06-04-2012

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FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 6 - THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012

WANT TO BET? CHUWIT’S CASINO HARD TO FIND P3

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BLOWN AWAY TERRORIST BOMBS KILL 14 IN DEEP SOUTH P7

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• Phuket’s first ever toll road • Construction to cost B6 bn • Total length almost 3 km • Estimated car toll B30-60

FULL STORY ON PAGE 2

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FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Return of The Lady

Wild celebrations as Aung San Suu Kyi’s party wins 43 seats in Burmese polls > 8

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LIGHT AT END OF PATONG TUNNEL Sukunya Phoonpong reporter2@thephuketnews.com

One of the major Patong projects given the green light by the mobile Cabinet meeting in Phuket last month was the Patong tunnel, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has confirmed.

Aiyanut Tinapai, governor of EXAT, told The Phuket News on Wednesday that the Ministry of Transport has assigned EXAT to work on the tunnel design, and EXAT officials will visit Phuket “after Songkran” to take a look.

The project as currently envisaged will mark two firsts: it will be the first project outside Bangkok to be managed by EXAT; and it will be Phuket’s first toll road.

“The Patong tunnel project

has been designed by Patong Municipality,” said Mr Aiyanut.

“But EXAT will make some additions to the existing plan by adding a 500-600-metre elevated roadway at one end of the tunnel, and another of 800-900 metres at the other end, for a total length of about three kilometres.

“There will be two lanes each way for cars and trucks, along with a bike lane each way. All this means the budget will increase slightly, from about B5.5 billion to B6 billion.”

With government funding a distant possibility, EXAT plans to go the build-operatetransfer (BOT) route, with a private company building and operating the tunnel until it has made an agreed profit, and then transferring ownership

to a government body. This would take five or six years, he said – “though we’re not quite sure yet”.

Some B20 million will be spent on inspection, studies and designs. This process will begin this year and will take about a year.

“Then we will expropriate the land we need, which may take a year or so, followed by three years for construction, which means the tunnel should be open for use at the end of 2016 or early in 2017.”

The toll for using the tunnel has not yet been set, he added, but will be cheaper than the tolls for using the expressways in Bangkok. “The toll may be between B30 and B60 for cars and B10 for motorbikes.

“Once it is completed, the tunnel should reduce traffic

on Phrabaramee Rd, and will shorten the distance from Kathu to Patong by four kilometres. It should also reduce the number of road accidents.

“We are also thinking about developing the empty space under the elevated roads for parking spaces,” Mr Aiyanat added.

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukbal told The Phuket New, “Already some companies from China and Korea have expressed interest in doing the construction work.”

He said he foresees no problems expropriating the land belonging to members of the Baan Morn community, the largest community along the proposed route.

“The land owners will get compensation at the full market value for land in Patong.”

One hurt by ‘bad drug deal’ bombs One man was injured and a pet dog was killed after a man threw two homemade bombs from a pick-up truck into a housing complex in Thalang in the early hours of March 29, apparently after a drug deal went bad.

A motorbike and several cars were also damaged in the attacks.

Police said the first bomb injured Mong­khol Benjaphan, who has a history of drugrelated arrests, while the second killed a poodle. Mongkhol fled and is being sought.

Deputy Commander of Police Region 8, Pol Maj Gen Weerapong Chuenpakdee (second from left), explains stepped-up security measures planned for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, following the violence in the Deep South.

Bombs in South rattle Phuket’s tourist statistics Paritta Wangkiat reporter3@thephuketnews.com

Rachin Thongmakkul, president of Patong Hotel Association and a vice-president of the Thai Hotel Association Southern Chapter, admitted on Tuesday (April 3) that about 10 per cent of tour bookings for the South of Thailand, including Phuket, had been cancelled as a result of the deadly car bombs in Haad Yai and Yala Province on Saturday.

He added that it was likely that the numbers of new tour bookings, especially by Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, will fall from last year’s figures.

The governments of both Singapore and Malaysia have issued warnings against travel in South Thailand, and Mr Rachin predicted that this would result in a fall in tourists from those countries coming to Phuket for the Songkran festival later this month.

Although local authorities have been quick to reassure tourists that they do not con-

sider Phuket to be a target of terrorism, several tour agencies said they had received feedback from tourists who regarded Phuket as part of the South, and therefore dangerous.

Currently, said Mr Rachin, occupancy in Patong hotels is averaging 70 per cent.

Although Western tourists provide the bulk of visitors to Phuket, Mr Rachin said that many Malaysians and Singaporeans use Phuket as an access point, then travel to other parts of the country.

“You may not currently see the influence of the terrorism news on Phuket,” said Mr Rachin. “But I think we will see some effect on the island’s tourism industry soon, especially during Songkran.”

As Mr Rachin spoke of his concerns, the Deputy Commander of Police Region 8, Pol Maj Gen Weerapong Chuenpakdee met with Phuket police and islanders to discuss ways to step up security on the island prevention of any possible terrorism on the island.

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ISLAND NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Chuwit’s ‘huge casino’ proves hard to locate Apinya Saksri reporter4@thephuketnews.com

Police visited three venues owned by Phuket’s Tiger Group on March 29 after maverick Bangkok politician Chuwit Kamolvisit, on a Channel 3 TV programme, accused Tiger of running the largest illegal casino in the South, on Patong’s Soi Sansabai.

This casino, he alleged, has a daily turnover of more than B100 million, and police and other officials were bribed with daily payments to leave the place unmolested.

But Kathu police, led by Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakhao – who invited journalists along for the inspections – found nothing when they checked the 60-room Tiger-owned Bangkok Residence Hotel on Soi Sansabai.

Police did note that the hotel has a snooker zone and a pub on the second floor. But no casino.

MP Chuwit Kamolvisit.

Piya Itsaramalai, President Chairman of the Tiger Group, Pol Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok, Deputy Commissioner of Police Region 8, and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul held a joint press conference afterwards.

Mr Piya flatly denied Mr Chuwit’s allegation. He added that he had instructed the company’s legal counsel to

collect information on Mr Chuwit’s accusations, with the possibility of bringing a lawsuit against him, but urged Mr Chuwit to come and see for himself – and even bring other MPs with him.

The Tiger Group Legal Counsel, Thamrongsak Boonrak, said the group felt it was unfair and one-sided of Channel 3 TV to air Mr Chuwit’s views only. “They should invite us to give our side of the story,” he said.

Gen Pisan said that police in Phuket have been working for a long time to keep Phuket free of gambling.

“As long as I am working in Region 8, Phuket will have no casinos. If I find any police officers taking bribe from casinos, I will take action against them.”

Gen Chonasit added, “Since I arrived here in Phuket we have made 798 arrests in 252 gambling cases. From these figures you will see that we are working hard against

3

Rebutting Chuwit: from left, Mr Thamrongsak and Mr Piya of Tiger Group, Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok of Police Region 8 and Phuket police chief Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul. gambling on the island.”

In his latest shot from the hip, Mr Chuwit also said that “Russian Mafiya” are operating on a large scale on the island.

The Bangkok Post and other newspapers quoted him as saying that a Russian gang called “Spachiba” was using Phuket to launder black money by “encroaching on national forests and investing in luxury housing estates and five-star hotels”.

He said that land and administrative off icials, along with police officers, were involved.

Told about Mr Chuwit’s

comments, Phuket-based Russian publisher and media figure Evgeny Parfenov branded them as “BS”.

“It’s not the first time I’ve heard stuff like this,” he said. “Sorry, but this is BS. Mr Chuwit is just trying to get publicity.”

O n Sat u rd ay ( Ma rch 31) Mr Chuwit coyly told media that he has a video clip of the casino in Patong, though he has yet to allow anyone to see it.

He said he would reveal the video clip if the Commander of Police region 8 promised to transfer all the police involved to the troubled provinces along

the border with Malaysia.

He accused a “senior police officer” in Region 8, whom he named only as “J” as providing protection for casinos in Phuket in return for bribes.

“J” had assigned a senior Phuket police officer, “B”, to look after casinos on the island. “B”, in turn, had given a third officer, whom he named as “S” the job of collecting bribes from the casinos.

He said that he had passed his evidence, including the video clip, to the Parliamentar y Police Com mission for a further investigation.

The Commission is expected to visit Phuket soon.

New move to sort out taxis Phu ke t a u t h o r it ie s a r e planning to launch a new tough initiative to bring the island’s taxi and tuk-tuk problems under control, a draft of which will be announced “after the middle of this month”.

The initiative was announced in a meeting on Monday (April 2) at Provincial Hall, at which Vice-Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada had discussions with relevant authorities to lay out the initiative, which will start with a crackdown on illegal “black plate” taxis.

A major part of the drive will be to persuade “influen-

tial people” – including local politicians – who are seen as helping taxi and tuk-tuk drivers to operate outside the law with impunity.

V/G Chamroen suggested that the authorities should learn from their own experience of long years of trying to solve problems. Too often, he said, deadlines to achieve goals were not set.

A Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Col Peerayuth Karachedi, agreed that the new policy would have to include enforcement of the law on influential people operating their own illegal taxi

businesses or backing taxi driv­ers in return for votes.

It was not clear at the meeting how the policy will be used to solve taxi and tuk-tuk problems, but V/G Chamroen said that authorities would use force “only if necessary”.

The meeting heard that an unofficial survey by authorities of just four roads in Patong counted more than 900 taxis and tuk-tuks, while more than 350 legal vehicles are licenced to pick up passengers at the Phuket International Airport (PIA).

The overall number of unregistered taxis is vague.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Deputy Minister of Commerce Phum Sarapol led officials in destroying B180 million worth of fake products seized in the southern provinces of Thailand.

As the deputy minister and officials used enormous hammers and box cutters on the fakes, a wheel loader was also driven over the pirate goods and the teeth on its bucket used to hack at them.

The mass destruction, held at the incinerator in Saphan Hin on March 29, involved 79,524 fakes, which were seized in raids by the Royal Thai Police, the Customs Department, the Phuket Provincial Police and the Department of Special Investigations.

Products included in the mass destruction, the first this year, included fake brand-name handbags, shoes, sunglasses, watches, T-shirts, CDs and DVDs, all seized between June last year and this March.

The pile included 2,000 items valued at roughly B2 million that were seized the day before in Phuket.

Shop ow ne r R av i roj Chaitawatwiboon, 27 from Nong Khai in Thailand’s northeast, was arrested at his shop on Rath-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd in Patong, following a raid by officials, sparked by a tip-off.

Around 1,000 pirated T-

Free vehicle safety checks for Songkran As part of this year’s campaign to reduce road deaths in Phuket over Songkran, the Phuket Land Transport Office has arranged with car and motorbike dealers and technical college students to offer mechanical checks for all cars and bikes – free.

T he checks cover 20 mechanical aspects such as brakes and lights, and will be available until April 17.

Those wanting to take advantage of the free checks can go to the dealer for their make of car or motorbike, or one of three places manned by technical students.

Phu ket Poly tech nical College students are doing the checks at the college in Saphan Hin; Phuket Technical College will set up shop from April 11 to 17 at the PTT filling station close to Vichit Municipality on Chao Fa East Rd; and Thalang Technical College will set up on the same dates at the highway police service centre on Thepkrassattri Rd, in Thalang.

Phuket Technical College will also provide free top-ups of battery water, engine oil, brake and clutch fluid.

Deputy Commerce Minister Phum Sarapol takes the big hammer to some of the fake goods, watched by Pajchima Thanasanti of the Intellectual Property Department (blue top). shirts, 640 wallets and 245 caps were seized by police.

It is understood other shopowners in the area were aware of the raid, and had hidden pirated goods.

Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) sub-division 4 commander Pol Col Pratya Prasarnsuk told media at a press conference following the raid that the ECD and the Department of Intellectual Property would continue to crack down on pirated products, especially in Patong and

Karon, where there were many shops selling fake goods.

At the mass destruction, Mr Phum reiterated this point.

“All pirated and fake goods are illegal, and must be destroyed once all the police and court procedures are completed,” he said. “The owners have all been found guilty by the courts so the products have to be destroyed to show our process is transparent.”

Asked why the fakes were not donated to needy people rather than being destroyed,

Pajchima Thanasanti, DirectorGeneral of the Bangkok-based Department of Intellectual Property, said, “These products are illegal. They should not be distributed to anyone.”

Some of the local people who came to watch the destruction apparently failed to appreciate this fine moral distinction. Many waited until the wheel loader had finished and then rummaged through the wreckage, picking up and pocketing anything that had not been smashed or ripped.

Week New bus terminal Bike postponed to open end-April two weeks

The new long-distance bus terminal on Thepkrassattri Rd, Phuket Town – close to Super Cheap – will open officially on April 29.

Announcing the schedule, Teerayut Prasertpol, chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), said that the terminal will have a “test opening” on April 21.

“The terminal is 80-percent complete. We are now recruiting operators for the food centre on the second f loor – I expect this terminal to become another centre for local Phuket food,” Mr Teerayut said. “ T he f i r st bu s w i l l leave for Chumporn at 5am and the last will leave for Sungai Kolok at 10.30pm.”

The new terminal, which cost about B48 million to build, will be used only for long-distance bus services.

The existing terminal on Phang Nga Rd will continue to be used for local services, including Phuket to Phang Nga or Takuapa, including the Phuket International Airport bus service and the local pink buses run by the Phuket

Provincial Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor).

Other local buses, which currently operate from the Phuket Town Municipal Market in Ranong Rd, will also move to the old terminal, though they will continue to stop at the market to pick up the passengers.

“The OrBorJor will provide another 10-15 pink buses to carry passengers between the two terminals. The service will run from 6am to 9pm, with one bus every 15 minutes until 7pm and then every 30 minutes until 9pm.

“We also plan to provide two bus routes to and from Kata or Karon and Patong,” Mr Teerayut said.

The terminal will also have a zone for taxis, tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis. In the terminal will be a desk very similar to that in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

Passengers will get tickets from the desk, where prices will be displayed clearly.

Drivers will queue up in order of arrival, with passengers going each time to the taxi at the head of the queue.

More than 10,000 bikers, and 8,000 bikes, will be at the 18th Annual Phuket Bike Week 2012, being held in Patong from April 20 to 22, two weeks later than originally planned.

Organiser Wittaya Singkala, from West Coast Ride Thailand Company, said the date of the event was changed from April 6-8 to April 20-22, because of a clash with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (OrBorJor) presidential election, and a desire to respect the mourning period following the Royal Cremation Ceremony of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda on April 9.

With a theme of ‘Asean Ride Together’, some of the participants, alongside Governor Tri Augkaradacha members of the press and local authorities, attended the Phuket Bike Week 2012 press conference at Dragon Park, Phuket Town, on March 28.

The organisers expect the event to boost local tourism revenue by around B500 million.

For more information visit phuketbikeweek.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

ISLAND NEWS

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RENTAL RIP-OFF

Filthy factory ‘making local Con-artist duo stole many more cars people sick’ Sukunya Phoonpong reporter2@thephuketnews.com

A powdered fish factory in the Koh Siray area is emitting pollution that is making local people ill, said community representatives this week, when presenting a petition to the Damrongdharm Centre.

Pongjit Ketrat, a representative of the Fish Marketing Organisation (FMO) com munit y in Koh Siray, explained on March 28 that neighbours of the Sang-arun powdered fish factory have put up with the stink and dirt from the factory for years, but recently it has been getting worse.

Ms Pongjit told the Chief of the Damrongdharm Centre, Prapan Kanprasang, “We have suffered from the fishy smell and the dir t for years and we have talked with the factory owner to try to solve the problem, but this has not worked and the bad smell has

become worse.

“It’s not only us who suffer from this factory. Tourists and yacht owners are also suffering. The fishy smell can cau se p e ople t o fe el faint or dizzy.”

She added that the factory chimneys emit a mist of dirty water that drops onto people around.

“Some people get itchy or red sk i n f rom t he dirty water from the factory.” she said.

She added that the dirty spray also drops onto yachts and sailing boats, leaving them coated with a foul-smelling film that can be removed only by using “special chemicals”.

Mr Prapan received the group’s written complaint and said that that he would set up a committee to inspect the factory and discuss the problems with the factory owner and the local people.

It has emerged that the two women wanted for the theft of 30 cars (as reported in last week’s Phuket News) were responsible for stealing many more than that.

On March 28 Lakana Omchomphu, 25, the owner of Ice Fashion Car Rent on Wichitsongkram Rd, opposite Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town, told media at the Phuket Press Club that she has eight cars missing after she rented them to Sukanya Janthanarak, 40, and Suphalak Krootmanee, 44.

“The women were nicely dressed and groomed, and they left copies of their ID cards, so I trusted them. They hired the cars on one-month rental contracts but in some cases they called me to extend the contracts and deposited the payment immediately.

Eventually, they had eight of my cars out on rent.

“All cars are now overdue for return but have not been returned and I cannot get h o l d of [S u k a n y a a n d Suphalak] because their phones are turned off.

Anan Jutamas and Lakana Omchomphu (second and third from left) with some of the other rental car owners who had their vehicles stolen by the female con-artists.

“I’m afraid my cars will be broken up and sold for parts, or sold in Burma. I have made a report to Phuket Provincial Police but so far there is no news about my cars.”

Another owner, Anan Jutamas, 35, said that he rented six cars to the duo, but had managed to get five of them back.

He knows roughly where the sixth car, a Toyota Fortuner, is. “It was seized by

Customs at Mae Sai when three men tried to drive it into Burma,” Mr Anan said. “But I have not received it back yet because there is an ‘unknown’ official who has asked me to give him B500,000 for its return. What’s that about?”

Ms Lakana and Mr Anan are not the only rental car owners to have been duped by the two women. Others have reported similar scenarios to police but have yet to receive

news about their missing vehicles, Mr Anan said.

“We are all suffering because many of the cars were bought on installment plans, so with no cars to rent out, we are paying for ‘air’.

“I believe that the Thai police can solve our suffering, but we we will also a sk Gove r nor Tr i Augkaradacha to help us with this problem, as another possibility,” he added.

Mystery over Russian found dead in garden Police are puzzled by the death of a Russian tourist found dead on Tuesday morning (April 3) in the garden of a private villa in Kalim, close to the White Box restaurant.

The dead man, identif ied as Boris Salkovskiy, 66, was found by a Burmese worker who looked after the garden.

Mr Salkovskiy initially appeared to have hanged himself using a tow rope tied to a branch of a tree. But police noted that his feet were firmly on the ground and his knees were bent, possibly indicating that he had been murdered.

A toppled chair lay close by, along with Mr Salkovskiy’s flip-flops.

A doctor, called to the scene, estimated the time of death at around 3 am.

The Russian entered Phuket on March 16 on a tourist visa and was due to leave again on April 13, but it is not yet clear whether he was staying at the villa or somewhere else close by.

Staff at the neighbouring Thai Style Restau rant & Bar said that they had seen him walking past in the mornings, “usually by himself”.

Mr Salkovskiy’s body was taken to Patong Hospital for X-rays and other tests to establish the cause of death and to see whether he did in fact die of hanging.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

IN BRIEF Czech Hon Con meets with Gov

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Anurak Tansiriroj, Czech Republic Honorary Consul in Phuket, met Governor Tri Augkaradacha at the Phuket Provincial Hall on March 28 to discuss tourism problems in Phuket.

Mr Anurak said that on average 1,000 Czech tourists a year visit Phuket. He urged Gov Tri to resolve public transportation problems and added that he was worried about tourists being cheated by some local tourist operators.

He also passed on to the Governor complaints by some tourists about marine pollution.

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V/Gov Sommai Prijasilpa (right) listens as Jomkhwun Viroajcheewan explains her plan.

Billboard chaos solution?

An advertising company from Bangkok met Vice Governor Dr Sommai Prijasilpa on March 29 to propose a scheme for bringing some kind of order to Phuket’s billboard and signage chaos.

Jomkhwun Viroajcheewan, project manager of Master Ad P C L , s a id t h a t t h e company was already working

successfully with the provincial government in Pathum Thani to do this.

Her initial proposal is to erect 50 signs of various types that would carry paid advertising on one side and government messages on the other side. If there is demand, the scheme could be expanded beyond the initial 50.

She suggested an initial three- or five-year contract with the provincial government, with the whole thing being paid for from commercial advertising income.

In addition, she said, Master Ad can supply solar-powered signage, such as street signs that would light up at night.

Bangkok Hospital Phuket has opened a Spine Clinic, manned by specialists from Bangkok Spine Academy and Bangkok Hospital Phuket’s Orthopedics Centre.

Dr Chaiyuth Suteerayongprasert, microscopic spine surgeon, said, “Our clinic provides effective ways to cure patients with or without operations. We use advanced technology such as minimallyinvasive spine surgery so our patients will be able to heal

faster, with smaller wounds.”

For more information call 1719.

Phuket prison to be declared ‘all white’ The Director of Phuket Provincial Prison, Rapin Nichanon, says that he is on the verge of declaring the jail a “white prison” – meaning it is free of drugs.

No drugs have been seized from inmates during the past two months, and no mobile phones have been found thrown over the walls into the prison compound, he said.

Meanwhile, inside, 70 young offenders – 56 of them locked up for drugs offences – are currently undergoing a voluntary programme to turn them into better citizens.

Navy launches fit kids camp The Third Naval Area Command (TNAC) launched its first fitness camp for navy children on Tuesday (April 3). The programme continues until May 1.

The aim is to create activities for youth to join during the school holidays, to improve their health and stop them becoming involved with negative influences such as drugs.

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THE PHUKET NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

IN BRIEF Westerner found hanged A Westerner has been found hanged from a billboard on the rooftop of a 32-floor unfinished building on Bang Na-Trat Rd in Bangkok, police said Monday (March 2).

Pol Capt Wallop Jamniansawat of Bang Na police said the man appeared to be around 30 years-old and carried an ATM card with the name M. Greenwood, reported The Nation.

T he ma n may have died two or three days before his body was discovered, police said.

‘Shakespeare’ film banned

A Thai film, Shakespeare Must Die, by woman director Ing K, has been banned by the Film Board that ruled that the movie’s political content would cause divisions in the country.

It is the second Thai movie banned from commercial release under the Film Act of 2008, reported The Nation. The first was Insects in the Backyard,

by Thanwarin Sukkhapisit, which was banned in 2010.

Shakepeare Must Die h a d r e c e ive d s u p p o r t from the Thai Kem Kaeng (Strong Thailand) fund under the Cultural Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture. An adaptation of Macbeth, the film blends black magic and politics.

American held for child sex

A 62-year-old American, accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, has been arrested by Pattaya police.

Officers from the Child and Women Protection Unit conducted a raid of a rented house in East Pattaya early on March 29 and arrested George Edward Webb.

Items seized include sexenhancement medication and a video camera.

7

Car bombs kill 14 in south

Agence France-Presse

A series of car bombs killed 14 people and injured more than 500 in the deadliest attacks to hit the insurgency-torn far south in recent years, officials said on Sunday (April 1).

In an apparent escalation of their tactics, suspected militants on Saturday (March 31) attacked a hotel in Haad Yai, the largest city in southern Thailand and a popular destination for tourists from neighbouring Malaysia.

A car bomb in the basement triggered a fire which spread to a shopping mall within the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and killed three people, including a Malaysian tourist, according to police.

Song k h la P rov i ncial Governor Grisada Boorach said 416 people were injured, mostly suffering from smoke inhalation, and 140 were still in hospital Sunday.

Until now Haad Yai and Songkhla Province have been relatively untouched by the shadowy insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives in the neighbouring Muslim-dominated provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since 2004.

“There is no hint why they did this at this time,” Haad Yai

Firemen carry an injured man after a fire at the Lee Gardens Hotel in downtown Haad Yai on Saturday (March 31).

Three people, including a Malaysian national, were killed in a fire at the hotel caused by a car bomb.

Photo: AFP Police Chief Col Khomgrit Srisong told AFP. “We’re questioning witnesses and the injured for more information.”

The hotel bombing came about an hour after two car bombs minutes apart hit the town of Yala around midday as people were out shopping.

“Right now we know there are 11 people dead,” an officer at the Health Ministry said.

Col Pramote Promin, spokesman for the southern army region, earlier gave a toll of 10 dead and 117 wounded.

National Police Chief Gen Priewpan Damapong said t he hot el bombi ng wa s linked to the Yala attack.

“It was a car bomb and it’s related to the incident in Yala and I believe that it was the work of the same group,”

he said in televised remarks.

Col Pramote also said the attacks seemed similar.

“In the south there are not many insurgent groups who operate like this,” he said on TNN24 television.

Songkhla Governor Grisada offered a reward of B500,000 for information leading to the arrest of each of two suspects in the hotel blast.

The Government on Tuesday (April 3) ruled out peace talks with militants in the deep south following the deadliest bomb attacks to rock the region in recent years.

Holding dialogue with one Muslim insurgent group could prompt retaliatory attacks by others as a show of strength, De put y P r i me Mi n ister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said.

Faster UK visas for Thai citizens The British Embassy has announced a priority visa service for Thai citizens applying for a visit visa to the United Kingdom.

The service allows applicants, who meet certain criteria and pay an additional fee, to have their visa application placed at the front of the processing queue.

The new priority service costs B3,000 and the UK Border Agency aims to turn

around priority applications within three working days.

The UK is welcoming unprecedented numbers of Thai visitors.

Over 50,000 visitor visas were issued to tourists, family visitors and business travellers in 2011 – a 16 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2010. And 94 per cent of all UK visit visa applications made in Thailand last year were successful.

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8

REGIONAL NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Suu Kyi’s party sweeps landmark Myanmar polls Agence France-Presse

Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won almost all the seats it contested in Myanmar elections, becoming the main opposition force in the national parliament, official results showed Tuesday.

The veteran dissident’s National League for Democracy stormed to victory in 43 of the 44 constituencies where it fielded candidates in Sunday’s polls, according to an election commission announcement on state television.

The landslide win in the by-elections gave Suu Kyi her first-ever seat in parliament, although it will not threaten the comfortable majority of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The Nobel laureate said in her victory speech on Monday that she hoped the vote would mark a “new era” for the nation after decades of repressive junta rule.

But she also appealed for

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, centre, waves to the crowd as she leaves National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Yangon on April 2. Photo: AFP political unity and urged her supporters not to gloat.

The NLD won 37 seats in the 440-seat lower house, along with four in the upper house and two in the regional chambers, the results showed.

Supporters, some shedding tears of delight, celebrated

into the night after the NLD declared that Suu Kyi – who was locked up by the former junta for most of the past 22 years – had secured a seat after Sunday’s by-elections.

The veteran activist’s election to political office marks the latest sweeping

change in Myanmar after decades of outright military rule ended last year.

“This is not so much our triumph as a triumph for people who have decided that they must be involved in the political process in this country,” Suu Kyi said in a

victory speech.

“We hope this will be the beginning of a new era.”

Suu Kyi struck a conciliatory tone towards the other political parties as she prepares to take her place in a parliament that will remain dominated by the military and its political allies.

“We hope that all parties that took part in the elections will be in a position to cooperate with us in order to create a genuinely democratic atmosphere in our nation,” she said.

The Myanmar government has surprised even its critics over the past year with a string of reforms such as releasing hundreds of political prisoners, but ethnic conflict and alleged rights abuses remain concerns for the West.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the election was a significant step but added that the government still had to “redouble” efforts to reach national reconciliation.

Ban hailed the “courage” of Myan mar’s President

Thein Sein and said the vote marked “another significant step towards a better future for Myanmar,” according to a spokesman for the UN chief.

The European Union on Monday held out the prospect of further easing sanctions on Myan mar, while the White House voiced hope that Suu Kyi’s election would lead to greater reform.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated Suu Kyi on her victory while British Foreign Secretary William Hague described it as an “historic result”.

As a lawmaker and opposition leader in parliament, Suu Kyi will have an unprecedented voice in the legislative process, and her party is already looking ahead to the next general election, to be held in 2015.

“Obviously they want to win the next election comprehensively and be able to set up a government in their own right,” said Trevor Wilson, a Myanmar expert at the Australian National University.

Vote thrusts village into media glare Agence France-Presse

It has almost no electricity and just one paved road, but on Sunday a village in rural Myanmar was in the global spotlight as it hosted Aung San Suu Kyi’s historic bid to enter parliament.

Soon after dawn, a large crowd of foreign and local media gathered in front of a house in Wahtheinkha – about two hours’ drive from Yangon – the village where the opposition leader and democracy champion spent the night.

Local people, many dressed for the occasion in vibrant red and blue traditional eth-

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nic Karen clothing, also waited for a glimpse of the c ou nt r y’s most fa mou s former political prisoner.

“I’m happy that many foreigners are here,” farmer Mya Thaung, 40, said. “We have seen foreigners here before but nothing like today.”

Many journalists were welcomed into people’s modest homes over the weekend, unpacking their hi-tech equipment into houses that have only sparse access to power.

Despite the scorching tropical sun, villagers lined the streets, smiling and waving energetically as Suu Kyi’s convoy passed through the dusty

countryside. “I am so happy. I cannot describe how happy I am,” Htay Htay Oo said when asked what she felt at seeing the international press as they swept through.

But others were more nonchalant about the glare of the media spotlight.

Tin Zaw Win said foreigners were not unheard of in the countryside and that aid agencies sometimes visited a local youth training centre.

Until last year, prominent domestic media coverage of Suu Kyi was practically nonexistent, and people who spoke to reporters were taking a real risk.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

IN BRIEF Publisher refuses to withdraw Stalin from schools A Russian publisher has ref used to withd raw a n o t e b o o k fo r s c h o ol ch ild ren feat u r i ng the former Soviet dictator Josef Stalin on its cover.

Members of Russia’s Public Chamber, a government oversight committee, and Moscow city officials have criticised the notebook, which features Stalin in military regalia.

The notebook is part of a series of 20 “Great Russians”.

US gunman shot victims executionstyle: police A Korean-American former student accused of killing seven people at a private Christian college in California lined up his victims and shot them executionstyle, police said Tuesday.

The 43-year-old, identified as One Goh, planned the killings after being expelled from the college near San Francisco. He was “upset” at staff and other students and had displayed “no remorse,” a senior officer said.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

9

Surge in Syrian violence as UN moves to send monitors Agence France-Presse

Fierce clashes erupted after Syria’s regime sent reinforcements into rebel areas despite a truce pledge, as the UN said it was rushing a team to Damascus to pave the way for peace monitors.

The surge in violence on Tuesday killed at least 38 people, including 25 civilians, mostly in north and central Syria, and saw a string of arson attacks on homes, activists and monitors said.

It came a day after peace envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council that President Bashar al-Assad had given assurances he would “immediately” start pulling back his forces and complete a military withdrawal from urban areas by April 10.

The United States accused Assad of failing to honour his pledged troop withdrawal, as monitors reported heavy fighting in opposition strongholds in the southern region of Daraa, the central city of Homs, northwestern Idlib province and near the capital.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has charged

amid heavy machinegun fire and shelling, the Britain-based monitoring group said.

Clashes killed two civilians elsewhere in the province.

In central Homs, 10 civilians were killed in shelling and five others died in fighting elsewhere in the province.

With international concern at the situation growing, a draft UN Security Council statement was drawn up asking Syria to respect an April 10 deadline to halt its military operations in protest cities, according to a copy of the text seen by AFP. The draft also urges the Syrian opposition to cease hostilities within 48 hours after the Assad’s regime makes good on its pledges.

It also calls on all parties to respect a two-hour daily President Assad.

Photo: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom humanitarian pause, as called that the army is torching and the rebellion near the border for in Annan’s plan. looting rebel houses across with Lebanon.

Negotiations on the text – the country in a campaign Clashes in the Atbaa area of distributed by Britain, France that could amount to crimes Daraa left three civilians and and the United States – began two soldiers dead, according on Tuesday. France’s UN enagainst humanity.

Dozens of armoured per- to the Observatory. voy Gerard Araud said he sonnel carriers arrived in Dael, In Idlib, heavy fighting hoped it would be adopted late a town in Daraa province where took place on the outskirts of Wednesday or on Thursday. the uprising against Assad the town of Taftanaz, where Russia, Assad’s vetobegan in March 2011, as well five civilians, four rebels and wielding ally in the Council, as in Zabadani, a bastion of seven soldiers were killed has rejected the idea of a dead-

line, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying “ultimatums and artificial deadlines rarely help matters.”

Washington said on Tuesday that Assad was failing to live up to pledges for a truce.

“The assertion to Kofi Annan was that Assad would start implementing his commitments immediately to withdraw from cities. I want to advise that we have seen no evidence today that he is implementing any of those commitments,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

In Geneva, a spokesman for Annan said the office of the UN-Arab League envoy expected a “UN advance team on the deployment of monitors to arrive in Syria in the next 48 hours.”

In a briefing Monday to the Security Council, Annan sought a broad mandate for the monitoring mission as he reported “no progress” on reaching a ceasefire, according to diplomats.

Syria’s UN envoy, Bashar Jaafari, confirmed the April 10 date had been agreed “by common accord” between Annan and his government.

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10 LETTERS/VIEWPOINT

THE PHUKET NEWS

OPINION

Mirrors ease amputees’ pain

‘Looking in the mirror, the brain suddenly enables you to move your phantom foot and do everything the real foot is doing.

The brain just wants to be tricked.’ > 11

Editor’s Viewpoint

NORACHAI’S WORLD

GREEN LIGHT It has been confirmed that plans for a road tunnel between Kathu and Patong received the green light from the recent mobile Cabinet meeting in Phuket. And that’s good news for Phuket.

The Patong Hill road has long been notorious for traffic jams, runaway buses and trucks and other accidents, and landslips. Many motorists avoid it entirely, instead going through either Kamala or Kata, in the hope that one day a better route will be thought out.

It appears a solution may finally have been found.

During last month’s mobile cabinet meeting in Phuket, the Government gave approval in principle for the tunnel, first mooted a decade ago.

At this stage the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) will manage the project. With government funding by no means a sure thing, EXAT plans to go the build-operate-transfer (BOT) route, with a private company building and operating the tunnel until it has made an agreed profit from tolls, and

Coming soon.

Letters to the editor Do unto others [Re. Son of a Beach] I agree with the concerns you outlined regarding the rampant commercialisation of Surin Beach.

One of the worst offenders is a very small restaurant which has expanded like an unstoppable virus on to the beach and outwards, seemingly covering every inch of sand in the area, planting trees, obstructing the views from other restaurants, and blocking access.

It has built a huge unsafe pontoon out from the beach, lights dangerous paraffin torches at night, shines a mass of coloured laser lights, and plays loud music to disturb diners in adjoining restaurants.

What is going to be done about it?

Gordon Lewis

Cut like a buffalo [Re. Free vehicle safety checks for Songkran] What a very stupid idea, do these people even know how to think? By this I mean it is a very good idea, but really, do they expect anyone, with an unroadworthy vehicle to go along, and have it checked?

Let’s face it, most Thais don’t give a damn about safety, and even if they found something wrong, what would they do? As in most more advanced countries, will they issues unworthiness certificates and/or put the vehicle off the road?

Most Thais should still be on water buffalo, at least then the buffalo has some common sense and will not cause an accident, he is smarter than the Thai rider.

Laurie Howells

Phuket needs less billboards.

Ideally none. How is an advertising company going to achieve this?

If they are to be successful, they will want more billboards.

Kel

A gambling man [Re. Huge casino in Phuket proves hard to find] The police are not doing anything even when illegal casinos are set in the forest for two to three weeks, and then move away.

I have several times told the police patrolling my village where this casino was, not more than 200 metres away.

The police officers laughed at me as I told them to “have a look” into that issue.

Marc

All boarded up

On yer bike

[Re. Company offers solution to billboard chaos]

[Re. Phuket Bike Week delayed two weeks]

From what I hear most of the bikers will be gone long before April 20. Strange only that the date was changed at such short notice, whilst the facts were known a long time before!

Many people will lose money, because of very bad management.

Erwintrepka

Put it on the bill [Re. Company offers solution to billboard chaos] Frankly I do not see the point of this suggested initiative.

Or am I missing something?

The problem with billboards in Phuket is that there are apparently no restrictions on size, garishness, location, or numbers. Most countries place limits on where signs can be erected. Not Phuket.

Why not introduce some rules to control this rash of signs – which are usually misspelled anyway?

Easier said than done,

then transferring ownership to a government body.

Pipe dreams have turned very quickly into tunnel vision – in the best possible meaning of the phrase – with Aiyanut Tinapai, governor of EXAT, saying the tunnel could be completed in five or six years.

Asian companies have already expressed an interest in building the project, he said.

The benefits for Phuket could be huge. With the current Patong Hill route expected to remain open, the new tunnel project will provide another, safer, option for motorists.

The design envisages separate tunnels for traffic heading each way. Each tunnel will have two car lanes and a motorbike lane, providing options if accidents occur.

Under the current situation a bad accident on Patong Hill can bring traffic to a standstill for hours, and with the Kamala and Kata routes so far out of the way, options are limited.

For those willing to wait for another five or six years, there may indeed be light at the end of the tunnel.

This week in history admittedly. It is a thriving business here.

Riled in Rawai

It’s all good I have just noticed the March 30 letter by “Disgruntled” regarding Phuket Airport Immigration.

I can only say that when I arrived there late Thursday night (22.30) last week on a Qatar Airways flight, all immigration desks (a dozen or so?), for both Thais and foreigners, were open.

Fr om a r r iva l , goi ng through immigration, waiting for my luggage (as usual one of the last on the belt), to being in my pre-booked taxi was less than 15 minutes.

As far as I know, the plane had 120 passengers on it, and there seemed to be no other planes at that time, so around 10-12 passengers per desk?

Have suffered much worse in Europe and the US. A Happy Traveller

Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Email editor@thephuketnews.com or fax 076 612 553. Please include your full name, phone number, and email address.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

■■ April 6, 1652 – At the Cape of Good Hope, Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp that eventually becomes Cape Town.

■■ April 7, 1827 – John Walker, an English chemist, sells the first friction match that he had invented the previous year.

■■ April 8, 1767 – Ayutthaya kingdom falls to Burmese invaders.

■■ April 9, 1860 – On his phonautograph machine, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville makes the oldest known recording of an audible human voice.

■■ April 10, 1912 – The Titanic leaves port in Southampton, England for her first and only voyage.

■■ April 11, 1775 – The last execution for witchcraft in Germany takes place.

■■ April 12, 1934 – The strongest surface wind gust in the world at 371 kph is measured on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire, USA.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

FEATURE 11

MAN IN THE MIRROR CAMBODIAN AMPUTEES' PHANTOM PAIN Agence France-Presse

P

ov Sopheak lost his left leg in a landmine blast in 1990. Yet some nights the pain in his "left foot" is so bad he cannot sleep. Like many amputees, he suffers from phantom pain.

Now, after two decades of agony, the Cambodian is embracing an innovative technique that promises relief simply by using a mirror to trick the brain into "moving" the missing limb, allowing the pain to subside.

Sitting in a chair and holding a full-length mirror against his leg, Mr Sopheak, 50, smiles self-consciously as some two dozen physical therapists gather around him.

It is their first mirror therapy training session at the Cambodia Trust, a rehabilitation charity for amputees in the central province of Kampong Chhnang.

But Mr Sopheak visibly relaxes as he follows the instructions of visiting Canadian trainer Stephen Sumner to wriggle his right toes and keep his eyes on his foot’s ref lected i mage, superimposed on the missing one.

“It’s a new sensation. It’s strange but in a good way,” the former soldier, who now works as a security guard, told AFP. “I see my leg in the mirror and I feel happy, like my mind is at ease.”

Mr Sumner explains that the reflection of the intact limb can fool the brain into “seeing” two healthy legs, allowing it to once again send command signals to the phantom leg – signals that would previously come back distressed because the limb was missing.

“Looking in the mirror, the brain suddenly enables you to move your phantom foot and do everything the real

to keep at it for at least four weeks,” he told the Cambodia Trust therapists, recommending two 10-minute sessions a day of flexing one’s hand or foot.

It could even help double amputees.

“Even a simple prosthesis on one limb can work in the mirror. Even that’s enough.

The brain wants to be healed so much,” Mr Sumner said.

Mr Sopheak said he hoped to keep up the routine and finally ease his suffering, which he said “feels like my leg is shaking” followed by a sharp pain in his phantom little toe and big toe.

Until now, he has tried to deal with his pain with diversions such as drumming or singing, by massaging h is st u mp or by t a k i ng the occasional pain killer, to little effect.

While experts say mirror therapy can be a useful tool for many amputees, Mr Altschuler, an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the New Jersey Medical School, said it was important not to give “false hope”.

“Nothing works for everybody,” he said by telephone from the United States.

Canadian trainer Stephen Sumner talks to Cambodian amputees.

Photo: AFP “The mirror is very helpful for movement-type problems foot is doing,” said Mr SumBut it only started tak- after it featured in a 2009 non-profit End The Pain Projlike spasms or a clenched ner, 51, who lost his left leg ing off in the United States, episode of “House”, a popular ect, he is training dozens fist. It does not work for burnof physicians and amputees in a hit-and-run motorbike Canada and Europe in the last US medical drama. few years – its use boosted But it is still largely un- across Cambodia and, crucially ing pain, for instance.” accident eight years ago.

Still, Mr Altschuler, who “The brain just wants to be by soldiers returning from known in Cambodia, a small in this impoverished nation, has just returned from training tricked. It’s dying for release.” Iraq and Afghanistan with country with tens of thousands handing out free mirrors – physical therapists in Haiti, said The theory, which also missing limbs, neuroscien- of amputees as a result of traf- full-length ones for legs, halfhe was pleased the technique works to ease phantom arms tist Eric Altschuler, a mirror fic accidents, disease and, in length ones for arms. out of painful or cramped posi- therapy expert who works with most cases, landmines left Phantom pain is thought had reached Cambodia.

“It has the potential to have tions, was developed in 1995 Ramachandran, told AFP. over from decades of civil war. to affect around 80 per cent by neuroscientist Vilayanur At the Walter Reed Army Sumner, who says his own of all amputees and there are tremendous utility,” he said.

S. Ramachandran from the Medical Center in Washington, bouts of phantom pain felt no drugs that can cure it, but “Mirror therapy is inexpenUniversity of California, San mirror therapy is now routinely like “lightning bolts through Sumner stressed that the mirror sive and easy. Patients can do it by themselves, allowDiego, named as one of the offered to amputees. my foot”, is determined to method was not a quick fix.

The neurological trickery spread the message.

“Mirror therapy won’t cure ing them to take control of world's most influential people

by Time magazine in 2011. also reached a wider audience Backed by the Canadian you immediately. You have their own health.”

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12 BUSINESS/TOURISM

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Getting up to speed

Myanmar’s car lovers can buy a new motor after rules relaxed > 14

business@thephuketnews.com

N Korea woos foreign tourists Agence France-Presse

North Korea is attempting once more to lure foreign tourists to help celebrate a major anniversary, pledging to make “every possible sincere efforts” to show visitors a good time.

Preparations are under way at the scenic Mount Kumgang to arrange transport and lodging for foreigners who have appa re ntly show n “keen interest” in visiting the communist nation.

There are no official figures on how many foreign tourists visit North Korea each year, but their cash is a major boon to the moribund economy.

A resort area at Mount Kumgang was developed by the South Korean giant Hyundai Asan and opened in 1998. It once earned the impoverished North tens of millions of dollars a year from South Koreans eager to see the other half of the Korean peninsula.

But in July 2008 a South Korean housewife on vacation was shot dead by a North Korean soldier after allegedly straying from the area, and

South Korea banned all tours by its citizens to the North.

The development, which has since been deserted, “is fully open to all tourists in the blooming best tour season of April”, a spokesman for the tourism authority in the Mount Kumgang area told state media organisation KCNA. The spokesman pledged “all kinds of special privileges” to tour firms willing to go there, stressing the North was in celebratory mood for the centenary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-Sung, on April 15.

“We welcome all the tourists coming to Mount Kumgang and will make every possible sincere efforts to let them spend pleasant days in the best scenic spot,” said the spokesman.

The resort in the coastal Mount Kumgang was developed with South Korean money as a symbol of rapprochement between the two Koreas, who are still technically at war after the 1950-53 conf lict ended only in an armistice.

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ties has seen the North and South fail to find a compromise on tour groups from South Korea returning.

Frustrated with the long stalemate and desperate for foreign cash, Pyongyang last year stripped Hyundai Asan of its exclusive right to run tours to the idyllic area, which boasts breathtaking views, lush vegetation and waterfalls.

Foreign tourists face heavy restrictions on visits to North Korea, which can ordinarily be made only as part of a closely watched tour group. Most areas of the country are off-limits and visitors are forbidden to talk to North Koreans.

Pyongyang on Sunday renewed criticism of what it called South Korea’s “grave provocation” over Mount Kumgang. Seoul has been lobbying for a blanket ban on all foreign tourists going there.

The North plans lavish commemorations for the anniversary, with various festivals and events including the launch of a satellite – which has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.

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Phuket Asia hub for Princess

The launch of the new Princess Yachts Southeast Asia sales and service network was celebrated in style at Phuket Boat Lagoon marina recently.

David King, chairman and founder of the luxury yacht company, joined company executives Alan P ic ke r i n g f r o m Si n g a pore, Oh Kean Shen from Malaysia, Kriss Pramono from Indonesia, and Vrit Yongsakul from Thailand, in the week-long seminar and training programme.

“Southeast Asia is one of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world, and I am delighted that our new

Princess Yachts network in the region is dedicated to offering professional service and support to our owners,” said Mr King.

Mr Vrit, son of Boat Lagoon owner Kanit Yongskul, said, “I am proud to have been part of the Princess family since 1994 when we bought our first Princess P66.”

He has been appointed managing director of Princess Yachts Thailand and is a founder of Princess Yachts Southeast Asia.

The seminar and courses were attended by captains, engineers, service personnel and owners from across

the region, including India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Samui, Pattaya, and Phuket.

Many owners also stayed on to enrol in the new Princess Yachts Southeast Asia Sea School, headed by Robert Hawkins, resident RYA instructor based in Phuket.

The celebration saw the largest gathering ever in Asia of Princess yachts – 15 boats including models dating back to 1995 up to the latest in the 2012 collection.

The final day of the company’s launch saw a fleet of 12 of the yachts sailing out to Phang Nga Bay.

PM ‘will do utmost to limit oil price shock’ NNT/TAN Network

Unit 6D CCM Complex 77/77 Moo 5, Chalermprakiat Rama 9 Rd., Rasada Sub District, Muang Phuket District, Phuket

Owners of Princess yachts take their boats for a spin together in Phang Nga Bay.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has pledged that the Government will do its utmost to limit the effect of the

current surging energy prices to help the public cope with the rise in cost of living.

The Prime Minister said her administration will work to ease the impact from energy price increases on consumers as much as possible.

Ms Yingluck remarked that the promotion of energy saving and development or

search for renewable energy sources must proceed ahead.

Ms Yingluck insisted that energy policies must not create any environmental problem that could lead to the deterioration in climate change.

She suggested the public and businesses “adapt themselves” to cope with the changing situation.

This week oil major Shell estimated that oil consumption this year will remain unchanged from last year.

The president of Shell Thailand, Pisawan Atchanapornkul, said that with rising prices, this year’s sales will likely see only 2- to 3-per-cent growth as consumption slows down.

The company also demanded that the Government announce a clear policy on gasohol before sales of 91-grade gasoline are discontinued in October this year.

The company said it is prepared to adopt the Government’s policy to phase out gasoline 91 in October but wants the Government to coordinate better with refineries on the discontinuation of gasoline, warning that if it does not there could be problems with gasohol production.

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS/TOURISM 13

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

B300

THA South elects new president

Wage rise will boost Thai economy – ‘but bad news will follow’ An academic has predicted that the B300 wage will act as a mild stimulant to the country’s economy, adding 0.5-0.6 per cent to GDP. But he also painted a bleak picture of the immediate economic future.

Thanawat Polwichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center (EBFC) at the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce said that between 3.5 million and 5 million labourers will earn an average of B60 more a day.

This, he said, would result i n a n ext ra B7 billion to B9 billion a month circulating in the Thai economy.

On the downside, he said, higher capital costs due to the wage hike were likely to put pressure on businesses to increase prices of goods by 5 to 10 per cent in the second half of the year.

Dr Thanawat also predicted two other possible effects of higher wages: increased automation, replacing labour with machines; and relocation of some industrial companies to neighbouring countries with lower wages.

T he i mpa ct of t he minimum wage increase on overall employment would become clearer over the coming three years, he said.

D r T h a n awat a l s o war ned that inf lation has already resulted in increased personal debt.

He cited a recent sur-

vey by the EBFC of 1,237 respondents that revealed most of those surveyed had more debt than last year, not as a result of the f loods in Bangkok and Central Thailand, but because of the higher cost of living. About 61 per cent said the current cost of living was eating into their savings.

He also raised concern that workers earning less than B10,000 a month are already having problems repaying debt. With an average debt of nearly B170,000 per household, resulting in monthly repayments averaging almost B11,000, the problem was plain, he said.

He also warned that the higher cost of living will damage consumer conf idence, and lower consumer spending will affect the overall economy, making it unlikely that an expected recovery by the third quarter of the year will be achieved.

Me a nwh i le, L ab or Minister Padernchai Sasomsap has warned that any company that does not comply with the minimum wage rates for day workers will face legal action.

Employers who fail to comply, the minister warned, face a fine of up to B100,000 or a sixmonth jail term.

He added that the ministry is to open centres nationwide to accept complaints from workers who are not being paid the new minimum rates.

The boats at this year’s show were bigger than before, the biggest being 92 feet long.

Pimex boat show ‘a success’ The ninth edition of the Phuket International Boat Show (Pimex), which ended on Sunday (April 1) at the Royal Phuket Marina, has been declared a success by organisers Informa Yacht Group.

Although some visitors noticed an apparent lack of quantity – the visitors could not have been described as “arriving in droves” – Informa stressed that the show “has become known for its quality: quality products, quality exhibitors and quality visitors”.

Economists oppose weakening of baht TAN Network

The idea of weakening the baht, as broached by Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, has drawn widespread criticism, with many academics and economists saying the approach would distort the market mechanism and might expose the Thai economy to numerous risks.

Thanawat Polwichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the current approach adopted by the Bank of Thailand in managing the exchange rate is already appropriate.

He said the current managed floating exchange rate regime is flexible and effective in stimulating economic

Govt ‘must do more to tackle migrant issues’ MCOT Online

Thailand’s economists expressed concern that the country’s ongoing problem with migrant workers is likely to worsen in coming years if it is not addressed in line with the law, according to a new opinion poll.

The Bangkok University poll was conducted among

economists from 32 leading organisations between March 22 and 29 and found that 73.5 per cent of those polled viewed migrant workers as essential to Thai economic expansion.

The respondents said that Thailand lacks good management and proper labour use to match the skills of workers.

Moreover, there are loopholes in Thai laws on foreign labour.

Many exhibitors told the organisers they had made good contacts and sales leads, and local yacht dealer Lee Marine was reported as making several sales at the show, including a Jeanneau 53 sailing yacht.

“The display of boats in the marina is exceptional. The boat line-up is of the highest quality and the average boat size has increased, too,” said Andy Dowden, Pimex show director. The largest boat in the show was a 92-foot yacht from Persching.

Suchart Hirankanokkul was elected president of the Thai Hotels Association, Southern Chapter, at the organisation’s recent annual meeting, held at the Graceland Resort & Spa in Patong.

Also elected to the new Board of Directors for 20122014 were Yuthachai Lhimchaisawas (Secretary General); Worapol Ungtrakul (Treasurer); Tan Chee Kieng (VP, airport services); Krissada Tansakul (VP, events and activities); Surasak Tharapat (VP, marketing); Yongsak Natpracha (VP, public relations); Prasert Chanphonngam (VP, environment awareness; Wilawan Chiammanasombut (VP, training development); Rachin Thongmakkul (VP, membership & revenue; Alain Mekwattana (VP, foreign affairs); Kiatisak Sriprasom (VP, Phang-Nga); and Veerapat Chantharo (VP, Krabi).

Slightly over half – 52.9 per cent – of the respondents thought the Yingluck Shinawatra government had paid little attention to problems relating to migrant workers.

A majority of the economists surveyed felt the Government should impose rules to specify the exact number of migrant workers, categorise their skills and train them.

activity while reigning in inflation. He observed that the baht’s value in a range of B30.50 to B31 against the US dollar is ‘favourable’.

Mr Thanawat said that should the baht be artificially weakened to around B32 to B34 to the dollar, it would not truly reflect current economic conditions and could expose the baht to speculation.

Praipol Koomsup, economics lecturer at Thammasat University, feared that a scenario similar to the 1997 “Tom Yam Gung” Asian Financial Crisis might occur.

He scoffed at Mr Na Ranong’s remarks that a weaker baht would boost Thailand’s exports. Current export problems do not lie with the exchange rate, he said, but are a result of the global slowdown.

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14 BUSINESS/PROPERTY

THE PHUKET NEWS

Myanmar’s rust bucket owners finally get hope of new vehicles Agence France-Presse

A recent Phuket News story about two women who rented dozens of cars from Phuket and then sold them, with at least one being stopped on the way into Myanmar (see update in news pages this week), illustrates how desperate the people of Myanmar are to get their hands on a decent set of wheels.

Fume-belching classic European cars and aging Japanese sedans have rattled along Myanmar’s streets for decades, but as the country opens up, there is hope for Myanmar’s car lovers, and many of the r ust buckets may f inally be facing the scrapheap.

The cars rumble loudly as engines rebuilt with parts salvaged from dead autos gasp for life and fan belts squeal. Their headlights sometimes die at night and many have rotten floors that offer a view of the asphalt beneath.

Most of the rusting automobiles on the streets of the main city Yangon hail from Japan, but there are also classic Western models dating back to a bygone era before the reclusive generals seized power half a century ago.

The main reason for the ageing fleet is not international sanctions – which do not prevent foreign cars reaching Myanmar’s shores – but the sky-high import costs imposed by the former junta.

Now, however, the country’s new nominally civilian government is easing car import regulations to allow more vehicles to be brought Villa Suksan is a q uie

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Tan Htay at the wheel of his 60-year-old Mercedes Benz. He found it in a garage covered in dust, but intact. With a new battery and tyres, he coaxed it back into life. Photo: AFP in from overseas – for those who can afford it.

“The government is offering owners a chance to own imported used cars if they swap their old cars, which is a good idea,” said classic car owner Than Htay, 52, as he checked the engine of his 1950s-era Mercedes Benz, car that in other parts of the world would arouse the interests of serious collectors. “ But m a ny ord i n a r y Burmese are poor and will still not be able to afford newer models,” he added.

Under military rule, imported cars were a luxury reserved for people close to the junta, whose cronies are more likely to be seen behind the wheel of a Mercedes or

d deve lopme nt of bout ique villa s

com bini n

a Ferrari than a battered old Toyota.

Even a two-decades-old Japanese saloon could fetch US$20,000 (B600,000) or more, while a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser could boast a price tag of upwards of US$250,000 (B7.5 million) In September of last year the government announced that owners of cars at least 40 years old could trade them i n for ha rd-to -get permits to buy imported used vehicles, sending prices of the rust buckets soaring.

It said the scheme – under which the old cars will be scrapped – would be gradually expanded to include vehicles at least 20 years old.

But even under the offer,

g lu xury and affor dabilit y

taxes and import duties mean a used car costs more than US$10,000 (B300,000) – a huge sum in a country where a third of the nearly 60 million people still live in poverty.

These days local newspapers publish special sections advertising used cars, while several dealerships offering imported secondhand autos from Japan have sprung up around Yangon in recent months.

Small Ch i nese -ma de cars in brash colours can also now be seen alongside the rattletraps.

Self-taught vintage car expert and mechanic Soe Min Latt is one of thousands in Myanmar whose livelihoods depend on their skills in keeping the old cars on the streets.

“We can revive everything on four tyres,” boasted the 32-year-old.

He said the new scheme caused a drop in business since late last year at his shop in Yangon’s Bayint Naung industrial area, with many owners who could afford to trading in their ancient models.

“Those who owned old cars were trading them for import permits, instead of having them serviced and buying parts,” he said.

But despite reforms that have advanced at a startling pace since the new government took power last year, Myanmar remains one of the world’s least developed countries and owning a newer car remains just a dream for most.

Than Htay said his faded rust-orange Mercedes would remain in service, unless somebody looking to buy an old car to swap for an import permit came along with a very good offer, or if a restoration expert took the risk of going through the corrupt bureaucracy to take it abroad.

He said his car had passed from one family to another but was likely originally owned by a former politician at a time when Yangon was a thriving port city more than half a century ago.

Than Htay said he discovered it years ago in a garage in the former capital, covered in thick dust but with all its or igi nal par ts i nt act. It coughed into life after he swapped the tyres and battery and topped up the tank.

It still sports the original accessories, and its MercedesBenz insignia still proudly stands erect on its hood, albeit slightly rusted.

The engine bears the official seal from the German manufacturer, and its original wooden dashboard and panels retain some of its past grandeur.

But a smell of mildew envelopes the interior, and holes have appeared in the floor.

“It has no power steering, so it’s very heavy to negotiate around narrow streets, though it gets me where I want to go,” said Than Htay, a trader and part-time tour operator.

In Myanmar, he said, “Cars do not really die. They are resurrected and recycled.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

IN BRIEF PG and MH begin code-sharing Bangkok Airways (PG) and Malaysia Airlines (MH) have begun codesharing.

Malaysia Airlines will apply its MH marketing flight code to Bangkok Airways’ jet services for BangkokKoh Samui, Ba ng kokPhuket, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Koh Samui-Phuket and Koh Samui-Kuala Lumpur, while Bangkok Airways will codeshare on Malaysia Airlines’ Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur-Phuket services.

This will, for example, allow passengers boardi ng i n K L to f ly i nto Koh Sa mu i w it hout a stopover in Bangkok.

Firefly postpones Hat Yai service Malaysian airline Firefly has postponed its Subang to Haad Yai service following bomb attacks in Yala and Hat Yai that left as many as 14 dead and some 400 people injured, and severely damaged a tourist hotel.

The service was due to start May 2.

Malaysia Airlines/Firefly’s chief operating officer shorthaul, Ignatius MC Ong, said, “Our passengers’ safety is our top priority. We will not commence flights until we think it is safe to f ly. We will announce a new commencement date when the situation in Hat Yai is back to normal.”

Centara to manage Koh Chang resort Centara Hotels & Resorts has assumed management of the Koh Chang Tropicana Resort & Spa, on Klong Praow Beach, Koh Chang.

The property will undergo extensive renovation and upgrading, though it will stay open to guests. On October 15 this year it will be rebranded as the Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort.

This will be the first property on Koh Chang for Centara.

Myanmar starts currency overhaul

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Myanmar’s central bank on Monday (April 2) began a managed flotation of its currency, the kyat, as part of an overhaul of its complex exchange rate system.

The central bank set a reference rate of 818 kyat to the dollar, according to an announcement on its website.

The move brings the official currency rate in line with its value on the black market of about 800 to the greenback.

16 ART

THE PHUKET NEWS

CULTURE

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

BIG LIST: April Fools’ Day pranks > 20

culture@thephuketnews.com

KNOW WHERE THIS IS? GUESS RIGHT AND WIN!

GERRY’S view

THIS WEEK’S HINT: “For those of you who have not visited the basement of this good-looking building, you are missing out on viewing some items that are over 380 million years old, not to mention some treasured collections that have taken two brothers over 30 years to collect and display for the enjoyment of visitors and locals.

Many of the items on display are found along some of our beaches, but most come from afar.”

–Gerry Cummings

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Waxing lyrical Norachai Thavisin editor3@thephuketnews.com

Helping her lapidary mother as a child in the French Pacific territory of NouvelleCalédonie (New Caledonia), Patricia Boullion learned early the love of creating something using her bare hands.

From collecting and handling gem stones, the artist went on to shape clay in pottery, and now – living in Phuket – is deeply-immersed in making beautiful batik.

He r s m a l l s t u d io i n Chalong is filled with her latest work: a large thin cotton cloth, stretched out on a rack, being lovingly worked on with wax and delicate hand-painted washes of pastel colours.

From the hot molten mixture of wax and paraffin on the kitchen stove, Patricia scoops up some in a small traditional Indonesian funnel, that allows her to effectively draw lines with the melted wax. These outlined shapes are then brushed in with different layers of watery paint.

Washing the wax lines away with warm water leaves neat white lines separating the colours, making up very satisfying designs that are

thephuketnews.com

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Congratulations go to Steve Garner, who correctly guessed that last week’s photo was of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church on Soi Taling Chan, just a short distance from the Clock tower roundabout. There is also a Buddhist shrine and Muslim mosque on this soi, demonstrating that the ‘big three’ religions in Thailand can co-exist in close proximity to one another.

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Baan Wana Park, 177/22 Moo.4, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang, 076 620 071, designedbywoulfe.com.

Dream Gallery

Boat Lagoon, 23/122 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, 076 273 487, gallery@asiansourcingallery.com, thedreamgallery.asia.

I Mon Art Gallery:

29/2 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 086 961 8968, montian_29@live.com. Open daily 8am-7.30pm.

Little Monk Gallery:

95/33 Saiyuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971.

Nakonnai Art Museum:

84/34 Moo7, Soi Saiyuan 2, Rawai. 085 974 7218, nakonnaiartmuseum@yahoo.com.

Red Gallery:

Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai, 087 323 321, redgallerythai@yahoo.com; phuketredgallery.com.

Sarasil Art Galllery:

121 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 532, somkiatkaewnok@yahoo.com; oilpaintingsphuket.com.

Open daily 8pm-9pm.

The Love Art Studio:

28/13 Soi Naya 2, Naiharn, 089 471 5653, pui.t.l.a.s.@hotmail.com; theloveartstudio.com.

The One Gallery:

53 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 083 634 6840, inone_111@yahoo.com. Open daily 11am-9pm.

Veerachan Usahanun:

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Vichen Gallery Bzenter

Behind Da Vinci Restaurant, Saiyuan Rd, Rawai, 087 890 3722.

Open daily 3-9 pm. (Telephone to view before 3pm.)

inspired by nature.

The images reflect the relaxed and meditative state the artist is usually in when they are painted. Gentle classical music and Gregorian chants, playing in the background,

Raised in the French Pacific, local batik artist Patricia Boullion relaxes in her garden in Chalong. also influence her art, it seems. to make her wonderful batik.

The much-travelled artist spent years sailing between Visitors are welcome to New Caledonia and France. visit her house in Chalong, Calling into Phuket on a trip by appointment only. Call to India in 2001, Patricia Patricia on 088-443-3412 or stayed in this natural paradise email caldianea@gmail.com.

VR Gallery & Coffee Shop

Next to Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, 12 Kata Noi Rd, Kata Noi, 076 333 568; art@momtriphuket.com, momtriphuket.com.

Watcharin Art Studio:

27 Yaowaraj Rd, Phuket Town, 088 386 1449, watcharintinorodnit@hotmail.com, rindamagicalart.com.

Wua Gallery and Studio:

1 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 258 208, wua.artgallery@gmail.com; wua-artgallery.blogspot.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

PEOPLE 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

A 27 year long Thai holiday Angela Prajantabut

Managing Director, Phuket Consult What you do in Phuket?

I own and manage Phuket Consult, which provides personal executive assistance in many areas such as insurance, accounting, company set up, work permits, visas, property management, legal and emergency assistance.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago I was the Regional Sales Manager for Choice Foods Phuket, and 20 years ago I was a Guest Relations Manager at Holiday Inn Phuket.

Why did you move here?

Just over 27 years ago I came for a three-week holiday. Almost three decades and two children later, the holiday has still not finished.

What is the best thing about Phuket?

Living with and loving my Thai husband and the people of Phuket. Being able to totally immerse myself into the beautiful culture, and having the most fabulous mother-in-law a girl could wish for.

You speak fluent Thai – do you have any advice for learners?

Yes I speak both the Bangkok and Phuket dialects – it was easy for me to learn T h a i b e c au s e 27 ye a r s ago hardly anybody spoke English. I just listened and learned to speak that way.

But I learned like a baby, so I picked up everything that was said to me hence I can speak the Phuket dialect too.

This usually causes quite a few raised eyebrows and dropped jaws when I do. Often it is on the phone, and they forget completely what they were supposed to be helping me with in the first place.

You are a Thai citizen?

The process started over 10 years ago, and many times along the way I did not thin k I would get it but with a lot patience and persistence, I received my Thai nationality after nine years.

I applied for Thai nationality because this is my home.

Both my children were born here and their father is Thai.

I felt a need to belong too.

I kissed the ground the day I received Thai nationality. It was one of the happiest days of my life and the day I received my Thai ID card I completely lost my ability to speak Thai temporarily.

I was speechless and could not respond to the lady in the district office. She did look at me strangely as if thinking ‘how did she receive Thai nationality?’.

But then I rattled off in the Phuket dialect how ove r w h el m e d I w a s t o finally receiving my Thai ID card, and a big smile appeared on her face.

What do you do to relax?

Exercise, in any for m – cycling, running, boxing – anything that raises my heart rate and gives me a buzz.

Any other hobbies?

I love reading and a friend has just brought a Kindle for me so I am very excited to be able to download books.

I love all sports and would love to do beach volleyball

Exposed but fear I would be mistaken for a beached whale!

Favourite food?

Nam khao yam (Phuket style chilli dip), pla tort (fried fish) and gang som (fish curry with pineapple).

Best tip for people thinking of moving to Phuket?

Don’t rush into anything too fast, do your homework, go with the flow, take it easy, don’t make a scene, and always remember to smile.

Funniest thing that has happened to you here?

When I first moved here I ordered fried bananas and got the pronunciation completely wrong. The stall owner gave me such an indignant stare, and told me she did not sell anything of the sort!

Unfortunately I can’t tell you in the newspaper what I mistakenly ordered instead of fried bananas.

Person you admire the most in the world?

My late father-in-law who passed away in 2003 – he was the most amazing man, and

Angela Prajantabut speaks Bangkok and Phuket dialects.

I learnt so much from him.

Just mentioning him brings a lump in my throat.

Favourite place to go on the island?

Nai Harn Lake – I run and cycle it as often as I can and in my eyes it is beautiful – a mad

dash round the lake uplifts me and sets the day.

Perfect night out?

Well, I am a bit of a homebody to be honest, but if and when I can be dragged out, I like to go for a glass of wine or two, or three, at DaVinci.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Message in a bottle Norachai Thavisin editor3@thephuketnews.com

Sulaiman Bunsop came all the way from Phi Phi to attend last week’s SEEK marine workshop at the Royal Phuket Marina.

Small, wiry and deeplytanned by the island life, he had a passionate message to tell everyone: please, please, please, don’t litter our beaches and sea.

Living in one corner of the tiny island in the middle of the Andaman Sea, Khun Sulaiman spends up to five hours every single day, picking up rubbish washed up on the beaches, or left by the hordes of tourists who pass through.

When he has collected a pile, he pays up to B4,000 out of his own pocket for workers to cart the plastic, foam and other burnable rubbish to Phuket, where it can be disposed of in the municipal incinerators.

Sulaiman gives recyclable glass bottles and cans to recyclers on the island to make money for themselves.

Sulaiman Bunsop, from Phi Phi, leads by example.

Formerly married to a Swedish woman, Sulaiman lived in Sweden for a time.

Inspired by their clean environment, he uses his own personal savings to keep his precious Phi Phi clean.

He captured the true admiration of the assembled greenies at the SEEK workshop with his dedication and simple hands-on solution that can be applied anywhere, anytime to protect our earth.

thephuketnews.com

18 HEALTH

IN BRIEF Child birth ‘taking longer’ Compared with the 1960s, US women have in recent years spent two to three hours longer in labour, according to researchers at the US National Institutes of Health, who say the findings suggest doctors may need to rethink the definition of “normal” labour.

The extra time is spent in the first stage of labour – the longest part of the process, before the “pushing” stage, according to findings published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

US skin cancer rates rising Skin cancer is on the rise among young adults, according to a US study published Monday that suggests indoor tanning beds and childhood sunburns may be to blame.

Between 1970 and 2009, the rate of melanoma among women increased eightfold and quadrupled among men, according to the research by Mayo Clinic experts who studied all medical records for a county in Minnesota over that timespan.

However, death rates from melanoma fell during the

same period, suggesting that early interventions may be helping to save some lives, said the researchers.

New York stubs out synthetic pot Synthetic marijuana, which is sold openly in shops and gives smokers a high, was banned last week across New York after being linked to serious health risks.

It will be no more “Mr Nice Guy,” or “Smiley Dog,” “Spice,” “Galaxy Gold” or any other brands of the fake pot, which until now had been sold across the counter in convenience stores and tobacco shops.

The ban was issued by New York State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah and his New York City equivalent with immediate effect.

Synthetic marijuana is a plant material coated with chemicals imitating THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

The state order said the product had been linked to “severe adverse reactions, including death and acute renal failure,” and commonly caused increased heart rates, paranoia, nausea, confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness.

Ploughing through stiffness Kim White culture@thephuketnews.com

Welcome to part two of our anatomical focus on the neck and shoulders (part one appeared in March 2 issue, see thephuketnews.com).

After practising the shoulder stand all last month, you should be more than ready to practise the plough (halasana).

Out of all the asanas that yoga offers, halasana is one of the best and also one of my favourites, and in my opinion should be taught to everyone from a young age.

It is like a mini detox for the body every time you practise it. The position of the body in the posture allows the blood to flow to the pituitary gland and thyroid, which helps to give the body a good flush out and assists in speeding up the metabolism.

The sanskrit word hala translates as plough, the shape

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012 1

that this asana resembles.

This is one of the best asanas for health and wellbeing and should be practiced daily.

To progress through this asana with the best structural alignment and maximum benefit: • Start on your back with your knees on your chest.

• Breathe out and project your knees towards your head, at the same time bringing your hands up to support your lower back with your elbows resting on the floor.

• Keeping your back upright, breathe out and straighten your legs over your head.

• Extend your head so you can feel the small of your neck sinking into the mat.

• Keeping your back vertical, project the tailbone upwards.

• The legs remain straight and together, dropping the toes toward the floor.

• For students that require more assistance and find the folding of the body difficult, use a wall to rest the feet on as seen in photo one.

• For students that would like to advance, project the toes towards your head, pushing the heels to the floor, interlock your fingers behind the back and push your hands to the floor as seen in photo three.

The halasana helps to eliminate toxins, increase blood flow and rejuvenate the internal organs. This asana alleviates tension through the back, neck, shoulders and elongates the spine. It is also beneficial for those suffering high blood pressure.

I have mentioned before that, in our modern era, the average person spends many hours hunched over a desk, computer or watching television in a stagnant sitting posture. The halasana is a

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great counter for the stress and tension caused by these activities and the reason why daily practice is so beneficial.

Please persevere with this posture, I have heard many a beginner student tell me with absolute conviction and certainty that they were simply not designed for this posture,

however being the wonderful students that they are, they took my advice and continued to work away at the plough.

Sure enough only a few months later, those same students could not possibly think of a life without halasana in it.

Plough away!

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THE PHUKET NEWS

ENVIRONMENT 19

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Seeking solutions to environmental woes Norachai Thavisin editor3@thephuketnews.com

The famous and beautifullydrawn waves of 19th century Japanese artist Hokusai reared up on the wall like a deadly tsunami behind guest speaker Dr Robert J. Mather, as he addressed the SEEK workshop held at the Royal Phuket Marina on Thursday (March 29).

The image appropriately illustrated the urgency and the gravity of the question asked of the small group of 20 or so dedicated environmentalists gathered on the day: How best to safeguard Phuket’s marine environment as the development of our resort island continues apace?

Dr Mather, head of the Asia Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and his office provide strong support for SEEK (Society Environment Economy Knowledge), the active local environmental group spearheaded by Nick Anthony and Sean Panton.

The Marine Sector Sustainability Workshop drew a wide range of participants: Sulaiman Bunsop from Phi Phi, who spends a lot of his time collecting rubbish left by tourists there; Kelly

SEEK worshop participants brainstorm in earnest.

Dr Robert J. Mather introduces the meeting.

Marine researcher Petch Manopawitr.

Local environmental warrior John Gray (standing at right).

Franklin, of local environmental group Sustainable Smiles; Steven Martin, lecturer at the Prince of Songkhla University; Petch Manopawitr, marine

Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project.

Using SEEK’s ‘compass’ model, the high-powered researchers and dyed-in-the-wool

scientist and PhD researcher; Kanokwan Homcha-aim from the Thailand Environment Institute; and scientist Rishi Sharma, of the

environmentalists lost no time at all brainstorming the problems that Phuket faces, and their possible solutions.

Groups of participants

rotated between four tables marked nature, well-being, economy, and society. Within a set time, we jotted down points seen from these four perspectives. The theory is that if these four concepts are in harmony, then environmental sustainability naturally occurs.

It is a taxing way to think.

After half an hour or so at one table considering one of four perspectives, we were called to move to the next and switch our approach.

The final aim of this very effective technique was a list of outcomes that must be measurable. SEEK aims to regularly monitor these in its future series of workshops.

Measurable outcomes listed include enforcement of envionmental regulations, more conservation zones, more mangrove reserves, rotation of fishing zones, and more public education campaigns.

SEEK ensures that the recommendations from their meetings go to the top level of Phuket’s local government that has already pledged its support for this pioneering environmental protection effort, growing within our island community.

More info: myseek.org

Pet of the Week

Strawberry, an eight-month-old Japanese Pekingese dog, belongs to Amada Grønbech. Strawberry is a loving dog and sleeps every night in her own bed, next door to Amanda’s own. She loves water and enjoys swimming in the pool.

Want to see your pet here? Email your photos to: editor1@thephuketnews.com

thephuketnews.com

DANE'S WORLD

20 WEIRD NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS

TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES In a country regarded as the home of adventure sports, it seems only fitting that a New Zealand company is adding some more firepower to the arsenal, offering frustrated drivers the chance to crush a car with a Centurion tank.

Tanks for Everything, based in Christchurch, has a f leet of eight tanks, armoured personnel carriers and Jeeps, the largest of which can easily crush a family sedan pancake-flat.

“I think it maybe releases repressed frustration, to go and crush something with a tank,” owner Jonathan Lahy-Neary said.

“If you’ve had a bad day, it’s a pretty good stress reliever.”

TURD REICH

Fifty-two tonnes of pure anger management.

The pride of the operation is Maximus, a Britishmade Centurion battle tank, weighing 52 tonnes and powered by a V-12 Rolls Royce engine, which saw service with Australian forces in Vietnam in the early 1970s.

There’s also a Soviet-era T-55, which Tanks for Every-

thing’s Matthew Sandland said was surprisingly easy to purchase from an arms dealer in Hungary.

“The Iraqis had these, the Afghans had these,” he said. “The dealers had over 100 and they sell them as fully functional battle tanks.

We had to pay to have the

gun deactivated to bring it to New Zealand.

“So basically anyone could have bought themselves a fully-functional battle tank if they wanted to.”

Canadian tourist Michael Noel fulfilled a lifelong ambition by flattening one of Lahy-Neary’s cars, sourced from local junkyards, in the Centurion, describing it as “quite an experience”. “(It) took a little getting used to the gears and so on, but once you get used to it, it’s an awesome ride,” he said.

Playing with what could be the ultimate boys’ toy does not come cheap, with a 15 minute drive costing NZ$450 (B11,300) and an extra NZ$395 (B9,900) to crush a car.

Man’s drastic scheme to avoid work proves legless Would you pay B150 to brown-nose Hitler?

If you ever fancied the face of one of history’s most notorious figures nestled between your soiled buttocks, then you’re slightly deranged.

But you’re also in luck.

Artist Georg Buchrucker has created a toilet roll adorned with Adolf Hitler’s face – inviting buyers to “add a brown moustache” when they use it.

And Georg, from Bunn, Germany, has been getting a considerable amount of interest, both at home and abroad.

Named ‘Draw Your Own S**tler’, the toilet roll depicts the Fuhrer’s face without his trademark moustache – instead leaving a gap for the customer to “add a brown one” of their own.

Georg, 32, added: “My toilet paper is not ju st practical, it is making a point with humour.

“Which moustache-wearing man in history deserves this treatment more than Hitler?”

At £3 (B150) a roll, Mr Buchrucker is bound to clean up.

Some people would give an arm and a leg to never have to work again. Austrian man Hans Url gave a leg, but it may not be enough to prevent him being returned to the workforce.

When job centre staff threatened to force Url to undergo a medical if he failed to accept the work they found for him, he decided to take measures into his own hands.

To prove he was too sick to work, the 56-year-old sawed off his left foot above the ankle and threw it into an oven so it could not be reattached.

Police spokesman Franz

Worth a few days off work?

Fasching said: “The planning was meticulous.

A hospital spokesman added: “The foot was too badly burned to reattach. All we could do was seal the wound.”

But, even after his extreme attempt to avoid work, a Feldbach AMS job centre spokesman confirmed he may still be found work.

We’re assuming they look more authentic than this one.

Modern technology for the digital (after) life We all know that Apple’s iPad and iPhone are the essential modern technology for today’s tech savvy youngsters.

But apparently they are rapidly becoming a staple of yesterday’s generation in China – that is, dead people.

Tomb Sweeping Day, which fell on Wednesday (April 4), sees families remember their ancestors by laying out food at their grave sites and burn-

thephuketnews.com

ing paper replicas of daily necessities such as clothes, money, cars and houses.

But it seems the offerings have evolved, with paper replicas of iPhones and iPads becoming all the rage.

Retailers said a paper iPad sells for 538 yuan (B2,636) including delivery – more than a tenth of the price of the actual product – while an iPhone version costs around 22 yuan.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

with Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

THE BIG LIST

April’s Fools

Aside from participating in April Fools pranks, the next best thing is revelling in pranks past. Here the very best.

Mama mia: In 1957, those very well-spoken jokesters over at the BBC ran a segment on the coming of spring and what that meant for Swiss farmers, because 1957 was an extremely slow year for news. So what did the report find? An unusually large spaghetti crop. The audience heard Richard Dimbleby, the show’s highly respected anchor, discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched video footage of a Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees which is ridiculous, because we all know spaghetti trees only grow in Italy. But according to the Museum of Hoaxes, “Huge numbers of viewers were taken in.”

Curve ball: The April 1985 issue of Sports Illustrated contained a story about a new rookie pitcher who planned to play for the Mets. His name was Sidd Finch, and he could reportedly throw a baseball at 168 mph (270 kph) with pinpoint accuracy. Curiously, Sidd Finch had never even played the game before. Instead, he had mastered the “art of the pitch” in a Tibetan monastery, which are apparently bastions of American capitalist culture. Mets fans flooded Sports Illustrated with requests for more information. Of course, all they really needed to do, apart from apply some common sense, was to look a little closer at the article’s sub-heading: “He’s a pitcher, part yogi and part recluse. Impressively liberated from our opulent life-style, Sidd’s deciding about yoga – and his future in baseball.” The first letter of each of these words, spells “H-a-p-p-y A-p-r-i-l F-o-o-l-s D-a-y – A-h F-i-b”.

Load of hot air: There can be no better dupe than the fact-proud New York Times.

The newspaper was the most prominent of several to pick up a 1934 about a German pilot, Erich Kocher, who invented a flying device, powered only by the lungs. But everyone that fell for the joke failed to spot some glaring clues from the original story. The original spelling of Kocher’s name was ‘Koycher’, a German word meaning to wheeze or gasp. Then there was the fact that the device apparently turned the pilot’s carbon dioxide into fuel, in laughable defiance of the laws of physics – carbon dioxide is less combustible than your own rectal emissions. And speaking of which, there’s the minor details like the fact that Kocher appears to have an elongated snow shoe coming out of his anus.

Porky pi: According to the Bible, King Solomon made a bowl that was 10 cubits from rim to rim and 30 cubits in circumference, which suggests the value of mathematical constant pi is in fact exactly three. Surely there are no lies in the Bible, right? The US state of Alabama apparently thought so, with an article in the April 1998 issue of the New Mexicans for Science and Reason newsletter claiming that the Alabama state legislature had voted to change the value of pi from 3.14159 to the “Biblical value” of 3.0. Of course it was all a joke, and the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter has now been returned to its proper blasphemous value.

Gravitational pull: During an interview on BBC Radio 2 in 1976, British astronomer Patrick Moore announced that at 9.47am the then-planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter.

Moore told his listeners that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment this planetary alignment occurred, they would experience a strange floating sensation. Spoiler alert: He was lying. When the clock hit 9:48, BBC2 began to receive hundreds of phone calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman even reported that she and her eleven friends had floated around the room, though that can probably be put down to the less rare phenomenon of substance abuse.

TIME OUT 21

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

BOOK

MUSIC

FILM Wrath of the Titans 99 minutes Rating: G

Director: John Liebesman Starring: Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson

Imagine

by Jonah Lehrer Did you know that the most creative companies have centralised bathrooms? That brainstorming meetings are a terrible idea? And that the colour blue can help increase your creative output?

Jonah Lehrer does, and he shares his creative discoveries in Imagine, as he demonstrates that creativity is not a single gift possessed by the few, but rather a variety of distinct thought processes that we can all learn to use more effectively.

Lehrer explores why writers like Auden, Robert Louis Stevenson, Philip K. Dick and Jack Kerouac relied on amphetamines to fuel their imaginations. He explains why travel is good. Most of all, Imagine reveals the deep inventiveness of the human mind.

MDNA

Madonna From start to finish, MDNA is a mixed bag, swaying wildly between what Madonna wants to sound like and the current trend for bland electro-rave dancefloor-filler. Large chunks of the album are shockingly unimaginative, coming across not so much as bad pop songs, but as merely competent tunes.

In short, the queen of pop is no longer pushing boundaries.

The worst of the album’s tracks are produced by French DJ Martin Solveig, whose unimaginative arrangements for Turn Up the Radio, Give Me All Your Luvin’, I Don’t Give A, and B-Day Song are paired with extremely bland lyrics.

Of course, despite its faults, MDNA is still a decent pop album, even if it’s only a very average work from Madonna.

Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

Wrath of the Titans picks up about a decade after Clash of the Titans, with demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) living the mundane life of a fisherman. (His wife Io apparently passed away – most likely because the actress playing her had the good sense not to return for this woeful sequel).

But if Clash played loosely with the myth of Perseus, then Wrath was apparently written

via text messages between football players in an eighth grade history class – and frankly, that is the only demographic this film will appeal to.

On the plus side, it’s mercifully short.

The acting in the film is slightly better this time – though the script is still extremely formulaic, with dialogue that is wooden at best, cringe-worthy at worst, and there is a complete lack of compelling storyline or satisfying character arcs.

Liam Neeson and Ralph

Fiennes are thankfully given more to work with, and provide the only real source of entertainment as Zeus and Hades confront their sibling issues.

Sam Worthington, on the other hand, is still as wooden and dull as ever. It leaves you to wonder how much CGI was required to create the actor’s facial expressions in Avatar, because in every role since then (The Debt, Man on a Ledge), Worthington has proved that his range extends between blank face and feral growl, with an occasional dumbfounded, borderline-retarded looking gasp. Even Pegasus manages to display more personality – and he’s a flying horse.

Director John Liebesman opts for the same shooting style he used in Battle Los Angeles, with an overabundance of claustrophobic, over-the-shoulder

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL) 407 Thiaw Bin Phee (T/E.SUB) [G]: Dr Seuss’ The Lorax (E) [G]: The Hunger Games (E) [15+]: The Hunger Games (E/F) [15+]: The Hunger Games (T) [15+]: John Carter (T) [G]: Wrath of the Titans (E/3D) [G]: Wrath of the Titans (T) [G]:

11:15, 13:15, 15:30, 17:45, 20:05, 22:20 11:45, 13:45, 15:45, 20:30 11:15, 14:00, 16:45, 19:30, 22:15 13:05, 15:50, 18:35, 21:20 12:10, 14:55, 17:40, 20:25 17:50, 22:30 12:30, 14:40, 16:50, 19:00, 21:10 13:30, 15:40, 17:50, 20:00, 22:10

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG) 407 Thiaw Bin Phee (T/E.SUB) [G]: Dr Seuss’ The Lorax (E) [G]: The Hunger Games (E) [15+]: John Carter (E) [G]: Mirror Mirror (E) [G]: This Means War (E) [G]: Wrath of the Titans (E) [G]:

BRAIN TEASERS

1. Hiring of Diana is a let-down. (14) 9. Sorceress is almost completely round. (5) 10. Carol set a damaged form of transport. (9) 11. Fire – and look down on young lady. (7) 12. Love God has no right to Dawn. (3) 13. Tear death wish. (3) 14. Northeast road to computer lover. (4) 16. Lord is equal. (4) 18. Note: Back to school. (4) 21. Run rings about southern learner.

Capital! (4) 22. I am, note, a foot.

(4) 24. Cardinal and 12 mixed oil company. (4) 27. Prohibit Patong

establishment. (3) 28. Tree may have a bit of diesel mix. (3) 29. Order! Order! Edit cat! (7) 31. Reverses finished goes. (9) 32. Took horse to ring for event. (5) 33. Almost falling, stop obstacle. (9,5) Down 1. Almost decadent, he’s dead. (8) 2. Flies high, we hear, and wounds. (5) 3. Repair in advance, a bit in front. (6) 4. Be in charge; it’s finished, see? (7) 5. Explosive type of family? (7) 6. Lo! Back in the crowds is syrup. (8) 7. Having bad reputation is not

alternative to promissory notes. (9) 8. Blow up point, quiet in rut. (5) 15. Surge in landlord’s price; it’s coming back.

(9) 17. Baseball statistic: time. (3) 19. A second hesitation? It keeps things going. (8) 20. Look out! Put a padlock on hair. (8) 22. Living forever without shirt is sinful.

(7) 23. Avenue for ads. I’m no mixture. (7) 25. Big monk in lab bottle. (5) 26. Southern Carolina has Arab beetle. (6) 30. German car has no sound system. (5)

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s quiz:

?

12:45, 15:00, 17:15, 19:30, 21:45 11:15, 15:40 11:30, 14:15, 17:00, 19:45, 22:25 13:00, 19:50 12:00, 14:20, 16:40, 19:00, 21:20 17:40, 22:30 11:40, 13:50, 16:00, 18:10, 20:20, 22:30

?

Across

1. With a gun; 2. Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon/Sri Lanka; 3. Marvin; 4. Lyons, France; 5. The California Gold Rush; 6. Laszlo and Georg Biro; 7. The Yo-Yo; 8. The Tony Awards; 9. Olympic and Britannic; 10. Hussein.

SUDOKU

shaky-cam. He mixes this with wider tracking shots that put the human actor in the foreground, running toward or away from some CGI creature.

It’s not very sophisticated, or at all visually interesting.

Thankfully the shooting style relaxes as the film moves into some of the bigger set pieces, and Wrath ultimately manages to end on a much stronger note than it begins.

In the end though, the film is little more than a cashgrabbing sham, with a wealth of usually good actors going for the paycheck, and using beards and makeup to mask their shame. We can only hope the wrath of theatregoers who pay good money to sit through this tripe will prevent another sequel being churned out.

As some movies and movie times change every Thursday morning, after The Phuket News has gone to press, the accuracy of the following information cannot be guaranteed. For up-to-date information, visit sfcinemacity.com, or phone the cinemas directly: SFX Coliseum Phuket 076-209-000 and SFC Jungceylon Phuket 076-600-555.

?

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE QUIZ Test your general knowledge with these 10 questions

1. How did artist Vincent Van Gogh kill himself?

2. Who was the world’s first woman prime minister?

3. What is the name of the paranoid android in the novel A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

4. Where are the headquarters of Interpol?

5. In 1848 James Wilson Marshal made a discovery that started what?

6. Who invented the ball-point pen?

7. In 1929 Donald F Duncan introduced a toy based on a weapon used by 16th-century Filipino hunters. What is it called?

8. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre are better known by what name?

9. The ocean liner Titanic had two sister ships. What were their names?

10. What is Barack Obama’s middle name?

thephuketnews.com

22 KIDS PAGE

THE PHUKET NEWS

COLOURING CONTEST

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

E

very week, colour in Sophie's drawing, have a photo taken with y o ur wo r k, a n d em ail to editor@thephuketnews.com The winner will be announced on this page next week.

This week, congratulations go to talented duo Nathalie Pajera (age 10) and Sophie Biddel (age 9½), both from HeadStart.

Sophie says their work is: “Beautifully executed with a striking colour palette, I like Miss Piggy with her bikini peeping through the window too!”

mail@ sophieillustration.co.uk

Runners-up

Mickey Songsurin, age 10, HeadStart.

thephuketnews.com

Holly Diamond, age 5 (with a little help from sister Hannah, age 9).

Kira, age 6, HeadStart year 1A.

Thanks to all the children at Da r a s a m u t h Ph u k e t S c h o o l, Kajonkietsuksa School, HeadStart, British International School Phuket, Phuket International Academy, and Coconut Club for their entries.

Please keep them coming in, remembering to write your name, age and school on your work.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

LIFE&STYLE lifestyle@thephuketnews.com

SHOPPING 23 That’s just The Ticket Entertainment news, reviews and gossip > 30

fashion file Have an outfit to show off? Send a photo to:

editor@thephuketnews.com

Cool as Ice

Sahapoom ‘Ice’ Dokkaew

Director of Operations

Blue polo shirt (B850) bought from Giordano at Central Phuket.

Belt (B1,790) from Cheq at Central Phuket.

Louis Vuitton Florin wallet (B19,320) from Emporium in Bangkok.

Sunny delight Li Ann Loo

Director of Marketing Communications Flower pat ter ned sundress (B150) was a f ind at Platinum Mall in Bangkok.

Oroton bag (B9,600) bought back home in Sydney, Australia.

Sandals (B3,200) also from a shop in Sydney.

Trousers (B1,450) purchased at S-Fare in Central Phuket.

Crocs bought at Premium Outlet Phuket.

ACCESSORIES

CENTURY 22 1

2 3 4

6

5

1. Amethyst necklace B24,990 2. Amethyst bracelet B5,590 3. Pearl & quartz bracelet B6,990 4. Golden rutile & citrine bracelet B15,990 5. Pearl & quartz necklace B37,990 6. Golden rutile & citrine earrings B6,590

Accessories from Century 22, 2/F Central Festival.

Open daily 10.30am-10pm. 076-291-111.

thephuketnews.com

24 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

The glow of good food Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

Earth Hour is serious business; a chance for individuals, businesses and governments around the world to agree that they understand that human activity creates unsustainable pollution and is causing global climate change.

But no one said that Earth Hour requires everyone to sit in the dark and feel glum about the plight of the Earth.

At the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket last Saturday, all nonessential lights and electrical equipment were turned off and affable GM Peter Komposch joined some of his guests and a smattering of local residents at a long table next to the beach for a four-course alfresco dinner by candlelight.

The dinner, guests were promised, would consist of “carefully chosen, locally grown, seasonal and/or organic ingredients”.

Dusit General Manager Peter Komposch.

Third course – the sea bass with crust of Thai herbs.

Come Earth Hour the lights were doused and the diners had to manage with candles gleaming off the glassware, and making eating something of a stab in the dark or, to look at it more positively, making every mouthful a delightful surprise.

Sadly, not too many people along Bangtao Bay seemed to be following suit. The homes looming above Surin Beach,

a crisp Pinot-Chardonnay sparkler from Italy.

Executive Chef Silvano Amolini and Executive Souschef Pachon Pakham followed this up with duck ragout ravioli with rosemary jus and foie gras. Perhaps not locally grown, that last one, but no one walked out in protest. In fact, there were not even any comments beyond wordless

in particular, blazed with light throughout the hour.

The candles were just bright enough to glean information from the menu, which started with pan-seared Bangtao squid and excellent Andaman scallops, with greens, shitake mushrooms, a t ouch of Ta r t a re a nd parsley oil. To set it off were glasses of Spumante Brut,

mumbles of pleasure.

The ragout came with a large Cab Sauvignon from the Rothschild vineyards in Chile.

The main course was local sea bass with a crust of Thai herds, coconut lime sauce, curried mashed potato and stir-fried bok choy. Juicy and well matched with a Riesling/ Gewurztraminer from Hardy’s.

Finally, the kitchen went

strictly local with the Dusit version of the great Thai favourite, khao niew mamuang – mango sticky rice – washed down with Sunshine White, a Chardonnay-Chenin Blanc combination from South Australia.

Fine food, highly palatable, well-matched wines, and for entertainment the delightful singing voice of Dusit resident singer Donna, who has an enormous repertoire.

As the dinner came to an end, storm clouds built over the green lights of the squid boats off the coast, with spectacular displays of lightning.

Yet – a testament to Mr Komposch’s excellent contacts, perhaps – the storm simply sat out there over the sea and came no closer to the Dusit, a reminder to the more thoughtful of the raw power of nature and a hint that it’s time for all us meddling monkeys to stop messing about.

And that includes you lot above Surin Beach.

Feast of family fun Chef Lorenzo and Chef Silvano from Dusit. Chalermchai ‘Kla’ Prakobkit (Trisara).

Six of the best Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket in Karon held its first Sunday Family Lunch on April 1 at the resort’s Mare Restaurant.

Highlights of the brunch include lobster, prawns, oysters, a huge cheese selection, scallops, lamb chops, beef, sushi, a salad bar and hot mains. Desserts include mango and chocolate mousse cake, coconut cake, crème brulee, and an impressive chocolate

fountain. A great three-piece music band provides the entertainment for the afternoon.

The brunch is priced at B990 net per person (including soft drinks, water, coffee and tea), or B1,390 net per person including half a bottle of wine. Free for children under 5 and half price for children aged 6-12.

Reservations: 076-201-234.

Stefano Artosin (Amanpuri), Silvano Amolini (Dusit Thani), David Hamilton (Banyan Tree), Chalermchai ‘Kla’ Prakobkit (Trisara), Ryan Arboleda (Paresa), and Aaron Hooper (Joe’s Downstairs), made up the talented kitchen crew at the annual Six of the Best fundraiser dinner at Paresa Resort. The menu included spicy crab salad, confit of duck leg, smoked snowfish, roasted lamb loin, baked cannelloni, foie gras dumplings and baked Chevre cheese and meringue tart. Aaron Hooper (Joe’s Downstairs) with his duck dish.

New venue for pasta lovers Pasta restaurant by Twinpalms opened this week. Located outside Laguna, next to Bake, the menu features more than a dozen noodle varieties from spaghetti to ravioli and around 20 sauces. Among the sauces served are carbonara, eggs, cream and pecorino, and a marinara bianco with seafood, onion, celery and carrot.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

DINING 25

Thai chef lives the American Dream Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

What started as a promise to an American girl during a teenage romance, led to Tommy Tang becoming one of the most well known Thai chefs in the United States.

Based in Los Angeles, celebrity chef, television host and author Khun Tommy is known for his two cooking shows on the PBS network (‘Let’s Get Cooking’ and ‘Easy Thai Cooking’), plus his chain of Tommy Tang restaurants, which have made fans out of the likes of Tom Cruise, Cher and Madonna.

Khun Tommy was in Phuket last week as part of a cultural trip organised by the US Embassy, to promote Thai/ American fusion food.

While on the island, he held workshops at Prince of Songkla University and Phuket Vocational College, attended a charity lunch at Baan Holland Orphanage, and hosted a round table discussion with 30 executive chefs from the Phuket Thai Chef’s Association at Kan Eang@Pier in Chalong.

Born in Bangkok, Khun Tommy was the eldest of 12 children, leaving school at just 11 years old to help support his family. Growing up, as well as helping his father in the family restaurant, he held a variety of odd jobs that included being a wheelbarrow maker, boxer, auto mechanic, tennis teacher, drummer, and busboy.

It was while working in the latter position, in Bangkok in his teens, that he began dating an American girl living in Bangkok. She told him about her homeland, and made him promise that one day he would visit her country. The couple later broke up, but his dream of visiting the US was still on his mind.

Several years later in 1972, at the age of 20, he moved to Los Angeles, and, drawing upon his years of experience helping his father, found work at a Thai restaurant called Chandara. At this time, Thai food was little known in America, but was slowly finding a growing and appreciative audience.

“They had never had Thai food before, so it was a great opportunity to show

them. I would make a northern Thailand dish and show them on a map what the area looked like – the elephants and the jungle – so they got a visual with the flavours of the food. It was food and tourism at the same time.”

Khun Tommy, now an American citizen, is not surprised at how quickly the food gained popularity. “People think American food is all hot dogs, hamburgers and pizzas. But actually there is a huge variety in cuisine, it depends on what state you are in.

“Americans love to experiment with all things – they are pioneers. In the late 1970s, they were tired of the old world cuisine in New York – it was getting stale. And Los Angeles and San Fran- American Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Michael Honnold, Tommy Tang, and Mr cisco were becoming well known for Honnold’s wife Orasri, seen here at the round table discussion held at Kan Eang@Pier. their diverse food, because so many immigrants were moving there. They were introducing herbs and spices that people had never heard of before.”

Media played a large part in helping to change attitudes and spread the word about Thai cuisine, such as when Khun Tommy featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times in 1982.

He went on to open his own restaurant in the trendy Los Angeles suburb of West Hollywood, followed by two more branches in New York, serving Thai fusion. Khun Tommy says his style is “Pacific Rim”, a mixture of Eastern and Western cuisine, with Thai influences and ingredients.

In 2004 he decided to close his American-Thai Chef Tommy Tang gives a demonstration at Phuket Vocational College. three restaurants in New York to spend more time with his two daughters, now aged 21 and 24, and his American wife Sandi. These days he mostly spends his time filming and working on his two cooking shows.

Why did he close his restaurants instead of selling them? “Those restaurants were my babies. You can’t just give them away to someone else”.

He has not ruled out a move back to Thailand eventually, if the right opportunity arose. “Maybe one day if I got bored [in the US], I could open up a restaurant and my daughter could run it.”

For now though, Khun Tommy is content to do what he does best – introVset Restaurant owner Wallee Pachantabutr, second from right, with several Thai chefs. ducing Thai food to the world.

thephuketnews.com

26 EXPLORE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

TRAVEL NEWS Complimentary Wi-Fi now all across Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Complimentary wireless internet access is now available resort-wide at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.

Guests staying at the resort will automatically enjoy a convenient connection from their wireless-enabled laptops or mobile devices in all public areas of the resort as well as guest rooms. Upon arrival, guests can contact their Guest Services agents to receive their password, which will be valid for the duration of their stay.

Complimentary internet access was previously limited to the main lobby and business centre while a fee was charged for in-room internet access. However, in response to guests’ suggestions, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket pursued a new privilege programme to offer free Wi-Fi – among additional forthcoming benefits.

“We hope our guests will be delighted with this news,” saysPeter Komposch, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.” We are always looking to improve the way serve our esteemed guests and help them get even more value for their money while

staying at our resort.

“Our Guest’s Market Metrix research highlighted that these days travellers desire internet connectivity whilst on the move, so that they can work around the clock,” continues Mr Komposch.

“The growing popularity of smartphones makes mobile internet access more of a necessity in every day life.

Therefore, we have decided to extend a complimentary internet service to all guests staying with us.”

More info: dusit.com

Sukhothai Bangkok launches new Suite Indulgence package The Sukhothai Bangkok has unveiled its Suite Indulgence package, which offers “excellent value to discerning travellers looking for the best in design, flawless service and unsurpassed luxury, with some fabulous added value surprises.”

Guests staying three

nights or more in any of The Sukhothai’s beautifully conceived and impeccably appointed suites will receive a 15 per cent discount, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi internet access and a local English newspaper.

An additional luxurious surprise awaits guests booking the Garden Suite, Deluxe Residence Suite, The Beaufort Suite or The Sukhothai Suite: a complimentary Molton Brown ‘Hotel Remedies’ kit of products tailor made for travelling.

Set within six acres of tranquil, beautifully landscaped gardens and lily ponds in the heart of Bangkok, this iconic hotel combines traditional refinement with immaculate contemporary style and has long been a favourite with design-savvy visitors to Thailand’s bustling capital. The exquisite suites encapsulate the signature opulent yet pared back décor with the ultimate luxury of space. All offer separate bedroom and living areas; spacious bathrooms with generous double basins; oversize bathtubs and separate showers; walk-in wardrobes; and all the facilities of a world class hotel.

More info: sukhothai.com

Enjoy exclusive preview booking from today to 15 March 12. In addition, all MasterCard payments from 01 March 12 to 14 April 12 are eligible to redeem special travel accessories bags and neck cushion, while stock last**. You also stand a chance to win Central Gift Vouchers worth THB 8,000 in our Grand lucky draw. Visit mcshopathon.com/silkair

All-in one-way fare from

All-in return fare from

All-in return fare from

THB

THB

THB

Singapore

7,650

Singapore

24,280

Australia/New Zealand *

facebook.com/SilkAir More journeys to treasure at silkair.com Fares quoted are for one-way and return trip on Economy Class per person, for flights originating out of Phuket only. All advertised fares are inclusive of associated taxes and surcharges only. Fares quoted are subject to change due to currency fluctuation. Bookings to be made online via mcshopathon.com/silkair or authorised SilkAir agents from today to 14 April 12 for travel from today to 31 May 12. Black-out travel dates apply.

Subject to seat availability. Tickets are strictly not refundable, and change of flight, date or passenger name is not permitted. Other terms and conditions apply. The products and services offered under this Promotion are provided solely by the Merchant, under such terms and conditions as determined by such Merchant, and MasterCard accepts no liability whatsoever in connection with such product and services. *Australia/New Zealand: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland and Christchurch. **Please email Phuket_Sales@singaporeair.com.sg within 30 days of your ticket purchase to arrange for the collection of the giveaways.

thephuketnews.com

LUXE City Guides, the stylish pocket guides famous for their distinctive, hyperopinionated short and sharp reviews launch the latest edition of LUXE London.

Distilled from resident editors and overseen by native Brit publishing editor, Grant Thatcher himself – LUXE London will take you by the hand to explore the city like a local, avoiding all the tourist traps and listing everything you need to know and nothing you don’t.

All eyes are focused on London ahead of this year’s Olympic and Golden Jubilee celebrations... With her fashforward foot and tantalising Brit-dish cooking, plus the reemergence of her neighbourhood ‘villages’ and artisanal pride breathing fresh life into

From now until the end of April enjoy a 30 per cent discount on all individual titles when you shop at luxecityguides.com and enter LUXEEASTER at check out.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong elevates The Club and Suite experience The Ritz-Carlton,Hong Kong has announced a series of enrichment services to their Club and Suite guests as part of a corporate initiative to reinforce the brand’s unwavering commitment to service.

The redefined luxury Club and Suite experience will be for the 21st centur y, combining intimacy, comfort and exclusive attention to detail for today’s guests.

Victor Clavell, Area Vice President, Asia Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. said, “Personal service and attention to detail have always been the hallmarks of The Ritz-Carlton. Your arrival starts a new journey that let’s us stay with you even after you have departed.

We have clearly elevated our standards to meet the needs of our guests in Asia by listening to and anticipating our guests’ needs.”

Pierre Perusset, General Manager, The RitzCarlton,Hong Kong said, “We are excited about the enhanced service offerings to our Club and Suite guests.”

More info: ritzcarlton.com

Queenstown’s Winter Festival events programme announced

Journeys to treasure are always meant to be shared.

5,420

Introducing the new LUXE London City Guide, 4th edition

the Brit-Cap, this city puts the zing into buzz. Stroll on, New Britannia, here is a sneak peek of the new guide.

‘Want to explore London after dark? Direct from trouncing all-comers in Paris, the Experimental Cocktail Club melts silkily onto the London scene with glass after glass of classic reinvention that takes this rare spirits ultra-speakeasy way beyond most of its competitors. If you’re looking for a quiet one, sink into the plush velvet wingback chairs at The Coburg Bar and order yourself a stiff one, the unpretentious atmos makes it a great place for a nightcap, or three, whilst the martinis at Dukes Hotel bar are a firm LUXE fave, and believe us, we’re hard to please...

Now there’s plenty more where that came from, this is just a taster of what’s in LUXE London. Their spiffy guide is not just for visitors, but also essential for locals who want to be clue’ed up.

Holiday-makers from New Zealand, Australia and around the world can now check out the fantastic lineup of events for the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party, the 2012 A mer ican Express Queenstown Winter Festival, at www.winterfestival.co.nz.

The multi award-winning festival, (June 22 – July 1, 2012), first started in Queenstow n 38 years ago and now tens of thousands of locals and visitors take to the streets and ski slopes for 10 days of non-stop fun to celebrate the start of winter.

T here’s load s of onmountain action, street parties, fireworks, live concerts, comedy, family fun, and a great mix of internationally acclaimed performers and home-grown acts.

New international events this year include the New Zealand movie premiere of ‘Ice Age 4: Continental Drift’ and a rare performance from New Zealand comedic export Flight of the Conchords (Oscar winner Bret McKenzie and co-star Jermaine Clement).

Festival-goers will also get the chance to be part of a live studio audience for TV3’s infamous ‘7 Days’

Exciting acts on the bill include Flight of the Conchords. comedy satire show which will be pre-recorded at Queenstown’s Memorial Hall and broadcast to the nation.

As per tradition, the festival will open with a bang on Friday June 22 with a huge opening party on Earnslaw Park and a spectacular fireworks display at 7pm.

The following day, the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day and Festival Parade, and the More FM Birdman will be held in downtown Queenstown and there’s be plenty of entertainment onmountain with events like the Mountain Bikes on Snow and the Frontrunner Golden Mile.

The festival will conclude on Sunday July 1 with the spectacular Auckland Airport International Mardi Gras, a big street party which celebrates the diversit y of Queenstown’s community.

Festival Director Simon Green said the programme was comprehensive and streamlined to make the most of the two weekends.

“It’s all about celebrating who we are and where we are.

Out of the 50 Winter Festival events, more than half are free to attend. Ticketed events go on sale from Monday April 30. More info: winterfestival.co.nz

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

ISLAND SCENE 27

PARESA PART Y:

Pictured at the Six of the Best fundraiser for the Good Shepherd charity, held on March 31, are, from far left, chefs Ryan Arboleda (Paresa), Aaron Hooper (Joe’s Downstairs), Chalermchai ‘Kla’ Prakobkit (Trisara), Silvano Amolini (Dusit Thani), Stefano Artosin (Amanpuri) and David Hamilton (Banyan Tree). Each chef prepared one of the six courses of the evening, plus a canapé. The event raised around B670,000 in total for the charity.

SUNDOWNERS AT SKIPPERS: Members of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Phuket, otherwise known as Austcham, enjoyed sundowners last Friday (March 30) at Skippers Bar in the Royal Phuket Marina after a thirst-making seminar on various marine matters.

JUNGCEYLON’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: Tourists and locals alike were treated to a visually spectacular show to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong on Saturday night (March 31).

thephuketnews.com

28 ISLAND SCENE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

WACKY OLYMPICS: Hundreds of people enjoyed the recent Wacky Olympics, held at FunStart on March 31.

The Olympics themselves consisted of crazy races and other fun activities in the swimming pool, on the golf course, and even some in the lake, for those brave enough!

ALL ABOARD FOR FINE FASHION: Princess Yachts of the United Kingdom held a party and swimsuit fashion show at Royal Phuket Marina on Friday (March 30). The party marked the end of a programme of events to celebrate the launch of the new Princess Yachts Southeast Asia sales and service network. Pictured here are some of the guests and models.

NEW NOVOTEL OPENS IN PATONG: More than 200 people attended the soft opening of the new Novotel Phuket Vintage Park hotel in Patong on March 30.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

ISLAND SCENE 29

HEALTHY MOVES:

Bottom right, Natasha Eldred from Shine PR, raw food consultant Sylvie Yaffe, and Bev Sangsuwan from The Book Cafe, pictured at the ‘Healthy Food 101 - Introduction to health food and veganraw foods’ event held at The Book Cafe in Rawai-Naiharn. The event was on March 29 and attracted people from across the island.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY: Below, staff from HotelTravel.com visited the Phuket Sunshine Foundation on March 30 to donate cash, toys and other items to the underprivileged children.

OFFICIAL PIMEX OPENING: Vice-Governor Dr Sommai Prijasilpa (right) officially opens the Phuket International Boat Show (Pimex) at the Royal Phuket Marina on March 29. Assisting her are Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, head of the Phuket office of the Tourism Association (left) and show organiser Andy Dowden.

SALA’S GRAND DAY OUT: Management and staff members from SALA Phuket Resort and Spa enjoyed a fantastic fun filled race day at Pru Jae Son Lake on March 29.

thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE TICKET with Claire Connell

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET Sunday, April 8

Friday, April 13

DJ Joy Birthday Bash DJ Joy, DJ Eazy, DJ FB 4UNightclub, Kata

Songkran Party Famous Phuket, from 9pm famousphuket.com

WEEKDAYS The Breakfast Club

Ryan Jon

7am til 11am

Weekday Hitz Blitz

non-stop music

11am til 3pm

Drive on LIVE

Jason Wilder

3pm til 7pm

The Night Ritual

Sam Clarke

7pm til 10pm

SATURDAY Box Of Neutrals Saturday Morning Glory Phuket News Radio Dazed and Confused Phuket News Radio

Rob James, Peter McGinley & Michael Lamonato Sam Clarke & Ryan Jon Jason Wilder & Simon Ostheimer Bongo Bob & Baba Fats Ryan Jon & Alasdair Forbes

9am til 10am

10am til 12pm 12pm til 1pm 1pm til 4pm 4pm til 5pm

Going Green

Nick Anthony

5pm til 7pm

Saturday Night Fever

DJ Burt

7pm til 11pm

SUNDAY Dazed and Confused

Bongo Bob & Baba Fats

1pm til 4pm

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

Jason Wilder

4pm til 7pm

Absolute Jazz

Doug Styles

7pm til 9pm

www.phuketliveradio.com Tel: 076-612-895, 090-490-7895

thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

editor1@thephuketnews.com

DJ spins his way to success Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

Internationally renowned British DJ Kensho is the new resident DJ at Cudos Restaurant and Bar in Surin.

DJ Kensho, also known as Mat, is originally from the United Kingdom, but has been based in Phuket for the last seven years. His last 19 years working as a professional DJ have seen him perform across Europe, as well as in Macau, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, and extensively across Thailand.

He has performed alongside the likes of DJ Cut Killer, Kid Massive, Barry Ashworth (Dub Pistols) and Bruno from Ibiza.

In Phuket, he’s played at the likes of Siam Supper Club, the former Red Room, Vinyl Cafe, White Box, Pavilions, Taste,

DJ Kensho is now making his moves at Cudos in Surin.

Stereolab, Silk, and Brush.

On the music scene in Phnom Penh, he says: “People living in Cambodia are more switched on musically than what you’d think. There is a big music scene with local expats, I was completely blown away.”

Now based at Cudos, DJ Kensho hosts the Vinyl Revival night every Friday,

and Starlight Sessions on Saturday evenings, but also performs around Phuket and has an inter national gig about once a month.

While he sometimes still plays vinyl, most of the time he uses his high tech equipment, which replicates the record experience by using a needle to control MP3s.

“I’ve got a massive collection of original records, I still look for them even if I don’t use them when I DJ – it is an addiction for me.”

He grew up around music, admitting his mother was an ‘old school raver’.

“She was a nurse but went raving to let her hair down.

From the age of 13 I used to sit in the DJ booth just watching, listening and learning.

“I love so many different kinds of music, I love music from the 1920s and 40s, plus electronic music – when I DJ I try to mix everything.”

As well as being an accomplished DJ, he’s also a semi-professional skateboarder, and a runs a graphic design, events and multimedia solutions company (Asia Creative), alongside his partner Shell.

More info: djkensho.com

I’M RON BURGUNDY TOO?

Zuck’s trip to Shanghai sparks Will Ferrell announces sequel to cult comedy Facebook frenzy After years of chatter and online rumours, a sequel to cult comedy Anchorman has finally come together as funnyman Will Ferrell has signed on to star again as 1970s news anchorman Ron Burgundy, ABC news reported.

Fer rell showed up on Conan O’Brien’s TBS talk show in character as Ron Burgundy on Wednesday, where after a dazzling flute solo and some insulting banter with O’Brien and sidekick Andy Richter he made the announcement.

Ferrell’s Anchorman costars Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, who have both gone on to major movie success since the original hit theatres in 2004, will also return to reprise their roles as dimwitted, lamp-loving Brick

Tamland and fashionable lead field reporter Brian Fantana, Deadline.com reported.

Anchorman followed the often surreal and outrageous adventures of Burgundy, a top-rated anchorman in San Diego in the 1970s, and his gang of out-of-touch buddies as they delivered the news in the then male-dominated world of broadcasting.

Their cosy careers — and Burgundy’s love life — get shaken up when female anchor Veronica Corningstone, played by Christina Applegate, enters the newsroom.

Anchorman 2 will be produced by comedy king Judd Apatow, along with Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions. McKay will direct, while he and Ferrell will script the film.

Agence France-Presse

The sight of a vacationing Mark Zuckerberg in Shanghai has sparked a frenzy of online speculation over the possibility Facebook might return to China, even though the site remains firmly blocked.

Excited Chinese bloggers posted photographs of the Facebook founder and his girlfriend at an Apple store and in Shanghai’s art gallery district on Tuesday, expressing hopes it might mean access to the popular social networking site. Facebook has more than 800 million users around the world and is the leading social network in all but six countries, notably Russia, where local rivals are preferred, and China, where it has been banned since 2009.

THE PHUKET NEWS

EVENTS 31

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php APRIL 1-27

that you hop along with the bunnies.

The Easter Sunday BBQ and Seafood buffet commences at 6.30pm. Priced at B 1,390++ per person. 50% off for children aged 6-12 years.

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET

APRIL 21 Media sponsors :

Fine Indian Cuisine • • • •

Finest Indian Food Air-conditioned Restaurant Indian Takeaway / Delivery Service Open Daily From 12 noon Until 10.30pm

For menu and more details visit:

www.deepavaliphuket.com Fine Indian Cuisine

Bookings are essential, please call 076 362 999 Ext. 7303, 7626.

• • • •

APRIL 13-15 Central's Summer Collection 2012

Finest Indian Food Air-conditioned Restaurant Indian Takeaway / Delivery Service Open Daily From 12 noon Until 10.30pm

• Live Sports on five 55' TV's • International And Thai Food For menu and more details visit: • Food Takeaway / Delivery Service • FREE Wifi

www.deepavaliphuket.com

• Regular Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm

• Cocktail Happy Hour: 10pm-11pm

• Chilled-out Sounds All Day/Evening • Club/Dance Hits From 10pm

The latest collections for men by Central Department store are inspired by the theme Open Daily: 11am - Last Orders: 12.30am For menu and more details visit: www.loungephuket.com of fresh scent of the sea during summer.

Live Sports on five 55' TV's • International And Thai Food The “Central Men Summer 2012” collection •Deepavali Restaurant / The Lounge 123/24 Bangtao/ Delivery Place, Service • FREE Wifi • Food Takeaway combines bright colours with the latest in Phuket, Thailand men’s fashion design. A body combat show • Regular Happy Hour: 4pm-7pm • Cocktail Happy Hour: 10pm-11pm • Chilled-out Sounds All Day/Evening • Club/Dance Hits From 10pm will kick off this show to demonstrate the APRIL 21 Open Daily: 11am - Last Orders: 12.30am latest fashion design for men, to be modExquisite Indian Buffet For menu and more details visit: www.loungephuket.com elled in five sets: For only B350 per person.

7pm - 10pm Deepavali Restaurant / The Lounge Boutique: Summer’s elegant style with Please 123/24 Bangtao Place, book in advance: 080 722 3377. a colourful presentation by celebrities and Phuket, Thailand expats.

Casual: Presented by new young male model from the Y Club.

Denim: Don’t miss this if you love the latest in denim jeans, to be modelled by young expats.

Swim wear: A hot new collection to welcome summer, presented by Inter Model.

Underwear.

0807 223377

Songkran Festival

IB Visual Arts Exhibition The British International School Phuket Year 13 IB Visual Arts students exhibition will take place in the foyer of the Main Teaching Building of BIS at 4.30pm on Monday, March 19. Public viewing will take place until Friday, April 27. Some great pieces on display from very talented students. Contact 076 335 555, email: info@ bisphuket.ac.th.

APRIL 6 Chakri Day A public holiday to honour the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I.

APRIL 8

Songkran is the old Thai New Year, and is an occasion for family reunions. Many people return to their homes and families for the three-day festival. It is celebrated each year between April 13 and 15. It was originally a religious holiday. Songkran begins with early morning merit-making, by offering food to the monks. Paying respect to elders and ancestors is also an important custom of Songkran.

Young people pour scented water over Buddha images and on the hands of elders to show respect, and to seek their blessing.

Another custom of Songkran is to clean houses and anything old and useless must be thrown away. It is believed that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if left and carried on to the coming new year.

0807 223377

APRIL 23-28

The most prominent custom of the festival is throwing water. Everybody throws water on each other, during the three-day festival. The most popular place for waterthrowing is in Chiang Mai.

APRIL 18 Phuket Pride 2012

Laurent-Perrier Dinner ‎ Laurent-Perrier Champagne four-course

Easter Sunday BBQ on The Beach dinner at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale B3,600 ++ at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket per guest. Champagnes include: Looking for the perfect place for your Easter dinner celebration? Why not check out Casuarina Beach Restaurant and Pub, beachside restaurant at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket.

Offering a delicious barbecue buffet including a lineup of carved meats, fresh seafood, smoked salmon, poached eggs and a selection of gourmet salads. Be sure to save some room for our decadent desserts, including an assortment of Easter cookies, pastries and chocolate mousse.

Live music and entertainment will ensure

-Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Grand Siècle - Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Brut Millésimé 2000 - Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Rosé - Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005, Domaine E.Guigal Menu: http://www.momtriphuket.com/nl/ champagne.html. Reservations info@ momtriphuket.com, call 076 333 568 ext 824.

Pride Week on April 23 to 28. Events and parties so far planned: - Big stage show party April 27 and 28 at Patong Loma Park.

- Pride Parade through Patong on April 28.

- Mr Gay Phuket competition by Fong Kaew Mansion on April 25 and 26.

- Night out in Thailand party on April 24

by Out in Thailand and Backstage Bar. - Big street parties and fun nights in Soi Paradise throughout the week.

- CC Blooms Hotel Pride pool party on April 22.

- V. Sawana Bar Pride Party in Rawai.

- Gay-day cruise to Racha Island by Time Bar and Sundowners on April 24 and 25.

- Phuket Gay Pride overnight tour by Rainbow Scuba tours on April 23 and 24.

Visit www.phuket-pride.org.

thephuketnews.com

32 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS

WHAT’S ON IN PHUKET

List your event for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php FRIDAY

IBAP - Networking “Thailand’s Future: Reconciling Democracy and Monarchy” with Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) and Associate Professor of International Political Economy at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. April 6 from 6:30pm at URBAN FOOD, located in Central Festival Shopping Centre. http:// ibap-phuket.org or call 081 970 7910.

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Pool Competition

Every Friday, all-you-can-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person.

Draught beer B50. 7pm-11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

SATURDAY

Two Chefs Saturday Brunch Every Saturday from 12pm-3pm you can enjoy a big delicious buffet with a touch of Scandinavia, and listen to our live music.

For example: Our home-smoked salmon, smoked prawns, Swedish meatballs, roasted pork loin, home-made bread, delicious desserts and much more. B395 or add B300 extra and get free flow Chang draught/house wine. See www.twochefs. com, call 076 33 00 65, katacenter@ twochefs.com.

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Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

The Craíc

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Live Music every week

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

Roaring Bhoys - Tuesdays & Saturdays

All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub. Contact 081 895 4763.

Laguna Phuket

thephuketnews.com

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AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, one km from Chalong circle. Call 081 895 4763.

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Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations call 081 891 4381.

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Church Service English/Thai

Pool Competition

Every Sunday 10am. Come share in worship unto God, and hear Word of God, followed by fellowship lunch. See phuketchurch.net.

At 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong. See map at www.expatguesthouse. com.

Sunday Roast Pork

.

WEDNESDAY

................................................................................

Best Sunday Carvery in Phuket Roast beef, BBQ ham, chicken, pork and Yorkshire pudding. All you can eat B399.

Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

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Half-Chicken Spit Roast Only B225 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations please call 081 891 4381.

Two Chefs Tex Mex Night At Two Chefs Karon from 6pm-1am. Every Wednesday you can enjoy Phuket’s best Mexican food. It will be a big buffet with plenty of choices. B495 or B795 including free flow options. See www.twochefs.com, call 076 286 479, karon@twochefs.com.

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Interactive Pub Quiz Night

Sunday Brunch

Starts from 8pm every Wednesday night.

The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

Enjoy the original Sunday brunch in Phuket at Twinpalms, Surin Beach. 12-3pm. Reservations please call 076 316 577.

Live Music

Open from 5pm, closed Mondays

SUNDAY

Every Sunday 2pm onwards Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong B290 per person.

Please see www.expathotel.com.

Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal

Draught Guinness at the only Irish Bar in North Phuket

All Major Sports Live On the big screen. F1, MotoGP, Tennis, Golf, AFL, NRL. Irish Times Irish Pub, Jungceylon, Patong.

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Bangkok Travellers - Sundays

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Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. For reservations call on 081 891 4381.

TUESDAY

20% Off All Pizzas At Shakers. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong. Free pick up Patong and Kalim areas.

Reservations call 081 891 4381.

Pool Competition at 9pm. Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com.

BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat

Enjoy live music at Kamala’s only live music venue. Every Saturday from 8.30pm with free buffet. Call for more info on 085 655 5127.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

MONDAY

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BBQ Ribs All You Can Eat Only B295 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations call on 081 891 4381.

THURSDAY BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Rd, Patong. Reservations 081 891 4381.

Two Chefs Surf Night At Two Chefs Kata Beach. Every Monday from 6pm-12am. Enjoy our big BBQ Buffet, directly from the BBQ with plenty of different sauces. One member from our houseband will sing pleasant music during the night Only B495. See www.twochefs. com, 076 28 41 55, kata@twochefs.com.

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AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM All meetings are one hour long and held in English at The Green Man Pub, one km from Chalong circle. Contact 081 895 4763.

.

DAILY

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Grizzly’s Sports Bar & Restaurant

Roaring Bhoys

Watch all the sport that is on TV this weekend with us. Located between Loch Palm Golf Course and Kathu Waterfall. Call 087 471 8747.

Live Music every Monday night. The largest selection of draught beer in Phuket. Irish Times, Jungceylon, Patong.

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BBQ at Expat Hotel

BBQ Buffet All You Can Eat

Time 7.30pm, Expat Sports Bar, Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www.expatsports bar.com.

Only B325 per person at Shakers. Rat-UThit Road, Patong. Reservations 081 891 4381.

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Sunset Happy Hours & Ninjazz Don’t miss the Sunset happy hours. Between 5pm and 7pm. “Buy one get the same one free” promotion. The Luna Bar, Centara Grand Beach Resort. Call 076 201 234.

THE PHUKET NEWS

JOBS 33

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS

Land for sale 11 rai, just 1 km from Naiyang Beach > 36

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/events.php Looking for Thai Sales Lady: Good English,with selling experience, own bike/car, positive and outgoing p e r s o n a l i t y. S t a r t i n g B14,000+fuel+phone+ Excellent commission Call 085 782 1200.

ing sidecar driver wanted to collect food packages at Central and deliver to Thalang Dog Pound. MondayFriday between 3pm-4.30 pm daily. Call 084 877 3566 for more info.

Kindergarten Teacher Wanted: We are looking for a native English kindergarten teacher to join our team to teach 10-12 children aged 3-6 years of age. Must have a minimum Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.

Contact Daniel 084 520 4978, email: info@cravensnurseryphuket.com.

Staff Wanted: Siam Diving Enterprises and Pier 42 Boutique Resort in Chalong are seeking staff for the following positions (Thai nationals only): Reception, café staff, housekeeping, porter, kitchen staff helper, sales staff, sales supervisor, warehouse/drivers. Interested candidates please send CV to ian@sde-asiapacific.com, Call 076 384 476.

Administrative assistant: English-speaker with good Microsoft Office skills and references. CV to info@techworxprojects.com.

Reggae Musicians: Purchase manager: Looking for a reggae lead guitarist and keyboardist to help form a reggae band in Phuket. The goal is to create a quality Roots Reggae band that does covers, originals, and dub! Contact: Idren movidaflow@gmail. com.

S a l e s p e r so n Re quired: Thai female – good command of English, confident, and highly motivated for a Design Agency based in Phuket.

Basic salary plus commission. Contact: john@ cre8-media.net or call 083 502 5552.

Manager- Swimming Pool Company: Service Manager, Thai National, required

by P h u ke t ’s l e a d i n g swimming pool management and maintenance service company. Experienced in swimming pool maintenance and installation, ability to manage 30 plus staff, spoken and written English with a dynamic personality are all essential. A rewarding opportunity. Salary is not a factor for the successful applicant. Contact Mobile Pool Doctor on 076 620 193, email info@mobilepooldoctor. com.

JOBS IN PHUKET

Qualified Teacher/ Tutor wanted : English- speaking, tutor wanted for Grade 4 student, 2-3 hours per day, 6 days a week, to do extra tutoring (reading, writing, math) in Thalang. At Phuket International Academy School.

Contact:Sherin.peace@ gmail.com. or call 084 877 3566.

English-speaker, must have experience and references.

C.V to info@techworx-proj ects.com.

Accountant: Englishspeaker with good Quick books, Microsoft Of fice skills and references. CV to info@techworx-projects. com.

M a r ket ing Per son Wanted: Full-time/parttime. Great oppor tunity with Phuket-based company. Must speak good English. Must have good computer skills & internet knowledge. Please send resume to:gary@shadesasia.com.

Web Suppor t Specialist: Job Description: Answering technical and billing questions (e-mails

and web requests); registering all incoming messages in the database; problem-solving, dealing with complaints; development of knowledge base; moderating websites. Requirements: IT background, basic knowledge of web technology, fluent Thai and good English a must, analytical and problem-solving abilities, with keen attention to detail, degree or a student of IT-connected university. linkyphuket@gmail.com.

Karon Hillside Staff Wanted: Karon Hillside Hotel is looking for staff: For the following positions no English is required; chef, kitchen helper, housekeeping staff, handyman.

For the following positions English is required; bar and restaurant service staff, reception staff, night reception. Good starting salary and SC. Only Thai nationals. Please contact Khun Sandy on 087 275 4581 or email: info@karonhillsidehotel.com.

Kindergar ten Secretary: Must have good En g l i s h a n d c o m p u te r skills. Mon-Fri, 7.30am4.30pm, Chalong. Call 080 624 7060.

T i g e r M u ay T h a i Staff Wanted: Assistant Chef: Salary B15,000 -B20,000. Fluent in both English and Thai, must have a culinar y background. Advantage to applicants with background in c hain fo o d sto re s.

Cooks: salary B8,000 B12,000 must be able to cook both Thai and Western dishes. Front bar staff: salary B7,000-B10,000, depending on experience.

Must be able to speak, read and write English.

Staff will serve customers at the front counter of the restaurant. Contact Ben 081 832 2519, email ben@tiger muaythai.com.

Driver with a Sidecar Wanted: English-speak-

thephuketnews.com

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Restaurant for Sale: Restaurant for sale farang/ Thai, quality furnishing, terrific potential, ill-health forcing sale. B800,000. Contact 087 978 5804.

Kamala Bar for SALE!: Very profitable bar on main road. Owner returning to Australia in high season. Has one bedroom with ensuite, three FS TVs, pool table, stock, furniture. etc. Price negotiable.

Call Chompoo on 084 844 3504.

BOATS & YACHTS

Investment Opportunity: 8-15 per cent monthly returns. Obligation free appointment . Call for more information 084 100 6274.

Digifox Marine: Marine inboard engines, hydraulic and mechanical equipment service, repairs and spare parts. MAN, Arneson, ZF, Rolls Royce and others. Professional team of engineers, high quality, personal approach guaranteed. Contact 076 336 221, 083 171 4141. Email info@ digifoxmarine.com.

Refurbished 33 Foot Speed Boat for Sale: 2 X YAMAHA

Unique Automated Business: Low overheads,

OUTBOARD 200 HP 2 STROKE (original Yamaha parts). Wooden keel made of Takian Thong.

New upholstery, scuba tank racks, full registration and insurance.

Contact : Cesare Benelli (Thai/English) 081 891 3937 Bangkok or Ian 087 883 6487 Phuket.

great returns. Create passive cashflow with our forex trading system. Call for more information 082 286 4463.

BUSINESS SERVICES Phuket Consult Services: Insurance, personal assistance, legal assistance,

police and emergency assistance, property management, sales and rentals, company registration, visa and work permit and accounting. Call 081 691 9679.

Tile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@tile-asia.com.

Indo Construction: 40 years’ experience and more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. Contact 076 381 895.

Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact 076 612 733, 076 248 900. www.phuketfood.com.

Prot e c t Yo u r H o m e w i t h C C T V: C C T V & alarm service. Protect your home with high-quality CCTV camera,and GSM alarm. Free survey and quote. Please call 086 105 8144 or click www. huketechnology.com.

CARS FOR RENT insured. Starts at B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail.com.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED FREE ONLINE: 189 CHARACTERS + 1 PICTURE

New Mazda2 & Vios for Rent: First class insurance, special price for long term rental. Call 080 521 9888, email sornin_s@yahoo.com.

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Village. Call 076 528 862, mobile 082 539 8252, email: kiddieshomenursery@gmail. com.

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s oldest bilingual international child care facility. High-quality, time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brand new purpose-built school.

Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1 1/28. Mon-Fri 8am.-5pm. Bus service available from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chalong. Website: www.buds-phuket.com.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS

Farang Food Paradise:

A1 Car Rentals: Fully-

The car for rent: Car in good condition, short and long-term rental with first-class insurance and delivery service. Call 086 690 6007, email: k.niwatt@hotmail.com.

CARS FOR SALE

al Phuket City Hotel - Offers Zumba / LesMills Classes / Weight Training/Sauna/Steam/ Swimming pool-all inclusive.

For a free trial workout come along and join the action. Tel 076 354 027, 087 275 3614. www.clubasiaphuket.com.

Loch Palms Membership for Sale: Member-

Website link B199

Urgent banner B199

UPGRADE TO PREMIUM

FOR JUST B1,099 GET AN ADDITIONAL 9 PICTURES

PLUS 1 ISSUE IN THE PRINT COPY OF THE PHUKET NEWS Print upgrades:

Box B199

Colour Background B199

Toyota MRS Convertible Year 05: 82,000km, year 2005, big stereo, top condition. B1,350,00. Call 089 932 5175.

Colour Headline B199

CHILDCARE

DEADLINE: MONDAY 11.59PM (MIDNIGHT) FOR THAT FRIDAY’S ISSUE Hand this in at agent shops, our office or fax: 076 612 553

thephuketnews.com

dren starting to forget Russian? Sign up to our Russian Language For Kids program.

Visit http://PhuketRussian School.com, email us at info@ phuketrussianschool.com or call 082 804 9131.

Want to Practice your Thai?: Thai Courses and lessons for daily life (culture and language) with friendly and energised Thai female teacher. Graduated from university. Negotiable prices can be offered. Plus have outdoor activities for your experience!!

Call 080 386 5026.

Cooking School: Fire up your creative flair with Food Services Cooking School. Italian, Western and Thai cuisine.

Try our famous pizza school.

082 816 0126, email: info@ foodservicesth.com.

Guitar Lesson By Pro Player: Guitar/bass lessons beginner to advanced. Personal one-on-one or by DVD. Diploma of Teaching (Aust) degree. Call 089 777 3063.

Laguna Family Memb e r s h i p : 12 ye a r s .

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE

B500,000 includes transfer.

Call Tantita 081 797 3326.

Funstart: Family sports and leisure club. Swimming/golf/ playcentre/gaming arcade.

Call 076 203 185, 087 882 5544. See funstar tphuket. com.

SK A L I n t e r n a t i o n a l Phuket: Skål is a professional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. www. skalphuket.org.

Singapore Club Phuket: Calling all Singa-

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Russian Language for Your Kids: Are your chil-

ship lifetime, B600,000 include transfer. Call Tantita 081 797 3326.

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pany/hotel staff and Thai cooking at your home. Full course with conversation practice and home study material. Both at beginner and more advanced levels. Tel:081 797 1497 Email: teacherjoy_phuket@hotmail. com.

Club Asia Fitness: Roy-

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Online upgrades:

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

poreans in Phuket to join “Singapore Club Phuket”. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

Health Food : Online health food in Thailand. Good Karma, all natural healthy, natural and organic products.

Contact 082 276 1675. www. goodkarmathailand.com.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS WANTED Old Full Sized Bath Wanted: Looking to find an old plastic or stone full sized bath to use for a pet washing parlor- something large enough to put big dogs in to wash them. Please email : Gone2thedoggies@gmail.com with photo.

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE

DIVING All 4 Diving: 5/4 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach.

Contact 076 344 611.

Kiddies Home Nursery: Award for top Nursery

EDUCATION

for Phuket Province 2011.

Ages 3 months to 4 years.

Open 7 days a week and from 6.30 am to 7pm. Rock Garden

Learn Thai at Home: Thai woman teacher with 8-9 years’ experience gives Thai and English lessons for com-

Yamaha Serow for Sale: 220cc, year 1996.

Sale B45,000. Please contact Khun Nicolas (farang) 083 176 4265. Khun Ball 081 084 9532 (Thai).

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 35

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php MOTORBIKES FOR SALE CONT

blends and powdered mixes as well as selling, maintaining, servicing and repairing all major brands. 076 355 600-1.

transfer etc. Please telephone for advice. Call 084 063 9223.

Yamaha Mio for Sale: Yamaha Mio B19,999. Call 089 973 3276.

Harley XR-1200 for Sale: 2009 model. Only 8,000 km. Perfect condition. Fast and fun. Priced to sell quickly at 595,000 baht. Call 081 734 8309, email ducphuket@gmail. com.

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tyre Balancing: Dynamically balance your motorcycle tyres for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket.

Your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Contact 085 785 4440.

PERSONAL SERVICES Techworx: Custom design & installation. Professional service and support. Premium service: home cinema, home automation, marine AV and IT, lighting control and multiroom audio-video. Call 084 443 9863.

BUY & SELL/HOMES IN PHUKET

PROPERTY FOR RENT Room for Rent Above Gym in Phuket Town: Four rooms available for rent! includes electric/water/ internet/gymnasium membership/free personal training (One month B7,500). Call Michael 087 897 8997.

Personal Trainer: Fullyqualified female personal trainer from the UK. With guaranteed results and over 10 years experience in men and women’s health and fitness. Pre- and post-natal exercise. Nutrition and weight management. For a free consultation contact Sarah on 08 4 985 8161, email: sarah@one2one-fitness.net.

Patong:Nice Apartment for Rent: Condo with swimming pool, security 24/7, furnished, 46sqm. Daily/monthly.

089 728 4005, thamad17@ya hoo.com.

Haris & Hawryluck - Attorneys at Law: Unit 6D CCM Complex, call 076 510 111, email info@hhlegaladvi sors.com, www.hhlegaladvi sors.com.

Atmanjai: World’s best natural health programmes to improve health, reduce stress, weight loss, detox, rejuvenation, vitality and overcome disease. See atmanjai.com.

Buon A p p et i to: D e li market and bistro.Number one supplier of Italian Deli in Phuket. Call 076 384 273, info @buonappetito group. c o m, w w w.b u o n a p p et i to group.com.

American Health Clinic: Chiropractic spinal adjustment with an experienced chiropractor can take away the pain almost as quickly as it began. Call 076 612 707.

Bon Café Phuket: A

English-Thai Law Off ice: Visa, wor k per mit,

producer of premium coffee

company formation, property

Patong Hill Seaview: Havana Cigar Shop: Opposite HomePro Village Chalong. Contact 081 956 2024. Email: vinoltds@hotmail. com.

One bedroom fully-furnished apartment. 20,000/month for six month or more. Tam 082 271 4487.

townhouse, just a few minutes to Karon Beach. B25,000 per month, long-term rent required. Call 081 396 0880.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Condo in Phuket Town for Rent: New

Live Music By Colin condo, 1 bed, fully-furnished, Hill: Popular expat pro musi- WiFi, maid service, sea view. cian (guitar/vocals) with work permit. Can perform solo, duo or band. www.play-guitar.net, 089 777 3063.

Call 081 893 5188.

Nice Villa for sale: Four Beds/Four Baths Villa for Rent: Securely located in Baan Suan Loch

Phuket Visa: Offers con- Palm Estate, 10 minutes to sulting and services on company registration, work permit, visa, accounting, auditor, legal advice. Contact 081 892 9960.

PET ADOPTION Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog Foundation have over 300 beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully-vaccinated and sterilised.

Contact 087 050 8688, email: john@soidog.org.

POOL TABLES Phuket Pool Tables: www.phuketpooltables.com.

Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket.

Sales, rent and profit-sharing.

All accessories and services.

Call for more details on 081 823 4627.

PROPERTY CONCIERGE

golf courses, international s c h o o l s a n d C e n t r a l , 15 mins to Patong. B65,000 per month. Includes common area pool and gardening service, 6 months minimum. Available from 22 April 2012. +61 41 268 3850 or email jenjira555@ yahoo.com.au.

New House for Rent Near Central: 4 bed, 2

bath, furnished, WiFi, office, 20K. 089 973 3276.

Space for Rent in Patong: Of fice, Busin e s s s p ac e f o r r e nt o n fifth floor of Patong Towe r. C a l l 0 7 6 3 41 3 7 0 .

Three bedroom villa with separate bedroom/office, opposite pool. Khoa Khad Road, two minutes walk to river, four km to Ao Makham beach. Secure parking for two cars, government water, six ring oven, fridge, washing machine, satellite TV, cable TV, Wi-Fi, Nature gardens, plot size 104 sq metre.

Asking price B7 million. Call owner 084 304 6723 Thai/ English.

Luxury Pool Villa: Designed for comfort has everything near Laguna lease B22,000. Contact 089 594 4067.

After a great success of the first phase, the Sunrise Ocean Villas is now starting to build the 8 other villas of "Phase2". The price of 17.9 million baht makes the project one of the most compettitive on the island for being only 60m from the beach.

Each villa has an living area of over 300 sqm, has 3 spacious bedrooms, all sea views, 5 bathrooms, a 10x4m infinity pool, maid's quarter and a covered 2-car parking. The houses are specially designed to guarantee a complete privacy, with an open panoramic view of the sea.

Home/Self-Contained Office: Fully-established estate between Patong and Kamala. Ground floor: selfcontained office with own entrance (approx. 70sq metre) First floor: entrance, kitchen, dining, living plus games room. Second floor: Two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Master with separate living room/third bedroom. Price: B5,500,000. Sold with 20 year lease (B23,000 per month equivalent). Contact Paul +66 89 586 2959.

Villa 5 House for Rent: house for rent 37sq.wah. Two bedrooms, one restroom, one kitchen. B16,000 per month.

Call 081 895 9622.

THE SUNRISE OCEAN VILLAS

Two Bungalow Complex Panwa for Sale: 2 bedrooms each bungalow on suite,pool.fully secured electric wall. Viewing by appointment only . Ao Makham, Panwa.

Contact 081 187 6940.

Come visit the villas and you will be wonderfully surprised by the quality of the project as well as the quality of life you can find here.

For appointment or more details, contact the project director Khun Monta at 081 343 0777 (Thai, English & German) Email: thesunrise villas@yahoo.com.

www.thesunrisevillas.com

House for Rent Near Heroines Monument: Selling or Renting Your Property?: We have buyers for foreign freehold, sea view properties and land. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket. net.

Two bed, one bath, cable TV, internet, fully-furnished house at B8,000 per month. Call 080 521 9888, sornin_s@yahoo. com.

Comfor table Private and Quiet: Three-bedroom

Pura Vida Villas Phuket Special offer for long term rent

New spacious 3 bedrooms boutique pool villas with private steam room.

Close to Thanyapura International School, Blue Canyon Golf Course.

Between Naithon and Naiyang beach, Ideal for families, 24 hrs security, Daily maid service, Pool cleaning, Gardening.

120,000 baht per month.

Email: rsvn@puravidaphuket.com www.puravidaphuket.com

Tel: 076 510 160, 083 637 6237 short term rental is available

thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

HOMES IN PHUKET

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php the renter. Good for investment!. 86sq metre on fifth floor.

Please call 081 432 6587.

Land for Sale: 11 rai, one kilometre from Naiyang beach. B6.5 millions per rai.

Please call : Siriporn +66 (0) 896 499 939.

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT. Phuket - Allamanda Residences: One Deluxe Condo - Unit (Duplex House) fully-furnished set within the unique Phuket Laguna Complex with balcony right over the lagoon, 3 bedrooms, roof-terrace with sala etc. LONG TERM LEASE B45,000 monthly or SALE. Call (66) 081 737 0365, email: utaipan@yahoo.com.

Single House for Sale: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms at Villa Suanluang for sale, fully-furnished, negotiable. Please call 081 658 2081.

windows, garden, company name available. B5.5 million.

Call 081 131 5751, email: seadog5000@yahoo.com.

Land for Sale: Land Mission Hills half rai plot, quiet select location, chanote, water, electricity. Price B1.6m. Six rai hilltop, sea/mountain views, chanote, water, electricity and office. B4.2m per rai. Contact 087 978 5804.

898 8258.

Nice One Rai Chalong: Reduced, just B6 million now!

Full chanote title. Call 089 651 3479, 087 053 6181.

Kata House For Sale: 5 minutes to beach, large modern house, three floors, furnished, three beds, two full bath, air- con, western kitchen, spacious living room, garage with laundry/ overhead storage, large covered patios, security doors/

New condo, 1 bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.

450 sq metre, under roof.

400m of water frontage on river. Income producing.

Two small klongs for holding fish. Close to Rajaprapa Golf Course. English and Thai for details Tantita 081 797 3326.

Stunning three-bedroom pool villa, five minutes from Laguna 600 sq metre plot in peaceful location. Finished to a very high specification “MUST SEE” Selling price B12.9 million. Please contact 084 994 9303 or email phuketpoolvilla.info@ gmail.com.

Land For Sale: 6 rai Hilltop, sea/mountain views, chanote, water, electricity and office. B4.2 million per rai , Contact : 087 978 5804.

Discount Rentals Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Lease LUXURY VILLAS NEAR LAGUNA

Nice Land for Sale in Rawai: Rawai land near

Chalong. Green, flat, residential area. Chanote. 3 rai or smaller lots. Cheap price: B5.4 million per rai. Sale direct by owner. Contact Nang.

Phone 081 451 9027, 084

Condo in Phuket Town for Sale/Rent:

Pa l m a n d Ru b b e r Farm 67 Rai: House

Modern Pool Villa:

Info: 089 594 4067

Top Rawai Beach Condo For Sale: Serenity Resort & Residences. Two bed / two bath, 134 sq metre.

Only B11.9 million. See www. stefan.asia for details.

Nice One Rai Chalong NOW Reduced to 6.5m ono: In Chalong 200 metres off main road in great location.

Full chanote title. 089 651 3479.

24 Rai Flat Land Cheap:

24 rai flat land close to Phuket zoo. Owner direct, B3.8 million per rai, chanote title. Call 085 789 1773.

Sea View Villa: Luxury

Ka t a B e a c h Ce n t r e Phuket: Apar tments for

on one rai, living space 600 sq metre up. 087 893 4636.

rent and lease in luxury building with pool. Per day, week, month, year and 30 years. Contact Scott Bolls, email: sbolls@ hot mail.com. Contact +66 81 828 0972.

Private Pool Villas from B4.9M: Intira Villas is a de-

Perfect Land for Villa: Approx three rai, with chanote title, 2 km south of Thai Muang town centre. Just 24 km north of Sarasin Bridge. Good road access and electricity. Very quiet, green area. Urgent sale for just B5 million total, nonnegotiable. 089 652 1951 or email phuket.pn@gmail.com.

1,000 sq metre, under roof made from granite rock, salas and walkways, 400m of water frontage on river.

Many types of fruit trees.

Close to Rajaprapa Golf Course. English and Thai for details Tantita 081 797 3326.

Fi ve B e d ro o m Th a i St yle Pool Villa for Sale: Near Laguna Phuket

seaview Patong-Karon villa, four bedrooms, private pool.

Sell for B22 million, and also available rental daily and monthy basis. www.awphuket.com.

Rawai Pool Villa: 4 Bedroom/4 Bathroom European style single storey house with self-contained guesthouse and pool on 736m2 plot. Large master bedroom with en-suite, walk-in wardrobe. Modern western style kitchen with granite tops, built-ins throughout and 4 air-cons.Electric gate, TV and phone line. Large verandahs, carport, and established garden. Chanote title B11m. 087 891 9349.

Gentleman’s Farm 20 Rai Land: House

Thai Style House for Sale: Teak wood floors, stairs, walls, 2 bedrooms.

Land 330 sq metre, peaceful location, five minutes to Patong, Chanote title.

B5.5 million. 086 268 8701, email: f430spiderf1@hotmail.com.

velopment of 15 boutique villas in the heart of Rawai. Second phase open now. Only a few villas available. 083 594 9279.

Great House for Sale: Three bedrooms, four bathrooms and pool. B5 million.

Contact 089 469 2897.

Kamala Two Brand New Villas: Two bedr o o m s , t wo b at h r o o m s , Western kitchen, 130 sq metre. Nice garden with large pool in quiet area. Price: B5.5 million or minimum threemonth rental. Call 081 496 9070 (Eng/Swedish) or 081 719 1175 (Thai). Email:diod@ telia.com.

B1.9 Million New Condo: New Studio (1 bedroom) condominium in The Point, across from Phuket International Hospital and BigC. Beautiful four-year-old central atrium building with no stuffy hallways. 36 m2, high-speed internet, cable TV, and swimming. Parking under building. Third floor with nice view.

B1.9 m. Contact Walter at wp drake2@yahoo.com, 083 301 3470.

thephuketnews.com

Jindarin Beach Club & Resort: B1.5 million for one plot, B3.2 million for cottage + plot. Call 080 467 7770 (Thai), 083 520 0020 (English). www.jinda rin.com, Email: eam1008@ me.com.

New Apartment for Sale Patong: Condo: swimming

New Townhouses in Kamala: This is a development of affordable 3-bedroom townhouses, located in Kamala, approximately 1.5 km from the white sandy beach of Kamala and about 10 minutes drive to Patong. Prices from only B4,900,000. For more info call 087 882 2856 or email luc@ phuket-tropical-realestate.com.

pool, security 24/7. Furnished, 46sqm, freehold: B2.9 million.

089 728 4005, thamad17@ yahoo.com.

Nice Three Bed House for Sale: Three-bedroom

Seaview Land for Sale:

house in Moobaan Tarn Thong Villa opposite Moobaan Chao fa California. B3.1 million. Contact Lee on 081 803 7189.

Near Chalong pier, 150 metres from the sea. Three rai and one ngan plot. Chanote title. Price: B20 million per rai. No agent.

Call 087 278 7206.

Condo at Patong Loft for Sale: Condo for sale with

Beach Front Land: Seven rai with 180 metres of ocean frontage opposite of Yacht Haven Marina, for sale. Very peaceful natural environment, water, electricity, access by public road and boat, ready to build.

Price B6.2 million per rai.

Land could be subdivided into small plots.

For details please call owner directly 081 343 0777 or 086 475 6060, email: montha _ phuket@yahoo. com.

Chalong Land: Land in Chalong. 15 rai of gently sloping land, with full chanote, near Chalong temple. Sea views from top of land. Good road access and electricity. Perfect for development. Only B5 million per rai. Call Peter on 089 652 1951 or email phuket.pn@ gmail.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

TRADES 37

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

AQUARIUM SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

HOME IMPROVEMENT

STORAGE

Design service for aquarium, fish pond and fountain.

Filtration systems for fresh and salt water.

All aquarium equipment.

Fresh-water and salt-water fish from around the world.

Clear water guarantee.

Bangkok Branch: 02 272 4334.

Phuket branch: 076 258 340 (Thai), 081 562 7939 (English)

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Wana Park, Srisoonthron Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Tel 076 620168 info@tile-asia.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT hotel-supermarket-restaurant jewelry-aquarium-new building renovation-hospital-shop-bardisco-pub-office-real state

professional LED solutions

Visit our showroom in : Plaza Dracaena # 3. Chalong. ( opposite Villa market )

Contact : 076-38-44-49 . 0811 39 4774 email : boost@aboranet.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SWIMMING POOLS

w w w. e m

p ir e p o o ls p h u k e t . c o m

1,800 baht pool service

for the first 20 customers (standard size pool)

19/43, 19/45 Moo 7, Srisoontorn Rd, T. Srisoontorn, A. Thalang, Phuket 83110.

Tel: 076-620113 or 084-8506140 Fax: 076-620015

thephuketnews.com

38 ISLAND SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Lizards licked in Bees stung by SA netballers loss to Laguna NETBALL

CRICKET With the 2011-12 Island Furniture Cricket League now approaching its tail-end, Liquid Lounge Lizards were hoping for a good result to offset what has been a fairly disappointing season when they took on Laguna last weekend (April 1).

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Laguna openers went about establishing a solid partnership to set up what would prove to be a very competitive total.

They moved to 71 without loss before Damian Clowes (22) found Steven Hill off the bowling of Neil Culpan.

Fellow opener Val Guirard (33) fell off the next over to hand Lizards an avenue back into the game, and when Shane Gleeson (1) was clean bowled by Culpan in the 13th over, Laguna were looking shaky.

But powerful innings from Andrew Cole (61 off 58 balls) and Mario Piazza (33 off 32), and a particularly spirit crushing performance from Stuart Reading (60 off 33), meant Laguna charged through their overs to set an imposing total of 9-319.

Armstrong copped the worst punishment of the Lizards bowlers, being belted for 72 off his eight overs, while Nifty Catts was the best performer with 3-46 off eight.

With an asking run rate of almost eight an over, it was always going to be a difficult task for Lizards to get across the line.

Their chase started poorly, losing opener Blake (0) to the bowling of Val Guirard in the second over. Ian Lenton (25) and David Kelleway (48) combined to carry the score to

Neil Culpan performed with ball and bat, but couldn’t prevent Lizards’ fourth season loss.

Island Cricket Team

P

W

L

D

NR

Pts

1

Laguna

5

4

1

0

0

26

2

Village

5

4

1

0

0

25

3

Patong

5

3

2

0

0

23

4

Island

4

3

1

0

0

17

5

TNT

5

2

3

0

0

14

6

Lizards

5

1

4

0

0

13

7

Leopards

5

0

5

0

0

1

53 until Lenton fell in the 12th.

Aside from Nifty Catts (18) and Armstrong (22), none of the other Lizards batsmen really troubled the scorers, and they were eventually bowled out for 175 in the 35th over.

Val Guirard turned in his best figures of the season with the ball, taking 3-14 off eight overs. Sharukh Khan also shared in the carnage, taking 3-43 off his eight.

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We would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters of our 1st Anniversary Party, held at Vset on 5 April.

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It’s not always the result that counts – and for a local netball side still trying to establish itself, the Phuket Bees’ match on Tuesday against a touring South African side was all about the experience.

The visiting side were f rom K r ugersdor p High School, located about 30kms west of Johannesburg, and were at the tail end of a 10-day tour through Malaysia which saw them win all games bar one – a loss to the Malaysian under-18 national side.

Accordingly, the Phuket Bees – whose age difference rose into the decades – didn’t look too confident going into the match, held at BIS. Krugersdorp U-18s drew first blood on their opening play, and their rapid passing and swarming defence were an ominous sign for the visibly overwhelmed Bees side.

The Bees managed to get

on the board just before half time, but the visitors hit back again on the next play, and led into the break 11-1. The second half was more of the same, as the game finished 21-3.

Next up the Krugersdorp Under-16 side took to the court, and proved a much more even match. With the visitors leading 7-6 at half time, the Bees played with tremendous spirit to register a 12-11 win and salvage some pride for the islanders.

Bees captain Rachel Duce said the most important part

of the game was the learning experience for both sides.

“They were really good for us... It’s nice for us to be part of good netball, because we don’t get to play against sides of this quality very often.”

Krugersdorp coach Pixie Mountjoy added: “It’s a new experience for all of the girls.

Most have never been overseas before. Some had never seen the inside of an airport.

The Phuket Bees are looking to recruit more players. For more info, contact Rachel at: rduce@bisphuket.ac.th

Archery comp hits bullseye Phuket Archery Club will host the 2nd Phuket Archery Open 2012 at a temporary archery range in Saphan Hin park tomorrow (April 7) from 7am until 5pm.

The competitors will

be separated into three age groups; under-12, under-18 and open, with each age bracket also containing three separate categories of recurve, compound, and traditional bows.

Phuket Archer y Club

president Bandit Santikul and competition organiser Saroj Sorcharoensakid they had received plenty of attention from archers around the country for the competition.

Spectators are welcome.

THE PHUKET NEWS

ISLAND SPORT 39

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

FC Phuket hit by more controversy Kazira Hans sport@thephuketnews.com

The joy of an away win last Wednesday night (March 28) for FC Phuket was immediately soured as allegations of foul play and rumours over failed player payments once again embroiled the club in controversy.

A few hours after the Southern Sea Kirin’s surprise 1-0 win over Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) FC, the ‘Swat Cat Fan Club’ Facebook page was flooded by Korat fans alleging Phuket’s dirty tactics, which was labelled the “Lead and lay there” trick – effectively faking injuries to wind down the clock.

Such banter is commonplace on football forums, but the dispute then escalated well beyond the bounds of social media.

On Thursday morning, a major Bangkok-based sports media outlet decided to jump on the “Lead and lay there” bandwagon, accusing FC Phuket footballers of employing dirty tactics in order to waste time close to the final whistle.

They labelled the Souther n Sea Kirin players a “disgrace” to Thai football.

Football Siam TV, which falls under the umbrella of Sia m Sp or t s Sy nd icat e Group, ran the story in their televised news bulletin.

The report was especially curious because it could not have been aired without the knowledge of Paitoon ‘Ko Men’ Chutimakornkul, who has acted as a high profile consultant for FC Phuket in the last few seasons. He is also the supposed right hand man of Siam

RESIGNED: Interim club president Jirayus Songyos.

Sports owner Rawi Lohthong, who has personally invested millions of baht in the Phuket club in recent years.

FC Phuket also has extremely close contacts with Bangkok-based Thai Premier League side Muang Thong United, which also falls under Siam Sports Group umbrella.

The attack was unusual for a side which is often cited for having “media privileges” due to its close ties with Siam Sports, and many were left wondering how the report could have slipped past Ko Men. When the Kirin returned to Surakul on Sunday to play out a 0-3 loss to Bangkok United, Siam Sports ran another critical online report, claiming that FC Phuket management had failed to make payments to their players, which had led to their poor performance on the field.

In the meantime, interim president Jirayus Songyos decided to step down from his position.

Mr Jirayus had been supporting FC Phuket financially since the Division 2 playoffs

Soccer 7s face the heat As Phuket prepares for a soaking next weekend with the arrival of Songkran, spare a thought for those braving the searing heat to compete in the Phuket Songkran Inter national Soccer 7s tournament.

Held next Saturday (April 14), the tournament will celebrate its 10th anniversary as 40 teams from across Asia, Aust ralasia, Europe and the Middle East converge on Phuket.

Teams will compete in both Open and Masters (over35) divisions, with three

levels of competition – Cup, Plate and Bowl – in each.

Teams have seven players each, while matches are 15 minutes long and are played to Fifa rules, with the exception of rolling substitutes and no offside. Teams are allowed a maximum of 12 players in their squads and the games will be played on 70m x 45m pitches, with full-size goals.

All games will be played at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Centre. Spectators are welcome to attend.

More info: info@Thai7s. com, thai7s.com

in 2010, but always shied away from the media spotlight.

Before he stepped down, he handed over nearly B2 million to the current management, estimated to be enough to cover expenses for the first two months of this season.

But this raised further questions – where did the money go if FC Phuket had not paid its footballers, and where was Siam Sports getting its information?

FC Phuket director, Soranun Sanae, was the first to respond to the reports, denying the reports of non-payment. He said that it was mutually agreed between FC Phuket and the players that they will get paid over a period of time instead of a usual monthly lump sum.

“We have worked out the salary issue with our footballers.

I admit that FC Phuket is struggling financially, but we are working very hard to solve that.

“I’m very sure that every football team has its own problems, Phuket has this problem of our own, but it’s up to us to join together and get through this.”

Mr Soranun also revealed that although FC Phuket is looking for new sponsors for the team, it is currently in negotiations with a possible new major sponsor.

Though he didn’t give out any information on who the new sponsor may be, fans have been speculating that it may be Newin Chidchob of Buriram, though some still believe that with FC Phuket’s close ties with Muang Thong United through Ko Men, it might be Mr Rawi who steps in and saves the day.

Regardless, FC Phuket’s

hopes of a scandal-free season have gotten off to very bad start.

This weekend FC Phuket travel to Khon Kaen. The match is currently scheduled for Sunday (April 8), at 6pm, though that may change to tomorrow (April 7) at 4pm.

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run 1361: Saturday April 7 at 3.30pm Hares: No Hope, Apeman & Rude as F*** Directions: Pylon Line next to Phuket Academy. From Thalang traffic lights head north along Thepkasattri Road (Rte 402). Continue north at the Old Airport Road (Rte 4031) lights and take the next U-turn to come back to the lights. 700m south turn left at the Hash Sign (also marked Thanyapura Retreat). Follow the road for approx 2.8km to the pylons and turn right at the hash sign into the laager (inside the date palm plantation).

Photos: Pongpisit Raksaket

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thephuketnews.com

40 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Swapping spears for cricket bats CRICKET Agence France-Presse

Standing in front of the wicket, Kenyan cricketer and Maasai warrior Francis Meshame sports his traditional headdress and red robes, but has swapped his shield and spear for protective pads and a cricket bat.

“It is an easy game because when you bowl it is just like throwing the spear,” said Meshame, part of a team of cricketers from Kenya’s famous Maasai tribe who have embraced the game but not the sport’s traditional whites.

“The pads we use are just like the shields we use when we are fighting, and the bat itself is just like the ‘rungu,’ the clubs that we use,” the 29-year-old batsman added.

Cricket, imported into Kenya du r ing Br itish colonial r ule, is played only in the east African country’s largest cities.

None of the Maasai on this team had even heard of the sport until five years ago when Aliya Bauer, a South African cricket fan, began

introducing local schoolchildren in the village of Ol Polei to the game.

Based in Kenya’s remote central highlands of Laikipia, they have travelled to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa for this match.

Bauer, now 34, has spent more than seven years in Kenya. Before st ar t i ng work on a project studying primates in Laikipia, she was an international cricket scorer in her native South Africa.

Watching the schoolchildren play in Ol Polei, “the older boys who were passing by began to get inThe may not wear the traditional whites, but the Massai warrior cricket team believe terested,” she says.

One of the team’s some some of their players will end up representing the Kenyan national side. Photo: AFP 20 players, Ole Sonyanga game like ducks to water.

Warriors have staged exhibi- training course at the NursWeblen Ngais, 23, recalls The “moranes (young tion matches at the Laikipia ery of Cricket Legends, an being int r ig ued by this Maasai warriors) learned Highlands Games, where academy opened by former “very strange game”. to throw the spear when the t ribes of the region national team players.

“Teaching people a new they were very young. It engage in athletics, football They recently demonsport they have never seen ma kes them ver y good and other events, for the past strated their cricket skills is quite challenging,” Bauer bowlers,” Bauer says. two years running. on the sidelines of a Kenyaadmitted, saying progress Last year trainers from Ireland test match.

The enthusiasm is real. was also hampered by a lack One player does not hesitate Cricket Without Borders The team also uses cricket of facilities and equipment. to walk 16 kilometres (10 (CWB) came to Laikipia metaphors to deliver mesThanks to donations, the miles) to the practice field and awarded several of the sages within the highly team, dubbed the Maasai and home again. team’s players their official traditional and patriarchal Cricket Warriors, is now Despite limited resources, coaching diploma.

Maasai community, in which equipped with bats, balls, the team has come a long Twelve of the players early marriage and female gloves and pads. way since they first put bat have been in Mombasa since genital mutilation (FGM) The Maasai took to the to ball. The Maasai Cricket late January on a two-month are firmly rooted customs.

They visit schools to talk about AIDS prevention, the fight against FGM, polygamy and early marriage, gender equality, environmental protection and battling alcoholism and drug addiction.

Today some 20 schools in Laikipia offer introductory cricket, Bauer said proudly.

By contrast, in the rest of the country cricket is far less popular than athletics, football or seven-a-side rugby, and it continues to weaken even though the national team reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup. A nd Bauer’s Maasai Cricket Warriors, living in relative isolation, still lack the opponents – and the money – they need in order to progress.

The team receives no financial assistance from the Kenyan Cricket Federation, and all its members are volunteers, including Bauer, who now works full-time as coach.

The team is currently working with organisations and sponsors to raise funds to enable them to take part in a major amateur tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, later this year.

Giants to unleash $6m man Key Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants recruit Tom Scully looks set to debut for his new club against North Melbour ne in Hobar t on Sunday, replacing the suspended James McDonald.

Scully, who controversially moved from Melbourne for a salary of A$1 million (B30m) a season until the end of 2017, missed the Giants’ f irst match against the Swans two weeks ago with a facial injury.

“He has not missed training, just the contact stuff, so he’s fine to go,” a GWS spokesman said on Tuesday.

thephuketnews.com

AFL “He’s in contention and only has to get through training at Blacktown tomorrow.”

Also ready to make their debut for the Giants are cocaptain Luke Power and ruckman Dean Brogan.

However, the Giants could be without code-crossing recr uit Israel Folau who skipped training on Wednesday for personal reasons.

With Sunday’s game being played in Tasmania, North Melbou r ne will become the fifth Melbourne-based A FL club to play home

games outside Victoria for financial reasons this year, following Hawthorn (four games in Launceston), Melbourne (Darwin), Richmond (Cairns) and the Western Bulldogs, who also play a home game in Darwin.

Hobart has previously hosted f ive premiership games – all at North Hobart Oval – with the previous one held in 1992.

North has a contract to play six home games in Hobart over three years, with each match expected to reap the club more than A$500,000 (B15 million).

THE PHUKET NEWS

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Stormers hold off Bulls RUGBY

Agence France-Presse

Western Stormers remain the only unbeaten team in the Super 15 series after a gripping 20-17 South African derby win over the Northern Bulls this weekend.

The Cape Town-based Stormers, New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders and the ACT Brumbies of Australia are leaders of their respective national conferences after six rounds of the southern hemisphere provincial championship.

The Highlanders made it five wins from six with a seven-try blitz to trounce the Melbourne Rebels 4312 in Invercargill, while the Brumbies held on to the lead in the Australia conference despite going down 29-26 to the Coastal Sharks in Canberra.

The Waikato Chiefs joined the Highlanders on level points in the New Zealand conference with their comprehensive 30-13

win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Hamilton.

All Blacks ace Dan Carter had a quiet opening game of the season, despite his team, the Canterbury Crusaders, downing the Golden Lions 23-13 in Johannesburg.

South Africa’s Central Cheetahs beat the Hurricanes 47-38 in a helter-skelter encounter that produced 10 tries in Wellington.

Fa lt e r i n g d efe n d i n g champions Queensland Reds slumped to their third straight defeat in a 45-19 loss to the Western Force in Perth and have now conceded 106 points in their past two games.

At Newlands, a penalty three minutes from time by fly-half Peter Grant got the Stormers home against the three-time champion Bulls.

The Highlanders returned to winning ways after suffering last week’s first loss of the season to the Brumbies. They cut loose in the second half against the Rebels after it was

Super 15

Team

NZ’s Dan Carter had a quiet return for the Crusaders.

12-12 at half-time.

The Sharks held off the Brumbies 29-26 for their first Super Rugby win in Canberra in 14 years.

The Durban-based Sharks clinically took their chances to seize a four-try bonus point and their third win of the Super 15 season.

They had to withstand a storming finish from the Brumbies, who crossed for a converted try in the 79th

MP W

D

L

F

A

BP Pts

1

Stormers

5

5

0

0

125

91

0

24

2

Highlanders

6

5

0

1

156

122

2

22

3

Brumbies

5

3

0

2

124

124

2

18

4

Chiefs

5

4

0

1

131

91

2

22

5

Bulls

5

3

0

2

170

89

4

20

6

Crusaders

5

3

0

2

113

103

2

18

7

Sharks

6

3

0

3

143

135

5

17

8

Hurricanes

6

3

0

3

183

177

4

16 13

9

Reds

6

3

0

3

120

180

1

10

Waratahs

6

2

0

4

140

143

5

13

11

Force

6

2

0

4

151

169

4

12

12

Cheetahs

6

2

0

4

168

194

4

12

13

Blues

5

1

0

4

103

124

2

10

14

Lions

5

1

0

4

107

134

2

10

15

Rebels

5

1

0

4

93

151

2

10

ROUND 6 RESULTS Hurricanes 38 – 47 Chiefs 30 – 13 Brumbies 26 – 29 Force 45 – 19

Cheetahs Waratahs Sharks Reds

Conference leader

Lions Stormers Highlanders Bye: Blues (NZ)

13 – 23 20 – 17 43 – 12

Crusaders Bulls Rebels

Wild card team

minute to set up a furious finale that saw them get within 30 metres of the Sharks’ try-line before play broke down.

In Hamilton, the Waratahs had most of the firsthalf possession, but after the interval the Chiefs outscored the Sydneysiders 17-3.

In Wellington, both the Cheetahs and Hurricanes

had a four-try bonus point by halftime, but as the game progressed the Cheetahs’ forward power made the difference.

The Reds were never in the contest in Perth, as the Force dominated the early stages to ensure Queensland could not build back any confidence after their mauling by the Bulls in Pretoria the previous weekend.

Golden Bunnies leave Tigers licking wounds RUGBY LEAGUE

Test star Greg Inglis kicked a drop goal in off the upright to deliver South Sydney a 17-16 golden point extra time comeback win over Wests Tigers in Australia’s National Rugby League on Sunday.

The Rabbitohs, trailing 16-4 with four minutes left, scored two tries before scrumhalf Adam Reynolds nailed a pressure conversion to send the game into extra time.

Souths worked the play d ow n f ield b efo r e f u l lback Inglis kicked the 30metre drop goal to send the Tigers slumping to a fourth straight loss.

The Rabbitohs lost England Test forward Sam Burgess with a strained medial ligament which could mean up to a month on the sidelines, while another Englishman,

NRL Team

Greg Inglis, pictured playing for Queensland in last year’s State of Origin, kicked the winning drop goal to claim a thrilling golden point win for the Rabbitohs. Photo: Getty Gareth Ellis, limped off for the Tigers with a suspected fractured foot.

League leaders Melbourne Storm on Friday celebrated the re-signing of international scrum-half Cooper Cronk with a six-try 34-22 romp over Wayne Bennett’s Newcastle Knights to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

And Canterbury Bulldogs joined Brisbane Broncos in joint second spot after a 3020 win over the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.

Brisbane withstood a second-half comeback to down St George Illawarra 28-20 at home on Friday. A long-range drop goal from Todd Carney six minutes from time gave

D

L

F

A

1

Storm

5

5

0

0

0

156

61

10

2

Bulldogs

5

4

0

1

0

120

76

8

3

Broncos

5

4

0

1

0

116

76

8

4

Cowboys

5

3

0

2

0

106

76

6

5

Dragons

5

3

0

2

0

92

90

6

6

Sharks

5

3

0

2

0

74

77

6

7

Roosters

5

3

0

2

0

68

98

6

8

Panthers

5

2

0

3

0

109

83

4

9

Raiders

5

2

0

3

0

87

88

4

10

Knights

5

2

0

3

0

84

85

4

11

Warriors

5

2

0

3

0

108

110

4

12

Rabbitohs

5

2

0

3

0

99

108

4

13

Sea Eagles

5

2

0

3

0

88

101

4

14

Tigers

5

1

0

4

0

79

121

2

15

Titans

5

0

4

0

62

110

2

16

Eels

5

1 1

0

4

0

67

155

2

ROUND 5 RESULTS Raiders 6 – 22 Titans 20 – 30 Tigers 16 – 17 Panthers 14 – 15

MP W

Cowboys Bulldogs Rabbitohs Sharks

Cronulla Sharks a 15-14 win over the Penrith Panthers.

The Sydney Roosters upset last season’s grand finalists New Zealand Warriors 26-8 in Sydney to move into the

Eels Roosters Broncos Storm

29 – 20 26 – 8 28 – 20 34 – 22

BP Pts

Sea Eagles Warriors Dragons Knights

top eight. Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne powered the Eels to their first win of the season with a 29-20 upset of defending champions Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday.

41

IN BRIEF Stoner set for title defence The 2012 MotoGP World Championship officially starts this weekend in Qatar, the only race of the calendar held under floodlights.

The season sees a switch to 1000cc bikes, with defending champion Casey Stoner the man to beat based on pre-season testing.

Stoner’s record at the Qatar circuit is impressive: he’s started from pole four times and has claimed victory four out of the six times he has raced there.

Klitschko auctions Olympic medal for US$1 million Ukraine’s world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on Friday raised US$1 million for charity by auctioning off his 1996 Atlant a Oly mpic Games gold medal – before quickly gaining it back.

The fund for disaffected Ukrainian children run by the 35-year-old defender of four titles said it raised more than US$1.5 million.

The medal Wladimir won against Tonga’s Paea Wolfgramm in Atlanta was claimed by an unknown bidder before being returned.

Tendulkar quits as Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday stepped down as Mumbai Indians skipper on the eve of the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying he needed a “break from the responsibility of captaincy”.

The batting superstar, who led Mumbai in all of the previous four editions of the IPL, will be replaced by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

“At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy,” Tendulkar, who turns 39 this month, said in a statement.

thephuketnews.com

42 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS TIPPING COMPETITION: 30

City fall further behind FOOTBALL

Manchester City’s title ambitions were dealt a massive blow last weekend as they only managed to scrape a 3-3 draw with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

The Black Cats outplayed the title chasers, and were unfortunate not leave Manchester with all three points.

On 55 minutes they went up 3-1 when a lightening quick Sunderland counter attack saw Larsson slide home at the back post to send the away fans into raptures.

Carlos Tevez was sent on in an attempt to restore parity, and the hosts were back in it on 85 minutes when Balotelli cut in and curled one home, before Aleksandr Kolarov levelled with four minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, Manchester United capitalised on City’s second stumble in as many weeks, as they comfortable slipped past Blackburn at Ewood Park on Monday, steaming ahead to what might be an unassailable five point lead on the table,

on 66 minutes was the game winner as QPR went level on points with Blackburn and Wigan, who beat Stoke City 1-0 at the DW Stadium.

On Sunday, Liverpool’s horrendous form continued as they lost 2-0 to Newcastle.

Former Magpies hitman Andy Carroll’s ninth minute dive summed up Liverpool’s afternoon, the striker rounding Tim Krul and falling to the floor without any contact.

It was new-boy Papis Cisse who terrorised Liverpool, heading in Hatem Ben Arfa’s cross in the first half before tapping in from Demba Ba’s centre after the break.

Pepe Reina was sent off late on after clash with James Perch, who appeared to be headbutted by the keeper. Although there was minimal contact, the intention was clear enough.

Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia. Photo: Julia Novikova Elsewhere Tottenham got while also ensuring the Rov- stitute Ashley Young added back to winning ways with a ers remain firmly rooted in the second five minutes later. 3-1 victory over Swansea City the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, QPR’s survival while Chelsea let a two-goal In typical fashion, United hopes were boosted with a lead slip before winning 4-2 left it until late, opening their priceless win over London against Aston Villa.

I n T he Phuk et Ne ws account on 81 minutes through rivals Arsenal at Loftus Road.

Antonio Valencia before subSamba Diakite’s strike T i p p i n g C o m p e t i t i o n ,

Record-breaking Messi sends Barca into semis FOOTBALL

Agence France-Presse

Lionel Messi scored two firsthalf penalties in a 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Nou Camp on Tuesday to propel holders Barcelona to a fifth successive Champions League semi-final.

Messi’s brace in the quarter-final second leg took him to 51 Champions League goals – at 24 the youngest player to achieve the half century landmark – and a record total this season of 14, bettering the previous mark held by himself and Ruud van Nistelrooy of 12.

Andres Iniesta’s well-taken goal early in the second-half wrapped up the match and

thephuketnews.com

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Agence France-Presse

they will face either Chelsea or Benfica in the semi-finals as they bid to become the first team to retain the trophy since it became the Champions League in the 1992/93 season. “ We d e s e r ve d t o go through and I was very happy with the performance,” said manager Pep Guardiola.

TOP 10 (OVERALL): 1. gafferworld 2. MRB 3. apollo131 4. alanphuket 5. chasman 6. scottkip 7. fazza 8. toptipster 9. Farang2005 10. Paul614724

461 437 419 417 406 402 393 391 390 390

The overall competition is also getting closer, with 24 points separating ‘gafferworld’ and ‘MRB’.

The winner will receive a return flight to the UK, courtesy of Albatross Lufthansa City Center.

Italian player arrested on match-fixing charges FOOTBALL

The mesmerising Argentine.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Atalanta’s Andrea Masiello has been arrested in a new probe into match-fixing in Italian football.

Bari prosecutors had ordered an investigation into match-fixing involving the city’s club following new evidence that players were paid bribes to help determine the outcome of various matches.

Masiello, a defender, was arrested at his home in Bergamo and taken to Bari for questioning. He later admitted under questioning to have

Masiello was allegedly paid 50,000 euros for an own goal. scored an own goal in a 2-0 defeat top Lecce in return for 50,000 euros (B2 million).

Two other men, Giovanni Carella and Fabio Giacobbe, who were friends of Masiello and placed bets,

were also arrested.

Prosecutors are looking into five Bari matches from the last two seasons and are investigating nine ex-Bari players, including Masiello.

In total 20 people are

being investigated.

As well as Masiello, Daniele Portanova, Alessandro Parisi, Simone Bentivolgio, Marco Rossi, Abdelkader Ghezzal, who now plays in Spain with Levante, Marco Esposito, Antonio Bellavista and Nicola Belmonte are under investigation.

One of the primary matches under investigation is the one Masiello helped fix.

“For Bari versus Lecce on May 15, 2011, we’ve ascertained during the investigation that guarantees were made and then exchanged for money at the end of the game,” said Bari prosecutor Antonio Laudati.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 43

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

THE PHUKET NEWS

Push for F1 to abandon Bahrain

New Sydney team set for A-League A new team will be created in Sydney and will join the domestic A-League, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said Wednesday, as a major cash injection at grassroots level was also announced.

The new team appears to sound the death knell for Gold Coast United, who were kicked out of the 10-team competition

in February after the FFA had a furious row with the club’s owner, billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer.

In announcing a new Western Sydney franchise, Prime Minister Julia Gillard unveiled an A$8 million (B240 million) funding package for football development in the area.

Australia’s largest city

English Premier League Team

already has a club in the competition, Sydney FC, and FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said it was an exciting prospect to have a cross-town rival.

Everton star Tim Cahill, who grew up in Sydney’s west, will reportedly be approached to be involved with the club, which is expected to join the league next season.

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Atalanta

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Norwich City

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Valenciennes

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Cagliari

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Stoke City

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Dijon

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Bologna

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West Brom

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Lorient

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Siena

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Aston Villa

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Ajaccio

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Parma

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Bolton Wanderers

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Nice

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Genoa

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Queens Park Rangers

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Brest

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Fiorentina

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Blackburn Rovers

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Caen

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Lecce

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Wigan Athletic

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Sochaux

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Novara

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Wolves

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Auxerre

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Cesena

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“I’ve quite a few good friends over there and I’m pretty sure that for them it’s a very important event and they just want to make everybody happy.

“If you look around the world, you probably find other places where there might be the possibility that we could have the same reasons to think about and we don’t.

“So at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure that they’re going to do their utmost and we’re going to be OK.”

ed that the outbreak of fresh violence will not affect this year’s grand prix.

And Schumacher, when questioned separately about Bahrain, also said he was satisfied there was minimal risk despite enduring tensions following last year’s deadly crackdown on political unrest.

“I’m honestly pretty relaxed to go there. From our perspective... we’re going to be very well looked after, because they might foresee whatever and will be prepared,” Schumacher said.

1

Blackburn Tottenham Newcastle Aston Villa Everton

MP W

From page 44 reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.”

On Twitter, a whole campaign has been launched against the return of the Grand Prix to Bahrain.

“Stop, my blood is flowing” and “race over blood,” were two slogans posted by activists on Twitter, where hashtags like BloodyF1 and NoF1 generate scores of tweets.

But Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has insist-

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thephuketnews.com

44 INTERNATIONAL SPORT

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THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2012

Off-pitch drama

GE S T 7 PAP OR OF STION! AC

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BLOOD DRIVE Bahraini protesters call for F1 Grand Prix race to be cancelled amid continued violence Agence France-Presse / The Phuket News

• Early February 2011, Thousands • May 2, 2011 , FIA members against pro-democracy protesters. unanimously voted to reinstate • February 2012, Heavy police of protesters gather in Manama. presence thwarts opposition atthe Bahrain Grand Prix to the A security crackdown results in tempts to hold protests on the calendar on the planned date of the death of several protesters. anniversary of crackdown on last 30 October. One week later, the • On February 21, the Bahrain year’s mass demonstration on the plan was abandoned, and the Grand Prix was postponed site of the demolished Pearl square.

Grand Prix cancelled. in response to the protests.

• March 2011, Saudi troops are • June 2011, State of emergency is • April 1, 2012, Police fire tear gas called in following further unrest. lifted, but heavy security remains. and arrested demonstrators in Authorities declare martial law and • November 2011, Government two Shiite villages as protests clamp down hard on pro-democracy concedes that “excessive force” were mounted against the activists. Protests continue. was used by security forces 2012 Grand Prix going ahead.

Formula One champions Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher have come out in support of Bahrain’s return to the grand prix calendar this year, despite ongoing clashes in the Gulf kingdom.

Both two-time defending champion Vettel and Schumacher, who has seven world titles, said they would be happy to race next month in the desert state if the sport’s governing body declares it is safe to attend.

“If they decide it’s safe we shouldn’t worry. I’m happy to go (to) Bahrain,”Vettel told journalists.

“Of course it was a shame the race didn’t happen last year but ultimately it was the right call. I think it’s not our business so we'll see what h a p p e n s , b u t I’m q u it e confident we’ll be all right.”

But there is no such indifference in Bahrain itself, where activists say the Grand Prix would legitimise the current regime. On Sunday (April 1), Bahraini police fired tear gas and arrested demonstrators

in two Shiite villages as protests were mounted against the F1 race going ahead.

Dozens of young protesters gathered in the village of Abu Saiba, west of Manama, and Tubli, south of the capital.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the small gatherings and made some arrests, according to provided footage.

The Bahrain round of the world championship is slated for April 20-22 at the Sakhir circuit, southwest of Manama.

The race was cancelled last year due to the unrest t hat g r ipped t he Sh iit e majority state after a mid-March brutal crackdown on protests demanding democratic reforms that would challenge the p owe r of t he Su n n i A lKhalifa ruling dynasty.

“We (object to) holding a sports race that belittles the sacrifices of our children and ignores our suffering and wounds,” said a statement read by a youth dressed in a white death shroud and a black hood, according to a video posted online.

“Do not tar nish the Continued on page 43

F1 teams all in a flap over DRS Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, is this week reassessing its position on the legality of a controversial design feature on the Mercedes car.

The system uses the DRS rear wing overtaking device to affect the front wing, boosting straight-line speed.

The move to reassess the system comes in the wake of continuing complaints from rivals about the system, which it is claimed gives the car an

thephuketnews.com

extra 0.5 seconds per lap, with at least five teams reportedly considering it illegal.

Several teams, with Lotus and Red Bull leading the way, are still seeking clarification and the FIA’s race director Charlie Whiting is expected to “look in detail at their arguments this week before trying to come to a definitive position on the issue”.

The FIA gave the controversial DRS-activated F-duct

FORMULA 1

– which stalls the car’s wings for better straight-line speed – the green light at the Australian and Malaysian Grands.

According to BBC Sport, “at least five teams consider it illegal” and “if Whiting again rules it legal, it remains possible that rivals will protest against the system at the next race in China on 13-15 April”.

Red Bull team principal

Christian Horner has also told media that a China protest could be possible.

“I think he wanted to have a think about it and of we’ll of course respect his position when he makes that clear to us in China,” Horner said.

“Then the teams are faced with alternatives. Either accept it and get on it and maybe look at your own solution if that fits your car.

“You’ve got the opportunity

to protest if we were to feel, or any other team were to feel, that we didn’t agree with Charlie’s interpretation.”

Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher have so far gained little advantage from the system, scoring only a single point between them from two races.

The system works by combining the DRS flap on the rear wing with the front wing.

Use of DRS – which stands

for drag-reduction system – is free in practice and qualifying but in a race, drivers can use it only in designated zones.

When the Mercedes DRS flap lifts, it reveals holes on the inside of the rear-wing endplate. These holes connect up through channels inside the car to the underside of the front wing, which sucks air from the rear wing, apparently reducing the front wing’s effectiveness.