A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.
ABOUT 50 tuk-tuk drivers have blockade a police station in the southern city of Had Yai. Police had removed signs outside three hotels in the city advertising tuk-tuk services and indicating tuk-tuk parking positions nearby. After two hours, a settlement of the blockade was negotiated and police restored the signs. [Phuket has a public transport system that is almost entirely based on high-fare tuk-tuks after dark.]
bangkokpost.com A ship carrying about 40,000 litres of diesel has sunk during a fierce storm off Phuket, raising concerns about the possible effects of an oil spill. The fuel in the tanker is sealed and has not spilled out. The ship sank near healthy coral reefs and areas for breeding giant clams, said Wannakiat Taptipsaeng, director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. He was concerned that an oil spill could have a damaging effect on the clams and reefs.
thestar.com.my Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said Malaysia and Thailand should not view themselves as rivals and compete for a share of the tourism market. ''I hope to see those tourists who visit Phuket also dropping by at Penang and Langkawi,'' she said. ''Similarly, those visiting Malaysia can go over to Phuket as well,'' she said during an official visit to Phuket.
bernama.com.my All Thai tourism vehicles entering Malaysia via the Malaysia-Thai border are now required to get a permit from Tourism Malaysia. The new condition is expected to be fully enforced soon, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Tourist vehicles must be registered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before they can apply for the Tourism Malaysia permit.
nationmultimedia.com Thai Airways International announced plans to issue one billion new shares to raise an estimated $484 million for plane purchases and other improvements. The public offering is to be made on September 16-17 at Bangkok Bank and Krung Thai Bank branches nationwide.
bangkokpost.com Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva threw his support behind Thai Airways International's controversial plan to set up a low-cost carrier with Singapore-based Tiger Airways. During his first official visit to the flag carrier's head office, the PM told Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum, who has opposed the agreement to set up Thai Tiger Airways, not to interfere with what he called ''a corporate decision''.
thaindian.com 45-year-old Mordechai Orian happens to be the CEO of Global Horizons Manpower Inc, which is a labor hiring organisation. Orian has been accused of maltreating 400 laborers from Thailand and compelling them to function on American farms. Orian, an Israeli citizen, came into view in a federal courthouse in Honolulu with his ankles manacled. He was sporting a blue collared shirt with gray pants. The notary defending him was one nominated by the courthouse. The courthouse had chosen a notary for Orian since he had asserted that he couldn't come up with the money for a defense attorney.
bangkokpost.com Tourists have been told to take a hard line with the
thetsakij, or Bangkok's city inspectors, who have been accused of unfairly targeting them to issue fines for littering. Manit Techa-apichoke, deputy director of the City Law Enforcement Department, said foreigners who feel they have been unfairly targeted should refuse to pay fines. A Bangkok Post investigation revealed tourists, particularly those on Sukhumvit Road, were targeted for littering, while Thais committing similar offences were largely ignored.
sify.com India's tsunami early warning system is one of the best in the world and, in case of a disaster, the National Disaster Management Authority is ready to contain the damage, Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said. ''We're making sure that every district and every village is eventually equipped with multiple, parallel warning systems,'' Chavan said. [Phuket holds a tsunami evacuation drill on September 13.]
guardian.co.uk Nic Dunlop writes: I'd spent 10 years pursuing a ''monster,'' and found instead a wizened old man who appeared to be contrite and displaying humanity. We showed him confessions from Tuol Sleng prisoners, and he identified his handwriting on them. A few days later, Duch simply gave himself up to the Cambodian authorities.
travelbizmonitor.com Travel Agents' Association of India is expecting between 800 to 1000 delegates, including spouses, to attend their 59th annual convention - Indian Travel Congress - in Phuket from September 24-27. The three-day convention at Laguna Phuket with the theme 'Be a Game Changer' will be attended among others by Tourism officials of India and Thailand and travel industry leaders from both countries.
smh.com.au North Korea is preparing its biggest political gathering in 30 years, fuelling speculation Kim Jong-il may use the forum to legitimatise a transfer of power to his youngest son, Kim Jong-u, as his own takeover was ensured at a 1980 summit.
coolum-news.com.au In Phuket you can feast on lobsters, crab, whole fish, oysters, mussels and king prawns in a gluttonous manner only imagined at home. We look at the tiny hot space where a family toils and wonder how they could possibly send out such a delicious food: lobster with coriander, shrimp cakes, steamed tamarind fish ... and plenty of wine in plastic bottles. While we love the hedonism of Phuket, it's the cheap seafood that will get us back every time.
Associated Press Environmentalists on Saturday praised Burger King's decision to stop buying palm oil from an Indonesian company accused of destroying rainforests. The US hamburger chain giant - which recently sealed a deal to sell itself for $3.26 billion to 3G Capital - said it was canceling its contract with PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology over concerns it had not adopted sustainable farming practices.
September 4 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Kata beach
September 8 Phuket Governor heading meeting about Phuket's entertainment zones, Metropole Hotel, Phuket City
Until September 9 Ramadan
September 10 International Business Association of Phuket presents a joint association networking meeting (BCCT, Navy League Phuket and SKAL).
September 11 Phuket Surf Lifesaving Carnival, Loma Park, Patong
September 13 Phuket Tsunami Evacuation Drill, Loma Park, Patong, 10.30am
September 16-17 Celebration of the 114th birthday of Luang Pu Supha at the Chalong temple named in his honor.
September 18 Rip Curl Hunt for Young Surfers, Surin beach
September 22-26 Quiksilver 2010 Surf Competition, Kata beach
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
November 5 Phuket Charity Pro Am Golf, Blue Canyon
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
