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DEMOLITION MAN FORMER PM ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA SPEAKS ABOUT POWER IN PHUKET > P4

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Damrong ‘the Demolisher’ begins probe into 10 suspect five-star sites Graft busters examine deeds for 3,600 rai of Phuket land Half of island’s protected forests have been ‘stolen’

THE BADLANDS FILES: PAGES 2 & 3

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“If the land is found to have been obtained illegally, demolition will result”

In Phuket, National Parks Director Damrong Pidech was protected by armed Forest Rangers.

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NEWS ‘Demolisher’ orders probes into 10 sites Sondhi in the dock

Yellow Shirt leader facing up to 15 years in jail as lèse majesté case begins > 10

Alasdair Forbes, Jody Houton & Claire Connell execeditor@thephuketnews.com

Paritta Wangkiat reporter3@thephuketnews.com

INVESTIGATION: THE BADLANDS FILES

D

amrong ‘the Demolisher’ Pidech, the Director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, has ordered nine separate committees to investigate the legality of nine land plots on the north west coast of Thalang District, where a number of five-star hotels, resorts and villas are currently under construction.

Speaking at a site already under inspection – a 38-rai plot of land north of Nai Thon Beach where the construction site of the Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort is located – Mr Damrong said, “The Arcadia will be our pilot land investigation. The other nine

Damrong Pidech at the Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort site on Wednesday. projects will be investigated afterwards. It will take around a month to compile the results.”

The investigation into the

Arcadia land had yet to be completed when Mr Damrong was speaking (July 11), with further investigation into the

origin of the title deeds of the land, and questioning of related officials still to be performed.

However, a representative

of the Arcadia, Weeranan Pithupakorn, insisted that the deeds were obtained legally.

The ‘owners’ of all 10 plots of land must be able to prove that ownership papers existed before the national park was established in 1981.

In addition, they must prove that the original SorKor 1 papers were issued before 1964, the year when the authorities announced that SorKor 1 papers could no longer be upgraded to title deeds in what was then a protected area and is now the Sirinart Marine National Park.

Mr Damrong initially set up a committee to investigate Sirinart Park encroachment in 2006, but he ordered this particular investigation into the

10 plots after visiting Phuket on May 29 this year and learning that a rai of land could be worth between B30 million and B50 million.

“We will continue our investigation. If the land is found to have been obtained illegally, demolition will be a result,” said Mr Damrong.

He said he was optimistic he would receive initial findings of the investigations within a month, and he hoped the entire investigation would be completed before he retires this October.

Mr Damrong earned his nickname after ordering the demolition last year of resorts and villas built on encroached land in Wang Nam Khieow in Nakhon Ratchassima Province.

3,600 rai of Phuket land under suspicion Paritta Wangkiat reporter3@thephuketnews.com

TITLE DEEDS FOR MORE than 12,000 rai of land around Thailand are under investigation by the Office of the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) because of suspicions they were obtained through corruption.

Of this number, 3,600 rai – 30 per cent – is on Phuket alone.

NACC Commissioner Wicha Mahakhun revealed the numbers on Tuesday (July 10) at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) capacitybuilding workshop aimed at combating corruption, money laundering and illicit trade.

At the workshop, held at the JW Marriott in Mai Khao, he said the total estimated cost of damage done to the country’s economy by landrelated corruption has reached B420 million, while the cost of the damage of all types of corruption in Thailand is at least B1 billion.

He said the road to corruption sometimes started from local people who sold their land

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THE BADLANDS FILES

Wicha Mahakhun. to get money even when this was forbidden by the papers for the land.

Many cases relating to land have been reported to the NACC, including the case of the land next to Freedom Beach and land where the Kathu Tin Mine was located.

“About 40 per cent of corruption cases in Thailand have involved local authorities,” Mr Wicha added.

While corruption related to land has been heating up in recent years, he added, other illegal activities such as human trafficking and drugs, and the corruption involved, are still

major concerns.

He said he believed that the root of corruption was a prevalent attitude of, “It’s not a problem so long as I benefit.”

He said corruption in Phu­ ket is reflected in illegal ownership of land, which is then transformed into property pro­jects, resorts or hotels with a handful of people reaping the benefit from what is in fact public land.

“The opening of Thailand, for example for tourism, has provided hiding places for criminals,” said Mr Wicha.

“Places such as Phuket, Pattaya and Samui are like paradise for criminals.”

A major concern is 2015, when the Asean Economic Community will come into being, allowing an influx of people from the Asean into Thailand. Laws and regulations must be reviewed before then to create an efficient security system to prevent corruption and money laundering, he said.

The NACC is now drawing up plans to develop anti-corruption practices, in collaboration with relevant international organisations.

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Graft is blamed for loss of half Phuket’s forests

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INVESTIGATION: THE BADLANDS FILES

Paritta Wangkiat reporter3@thephuketnews.com

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fficials from Office of the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) visited Phuket on July 5 to study cases of forest encroachment and evidence of corruption, as part of a nationwide tour to gather information to be used in the creation of improved policies and regulations to protect national forests.

The tour began in June, with the NACC targeting Chiang Mai, Tak, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Prachinburi, Phuket and Krabi provinces, in all of which forest encroachment is considered particularly rife.

“In Phuket, the price of land is so high that it encourages encroachment,” said Kajadphai Burutpat, President of the NACC’s Subcommittee for the Prevention of Corruption (SPC).

The SPC met with relevant Phuket authorities on July 5 to get ideas and feedback on land encroachment issues.

The Phuket Forestry Department told subcommittee

members that there were originally 16 protected forest areas in Phuket, covering some 40 per cent of the island.

However, the protected areas have shrunk by half due to a combination of land encroachment and the transfer of land to agriculture land reform, through the issue of SorPorKor papers.

SorPorKor papers were intended to give poor people land they could farm. Legally, the papers confer a form of squatter’s rights. They do not confer ownership of the land, nor the right to lease it out. The land may be used only for agriculture and the rights may be passed only to the holder’s heirs.

However, the very high value of land in Phuket has meant that many holders of SorPorKor land have succumbed to the temptation to sell “their” land for millions of baht, with the buyers then bribing officials to issue freehold Chanote papers for the land.

“Wrong uses of land are often found in Phuket,” said a member of SPC, Maj Gen Kittisak Marom. “The land here

has attracted business people and politicians to look for the ways to occupy [more].”

Aggravating the decline in protected forest area are outdated laws and regulations which, the NACC believes, open the gate for corruption.

A further complication is that different authorities use different maps as references of land surveys. The protected forest boundaries on these different maps often do not correlate.

“However, I think one of the main causes [of forest encroachment] is official [corruption],” said a member of the SPC, Pathom Wimonthorn. “If officials adhered to the laws, there would be no encroachment.”

The results of SPC meetings with provincial authorities will be used to create alternative policies and laws, and perhaps even reform of the entire protected forest system, which will then be proposed to the government for implementation.

The SPC tour of encroachment hotspots in Thailand will continue until the end of this month.

Police seal off the house in Chalong where the 17-year-old girl’s body was found.

Mystery over death of stay-at-home girl POLICE ARE TRYING TO unravel the mystery of a teenager found dead in her home in Chalong on Tuesday afternoon (July 10).

Sunisa Saiyoi, 17, was found in her family home in Soi Nakok in the Chonagan Project (near the main TOT office) at 5pm.

Lying face down in the bed, she was semi-naked, with a towel draped across her lower body. There was blood on the

floor, along with a hammer.

Police declined to comment on her death at this stage; until an autopsy is completed at Vachira Phuket Hospital, it will not be known how she died or whether she was sexual assaulted.

However, her fat her, Kanung, 61, told The Phuket News that Sunisa had delicate health, which had caused her to drop out of school.

Sometimes she would go

with him to help him sell food from his samlor, but this morning she felt drowsy from medication, he said, and had decided to stay at home.

At about 5 pm two relatives living with Sunisa and her parents came home to find the girl dead. The security gate to the grounds of the house was still locked, but a window frame had been broken.

Police i nvest igat ions continue.

CCTV system is ‘root of improved security’ SENIOR PHUKET OFFIcials met on Wednesday (July 11) in one of a series of ongoing meetings on how to solve problems on the island and rebuild tourist confidence, rocked by the killing of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith on June 20.

Island officials will pin a large part of their hopes on a much more effective CCTV camera system.

Today’s meeting heard that in “safety zones” in Patong, Kata, Karon and the airport, direct phones will be mounted below cameras, to allow anyone to call the camera control centre in case of trouble.

In addition, the camera system will be open to all.

Anyone will be able to go to the CCTV system website and look at images from individual cameras on the island. The whole system will be run by a specially formed security team.

Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said, “I believe the CCTV system will

V/Gov Chamroen: ‘CCTV will reduce crime on the island.’ be helpful and will reduce crime on the island.”

It will also, he said, make it

easier to regulate and improve low quality transport providers, to control rip-off pricing and to manage tourist areas in general.

Pol Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul agreed. “Most tourists need to know the price of transport. For them to be confident, they want to see fixed prices on a chart for all taxis, tuk-tuks and transport services.”

But Aroon Suksai, representing tuk-tuk and meter taxi operators was not optimistic.

“We did display lists of prices [a couple of years ago] but it didn’t work because most of the drivers would not respect the rules.”

V/Gov Chamroen said: “Phuket is quite a small island but it has huge problems. It required cooperation from many sectors to solve and regulate all the problems, including pollution, timeshare operations, jet-skis and transport, so that things are sorted out before the next high season in Phuket.”

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SIMON OSTHEIMER Managing Editor 083 922 9265 managingeditor@thephuketnews.com From Hong Kong; a decade’s experience as editor of magazines and newspapers in Shanghai (City Weekend, that’s Shanghai), Beijing (tbjhome, Urbane), Hong Kong (Time Out Hong Kong), Kuala Lumpur (Vision KL), Bangkok (Bangkok 101) and Phuket. Journalist for Esquire, Fah Thai, Vacations & Travel, Travel & Leisure, CNNGo, Surface and Dwell.

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Abhisit Vejjajiva: ‘We may need to deliver more power to people and local authorities.’

Abhisit in Phuket to brainstorm ‘blueprint’

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ormer Prime Minister and current leader of the Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva was in Phuket on Wednesday (July 11) as part of a public speaking tour entitled, “Summon up the power to design Thailand.

The 10 Foundations of the Blueprint for Thailand”.

Speaking in the conference room of Thai Village in Phuket Town to a crowd of around 300, Mr Abhisit said that the tour’s primary aim was for the Democrat Party to share its vision for the future of Thailand.

The 10 foundations proposed by the Democrat Party

included four social foundations (conciliation, knowledge, welfare and justice), three economic foundations (agriculture, innovation and green economy), two political foundations (freedom and transparency) and a foundation of Thailand as the centre of Asean.

Phuket was selected as the first stop on the tour before Mr Abhisit visits other major provinces in the north, northeast and central Thailand.

Owing to Phuket’s consistency in bringing tourism income to Thailand, the Economic Foundation was an issue much discussed in the Phuket meeting.

“We have to think about

innovation in tourism, and a green economy,” said Mr Abhisit. “The development can’t just be based on natural resources and labour exploitation. We must base it on knowledge.”

Mr Abhisit later went on to explain the term ‘knowledge’ as the application of culture to enhance the economy and the integration of multidisciplinary practices to lead a sustainable development.

“For example, property development needs good planning and policy. Otherwise, the over-expansion of the property market may lead us to a bubble economy,” said Mr Abhisit.

He added that he supported

the setting up of a special local administrative system for Phuket, with a counsel from various professions, to design local economic systems that could “keep up with” Phuket’s development.

“We may need to deliver more power to people and local authorities, so they can decide the direction of their future,” said Mr Abhisit.

When the tour is completed at the beginning of next month, the Democrat Party will gather all ideas to design Thailand’s “blueprint”, which may be proposed as a crucial part of the Democrat’s plans for Thailand’s future development, should they succeed in regaining power.

Aussies join light rail list REPRESENTATIVES FROM an Australian company, UGL Rail Ltd, and the company’s local partner, Thai Rail Tech (TRT), visited Phuket ViceGovernor Sommai Preechasin on Tuesday (July 10) to register their interest in the Phuket Light Railway Project.

The general manager of UGL’s Hong Kong branch, Neil Heaton, said a tram system would suit Phuket as it is the cheapest option, and the easiest to build.

He suggested building the rail track on the ground in suburban areas, but raising it on piles in urban areas to solve the problem of limited ground space.

The project could begin with a single track, he said, and expand to two or three if this is found necessary.

As an example of how this might be done he cited

UGL Rail supplied the electric cars for Hong Kong’s Light Rail Transit system.

Hong Kong’s Light Rail Transit system, for which UGL has to date supplied 42 electricallypowered rail cars.

Sirichai Prasertwaree, speaking for TRT, said it was not clear yet what type of joint venture would be established, as he had to study joint venture laws and regulations carefully.

TRT is already collaborating with BTS, which runs

Bangkok’s Skytrain system, and State Railway of Thailand.

“We would like to build the Phuket Light Railway project and manage it ourselves. But with the restrictions imposed

by Thai laws and regulations, we have to think about how we can do a thorough job,” Mr Sirichai said.

These restrictions include the rules governing the project

study which, the 1995 Joint Venture Act stipulates, may be carried out only by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), a government body.

This means that a private joint venture wanting to build and run the system might not have full role in designing the project, including the system and the routes.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

‘Spies’ to seek out illegal tour guides Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

F

ollowing increasing complaints about foreigners working illegally as tour guides, the Phuket Provincial Tourism Office is to send out “spies” to check on tour companies and track down those that are using foreigners as guides.

Guiding tours is an occupation reserved solely for Thai nationals, but many tour companies argue that Thai guides do not have the required language skills.

At a meeting yesterday (July 9) of the Phuket Guide Solution Board, Panompol Thammachatniyom, President of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism’s advisory group, explained, “They completely reject Thai tour guides because they are not good in their language or in terms of quality of service, or are simply regarded as ‘useless’.

“This will remain a recurrent problem as long as some government officers and police take bribes to turn a blind eye

V/Gov Dr Sommai Preechasin has ordered an undercover operation to catch foreign tour guides working in Phuket. to illegal Korean, Russian and Chinese guides.”

Chakkrit Engchuan, Assistant Director of Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism, said that the solution must be to produce guides to meet market needs.

The Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket Campus, along with Phuket Rajabhat University provide courses for tour guides, he said.

However, Sorayut Mallum, representing the Phuket Tourist Association, said the tour guides who complete these courses are still regarded by the tour companies as unsound and unable to do their jobs.

He complained, “Many times action plans have been made to crack down on illegal tour guides but they have never succeeded.

“Indeed, when we went to

check on companies employing foreign guides, they had the nerve to complain to the police and to local politicians.”

He, too, said that in some cases bribes were being paid to keep the authorities away.

“The problem cannot be controlled because some departments get something from the companies,” he said.

The meeting agreed that most of the cases were found in companies handling tours for Korean, Russian and Chinese tourists.

Mr Panompol urged the meeting not to give in to demands by tour companies to allow foreigners to operate as guides. “Please, do not allow illegal tour guides to abuse us.

This is central to preserving Thai culture, tradition and resources.”

Chairing the meeting, Vice-Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin ordered Mr Chakkrit and other relevant departments to arrange undercover teams to spot illegal guide, especially Koreans, Russians and Chinese.

Fake ID card gang arrested T W O PA K I S T A N I S operating a tailor shop in the Muang district of Phuket were arrested recently for making and selling fake Thai ID cards, it was announced at a press conference called by the Department of Special Investigations (DSI).

The pair were identified as Sahit Jawet, 40, and Abdulrahman Trakroot “Sek” Pathan, 32, whose false official Thai identification card showed him registered at 66/8 and 15/5 Tambon Na Teuy, Phang-nga.

DSI international crime special investigator Pol Lt Col Chanchai Likitkantasorn told reporters that the investigation into the Pakistanis’ activities had been carried out by his office in cooperation with Kathu district police and resulted from the pair’s “dark influence” in Phang Nga Province and their connections to bureaucrats there.

He said the gang had made more than 1,000 false IDs, using the identities of people who were either dead, or whose whereabouts are unknown, or who did not need IDs and were willing to sell their details.

“This gang has two large groups of agents,” said Col Chanchai, “who pay bureau-

crats B80,000 to B300,000 for each false ID, the amount varying with the level of difficulty in each area.

“Previous investigations found that a great many such false IDs were made in Thailand’s border areas. Later, the gang transferred their base of operations to make it easier for foreigners in central Thailand, Isarn, and northern Thailand to get phony Thai identities.

“Lately they’ve been selling the ID numbers of people who never registered as Thai on the southern Thai border – people holding dual Thai-

Malaysian citizenship.

“Those people never needed a Thai ID card because they can use their Malaysian ID instead. Cards cost B80,000 to B90,000.

“The agents looked closely at individuals selling their identities to see that they matched the characteristics of the buyers.” Chanchai said the hotspot for this operation was in Sungai Kolok, a border town in Narathiwat province.

Buyers were mostly from Cambodia, Pakistan, China, Myanmar and Vietnam.

“The operation expanded

so fast because buyers needed to evade arrest either in this or their own country,” the colonel explained. “Some wanted to make new passports, get driving licences or buy land in their own names. Some wanted to open businesses or get into financial services in Thailand.” Chanchai said such operations “pose a security threat” to Thailand.

The two suspects, he said, would be prosecuted for violation of the False Identity Card and Information Act. –Source: Siang Tai

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The Navy helicopter winches a “victim” and frogman out of the water off Cape Panwa.

Exercise demonstrates Thai Navy rescue skills AROUND 500 PEOPLE showed up at Cape Panwa on Tuesday morning (July 10) to watch the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command carry out a full-scale searchand-rescue exercise using helicopters.

The exercise was held partly to reassure local people and visitors about their safety in the case of a marine disaster such as a ship sinking, a tsunami or a violent storm.

During the exercise, 10 “victims” were rescued from a “burning” fishing boat off the coast of Cape Panwa.

Four boats were sent to rescue the group. Two seriously “injured” people were

taken directly to Vachira Hospital, with the others, suffering “minor injuries”, were treated in an emergency makeshift hospital set up on shore. The rescue helicopter also “rescued” a person floating in the sea by dropping a frogman who then attached both of them to a cable so they could both be winched into the chopper.

On Saturday (July 7), the navy was involved in a rescue that was no drill, rescuing a Chinese woman who lost consciousness while snorkelling near Racha Yai island.

She was taken to Racha Yai first, before being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

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ustoms officials hit black gold on Monday afternoon (July 9) when they seized a tanker with 230,000 litres of smuggled diesel on board, 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) off Racha Noi Island.

Arrested on board the 141ton Noknaan Naam 16 were the skipper, a Burmese named as Li-au, and six Burmese crewmen.

The diesel, if sold at the pumps in Phuket, would fetch about B7 million. The value of the tanker was estimated at B8 million.

Diesel sells in Malaysia for about B18.60, compared with B32-35 in Thailand, resulting

C

in big profits for smugglers who can successfully bring diesel from Malaysia into Thailand.

Most of the smuggled fuel aboard tankers such as the Noknaan Naam 16 is sold to Thai fishing boats.

Rakop Srisuppaad, head of Customs Investigations in Phuket, said the smuggling of oil in this case was believed to be a criminal conspiracy involving people from three countries, with a Thai-owned tanker, a Burmese crew and diesel from Malaysia.

He declined to name the owner of the tanker because the investigation is ongoing.

“We believe this is a big diesel smuggling operation involving another six vessels that we have so far not been able to catch.”

Seized tanker is shown to reporters on Wednesday morning (July 11)

Andaman provinces will feel AEC impact says Asean Sec Gen Surin DR SURIN PITSUWAN, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), last week told a group of mostly local Muslim dignitaries that opening of free trade within the Asean community in 2015 will result in significant movement of populations between member states.

He also noted that more than half the population of the 10-member Asean is Muslim.

The Asean Economic Community (AEC) will be introduced in 2015, and will allow residents of the 10 Asean countries to freely travel and work within the region. In addition, a number of agreements covering free trade in services, air travel, investment and goods will come into full effect.

Mr Surin – a former foreign minister of Thailand – made his remarks during a speech attended by 765 representatives from Phuket’s 51 mosques. Also in attendance were Komol Doomlaks, chairman of the Phuket Islamic Council, and the chairman of Krabi’s Islamic Council.

Dr Surin Pitsuwan: Beware of a rise in lifestyle diseases Phuket’s Provincial Office and the Phuket Provincial Office of Islam jointly sponsored the talk, held at the Phuket School of Muslim Science (Muslim Wittaya) in Koh Kaew.

“The total population of Asean’s 10 member states currently is about 600 million, of which more than 300 million are Muslim,” said Dr Surin.

“People are quite excited about 2015, when the community [design] will stand complete.

“However that may be inevitably the six Andaman Sea provinces of Thailand will feel the impact from increased trade in goods, investment,

services, tourism and movement of populations among member states.

“Thus, local people must prepare themselves for changes that will occur. These, I believe, will present an important opportunity to work together more on an international level, for which knowledge and ability are requisite.”

Mr Surin said that to truly participate in the community, people must have some understanding of languages used by member states and must, moreover, excel in “knowing what it means to be good and perfect Muslims” and “how to play a role in society, and

work in differing occupations.”

He noted that there are about 400 Muslim schools in Thailand, producing some 5,000 high school graduates who go on to higher education. “People involved in these schools need to consider whether that number should be increased,” he said.

Dr Surin was in Phuket primarily for five days of discussions on health in the Asean countries plus China, South Korea and Japan.

Around 60 high-level health off icials from the Association of Southeast Asian (Asean) nations, plus their colleagues from China, Japan and South Korea, met in Phuket last week at the Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach They addressed a variety of health concerns, including tobacco and alcohol control and communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

There was concern that warning labels on cigarette packets, including graphic illustrations of smoking-related illnesses, were not having the

desired effect of deterring young people.

Some officials pointed out that smokers tend to ignore the warnings, and despite the pictures the tobacco industry continues to recruit new smokers.

In addition, people who have never smoked can still contract smoking-related diseases such as cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular problems from inhaling second-hand smoke.

Nevertheless, the meeting felt that all countries in the region should put graphic pictures on cigarettes.

The meetings also set ambitious targets on HIV referred to as the “Three Zeroes”: no HIV patients without treatment, no deaths from HIV/Aids and no new HIV infections.

Mr Surin also urged health authorities to be aware of the possibility of changes in lifestyle-induced illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes that may come as a result of growing wealth once the AEC becomes reality three years from now.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

War memorial planned W ork will begin soon on construction of a new Phuket Historical Memorial at the Victory Field near Baan Riang, where the annual re-enactment of the 1785 victory of Phuket forces over an invading Burmese army takes place.

On Monday (July 9) a committee bringing together Vice-Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin, OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising, Wongsakorn Nunchukan of the Provincial Planning and Public Works Office and other relevant officials discussed ways to push forward the plan,

Conceptual drawing of the Phuket Historical Memorial. last discussed four months ago.

The memorial – a group of statues depicting Phuket’s

Heroines with soldiers and local people – will be the first part of a project to create

a historical park on the site.

The funding for the statues is already there – a budget of B26 million was approved last year.

Mr Wongsakorn was assigned to establish the working group for this project. He said he could begin in August, adding that landscape plans for the surrounding park are currently being revised.

Mr Paiboon said that Phuket should also have a public archive on the site, to house the annals of the island.

The cur rent Heroines Monument roundabout in Thalang will remain.

PHUKET NEWS

7

Floods rose to a half-metre deep off Chao Fa West Rd.

Flooding, again

HEAVY RAIN LAST WEEK flooded large areas of Patong and other parts of the island.

Sai Nam Yen Rd, Soi Sansabai and Soi Bangla were all flooded, as was Pang Muang

Sai Kor Rd, which was closed to traffic. Patong Hospital was surrounded by floods.

In Phuket Town, the downtown area around Rassada and Yaowarat Rds was flooded.

Toyota racers get ready to roar into Saphan Hin TH E TH I R D A N N UA L Toyota Motor Sports race day will take place at Saphan Hin on July 21 and 22.

There will be three races over the two days, featuring teams of local students chosen by Toyota and teams of celebrities.

On the first day there will be two races: a Yaris OneMake Class B race, and a Vios One-Make Ladies’ Cup. The seond day will feature a Vios One-Make Class C race.

The Toyota Star Racing Team will feature such well

known Thai faces as Pai Patis, Ta Varit, Natalee David and Airin Siriporn.

On the Sunday, there will also be a “Legends Show” featuring Peet Tongjeu, Kratea Supaksorn and Um Umarin showing off their driving skills, and a Drift Performance Show from Thailand’s top drift racer, Sak “Kiki” Nana.

In the evening, once the racing is over, fans will be able to enjoy a rock concert

by Bank Clash in the Saphan Hin stadium.

One-make racing – like this Toyota Yaris race – ensures that winning is not about the car, but about the driver.

thephuketnews.com

8

PHUKET FOCUS

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Is cancer in the air?

Phuket needs to clamp down on diesel-belching vehicles Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter4@thephuketnews.com

O

ne of the more depressing sights on Phuket’s roads is tour buses filled with happy tourists admiring the scenery on their way to another souvenir shop or to view the sunset that is unique to Laem Phrom Thep.

Behind, out of their view as the bus labours up another of Phuket’s steep inclines, motorists drive through a reeking black fog of diesel fumes belching from the back end of the bus.

It’s not just buses, but trucks, too, and ancient pickup trucks.

It used to be thought that diesel emissions, though smelly, were less harmful than gasoline fumes.

Diesel also has the advantages that it is simpler to refine from raw oil, and is really quite hard to ignite, making it safer than gasoline – one reason that it is the first option for military vehicles, which will not explode when hit by gunfire from the enemy.

But in June, diesel’s al-

A tourist minibus belches diesel fumes on the way up the hill from Patong. ready faltering reputation as a “cleaner” fuel was shattered when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an affiliate of the

World Health Organisation (WHO), based in Lyon, France, announced that diesel exhaust is a carcinogen.

In a press release dated

June 12, the WHO announced, “The scientific evidence was reviewed thoroughly by the [diesel emissions] working group and overall it was concluded that there was sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust.

“The Working Group found that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer (sufficient evidence) and also noted a positive association (limited evidence) with an increased risk of bladder cancer (Group 1).”

Group 1 is a list of substances that the WHO regards as having definite links to cancer.

The experts, who said their decision was unanimous and based on “compelling” scientific evidence, urged people worldwide to reduce their exposure to diesel fumes as much as possible.

The downgrade to Group

1 puts diesel exhaust fumes in the same risk category as such poisonous substances as asbestos, arsenic, mustard gas, alcohol and tobacco.

Dr Christopher Portier, Chairman of the IARC working Group, stated that “The scientific evidence was compelling and the Working Group’s conclusion was unanimous: diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in humans.” Dr Portier continued: “Given the additional health impacts from diesel particulates, exposure to this mixture of chemicals should be reduced worldwide.”

Cancer killed 7.6 million people worldwide in 2008, the most recent year for which the WHO has full data. Lung cancer was the most deadly type, accounting for 18 per cent of cancer deaths.

“In addition,” he said, “Existing fuels and vehicles

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without modifications [to reduce emissions] will take many years to be replaced, particularly in less developed countries, where regulatory measures are currently also less stringent.”

In Phuket, however, the reaction to the news from the IARC has been less than urgent. The Natural Resources and Environment Department’s Phuket Office monitors air quality in Phuket. The results are posted online at aqmthai.servehttp.com/aqi.php.

The AQI ranks a score of 0-50 as “good”. Scores between 50 and 100 are ranked as “moderate”. Above 100, and air quality has reached a point where it “affects health”.

Between 200 and 300 it has “a great effect on health”.

The index tops out at 500.

Any score between 300 and the maximum ranks as “dangerous”.

On Wednesday this week, Phuket’s AQI, as measured at the Provincial Public Health Office in Phuket Town, was 36, which ranks in the cleanest band. The recent rain will undoubtedly have helped to keep the number low.

A Public Health official told The Phuket News that pollution from diesel transportation “rarely harms anyone in Phuket because the geography is open-air and it is an island”.

Buses and large trucks must be inspected by the Transport Department twice a year before being issued permits to be on the road.

Any that fail emissions tests do not get a permit renewal until they have been repaired and have passed the test.

In between, however, there are no checks, so vehicles continue to belch diesel fumes – now confirmed as carcinogenic – into Phuket’s proverbially crystal blue skies.

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THE PHUKET NEWS

THAILAND NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Group slams pregnant migrant worker plans Agence France Presse

T

hai government proposals to deport pregnant migrant workers will heighten discrimination rather than boost the fight against human trafficking, Human Rights Watch said Friday.

Thailand’s Labour Ministry recently proposed expelling migrant workers, believing they will receive better care in their own countries.

The rights group said the measure was floated in response to the US State Department’s recent classification of Thailand in ‘Tier 2’ of its watch list, a status for countries demonstrating poor efforts to stamp out human trafficking.

“It’s an idea to send them back home because they can receive better care while they are pregnant so that mothers will not have health problems,” Somkiat Chayasriwong, permanent secretary to the Labour Ministry, said.

“We have set up a committee to study in detail how to take care of pregnant migrant workers at this stage,” he added.

But the proposal has provoked fury among rights groups who decry the scheme’s potential to worsen the lot of migrants, while simultaneously failing to tackle the root causes of people trafficking.

“The labour minister’s plan has nothing to do with

Burmese workers.

Photo: Sukunya Phoonpong

stopping human trafficking but will cause further discrimination against women migrant workers,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“Prime Minister Yingluck should immediately direct the Labour Ministry to drop this unlawful and thoroughly bad idea.”

If it is sincere about tack-

ling the trafficking scourge, Thailand should ensure the children of migrants go to school while cracking down on government officials and labour recruiters who hire victims, he added.

Last month’s US State Department report criticised Thailand for failing to respond to trafficking – mostly from neighbouring countries – into work as forced prostitutes, beggars and labourers in the fishing industry and factories.

The report highlighted Thailand’s failure to identify and protect victims adding “the government has not shown evidence of increasing efforts to address human trafficking” compared to 2011.

Man caught with arsenal of grenades, AK-47 bullets Coconuts Bangkok

BA NGKOK POLICE arrested a 34-year-old man with a massive arsenal of weapons in his Huay Kwang, Bangkok apartment last week.

They searched the room of Sompong ‘Boy’ Sueprang

on Pracharat Bamphen Soi 6 looking for drugs, but instead found 14 M67 grenades and 1500 AK-47 bullets in addition to three grams of methamphetamine. Sompong’s 19-year-old girlfriend was also arrested.

Sompong denied owner-

European conmen arrested in B317 million Thai scam Agence France Presse

A GA NG OF I N T ERnational fraudsters who duped European victims into investing B317 million (US$10 million) in fake funds have been arrested in Bangkok, Thai immigration police said last Friday (July 6).

T h e 15 fo r e ig n e r s , among them six Britons, two Americans, a South African and a German, told

their victims they were brokers for high-return funds and lured them into transferring cash into numerous Swiss bank accounts.

They were arrested on Thursday in central Bangkok, according to Police Major General Preecha Thimamontri, of Thai immigration police, adding that they may have made millions more from the scam.

A statement from im-

ship of the weapons, saying that they belonged to his friend Teung who he had only known for a few months.

He said that Teung had visited him and dropped off some boxes in front of his apartment building and asked Sompong to hold them for

B20,000.

Sompong kept the boxes in his room but later heard that his friend Teung had been arrested for drugs in Prachachuen.

Police are further investigating Sompong and his girlfriend.

New Stoc k

9

IN BRIEF American pardoned by HM King Bhumibol Thai-born American citizen Joe Wichai Commart Gordon was granted a pardon from having to serve his sentence of 2.5 years for contravention of the lese majeste law on Tuesday (July 10).

Mr Gordon was arrested while visiting the kingdom in May for having translated and posted online excerpts from a banned biography of King Bhumibol.

Gordon’s release is sure to ensure that today’s (July 13) scheduled meeting between PM Yingluck Shinawatra and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton goes smoothly

French credit card fraudster arrested in Pattaya A 23-year-old French national was arrested at an Siam Commercial Bank ATM in Pattaya on July 7 on suspicion of using stolen ATM cards to withdraw money.

Anthony Marc Christophe Claude was found with 97 cards in his possession and also a Google Map print out of all the locations in Pattaya from which to withdraw money.

has

arriv ed!!

migration police said the gang sourced their victims from research companies and told customers they “could make 65 per cent profit in (a) short time” by investing in gold and cash funds.

“Police seized 16 computers, printers, copy-machine and other equipment to connect to the internet and documents with victims’ information,” the statement said.

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thephuketnews.com

10 THAILAND NEWS

IN BRIEF Transexual pimp stung by police Chonbu r i I m mig ration arrested a 37-year-old transsexual pimp on Tuesday in the party area of South Pattaya.

A sexual sting was organised by police who contacted Poramate to arrange a meeting at a hotel, where marked bank notes were handed over to her in exchange for

two women aged 18. ‘Madame’ Poramate confessed to providing women to foreigners in exchange for money.

The two women were later released after paying small fines, while Madame Poramate could face between one and 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from B2,000 to B20,000.

Thailand to buy latest version of Black Hawks from US military The Royal Thai Army has signed a LOA to acquire two Black Hawk Helicopters from the United States Government’s Foreign Military Sales channel.

If the deal goes through, Thailand will be the first member of the Asean community to fly the latest ver-

sion (UH-60M) of the Black Hawk helicopters.

The helicopter has a digital glass cockpit, advanced flight control system, a state-of-the-art communications suite, full night vision device capability and other improvements that reduce pilot workload.

Philippines team trumps Thai memory athletes at championships The Philippine Memory Team picked up 10 gold medals at the 5th Thailand International Open Memory Championships at Kasetsart University in Bangkok on Saturday (July 7).

A total of 260 ‘mental’

athletes participated in the ‘memorable’ event organised by the Association of Creativity Memory and Play arm of the World Memory Sports Council. Categories included Random Words Event and Women’s Championships.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Yellow shirt leader arrested for quoting red shirt speech Agence France-Presse

A

Thai media mogul who founded the royalist Yellow Shirt protest movement appeared in court on Tuesday (July 10), accused of insulting the revered monarchy by quoting a speech by a rival Red Shirt.

Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thailand’s most controversial political figures, faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty on charges relating to excerpts of a protest speech

by Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul that he repeated in 2008.

Daranee – known as Da Torpido – was herself jailed for 15 years under lese majeste laws for the comments, which she made during political rallies four years ago.

Defence lawyer Suwat Apipak told the court on Tuesday that Sondhi had aimed to highlight Daranee’s comments in the hope that police would take legal action against her.

“He did not repeat all the words said by Da,” Suwat told the court. Sondhi is expected to testify in August.

The royal family is a highly sensitive topic in Thailand.

Leader of Thailand’s royalist Yellow Shirt movement Sondhi Limthongkul (centre) appears at a criminal court in Bangkok on July 10. Sondhi appeared in court to face charges of insulting the monarchy – a serious charge in the Kingdom – because he quoted from a speech of a hardcore Red Shirt.

Photo: AFP King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been hospitalised since September 2009.

Observers say prosecutions under lese majeste legislation, which bans criticism of the King, Queen, Heir or Regent, surged following a coup that removed fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sondhi’s Yellow Shirts have proved a powerful force in Thailand’s colour coded politics, helping to spur the 2006 coup, which spawned the rise of the pro-Thaksin Reds.

Thailand has seen a series of rival street protests in recent years by the monarchist Yellows, who are backed by the Bangkok-based elite, and the mainly poor and working-class

Red Shirts, whose 2010 rallies in the Thai capital ended in a bloody crackdown.

In February, the Criminal Court sentenced Sondhi to 20 years in prison for corporate fraud in a case dating back to the mid-1990s.

At the time, Suwat said the tycoon was appealing the verdict and had been released on bail of B10 million.

Release sought for 49 Thais held by Myanmar MCOT Online

THAI ARMY CHIEF GEN Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday (July 9) that Thai officials are seeking to secure the release of 49 Thai nationals detained for encroaching into Myanmar territory, while expressing hope that the good relationship between the two neighbours will result in their early release.

The Thai commander-inchief made his remarks after three companies of Myanmar troops last week detained the Thai nationals, who allegedly cut trees and cleared a forest area to plant para rubber trees in Myanmar territory at Koh Song, opposite Ranong’s Kra Buri district.

Gen Prayuth, who is now visiting the southern border region, said he will discuss the border problems with the Army Region 4 commander, with particular reference to Ranong province, where residents misunderstood about the regulations and conditions for working in Myanmar.

He said that the 49 detainees – 41 men and 8 women – are safe, and that the Thai

thephuketnews.com

Ranong province, with district of Kra Buri highlighted. military delegation which crossed the border to visit them provided them food and took care of them. He added that there was no clash as had been earlier reported.

“This case should be a lesson that whatever we are doing in our neighbour’s territory, we must respect their rules,” said Gen Prayuth.

The army chief explained that thousands of Thais had intruded into Myanmar for a long time. Many had gradually returned to the Kingdom, he said, but some were defrauded

by brokers who claimed they could buy plots of land at cheap prices and they could provide them with the rights to possess land.

Gen Prayuth noted, however, during the latest arrest of 49 Thais, that the Myanmar authorities also discovered military weapons on site during the operation.

As a result more talks were needed as Myanmar law carries severe penalties in such cases.

The army chief said he has asked Supreme Commander Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn to discuss the issue with his Myanmar counterpart when he visits the country.

He said he expects good results due to the current good ties between the two countries.

Gen Prayuth said that the Thai nationals are now being detained but have not been charged with any offence.

Thai officials are asking their Myanmar counterparts not to press charges as they believe a resolution will be harder to come by if the accused are sent for further legal action at the capital, Naypyidaw, which is quite a distance from Ranong.

THE PHUKET NEWS

ASIA NEWS 11

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Nepal’s ‘kamlari’ girls break the bonds of slavery to find freedom Agence France-Presse

S

hanta Chaudhary was eight years old when her parents sold her into effective slavery for US$75, sending her to scrub, cook and sweep for 19 hours a day at the house of a stranger in southwestern Nepal.

Now a strident rights campaigner, politician and one of the country’s most influential women, she weeps as she recalls 18 years spent as a “kamlari”, rising at 4am, receiving regular beatings and witnessing rape and abuse.

“I remember the torture.

I had to carry weights much heavier than me even when I was sick. And I couldn’t see my parents and I could never experience a mother’s love,” she said.

“Even my married years were spent in someone else’s house. When I think about my past my heart seems to burst. Many kamlaris were even raped and I have seen it myself.”

The kamlari system is a form of indentured servitude that persists 90 years after the official abolition of slavery on the plains of southwestern Nepal, a world away from the temples of Kathmandu and the Himalayan peaks which attract tourists from across the world.

For generations, ethnic Tharu girls as young as six have been handed over to higher caste landlords and

Former lawmaker and ‘kamlari’ girl, Shanta Chaudhary puts the first signature on a banner of commitment to eliminate child labour from Nepal.

Photo: AFP brokers, committed to years of menial labour and subjected to a wide range of cruelties.

“Child labourers can’t get to sleep at night, they can’t play, their hands are rough from work and they have no love. It’s a really scary situation for them,” Chaudhary told a recent UNICEF conference to mark World Day Against Child Labour.

A century ago the Tharu, said to be descendants of Buddha, owned their farms and lived in relative isolation, enjoying a natural resistance to malaria common to the Terai plains that the higher

castes lacked.

But when the disease was eradicated in 1960, the illiterate tribes were displaced by higher-caste hordes streaming down from the hills and became serfs in their own land.

Now, destitute families saddled by debt lease their daughters for as little as US$30 a year, the equivalent of around 10 per cent of their annual income.

The Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation says it has encountered kamlaris working for high-ranking Communist Party leaders, lawyers, journalists and even the police.

Chaudhary was brought up in Dang district, a dry, subsistence-farming region where thatch-roofed mud huts have no electricity and feeding the family is a daily struggle.

Her parents, who had nine children, were landless and couldn’t find work, and so agreed to take 6,600 rupees (US$75) a year from a highcaste landlord for Chaudhary.

She was set to work, beginning household chores at 4am and often finishing as late as 11pm, surviving on a diet of wild corn collected from a nearby forest and frequently beaten.

“I had to work so much my hands were never dry. My entire childhood, my adolescence, even my motherhood, were all spent as a kamlari,” she said.

But Chaudhary, now a composed 32-year-old with a winning smile that masks the torment of her childhood years, was able to break out of her servitude and is helping other trapped girls.

She was freed by a 2006 Supreme Court ruling outlawing the kamlari system, and led a land rights movement that reached Kathmandu, bringing her to the notice of the Unified Marxist Leninist party.

In Nepal’s 2008 general election, Chaudhary was given one of the party’s parliamentary seats allocated under a proportional representation system.

Initially derided by colleagues for being illiterate, Chaudhary learned to read and write and was put in charge of the influential parliamentary committee on natural resources.

“Even in the homes of government officials and people working in human rights fields there is child labour,” Chaudhary said.

“And as long as we don’t raid those homes this problem is not going to be solved.”

A decade ago, an estimated 14,000 girls were locked in the kamlari system, but thanks to activists like

Chaudhary the tide is turning and charity groups have rescued thousands.

Nevertheless, the USbased Nepal Youth Foundation says around 1,000 Tharu girls remain indentured, most in remote villages or with powerful families in the capital.

“T hese child ren face severe violations of their rights. It is children’s right to be children, to be able to grow, study, have fun, in a protective environment,” said Will Parks, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Nepal.

The International Labor Organisation is working with the Nepal government to implement a “master plan” to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2016.

Gauri Pradhan, of the National Human Rights Commission, believes the impoverished country has made some progress but is still a long way from eliminating the problem.

“The numbers of working children under the age of 14 in the country has reduced dramatically but at the same time the number of children aged 15 to 17 working in the worst forms of child labour has gone up,” he said.

“The challenge is to provide educational opportunities to the working children deprived from going to school, and help build up a more skilled and literate young labour force for the future.”

Mystery woman spotted with N. Korea leader Kim Jong-Un Agence France-Presse

A M YST ERY WOM A N pict u red a ccompa ny i ng North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-Un to recent events has prompted speculation in Seoul about whether she is his partner or his younger sister.

The North’s state television Sunday aired footage of the woman joining Jong-Un as he paid tribute to his late grandfather Kim Il-Sung on the anniversary of his death in 1994.

Top officials including ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam and army chief Ri Yong-Ho accompanied the leader to Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace, where the embalmed body of the nation’s first president lies in state.

The TV footage showed the woman, apparently in her twenties or thirties, walking next to the leader. She bowed

with him before a portrait of Kim Il-Sung.

Some South Korea media reports suggested she was Kim’s younger sister YoJong, who is believed to have studied in Switzerland along with him in the 1990s. Others suggested she may be Kim’s wife or lover. The speculation highlighted the degree of secrecy in the North about the private lives of its rulers.

Jong-Un took power after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il last December but the outside world does not even know his exact age.

thephuketnews.com

12 WORLD NEWS

IN BRIEF TetraPak heir questioned after wife found dead One of the world’s richest men was being questioned

by British police about the mysterious death of his wife.

Hours after Hans Kristian Rausing was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, his wife Eva’s body was found in a bedroom at their London home.

The 49 year-old father of four, an heir to the US$8.7 billion Tetra Pak drinks carton fortune, was being questioned in connection with what Scotland Yard called an “unexplained death”.

Concordia captain ‘sorry’ for sinking The captain of Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground killing more than 30 people in January, has said he is sorry for the disaster.

In an interview on Italian TV, Francesco Schettino said he thought constantly about the victims.

But he insisted others should also share the blame, saying the ship had been under the command of another officer at the time.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Familiar whispers surround Russia’s disastrous floods Agence France-Presse

he flash Russian flood that killed at least 171 in their sleep has sparked a slew of rumours that the authorities were playing down its scale in a new sign of a breakdown of trust with the public.

Russians have become grimly accustomed to their summers being shadowed by disasters under the rule of Vladimir Putin – including the horrific summer 2010 forest fires and or Kursk nuclear submarine sinking of August 2000.

The catastrophic flooding came just days ahead of the first anniversary of the sinking of the Russian cruise ship Bulgaria on the Volga River that claimed 122 lives.

All these disasters were characterised by an extreme initial unwillingness by officials to part with information in the initial stages of the crisis.

This usually sparked seemingly inevitable rumours of an even greater crisis.

“The problem is that the authorities have never properly

T

A man works among the debris after the floods in southern Russian on July 10.

Photo: AFP informed the public about catastrophes and always issue information in small doses,” Russia Journal editor Alexander Morozov said in reference to a Soviet-era practice to keep the public safe from bad news.

The tradition goes back to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of April 1986. It then took the Soviet Union three days to publish a report on its official news agency TASS that any accident had even taken place.

Wild rumours have accompanied torrential down-

pours in southern Krymsk of a much higher death toll and even a decision to flood the village to spare a much bigger population centre further down the dangerously swollen Neberdzhai River.

None of the deadly tragedies in Putin’s 12 years as both president and prime minister saw him stumble as badly as when the heavily-armed Kursk submarine went down in 2000 with 118 seamen on board.

Putin stayed on vacation while the tragedy unfolded and

refused early offers of foreign help. Putin has since been at pains to respond more fittingly to the many emergencies and disasters that followed.

But mistrust still crept into state claims of being caught unawares by a Siberian dam collapse that killed 75 in August 2009. Some local media said officials knew the hydroelectric plant was in trouble for a least a decade.

And the floods in the little village of Krymsk and surrounding locales this weekend sparked immediate rumours of the authorities forcefully pumping water out of a reservoir to keep the strategic port city of Novorossiysk safe.

That concern was eventually channelled into general discontent about a lack of early warnings for the mostly elderly population that suffered and reliance on technology the authorities should have known would not work in a storm.

Officials sent out warnings on television after the region had lost electricity. Many of their mobile phone messages also could not be delivered either properly or in full – a

fact that left some officials red-faced Monday.

“Some initial information suggest that our warning system did not work at the required level,” Investigative Committee deputy Yelena Leonenko said.

Amid the recriminations, the head of the Krymsk district and local mayor were sacked by the regional governor on Monday.

Even media with longstanding Kremlin connections have been unusually scathing.

“The tragedy of Krymsk was a perfect demonstration of what slovenliness and hoping against hope brings about,” the Izvestia daily said.

Some analysts said this may come as a warning to Putin – already bruised by protests that greeted his plans to return to the Kremlin this winter.

“T he author ities had enough money to build themselves mansions but not the resources to lead water away flooding Krymsk,” said sociologist and opposition movement supporter Dmitry Oreshkin.

“Now, even when Putin says the truth, people doubt him.”

THE PHUKET NEWS

LETTERS/VIEWPOINT 13

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

OPINION

Editor’s Viewpoint

Norachai’s World

Will AEC be the new EU?

Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan’s recent comments extolling the virtues of the positives of an Asean community might assume a more sinister aspect when one considers his background as a fellow of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, his post at the American University in Washington, and his connection to the US Congress.

Some argue that the unrestricted free trade agreements (viz. NAFTA) and de-regulated investment are destroying the middle class in EU and North America, manufacturing, education and social security.

This begs the question as to whether the same will happen to Asean countries.

Unemployment throughout the so-called developed world hovers officially at 10 per cent, Southeast Asian nations, with their high tariffs, have pursued until recently a course opposite to those in the EU and NAFTA. The result has been remarkable growth and improved living conditions for

What happens if the AEC fails to fly in 2015?

Letters to the editor Animals need our respect [Re. Trade of shame] Humans have domesticated cats and dogs, therefore it is our responsibility to give them the care and protection they need.

Education regarding desexing animals is needed.

I realise this is a huge expense to the Thai people but perhaps a number of free/cheap desexing programs put in place for at least Thai pets? Legalisation might be the lesser of two evils but it is perpetuating an extremely cruel practice based on superstition: “they believe it gives them vitality and increases their masculinity”.

“Dogs being beaten to tenderise meat”? Come on, cows, pigs, sheep and chickens are given a more merciful death than this.

It’s not just a matter of offending Western sensibilities, it’s a matter of animal cruelty and uneducation.

Jaxzon5

‘Bang Tao is a dog friendly’ beach

[Re. Trade of shame] (Response to reader’s comment) Anna, you may not be aware of this, but Bang Tao Beach is also a dog-friendly beach. People from all over the island bring their dogs there every day.

None of the dogs on the beach are aggressive, including visiting dogs.

I suggest you take your children to a beach without dogs if you are so concerned. Dogs are endemic to this country and the lack of responsibility shown by expats having unsterilised dogs (very often abandoning them when they leave) and with other owners not properly looking after their pets, strays are a fact of life.

I’m guessing your request to “do something about it” is probably a reference to cruel, slow painful poisonings of innocent animals.

The dogs at Bang Tao have all been sterilised, so they will not be reproducing. Please try to look at the whole picture and do something constructive like support Soi Dog

who pick these dogs up and sterilise them to try to resolve the problem of an overpopulation of dogs.

The dogs have no power to resolve this issue, only people do.

Tina

A little more good news, please

I am a retired Australian who has been visiting Phuket for in excess of 23 years and now living permanently.

I welcomed the advent of your publication as most of us are hungry for English written news, but may I please make the following hopefully constructive comments.

Cut out the sensationalising of the front page, it is corny and generally bad news which is not good for the image of this beautiful place.

The stuff-up with the dengue fever is unforgivable, particularly when we were not even given the courtesy of an explanation.

I’m sure you will succeed but a little more good news please.

Don Copley

Permits are an ‘oversight’ [Re: Graft blamed for loss of half Phuket’s forests] Another thing that is often “overlooked” is the building permit. Sure, many apply for them, but with no documentation behind it. Even if they do, very little government inspection along the way to confirm that drawings are the same as the “as built” structure. Any problems and a fee will solve it.

GiantFan

Putting a damper on local tourism [Re. Heavy rains bring floods again] Knowing that this happens every year, what precautions are the authorities taking to protect the interests of tourists? Having planned a holiday in Phuket in August 2012, one now begins to doubt that this is a good place to come.

Faraz Hasan

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

people who have also found that ladders of upward mobility have room for them, too.

Now there’s a real possibility that this could change under the stewardship of Surin, who some believe carries the hod for his mentors in Washington. Investment will naturally chase opportunity for highest profits, meaning those nations that depress wages, depress employment, minimise the public sector and eschew social and environmental safeguards will receive the odd bone.

The great question is, why change a system that enabled peoples whose economic and social conditions barely changed over a period of 800 years to become ‘tigers’ within three decades?

But if unrestricted free trade and de-regulation can result in the repeated panics and de-industrialisation of Europe and America, with their vast and time-tested manufacturing bases and legal systems, just imagine what can happen here.

This week in history ■■ July 13, 1923 – The Hollywood sign is officially installed in the hills above Los Angeles. It originally reads ‘Hollywoodland’ but the four last letters are dropped after renovation in 1949.

■■ July 14, 1969 – The United States $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills are officially withdrawn from circulation.

■■ July 15, 1985 – The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the best-selling game console of its time, is released in Japan.

■■ July 16, 1935 – The world’s first parking metre is installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

■■ July 17, 1918 – The RMS Carpathia, the ship that rescued the 705 survivors from the RMS Titanic, is sunk off Ireland by the German SM U-55.

■■ July 18, 1955 – The first Disneyland theme park, in Anaheim, California, officially opens to the public.

■■ July 19, 1900 – The first line of the Paris Métro opens for operation.

thephuketnews.com

14 BUSINESS/LAW

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Green mall for Phuket

Thai-Scandinavian consortium to build garden mall in Ao Makham > 16

Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

Permission to build?

A building permit does not guarantee legality Olaf Duensing Tax & Law Expert Duensing Kippen

ecent media reports have cited certain development projects that are not progressing and are currently stalled, purportedly due to legal issues relating to their building permits.

Although these projects have obtained a building permit for the construction of the project, they still face challenges. Why? The issue of a building permit is legally an “administrative order”. An administrative order is defined in Section 5 (1) of the Administrative Procedures Act (1996) (“APA”) as “an exercising of powers under the law by the competent officers with an effect of creating legal relations between persons in such a way as to create, change, transfer, reserve, suspend, or which renders an effect to the status of rights or duties of a person, whether it be permanent or temporary, such as, ordering, permission, approval, decision of appeal, certification, and acceptance of registration, but excluding an issuance of rules.”

The relevant law for the issue of a building permit administrative order is the

R

Confidence index is still climbing THE THAI CONSUMER confidence index continues to edge up, reaching a new high in June following the doldrums caused by the disastrous floods in October last year.

Overall consumer confidence reached 68.5, confidence about future income rose to 97.8, and belief in job prospects edged up to 68.5.

A score of 100 in the indexequals “confidence”, so apart from future income, Thailand

consumers still have a way to go before they can be adjudged happy with the way things are.

Saowanee Thairungroj, Rector of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), whose Economic and Business Forecasting Centre researches and compiles the index each month, said that the higher index was brought on by a combination of easing political tension and falling global oil prices.

THAI Smile begin flights

THAI SMILE, THE NEW light premium regional subbrand of Thai Airways International (THAI), has taken delivery of its first plane, an Airbus A320. Seating 174 passengers, the aircraft has

IAE V2527-A5 engines.

The Bangkok-based carrier started regional operations on July 7 with daily flights to Macau, before flying domestically to Krabi, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani and Phuket.

We believe that the success of a project is essentially based on a serious management

Building Control Act of 1979 (BCA). If a person wishes to build, modify or move a structure, he or she requires permission to do so.

The administrative procedure is as follows.

The applicant submits application documents to the local administrative office. The responsible officer schedules a site visit. He will also verify the application documents (e.g. construction drawings and specifications).

Then he will review if the contemplated structure is legally permissible by law.

If all the application documents are in order and the building is legally permissible at the applied-for location, the local administrative office must issue the building permit.

So how can it be that a person who has already received a building permit can be stopped from exercising his rights under the permit?

The answer is: he cannot.

As long as the building permit is in effect, the applicant has the right to construct the building as permitted. Section 42 APA states that “an administrative order shall be valid so long as it is not revoked or terminated by time condition…”

The validity of a building permit depends on the size of

liberto@construction-thailand.com

liberto@construction-thailand.com 40 years experience of more than 20 years at your service in Thailand.

Main Contractor:

Study Project Architecture Design Construction & Management

Office 3.L.H & I.C.P. Manufactory 3.L.H & I.C.P.

thephuketnews.com

the building to be constructed.

Licenses of one year are issued for buildings of less than 10,000 square metres, two years for buildings over 10,000 sqm, and three years for buildings over 100,000 sqm.

The licenses are renewable up to four times. The first renewal will be for same period as the initial term. However, the second, third and fourth renewal periods will be for one year each.

The applicant must report progress and invite the official to inspect the progress of the construction every 90 days.

Can a building permit be revoked? Yes, it can.

Any administrative order can be revoked through an appeal or by action of the relevant government body itself.

The revocation can be initiated through an appeal by “a party”. Note that such a “party” might be any third party affected by the order.

This might be the immediate neighbour of a development project that received a building permit. If the officer agrees that there is a problem of facts, a point of law or suitability, he may revoke or amend the order.

Furthermore, Section 49 APA states: “The competent officer or the supervisor of the competent officer may revoke an administrative order … whether or not it has passed the steps of appeal or protest under this law or other laws.”

The conditions for revoking an administrative order without appeal are strict. The relevant regulations, treatment and outcome of a revocation depend on whether or not the original order was lawful.

In simple terms, the revocation of a lawful administrative order is subject to compensation for damages arising out of the revocation. The revocation of an unlawful administrative

order is subject to compensation only if the recipient of the administrative order was not aware of its unlawfulness.

Section 51 APA explicitly states that there will be no compensation if: “The said person has produced false statements or has concealed facts which should have been reported, or has made a threat or a persuasion by offering property or providing any other benefits illegitimately; or “The said person has produced statements which are incorrect or incomplete …; or “The said person has known of the unlawfulness of the administrative order at the time of receiving administrative order, or his/her not knowing of such is due to his/her serious negligence.”

Thus, an illegal building permit obtained through corruption, for example, can be revoked without compensation.

So a building permit is no guarantee that the applicant will be able to finish the project.

A building permit can “expire”, be revoked after an appeal or be revoked by the administration itself. To mitigate the harsh consequences of revocation it is strongly advised to perform a strict and comprehensive due diligence .

Duensing Kippen is a multiservice boutique law firm specialising in property and corporate/commercial matters, as well as arbitration proceedings arising therefrom.

Duensing Kippen is also the only such firm in Thailand that compliments its property and corporate/commercial legal expertise with a core tax law practice. Duensing Kippen can be reached at: contact@duensingkippen. com. For more information visit duensingkippen.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUSINESS/PROPERTY 15

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Back from the brink?

TAT gets ready for Troubled Istana ‘will start up again next month’ Europe crunch

Alasdair Forbes execeditor@thephuketnews.com

O

ne of Thailand’s ritziest property developments, Istana, which appeared to be going the same way as the now abandoned Puravana or Barama Bay, is being pulled back from the brink, its new managing director, Michael Brereton, says.

When Istana was launched on a 61-rai hillside site between Nai Thon Beach and the Andaman White Sands Beach resort, on the northwest coast of the island, the developers were offering 19 luxury homes ranging in price from US$4.25 million up to almost US$9 million (B128-270 million).

It was launched off-plan and almost immediately nine buyers leaped in.

The developer is Prism Estates, the vehicle for the two main investors, Guy Greville, the ninth Earl of Warwick and ninth Earl Brooke, and Australian “lawyer to the stars” Michael Brereton.

The site for Istana was bought in 2008 and the project was managed by Briton Richard “Dickie” Shearer.

In an interview published 18 months ago in Property Report Asia, the earl and Shearer explained the rationale behind the decision to build Istana (Malay for “Royal Palace”).

“We felt there was a lot of money being spent on houses here already but we didn’t always see the value.

“So we set about creating

Architect Gary Fell’s designs for Istana are much admired. But will it get built? something of value. Something that would not only appreciate as an investment, but would further the frontier of luxury on this already luxurious island.”

The target markets were Singapore and Hong Kong, they said.

People were very impressed with the plans for the development and with architect Gary Fell’s designs.

Istana received full-page coverage in Hong Kong’s biggest English language paper, the South China Morning Post, and was written up in glowing terms in local papers in Phuket and magazines such as International Homes and the Robb Report (“The Global Luxury Source”).

In May last year Istana won Best Development (Multiple Units) Asia Pacific and Best Architecture Multiple Residence Asia Pacific, as well as three Thailand awards, in

Inflation easing THAILAND’S CONSUMER Price Index (CPI) in June rose 2.56 per cent year-on-year, reflecting the country’s stable economy, according to the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Yanyong Puangrach.

The latest figures back an assertion from Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul that inflation in the second half of this year is likely to drop thanks to the

global economic slowdown, as well as falling energy prices.

The BoT therefore reduced its forecast for inflation to 3.3 per cent from 3.5 per cent.

The governor said the next meeting of the monetary policy committee on July 25 will discuss the euro zone debt crisis and the US economy as key factors influencing the bank’s decision on its interest rate policy.

the Bloomberg TV/Google International Property Awards.

Prism’s sales director, Richie Cohen, was pictured holding the awards, grinning broadly at the award ceremony held in Shanghai.

The following month Prism announced that a six-bedroom villa had been “sold” for US$6 million (B180 million). But that was then.

Around the beginning of this year Mr Cohen left the company, taking his grin with him. So did Duane Lennie, marketing consultant, who told The Phuket News he is owed B500,000.

Investors, too, were none too happy about the value of their investments in Istana, especially after the main contractor, Hat Yai Nanthakorn, stopped work.

A spokesperson for Hat Yai Nanthakorn, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed

to The Phuket News that it is owed money, but declined to say how much.

Two of the buyers are suing for the return of their money.

Their lawyer, Gordon Oldham of Hong Kong law company Oldham, Li & Nie, confirmed that he had sent out a letter to interested parties, alleging that Prism/Shearer had issued cheques to his clients totalling US$3 million (B90 million), which had bounced – a crime in Thailand.

The Prism Estates office disappeared from Plaza del Mar in Cherng Talay, and the telephone number on the Istana website (istanaphuket.com) is “not assigned”.

The last construction update on the Istana website is dated January 2011. Tweets on Istana’s Twitter account are rather more recent, and appear to blame Prism’s woes on The Islamic Bank of Thailand.

Mr Shearer’s business card gives both his office number in Hong Kong and his Hong Kong mobile number. Both are currently “unassigned”, though he is understood to be still in Hong Kong.

Rumours have been flying in property circles, and on July 4 Istana’s woes went public when journalist Andrew Drummond aired them in his blog, painting a grim picture of serious mismanagement.

But, Mr Brereton told The Phuket News on Monday, as of April 29, he is in charge and Dickie Shearer is history. “I became a director on April 29 and [Shearer] very judiciously did not stand for re-election.”

The Phuket News understands that a major hurdle – nonpayment of interest on a credit line from the Islamic Bank of Thailand – has been rectified.

Mr Brereton confirmed on Monday that the relationship with the bank has been repaired. “We’re not relying on the [Islamic] bank in the same way,” he added, declining to go into further detail.

“We’re turning the project around very rapidly,” he said.

The true test of how successful the turnaround has been will be the sight of the main contractor back on site. Mr Brereton says it will be very soon.

“I can’t tell you at the moment which contractor we will be using – we’re in final negotiations this week – but construction will restart before August 1.”

NNT

THE TOURISM AUTHORITY of Thailand (TAT) has instructed all its offices in Europe to monitor the Euro-debt crisis, and has announced that it will devise a new strategy to protect Thai tourism from the declining numbers of European tourists.

Jutaporn Roengronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and America, said the offices in Europe have been told to report weekly on the economic conditions in their countries in order to prepare the Thai tourism industry for any effects from the ongoing economic crisis.

So far, despite fears that Europen markets will collapse, the figures have been going the other way, with visitors from Europe increasing by 7-8 per cent in the first five months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

According to Mrs Jutaporn, the TAT has also reported that many foreign tourists opted to visit Thailand instead of the United States or Africa, which is a good opportunity for the Thai tourism to thrive.

She added that the TAT is now focusing on increasing niche markets and attracting high-end tourists such as those interested in golf, wellness, spas and romantic getaways.

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16 BUSINESS/TOURISM

THE PHUKET NEWS

Survey aims to push for five-day week in island’s top hotels BEFORE JW MARRIOTT Resort & Spa opened in Phuket in 2002, management announced a five-day work week for staff.

The new resort very swiftly attracted the cream of the island’s hotel workers, and dismay and anger among hotel owners and managers, who were used to having their staff work a six-day week.

In the past 10 years things have changed hugely, a recently released survey has found.

Now, 50 per cent of the island’s top 100 hotels have a five-day work week, and another 23 per cent have arrangements that amount to a 5.5-day week.

The survey, conducted over the course of a year by 10 employees of luxury hotels, some which are among the 27 per cent still on a six-day week, has a very specific agenda: to have 100 per cent of top hotels in Phuket work a five-day week One of those involved commented, “Those at [six-day] resorts were deeply concerned about the direction of their business and people, and [therefore felt] compelled to delve into this important issue by collecting data.”

The staffer, who for obvi-

ous reasons asked not to be named, says that the survey team are convinced that hotels benefit from allowing employees enough time off “to recover from work, reflect upon work, and enjoy a certain quality of life”.

The surveyors argue that there is a large relational gap between overworked servers and the guests at six-day hotels. Service can become grudging or lacklustre and good employees leave.

The survey is a work in progress, say the researchers, but they felt their findings should be aired at this point to raise interest in the topic.

It lists the following hotels and hotel groups as having five-day work weeks: Absolute Group; InterContinental (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn); Laguna Resorts & Hotels; Marriott; Movenpick; Thanyapura Group; Six Senses; Starwood, Aleenta, Amanpuri, Anantara Villas, Andara, Best Western Karon, Cape Sienna, Dewa, Hilton, Mai Khao Dream, Mil­lennium, Paresa, Patong Re­sort, Pavilions, Radisson Blu, Sala, Sea Sun Sand, Trisara, Kata Rocks and the new Pullman Arcadia.

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Marc Landgraf

Landgraf for Phi Phi resort

Open space is a feature of the Jatujak Green concept. This is the mall in Bangkok.

Thai-Scand JV to build mall at Ao Makham Thai-Scandinavian consor t iu m is to build a B220-million-baht community mall in Phuket by the end of the year.

This will be the second 51-49-per-cent joint venture between Thai company High Traffic Media Co and the Scandinavian offshore fund,

A

the first being the 21-rai Jatujak Green next to Chatujak Market in Bangkok, due to open at the end of this month.

Some B120 million will be spent on buying eight rai near Ao Makham, with a further B100 million to be spent on construction.

“We will begin development by the end of this year

and complete it before the Asean Economic Community comes into being in 2015,” said project managing director Sakda Oudarasak.

Like the Bangkok development, the Ao Makham mall will be low-density, low-rise, with large amounts of green space, fitness areas and bicycle tracks.

SMART Expo for RPM ONE OF ASIA’S MORE successful property exhibition brands will be holding its first event in Thailand later this year, in Phuket.

Since 2004, more than 20 SMART International Property and Investment exhibitions have been held in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

The Royal Phuket Marina will play host to the first

Thailand event, the SMART Property and Lifestyle Expo, from December 27-30, 2012.

Hoi Cheung, director of event organisers 3C Ltd, said, “We are delighted to be hosting the four-day event, which will draw international high net worth individuals.

More than 1,500 exhibitors and 100,000 property buyers and investors have attended SMART events since 2004.

OU T R IG GER HOT ELS and Resorts Asia Pacific has appointed Frenchman Marc Landgraf to oversee the management of the Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and Spa. The property, which becomes the Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort and Spa on November 3, is being upgraded.

Before joining Outrigger, Mr Landgraf was General Manager of the Cape Panwa Hotel & Spa in Phuket.

Ailin Wong

Wong DOSM at Movenpick MÖVENPICK RESORT & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has appointed Ailin Wong as the new Director of Sales and Marketing, overseeing all revenue streams.

Born and educated in Malaysia, Ms Wong has a strong hotel sales background, having worked at Starwood, IHG and Marriott International properties during her 18-year hospitality career

TCEB extends deal with Seoul THE THAILAND CONvention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) have announced a plan to expand their MICE cooperation framework to cover education.

An MoU was signed last week by the TCEB, the STO,

and two Seoul universities, with four aims: exchange of information; shared academic research activities; cooperation in MICE curriculum development; and joint organisation of symposia, conferences, short courses and meetings on research issues.

Marc Ruffet

Ruffet heads Khiri office K H I R I T R AV EL LAST month opened an office in Phuket, headed by Marc Ruffet, 28, from Switzerland.

Khiri Travel Thailand General Manager, Andre van der Marck, said the Phuket office will be Khiri’s customer service centre for all of southern Thailand.

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

ARTS 17

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

LIFE&STYLE

Bangla 2

Claire Connell explores Cox’s Bazar in eastern Bangladesh > 28

Jody Houton & Claire Connell editor@thephuketnews.com

Perfect pianists play at Re Ká Ta

PHUKET GALLERIES Designed by Woulfe Studio

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

Drawing Room

56 Phang Nga Road, Talad Yai, Muang, Phuket Town, 086 899 4888

I Mon Art Gallery

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

Nakonnai Art Museum

Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com

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

G

uests at the Re Ká Ta beachfront restaurant were treated to a exquisite evening of musical entertainment on Friday (July 6), courtesy of seven of the nation’s most talented young pianists.

All of the teenage pianists were Bangkok natives, including their respected piano teacher and highly sought-after accompanist, Dr Nopanand Chanorathaikul.

The proud instructor told The Phuket News that many of the students, depite their young age, were already beginning to exhibit a very advanced musical maturity that will hold them in good stead, when – not if – they eventually go to study music abroad.

The students played a variety of scores and compositions and “piano literature from many different periods and styles”, Dr Nopanand explained, “so that the audience can enjoy a wide variety

P. Fire Studio

Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai, 085 591 1587, virat-uttakut@hotmail.co.th. Open daily.

Red Gallery

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

Sarasil Art Galllery

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

Open daily 8pm-9pm.

All of the pianists were Bangkokians, including their highly sought-after accompanist, Dr Nopanand Chanorathaikul. of music”.

Marie-Laure Fleury, General Manager of the Boathouse hotel, of which Re Ká Ta is a part, said that the setting combined with the music proved perfect.

“The final piece was called Feux d’Artifices, or Fireworks, from Debussy, which against the backdrop of Kata beach and the number of fireworks that were incidentally going off on the beach, was quite appropriate.”

The evening started with sparkling wines and canapés at the Re Ká Ta lounge bar,

GERRY’S

editor@thephuketnews.com

with various intermissions throughout the evening so the audience could get refereshments and enjoy the wine and food on offer.

The evening of entertainment was just the latest in a series of soirées and events held at Re Ká Ta, a restaurant that is quickly becoming synonymous with fine dining and great artistic events. Mrs Fleury said that it is merely continuing with tradition.

“Boathouse and Re Ká Ta are committed to supporting the arts in all their forms in Phuket, and this has been a

tradition here (at Boathouse) for over 20 years. Boathouse and Re Ká Ta embrace quality food and beverage as well as art, and thus we have wonderful options and event locations to suit many events or exhibitions.”

Boathouse has traditionally been one of the foremost venues on the island for classical music performances and other artistic events.

“We used Re Ká Ta on this occasion to celebrate and encourage guests to experience this great venue and amazing pool-and-beach experience.”

Tawan Ook Art Gallery

Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai, 081 956 5872. Open daily.

The Love Art Studio

Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai, 089 471 5653, pui.t.l.a.s.@hotmail.com; theloveartstudio.com. Open daily.

Veerachan Usahanun

110/34 Cherng Talay, Bang Tao Beach Rd, 081 490 4359, usahanun@live.com; veerachanusahanun.com.Open daily.

Vichen Gallery Bzenter

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

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

VR Gallery & Coffee Shop

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

Watcharin Art Studio

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

Wua Gallery and Studio

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

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THIS WEEK’S HINT: “Don’t let the almost empty parking area around this distinctive building fool you into believing it is not a busy office, as most week days it is a buzzing hive of activity as farang make their imposed quarterly trek to meet friendly Thai officials.

“Once inside this building there appears to no planned sequence of who to see or who goes next, but fortunately Thai officialdom saw fit in their wisdom to hire a couple of farang to assist and direct those who are obviously new to the quarterly ritual.”

–Gerry Cummings

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Congratulations go to Issareeya Bhattaramark, who correctly guessed that last week’s picture was of the lookout on the Thepkasattri Bridge over the Pak Pra Channel separating Phuket island from the mainland.

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A true toy story 18 PEOPLE

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Jody Houton interviews Ferenc Fekete, the man responsible for keeping billions of children happy while eating fast food, and endless cries of ‘by the power of Grayskull!’

10 Questions 1. Where are you from?

I was born in Budapest, Hungary, and grew up by the river Danube, or ‘Duna’ as we Magyars (Hungarians) named the great river.

I left my old home right after completing my education. During the next 20 years I lived and worked in the US, and then spent 20 years in the far east, mostly in Hong Kong.

2. Why did you then move to Phuket?

I love the simple life here. I have a grown son and three more youngsters. My life now completely revolves around them.

3. I believe you used to have a rather interesting job...

In the 1960s the most dynamic toy company in the world

was Mattel. I was hired by them in 1969, to do design and engineering work, and then became vice president of all boys toys design and development.

After much innovation and exciting products, I moved to Hong Kong to head a company inventing, designing and manufacturing promotional toys, gifts and novelties.

My primary client was McDonald’s, but we also did some really nice promotions for Nestle, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Ferrari and others.

Some of the successful products for McDonald’s were [helping to sell] an incredible number of Happy Meals, as many as 40 million each month in North America alone.

I also worked on the Mattel Flying Aces Attack Carrier, which was an aircraft carrier capable of launching two Corsair aircraft. This was one of my favourites.

painted surfaces.

However, there are no regulations on what type of toys can be made, whatever a marketer can sell, there will be some factory who will make it.

Exceptions are the US regulations on gun-like toys, following several police shootings of children who were in fact holding toy guns.

However the rest of the world, doesn’t care about this and there are all kinds of real looking gun toys on the market. My humble opinion is that there should not be any toys sold that directly promote violence.

I think nowadays toys are not as imaginative due to the fact that most everything is copied from licensed properties, movies and cartoons.

The Masters of the Universe for example was created from ground zero and then when its popularity started to decline, they made a movie.

Whereas with He Man’s replacements: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X Men and the others, it was the other way round.

Above: Barbie and Hot Wheels. Two of the best ever toys? Ferenc thinks so.

Then, in the mid-80’s, Castle Grayskull of the Masters of the Universe, and the collection of Smurfs were all designs that I contributed to.

Although still working on the odd ‘ideation’, Ferenc spends the majority of his ‘play time’ reading and with family.

4. Do you still design toys?

Yes, I am still working, consulting for a large Chinese company, mostly on ideations (generation of ideas).

5. What is the essence of a good toy?

A good toy must create excitement. A smart toy is inspirational and challenging.

It can be funny or magic, or tricky to handle (therefore its use promotes skill and dexterity). It must be able to occupy a child’s imagination.

6. In your opinion, what has been the greatest toy ever invented?

I think one, if not the best, toy ever invented was Barbie for girls and Hot Wheels for boys, but I am biased as I spent many of my working years on both brands.

Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie, was a very special lady to work for, and so was her husband, Elliot.

7. If you were to design a toy for the Phuket market, what would it be?

Phuket is a small market. To

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make a toy or novelty idea marketable here, first I would set strict criteria.

The product should be competitively priced and manufactured in Thailand, with minimal imported components. While the design should be aimed at the local kids, it should be attractive and interesting so foreign visitors would be tempted to buy as well.

I would consider toy concepts with multiple uses, to get more for the locals’ hardearned money.

Here is an example: To promote the kids to brush their teeth, a combination of toothbrush/cup which plays 2 minutes of popular music when it is being used.

The decoration of the cup would be thermochromic or LED to serve as a night light.

8. Do you believe toys should ever be regulated?

Nowadays, toymakers are much more regulated in terms of toy safety, especially all those products shipped f rom China with excessive heavy elements on the

9. Do you think technology has affected toy design?

As long as there are children, there will be toys.

Digital electronics changed the whole landscape, the video games market becoming ever more popular for kids aged 7 and above. Smart designers take on advanced technology and are able to design toys like indoor flying helicopters, which were impossible or very costly before.

10. But with kids owning iPads and iPhones, are toys still important?

After all these years, I still never tire of watching the excitement glow in the eye of little kids when they first get a new toy.

I must say that toys are an important part in the development of a child. What would Christmas be without toys?

When their parents are busy (as they always are) good toys keep boys and girls happy. Innovative toys inspire kids and motivate them to learn more. How about all those little girls that sleep with their dolls or soft toys? They can not even sleep without them.

So yes, good toys are very important!

THE PHUKET NEWS

EDUCATION 19

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Children from the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation enjoy a swimming lesson.

Showing children the way to water T he introduction of a free swimming programme for children at the Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation came about three years ago, when students at Baan Kamala school said their idea of a perfect holiday was to go swimming at the beach, despite none of them actually knowing how to swim.

The foundation – which offers English lessons to attending students in an after school programme – began offering swimming lessons to the students.

“Children all over the world love to go to the beach and run straight into the water, but the waters around Phuket can be extremely dangerous,” said Tina Hall, Director of Operations at the Foundation.

“Our aim is to ensure that all residential students at Kamala school can swim, so that a trip to the beach is a safe, happy experience.”

Every Saturday, Khun Oat, a swimming coach from Phuket International Academy, gives students swimming lessons. Students can also get

extra supervised practice at the beach throughout the week.

During the low and rainy season, when the sea is too dangerous for swimming, The Palms and Kamala Dreams Hotels have donated the use of their premises for students to enjoy swimming.

“We are very fortunate to have so many supporters that allow us to use their facilities free of charge, in addition to all the volunteers it takes to make this happen logistically,” said Mrs Hall.

For more information, visit phukethasbeengoodtous.org

LEARNING ON THE JOB Three students from HeadStart recently took part in a threeweek work experience placement at the Panwa Beach Resort to learn more about the hospitality industry. From left to right: Marc Goodman (Head of Secondary), Carol, Sava, Claude Sauter (Panwa Beach Resort GM) and Jazon Edouard (School Director).

HATS OFF! Rawai-based kindergarten school, the Phuket International School, held its very first graduation ceremony last week for the academic year of 2011/2012.

thephuketnews.com

20 HEALTH

IN BRIEF Deadly disease crosses to Cambodia Thailand’s Disease Control Department has confirmed that the current HFMD virus detected in over 50 children in Cambodia is of the same strain previously found in Thailand.

The virus, also known as EV-71, can result in paralysis, brain swelling and even death and has affected over 10,000 children in Thailand from January to the end of last month.

Global Fund woos Thai investors On Wednesday and Thursday (July 11-12), The Global Fund held a seminar in Bangkok to increase investment from the private sector in the fight against Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.

The Global Fund works closely with the Ministry of Public Health, the Thailand Business Coalition on HIV & Aids, and various NGOs. To date, The Global Fund has provided 3.3 million people worldwide with access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and distributed 230 million mosquito nets in the fight against malaria.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Fitness trainer goes straight for the heart Jody Houton editor3@thephuketnews.com

uperstar fitness trainer, Nathapong ‘K-Ro’ Champachon visited Phuket last Saturday (July 7) to preside over the official opening of Elite Fitness – and also teach the straight community in Phuket that just because you dance it doesn’t necessarily make you gay.

K-Ro is a huge name in the Thai fitness industry, and provides classes and instruction for instructors at True Fitness, California Fitness and Fitness First.

He leads classes in Body Combat, Body Jam, Hip Hop Dance, Aerobic Dance and Zumba, but his life could have been much different had he decided to pursue his original passion in football.

“I was a footballer around 7-8 years ago and there was a possibility I could have gone professional,” says K-Ro with a wistful look. “I had to make a choice between continuing to play or study sports science.”

S

Clockwise from left: K-Ro busts a move; leads a class with ‘Breeze’; and performs the lean back.

K-Ro chose the latter and now runs hugely successful training courses up and down the country, with literally thousands of people dancing to the beat of his drum.

But for K-Ro, it is much more than just dance and a bit of fun for women, homosexuals and ladyboys, which he

admits are his largest market.

He wants to further promote the benefits of attending such classes, especially to an as-yet untapped market, “It’s great for everyone. Straight guys are shy. I want to change that. Most people think instructors are by default gay, but obviously I am not.”

“Bei ng st rong is not enough, you need flexibility too. These classes are great for that. It also helps to prevent injuries.” Most people have 2-3 classes per week, but one Japanese woman in Bangkok has up to 10 classes with K-Ro per day, an explanation he gives is that they have so much

fun, that the time just flies by.

As well as attending the Grand Opening of Elite Fitness on the Bypass Road, K-Ro was also on the island to train Elite Fitness’ instructors, and impart his knowledge of what makes a good teacher.

“Good instructors are those that concentrate on teaching, are punctual and can make it fun. However with classes like Body Pump, a good trainer also needs to be quite strict and be able to motivate.”

So what did uber-fit K-Ro think of us simple island folk?

“The people of Bangkok and Phuket are quite different. Bangkokians are more health-conscious than Phuket people. They eat a lot better and have better diets.”

He added that culturally, Phuketians were also up against it, “A major problem with Thai people is that they are lazy, they want to be slim but are very lazy. They want to be slim but are not prepared to put in the effort.”

Perhaps we all need a little K-Ro in our life.

Getting to the core issue Kim White editor@thephuketnews.com

1

2

3 thephuketnews.com

CORE STRENGTH CAN be a bit of a prickly issue for some, and is often met with a swift ashamed suck in of the stomach or a hearty punch of pride to the six pack.

Pr ick ly issue or not, core strength should not be avoided.

This month I want to talk to you about the Boat Pose ( Navasana), an amazing posture that builds strong abdominal muscles that also help support your lower back.

The process of coordinating the work of your limbs and your torso while strengthening your spine will also teach you about your breath, your attention span, your emotions, and your very nature.

Last but not least, we live in a beach culture where beach ball bellies don’t really fly well in swimming attire.

Lets look at how Navasana can benefit you: • Strengthens the abdomen, core, hip flexors, lower back

and pelvic floor all at the same time • Stimulates the kidneys, thyroid, prostate glands and intestines • Helps relieve stress • Improves digestion • Develops flexibility in the hamstrings and shoulders.

More often than not the discomfort that people feel in their lower back is due to stomach muscles. All you need is some easy sailing in the ‘boat’ to ease those back issues.

Here are some steps to get you started.

1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your toes just resting on the floor.

Press your hands on the floor a little behind your hips, fingers pointing toward the feet. Lift through the head and torso and lean back slightly onto your hands.

Exhale and lift both feet off the f loor, keep your knees bent with shins parallel to the floor and breath smoothly. Lengthen your tailbone into the floor and elongate your pelvis towards your navel. As you can see

from photo one, this position is a good place to begin for those that find this posture a little difficult.

2. As you can see in photo two the next option is to keep a bend in the knees and stretch your arms alongside the legs, parallel to each other and the floor. Spread the shoulder blades across your back and reach strongly out through the fingers, you can also lightly hold the back of the knees to ease into the posture.

3. If you are quite comfortable with option one and two, move onto option three as seen in photo 3 and on exhalation lift your feet off the floor, so that the thighs are angled about 45 – 50 degrees relative to the floor. Keeping your hands with palms facing upwards parallel to the floor and breath steady.

Making sure to keep the tailbone pressed into the floor and the back long and straight. The stomach should be firm but not too hard.

4. W hen first practising this posture, stay in the pose for 10-20 seconds. Gradually increase the time of

your stay to one minute.

Release the legs with an exhalation and sit upright on an inhalation.

It really is that simple and will no longer have to be a prickly issue.

You don’t need to send yourself broke spending money on all the weird and crazy gadgets that you find yourself buying from shiny looking gym junkies screaming at you from late night televison infomercials.

All you need is a square of floor and a few spare minutes of time to be abtastic yogi style. Happy stretching, see you next month!

Metta, Kim Kim White is the owner of Sala Suddhavasa, an internal arts centre in Rawai offering private and group sessions in taiji, yoga and meditation: 08 6276 9174, info@suddhavasa. com; suddhavasa.com The opinions and advice contained in this column are those of the author only. The Phuket News is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any situation.

THE PHUKET NEWS

ENVIRONMENT 21 THEENVIRONMENT

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

The future of Phuket

• Education: ethics, morality, spirituality and sustainable education • Aquaculture and fisheries: fishery policy, fleet management and waste education, pleasure craft policy and the DMCR role • Agriculture and forests: increase localised food production and forestry protection • Safety: personal security, personal health and helmet use • Special peoples’ needs

Nick Anthony editor3@thephuketnews.com

P

huket is a mixture of the good (world’s best beaches, wonderful Thai food, culture and hospitality and year round sunshine and warm weather), the bad (non-sustainable practices, litter, untamed consumerism and an island treated as a bottomless resource pit) and the ugly (beach encroachment, crime, throw up architecture and the abuse of the sea).

What is certain is that Phuket is over its ‘carrying capacity’ and is in a crisis situation.

Our landfills are at capacity, our new incinerator is not yet turned on and there is no curbside recycling. Our fishing fleet has limited controls leading to overfishing, our beaches, with only a few exceptions, must have regular cleanups and there is no anti-litter campaign.

Our energy source is nonrenewable, the solar industry is embryonic, our fuel is subsidised and there is little energy efficiency in the public or

Above, Nick Anthony (baseball cap) and volunteers on the beach. private sector. In many ways, our eyes are wide open to soak up the pleasure dome that our island is, while also being shut to the problems and the needs for a sustainable future.

A projected vision for 2030 based on current trends is not a utopian tropical isle but an overcrowded, overbuilt uncontrolled greed festival.

No space on the beaches, destroyed reefs that are more desert than tropical splendour, built-out hillsides and an island full of fast food joints and convenience stores. An exploited and abused pearl amidst the Indian Ocean; beaches that are a dumping ground for Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh and India.

Pets “Meow name is B ! M y I’m a four ossa, and Pe rs ian . year old ginger who lives I b e lo ng to M iko favourite fo in Phuket Town. My but I’ve a od is regular cat food ls , kanom bu o taken a liking to eang, a po pular Thai sweet. My fa sleeping on vourite hobby is th a n d le a v ine bed pillows g m every where y fu r !”

Fortunately all is not lost.

Although we are at a fork in the road, if each and every individual provides support we can save Phuket. If we have a common goal that is community-led we can make a sustainable Phuket, a low carbon island and even a world class marine reserve.

This is possible but requires strategic priorities that include preserving our cultural values, stronger public and private sector partnerships and the support of Phuket’s key life supports. We need better land use, increased green areas plus water, energy and efficient waste conservation.

We n e e d t o a d d r e s s Phuket’s economic constraints

and support existing positive action around the island. We also need to address priority policy actions that include: • Land use and urban development • Environmental protection: overall policy today, regulatory framework, funding and beach responsibility • Sustainable government • Infrastructure: water, sewage, conservation, waste, power and airport expansion • Tourism: environmental management, increasing the quality of tourists, better tourist infrastructure and solving the jetski / tuk-tuk / taxi issues

One organisation, local NGO SEEK is seeking to address these concerns. It will be hosting a one day workshop on August 24 with the Governor, local tambons, beach communities, hotels, businesses and NGOs to work for a strong and sustainable future.

For more information, visit: www.myseek.org/news-andevents/seek-eco-festivalaugust-2012/ Phuket environmentalist Nick Anthony presents the Going Green show on Phuket’s Live 89.5 from 5 to 7pm every Saturday.

IN BRIEF Sharks in worse trouble than thought The world’s shark population is in a much worse state than previously thought, according to studies conduced by the Pew Environment Group.

The main reasoning for this, they believe, is the global catch of sharks is up to four times the actual statistic reported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The Hong Kong shark fin industry accounts for half of the global trade in sharks.

Emerging influence of Chinese greens Although China is not the most environmentally aware of industrial nations, companies in the country are beginning to face increased scrutiny from emerging NGOs and environmental movements.

On July 4, a demonstration against the construction of a huge smelting factory project in Sichuan Province led to the cancellation of the plans.

These groups are managing to push China to impose more stringent safeguards on new manufacturing and mining projects.

Every month, the best Pet wins a B500 voucher from:

“Hello, I’m Suki, a one year old male Beagle who belongs to Pha. I love to pull funny faces exactly like what I’m doing in this photograph. I can do lots of tricks including shaking hands, and my favourite food is beef jerky – delicious!”

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

DANE’S WORLD

22 WEIRD NEWS

THE PHUKET NEWS

Cross-dressing mollusc Agence France Presse

S

cientists have observed a cross-dressing cuttlefish take sexual trickery to new depths.

On one side of its body, it adopts female markings to deter potential rivals, while on the other, it displays brilliant masculine colours, enabling it to flirt furiously with partnersto-be.

This behaviour in the male mourning cuttlefish, a squid-like creature common off Australia’s east coast, is meant to boost mating chances in a shortlived species where discerning females far outnumber fiercely competitive males.

“On one side of their body they have this female coloration, they mimic the female that they are courting, and on the other side they have the full sexy male display going on,” behavioural ecologist Culum Brown said.

The male “is very, very vibrant, pulsating black and white stripes, high contrast, it is an amazing visual display,

Above: A cuttlefish. Right: Also a cuttlefish, possibly. you can see it from a long, long way away.”

The female, on the other hand, is a “boring, mottled brown colour” that is good for disappearing into the background.

Brown of the Macquarie University in Sydney’s biological sciences department, is one of the authors of a paper published Wednesday in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters.

He suggested the cuttlefish, about 15 centimetres long when fully grown, evolved the unusual

technique to improve its chances of reproduction.

It can strut its best stuff in the direction of a female while staying off the radar of rival males by turning its wellcamouflaged side their way.

“If you go straight up to a female and use your male display on both sides of your body, and as we said you can see that from a very long way away, that immediately tells all other male cuttlefish in the area that this particular male found a female.

“What that means is that every other male is going to come and investigate. They compete, they beat each other up and chase each other away.

So clearly the best thing to do is to not attract the attention of other males,” said Brown.

The cuttlefish only adopt this split personality when there is another male around.

If they are alone with the female, or there are too many other cuttlefish around, the animal switches off its mixed signals.

“If there are more than one male, or indeed more than one female, then you can’t do it anymore because you can’t possibly orientate yourself in a way that actually works,” said Brown.

Aussie cops almost get stern dressing down POLICE IN AUSTRALIA narrowly escaped an undressing after stumbling into a rowdy hens’ night where they were mistaken for strippers by the bride-to-be and her friends.

The male officers attended Darwin’s Humpty Doo Tavern after reports of a disturbance

and were greeted by an enthusiastic group of women who shouted that the strippers had arrived and tried to pull their shirts off.

“The girls were in fine form,” Northern Watch Commander Louise Jorgensen told the Australian Broadcasting

Corporation. “They were most excited about the police presence. “There were various shouts about how the strippers had arrived.”

Jorgensen said the men “nearly had their shirts torn off, but they managed to escape with their dignity intact”.

‘Come and ‘Rightful King of England’ dies N AUST R A LI A N arrest me’, Aforklift who some hisdrug dealer torians driver argued was the true to the British throne has tells police heir died in the small New South

A BU NGLI NG THAI drug dealer who sent text messages goading police to apprehend him has been arrested with dozens of amphetamine pills, a police officer from Isarn said last Thursday (July 5).

The 24-year-old was caught in northeast Thailand, after police received several messages challenging them to make an arrest, Police Major Viriyaphab Wangprom said.

The texts, apparently sent in anger after a number of his gang had been caught by police, read “come and arrest me, I am in Laos”.

The man was charged with drug trafficking offences after being caught with 90 amphetamine tablets.

thephuketnews.com

Wales town he called home.

Mike Hastings, 71, was a real-life aristocrat, born the 14th earl of Loudoun, who moved to Australia in 1960 in search of adventure.

He made international headlines in 2004 when a documentary team from Britain’s Channel Four conducted extensive research into the monarchy and concluded his ancestors were cheated out of the crown in the 15th century.

Hastings, an avowed republican, died on June 30 and was buried in Jerilderie, about 750 kilometres southwest of Sydney.

Hastings was a descendant of England’s House of York, whose dynastic struggle with the House of Lancaster became known as

True blue royalty: Australian Mike Hastings. the Wars of the Roses and was dramatised by William Shakespeare.

Hastings showed little interest in pursuing his claim to the monarchy when interviewed in 2005, citing the intense public scrutiny endured by the royals.

However, he joked that his claim to the crown could prove lucrative if confirmed.

“I reckon I might send

Lizzie (Queen Elizabeth II) a bill for back rent. The old girl’s family have been living in my bloody castle for the last 500 years,” he said.

His son Simon, who now becomes the 15th earl of Loudoun, also appears in no hurry to try to seize the throne.

“It’s something that I’ll have to look into in the near future,” he said ahead of his father’s funeral.

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

with Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

THE BIG LIST Angry Animals (Vol. II) A couple of months ago we took a look at some of the animal kingdom’s freakiest defence mechanisms.

But since it turns out some Australian cuttlefish can put Soi Bangla’s katoey to shame with their gender bending abilities, we thought we’d revisit the subject.

■ Light my fire: As well as having a terrible name, dinoflagellates also have probably the worst defence mechanism ever.

Basically, any sudden movement neear these plankton causes a near-blinding flash of light that shines through their entire body. In the presence of a plankton-eating creature, that’s kind of like cage-diving with Great White sharks, if the cage was made out of fresh meat and you were carrying a giant sign saying ‘eat me’ written in fluorescent blood. However, while the light may betray their position, it’s also the dinoflagellate way of screaming ‘eat me’ in the most literal yet also most malicious sense possible. Because while the dinoflagellates’ predator may devour the shiny little critters, with all that bioluminescence now inside them, the predators are now prey to other, larger predators, and may as well have strapped a rescue flare on their chest and squeaky clown shoes on each foot.

■ Fight or flight? The term fulmar actually means ‘foul gull’ in the Old Norse language, and when some Viking dude from the 1200s calls something gross, you know you’re in trouble. When confronted with anything moving, the fulmar – a species of sea bird – chick will projectile vomit an oily secretion all over the face of the approaching animal. That orange filth creates a rotten fish smell, but this little birdy’s gut oil is also incredible sticky, and if it gets into the feathers of other birds, not only are they unable to fly, but it causes them to lose their buoyancy and they will eventually fall into the water and drown. Mind you, if a bird’s just spewed sticky orange filth liquid down your throat, death is probably the easiest way out.

■ Head in the clouds: The sperm whale. We know what you’re thinking, but get your mind out of the gutter – this time we’re talking about poop.

That’s because dwarf and pygmy sperm whales literally crap themselves to defend against predators. When threatened, the whales secrete the vile poopy concoction, then stir the water up with their fins to create a giant poop cloud. Then they hide inside the cloud until the danger has passed. The dwarf and pygmy sperm whales are capable of producing enough poo to, well, conceal a whale, and they’re able to repeat that process again and again. The moral of the story is that if you see a dwarf sperm whale in the ocean, swim the other way.

■ Blood thicker than venom: Being crazily venemous should be enough defence for any animal. But the hognose snake isn’t any animal. In fact, it’s significantly more useless than any other venemous animal, because its small fangs are found all the way at the back of its mouth, and if you’re sticking anything that far down a snake’s throat, you’ve probably already tossed caution to the wind anyway. Instead, they have developed a defence strategy that takes ‘playing dead’ to a bizarre new level. It will convulse wildly, flip over on to its back and lie nearly motionless even when prodded. In some cases it will even spew blood, which frankly, is way scarier than the venom anyway.

■ Life’s a drag: The dresser crab has precisely two purposes in life: to stay alive, and to be absolutely fabulous. There are many creatures in the animal world able to hide themselves using pigments and mimicry, but that’s so last season. The dresser crab instead utilises its knowledge of accessorising.

As it travels around varied environments, it scans for any objects that match the surroundings that it can attach to the velcro-like patches on its exoskeleton. Should it sense danger it will freeze dead in its tracks and flawlessly, sassily merge into the background.

THE PHUKET NEWS

TIME OUT 23

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

BOOK

MUSIC

FILM Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 105 minutes Rating: 18+

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Little Century

(I Can’t Get No)

ORPHANED AFTER THE death of her mother, eighteenyear-old Esther Chambers heads west in search of her only living relative.

In the lawless frontier town of Century, Oregon, she’s met by her distant cousin, a laconic cattle rancher named Ferris Pickett, and she begins her new life as a homesteader.

But Esther discovers that this town on the edge of civilistion is in the midst of a range war.

In this charged climate, small incidents of violence swiftly escalate, and Esther finds her sympathies divided between her cousin and a sheepherder named Ben Cruff, a sworn enemy of the cattle ranchers.

BELLE & SEBASTI A N (B&S) guitarist Stevie Jackson usually contributes at least one song to each of the group’s albums.

On his debut solo album then, (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson, the initial question might be whether he could pull off an entire album’s worth of songs all by himself. The answer is an unqualified yes.

Is it as good as prime Belle & Sebastian? Not really, but some of the tracks here could easily slot onto a B&S LP. Of course, it all boils down to how you feel about the Stevie songs that crop up on B&S records in the first place.

If you like The Wrong Girl or I’m Not Living In The Real World, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.

Anny Keesey

Stevie Jackson

Starring: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

R

ivalling last year’s Cowboys and Aliens for the most ridiculous title in film history, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter also falls into a similar trap – taking its rather campy subject matter far too seriously.

As the title may suggest, the film focuses on the story

of the 16th President of the USA, and more specifically, his moonlighting career as a slayer of the walking dead.

Covering both Abe’s political and supernatural rise to power, the mashup film is exactly what viewers will probably from a Tim Burtonproduced, Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, 9) directed film about an axe-wielding president who fights to free America from slavery and an army of bloodsucking demons.

In saying that, it was always going to be a tricky balancing act trying to juggle the campy premise and caricaturish action with the alt-history tie ins and presidential drama.

At times it works, and the history and fiction are stitched together seamlessly in ways that make both sides of the story more interesting.

But many of the other moments depend too much on thin and overly contrived supernatural explanations for real events, and the efforts made to combine the film’s two wildly different genres feel incredibly forced.

For a film with such a ridiculous premise, it’s also a shame that more comedy wasn’t worked into Seth GrahameSmith’s screenplay. Indeed the whole movie is ultimately based on just a single joke, and it can’t carry the rest of

the feature-length runtime’s dark, overtly serious tone.

Still, there are some impressively gory action sequences to be enjoyed for fans of the vampire sub-genre, and while the axe-versusvampire sequences can be a little too flashy and at times hard to follow, Bekmambetov utilises some effective slow motion to showcase Lincoln’s stylish slaying techniques – with plenty of blood splatter to boot.

And besides, if the idea of an undead-slaying US President seems a little too ridiculous, count your blessings that we haven’t yet seen Grahame-Smith’s other wellknown horror mashup novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, on the big screen.

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

SFX COLISEUM PHUKET (CENTRAL FESTIVAL)

SFC JUNGCEYLON PHUKET (PATONG)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (E) [18+]: 12:00, 14:45, 17:00, 19:15, 21:30 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (T) [18+]: 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:15, 22:30 The Amazing Spider-Man (E/3D) [G]: 12:40, 15:30, 18:20, 21:20 The Amazing Spider-Man (T) [G]: 11:50, 13:50, 14:40, 16:40, 17:30, 19:30,

20:20, 22:15 Cosmopolis (E) [18+]: 11:30, 13:30, 18:00, 22:25 What to Expect When You’re Expecting (E) [13+]: 15:45, 20:15

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (E) [18+]: 11:20, 13:35, 15:50, 18:05,

20:15, 22:30 The Amazing Spider-Man (E) [G]: 11:15, 12:30, 14:15, 15:30, 17:15, 18:30,

20:15, 21:30 Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (E) [G]: 11:40, 16:25, 20:00 Snow White and the Huntsman (E) [13+]: 13:45, 17:20, 20:50 What to Expect When You’re Expecting (E) [13+]: 12:40, 15:00, 18:30, 22:00

BRAIN TEASERS Down

1. Need the French sewing tool.

(6) 4. Set of doctrines for melted igloo dye. (8) 7. Saw back to what existed. (3) 8. Gossip about teetotaler’s tale.

(6) 9. Promotes up hills. (8) 12. Animal in Greek letter outside. (5) 14. Take bus back to damage in east warship. (9) 18. Sabena’s serial number. (1,1) 19. Force convicts to take train.

(9) 20. Picture quiet in junior grade.

(1, 1, 1) 22. Cereal whisky. (3) 23. Fish with employees for weapon shaft. (9) 24. God of radium (2) 26. Little swing makes potential weapon. (5, 4) 30. Hide saint and tree. (5) 32. Stopped after Arkansas; took a break. (8) 34. Ed followed the remainder and relaxed. (6) 35. Continental water? “Oh!” they said. (3) 36. Oddly, lust fit a musician. (8) 37. Gnu nearly misses French one to get all twisted. (6)

1. Crazy person. Crazy table implement. (11) 2. Take food to Ann, re diet, oddly. (3, 6) 3. Pitcher for sheep? Right. (4) 4. Suzi and you trashed pickup. (5) 5. Or boating implement, it’s said. (3) 6. Salads around the holes. (6) 10. Tree stick. (3) 11. Vent a song. (3) 13. Porridge is nothing at lunch.

(7) 14. Fake smell for shower requisite. (7) 15. City that begins with loud noise. (7) 16. Adapts, barely, in the commercials. (7) 17. Do deft hyena change at dusk? (3, 2, 3, 3) 21. He pledges gun, oar, rat, though not in that order. (9) 25. A lesson lacking in right or wrong. (6) 27. General shelter. (3) 28. Decay nonsense. (3) 29. No gentleman and French trainee. (5) 31. Doctor, you note narcotic! (4) 33. Drunk cardinal on overtime.

(3)

1. What may have the following ‘flavours’: ‘up’, ‘down’, ‘top’, ‘bottom’, ‘charm’ and ‘strange’?

2. What does an ‘oologist’ collect or study?

3. What or who was Moby Dick?

4. Which European capital city is heated by volcanic springs?

5. Before Britain decimalised its currency in 1971, how many pennies were there in a pound?

Answers at the bottom of the page.

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1. Quarks; 2. Birds’ eggs; 3. A fictional whale; 4. Reykjavik, capital of Iceland; 5. 240.

SUDOKU

Across

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24 KIDS PAGE

THE PHUKET NEWS

COLOURING CONTEST

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

On Sale

NOW!

Every book sold helps disadvantaged kids.

With 22 Island Scenes to colour in, it makes the perfect gift for your children, friends and family.

Free colouring crayons with every copy!

For commercial inquiries, call Boo on 088 766 1615 or email pr@thephuketnews.com

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To order your copy today, call 076 612 550 or email info@thephuketnews.com

Also on sale at all the following outlets: www.thephuketnews.com/distribution-points.php

Thalang Road is one of the oldest streets in Phuket, with many houses more than 100 years old.

DID YOU KNOW? Every January, the whole street is closed for the Old Town Festival.

E

very week, colour in Sophie's drawing, have a photo taken with your work, and email it to editor@thephuketnews.com This week, congratulations go to Bee, age 10, from the Coconut Club, who has won an all-day free pass at FunStart for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids, and 5% discount on the Summer Camp at FunStart.

Pick up your copy of The Phuket Colouring Book today!

Runnerup

Runnerup

Runnerup mail@

Alexander Dupo nt, ag e 5 and a half, from PIA

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A n n e, a g e 11, from Coconut Club

Namone, age 11, from Coconut Club

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SHOPPING 25

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

FASHION FILE

THE PHUKET NEWS

Have an outfit to show off? Send a photo to: editor1@thephuketnews.com

CLASSIC STYLE

Benjawan Luanglakorn Customer service trainee

Straw hat (B159) bought at a local street market in Chiang Mai

RAINBOW BRIGHT Sun dress (B250) bought at UD Town

Chompoonut Kongphunphin

Architecture student

Bracelet (B20) from the Walking Street Market, Chiang Mai

Brown belt (B100) and shoes (B250) from a local market in Mea Faa Leang, Chiang Rai

Short black jacket (B120) also from an outdoor market in Chiang Mai

Handmade rainbow dress (B450) bought at Jatujak Market, Bangkok Leather strappy sandals (B259) from Kaset Market, Surat Thani

Leather bag (B260) found on Chiang Mai’s Walking Street Market

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26 DINING

THE PHUKET NEWS

Pura Organic Foods Managing Director Martin Smetsers hard at work.

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Thanyamundra organic farm provides a great location for greens to grow.

Organics: the need for green Claire Connell editor1@thephuketnews.com

“W

ho would you rather pay for your health – the hospital or your farmer?”

The question may have come from the mouth of an 11-year-old, but Pura Organic Foods Managing Director Martin Smetsers believes truer words have never been spoken.

American teenager Birke Baehr, now 13, was speaking at a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design – ted.com) conference about his plans to become an organic farmer when he grows up.

Martin runs the Pura Organic shop and distribution outlet in Thalang, which supplies fresh organic fruit and vegetables, plus other food items found across Thailand, to resorts, hotels and private buyers in Phuket and surround-

thephuketnews.com

ing areas, with a thriving free home delivery service.

Originally from The Netherlands, Martin spent most of his working life in the global financial markets, and met Klaus Hebben while working in London.

Mr Hebben moved to Phuket to set up the Thanyapura complex in Thalang along with the organic resort and farm Thanyamundra, in Khao Sok. Martin was asked to set up Pura Organic Foods at the end of 2010 to distribute the products from the farm, and find other sources in order to increase the varieties available.

“I’ve eaten organic food for the last 22 years, largely because when I grew up in Holland I was lucky to be living only 5km from an organic farm. I eat it because it tastes so much better, and the health reasons are an added bonus.

“As I have not been ill for

more than half a day in the last 22 years – and I know I don’t look like the healthiest guy in the world – you could say I am quite healthy.”

Martin says all the fresh produce at Pura comes from Thailand, such as green fruit and vegetables from Thanyamundra; white asparagus from Prachuap Kiri Khan; cherry tomatoes on the vine, potatoes and onions from Mae Hong Son; fruits from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai; and buffalo milk from Chachoengsao.

In total, Pura has around 1,000 different items, ranging from organic rice and pasta, coconut oil, and olive oils, to wines, and bath products.

They also stock organic yoghurt, produced in Phuket by local company Swash, and will be introducing organic soups and healthy hotel minibar snacks, such as juices, in the future.

But isn’t organic food more expensive than regular fruit and vegetables purchased from the local market? The answer is yes, but not overly so.

Martin admits that most of Pura’s goods are on average between 20 to 40 per cent more expensive than what can be found at the local market.

However, some products, such as wild rocket, are 30 per cent cheaper.

The cost increase largely comes down to the effort required to make – and keep

Staff at the farm in Khao Sok hard at work tilling the field on a sunny day.

– the food organic, such as protecting product from being contaminated, the effort involved in crop rotation and keeping the soil healthy.

There’s also the risk of crop disasters, and most of the farms are small scale, such as Thanyamundra, which covers an area of some 60 rai.

In Thailand, there are tens of thousands of agriculture chemicals registered, mostly fertilisers and pesticides, many of which find their way into the food chain and the envi-

ronment, says Martin.

There are also lax regulations around the use of the word “organic” on food products, something which is strictly controlled in the US. In Thailand, anyone can put “organic” on their food, and there’s no way of knowing if it is in fact true.

Most farms Martin buys organic produce from are checked by inspectors of organic certification agencies, which only issue these when they are satisfied with the level of organic correctness.

Pura has copies of these organic certificates on file.

Additionally many farms are visited by himself, and their processes double-checked.

But Martin is not fanatically against chemical fruit and vegetables, and puts everybody’s decision about healthy food down to choice.

“Using chemicals in products is bad for you – it won’t kill you, it’s just better not to. To put it simply, what do you think is better, putting

synthetic chemicals into your body, or not?”

Far mers not only use chemicals to keep insects away from their crops, but also to help them create a bigger, better product – such as a glossy, fat tomato – and increase crop yield.

“Over the last 50 years or so there has been an increase in the use of chemicals; while the prices, nutritional value, and taste was reduced. Simultaneously health costs went up,” says Martin.

But does the organic food actually taste better? Martin guarantees the organic fruit and vegetables taste better than the ones from the local market – no matter which market his staff go to.

Martin says, “That little chap Birke who wanted to be an organic farmer and asked his audience, “Who they would rather pay, their hospital or their farmer?” is inspiring. It’s great to explain in simplicity – organic is simply good for you.”

THE PHUKET NEWS

DINING 27

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

The humble road to grape success FINE WINE R. James Mullen editor@thephuketnews.com

R

Gaja ambassador Michela Inghese, Acqua owner and chef Alessandro Frau, and Wine and Taste senior partner and director, Robert Wigman.

ENJOYING RED, RED WINE An enthusiastic crowd attended the Gaja wine

tasting event held at Acqua restaurant in Kalim on Sunday evening (July 8), where Gaja ambassdaor Michela Inghese gave an informative and lively presentation about the history of the famous Italian red wine, established in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja. Long rated by experts as one of the world’s best, guests at the event were given seven wines to sample, including the flagship Barbaresco, a “wine of the heart”, along with matching food courses by Acqua owner and chef Alessandro Frau.

omance, cont rar y to popular lore, isn’t why people get into the wine business.

True, many have naively taken the plunge based on images of life as a country squire, but they are the source of the riposte, “The quickest way to make a large fortune small is to open a winery.” It’s really about making money and spending wisely.

Hard work coupled with a few breaks don’t even assure success in this highly competitive business, but once achieved the rewards can be sublime. A group of Thai hospitality and wine industry executives recently learned first hand how success in California’s Napa Valley can, when properly handled, lead to gratification on many fronts.

From a defunct winery called Sutter Home purchased and reactivated in the 1940s

Napa County, California.

by Mario and John Trinchero, their sons and grandchildren now operate five wineries, farm 7,000 acres of vineyards and supply the equivalent of 240 million 750 ml bottles of wine to a thirsty global market.

Luck parlayed with savvy marketing played a part in the Trinchero’s rise to wine prominence. In the mid-1970s winemaker Bob Trinchero discovered that a tank of popular rosé wine made from zinfandel grapes failed to completely ferment leaving it slightly sweet. They offered it for sale in their tasting room under the name White Zinfandel and were surprised when it sold out within one week.

Today the vastly expanded

Sutter Home winery produces White Zinfandel at the rate of 4 million cases per year.

This marketing coup led to a string of wise decisions based on the family principle of “a great product for a fair price.” Hiring talented help has remained a priority and has included the exceptional promotional skills of a former hotel food and beverage director, Barry Wiss.

Wiss put his own spin on a popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune by placing small bottles of aromas commonly associated with wine at each peg on the wheel. Challenging winery visitors to play the game not only expands their sensory abilities but associates fun and allegiance to Trinchero wines.

Making the best of their good fortune the Trinchero’s recently opened of a state of the art premium winery where Trinchero Napa Valley wines are now being produced in precious amounts for collector’s cellars. A full circle for a family dedicated to hard work while remaining humble in success.

From Baan Rim Pa, Wimutta and Randy Chinn.

One of the standout dishes of the night – the lamb.

thephuketnews.com

28 TRAVEL

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

The other Bangla

Above, Bungalows on the lagoon at the Mermaid Ecoresort, Cox’s Bazar. Right, Mermaid’s managing director Anisul Hoque Chowdhury.

Claire Connell discovers a world of green mermaids in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar

A

fter 12 hours of terrifying bus travel, being greeted with a fresh coconut was close to heavenly.

Covered in sweat, dirt and attempting to escape, at least for a few days, from the chaos of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, I had stumbled across the Mermaid Ecoresort while browsing online.

Tucked away in the most unlikeliest of places – in eastern Bangladesh close to the border with Myanmar – Mermaid was unlike anything else I had seen in the povertystricken South Asian country.

Who goes for a holiday in Bangladesh, you ask? Well, to be fair, not that many people.

I saw a total of two tourists on my fortnight in the country.

Various studies and estimates put international visitor arrivals somewhere between 200,000 and 400,000 per year, compared to Thailand’s 17 million in 2010.

However, resorts such as Mermaid are trying to change this, with their efforts slowly bearing fruit. Lonely Planet is already a fan of the property, which has numerous glowing reviews online. Indeed, many people who visit Dhaka make the massive effort to get to Cox’s just to stay at Mermaid.

It’s certainly no easy task to get there – a bus from the capital takes at least 10 hours, with the alternative a one-way US$70 flight. But if you’ve been in Dhaka for a week, the chance to stay anywhere with the word “resort” in the name means the long-haul trip is more than worth the effort.

Ironically, Mer maid’s managing director Anisul Hoque Chowdhury, a native Bangladeshi, was inspired to create his slice of heaven after a visit to the sin city of

thephuketnews.com

Pattaya. Following a surfing holiday in the Gulf of Thailand town, he decided to set up a restaurant in Cox’s Bazar, so he could catch more waves.

The artist, film-maker and actor had discovered organic food during a trip to India, and hit upon the idea of establishing an organic food cafe. He opened the first Mermaid Cafe on a quiet stretch of beach, and then another one in a different part of Cox’s Bazaar. There is now one in Dhaka too, regularly visited by foreign ambassadors, who flock daily for its delicious home made Western-style food.

“First my intention was just a successful restaurant,” he says. “But then the clientèle started asking for an ecoresort.”

So Mr Chowdhury, with yet more inspiration from his visits to Thailand, used the beach shacks on Phi Phi island as the template for his own wooden cottages on the breezy seashore.

“We didn’t have much money, so we were looking to build something small that didn’t cost much. We gathered scrap wood from the harbour,

Local children have the beach as their playground. and decided people wouldn’t mind small rooms if we made them cosy.”

The resort is set on five acres of land, on the edge of the famous 120km long Cox’s Bazar beach – believed to be the longest uninterrupted stretch of sand in the world, and one of the least visited.

What started off as two small bungalows has now expanded to 27 cottages, ranging from the basic lagoon cottage to deluxe villas. Each have

been decorated in their own style with a natural wooden theme, comfortable bed with mosquito net, creative artwork and organic bath products and soap.

Resident ar tist Ronni Ahmmed, also a native Bangladeshi, lives on site and Mr Chowdhury is not only his number one fan, but also his number one buyer. A short drive from the ecoresort, Mr Ahmmed is currently working on what he believes could

well be the world’s largest turtle sculpture, made from concrete and decorated with old plates, glasses and trash collected from the beach – in line with the company’s ecofriendly philosophy. It’s a strange sight on an otherwise abandoned beach.

The ecoresort has a natural wooden theme, and plenty of natural vegetation – Mr Chowdhury says no trees were harmed in the making of the resort, and he aims to plant 10,000 trees per year in the area. Power is largely solar, which means it is limited only to the daytime – the evenings can get very hot.

The clientèle is mainly foreigners, with many expats living in Dhaka heading to Mermaid for a weekend of good food and to get away from life in the hectic capital.

One couple living in nearby Chittagong said they discovered Mermaid and now visit regularly at the weekends for a Western food fix. But also an increasing trend are high end Bengali tourists wanting something different.

Mr Chowdhury believes there is huge potential for

tourism in Bangladesh and Cox’s Bazar. Home to around 1 million people, the district is expected to have an international airport in two years time.

“This is a new destination, and different geography from other places. The beach isn’t too crowded and it’s so long.

It is great for swimming and surfing.”

The Bangladeshi government, aware of the looming threat of underdevelopment, recently introduced a law to try and control construction by limiting the height of new developments built on the beach front.

“We need development which is sustainable, so that after 20 years the area will still be beautiful and natural,” Mr Chowdhury says.

“The word “eco” is a very recent development in Bangladesh, and we have hired all local people for our staff.

Smile, hygiene and spirituality – that’s how they are trained.”

Trained also to present a fresh coconut to weary guests at the end of a long journey.

For more information visit mermaidecoresort.com

Above, Cottages are the perfect place to relax in Cox’s. Right, Resident artist Ronni Ahmmed’s masterpiece - a giant concrete turtle sculpture.

THE PHUKET NEWS

TRAVEL 29

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

TRAVEL NEWS

Anantara Seminyak Bali introduces the Three Day Weekend Getaway We all dream of a three day weekend, don’t we? Well Anantara Seminyak Bali invites you to celebrate their very first three day weekend from August 16-19 with an unforgettable pampering and culture rich escape that has something for the whole family.

Guests who book Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa’s Three Day Weekend Getaway will wake up to a breakfast buffet with stunning Indian Ocean views, followed by a side by side massage lasting 60 minutes at the Anantara Spa, either as a couple or as a parent and a special kids treatment that includes a chocolate facial.

Join fellow revellers at the resort’s rooftop SOS Supper Club on August 18 for an innovative DJ and dance crew party, hosted by Adidas as part of a Southeast Asia tour.

Dance the night away to the beats of three internationally revered DJs; Ali Shaheed, Shortkut and Maseo.

These legends of the R&B, funk and electronic nu disco music scenes will be accompanied by some of Asia’s best dance crews, who will be performing underground hip hop

and urban styles of dance.

Families receive additional child friendly benefits. A half day babysitting service leaves parents free to cherish quiet time alone, and little ones who dine at Wild Orchid restaurant are treated to a complimentary ice cream between 2pm and 6pm.

Celebrate the first Three Day Weekend Getaway at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, with rates starting from just USD1,275++ based on 3 nights stay in a Anantara Suite inclusive of daily breakfast for two people, an Anantara Spa massage for couples or a parent and child, free entry to a fabulous DJ and dance crew event, daily ice cream for kids and a half day of babysitting For more information and reservations, please contact +62-361-737773 or email bali@anantara.com

double chances to win when they pay with their Visa cards.

Visa cardholders can also enjoy up to 80 per cent discount and other shopping privileges at 15,000 participating merchants in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui, Hat Yai and Phuket.

For a complete list of participating merchants, promotions and terms and conditions, visit tourismthailand.org

Golf tours at the world’s highest golf course

Amazing Thailand Grand Sale for Visa holders Travel enthusiasts should take advantage of Visa cardholder discounts and rewards at the annual Amazing Thailand Grand Sale organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and supported by Visa.

Get a chance to win a ‘30-day Surprise Thailand Trip’ for more fun and adventures. From now till August 15, overseas travellers can enter into the lucky draw by simply spending B500 in a single transaction at selected retail shops in Thailand. Shoppers can enjoy

Arnhem Land forges new era in Aboriginal tourism

The China Guide is now offering golf tours at the world’s highest golf course. The new Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club is located above 3,000 metres just outside the ancient town of Lijiang.

Designed by Neil Haworth, the courses are blended into the natural scenery offering now-crested mountain views. The mountainside location also ensure moderate

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temperatures all year round.

A short drive away, nearby Lijiang is a major destination in China’s southwestern Yunnan province. Surrounded by mountains and minority hamlets, Lijiang is considered to be one our China’s most romantic and relaxing getaways. The town is a hub of Naxi minority culture, while also attracting traders from other minority communities.

Lijiang golf tours include an 18-hole round at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club and at Ancient Town Waterview Golf Resort. Clients are able to also spend some time in the Lijiang old town, wandering the ancient alleys and enjoying the local Naxi food.

For more information about the China Guide’s golf tours, visit thechinaguide.com or email book@thechinaguide.com

3 State Rooms Galley Salon DVD - 3 Big Screen 3 Freezers Ice Maker 2 Heads with Shower Dingy - Divot 29 Knots Top Speed Fly Bridge Dinette ( 6 People ) Water Maker 54 FT Over All Length

The Yolngu people of Arnhem Land are embarking on a bold plan to create thriving indigenous-owned tourism businesses across Austra-

lia’s spectacular Top End, boosted with the announcement of a Federal Government grant of A$825,000.

The Yolngu Cultural Tourism Masterplan is the first of its kind in Australia and aims to develop new tourism opportunities for businesses owned and operated by indigenous people.

Launched by the Minister for Tourism, the Hon Martin Ferguson, and the Chairman of the Lirrwi Yolngu Tourism Aboriginal Corporation, Djawa Murrmurrnga (Timmy) Burarrwanga, the Masterplan aims to create sustainable employment and lasting economic benefits for Yolngu people throughout Arnhem Land.

It has been developed by Mr Burarrwanga, a Gumatj man from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land, who established Lirrwi Tourism and created a long-term vision based on Aboriginal leadership.

“We have been sharing our culture with visitors for many years, but we now want to move to the next stage and create a new economy based on cultural tourism in Arnhem Land,” Mr Burarrwanga said. “We want to introduce people from Australia and all over the world to our country, our dance, our music, our ceremonies, our art and our unique way of life.”

The full Yolngu Cultural Tourism Masterplan proposal can be downloaded from: lirrwitourism. com.au/tourism-masterplan.html

FOR SALE 1991 TIARA SPORT FISHING YACHT USD 275,000.00

Twin 550 HP Detroit Diesel Engines 1 Bunk Room RUPP Outriggers Saloon 2 GPS HF 3 Freezers Radio LCD TV VHF Radio DVD Auto Pilot 2 Heads with ShowersIce Maker Sounder 18 Knts EPREP Fly Bridge Bench 4 People VHF Radio Water Maker Electric Anchor Winch 45 FT Over All Length SAT Phone 1 State Room

OWNER IS CHANGING BUSINESS DISCIPLINES AND WANTS TO EXIT THE CHARTER FISHING BUSINESS. The purchase of both boats entitles the buyer to www.phuketfishboat.com and its database of customers.

WWW.PHUKETFISHBOAT.COM martin@phuketfishboat.com

thephuketnews.com

30 ENTERTAINMENT

THE PHUKET NEWS

THE TICKET with Claire Connell

IN BRIEF Jagger and Bowie ‘were lovers’ They frolicked in front of the camera for their 1985 remake of ‘Dancing in the Street’ and have for many years moved in the same circles of rock royalty.

Now, adding fuel to rumours that have for years abou nded, a new book claims that Mick Jagger, 68, and David Bowie, 65, arguably the most dynamic and influential rock stars of their generation, were once lovers.

The incendiary claims, neatly timed with the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ first gig, have been made by Christopher Andersen, author of Mick: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger.

The men, he says, were “fascinated with each other.”

Hoffman joins Hunger Games sequel Movie series The Hunger Games has bagged an Academy Award winner.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, who earned the bestactor Oscar for 2005’s Capote, has joined the cast for part two in the futuristic adventure series, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Lionsgate Films annou nc e d Mond ay t h at Hoffman will play Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head game-maker overseeing an annual televised fight to the death staged by a repressive government in postapocalyptic North America.

Last week it was announced that Sucker Punch actress Jena Malone had been chosen for the role of Johanna Mason.

Chumbawamba not getting up again After 30 years of not getting down, British pop anarchists Chumbawamba are breaking up.

“That’s it then, it’s the end with neither a whimper, a bang or a reunion,” the band announced on their homepage.

The anarcho-punk collective, known for their 1997 hit ‘Tubthumping’, with its prominent hook ‘I Get Knocked Down’, have always been vocal about their radical political stance.

thephuketnews.com

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

editor1@thephuketnews.com

Stars launch new single T

hailand’s i nter nationally acclaimed superstar Tata Young and the multi-talented heartthrob from Vietnam, Thanh Bui, have combined on single Where Do We Go. The begin ning of the friendship and collaboration between Tata and Thanh began when Tata was introduced to Thanh by her manager, Myke Brown, who had collaborated with Thanh in the past.

The pair instantly hit it off, and were later reunited when both were invited to Soundfest 2012 event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the star-studded event also featured Big Bang and Taio Cruz.

Where Do We Go expresses the desire to find a balance between love and career, between dreams and reality, woven in with the chaos of life.

The music video was shot by the acclaimed di-

rector, Alongod Uabhaibool, in which Tata and Thanh express their emotions and struggles in love through the two main characters, a beautiful model at the peak of her career and a talented young artist finding his way to fame.

The lovers try to find time for each other but their rise to fame puts their love on the line.

The Vietnamese-English version of the single was released in April in Ho Chi Minh City, and quickly rose to the top of the country’s music charts.

In Thailand, the music video and single release of Where Do We Go will be launched exclusively by True Corporation, with special digital downloads, ringtones, and video footage available at True Move, True Visions, True Music.com, and True Music Channel.

For more information, see facebook.com/tataamitayoung

Firth, Kidman in Bangkok Coconuts Bangkok

HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTARS Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman were reportedly in Bangkok last month shooting new film The Railway Man, based on the infamous WWII Death Railway.

The Daily Mail reported there was a “mutiny on the set” at the Bang Sue Railway

location when extras walked off en masse, complaining of long hours in the heat with little in the way of wages or sustenance.

Producers of the film denied anything of the sort in a Hollywood Reporter story, saying that “conditions included two meals, sunscreen, chilled water, tents, luxury coaches

and shade between takes” in an “extremely friendly” atmosphere.

Shooting reportedly ended in Thailand in mid-June and moved on to Australia. The Railway Man is based on a true story about a British World War II prisoner of war who worked on the “Death Railway” in Thailand and Burma.

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Jolie honoured in Bosnia

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US SUPERSTAR ANGELINA Jolie, whose recent directorial debut dealt with the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, arrived on Saturday as a special guest of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Jolie is to be made an honorary citizen of Sarajevo during her stay, an honour first announced in April, for her efforts in “keeping the truth about wartime events in Sarajevo and Bosnia-Hercegovina alive”.

The award is given by the Sarajevo county every year to a foreign national who promotes humanity, democracy and tolerance.

Jolie’s film In the Land of Blood and Honey – shot in 2010 with several actors from the former Yugoslavia, and premiered in 2011 – dealt

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with the issues of war crimes.

While the project initially sparked concern in Bosnia, once it was shown, most victims’ groups welcomed it as objective and sincere.

Jolie arrived without Brad Pitt but with at least three of their children on board a private plane at Sarajevo’s airport.

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She attended a workshop for young film artists from 13 countries, held on the sidelines of the 18th Sarajevo Film Festival, organisers said.

The Sarajevo Film Festival – born as an act of resistance when the Bosnian capital was under siege during the 19921995 war – has grown to be one of the largest in Europe.

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THE PHUKET NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT 31

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Afghans sing of love and war Agence France-Presse

I

n a country where music was silenced in the name of Allah for five years, the beat is back and even rock shares the airwaves with the romantic strains of traditional Afghan songs.

The Islamist Taliban, who banned all music as sinful while they were in power between 1996 and 2001, are now waging an insurgency against the Western-backed government – but they can’t stop the music.

They have even developed an acapella style of their own, chanting religious poems to the glory of suicide bombers and their fighters waging war on government forces and some 130,000 NATO troops.

The Central Asian nation has an ancient tradition of songs built on its rich culture of poetry, ranging from war, heroism and epic tales of life in this harsh land, to delicate love stories.

But there is a vast difference between traditional lyrics and those of the Taliban: – Traditional: “Last night I stole a quick glance at your moon-like face through your dark hair,” goes a famous Afghan song performed in

Afghan guitar player Massoud Hassanzada, left, bass players Behroz Shujahi, right, and drummer Shafiq Najafi practise rock music at a makeshift studio in west Kabul. the 1970s by celebrity Abdul Rahim Sarban.

“Your half-open crimson dress was prettier than a hundred roses in the garden... a narcissus shies away before the beauty of your seducing eyes.”

– Taliban: “The youth is out on a fedayee (suicide) mission, his heart filled with passion for his religion.

“The youth is out on fedayee mission, the angels are watching him, the paradise houris (pure companions) are watching when the suicide bomber strikes.”

Even in the new forms of

pop and rock, imported along with the NATO troops, the war is never far away.

In a makeshift studio in their apartment in west Kabul, four young men have formed a band called Morcha (Ants), which they describe as Afghanistan’s first rock band.

Vocalist Shekib Musadeq, drummer Shafiq Najafi and two bass players Hassanzada and Behroz Shujahi gather daily for practice, rocking their building – and their neighbours – with Western beats.

“Music has been part of the people’s life ever since history

remembers,” says Hassanzada.

He describes their lyrics as “neither about love, nor Taliban hatred” but about current realities in their war-shattered country: a deadly insurgency, corruption, the illicit drugs trade and natural disasters.

“Fifteen died in Helmand, the drought ended in Herat...

NATO conducted a rapid air strike on a wedding party,” the band sings against the beat of drum and bass guitar while practising for a big concert in Kabul.

“The Taliban peace plan on the president’s desk, the elders

of Paktika endorsed it... The headlines from Afghanistan, thanks to the world are all about these.”

But love songs accompanied by traditional tabla drums and elegant, lute-like rubab strings, remain a staple of the old style: “I’m a worshipper of flowers, drunk without drinking (because) tonight I’m with a flower,” sings Sarban. And in a country where many women still wear the all-enveloping blue burqa that was enforced by the Taliban, lyrics are not short of erotic elements.

“I still smell your scent in my bed, feeling your sweet lips all over me,” sang the late Ahmad Zahir, who was nicknamed “Afghanistan’s Elvis”.

The Taliban, who shunned modernity while in power, now use video and the internet to get their message across. As a background to a video posted on their website showing dozens of Taliban fighters attacking a US military base in Paktika province, they chant: “The lion cubs can’t be tamed... you’ll be crying, lost, unable to find your way home, your child will never see you again... leave our home before it’s too late or Afghanistan will become your second Vietnam.”

IN BRIEF Kourtney K welcomes baby Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are new parents to a baby girl. Their second child was born early Sunday morning in Los Angeles at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and joins big brother Mason in the expanding Kardashian-Disick household.

Cruise, Holmes reach settlement Katie Holmes has won primary physical custody of her daughter with Tom Cruise in a divorce settlement announced Monday.

The sparring spouses have signed a private pact that will avoid a nasty Surirelated slugfest in court, their lawyers confirmed.

Ernest Borgnine dies at 95 American actor Ernest Borgnine, the beefy screen star known for blustery, often villainous roles, but who won the best-actor Oscar for playing against type as a lovesick butcher in Marty in 1955, has died.

His longtime spokesman, Harry Flynn, said that Borgnine died of renal failure at the hospital.

thephuketnews.com

32 ISLAND SCENE

The kitchen team from left, O, Hom, Chan, Head Chef Charlie, and Koh.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

From left, O, Gary and Starr from Rawai.

The resort team from left, Beau, Mayza, Aot and Kartoon.

Musicians Glenn and Rob from the Groove Doctors.

Jim Procanik and son Thomas, 2.

CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE Phuketians celebrated American Independence Day on July 4 at the Friendship Beach Resort in Rawai (top) and at Duke’s Sports Bar in Kata (left and below).

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

ISLAND SCENE 33

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

A GREAT HANGOUT Centra Ashlee Hotel Patong A TOAST TO HEALTH Re Ká Ta Beachfront Restaurant at Boathouse welcomed Asean Health Ministers for dinner on July 5, while the officials were visiting Phuket for the 11th Asean Health Ministers Meeting.

Elite Fitness owners Tim and Jen Gibbons

launched the “Hangout Night Party” at Air Rooftop Bar and Lounge on June 29. Pictured from left are Sudawan Koliyanon, Assistant Sales/PR and Event Manager; Wilawan Chiammanasombut, General Manager; and Chumpon Naakthong, Operations Manager.

WORK YOUR BODY Elite Fitness on the bypass road celebrated its official opening on July 7. The gym opened four months ago and owners Tim and Jen Gibbons plan to open a Chalong branch in the future.

The Elite Fitness team: Jacky, Paul and Pan

BOXING FOR TURTLES Rukchanok Ittinuntawan, Managing Director of Phanason Group, donated B100,000 to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha during a boxing match held at Phuket International Airport on July 6, to raise money to help sea turtles.

Elite Fitness GM Tiya Rakdej and Olivier Julien Dubois

GRADUATION TIME Brian Murray (centre), Managing Director of Galileo Yachting, and Julie Humbert

(second from left), Director of Training of Galileo Yachting, pictured with the first batch of students to graduate from the Galileo Training Centre in Thalang. They held a graduation party on June 28 to celebrate the completion of the students’ two-week yacht stewardess training.

thephuketnews.com

34 EVENTS

THE PHUKET NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

JUNE 23 - AUGUST 25

JULY 14

JULY 19 Seafood Extravaganza 6pm until late with live music. All you can eat: Dill prawns, Hot smoked prawns, Our famous pepper smoked salmon, Gravad salmon, White wine mussels, Bouillabaisse, pork tenderloin, Grilled vegetable terrine with pesto and goat cheese, Caviar pie with cream cheese layer, Swedish Cinnamon rolls, Mixed berry crisp, Apple pumpkin, Walnut strudel, Swedish chocolate balls and much much more. All this and more only B595, children 3-12 years B295. For more info 076 330 065, www.twochefs.com www. facebook.com/twochefsthailand

JULY 26 Pegasus Bay New Zealand Wine Dinner We invite you to join us at our ocean front restaurant for a four-course wine dinner featuring wines from Pegasus Bay, an award winning winery in New Zealand. Full menu details can be found on our website. Main Course Pork two ways - Crisp braised belly on herb mash, tenderloin bacon and caramelized apple roulade with red cabbage and chanterelle “Pegasus Bay Pinot noir 2008”. Contact Mom Tri’s Kitchen at Villa Royale, Kata Noi, 076 333 568, www.momtriphuket.com.

WAHOO THAILAND 2013

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Organic Salad Bar, Pasta, Side Dishes, and Monsoon Valley Wine. B550 per person for food only. B700 per person BBQ with one glass of Monsoon Valley Wine.

B900 per person BBQ with free flow of Monsoon Valley Wine. Contact DiVine Restaurant at 076 336 000 ext. 5070, email: dining@thanyapura.com.

JULY 28

Summer Family Festival Laguna Phuket’s Summer Family Festival runs until August 25. Canal Shopping Village is transformed into a carnival playground, with a Beer Tent for parents to socialise and relax while their youngsters enjoy the Kidzsole Flying Trapeze, bouncy castle, trampoline and games in the Kidz Lounge.

Festival attractions during the two months include art classes with an Artistin-Residence, free Zumba fitness sessions twice a week in Canal Village, entertainment by a strolling troupe of international performers from the famous Palazzo dinner theatre, and theme parties.

The Beer Tent offers a feast of televised big screen summer sporting events with coverage London Olympic Games, F1 grand prix races and AFL games, as well as a variety of entertainment, weekly quiz night and happy hour drinks.

And a popular return attraction for the youngsters at this year’s festival will be the Kidz Fun Zone, serving up daily afternoons of sports skills, cooking lessons, adventure and educational activities, golf excursions and outings to local amusement parks, for just B200 per session. For more information, a schedule of events and details on promotions, please visit http://www.lagunaphuket.com/events/ family-festival.

JULY 14 - AUGUST 17

SPORT FISHING TOURNAMENT Offshore The Similan Islands

Fantastic Wine Dinner!

Come join us on Saturday July 14 at Novotel Phuket Resort for a fantastic evening of food tasting paired with great wines that will awaken your senses! 5 courses specially prepared by our reputable guest chef Daniel Isberg with five wines selected and presented by our wine expert, plus welcome drink.

Just B2,450 net. Only with reservations: 076 342 777 or sfb@novotel phuket.com.

JULY 20

Art Dinner with Michael Earle Six paintings of Phuket artist Watcharin Rodnit inspire Chef Pablo Blattmann to create a magnificent six course gourmet dinner. Very limited space! Book now, and enjoy a splendid evening of two combined forms of Art. B2,500 net per person include wines. Contact 076 325 182, info@dedosrestaurant.com.

Dusit Smiles Bowling Cup 2012 Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket will hold its second bowling tournament, the Dusit Charity Cup 2012, on July 28, 2012 at CS Bowl, Big C Supercentre Phuket. The winning team will be awarded the Governor’s Cup trophy inscribed by Phuket Governor Tri Augaradacha. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards the ongoing “Dusit Smiles – Operation Smile Thailand” programme.

For the Dusit Charity Cup 2012, a registration fee of B1,500 per team covers the rental of bowling shoes and refreshments.

Contact Ms. Sirintra Chatnoe, 076 362 999 ext 7413, www.dusit.com.

JULY 29

JULY 23 - 27

19th - 21st February 2013

Proudly organised by the Rawai Beach Fishing Club, (RBFC) Phuket, Thailand.

57 hours of non - Stop fishing!

Huge media coverage!

CASH AND PRIZES TOTALING OVER APPROX. 3,000,000 BAHT ($100,000) For further details please contact Warren Crowe or Andy Bright info@rawaibeachfishingclub.com Warren tel: +66 (0) 812604291 Andy tel: +66 (0) 862739948 Website: www.rawaibeachfishingclub.com RAWAI BEACH FISHING CLUB IS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR CLUB OF THE INTERNATIONAL GAME FISHING ASSOCIATION. RBFC SUPPORTS IGFA’S STANDARDS OF GOOD SPORTMANSHIP IN RECREATIONAL FISHING

Robin Gillow @ VR Gallery Divided by an ocean, yet linked through art and friendship, Phuket based artist Robin Gillow and South African artist, Libby Harrison will be showing their newest work in this joint exhibit. The exhibition’s ocean related theme, perfectly suits the art duo’s subject matter. Contact Mom Tri’s VR Gallery, 076 333 568. See www.momtriphuket. com.

AUGUST 12 HM the Queen’s Birthday BBQ Lovers BBQ Lovers at DiVine Restaurant July 2327, 2012 at 6pm - 9pm. Sizzling BBQ with

Commemorates the birthday of Queen Sirikit, also observed as National Mother’s Day (Wan Mae Haeng Chart). It is a public holiday.

www.phuketticketmaster.com

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

EVENTS 35

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

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

ONGOING EVENTS

more. Our house band will be here to play live music. B495 or B795 include free flow Chang draught and Sangria. See www. twochefs.com, call 076 286 479, karon@ twochefs.com.

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

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Curry Fridays at Navrang Mahal Every 1st and 3rd Friday a month, all-youcan-eat authentic Indian curry buffet, B449 net per person. Draught beer B50. 7pm11.30pm. Call 076 286 464.

SATURDAYS

AA Phuket Meetings @ TGM

Lazy Sunday Jazz Morning at Paresa Kick back and enjoy a lazy Sunday breakfast at Paresa with jazz music, free flow sparkling wine and stunning selection of breakfast dishes. Spend the rest of the day at Paresa’s Infinity Pool or Beach Club.

B600++ per person. Every Sunday 9am to noon. Call 076 302 000.

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

EVERY DAY

MONDAYS Surin Beach Just Got Better

Two Chefs Saturday Brunch At Two Chefs Kata Centre. Every Saturday 12pm-3pm, you can enjoy a big delicious buffet with a touch of Scandinavia, and listen to our live music. For example: Our home-smoked salmon, smoked prawns, Swedish meatballs, roasted porkloin, home-made bread, delicious desserts and much more. B395 or B695 include free flow of Chang draught, wine, Sangria.

See www.twochefs.com, 076 330 065, katacenter@twochefs.com.

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Two Chefs Surf Night At Two Chefs Kata Beach. Every Monday from 6pm-12am. You can enjoy our big BBQ Buffet with Blackened red snapper, beef burgers, Chicken Fajitas, Tacos, Chimi-Churri marinated chicken, desserts from our bakery and much more. One member from our house band will sing pleasant music during the night. Only B495. See www.twochefs.com, 076 284 155, kata@ twochefs.com.

Sea Breeze has joined forces with The Burger Bar and Beach Club to bring you not only superb Thai cuisine in a beach front setting but also an excellent range of gourmet 100% Australian beef burgers.

To celebrate we are offering up to two free kids meals with any two full paying adults.

Look for the voucher inside this paper.

Live sport every day including our 100” HD screen. Ask about our new Pool Club, plus kids and adults parties planned and catered for. Contact 076 270 399, info@ seabreezesurin.com, www.thebestbeach club.com.

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TUESDAYS

JULY 13 IBAP Networking Phuket Remember Our July meeting will present a treasure trove of memories and stories about Phuket from 30 years ago. Can you imagine hearing what it was like here 30 years ago? Well, our July programme will be filled with pictures and stories of just that. Location A2 Resort, the bypass road. All welcome. Doors open 6.15pm. http://ibap-phuket.org.

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

SUNDAYS

Summer Promotions!

Starts from 8pm every Wednesday night.

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

Best mini golf in Phuket! Phuket Adventure Mini Golf – fun for everyone! A challenging 18 holes miniature classic championship golf course surrounded by palm trees, stones, water, bamboo and bushes. Designed and built together with Scandinavian Adventure Golf. Whether living close by or here on a fabulous holiday, this is the place for the whole family, friends and couples to enjoy at all times. Contact 076 314 345, 080 147 2468, www.phuketadventuremi nigolf.com.

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Pool Competition at Expat Guesthouse Pool Competition Every Tuesday 9pm Expat Guesthouse Sports Bar, Patong.

See map at www.expatguesthouse.com.

WEDNESDAYS Interactive Pub Quiz Night Traditional Home Cooked Traditional home cooked food, also special club membership for expats entitling members to discounts on food and drink.

Ask Jamie for details. All live sports shown on two giant screens. Sugar Reef opposite Tescos Cherngtalay.

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Two Chefs Tex Mex Night Sunday Roast Pork Sunday Roast Pork or Beef Dinner every Sunday 2pm onwards Expat Hotel, Soi Taipan, Patong. B290 per person. See www. expathotel.com.

At Two Chefs Karon 6pm-1am. Every Wednesday you can enjoy Phuket’s best Mexican food. Chili con carne, Mexican rice, Mexican springrolls, nachos, pork fillet skewers, salmon quesadillas, grilled corn cob, desserts from our bakery and much

daily event updates on Friday 21st Pub & Restaurant Happy hour 6pm-9pm. B60 for beer. Every last Friday in the month free BBQ (start from 6pm.) Call 076 344 133, Tum 081 171 7993, Bas 080 523 5371. E-mail friday_21st@ hotmail.com, facebook: Friday Twentyone.

thephuketnews.com

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

JOBS

Beautiful hilltop land up for sale

Six rai located near Mission Hills > 40

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

Wanted Admin Asst.

Part Time: One or two

Class Act Media is Phuket's leading media company - publishing The Phuket News , Phuket's leading weekly English Newspaper and broadcasting Live 89.5 – Phuket's premier English radio station. Class Act Media also has other publications and a host of other products in Phuket and Samui.

days plus one evening per week to start. Must be fluent in English and Thai. For details call Larry on 081 487 4812 or email lamsden@phuket. ksc.co.th.

English speaking female driver. High end separate accommodation available.

Call 089 054 4354.

As Phuket’s most exciting and unique resort, nowhere else comes close to The Village Coconut Island.

Set on a private island just five hundred metres off the east coast of Phuket, The Village offers a range of beautifully designed luxury villas and suites to rent, superb leisure facilities, and fantastic dining options.

Front Office Manager

Due to recent expansions we are seeking the following position

Sales Manager Thai or Foreigner (Located in Phuket) Responsibilities : - Managing the sales team (including responsibility for recruitment of new sales staff when needed) - Weekly & monthly sales budget meetings and reporting - Developing and following up new sales leads - Reaching own personal sales targets and responsibility for reaching team targets We offer: - Competitive salary, bonuses and travel expenses - Friendly work environment - Social security (10%) paid by the company - Excellent career progress opportunity ***The company may offer accommodation plus local transportation costs to successful candidates.***

Interested candidates are invited to send application with full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience, expected salary with recent photo via email to adminmgr@the phuketnews.com

Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

adminmgr@thephuketnews.com or call 076 612 550-2 for more info.

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Job Responsibilities :• Assist the Resort Management with the supervision of the front office staff, from maintaining proper cash control to guest service standards on a day-to-day basis • Attend to Guests’ enquiries, requests, complaints and compliments • Monitor departmental costs to ensure performance against budget • Ensure proper training and procedures are in place to ensure provision of quality services • Record the details of events and take necessary actions • Supervise Reception personnel to ensure optimum occupancy • Monitors Front Office personnel to ensure guests receive warm attention and personal recognition.

• To oversea and manage the resort porter/ concierge service • Ensure that that Front of House area is tidy, warm and welcoming at all times • Informs other operating departments, notably Housekeeping of all Front Office matters that concerns them

Construction consultant: Looking for construction consultant overlooking renovation of a large property, weekly visits and reports. Please send resume and expected salary to info@phuketlp.com.

Semi-retired UK/Canadian businessman seeks Companion: English speaking female only. Free high end separate accommodation. All expenses paid. Call 089 054 4354.

Female Driver Wanted: Semi-retired UK/Ca-

U RG E N T S TA FF WANTED: -Villa Technicians

-English speaking Maids

Qualifications :-

-Villa Supervisor

• A relevant Degree in Hospitality • Minimum five years hotel experience.

• Demonstrated supervisor skills; good judgment and common sense.

• Computer literate • Superior written and oral English communication skills.

• E xcellent organisational and management skills

-Accountant -Villa Handyman -Villa Attendant (Male).

Please contact HR Phuket Villas & Homes.

Call 076 527 633, email hr@phuket villasand homes.com.

Contact : The village coconut island 51/7 Moo. 6 T.Kohkaew A.Muang Phuket 83200 Thailand Tel : 076-352153, 081-9686912

E-mail : Ladawan@thevillage-coconutisland.com, hr@thevillage-coconutisland.com

nadian businessman seeks

www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

We are a newly built boutique hotel which is located in the heart of Patong Beach right next to the Patong Police Station. Blue Sky Patong is surrounded by all the main tourist centres such as the sophisticated shopping centre Junceylon, a colourful nightlife along Bangla Road, or even a short distance to explore many activities along the beachfront area. As a newly built 4 star hotel, we are looking for team members who are service minded and who are willing to act with the organisation's best interests at all times; if you think you are the one with a strong will to achieve the same goals with us, then please do not hesitate to apply. Arrive as a guest, live as a family.

We are currently recruiting for the following positions: General Manager-Qualification: •A degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management or higher with at least five years experience within the hotel industry in Hotel Management.

•Speak, read and write English fluently (it would be an advantage if he/she can speak a second language like Chinese or any other languages) •Good communication and listening skills with a sense of humor •Good accounting & budgeting, administrative & organisational skills •Hard-working, self-motivating, professionalism and a flexible work ethic •Proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Human Resource Manager-Qualification: •Minimum of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business and Organisation Development.

•Ten plus years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources positions •Active affiliation with appropriate Human Resources networks •Excellent interpersonal and coaching skills •General knowledge of various employment laws and practices •Administering compensation, benefits, performance management systems, safety and recreation programs Front Office Manager-Qualification: •A degree in hotel or hospitality management will be preferred •Responsible for all duties of the front desk operation which includes: staff training, inter-department communications, and staff scheduling •FOM usually works a regularly scheduled front desk shift and must be available to work any shift as needed •Possess strong communications and demonstrate leadership abilities •Conduct the functions efficiently with a problem-solving minded •Must have extensive hotel experience, ability and mature judgment

Front Desk Agents-Qualification: •A degree in hotel or hospitality management will be preferred •Involve greeting, providing guests with necessary information •Responsible for promoting various offers and services of the organisation they are working with •Have some basic conflict resolution skills.

•Must be alert and sharp when it comes to their client's details.

•Have excellent communication skills, pleasant personality and should interacting with people

Financial Controller-Qualification: •A degree in accounting, financial discipline with the knowledge of tax laws and regulations would be advantage •Integrity and initiative •Require advanced knowledge of hospitality accounting skills, spreadsheets and financial management software •Previous experience in supervising employees is preferred •Plans, organises, directs and controls the accounting functions of a hotel and reports operational results to the general manager •Ensure timely and accurate report of financial information, handling yearly audits, and long-term financial forecasting

Purchasing Staff-Qualification: •A degree in business, economics or related field is preferred •Experience in purchasing, merchandising and associated fields would be preferred •Check invoices against purchasing department records and purchase orders, and verify the quality and quantity of all goods received •Monitors and controls the purchases of goods and services at the correct prices, in economics quantities and with acceptable quality

Accounts Payable Staff/Account Receivable Staff-Qualification: •A Diploma in accounting or business is preferred •Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, database, and accounting software and the internet •Perform account and month-end payable and receivable reconciliation •Input all approved journal entries into the accounting system

Payroll Staff-Qualification: •A Diploma in principles of accounting, computerised accounting and payroll accounting would be advantage •Experience in accounting field is required •Knowledge of payroll software is preferred •Need to stay updated on payroll tax laws and adjust a system as necessary Sales and Marketing Coordinator-Qualification: •A degree in business, sales administrative, marketing, organisational development or marketing related field •Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, Front Page skills required •Ability to operate under solid pressure and meet tight deadlines •Sound understanding of latest technologies and should identify how to apply them in marketing •Good team player and should meet or exceed team goals Food & Beverage Manager-Qualification: •A degree in service-related field •Significant food and beverage experience at least for five years •Experience of working in positions of high responsibility in the hotel or food and beverage sectors and managing teams of at least 20 staff •To ensure that the customer promise is delivered and that customers are satisfied within the framework of financial targets set •Team management, leadership & team player •Financial awareness Restaurant Manager-Qualification: •A Diploma in service-related field •Significant experience of restaurant management •Dynamism/good relationship skills: maintaining the image of the restaurant •Staff management:recruitment, training, evaaluation and promotion •Monitoring customer service levels •Maximise restaurant occupancy to increase restaurant sales Sou Chef /Team Leader-Qualification: •A degree in Hotel and Food & Beverage studies with at least 3-5 years of culinary management experiences

All potential staff are expected to be fluent in English accordingly to the positions that they have applied. We offer a competitive salary and benefits to the suitable candidates; please send appplication letters with a detailed resume, recent photograph to jayeng89@hotmail.com 081 270 7619

thephuketnews.com

•Manage daily operations of the kitchen and provides professional leadership and direction to kitchen personnel (including staff training) •Ensure that all recipes, food preparations, and presenta tions meet specifications and have a commitment to quality •Maintain a safe, orderly and sanitized kitchen, for instance: using proper food-handling techniques and hygiene control •Manage cost and stock controls, calculations and ordering •Possess the creative flair in menu design •Hands-on, motivational leadership style based in mutual respect Cafe Service Crew-Qualification:

•At least 1-2 years of experience in customer service (Fresh keen learners/graduates are welcome to apply) •Well groomed with a warm and cheerful personality and a professional appearance •Able to work shift, including weekends and public holidays •Maintain set standard of quality, service, product and cleanliness Waiter/Waitress-Qualification: •A Diploma in Hotel studies would be preferred •Good personal presentation •Multi-skilled with good time-keeping •To ensure the guests receive high quality services and service provision Bar Waiter/Waitress-Qualification: •A Diploma in Hotel/Food & Beverage studies would be preferred •Knowledge of drinks and cocktails •Good personal presentation •To ensure the guests receive high quality services and service provision Bar Bartender-Qualification: •A Diploma in Hotel/Food & Beverage studies would be preferred •Knowledge of alcoholics drinks and cocktail recipes •Complete knowledge of health and safety rules •To ensure service and product quality •To look after customer billing and stock of cash Housekeeping-Qualification: •A diploma or the highest level of a high school education •Ensure rooms are stocked and up to industry standards •Positive attitude with customer-service minded and friendly •Should have a neat, clean appearance with a strong attention to detail

THE PHUKET NEWS

JOBS 37

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

JOBS IN PHUKET

List your ad for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

As Phuket’s most exciting and unique resort, nowhere else comes close to The Village Coconut Island.

Set on a private island just five hundred metres off the east coast of Phuket, The Village offers a range of beautifully designed luxury villas and suites to rent, superb leisure facilities, and fantastic dining options.

As Phuket’s most exciting and unique resort, nowhere else comes close to The Village Coconut Island.

Set on a private island just five hundred metres off the east coast of Phuket, The Village offers a range of beautifully designed luxury villas and suites to rent, superb leisure facilities, and fantastic dining options.

Guest Services Agent

Food And Beverage Manager

The Guest Services Agent performs check-in / check-out of hotel guests courteously and efficiently, and processes all payments according to established hotel requirements. He/She provides information to any guest or visitor enquiry.

• Input and access data in system • Listen and respond to guest enquiries • Promote positive relations with all individuals who approach the Front Desk and by telephone • Focus on guests’ needs, remaining calm and courteous • Work with the required computer systems.

• Develop and update the guest history • Handling guest complaints • Ensure security of guest room access • Comply with the grooming and uniform standards • Conduct duties in a courteous, safe and efficient manner, ensuring that the highest level of service and communication in maintained • Comply with all Hotel Standards and Procedures • Actively promote a work environment, which cares for guests and associates alike • Perform any other duties that may be assigned to him/her

Responsibilities :

• M onitor and maintain cleanliness, sanitation and organization of assigned work areas.

• Design and implement restaurant menu and menu for staff canteen • Efficiently operate with food and labor cost controls and plays an active role in contributing to the restaurant’s profits.

• Maintain operational control of purchasing, receiving, and inventory of all kitchen items.

• Establish measurable goals and objectives that focus on profit, product and people.

• Ensure kitchen equipment is properly maintained and functioning.

• Actively interact with guests and consistently coaches staff on guest relations skills.

• Maintain positive guest relations at all times.

• Resolve guest complaints, ensuring guest satisfaction.

• Review the market list.

• Monitor performance of staff and ensure all procedures are completed to the department standards.

• Manage and co-ordinate the service management and staff.

• Be responsible for appearance, ambiance and decoration of all outlets.

• Develop new menu items, test and write recipes.

• Review sales and food cost daily, resolve any discrepancies.

• M inimize waste and maintain controls to attain forecasted food and labor costs.

BASIC PURPOSE : Plan and manage the Human Resources and operations of the Food and Beverage department to achieve customer (guest, employees, corporate and owners) satisfaction and quality service while meeting/exceeding financial goals.

ORGANIZATIONAL SCOPE : Position is responsible for long and short term planning and day-to-day operations of the kitchen and management of outlet(s) and banquet operations. Develops and recommends the budget, marketing plans and objectives and manages within those approved plans. Participate in total hotel management as a member of the Hotel Senior Management team.

Requirements:

• Graduate of renowned hospitality institutions • Relevant experience in upscale luxury hospitality environment • E xcellent command of English in both verbal and written communication • Confident with a pleasant disposition and well groomed • Ability to work under pressure and on rotating shifts

• Strong leadership quality with excellent communication and interpersonal skills • E xcellent people and team management skills • Strong cost management, analytical and conceptualization skills • Self driven, creative and has passion in the FandB field • M inimum 5 years’ relevant experience with a proven track record in similar capacity • Effectively conversant in fluent English

Contact : The village coconut island 51/7 Moo. 6 T.Kohkaew A.Muang Phuket 83200 Thailand Tel : 076-352153, 081-9686912

Contact : The village coconut island 51/7 Moo. 6 T.Kohkaew A.Muang Phuket 83200 Thailand Tel : 076-352153, 081-9686912

Requirements:

E-mail : Ladawan@thevillage-coconutisland.com, hr@thevillage-coconutisland.com

Executive Chef

The Food and Beverage Manager is to direct and organise the activities of the Food and Beverage department in maintaining high standards of the operation in quality and service and to maximize profits. Extensive experience in restaurant, bar, banquet, stewarding, kitchen, sales, catering required; leadership and motivational skills essential; a culinary background including sales and service also required; college degree in a related field preferred.

Responsibilities:

As Phuket’s most exciting and unique resort, nowhere else comes close to The Village Coconut Island.

Set on a private island just five hundred metres off the east coast of Phuket, The Village offers a range of beautifully designed luxury villas and suites to rent, superb leisure facilities, and fantastic dining options.

Qualifications :

• At least 5 years prior experience in a similar role.

• At least 5 years of management experience in food and beverage.

• E xperience in labor and food cost control.

• E xperience planning and developing menus and recipes.

• Strong verbal & written communication and organizational skills.

• Strong coaching and development skills.

• E xcellent customer service skills.

• A bility to lead and mentor a team.

• Professional appearance and demeanor.

• A bility to speak , read and write in English.

• Thai Language an advantage

E-mail : Ladawan@thevillage-coconutisland.com, hr@thevillage-coconutisland.com

www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

Sales And Marketing Photo Tours is looking for English skills are required.

Executive: Thai, self a Thai Freelance Photog- Fixed salary B15,000 plus

Yo g a I n s t r u c t o r work at Fitness: Newly open Elite Fitness is looking for a yoga instructor to work at Fitness. Full time or part time. Thai or Foreigner.

Contact 089 600 0041, email : tiya@elitegyms. net.

motivated, fluent in speaking and writing English, driving license, preferably experience in ad sales or proper ty field, competitive salary plus commission. See Exotiq Property.

Please call 076 527 568.

rapher to perk up tourist activities in Phuket. Excellent knowledge of English is required. CV and photo at info@phuketphototours. com.

Assistant to Car Hire Company: Thai male

Thai Freelance Pho- to help with daily routine t o g r a p h e r : P h u k e t work. Driving license and

Class Act Media is southern Thailand's most comprehensive media company, incorporating Phuket’s leading English newspaper (The Phuket News), Phuket’s leading English radio station (Live 89.5 Radio), a host of print publications such as The Phuket Colouring book as well as Phuket’s leading Events company (Events Thailand).

We are currently expanding into TV and will be setting up a new English TV production company/ station. The station will start airing in October/November 2012 and will offer English news as well as a host of travel, topical programs and features.

How would you like to join a young dynamic radio organisation?: We are looking

for an EXPERIENCED ENGLISH speaking FEMALE Thai radio presenter to be part of our ever expanding team.

This position is based in Phuket and could be either full time or part time depending on salary and experience.

If this interests you then please send am mp3 demo of three minutes (no demo no reply) to manager@phuketlive radio.com.

TV Presenter/ Producer (Thai or Foreigner) We are currently recruiting for a TV Presenter/producer to join our team to present/produce our news and other feature programmes.

TV Cameraman (Thai only)

We are currently recruiting for a TV Cameraman to join our

team to film external and internal (in studio) features.

TV Editor (Thai only)

We are currently recruiting for a TV Editor to join our team to edit our news and other feature programmes.

We offer:

- Competitive salary - Friendly work environment and being part of Phuket’s fastest growing media company - Excellent progress opportunity and job security Please email full resume in English indicating expected salary with recent photo to

info@thephuketnews.com or call 076 612 550-2 for more info.

social security. Send resume with recent photo to info@phuketdrive.com.

Contact : The village coconut island 51/7 Moo. 6 T.Kohkaew A.Muang Phuket 83200 Thailand Tel : 076-352153, 081-9686912

E-mail : Ladawan@thevillage-coconutisland.com, hr@thevillage-coconutisland.com

www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

British International School, Phuket (BIS)

British International School, Phuket is looking for candidates to �ill positions in the following areas:

IT Coordinator

Quali�ications • Thai Nationality, Bachelor’s Degree • Computer skills including using Microsoft Word and Excel • Ability to communicate in and write in English • Good organization skills and the ability to multitask Key Tasks • Coordinate daily work schedules for technicians • Coordinate IT related tasks with other departments • Contact person for students, staff and parents on IT related issues, particularly computer maintenance • Secretarial work for the IT department

Senior Secretary (Primary School)

Quali�ications • Thai Nationality • A Bachelor’s or Masters Degree either in business administration, education or any related �ields • Excellent English pro�iciency & computer literacy • Experience in working in a multicultural environment and supervising of�ice staff • Good people skills • Detail oriented & good decision making skills • Good organization skills and the ability to do multitask

Teacher’s Assistant

Quali�ications • Thai Nationality, Bachelor’s Degree in related �ield • Teaching quali�ications and experience of child care / teaching preferable • Good command of spoken and written English • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills • Loves to take care with children

Bene�its : group insurance, uniform, provident fund and etc.

British International School, Phuket (BIS)

59 Moo 2, Thepkrasattri Road, Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83200 Tel. 076 335555 # 2113, 2110 Fax. 076 335573 E-mail : patcharakornt@bisphuket.ac.th or sirirats@bisphuket.ac.th

thephuketnews.com

38 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

BUY&SELL to exit the charter fishing business. For sale ‘02 Bertram 510 Flybridge and ‘91 Tairia sport fishing yacht. Plus website and all past customers. www. phuketfishboat.com, email martin@phuketfishboat.com.

ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE

Samsung SII / Galaxy Note Available for sale, B15,000 > 39

BUSINESS SERVICES

Ventury Van for Sale: Year: July 2008 (4 years) Color: White/brown. Mileage: 218,039km. Price: B1.2 million. Contact 081 803 7189.

Tile It: Thalang. Wana Park on Srisoonthorn Rd. Phuket’s quality tile boutique. Tiles for interior, exterior, residential, commercial. Contact 076 620 168 or 081 424 2828. Email info@tile-asia.com.

CHILDCARE Three Toyota Camry for Sale: Year: 2009,

Indo Construction: 40 For Sale 35 Ft Speedboat: With 200 HP x 2 Yamaha engines. Recently reconditioned, spent B300K to rebuild the engines, paint, etc, needs another B100K to be like new. Offers to James 085 064 4806 alonglee52@ gmail.com.

Friday 21st (Room For Rent) Good cond i t i o n: H i g h S e as o n B800.- per day, B18,000.per month. Low Season B500.- per day, B13,000.per month.

Call 076 344 133, TUM 081 171 7993, BAS 080 523 5371, e-mail: friday_21st@ hotmail.com. Facebook : Friday Twentyone.

Fi shin g Yac h t fo r S a l e: F o r s a l e 19 91

BOATS & YACHTS

Tairia sport fishing yacht USD275,000. Email martin@phuketfishboat.com.

Cement Production Plant: Ready mixed concrete company’s factor y.

446.92 horse power. Output of workers in the production of 22 people per day at an average yield of about 100 Q/ Day (B1,800 per Q). Average revenue per day for about B180,000.

Manufacture of readymixed concrete. Can continue immediately. Just bought a cement truck delivery only.

Ready water source to be used for production. Address: Moo. 4, T. Maikhao, Thalang Dist. Phuket 83110.

Land Size: 20 rai 2 Ngan and 56 talang wah. Price: B130 Million. Contact: Mr. Lee, mobile: 081 803 7189.

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

years’ experience and more than 20 years at your service in Thailand. Main contractor: study project, architecture design and construction and management. 076 381 895.

engine capacity: 2,362 cc, Color: two white and one metallic silver, Navigator.

Price B1.3 million (Negotiable) Contact Mr. Lee, mobile 081 803 7189.

Farang Food Paradise:

Buds Nursery: Phuket’s oldest bilingual international childcare facility. High-quality, time-proven schedule and curriculum. Now in brand new purpose-built school. Experienced native English teachers to teach ages 1 1/2-8. Mon-Fri 8am -5pm. Bus service available from Patong, Karon, Kata, Phuket, Rawai and Chalong.

Website: www.buds-phuket. com.

Your specialist of imported food and drinks in Phuket. Visit our shop at the Billion Plaza, opposite Tesco Lotus. Contact: 076 612 733, 076 248 900. www.phuketfood.com.

CHILDREN’S CLUB Funstart: Family sports and

CARS FOR RENT

Peugeot 207cc

A1 Car Rentals: Fullyinsured. Starts at B12,000 to B18,000 per month. Please call 089 831 4703. Email for more info: a1carrent@gmail. com.

Car for rent: Car in good condition, short and long-term rental with first-class insurance and delivery service. Please contact 086 690 6007, email: k.niwatt@hotmail.com.

leisure club. Swimming/golf/ playcentre/gaming arcade.

Call 076 203 185, 087 882 5544. See funstar tphuket. com.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS Coupe-Cabriolet

B l u e C a nyo n G o l f Membership for Sale:

Ye a r 2 0 0 8 , n e w p r i c e B2,350,000 million NOW FOR SALE. B1,350,000.

Contact 081 788 8280, email: maurice.phuket@gmail.com.

Family lifetime membership, including golf pr ivileges B800,000. Buyer pays transfer fee. 081 487 4812, e-mail lamsden@phuket.ksc.co.th.

ONLY 170,000 BAHT CASH!: October 2011,

Club Asia Fitness:

CARS FOR SALE

Restaurant for sale: L u x u r y Ya c h t f o r Sale: For sale 2002 Ber-

Motor Yacht Freezer for sale: Custom made H60 x D50 x L200cm, was made for a Hatters Motor Yacht 60 Ft in 1998 and still runs very well. Paid U$5K. Make me an offer.

Contact 085 064 4806 or alonglee52@gmail.com.

tram 510 Flybridge luxury yacht. USD825,000. Email mar tin@phuketfishboat. com.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE Charter Fishing Business: Owner is changing business disciplines and wants

thephuketnews.com

Established restaurant located in the heart of the island. New kitchen, toilets, private roof top terrace etc. Two connected shop houses on main road. 40+ seat dining area with room for expansion. Huge owner apartment could be converted into rooms for rent or otherwise. Must see, ready to move in. Owners relocating. Contact us for details and pictures. 081 956 3166.

O l d Cl a s s i c 19 6 0 Benz for Sale: Old classic 1960 Benz. Spent B250,000 to recondition.

Offers accepted. Call 085 064 4806 for more details or alonglee52@googlemail. com.

8,000km. Proton Exora 7/8seat family car. Many options, including GPS, DVD. Price new: B940,000. Now B740,000, or on finance: B570,000 + B170,000 cash.

Call 081 788 8280. Email: maurice.phuket@gmail.com.

Royal Phuket City Hotel.

Of fers Zumba /LesMills classes/ weight training/ s a u n a /s te a m /s w i m m i n g pool, all inclusive. For a free trial workout, come along and join the action. Tel 076 35 4 027, 087 275 3614. www.clubasiaphuket.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 39

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php

BUY & SELL IN PHUKET all major brands. Contact 076 355 600-1.

CLUBS & MEMBERSHIPS SK A L I nt er nat ional Phuket: Skål is a profes-

PET FOR SALE

sional organisation of leaders from all branches of the travel and tourism industry. www.skalphuket.org.

1982 Lafitte Rothschild: 1982 Lafitte Rothschild Red Wine for sale, best offer. I bought it for my collection before. Please call me, James on 085 064 4806.

Singapore Club Phuket: Calling all Singaporeans in Phuket to join Singapore Club Phuket. Contact Robin on 081 803 7189, 076 303 500.

COOKING CLASS

Clearance Sale: Techworx clearance sale: amplifiers, speakers, network kit, printers, media players and servers Email daragh@ techworx.asia for detail list.

MOBILE PHONES FOR SALE

We Sell Boxes & Moving Supplies: At MY STORAGE Self Storage you can buy quality moving and packing supplies like individual boxes, bubble wrap, packing tapes & knives plus secure padlocks. We also help you to move and store.

Call 076 292 909.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT Semi- retired UK /Canadian businessman seeks Companion: English speaking female only. Free high end separate accommodation. All expenses paid. Call 089 054 4354.

PERSONAL SERVICES Samsung SII / Galaxy Note: Samsung SII, four Phuket Cooking Academy: Offers many cooking and baking classes in our top-class professional facilities. Come to learn how to cook with our professional chefs and discover the art of bakery, and Thai and European cuisines. Open to all from the age of 12 years old and without any prior cooking experience. For more info visit us at: www. phuket-cooking-academy. com or call 081 821 40 64.

beautiful dogs and puppies available for adoption. Fully vaccinated and sterilised.

Please contact 085 574 4258 or email cindy@soidog.org.

Second Hand Goods for Sale: Executive Tables and More. Contact 081 978 2725 for details. Prices are negotiable.

normal batteries, two double batteries with special back covers, two charging docks, plug in wall charger B15,000. And Samsung Galaxy Note, white B15,000.

Call 084 443 9863.

Bon Café Phuket: A producer of premium coffee blends and powdered mixes as well as selling, maintaining, servicing and repairing

Persian Kitten for Sale:

Buon A p p et i to: D e li market and bistro. Number one supplier of Italian Deli in Phuket. Call 076 384 273, info@buonappetitogroup.com, www.buonappetito group.com.

Purebred female Persian kitten looking for a good home.

Born May 28 - available to take home in August. Call 084 676 6663 (Thai + English) or email miko_ blackbird@ho tmail.co.th(Thai +English) for more info.

PET HOSPITAL Chaofah Pet Hospital:

Haris & Hawr yluck Attorneys at Law: Unit

8/28–29 Moo 9, Chaofah East Road. Contact 076 283 365.

6D CCM Complex. Please call 076 510 111, email info@ hhlegaladvisors.com, www. hhlegaladvisors.com.

POOL TABLES

PET ADOPTION Why buy a pet?: Soi Dog Foundation have over 300

Phuket Pool Tables: www. phuketpooltables.com. Your number one billiard and snooker supplier in Phuket. Sales, rent and profit-sharing. All accessories and services. Call 081 823 4627.

MOTORBIKE FOR SALE Repossessed Motorbikes: -2011 Finos from 26,000B. -2011 Scoopys from 29,000B.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS FOR SALE

King Size Mattress 4 Sale: Serta ‘Posture Guard’ King size mattress.

Originally bought from Index for B10,000. Only 1.5years old. Some slight scratching on the side but does not affect the mattress. B3,500 o.n.o. Call 088 768 6183

-2011 Clicks from 29,000B. Safeway Asia main Highway Thalang (next to Shell Gas Station). Contact 076 313 235, 081 125 1873.

MOTORBIKE SERVICES Dynamic Tyre Balancing: Dynamically balance your motorcycle tyres for a smoother ride with DYNA BEADS! Available at West Coast Service Center Phuket, your big bike specialist on the bypass road. Contact 085 785 4440.

Baby and Maternity Items for Sale: Gently used Maternity clothes and baby items including a Graco Playard, bottle sterilizers, Avent bottles, pop-up tent, Met Tai carrier. Located in Chalong. Email for photos and prices at kiriheald@ gmail.com.

Health Food : Online health food in Thailand. Good Karma, all natural healthy, natural and organic products. Contact 082 276 1675. www.goodkarmathailand.com.

Sale: Furniture and paintings: Set living room (sofa, two chairs, foot stool), Dining table with 6 chairs, cabinets, TV stand.

Excellent quality. Abstract paintings by Filipino Ivan Acuna. Pictures and prices: see website furniture4sale. com or call: 084 399 8978.

MOVING & STORAGE Safeway Storage: - Self storage from B800/M. -Container rental B3,000/M -Sales/ Site office A/C B6,000/M. -Mobile toilets B2,800/M. Chalong - opposite Wat Chalong. Thalang -main Highway. Contact 076 313 235, 081 125 1873.

thephuketnews.com

40 CLASSIFIEDS

THE PHUKET NEWS

PROPERTY Close to PIA school, golf, beach and airport. Email gor don_asia@hotmail.com.

PROPERTY CONCIERGE

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Mission Heights Residence

Designed specially for families > 41

Discount Rentals Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Lease LUXURY VILLAS NEAR LAGUNA

stairs, walls, 2 bedrooms.

Land 330 sq metre, peaceful location, five minutes to Patong, Chanote title. B5.5 million. 086 268 8701, email: f430spiderf1@hotmail.com.

Info: 089 594 4067 4 bath, jacuzzi bath, private pool. The striking two-storey homes feature a grand living room and dining area, kitchen.

TV, DVD/CD player, internet Wifi. 089 727 7477, www.baanmarimar.com.

Luxury Private Pool Villas: Brand New Bali

Selling or Renting Your Property?: We Loft Style Flat: Secure,

have buyers for foreign freehold, sea view properties and land. Call 080 143 2929 or visit realestate.phuket. net.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

65% Off in Low Season!: This Peninsula Villa Phuket is located in Cape Panwa. Phuket. This villa has swimming pool, aircon. and WiFi. Below rates are daily.

Weekly and monthly rates available upon on request.

Rawai B eachf ront Pool Villa: Rawai Beach

Big Luxury Villa: Pool, Laguna, designed for comfort.

Has everything+spa, B32,000 lease. Call 089 594 4067.

quiet, spacious, new decoration. Great location for exercise. Long-term rental. 086 664 5575.

• Standard room, share toilet and shower B1,000 • Deluxe room B1,500 • Superior room B2,500 • Penthouse B10,000. Please call James 085 0 64 4806 or email to alonglee52@gmail. com.

front pool villa for rent/sale.3 bed rooms,furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.

3 Bedroom Furnished:

Luxury Pool Villa: La-

B11,000 per month, one bathroom, lock up garage and carport on 800 sq metre lot.

guna, quality furnishings spa, bar, security, BBQ. B22,000 lease. Call 089 594 4067.

for rent in Rawai Beach, 3 bed

tiful hilltop land near Mission Hills golf club, was 4.2million baht per rai now drastically reduced to *B3.2 million per rai* for very quick sale, full chanote, water/electric, office, sea/mountain views.

Call 087 978 5804(Eng), stanjsmith25@yahoo.com

Luxur y Condo Kata Beach: Stunning seaview 5

RETAIL SPACE OPPORTUNITY: Large inHouse Villa for rent: Villa

Land for sale: 6 rai beau-

style three and four Bed Villas, one km to Nai Harn Beach. High Rental guaranteed Investment. Prices from B12.9 million (include full furniture pkg). Enquiries sakt27@gmail.com, call +66 (0)87 897 4421.

star, 1 bedroom lounge kitchen, microwave, satellite TV, DVD WiFi. Weekly/Monthly rates.

Call James 090 864 4519.

ternational resort in Karon seeks retail tenant. Excellent year round occupancy, flexible rental terms.Must sell quality merchandise.

Contact Khun Boonchu, call 076 396 200–5, Email: fcckr@chr.co.th.

Villa for sale or lease: This Peninsula Villa Phuket was valued by Night & Frank realty recently at B123 million. It has 12 rooms, common swimming pool and gym facility. Give us an offer.

Contact alonglee52@gmail. com.

WRITE YOUR CLASSIFIED FREE ONLINE: 189 CHARACTERS + 1 PICTURE Headline:

Golf Villa for sale/ lease: The Lake View

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House Villa for rent:

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Villa for rent in Rawai Beach, 3 Bed 4 Bath Jacuzzi Bath, Private pool, The striking two-storey homes feature a grand living room and dining area, kitchen. TV, DVD/CD Player, Internet Wifi. 089 727 7477, www.baanmari mar.com.

Rawai B eachf ront Pool Villa: Rawai Beach front pool villa for rent/sale.3 bed rooms,furnished. Contact Siriporn on 089 649 9939.

Golf Villa is only three years old located at Loch Palm Golf Club Phuket. Bought for B32.5 million plus landscape and renovation B6.3 million. Four bedroom plus extra room and pool. Any offers welcome. alonglee52@ gmail.com.

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Online upgrades:

Website link B199

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UPGRADE TO PREMIUM

FOR JUST B1,099 GET AN ADDITIONAL 9 PICTURES

PLUS 1 ISSUE IN THE PRINT COPY OF THE PHUKET NEWS Print upgrades:

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DEADLINE: MONDAY 11.59PM (MIDNIGHT) FOR THAT FRIDAY’S ISSUE Hand this in at agent shops, our office or fax: 076 612 553

thephuketnews.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE Kamala Two Brand New Villas: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, Western kitchen, 130 sq metre. Nice garden with large pool in quiet area.

Price: B5.5 million or minimum three- month rental. Call 081 496 9070 (Eng/Swedish) or 081 719 1175 (Thai).

Thai Style House for Sale: Teak wood f loors,

Kathu : Ser viced Land for Sale: Near the British International School, 500 sq. m. including road, water, electricity and security. B3,000,000. Call 089 724 7211. E-mail julien@ phuketimmo.com.

Nice One Rai in Chalong: Reduced, just B6 million now. 200m off main road near Chalong temple. Full chanote title.

Call 087 053 6181/089 651 3479. Email philcroker69@ hotmail.com.

THE PHUKET NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 41

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

List your advert for FREE at thephuketnews.com/classifieds.php Situated in a well established housing complex in Rawai over looking a peaceful, fish filled lake. Email for plans. Call 081 270 4291.

PROPERTY FOR SALE CONT.

House in Patong for Sale: Very nice townhouse

SEAVIEW LAND FOR SALE: Near Chalong pier,

for sale, 3 floors,3 bathrooms, living-room,kitchen,3 sleeping rooms, roof-terrace, parking, good location, 200 square meter living area. Must see. Call 084 188 4544, e-mail: michahild ner@hotmail.com.

150 metres from the sea.

Three rai and one ngan plot.

Chanote title. Price: B25 million per rai. No agent. Call 087 278 7206

Renovated Condo for Sale: Patong near Simon Cabaret, 50sq metre huge pool and garden area. Everything new fully furnished plus kitchen, free hold. Sale B3 million, no stupid offers. Thai 087 621 3405/ English. Contact 085 471 9246.

6.1 Rai Land for Sale: 6.1 rai (10,000sq metre).

B2,500,000 per rai. Total price: B15,600,000. - 5 minutes to Naithon Beach. -10 minutes to Naiyang Beach.

-10 minutes to Airport. -7 minutes to New Tesco Lotus.

- Roadside land and Chanote title. Call 085 793 2718.

Allamanda (Laguna) Residences/Phuket: Phuket- Surin Beach Area for Sale: Chan ote title at Manik-township.

20x25 meter in natural surrounding, B2.6 million. Free design+construction permit.

Phone 087 275 9621, email nuttapol_trateng@yahoo.com.

Petchabun Land for Sale: 8 Rai+448sq metre.

Chanote title and close to main road. One year teak plant on the land. Call 087 284 6142 or email blue girl83150@ yahoo.com.

PROPERTY IN PHUKET

Beach Front Plots: Located opposite of Yacht Haven Marina in a very peaceful, natural environment. Ready to build, electricity and water on site, road and boat access. 2 Rai plots each with 60 metre of ocean frontage, perfect for living as well as investment. For sale direct from owner, price only B12 million. Call 081 343 0777.

One Condo Unit, half of a deluxe twin house, fully furnished and equipped, set direct on the picturesque lagoon with balcony right over it. 3 Bedrooms each with shower/bathroom, roof terrace. Longterm rent or sale. 081 737 0365, utai pan@yahoo.com.

Condo in Phuket Town for Sale/Rent: New condo, 1 bed, fully-furnished, WiFi, maid service, sea view. Call 081 893 5188.

Rawai Pool Villa: Unique three bedroom pool villa “off the plan”. Three easy payments over seven months.

Mission Heights Residence

Designed specially for families, the Mission Heights Residence offer very spacious 540 Sqm houses, all with 12 meter long swimming pool, 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, guest bungalow, maid quarter and a nice garden in a very secure, children friendly environment only couple of minutes from Phuket International Academy.

Modern, New Two-Storey Villa for Sale: Living space 200 m2, balcony. terraces, three beds, two baths, furnished, ADSL, tropical garden, calmly gated village, clubhouse pool/tennis court, near Phuket Town, shopping, Rawai-Naiharn beach. Call 089 593 8690, ruen_narayan@hotmail.com.

Land for Sale Mission Hills: 800 sq metre 1300 sq metre 1600 sq metre.

Very quiet and private locations, very close to airport, Tesco, Golf courses and Phuket International Academy. All Chanote title from B1.7 million. Contact 087 276 0529.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

MY STORAGE– The Home E x tension: Store your belongings at MY STOR AGE Storage solutions to home space problems arising from situations such as: moving, renovating, relocation, travel or simply lack storage space at home.

Call 076 292 909.

Located only 10 minutes from airport, Grand Ao Por Marina, new Tesco Shopping center, 2 golf courses, Naiyang beach, Thanyapura sport / leisure center and international school, the Mission Heights Residence is a perfect place to live for families without traffic in a very peaceful, secure and natural surrounding.

The Villas currently under construction being built to highest western standard and are launched at only 13.9 million Baht for the first 3 houses. For appointment or more details contact project director, Khun Montha at 088 751 1750 or email mission_ heights@yahoo.com.

Villa Resort Style: Villa resort style six bedroom, Located in peaceful area South of Phuket,Rawai. This villa has been designed and furnished to the highest standards. Contact 088 178 1845, email min tra99@gmail.com.

THE SUNRISE OCEAN VILLAS

After a great success of the first phase, the Sunrise Ocean Villas is now starting to build the 8 other villas of "Phase2". The price of 17.9 million baht makes the project one of the most competitive on the island for being only 60m from the beach.

Each villa has a living area of over 300 sqm, has 3 spacious bedrooms, all sea views, 5 bathrooms, a 10x4m infinity pool, maid's quar ter and a covered 2-car parking. The houses are specially designed to guarantee complete privacy, with an open panoramic view of the sea.

Come visit the villas and you will be wonder fully surprised by the quality of the project as well as the quality of life you can find here.

For appointment or more details, contact the project director Khun Montha at 081 343 0777 (Thai, English & German) Email: thesunrisevillas@yahoo. com.

www.thesunrisevillas.com 400sq metre Beatuiful Land for Sale: In soi Suksan, The land has views of the Nai Harn and Rawai mountains, and would be ideal for a family home. Ready to build.

Quality western villas on the same soi. 089 973 1180.

thephuketnews.com

42 TRADES/SERVICES

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

EQUIPMENT SALES & RENTAL

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SPORTING SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

REMOVALS

MARINE SERVICES

STORAGE

Wana Park, Srisoonthron Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Tel 076 620168 info@tile-asia.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Reserve Your Storage Space

Call 076 29 29 09

or visit mystorageasia.com

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

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

SWIMMING POOLS

w w w. e m

p ir e p o o ls p h u k e t . c o m

1,800 baht pool service

for the first 20 customers (standard size pool)

19/43, 19/45 Moo 7, Srisoontorn Rd, T. Srisoontorn, A. Thalang, Phuket 83110.

Tel: 076-620113 or 084-8506140 Fax: 076-620015

thephuketnews.com

THE PHUKET NEWS

PHUKET SPORT 43

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

New body fighting to bring MMA back to the Kingdom MARTIAL ARTS Jean-Pierre Mestanza editor2@thephuketnews.com

W

hen the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT ) de cide d to ban Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events back in March this year, many athletes jumped ship and took their training to nearby countries.

Though MMA training is still allowed in Thailand – the ban covered only competitive fights – the ruling was just the latest event in the deterioration of the sport in Asia, which began with the collapse of Suraya Khan, CEO and Owner of the ASEAN Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation.

PRIDE FC in 2007.

Now, a new organisation to have their own MMA As- tries,” Suraya Khan, CEO and forward to what the federation is working to not only bring Owner of ASEAN BJJF, said. has in store.” sociation.

MMA back to Thailand, but Khan was at Phuket’s Tiger Khan is also the president Working with the govalso become a ruling body for ernment authorities of each Muay Thai and MMA Training of the newly created Malaysian the sport in Asia. country, ASEAN BJJF would Camp last week to discuss the MMA Association, working The Association of South be an umbrella organisation for future of the sport in Thailand with the government to regulate East Asian Nations Brazilian all of the MMA associations with the camp’s general man- the sport in that country.

Jiu Jitsu Federation (ASEAN – essentially becoming the ager, Will Elliott.

Due to it’s centralised locaBJJF) is laying the groundwork regulating body of the sport.

“The possibility of having tion, the ASEAN BJJF would for each ASEAN country (con“Currently, there is no body legally sanctioned MMA fights be headquartered in Malaysia, sisting of Malaysia, Thailand, governing MMA in Asia. We in Thailand is exciting,” Elliott which may become a regional Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, want to be able to do central- said, “It’s important to keep centre for the sport.

Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, After Thailand decided to ised ruling for all of the coun- discussing this issue and I look Philippines, and Singapore)

IN BRIEF Viewers left in the dark – again TV viewers across Phuket and Thailand could be stuck watching nothing but a black screen during the Olympics, a free-TV executive has told The Bangkok Post.

The Television Pool of Thailand (TV Pool) has bought only free-to-air terrestrial broadcast rights for the Games, meaning the “black screen” phenomenon similar to what occurred during last month’s Euro 2012 football tournament could happen again.

People still using a conventional television antenna would not be affected, but True Visions are the only cable providers.

Multihulls set sail ban MMA, many suspected it was to protect the national sport of Muay Thai. The trend has continued in other countries, evidenced by the collapse of other MMA promotions in the past few years, including Spirit FC in Korea and Sengoku Raiden Championships in Japan.

With the exception of ONE FC, big time promotions in Asia are few and far between.

The 5th Phuket Multihull championship is being held this weekend, beginning yesterday (July 12) and running through until Sunday (July 15).

Racing is being run from the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC), with courses set in the waters around southern Phuket. There are two classes: Firefly 850 One Design and Ocean Multihulls.

More info: acyc.asia

THE RACQUETEERS A total of 12 tennis clubs from Phuket, Phang Nga, Trang and Krabi provinces recently competed at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club’s Tennis Doubles Championship. The tournament was held from June 29 – July 1.

Over 90 Cities, One Perfect Gateway.

SilkAir and Singapore Airlines Connecting you to Places.

thephuketnews.com

44 PHUKET SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Islanders washed away in wet, wild local derby FOOTBALL Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

A

missed penalty with 10 minutes to go proved the difference as Phuket FC lost to mainland neighbours Krabi FC on a rain-soaked night at Surakul Stadium on Saturday (July 7).

The miserable weather didn’t deter nearly 3,000 people showing up for the local derby.

But with the playing surface resembling a marsh more than a football field, the spectators who braved the rain were treated to a slow and scrappy game of football as both sides struggled for control of the ball.

It was Krabi – placed third in Division 1 compared with Phuket’s 14th – with the early chances, and after sending several free kicks over the bar, Ekaphan Nuikhao nearly created the opening goal with his low strike; Phuket FC goalkeeper Alonso da Silva fumbled the slippery ball, but managed to regather.

Left: Marcio Santos (green) vies with Krabi’s Ekkaraj Pankaew. Top right: Thaweephong Jareanroob celebrates his goal. Bottom right: Phuket coach Milos Joksic shows his frustration.

With genuine attacking chances few and far between for both sides, the first half became a true test of ball control, and the Islanders’ natural style of ground play and short passing was forced to adapt to the tough conditions.

Krabi meanwhile looked more comfortable, if only slightly, and were creating far more chances in front of goal.

But despite the Eagles of Krabi having more shots on target, it was a game bogged down – quite literally – in the midfield for the vast majority.

Still, after a goalless first half, it looked to be Phuket with all the work to do – they were the more vulnerable of the two sides, and desperately needed to find their attacking flair that saw them claim their

record 8-1 victory against Chantaburi just two weeks ago.

But the second half was more of the same, with The Islanders struggling to get the ball beyond halfway, and with several diving saves from Alonso the only thing keeping Phuket in the match.

Attempted to inject some more attacking flair into the front, Phuket FC coach Milos

Joksic brought on Ibrahim Kanoute to replace Nene Bi midway through the half.

After an uncharacteristically quiet game from Nene Bi, it looked like the substitution might reap immediate dividends – Kanoute came closest to scoring for the Islanders on his first touch of the ball, though pushed his header about half a metre wide of goal.

Then, on 65 minutes, the seemingly inevitable happened.

Thaweephong Ja-reanroob squeezed his shot into the bottom left corner, sending Krabi up 1-0 and Surakul Stadium into pandemonium as the visiting crowd made their strong presence felt.

But just 10 minutes later, completely against the run of play, Phuket were offered a way back in. After a strong attacking run was brought down inside the box, The Islanders earned a penalty and seemingly a gift equaliser.

Watcharakor n Klaitin stepped up to the spot, driving his shot low and left – and straight into the gloves of Krabi

keeper Theerawat Pinpradub.

It was the second missed penalty in as many games for The Islanders, and it proved their final chance as the full time whistle blew with the score 1-0.

Speaking to The Phuket News after the game, Phuket goalkeeper Alonso da Silva said he was disappointed not to walk away with at least a point.

“It was very difficult to play football in this weather,” he said. “The field was no good.

“We missed maybe three or four shots. One-nil I think was not good. We deserved to be one-one or zero-zero.

He said the team wouldn’t be looking too much into the missed penalty, saying the poor playing surface may have contributed to the missed shot.

“He’s a very good player.

He usually finishes very well, so it’s hard for me to say too much about that.”

Phuket FC now travel north up the Andaman coast to take on PTT Rayong on Wednesday (July 18).

Charity cup to strike a smile DUSIT THANI LAGUNA PHUKET holds its second bowling tournament, the Dusit Charity Cup, later this month.

Being held at CS Bowl, in Big C Phuket Town, on July 28, proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the ongoing ‘Dusit Smiles – Operation Smile Thailand’ programme.

The initiative raises funds for the worldwide charitable organisation Operation Smile, which mobilises medical professionals to provide safe and effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

To enter the Dusit Charity Cup, each team must pay a registration fee of B1,500, which includes shoe rental and refreshments.

The winning team will be awarded the Governor’s Cup trophy inscribed by Phuket

thephuketnews.com

Governor Tri Augkaradacha.

For more information or to register, a team contact Sirintra Chatnoey by calling 076 362 999 ext. 7413 or emailing dtlphrtrco@ dusit.com To make a donation, contact dusitsmiles@ dusit.com or visit dusit.com/dusitsmiles The Phuket News is a sponsor of this charitable event.

THE PHUKET NEWS

WORLD SPORT

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

China unveils a small team for London CHINA HAS ANNOUNCED a team of 396 athletes for the London Olympics, a far smaller delegation than four years ago when it topped the gold medal table on home soil.

The team, which includes 29 gold medallists from the Beijing Games, will be seeking to maintain China’s status as an Olympic powerhouse.

But Sports Minister Liu Peng sought at an event in Beijing on Tuesday when the team for London was announced to keep a lid on soaring expectations, encouraging the athletes without making any bold predictions.

“The athletes from around the world have worked very hard for the Games and they are so eager to make a breakthrough and win medals, so the competitions will be hotly contested,” he said, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

“The Chinese athletes must get fully prepared and ready to face the challenges.

We have to fight for each gold.”

China topped the medals table with 51 golds four years ago, when it sent a record-breaking 639 athletes to compete in the Games.

Thirty-eight of the hosts’ 51 gold medals came in table tennis, badminton, diving, shooting, gymnastics and weightlifting, the six Olympic sports China has long dominated.

But in London, China will look to break through in what are considered more prestigious Olympic sports, including swimming and track and field.

Huge expectations will fall on Sun Yang, who is tipped to become China’s first Olympic male swimming champion.

Southeast Asia medal prospects look dismal OLYMPIC

COUNTDOWN Agence France-Presse

S

hoddy management and a lack of funds look set to condemn Southeast Asia to yet another dismal Olympics, with one expert warning the region’s sport even faces “collapse” without a drastic re-think.

Home to around 600 million people, surging economies and a massive sporting fanbase, the group of nations stretching from Myanmar to Indonesia – and including Thailand – ought to be catching the eye at the world’s greatest sporting event.

Instead, there are few title contenders making the trip to London, as enduring poverty, threadbare facilities, skewed funding and a focus on nonOlympic sports strangle the pipeline of talent.

There are some bright spots: Malaysia boasts the world’s sec-

Thailand’s Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon was one of only 12 Southeast Asian medallists in Beijing. ond ranked badminton player, Lee Chong-Wei, while Indonesia will look to maintain its record of a gold for its shuttlers at every Games since 1992.

Thailand offers a smattering of weightlifters; the Philippines, whose vaunted boxers are mainly chasing professional riches, has its hopes pinned to its shooters; and Singapore will send some strong swimmers

and 2008 team table tennis silver medallist Feng Tianwei.

Yet among the 11 nations who contest the regional showpiece Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, there are no realistic medal prospects in the headline track and field events.

The statistics make grim reading – Southeast Asian nations harvested just a dozen medals combined in Beijing four years ago.

It was a paltry return given the region’s size, put further into context by the 13 podium places claimed by sporting minnow Kazakhstan.

“The risk is that sport in our region collapses,” warns Santiparb Tejavanija, an advisor to the Olympic Council of Asia.

Under-investment results in a lack of facilities, financing and top-level coaching, and short-changes athletes and the patriotic millions they represent, explains Santiparb.

But the bigger picture, ac-

cording to Greg Wilson, an Australian advising the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), is that a lack of ambition by poorly run sporting bodies means any funding goes to regional, not global, competition.

Others lament a preoccupation with traditional sports which are virtually unknown outside the region, such as sepak takraw. Bad healthcare and diet, high rates of smoking and the fact many people hold down several jobs preclude mass participation in sport, draining the pool of available talent.

However, the outlook is not entirely gloomy. Indonesia (badminton) and Thailand (weightlifting) have shown success within particular disciplines can inspire young athletes and catalyse more funding.

“London could be the watershed, where people finally say ‘hang on, why are we so far behind the rest of the world?’” adds Wilson.

Meditating Buddhist monk saddles up EQUESTRIAN Agence France-Presse

HE’D PREFER ENLIGHTenment to a medal, but when Japan’s horse-riding Buddhist monk Kenki Sato saddles up for London 2012, he’ll be representing one of the Olympics’ more unusual families.

Shaven-headed Sato, who starts each day with a morning prayer, is following his younger brother Eiken, who also trained as a priest and rode at the Beijing Games.

His sister, Tae, 24, is a fivetime national showjumping champion.

And his father, Shodo, who heads a 460-year-old

temple and adjacent horseriding club, was a member of Japan’s equestrian team before the 1980 Games in Moscow – only to have his Olympic dream dashed when Japan boycotted.

Kenki Sato is on extended leave from the Myoshoji temple in mountains near Nagano, where his father is the 25th master, to train for London where he will compete in eventing, which combines dressage, cross-country and showjumping.

Among his team-mates is Hiroshi Hoketsu, 71, the oldest competitor in any sport at Beijing 2008, who is entered in the separate dressage category.

They are not strongly

45

IN BRIEF Londoners battle over missiles is shot down London residents on Tuesday lost their court battle to prevent the government placing surface-to-air missiles on the roof of their apartment block during the Olympics.

A High Cour t judge ruled on Tuesday that the occupants of the 17-storey building, one of six sites where missiles will be stationed from mid-July until the end of the Games, did not have an arguable case.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Paszek gets nod Austria’s Tamira Paszek, who made the Wimbledon quarter-finals, was on Friday given the go-ahead to play in the Olympics after winning an appeal to the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The ITF had originally blocked the world number 37’s entry, claiming she had not fulfilled the eligibility rule which requires players to make themselves available for a set number of their country’s Fed Cup ties.

Injured Sanchez determined to make Olympics

Buddhist monk Kenki Sato in action. tipped to end Japan’s 80year wait for a second equestrian medal, following Baron Takeichi Nishi’s showjumping gold of 1932. But Sato said the experience would have spiritual value.

“I may learn something

Photo: AFP

as a human being when I encounter various people with different religions and languages abroad,” says the diminutive Sato, who turned 28 on Wednesday. “I want to feed it back into my path to Buddhist enlightenment.”

Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez of Spain said he will “do everything possible” to defend his title in London after crashing out of the Tour de France on Sunday.

Tests in Bilbao confirmed he suffered a fractured bone in his right hand and a fractured left shoulder blade when coming down hard during Sunday’s eighth stage of the Tour.

“If we can make it, I will go, but if not I will have to stay and recover.

thephuketnews.com

46 WORLD SPORT

IN BRIEF Drogba to arrive in China Football star Didier Drogba will arrive in China tomorrow (July 14) to take up his new role at Shanghai Shenhua, his club said, amid high hopes he can reignite the 13th-placed team’s season.

Drogba announced last month he had signed with

the big-spending Chinese club until 2014, joining his former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka who started with the team in January.

The Ivory Coast international will arrive on Saturday morning and meet fans at a match against Beijing Guoan.

Earthquakes send midfielder to Buriram San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong, an American of Thai heritage, was transferred to Buriram United of the Thai Premier League on Monday for an undisclosed fee.

Ampaipitakwong played

in 12 matches for the Earthquakes last year in his first season in the North American league but had not played for San Jose this season.

The Earthquakes also released midfielder Tressor Moreno.

Pressure mounts on Armstrong Pressure mounted on seventime Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on Tuesday as three former close associates were banned for life from sport, the US AntiDoping Agency (USADA) announced.

Former US Postal doctor Luis Garcia del Moral, Armstrong’s personal trainer and consultant to the team Michele Ferrari and coach

“Pepe” Marti were handed life-time bans for their roles in what USADA termed “systematic doping within the team.”

This trio are part of the group of six, including Armstrong, who were accused by USADA in June of being part of a doping conspiracy during the cycling star’s years as Tour de France champion, from 1999 through 2005.

Mancini extends City stay Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new deal that will keep the Italian at Eastlands for another five years, the English Premier League champions said on

Monday (July 9).

“Manchester City Football Club today are pleased to announce that a new contract has been agreed with manager Roberto Mancini,” said a club statement.

Open joy for Thailand’s Thongchai Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee has sealed a place in next month’s British Open at Royal Lytham in northwest England.

Jaidee, 42 arrived in Ireland for this week’s Irish Open heading a “mini money list” that commenced at the

BMW PGA Championship last month and concludes with the close of this week’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush.

The top two players, otherwise not exempt on the list, qualify for golf’s oldest major commencing on July 19.

Afghans launch first professional league Afghanistan is launching its first professional football championship, with teams chosen on a groundbreaking reality television show.

Thousands of young Afghans have already applied to take part, with the

thephuketnews.com

members of each of the eight teams to be selected on the “Maidan e Sabz” (Green field) programme.

It will be the first Afghan football championship to be broadcast on television.

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Sonny Bill quits All Blacks RUGBY Agence France-Presse

A

ll Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams announced Monday he will quit the world champion New Zealand team to play in Japan, then return to his old stomping ground, Australian rugby league.

Hailed as a “freakish” athlete by national coach Steve Hansen, the 26-year-old called time on a brief but eventful 17Test rugby union career, which included helping New Zealand to victory at last year’s Rugby World Cup. Williams said he had signed with Japanese side Panasonic, in a deal reportedly worth $1.4 million, and would then switch to an unspecified National Rugby League (NRL) team in Australia.

“This is due to a handshake

Sonny Bill will quit rugby and return to the NRL. Photo: AFP agreement made a few years ago with an NRL club,” he told reporters. “I am not in a position to elaborate on that.”

Williams, who also juggles a career as a part-time boxer, is widely tipped to join Bondibased glamour club the Sydney Roosters.

He made his name in the NRL, winning the 2004 premiership with the Canterbury

Bulldogs in his rookie season before controversially walking out on the club four years later and switching to rugby union with Toulon.

In 2010, he turned down a world-record $5.0 million offer from the French club and joined the Canterbury Crusaders in the Super 15 competition, intent on breaking into the All Blacks World Cup squad.

The 1.91 metre (6ft 3in), 110 kilogram (17.3 stone) centre impressed enough to earn his All Black debut against England in November 2010, even though he was a rugby union novice with only a handful of senior games in New Zealand.

Hansen said that, at the time, Williams had limited understanding of the 15-a-side game but made up for it with his freakish abilities and high skill levels.

He said Williams had since developed his rugby smarts to become a truly world class player, citing his performances in the recent series whitewash against Ireland.

Williams, who is also the New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion with a career record of five wins, three by knockout, did not rule out the possibility of making yet another code switch and eventually returning to rugby union.

Webber extends Red Bull deal FORMULA 1

Agence France-Presse

AUSTRALIAN MARK WEBBER on Tuesday ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract with Red Bull Racing for 2013.

Webber, who claimed the ninth victory of his Formula One career on Sunday in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, had been linked with a move to Ferrari.

But the 35-year-old, who trails Fer-

STAYING PUT Mark Webber. rari’s Fernando Alonso by 13 points in the overall standings, has opted to remain with Red Bull for a seventh season.

“I’ve been with Red Bull Racing since 2007 and have achieved nine

grand prix wins during that time,” said Webber.

“I’m high on confidence at the moment and firing on all cylinders.

With defending double world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel of Germany already contracted to Red Bull Racing until the end of 2014, the English-based stable are the first team to confirm their 2013 driver line-up.

Asked if 2013 would be his last season in F1, Webber replied: “I’ve been asked this question for the past four years and my answer remains the same.”

Terry ‘angry, upset’ British charity cashes at racism claims in on Murray’s loss FOOTBALL Agence France-Presse

FORMER ENGLAND FOOTball captain John Terry took the witness stand on Tuesday (July 10) and told his trial that he was “very angry and upset” when he thought an opponent had accused him of making racist remarks.

The Chelsea captain is accused of calling Queens Park

Rangers player Anton Ferdinand a “f**king black c**t” during a match between Chelsea and QPR on October 23 last year.

Terry, standing trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, told the court he was sarcastically repeating words he thought Ferdinand had said to him.

If found guilty, Terry could be fined up to £2,500 (B125,000).

The trial continues.

TENNIS Agence France-Presse

THE BRITISH CHARITY Oxfam has won more than £100,000 (B5 million) thanks to Roger Federer’s victory at Wimbledon after being left a bet in a gambler’s will.

Tennis lover Nick Newlife, from Oxford, southern England, placed a bet of £1,520 at odds of 66 to one almost ten

years ago with bookmakers on Federer winning seven or more Wimbledon titles.

But Newlife died in 2009 and left his entire estate – including the 2003 betting slip – to Oxfam. The charity can now collect £101,840.

Federer beat Britain’s Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday (July 8) to join Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as a seven-time Wimbledon champion.

THE PHUKET NEWS

Rivals queuing up to attack Team Sky stages to go. I think it’s going to open up more and more.”

The Australian, who has one victory and two runner-up places at the race, is hoping the experience of his seven previous participations, as well as better form, comes to the fore.

“We’re really at the midway point of the race now, and in the second half is where I come into my best. I have more strength and consistency,” Evans said on the first rest day Tuesday.

But a year after crashing out of the race with a fractured collarbone, Wiggins is now in the “dream” position of leading most of his rivals by two minutes or more.

Wiggins, despite his advantage, says he’s ready for the battle ahead.

“We’re in a dream scenario at the moment almost two minutes ahead, which is something we’d never really hoped for or imagined having.

“But we’re taking it one day at a time.

“I don’t expect anyone to say that Sky have won it. We expect this to be a fight for the next two weeks.”

CYCLING From back page But Wiggins insists he won’t be taking his yellow jersey for granted, and with several other challengers even further off the pace, Sky may have to be extra vigilant.

Former Tour of Spain winner Vincenzo Nibali of Italy could be one of Evans’ strategic allies in the mountains and, sitting 2:23 off the pace, believes in his chances.

“Nobody is unbeatable,” said the Liquigas team leader, who believes the key is to split Wiggins and his key climbing helper Chris Froome from the rest of the formidable Sky team in the mountains.

“We have to have faith and try to separate Wiggins and Froome from their teammates and attack them one by one.

“We have to use our heads, as well as our legs.”

Russian Denis Menchov, fifth at 3:02, believes a podium place is possible and he’s counting on the remaining 11 stages to move up the standings.

“I lost a bit of time in the

Last year’s winner Cadel Evans (pictured here in 2011). time trial, but there are still quite a few stages where I can claw back some time,” said the former Tour of Spain and Giro d’Italia winner who rides for Katusha.

“I can get on the podium.

We’ll see later if I can get any higher.”

Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck, a fourth place finisher in 2010, was one of the riders in the Lotto team that tried to shake up Wiggins and Sky in the hilly eighth stage, but to no avail.

Now nearly five minutes down, he has launched a ral-

Live Sports TV Schedule

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Bulldogs v. Eels

AFL

North Melbourne v.

Carlton

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Hurricanes v. Chiefs

Rugby League Challenge Cup Leeds v. Wigan

Saturday, July 14 812, 108

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Qualifying, Mugello

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FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Rugby Union

Super XV

lying call in Wednesday’s 10th stage over the first ‘hors categorie’ (unclassified) climb of the race.

“As of tomorrow I’m expecting a real war against Wiggins,” said Van den Broeck, who spent some of his rest day putting himself through an intense three and a half hour training session.

“The only reason I’ve lost time is because I’ve been unlucky.”

Evans, meanwhile, said: “I suspect it’s going to get harder, riders always get more tired and we’ve got a lot of hard

Super 15

21:55

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Stormers v. Rebels

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Sharks v. Cheetahs

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Port Adelaide v.

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Brisbane Lions v.

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Sri Lanka v. India

Agence France-Presse

FORMER SOUTH AFRICA coach Mickey Arthur hailed the “phenomenal” Mark Boucher after the Proteas wicket-keeper was forced into premature international retirement by a freak eye injury.

Boucher had to undergo three hours of surgery after being struck in the left eyeball by a bail on the first day of South Africa’s opening match of their tour of England against Somerset at Taunton on Monday.

The incident occurred when a ball from spinner Imran Tahir clean bowled Gemaal Hussain.

Boucher was standing up to the stumps at the time, and wearing a cap instead of a helmet.

The 35-year-old, a Proteas mainstay for the best part of 15 years, was due to return home after being released from hospital on Tuesday.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith, speaking at Taunton, read out a statement on Boucher’s behalf that confirmed his international

Mark Boucher. retirement.

“I was really disappointed for him,” Arthur, now coaching Australia, told BBC Radio ahead of the fifth one-day international against England at Old Trafford here on Tuesday.

“I know he wanted to come here because he wanted it to be his real swansong as a Test series, so it is really disappointing to end this way for Mark.”

Coach A r t hu r, who worked with Boucher at both domestic and international level, added: “I have lots of memories as his coach, too many memories. I was really close to Mark, I had a special affinity for him, I knew his family very well.”

Team

P W D

L

F

A

Team

P

W

D

L

B

F

A

1

Chiefs

15

12

0

3

419

330

7

63

1

Storm

16

12

0

4

2

400

235

28

2

Stormers

15

13

0

2

324

233

2

62

2

Bulldogs

16

11

0

5

2

365

237

26

3

Brumbies

15

10

0

5

388

301

10

58

3

Sharks

16

10

1

5

2

302

273

25

4

Crusaders

15

10

0

5

447

319

8

56

4

Broncos

16

10

0

6

2

370

286

24

5

Bulls

15

9

0

6

435

349

10

54

5

Sea Eagles

16

10

0

6

2

342

275

24

6

Sharks

15

9

0

6

402

333

10

54

6

Rabbitohs

16

10

0

6

2

376

323

24

7

Reds

15

10

0

5

327

331

5

53

7

Cowboys

16

9

0

7

2

382

303

22

8

Hurricanes

15

9

0

6

461

404

9

53

8

Warriors

16

8

0

8

2

388

356

20

9

Highlanders

16

9

0

7

359

385

6

46

9

Tigers

16

8

0

8

2

337

341

20

10

Cheetahs

15

5

0

10

376

424

10

38

10

Dragons

16

7

0

9

2

236

280

18

11

Waratahs

15

4

0

11

330

375

11

35

11

Raiders

16

7

0

9

2

329

388

18

12

Rebels

15

4

0

11

341

494

7

31

12

Roosters

16

6

1

9

2

286

406

17

13

Blues

15

3

0

12

329

414

8

28

13

Titans

16

6

0

10

2

265

303

16

14

Force

15

3

0

12

282

402

7

27

14

Knights

16

6

0

10

2

280

345

16

15

Lions

15

3

0

12

297

423

5

25

15

Panthers

16

4

0

12

2

260

390

12

16

Eels

16

3

0

13

2

269

446

10

Conference leader 19:55

CRICKET

NRL BP Pts

Reds v. Waratahs

816, 107

Boucher bows out after freak eye injury

RESULTS Blues Waratahs Cheetahs Lions

32 – 9 15 – 19 6 – 13 37 – 32

Wild card team Force Brumbies Stormers Rebels

Chiefs Reds Sharks Bye: Hurricanes

21 – 28 19 – 13 32 – 10

Crusaders Highlanders Bulls

RESULTS Sharks Rabbitohs Sea Eagles Storm

14 – 14 34 – 14 40 – 24 12 – 40

Roosters Knights Eels Raiders

Pts

Titans 14 – 32 Warriors Tigers 20 – 32 Bulldogs Byes: Panthers, Cowboys, Broncos, Dragons

Sunday, July 15 816, 107

00:00

02:00

Rugby Union

Super XV

Bulls v. Lions

521

11:00

14:00

Aussie Rules

AFL

GWS Giants v. Adelaide

816, 107

12:00

14:00

Rugby League

NRL

Dragons v. Sharks

812, 108

16:00

20:00

Motor Bikes

MotoGP

Grand Prix of Italy

thephuketnews.com

48 WORLD SPORT

SPORT

THE PHUKET NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012

Fighting for MMA

Could competitive fights return to Thailand? > 43

Dane Halpin editor2@thephuketnews.com

Sky high

Can anyone catch Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky? Agence France-Presse

I

t will take a concerted and sustained effort to destabilise Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky at the Tour de France, but the Briton’s rivals are queuing up to have a go.

Sky leader Wiggins – racing to become the first ever British Tour champion – resumed the race on Wednesday (July 11) as The Phuket News went to press with a significant lead of 1min 53sec over Australia’s defending champion Cadel Evans, of BMC. Continued on page 47

thephuketnews.com