06-10-2017

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

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Torpedo found washed ashore

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Exploring hidden gems in the north

SCRAMBLE TO PROVIDE BEACH SAFETY MIRED IN CONFUSION

SPORT

A lifeguard watches over a lone swimmer at Nai Harn Beach. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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fter nearly a week since the government contract ended last Saturday (Sept 30) for the Phuket Lifeguard Service to provide lifeguards at Phuket’s key tourist beaches, the island’s beach safety situation has not improved.

Highlighting the dire need for qualified, trained lifeguards at Phuket’s beaches, last Saturday one tourist drowned and several others were rescued – not by the “emergency beach safety support” ordered by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, but instead by lifeguards staying on to provide their vital services and even a passer-by.

Chinese tourist Shi Yiqeng, just 22 years old, died after being pulled away from the beach by a strong rip tide at Kata. Her body washed ashore at Kata Beach last Sunday night (Oct 1).

At Nai Harn, two tourists were reportedly rescued. However, the rescue confirmed by The Phuket News was not by a lifeguard. Instead, a Russian man at the beach noticed

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Chinese tourist Liu Su, 46, in trouble and ran to the rescue.

Similarly, over last weekend local surfers at Kata reportedly rescued three swimmers in danger.

At Nai Thon, lifeguards who hail from the Surin-Bangtao Surf Lifesaving Club rescued a Russian man in distress after he was overcome by the strong surf and left floundering...

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

DSI suspects murder in local billion-baht land swindle > page 5

Lifeguard scramble stumbles Fears raised that untrained ‘beach wardens’ may become victims Continued from page 1 ...while being pummelled by the waves.

At Surin Beach, lifeguards who have volunteered to continue to provide their vital services carried out several rescues, despite two Navy personnel being assigned to the beach.

“The Surin-Bangtao Surf Lifesaving Club professional lifeguards all reported to work today (Oct 1). The professional guards made multiple rescues throughout the day, whilst the Navy guards made none,” one local lifeguard told The Phuket News.

“The first rescue was at 10am hours, at the north end of the beach, where a deep rip current channel had formed,” the lifeguard explained.

“An experienced, qualified volunteer international lifeguard spotted a 60-year-old Russian tourist struggling in the flash-rip, responded to the location, and towed the woman to shore single-handedly, while the Navy guards watched from the shore,” he added.

The incident cast doubt on the “quick draw” beach safety teams’ ability to provide adequate protection from the dangerous surf simply through a lack of training.

“The two ‘lifeguards’ supplied by the Thai Navy were

clearly overwhelmed, and repeatedly failed to notice swimmers in trouble in the area they were assigned,” one lifeguard explained.

“Throughout the day, the professional lifeguards had to continuously respond to the area the Navy was supposed to cover, rescuing four in the small patrol area. Assigning personnel with no real knowledge of Phuket’s beaches, and no ability to spot swimmers in trouble, only complicates the problem. Left unchanged, this will lead to disaster.

“In addition, providing two ‘ocean lifeguards’ for all of Surin Beach is not nearly enough. Without proper training and rescue equipment, if these guards do actually enter the water and attempt a rescue, they are likely to become victims themselves. I worked alongside two of them yesterday. Unfortunately, they have a long way to go before they are qualified to function as ocean lifeguards in Phuket,” the professional lifeguard added.

Gov Norraphat so far has been too polite to explain why he has taken such a leading role in the last-ditch scramble to get some sense of security on Phuket’s world-renowned beaches despite PPAO Council President last week publicly vowing to have lifeguards

Governor Norraphat (2nd from left) speaks with Patong Mayor Chalermluk (left) last Sunday. Photo: PR Dept on Phuket’s beaches by last Sunday.

“The PPAO can provide Phuket lifeguards ourselves.

We do not need Phuket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd anymore,” Council President Teera Jiasakun said.

However, The Phuket News has yet to identify any reports, including in the Thai media, confirming that the PPAO has been directly involved in getting any lifeguards on any beaches without Gov Norraphat’s direction.

Gov Norraphat has led the fight on that front.

The PPAO (or OrBorJor) held emergency meetings on Tuesday (Oct 3) and Wednesday (Oct 4) to discuss the ongoing lifeguard crisis.

However, the meetings were

closed to the media.

No persons at the PPAO this week were willing or available to confirm any details of the current situation about the lifeguard crisis, despite many repeated attempts by The Phuket News to solicit comment.

Hence, no official source could confirm how many lifeguards, Navy personnel, Civil Defence Volunteers were on patrol at which beaches, which hours they patrol, what training they have or what equipment they have at the disposal to save tourists’ lives.

C o n s e q u e nt ly, a s of Wednesday, no officials at the PPAO could or would confirm any details of the new lifeguard service contract being drawn up, including the

value of the contract to be offered, how many lifeguards were to patrol which beaches, for how many months nevermind which months, whether the new contract will include patrols for one extra hour after sunset as ordered by Gov Norraphat earlier this year, or when they intend to open bidding for the government contract or how long will the current situation will continue.

The best The Phuket News could confirm, as of Wednesday, was that Patong Beach was patrolled by 14 lifeguards bolstered by some Patong Municipality Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) officials and Civil Defence Volunteers, but no Navy support as is present elsewhere.

In Kata and Karon, Wanchai Saetan, acting Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Karon Municipality, on Wednesday said, “We cannot hire lifeguards for the time being, but some of those who previously worked as lifeguards at our beaches have stayed to patrol and carry out rescues for free, for the time being.”

Other local officials have been ordered to patrol the sands, he added.

Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos confirmed that the previ-

ous lifeguards in Rawai had been hired to patrol Nai Harn and Yanui beaches, but that Rawai Municipality is paying the lifeguards – the PPAO is contributing nothing.

“We are doing what we can… The OrBorJor must provide an emergency budget for us. This is their responsibility. We don’t have any budget, but somehow we now have to buy rescue equipment and red flags for ourselves.”

Mayor Aroon said the lifeguards were essential for beach safety. “Lifeguards are a must for tourists,” he said.

The situation at Kamala Beach is the same. No officials were willing to be named publicly, but one senior source at Kamala Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) confirmed, “The lifeguards who worked here have stayed on for free. We cannot afford to pay them, we have no budget to pay them with.

“We cannot go on like this.

We cannot do this alone. Right now we even have officials walking along the beach to tell people not to swim where red flags are posted, but that is all they can do.

“They cannot go into the water to rescue people. They are not trained and this just makes it dangerous for them too,” the official said.

ISLA sends expert trainers amid lifeguard crisis WHILE THE PHUKET LIFEguard crisis continues, a ray of light has shone through with confirmation that in November the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) will be sending 20 Humanitarian Lifeguard Trainers from around the world to conduct their international certification course.

The 30-hour course, to be held over three days, is free and open to all participants who can pass the swim test. Successful participants will receive the prestigious ISLA International Lifeguard Certification, which is recognised in 24 countries around the globe, explained ISLA Thailand Coordinator Daren Jenner.

“These professional lifeguards from around the world volunteer their time, pay their own airfare, and donate B30,000 each to purchase lifesaving equipment that will be donated to our lifeguards. This will

be the largest event of its kind ever held in Phuket,” he said.

“We have been planning it for a year now, but it is sorely needed as the lifeguard situation in Phuket is in crisis,” said Mr Jenner.

“ISLA exists to advance professional lifesaving development to areas in need around the globe.

And right now, Phuket is definitely in need. Everyone is invited, including; Thai Navy and Marine Police, lifeguards, Civil Defence Volunteers, hotel watersport staff, swim teams, and anyone else who can swim 500 metres in 10 minutes,” he added.

The trainers hail from the following well-known agencies around the world including Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) UK, Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA), Westpac Rescue Helicopter Australia, Cruz Roja Costa Rica, Huntington Beach Municipal Lifeguards (CA,

USA), Laguna Beach Municipal Lifeguards (CA, USA), Santa Monica Harbor Patrol (CA, USA) and Los Angeles Fire Depratment (USA).

“The training will be held on two beaches at the same time, Surin and Bang Tao, to ensure adequate lifeguard coverage during the course,” Mr Jenner explained.

The ISLA Basic Open Water Lifeguard Course is designed for people with little or no background in open water lifeguarding. It provides an introductory exposure to both the theoretical and practical components of open water lifeguard subjects such as lifeguard operations, aquatic injury prevention, and basic open water rescue.

The course is extremely physically demanding, and requires participants to be in excellent shape. The completion of several long distance swims and runs are

required for certification, Mr Jenner noted.

For Phuket, the ISLA’s move to help provide better lifeguards on the beaches gained momentum in January with a letter sent by ISLA President Henry Reyes to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha petitioning him not to reduce funding for lifesaving services in Phuket. That petition resulted in the ISLA in April submitting its plan directly to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thanasak Patimapragorn to upskill Phuket lifeguards to world standard and make the critical life-saving service a professional career on the island.

At that time, the ISLA was looking to raise B1 million to bring the expert lifeguard trainers to Phuket to lead the November course. However, more funds are needed, The Phuket News was told.

The 30-hour course, to be held over three days, is free and open to all participants who can pass the swim test.

“We are looking for sponsors,” Mr Jenner said.

Among the donations sought, including monetary donations, are drinking water, wind and rain-proof beach shelters for Surin and BangTao beaches, chairs, transportation volunteers (with car or pickup), meals for the trainers, among other items. For details visit the event on Facebook @ Free Ocean Lifeguard Training.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

PHUKET NEWS

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ban for Royal Island readies for days Drone Funeral ceremonies of national mourning Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

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emorial events will be held across the island next Friday (Oct 13), marking one year since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty and whose achievements throughout his 70-year reign have been conferred through the titles “King Bhumibol The Great” and “King of Kings”.

Official activities will be centred at Saphan Hin, near Phuket Town, where a replica of the Royal Crematorium that will be used in the Royal Funeral Cermony on Oct 26 is now 90% complete.

Memorial activities at Saphan Hin will be held on Friday and Saturday (Oct 1314), said organiser Lertpong Tansowat. “Everyone is invited to join,” he said.

On Friday, starting at 7am, there will be a ceremony giving food to monks. Other memorial activities include exhibitions as well as musical and theatrical performances to remember the great King.

The replica of the Royal Crematorium being built at Saphan Hin is now 90% complete. Photo: PR Dept Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Royal Funeral services that will be held in Phuket on Oct 26, which has been proclaimed a public holiday.

Phuket Provincial Defence Office Chief Sivach Rawangkul last week confirmed that 27,446 people have volunteered to assist in ensuring the Royal Funeral Services

held in Phuket run smoothly.

Services will be held at three locations on the island – at Saphan Hin Park where the replica of the Royal Crematorium in Bangkok is being built; at Anuphas Kritsada Ram Temple (Wat Ket Ho) in Kathu; and at Thepwanaram Temple (Wat Manik) in Srisoonthorn, Thalang.

“In addition, Phuket is

Tourists urged to be ‘respectful’

THE TOURISM AUTHOrity of Thailand (TAT) has issued a travel advisory calling for all people visiting the Kingdom during the Royal Funeral for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej this month to be “respectful” and to behave appropriately during the period of mourning.

The Royal Cremation will be held on Oct 26, which has been declared a public holiday by the Cabinet to allow the people to take part in paying a final tribute to the late King, the advisory explained.

“During the process of the Royal Cremation which will last five days, tourist attractions across Thailand will be open as usual. This is with the exception of Bangkok’s Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which will be closed from 1-29 October, 2017, as they will be the venue of the Royal Cremation,” it added.

All transport, banks, shopping areas, hospitals and other public services will be operating as usual, the advisory noted.

Visitors with travel or tourism plans were urged to @thephuketnews

The TAT called for all visitors to be ‘respectful’ during the national days of mourning. reconfirm with agents and check local media regularly as well as follow the advice of the local authorities for announcements and updates.

Visitors were also cautioned that in some areas transportation could be affected. “We also ask tourists and visitors for their understanding and patience should they experience delays or some routes may be closed to traffic,” the TAT said.

“In this time of great sadness and mourning, we would like to ask that everyone uses their judgement regarding how or should they make arrangements for events planned in Thailand.

Also, we would like to ask visitors for their understanding that this is a sensitive

time for Thailand, and they should respect the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people,” said the advisory.

“Many Thai people will be wearing black clothes as a sign of mourning. This is not required of visitors but if possible, they should wear respectful clothing when in public.

“We also would like to request that the solemnity of the Royal Cremation is observed, and visitors should refrain from conducting any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour,” it added.

“The world is welcome to Thailand during this historic period. Visitors to the Kingdom at this time will get to see the great love and reverence that the Thai people have for their beloved King in the way they mourn and pay their respects.

“And during this time, Thailand is thankful for our friends coming to share their sadness and pass on their condolences. This gesture of empathy and friendship will be remembered by the people of Thailand for decades to come.”

The Phuket News

scheduled to organise a big cleaning activities during Oct 15-20 to commemorate the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Preparations for the annual Vegetarian Festival are also in the works,” he added.

While the Tourism Authority of Thailand has called for visitors to the Kingdom to be respectful during the period of national mourning (see below), Patong Police Chief Col Tassanai Orarigdech has confirmed to The Phuket News that he has yet to receive any order to enforce a ban on the sale of alcohol on Oct 13 or Oct 26.

The sale of alcohol is banned by law on four Buddhist religious holidays each year, “There has been no notice of an alcohol ban on Oct 13 or Royal Funeral days, so far,” Col Tassanai told The Phuket News last Friday (Sept 29).

“However, there may be notices from the government in the coming month… Police, entertainment business operators and people must all be prepared for the possibility,” he cautioned.

A B A N O F F LY I N G drones to take photos or record videos around or over places where the Royal Cremation ceremonies, being held on Oct 26, will apply in Phuket, The Phuket News has been told.

“Drones should not be flown in Phuket on the Royal Cremation Day (Oct 26), and especially not around the replica of the Royal Crematorium at Saphan Hin or at the other venues where ceremonies for the late King will be held,” said Busaya Jaipiam, Chief of the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 3).

“I strongly suggest that people follow the announcement as issued by the Civil Aviation Authority,” she said.

“There have not been specific regulations for the drone ban issued for Phuket, but the national ban applies,” she added.

The announcement, signed

by Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand Director General Chula Sukmanop, was issued on Sept 21.

The ban deemed that to show immense respect to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as well as for safety and preser-

Flying drones in any areas w h e r e R o y a l Fu n e r a l ceremonies are being held in Phuket on Oct 26 are banned. Photo: Inmortal Producciones vation of peace and public order in the Royal Cremation areas, the premises of the Grand Palace, Sanam Luang Royal Ceremonial Ground and the vicinity within a radius of 19 kilometres shall be “restricted areas” to drones.

“No person shall control or launch a drone into such areas, except such drones as utilised in aerial photography by the Committee on Ceremonies for the Royal Cremation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej,” said the announcement.

“Violators will be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding forty thousand baht or both, according to Section 78 (1) of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 (1954).”

Shela Riva

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Season for cleaning

The tour bus was carrying about 10 Chinese tourists when the engine caught fire.

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Tour bus catches fire QUICK ACTION BY FIREfighters prevented a possible explosion as a tour bus engine burst into flames in Phuket Town last Friday (Sept 29).

The incident was caught on video, showing the bus branded as “Banyat Tohwong” parked on Damrong Rd at about 3pm.

Thick smoke was pouring from the engine bay where flames can be seen flickering through the engine bay cover.

A Phuket City Municipality fire truck arrived shortly after, with four firefighters quickly hosing down the flames.

“The bus had about 10 Chinese tourists on board, but fortunately there were no injuries,” said Suchart Nokkaew, who was at the scene.

“Luckily the Phuket Municipality fire brigade arrived in time to stop the fire,” he said.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Coastal clean-up nets 506kg of garbage The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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mass clean-up operation gathered total of 506kg of garbage from a coral reef and the beach at Ao Kluay at Racha Noi Island last Sunday (Oct 1).

The operation saw more than 100 volunteers from the local dive community together with more than 50 volunteers collecting garbage from the popular tourist sites.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Director of Phuket Meteorological office Santhat Panbanpaew launched the clean-up at 8am at Chalong Pier.

“Racha Island is a beautiful island. More and more tourists come to the island, which means more garbage from tourists as well,” Gov Norraphat said.

“Also garbage is washed up onto the beach during the [southwest] monsoon sea. Garbage not only damages the scenery but also damages the marine eco-system,” he added.

More than 100 volunteers from the local dive community helped to collect garbage. Photo: Rawai Municipality After the clean-up, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos reported, “A total of 2,291 items of garbage weighing 506kg was collected. Among the garbage were plastic and fishing nets, glass bottles, cans, spoons and forks, children’s toys, shoes, clothes and even candles, a broom and a toothbrush.”

The garbage was brought back to Phuket and taken to the Phuket City Municipality incinerator and landfill at Saphan Hin. “If people are interested in

taking part in our next clean-up activity, please keep an eye out for public notices announcing the dates. We will have one again,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials on Monday (Oct 2) cleared garbage and other debris strewn along Nai Yang Beach that had been pushed onshore by the southwest monsoon over the previous few days.

Kittikor n Prateep Na Thalang, Chief of the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), ordered

the clean-up and led 15 fellow officials to clear the garbage from the beach on Monday afternoon.

Mr Kittikorn also welcomed any help from the public. “We are open for any people who have the heart to save the beach to support us. We welcome everyone to join us,” he said.

One Sakoo public relations official who asked not to be named said that officials had filled about 30 black garbage bags within the first two hours of the clean-up.

“Sakoo officers usually clean the beach but more and more garbage is being washed up on the beach every day, and this week it is worse than usual for this time of year,” the official said.

“Recently we have not been able to go out and clean the beach on some days because of the weather, but we are out again today and we will back on the beach to collect garbage tomorrow,” the official added.

Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot

Public toilets to Charges slow in ‘fake goods’ raids get tourism boost TOU R ISM OF FICI A LS from Bangkok have unveiled plans to improve public toilets across the island in the hope of improving tourist’s “experience” while on holiday in Phuket.

The news was announced at a Department of Tourism and Sports meeting held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town on Monday (Oct 2).

Leading the meeting was Wanthana Jangprajack, Director of the Division of Tourism Service Development under the Ministry of Tourism & Sports in Bangkok.

“There are not enough public toilets at many tourism destinations. Some public toilets already in place do not match hygiene, safety and security standards. Some toilets lack facilities for elderly and disabled people,” she added.

Ms Wanthana also noted

Wanthana Jangprajack is serious about making public toilets a better experience.

Photo: PR Dept that the problem may be that the standards set for public toilets might not meet modern expectations.

“The Department of Tourism has a public toilet standard which has been in use since 2005. However, through public toilet standard evaluations we have found that these standards have many limitations. The standards need to be reviewed again in order to match current expectations,” Ms Wanthana explained.

The Phuket News

POLICE HAVE YET TO press any charges for raids carried out on five specific businesses two weeks ago that saw B10 million of goods seized from the shops, which allegedly targeted tourists.

The high-profile raids were carried out on Sept 20 while Acting Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police Tourist Police Division Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan was in Phuket to personally oversee the efficacy of the operation which claimed to target fake products from “zero-dollar tour” operators.

However, so far not a single person or company has been charged, Capt Ekachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police told on Tuesday (Oct 3). “ T he ch a rge s mu st wait. No charges have been pressed yet,” he said, while assuring the charges were

Police presented the B10 million of items seized at a press conference on Sept 20. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot forthcoming.

“The companies were found with fake medicine pills and products. The products are still being tested to confirm exactly what the items contained.

When that is done we can compare the test results with what is required by law,” he added.

“After we have the test results we will be able to determine which charges apply and which companies

will be charged,” Capt Siri said.

The test results are expected to be returned in “about two or three weeks”, he said, “I will let you know soon,” Capt Siri added.

Items seized included bird nests, leather belts and wallets, gems, rubber mattresses and pillows, and heath and skin nourishing products.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

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Murder suspected in B1.4bn land swindle Eakkapop Thongtub editor@classactmedia.co.th

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epartment of Special Investigation (DSI) Deputy Chief Lt Col Prawut Wongsrinil suspects that a Phuket man’s death “might not have been an accident” amid a B1.4 billion land swindle for a plot with “sea views” on the island’s east coast.

Col Prawut revealed the news while DSI and forestry officials inspected the plots in question, near Mission Hills Phuket golf course, in Pa Khlok, Thalang, last Friday (Sept 29).

The investigation was launched after Rorma Wonglee, 80, alleged that a second SorKor 1 land document had been issued using the same registration number as the SorKor 1 that her family had been issued for their family land.

Col Prawut said he believes that someone had doctored a copy of the original land document to gain a different plot of land that would be worth in the region of B1.4bn.

Ms Rormah told Col Prawut that in 2010 she submitted a SorKor 1 issued in her husband’s name, Sah Wonglee, to the Thalang Land Office in order for the land status to be upgraded and a Chanote land title deed issued for her family plot.

“The plot was around 40 rai. The SorKor 1 land document was originally inherited from my husband’s father.

Later, land officials came to measure the plot, which was surrounded with rubber trees,” she said.

“Some time later, a person

Navy EOD experts were called in after the torpedo was discovered by a local fisherman.

Beached torpedo to be detonated in controlled blast DSI Deputy Chief Lt Col Prawut Wongsrinil suspects that a Phuket man’s death ‘might not have been an accident’ amid the B1.4 billion land swindle. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub who I only know as ‘P’ claimed that he held the same SorKor 1 land document. Land officials told me not to worry as mine was the real one.

“However, now everything has changed as the SorKor 1 land document that I hold has been cancelled and a Chanote land title deed has been issued to someone else,” Ms Rormah explained.

After receiving a report about the issue, officials went to investigate the land plot in Moo 4, Pa Khlok, as claimed

by Ms Rormah, The land plot is being used as a rubber and fruit plantation.

Officials then inspected the land claimed by “P”, whose claim is based on a SorKor 1 that has the same registration number as the SorKor 1 held by Ms Rormah. The plot claimed by “P”, however, is located in Moo 9, Pa Khlok.

The area is in the mountains with 90-degree sea views.

Rubber plantations were also found growing on the plot.

However, the entrance was blocked by a gate.

Col Prawut said, “After checking ‘P’s’ original SorKor 1 land document we found that the land plot covers 140 rai and that this land is connected to a canal and a road.

“We also checked the plot using GPS and found that this area is in a protected forest area,” he said.

“After investigating both of these land documents, we discovered that on Feb 7, 2017, which was a Sunday, a day on which government office’s are closed, Ms Rormah’s younger brother was asked by someone to make a copy of the SorKor 1 land document as they had lost the original,” Col Prawut added.

“Not long after, Ms Rormah’s brother died after after being involved in an accident.

I suspect that this was not an accident but was something else, because I also learned that Ms Rormah’s brother had signed a contract to sell the land for B14 million,” Col Prawut noted.

“We collected evidence including information from the Thalang Land Office so that we can to take legal action,” he said.

“We also believe that this second SorKor 1 land document for 140 rai had been doctored as the land is worth B100mn per rai. If sold it would get around B1.4bn.

“It is possible that this is the reason to doctor the second SorKor 1 land document using other land plots to issue the Chanote land title deed,” Col Prawut concluded.

EXPERTS FROM THE Royal Thai Navy base in Phang Nga on Wednesday (Oct 4) confirmed that an object found on Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday was indeed a torpedo, potentially almost a century old.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from the Navy base at Tab Lamu along with the EOD team from the Phuket Provincial Police arrived at Nai Yang Beach on Wednesday afternoon to examine the object, which was discovered by a local fisherman.

“By carefully inspecting the object, we found that it is a torpedo which may be as old as from before World War II,” said Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Thanajit Jamjit of the EOD team from the Navy base in Phang Nga. “The torpedo will be pulled back into the water and will be destroyed un-

der a controlled explosion with blast zone safe radius of 400m,” he said.

The torpedo will be moved to an area where it will not cause any harm to the corals offshore the national park, he added.

However, the EOD teams must wait for the high tide before starting to remove the tor pedo from the beach and must confirm exactly how the torpedo is to be destroyed.

“We will discuss the best method of disposing of the torpedo with other officers and officials, including our deputy commander, tomorrow,” LTJG Thanajit said.

Meanwhile, yellow buoys were tied to the ordnance to mark its location, with the buoys tethered to a tree to ensure the warhead does not float off, and the area was sealed off to the public.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Patong police, entertainment operators ‘discuss’ opening hours

Patong Police Chief Col Tassanai Orarigdech (with back to camera) chairs the meeting with Patong entertainment operators. Photo: Patong Police @thephuketnews

PATONG POLICE MET WITH entertainment operators last Thursday (Sept 28) to “discuss” operating hours after entertainment operators have continually requested later closing times.

“The meeting was with Patong business operators who have requested to extend closing hours to 3am or 4am,” Patong Police Chief Col Tassanai Orarigdech told The Phuket News.

“They say they need extended hours because it is low season and they do not get enough business if they close early,” said Col Tassanai.

“We want to help them, but ultimately the decision is up to

the government. So we are passing the message to the Governor, who already knows about this situation, and are working to support them,” he added.

“People must also understand the police point of view. We have a duty to the law but we also want to help who ask for it,” he added.

When asked if businesses are allowed to close later than their legal time as many people suggest, Col Tassanai replied, “There is no answer.

“It is up to the government to decide. I believe the operators are still waiting for a final decision from the Ministry of Interior. I

cannot give you an answer on what time was decided,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association Weerawit Krueasombut also did not give details about what was decided in the meeting.

“Yes, we requested with police to be open until 3am. It was just a normal meeting laying out agreements. We have them once in a while,” he said.

However, Mr Weerawit did not comment on if any closing time was agreed upon.

“Nothing has been done yet,” was all he said.

Shela Riva

Opinion 6

OPINION

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EDITORIAL

Bargaining with lives

huket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) Council President Teera Jiasakun has shown his utter contempt for the vital role Phuket’s lifeguards play in providing safety for beachgoers on the island – and by extension for the millions of tourists that enable Phuket’s economy to prosper.

“The PPAO can provide Phuket lifeguards ourselves.

We do not need Phu ket Lifeguard Service Co Ltd anymore,” PPAO Council President Teera Jiasakun told a meeting of his organisation’s council on October 27, adding, “We will do it by ourselves… we will do this and manage everything on time on Oct 1.”

Since that tough talk last week, Mr Teera has disappeared from sight and left local OrBorJor officials and Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong to pick up the pieces

from his bloody-mindedness in the contract negotiations with the Phuket Lifeguard Service (PLS).

The PLS has refused to sign the contract proffered by the PPAO that would see its funding frozen at the same level despite it being called on to extend patrol times, expand patrol areas and the need to update dilapidated infrastructure and equipment.

To his credit Gov Norraphat has been doing his utmost to help organise some semblance of safety patrols on the island’s popular tourist beaches. But it is already becoming clear that this motley crew of Navy personnel, Civil Defence volunteers and a handful of actual lifeguards hired as a stop-gap measure are unable to provide an adequate level of safety.

As if to highlight the appalling negligence and lack of

concern shown by the PPAO, it has recently been announced that a team of foreign volunteer lifeguards are on their way to Phuket to carry out free internationally-certified training courses for Phuket’s lifeguards and others involved in tourist safety. Such a generous effort by these volunteers would not be needed in the first place if the contract on offer to the PLS had adequately reflected the costs inherent in adequately training lifeguards.

The Phuket News calls on the PPAO to return to the negotiating table with the PLS and find a compromise that enables qualified, experienced lifeguards to remain on Phuket’s beaches and to be adequately compensated, trained and equipped. Otherwise the blood of every swimmer that drowns on the currently poorly patrolled beaches will be on the PPAO’s hands.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Alcohol sales ban in Phuket on Oct 5 Prawit orders mafia crackdown at tour spots Tourists urged to be ‘respectful’ during Royal Funeral Phuket lifeguards rescue, revive ‘thankless tourist’ from drowning DSI suspects deadly foul play in B1.4bn Phuket land swindle DSI says controversial Krathing Cape land title likely to be illegal Weather alert warns of heavy rain, flooding Chinese woman, 22, drowns at Phuket beach Phuket murderer, victim husband both mentally unstable: police Golden Week brings Phuket boon in Chinese property hunters

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY Who will save the lifeguards?

Re: SPECIAL REPORT: How Phuket’s ‘band-aid’ lifeguards are failing The Phuket lifeguards are not “for profit”. Since the organisation became professional, thousands of lives have been saved. Every year. Though, Phuket authorities go through this farce of trying to cut the cost of this essential service.

The clowns in charge just don’t get it. Phuket is sold to tourists as a year-round beach destination… then the authorities make it as unsafe as possible. Phuket’s lifeguards deserve high praise and proper rewards. Instead, local authorities treat them with contempt. Tou r ists who value their lives should choose a safe beach destination – with professional lifeguards. Avoid Phuket.

Alan Morison Excellent article, one of the best ever. It raises the very real possibility that saving that room tax money is the only thing that matters in the end. Tourist safety is the lowest priority, while covering the butts of Phuket officials

seems to be the only thing that matters. This business model/bid approach simply does not work.

Pinot Anyone can do the math from the previous articles… why is alleged 10% of 22 million not enough? How much profit do lifeguard administrators need to earn? What is needed, is transparency, and now.

No need to have a for-profit business model in a public service like this!

Jsrit ...................................................

Help those who help themselves

Re: ISLA sends expert trainers amid Phuket lifeguard crisis Why bother helping a country that doesn’t appear to want to be helped? They shoot themselves in the foot time after time, corruption is rampant, and have proven without any shadow of a doubt they cannot manage anything, pointless!

Pauly 44 ...................................................

Waiting to die

Re: Chinese woman, 22, drowns at Phuket beach

There were no flags and no sign of any officials or “lifeguards” at Karon yesterday, but there were lots of people in the sea close to dusk. Dangerous but no protection.

Sue Yu 2 ...................................................

The real mafia is still untouchable

Re: Prawit orders mafia crackdown at tourist spots Blah-di-blah-di-blah. The article forgot to mention certain mafia groups that will be exempt from this socalled “crackdown”… namely the taxi/tuk-tuk mafia that is the major source of extortion in all parts of Thailand.

For them, I’m sure it will be dirty business as usual. This whole thing is nonsense, and everyone knows it.

Ben Pendejo ...................................................

Legislating can be quite lucrative Re: Patong police, entertainment operators ‘discuss’ opening hours

Rule number one of Thailand.

It is hard to collect “payment” unless it’s against the law.

Christy Sweet

Pending action

Re: Phuket immigration’s computer system now ‘back to normal’ The online 90 day reporting site has been working for months. Unfortunately, the applications are not being processed by immigration staff.

The status of the application never changes from “pending”, so, a visit to Immigration is necessary. The department could save both the time of its officers and applicants if it actually started to process these online applications.

Sir Burr ...................................................

Local love lost

Re: Phuket Opinion: The rising tide of progress Say it’s not so! They are moving Beerbox to the back of Boat Avenue shopping arcade and plunking a Burger King front and centre by the traffic light and changing what used to be a very nice shopping arcade into another corporate ugly low-quality eatery. Who says money doesn’t talk! Why didn’t they put the ugly Burger King at the back and let local business remain the face of this nice arcade.

Roller

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

THAILAND NEWS

7

Mafia gang crackdown Deputy PM orders ‘safety zones’ to protect tourist-packed areas BANGKOK Bangkok Post

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eputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered widespread crackdowns on mafia gangs to stop them causing trouble to Thai and foreign tourists across the country.

The aim is to build “safety zones” in crowded tourist attractions, defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich quoted Gen Prawit, also Defence Minister, as saying last Sunday (Oct 1).

The operations, which began in the resort city of Pattaya in Chonburi late last month, are being carried out as key police agencies, including the Crime Suppression Division and the Immigration Bureau, formally appointed their new chiefs last Sunday.

The Immigration Bureau plays an important role in dealing with mafia networks involved in illegal entry into Thailand and other transnational crimes, Gen Kongcheep said.

During the latest operations in Pattaya, police arrested many foreign suspects who secretly entered Thailand or overstayed

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered authorities to set up ‘safety zones’ to protect tourist-packed areas like Pattaya’s Walking Street from predatory and illegal mafia-type operations. Photo: Roman Lashkin / Flickr

their visas, he added.

Such breaches of the law, together with the drug trade, prostitution and extortion, are often linked with mafia gangs, he noted.

And when crimes are committed at tourist spots, they not only hurt Thai tourism but in many cases, tourists can bear the brunt of such criminal activities, he said.

Even street crime such as criminals snatching tourists’ belongings will be tackled under the crackdown, Gen Kongcheep said. “We will carry out similar crackdowns almost simultaneously nationwide,” he said.

The new mission may be seen as a joint investigation between military officers and local police, but the public have

also played an important role in helping authorities tackle crimes, Gen Kongcheep explained.

Investigators often get tipped off by residents in tourist areas, he said.

Newly appointed Immigration Bureau Chief Lt Gen Sutthiphong Wongpin vowed his agency will intensify crackdowns on transnational

criminal gangs and improve immigration control at crowded airports.

They are among two main policies he announced during his first meeting with senior immigration officers, following a welcoming ceremony in which his predecessor Maj Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn participated.

According to Gen Sutthip-

hong, security and non-security missions cannot be separated at his agency.

Police have to strictly screen out transnational criminal suspects fleeing to Thailand or using the country as their base to commit new crimes.

At the same time, the officers also have to realise that part of their work is to help foreign tourists entering Thailand.

After a staff shortage among immigration officers at Don Mueang Airport in early August led to long waits for arriving foreigners to have their passports checked, it was clear his agency cannot ignore this part of the job, Lt Gen Sutthiphong said.

Huge delays at Suvarnabhumi International Airport earlier this year were not mentioned.

The CSD also held a welcoming ceremony last Sunday for its new chief Col Maitri Chimchoet, who will succeed Maj Gen Suthin Sapphuang as acting CSD commander.

The agency, authorised to conduct investigations nationwide, has also played a key role in the crackdown on mafia gangs. “I’ll do my best,” Col Maitri said. “At least I’ll maintain the CSD standards which are already good.”

Yingluck in UK, Interpol red notice sought BANGKOK POLICE CON FI R M ED ON Tuesday (Oct 4) that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was in Britain and a red notice for her arrest was being sought from Interpol.

Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said on Tuesday that he already signed a request for an Interpol red notice and was being sent to Interpol

@thephuketnews

through the foreign affairs division of the Royal Thai Police. A red notice is similar to an international arrest warrant.

Gen Srivara said in seeking the red notice he reasoned that Yingluck was wanted under an arrest warrant. Whether it would be issued depends on the decision of Interpol, he said.

The deputy national police chief said the red notice could be sought when the police knew the where-

abouts of Yingluck and after the United Arab Emirates confirmed that Yingluck had left Dubai for Britain, they took action.

He also said that Britain and Thailand had their extradition treaty and public prosecutors would handle the matter.

Yingluck allegedly disappeared on Aug 23. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions was originally scheduled on Aug 25 to deliver

its ruling on her loss-ridden ricepledging case.

Her absence caused the court to postpone the announcement to Sept 27, when it handed down a five-year jail term for her failure to stop fake and corrupt governmentto-government sales of rice from the rice programme even though she had been aware of the irregularities.

Investigation into those who helped her flee was underway.

Bangkok Post

Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra receives roses from supporters as she arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok on July 21. Photo: AFP

THAILAND NEWS

8

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

7,500 invited to Royal Funeral Only those with verified credentials allowed into Sanam Luang BANGKOK

A royal nine-tiered umbrella is being placed on the rooftop of the Royal Crematorium replica, at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok, that will be a place where the general public can place funeral flowers for the Royal Cremation of the late King Rama IX. Photo: Pawat Laopaisarntaksin

Bangkok Post

A

b o u t 7, 5 0 0 p r e screened people will be permitted to attend the Royal Cremation ground at Sanam Luang and drones will be banned from the area during the Royal Funeral ceremonies for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the end of this month.

Security measures will continue to be beefed up to ensure the Oct 25-29 ceremonies go without a hitch, officials said.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Tuesday (Oct 3) that 50,000 officers from the Interior Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the Royal Thai Police as well as security volunteers will be on hand, both at the main ceremonies at Sanam Luang in Bangkok and at replicas of the Royal Crematorium in 76 provinces.

On Oct 26, when the Royal Cremation ceremony takes place, only 7,500 people with verified credentials will be allowed to enter the Sanam Luang area. Others will have to observe the ceremony from replicas of the Royal Crematorium, of which there are nine in Bangkok, as well as from temples and other

designated areas, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said earlier that those who are allowed to attend the main ceremony at Sanam Luang are mostly state guests and officials who are participating in the royal processions.

Gen Prawit echoed his previous concern about the threat posed by ill-intentioned groups both inside and outside the country that may attempt to disrupt the Royal Cremation ceremonies.

Thai authorities know of several groups in several countries comprising Thai nationals and foreigners that have already begun galvanising their supporters via radio and Facebook, he said.

Members of the public who obtain any information about them or details of any suspicious activity are encouraged to call a 24-hour hotline by dialling 1441 to alert the authorities, he added.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also serves

as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has instructed Gen Prawit to ensure all security intelligence units are working hand in hand ahead of the Royal Cremation ceremonies, an informed source said on Monday (Oct 2).

Deputy National Police Chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said that although the police have not detected any concrete plots to stir up trouble they are monitoring all suspicious groups.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) declared a no-f ly zone for all drones in Bangkok during the period. Those will special permission will be exempt, it said.

The vast majority will be prohibited from f lying within a 19 kilometre radius of the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang during the Royal Cremation ceremonies, said CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop.

Mr Chula said only those

commissioned by the Royal Cremation Committee on Ceremonies for aerial photography will be permitted to take off. Others that violate this rule will be “destroyed”, he said.

Moreover, operators could face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to B40,000, or both.

The ban means private drones will not be able to fly in Sathon, Nonthaburi, Bang Wa, Huai Khwang, Lat Phrao and Bang Kapi, among other areas.

Deputy NCPO spokesperson Sirichan Ngathong said army chief and NCPO Secretary-General Chalermchai Sitthisad focused discussions at Tuesday's meeting of the NCPO on how it is preparing to support the Royal Cremation ceremonies.

Gen Chalermchai stressed the importance of scaling up intelligence work, which is seen as a key mechanism to thwart any possible “unwanted incidents” from happening during the occasion, said Col Sirichan.

The ceremony on Oct 26 at Sanam Luang will be attended by the royal family with crowds of up to 250,000 expected.

“I’ve ordered authorities to be on maximum alert,” Gen Prawit said.

Tourist safety tops agenda as tourism agencies unite BANGKOK TOURIST SAFETY IS TAKING priority in national policy as authorities continue their crackdown on packages and deals offered online that make exaggerated claims, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

The ministry and the Tourism Police Bureau (TPB) are joining forces to improve confidence in the country’s safety standards.

Their efforts are expected to raise the nation’s competitiveness as a top tourist draw, said Tourism and Sport Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra.

He added that the government has created a policy to promote fair trade competition among tourism operators.

Tourist safety is central to the government’s efforts, Mr Pongpanu said.

Thai authorities have seen a spike in complaints recently due to fraudulent and exaggerated claims by tour operators, notably the so-

Senior police officers speak to the media on Tuesday (Oct 3) at a meeting between tourism-related authorities, including the Tourism Police Bureau. The meeting pushed for increased safety for tourists as an issue to be placed on the national agenda. Photo: Apichit Jinakul called “zero-dollar” scam tours perpetuated by mostly Chinese companies, where tourists are pressured into spending money on high-priced souvenirs and services.

The TPB, recently upgraded from a division, has launched a probe into such advertisements

and are adopting measures to crack down on the producers.

Mr Pongpanu made the remarks at a high-level meeting to discuss key tourism issues at the Police Club on Tuesday (Oct 3).

Also at the meeting were the TPB’s first commissioner, Sura-

chet Hakpan, and Lt Gen Sakhon Thongmunee, who formerly served as chief of Provincial Police Region 9.

Attendants also included representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Department of Land Transport. They agreed on greater inter-agency cooperation to drive the government’s policy of sustainable tourism development.

Participants acknowledged the practical nature of the guidelines issued by policy units working with the tourism sector in overseeing immigration, protecting consumers and suppressing economic crimes.

The tourism permanent secretary said the Department of Tourism was reviewing laws to toughen law enforcement against tourism businesses that fail to offer customers adequate insurance coverage.

Mr Pongpanu said the department will determine which laws can be invoked against violators.

He said they are looking to zero in on businesses, such as motorcycle or car rental shops and snorkelling service providers, which fail to take

out insurance against accidents for their customers.

Maj Gen Surachet said complaints from tourists focus on substandard package tours, scams, illegal tourism services, drug abuse at tourist venues, overseas-based call centre gangs preying on tourists, sexual crimes and shows that violate animal cruelty laws.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Sakhon said the TPB was upgraded to better handle crimes and maintain peace and security for tourists as the government has set its sights on boosting the number of tourist arrivals.

Lt Gen Sakhon said substandard tours must be tackled first.

The police have also been warned not to engage in extortion or use their influence to collaborate with tourism businesses, officials said.

Lt Gen Sakhon said the TPB employs more than 4,000 officers, four times its original work force when it was first established as a division.

Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

ASIA NEWS

9

Poverty in an Indo paradise The dark side to Indonesia’s next tourism hotspot, Raja Ampat INDONESIA Kiki Siregar

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tableau of white sandy beaches, colourful coral reefs and turquoise water, the islands of Raja Ampat are set to be Indonesia’s next tourism hotspot – but locals fear the government is failing both them and the environment in its development push.

Stretching across 67,000 square kilometres in Indonesia’s far east, the pictureperfect islands might be as close to paradise as visitors can find.

“It’s amazing. We’ve been to millions of islands and I would say it’s the most beautiful one,” Canadian Angelika Redweik-Leung said at a lookout above the Pianemo island group.

Raja Ampat which means Four Kings – is made up of 1,500 islands and is home to about 1,400 varieties of fish and 600 species of coral – making it one of the most bio-diverse marine habitats on Earth.

The blue sea around Raja Ampat in Indonesia’s far eastern Papua. Stretching across 67,000 sq km, the postcard-perfect islands might be about as close to paradise as visitors can find. Photo: AFP Indonesia’s government is intent on turning the area into a tourism hotspot, building hotels, restaurants and investing in new harbours.

But on a palm-fringed island about two hours boat ride from Raja Ampat’s capital Waisai, villagers still live in simple huts that lack electricity and clean water, while the nearest high school is scores of miles away.

Locals said they had seen no improvements to their lives despite the dramatic rise in visitors. According to

government estimates around 15,000 tourists now come to the area each year – up from less than 5,000 in 2010.

“They’ve hurt us indigenous people. They took our land, our water and our forest. We feel betrayed,” Paul Mayor, chief of the island’s Byak Betew tribe, said of the government’s tourism drive.

“That’s our land, our ocean, which now is a worldclass tourist destination, but we’ve gained nothing from the influx of tourists,” he added.

Mayor also criticised au-

Vietnam’s rice paper artisans VIETNAM ST U F F E D, ROL L E D, baked or fried: rice paper rules in Vietnam, where diners have spurned factory-made versions for homespun ones, propping up a thriving cottage industry in the Mekong Delta.

They’re a staple on dinner tables from north to south, eaten fresh with fish, fried with pork, or baked on an open flame and eaten like crackers – a popular bar snack.

But regardless of how they’re prepared, one thing most people in Vietnam agree on: homemade is always better.

“It’s better than the factory version, try it, it’s tastier,” Nguyen Thi Hue said, offering a baked coconut version at her roadside snack stop in southern Can Tho province.

She sources her ‘banh trang’ in nearby Thuan Hung village, known for producing some of the finest in the Mekong Delta, long renowned as the “rice bowl of Vietnam”.

Some families earn a living making rice paper, even as factories have popped up producing creative flavours like salted shrimp, coconut or versions made with the notoriously potent durian fruit. @thephuketnews

Nguyen Thi Hue cooks rice paper over a makeshift charcoal stove at the exit of a ferry crossing near Thuan Hung Village in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Roberto Schmidt / AFP “Customers prefer those handmade in the village. We don’t use chemicals, they’re natural,” said 26-year-old Bui Minh Phi, a third-generation rice paper maker in Thuan Hung.

He can earn $65 (B2,179) per day spinning the trade, or double that during the busy Lunar New Year period.

It’s a common sentiment in Vietnam, where many diners eschew fast food joints for home-style restaurants serving pho noodle soup or banh mi sandwiches like their grandmothers might have made it.

Rice paper making is a matter of family heritage for many like Ha Thi Sau. One recent morning in Thuan Hung, she tutored

her daughter on the age-old technique she learned from her aunt: pour the sweetened batter – a secret family recipe – onto a pan, before transferring to a bamboo mat.

The operation remains a family affair: Sau’s son-inlaw feeds the fire with rice husks, while her elderly mother washes dishes on the river bank. Though other jobs are available in her village – once a rural backwater now dotted with cafes and mobile phone shops – she doesn’t dream of abandoning her trade.

“I’ve been making rice paper for so long, I don’t want to leave it for another job,” she said, as the scent of coconut wafted in the air.

AFP

thorities for failing to properly protect the area’s unique ecosystem, pointing to a catastrophic cruise ship crash in March, which damaged 13,500 square metres of pristine coral reef.

The 4,200-ton Caledonian Sky ran aground near the island of Kri carrying 102 passengers and 79 crew, but half a year later no one has been held accountable.

Researchers from the University of Papua, who assessed the impact of the accident, said restoring the damaged

reef could cost as much as $16.2 million (B543.18mn).

The head of tourism for Raja Ampat, Yusdi Lamatenggo, said the company operating the boat – Noble Caledonia – will be summoned to appear in court soon but so far they have not accepted responsibility or paid any damages.

In the meantime, he said, steps were being taken to prevent further accidents by establishing clearly demarcated cruise ship routes and world-class harbours.

But the accident has fuelled feelings of mistrust and exclusion often felt by Papua’s indigenous Melanesian population. The resource-rich region was annexed by Jakarta in 1969 and most Papuans feel they have not been given an even share of its natural riches.

The military retains heavy influence in the region and regularly stifles dissent.

After taking office in 2014, president Joko Widodo pledged to speed up development in Papua, but many locals insist they have been forgotten. “ T he r e h a s b e e n no change,” Ariel Fakdawer,

head of Saukabu village in Raja Ampat said.

“The yearly Raja Ampat festival, for example, attracts thousands of tourists but we gain nothing from that. We are still poor, but the organisers of such festivals, outsiders, they have made a fortune,” he added.

Indigenous groups say they need communication satellites, electricity, better infrastructure, and the right to govern themselves by customary law.

“The government never fulfils our needs because they don’t understand what we want,” chief Mayor said.

“I believe the government has to approach us by bearing in mind our cultural needs.

They have to talk to us indigenous people,” he insisted.

But not everyone is against the rush to open up Raja Ampat to the world.

Villager Medzke Karoswaf explained: “This is a modern world. We cannot live isolated like in a cave forever. We have to be open-minded. Like it or not, we don’t live alone in this world.”

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Naples locals fight mafia Tired of drug lords, residents hit back with city’s first bookshop ITALY Ella Ide

I

n the hinterlands of Naples a revolution is afoot: locals tired of drug lords are taking the fight to the mafia and their weapon of choice is the humble book.

Tucked away between squats and roadside traders of broken toys rises the first bookshop in nearly 50 years.

The concrete sprawl of Scampia, a bastion of the ruthless Camorra organised crime group, was immortalised in the 2006 bestselling book “Gomorrah” by Roberto Saviano and in a popular spinoff film and television series.

Now one of the poorest areas in southern Italy is attempting to cast off the stereotype of Kalashnikov-wielding teens and get its young off the streets by flooding the turf with theatre, cinema and literature associations.

The tower blocks, riddled with asbestos and divided by rubbish-strewn no-man’s lands, were thrown up in the 1970s.

Rosario Esposito La Rossa poses in his bookshop ‘Scugnizzeri’ in Scampia on the outskirts of Naples. Tucked away between squats and roadside traders of broken toys rises the first bookshop in nearly 50 years. Photo: Filippo Monteforte / AFP “There has never been a bookshop here. We had to travel 10 kilometres to buy a book,” Rosario Esposito La Rossa, whose shop “Scugnizzeria” opened a week ago, said.

The idea for the small store, which also has a room for theatre and study groups, followed the death of La Rossa’s disabled relative Antonio, caught in the crossfire of a

2004 shoot-out and labelled a trafficker by the state.

“He was hit by two bullets as he played table football, but police said he had links to the Cali cocaine cartel in Colombia. We fought for 10 years to clear his name and it became a cultural battle for our neighbourhood,” he said.

When La Rossa inherited the Marotta&Cafiero publishing house in 2010 he moved

it to Scampia to continue the fight.

“There were those who said we would close within a few weeks because no-one reads in Scampia, it has the highest illiteracy rate in southern Italy.

Seven years on and we have published 88 books,” he said.

The 29-year old is just the tip of an iceberg of change slowly edging its way across the northern suburb of Naples.

T he gover n ment ha s pledged to demolish three of the four remaining Sails of Scampia, notorious tower blocks shaped like sails where staircases boast metal gates installed by traffickers to slow down police during raids.

Naples’ Federico II university, one of the world’s oldest, is set to open a new faculty in the area – though the project is running three years behind schedule – and tentative plans are also under way to refurbish the metro.

But La Rossa says the most important role is played by the 120 or so associations that step in where the state fails.

Daniele Sanzone co-founded Scampia Trip Tour to challenge the area’s brutal image in the press and popular culture and show off its positive side.

“The Camorra exists, the drugs exist, we would be mad to deny it. But there is so much more, small organisations which become garrisons of legality,” from football clubs to Italy’s first Italian-Roma restaurant, he said.

The tour has been a hit so far with everyone from US

tourists to Italians normally too scared to enter Scampia.

“Ten years ago it was known as the biggest openair drug market in Europe, but things have changed a lot since then, largely due to a blood feud in 2006 which left hundreds dead and sparked a police crackdown,” he said.

“Before there was drug trafficking every 50 metres.

Today we can walk in the streets without fear,” he added.

Sanzone admits the associations can only do so much for the 80,000 to 100,000 inhabitants here, where many families live off the radar and only around 37% of adults of working age have jobs.

“Being born here means having few options,” he said.

But he and the other activists in Scampia, where half the population is under 25 years old, are sure change is coming.

“I am convinced that in 10 years time this place will be transformed,” La Rossa said.

“People will come here to study how it shifted from being Camorra land to the land of children.”

AFP

Tiny sushi bar wins three stars UNITED KINGDOM A N I N E-SEAT SUSH I counter in central London has won three Michelin stars, joining a select group of British restaurants with the coveted top rating, the French gastronomic guide announced this week.

T he A ra k i – where the set menu costs £300 (B13,345) per person – in London’s upmarket Mayfair district is the first Japanese restaurant in the United Kingdom to be awarded three stars in the annual appraisal.

It joins Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, as well as The Fat Duck and The Waterside Inn, both in Bray, Berkshire as three-star rated.

The Araki had previously won two Michelin stars before getting upgraded this year.

Japanese chef Mitsuhiro Araki opened the sushi bar in 2014 after closing his threestarred restaurant in Tokyo and relocating to London.

The Araki in London, opened by Japanese chef Mitsuhiro Araki (left), pictured here in 2010, was this week awarded three Michelin stars. Photo: AFP “With its nine-seater counter, The Araki has gone from strength to strength,” said Michael Ellis, international director in charge of the Michelin guides.

“When Mitsuhiro Araki moved to London... he set himself the challenge of using largely European fish and his sushi is now simply sublime.”

The 2018 guide for Great Britain and Ireland awarded two stars to 20 restaurants, including Claude Bosi at Bibendum, which opened in Michelin House in Chelsea, London, earlier this year.

A further 150 restaurants were given a single star.

These include The Wild

Honey Inn, an Irish pub in Lisdoonvarna, and Loch Bay, a converted crofter’s house on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

In total, the guide rated 2,067 restaurants and 1,115 hotels and guesthouses across Britain and Ireland.

London has continued to cement itself as “a worldclass destination for rich, varied eating experiences”, according to a statement by the Michelin Guide.

But it also noted “the offer across Great Britain and Ireland as a whole is developing, often based around exceptional regional ingredients”.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

BUSINESS NEWS 11

Maya Bay thrown a lifeline

‘Restoration period’ next June to September, but visitors permitted TOURISM Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

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he Chief of the Hat Nopparat - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park Worapot Lomlim has confirmed to The Phuket News that Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Don will go into a “restoration period” from June until September next year by not allowing boats to access that bay.

However, he has also confirmed that the beach itself will not be closed to visitors, as they will still be able access the beach via an alternative route.

“It was decided in a meeting with national park officials (on Sept 28) that Maya Bay will go into a restoration period for about three months, from June to September, or thereabouts,” said Mr Worapot.

“We must do this to allow the marine environment to recover from heavy tourism,” said Mr Worapot.

“However, we do not call it ‘closed’. Visitors will still

Hordes of tourists at Maya Bay are feared to have caused much harm to the eco-site. Photo: Thon Thamrongnawasawat

Tour boats will not be able to anchor at Maya Bay from June-September next year, but the beach itself will not be closed to visitors. Photo: TAT be allowed to visit the bay, but through the back route, via Samah Bay,” he added.

As far back as Dec 2015 concerns were raised that Maya Bay was facing coral extinction and a plague of other environmental concerns brought on by “overtourism”.

The island, known for its marine life and a top tourism destination for more than 20

years, was then seeking help from the government and tourism operators to look after its natural resources.

The Phi Phi cluster consists of six islands 50 kilometres southeast of Phuket, forming part of Hat Nopharat TharaMu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Koh Phi Phi and nearby islands welcome more than 1.4 million tourists a year,

Wyndham appoints new Area General Manager for Thailand HOSPITALITY W Y N DH A M HOT EL Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim has appointed Scott Walton as Area General Manager, Thailand.

Mr Walton will be based in Phuket and responsible for Wyndham’s portfolio of mixed-use hotels in the country which includes Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay and Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket, where he will take on the additional role as General Manager managing the day-to-day operations of the resort.

Both resorts are managed by Wyndham Hotel Group in partnership with Club Wyndham Asia, a points-based vacation ownership product.

Matt Taplin, Senior Vice President, Resort Operations & Property Development said, “Walton’s expertise in managing a mixed-use property that comprises both hotel and club entities @thephuketnews

Scott Walton has been appointed Wyndham’s Area General Manager for Thailand. makes him a valuable asset to the company.

“We are confident that in his new role as Area General Manger for Thailand, Walton will drive strategic measures to maximise market performance while maintaining the highest service standards expected from the upscale Wyndham Grand and Wyndham brands.”

Mr Walton was previously the Area General Manager, Fiji and New Zealand overseeing 185 resort staff plus 102 sales

and marketing staff across the region.

He also held the role of General Manager at the 201-room resort Wyndham Denarau Resort, Fiji which achieved a consistent 90.5% occupancy all year round with more than 8,550 arrivals per annum under his leadership.

T he resor t recently clinched the Resort of the Year accolade at the 2017 Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) Awards while Walton was honoured with the South Pacific General Manager of the Year title at the 2017 HM Magazine Awards for his achievements.

Mr Walton brings with him a 17-year track record in the hospitality industry, having held positions in a similar capacity in hotel brands such as Radisson Blu, The Regent, Langham Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton from across New Zealand, Fiji, China and Thailand.

The Phuket News

according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

During the November-April high season, more than 5,000 tourists a day visit the cluster.

“The situation on the Phi Phi islands is critical,” marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat warned earlier this year.

Surveys had that found only one of Koh Phi Phi’s 14

coral reefs remained pristine, while one was slightly damaged, he said. The other 12 – in Maya Bay, Ton Sai Bay and Pilay Bay – were dead.

Assoc Prof Thon said the damage came mainly from the anchors of tourist boats and tourists who stepped on coral while snorkelling.

He said locals were ready to protect their resources but lacked a leader.

In July 2016, Assoc Prof Thon warned that Maya Bay was overcrowded with tourists and boats, posing a serious

threat to the environment, particularly coral.

Mr Thon, deputy dean of the fisheries faculty at Kasetsart University, said he was shocked during a recent visit to see the entire bay was jammed with both longtail and speedboat ferries as tourists from inside and outside the country, particularly China and Europe, crammed on to famous Ko Phi Phi Le island.

In April this year, the Department of National Parks said it had considered closing the beach for some time.

12 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Bringing two worlds together

Marriott joins forces with IUCN, UNWTO for sustainable tourism CSR The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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W Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa last week marked World Tourism Day 2017 with a range of activities organised by Marriott Thailand Business Council together with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to promote “Sustainable Tourism”.

World Tourism Day, an initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is now in its 37th year and is aimed at promoting responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.

The World Tourism Day event last Wednesday (Sept 27) presented an opportunity to showcase Marriott’s awardwinning Sustainable Tourism Practices, “Best CSR - Social Impact Partnership” at the 2017 Rockefeller Social Impact Awards, curated by The Resource Alliance and showed a premiere screening of “Black Crab Community”, a short documentary film produced

The project upholds sustainable practices to ensure villagers’ livelihoods while serving quality fresh produce to tourists. Photo: Supplied and directed by social impact film director Alan Compton.

As par t of the event, Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and other dignitaries dropped by the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and visited the black crab (“Pu Dam”) community at Moo 3 Mai Khao, and to sample some of the black crab dishes served at the resort for which the black crabs are provided

directly by the villagers living in Moo 3, Mai Khao.

The IUCN and Marriott have been in partnership since 2013, and have worked together to protect the environment and support Thailand’s local communities through mangrove restoration, the use of sustainable seafood sources and local procurement practices in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Rayong, noted

a release issued last week.

To date, the partnership has restored over 16 hectares of mangrove forests, purchased over B5.5 million of sustainable seafood and handicraft from local communities and contributed to improving the livelihoods of over 70 families.

More than B9mn has also been raised through the dollars for deeds program to

support conservation activities implemented by IUCN. The Pu Dam community, where black crabs are sourced for JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa restaurants, was previously supported by Mangroves for the Future (MFF), a regional grant-making facility spanning 11 countries across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

With M FF’s suppor t, capacity-building programs on community waste management and coastal resource management were launched and mangrove areas were restored as part of a community reforestation initiative.

Under the “Hunting and gathering livelihood of Mud Crab Community, Mai Khao, Phuket” project, Marriott has moved to secure the financial security of the entire village by supporting the villagers traditional livelihood of crab fishing, but only if the village upholds fully sustainable fishing practices.

Fishing has been a livelihood passed on for generations at the village. Fishers live close to the shore and anchor their boats in canals.

Mangrove forests are a natural shelter to protect boats and properties from storms as well as produce food, explained a release by Marriott Worldwide Business Councils (MWBC), which identify their global presence and purpose as “to perpetuate culture, strengthen communities, advocate for Marriott’s business interests and lead cross-brand, marketdriven initiatives”.

The livelihood of the mud crab village relies heavily on the harvest of mud crabs. Mud crabs are the most mangrovedependent of sourced seafood.

Small-scale fishermen catch mud crabs in mangrove estuaries, the MWBC noted “The fact that in fishing culture, men work at sea while most women stay at home and manage the household and take care of children, which means men contribute significantly to family’s income. To provide additional income, IUCN and Marriott work together to develop and identify opportunities for sourcing of sustainable souvenirs and gifts from local communities,” it added.

Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort new VP to head operations HOSPITALITY TH A N YA PU R A HEA LTH & Sports Resort has appointed Edgar Toral Hernandez as Vice President, Business Development and Hotel Operations, reporting to directly President and CEO Philipp von Graf Hardenberg.

A 20-year veteran with wide experience in hospitality, outsource services, healthcare and integrated wellness industries, Mr Toral will upkeep Thanyapura’s growth strategies across key core business divisions (Health & Wellness, Sports, Resort) and incorporate a new inte-

grated vision on customer relations management, said a release issued last week.

“Edgar’s diverse background in the hospitality industry and the healthcare sector brings us more opportunities to fulfil changing demands of the health and wellness travel marketplace,” said Mr von Graf Hardenberg.

“This marks a crucial point in our company’s history when the Thanyapura Sports Hotel and Thanyapura Integrative Health Centre started its operations. Edgar will optimise revenue in these respective areas and lead us to growth,” he added.

Edgar Toral Hernandez, Vice President - Business Development & Hotel Operations.

Mr Toral initiated his Asian career working in various operational roles with Hilton International from 1994 to 2003. The various undertak-

ings led him to grow into Director of Operations in first tier properties such as the Hilton Bangkok at Nai Lert Park and the Hilton Colombo in Sri Lanka.

His transition to healthcare was made in 2003 when he became the Division Director for Support Services and CRM (Hospitality) for Bumrungrad hospital in Bangkok.

During his five-year tenure Mr Toral was appointed as CEO for Vitalife Co Ltd, a subsidiary division of Bumrungrad specialised in preventive and anti-ageing medicine.

Subsequently, Mr Toral worked for Sodexo Healthcare (Thailand) in the capacity of General Manager

developing outsourcing support service solutions for the Bangkok Dusit Medical Group (BDMS) throughout the country.

In 2010, Mr Toral joined Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare (RSDH) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and his latest undertakings led him to become the pre-opening CEO of a 190-bed first international branded hospital in the Maldives under a management agreement with RSDH. “I am inspired to enhance Thanyapura’s brand and lifestyle integrated services through innovative product development and customer centric solutions,” Mr Toral said.

The Phuket News

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

What plants to choose for those shady garden spots

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

14

Initial optimism about social media has faded

16

ROLLING RETREAT Bicycling Baz heads north to tour Khao Lak and the picturesque streets of Takua Pa’s old town

The Sarojin’s ‘Imagineers’ can organise all sorts of special activities for guests, like a romantic beachside dinner. Photo: The Sarojin

BLAZING SADDLES

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Baz Daniel

adabout cyclists living in Phuket are continually in search of more benign, bikefriendly venues in which to enjoy their passion. Naturally enough, many such cycling getaways tend to be found across the Sarasin Bridge, which a waggish friend recently described as being “where Thailand really starts”.

Heading north up the west coast of the Isthmus of Kra on Highway 4 (Phetkasem Rd) you’ll soon come to the famous tourist area of Khao Lak. The area boasts some lovely long scalloped beaches, bisected by rocky promontories, while inland the forest-clad hills rise steeply and as a result a series of waterfalls cascade off these rocky slopes in a tumultuous rush to the sea.

As you enter this area from the south, the road becomes a switchback of snaking turns and hills through the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park headland. The park entrance is at the highest point on the road overlooking the Andaman Sea and offers some good forest hikes down to the beaches below and around Kao Lak Mountain with its Chinese temple dedicated to the wizard of the mountain.

So, where should you go if you travel to Khao Lak with your bicycle?

One terrific option is to take the highway a little further north then turn west following the signs to The Sarojin Resort and Spa where you will be in for an exceptional treat.

The Sarojin is a stunning oasis nes@thephuketnews

tled on the white sands of Bang Sak Beach boasting the most sumptuous gardens, limpid pools, fabulous dining and luxurious accommodation. In addition, The Sarojin have pioneered the idea of assigning “Imagineers” to help their often honey-mooning guests get the most out of the surrounding environment.

The “Imagineers” provide all sorts of alluring trips and experiences such as candlelight dinners by mountain waterfalls; snorkelling and offshore dining adventures on the resort’s opulent launch The Lady Sarojin; or cycling adventures around the quiet environs in which this beautiful resort is situated. They give their guests free use of mountain bikes with maps attached to the handlebars for selfguiding, or an “Imagineer” can accompany you and show you the rides.

We arrived at around 4pm, which was perfect timing to quickly drop our kit in our beautiful suite and head out with Khun Jack our helpful guide on a trip to the Nam Tok Sai Rung (literally Seven Colours, or Rainbow Waterfall). The ride took us past cool lakes, once the site of tin mining works, now reclaimed for more bucolic pastimes such as kayaking and fishing. Then after a short ride along busy Highway 4, we turned inland along Nam Tok Sai Rung Rd through silently brooding rubber tree groves and after a short uphill hike, to the primary forest around the falls themselves. These falls are one of seven sets that plummet off the escarpment inland from Khao Lak and The Sarojin also offers candlelit champagne dinners alongside these tumbling waters to their “loved-up” clientele.

We then rode back towards the

coast, passing the entrance to The Sarojin and then to the Tsunami Monument to catch the sunset at Pakarong, or Coral Cape. This is a lovely west-facing promontory between the broad sweeps of Khuk Khak Beach to the south and Bang Sak Beach to the north upon which The Sarojin sits. Arriving at dusk, the sky morphed into pyrotechnic sunset splendour as we settled down with a drink to enjoy the relaxation that comes after a good ride.

We spent our fabulous Friday evening in The Sarojin’s beachside sala savouring their excellent Thai buffet accompanied by highly engaging traditional Thai music and dance.

Next morning bright and early after one of the sensational breakfasts for which The Sarojin is justly famous, we headed off accompanied

by Khun Kade, The Sarojin’s very helpful Resident Manager, in the resort’s SUV with our bikes on the rack behind. We drove to a lovely quiet, flat country lane and then cycled about ten clicks into the heart of Takua Pa Old Town. This old quarter of Takua Pa is a poignant reminder of a glorious chapter in the history of this region which still resonates with the artefacts and atmosphere of the magical, forgotten era when it was a thriving port town during the Ayutthaya period.

Both sides of the main Si Takua Pa Rd that bisects the Old Town are dotted with period buildings, characterised by their Sino-Portuguese architecture, plus Chinese shrines and tea houses… relics of the huge influx of Chinese tin mine workers who arrived 150 years ago. Elderly people sit chatting in front of their homes, while others ride ancient bicycles to the lo-

cal market. Only once in a while will you spot a pickup truck… a far cry from the Saturday morning madness of Phuket.

Takua Pa Old Town can trace its history back to the 13th century when it was the main west coastal Siamese port on the fabled Silk Road connecting the Mediterranean with China. Of course not only silks and spices travelled along this connecting corridor, but also cultures, beliefs and religions and the gods and icons that they spawned. Hence this region is a veritable treasure-store of Brahman and early Theravada Buddhist artefacts.

The Sarojin can combine this Old Town tour with lunch and a visit to a hot spring to extend it into a longer excursion if you wish. They also offer cycling trips to tranquil Koh Khao Island to the north of Takua Pa and more extreme mountain biking adventures in Khao Sok National Park about 50 kilometres north.

With a little ingenuity and help from creative and insightful friends like those at The Sarojin, a cycling visit to the Khao Lak area can be highly enjoyable and adventurous and it’s all only 110km north of Phuket Town.

Bicycling” Baz Daniel fell off his first bicycle aged three... a case of love at first slight. Since then he has spent a further 65 years falling on and off bicycles all over the world, but his passion endures. When not in traction, he found time to become Senior VP of the world’s largest advertising and communications group, finally retiring to Phuket in 2006. He has been penning his Blazing Saddles column, chronicling his cycling adventures in Phuket and beyond, since 2013.

14 GARDENING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Top plants for shady spots

Enjoy the benefits of foliage plants both in your house and garden GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

They exist in moreor-less dense rainforest or deciduous woodland under the arching tree canopy, where the sun is at best a fitful presence.

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t’s a big generalization, but on balance, the majority of potted plants available in the tropics enjoy a degree of shade. I am thinking of varieties of nephrolepsis such as Boston, maidenhair, or bird’s nest ferns, variegated dieffenbachias, aglaonemas – now available in reddish shades, philodendrons, purple and green dracaenas, hymenocallis or spider lilies, spathiphyllum, the vast array of bromeliads. The list goes on. Go to any garden centre in Phuket and these fellows will be cosseted in a shaded area, usually under green netting, along with phalaenopsis orchids and an abundant supply of mosquitoes.

Usually grown for their lush and varied foliage, it is no coincidence that these, mostly herbaceous plants, are often the same specimens we purchase for our centrally-heated homes in temperate climes, often with disastrous results. But here in the tropics, they won’t go potty; they will survive in containers outside the house, or even indoors for brief periods.

That so many love shade or filtered sunlight, reflects the origins of these plants in the wild. Most are understorey plants: that is to say, they exist in moreor-less dense rainforest or deciduous woodland under the arching tree canopy, where the sun is at best a fitful presence. They are super-adept therefore at utilising what little light comes their way and can survive in conditions where most sun-loving varieties would simply give up the ghost. Put more scientifically, they are adept at absorbing the wave-lengths of farred light, a form of light which manages to percolate through the overhead canopy and reach their broad and receptive leaves.

And unlike vines, which circumvent the same

Bromeliads like this pink-leaved variety thrive in shady conditions. Photo: Omer Fancy conditions by frantically hitching a lift towards the light up the nearest trunk – and some lianas may have creeping stems 60 or 80 feet long – these foliage plants concentrate on staying grounded, happy among the leaf litter and rich organic humus of the forest floor. There they expend relatively little energy on flowering: they concentrate on producing super efficient root systems and lush foliage which can efficiently ensure that life-enhancing photosynthesis takes place in conditions alien to their sun-loving cousins.

So by replicating these conditions for your foliage container plants – a degree of shade, shelter from high winds, the use of organic compost, and frequent watering, you give them a start which they will recognise and appreciate.

As house plants, these will also have cameo roles to play when we move from the open-air stage to the indoor theatre.

But that is for another occasion.

A favourite of mine is dieffenbachia, or dumb cane. Especially the cultivar “Tropic Snow”, a lovely pale green and thus more aesthetically pleasing than the usual mottled, dark-green variety.

Dieffenbachia is a vigorous grower, with fleshy, broad leaves up to a foot or more long. It prefers damp organic matter at its roots, and will readily take from stem sections put horizontally in such soil conditions. What it abhors is full sun: exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves will point upwards in a sheath-like and protective gesture.

Left thus exposed, the foliage will discolour and scorch.

Aglaonemas, closely related to dieffenbachias, require similar conditions.

Likewise blessed with broad patterned leaves, this herbivorous plant has been cultivated as a lucky emblem in Thailand for centuries. Recently there has been an upsurge of interest. Exotic new cultivars have fetched huge sums of money. As a direct result, you can now find hybrids in plant nurseries which sport remarkable emerald and salmonpink foliage. However, the commonest form, pictum, is showy enough with its silvery marked leaves. It is, moreover, much more vigorous than the newer hybrids. I have container specimens in my car-port at least six feet tall. And as

A dieffenbachia with bright green leaves Photo: AJ West with its cousin, leafless cuttings, halfsubmerged horizontally or vertically in moist soil, will root easily.

Spathiphyllum is less exclusively a foliage plant since, as a member of the lily family, it produces a show of arumlike white spathes. But its masses of dark green foliage and its tolerance of polluted air make it a popular container plant, both indoors and in open shade.

Banished from a container, spathiphyllum can be used as ground cover, and will spread quite rapidly, granted its preferred conditions of moist, rich soil and filtered light.

Xanthosoma is, in my experience at least, a bit more difficult to grow. A south American native, it comes from the same Araceae genus as Aglaonema, but unlike its poisonous cousin, its tubers were originally used as a source of starchy food. Low growing lindenii has distinctive arrow-head-shaped leaves, with boldly contrasting white veins.

Most attractive. As with all these herbaceous examples, it thrives in moist conditions. So ensure your container is well watered and sheltered from direct sunlight. And remember, all these varieties will feature in future – when we consider indoor plants.

Patrick has been writing for 10 years about gardening in Phuket and allied topics. If you have horticultural or environmental concerns, please contact him at drpaccampbelll@gmail.com. Many of his earlier creative and academic publications can be found at Wordpress; Green Galoshes. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

The sight of King Bhumibol in the countryside, with a camera around his neck and holding a map, is familiar to all Thais.

The father of the land

King Bhumibol initiated scores of projects to increase Thailand’s prosperity The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

hroughout his 70 years on the throne, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej devoted himself to the development of Thailand in many areas. The sight of King Bhumibol in the countryside, with a camera around his neck and holding a map, was familiar to all Thais. King Bhumibol was deeply involved in the development of Thailand’s agricultural industry, energy industry and water management systems as a means of improving the people’s living conditions. Here we will look at just some of the many aspects of the late King’s tireless dedication to improving the lives of his subjects.

Invention

The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej invented many devices with appropriate technology to improve the people’s living conditions and the environment. He became the world’s first monarch to apply for, and be granted, a patent for his own invention.

The Cabinet on November 21, 2006, approved a proposal by the National Research Council of Thailand to present King Bhumibol with the title “Father of Thai Invention”. The decision was meant to honour King Bhumibol and encourage Thai people to follow in his footsteps. It was also intended to urge young people to create social capital in terms of inventions and to promote cooperation among inventors.

The late King’s first patent was granted on February 2, 1993, for his invention, which is referred to as “Chaipattana Aerator, Model RX-2”. The Chaipattana Aerator is a paddle-wheel machine in the form of a floating buoy that helps add oxygen to water. It was awarded first prize by the National Research Council of Thailand in July 1993.

Eight years later, in 2001, a second patent was presented to him in 2001 for another aerator, referred to as “Chaipattana Aerator, Model RX 5C”. This invention is a prototype of a mechanical oxidation device for use in water treatment. King Bhumibol’s inventions helped save the country’s foreign currency in imports of wastewater treatment equipment as well.

Energy

The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency has adopted the vision of the late King Bhumibol as a guideline for working out Thailand’s Alternative Energy Development Plan.

Director-General of the Department Praphon Wongtharua said that the Alternative Energy Development Plan, 2015-2036, focuses on encouraging the maximum use of alternative energy in order to reduce oil imports. Power generation from biomass is part of the plan, and it has been carried out in all parts of the country.

King Bhumibol’s Royal Initiative on alternative energy development dates back more than three decades. At that time, crude oil prices increased sharply, causing many countries to turn to alternative fuels as a solution.

In 1979 King Bhumibol instructed the Royal Chitralada Project to embark on experimentation with biogas production from dairy cow manure and dead @thephuketnews

plants, which were fermented for a period of time.

The process created a mixture of gases, which were usable as fuel, and represented not only a viable utilisation of surplus materials, but also an alternative to fossil fuels.

After his observation of the biogas production experiment, King Bhumibol in 1985 entrusted officials with undertaking a study on ethyl alcohol or ethanol production from sugarcane to cope with possible oil shortages in the future. The study showed that the transformation of sugarcane into ethanol as an alternative energy source was viable. Then King Bhumibol offered a fund for the construction of facilities and equipment for further research into ethanol production from sugarcane.

King Bhumibol found that palm oil could be used as an alternative to diesel and his formula was tested and introduced. His initiative led the public and private sectors to further develop biofuel into commercially viable products, especially ethanol and biodiesel.

Recognised as the “Father of Energy Development in Thailand”, King Bhumibol not only proposed ideas but also put them into practice. He made use of leftover materials as well. For instance, rice husks from rice mills were turned into charcoal as a form of fuel. Cow dung from his cattle pens at Chitralada Villa was used to produce biogas to generate power for factories there.

King Bhumibols innovation on biodiesel from the extraction of palm oil won the Gold Medal with mention from Brussels Eureka 2001 in Belgium. Inspired

by King Bhumibol’s initiative to develop alternative fuels to replace imported fossil fuels the Government has encouraged various communities to produce biodiesel for their own use to reduce energy costs.

Water

Literally meaning “monkey cheek,” kaem ling is a well-known flood-control project initiated by the late King Bhumibol, who observed that most monkeys, when they obtain bananas, usually store them in their cheeks. They would chew and swallow them later as needed.

King Bhumibol modelled the concept for water retention after the way monkeys eat bananas by temporarily storing excess water during heavy rains and afterwards gradually draining it. This technique helps alleviate the flood problem effectively. It also helps store water to ease drought problems.

King Bhumibol believed that reservoirs built on both sides of the Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok to the sea, could hold excess floodwater in the monsoon and release them into the sea at low tide. He suggested that the Royal Irrigation Department construct large water retention reservoirs near the coast to store water.

New water gates were also constructed to release water into the sea during low tide and closed during high tide to prevent seawater from flooding reservoirs and the surrounding areas. The kaem ling project proved its ability to hold excess water to help alleviate drought.

King Bhumibol, who was honoured as the Father of Water Resource Management, was long involved in water resource development and management. Since his accession to the throne in 1946, he worked to im-

prove the standards of living of the Thai people, particularly farmers, whose lives depend greatly on having adequate supplies of water for their farming.

King Bhumibol initiated many projects to develop water resources for agricultural and other purposes.

The water issue forms part of Thailand’s national agenda, and the royal holistic approach is emphasised in the country’s integrated water resource management for sustainability.

Agriculture

The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been honoured as the “Father of Thai Rice Research and Development” for his great contribution to research and development, which led to food security and economic, social, and cultural stability.

The Cabinet, during its meeting in October 2016, approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to honour two kings of the Royal House of Chakri: King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

According to the proposal, King Chulalongkorn, who was the grandfather of King Bhumibol, has been honoured with the title “Father of Thai Rice Reform”.

He initiated the reform of rice production and development, which greatly benefited rice cultivation and trade in Thailand.

During his reign from 1868 to 1910, King Chulalongkorn introduced comprehensive and progressive reforms. He established the Ministry of Agriculture to support rice production and improve the quality of rice and rice trade. The King laid the foundation for a modern irrigation system and introduced the use of rice farming machines on a trial basis.

His abolishment of slavery resulted in an increase in a workforce for rice production. The King established an agriculture school to produce personnel for various divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture. He also provided scholarships to enable students to study overseas in various agricultural fields.

As for King Bhumibol, he initiated rice research and development in various royally initiated projects.

He suggested the re-introduction of the annual Royal Cultivating Ceremony and the Royal Ploughing Ceremony to boost the morale of Thai farmers.

The late King Bhumibol devised the “new theory” approach to advance agricultural practices, making the management of small agricultural areas become more efficient. He used appropriate technology to introduce rainmaking to ease drought and solve various soil problems to help in cultivation, especially rice farming.

Rice was one of the first agricultural crops studied at Chitralada Villa to find the best cultivation methods to recommend to farm communities. King Bhumibol requested that different strains of seed be gathered from all over Thailand for testing. He gave support to the Thai Rice Foundation and the International Rice Research Institute and also offered a fund to the Department of Rice each year for rice research.

King Bhumibol travelled to all corners of the country to visit farmers and provide them with assistance.

The royal policy was to sustain the occupation of rice farming as Thailand’s cultural heritage and its wisdom and as the foundation of the country’s sustainable development.

16 TECHNOLOGY

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Social media and democracy Optimism fades as fears rise

J

Rob Lever

ust a few years ago, Facebook and Twitter were hailed as tools for democracy activists, enabling movements like the Arab Spring to flourish. Today, the tables have turned as fears grow over how social media may have been manipulated to disrupt the US election and over how authoritarian governments are using the networks to clamp down on dissent.

The latest revelations from Facebook and Twitter, which acknowledged that Russian-backed entities used their network to spread disinformation and sow political discord, have heightened concerns about the impact of social networks on democracy.

“Both services are ripe for abuse and manipulation by all sorts of problematic people, including hostile intelligence services,” says Andrew Weisburd, a non-resident fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy.

The Alliance, a project created this year to counter what it claims are efforts by Russia to undermine democracy and democratic institutions, includes US and European researchers worried about Moscow’s efforts.

“What we have seen from the Kremlin in recent years is a direct by-product of what they have done to the Russian people in order to keep (President Vladimir) Putin and his cronies in power,” Weisburd said.

Researcher Tim Chambers writes in a paper for the left-leaning New Policy Institute that the proliferation of political “bots” or automated accounts to make topics go “viral” such as those employed in 2016 are dangerous for elections and democracy “They fake petition signatures. They skew poll results and recommendation engines,” Chambers said.

“Deceptive bots create the impression that there is grassroots, positive, sustained, human support for a certain candidate, cause, policy or idea. In doing so, they pose a real danger to the political and social fabric of our country.”

Oxford University researchers said in a June report that social networks like Facebook and Twitter, which were intended to be a platform for free expression, “have also become tools for social control” in many countries.

Governments employ large numbers of people “to generate content, direct opinion and engage with both foreign and domestic audiences,” said the report by the university’s Project on Computational Propaganda.

The researchers, who studied social media in 28 countries, concluded that “every authoritarian regime has social media campaigns targeting their own populations.”

In Turkey, for example, that has led to targeting of opposition leaders’ social media accounts so that others can launch a smear campaign. In other countries, governments create “bots”

Social media played a critical role in revolutions during the Arab Spring, but it also has a dark side. which amplify some voices to create an artificial sense of popularity, the researchers said. Some regimes employ “cyber troops” or private contractors for this purpose.

Zeynep Tufekci, a North Carolina University sociologist who studies social networks and activist movements, said the platforms which helped enable the Arab Spring are now being used against dissenters.

“This is not necessarily Orwell’s 1984,” she writes in her 2017 book, Twitter and Tear Gas: How Social Media Changed Protest Forever.

“Rather than a complete totalitarianism based on fear and the blocking of information, the newer methods include demonising online media and mobilising armies of supporters or paid employees who muddy the online waters with misinformation, information overload, doubt, confusion, harassment, and distraction.”

In the United States, the disclosures

by Facebook and Twitter fuelled concerns that disinformation campaigns, likely from Russian entities, sought to manipulate public opinion and polarise the electorate ahead of the November election. Twitter shared data with congressional investigators about ads

from Russia Today, a television group with links to the Moscow government and which has been accused by US intelligence services of meddling in the election. Twitter said RT spent US$274,000 (B9 million) in 2016 on ads on its site that may have been used to try to influence the US election. Facebook also acknowledged foreign entities linked to Russia paid to promote political messages on the leading social network, potentially violating US election laws.

The Oxford researchers said in a report last Thursday (Sept 28) that the campaign to spread “junk news” during the 2016 presidential election via Twitter appeared to target key states which could sway the Electoral College results. The researchers said that in the days leading up to the election, “Twitter users got more misinformation, polarizing and conspiratorial content than professionally produced news.”

Weisburd said the social media firms are “largely immune from responsibility” in the legal sense, but that “in the court of public opinion it is a different matter, and future US legislation seems likely if they don’t address these issues in a meaningful way.”

AFP

Amazon beefs up Echo line-up and Alexa skills

A

mazon has introduced a handful of new home assistant devices powered by its Alexa voice-commanded artificial intelligence, ramping up its lineup competing against challenges from Google and others. The US tech giant unveiled upgrades to its Echo speakers which showcase the company’s digital assistant.

The freshened line-up of Echo devices included a redesigned model with improved sound, along with an Echo Plus model. Among the new features was the ability to make free voice calls to home phones as well as to other Echo devices.

Along with fortifying its hardware lineup ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season, the Seattle-based in-

ternet titan also announced that Alexa smarts will be built into BMW and Mini automobiles by the middle of next year.

“Voice is a big part of the future, especially in cars,” Alex automotive vice president Ned Curic said in a release.

“Using your voice to enjoy content and interact with your car makes a great driving experience even better.”

Carmakers Ford and Volkswagen early this year announced plans to infuse models with Alexa virtual assistant technology.

People in BMW or Mini cars will be able to ask Alexa for directions, make call, control smart homes, check news, and more while motoring along, the companies said in a release.

“By making this step and integrating Alexa into our models from 2018, BMW and MINI will form a more intrinsic part of our customers’ digital lifestyles,” said BMW senior vice president of digital services Dieter May. “Voice control first featured in BMW Group cars many years ago, and we are now enhancing its functionality by adding a digital ecosystem.”

Alexa is up against digital assistant software fielded by Apple, Google and Microsoft as they internet giants invest

Amazon’s new Echo Spot has a circular screen. in a future where computing power is ubiquitous and voice-commanded.

On the hardware side, Amazon introduced a new small, round Echo Spot with a circular screen for displaying digital content.

“Echo Spot combines the popular small design of Echo Dot, the display of Echo Show , and the features you love about Alexa,” senior vice president Tom Taylor said.

“See the weather, watch video news briefings, glance at your alarm clock, check on your kids, and more.”

Echo Spot can be ordered at the online retailer’s website for US$130 (B4,300) and is set to begin shipping in December.

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 17

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Times are changing EDUCATION CORNER

T

Paul Preen

urn back the clock twenty years and an international school may not seem too dissimilar in its appearance to those in the present day. They all seem to nestle quite comfortably in the suburbs of any major modern city of the world.

Nevertheless, times have changed.

The glossy prospectuses of the past have been replaced with websites full of colourful images of multi-cultural groups huddled in labs and classrooms.

These images represent a school’s student body and are indicative of the dramatic, and developing, demographic shift that is taking place around the world.

The growth in the number of international schools in the last twenty years has been staggering, and it is estimated that the current number will double over the next ten years. In theory, this should provide parents with more choices in terms of location, price and facilities. In reality it means that there are now quite radically different types of international schools, and parents need to be very clear about the sort of education that

Over the last 20 years international schools have changed considerably and sometimes to the detriment of their English medium curriculum. they are buying into – the term ‘international’ has a variety of interpretations.

The reasons for this explosive growth are twofold: firstly the rising middle class in many emerging economies means that there is an increasing demand for an English medium “Western” style education, and secondly, some countries have removed the restriction that once prevented their nationals from attending an international school.

The international school has found a new market from its original purpose and conception. No longer is it for children of expatriates and diplomats, but also for nationals fortunate enough to

UWCT receives US$1mn grant

U

S philanthropist Shelby Davis recently visited UWC Thailand to announce his donation of US$1 million dollars (B33.4mn) in matched funding to the school. This further strengthens Davis’ unique commitment to the UWC movement and its mission to make education a global force for peace and sustainability.

UWC Thailand, which joined the global network of 17 United World Colleges one year ago, will now benefit from US$1 million as part of the DavisUWC IMPACT Challenge, an initiative which aims to incentivise alumni, parents, friends and family to donate funds to the UWC schools and colleges.

The donation will further enhance UWC Thailand’s extensive scholarship program which allows students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and selected through one of the 159 UWC national committees worldwide, to attend the school independent of their financial means.

On presenting his gift to UWC Thailand, Mr Davis said: “I hope my investment in UWC and future leaders the movement educates will serve as an inspiration to many to support aspiring youths from around the world to gain a world-class education embracing diversity, peace and sustainability so they are equipped to tackle today’s complex challenges, tensions and conflicts.

“In the years to come, the world needs extraordinary leadership to navigate these challenges and to make the most of new opportunities and I believe @thephuketnews

Shelby (right) and Gale Davis. the UWC movement is ideally suited to educate the leaders and change-makers we need,” Mr Davis said.

UWC Thailand was founded by German entrepreneur and philanthropist, Klaus Hebben, and joined the UWC movement in 2016 as the 16th United World College. Each of the 17 UWC schools and colleges around the globe bring together young people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds to live and learn together. Entry to UWC schools is highly competitive, but independent of financial means thanks to one of the most extensive scholarship programs for secondary education – supported by generous philanthropists like Shelby Davis.

Sir John Daniel, Chair of UWC International, said, “This is great news and on behalf of the UWC movement I express our profound gratitude to Shelby Davis for his continued generosity.”

The Phuket News

be able to meet the fee levels and who wish for their children to be fluent in the global language, as well as being able to compete for places at universities in the West.

As more local nationals take up places in international schools, the number of native-speakers of English may decline – in fact in some Bangkok “international schools” the number of local students is around the 90% mark.

Of course, there have always been international schools with low numbers of native speakers, but rarely has English been supplanted by a single other language spoken by the vast majority

of students. This is an “inconvenient truth” for many international schools, and the road to establish English under such circumstances can be a bumpy one.

In our world of instant fixes where we can upgrade our efforts with a click or a swipe of the finger, we often expect and seek quick remedies. Special language programs, or classes, are common features of international education, but although well-intentioned these may be established with little thought and perhaps even less effort. Very often these “booster” classes serve little purpose other than to provide “survival” English, and rarely tackle the important issue of academic language, which is vital if a student is to cope successfully in mainstream classes.

There is no simple way to solve this problem – in fact there is probably no single solution that all international schools would completely agree upon; this is due to the complexity of language acquisition as well as the factors that affect English language learning in different environments.

However, it is imperative that successful strategies are implemented in English-medium international schools to better meet the demands of acquiring English fit for academic purpose.

Recognising the true nature of the problem is an important first step along the way.

18 ISLAND SCENE

From left: Juns, Eka and Philip.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Thibault, Xaiver and Philip.

CHALONG BAY HOSTS FIRST EVER ‘PHUKET PALATE’ DINING EVENT Chalong Bay held its first “Phuket Palate” event on Friday, September 7, featuring culinary delights by Chef Xavier Charest from Breeze restaurant at Cape Yamu. The mood of the night set by Bebop Live Music Bar & Restaurant and unique drinks specially made by Philip Augustin complemented each course.

Some members of the Surin Surfer Club.

Local officials presided over the surf competition at Surin Beach.

SCORES OF SURFERS HIT THE WAVES FOR THE INAUGURAL SURIN SURF COMPETITION Members of Surin Surfer Club hosted their inaugural Surin Surf 1st Annual Contest 2017 over September 30 to October 1. Dozens of competitors battled it out in the waves at Surin Beach.

From left: Libor Secka, Oriol Montal, Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, Sean Panton and Petch Manopawitr.

Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong (centre) visited the Black Crab (Pu Dam) Community at Mai Khao Moo 3.

MARRIOTT AND IUCN HOST PHUKET’S WORLD TOURISM DAY 2017 EVENTS World Tourism Day 2017 was marked in Phuket for the first time ever on September 27 with a range of activities under the theme of “Sustainable Tourism”. The event was organised by the Marriott Thailand Business Council together with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and hosted by JW Marriott Phuket.

Students learning how to fold towels into decorative shapes.

Teachers and students from Pluk Panya Municipal School.

AMARI PHUKET WELCOMES LOCAL STUDENTS FOR FIRST STEP PROJECT The Amari Phuket team gave a warm welcome to the teachers and students from Pluk Panya Municipal School during their visit to the hotel for the key annual CSR activity named “First Step 2017” on September 28. The purpose of the project is to link the hotel to the community by supporting education initiatives. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

JP, John, Judy and Gordon.

Seven Phuket artists joined forces for The Pavilions’ ‘The Language of Art’ exhibition.

THE PAVILIONS PHUKET LAUNCHES ‘THE LANGUAGE OF ART’ EXHIBITION Phuket’s art aficionados gathered at The Pavilions Phuket last Friday, September 28, to witness the launch of an ambitious new art project entitled “The Language of Art”.

The brainchild of Pavilions owner Gordon Oldham and artist Marlene Jacopin, the exhibition gathers works from seven prominent Phuket artists – Map Abday, Peter Child, Marlene Jacopin, Isara Thaothong, Adriano Trapani, John and Zachary Underwood and Mr Zen.

British International School, Phuket was well represented at the event.

From left: Parinyawee Panno, Vanchai Luangnitikul and Napat Paramacharoenroj.

YOUNG GOLFERS SHOW THEIR SKILLS AT FALDO SERIES THAILAND This year marks the second time that Thailand has hosted two Faldo Series Asia qualifiers. A talented group of young golfers from Phuket took to the greens and rising star Napat “Toy” Paramacharoenroj scored a second-place finish. The Phuket News is proud media sponsor of this event.

The winners of several categories take to the stage to receive their medals.

Staff from Millennium Resort Patong ensured the smooth organisation of the run.

BUMPER TURNOUT FOR MILLENNIUM RESORT PATONG’S CHARITY RUN In aid of Phuket Panyanukul School’s “Engaging with Autism” initiative, the 10th annual Millennium Resort Patong Phuket Charity Run 2017 took place on Sunday, October 1. The event was proudly sponsored by The Phuket News and Khao Phuket.

Marianne and Christer Jansson.

Chef Silvano Amolini (centre) with some satisfied guests.

Chef Silvano (right) welcomed representatives of Billecart-Salmon Champagne to Anantara.

ANANTARA’S CHEF SILVANO HOSTS BILLECART-SALMON DINING EVENT Chef Silvano Amolini of Anantara Layan Phuket Resort on Sunday, October 1, hosted an exclusive dining event featuring delicious Mediterranean flavours paired fine sparkling beverages from famed French champagne producer Billecart-Salmon. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

6 OCT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM Marlene Jacopin, Iisara Thaothong, Adriano Trapani, John & Zachary Underwood and Mr Zen. Open daily from 11am till 11pm at Firefly till November 30, 2017.

For more information call: 076 317 603.

SAT

7 OCT

Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD! RESERVE Your Table Now Online at: bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at www.twochefs.com. Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Kata Beach: 076-333-370. Kata Center: 076-330-065. Karon: 076286-479. Patong: 076-344-914.

Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar Competition starts at 9pm - Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com

Live Sports at Expat Hotel NRL, AFL, Soccer, Rugby Union. Any live sport, we will show it. Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. www. expatsportsbar.com

SUN

8 OCT

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork & Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservation recommended 350 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail. com 081 891 4381.

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic & cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended 295 baht P.P., shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

13th Turtle Run: Run Across The Sea Mini Marathon

Rock Toberfest Join us for two days of Bavarian fare, drinks and live DJ beats in the evening. Master butcher MarcFrederic Berry has been flown in especially to prepare all meats for this event. Start on both days at 12.30pm until late with our Resident DJ Leebree spining between 5 and 8 pm. Reservations, The Nai Harn Phuket, fbreservation@thenaiharn.com, 076 380 200.

05.30 - 07.30 am, Phuket Gateway, Mai Khao, Thalang. 2.5km Family Run / 5.3km Run & VIP Run / 10.2km Mini Marathon. Walk-in registration at The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, from now until 7th October, 10am to 5pm, call 076 338 040. Kittipan, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, maikhaoturtlefoundation@gmail.com, 089 733 8830

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B350 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See: otoolsphuket.com

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 395 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs!

Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavour-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD stay for the FUN! www.twochefs.com

The Language of Art The Pavilions Art & Culture Foundation is introducing a collective of Phuket Artists – Map Abdy, Peter Child,

sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. 395 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

TUE

10 OCT

Afraid of public speaking?

Toastmasters can help.

Looking to develop your public speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Join Toastmasters Phuket and start making yourself a leader today!

Meetings held the 2nd and 4th Tue of every month at Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket. Contact Jason on 086 479 7471 for more info or email: phuket professionals.toastmastersclubs.org

WED

11 OCT

Go Live Sunday Seafood Brunch - October River Prawn The Banyan Tree Brunch experience offers a generous selection of live fresh, local and imported seafood with exceptional lobster dishes, Japanese starters, mouth-watering meats, Asian wok and Western grill treats. Gourmet cuisine exceptional service, Live Jazz and tranquil surroundings, The Banyan Tree Brunch has something for everyone! Prices start from THB 2,800 net per person. fb-phuket@banyantree.com 076 372 400.

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6pm – 11pm: All you can eat BBQ ribs served with salad buffet, potato salad & choice of sauces. Reservation recommended. 350 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com 081 891 4381.

XANA’s Sunday Brunch Spend quality time with friends and family enjoying a one of a kind Sunday brunch on a perfect day of sunshine by the sea at XANA Beach Club. Every Sunday from 12pm to 3:30pm. Prices from 1,850++THB. Reservations: XANA Beach Club, info@xanabeachclub. com or 076 358 500.

MON

9 OCT

SURF & TURF NIGHT EVERY WEDNESDAY @ TWO CHEFS All you can eat! Grilled Australian Rib-eye steak, Teriyaki marinated chicken and grilled tiger prawns with BBQ sauce, red sauce and Bearnaise sauce, Caesar salad and herb sauteed potatoes. ONLY 495 BAHT. Two Chefs Live Band on stage from 8pm until late. www.twochefs.com. Karon: 076-286-479. Patong: 076-344-914. Kata Beach: 076-333-370. Kata Center: 076-330-065. Come for the FOOD! Reservations, TWO CHEFS KARON – PATONG – KATA CENTER.

daily event updates on

Sunday Roast All Day All Night Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT for ONLY 395 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites!

Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken.

Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic. Yorkshire Pudding and Red Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

THU

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

12 OCT

SUN

29 OCT

SUN

12 NOV

The 4th Thanyapura Phuket Classic Cycling 2017 INSPIRED PHUKETIAN Jazon Edouard

Chalong Bay Experience by Marriott Resort Phuket Merlin 1,950 THB net price per person. 3pm - 5pm, leaving at 2pm. Including transportation, distillery tour, cocktail class and Thai pantry dinner with Chalong Bay. Reservations on 076 335 300.

Speech title - The Pursuit of Happiness. Held monthly, and open to the public, this event gives an opportunity for well-lived people to share their life experiences. Inspired by the famous TED Talks, it’s a great way for people to really connect with authentic ideas that will benefit their well-being and happiness in general. All of the speakers are chosen because of their ability to share an idea that connects with and inspires people.

Limited to 55 seats only and priced at B350/pax/net including one drink and pass around canapé. Register now by email to sales@skyelakeclub.com. Skye Lake Club, Cherng Talay.

FRI

The largest cycling competition on the island! The exciting and competitive race takes riders to two different distances: the 45km and the advanced 106km. Cycle through Northern Phuket’s lush jungles, mountains, scenic roads, and exotic coastlines. thanyapura.com

การแข่งขันจักรยาน ธัญญปุระ ภูเก็ต คลาสสิค ไซคลิง่ ครัง้ ที่ 4 กลับมาอีกครัง้ ! การแข่งขันทีต่ น่ื เต้นและท้าทาย ด้วยระยะทาง 45 กิโลเมตร และ 106 กิโลเมตร บนเส้นทางธรรมชาติ และถนนทีส่ วยงามทางตอนเหนือของจังหวัดภูเก็ต

WED

22 NOV

3 NOV

etc. Open 7 days a week, all day dining. Best ribs in town. At the front of BEST WESTERN Patong Beach.

Promotion everyday i.e 399B all you can eat A La Carte, Mondays come 4 pay 3, Live music. Heart of Patong. Free parking. Reservation, 076-360-220.

Sportfishing Tournament Phuket Sportfishing Tournament at Chalong bay Phuket. Start date 22-25 November 2017. Walter, Chalong Bay Phukey, walter.d@chsmokehouse.com, 087-270-0812.

PIWC - Meet & Greet Monthly Coffee WHERE: Starbucks @ Central Festival WHEN: 2nd Thursday of each month from 10:30AM to NOON WHAT: New members are encouraged to join our monthly Meet & Greet Coffee Morning to find out more about our organization. For more information, please contact Joan Watson – imm@loxinfo.co.th or Renate Hirte – hirtefamily@hotmail.com More information at: piwc-phuket.com/meet-greet/

THU

19 OCT

Gourmet Food Festival Best of the Best Paresa is proud to present an evening of culinary and musical excellence with Seven Top Chefs presenting Seven courses while the pop-opera band Fivera preform. Funds raised will be donated to the Phuket Hotels Association Education Scholarship and Training fund, Kamala Green Club and Barnhem House. Starts at 6:30pm for a sunset reception, dress code: Island Elegance. Reservations call: 076 302 000 ext 1001.

TUE

7 NOV

FRI

8 DEC

Phukethon 2017 Mark your calendar for the Phukethon 2017 weekend.

Asia’s major international marathon festival for the first time ever in Phuket, the running paradise island and pearl of the Andaman. Registration is now open. Go to phukethon.com. Get running with the Super Early Bird rate! Limited spaces. Experience the 3-day festival December 08-10, 2017. See you at Phukethon 2017!

Register NOW! Phukethon, Saphan Hin, Phuket, 080 214 6950 or 080 287 6515.

CHEF PABLO’S DEGUSTATION MENU 950.Celebrating our Thailand Tatler’s BEST Restaurants Award: Come and indulge in a succulent five-course tasting menu including foie gras, pumpkin soup, Alaskan scallop, slow cooked duck breast and baba au rhum. Offer valid until end of November. “Grape juice” pairing available! Reservations and full menu: dedosrestaurant.com 076 325 182.

La Gritta’s Discovery Menu Take your taste buds on a culinary tour through some of the finest Italian flavours. Chef Patrizia has created a six-course discovery menu consisting of the appetiser, main course and dessert, priced at 1,590 THB++ per person. The terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Reservations, lagritta@amari.com 076 292 697.

EVERY DAY 7 Nights 7 Themed Dinners at Rim Talay Melbourne Cup 2017 in Phuket PIWC Luncheon - October October 19th Lunch will be at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Karon. Please contact should you wish to attend. Registration starts as always at 11.30 am followed by Lunch at 12.00 pm.

@thephuketnews

Watch the race that stops a nation! The Good Shepherd and Phuket Has Been Good To Us are hosting the Melbourne Cup 2017 here on the island, from 9am till 2pm. Five hours free flow food and beverages, Fashions on the Field and win amazing prizes! For more information, please contact info@phukethasbeengoodtous.org

Mana Smokehouse Traditional American BBQ/smoked and slow roasted, along with TEX MEX tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas etc

Make each night unique! Enjoy our themed dinners with the cool sea breeze. Phuket Night Market @690 THB++, Thai & International buffet @790 THB++, Seafood Night @980 THB++, Ribs, Wings & Rings @770 THB++, Butchers Night @market price, Surf & Turf @950 THB++, Thai Seafood Gala @980 THB++ The terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Reservations, rimtalay@amari.com, 076 340106-14 #8027.

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. In 2009, on which river did Chesley Sullenberger land US Airways Flight 1549?

2. In food and drink, what are silvaner, tempranillo and nebbiolo?

3. Where would you most commonly see a doubly slipped reef knot?

4. Under which city’s cathedral are queens Katherine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots, buried?

5. What word, meaning the person in charge, comes from the Japanese for ‘squad leader’?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

Across 1. Complain 5. Breakfast choice 9. Construction girder 14. Blood pigment 15. Oscar winner Sorvino 16. Noodles 17. Double-reed instrument 18. Footnote abbr.

19. C4H8O2, e.g.

20. What an exchange student might experience 23. Unload, as stock 24. Common cat food flavor 25. “Get ___!”

28. Leave one’s mark on 31. Station identification?

33. Santa ___, Calif.

36. Licks 39. A bit cracked 40. Gregarious gettogether 44. Chanel of fashion 45. High guy in Dubai 46. “Comprende?”

47. Charge 50. Bud holder 52. 1773 jetsam 53. Cash cache 56. Pessimist’s word

59. Social organization 63. Hawkeye 66. Filly’s mother 67. Sanctuary 68. Flip-flop 69. Give off 70. Drops 71. Stupid 72. Astronaut’s insignia 73. Break

30. Extremely popular 32. Driveway material 33. Fancy tie 34. Peter of Herman’s Hermits 35. African capital 37. It’s similar to a Balmoral 38. Leave in, as text 41. Letters on a chit 42. Chop 43. “Fear of Flying” author Jong Down 48. Mean 1. Sweet abbreviation 49. Immune system 2. Picture puzzle virus 3. Agave root 51. Amass 4. Retro car 54. Threshold 5. Arab ruler 55. Pack carrier 6. Dig 57. Greek myth, 7. Rumor, to a rumor daughter of mill Tantalus 8. Hindu holy man 58. The pyramids, for 9. Medicinal syrup pharaohs 10. Lie in the sun 59. Chaplin prop 11. “Humanum ___ 60. Camera errare” diaphragm 12. Took the cake, say 61. Actress Catherine 13. Damage ___-Jones 21. Extreme 62. Branch 22. Married a Beatle headquarters?

25. Mecca visitors 63. “... if I thought ___ 26. Cuckoo help” 27. Combine 64. “So that’s it!”

29. USMC rank 65. Doo-___ music

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) The Hudson River; 2) Types of grape; 3) Shoelaces tied on a pair of shoes; 4) Peterborough Cathedral; 5) Honcho

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

Oct 6, 1976 Massacre of students gathering at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, to protest the return of exdictator Thanom, by a coalition of right-wing paramilitary and government forces, triggering the return of the military to government.

1

in 15 billion are the chances of dying by laughter.

50

Oct 7, 1582 Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, this day is skipped in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

per cent is how much your error rate goes up when you multitask, and it takes twice as long to get things done.

Oct 8, 1967 Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men are captured in Bolivia.

121

Oct 9, 1983 Rangoon bombing: Attempted assassination of South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan during an official visit to Rangoon, Burma. Chun survives but the blast kills 17 of his entourage, including four cabinet ministers, and injures 17 others. Four Burmese officials also die in the blast.

per cent is how much writers are more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder than those working in uncreative fields.

2,520

is the smallest number that can be exactly divided by all the numbers 1 to 10.

600,000 trillion US dollars is what NASA estimates is the value of minerals in the asteroid belt exceeds.

Source: Uberfacts

This week in history

Oct 10, 1971 Sold, dismantled and moved to the US, London Bridge reopens in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. (Photo: Ken Lund) Oct 11, 1975 The NBC sketch comedy/variety show Saturday Night Live debuts.

Man’s best friend. Photo by Tanyaluk Sakoot Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

Oct 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus’s expedition makes landfall in the Caribbean, specifically in The Bahamas. The explorer believes he has reached the Indies. Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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Buy & Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

BUSINESSES FOR SALE LUXURIOUS BAR-RESTAURANT SALE

Totally renovated, Italian design & furniture, all-new imported kitchen & bar equipment, ready to operate. Large Bar, DJ booth, garden lounge, rooftop. Seats 50 indoors, 50 in garden, 40 rooftop. 080 143 5541 Pablo.

Real Estate company for sale

Established Phuket Real Estate company for sale with over 400 listings and 1000’s of contacts and a very sophisticated website. Thai company included. All ready to go. Call +66 (0) 833 908 549.

Restaurant for sale

Located in central Khao Lak. Full equipment and furniture. Price including 1 year payment with 3 years contract, can continue contract. 1.2 Million THB, Mali, Central Khao Lak. Jack.arms@hotmail.com, 087-465-6531 Jack, 081-483-3966 Klaus (German).

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE Long Tail Boat For Sale

Ready to go “Long Tail Boat” with or Without Captain (Thai) Get special price, please call 085 781 9167 (English) Bangtao Beach, Phuket, B275,000, giorgionaef@aol.com 085 781 9167.

Boating deal of the year: 7.5m baht (reduced from 10m baht)

Due to serious health reasons, the owner must part with his beloved 80’ tour boat.

New wiring throughout, power outlets, transformer and voltage meters. New upholstery throughout bar and entertainment area. Engines & generator fully reconditioned & serviced. All maintained to European standards. Ideal boat for quality day trip business. beachsando1@gmail.com 080 695 3933.

CAR FOR SALE 2014 Nissan Juke For Sale

2014 Nissan Juke, one owner, full history, leather interior, rear sensors, climate control. Perfect Phuket runabout, only 82000km. 530,000, soiana56030@gmail.com, 0950 924 729

HOME IMPROVEMENT TechWorX Projects

TechWorX Projects now offer a full Electrical Contractor service. This complements our existing offerings of AV, IT, Home Automation, Home Cinema and Security systems. If you are planning a new build or renovation please contact us for a free consultation. Daragh, 393/8 moo 1 Srisoonthorn road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, daragh@techworx.asia, 084 443 9863.

MEMBERSHIPS Lifetime Family Membership

Blue Canyon: 750,000 THB includes 140,000 transfer fee.

Loch Palms: 425,000 THB includes 72,000 transfer fee.

Tanita, 094 695 3536 / 063 992 3226.

MEMBERSHIPS Phuket Country Club Golf Membership

Phuket Country Club Family Golf Lifetime membership for Sale. 2 courses, 9 & 18 hole course, Seller will pay 60,000 baht transfer fee, the buyer pays 380,000 Thai baht. Contact Chris - 087-884-8972

Loch Palm Golf Membership

Property in Phuket!

Looking to buy property in Phuket?

International Property Advisory (IPA) can help! Give us a call today on 076 604 260/ 098 064 4408/ 080 886 9660 Email : info@ipa. black , utopia@ipa.black Website : www.ipaphuket.com.

Lifetime Loch Palm Golf membership for sale. 400,000 baht, the Loch Palm transfer fee of 72,000 baht will be shared equally between the buyer and seller. sales@joydive.asia

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

MOVING SERVICES

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Chattha Real Estate and Professional Rental Management in Phuket. SELL-BUY-RENT-MANAGEMENT-MAINTENACE-GAURANTEED RENTAL. Inquire NOW! www.chattha.asia, 076-636-244, 090-179-6635.

Chanapa, Chattha Real Estate Co., Ltd., info@chattha.asia

Looking for a Moving Company?

With over 15 years of experience Bigmove Phuket is the number 1 provider of moving and shipping in and out of Phuket Thailand. We provide storage in a state of the art clean, secure, storage facility located centrally in Phuket. www.bigmovephuket.com. Mr Joe: bigmovephuket@gmail.com 081-797-5377.

PETS, BOARDING Dear Pet Seekers

I have two great dogs looking for a home.

According to a Vet, 7.5 years old. I’ll update their shots. Please see pictures, both are great dogs. I’m leaving the country. Contact Chris 087-884-8972.

PERSONAL SERVICES Rawai Custom Tailor store

Rawai Tailor – Ladies and Gents custom Tailor Store. Serving local and international clients for the past 10 years, get a free shirt for each suit ordered, fully air conditioned, clean environment, friendly staff, parking space, quality materials, good workmanship and money back guarantee. Located within walking distance from major hotels in Rawai, opposite Sea Shell Museum on Viset road in Rawai. Visit us for free consultation, no obligation to buy. www.RawaiTailor.com Thomas Ghimiray, 158/2, Moo 2, Viset Road, Rawai, Phuket. info@RawaiTailor.com, +6681-415-4883. @thephuketnews

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

Chatta Real Estate

PROPERTY FOR SALE Apartment for sale or rent

60 Sqm. 1 bedroom + 1 bathroom and kitchen/living room. Rooftop pool and restaurant. See website Absolute Bangla Suite for photos. Absolutely quiet. Terje Hoff, Absolute Bangla Suite, sfrkata37@gmail.com

Condo for sale or rent

Close to Jungceylon Shopping Center.

30 Sqm. Swimming pool and gym. Quiet and cool. Fully equipped. See website The Art Patong for pictures. B3mn. Terje Hoff, The Art Patong. sfrkata37@gmail.com. 081 894 8446.

Condo for sale

Nice Condo for sale in Rawai 27m2, 2nd Floor renovated. Fully furnished. Ready to move in.

300m from the beach. 750,000 THB, Duverne Jacques, Rawai, Eng-061-0686696, Thai-065-0714228.

‘New’ foreign freehold condo

Totally renovated in 2016, located in centre of Patong. Size of 65 sqm with a common fitness, sauna and large swimming pool. Perfect for living or investment! B5,600,000, guy@sunny-property.com, 0831 052 707.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE 5-bed pool villa, 1.2 Rai

3 detached buildings, L-shaped open plan living, Western kitchen, guest suite, pool 11mx5m, quiet residential area. 1.2 rai plot. 9,750,000, Mrs Simpson, thaivillaonline@gmail. com, 0844477248.

Land: 3 Rai close to Monument

Land for sale in Phuket. 3 Rai close to Monument Thepkrasattri Thalang.

Perfect for apartments. Contact Thai/English 093 619 2323.

12,000,000, supaku1013@hotmail.com, 093 619 2323.

House for Sale in Karon

House for sale the price is negotiable.

3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in Karon with a salt water pool. Great opportunity to buy in a good location where houses rarely come up for sale.

Good as an investment or a place to call home. 16,000,000 Baht, ณริศรา โคทส์, g-a-coatesy@outlook.com, 063-541-5642.

Royal Place Condo For Sell

Royal Place Condo is located at the center of Phuket Town, opposite the Tesco Lotus, close to international school, 3 minutes to Big C and Phuket International Hospital, 4 Minutes to Central Festival. 45SQM, 5th floor, Corner Room, 2 balconies, 1 bedroom, 1 living room. Before price 2,800,000 Now Available for 2,250,000. Harry: h.jabary@ gmail.com, 084 249 0526.

1 BRM UNITS FOR SALE

Spacious, modern 90sqm luxury European style apartments in a Golf Resort for sale.

For further information please contact 062-019-1421. 4.9 Million THB, Bruno, Golf Resort, brunohaag@yahoo.com, 062-019-1421.

PROPERTY FOR SALE 4 bedroom house in Chalong

4 king bedrooms (one with ensuite, the others with dedicated bathrooms), 5 bathrooms (1 with a bath, the other showers), Living room, Morning room (lounge/diner), 2 studies, Home cinema, 7 seater, DVD/CD library, 2 carports, 3 separate entrances (+ 5 French windows, a total of 8 exits).

Property is at the end of a quiet soi near Big Buddha, no passing traffic. It overlooks a stream and jungle. The garden is 12 years old with bananas, papayas, mulberry bushes, cherry bushes, flowering plants and shrubs and several palm trees. There are frequent bird visitors…2 birdbaths. Just a few minutes drive from Tesco and Villa/Home Pro on Chao Fa West. Only 12 min drive to Central or big Tesco/Big C/Makro. 16.9MB (negotiable). Area of the site: 137.9 square wah (approx 560 square metres). To view, call 081 415 5522 or email m.allen.phuket@gmail.com

COMMUNITY

PROPERTY FOR RENT Kata Beach Apartment for rent

For rent long term (min 1 year). Kata beach nice-clean Apartment 68sqm.

One bedroom close to the indoor pool. B20.000 per month (exclusive electric). For visit tel/sms: 064 532 3637 or email villaonroof@gmail.com

Rawai Naiharn with spa pool

Unique Thai style home, open plan, close to beach and shops, AC, 3-bedroom 2-bathroom with spa pool, must see! Eng: 090 867 4849 Thai: 081 081 9875.

House for Sale/Rent

Locate Baan Saun Loch Palm Kathu. Fully furniture with swimming pool, 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms + maid room, 2 living rooms. Large entertainment area. Very convenient location. Close to BIS, Headstart School, shopping centre, Central, Tesco Lotus, 10 min to Patong beach. Easy access to the Airport. Long term lease 65,000/month including pool + garden service. Sale 13.5 millions baht (negotiable). Khun Bea, Loch Palm Kathu, I.thumwong@gmail.com 098 194 9351.

To rent: 1800 m2

To rent: 1800 m2 of concrete slab with 5m high walls + 500 m2 of parking. Heroines Monument area. Roofing may be arranged, long term and serious interest only. Open to ideas, Leo: 081 821 4064. thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

SPORT 29

Title hopes kept alive

Malaysian recovery puts Vettel back in championship contention BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

T

he 100,000 fans who packed into Sepang’s grandstands for the final Malaysian Grand Prix knew they were witnessing the twilight days of the 2017 championship race, but the drama with which the season’s latest chapter was written could never have been expected.

The weekend could not have started any better for Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. With a 28-point deficit to Lewis Hamilton to close in just six races, Ferrari’s extremely strong pace during practice was cause for optimism that the German could begin clawing his way back into title contention.

Better yet, Mercedes was having another of its off weekends, its car confounded by the combination of hot weather, technical turns and tricky tyres. The German marque was presenting an open goal; Malaysia looked

Sebastian Vettel is given a ride by Sauber’s German-Mauritian Pascal Wehrlein after he crashed past the chequered flag during the Formula One Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang last Sunday (Oct 1). Photo: Roslan Rahman / AFP set to be a walk in the park for Ferrari.

It wasn’t.

It took just minutes for Vettel’s weekend to unravel during qualifying. The German’s car developed a power unit problem, and though he limped back to the pits, there wasn’t enough time remaining to repair the engine.

His stricken car was relegated to the back of the grid, and as if to rub salt into the wounds, Lewis Hamilton pulled an ace lap out of the bag to qualify on pole.

“It’s very bitter, but this is motor racing,” Vettel said after qualifying, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

His weekend worsened

still when his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen, who had qualified a commendable second place and was primed to take points off Hamilton, was withdrawn from the race with – you guessed it – power unit problems.

The odds were stacked steeply again Vettel, but with his title at stake, the fourtime world champion put in

a championship-worthy drive to save himself.

One by one Vettel picked his way through the slower midfield. On the first lap he jumped six cars, and by lap 21 of 56 he was sitting pretty in fifth place ahead of every team bar Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.

He bore down on Mercedes’s Valtteri Bottas and jumped him in the pit stops.

Now equipped with Pirelli’s softest tyre, the German hunted down Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo for a place on the podium.

The Australian was reeled in by a second pre lap until the two were forced to spar for position. For five laps the former teammates duelled, their cars dancing in the setting Malaysian sun for the final time, but Vettel’s aggression proved too much for his tyres, which by lap 49 were past their best. Fourth place was all he wrote.

It shouldn’t have been enough, but while Vettel was scything through the midfield Max Verstappen was slicing past Lewis Hamilton and into the lead with such pace the

Briton was unable to follow.

The Dutchman won his second grand prix for Red Bull Racing one day after his 20th birthday, and in doing so he had restricted Hamilton to adding just six points to his lead over Vettel, two short of the crucial number that would have put the title result beyond Vettel’s control.

But the final Malaysian Grand Prix concealed one last twist. Vettel and Williams driver Lance Stroll had a bizarre crash on the cool-down lap that violently tore off the Ferrari’s left-rear wheel.

Though neither driver was penalised, of greater concern is the potential for damage to Vettel’s gearbox.

With a gearbox replacement coming at a cost of five grid places for the next race, Vettel’s valiant recovery might yet give way to more pain at the Japanese Grand Prix, where his road to championship recovery looks set to remain as steep as ever.

Don’t forget to tune in to Live89.5 each and every Saturday from 9am for the Box of Neutrals radio show.

Amateur cyclist motor cheat could face ‘fraud’ charges CYCLING A N A M AT E U R C YC L I S T caught riding a motorised bicycle could be charged with fraud, a local French public prosecutor said on Monday (Oct 2).

The 43-year-old, who hasn’t been named, was snared in a targeted sting operation last Sunday (Oct 1) run by the Perigueux public prosector alongside French cycling and anti-doping authorities.

Jean-Francois Mailhes, prosecutor for the south-western commune,

said, “The cyclist justified his actions by claiming other riders were using various methods” to cheat and that he “wanted to level the playing field”.

Mailhes said the cyclist admitted to using the bike in five races since August 21, “earning around 500 euros” (B19,647) in prize money.

He said the bicycle motor was bought in France but the frame came from China. Both were procured online for a total cost of around 3,000 euros (B117,885), Mailhes added.

The cyclist had been deliberately targeted after a dramatic recent

A picture taken last Sunday (Oct 2) shows the modified bike also known as the ‘dope bike’ and its electric motor. Photo: AFP improvement in his results.

He is the third person to have been caught riding a motorised bicycle in competition, something known as

technological or mechanical doping.

In January 2016, Femke Van den Driessche became the first competitive cyclist to be found using a motorised bike at the junior world cyclo-cross championships, an offence which saw the Belgian national junior champion cop a six-year ban from the International Cycling Union.

In July, 53-year-old Italian Alessandro Andreoli was caught out at a race in Italy following a tip-off to organisers.

Although organisers claimed he’d admitted to using a motorised bike

after a thermal camera had been used to identify a motor, Andreoli later pleaded innocent to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

He claimed his recent upsurge in fortunes on a bicycle had been due to overcoming “back pain” and “training hard”.

The French cyclist told a local radio station, France Bleu Perigord, that he’d cheated “not to win races or earn money” but rather to help him get over sciatica and a herniated disc, claiming it helped “reduce pain at the end of races”.

AFP

Sinckler hit with seven-game eye-gouging ban RUGBY UNION H A R L E Q U I N S P RO P Kyle Sinckler will miss England’s autumn internationals after he was banned for seven weeks on Tuesday (Oct 3) for eye-gouging.

The 24-year-old British and Irish Lion was cited for making contact with Northampton lock Michael @thephuketnews

Paterson’s eye during a English Premiership game last Sunday (Oct 1).

“I accept the outcome of the hearing and wanted to go on record to say I am sorry that I have let my teammates down, but more importantly I feel terrible that anyone would think I would deliberately gouge an opponent,” said Sinckler in a statement following his disciplinary hearing.

“That was never my intention – it was a genuine mistake and an act of recklessness on my part.

“I will spend the next seven weeks working hard on my fitness and rugby to ensure that when I am able to get back on the field I am fit and ready to do so and make the best possible contribution to Quins.”

Although his ban will

end on November 21, four days before England’s final autumn international against Samoa, it is highly unlikely the tight-head would be called up on short notice following seven weeks of inactivity.

Sinckler’s inclusion in Australian coach Eddie Jones’s England squad was far from certain, though, as he was left out of a 33-man training camp last month

despite having toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions.

Although normally second choice England tighthead after Dan Cole, he was picked ahead of the Leicester front-rower as deputy to Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong for the Lions and played in all three Tests.

But now he will miss England’s matches against

The British and Irish Lion was cited for making contact with Northampton lock Michael Paterson’s eye last Sunday (Oct 1). Photo: AFP Argentina on November 11, Australia a week later and Samoa on November 25.

AFP

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

Putting his house in order

FAT president Somyot steers national football in right direction FOOTBALL Bangkok Post

F

ootball Association of Thailand president Gen Somyot Poompungmuang is either a very fast learner, or knows more about football than he initially let on.

Either way, it is of little consequence, as he has proven beyond doubt that he is no pushover.

And whether it is his past management experience or that he has learned the ropes pretty fast is also immaterial as what really matters is that he is steering the national football in the right direction.

A little more than a year and a half ago, the former national police chief was telling everyone who would listen that he has no knowledge of football whatsoever.

Since taking over the reins of the national association in February last year following a landslide victory over Charnwit Phalajivin – widely

seen as a proxy candidate of for mer FAT president Worawai Makudi – Somyot has taken a few steps which are serving the Thai interests very well.

His keenness to bring about a change in the national football setup was at first discarded as nothing but whims of a stubborn ex-cop, totally devoid of any idea what football is all about.

For some unfathomable reason, Somyot never earned the due praise for his commitment to steering Thailand to the top echelons of Asian football.

It could probably be because the first high-profile casualty of his ruthless drive to bring a positive change was no one else but national team coach Kiatisak Senamuang, a former pin-up boy nicknamed “Zico”.

Apart from undertaking some sporadic damage control exercises on a few occasions, Somyot never made any attempts to disguise his

FAT president Somyot Poompunmuang (left) talks to national team coach Milovan Rajevac. Photo: via Bangkok Post dissatisfaction with Kiatisak.

After Thailand’s 4-0 rout at the hands of Japan in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Saitama early this year, Somyot said: “Should we be satisfied with winning the Suzuki Cup and the SEA Games? And then when we play against the real top teams in Asia we lose 3-0 or 4-0.

Are the fans OK with it?

“Maybe some people are fine with that, but for me it’s embarrassing. I can’t and I

won’t accept these results.

Something needs to be done.”

As he lured Kiatisak, a darling of the Thai media, into a perfect trap, Somyot became a target of widespread vilification. He, however, held his ground firm and did not give in.

His decision to bring in Serb veteran Milovan Rajevac as a replacement for popular Kiatisak, who quit after the Japan match, was a masterstroke, to say the least.

Kiatisak, to start with, was ill-equipped to carry Thailand to the level and was targeted by Somyot because the former national team striker has no first-hand experience of that level, either as a player or as a coach.

Rajevac, who took Ghana to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, has in a short time proven his worth as in the words of senior football commentator Jason Dasey, the Serb “has made the Thais more compact, and harder to break down”.

As the Thais look increasingly more organised under Rajevac, Somyot’s decision to bring him along looks even more prudent because the Serb is costing the FAT far less than his predecessor.

More recently, Somyot made another praise-worthy move in the wake of August’s 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia, where Thailand won their third straight men’s football gold medal.

He is bringing an end to

the ridiculous tradition of appointing non-technical, high-society representatives as managers of the country’s squads.

Watanya Wongopasi was the first to resign as the national U23 team manager last month.

There is no doubt that Watanya, affectionately called “Madame Dear” by the Thai press, was very committed to the national U23 team, which recently qualified for next year’s AFC U23 Championship in China.

However, as everywhere else, footballing matters at all levels had better be left to those who know the business inside out.

This should bring an end to any meddling in the affairs of the national teams as the coaches would serve as team managers and could be held responsible for the decisions taken during the course of a tournament or a match, making things simpler for everyone.

Phuket Stars get back to their winning ways CRICKET Phuket teen, Saichon ‘Paan’ Siwiang took three wickets for the Stars. Photo: Michael Way

IT WAS W EEK SEV EN of the Madras Cafe 30 Over Cricket League last Sunday (Oct 1), a day on which table toppers the Phuket Stars took on bottom of the league Island Cricket Club (ICC).

Ahead of the game, which, as usual, was played at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang, the Stars were hoping to get back to winning ways following their defeat to Patong Cricket Club in week six, while ICC were hoping to claw back some points after falling some 14 points behind the Stars.

The Stars, who were obviously highly rated to come out victors, batted first but didn’t have it all their own way. P Borkar had A Khan caught behind in the first over, and other than a cameo from P Jha (49 runs), ICC had the Stars well contained to 4-87 after 20 overs.

The last 10 overs were forgettable for ICC. Four dropped chances in seven balls helped I Malik to 46 runs and the Stars to the competitive total of 162 for eight from the allotted 30 overs. (Jha 49, Malik 46,

Yasir Mirza 3-10).

With ICC having struggled to bat throughout the Madras Cafe 30 Cricket League so far, sadly last Sunday’s game wasn’t to be any different.

Y Mirza showed some intent during his short stay at the crease with his 10 ball innings including two boundaries and a disputed LBW decision. But unfortunately for ICC, experienced umpire John King is rather familiar with disputed decisions and wasn’t going to change his mind. Mirza’s wicket was the first of six to fall before the 10 over drink break. (ICC 47/6).

The Stars continued to shine in the field after the break, grasping all gifts that came their way. First game player D Scott helped himself to two wickets and B Dessai and M Singh Rana enjoyed some batting time in the middle adding 17 runs each. ICC were eventually dismissed for 107 for 10 from 24.4 overs. (Extras 31, Paan 3/19, Prakash Jha 2/6).

Last Sunday’s result means that on Sunday (Oct 8) ICC will need a dominant performance to remain in contention for the Madras Cafe Cup. Text by Andrew McMillan. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

SPORT 31

PREMIER PREDICTIONS: ENTER NOW AT THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

In search of solutions for Liverpool’s woes FOOTBALL AFP

H

eralded as Liverpool’s saviour when he was appointed two years ago, Jurgen Klopp has cut an increasingly tetchy figure in recent weeks as the Reds boss struggles to find the winning formula at Anfield.

In contrast to his success with Borussia Dortmund, Klopp is still looking for his first silverware in England and, after a 1-1 draw at Newcastle last Sunday (Oct 1), Liverpool are already languishing seven points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Klopp’s side have won only one of their past seven matches in all competitions and his record to date compares unfavourably to his Liverpool predecessor Brendan Rodgers’ statistics over the same period.

With in-form rivals Manchester United due on Merseyside for Liverpool’s next match on October 14, Klopp must use the international break to solve his team’s damaging problems.

Here we take a closer look at the issues that threaten to derail Liverpool’s season: Lack of cutting edge If Klopp’s colourful description of goals being “the mother of football” is correct, then Liverpool are in danger of being orphaned.

With 137 chances created, Liverpool have had the most opportunities to score of any Premier League team this season, but have netted only 13 times.

While Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all splashed out on forwards in the close-season, Klopp opted against signing a penalty box predator and the decision looks like coming back to haunt him.

Out-of-favour forward Daniel Sturridge is often on

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during their match against Newcastle United last Sunday (Oct 1). Photo: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP

MONTHLY SPONSOR

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EPL PREDICTIONS MONTHLY STANDINGS

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OVERALL STANDINGS

TC AVFCwoody Charlie1982 phils64 chook

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LFC444 41 TC 39 celticpride 38 diggersd 38 fazza 38

English Premier League 2017 - 2018 Team

the bench and Liverpool are paying for their lack of cutting edge.

Anfield legend Jamie Carragher said: “You take it back to Manchester United last season in terms of having a lot of games where they didn’t score and had lots of chances.

“At the end of the season they just went and bought Lukaku and it looks like that problem at the moment is fixed. Liverpool didn’t fix the problems that needed fixing.”

Defensive mishaps Only two Premier League teams have conceded more goals than Liverpool this season, with the 12 allowed

by Klopp’s leaky rearguard a stark contrast to their title rivals.

Manchester City and Manchester United have let in only two goals each, with Tottenham (five) and Chelsea (six) also far more solid.

Klopp is clearly aware of Liverpool’s defensive malaise as he spent most of the closeseason engaged in a failed attempt to sign Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno and Joe Gomez comprise a distinctly flawed unit, with

Klopp’s commitment to attack also leaving his defenders with little protection from the midfield.

“If they keep defending the way they are at the minute they’ve got no chance (of winning the title). The goals they are conceding are far too easy,” former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland said.

Calamity keepers Klopp’s decision to rotate goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius has exposed his lack of a true number one.

Mignolet has endured a difficult time at Anfield since joining from Sunderland in 2013 and his penchant for costly mistakes convinced Klopp to sign Karius from Mainz last year to push the Belgian international.

So far the move has not had the desired effect. Mignolet is no more convincing and Karius has made a blunder or two himself.

Karius’s failure to keep out Fernando’s long-range free-kick in Liverpool’s draw against Spartak Moscow brought fresh criticism, but Klopp remains defiant.

“I don’t understand how you can talk after a game like this about this one situation.

I don’t think it was a mistake but probably you have another opinion,” he said.

Keeping Coutinho happy Given Liverpool’s problems with turning possession into points, arguably Klopp’s biggest concern will be keeping Coutinho motivated after the Brazil forward was denied his wish to join Barcelona.

Coutinho handed in a transfer request in a bid to force Klopp to sell him before the transfer deadline, but even when Barca’s bids climbed over £100 million (B4.42 billion), Liverpool refused to budge.

Forced to return to Liverpool, the 25-year-old has kept his frustrations in check so far, scoring three times in his past three appearances, including a long-range rocket at Newcastle last weekend.

Klopp must ensure Coutinho retains that focus for Liverpool to have any chance of a successful season.

“He has put his frustration into games and is playing with freedom. He has been fantastic,” Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said.

“We all love him. A lot of things happen in football. Phil has been brilliant.”

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1653: Saturday Oct 7 Run Start Time: 4PM Hares: Murkury, Manneken Pis, J.C. Location: Heroines Monument - East 13.7km Directions: At the Heroines Monument circle turn East on [4027] toward Pa Khlok and drive for approximately 13.7 kilometres, then turn left to the laager site.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2pm Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 2:30pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

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MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Manchester City

7

6

1

0

22

2

+20

19

2

Manchester United

7

6

1

0

21

2

+19

19

3

Tottenham Hotspur

7

4

2

1

14

5

+9

14

4

Chelsea

7

4

1

2

12

6

+6

13

5

Arsenal

7

4

1

2

11

8

+3

13

6

Burnley

7

3

3

1

7

5

+2

12

7

Liverpool

7

3

3

1

13

12

+1

12

8

Watford

7

3

3

1

11

12

-1

12

9

Newcastle United

7

3

1

3

7

6

+1

10

10

West Brom

7

2

3

2

6

8

-2

9

11

Huddersfield Town

7

2

3

2

5

7

-2

9

12

Southampton

7

2

2

3

5

7

-2

8

13

Stoke City

7

2

2

3

7

11

-4

8

14

Brighton and Hove

7

2

1

4

5

9

-4

7

15

West Ham United

7

2

1

4

7

13

-6

7

16

Everton

7

2

1

4

4

12

-8

7

17

Leicester City

7

1

2

4

9

12

-3

5

18

Swansea City

7

1

2

4

3

8

-5

5

19

Bournemouth

7

1

1

5

4

11

-7

4

20

Crystal Palace

7

0

0

7

0

17

-17

0

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT START STOP Friday October 6 Rugby Union 13:30 15:30 22:55 01:00 Soccer 21:00 23:00 22:50 01:00 Cricket 15:00 00:00 Golf 19:00 23:00 Saturday October 7 Rugby Union 11:00 13:00 Rugby Union 19:00 21:00 Rugby Union 19:30 21:30 Rugby Union 22:00 00:00 Cricket 15:00 00:00 20:20 23:55 Golf 19:00 23:00 Motor Racing 12:45 14:20 Sunday October 8 Rugby Union 19:30 21:30 Rugby Union 16:45 18:45 Soccer 22:50 01:00 22:50 01:00 Golf 19:00 23:00 Cricket 15:00 00:00 Motor Racing 11:00 11:45 11:45 14:30

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Mitre 10 Cup Canterbury v. Taranaki Currie Cup Cheetahs v. Blue Bulls World Cup Qualifier England v. Slovenia (Rpt) World Cup Qualifier Georgia v. Wales Test 2, Bloemfontaine South Africa v. Bangladesh, Day 1 Alfred Dunhill Links St Andrews, Day 2 Mitre 10 Cup Currie Cup Pro 14 Rugby Championship Test 2, Bloemfontaine T20 - Ranchi Alfred Dunhill Links Formula 1

Northland v. Hawkes Bay Pumas v. Griquas Leinster v. Munster South Africa v. New Zealand South Africa v. Bangladesh, Day 2 India v. Australia St Andrews, Day 3 Qualifying, Suzuka

Currie Cup Rugby Championship World Cup Qualifier World Cup Qualifier Alfred Dunhill Links Test 2, Bloemfontaine Formula 1 Formula 1

Golden Lions v. Western Province Argentina v. Australia (R) Lithuania v. England Slovenia v. Scotland St Andrews, Day 4 South Africa v. Bangladesh, Day 3 Raceday, Suzuka Japanese Grand Prix

Sport

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editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

FAT president gives it his all to raise Thai football > p30

A BROKEN ‘TOY’ Vanchai ends Napat’s winning story at Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South

Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South winner Vanchai ‘Mark’ Luangnitikul putts on the 18th hole. Inset: Mark making his victory speach. Photos: Matt Pond

GOLF The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

N

apat ‘Toy’ Paramacharoenroj’s reign as 2017 Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South winner has been ended by national squad player Vanchai ‘Mark’ Luangnitikul after a thrilling duel at Laguna Golf Phuket.

However, Napat’s hopes of becoming only the third two-time winner of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final crown are still alive. Thanks to his second-place finish in the seventh leg of the 2017 – 18 Faldo Series Asia season, Napat – nicknamed ‘Toy’ – has guaranteed himself a return trip to Laguna Lăng Cô in Danang, Central Vietnam in March 2018 for the 12th edition of the Grand Final.

In an absorbing 36-hole contest in Phuket, Napat vied for top spot with fellow British International School, Phuket student Vanchai and Bangkokbased Conor Kelly.

It was Napat who held the upper hand after an im-

maculately compiled opening six-under-par 65, three shots ahead of Vanchai and five clear of Kelly.

When 16-year-old Napat extended his advantage following birdies at the fourth and fifth in the final round, his rivals’ prospects appeared poor at best.

However, there was a significant shift in momentum at the par-five seventh, where a rare wayward shot from Napat came to rest behind a tree trunk. From there, he was only able to chip out sideways en route to a bogey-six while both his playing partners converted short birdie putts.

A two-putt birdie for Vanchai at the par-four 10th, where he powered a massive drive to the edge of the green, reduced Napat’s lead to one. Clearly shaken, Napat then suffered a streak of three successive bogeys from the 12th, which left him two behind Vanchai with four holes remaining and Kelly hot on his heels.

It was then Vanchai’s turn to experience a wobble, his tee-shot to the par-three 16th finding a water hazard. He

rescued a bogey but now led by only one from Napat and three from Kelly.

It was the dog-leg right 17th that was to prove pivotal with Vanchai eking out a par while Napat and Kelly both bogeyed. With a two-shot cushion, Vanchai was able to afford the luxury of a three-putt bogey on the final hole.

Winner of the Singha Thailand Amateur Match Play Championship in April and a member of his country’s triumphant Lion City Cup team in Indonesia last month, Vanchai signed off in Phuket with a two-under 69. His 137 aggregate was one in front of Napat and three ahead of Kelly.

Paul Wilson, Laguna Golf Assistant Vice President/Group Golf Director, said: “We were fortunate to witness such high quality golf which emphasises, once more, the tremendous strength in depth that there is in junior golfers across Thailand.

“We are excited that both Toy and Mark will now be heading to the Grand Final in Vietnam, where they will have the chance to spend time with Sir Nick and test their

skills against many of the best young players from around the region.”

Also heading to the Grand Final is Parinyawee Panno, who topped the standings in the Girls’ Under-16 category at Laguna Golf Phuket, the sister club of the Faldo-designed Laguna Golf Lăng Cô.

Meanwhile, Wilson said he was confident that the Faldo Series Thailand Championship – South will grow from strength to strength.

“Besides competitors from Phuket, it was encouraging that we had entrants from Bangkok and Singapore. It was also wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the children who took part in the Under-12 segment.

We hope they’ll continuing developing their games … and go on to become Faldo Series champions.”

This year marks the second time that Thailand has hosted two Faldo Series Asia qualifiers with Weerawish Narkprachar having upstaged some of his country’s leading juniors to emerge triumphant in the 12th edition of the Faldo Series Thailand Championship (North) at

FALDO SERIES THAILAND CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH, LEADING FINAL SCORES BOYS’UNDER-18/UNDER 16 137 – Vanchai Luangnitikul (68-69) 138 – Napat Paramacharoenroj (65-73) 140 – Conor Kelly (70-70) 153 – Sebastian Sawtell (79-74) 157 – Nanthanat Kongkaew (80-77)

GIRLS’ UNDER-16 159 – Parinyawee Panno (82-77) 166 – Surapa Janthamunee (84-82) 169 – Molly Yun (81-88)

BOYS’ UNDER-12 158 – Filip Arnesten (79-79) 161 – Damon Dongwook (79-82) 165 – Pongwarut Satonsamritpon (79-86)

GIRLS’UNDER-12 165 – Mint Laugnitikul (83-82) 169 – Nichapas Thawinwan (81-88) 176 – Louise Landgraf (94-82)

Plutaluang Navy Golf Course, south of Pattaya, in May. The 2017-18 Faldo Series Asia season is supported by The R&A and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation.

The International Junior Golf Academy is a partner of the Faldo Series.

The Phuket News and Live89.5 were proud media sponsors of the event. thephuketnews