charge them with openly in Pattaya and other tor of a hotel association, told public indecency, but added that red-light districts in major cit- Khaosod that the government there is no CCTV footage of ies around the country, and are should respond to the incident the incident because the club’s mostly tolerated by authorities. by “campaigning and educating security camera was broken.

In response to the 808 Disco people about the good culture Chakorn Kanchanawatta, Club incident, an official from and tradition” of Thailand. an administrative official in Thailand’s Ministry of Social “Right now, Thailand is Pattaya, one of the world’s Development urged the gov- trying to promote the Thai top destinations for sex tour- ernment to set clear zones for way of tourism, and Buddhist ism, said incident has brought adult entertainment in Pattaya, way of tourism,” Sanpetch “great shame” to the popular instead of turning a blind eye said. “Thailand is a Buddhist beach town. to the trade. country, yet nowadays men and “I will summon all enter“I suggest we implement the women express themselves in tainment establishment [owners] regulation of exclusive zoning a way that causes damages to to acknowledge our policies to for lewd or sexual shows,” said image of the country.”

Khaosod English prevent such a thing from hap- Somchai Charoenamnuaysuk,

Chinese road signs are coming next year THE TOURISM DEPARTment and the Transport Ministry will install direction signs in Chinese next year in a bid to ease the number of car accidents caused by tourists travelling from China into Thailand, especially around Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations among Chinese travellers, with many coming by car via Route R3A through the Chiang Khong checkpoint.

Tourism in Chiang Mai is booming, but so are road accidents involving Chinese drivers, which is chalked up to their poor understanding of Thai traffic law and directions.

The agencies hope Chinese direction signs and billboards will reduce the number of accidents.

Installation is scheduled for next year.

Wanasiri Morakul, deputy director-general of the the Tourism Department, said the agency planned to install QR codes at tourism venues such as Unesco World Heritage Sites and some border stations to provide tourist information and directions.

More than 150 QR code signs are expected to start installation later this year.

Ms Wanasiri said the signs

A guide leads Chinese tourists at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok. The government will make road signs in Chinese to reduce accidents. Photo: Narupon Hinshiranan would inform Chinese tourists at border stations about "dos and don’ts" in Thailand as well as traffic laws.

The number of Chinese tourist arrivals to Chiang Mai increased by 50 per cent to 421,108 visitors last year.

The Tourism Council of Thailand forecasts this year Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand will reach 7.4 million.

In the first five months, Chinese arrivals rose by 95pc to 3.27 million, while total foreign visitors increased by 24.7pc to 12.4 million.

Tour operators have complained about a lack of Chinese tour guides, but the department

insists the existing 5,600 tour guides are adequate to serve international tourist arrivals.

The Tourism Department accepted that Thailand faced a shortage of tour guides for Koreans, with only 448 guides while the requirement based on arrivals is estimated at 1,292 per year.

The department has joined with the South Korean Embassy to train Thai guides in Korean.

The department announced all tour guides must wear its officially designed uniforms starting this October.

The fine is B10,000 for those violating the rule.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

ASIA NEWS 11

Rescued from bile farms F

reed from captivity in tiny metal cages, seven longsuffering Asiatic moon bears have been rescued from bile farms in northern Vietnam, as efforts to end the illegal trade are boosted.

Bear bile farming is banned but it is legal to raise the animals as pets – a loophole used by illicit Vietnamese farms to feed a regional demand for the digestive fluid, which is believed to possess healing properties in traditional Chinese medicine.

The bears were rescued from coastal Quang Ninh province earlier this week and were in extremely poor health with missing or maimed limbs after being confined in the small cages where, according to Animals Asia, they were likely milked for bile.

Rescuers either use honey to calmly coax the animals out of their pens into a transport cage, or dart them and stretcher them to the removal truck if they are unwilling to move.

The moon bears, so named for the distinctive yellow crescentshaped mark on their chests, have since been transferred to the charity’s sanctuary in another province.

“This week will see Quang Ninh province come very close to being bear-bile farm free,” Animals Asia

@thephuketnews

A moon bear sits inside a cage at a bear farm that was targeted by animal-protection group Animals Asia during a four-day bear rescue operation in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province. Photo: AFP Vietnam director Tuan Bendixsen said, adding the group aims to rescue seven more bears in the coming days.

“We will keep on fighting and campaigning until every last captive bear suffering in the province has been moved to our sanctuary,” Mr

Bendixsen said.

Authorities in Quang Ninh, around 180 kilometres from Hanoi, ramped up their efforts to close down the longstanding industry after a flurry of deaths at bile farms drew attention to the animals.

Their plight even triggered a

decree in March from Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who ordered all captive bears in the coastal province be moved to facilities with better care.

Quang Ninh is among the provinces with the highest rate of captive bears, Animals Asia said, partly

due to demand for bear bile from Korean and Chinese tourists visiting its Unesco-listed Halong Bay and the surrounding area.

Local authorities are still in negotiations with bile farmers for the release of around 16 bears that will still be in captivity after the current rescue mission ends (July 3), Animals Asia said.

Nationwide, around 1,245 bears remain in captivity, according to the agriculture ministry.

In recent years hundreds have died due to maltreatment – the animals are routinely drugged and restrained for bile harvesters to collect liquid from their gallbladders with unsterilised needles.

With rising affluence Vietnam has become a top destination for people seeking to consume rare wildlife as well as wines and medicines from animals thought to have healing or aphrodisiac properties.

The country is also a major trafficking hub in Southeast Asia, linking animals sourced in countries including Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar with buyers in neighbouring China and other East Asian markets.

The communist nation has signed treaties against the trade but enforcement remains patchy, in part due to corruption. AFP

12 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Execution drug OK’d US Supreme Court backs use of midazolam

T

he US Supreme Court on Monday (June 29) upheld the use of a controversial sedative in executions by lethal injection, saying it does not violate the Constitution.

In a 5-4 ruling, its five conservative-leaning justices said that the plaintiffs – death row inmates in Oklahoma – failed to show that midazolam constituted a “substantial risk of severe pain.”

As a result, they said, the drug – more commonly used in hospitals as a pre-surgery sedative – does not violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

“The prisoners failed to identify a known and available alternative method of execution that entails a lesser risk of pain, a requirement of all Eighth Amendment method of execution claims,” said Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion.

The decision was a setback for opponents of capital punishment in the United States, the only Western country that still carries out executions.

Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Virgina all retain midazolam as an option

Over 1,000 inmates in US prisons have been executed since 1982 using a lethal injection, according to Amnesty International. (AFP Photo/Paul Buck) for use in lethal injections.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin hailed Monday’s ruling, saying the Constitution was “clearly not intended to prohibit the death penalty” by lethal injection or use of midazolam.

Oklahoma’s attorney general will now tell the state court of criminal appeals that it can now set execution dates for the three death-row plaintiffs.

Death penalty abolitionists expressed dismay, but vowed to carry

their cause forward.

“It’s hard to imagine what could be crueler than a prolonged, torturous death, or more unusual,” said Diann Rust-Tierney, executive director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

“The death penalty is on the out...

Yet that message clearly hasn’t risen up to the highest court in the land,” she said shortly after the ruling.

Dale Baich, a lawyer for the death row plaintiffs, said the decision “contradicts the scientific and medi-

cal understanding” of midazolam’s properties.

Despite the outcome, Baich said “litigation surely will continue” in hopes of averting “botched executions” in the future.

The Supreme Court, in an April 2008 decision, upheld the constitutionality of execution by lethal injection.

But since then, a refusal by manufacturers – mainly European – to supply the required drugs has led states like Oklahoma to seek out

alternatives, including midazolam.

In April 2014, Oklahoma deathrow inmate Clayton Lockett, convicted of murder, rape and kidnapping, took an agonizing 43 minutes to die and could be seen writhing in pain during his prolonged execution.

A few months earlier, Ohio inmate Dennis McGuire, who murdered a pregnant woman, took 26 minutes to die, while Arizona death row convict Joseph Wood, convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her father, took 117 minutes in July 2014.

Lethal injection executions are expected to take 10 minutes, and in all three cases, the men could be seen gasping for air.

A fourth plaintiff, Charles Warner, was executed in Oklahoma in January, after the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute appeal for clemency.

On the execution table, Warner – sentenced to death for raping and killing an 11-month-old girl – said it felt like his body was “on fire.”

US states have executed 17 convicts so far this year, after 35 last year. The numbers have been trending downward since 2009, when 52 executions took place.

AFP

Tunisia takes emergency tourism measures after beach massacre TUNISIA ON MONDAY (June 29) announced emergency measures to support its vital tourism sector after the country’s worst ever jihadist attack at a popular beach resort, which is expected to wipe US$500 million off the economy.

Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik said the government would provide exceptional loans to help tourism businesses this year and next after last Friday’s (June 26) shooting, which killed 38 people and prompted thousands of holidaymakers to flee.

“If tourism collapses... the economy falls apart,” she told reporters.

Last Friday, a Tunisian identified as 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui pulled a Kalashnikov assault rifle from inside a beach umbrella and opened fire on holidaymakers at a resort in Port El Kantaoui near Sousse before being shot dead.

The Islamic State jihadist group, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq, swiftly claimed the killings.

Fears are now growing the

Tourists comfort each other after a mass shooting attack in the resort town of Sousse, a popular tourist destination 140 km south of the Tunisian capital, on June 26, 2015 (AFP Photo/Fethi Belaid) attack, the second against tourists this year, could crippple Tunisia’s tourist industry, which accounts for some seven per cent of GDP and employs some 400,000 people.

“We can count, at least, with regards to the impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), on a loss of earnings of a billion dinars ($515 million),” Elloumi said.

“I think that’s just the minimum, but it’s still an estimate.”

France’s travel agencies union said 80 per cent of package holidays booked for

Tunisia in July have been cancelled, with customers rushing to change destinations.

Elloumi said the government has also decided to cancel the 30-dinar (B520.45) exit tax for tourists, though the change can only come into effect after a parliamentary vote. Visitors arriving in Tunisia on package tours from China, India, Iran and Jordan will now be able to obtain their visas on arrival at the airport, she added.

Tunisia’s state budget for 2015 stands at some 29 billion dinars.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS 13

Skills shortages loom for tourism Chris Husted execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

T

hailand’s hospitality industry is about to suffer a huge skills shortage that could leave businesses reeling if corrective measures aren’t taken soon, leading experts in human resources development have warned.

That skills shortage will also hit hotels and resorts in Phuket.

The message was levelled by Dr Sjoerd Gehrels, Professor of Applied Sciences, Innovation in Hospitality, at Stenden University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, speaking at the 2015 Global Hospitality, Tourism Marketing & Management Conference in Bangkok last week.

Dr Gehrels was one of the guest panel speakers on the topic ‘The Effects of Tourism Development towards Business Expansion’ held during the tourism conference, conducted at the Pullman Bangkok King Power hotel on June 27-29.

While Thailand is often on the top of the list for best destinations, Dr Gehrels said Thailand was also recognised by a recent World Travel and Tourism Council report as being at risk to meet manpower demand.

“Thailand is about to experience the world’s biggest deficit of human resources (talent) for the Travel & Tourism Sector of -3.2 per cent (negative balance between demand and supply of talent) from 2014-2024,”

Hundreds of students at Satree Phuket School in Phuket Town were encouraged to explore career options in the world of hospitality at the Careers @ Hilton Live event last month.

Dr Gehrels told the attendees.

This highlights the shortage of qualified applicants that Thailand’s tourism industry acknowledges has already begun, he added.

Dr Gehrels, an expert in human capital development, focused on employment branding as a strategy to counter the skills shortage, and presented relevant research results to support his claim.

Employment branding refers to the association between employees and their organisation and includes potential strategies companies can use to attract and convince prospective employees, he explained.

“Employment branding helps companies to increase employees’

brand commitment making it more likely that they stay longer. There is evidence that companies in the hospitality industry that have started to implement a strategic employment branding vision are more conscious of their human resources management practices.”

Fellow panelist Andrew J. Wood, a 24-year veteran Thailand hotelier and the Immediate Past President of SKÅL International Thailand, noted, “Future employees must have a sincere spirit of hospitality, with a passion for service and enjoy making others happy.”

Mr Wood identified that Thailand’s tourism industry in 2014 accounted for 5.383 million jobs,

PTT allots B10bn to expand in Asia NATIONAL OIL AND GAS conglomerate PTT’s oil retail unit is allocating B10 billion of capital expenditure (capex) to renovate and expand the business over the next five years.

Buranin Rattanasombat, the oil business unit’s executive vice-president, said the expansion was meant to pave the way for the company to be one of Asia’s top oil retailers.

Most of the budget would be for expanding petrol station development in the local market and neighbouring countries, with a lesser amount set aside for the preparation of new non-oil business.

The expansion abroad covers new development of petrol stations as well as nonoil business stations.

The plan includes increasing petrol stations in Laos to 62 from 24, lifting stations in Cambodia to 65 from 20, and expanding stations in the Philippines to 150 from 85.

PTT is also awaiting openings in the oil retail business in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan and South Korea.

For the local market, the budget will go for petrol station relocation and renovation.

“As the economy sags and oil prices decline we are looking to revamp our @thephuketnews

A PTT petrol station attendant directs motorists to available fuel dispensers. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill internal business in order to improve services and products.

That way when the economy rebounds we will be ready,” said Mr Buranin.

Some of the capex will be set aside for the development of trading with digital equipment and telecom gadgets. PTT is in talks with telecom companies and banks to develop a digital business through the company’s existing Blue Card, a mileage oil service card, he said.

“We have more than 1 million Blue Card holders and in the future we will turn the card into another financial tool to

serve non-oil services,” said Mr Buranin.

The company plans to renovate its Cafe Amazon coffee shops during the second half before selling to franchisees in other Asian countries. He said several foreign investors and tourists are interested in buying into the franchise, starting the Cafe Amazon business in Japan, Myanmar and Singapore.

PTT plans to expand Cafe Amazon branches to 1,400 by the end of this year, up from 1,250, with a goal of 2,000 branches by 2019.

Bangkok Post

which represented 14.1pc of the country’s total employment.

“This will rise to almost 8 million jobs by 2024,” he said.

“The skills shortage will affect the whole of Thailand, including Phuket, with tourism arrivals set to double by 2025 – this year 29 million tourists will visit Thailand,” Mr Wood told The Phuket News.

“In Phuket new hotels will add an additional 4,582 new rooms from 23 hotels which are presently under development. Approximately 40 per cent are forecasted to open in 2015, followed by another 22pc in 2016. This trend is absolutely set to continue.”

By 2025, Thailand will need 9

million travel and tourism employees up from 5.4 million currently – a 40pc increase, he noted.

“For Phuket, the industry will need to get creative. They will need to develop a human resources procurement plan in much the same way as they develop an annual marketing plan,” said Mr Wood.

What can travel and tourism business do?

“Employment branding will be important. Develop a buzz.

Have potential employees wanting to join your company. Good benefits, great training and a fun, comfortable environment will all assist in securing team members,” Mr Wood urged.

“As we have seen in Europe, don’t just look at domestic employees for your potential labour pool. Whilst more challenging, I absolutely believe that we will see a surge in foreign migrant workers especially from our poorer neighbours.

“With China and Russia having become our key feeder markets, savvy owners are already employing native speakers from these countries.

A trend I also see as continuing.

The downside is going to be that manpower costs will increase as competition increases and standards may slip, he added.

“More so today than ever before, general managers must be focussed on HR and in particular retention and training,” Mr Wood warned.

14 BUSINESS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Forging a new constitution I

f any people who attended the British Chamber of Commerce of Thailand (BCCT) business dinner at the Amari Phuket resort in Patong last Thursday (June 25) were not up to date with the latest developments in the drafting of the constitution, they were quickly brought up to speed under the expert guidance of the guest speaker, Graham Catterwell.

Mr Catterwell, well versed and much respected for his opinions in Thai political affairs, noted that he was one of many such people called in to provide comments and suggestions on the drafting of the nation’s charter.

“Many people are being asked to provide their input, including journalists. Perhaps not the journalists you might see in the news, but journalists, too, are being asked for their opinions,” he said.

Mr Catterwell’s presentation was based on his comments prepared for the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, which in turn was based on the English translation provided by the Council of State as recently as April 17.

After a brief review of Thailand’s history of swift changes of government and the periods immediately thereafter, topics of review covered 21 points in total, from freedom of information, the selection and com-

position of elected and non-elected representatives at the national level, police reform and the overseeing of the civil service.

In all, Mr Catterwell rated the coup “about 7.5”. Throughout Thailand’s history, some coups needed to happen, he noted. “Of these, the eventual outcomes of some were good, others not so good. This coup needed to happen, but we have yet to see where it goes,” he said.

Asked after his presentation to offer an overall view of the progress made so far in creating the draft charter, and the confidence it might inspire, Mr Catterwell said that, in short, much has yet to be done.

“It would be most helpful to see a detailed master plan, or envisaged navigation routes towards a master plan, of what is envisaged,” he wrote in his notes.

“The Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) and the Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) are nowhere mentioned.”

And other sections, such as the freedom of information clause enshrined in the previous constitution, have yet to be introduced in the draft of the new one.

Yet, asked if the move was tending toward a more centralised or decentralised form of governance, Mr Catterwell said, “It’s moving toward decentralisation – it has to.”

Thai political analyst and coup expert Graham Catterwell.

Of serious concern was the provision allowing for a future prime minister to call for a “vote of confidence” and, if passed, leaving the head of the government unencumbered until at least the next session of parliament.

Similarly, the provision for the automatic passing of laws, under which that if a law were proposed and suffered no objection within a predefined period, the law would be passed without delay – posed another serious concern.

“If a bill is presented and there is no objection while people are

still debating it, then I would say to hold that law back until it has been discussed thoroughly and people were ready to vote on it, not pass it through,” Mr Catterwell explained.

“I have yet to hear if they have taken up this suggestion,” he added.

Of all the reforms, however, Mr Catterwell rated police reform a top priority, while calling for the ambit – and the budget -- of the National Counter-Corruption Commission to be expanded.

He also called for clearer definitions of responsibility and areas of accountability for ministers.

“This draft constitution adds little in terms of public oversight, audit or corruption investigation of the civil service as a whole. Much more effort needs to be exerted in this area,” Mr Catterwell noted.

“In this connection and taking a simplistic view, I sift coups in Thailand into two categories: “Power Struggle Coups” and “Fix it Coups”. The 2014 coup, in this interpretation, is Thailand’s fifth ‘fix it’ coup…

“My simple litmus test for whether the 2014 coup was successful or not is whether Thailand as a result ends up with an effective police force.

“Had the police force been effective and respected since about 2001, there would be no issue of reconciliation. If the Army would like to avoid future coups, kick start meaningful police reform right now. Law, Order and Justice are meaningless without an effective and respected police force.”

Suggestions for future topics of BCCT speaker events were solicited from those present at the event. Topics offered included tourism, taxation, the Labour Protection Act and the formation of the Asean Economic Community at the end of this year.

For more information or to ask about or offer suggestions for upcoming events, email greg@bcct.com

Thai carriers spared EU ban, but more hurdles lie ahead THE EXCLUSION OF THAIregistered carriers in the updated list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU is nothing to rejoice about.

The omission of Thai airlines in the European Commission’s June 25 release of the EU Air Safety List should not be interpreted as a lack of concern for the country’s aviation safety lapse, according to experts.

Thailand remains on the EU’s watch list for a possible ban after “significant safety concerns”, or SSCs, emerged from a February audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“We are not out of the woods yet despite the EU not listing us,” one Thai airline executive with knowledge of the issue commented.

THAI’s international network, which includes 12 European cities, has been subject to more frequent inspections at the relevant airports, particularly in relation to documents and records for aircraft maintenance and crew training.

According to THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira,

Thai Airways is the only Thai-registered airline with regular flights to Europe. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill “ramp checks” of the airline’s aircraft and crew have soared to 50 a month from no more than three during normal times.

The exclusion of Thairegistered airlines from the EU’s revised ban list has eased some pressure on Thailand, whose image was worsened by the ICAO’s June 18 move to red-flag the country after the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) failed to meet a 90-day deadline for corrective action.

That put Thailand in the spotlight over its shortcomings, joining the likes of Botswana, Haiti and Angola on the redflag list out of 187 nations whose aviation standards were audited.

The ICAO had given Thai-

land a yellow card after the country’s poor performance on the February audit.

Unlike the ICAO findings in relation to the DCA, the EU investigation is into Thai carriers rather than the regulator itself.

The EU’s findings are of utmost benefit to THAI, as the economic consequences of an EU blacklisting would have been severe, says Alan Polivnick of the international law firm Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Ltd. According to an industry executive, THAI’s European routes contribute about a fourth of the airline’s revenue, which stood at B204 billion last year.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Get ready for Fourth of July celebrations!

19

Uncovering food gems on Phi Phi

20

ACTING OUT

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

HeadStart kids shine in school’s 5th annual music, arts Celebration Day> Page 17

@thephuketnews

16 EDUCATION

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

The Shining Stars of Kamala Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

S

hining Stars school in Kamala was opened in 2008 by Christine Reilly and Lee Feekins. It is now run by Christine and her husband James Geary, who both direct and teach in the school.

The Phuket News recently visited the school to find out what makes this school unique.

Prior to Shining Stars, Christine was working in the Swedish community in Phuket helping with an English programme, however, she then looked at opening up a small school which quickly expanded within months.

Christine blends her professional

Christine Reilly and husband James Geary

knowledge as an artist and a nurse, together with her beliefs that children should be empowered to become creative, caring citizens of the world.

James brings formal learning, Ph.D in Education, and a commitment to self and oneness into his teaching. His strong love of words and books, combined with his meditative practices, allows him to share with the children a greater focus and clarity.

Christine tells of how she wanted to open something that was affordable, homely and community orientated. The school is a large house with a number of classrooms. The large outside area, including an attractive covered art area makes it ideal for children to express themselves.

The school provides an English-language education for students aged two to seven, and over the years literacy is a strong focal point at the school.

“We hope and aim for the children to learn to read before they eventually leave, but naturally they do it when they are ready.”

“I teach kids to be respectful of where they are, who they are and who they are with. That has never changed, and over the years, has been tapping into how we present ourselves, both in public and private time,” Christine explains.

“It’s all about balancing behaviour.

When we are in a group, how do we respectfully listen and actively support

someone else, even if it’s not what we want to do.

“In the smallest nutshell, that’s our philosophy. Having the kids being aware of their own bodies, the words they use, and where they are in the world.”

The teachers do meditation, art, and yoga with the children, allowing them to understand the importance of transitioning from place to place.

“We believe the building of the self and connecting to others is important,” explains Christine.

Going forward, the school will be introducing a yoga programme led by Nikki Bonus. She is a yoga instructor from Sydney, who’s been coming to Phuket for over 10 years.

She focuses on yoga for kids and became interested in how they respond and adapt, and how to make it educational. Nikki’s programme is now called the Life Skills Group, where yoga is a large part of it, however it also focuses on how you deal with your own emotions, as well as dealing with others around you. The school’s plan is to implement the programme into the curriculum. The children will keep journals, and eventually the staff hope to see how and if yoga affects groups dynamics and the children’s development.

The incorporation of this programme also compliments Christine’s nursing experience. She can confidently concentrate on how the children feel,

both physically and emotionally.

“It will be great to see how the programme changes art, teaching, and how it affects the kids and how they react,” James explains.

The school’s reputation is largely based on word of mouth, which is a true testament to how successful the school has become. The teachers are charismatic and genuinely enjoy teaching and watching kids grow and learn.

Indeed, what is clear is that Christine and James’ priority are the children. They understand how to communicate with children of all ages. They place a high emphasis on the arts. It is evident that their success comes from a number of years of learning what’s best.

Kajonkiet Intl summer sessions

F

or many of the island’s international school students, summer is upon us, but that’s no reason to sulk at home in front of the TV. Kajonkiet International School (KIS) Phuket has just announced its exciting new Summer Camp programme. Starting from July 6, the programme will run for three weeks and this year promises to be bigger and better than previous years.

It will run Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3.30pm.

Due to popular demand, there will be separate programs for four different year groups; Pre Nursery to Reception, Year 1 to 2, Year 3 to 6 & Year 7 to 8.

For the older children,

summer days will be fun filled with art classes, numerous sports activities as well as learning programs for English, Maths, Thai and even Chinese.

For the younger ones, there will be a daily story time and plenty of play hours, as well as fun art.

Years 3-8 will be treated to an action packed field trip to the “Jungle Extreme Adventure” park.

Prices for Early Years are B15,000 and Primary to Secondary; B20,000.

KIS pride themselves on fully inclusive school programmes and with this in mind, the Summer Camp charges include lunch and snack breaks.

The KIS minibus can be booked for school pickups

and drop-offs during this programme. The new KIS campus boasts an undercover swimming pool, football pitch and basketball court and this August, KIS will offer the Year 10 IGCSE in 26 subjects.

Students will be able to sit the University of Cambridge International Exams.

New facilities have been purposely built for this course including a Science Lab, Computer Suite, Art Studio, Design Tech Room and Drama /Music Studio.

The Summer Camp Programme has limited numbers. To reserve your child’s place, please call K IS on 0 8 9 6 52 759 9 or vi sit th eir website; www.kisphuket.co.th thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 17

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

HeadStart shines in music and art

O

n June 27, HeadStart commemorated their 5th annual Music and Arts Celebration Day. The event directed by Ms Jackie and Ms Jody, and coordinated by Miki Edouard, brought together students from all key stages, in an explosion of colours and sounds.

Over 1,000 people walked into a land of fairy tales, the theme for this year’s celebration.

The costumes, the sets, the props, the paintings, all designed by students and teachers of HeadStart, transformed the event venue Simon Star into an enchanted storybook.

This year’s celebration was particularly special as Year 7s and Bridging Courses performed as a class for the first time, officially introducing Key Stage 3 to the stage.

This year Ms Jackie wanted to write a show that had a strong message to

those who came.

Once Upon a Time is a collection of fables and fairy tales told through Roald Dahl’s Matilda’s point of view. As she recreates these well-known children stories, she discovers that her favourite heroes are victims of their own fate.

They are cheated, tormented, beaten and persecuted by evildoers. After a few close encounters, she decides to fight back.

With her magic powers, she leads her class into a rebellion that will once and for all free them from Ms Trunchbull’s reign of terror. And with that, she changes her story and gets her happy ending.

With the help of acting coach Joel Adams and choreographer Fabienne Mester, this production was HeadStart’s best yet.

Furthermore, the up and coming Creative Arts Department in the school’s new facility to open in August,

promises mind-blowing productions in the years to come.

For more information go to our Facebook page and website for pictures and video links, or email info@headstartphuket. com or call 076-612876.

Quality Schools International Phuket Quality Schools International is a well-established worldwide network of successful schools.

***

Education Min to lessen O-NET tests

T

he M i n ist r y of Education has announced its decision to lessen the number of Ordinary National Education Test (O-NET) subjects, as one of its educational reforms.

According to PM Office Deputy Spokesperson Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the number of required subjects for ONET exams will be reduced to five from eight, @thephuketnews

starting this year. The new rule applies to Grade 6 to Grade 12 students.

The five subjects that remain on the O-NET list are mathematics, science, English, Thai, and social, religious and cultural studies.

Tests on health education, physical education and arts will be removed from the ONET programme. However, students are still required to take tests on the three subjects

at school.

Col Sansern explained that the move was intended to change the country’s educational system into a qualityfocused one.

The scheme is expected to help relieve pressure on students, thus enabling them to spend more time with their families and to develop their skills and potential through non-academic activities.

NNT

We give students the opportunity to become deep thinkers, problem solvers and responsible citizens in today’s global community.

WHAT MAKES US A QUALITY SCHOOL? • BEST STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO ON THE ISLAND • AMERICAN CURRICULUM • OVER 20 NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED • SERVING AGES 3 TO 18 • EXPERIENCED AND FULLY LICENSED TEACHERS • INTENSIVE ENGLISH (ESL) SERVICES 076-304-312

qsi.org

Quality Schools International

81/4 Chalermprakiat R. 9 Road, Soi Teepaksong, T. Kathu, A. Kathu, Phuket 83120

18 HEALTH

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Back up your posture with yoga Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com

It is also great for the lifelong pursuit of countering the shoulder hunch we humans create each day.

Kim White is the owner of Sala Samadhi. She offers authentic Hatha yoga instruction for private and group sessions. Contact: www. mindbodyyogasystem. com or 086 276 9174.

The opinions and advice contained in this column are those of the author only. The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any situation.

H

ello fellow yogis.

So I had the pleasure of going on my first road trip last week. I travelled from Phuket to Hua Hin and it got me thinking. We all know that we have to stop, rest and revive to survive while driving on the roads every few hours. What we should also be doing is a stretch stop to help with the stiffness of long term sitting.

So this month we are talking stretch stop yoga poses. A yoga asana that is comprehensive enough to give you an all round body rest in one quick movement! I have chosen to share anuvittasana also known as standing backbend.

I love this road trip yoga pose so much, I thought I would share the yoga love and rest stop snapshots of my intermittent anuvittasanas during my own road trip to Hua Hin last week.

We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world and road trips are breathtaking! Why not let your body enjoy the drive too.

This asana is : A great heart opener Lengthens and extends the spine Improves alignment of the spine; improving posture and increasing mobility of the spine Reverses the “hunched” over position that we spend a lot of time in during the day (computers/driving/working) Stretches the entire front body, specifically feet, ankles, thighs, groins, and hip flexors Opens the chest, neck and lungs

1

2

Strengthens the abdominal muscles, back muscles, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, thighs, and buttocks Strengthens the respiratory, cardiovascular and endocrine systems Stabilises the feet Stimulates digestion and aids in circulation Can be therapeutic for mild cases of sciatica, asthma, and osteoporosis Therapeutic for flat fleet Can relieve constipation, menstrual discomfort and menopause symptoms Increases stamina, energises, and rejuvenates Improves concentration, focus, willpower, and mental clarity Relieves, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Follow these steps to feel an overall body shine!

Stand tall and upright, feet hip width apart and your chin tucked into your chest Place your hands on your hip bones and push your hands firmly downward on your hips

Take a deep inhale, lift your chest and expand upward. Pull your diaphragme inward towards your spine – keep it lifted Push your hips forward with the help of your hands. Creating an arc effect from hips to chest Exhale and roll your shoulders down your back Tongue on the roof of the mouth as you release your head back to look upward Hold for five breaths and then inhale as you bring your head back to centre. I have two photos – photo one is the beginner asana and photo two is anuvittasana.

I have to point out here that this asana is not a backbend but rather a push forward and stretch of the hip flexor. Please maintain a long extended spine.

This is a great asana for the road trip rest stops but it doesn’t end there. It is also great for the lifelong pursuit of countering the shoulder hunch we humans create each day.

Enjoy!

Happy stretching Metta, kim xoxo

Rejuvenate yourself with Oasis Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

A

fter a long week, what better way to relax and unwind than with a refreshing facial or spa treatment.

Oasis Spa, a new spa which has just opened up in Cherng Talay, concentrates on the essence of healing and recovery using various methods.

Each customer receives their own private consultation where they can choose which treatment they would like to have. The team of experienced and friendly staff will then choose the desired package from the menu to ensure the customer is happy.

The Phuket News recently went to check out the spa’s menu which includes many varied and unique treatments, including using cold steam for cooling down the skin, ultra sonic treatment to improve cell metabolism, steaming with hot ozone to open the skin pores, as well as many more.

This spa is different to most around Phuket as they tailor towards cleansing the face, rather than massages and nails etc. Most of the treatments last around an hour or more, but the customer can request the consultant to spend extra time on any pressure points, injuries etc.

The basic package includes removing makeup, application of coconut oil to smooth the skin, steaming the face with hot ozone to open the skin pores, facial soft scrub and cleansing, application of skin type mask and cream, using cold

steam to cool down the skin, application of a special cream to relax the skin after treatment, as well as application of light makeup.

Other packages include sonic treatment, high frequency treatment for skin rejuvenation, vacuum mashing, and anti-wrinkle treatment. The customer can lay there and relax, while they have their hands and arms massaged.

Whatever the customer needs, they are guaranteed to leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated.

For more information, call 07661572. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

COMMUNITY 19

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

A few words from one of the island’s own...

Brad Kenny - US Expat now re-

sided in Thailand for 25 years and in Phuket for the last 16 years.

What does the day mean to you?

The American Independence day on July 4th means family and friends, BBQ, beer, and of course fireworks!

How will you be celebrating?

I’ll spend the 4th of July in Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province with my son and 40 other Americans from Salt Lake City that flew to Thailand to help the Rotary Club of Patong Beach with a Community Service Project at a Burmese Migrant Workers School making the lives of a couple hundred children better.

Then that evening we will relax and have a BBQ on the beach with fireworks! What could be better?

Americans go Fourth

T

o all the American expats on the island and anyone else who may be celebrating, The Phuket News wishes you all a happy Independence Day! Commonly known as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, it is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, food and traditions of the United States of America.

There are many fabulous parties this weekend in honor of this year’s Fourth of July. Be sure to check out the biggest Independence Day party which is happening at Friendship Beach Waterfront Restaurant in the southern part of Rawai.

For B790 (B395 for kids under 12), enjoy a welcome

drink, traditional BBQ buffet dinner with ribs, salmon, hot dogs, southern fried chicken, burgers, salads, desserts and much more. DJ Bobby will be playing all night until the fireworks display in the evening. For bookings call 089 728 5304.

HeadStart kids pay respects to the elderly

H

eadStart International School’s final Thai Culture Club for this academic year was a great success.

Early years, reception and Year 1 joined in Thai theatre where they had lots of fun playing Thai games, while Year 2-7 students had the opportunity to visit the Nursing Home in Pa Khlok.

The school provided lots of activities for the elderly and had a good time with them. The students showed remarkable behaviour and had superb manners. The students learned that they should value all ages in their family, from the very young to the very old.

They also learned how to interact with people different than themselves and to take responsibility for the elderly.

@thephuketnews

20 DINING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Unni’s world food tour

Uncovering one of Phi Phi’s hidden culinary gems Dalia Hilmi editor1@classactmedia.co.th

The menu takes diners on a global tour.

H

idden away on the paradise island of Koh Phi Phi lies the glorious Unni’s restaurant.

Having spent a few months living on this famed island, I am confident in saying that this shines amongst the rest.

The Scandinavian restaurant is run by a group of friendly, attentive staff always there to greet you with a smile.

Located conveniently in the centre of town, it is an intimate and cosy space filled with plenty of seats on the decking area, perfect for an afternoon cocktail.

I recently headed back to my old stomping grounds and sampled their latest specials. But before we indulged in the delightful array of food, we ordered a giant bucket of sangria to enjoy for the evening. Made specially by the head barman Philip Osman, it’s a treat filled with tropical fruits.

The menu takes diners on a global tour. Given the Scandinavian background, one of the classics is the delicious Swedish meatballs, served with mashed potato, gravy, and lingonberry sauce. It’s absolutely

divine.

The menu also slants towards steaks and burgers, but also features Grecian favourites such as tzatziki, served with warm homemade focaccia bread, olives and feta cheese. And there is a selection of authentic popular Thai dishes.

If those doesn’t tickle your fancy, indulge in some of the Mexican delights, such as chicken quesadillas, burritos or fajitas. But no matter where the kitchen travels, the chefs deliver.

My personal favourites are the huge choice of salads and pasta. They are each a generous portion size, made with original dressings, and served with homemade focaccia bread.

First up, the table shares some starters that confirm the restaurant’s dedication to quality local and imported ingredients.

The avocado and feta brushetta is made up of garlic bread topped with avocado salsa and feta cheese. Trust me when I say you’d only want to eat this version of brushetta from now on.

It’s certainly the perfect starter to get your taste buds flowing.

Following this, we order the mains.

The peri peri chicken tortillas dish from the specials menu was by far one of the best meals I have eaten there.

Soft tortillas topped with grilled chicken breasts, a homemade peri peri sauce, fresh salad, and served with roasted soft wedges. Order some avocado with it and you’ll be in for a treat.

The dish is packed with flavours.

And as always, it’s in the balance, that happy medium from the avocado and salad, the kick from the peri peri sauce and the woody hum of the fresh thyme in the wedges, which all complement the heavenly grilled chicken breasts.

The star of the show lay within the outrageously tempting dessert menu.

A softly toasted Belgian waffle, served with heavenly vanilla ice cream on top.

On the side were two pots: chocolate sauce, and berry compote. It wasn’t too sweet or rich, just the perfect combination of savoury and sweet. Exactly what a waffle should be.

Other equally tasty options include cheesecake, brownies and more.

The consistency carried through the next day where brunch classics are thoughtfully and expertly executed, including homemade bagels with a number of fillings (think classic philly cream cheese, ham and cheese); traditional English breakfast; as well omelettes and Scandinavian toast. I ordered a yummy omelette filled with onions, tomatoes and peppers, with a serving of (as you can probably guess) avocado. A lovely little meal to start the day, and you’re not left feeling bloated due to the healthy choice of no carbs.

It’s this attention to detail and level of passion from all the chefs and the whole team that make Unni’s such a cracking find.

For the world on a plate – beautifully delivered – head there.

From the exceptional service and warm friendly staff, to the quality fresh ingredients, Unni’s is definitely the gem of the island. And it’s no wonder tourists and locals keep going back for more. With really reasonably priced meals, a generous selection of cuisines, and a classic cocktail menu, why wouldn’t you eat there?

For more information, visit facebook.com/unnis. phiphi

From clockwise: Avocado and feta brushetta starter; peri peri chicken tortillas main; omelette and avocado breakfast; chicken and avocado smash salad.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ENVIRONMENT 21

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Planting for the future HOLISTIC HAPPINESS

Barry Anderson

Support your local organic farmer friends in season and boycott all GMOs found in the processed food industry.

I

often have to wonder, why are we not saving our organic open pollinated heirloom seeds any more? Why are we so complacent with nature and feel that we can live just fine without her as we have technology on our side to get us through all of this?

Why is it that scientists today are in such a rush to develop bio technologies, manipulate our already-broken food supply and do away with our last remaining indigenous seeds left to us by our forefathers?

Please tell the Good Earth Chef what good will come out of all this? Without seeds to grow flowers how can we live without our pollinating bee and butterfly population?

How does not saving organic seeds benefit human kind?

How can we do this to future generations of our children’s children and sleep well knowing that all of us will be gone from this good earth anyway and that will in the end start the healing process with or without us?

Where is this all going and what can you do about it: 1. Support your local organic farmer friends in season and boycott all GMOs found in the processed food industry, including all conventional dairy and meats.

2. Learn to protect your good health by making an organic wholeperishable-foodplant-based transition over to real foods that our forefathers before us enjoyed in their lifetime.

@thephuketnews

3. Boycott all chemical products that go into and onto your body, and on your clothes and in your furniture, and yes, bed as well.

Replace all of this stuff with earth-friendly, organic, biodegradable safe products and you can learn to make much of it yourself from Youtube. Just invest in your life everyday of every year and you will be OK at the end of this path.

4. Question everything and become freethinking and always perform your good due diligence before you put that fork or spoonfull of food into your mouth and body. You have a given right to know what our food suppliers are doing to your food and this information must never be undisclosed but it is unfortunately, today. You are responsible for your own health and not them.

5. Learn to connect more with nature again so intimately that it becomes part of your own life, and learn to love all life unconditionally and to have more compassion for this good earth. You will be glad that you did in the end my friend.

6. Learn to live in the present always, and to not bring needless suffering to yourself by living in the past or future. Learn to adapt to your challenges as this tells you that you are still alive. Some things are not going to go as you always want it to be so let it go. Humans have over complicated their lives by not saving seed and by turning their backs on nature with such arrogance. Wild life just lives on to survive to the next season. A seed planted today is a tree tomorrow. Holistic Chef Barry's moringa tree from one seed is two stories high after planting the seed just three years ago. One Moringa tree from one seed will provide leafy greens for my whole Thai family and more for the rest of our lives. Our coconut tree of 10 years old is providing 100 coconuts every year for the family. A coconut is really a seed, one of the largest in the world. Unquestionably, an excellent return on investment just by working with nature.

7. We have chosen a path that benefits the few with our purchasing power so in effect we are also to blame for this situation that we have gotten ourselves in. Our food supply only reflects on what people are willing to buy. When buying your organic produce, do not sentence the seeds to the landfill or incinerator. Instead give your seeds a chance to grow into food for your good earth

kitchen table.

Now here are some tips/guidelines on how to germinate your seeds for sprouting into living foods.

A First clean the seeds in water by rinsing them clean of debris, then soak the seeds in a glass or ceramic bowl with the water level about two inches above the surface of the seed line.

Soak them for about 8 to 12 hours overnight.

B First thing in the morning, rinse and discard the water that contains the enzyme inhibitors. Enough rinsing until the water is clear when you cover the seeds in a bowl.

C Then air dry the seeds in darkness using a sprouting jar, a strainer basket or a clean cloth towel by folding the material around your living foods like a burrito loosely called the mat method.

D The following day continue with a water mist or plant your germinating seeds in organic potting soil or your garden to grow into living organic sprouts.

E For the saved seeds they keep well in envelope packets in your refrigerator for storage. Make sure to write the date and the seeds’ name on the envelope.

Holistic Chef Barry aka Barry Anderson worked in the Cartoon Animation Industry professionally for 20 years all around the world and found himself becoming obese. Chef Barry learned the culinary arts of working with foods from nature and managed to drop more than 100 pounds of excess weight from his 5 Food 4 inch body frame. The next 20 years Barry conducted intensive research of the weight loss industry, our current food supply system, the environment, social issues and natural health with fitness and longevity living. Barry has lived with his Thai Family at the Garden Villa Phuket Good Earth Health Residence in Chalong for the last 20 years.

For more extras, beautifully illustrated are 365 plus Weight Loss and Longevity Recipes including more than 50 Natural Health articles, photographed and written by Holistic Chef Barry himself. All recipes are Gluten Free and and use natural whole food plant based recipes that our forefathers before us have enjoyed for thousands of years. You can Visit Chef Barry’s page here at flic.kr/ps/QgogH

22 ISLAND SCENE

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Asia Center Foundation’s Amornrat & Patadorn Kaewpradit, and Roelin Muller.

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE The Ultimate Challenge took place on Sunday (June 28), an event which saw two of the best local sporting fraternaties (cricket and rugby) take each other on at their own sports.

David Thomas and Grant Olsen .

(From left) Brett Pentland - Smith, Anthony Van Blerk, and Andrew McMillan.

PCG Chairman Anthony Van Blerk with IPL and ex-India cricket international player, Balaji .

THE 4TH BCCT BUSINESS DINNER From left: Chris Thatcher – Vice-Chairman (BCCT); Graham Catterwell – Speaker; Greg Watkins – Executive Director (BCCT); and Pierre-Andre Pelletier – Vice President & Area General Manager, South Thailand (Amari Phuket).

The 4th British Chamber of Commerce of Thailand (BCCT) business dinner drew an eclectic crowd of attendees to hear firsthand from expert speaker Graham Catterwell the latest updates on the drafting of the new Constitution at the Amari Phuket resort in Patong on June 25.

CELEBRATING IN STYLE Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket were delighted to host Anna Abbona, owner of the prestigious Langhe brand: “Marchesi di Barolo”, on Friday June 26.

(From left) Frank Grassmann, GM The Naiharn; Michael Wenk Hotel Manager Mövenpick Bangtao; Anna Abbona, owner Marchesi di Barolo; Tobias Lauinger, GM Black Forest Distribution; Alvise Lunardi, Export Director Marchesi di Barolo. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 23

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, Wyndham Sea Pearl

Kobkarn Suriyasat Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sport

SEA PEARL CELEBRATE Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket held its grand opening ceremony on June 25, and was attended by three Ministers, including Sommai Phasee, Minister of Finance; Kobkarn Suriyasat Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sport; Dr Pornchai Rujiprapa, Minister of ICT. The honourable guests were warmly welcomed by Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific and Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim, and Sumit Soontornnont, Sea Pearl Business President.

Sumit Soontornnont, Sea Pearl Business President

(From left) Barry Robinson, Kobkarn Suriyasat Wattanavrangkul, Sommai Phasee, Dr Pornchai Rujiprapa, Sumit Soontornnont

Dr Pornchai Rujiprapa, Minister of ICT

PHUKET FC AND POLICE UTD IN LEAGUE MATCH Thousands of fans turned out to cheer on Phuket FC in their league match with Police United last Sunday (June 28) at Surakul Stadium. For match details, see sports pages.

@thephuketnews

24 EVENTS

FRI

3 JULY

Friday Night Movie On The Terrace: Jurasic Park Kata Rocks is setting up a giant outdoor movie theatre on its poolside terrace how cool is that? On every first Friday of every month at 7:00pm.There’s comfy seating under the stars from 250 baht (depending on seating tier, F&B not included), homemade cinema popcorns, gourmet hot dogs, nachos, ice cream and refreshing drinks. Kata Rocks ‘Movies on the Terrace’ will become a Phuket favourite that features classic cult films on the first Friday of every month. Contact dining@katarocks.com or 076 370 777 for complete details.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar The competition at 9pm Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong.

See map at www.expathotel.com

For THB 499/- nett.

All you can eat

Indian Curry Night on Fridays Come to Navrang Mahal in Karon Sea Sands Resort & Spa for an authentic Indian Feast every Friday in Karon Beach.

Try out our delicious naans, mutton vindaloo, chicken tandoori, dal makhini, butter chicken, samosas, lassis and many more mouth-watering dishes. For only B499 and special reduced prices on drinks, 076-286464 Ext 4.

Independence Day(July 4TH) Party@Friendship Beach Resort

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach

Celebrate Independence Day(July 4TH)@ Friendship Beach Resort Rawai. Traditional B.B.Q. Buffet Featuring Award Winning Ribs, Salmon Filet, Southern Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Thai Dishes, Salads, Desserts and Sides. Welcome Drink Included.

Party and Dance with D.J. BobbyD. Watch the Fireworks from our Waterfront Restuarant and Bar. Adults 790++ Kids (under 12) 350++. Bookings call 089 728 5304, chef@friendshipbeach.com, Phone: 089 728 5304, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap, Rawai Phuket 83130.

Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B320 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See otools-phuket.com

Amazing Sunday Brunch

Bollywood Phuket’s Weekend Special Indian Lunch Set

FRIDAYS WINE & TAPAS White & Wet Foam Party at Centra Ashlee Patong From 6pm to midnight. White Attire Encouraged. 500THB include 2 drinks. Buy 1 bottle of selected beverages @2500THB net + free entrance tickets, saleschp@ chr.co.th, 081 171 0143

Imagine yourself sitting 50 metres above sea level and gazing out over an amazing sunset while sipping on a Ginger & Lemongrass Martini and enjoying the unique sophisticated city lifestyle ambiance of Phuket.

Every Friday ‘All you can Eat’ Tapas, with free flow of selected beverages at B1,390 net from 7 – 10pm. Get 30 per cent discount on selected beverages from 5.30-6.30pm everyday. Located at Vanilla Sky Bar, Cape Sienna Hotel, Kamala 076-337300.

SAT

4 JULY

Traditional Muay Thai Training at Sumalee Boxing Gym Join Team Sumalee in Thalang for group Muay Thai training twice a day, six days a week. Whether you want to start your journey to fitness, prepare for a fight, or simply want to try something new, our team can help you achieve your goals. The camp features a fully equipped outdoor Muay Thai gym, air-conditioned fitness studio, 14 luxurious rooms, swimming pool, Ringside restaurant, all on-site. info@sumaleeboxinggym.com, 088-017-3020.

Mussels night @ Shaker 1.2 Kg mussels served with French Fries Your choice, Your style: Nature, mariniere, provencale, garlic & cream or Thai style Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Come and enjoy the authentic flavors of India by indulging in our weekend’s special lunch set for only 399+ ThB per person between 11am-3pm. Menu includes 3 starters, 1 Roti/Naan, 1 Rice dish, 1 portion Lentils, 2 Curries, and a Dessert served with Indian tea (of your choice)!

All for just 399+ THB per person For more info please call 076 304 034.

Nikki Beach Phuket’s world famous Amazing Sunday Brunch is simply a must, showcasing the talents of the culinary team by offering guests more than 50 favourites from around the world. Come for a day of nonstop entertainment with international Dj, acrobats, energy dancers and Nikki Beach signature Sunset Sessions Fire Show at 7pm. Brunch buffet is available from 12am till 4pm with celebration until sunset. The price is 1,700 THB for adults and 850 THB net for children, Reservations, eservations. phuket@nikkibeach.com, 076-681-161.

BBQ at Expat Hotel Time 8pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsportsbar.com

SUN

5 JULY

Sunday Roast at Gallery Cafe by Pinky

Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Phuket Every Sunday enjoy a wide selection of Thai delicacies during the Thai Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket - Surin Beach. Various action stations, extensive salad bar, tropical fresh fruits, plenty of desserts and unlimited soft drinks, coffee and tea for only THB 350 net per person. Children aged 7-12 at THB 175 net. This includes free access to our swimming facilities! 076 303 300.

Every Sunday. Follow and #pinkygallerycafe on instagram to get 10% off. More info contact Pinky at 089 103 700.

Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Every Saturday night, Num Noi Singpatong, the head trainer and owner of Singpatong + Sitnumnoi gym in Patong Beach, hosts an elite fight series “Suk Singpatong + Sitnumnoi Saturday fight night” at Patong Boxing Stadium (Sai Nam Yen Road), where top international and Thai fighters compete. Visit pattongboxingstadium. com for more info. Contact 087 628 2719.

Proudly supported by Class Act Media.

Remark: Free transportation in Patong, Karon, Kata areas when requested in advance.

CASUAL BBQ SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POOL BAR AT HYATT REGENCY All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Fried mushrooms, Grilled Tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes – Gravey, Mushroom sauce, Mint Sauce. Reservation Recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Enjoy our sumptuous brunch featuring a lavish spread of international delicacies with a variety of live stations, roasts, a casual seafood BBQ, freshly shucked Fin de Claire oysters, a pasta station, wood-fired pizzas and a children’s food corner plus our free flow selected beverage stations. With pool access and a Camp Hyatt kids club, starting at 1,500++ THB per person. For more details and reservations, call 076 231 516 fnb.phuhp@hyatt.com

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EVENTS 25

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

MON

6 JULY

SAT

11 JULY

All you can eat BBQ night 6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes & Sauces, Bread, Buns & garlic bread Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

TUE

7 JULY

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato salad & choice of sauces. Reservation recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

Pinot Noir and Tapas Tasting on Sunday 5th July Come down to Kata Rocks Bar from 6pm -7pm for a complimentary glass of Pinot Noir from Schubert Winery, New Zealand, and some delicious Mediterranean tapas created by our own chefs.

The evening will also provide a fantastic opportunity to meet Kai Schubert, the founder of the internationally renowned Schubert label, who will be in attendance to greet guests and introduce his awardwinning Pinot Noir label.

THU

9 JULY

Multihull Solutions Regatta Phuket 2015 2015 is the second year that Multihull Solutions is naming rights and major sponsor of the Multihull Solutions Regatta in Phuket.

This regatta is an Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) event. You too can join this “multihull only” event for three days of exciting racing and serious fun on and off the water.

The fees to enter are modest, the scenery spectacular and the camaraderie is like no other! For registration and more information visit: http://www.multihullsolutions. com.au/events/multihull-solutions-regattaphuket-2015/

@thephuketnews

Phuket FC vs Angthong FC At Surakul Stadium., Starts at 7 pm., Proudly supported by Class Act Media.

SUN

12 JULY

2015/2016 PGFC Sunday Freshwater Fishing Trips 2015/2016 PGFC Sunday Freshwater Fishing Trips at Exotic Fishing Thailand, Phang Nga. This event is on the second Sunday of every month. You can join us for a great fishing, great fun, and great food with good friends. Contact: Mr. Mike Bailey, Phuket Game Fishing Club, 088 379 9377, www. exoticfishingthailand.com, exoticfishingthailand@gmail.com

THU

23 JULY

Phuket and Andaman region for construction tools and materials, architectural design and décor items, including a wide range of products and technology.

Moreover, there will be seminars by three investment gurus, Mr Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks Company Limited; Mr Sam Sethi, Founding member of the Phuket Real Estate Association (PREA) and Mr Ian Spurdle, Director of Sales and Marketing for Luxury Properties at RPM. Tickets 400 Baht include coffee break. Booking at seminar@picphuket.com, 088 751 3569. Proudly Support by The Phuket News

SUN

26 JULY

PGFC Last Sunday of the Month Fishing Trip Let’s go fishing on Queen Marlin at Racha Yai/Noi island. Great value half price only 3,000 Baht per angler, Max 5 anglers per trip. Please contact Captain “Zow” Wilson via, zow52@yahoo.co.uk or Mobile Phone 0813677765.

EVERYDAY

Thai Cooking Class at Bubbles Restaurant Description: Refresh your culinary skills and discover an authentic Thai local experience by learning how to cook the local dishes, exploring a unique Fisherman’s market and enjoying lots of delightful recipes and cooking tips along the way. There are 2 packages to choose from, haft-day & full-day, start from THB 2,000/person. Please call or 076 231 999 or h8109@accor.com

KATA HOT YOGA FOR EVERYBODY Architect & Engineering Exhibition 2015 The best exhibition in Phuket and Andaman coastline for construction tools and materials and architectural design & décor items comprising a wide range of products and technology. Phuket, Phang Nga, Karbi and other provinces in Andaman region are the fastest recovering area after the world financial crisis. With the Thai government injecting huge amounts to promote the tourism industry, not only the growth of hotel and tourism sector, but also other projects are under construction today including luxury housing projects, yacht marina, national convention center and shopping centers. More information please visit www.pic-phuket.com or info@pic-phuket. com, proudly support by The Phuket News.

Early Bird Special @ El Gaucho Brazilian Grill The all-you-can-eat churrasco extravaganza at El Gaucho begins with a sumptuous salad buffet. The treat doesn’t end until you wave the white flag to say ‘‘No more!’’ In between, a squadron of skewer-wielding chefs will dazzle you with a procession of succulent barbecue cuts delivered straight to your plate. With a special offer to early birds, start your dinner between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm, and pay only THB 900++* for the unlimited churrasco grill with salad buffet, Karon Beach Square, Karon Beach, 076 396 139, Saranya.Buntem@moevenpick.com

KATA HOT YOGA

GRILLED MAINE LOBSTER @KATA ROCKS Seminar ‘ Phuket now and future’ by 3 investment gurus Welcome to the best exhibition in the

Open every day, 3 classes daily: 9 a.m in the morning, then 5.15 p.m afternoon and 7.15 p.m evening. Men and women all ages, just come, you will love it. work out and stretch. Tone your muscles, lose fat, get in shape, and feel good. See you in yoga class soon. Address : 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950, www.katahotyoga.com

Kata Rocks is offering an exclusive selection of grilled Maine Lobster (THB880++) menu that will dazzle your taste buds at luch or dinner.

Now 3 classes daily. 9am then 5:15pm and 7:15pm classes are 90 minutes. Kata Yoga the most popular yoga in Phuket for men and women. It is the best work out ever, getting strong and flexible, full of vitality, It will make you very happy, and it shows, you will walk with a big smile on your face, feeling good. Open everyday, right at the beach, Kata Beach, You got to try, warning: very addictive, once you start you keep coming, you never want to stop, 217 khoktanod road kata beach phuket 83100, 076 605 950, www.katahotyoga.com

26 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York Across 1. Iberia is the national airline of which country?

2. Percy Shaw invented which road safety feature?

3. What is the highest rank available in the British Army?

4. Swedish pop band ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with which song?

5. How many people served as presidents of the United States before Barack Hussein Obama II took office in 2009?

Answers below, centre.

SUDOKU

29. St. Anthony, notably 1. Contemptible 30. Allots, with “out” person 31. “___ the glad 5. Goya, for one waters of the 11. Rice University dark blue sea”: mascot Byron 14. Asian buffalo 36. Shake 15. News office 16. Chinese dynasty 37. Calendar abbr.

17. Nothing left 38. Goblet feature but Smokey’s Down 39. Blackens skeleton?

40. Skiers’ aid 20. Charge carrier 1. Large amount of 21. One of a couple 41. Letter after theta money 22. It’s overhead 2. Japanese hatchet 43. Hilly country 23. Place 3. Donnybrook 45. Trios 26. Eats 4. Crackpot 46. Most immense 27. Camera diaphragm 5. Black, to Blake 47. Greek deity 28. Bullwinkle for 6. Butter holder dessert?

7. Reduce to ashes 48. Parting words 32. Coffee ___ 49. Break down 8. Final transport 33. Half and half 9. Canal sites 50. Close-knit group 34. Migratory fish 10. Irritation 54. Somewhat, in 35. “___ Sally” 11. One side music 38. Final parts of in baseball operas 55. Hymn of praise: negotiations 42. Parisian way var.

12. Twerp 43. Indian tongue 13. Catalogs 57. Moose ___, 44. ___ system 18. Foofaraw Saskatchewan 45. Templeton’s fruit? 19. Jim Palmer, 58. Fish story 50. Buddy notably 59. Outback runner 51. Blight victim 23. Pond gunk 52. Iraqi port 24. Like some traffic 60. Barbecue offering 53. Jason’s ship 25. Long stretches 61. Hog heaven?

26. Suspend 54. Elhi org.

55. Photo 56. Missives to Bambi?

62. Matter for a judge 63. Ennui 64. Cut 65. Founded: Abbr.

66. Decline 67. Keeler

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Spain; 2. Cat’s eyes; 3. Field Marshall; 4. Waterloo; 5. 43.

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history ■■ July 3, 987 AD

Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792.

8

per cent of Americans who suffer a cardiac arrest away from hospital will survive.

■■ July 4, 1803

33

■■ July 5, 1946

The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people.

The bikini goes on sale after debuting during an outdoor fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris, France.

inches tall is the height of the world’s shortest escalator, which has only 5 steps.

140

■■ July 6, 1885

Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.

hostages were taken by pirates worldwide in the first three months of this year.

6,000

■■ July 7, 1928

Sliced bread is sold for the first time (on the inventor’s 48th birthday) by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri.

years old is the age of the Sunland Baobab tree in South Africa that has served as a pub since 1933.

$2.4 billion

dollars is how much Americans will spend on flowers this Mother’s Day. Source: Uberfacts

“Anna Paola bikini”

by Shameless Charlotte - Flickr

■■ July 8, 2014

Brazil loses 1-7 to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final.

The event is known as Mineirazo, evoking a spirit of national shame.

■■ July 9, 869

Yanui Beach before the Asian Tsunami struck in 2004. Photo by Micahel Archer Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to editor1@classactmedia.co.th

A magnitude 8.6 earthquake and subsequent tsunami strikes the area around Sendai in the northern part of Honshu, Japan.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

PROPERTY 27

28 PROPERTY

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

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CLASSIFIEDS 29

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

DESIGN AND MARKETING

MARINE SERVICES

HOME DECORATION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

TRAINING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SECURITY

STORAGE

IDENTITY & GRAPHIC DESIGN +66 76 226 464

www.LIME.asia

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

 Sizes to Suit all Budgets  Personal & Business Storage  Motorcycle Storage  Left Luggage Service  We Sell Boxes  Storage Insurance Inclusive

Secure, Clean & Cost Effective Self Storage Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket

ELECTRIC

CATERING SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

AERIAL VDO

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30 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Jobs

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper ‘The Phuket News’, Russian language newspaper 'Novosti Phuketa', Phuket’s leading English radio station ‘Live 89.5’, Phuket English TV 'Phuket News TV' and a a host of publications & services including ‘The Phuket Colouring book’ & ‘Phuket Ticket Master’.

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

THAI REPORTER

Qualifications:

The Phuket News is looking for a Thai reporter to join

● Thai or Expat.

the news desk. This is an exciting position that offers

● Excellent communication and negotiation skills in Thai

great career prospects for the right candidate

and English.

The successful candidate must:

● Highly motivated self-starter with a positive attitude.

● Be a Thai national

● Works well under pressure and has a will to succeed.

● Have a hunger for the news

We offer:

● Be a proficient photographer

● Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses.

● Have a willingness to learn

● A friendly work environment.

● Have good English writing skills

● Social security paid by the company.

● Be willing to work to deadlines

● Excellent career progress opportunities.

● Be a strong communicator

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume, in English, indicating qualifications, experience, recent photo and expected salary.

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, and expected salary with recent photo to send your resume to: http://www.thephuketnews.com/job.php

Apply online at thephuketnews.com/job.php

Class Act Media Co., Ltd.

99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Class Act Media Co., Ltd. 99/7 Moo 1 T. Kathu A. Kathu Phuket 83120 Tel: 076 612 550-2 Fax: 076 612 553

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Buy&Sell

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/thephuketnews

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @thephuketnews

BOATS & YACHTS Marine Surveyors Andaman Maritime Services (AMS) conduct Pre-purchase, Insurance & Flag State Surveys.

Buying a boat? Boat owner? AMS has the services you need. Anthony , 81/18 Moo. 6, T.Kathu, A.Kathu, Phuket, Thailand 83120 , anthony@ams-sea.com, 081 893 9985, www.ams-sea.com

3.1 RIB Yacht tender dinghy 3.1m Stingray RIB with 9.9hp 4 stroke Suzuki outboard, storage cover, fuel tank etc. Great size yacht tender dinghy, as new 140,000b, Price : 140,000, sc@ acronautic.com, 0898734044.

33/F Gulf Craft W/A Two suzuki 225 HP outboards - only 300 hours, custom made RIB-dinghy with small outboard, engine electronics and hydraulics, ray marine GPS/radar/ depth sounder, many extras. 3,850,000. THB, 089 873 3713.

4.1M/40HP RIB, 09/2014 AS NEW! Bought in sept. 2014,14hrs only! suzuki engine+boat under warranty (suzuki phuket). bimini+trailer+tube covers.

0935840565 (rus/eng) 0987086632 (fr/eng, 350,000 thb,)

Silver Princess Yacht PC530 A 53 ft Power Catamaran by Silver Princess Yachts. Beautiful design, compact yacht with space & modern interior. Dimensions: 53 ft length, 21 ft beam, 4 ft draft, 50 passengers, 22,000,000 THB, Sonny, 669 8810 5024, www.silver-princess.com, sonny@silver-princess.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES German bakery & deli & snack Main road, 8 years clientele, take over + incl. training complete equipment, staff room, 3 or 5 years leasing contract. Yearly volume 4 mio. hansibakery@gmail.com, Price: 3.5 million, Contact Mr. Stark, ansibakery@gmail.com

Bar For Sale O Top Markets Bar For Sale with full trading history showing increasing growth. Includes 4Mil Bht Thai company & 1 Work Permit.

Great Location, good customer base, Price : 2,000,000, Person : charlie kenyon, charlie@paddymalones.com.au, 0841858719.

Restaurant & Bar For Rent A long established fully equipped Restaurant with Bar for Rent in an excellent location on Nanai Rd, Patong. The 105 M2 premises includes a fully equipped Kitchen, Restaurant and Bar with ample seating for 50 customers and excellent parking facilities., Peter Wesche, info@phuket-besthomes.com, 081 892 8526.

CAR FOR SALE Toyota Fortuner Turbo Diesel FO R T U N E R AU TO Tu r b o D i e s e l 105000Km. Metal. Grey One Farang Owner Toyota Service History. Bar Front and Back, Excellent condition Blue Book Rego and insurance to May 2016 Going Oversea, Price : 695,000 THB, Andre Acca, andre.acca@hotmail.fr, 0819794547. e Honda s al nt e g r U57,000kms.

Jazz 2009 1500cc Auto

One owner since new. Regularly serviced by Honda. Tax and Insurance until the end of June and available now at right offer.Reduced by 40,000bht, Price : REDUCED to 330,000bht o.n.o, Andy +66846909144, andysmalster@gmail.com

Everest 4WD Quick Sale 10+yrs but mechanically drives and looks great. Manual. Only B450,000 or offers above 400k considered for fast sale, B450,000 THB, peterh@ asianwind.biz, 081- 8926710.

@thephuketnews

32 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com CAR FOR SALE TOYOTA Fortune 2009

7 seats, Silver, GPS video, Family car Diesel 2,694cc, Blue book Service history Toyota Pearl 78,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo. co.uk, 076 615 827.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sports

Mitsubishi Pajero Spor ts 2012, A1 condition, 14,000 KM, Silver Colour.

950,000THB Eng: Ph. 0993614582 Thai: Ph. 080 383 3060.

Car For Sale

1996 Toyota Corolla Sedan, Silver Gray.

Automatic power steering, good aircon, goo tyres. 173,00kms. New Stereo, tinted windows. Bargain at 145,000 Baht. Kamala.

Call Norm 083 182 2797.

Nissan Teana 2.5Lt

Model 2014 17,000km. New price 1.7Mln NOW 1,050,000Baht Eng: 081 788 8280 Thai: 090 163 2140, Contact Maurice, maurice.phuket@gmail.com , 090 163 2140.

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl

Nissan Teana Special 6 cyl November 2013 17000 Km New price 1.700.000.THB Price NOW 1,100,000.THB, Maurice, Maurice. phuket@gmail.com, 099 302 7071, Thai: 090 163 2140.

2012 Toyota Fortuna 24,000km

2012 Pearl white Toyota Fortuna For Sale.

3.0 D4D VN Turbo Great condition- Baht Black leather interior. Tax / insurance till 2016, 900,000, Loch Palm, Kathu, Phuket, glawre123@gmail.com, 0898668825.

TOYOTA Fortune 2006

7 seats, Black, Family car, Petrol 2,982cc Blue book, Service history Toyota Pearl, 160,000kms. AUTOMATIC transmission, golfguru2005@yahoo.co.uk, 076 615 827.

CAR FOR SALE 2012 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Powerful 380HP, Full Option: Bose Sound, Pano roof, Navigator Map. etc. Immaculate condition, no accident, low mileage, one owner, Price : 4,500,000 THB, Phone 086-2806526.

Subaru Forester XT Turbo for sale

For sale Subaru Forester 2.0 XT AWD CVT. 240 hp, auto light control and wiper control (rainy). crossover. Push start, xenon, rain sensor, ABS, air bags, electro seats, reversing camera, TV / CD / MP3 / USB / AUХ/ HDD/ DVD- VIDEO, ESP, separate climate control, cruise control, regulation steering, EBD, hatch, X-mode, acceleration to 100 km\h until 7 seconds, electric trunk, number plate for present)), kamila.sema@icloud.com, 0824133707.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS 2012

Showroom condition, new from Kawasaki Phuket May 2012, 2,000km, Hepco & Becker Engine Bars & Rear-rack, Kawasaki Handguards and Pyramid Hugger., 220,000 THB, Paul, 084 1 303 234, Plongmore@hotmail.com

COMMUNITY

CAR FOR RENT Long term car rental

have a good car rental, Toyota Vios, Mazda 2 or similar with true full professional insurance and 24/7 support Monthly rates B14000, Soi Sukee 40/19 moo 9 Chao fa east rd 39 chalong muang, ninascars@gmail.com, 089 648 0499.

CATERING EQUIPMENT Tommy’s 2 Tuk Tuk’s for sale!

Excellent condition, well maintained.

Standard 200,000 / food truck 250,000.

Call 081 908 9724 or Tom.somsanuk@ gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE CAMERA baby car seats for sale

BAKLONG Car Seat - Very good condition, suitable for newborn to 25KG. Prices are THB 4,000 per seat, buy both for only THB 7,000. Call 086 479 7471.

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Membership

Blue Canyon Membership for sale. 1 corporate nominee for sale THB 630,000 inc transfer fee. grahamhaslam@hotmail.com

PETS FOR ADOPTION Neo and Cookie We are 15 weeks

old. We are very sweet with people and can get along easy with other dogs too!

We hope you are the one who can give us a home. We will protect your house and love to cuddle. We already got some basic training. If you are interested in us you will get 2 dog training lessons for free.A dog is often happier when they have a friend around. These are best friends, so it would be best if they can stay together, Diana Koster, info@phuket-dog-resort.com, 083 599 6017.

OTHER Best Deal

Rawai business for sale. Area approx 2Rai, can do restaurant or other business.Five mins from beach. Long term lease, yearly rent B200,000. 4 bedrooms house included. Reduce from B980,000 to B520,000. Contact Khun Asoke at 089 646 7176 / big_redchili@yahoo.com

For Sale

Industrial over locker. Whitehouse Brand. 3 Thread. Brand new never used. Full tool kit. Bargain at 12,000 Baht. Call Sandi 087 264 0778.

Office Space Laguna

Office Space Laguna - Plaza del Mar Fully Furnished offices 4 Office Suite plus boardroom Rent entire unit or individual office 080 045 4474.

PROPERTY FOR RENT 2 Luxury Condo,Fully-Furnished

“The Base Downtown” 35 sqm. near Central Festival 16,000 THB/Month, “Patong Loft” 56 sqm. 5 Min. to Patong beach 25,000 THB/Month, Price : 16,000- 25,000 THB, Mr. Aoody, aood16@hotmail.com, 099-5169959, 095-9799356 ( English & Thai)

House for rent - Near Pah-klok

Long term, quality furnishings, near Heroines Monument, 3 bed, 2 baths plus office. Good garden. THB35,000 per month. Call 087 878 5804.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 33

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your classified now at thephuketnews.com PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE Beach Front Land

RESORT FOR SALE/LEASE

Absolute Beach Front Land for Sale From only 1,700,000 Baht per Rai. Let your dreams come true!! Please go to www.thailandliving.life, Price: 1,700,000, Patchanee Klongdee, info@thailandliving.life

Resort for sale lease any offer consider! I want go sailing again!!, Address : 67/18 Soi Sermsuk Rawai Phuket, bigasail@ samart.co.th, Contact +66 (0)86 9401860.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Beachfront House

4-Bedroom house on semiprivate beach available for sale and rent.

Can easily be divided into two separate and identical properties.

The rental/sale can also include a self-contained 1-bedroom bungalow, Price: 18.2 MB, Rent 110,000 THB, Alex Seago, home@ thaivillaboutique.com, 087-8923876.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Make money NOW - Kata Beach House

Pool Villa Patong 8.9MB

Are you tired of driving to work? Buy this now! Great Location, Spa, 7 Bedroom, 7 Bathroom, all with kitchens. Rent or live with good income. Onwer old and retireing. 5 minutes walk to the beach, Price: 9.5 MB or offer, Khun Arreerat, nalumana2000@yahoo.com, 081 970 4638, 086 595 8512

Ocean View Land Kamala

Hard to find 3 bed room , 3 bath room house for sale in the perfect location near Kata & Karon beach, well maintained with a salt water pool, Price : 16,000,000, Narrisara (Tic), 7/8 Patak Soi 10, Karon, g-a-coates@hotmail. com, 0991642991.

Beautiful Freehold German built detached home. 3 bed, 3 bath, Euro Kitchen, open plan,+ garage. Full furn. Close beach & shopping centre, Oscar, ozoskr@hotmail. com, 087-8931753.

Half rai 797sq.m. cleared and leveled, power connected, sealed road, MUST SELL 6.75million.

For ENG 090 492 3101 THA 093 768 6694.

FOR QUICK SALE

Sea-View Land & Luxury Villa project in Kamala including architect plans & building permit for 9 villas, 4000m2 sale only THB 30 MB, MIO, pupillopascal@gmail. com Call:088 768 0942.

@thephuketnews

House in Karon for Sale.

Sea view land in Patong

The Last Piece of Sea View Land on Prime Location in Patong, just 500 m. from Patong beach, 1.3 KM. to Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Contact: Karuna, kpattarawalee@ gmail.com,089-967-5373.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Police Utd blunt Ronins’ swords FOOTBALL Matthew Pond editor3@classactmedia.co.th

Phuket FC ousts Assumption in 11 goal FA Cup match A GAME OF FOOTBALL WHICH SEES A FINAL score of 6-5 is usually classed as a thriller. However, Phuket FC̕ s 6-5 win over Assumption Utd in the second round of the Thai FA Cup Surakul Stadium on June 24 was far from that.

With Assumption being a Division 2 side, many thought the game would be a walk in the park for the Ronins, but poor passing and even poorer defending by both teams was why the game saw so many goals.

The match’s final three goals would be decided by penalties, in regulation, with Phuket’s Yusuke Sato stepping up to give the Ronins victory with the last kick of the game. For full details, go to thephuketnews.com Text: Matt Pond; Photo: Steven Layne

P

huket FC took on Yamaha League Division One table-toppers Police United at Surakul Stadium on Sunday night (June 28) in a game which could have gone two ways, Phuket getting thrashed or proving they can actually make the grade and coming away with 3-points.

Sadly it was the prior, and the Ronins walked away with their heads bowed after suffering a 5-0 defeat, the biggest of the season so far.

Phuket were strong in the first 45-minutes and the game looked like it could have gone either way with the score at 0-0 at the half-time whistle.

However, things were to change early in the second half when Police Utd broke the

deadlock in the 57th minute with a goal from forward Tana Chanabut. This was followed three goals in quck succession from Teeratep Winothai, Dango Siaka and Pokklaw Anan in the 60th , 65th and 75 minutes.

Teeratep then took his own goal tally to two and The Cop̕ s to five with a goal in the 87th minute.

The win still keeps Police Utd at the top of the table 11 points clear of second placed Prachuap who are on 25 points.

While the defeat saw Phuket drop from ninth to twelth, one point and one position ahead of Sunday̕s opponents Phichit who have ex Phuket FC legend Nenebi Tra Sylvestre in the centre of defence.

Speaking to The Phuket News on Wednesday (July 1), Nenebi said that he was looking forward to taking on his home team. “I know Phuket will come here and try to win but I want my team to win. Phuket always play an attacking game but as a defender it is my job to make sure they don̕ t score.”

He also said that he looking forward to catching up with his nemesis Sato who he partnered with in centrall defence in his last season at the club.

“Sato has followed in my footsteps at Phuket FC, he̕ s become a club legend as I was, and he has also taken over the captain̕ s arm band as I did.

“He̕ s a great person on and off the pitch and I looking

SPORT 35 YL1 Week 15/38 Team

GD

Pts

1

Police Utd

23

36

2

Prachuab

4

25

3

Thai Honda 8

24

4

Angthong

7

23

5

Airforce

5

23

6

Pattaya Utd 14

22

7

Sukhothai

10

22

8

BBCU

2

22

9

Nakhon Pathom

4

21

10

Bangkok

-1

21

11

Songkhla

2

20

12

Phuket

-11

20

13

Pichit

-4

19

14

Samut Songkhram

-1

18

15

PTT Rayong -2

17

Krabi

-3

17

17

Chiangmai

-8

17

18

Ayuthaya

-12

15

19

TTM

-10

14

20

Trat FC

-27

10

16

forward to coming against him on Sunday,” he said.

Kick-off for Sunday̕s game is 6pm at Pichit Stadium.

Phuket FC return to Surakul to take on Ang Thong on Staurday July 11 with kick-off set for 7pm.

Pearl settle for a point after last-minute Nonthaburi goal FUTSAL Steven Layne editor@classactmedia.co.th

PHUKET UNITED REMAIN in fourth place of the Futsal Thailand Premier League (FTPL) following their latest league match-up, against the Nonthaburi ‘Killer Bees’ which ended in a 6-6 draw last Sunday (June 28).

Going into the match, 4th place Phuket (27 points) were confident for victory against Nonthaburi in 12th place with just 10 points.

The match, both sides 15th of the 26-fixture FTPL 2015 season, was played to the delight of a crowd of 520 spectators at the Turakij Bundit University’s Sutthaket arena,

@thephuketnews

north of the capital.

Earlier in June, Phuket triumphed over Nonthaburi 5-3 in Phuket, but not without exposing some defensive vulnerabilities.

This match’s ice was shattered in only the second minute of play when Edson Gugu (#4) stole the ball in enemy territory, luring his marker to the left flank, assisting comrade Jackson Santos (5) who had infiltrated Nonthaburi’s box, to drive the ball home in a single reflexive touch.

Gugu (pictured) doubled Phuket’s lead in the 9th minute, scoring from the right touchline on a brilliant volley off a high cross by Captain Kitipong Sonsuwan from the opposite touch line.

Only two minutes later

Phuket went up 3-0 when Thanakor n Penpakul (9) launched an unchallenged long-range missile from midpitch.

The home team’s fighting spirit was revived a minute later when Wiwat Sriyanong (99) capitalized on a Phuket loose ball, and two minutes after that when Thanapon

Maneephet (28) brought his side into contention off a fast break down the left touchline that drew Phuket’s keeper out for a failed challenge.

Jackson Santos evaded his marker for the second time in the 16th minute, cashing in on an assist from Kittipong to put Phuket up 4-2. Just before the half time whistle, Phuket

was awarded a spot kick, and Jackson did not fail to secure his hat trick, and the 5-2 lead In the 2nd minute of the second half Nonthaburi’s Wiwat scored on a second ball when a teammate’s strike deflected off the cross bar, conveniently into his unguarded path to goal.

Two minutes after that, an own goal by Gugu saw the score close in at 4-5. But moments later Phuket would make up for it, when Thanakorn scored his second of the match off a second ball.

Back and forth play ensued, and it was Nonthaburi to narrow the deficit with brilliant 1-2 passing, climaxing with a near-post goal by Chanyut Mueangjun (31).

And from the same exact

post-position in the final minute of regulation, Nonthaburi scored the equalizer through Thanathip Saengsung, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

As a result, both teams’ standings in the FTPL table remain as before the match.

However, that may have changed as this goes to press as Phuket United had since returned home for a mid-week match-up on July 1, against 7th place Si Pathum Si Saket. Log on to ThePhuketNews.com to find out the result.

Next up, the Pearl have a tall order of taking on 3rd placed Bangkok FC, in Bangkok, on Sunday (July 5).

Class Act Media are proud media partners with Phuket United.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

Olympic swimmers to train in Phuket for a year SWIMMING (Continued from back page) Together with FINA, Thanyapura have awarded 25 scholarships to swimmers from around the region, representing 11 countries, including Thailand, Nepal, the Maldives, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Timor Leste and Rwanda.

The athlete recipients will train and live at Thanyapura, while preparing for the 2015 FINA World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

T he luck y swim mers qualify for the opportunity from “wild cards”.

Speaking at the Phuket press conference Ms Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said: “We are proud to be the official venue for the FINA scholars training here in Phuket.

“The Ministry is in full support of the growth of Than-

yapura, as Thailand strengthens its status as the Sports Hub of Asia.”

Mr Pipat Paniangvait, FINA Honorary Treasurer, commented: “This initiative – ‘Targeting Rio 2016’ – is part of a wider development strategy from FINA aimed at raising the level of Aquatics worldwide, providing specific programmes for athletes and officials in the five continents.

In 2014, the scholarships for swimmers were created and centres are already active in the USA, Portugal and now in Thailand.

“Thailand is ready to receive and host some of the most promising swimmers of this region of the world.”

Thanyapura President Mr Philipp Graf von Hardenberg said, “I’m really looking forward to seeing how these young swimmers progress along their ‘Road to Rio’.

“It’s a pleasure to have them training at Thanyapura.”

SPORT 37

BISP’s tip of an education iceberg T

he outstanding sporting reputation that has grown around the successful academy programmes at the British International School, Phuket (BISP) gives the Headmaster, Neil Richards, a wry smile.

In a recent interview, he explained why the growing perception of the school as a centre for sporting excellence does not necessarily fit with the vision that he has.

“Many people miss the point of the recent developments at BISP,“ he explained, “the purpose of bringing world class sports coaches into the school is to create an educational framework that has two basic functions.”

The first, he explained, is to provide every student in the school with an opportunity; the professional coaches train all the teachers involved with sporting activities to improve their coaching skills, and also teach mainstream classes at certain times in the year when the curriculum requires it.

Students that demonstrate

Helsinki bound

DOUBLE TROUBLE: The two Phuket boys wait for their Finland bound flight.

FOOTBALL Matt Pond editor3@classactmedia.co.th

T WO BOYS F ROM Phuket’s Youth Football Home Foundation in Thalang flew out to Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday (June 27) to train with the under-17 squad of Nurmijärven Jalkapalloseura (NJS) Football Club.

Jassada Arm”Hongsawong and Nithiwat “Touch” Boonsing have been selected to train with the Finnish club to help them when they compete in the Helsinki Cup being held fromj July 5-10. @thephuketnews

The Helsinki Cup is one of the world’s biggest international youth tournaments and sees 1,248 teams from around the world compete. There are a total of 66 team who compete in the U17 category.

16-year-old Arm played three games for the Thailand U16 squad last year and was part of the squad when Thailand hosted the U17 World Cup qualification in Bangkok last year.

Arm got to train with the U17 squad of German team FC Schalke 04 last october in Gelsenkirchen for three weeks.

He will return to Germany at the end of the year to train

with Eintracht Frankfurt FC U17s for 2-4 weeks.

Touch, 17, just missed selection for the Thailand U16 squad last season. However, he has followed Arm on his travels to FC Schalke 04 where he will train with the club’s youth academy and will also join the U17 squad when they take part in the Helsinki Cup. Touch will also join Arm on his travels to Germany later this year.

Together, the boys have played a total of around 40 international games since joining the Youth Football Home Foundation in 2010.

talent are quickly identified and provided with the opportunity to take that talent to a world-class standard. Every child in the school benefits either directly or indirectly from the ripple down effect, whether they wish to pursue a sport seriously or not.

The second important point, often not considered, is that the school provides outstanding young athletes with the opportunity to receive a full and balanced academic education without compromising their sporting ambitions.

There is an exceptional

range of IB Diploma and IGCSE subjects at BISP, and a well-qualified and experienced staff to deliver them.

But more importantly, the athletes are an integral part of normal school life.

In fact there are so many world-class young athletes across a range of sports, that they are not considered as anything special in the school. Yet, their example

and discipline certainly impacts positively upon their classmates.

Headmaster Richards explained that the provision of an exceptional education should never be compromised by an emphasis on any one part of the curriculum, and that it is his aim to develop a balanced academic, artistic and sporting education without compromising any of the component parts.

“The key to this educational vision can be summed up by the word ‘opportunity’, and this has to be supported by exceptional, centralised facilities and the very best teaching and coaching staff available,” he said.

For more information, please visit bisphuket.ac.th or email hello@bisphuket.ac.th

Recent BISP Sporting Achievements 2 qualifiers for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 9 medals at 2015 South East Asian (SEA) Games Winners of 2014 FOBISIA Swimming Championships Winners of 2014 BISP Soccer Sevens

38 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

F1 Preview: British Grand Prix

Formula One circus returns to England on Sunday FORMULA 1

BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

A

fter an Austrian Grand Prix that recorded a 40 per cent decline in tickets sales the always effervescent Silverstone crowd will do much to boost the sport’s flagging self-belief.

The former World War II aerodrome often produces interesting racing, with its high-speed corners exercising the quality of car and driver, but the British race also represents the begging of the critical middle phase of the year during which Formula One teams make a spate of long-term decisions.

For some teams, Silverstone and the subsequent month will be the timeframe in which they decide to move resources from the development of the current car into improving next year’s challenger.

The decision is a critical one for midfield teams which do not have the capacity to develop two cars at once. To continue development this season could boost your points haul and prize money in the long-term,

Lewis Hamilton will certainly be looking for victory on home soil this Sunday. Photo: Jake Archibald while reappropriating for next year can deliver a bigger performance jump up the championship table next year.

For the likes of Mercedes, which has the luxury of a car that is performing well this year and that will serve as a solid baseline for next season, this decision will be an easy one – the 2015 car can serve as a test bed later in the year for 2016 parts without any material impact on results.

Ferrari faces the emotional decision of choosing between pushing Mercedes this season, which it has been able to do only occasionally, or

make a big push for 2016 performance in the hope of overhauling the soonto-be double-world-championship squad.

Further down the grid, the decision becomes more arduous. Red Bull Racing is in desperate need of results, which it believes are more likely to come its way at the chassisdependant Silverstone and Budapest circuits this month, but similarly knows that this season’s car is of limited potential, certainly with the Renault engine bolted into the back.

Coupled to those variables is the uncertainty surrounding the

commitment to the sport of team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who sensationally declared that this year’s poor results have sucked from him his love of the sport and will to continue. How to appease the wielder of the chequebook is now the primary concern for this once-great team.

Silverstone similarly represents the beginning of the month in which driver contracts will be closely examined for value. The Formula One silly season is only just warming up, and a number of contenders are already staking claims or fending off their detractors.

The key to the driver market will likely be Kimi Räikkönen, whose future with Ferrari remains in doubt.

His contract with the Scuderia expires at the end of the year, and though noises from team principal Maurizio Arrivabene early in the season suggested the Finn might have his tenure extended, his qualifying performances have left much to be desired and his race performances have dropped off dramatically.

Chief amongst those bidding to replace him are Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hülkenberg, especially with the latter adding victory at Le Mans to his already impressive CV. Bottas, on the other hand, has played an integral part in revitalising the Williams team, and has undoubted speed and driving nous.

The dark horse of the equation is Daniel Ricciardo, who continues to toil in his Red Bull Racing machine after his breakout 2014 season.

If Ricciardo was ever going to break away from his Red Bull roots, 2016 might be the season. It wouldn’t be surprising if Arrivabene were on Ricciardo’s frequently called list…

The next four weeks will be critical to the rest of 2015 and the 2016 season beyond it, and it all kicks off with the classic British Grand Prix this weekend.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

SPORT 39

Wimbledon introduces heat breaks FOOTBALL

WIMBLEDON, LONG ASsociated with depressing rain delays, has introduced emergency playing rules for hot weather after temperatures in the south London town reached the mid-30s mid-week.

Organisers say the heat rule, which allows for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets of women’s matches only, can be used when temperatures rise above 30.1 degrees Celsius.

However, the rule which has been adopted by Wimbledon

after lobbying from the WTA, does not apply to men even though they have to slug it out over the best of five sets.

Tuesday’s (June 30) heat hovered around the 30ºC mark, but surged to around 35ºC on Wednesday (July 1). The highest-ever temperature recorded at Wimbledon was 34ºC in 1976.

Despite the heat, All England Club chiefs said that the Centre Court roof would not be closed to preserve the tournament’s integrity as an outdoor event.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal said

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run: #1532: Saturday July 4, 2015 at 4pm Hares: Fungus, S C, Once Weekly, Rob Location: Cherng Talay - Manik Dam Directions: From the south turn west [4025] at Heroines towards Cherng Talay. After approx 3.4 km turn left into (very narrow) Soi Moo 1. Follow the road for approx 1 km then turn left. Follow the road for a further 800 m to the laager at the top left side of the Dam. From Cherng Talay Police Station head east for approximately 3.54 km then turn right into Moo 1 follow the directions as above. HHH Truck will be marked. Please show some consideration to others and park to one side of the road

(beware the rain gully).

The Hares have strongly implied that this time the run will be allowed in this area unlike as sort of happened in the past.

Bus pickup: Patong (Expat Hotel) 2:45pm; Kamala (Baan Rim Klong) 3:15pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

*Times may be subject to change SPORT

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Practice, Silverstone

Rugby League

NRL

Panthers v. Rabbitohs

Aussie Rules

AFL

Collingwood v. Hawthorn

Tennis

Wimbledon

Day 5, Round 3

Rugby Union

Super XV Final

Hurricanes v. Highlanders

Rugby League

NRL

Dragons v. Cowboys

Aussie Rules

AFL

Aussie Rules

AFL

Richmond v. GWS Giants Gold Coast Suns v. North Melbourne Melbourne v. West Coast Eagles Qualifying, Silverstone

Friday, July 3 818, 690 834, 669 521 832, 680

19:5521:30 16:3018:30 16:3019:30 17:3001:00

Saturday, July 4 834, 669 834, 669 521

818, 690 832, 680 814

14:3016:30 16:3018:25 10:3013:30 13:3016:30 16:3019:30 18:3020:30 17:3001:00 19:0022:45

Aussie Rules

AFL

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Tennis

Wimbledon

Day 6, Round 3

Cycling

Tour de France: Stage 1

Utrecht – Utrecht 13.8 km

Rugby League

NRL

Manly Sea Eagles v. Sharks

Aussie Rules

AFL

Essendon v. St Kilda

Aussie Rules

AFL

Fremantle v. Brisbane Lions

Motor Racing

Formula 1

Raceday, Silverstone

Sunday, July 5 834, 669 521

832, 680

814

13:0015:00 10:0013:00 13:3016:30 18:0018:45 18:4521:30 18:1522:45

Motor Racing

Formula 1

British Grand Prix

Cycling

Tour de France: Stage 2

Utrecht – Zélande 166 km

@thephuketnews

courtesy.

“I think if it’s something that they’re concerned about it, they can re-evaluate,” said the Russian.

“If it does get quite hot for us, we’re able to use it, then why not?”

Women’s world number one Serena Williams said the heat would not concern her as she regularly trains in temperatures of over 40ºC at her Florida home.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in 34, 35 degrees here, but I do in other countries. I just was training in Florida – it was like 42 degrees. This will

Despite the heat the Centre Court roof will not be closed.

Photo: Paula Funnell be okay,” said the American, a five-time champion at Wimbledon. In a country often overly fixed on day-to-day climate fluctuations, there is a mass of data reflecting the tournament’s highs and lows.

The hottest average maxi-

mum daily temperature – 30.8ºC – was recorded in 1976 while the lowest minimum recorded was 4.9ºC on June 24, 1999.

Only five Wimbledon tournaments have seen no rain whatsoever, the most recent of which was in 1993. AFP

Hit for six

Argentina destroy Paraguay in Copa semi

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he enjoyed the heat after comfortably reaching the second round on Tuesday.

“In Australia it can be much, much worse so it’s no comparison but actually it’s beautiful,” said the Spaniard.

“When you have this weather here in Wimbledon it’s probably one of the best places in the world.”

Maria Sharapova, the highest earner in women’s sport and the 2004 champion at Wimbledon, said it was wrong to describe the heat index rule being invoked only for women as sexist, but admitted the men too should be allowed the same

FOOTBALL

L

ionel Messi produced a scintillating individual performance as Argentina destroyed Paraguay 6-1 to reach the final of the Copa America on Tuesday (June 30).

The Barcelona superstar tormented Paraguay mercilessly as the favourites produced their best display of the tournament and advanced to a showdown with Chile in tomorrow’s (July 4) final. Argentinian players celebrate after scoring against ParaAlthough Messi failed to guay during their Copa America semi-final in Concepcion, end his run of more than 900 Chile on Tuesday (June 30) Photo: Yuri Cortez/AFP minutes without an interna“We’ve been playing well clinch a first major title in 22 tional goal from open play, he – we knew once we scored years at the Copa America. turned creator as Argentina one goal, many more would “The important thing tore Paraguay apart. come, and that’s what hapis that we’ve achieved our Goals from Angel Di Maria (2), Marcos Rojo, Javier pened,” said Messi as he first objective by reaching Pastore, Sergio Aguero and collected his man-of-the- final. Now we need to win it,” Messi said.

Gonzalo Higuain completed match award.

“We got an early goal and In the other semi-final an emphatic rout for the then found more space, and it was a Eduardo Vargas South American giants.

A satisfied Messi was then we got the second. We double on Monday (June 28) delighted Argentina’s potent continued to play the same that fired Chile into the final collection of attacking tal- way and more goals came.” for the first time in nearly Argentina, who finished 30 years as they defeated ent finally appears to have clicked with tomorrow’s runners-up in last year’s Peru 2-1.

World Cup, are determined to final looming.

Vargas, who endured a

miserable season on loan at relegated English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, lashed in a stunning 64th-minute strike as the hosts advanced to the final for the first time since 1987.

Vargas had given Chile a controversial lead after 42 minutes, prodding home from close range after the referee’s assistant failed to spot a fractional offside.

Peru, who played most of the match with 10 men after Carlos Zambrano was sent off for a reckless challenge on Charles Aranguiz after 20 minutes, came back bravely to force an equaliser through a Gary Medel own goal in the 60th minute.

But Vargas, who also had a legitimate goal wrongly ruled out for offside early in the second half, restored Chile’s lead with a contender for goal of the tournament.

The 25-year-old picked up a loose ball in midfield, surged for ward and unleashed a ferocious dipping 30-yard effort that flew into the top corner past Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. AFP

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor2@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015

F1 preview: Will Lewis bring joy to his home fans? > page 38

READYING FOR RIO Phuket FINA Training Centre welcomes scholars for training camp ahead of 2016 Olympics

T

WENTY-FIVE FUTURE Olympians from around the region have begun their ‘Road to Rio 2016’ at Phuket’s

Thanyapura – the first Official FINA Training Centre in Southeast Asia.

As part of its grand growth

and expansion plans, the world -class sporting facility Thanyapura announced the official partnership with the aquatics

international body FINA this week at a press conference held in Phuket, which was attended by Phuket Governor Nisit Jansom-

wong and Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.

Continued on page 37

Ups and downs: Football seasons for the island’s Phuket FC are full of ups and downs, and this week has been no exception. Having seen the Ronins battle it out in both the league and FA Cup games at Surakul Stadium in the space of seven days, the final scores in each game could not have been more different. See the match reviews on page 35.

The Ultimate Challenge

Last Sunday (June 28) Phuket’s cricket and rugby teams came together to compete in a challenge whereby they competed against each other in both cricket and rugby. Unsurprisingly, the cricket was won by the Phuket Cricket Group cricket team, the rugby by recent Phuket Rugby 10s victors, the Phuket Vagabonds. thephuketnews