30-06-2017

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, June 30 – Thursday, July 6, 2017

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Work permit penalties just got harsher

ON THE SAND ARMY TAKES ON JET-SKI OPERATORS FOR ENCROACHING ON THE BEACHES

LIFE

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Students prepare for disasters

Jet-ski operators have been warned to remove their vehicles from the beaches – or else jeopardise having jet-skis evicted from all beaches in Phuket. Photo: The Phuket News

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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oldiers in Phuket were dispatched to Patong, Kata and Karon this week to ramp up efforts to get jet-ski operators to abide by the beach rules and no longer occupy beach sands during the day, when the beaches are to be left clear for use by beachgoers.

Following orders from Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment and the highestranking army officer stationed in

Phuket, soldiers on Tuesday (June 27) found four operators at Kata Beach with their jet-ski towing vehicles on the sand.

“We urged officers from Karon Municipality Law Enforcement division to fine them and teach them how to keep their operations neat,” Col Santi told The Phuket News on Wednesday (June 28).

“This is not my duty, but I have to force those officials to do their job,” he said.

At the time of going to press, The Phuket News was unable to confirm

how much the operators were fined.

Of note, in the aftermath of the jet-ski accident off Kata Beach earlier this year that killed Australian tourist Emily Jayne Collie, 20 – for which her boyfriend Thomas Keating was charged with reckless driving causing death – soldiers raided the jet-ski operators at Kata Beach and found six of them were renting out jet-skis without the insurance required by law.

At Patong Beach this week, soldiers were lighter on their enforcement.

“The jet-skis on Patong Beach

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@thephuketnews

are allowed to be parked on the sand temporarily, that is only during the southwest monsoon season (MayOctober). We are allowing them to park their jet-skis at some points on Patong Beach. Don’t worry, this is not permanent,” Col Santi said.

“But if you see jet-ski operators’ vehicles parked in any public areas, such as the beach, please let me know (Tel: 081-6425635),” he said.

The sorties by soldiers onto Phuket beaches this week follows the Phuket Marine Office issuing a formal warning to all jet-ski operators not to...

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Army targets jet-ski operators at beaches

Continued from page 1 ...occupy beach areas beyond the terms laid out in the “10% beach management policy” – or else face possible eviction from the sands at all Phuket beaches.

The Phuket Marine Office issued a written warning to the Phuket Jet-ski Association last Friday (June 23) stating that jet-ski operators specifically at Kata Beach are no longer to leave vehicles, both unpowered and powered, used to transport jet-skis to and from the beach parked on public land.

The warning states that should the jet-ski operators fail to adhere to the warning, a further letter will be sent to the Phuket Provincial Office who will then decide whether jet-skis should be removed from the beach.

Director of the Phuket Marine Office, Surat Sirisaiyad, told The Phuket News on Monday (June 26), “I didn’t

know until last Wednesday (June 21) that trailers and jeeps used to tow jet-skis to and from Kata Beach had been parked on the beach itself.

“We have now issued a letter to the Phuket Jet-ski Association urging them to better organise these jet-ski operators,” he said.

“The action of the Kata Beach jet-ski operators will affect all members of the Phuket Jet-ski Association,” Mr Surat warned.

“If jet-ski operators do not follow our request and cause problems they will not be on the beach anymore,” Mr Surat added.

Wanchai Saetan, Public Works Chief at Karon Municipality, denied any responsibility for the issue.

“All issues regarding jetskis must go via the Phuket Marine Office. This issue is the responsibility of Phuket Marine Office,” he said.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Aussie tourist rescues woman from dangerous surf > page 5

Dumped in Karon

Local officials exasperated over insolence Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

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he chief of Karon Municipality’s Public Health division has told The Phuket News that her office is fed up with the constant stream of rubbish being dumped in the area, specifically on the backroad of Patak Soi 14.

“We don’t know what else to do about it. We are already trying to send trucks to clean up the area every evening, Monday to Saturday,” Karon health chief Satitha Jitmet told The Phuket News.

“It is difficult to patrol because it is a secluded area and away from the main road,” she added.

The saga began earlier this month when local residents grew weary of the growing pile of rubbish dumped at the

Within days the growing pile of rubbish in Patak Soi 14 was as bad as it was before. Photo: Supplied site, in the hills away from the beach.

After receiving complaints directly from The Phuket News, officers moved quickly and the next day arrived en masse to clean the area. Yet, within days, the growing pile of rubbish was back.

The r ubbish pile kept growing and by Thursday last week (June 22), The Phuket

News sent more photos to the Karon health office showing the increasing mound of refuse. This time, within 90 minutes council workers returned and cleaned the area.

And this time the officials posted a sign expressly prohibiting people dumping rubbish at the site, but within hours another garbage bag had been dumped – right beside

the sign. Then last Saturday (June 24), council workers found that the sign had been removed from the site and dumped in a nearby canal.

“We have already gone to the area to speak to the residents on Patak Soi 14.

There are several rental homes there. We offered to move a bin closer to them, but they refused,” Ms Satitha explained.

Ms Satitha did not give comment on what ideas, if any, the municipality has in order to solve the problem in the long-term.

“I really am not sure what to do about it. We are discussing it now. The only way for now is for people in the community to continue help us look out for it,” she said.

“We will continue to send people to clean it ideally every day (except Sundays),” she added.

Armies declare trafficking ‘solved’

T H E T WO L E A D I N G army generals heading the Thailand-Myanmar border control committee at a meeting in Phuket last Thursday (June 22) declared the problem of human trafficking between the countries as “solved”.

The meeting between Thailand and Myanmar was held in Phuket – at Patong Resort Hotel, near Bangla Rd and the Jungceylon shopping mall – to ensure good relations and to discuss issues to be resolved, reported the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department.

Officially, it was the 31st meeting of the Thai-Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC).

Present for Thailand was Lt Gen Wichak Siribansop, Commander of the Royal Thai Army Region 3 division, which is based in Phitsanulok and responsible for the northern and northwestern parts of Thailand. Present for Myanmar was Lt Gen Min Naung, 4th Special Operations Bureau Commander.

“Thailand and Myanmar are in good relations. We have cooperated on border problems and improved people’s lives along the border,” said Lt Gen Wichak.

The declaration came at the 31st meeting of the ThaiMyanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC), held at the Patong Resort Hotel in Phuket. Photo: PR Dept “We have a good relationship on economic, public health and environmental issues. We have cooperated to prevent disasters, narcotics and rebellion. We have solved the illegal alien and human-trafficking problem,” he announced.

“Thailand and Myanmar have had very good relations in the past. Our good relations will continue into the future.

This meeting is to focus on cooperation and ensure our relations. Our objectives are for the benefit of the armies and the people of the two countries,” Gen Wichak added.

Lt Gen Min Naung thanked his host.

“Thank you to the Thai Army for holding this meeting. We are very glad that our relations are stronger,” he said.

“At the previous RBC meeting, the 30 th meeting held in Myanmar on June

20-22 last year, we had not completed our discussions. If there are any other issues that we have to discuss, please let us know so we can find a way to solve the problem,” he said.

Earlier this month Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad urged an estimated 50,000 migrant workers in Phuket, many of whom originate from Myanmar, to register for the new “e-work permit” system.

Although that estimate noted that Phuket is now home to more than 50,000 migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, an estimated 200,000 undocumented migrant workers live in Phuket, according to local NGOs. That figure has been openly accepted by the officials as conferred by the National Statistics Office.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Chalong Underpass hits ‘slow lane construction’ Premkamon Ketsara thaiassist@classactmedia.co.th

Police parlour raids: ‘No prostitution here’

The Chalong Underpass is already being scorned for the slow construction, which is affecting the incomes of people in the Rawai area. Photo: Prawarit Musika lines, utility poles and water pipes not beginning until March last year – a delay of more than seven months before the first backhoe moved in.

“Local residents are suffering from this construction due to noise and dust in the air,” Mayor Aroon said.

“And then there is the traffic problem, because the two roads (Wiset Rd and Chao Fa West Rd) have been reduced to smaller lanes. Some days, traffic tailbacks are up

to three to four kilometres long,” he said.

“The budget for this construction has grown to over B540 million, yet there are no more than 20 workers on site,” Mayor Aroon noted.

“I went to the site to ask why they have only been able to do so little work, and I was told the highway does not provide enough space for them to work because of the problem of land expropriation, as the owners of three

Phuket inks first anti-bribery MoU THE SIGNING OF WHAT is being hailed as Thailand’s first anti-bribery Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) drew more than 120 people to Phuket Provincial Hall meeting room on Tuesday (June 27).

Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Secretary-General Prayong Priyajit along with Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong signed the MoU to facilitate citizens in accessing government services and reducing the opportunity for corruption in order to drive Phuket’s government to a “Smart Government”.

The MoU supports the Licensing Facilitation Act of Thailand, issued in 2015, which requires government offices to disclose the procedures, requirements and deadlines for the granting of all licenses, permits, registrations and notifications by government offices that are required prior to establishment and operation of a business.

“Phuket is one of the two cities (the other Bangkok) which the government has decided to steer towards being a Smart City, with an emphasis on technology being used to serve the people,” Governor Norraphat said. @thephuketnews

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Photo: Peeraphong Phonpramoon

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he Mayor of Rawai has opened fire at the already long-delayed construction of the Chalong underpass due to “land expropriation problems”.

The delay is causing huge traffic problems at the busy intersection and causing people to no longer visit the area – a factor that is greatly affecting local businesses, he said.

Civil Engineering Co Ltd is the contractor entrusted to build Chalong Underpass, Mayor Aroon pointed out.

The initial construction contract commenced on July 28, 2015, with a completion date set for September 14, 2017. “It is only two months away from that deadline. It has been ongoing for two years – and construction is 10% complete,” Mr Aroon told Khao Phuket last Wednesday (June 21).

The contract assigned Civil Engineering Co Ltd a budget of B546 million to complete the underpass, but an oversight saw work on moving the power

PHUKET NEWS

Governor Norraphat (left) and PACC Chief Prayong Priyajit shake hands after the signing. Photo: PR Dept “The highest consideration is the safety of life and property of the people and tourists, so we have a policy to propel Phuket into an international tourist destination based on sustainable development.”

“Phuket will fight against any corruption in any form, which cannot happen anymore anywhere in Phuket.”

“Every government officer has to work under good governance focusing on honesty to serve both locals and tourists’ convenience and reduce lateness of service by using more information technology to serve all citizens,” he added.

PACC Secretary-General Prayong stated that Phuket is just a small province but has high potential because Phuket is a famous destination for foreigners.

“If government off icers commit any corruption, Phuket’s reputation will suffer widely around the world; therefore, if all government officers work under good governance, it can ensure a good reputation of Phuket to show people around the world,” said Mr Prayong.

“Phuket Smart City is the first city that cooperates with the PACC to develop Phuket’s government into a Smart Government to support investment, startup businesses, SME operators and people who want to use government services with no undue delays and without any corruption.

“People should look out and inform us for any clues of corruption,” Mr Prayong added.

The Phuket News

houses are still negotiating for compensation. Workers are unable to work,” he said.

“I want to urge the Department of Highways to speed up the contractor to proceed.

In fact, the process of land expropriation should have been completed and space and other details should have already been prepared. Get ready before you procure the budget, hire contractors and start construction,” Mayor Aroon railed.

ABOUT 30 POLICE OFFICers and soldiers raided massage parlours in the Phoonpon area of Phuket Town last Friday night (June 23), netting five illegal workers.

The raid came under the order of Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong in accordance with the nationwide efforts to stop human trafficking. The joint team of police officers, soldiers and Phuket Territorial Defense volunteers inspected over a dozen of massage parlours in and near Poonpol Night Plaza, conducting drug tests and checking whether employees have correct papers for work.

“We checked the 16 establishments in the area of Poonpol Night Plaza, most of which are traditional massage parlours. We checked employees’ work licenses to make sure the papers are valid and the

employees themselves are of legal age. Also, drug searches and urine drug tests were carried out,” said deputy chief of Phuket Provincial Police Capt Bhavorn Promkeawgnam.

“This is in accordance with policies related to the suppression of trafficking by the government,” he added.

During the raid officials found five illegal employees – one Cambodian, one Lao and three Hill Tribe girls – in three different venues. No drugs were found and all urine tests returned negative. Also no evidence of prostitution was discovered.

“However, there were records of more than 20 illegal payments totaling B69,000 made to state agencies at one of the 16 facilities,” Capt Bhavorn added, without providing further details.

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Street sweeper run over by car A SPEEDI NG CAR crashed into a female street cleaner while she was resting on the footpath of Wichit Songkram Rd in Kathu last Saturday (June 24), leaving the woman seriously injured.

The woman, named by Kathu Municipality as Myanmar native 26-year-old “Jay Myanmar”, was pinned under the car in front of the entrance to Prince of Songkla University.

Rescue workers quickly retrieved her from under the car, administered CPR and when she became more stable took Ms Jay Myanmar to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further medical treatment.

According to witnesses, the woman was resting on the footpath when the car struck her at speed, dragging the woman along the footpath before coming to a stop in the yard.

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Make travel insurance compulsory, says poll PHUKET POLL

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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majority of people who took part in an online poll by The Phuket News have called for introducing mandatory travel insurance for all tourists entering Thailand.

The poll, held over two weeks, was posted online after a report by the Bangkok Post earlier this month cited an “informed source” that the proposal was to be forwarded for consideration by the national tourism policy commission.

The concept is not new, and initially surfaced in 2013.

In that push, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) worked with private insurance companies to create a policy that cost only B650 but provided medical coverage of up to B1 million.

However, apparently that

Passengers are screened on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport during heightened MERS health alert in 2015. Photo: AFP coverage was not attractive enough, and in 2015 the Royal Thai Government spent about B420mn covering the medical costs of tourists who had no travel insurance.

Currently, any visitors to Thailand – including tourists and expats staying on non-immigrant visas – are entitled to receive free medical treatment at government hospitals, though there are limits on which medical treatments are free.

To all this, The Phuket News asked readers, “Should travel insurance be made compulsory for visitors to Thailand?”

A total of 56% of respondents voted, “Yes, all travellers should have insurance and any country tourists visit should not have to pick up the tab for medical expenses during their time inside the country.”

Meanwhile, 30% of respondents voted, “No, leave the system as it is. Most tour-

ists have travel insurance, and the only tourists the government is providing medical care to are those receiving public health care… This is the price of hosting tourists.”

A further 14% of respondents voted, “No, and the government should not pick up the bill, as other countries let injured and sick tourists pay their own hospital fees.”

Of note, 47.92% of all Thai nationals who took part in the poll supported the call for mandatory health insurance, as did 55.14% of local expatriate residents.

However, likely to be of more importance to tourism officials is that 64.81% of those reporting themselves as a “Foreign visitor to Phuket” also supported the call for compulsory health insurance for tourists entering Thailand.

For the full poll results, visit ThePhuketNews.com and select “Poll” from the “News” menu. Email poll suggestions to editor@classactmedia.co.th

Aussie dies from encephalitis

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OF F IC I A L S AT T H E Phuket Provincial Health Office are waiting for more information on reports of an Australian tourist who died from Japanese encephalitis which is believed he contracted while on holiday in Phuket.

“The Department of Disease Control officials at the PPHO were notified just this morning that an Australian tourist had contracted Japanese encephalitis,” an official at the PPHO told The Phuket News last Friday (June 23).

“We have not had a single report of Japanese encephalitis in Phuket this year. I am still waiting for information from Ministry of Health to find out more about the case of the Australian tourist,” she said.

PPHO Chief Dr Jirapan Teapan, who on Friday was leading a medical seminar on mosquito-borne diseases at Vachira Phuket Hospital

Japanese encephalitis is carried by the Culex genus of mosquitoes. Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim in Phuket Town, said that Japanese encephalitis was not prevalent in Phuket.

“We have not had a single case in Phuket this year,” he told The Phuket News, confirming his PPHO officer’s report.

Regardless, Dr Jirapan urged people to take precautions to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

“Most importantly, people have to reduce the areas where mosquitoes breed – in every house, around every workplace,” he said.

The seminar Dr Jirapan was leading on Friday was the annual update for medical staff at Vachira Hospital to learn how to identify types of infections and the appropriate medical care to be provided for mosquitoborne diseases.

The Australian tourist, in his 60s, had visited Phuket for 10 days in early May and began to feel lethargic on day eight, reported Australian newspaper The Age. After returning home he struggled to stay awake and was admitted to hospital a few days later in a confused state. He was eventually admitted to the intensive care unit, where he died.

It remains unclear how the man caught the disease.

There were no reports he had contact with animals or travelled to rural areas, but he had been bitten by mosquitoes a number of times.

The Phuket News

On even dates, from 7am to 7pm, drivers must park on the right (northern) side of the road. Image: Google Maps

New parking restrictions in effect on Thalang Rd NEW PARKING RESTRICtions on Thalang Rd in Phuket Town will come into effect on Saturday (July 1), following a statement issued last week

by Phuket Provincial Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen.

According to the statement, only the section of Thalang Rd from Thepkrasattri Rd to Yaowarat Rd, which is one-way westbound, will be affected.

On even dates, from 7am to 7pm, drivers must park on the right (northern) side of the road.

On odd dates, from 7am to 7pm, drivers must park on the

left (southern) side of the road.

The restrictions are not in force outside of these hours.

Trucks with six wheels or more are also prohibited from driving along this stretch of the road – at any time.

“There will be no exceptions, even on weekends and public holidays,” Gen Teeraphol said in the statement.

“These restrictions will begin because the road is narrow with a lot of houses and shops along both sides of the road, and the road always has traffic jams during rush hours,” he added.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Calling for help

PHUKET NEWS

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Aussie tourist rescues woman from surf Tanyaluk Sakoot & Eakkapop Thongtub reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

Phuket police are looking for Mr ‘Andreasson’ and the missing motorbike. Photos: Supplied

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he chief of the Phuket Lifeguard Service has called for staff from hotels and other tourism operators to join free water-rescue training sessions, in response to the call by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong for hotels to do more to improve tourists’ safety.

The call for assistance, made last Friday (June 23), was followed by an Australian woman coming to the rescue of a Thai woman who was close to drowning at Karon Beach on Monday.

Freelance photographer Thanawat Vinitpairoj witnessed the rescue. “Late in the afternoon while I was taking photos of two Australian women and a kid on Karon Beach, one of the women ran down to the sea, took off her trousers then jumped into the water and swam out towards a woman who was close to drowning,” he said.

“I tried to look for a lifeguard but could not see one,

@thephuketnews

Hunt afoot for fake passport bike thief The Thai woman is brought to shore by the Australian tourist. Photo: Thanawat Vinitpairoj but this woman saved a Thai lady from drowning. The Australian woman changed her clothes and then walked back down towards the water where she was hugged by the other foreign woman. She is a hero. Sometimes heroes don’t have to be men.”

Mr Thanawat later explained, “The incident happened at 5:30pm… two people, who I later found were a Thai woman and a Thai man, were playing in the surf, but suddenly were hit by a large wave.

The man managed to get back to shore using a surfboard but the woman was stranded out

at sea. One of the Australian women swam out to help her without any hesitation… They were both safe. The Australian woman was very brave, I admire her,” he added.

Regarding the call for more rescue-trained people along the beachfront, Phuket Lifeguard Chief Prathaiyuth Chuayuan told The Phuket News, “Any training makes people more effective, so I am specifically inviting people from the tourism and hotel industries to join our free training in July.

“This is in direct response to the Phuket Governor’s

request. The idea is to help prevent people, especially tourists, from drowning at Phuket beaches,” he added.

The call came as the Phuket Lifeguard Service last Friday concluded a five-day free training session to teach 60 volunteers water-rescue techniques taught by Phuket lifeguards as well as Royal Thai Navy and Marine Police Region 8 rescue teams.

To join the free rescue training sessions in July, conducted by professional lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Australia, call Mr Prathaiyuth at 081-8925549.

POLICE ARE SEARCHING for a foreign man in Phuket who is suspected of presenting a fake Swedish passport in order to rent – and not return – rental motorbikes.

Worachet On kon, 31, owner CK Phuket Bigbike Rental shop in Rawai, raised the alarm last week when he reported to the Chalong Police that one of his rental motorbikes had not been returned.

“This foreigner came to my shop at 3:05pm on May 31 and rented a black PCX motorbike, license plate 4043,” explained Mr Worachaet.

“He was to return the motorbike on June 4, but he has not come back,” he added.

The man presented a Swedish passport identifying him Bengt Hakoh Andreasson, 63, from Stockholm.

“He gave his passport to us to make a copy in order to rent a motorbike, like we usually do,” Mr Worachet said.

“Later, I heard from other shops that this man used this passport to steal their rental motorbikes too,” he alleged.

Capt Somkiet Sarasit, an inspector at Chalong Police Station, told The Phuket News on Monday (June 26), “I checked with Phuket Immigration Officers, but they were unable to confirm that this man using this passport had even entered the country.

“We have given photos of the black PCX motorbike and copies of the passport to other police stations to help search for him If anyone has seen this man or the motorbike, please call me on 0924602066,” Capt Somkiet said.

The Phuket News

Opinion 6

OPINION

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

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

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EDITORIAL

The vanishing tax

his week Phuket’s lifeguards called on hotels to have their staff join free surf-rescue training, a call that makes irrefutable sense, considering it is tourists’ lives at stake – the very lifeblood of all hotels on the island.

The call comes amid budget cuts for the lifeguards, which have been slashed by 10%, down to B19.8 million per year for the next three years – starting this year. The lifeguards, despite losing a growing number of volunteers who take higher paying jobs in order to support their families, went ahead with providing their critical service and make do with whatever budget they have.

But lost in the history of all this is how Phuket’s lifeguards are actually funded – through a 1% tax on all room rates charged on the island – a tax introduced by the Phuket

Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or “OrBorJor”) way back in 2000.

Yet much of this 1% is not collected, simply because many hotels refuse to pay. It’s not only the “illegal” hotels, many legitimate hotel operators openly refuse to pay it too, over concerns about the lack of transparency and the fact that hotels subject to the tax have no say in how it is spent.

Fast forward to present day, and as of Dec 2016 the Tourism Ministry estimates that Phuket has a total of 81,727 licensed and non-licensed hotel rooms, taking their best guess at the number of illegal hotels and private rentals.

Right now Phuket is waiting on Bangkok to act, especially after International Surf Lifesaving Association President Henry Reyes made his direct appeal to PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier

this year. On that note, kudos to Deputy Prime Minister Thanasak Patimapragorn for stepping in to support the Phuket Lifeguard Service.

Even the most measly projections show that the PPAO, through the room rate tax, has the funds to support our lifeguards; they are just choosing not to do so. For that they should be flamed.

But that doesn’t let hotels off the hook either.

None of these reasons are an excuse for any Phuket hotels to not pony up – or at least stepping up – to save the lives of their very own “guests”. Paying the room rate tax removes any excuse the PPAO might dream up for not doing its part. Hotels should start paying this tax or start helping to protect swimmers at our beaches, or they should be publicly shamed for not doing so.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Harsher labour law penalties hit Phuket Phuket’s Chalong Underpass flamed for slow construction Aussie tourist dies from Japanese encephalitis Phuket police hunt for fake passport ‘Swede’ Phuket police raid massage parlors, find 5 illegal workers Phuket jet-ski operators warned over beach occupation Phuket juveniles riot as ‘teen kingpins’ moved to prison Court upholds prison terms for Dutchman, Thai wife Phuket driver flees after six-wheeler flips Officials to patrol Rawai to check for begging sea gypsy kids

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY On the loose

Re: Phuket novice monk in near miss with out-ofcontrol car I am less concerned by what the abbot said than the fact that this maniac driver is still on the loose after nearly killing the monk.

The article does not mention if the CCTV footage is being used to find the driver, if police are interested in finding the driver, just that the driver drove off, and that the incident was going to be reported to the police. How many hit and runs are there a day in Phuket?

Martin K ...................................................

No warm welcome

Re: Harsher labour law penalties hit Phuket employers, foreigners Ah yes, more reasons to feel welcome in Thailand, message to foreigners, leave your money on the way out, get the message now!

Pauly 44 I’ve paid for 12 years, every year, a huge amount for my work permit and visa and I know many foreigners who

have worked here without a work permit for years, let’s find them and act according the law, in Europe you also have to follow laws, why not here?

Eric Phuket ...................................................

I wonder if the delays in this case will be as long as those in the Red Bull one?

It will be interesting to watch what happens here.

Discover Thainess ...................................................

Who really owns Backhanded praise the beaches?

Re: Female Aussie tourists saves Thai woman from drowning at Phuket beach

Oh dear “Sometimes heroes don’t have to be men,” someone needs a lesson in sexism.

Well done to the Aussie.

Rorri ...................................................

Cockeyed optimist

Re: Phuket tourism to national parks generates 40% of all park revenues Lets hope that a part of the enormous amount of money coming in from tourists (dual ticketing prices, on for Thais and 10 times more for foreigners) will be used for upgrading the environment of the National Parks.

Kurt ...................................................

Drawing it out

Re: Police position-buying graft probe delayed

Re: Phuket jet-ski operators warned over beach occupation The best, perhaps only, solution is to ban jet skis altogether. Give them a deadline to remove them and if not done confiscate them Marcher I’m sure the jet ski operators are shaking in their boots.

Have the ‘authorities’ had a look at Patong Beach lately?

It’s covered from one end to the other with trailers, trucks, tractors and all manner of other things as if they own the beach.

Why? Because for all intents and purposes they do own the beach, and no threats from the Marine Office will change that. Why do they bother even talking about it?

The new tin shack look of the beach side restaurants

near Loma Park who were supposed to be out by midApril is also a nice touch.

Fits right in with the rest of the mess. The mayor should be ashamed of herself.

Gat Huckle Hello hello Mister Director of the Phuket Marine Office.

I know it is a long way from your air-conditioned office, but some day you should come up to Kamala and see all the trucks parked on the beach... as well as everything else they have all over the beach.

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

Catching the dim witted dumpers

Re: Phuket officials exasperated over dumping in Karon Do what they do in Australia, go through the rubbish and check for anything with a name and address on it.

Believe me it works, people stupid enough to dump rubbish also leave their identity with it. Fine them heavily with a reduced fine if they remove all the rubbish if it’s theirs or not Peter Rawai

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

THAILAND NEWS

7

No more selfies with suspects PM again orders officers to stop the press conference parades BANGKOK Bangkok Post

P

rime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered police officers once again to stop parading crime suspects in front of the press and making them talk about their alleged offences.

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda also banned police from taking suspects to press conferences.

A letter signed by Gen Chakthip last week prohibits police from taking photos with crime suspects after fierce criticism over the appropriateness of doing so.

Two immigration police officers in Mae Sai were earlier criticised for posing casually with accused murderer Preeyanuch “Preaw” Nonwangchai, who was sporting a beauty treatment face mask. Preeyanuch is suspected of murdering and dismembering karaoke bar girl Warisara Klinjui.

Earlier last week, the police and media came under fire for allowing Watana Pumret, the accused bomber of Phramongkutklao Hospital, to make a

Suspected bomber Watana Pumaret, 62, (centre) stands next to national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda (right) in a press conference held at the Royal Thai Police Office in Bangkok last week. Photo: Somchai Poomlard political statement in attempting to justify his attack.

Watana was also pictured whispering in Gen Chakthip’s ear while in police custody during a news conference.

Gen Prayut last Thursday (June 22) said the format in which information is disclosed and press conferences are held must be changed.

“I want to tell police that it is not always necessary to bring suspects for media interviews during press conferences. Photos should be enough. The suspects should not be allowed to say whatever they want.

“In fact, suspects don’t have the right to say anything [to the press]. If they want to

Position-buying probe delayed BANGKOK A PROBE INTO POLICE position-buying allegations has been extended for another 30 days after more than 80 people embroiled in the scandal were questioned, police inspectorgeneral Panya Mamen said on Monday (June 26).

Gen Panya said police also needed to question 40 other people in connection with the case, adding he had also discussed issues needing further investigation with a probe panel last Friday (June 23).

The 15-day probe was initially set to be completed on Tuesday (June 27), as ordered by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda.

Gen Panya said he had already sent a letter asking permission from Gen Chakthip for the extension.

The investigation was launched after former Democrat Party MP Witthaya Kaewparadai claimed position buying in police transfers and promotions took place in Provincial Police Region 8, which covers the South, last year.

Mr Witthaya, a former key figure of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee, alleged that dozens @thephuketnews

InspectorGeneral Panya Mamen. Photo: T h e P hu ke t News / File

of officers had paid money to their superiors to be promoted, but not all were given their desired posts.

In some cases, officers had also paid money to mistresses of some high-ranking police officers to get promotions, claimed Mr Witthaya.

The politician also claimed position buying was twice as rampant among city police as in Provincial Police Region 8.

Shortly after the scandal broke, Lt Gen Thesa Siriwatho, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, was transferred to an inactive post and an investigation was later ordered into Mr Witthaya’s claims.

Gen Panya said Mr Witthaya had also been questioned by police.

He said the testimony provided in the inquiry has proven useful, although he was unable

to elaborate further.

Gen Panya said he believed Mr Witthaya had good intentions in seeking police reform, adding the Royal Thai Police was willing to be examined by the public and provide justice to all sides.

Asked whether Mr Witthaya had submitted a list of officers implicated in the scandal or the sums allegedly paid, Gen Panya said he was not able to disclose any such information as it was vital to the case.

Responding to public criticism that Gen Panya could not impartially conduct an investigation into Lt Gen Thesa, as the two had studied together at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, the police inspector-general said their ties would not affect the probe.

Bangkok Post

say something, say it during the judicial process, not to the media,” he said.

“And the media should not interrogate the suspect. We have to be jointly responsible.

I understand that the media want the news. But they should not go overboard because this could create a negative impact,” Gen Prayut added.

It is not the first time the premier has given police such an order.

Last September he ordered police and other law enforcement officials and agencies not to bring suspects to press conferences as some could be acquitted at a later date.

But until now the police appear to have struggled to follow the directive.

The letter signed by Gen Chakthip bars anyone from taking still or moving pictures of a police officer while he is with a suspect, except in cases where the photo is relevant to the investigation.

Gen Chakthip also banned police officers from making any gestures which may lead others to believe the officer is personally acquainted with the suspect. This can undermine confidence in police operations, he said.

Deputy permanent secretary to Justice Minister Tawatchai Thaikyo said the ministry once issued a letter dated Aug 3, 2016 regarding suspects’ rights and violations of their freedom.

In response, the prime minister instructed the deputy

premier in charge of security and the Royal Thai Police that when officers bring suspects to a press conference, they should only provide updates on the progress of the case.

The officers should not permit suspects to give media interviews because this is tantamount to violating their human rights.

“If a suspect is proven to be innocent, or even if he is convicted, they will find it difficult to reintegrate into society after they have served their sentences and may even commit further offences,” said Mr Tawatchai.

Related government agencies including the Department of Special Investigation, the police and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board as well as media representatives agreed on Sept 29 last year to follow these guidelines, including the use of drawn sketches to represent the suspect in a way that protects their rights.

However, more suspects have recently been brought to public events and press interviews, compelling the prime minister to restate his opinion on the issue.

8

THAILAND NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Thailand battles deadly diet

Doctors tackle northeastern ‘koi pla’, a major cause of liver cancer ISAAN

A man gets an ultrasound during a CASCAP (Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program) event in the northeastern Thai province of Kalasin. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

Sally Mairs

I

t wasn’t until he got to medical school that Narong Khuntikeo finally discovered what caused the liver cancer that took both of his parents’ lives: their lunch.

Like millions of Thais across the rural northeast, his family regularly ate koi pla – a local dish made of raw fish ground with spices and lime.

The pungent meal is quick, cheap and tasty, but the fish is also a favourite feast for parasites that can cause a lethal liver cancer killing up to 20,000 Thais annually.

Most hail from northeast, a region that has dined on koi pla for generations and now has the highest reported instance of the Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) – bile duct cancer – in the world.

One of the major causes of CCA is a parasitic flatworm – or fluke – which is native to the Mekong region and found in many freshwater fish.

Once eaten, the worms can embed undetected in the

bile ducts for years causing inflammation that can, over time, trigger the aggressive cancer, according to the World Health Organisation.

“It’s a very big health burden around here... it effects families, education and socioeconomic development,” said Narong, who went on to become a liver surgeon to battle the scourge.

“But nobody knows about this because they die quietly, like leaves falling from a tree.”

After seeing hundreds of hopeless late-stage cases on the

operating table, Narong is now marshalling scientists, doctors and anthropologists to attack the “silent killer” at source.

They are fanning out across Isaan provinces to screen villagers for the liver fluke and warn them of the perils of koi pla and other risky fermented fish dishes.

But changing eating habits is no easy task in a region where love for Isaan’s famously chilliladen cuisine runs deep.

Many villagers are shocked to hear that a beloved dish passed down for generations is

a danger rather than a comfort.

Others are wedded to the convenience of a thrifty lunch they can whip up using fish caught in the ponds that border their rice paddies.

“I used to come here and just catch the fish in the pond... it’s so easy to eat raw,” said Boonliang Konghakot, a farmer from Khon Kaen province, licking his lips as he sprinkled seasonings into a bowl of the finely-chopped fish’s pink flesh.

Since learning of the cancer link he has started frying the mixture to kill off the parasite –

a method doctors recommend.

Yet not everyone is as easily swayed, according to Narong and his team.

Many villagers complain that cooking the dish gives it a sour taste.

Others simply shrug off the dangers and say their fate has already been fixed – a common belief in the Buddhist nation where karma can dictate decisions.

“They’ll say: ‘Oh well, there are many ways to die’,” lamented Narong. “But I cannot accept this answer.”

When it comes to changing eating habits, health officials are pinning their hopes on the next generation, targeting children with a new school curriculum that use cartoons to teach the risks of eating raw.

For the elderly, the target is to catch infections before it’s too late.

Narong and his team have developed urine tests to detect the presence of the parasite, which has infected up to 80% of some Isaan communities.

They have also spent the past four years trucking ultrasound machines around the

region to examine the livers of villagers who live far from public hospitals.

The initiative, called CASCAP (Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program), started as research at Khon Kaen university but received full government backing last year.

“I’ve never been checked before, so I think I will probably have it because I’ve been eating (koi pla) since I was little,” said 48-year-old Thanin Wongseeda, one villager lined up for a recent screening in Kalasin province.

The group ticked off a series of high-risk factors: they were over the age of 40, had a history of eating raw fish and had family members with the cancer.

A third of them showed abnormal liver symptoms and four were suspected to have cancer.

Thanin was one of the lucky ones, emerging from his ultrasound with a look of relief.

“I don’t think I will eat (koi pla) raw any more,” he said with resolve. As for his neighbours?

“They will not quit it easily.”

AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

ASIA NEWS

9

Condoms, bribery, warlords Afghan comedians unabashed in the face of threats of violence AFGHANISTAN Anuj Chopra

T

hey are a thorn in the side of abusive Afghan warlords, corrupt policemen and double-dealing politicians, skewering them on television – with laughter.

Comedy can be a dangerous business in Afghanistan, but the stars of TV show “Shabake-Khanda” – or Laughter Network – are unabashed even in the face of threats of violence.

Their skits calling out wrongdoing and incompetence with tongue-in-cheek nonchalance have garnered an avid following since the series first launched on Tolo Television.

A recent episode took a swipe at a senior minister who had a reputation for drifting off to sleep in official meetings.

“Wazir sahib, when should I wake you up to defend the country?” the anchor crooned to a broken harmonium, reflecting public frustration over growing insecurity in Afghanistan.

“You were sleeping when suicide bombers came to attack us,” he joked.

The skits on ‘Shabake Khanda’ call out wrongdoing and incompetence with tongue-incheek nonchalance and have garnered an avid following since the series first launched on Tolo Television. Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP Another episode parodied a military commander who bet – and lost – a government Humvee in a gambling spree.

And another lampooned a policeman who was dismissed for “bacha bazi”, the entrenched practice of sexual slavery and abuse of boys.

“Through comedy we show the reality of life in Afghanistan,” said the show’s 27-yearold producer Rafi Tabee.

“Comedy is funnier when

there is truth to it. In a country full of tragedies, we make people laugh.”

The show is a rare uncensored voice that has built a reputation for poking the bear in the eye and speaking truth to power.

And it appears to be getting more daring with each episode.

A popular target is a formidable former warlord known for his drunken misdemeanours: portrayed on the show as wear-

It’s something fishy: Indians swallow live fish for asthma INDIA MORE THAN 5,000 INdians have lined up in the country’s south, pinching their noses and sticking their tongues out to swallow live fish in an unusual traditional treatment for asthma.

Every year in June asthma patients gather in the southern city of Hyderabad to gulp down the fish stuffed with a yellow herbal paste, hoping it will help them breathe more easily.

The wriggling five-centimetre murrel fish are slipped into the throats of patients in a bizarre treatment that leaves them gagging.

The Bathini Goud family, which administers the treatment, says the fish clear the throat on their way down and permanently cure asthma along with other respiratory problems.

But the family has declined to reveal the secret formula which they say they got from a Hindu saint in 1845. @thephuketnews

An Indian member of the Bathini Goud family administers ‘fish medicine’ to a patient. Photo: Noah Seelam/AFP Parents are often forced to pry open the mouths of reluctant children who cry at the sight of squirming fish, while others pinch their noses, tip their heads back and close their eyes.

Thousands of people travel from across India for the free medicine during a two-day period, the specific dates of which are determined by the onset of the monsoon every June.

Rights groups and doc-

tors have complained that the medicine is “unscientific”, a violation of human rights and unhygienic, claims rejected by the family.

The Indian government arranges special trains for the “fish medicine” festival every year and extra police are on duty to control crowds.

After digesting the treatment, patients are told to go on a strict diet for 45 days.

AFP

ing a bandoleer belt filled not with bullets but alcohol bottles.

Another audience favourite was a skit showing Afghanistan’s president trying to coax another former warlord over the phone not to engage in celebratory shellfire after signing a government peace accord.

“No celebratory fire is like making Kabuli pilaf without rice,” reasons the stubborn warlord, flanked by a rocket launcher.

The line between satire and reality blurred to the point of vanishing when the show parodied a powerful MP whose electricity was cut off for not paying his utility bills.

“If you don’t switch it back on, I will switch you off,” the MP is shown threatening a power company official. In reality, the lawmaker got away with not paying, the way influential strongmen in Afghanistan usually do.

But sometimes the humour cuts too close to the bone. In Afghanistan’s hypermasculine society, being laughed at is the cultural equivalent of being emasculated, the ultimate humiliation that can easily devolve into violence.

“Two armed men came to my house and said ‘You make fun of our leaders? This should be the last time’,” said Siar Matin, one of the show’s comedians.

Supporters of President Ashraf Ghani also warned another star of the show, Ibrahim Abed, against mocking him. He has gained popularity for near-perfect mimicry of

the mercurial leader’s sudden finger-jabbing outbursts.

“Doing comedy is as dangerous as killing a cow in India,” where the animals are worshipped, joked comedian Nabi Roashan.

But such is the power of outraged mockery that ordinary Afghans have started courting Shabake Khanda’s crew to expose wrongdoings and shame inept officials.

“People come to us instead of going to MPs with their problems,” said Siar.

Humour is also a source of solace and escapism in a country where hope is fast receding, amid a worsening conflict, rising unemployment and political dysfunction.

“In Afghanistan they say laughing is a sin,” said Roashan. “But people tell us ‘you are doing the best job by making people laugh’.”

The program’s rising popularity mirrors the evolution of the media in post-Taliban Afghanistan into a feisty watchdog despite funding pressures and the ever-growing threat of violence.

AFP

10 WORLD NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Turning down the volume

‘City that never sleeps’ wants to address its noise pollution problem UNITED STATES Catherine Triomphe

C

ar horns, sirens, drilling, jet overf lights and restaurants where diners have to yell to be heard – New York is one of the loudest cities in the world.

But America’s most populous metropolis, known as “The City That Never Sleeps”, has launched a unique experiment seeking to provide New York with the technology to turn down the volume and address noise pollution.

The five-year, $4.6 million (B156.3mn) project – the brainchild of researchers at New York University (NYU), working in concert with city residents and city hall – is using machine learning technology and sensors to build a sound library.

The idea is to record the full panoply of noises in the city of 8.5 million residents and use artificial intelligence so that machines can recognise sounds automatically, ultimately giving authorities a way to mitigate noise levels.

“It is like living in the middle of a soccer stadium sometimes,” says Gregory Orr, a film-maker from Los Angeles who has lived in New York for 19 years.

New York is one of the loudest cities in the world. Photo: Aron Ranen/AFP “Even the squirrels have to chirp louder in the city in order to be heard over the din,” he jokes.

Juan Bello, head of the “Sounds of NYC” project and associate professor of music technology at NYU, says noise is “consistently the number one civil complaint” to the city’s 311 telephone hotline for non-emergency services, instituted in 2003.

Researchers installed the first sensor boxes, which transmit data through Wi-Fi, on NYU buildings in Green-

wich Village.

They’re now installing sensors across Manhattan and Brooklyn at spots selected for their diverse sounds. By the end of the year, there should be 100 in place.

“There are plenty of studies showing that noise has a tremendous impact on health, both short-term and longterm,” says Bello, citing heart conditions, hearing loss and hypertension, which then have a significant economic impact.

Educational performance is also shown to suffer among

children subjected to high noise levels.

In Manhattan, Bello says the effects are amplified by skyscrapers, which form “canyons of sound” and make everything louder.

“A lot of the sounds that you get in New York would not be so loud in other places, because of the specifics of the topology of the city,” he said.

That was the concept from which the project was born, and it is being financed by the National Science Foundation.

The sensors are pro-

grammed to record no more than 10 consecutive seconds to avoid eavesdropping on conservations and posing confidentiality problems.

Researchers hope to index thousands of sounds which, with the help of New Yorkers, will be carefully annotated and help computers identify the source of nuisance sound immediately.

It would then be over to the city to do what it can to limit it.

The problem is clear. But the solutions might still be some way off.

How, for example, do you deal with something as shortlived and unpredictable as honking?

“We have to get more creative,” says Bello.

Today, it can take authorities five or six days to deal with a noise complaint, and requires the intervention of one of 50 specialist inspectors, says Bello.

After so long, the problem has often disappeared.

Those who call the police on noisy neighbours can be given short shrift by officers who have more pressing priorities.

Arline Bronzaft, environmental psychologist and professor emerita at City University of New York, has spent years speaking out about the harmful effects of noise and need for

better controls.

Delighted that the project is taking place, she says noise levels affect how New Yorkers behave.

“Some of the reason people walk fast is to get away from the noise and New Yorkers talk loud because we are competing with sounds,” she said.

For a long time, officials minimised the consequences of noise pollution, accusing people of exaggerating – a bit like how the tobacco industry spent decades refusing to acknowledge the risks of smoking on your health.

But today she credits authorities with being “cognisant of the problem”.

The first results gathered by Bello’s team tend to confirm that the problem is underreported, that there are more noise violations than the 311 log seems to suggest, at least for sounds linked to construction.

New York may not be the only loud city in the world, but Bello calls it “a perfect laboratory” to test solutions that can be adopted and transferred “to many other places in the US and around the world”.

“That’s ultimately the objective,” he says. “We will generate a core set of technologies that can be applied to this problem anywhere.”

AFP

Thousands in Cuzco celebrate Incan festival of the sun PERU AT THE HIGHEST POINT of the Coricancha temple in Cuzco at dawn, an indigenous actor interpreting a ceremony of the ancient Inca raises his hands to receive the sun’s first rays.

But these are changing

times for the ancient Inti Raymi Festival, one of the most important Incan religious ceremonies: nearby, a drone flies overhead, recording the staging.

For today’s South American civilisations, June 24 marked the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice. But for the country’s indigenous population it commemorated the

beginning of the sun’s journey back to “Pachamama” – the word for “Mother Earth” in Quechua, a language spoken by some 3.2 million Peruvians.

Approximately 80,000 people crowded in and near Cuzco, a southeastern Peruvian city, for the celebration, many clad in vividly coloured costumes.

The theatrical representation at the ancient Incan ruins Saksaywaman drew some 3,500 audience members, as locals and tourists alike observed the re-enactment of ancient rites and sacrifices meant to ensure a good harvest.

Actors portraying the Incan emperor and his wife went from Coricancha to Cuzco’s main square, where ancient ruins of the Incan city stand along Baroque churches and palaces built by Spanish conquistadors.

“I feel happy and proud, like every Cuzco resident, to participate,” said Alexander Carbajal, who took part for the second year and portrayed a soldier of the imperial guard of the Inca in the staging.

During the ceremony Cuzco was gridlocked: the day before the main party, some 250 delegations paraded through, music ringing out and dancers twirling.

The procession begun the morning of June 23 and lasted

An actor performs the role of the Inca Emperor, takes part in a recreation during the Inti Raymi Festival at the Sacsahuaman fortress compound on the hills over the Andean city of Cuzco in Peru. Photo: AFP until dawn the next day.

“As people from Cuzco we feel proud,” said Alice Quispe Condori, who donned a colourful poncho.

During Spanish colonisation of the region the tradition was largely repressed by Catholic priests and continued only in secret from 1542 to 1824.

It was revived in 1944 and today is a source of Andean

pride, particularly in Cuzco, the ancient Incan capital.

“Cuzco is a large and ancient city, and many towns of the same era are now cloaked in oblivion,” said the deputy minister of tourism, Rogers Valencia, noting the disappearance of the Mesopotamian cities of Nineveh and Babylon.

“Cuzco, with its 3,500 years, lives.”

AFP thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

BUSINESS NEWS 11

A&E trade expo looks forward SPONSORED

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

he annual Architect & Engineering Exhibition returns to Phuket next month with a focus on leading technology in construction and interior decor industries.

The popular trade expo, touted as the one-stop shop for home builders and hoteliers throughout Southern Thailand, will be at the Royal Phuket City Hotel on July 12-15 for its 17th edition with more than 100 products from more than 100 manufacturers and importers on show.

“This year will have all types of construction materials, from floors to roof tiles, as well as the latest breakthroughs in technology, interior design and building maintenance,” explained Thanet Triwut of the expo’s organiser, PIC Phuket.

Among the displays will be nano-technology applications for next-generation homes, the latest in prefabrication construction structures and top-of-the-range light-andsound systems for conventions and conferences, nightclubs and entertainment venues as

Visitors to the Architect & Engineering Exhibition at the Royal Phuket City hotel on July 12-15 will be treated to a variety of displays showcasing the latest innovations. well as the latest products for spas, swimming pools and gymnasiums.

“Key players in the industry as well as people building their own homes can come and learn how to design a smart home for a multi-million-dollar project, with explanations on how to include IPTV, 4G internet, IP Phone, mobile phone, CCTV and other high-tech devices,” said Mr Thanet.

Phuket firm iT Guru will have on exhibit a “Smart City System” in co-operation with local IT firms Fiber One, 3BB, ToT and CAT Telecom.

Another key attraction at this year’s event will be a seminar titled “Financial Technology and Property Tech” focusing on how enterprises can move their transactions into the online world, with explanations of the BitCoin block chain technology and the roles played by new-era digital money clients Alipay, WeChat Pay and the WebPak payment gateway.

The seminar will also discuss how Ananda Property and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) are forging ahead with their “Proptech Startups” in

Phuket tourism to national parks generates 40% of all park revenues TOURISM TOU R ISTS V ISITI NG the national parks at the Phi Phi Islands and the Similan Islands, for both of which Phuket serves as the primary jump-off point, have contributed more than 40% of the B1.7 billion in park entry fees collected from all national parks across the country since October last year.

Entry fees collected by the Hat Nopparat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, east of Phuket but technically in Krabi, amounted to B428 million from October 2016 until June 2017, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) Spokesman Sompot Maneerat revealed late last week.

The amount stands out as the most entry fees collected by a single national park in the nation, Mr Sompot said.

During the same period, at total of B299mn in admis@thephuketnews

Tourists at Maya Bay, located within the Hat Nopparat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park. Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) sion fees were collected at Mu Koh Similan National Park, north of Phuket, he added.

Together, the entry fees from the two national parks since October represent more than 40% of all entry fees collected by all national parks in the country.

The DNP has collected more than B1.678bn in revenue from such admission fees since October 2016 following the renovation of facilities and restora-

tion of natural resources, Mr Sompot told state news agency NNT. The DNP has aimed to have national parks across the country generate more revenue from tourism in order to allocate the money for the restoration and development of natural attractions, and to take care of national park personnel, whereas the budget provided by the government alone was not sufficient, he explained.

The Phuket News

Thailand.

“Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and other provinces in the Andaman region are the best potential of investment economy during the opening of AEC (Asean Economic Community), and in light of the Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam free-trade agreement,” Mr Thanet explained.

“Since the Thai government announced Phuket to be the first Smart City in Thailand, the government has started to inject huge amounts of funds to promote digital technology in the tourism industry – not

only for growth of the hotel and tourism sector to continue, but also for other major construction projects, including the light rail system, the new “super highway”, luxury housing projects, yacht marinas, convention centres and large-scale shopping centres,” he added.

“As Thailand today under the leadership of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha is undergoing extensive reforms in all socio-economic dimensions, the Cabinet has realised the urgent need to leverage digital technology to drive the country forward and assigned the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to co-develop the Thailand Digital Economy and Society Development Plan.

“This plan is to be used as a blueprint for the country’s development by digital technology, which can range from switching to digital mindset in all sectors, reforming economic structures (trade/ business, manufacturing, services), enhancing efficiency of government, to improving the quality of life of the Thai people,” Mr Thanet noted.

Other highlight innovations at

the exhibition include: • SAMSUNG Galaxy Gear VR 360 camera and service by www.thai360.info • Fractal Shade – awardwinning innovative roof design • Floors and roofs made from cork, which can keep homes cool and absorb sound • MasterCool – waste recycling and power-saving system, with pay by installments • BlyGold – HVAC heatloss coating technology which also protects against sea corrosion • InnoGreen – Ozone generator and cooling and wastewater treatment systems, with pay by installments • Masterkool – power-saving system for air conditioning and LED lighting systems by lease and pay by installments • Echotech – Heat Pump system with power saving certified by Label No.5 SB Smart Furniture comes with Electric Reclining Sofa and Chair and space saving furniture for condominium For more information about the Architect & Engineering Exhibition 2017 email info@ pic-phuket.com or call 0887513569. This event is proudly sponsored by The Phuket News.

12 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Labour law penalties hit bosses, foreigners EMPLOYMENT

Shela Riva reporter1@classactmedia.co.th

T Online permits Online application of construction permits could cut corruption drastically, says the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission. Photo: Bangkok Post

to avoid graft CONSTRUCTION T H E G OV E R N M E N T plans to introduce an online application process for state licences and permits in an effort to tackle corruption.

According to Areepun Charoensuk, senior adviser at the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC), digital applications for construction permits can reduce corruption as the state authorities who grant licences will not personally interact with applicants.

“It will be zero touch,” she said. “Those who apply for a licence or a permit can just scan or photograph the documents and submit them in digital formats via an application or software system.

They will be sent immediately to the relevant government agencies.”

The OPDC is awaiting budget approval to develop the improved government services, Ms Areepun said.

The commission is working on improving ease of doing business through the Licensing Facilitation Act 2015, which was enacted in July 2015. The act aims to facilitate licensing and set government service standards.

The act will require manuals detailing documentation required for each government service, fees and how long

an application will take to be approved.

“It will be more transparent,” Mrs Areepun said in a seminar entitled “Construction permits: a convenience you have to pay for?” held last Friday (June 22) by the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand.

“The digital system will help simplify the permit application process. We aim to reduce the processing time by 30-50%,” she added.

There is a preponderance of laws related to licensing for around 300 key government services.

With the digital system, all will be gathered into one channel in a single form, called “Doing Business Portal” with a one-stop service concept, which will be completed in the next three years.

Among the laws related to licensing, the construction permit is one of the key licences in the property sector.

Tortrakul Yomnak, a former president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand, said acquiring construction permits creates extra costs of around 1% of project value, citing the report by the World Bank.

He said the bribes being paid to obtain construction permits faster remain low in Bangkok. In provinces, local administration authorities charge B40 per square metre.

Bangkok Post

he Ch ief of t he Phuket Employment Office (PEO) has cautioned foreigners and employers to be aware of a raft of new penalties for breaches of labour law introduced last week.

The warning follows the newly issued “Emergency Decree” on “Management Immigrant Work” dated June 17, which came into effect last Friday (June 23).

“To all employers and foreign employees, please be careful, because some of these new penalties are very harsh,” PEO Chief Pitool Dumsakorn told The Phuket News on Tuesday (June 27).

“For example, deceiving that one can bring a foreigner to work without a work permit can incur a fine from B600,000 up to B1 million, or from three to 10 years in prison, or both, for each foreign worker deceived,” he said.

The Emergency Decree is comprised of 33 provisions, but Chief Pitool stressed that foreigners and employers need to be aware that the penalties for eight breaches of the law in particular have been increased.

The eight provisions are highlighted in a Thai-language leaflet currently issued by the Department of Employment, and now available at the PEO. Mr Pitool noted that the most important provision was No.1 on the leaf let, which states: “If an employer employs a foreigner to work in a position prohibited to a foreigner, the employer shall be fined B400,000-800,000 per employed foreigner.”

“This one is important because it is probably the most common one,” Mr Pitool said.

“Number six is also im-

Phuket Employment Office Chief Pitool Dumsakorn has cautioned employers and foreigners working in Phuket of a raft of new, harsher, penalties for breaching labour law. portant, because not a many people know that it is wrong to keep a foreigner’s work permit,” he added.

Rule 6 on the leaflet states: “If a person withholds a work permit or other documents belonging to a foreigner, he/ she shall be fined not more than B100,000, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.”

The other five provisions highlighted by the leaflet are: • If a foreigner works in excess of the work as described in the work permit, the foreigner shall be fined up to B100,000.

• If an employer allows a foreigner to work in excess of the work described in the work permit, the employer shall be fined up to B400,000 per foreigner employed.

• If a foreigner works without a work permit or works in a position prohibited to foreigners, the foreigner shall be fined B2,000-100,000, or imprisoned up to five years, or both.

• If a foreigner works on an urgent and essential nature without approval from a labour officer, he/she shall be fined up B20,000-B100,000.

• Any person operating

as a job agency for foreigners without a licence shall be fined B200,000-600,000, or imprisoned for one to three years, or both.

For more information about the new provisions, call the Department of Employment hotline at 1694 (Thai language only).

Finnair ramps up Phuket, Krabi flights AIRLINES FINNAIR WILL UPGRADE its European winter season services from Helsinki to Phuket and Krabi from Airbus A330 to A350 aircraft for its three flights weekly to Phuket and two f lights weekly to Krabi from October 9 to late March 2018.

From Helsinki to Phuket the flights depart at 7:15pm (Helsinki time) and arrive in Phuket at 10:30am (Phuket

Finnair is ramping up its services to Phuket and Krabi for the coming tourism ‘high season’. Photo: Finnair time), the following morning.

Departures from Helsinki will be on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The flights to Krabi, departing on Tuesdays and

Wednesdays during the period, will also depart Helsinki at 7:15pm and arrive at 10:30am the following mornings.

The flights to both Phuket and Krabi were originally seasonal charters with seats presold to tour operators. Flights schedules for the Phuket and Krabi routes for winter 2017 to 2018 have also been adjusted to offer more efficient connections for passengers flying from the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, Finnair said.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

New column explores the joys of tropical gardening

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

14

Phuket students get prepared for disaster

17

IT’S PIE TIME! XANA celebrates American Independence Day with Family Festival and Pie Eating Contest

Entry to XANA’s Family Festival is free, so bring the whole family!

The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

A

n epic Fourth of July themed celebration will be held at XANA Beach Club on Sunday, July 2 for the whole family to attend.

Open and free to the public, XANA’s Family Festival brings together an allyou-can-eat buffet, lively activities, @thephuketnews

drink specials and terrific food from midday to 6pm. To round out the entertainment competitors will take to the stage for Phuket’s second annual pie-eating contest.

The event will feature a summer beach buffet with some delicious Thai and American cuisine – including roast chicken, barbecued ribs and pies. Guests can choose from a wide selection of indulgent desserts including pastries, cotton candy and

ice cream. XANA’s resident DJ will keep the party going with all your favourite music.

The the most anticipated highlight of the day is surely the pieeating contest, which kicks off at 4:30pm. Ten participants will compete to eat a single pie in the fastest possible time. The winner will be awarded a Sunday Brunch for two people at XANA Beach Club worth B5,700.

Entry to the Family Festival and Pie Eating Contest is free for all and the Summer Beach Buffet is B450 per person. Participation in the pieeating contest costs B250 per person – but be quick to secure your spot as it will be limited to the first 10 people who sign up.

For details call XANA Beach Club at 076-358500 or email info@xanabeachclub.com

14 GARDENING

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Nature’s own pest controllers Getting these critters into your garden is the best way to keep pests out GREEN THOUGHTS Patrick Campbell

Tropical gardening presents a new and exciting challenge. We all make mistakes, but embracing nature is always rewarding and salubrious.

Tokay gecko. Photo: Tontantravel

M

y name is Patrick Campbell. I have lived happily on this island Eden since 2004 with my Thai partner Wan. All very different from my upbringing in rural, austerity England, where I first developed an abiding passion for the countryside – which I recently described in my memoir Plums to Persia.

Tropical gardening presents a new and exciting challenge. We all make mistakes, but embracing nature is always rewarding and salubrious. In time to come, and as green spaces disappear beneath the island’s remorseless concrete jungle, gardens will become the principal haven for all the fauna as well as the flora of Phuket. Look after your flowers, shrubs and trees. In return, they will enrich your lives not only with vibrant colour, but with bees, birds, butterflies and rich, pure, fragrant air.

In this column for The Phuket News, I hope to provide advice, guidance and information about the endlessly fascinating world of tropical gardening. If you have any questions about your own garden or would like to know more about a specific topic please email me and I will do my best to help. For this, my first column, I want to look at controlling insect pests by encouraging nature’s own pest-killers to do what they do best.

Unfortunately, every Phuket garden is home to plant eating insects. Most people control these “critters” with insecticides, and indeed sometimes there is no alternative. Just check the ingredients – carefully – when you buy pesticides. Though illegal in most countries, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as DDT and lindane still turn up like bad pennies. Their longterm impact on the environment, on everything from birds of prey to bees, has been catastrophic.

Less dangerous alternatives include carbamates such as cardaryl, or parathion; better still, plantderived compounds such as nicotine, rotenone or pyrethrum. But wherever possible, you should let nature take its course, and provide its own bio-controls. This means that reptiles and amphibians that have taken up residence in my garden, namely the lizards, skinks, geckos, frogs and toads are welcome to stay. I attribute the fact that there are few snails and even fewer slugs to the presence of these voracious insectivores.

Of these, one of the most useful is the banded bullfrog or chubby frog (Kalouka pulchra). It is distinctive looking, with a dark brown back, creamy belly, and a broad salmon-pink stripe along the body. Almost round, it can, if distressed, make itself even more rotund. In the monsoon they surface from holes (often excavated in flower pots) where they spend most of the dry season, in order to feed and breed. They are not large – no more than five centimetres in length – but they are big consumers, both of slugs, and of insects such as crickets, grasshoppers and termites.

Another amphibian that puts in a daily appear-

Snakes are at the top of your garden’s food chain and keep other insectivores in check. Photo: C Baetsle

A banded bull-frog. Photo: Rushen

Tadpoles eat mosquito larvae. Photo: F Böhringer

ance at present is the river toad (Bufo asper). Unlike the chubby frog which dislikes chlorine intensely, this species squats by the pool and, on occasion, even plops in. A larger creature, with a distinctive broad head and warty, knobbly skin, it is reliant on its dark yellow-green colour for camouflage.

Only if prodded, will it hop into the adjacent undergrowth. But it is another gardener’s friend. All these frogs and toads need water to breed. They favour my fish pond: hence the presence of tadpoles at this time of year.

Among the lizards, the sun skink or mabuya (Eutropis multifasciata) is an attractive and useful fellow, since he is terrestrial, lives in the leaf litter of flower beds, and emerges at dusk, to prey on slugs and other invertebrates.

The largest family of lizards, skinks typically have small legs, streamlined bodies, and attractive coppery scales.

Less obviously a gardener’s ally since they live in trees, arboreal agamid lizards are also good to have around, since they feed principally on insects.

They are easily identified by their excessively long, fragile-looking tails and dorsal crests. Safe in my domain, their habit of freezing when disturbed, makes them an easy prey for human predators who hunt them with a noose at the end of a long stick.

Geckos, the commonest reptile of all, have not yet been mentioned – for the obvious reason that they favour houses rather than gardens. And they are a bit of a mixed blessing since they leave their black droppings everywhere.

Nonetheless, they account for large quantities of pests, especially mosquitoes. The commonest variety in Phuket is the spiny-tailed house gecko. There can be scarcely a Thai home without its

complement of “lucky” geckos patrolling the ceilings and walls.

On the other hand, the tokay (Gekko gecko) is less visible, partly because it is able, chameleon-like, to change the colour of its skin. A family lives in my garden wall, where, every evening, the male gives vent to his loud, rasping cry.

Naturally aggressive with a fierce bite, the tokay is the largest and most striking member of the gecko tribe, up to a foot long, with blue-grey skin and vivid, orange spots. Consequently it is much in demand in China and in the pet trade. A shame… it is much more valuable running free and devouring large insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and ants.

Snakes of course are the natural predators of all these reptiles. Friends are always regaling me with stories of large cobras in or around their properties, but my walled garden only attracts vibrantly coloured tree snakes. Nonetheless, they have a hearty appetite for lizards and frogs.

And what of dragons? Alas none.

The nearest I came to a dragon in Phuket was a huge carrion-eating water monitor which used to inhabit a nearby marsh, and which once ambled across my lawn. It was all of six feet long and they are second in size only to the Komodo Dragon. Little wonder Thais are in awe of them.

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

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EXPLORE 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Seeking fresh surf in Khao Lak

Surf Thailand explores more by hitting the road and heading north to Khao Lak SURF THAILAND Mark Suarkeo & Jeremie Schatz

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good road trip once in awhile is a great way to get away from it all. It is exciting to break off from the normal routine, explore unfamiliar territory, and discover new sights and sounds. And of course, what would a road trip be without stopping at some random restaurant to try out the local cuisine? After all, doing something new and unknown is all part of the adventure.

A surf road trip pushes surfers’ excitement to a whole new level though.

Whether venturing to surf a different spot for the first time or just driving a good distance away from your favourite surf spot, the journey and new experiences are what make every surf trip worthwhile.

Exploring Thailand’s shores Crowded surfing line-ups can sometimes be found at more popular and well-known surf spots located in higher populated areas, particularly along the west coast of Phuket. However, with 740 kilometres of coastline along Thailand’s west coast, there’s no doubt that undiscovered and unridden surf breaks are out there somewhere.

You can also score some surf at a few other nearby islands and coastal towns where surfers are more than content with less crowded lineups and less-than-perfect waves. Heading across Sarasin Bridge and driving north from Phuket along the coast can lead you to a fruitful journey of exploration.

One well-known spot that’s a bit off the beaten track, and offers all the equipment and accommodation you need for a mini surf-trip, can be found at Pakarang Beach. This tranquil coastal wonderland is located in the beautiful, laid back, family-friendly community of Khao Lak. It’s only about 60km north of Sarasin Bridge

Relax with a beach fire show at the end of the day. @thephuketnews

and a quick day trip is definitely within reach and well worth the drive.

Where to go The place to be at Pakarang Beach is Memories Beach Bar. There’s a different vibe, a different scene and a different crowd. Everything about this place is laid back and you can feel it as soon as you drive down the winding dirt road to the picturesque setting.

The locally-owned beach bar and restaurant is the perfect setup for curling your toes in the soft sand while sipping on your favourite beverage as you gaze out at the Andaman Sea. It’s the epitome of a “chill out to the reggae beats and feel the good vibrations” kind of place. Local Thai food and Western food are sizzling in the kitchen everyday from 8am to midnight. In the evenings, you will find local live music and remember to be on the lookout for events such as the Khao Lak Surf Contest, typically held in October.

What to do there Naturally, if there are waves, you’ll have to rent a surfboard and paddle out. If you’re a beginner, have no fear, there are surf instructors who are happy to get you outfitted, out there and surfing. Before you even hit the water, you’ll learn the basic techniques of paddling, the “pop up”, and the basics about ocean safety including how to spot rip currents and how to escape them.

You’ll find all the essentials at Pakarang Surf Shop, located behind Memories Beach Bar. They offer up a good selection of surfboards in a variety sizes – longboards, shortboards, and even boogie boards. Surf shop owner Ching and his team will surely have you covered.

When to go to catch some surf Your best chance of catching waves in Khao Lak is from April to November.

The waves there are generally softer and well-suited to longboarding. Since waves are mostly dependent on the southwest monsoon, be sure to check the weather and surf forecast. If you have never surfed before, Pakarang Beach and other nearby beaches can be the perfect place to get your feet wet. Learning to ride the whitewater and practising your pop up and balance with mellow waves will surely give you a positive experience and have you wanting to go back for more.

What else can you do?

There are plenty of other activities to enjoy if the ocean is flat. You can choose to go mountain biking, hike to waterfalls, take a Thai cooking class, get a beachside Thai massage, or just flat out relax and read a good book. If you’re not short on time, take a day trip to

If you’ve never surfed before, there are surf schools in Khao Lak that can get you started. the world-famous Similan Islands (only from October 15 to May 15). Considered one of Southeast Asia’s top-ranked island destinations, the chain of islands are renowned for world-class snorkeling and diving.

Also, be sure to stop by the International Tsunami Museum at the nearby town of Bang Niang and pay your respects to the 2004 Tsunami victims and their families. It’s an educational experience and your visit helps the community as the entrance fees of B100 are donated to the victims of the tsunami.

Where to stay There are plenty of options to choose from that will suit anyone’s budget or needs. From basic beachside bungalows to high end five-star luxury resorts, you’ll easily find what’s best for you and your family.

How to get there After crossing Sarasin Bridge, follow the route and take Highway 4 all the way up

to Khao Lak. After driving for about an hour, you’ll pass the JW Marriott on the left side of the road. Keep an eye out on the left side of the road for a sign shaped like a surfboard (because it is a surfboard!). It can be easy to miss if you’re not looking carefully. It’s just before the Elephant Camp. The surfboard sign for Memories Beach Bar is the entrance to a fairly narrow dirt road that’s almost three kilometres long. Keep going until you get to the dirt parking lot.

Time to hit the road and experience new adventures that Thailand’s beautiful coast has to offer.

Mark Suarkeo and Tracey Suarkeo are the founders of Surf Thailand. Mark is a Certified Prosthetist and can be reached at mark@surfthailand.com. Tracey can be reached at tracey@surfthailand.com.

Jeremie Schatz is director of Andaman Board Sports and can be reached at jeremie@andamanboardsports.com. Visit surfthailand.com and andamanboardsports.com for more information.

16 HEALTH

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Awaken the Yin dragon Kim White kim@mindbodyyogasystem.com

H

ello and welcome. This month I want to give you some lower-back relief. I teach and talk with many different people every month, from all walks of life, from different parts of the globe and with many different and interesting life stories. But despite all this variety there is one thing that a lot of them have in common – lower back tension or discomfort.

It is probably the most common complaint that I hear as a yoga teacher. So this month, I am going to share with you a Yin yoga pose that helps to release lower back tension by focusing on opening one of the main culprits that creates this discomfort, the hip flexors.

Most people spend a large proportion of their day sitting, sitting for breakfast, sitting in the car or on the bike to and from work, sitting at work, sitting at lunch, sitting for dinner and then perhaps sitting to watch TV. In between all this sitting, exercise may happen, and that requires running, jumping, kicking and so on. During all of this sitting and exercise there is a lot of stagnant

Photo one: The beginner’s pose. bent holds, pressure and force being put through your hip flexors – this creates a shortening of these muscles and results in a compression in the lower back. None of this is very conducive to open, free, happy movements of the hips – but our Yin yoga pose for this month, the twisted dragon pose, definitely is. The dragon is a symbol of power, strength and good fortune. The twisted dragon is the Yin yoga gift of good fortune for your suffering caused by tight hips and bestows these lovely benefits: • Opens the obliques • Deep hip and groin opener • Targets the hip flexor on the back leg • Stretches the hamstring on the front leg • Also stretches the abductor on the front leg • Assist with relief of sciatica

Photo two: The more advanced pose with elbow pressed to the floor.

• Opens lower back • Strengthens the ankle • Stimulates the kidney and liver meridians Please follow these steps when practising this Yin yoga pose: 1. Start with your right foot in front and left behind you on the floor 2. Right knee is directly above the ankle and is fixed in this position 3. From here slide your left knee as far as you can away from the right heel, you will feel a stretch starting in the left hip.

4. Beginners, you will keep your right foot flat on the floor and lean to the left with your torso, right hand on the floor.

(See photo one.)

5. If you can progress from the beginner variation, you will turn your right

heel in towards your hip at 45 degrees and lift the inside line of the foot to the ceiling, leaning to the left, right elbow will touch the floor. (See photo two.)

6. Once you have leant left, place the right hand on the right knee and press it out sideways away from the body.

7. Look over your left shoulder.

8. Your hips are sinking and your chest is lifting and leaning in the opposite direction to your knee.

9. Hold here for 2-3 minutes, work on long deep breaths with a focus on longer slower out breaths to stimulate a deeper release.

10. Repeat on the opposite side.

“Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth. Tame the dragon and the gift is yours.” – Noela Evans.

Happy stretching, Metta, Kim oxo.

Health and wellness weekend

E

ighteen participants got their health checked and jumped for joy at the 5th “Reboot & Reevaluate Your Healthy Reality Check”, hosted by JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s Mandara Spa recently. The annual wellness workshop took place from June 15-18 and was conducted by life coach extraordinaire Hayden Rhodes from Royal Phuket Marina Health Club; nutritional specialist Craig Burton; Phuket’s own yoga aficionado Kim White; the gifted artist Christine Reilly; and last but not least certified pure therapeutic grand essential oils Kathy Russell.

Executive Chef Dietmar Spitzer and his skilled kitchen team spiced up the wellness workshop with nutritious meals.

All participants who are passionate in health and wellness, embarked on a journey toward a more complete understanding of the relationship between mind and body, learned the basics of yoga, meditation, life tips and personal nutrition, and applied aromatherapy and art therapy to healing on every level: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The wellness workshop kicked off with a gentle “rise and shine find your flow and movement medicine” session

by Hayden, a vitality and celebrity coach who quoted that “Sitting is the new smoking”. The participants practised mindful walking and breathing – being aware of each step and each

Executive Chef Dietmar Spitzer prepared healthy meals with ingredients from Pura Organic. breath while moving over thousands of steps around in the tropical scenery of Phuket. The participants also joined in a variety of movement to awaken their bodies and minds among the gentle rise and shine wake up yoga; steps to meditation; Vinyasa yoga and face-off yoga to help build strength, flexibility, balance, focus and inner peace with the energetic renowned yoga expert Kim White.

Also held over the weekend was a comprehensive range of health talks and hands-on workshops on reducing inflammation, balancing blood sugar, and healthy cooking demonstrations

by Executive Chef Dietmar along with Chef de Cuisine Andrea Genio and their skilled kitchen team.

The highlights of healthy cooking menu included asparagus salad with roasted chickpeas and melon rice noodle salad.

The Phuket News thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

EDUCATION 17

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Being prepared for the worst

Students get expert earthquake and tsunami preparedness training Chris Husted execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

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project to educate 2,000 students from 20 schools across Phuket about disaster preparedness, involving international experts, drew to a close at Saphan Hin last week (June 21). The project marked the launch of a new initiative to bring together resources from all aspects of society, including hotels, resorts and other businesses, to help respond to disasters should another one befall Phuket.

The project, “Building Community-Level Disaster Awareness – School Outreach Project” held at the Srinagarindra The Princess Mother School in Phuket, involved experts from the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) and was organised by the Phuket Disaster Resilience Foundation. Students from across Phuket taking part learned about how earthquakes and tsunamis are created and how to respond if one occurs.

Students were involved in earthquake and tsunami safety sessions from June 5-16 with the first project focusing on topics that engage 11- and 12-yearolds attending school in Phuket. A second round of training, expanding to 30 schools, will be starting this October.

The training series is aimed at teaching children about earthquakes and tsunamis, in order to help them to think critically, make the right decisions and take action during disaster events. To reinforce their theoretical knowledge of disaster safety, the children participated in several activities, including a mapping exercise of the different evacuation routes in their schools.

The Earth Observatory of Singapore sponsored this first round of training that featured professional trainers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), as well as Phuket-based members of the DDPM Academy.

The training series was designed to introduce 11and 12-year-olds to Disaster Resilience – a topic that the School Outreach Project plans to integrate into the on-going curriculum of the schools in Phuket.

Presiding over the event yesterday was the Deputy Director General of the national Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Kobchai Boonyaorana.

As part of the event, DDPM-Phuket officers showcased the equipment and skills on hand to respond to impending disasters.

Also present were Phuket Disaster Resilience Foundation Board Members Jayne MacDougall and Andreas Schaffer.

School Outreach Project Leader Jayne MacDougall, from Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, explained, “The Foundation is in a unique position to focus on disaster resilience with the support of specialist representatives from key positions within government, academia, business and the community.

“Education of the youth of Phuket seemed the natural starting point for this effort,” she added.

Ms MacDougall is well known across Phuket for being the first to bring professional lifeguards from

A worker stands in front of a hovercraft for use in emerergencies. @thephuketnews

Australian Consul-General for Phuket Craig Ferguson (R) joined the event. Photos: Tanyaluk Sakoot Australia to train local lifeguards in essential surf lifesaving skills – long before any moves by local authorities to support training of local lifeguards to help prevent drownings at Phuket’s beaches.

Andreas Schaffer, Sustainability Director and Head of Applied Projects Group at EOS, explained that the School Outreach Project is an integral part of a broader ambition of the Phuket Disaster Resilience Foundation.

“EOS recognised that we need to strengthen collaborations between relevant stakeholders in Phuket to enhance disaster preparedness,” said Mr Schafer.

“So EOS scientists conducted a scientific assessment of what disasters might possibly happen, and we then developed a framework for bringing the right stakeholders from Thailand and Singapore together.

“The School Outreach Project is one of several projects we have identified that will help Phuket

improve its overall disaster resilience capacity.

“We are proud to be collaborating with DDPM-Phuket, DMRC 18, Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus, and others, to advance the foundation’s cause,” he added.

Beyond the student training, the event yesterday also marked the public unveiling of the Phuket Disaster Resilience Foundation’s “Digital Disaster Response Asset Tracking Program”.

The initiative aims to distinguish itself as an institutional platform, and to “act as a communication channel for various important members on the island to come together and talk, share and communicate ideas and projects,” explained Ms MacDougall.

“The foundation has an idea and will invite the stakeholders to discuss. Knowing what we have can effectively aid decisions,” she said.

Promoting collaboration among various hotels, hospitals and gov-

Andreas Schaffer, Sustainability Director and Head of Applied Projects Group at EOS. ernment agencies can be key in critical situations, Ms MacDougall explained.

“They each may have something the other requires, but does not have. So why not join forces?” she said.

“Resources sit distributed through all sorts of organisations.

Hotels have backup power generators, backup water supplies, that’s the kind of stuff that I, as a governor, would want to know if a big disaster strikes,” Ms MacDougall pointed out.

“There are 100 large hotels that can provide power to this part of the island. I need to know what they have, I need to know where it is, I need to know their operation. Until today, we don’t,” she said.

“Let’s make all the information ready today, so if a disaster strikes you have it,” she added.

Additional Reporting by Andrew Heinz

18 ISLAND SCENE

Hundreds of students’ family members and friends came to watch the show.

KIS teachers celebrate after the successful show.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Dozens of students took part in the performance.

Parents of KIS students get ready for the show.

KAJONKIET INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL’S GALA MUSICAL ‘ANNIE JR’ A SUCCESS Hundreds of parents, siblings and members of the KIS community turned out to see the school’s production of “Annie Jr’ last Saturday, June 24, at the Simon Star Show Cabaret in Samkong. Olivia Pulaski excelled in the role of Annie alongside Ashley Wheeler as Oliver Warbucks. For the second year running, Kajonkiet International School worked in collaboration with Music Theatre International (MTI) of New York to bring you the show. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved in this wonderful production.

O.B. Wetzell (left) joins guests to enjoy the beautiful lake views.

Sky Lake Club owner Able Wanamakok (centre) welcomed guests for the talk.

Phuketians from across the island came to hear the talk.

The topic of Mr Wetzell’s talk was ‘Sexy Science’.

PHUKETIANS TURN OUT FOR AN INSPIRING TALK BY O.B. WETZELL The first Inspired Phuketian evening saw O.B. Wetzell entertain the more than 50 guests with his speech titled “Sexy Science” on Sunday, June 25, at the Skye Lake Club in Cherng Talay. The next “Inspired Phuketian” event is to be held on July 30. For more information visit: facebook.com/inspiredphuketian Inspired Phuketian.

This event was proudly sponsored by The Phuket News. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

L-R: Anoma Vongyai, Maitree Narukatpichai, Oliver Schibli and Thirapan ‘Bella’ Narongkool.

ISLAND SCENE 19

Pullman Arcadia GM Brett Wilson (2nd from right) chats with guests from the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

ART MEETS FINE DINING WITH OLIVER SCHIBLI AT PULLMAN ARCADIA NAITHON Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, in collaboration with International artist Oliver Schibli, recently hosted another of its “Artist’s Playground” art and dining events. Guests got a chance to meet Oliver and discuss his striking collection of painting entitled “Faces of Siam”. Following drinks and canapes was a culinary journey featuring a five-course art dinner, paired with fine drinks, all while watching Oliver paint the final strokes of one of his unique and colourful pieces. The collection will be available for viewing and purchase for the next few months and 20% of the sale price will go to the Phuket Has Been Good To Us charity to improve the quality of education and social experiences of disadvantaged children in Phuket.

Students try on their new helmets.

Members of the RCoPB ready to hand out the helmets.

ROTARY CLUB OF PATONG BEACH DONATE HELMETS TO LOCAL SCHOOLKIDS The Rotary Club of Patong Beach continued their ongoing community service project to provide 2,000 helmets to school children between Karon to Kamala. On Tuesday June 27, Rotarians presented 220 helmets to students from three different schools in Kamala.

From Left: Phillip, Rhys, Darren and Brett.

Team ‘Wedgies’ get ready to take to the course.

From left: Alan, Tim, Jason and Adam.

The Taipan girls were on hand with some cold beverages for the players.

HOSPITALITY HEAVYWEIGHTS HIT THE LINKS AT LAGUNA CHARITY GOLF COMP The second annual Laguna Phuket Hospitality Challenge – Charity Golf Tournament took place at Laguna Golf Phuket last Friday, June 23. The event saw a bumper turnout of 21 teams of hospitality professionals from Phuket and surrounding areas – a significant increase on last year’s 14 teams. The event ideal networking opportunity for local hoteliers, restaurateurs, landlords, club owners and others involved in the hospitality industry to come together in a relaxed environment. The unique “Gourmet Golf” concept saw Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dusit Thani and Outrigger provide on-course food and drinks for golfers. This event was proudly sponsored by The Phuket News, Live 89.5, Khao Phuket. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

MON

30 JUN

3 JUL

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

Sunday Brunch Pool Competition at Expat Sports Bar

It’s Sunday, Enjoy the most family friendly brunch of the island !! Wide selection of Thai & international dishes - Foam party for the kids – All sports events covered at Champions and more for the parents!

Only 499 THB! Served From 12.00 until 15.00 Booking strongly advised. Tel: (0) 76 303 300. Reservations, Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort.

The competition at 9pm - Expat Sports Bar at the Expat Hotel Soi Taipan Patong. See map at www.expathotel.com

TUE

2017 Rotary Handover Dinner

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

At Skye Lake Club, Laguna. THB 1,250/person featuring live band, games, food and show. Door open at 6.30pm. with complimentary selected drink. Book your ticket now with Andy 085-781-8760 or Bier 081-6913285. Dress code : Rotary/sky colours For more information please visit our website www.rotarypatong.org Sponsored by The Phuket News.

SUN

2 JUL

All you can eat BBQ night 6PM – 11PM: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns & Squids, salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended. 395 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

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

4 JUL

TEX MEX TEX MEX BUFFET IN KARON AND PATONG AT TWO CHEFS! A feast for everyone to join, mouthwatering Fajitas, crunchy Tacos, delicious Mexican Spring Rolls, creamy Guacamole, Jalapeños, Tomato Salsa and sour cream. Salad, Beans, Corn, Cheese and Onion.

Nachos and spicy Ground Pork. + MORE. Two Chefs Live Band on stage from 8 pm to late. www.twochefs. com Karon 076-286-479, Patong 076-344-914.

MANNY PACQUIAO AUTHENTIC GLOVES Bring your passion to reality for the authentic boxing gloves signed by “Manny Pacquiao” up for silent auction and the winner will be announced on June 30, 2017 on Swissotel Resort Phuket Patong Beach’s Facebook page and all proceeds will be donated to “The Destination Kids Foundation”. For enquiries or about bids please contact: Facebook: www.facebook. com/SwissotelPatong Email: events.phuketpatong@ swissotel.com Call: 076 337 000.

SAT

1 JUL

Independance Day, 4th July Party Friendship Beach Resort Sunday Brunch Bodega Italian Brunch Experience our exquisite ‘Italian Sunday Brunch’, which began on May 7 and runs weekly throughout the season. Choose from a wonderful variety of dishes, including lobster spaghetti, foie gras on saffron risotto, grilled suckling pig, live pizza and pasta stations and much more. Email for reservations at Bodega & Grill: Paneenart.Pengraksa@angsana.com

Traditional Sunday Roast Angus O’Tool’s Karon Beach Steak Night Delicious special cuts of beef are offered especially for meat lover. Reservations, HYATT REGENCY PHUKET RESORT, fnb.phuhr@hyatt.com, 076 231 234 # 5106.

Lunch or dinner served from 2pm. Your choice of either roast beef, chicken, loin of pork or leg of lamb served with roast and boiled potatoes, three fresh vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Only B350 per person which includes a free glass of house red or white. Opposite Centara Karon Resort. See: otools-phuket.com

Continuing a proud tradition with one of the most renowned brunches on the island - enjoy delectable delight with packages covering free-flow drinks or pre-brunch massages at our award-winning Coqoon Spa. 50% discount for children 7-14. Reservations, The Slate Phuket, contactfb@theslatephuket.com, 076 327 006

Friendship Beach waterfront resort invites you to join us for our annual Independence Day celebration. Featuring: Traditional BBQ. buffet with Grilled Salmon Filet, BBQ. Ribs (award winning), Southern Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, a large selection of Sides, Salads and Desserts. Party and Dance W/ DJ Bobby D, Fireworks Display, Welcome Drink. Adults – 750 THB++ Kids under 12 – 290 THB++. For bookings call 66 (0) 89 728 5304 or email: chef@friendshipbeach. com Chef Charlie, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap, Rawai Phuket, chef@friendshipbeach.com, 66 (0) 89 728 5304.

WED Family Festival & Pie Eating Contest Free entry. Summer beach buffet THB 450++. Whole Roasted Chicken and BBQ Ribs * Salad Bar * Ice Cream * Pies. Pie eating contest participation fee THB 250 net. Reservations, XANA Beach Club, 076 358 500.

5 JUL

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato salad & choice of sauces.

Reservation recommended. 350 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

THU

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

6 JUL

THU

13 JUL

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

FRI

7 JUL

PIWC Meet&Greet Coffee July New members are encouraged to join our monthly Meet & Greet Coffee Morning to find out more about our organization. It’s also a great opportunity to chat with a few members in a more casual setting over a cup of coffee. For more info, please contact Joan Watson – imm@loxinfo.co.th or Renate Hirte – hirtefamily@hotmail.com. From 10.30 - 12.00 hrs @Starbucks Central Festival.

THU

20 JUL

WED

12 JUL

Splash Jungle Water Park is Bigger, Better, and Wetter than Ever! Starting Now! Our gates open with new rides: Family Raft Ride, The Whizzard, Aqua Spray Park and new restaurants designed to make certain our guests never want to leave.

And when you get hungry, or need a few minutes to relax, our Island Bar sits in the center of the park, offering a 360 degree view of the rides and the most tantalizing pizza available on the Island. Booking and pay online at www.splashjungle.com to enjoy 15% discount from now to 31 July 2017. Phakwipoo, Splash Jungle Water Park, dosm@splashjungle.com, 076-372111.

Cooking Classes Every Day

PIWC Luncheon July The July Lunch will be a “High Tea” styled at Les Diables at Boat Lagoon on the 20th July. Registration starts at 11.30 am followed by Lunch at 12.15 pm.

Please send reservations to info@piwc-phuket.com attn. Maggy Wigman.

THU

Do an afternoon cooking class with Nan and discover why the Halfway Inn has been rated in the Top 10 Thai restaurants in Patong on TripAdvisor for the last 4 years running. Classes can be booked any time between 2pm till 6pm any day of the week. Google Halfway Inn, Patong’ for more details or call Nan to arrange a very fun and unique Thai culinary experience. Line:+66(0)852533278. Khun Nan, Halfway Inn Patong, halfwayinnpatong@hotmail. co.uk, 085-2533278.

3 AUG

Welcome to the best exhibition in Phuket and Andaman coastline for construction tools and materials and architectural design & décor items comprising a wide range of products and technology. This is a great opporturnity to introduce construction materials and decorative items to the Phuket and Andaman area.

Venue: Second floor, Royal Phuket City Hotel. More information please visit www.pic-phuket.com or info@ pic-phuket.com. Proudly sponsored by The Phuket News and Khao Phuket.

@thephuketnews

Rotary Club of Patong Beach Lunch meeting at Days Inn, Patong - every Friday excepts first week of every month. Start at 12pm.

Dinner out at selected restaurant - every first Tuesday of every month. Start at 7pm. Fun Raiser Quiz Night at Aussie Pub, Kamala - every last Wednesday of every month start at 7.30pm. For more info please visit rotarypatong.org .

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

Architect & Engineering Exhibition 2017

@770 THB++, Butchers Night @market price, Surf & Turf @950 THB++, Thai Seafood Gala @980 THB++. The terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. For reservations, rimtalay@amari. com or 076 340106-14 #8027.

MISCELLANEOUS

INSPIRED PHUKETIANS Mr. Alan Yip - Master your mind for success and happiness Held monthly, and open to the public, this event gives an opportunity for well-lived people to share their life experiences. Inspired by the famous TED Talks, it’s a great way for people to really connect with authentic ideas that will benefit their well-being and happiness in general. All of the speakers are chosen because of their ability to share an idea that connects with and inspires people. Limited to 55 seats only and priced at B350/pax/net including one drink and pass around canapé. Register now by email to sales@skyelakeclub.com. Skye Lake Club, Cherng Talay.

EVERY DAY

2 Star Michelin Chef at Banyan Tree Phuket For a limited time in August, join us for a week of culinary delights with German born Chef Stefan of ECCO Restaurant where diners will experience the Michelin-starred cooking mastery of “Brutally Seductive” and “Dishes of the Gods” cooking. Date: 3-8 August 2017. Seats are limited. Email Food and Beverage at: fb-phuket@banyantree.com or call +66 76 372 400 ext. 5463 for more information.

7 Nights 7 Themed Dinners at Rim Talay Make each night unique! Enjoy our themed dinners with the cool sea breeze. World of Curries @790 THB++, Thai & International Buffet @790 THB++, Seafood Night @980 THB++, Ribs, Wings & Rings

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. In which book does freelance surveillance agent and researcher Lisbeth Salander feature?

2. According to superstition, if you spill salt, over which shoulder should you throw a pinch?

3. What was the better known name of Charles I, the King of the Franks?

4. The “double-yellow dot” ball is competition standard in which sport?

5. Who was the legendary Benedictine monk who invented champagne?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Hard

55. Purplish tint Across 1. Approx. touchdown 58. They come from Dominos time 61. Might for 4. Pivoted Shakespeare 9. Motionless 63. Major parties 14. Lamb cut 64. “--- a deal” 15. Dispatch 16. West Point newbie 65. Skin cream additives 17. Sheet material 18. George Peppard’s 66. Put in office 67. Start to lover show 19. Like smooth-running 68. King Abdullah, e.g. machines 20. “The sky is falling” 69. Fills completely 70. ‘’Now do you critter believe me?’

23. Kind of current 24. Really hard to hum Down along to 1. Bring forth 27. Dictionary, often 2. Dance music 28. Gull kin originating in 31. Fix up Detroit 32. France/ 3. Prejudice of a sort Switzerland’s ___ 4. Cylindrical military Leman cap 35. Volvo or VW 5. Parting word 37. She-pig 6. Pre internet 38. Breakfast treat communication 41. It gives a hoot system 43. Branch 7. And so on headquarters?

8. “Ghost” star, Moore 44. Stout relative 45. Programme airer, 9. ‘’Ivanhoe’’ writer 10. Suit worker with “the” 11. Lazy quality 47. Knit shirt 12. Jerry Lewis’s 49. Carry the pigskin middle name 53. Unmoved

13. Inc., in Inverness 21. Lobster claw, e.g.

22. Philosophy that influenced Buddhism 25. Noisy commotion 26. Pitch position 29. Flip chart supporter 30. Same old routine 33. One way to earn an Emmy 34. Habeas ___ 36. Content of some barrels 38. “Gesundheit!”

39. “The Matrix” hero 40. Hilton first name 41. Madame Butterfly often tied one on 42. Harmless cyst 46. Influenced 48. Breakfast food 50. Opens, as a jacket 51. Donatello specialty 52. Pain in the neck 54. People of Rwanda 56. With some urgency 57. Essential points 59. Generations 60. Big celebration 61. More, to Manuel 62. Mode or king?

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; 2) Left (where the Devil lurks); 3) Charlemagne; 4) Squash; 5) Dom Perignon

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

This week in history June 30, 1972 The first leap second is added to the UTC time system.

8

per cent of the world’s currency is physical money – the rest exists on computers.

14

per cent of new energy drinks made today are too corrosive to be put in aluminum cans.

July 1, 1979 Sony introduces the Walkman. (Photo: Binarysequence / WikiCommons)

64

July 2, 2016 An Australian federal election results in a one-seat majority for the incumbent government led by Malcolm Turnbull.

Turnbull claimed victory on July 9, a week after the election.

per cent of people bite the head off of a gingerbread man before eating the rest of it, according to a study conducted by Dunkin’ Donuts.

July 3, 1938 World speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h).

500

years is how long some clams can live.

July 4, 1862 Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels.

100 million users are registered on the music platform Spotify, nearly half of which pay – but the music platform has yet to become profitable.

Source: Uberfacts

July 5, 1954 Elvis Presley records his first single, That’s All Right, at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sunrise over the bay. Photo by Chi Chiu Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket?

Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

July 6, 1957 John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time, as teenagers at Woolton Fete, three years before forming the Beatles.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Jobs

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Jobs

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

ADVERTISING SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

FISHING CHARTERS

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

MOVING SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

STORAGE 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

TRAINING

HOME DECORATION

ADVERTISE HERE

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Buy&Sell

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE 20m berth at Royal Phuket Marina

Private owner offers 20m, front line, E dock berth for rent or sale at the Royal Phuket Marina. Berth will accommodate yachts of up to 20m L.O.A. and significant discounts are available for a long term agreement. Contact for further information. james@ shayler.co

Sell 1-, 2,- 3-engine speedboats

3 engine speedboat: Length 13.5m; Width 3.4 m; Capacity 45 passengers + 3 crew. Front seats. 2 engine speedboat: Length 11.6 m; Width 2.83 m; Capacity 32 passengers + 3 crew. Front seats. 1 engine speedboat: Length 8.1m; Width 2.40 m; Capacity 15 passengers + 3 crew. All boats are in good condition. Prices start at 600 000 THB. Vladimir, sales@joydive.asia, 084 182 8685.

Long Tail Boat For Sale

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

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

Due to serious health reasons, the owner must part with his beloved 80’ tour boat. New wiring throughout, power outlets, transformer and voltage meters. New upholstery throughout bar and entertainment area. Engines & generator fully reconditioned & serviced. All maintained to European standards. Ideal boat for quality day trip business. beachsando1@gmail.com 080 695 3933.

Steel boat for sale

32 metre steel boat for sale.

Built 2012, 2 x Cummings engines, 10hrs work only.

International REG. Excellent for live-aboard or ferry. Price 6MB. Contact: call Joe 087 8918912 or email joe@ similan-divers.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Restaurant set up for sale

CAR FOR SALE 2014 Nissan Juke For Sale

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

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G VVTI

2013 - 35,000km - Automatic White - CD Radio, Air-con, Alloys Excellent Condition, Only used for school runs. 525,000, Duang, Royal Phuket Marina, gavinmullins@hotmail.com 083 093 9724. n r ge

t sa

le

Honda Jazz 2009 1500cc Auto

A fully equipped restaurant in the U 57,000km. One owner since new. highly sought after Boat Avenue mall Regularly serviced by Honda. Tax and in Laguna. Stainless steel kitchen, WiInsurance until the end of June and available now at right Fi, bar counter, service area. Ready offer. Reduced by 40,000 bht, REDUCED to 330,000bht to go in days. Email: jukeboxphuket@ o.n.o, Andy +66846909144, andysmalster@gmail.com gmail.com 081 090 1608.

Looking for investor / partner

Looking for investor / partnership for Patong beach front location to start with Japanese and Indian restaurant.

Narin, narinpga@gmail.com 081 826 9390.

CABLE TV PULSE TV. ASIA’S No.1 EXPAT TV

140 channels (HD & SD) in English, French, German & Thai. All Premiership & Euro Leagues live plus all your favorite Soaps & Series from back home. ON-Demand Movie/TV Series library with over 700 of the latest titles, more added daily & with our CATCH-UP Facility (Records all Channels for instant Playback) you’ll never miss a show. This is not kodi – Our high quality set-top boxes come pre-loaded with our own in-house developed App backed up by our own high-speed Asia based Servers & Online Support Network. PULSE TV, sales@ pulse-tv.net +66(0) 99 316 6212. @thephuketnews

Convertible

Mercedes CLK 200 Cabriolet W-209 Brabus Package - seat 4. Excellent condition and fun to drive. 37,400km.

1,199,000 Bht. Eng - Thai 094 695 3536 / 063 992 3226.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Sales Support Agent - 50K+ THB per month

Sales Support Agent required in Phuket to join FazWaz Real Estate’s Kamala branch. This role is helping our nationwide real estate business deal with property buyers in both Thai and English who are looking at purchasing a new property across all of the six major locations we cover in Thailand.

You should have great writing and speaking skills and some experience in customer service or sales. Any other languages are a massive benefit but must be fluent in both English and Thai. Aphida, 73/142-143 Moo 3 Tambon Kamala, Amphur Kathu, Phuket. aphida@fazwaz.com, 098 742 6687.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL Bangkok law firm in Phuket

The Bangkok law firm PUGNATORIUS Ltd. provides its foreigner-focussed legal support and assistance through a trusted partner law firm in Phuket. For a protected corporate structure in full compliance with the law. For a comprehensive due diligence which truly lives up to its name. For a most efficient hotel business licensing process. For a more competitive design of the property development. The PUGNATORIUS advantage is badly needed at a place where foreign investments are typically built on sand. Protect your investment in paradise.phuket@pugnatorius.com, (00) +66 22 072 647

GARDEN, PATIO ITEMS Tiya’s Hammocks new shop offer

Native Habitat Phuket - Tiya’s Hammocks new shop location now open opposite Tesco Lotus Extra Samkong, Phuket Town near Fascino Pharmacy. Come now to try both Luxury and Colorful hammocks and pick your favorite ones. Perfect for a gift, souvenir, your own home or villas, resorts and beach clubs for your guests. Open Tue - Sun 10:00 to 19:00. Mention this advertisement to get extra discount 5% on top of our standard discount table.

HammockPhuket@yahoo.com, 089 600 0041

MEMBERSHIPS Life Time Family Membership

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

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

Tanita, 094 695 3536 / 063 992 3226.

Loch Palm Golf Membership

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

Phuket Country Club Golf Membership

Golf membership for sale, includes transfer fee of 60,000 THB. 450,000, David, dsgrabham@yahoo.co.uk 087 881 7545.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

MOVING SERVICES

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Looking for Moving Company?

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

MOTORBIKES FOR SALE Honda Tena 110cc two-stroke

New rims, tires, brakes, fork seals, head stem bearings, headlight and more. 4-speed clutchless semi-auto. Green book. 098 705 2706. B15,000 ONO.

MUSICAL Colin Hill is now offering:

Live Music: Solo, acoustic, easy listening, to full event band. Professional, quality, legal live music for any budget. Guitar lessons: Beginner to very advanced. Guaranteed fast results. Also Bass lessons to intermediate level. Home School tuition: English, Geography, History, Social Studies grades 7—10. Qualified Secondary School Teacher with Diploma of Teaching.

English language tuition: For Thai students or adults. www. colinillyhill.com / 089 777 3063 / illy@3bbmail.com.

PUBLIC NOTICES Notice To The Public

Mr Anuchit Aomthonglang whose photo appears, Position was Customer Service Representative is now no longer employed by Go Vacation Thailand (DER Asia Tour Co., Ltd.) as of June 1 2017.

Go Vacation Thailand would like to state that it does not take any responsibility for this person’s actions.

Ms Sarochinee Urachuern, 849 Worawat building 7th floor, Silom Rd, Bang Rak 10500, kunchlipa.u@ go-vacation.com, 022671202, 022671128

WEBSITES, IT For Sale: hoteldealsphuket.com

PHD has 125,000 pages indexed in Google and an average of 22,000 page views per month!

See stats image. Also see the selling points on the link below. Quick sale: 33.000B!, Mark, mr.m.hopkins@gmail.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE Beautiful Land in Rawai For Sale

Beautiful mountain view with option of sea view land of 742m2 for sale in Rawai with chanote title.

For more information contact 085 790 2021.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR RENT

LAND NEAR WATERFALL FOR SALE

Prime Kathu land with panoramic views and quiet location. Star ts from 400sqm. Perfect for private Villa. Close waterfall with more land plots and different beach!!! Start from 2.5 MB, K. Pam, Phuketmyhouse@gmail.com +66 (0) 94 829 3619.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Shop for rent at Amari Phuket

Located at Amari Phuket’s lobby building. Size: 33 sqm. Partly furnished: shelves, counter, airconditioner and telephone line. 40,000/month (negotiable), K. Wannisa, Patong Beach, wannisa.p@amari. com, 076 340106 #8006.

COMMUNITY

Rawai Naiharn with spa pool

Unique thai style home, open plan, close to beach and shops, AC, 3 bedroom 2 bath with spa pool, must see! 0908674849 Eng 0810819875 TH.

To rent: 1800 m2

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

Long term luxury Villa

Luxury 2 bed villa available for long term rental 10 minutes from Patong with outstanding sea views from B95,000 per month. We have other villas available for shorter rentals. Contact Justin 084 242 6952 (Eng) or Tan 094 596 2558 (Thai).

PROPERTY FOR SALE 4 bedroom house in Chalong

4 king bedrooms (one with ensuite, the others with dedicated bathrooms), 5 bathrooms (1 with a bath, the other showers), Living room, Morning room (lounge/diner), 2 studies, Home cinema, 7 seater, DVD/CD library, 2 carports, 3 separate entrances (+ 5 French windows, a total of 8 exits). Property is at the end of a quiet Soi near Big Buddha, no passing traffic.

It overlooks a stream and jungle. The garden is 12 years old with bananas, papayas, mulberry bushes, cherry bushes, flowering plants and shrubs and several palm trees. There are frequent bird visitors…2 birdbaths. Just a few minutes drive from Tesco and Villa/Home Pro on Chao Fa West. Only 12 min drive to Central or big Tesco/Big C/Makro. 16.9MB (negotiable). Area of the site: 137.9 square wah (approx 560 square metres). To view, call 081 415 5522 or email m.allen.phuket@gmail.com

House For SaleIn Land & House Park Chalong Phuket

House For Sale In Land & House Park Chalong Large house and land block 330sqm in size. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Price is negotiable. B5.9 million. Call Ken on 081 968 6552. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

SPORT 29

Surf’s up, grab a board

Newcomer or old-timer, get out there and ride some waves SURFING

Tim Campbell info@skylaphuket.com

H

ey surfers and ocean lovers, I hope you have all been scoring some waves over the last month as Phuket has seen is a mix of swells bringing us consistent rideable waves nearly every day, and last week’s storm in particular has pushed in some nice waist to head-height waves across all of Phuket’s beaches.

If you’ve just arrived in Phuket and are still confused about what your eyes are witnessing – the fact that there are surfable waves in Thailand – then slap yourself out of that daze and smile, because you haven’t died and gone to heaven just yet.

It’s an exciting reality that with the monsoon season (May to November) Phuket is inun-

@thephuketnews

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, Phuket’s surf is suitable for all. dated with swell. Most of the time it’s wind swell, but the Indian Ocean also erupts from time to time bringing in spurts of ground swells which light up the west coast of Phuket.

As I drive around the island in search of waves, I’m seeing more and more cars with surfboards on top, more surfboards on the beaches for rent, and more people taking surf lessons from the few surf schools there are on the island.

But how is it that surfing

in Phuket has gone from being only a small core group to a must try activity not only for expats and travellers but also amongst the Thai community?

I think that deep down most people have this burning desire to try surfing, just ask the person sitting next to you right now. Lets face it, surfing is awesome!

Watching a surfer glide gracefully down the face of a wave is exciting, it makes the heart flutter and your hairs

stand up. However, for most people there is a common fear of either the ocean or not physically being able to do it.

For these people it’s only a daydream wishing they could be able to surf, but nonetheless, it’s still a desire.

For those who have taken this dream and made it a reality there is no turning back, they are now hooked and this is obvious as more and more people are now seen on Phuket’s beaches with surfboard in hand.

So is this just a fad, a trendy phase that people are dabbling into? Only time will tell here in Thailand, but with Thai travel programs being broadcast on major Thai TV networks promoting the possibilities of surfing in Thailand I’m sure its only a matter of time until the appeal of surfing will hit the curious minds of the thousands and thousands of Thai youth.

Over the years since surfing was introduced to Thailand there has been ‘Surfing Thailand’, the leading surfing association here in Thailand who has been active in promoting surfing by way of surf contests and other initiatives.

Also ‘SurfThailand.com’ a new website that has encompassed all that surfing has to offer in Thailand in a positive way.

For some the thought of surfing growing in popularity means more people crowding the line-ups and not as many waves for everyone.

Compared to other parts of the world the Thai surf community and its culture are miles behind in terms of development. Who knows how

big surfing will get in Thailand, but it’s inevitable it will grow.

For now, Thai surf culture really is still in its infancy, and for us surfers who currently make up the Thai surf community, we have a huge privileged opportunity in helping shape the surf culture in a healthy and positive way.

I’m not talking about the culture that is portrayed through commercial media where ‘image and brands’ define a surfer. A true surfer is someone who has a humble appreciation and love for the ocean as well as a stoke for any opportunity to catch waves.

They are someone who finds the joy of having fun in any condition no matter how many waves they catch.

We can all contribute to influencing the surf culture by the way we surf, having surf etiquette, sharing waves, and just bringing a smile to the water showing that surfing is meant to be fun and is for everyone.

See you in the water, Tim Campbell

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

Nursed through entire regatta Dalton said Team NZ suffered daggerboard damage on day one YACHTING Neil Sands

C

rowds of Kiwis on Tuesday (June 27) greeted Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup victory with jubilation and a huge sigh of relief as it was revealed the triumph was secured with a damaged boat that could have failed at any time.

New Zealand syndicate boss Grant Dalton said after the win that Team NZ had to nurse their boat through the entire regatta after suffering major damage to daggerboards on the first day of racing in the challenger series.

“We found some pretty serious structural issues with the daggerboards, because they had been taken so far out of range that they were basically letting go,” he said.

The components could have failed at any time, added Dalton. “Every time we do a tack or a gybe or whatever, I’ve just been going ‘hold on, hold on’ and they have.”

The race that delivered the 7-1 win in Bermuda started before dawn on a chilly Wellington morning for sailing enthusiasts packed into the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.

New Zealand’s America’s Cup victory was secured with a damaged boat that could have failed at any time. Photo: Chris Cameron/AFP Even though the New Zealanders were on match point and close to a crushing win, there was an undercurrent of anxiety as bleary-eyed patrons sipped coffee and tucked into cooked breakfasts.

“It’s never a done deal,” Will Eastman said just before the race was screened on a giant TV. After all, patrons had gathered at the same club four years previously full of confidence with New Zealand up 8-1 and needing just one more win to claim the ‘Auld Mug’.

Instead, they saw Oracle Team USA relentlessly hack away at the lead over more than week and claim a stunning 9-8 in San Francisco.

“The last Cup hurt a lot for me and for a lot of people here,” the club’s commodore Pedro Morgan said about a result that had been described as the greatest choke in sporting history.

The atmosphere had been tense as the New Zealanders fell behind early to Oracle, skippered by the never-saydie Australian Jimmy Spithill, nemesis of the 2013 campaign.

It gave way to muted cheering as New Zealand edged ahead, then the crowd erupted as the hi-tech catamaran swooped toward the finish and TV commentators declared: “There will be no fairytale comeback this time.”

Newspapers were quick to react. “Redemption! Team NZ claims the Cup: ‘We’re on top of the world’, the NZ Herald’s website trumpeted.

Daniel Forsythe said that after the disappointment of San Francisco he only allowed himself to celebrate once New Zealand had crossed the line.

“It’s fantastic. We’ve been four years of not breathing and now we can breathe again,” he said. “It’s been a great reversal to come back after losing from 8-1.”

He credited a large part of the win to New Zealand’s Peter Burling, who at 26 became the youngest helmsman to lift the Cup. “He hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Forsythe said of Burling, who is already an Olympic yachting gold medallist and sealed his status as New Zealand’s newest sporting hero.

Sports Minister Jonathan Coleman said “the whole of New Zealand is ecstatic with this stunning win” while Prime Minister Bill English hailed “an amazing job”.

“The crewmanship aboard Team NZ has been outstanding and the innovative use of pedal power to drive the hydraulics on the New Zealand boat has showcased Kiwi ingenuity to the world,” English said.

Coleman said it was too early to discuss the format of the next edition of the Cup but patrons at the Wellington club were unanimous in calling for it to be contested in New Zealand.

The city of Auckland, which hosted in 2000 and

2003, will be favourite to stage the next edition and has promised a heroes’ welcome and ticker-tape parade for the victorious crew when they return.

The Kiwi syndicate was the only challenger that refused to sign a pre-regatta agreement with Oracle that would have dictated terms for the next two editions of the Cup. It means they are not obliged to continue to race the futuristic catamarans seen in Bermuda and they can maintain the tradition of holding the event once every four years, not every two years as Oracle was demanding.

Dalton said that some details for the next series, including plans to include a nationality requirement for the crews, would be released within the next few weeks.

There was no love lost between Oracle and Team NZ after San Francisco and Morgan said the fact that the Kiwis could now snub Oracle’s plans made victory even sweeter.

“It definitely does,” he said. “It’s the America’s Cup, the rules are the defender’s to mould and take advantage of,” he said.

AFP

Shrewsbury make landmark bid for safe standing FOOTBALL THIRD TIER SHREWSBURY have become the first English club to apply for right to install safe standing in their stadium.

The League One team want to create a safe standing area, which would have a capacity of around 500, in their Greenhous Meadow arena.

Shrewsbury’s stadium was built 10 years ago and is one of 29 in the

Football League which are eligible to apply for safe standing.

Clubs in England’s top two divisions have been legally required to have all-seater grounds since the measure was recommended by the 1990 Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which saw 96 Liverpool fans killed in crushes caused by over-crowding in the Leppings Lane standing area.

Should Shrewsbury win approval from the Sports Ground

Safety Authority, then they would become the first all-seater stadium in England and Wales to introduce safe standing.

“There’s a clear demand from our fans for an area where they can stand safely,” Roger Groves, the joint-chairman of the club’s Supporters’ Parliament, told the Shrewsbury website on Tuesday (June 27).

“Rail seats will ensure that nobody falls over no matter how wildly

they celebrate a goal and, by having a dedicated standing area, we believe that the overall atmosphere in the stadium will also be enhanced.”

The Premier League recently wrote to its 20 clubs asking if they would be interested in taking part in a trial to reintroduce standing sections in their grounds.

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic last season installed 2,600 rail seats at Parkhead that can be flipped down or locked into an up-

Shrewsbury want to create a safe standing area, which would have a capacity of around 500, in their Greenhous Meadow arena. Photo: via Google Maps right position, with safety barriers separating each row, in a move that was considered a success.

AFP

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1639 Saturday July 1 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Manneken Pis, Murkury Location: Chao Fa West - TOT Directions: Coming from the north or the west, make your way to the Honda Garage on Chao Fa West Rd and drive south for 2.4 kilometres until you’re opposite the TOT offices. Turn right at the Family Mart and continue toward Villa Zolitude.

Coming from the south continue past Wat Chalong for 1.2km then turn left at the Family Mart and continue toward Villa Zolitude.

Once on the side road, carry on straight for 900M. Turn right (HHH) onto a steep uphill dirt track. Laager will be on top of the track.

Bus pick-up: Kamala @ Black Cat’s Bar: 2:15pm Patong @ Expat Hotel: 2:45pm More info: phuket-hhh.com

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

SPORT 31

Ricciardo in unexpected win Aussie takes Azerbaijan win after controversial titanic title clash BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

A

ustralian Daniel Ricciardo was the unexpected winner in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last Sunday (June 25) after title protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel turned their relationship nuclear in an ugly on-track collision.

The opening stages of the race were a crash-strewn affair, with the fast Baku City Circuit daring drivers to attempt bold overtaking moves, with mixed success.

Ricciardo was a minor victim in the early melees, requiring an unscheduled pit stop to clean debris from his brake ducts that dropped him to seventeenth on lap six.

By lap 16 he had picked his way up to ninth place, but it was the race’s second of three safety cars, triggered on the next lap, that set in motion the events that would allow the Red Bull Racing driver to seize the lead.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo steers his car during the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit.

Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP Lewis Hamilton had started from pole position, but he was having enormous trouble keeping his tyres up to temperature behind the safety car.

Complaining that his tyres were becoming dangerously cold, the Briton engaged in some severe tyre warming, braking hard and weaving, and bunching up the field in

the process.

Caught unaware, Vettel’s Ferrari nudged the back of the Mercedes, and incensed by the belief Hamilton had acted improperly, the Ferrari driver pulled up alongside Hamilton’s car and steered into the side of it in a bizarre brain-snap that could have ended both drivers’ races on the spot.

The stewards soon concluded Vettel’s actions warranted a 10-second stop-go penalty, the most severe punishment possible before race disqualification.

In an ironic twist, however, Hamilton was also called unexpectedly into the pits to replace a faulty headrest, a fix that took so long Vettel was

able to emerge ahead of the Briton for the first time of the afternoon, albeit in seventh and eighth.

The pair finished the race in fourth and fifth, and Hamilton was furious.

“Driving alongside and deliberately driving into another driver and getting away pretty much scot-free, as he still came fourth – I think that's a disgrace,” he fumed. “I think he disgraced himself today.”

Vettel, on the other hand, was steadfast that he had been wronged first.

“I think that was just not the right way to do it,” he said evasively, referring to Hamilton’s driving. “The manoeuvre before was not necessary.

“I do not agree with the penalty that I got, because if you penalise me, then you should penalise both of us because it was not the way to do it.”

The clash promises to unravel the hitherto jovial title duel less than halfway through the season, with Vettel still leading Hamilton in the drivers championship by 14 points.

But the seriousness of the

Pacquiao, Horn fight will be ‘short and sweet’ BOXING MAN NY PACQUIAO’S WOR LD title fight with Jeff Horn will be “short and sweet” with a knockout likely, his trainer predicted Wednesday (June 28), as his Australian challenger said he was “ready for war”.

The legendary Filipino, one of the greatest fighters of his generation, is widely tipped to triumph over the unbeaten Horn in front of an expected 50,000 people at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday (July 2).

“He (Manny) doesn’t like to predict knockouts and so forth but I think it is going to be short and sweet,” trainer Freddie Roach told reporters at a press conference ahead of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight bout.

“I think it won’t last too long and

Manny Pacquiao (left) and Jeff Horn pose after a press conference ahead of Sunday’s (July 2) fight. Photo: AFP someone will get knocked out.”

Roach on Tuesday suggested the fight was a stepping stone for the eight-weight world champion to secure a rematch with American rival Floyd Mayweather, who outpointed Pacquiao in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago.

Date

Time

Match

Stadium

Sat July 1

4pm

Chumphon FC vs Phuket FC

IPE Chumphon Stadium

Sat July 8

6pm

Phuket FC vs Satun United

Surakul Stadium

Sat July 16

6pm

Phuket FC vs Hat Yai FC

Surakul Stadium

Sat July 19

6pm

Surat Thani City vs Phuket FC

Wiang Sa Stadium

Sat July 23

6pm

Phuket FC vs Phatthalung FC

Surakul Stadium

Please note that Phuket FC's home game fixtures have now all been reverted back to 6pm kick-offs. @thephuketnews

Horn’s camp hit back, with the former school schoolteacher’s promoters taking a dig at Pacquiao for spending most of the press conference looking at his mobile phone.

“Not only is Manny Pacquiao an eleven-time world champion... he is also a world champion texter, because he never gets off his bloody phone,” Dean Lonergan said.

Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton accused Pacquiao’s camp of underestimating his 29-year-old challenger and said the so-called “Battle of Brisbane” would become the “fight of the year”.

“My vision for this fight is it will be a late stoppage. I think it is going to occur late in the fight after... all of these rounds. I personally believe this will be the fight of the year,” Rushton said.

AFP

collision mattered little to the victorious Ricciardo, who passed three cars into turn one after the final safety car period to put himself into a position to win the race after Hamilton and Vettel made their final stops.

“It was a crazy race,” Ricciardo said on the podium.

“Did I think then I could win today? Absolutely not.

“Honestly I’m speechless.

After the race on the cool down lap I was just giggling like a little schoolboy.”

Ricciardo was joined on the podium by Valtteri Bottas, who dropped to last on the first lap before his own stellar recovery drive, and by an unlikely Lance Stroll, the 18-year-old Williams rookie.

“I’m just lost for words,” Stroll said on his first podium.

“I don’t even know what to say.

“We just stayed out of trouble. I kept my head cool and took it to the end.

“I owe this to the whole team, it’s amazing.”

Don't forget to listen to Live89.5 every Saturday from 9am for Box of Neutrals.

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Friday June 30 Rugby League 14:30

16:30

NRL

Titans v. Dragons

16:30

18:30

NRL

Broncos v. Storm

Rugby Union 23:45

01:30

Super Rugby

Sharks v. Bulls

20:30

02:00

ODI3 – North Sound

West Indies v. India

Aussie Rules 16:30

19:30

AFL

Melbourne v. Sydney Swans

Rugby League 11:30

13:30

NRL

Roosters v. Sharks

16:30

18:30

NRL

Raiders v. Cowboys

Rugby Union 14:30

16:30

British Lions Tour

British Lions v. All Blacks

Rugby Union 20:05

22:00

Super Rugby

Cheetahs v. Stormers

22:15

00:05

Super Rugby

Lions v. Sunwolves

17:00

21:00

MotoGP, Chemnitz

Qualifying, Germany

Aussie Rules 10:30

13:30

AFL

W Bulldogs v. West Coast Eagles

13:30

16:30

AFL

Gold Coast SUNS v. N Melbourne

16:30

19:30

AFL

GWS Giants v. Geelong Cats

Cricket

Saturday July 1

Motor Bikes

Sunday July 2 Aussie Rules 10:00

13:00

AFL

Essendon v. Brisbane Lions

13:30

16:30

AFL

Fremantle v. St Kilda

Rugby League 11:00

13:00

NRL

Knights v. Tigers

13:05

15:00

NRL

Rabbitohs v. Panthers

Cricket

20:30

02:00

ODI4 – North Sound

West Indies v. India

Motor Bikes

15:30

21:00

MotoGP, Sachsenring

Grand Prix of Germany

Sport

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

The surf’s back, and anyone can give the waves a try > p30

THE TRUTH’S

OUT

Fifa discloses damaging Qatar World Cup bid report Fifa President Gianni Infantino pictured during a press conference following the Fifa Executive Football Summit near Heathrow Airport in London. Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP

FOOTBALL Eric Bernaudeau

F

ifa on Tuesday (June 27) released a long-withheld report on alleged corruption in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar after more leaks deepened the controversy surrounding the vote.

World football’s governing body had previously declined to publish in full the 400-page report into awarding the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 edition to Qatar drawn up by US independent investigator Michael Garcia.

But Fifa’s hand was forced when German tabloid newspaper Bild said it had obtained the full report and released extracts on Monday (June 26), including revelations that a 10-year-old daughter of one Fifa member had received $2 million (B67.94mn) in her bank account.

Fifa had said it was already considering releasing in full Garcia’s findings prior to the latest disclosures.

“However, as the document has been illegally leaked to a German newspaper, the new chairpersons

(of the committee) have requested the immediate publication of the full report...in order to avoid the dissemination of any misleading information,” Fifa explained in a statement on its website.

“For the sake of transparency, Fifa welcomes the news that this report has now been finally published.”

Garcia had resigned as head of Fifa’s investigatory body in December 2014 in protest after Fifa released a 40-page sanitised summary of his report which he disowned, describing it as “incomplete and erroneous”.

The full report referred to an array of suspect financial dealings including the sum of $2 million allegedly sent by a consultant for Qatar, Sandro Rosell, to the 10-yearold daughter of a Fifa official.

The payment was described by an associate as the proceeds from a real estate deal.

But Garcia concluded that “no proof exists linking Qatar and this $2 million to the daughter of executive committee member (former Brazil football chief Ricardo Teixeira).”

Rosell is the ex-Barcelona president who is in prison under investigation for money laundering related to the sale of the Brazilian national football team’s television rights.

- Controversy Garcia’s investigation also revealed that one former Fifa executive committee member thanked Qatar by mail for a transfer of several hundred thousand euros just after Qatar was awarded the 2022 tournament.

The report also documents that three executive members of Fifa were flown to Rio de Janeiro for a private party ahead of the vote to decide who would host the 2022 World Cup. Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup in late 2010 and the result of the vote has been the source of enormous controversy ever since.

Following Garcia’s investigation, the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa’s ethics committee noted that there had been suspicious behaviour during the bidding process but not enough to call into question the decision to give Qatar the 2022 finals or Russia the 2018 tournament.

Hours before Fifa made the decision to go public former Fifa boss Sepp Blatter had denounced the report’s leaking to Bild.

Blatter, who announced Qatar as the 2022 hosts in December 2010, said: “The only comment that I can make is that there was a leak as only the ethics commission had the power to publish the Garcia report.”

He added: “I stand by the statements made at the time by HansJoachim Eckert, the Ethics Committee chairman, to the executive committee.

“For him the Garcia report did not contain any elements to call into question the attribution of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and 2022 to Qatar.”

Blatter, replaced as Fifa boss in 2016 by Gianni Infantino, concluded: “I’ve always pointed out and I’ll repeat it now, it was Michel Platini’s vote in favour of Qatar which influenced the executive committee’s vote whereas there was initially an agreement to award 2018 to Russia and 2022 to the United States.”

Platini, then head of European football body Uefa, attended a dinner in Paris with Nicolas Sarkozy,

president of France at the time, and future Qatari ruler Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on November 23, nine days before the crucial vote.

But Garcia stated that “no proof had been discovered tying Mr Platini’s vote” in favour of Doha with Qatar’s subsequent investment in France, notably the purchase of Paris Saint-Germain.

Eckert was ousted along with investigator Cornel Borbely in May and the former ethics committee chairmen defended the decision not to release the report sooner.

“The decision to not publish the report so far was completely in line with the federation’s previous decisions and the applicable Fifa rules,” they said in a statement sent late on Tuesday.

They said the report “only is a working document” and added that in December 2014, during a Fifa Executive Committee meeting, it was decided that only Eckert “was to decide on the publication of the report as soon as all procedures, including potential appeals to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), have been closed”.

AFP thephuketnews