The Phuket News June 28, 2019

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Survivors of the ‘Phoenix’ cling to life in a raft as a Royal Thai Navy boat approaches to rescue them on July 5 last year. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

A YEAR AFTER THAILAND’S WORST TOUR BOAT DISASTER, SAFETY REMAINS A PUBLICITY PRIORITY The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

T

here will be no official memorial service today (Friday, July 5) for the 47 Chinese tourists killed in the Phoenix tour boat disaster a year ago, because no one wants one, the Phuket Governor announced earlier this week.

“There will be no public event because it is an accident that no one wanted to happen,” said Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana in a news release issued by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department on Tuesday (July 2).

Governor Phakaphong this week

instead highlighted the efforts by Thai authorities, including the police, to investigate the accident and improve marine safety for tourists.

“The case is now in the hands of the Royal Thai Police, and we continue to monitor the legal progress by the Royal Thai Police, who have taken control as the chief investigative officer in the proceedings in order to build confidence for the Chinese government,” he said.

“Also to demonstrate our sincerity that the Thai government has taken this matter seriously and decisively, the case has more than 100 witnesses and [the Royal Thai Police] is now in the process of interrogating all

witnesses,” Gov Phakaphong said, according to the release.

“As for the release of information, it is the duty of the Royal Thai Police to take control of the investigation and prosecution,” he added.

Governor Phakaphong said that the Chinese government and Chinese tourists now had more confidence in the safety of tourism in Phuket “because the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Phuket has increased steadily after the incident”.

“There are serious measures emphasising the importance of safety for tourists, especially in marine tourism,” the Governor explained.

“There are staff at every port,

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especially at checkpoints before tourists board the boat. The staff must strictly count the number of people and tourists who board the boat. They also have to check the condition of the boat, the safety equipment on board which must be in a ready-to-use condition, such as life jackets. There must be a sufficient number (of life jackets),” he said.

“The port officials must be strong in enforcing safety provisions. If the safety equipment on the boat is not fit for use, the boat will not be allowed to leave the port,” the Governor assured.

“Those who provide water travel services must be repeatedly checked for alcohol and drugs in order to have...

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Phoenix disaster: One year on Continued from page 1 ...the best potential to take care of tourists according to the policy ‘Safe people, Safe boats, Safe ports’,” he added.

The announcement by the Phuket Governor followed his attendance at a publicity event last Friday (June 28) to welcome 500 Chinese tourists on successfully landing at Phuket International Airport.

The event was held to boost confidence among Chinese tourists that Phuket is a safe holiday destination, as has been the mainstay of the Thai government’s efforts since the Phoenix disaster in order to stave off heavy damage to the tourism industry.

The calamity spelled disaster for Thailand’s tourism public image worldwide as images of bodies being recovered and Chinese tourists still in shock and grief spun around the globe on social media, far beyond the influence of the Thai authorities to control.

Bookings by Chinese tourists to travel to Thailand plunged by more than 20% in the month after the disaster. Cancellations in Phuket were much higher.

Regardless, in a show of support and diplomacy by the Chinese government last Friday, the event was attended by Ma Fengchun, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China based at Songkhla, which is the lead Chinese consular office in Southern Thailand, overseeing the affairs of the Chinese Consulate in Phuket.

That publicity event came just one day after Governor Phakaphong held a high-profile public meeting with the Mr Ma Fengchun and Phuket Chinese Consular Office Vice Consul-General Li Chunfu to highlight how safe and convenient it is for Chinese tourists to come to Phuket.

ON TRIAL Royal Thai Police Deputy Commander Gen Rungroj Sangkram,

ABOVE: Governor Phakaphong explains that there will be no memorial service. TOP RIGHT: The ‘Phoenix’ wreck. BOTTOM RIGHT: Chinese survivors at Chalong Pier last year. Photos: PR Dept / Royal Thai Navy who was tasked with overseeing the investigation into the disaster, on Tuesday was clear in his different understanding of the current state of the police investigation than that put forward by the Phuket Govenor.

All charges that could be pressed are now being heard in court, he told The Phuket News.

“Right now this case (sic) is being heard in court. About 10 witnesses have already given their testimony,” he said.

He also declined to give further details about the cases. “I don’t want to be in contempt of court. It might affect the court’s decision,” Gen Rungroj said.

Gen Runroj also again declined to provide a copy of the police investigation reports into the disaster, which were completed in March.

“The police investigation into the Phoenix is completed. We did our job. Our job is done,” he said.

Gen Rungroj stood by his assurances that two officials from by the Ship Standard Registration Bureau in Bangkok would face charges for their part in allowing the Phoenix

to be approved to put to sea.

“I sent the case report concerning the two officials to the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) in Bangkok. They will be charged for their part in the disaster,” Gen Rungroj told The Phuket News.

“The officials will be charged for not performing their duty. Both officials facing legal action are based in Bangkok,” he confirmed, meaning that not a single marine official in Phuket will be held accountable for any role leading up to the disaster, which saw the Phoenix capsize and sink in a storm squall off Koh Hei (Coral Island) that fateful afternoon.

Of note, many other tour boats were also out in the same area during the same storm squall, but did not capsize and sink.

“The details of the NACC’s progress is not within our ambit. I have no right to press them because it is their responsibility. They are not under the Royal Thai Police,” Gen Rungroj noted.

Asked why the NACC was taking so long to conclude their investi-

gation, Gen Rungroj declined to speculate.

Phuket resident Woralak Rerkchaikarn, now 27 years old and the officially registered owner of the Phoenix, as well as Somjing Boontham, the 51-year-old captain of the Phoenix, have spent the past year behind bars at Phuket Provincial Prison since their arrest in the weeks after the disaster.

Their lawyer, Nalin Intarasombat, confirmed to The Phuket News this week that both are each currently facing a charge of “public endangerment”, as listed by the court.

“Right now the case is proceeding well. Mr Somjing and Ms Woralak still deny the charge against them,” she said.

“The public endangerment charge is the charge of recklessness causing death,” Ms Nalin explained.

“Even though they are in Phuket Provincial Prison, we want to prove their innocence in court through police’s work and investigation,” she said.

“Bail is still being denied by Phuket Provincial Court. Other de-

tails of our case we cannot reveal,” she added.

“Ms Woralak and Mr Somjing are still strong and still fighting,” Ms Nalin said.

The recklessness causing death charge against the pair may incur a fine of B10,000 to B40,000 – but also may result in a prison sentence of five to 20 years – or even life.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix’s boat engineer, Onchan Kanhayotee, also faces a charged of recklessness causing injury and death to others, Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, at the time the Tourist Police Deputy Commander and also tasked to work with Gen Rungroj in overseeing the police investigation into the disaster, confirmed in a press conference last year.

Further, Ms Woralak, along with Jakkapan and Yindee Rerkchaikarn, also face charges of ang-yee, a term used in Thailand to describe “operating an illegal secret organisation” that is usually reserved for mafia.

That charge was presented on Oct 12 last year.

“From our investigation, we found that TC Blue Co Ltd is the owner of the Phoenix tour boat and that 26-year-old Phuket resident Woralak ‘Yui’ Rerkchaikarn is a shareholder in that company,” Gen Surachate said in November.

“However, we have also found that Woralak’s husband, Chinese national Lei Hou, is the real owner of TC Blue Co Ltd and that Jakkapan Rerkchaikarn and Yindee Rerkchaikarn are also shareholders, but Woralak is a major shareholder,” Gen Surachate explained.

“Investigating officers have discovered from financial records that TC Blue Co Ltd is a nominee company set up for Lei Hou. All those involved with TC Blue Co Ltd are now also facing charges of ang-yee as it is clear that they are running the company illegally for a foreigner,” he added.

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Prayut visit to declare Chalong Underpass open The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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rime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is due to visit Phuket on Monday (July 8) to officially declare the Chalong Underpass open and to preside over an air-sea rescue exercise at the Phuket Deep Sea Port.

In the morning, the prime minister will preside over the official grand opening of Chalong Underpass, Phuket Highways Chief Somwang Lohamut confirmed to The Phuket News last Thursday (June 28).

The 350-metre long underpass, a B546mn-budget project more than three years and 11 months in the making, opened to traffic between May 31 and June 3 this year.

Both lanes of the underpass will be closed from 7am for the grand opening, which is due to be held between 10-10:30am.

The prime minister will then visit the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command at Cape Panwa for lunch before chairing a disaster response meeting at the Phuket Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham as part of the

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is due to visit Phuket on Monday (July 8) to open the Chalong Underpass and preside over an air-sea rescue exercise at the Phuket Deep Sea Port. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP Integrated Disaster Management Exercise (IDMEx 2019), Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana confirmed last Saturday (June 29).

The meeting, hosted by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) under the Ministry of Interior, will focus on ensuring that the necessary preparations and training are in place in the event of a disaster on the island, such as a tsunami.

Also on the agenda is how government agencies, the private sector, the civil society sector and relevant

charity organisations can work cohesively before, during and after a disaster, and how safe and panic-free evacuation practices can be communicated to the public.

T he meet i ng follows DDPM-Patong’s successful tsunami-evacuation drill on June 25. Further evacuation drill exercises were scheduled to be held at the Phuket Deep Sea Port from Thursday through Saturday (July 4-6) followed by a review of the exercises on July 7, just one day before the prime minister’s visit.

The meeting will also afford the prime minister the opportunity to observe the ongoing renovation of the Phuket Deep Sea Port before he returns to Bangkok late in the afternoon.

This will be his first visit to Phuket since he was reelected as prime minister by Parliamentary vote on June 5 this year.

Governor Phakaphong on Monday (July 1) ordered officials to ramp up their efforts to ensure the prime minister’s visit would be “perfect”.

Governor Phakaphong stressed for the Phuket Highways Office to coordinate closely with the organisers so that the official opening ceremony of the underpass proceeds smoothly.

Governor Phakaphong stressed for the Phuket Highways Office to coordinate closely with the Prime Minister’s schedule organisers who will be responsible for holding the opening ceremony.

Highway Police, Region 8 Police and military units were ordered to closely watch and provide security in the relevant areas.

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Mansion amid protected forest stands on appeal DEMOLITION OF T H E luxury mansion in the hills overlooking the Bang Wad Reservoir because it breached the 80-metre limit on construction has been stayed pending an appeal.

Tassanee Saetong, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Kathu Municipality, confirmed the news last Friday (June 28) during a brief phone conversation with The Phuket News.

Kathu Mayor Chaianan Sutthikul on Apr 29 signed an order to suspend construction and for the building to be removed within 30 days, Ms Tassanee confirmed last month. “Officers from Kathu Municipality have posted the order on the door of the luxury mansion to inform the owner so that the owner can comply.

“After 30 days, if the owner of the luxury mansion still has not ceased construction and removed the building in accordance with the order, we will file a formal complaint with the police,” Ms Tassanee noted.

The order to remove the buildings followed an inspection of the site by officials on Apr 24, after which it was confirmed that the building was illegal as it breached the

The luxury house compound is on private land overlooking the Bang Wad reservoir.

Photo: Supplied ban on all construction above 80m above sea level.

The inspection also confirmed that land on which the luxury mansion was being built was literally surrounded by protected forest.

However, Ms Tassanee last Friday said, “An appeal was filed after the order to suspend construction and for the building to be removed within 30 days was issued on April 29.”

Ms Tassanee declined to confirm when the appeal was filed or answer on what grounds that such an appeal against illegal construction above the 80m limit could even be considered.

“Everything is proceeding in accordance with the official rules and processes,” she said.

Ms Tassanee declined to confirm when more details would be made available.

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Nai Harn Lake ‘dark water’ flushed into sea RAWAI MUNICIPALITY WORKers excavated the channel linking Nai Harn Lake with the sea in order to flush the increasingly stagnant water from the lake on Monday night (July 1).

The alarm over the state of the water was raised by local residents as the water in the lake became increasingly darker last Friday (June 28).

Some local residents were concerned that the water was changing colour due to the wastewatertreatment plant recently built at the eastern end of the lagoon.

However, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos assured The Phuket News

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on Monday that the wastewatertreatment plant played no part in the water changing colour.

“There is nothing to worry about. It is not wastewater,” Mayor Aroon said.

“The water has changed colour for natural reasons. There has been several days of heavy rain in the area, and runoff has flown into the nearby canals, which empty into the lake,” he explained.

“In addition to this, the strong wind and waves over the past week have seen the channel to the sea being blocked by sand,” he added.

“This together has led to the

water changing colour because it has had nowhere to flow out of the lagoon, but workers will tonight excavate the channel to allow the water to flow across the beach and into the sea,” Mayor Aroon said.

“We will do this at nighttime because we don’t want to create a disturbance during the daytime, and tonight will be the high tide,” he said on Monday.

“It is not wastewater and it is not water from the wastewater-treatment plant. The water in the lake is natural water. It is brackish water and supports life in the form of small fishes and marine animals.” he added.

The wastewater-treatment plant at Nai Harn was built under B35.3million government contract offered by the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA), which operates under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).

Construction, carried out by D.B.T. Engineering Co Ltd and MCON International Corp, saw a Western-standard “FBR watertreatment system” – also known as a “Fluidized” or “Flotation” Bed Reactor – installed.

In explaining the plant when the project was launched in December 2017, WMA engineer Natthawoot

The sand was excavated on Nai Harn Beach on Monday night (July 1) to allow the dark water to flow into the sea. Photo: Supplied Pantupan told The Phuket News, “This system will treat wastewater until it reaches the standard of Pollution Control Department. After that, the municipality can reuse water or release it into the lake.”

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Bypassing licence delays

Rajabhat launches driver training video screenings The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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o lighten the load on the number of people forced to wait at the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) in order to watch the driver training videos, Phuket Rajabhat University is providing screenings of the videos along with certification that the applicant has viewed the videos as required.

The project, rolled out in cooperation with the PLTO, offers screenings of the mandatory training videos for both people applying for the first licence, and the videos for those just needing to view the “refresher” videos in order to renew their licences.

The videos are open for viewing from 8am-3pm every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday – except public holidays – until further notice.

Lecturers to explain the laws will be present during the screenings.

There are four videos in total available for viewing: • Knowledge about land transport

The driver-training sessions are being held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday until further notice. Photo: Phuket Rajabhat University law, vehicle law and other relevant laws (1 hour 30 minutes) • How to drive safely (2 hours) • Awareness and manners in driving (1 hour)

• What to do in emergencies (30 minutes) Those applying for their first licence must be at least 20 years old for car driving licences or at least

15 years old for motorbike licences, and must be eligible to be issued a driver’s licence and not a person banned from driving by court order or any relevant officials, PRU noted in its notice announcing the new video-screening service.

In order to register, Thai nationals must bring their ID plus one copy, the announcement said.

Foreigners, however, must bring their passport (plus one copy of the relevant face page) and work permit (plus one copy of each relevant page), plus B400 to cover the fee of the lecture.

All applicants must bring a current medical certificate.

People interested in viewing the training videos can ask for more information at Room 941 on the 4th floor of the ‘Student Activities Building’ (Building 9) at the Phuket Rajabhat University campus.

Alternatively, people may call Somran Chaisawat Ph.D, Manager of the Driving License Applicant Training project, at 093-6592591.

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Boats, students targeted Public urged to report injured turtles in anti-drugs offensive THE CHIEF OF THE MArine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) has provided a telephone number to be used when a distressed sea turtle is found.

Dr Kongkiet Kittiwattanawong told The Phuket News last Friday (June 28), “If anyone finds a turtle stuck in a fishing net or injured, please call 076 391128 and we will come out to help. English speakers are welcome to call the number, we can communicate with them.”

Dr Kongkiet’s appeal follows the discovery of two sea turtles stuck in fishing nets last week, one on Racha Yai island and the other in Phang Nga. Last Tuesday (June 25), lifeguards at Patok Beach on Racha Yai rescued a green sea turtle that was found stuck in a tangled pile of fishing nets and rope.

Tanawut Maimad and Nuttapong Nupai used surf rescue boards to move the

A turtle tangled up in a discarded fishing net was freed by local lifeguards on Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, last Tuesday (June 25). Photo: Marokus Chungdee pile to the beach before freeing the turtle and releasing it back into the sea. The turtle looked uninjured and swam away according to the lifeguards.

The second turtle was found last Thursday afternoon (June 27) at Natai Beach in Khao Lampi Hat Thai Mueang National Park, Phang Nga. Officials were notified of an olive ridley sea turtle stuck in a fishing net, washed up on the beach.

The chief of the national park told The Phuket News, “The turtle was found with a deep wound on its left front leg and marks around the left side of its armature.

Officers contacted the PMBC who took the turtle to the Phang Nga Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre to treat its wounds and help it recover before they release it back into the sea.”

Tanyaluk Sakoot

DRUGS DELIVERED TO Phuket by boat and the rising incidence of drug use by youths have become the latest priorities for officials to target in the ongoing anti-drugs campaign.

Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai delivered the news at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall late last Friday afternoon (June 28).

Interception of drugs on land routes still remains the focus at main checkpoints set up at Tha Chatchai, where the traffic drives onto the island, and along the routes in various risk areas, Vice Governor Supoj said.

However, regarding marine drug-interception measures, the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and the Marine Police, along with relevant agencies, have set up their countermeasures to prevent drugs arriving onto the island by water transport, he added.

Police were also co-ordinating with schools to educate youths about the harm caused by drugs, V/Gov Supoj said.

“Drug-prevention activities

Key law-enforcement officers involved in the fight against drugs were present at the meeting last Friday (June 28). Photo: PR Dept in educational institutions have been implemented continuously in order to prevent children from becoming involved with drugs and involved in other drug-related activities,” he explained.

“The purpose is to reduce and prevent the spread of drugs in the community, villages and workplaces,” he added.

Officers involved in combatting drugs were urged to accelerate their operations in accordance with the anti-drugs campaign. Budget disbursements had been expedited in order to support anti-drug efforts, he said.

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Tourist drowns in deadly surf The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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British national from Hong Kong drowned at Surin Beach on Wednesday (July 3) as his son was brought ashore and rushed to hospital.

Wan Chuan Ming, 52, and his son, 25-year-old Wan Chun Tat, or “James”, arrived in Phuket last Sunday (June 30), said Capt Warawut Sensob of the Cherng Talay Police.

The two arrived at the beach at about 2:30pm and were in the water only five minutes before someone noticed they were in trouble, caught in a rip and being dragged away from shore.

Local beach-goer Amnart Cheusaman raised the alarm and went into the water to help them, Capt Warawut said.

Mr Amnart reached James first and brought him ashore.

James was then rushed to Thalang Hospital.

Mr Amnart went back out into the dangerous surf, but by the time he reached Mr Wan, the tourist was already unconscious in the water.

Mr Wan was brought back to the beach, but attempts to revive him failed, Capt

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Warawut explained.

The death of Mr Wan followed two people being rescued from rips and strong waves at Phuket west coast beaches last Sunday.

Both rescues, one at Karon Beach and the other further north at Surin Beach, happened at about 3:30pm.

Rachen Phuntarakit, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Karon Municipality, which is responsible for both Kata Beach and Karon Beach, told The Phuket News that a foreign woman was caught in a rip at Karon Beach and dragged out to sea at 3:30pm.

“Lifeguards were told by people at the beach that a tourist had been washed away from the beach in front of the Karon Stadium [at the southern end of the beach],” Mr Rachen said.

With the woman already too far from shore, officers stationed at the Marine Safety Unit based on Karon Beach took a jet-ski out and recovered the woman, he explained.

“She was suffering from exhaustion, and officers called an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital for treatment,” Mr Rachen said.

“The reason for this incident is that she went swim-

Exhausted, a foreign woman recovers after being rescued from being sucked out to sea by a rip at Karon Beach last Sunday (June 30). Photo: Karon Municipality ming in the water where red [no-swimming] flags were posted to mark there were strong waves,” he said.

However, Mr Rachen was unable explain whether the woman was a tourist or expat, her nationality, age, name or any other details as he said he did not have that information.

Meanwhile, literally at the same time, another person was being rescued at Surin Beach, Somjit Kumpai, head of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation

(OrBorTor) rescue team, confirmed on Tuesday (July 2).

“We received a call at 3:39pm to provide assistance to a man who was very weak after being pulled from the strong surf there,” Ms Somjit told The Phuket News.

“Our report notes the man’s name as Wanchalerm Sata, 25. Volunteers at the beach pulled him from the water.

His condition was very weak.

“We don’t know if he was a tourist or a local,” Ms Somjit explained.

“Our team took him by ambulance to Thalang Hospital. At last report he was still receiving medical treatment there. After that, we don’t have any more information about him,” she said.

The lack of information about the rescues not only highlights the dire issue of Phuket not having trained lifeguards, it also highlights the lack of contact persons to pass on critical warnings or report any drownings or rescues carried out in saving tourists’ lives.

There are no trained lifeguards officially on duty at Surin Beach, and it is not clear whether red flags have been posted to mark that the surf is too dangerous to swim there.

The most recent surfdanger warning came from the International Surf Life Saving Association (ISLA), which after contacting the trained and qualified lifeguards at Nai Harn Beach, issued a “High Surf Warning” for the Andaman Sea amid dangerous southwest monsoon conditions on June 23. Early last month, the head of the Phuket Lifeguard Club, whose trained and qualified lifeguards patrol Patong Beach, warned tourists

that the change in weather from heavy rain to blue skies overhead did not mean that the surf was safe to enter.

All beachgoers were urged to exercise caution as the southwest monsoon began to churn the surf along the west coast, creating strong waves and moving flash rips.

“Now we are in the monsoon season, and the waves can be dangerous. There are strong waves at every beach.

Please play in the water in safety zones marked with yellow-red f lags, and stay close to lifeguards for safety,” Phuket Lifeguard Club Chief Prathaiyut Chuayuan told The Phuket News.

Lifeguard protection at other beaches, however, remains fragmented, with many beaches still yet to hire lifeguards to patrol the sands to prevent beachgoers, mainly tourists, from being caught in the flash rips and strong surf.

T he cu r rent st ate of Phuket’s patchwork – and at some beaches lacking – lifeguard patrols has been the norm since 2017, when Norraphat Plodthong, the Phuket Governor at the time, ordered all local administrations to organise their own lifeguards.

Opinion 6

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EDITORIAL

Keeping memories afloat

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W

hile the Phuket Governor this week wants to claim that there will be no official memorial service for the 47 Chinese tourists who died in the Phoenix tour boat disaster “because no one wants one”, people will remember.

Lest we forget, the total death toll is not 47, it is 48.

Thai diver Niphat Kludnak, 37, a member of the salvage team, died on Sept 29 last year at the site where the sunken Phoenix lay, 45 metres deep south of Koh Hei (Coral Island), after succumbing to complications from repeated dives.

People will also remember the confusion that followed in what must have been Thailand’s most embarrassing display of how not to conduct a disasterresponse operation. Officials for days had no idea of how many people were on the Phoenix when it sank, never mind what

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chate Hakparn, Tourist Police Deputy Commander at the time, had the guts to publicly announce that of more than 400 boats operating in Phuket waters, 200 had failed to meet basic safety standards in the aftermath of the Phoenix disaster.

That level of honesty is much better than current Phuket Marine Chief Wiwat Chitchertwong blankly saying that no boats were unsafe as they had been ordered to comply with safety standards.

His predecessor, Surat Sirisaiyat, Phuket Marine Chief at the time of the Phoenix tragedy, was transferred immediately to the post of Acting Chief of the Ayutthaya Marine Office, where he remains.

At least local officials there have already had practice in handling boat disasters, after a tour boat capsized and sank on the Chao Phraya River in 2016, killing 28 people on board.

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editor1@classactmedia.co.th Former freelance writer and editor for a music news and reviews website in the UK. Now turning her hobby into a career with The Phuket News and broadening her scope from music to, well, everything. Likes the weird and wonderful.

their names or ages were.

Also burned into people’s memories are the images of the bodies of children being recovered from the sea by the brave local boatmen who immediately arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

No Governor, we don’t need a service to remember all that. It is just the decent thing to do.

Instead, Thai officials focus on convincing China’s government – not its people – that Phuket is a safe destination.

Trade talks loud, doesn’t it?

Among the ‘great leaps’ forward in safety standards over the past year is the enforcement of passenger and crew manifests, so that in case of another disaster officials should be able know fairly quickly exactly who has died.

Other than that, enforcement on any other marine safety standards is based on pure faith. At least Gen Sura-

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

We will remember

Re: No memorial service for Phoenix victims: Phuket Governor Governor means: We officials don’t want to be reminded that we allowed a non-seaworthy passenger vessel to sail with an incompetent and cowardly crew. That is bad for the Thai money-making boat industry. How cold-blooded.

Kurt Totally disrespects those that died and their living friends and family.

Rorri_2 Typical that officials come up with “it was an accident” and “nobody wants a memorial”. Absolutely no class, just want to shove it under their dirty carpet and worry about getting more Chinese money.

Also, it was caused by an untrained captain and cowardly crew. Shameful event.

BenPendejo

Room to improve

Re: Patong Mayor steps aside in illegal hotel crackdown These ‘crackdowns’ have been ongoing for more than

20 years. I remember reading more than a decade ago that an estimated 90% of small hotels (in Patong) were not registered, or were operating illegally in some way or another.

Geoffrey Morris Good luck sustaining sex tourism and luxury family tourism side by side.

John OToole The PM is coming to Phuket soon. It would be nice to see if someone would show him why they’re not following his order in one of the most [popular] tourist spots in the country, if not the world.

Bangla Walking Street

A low profile

Re: Phuket’s tourism low season dips even further How is a tourist’s “spend” calculated? It seems you could just pick a number out of thin air. Also just because someone isn’t travelling on a Thai passport doesn’t mean they’re necessarily a tourist. How long are people staying? To me that’s a more useful metric than a made-up number for how much they “spend” here.

CaptainJack69

People looking to spend the kind of money needed to vacation in Phuket would prefer a destination that is clean, has a decent transport service and the rule of law applied. Phuket doesn’t match any of these criteria.

Tamsyn Stead Re: TAT cuts tourism revenue estimate I’ve been in Phuket for 30 years and it’s always same. The original excuse was that the season was only five months so they had to charge higher prices. Full season now and prices still steep compared to the rest of country.

Michael Dawson Re: TAT starts promoting Phuket to Isarn Rich farmers from Isarn will come by the thousands to Phuket and find out that everything is at least double the price they normally pay.

Jeroen Tak

Travelling smart

Re: Compulsory insurance for tourists eyed They propose B100. Sign me up! Thailand usually gets pinched for about B360 mil-

lion a year in unpaid medical bills. This would bring in B4 billion. Smart move.

Brian Wells There is no real reason not to have travel insurance when travelling outside your country. You can only blame yourself if something happens because you were cheap on that part.

Steini Pé Great. It is cheap to get extra personal insurance and get peace of mind free during holidays. Too many people are getting in trouble and have no money for hospital bills.

Pascal Laigle

High seas

Re: Phuket ramps up offensive against drugs delivered by boat, youth drug use in spotlight Great to see them trying to tackle this problem. You only have to walk down the beach road in Patong at night and you get offered drugs at almost every street corner these days.

I know it’s always been there but in the last six months or so it’s got a lot worse.

Simon Lomas

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

THAILAND NEWS

7

PM Prayut seeks EU support

G20 Summit: Prime Minister says EU willing to normalise ties THAILAND Bangkok Post

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rime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says the European Union is willing to normalise ties with Thailand now that the country has returned to democracy.

Gen Prayut made the comment last Saturday (June 29) in Osaka where he was attending the G20 Summit. Thailand is not a member but was invited to join in its capacity as the current chair of Asean.

The EU has eased its stance on Thailand, as evidenced by increasing trade and investment over the past five years, he said. The bloc had put on hold trade and investment talks with the country since the military coup in 2014.

On behalf of Asean, Gen Prayut said he had submitted resolutions from the Asean Summit held in Bangkok last week to the G20 meetings. Most of them were in line with the shared views of developed and developing countries.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (third from left) wait for the start of a session on women’s workforce participation and ageing societies at the G20 Summit in Osaka on Saturday. Photo: Bangkok Post Other issues discussed at the meeting were measures to cushion the economic impacts from the US-China trade war and other geopolitical tensions, although some good news was expected from talks between the world superpowers, he said.

Gen Prayut also acknowledged some of the develop-

ment challenges facing his own country as he prepares to take the helm of an elected government, with a new cabinet expected to be formed in the next week or two.

“Thailand has to get ready by making economic and technological advances and increasing online access,” he said. “These are the problems

German seen helping wife sell chicken is a wanted man NAKHON RATCHASIMA A GERMAN MAN GAINED SOCIAL media attention while helping his Thai wife sell grilled chicken, However, that also drew police attention as he turns out to be wanted man, subject of an Interpol red notice.

Things started going wrong for Maximilian Fernsebner, 34, after photos of him helping his wife sell gai yang from a pushcart in front of a housing estate in tambon Pak Chong were posted online in mid-May, and he won praise from netizens.

Immigration chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang said on Tuesday (July 2) they ran a routine check on the man, including checking his record through the German embassy. They discovered Mr Fernsebner was wanted on an Interpol red notice.

He was suspected of selling illicit drugs online, involvement in theft, and possession and distribution of child porn materials.

Police were sent to arrest him at his home in Ban Pong Prathun village in tambon Pak Chong, but he fled into a forest behind the municipality office, hiding out there for two days before he emerged and surrendered, the immigration chief said.

Before his surrender, police had been contacted by the embassy and advised the suspect had phoned his mother in Germany and said he wanted to turn himself in.

He set a precondition that embassy officials must be present. Police then withdrew from the area. @thephuketnews

German national Maximilian Fernsebner, 34, won praise on social media after images showing him helping his Thai wife sell grilled chicken in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, went viral online.

A consular official then travelled to Ban Pong Prathun.

Mr Fernsebner admitted he had been in hiding in a local creek for two days, using a tube to breathe through when necessary.

Gen Sompong said the suspect had entered Thailand in 2017, before Interpol sent out its red notice. When news that he was being hunted became public he left the country via Nakhon Phanom.

After the search died down he returned to Thailand by hiring a Lao boatman to take him across the border through a natural crossing.

He then linked up with his Thai wife and they moved to stay in her village, which he saw as a quiet, out of the way place.

And it was, until photos of him selling grilled chicken were splashed in the social media spotlight, Gen Sompong said.

Mr Fernsebner was being held in police custody, pending his return to Germany to stand trial.

Bangkok Post

we’re facing as a large portion of our population is in the developing stage.”

Other issues under discussion were climate change and reduction of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas, as well as marine debris, which Asean leaders have pledged to tackle.

“Many view a G20 summit doesn’t place much importance

on Asean but I don’t agree,” said Gen Prayut. “[We may feel overlooked] because our region is peaceful, with very few regional conflicts. The South China Sea issue might be an exception but we have laid down measures to deal with it peacefully in three years. In the meantime, safe sea passage and air navigation have been ensured.”

As for the Rohingya problem in neighbouring Myanmar, Gen Prayut said Thailand was pushing for solutions, which have to be approved

by Myanmar.

“Asean agrees to jointly provide aid to help the ethnic group. Talks must also be held with Bangladesh on the repatriation and to speed up the screening process,” he said.

Myanmar will prepare for the resettlement and Thailand will send teams to help it with accommodation and health care, he added.

“The situation will gradually improve if there’s no new problem,” he said.

Discussing wider regional cooperation, Thailand pushed for the conclusion of the Re-

gional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which Gen Prayut views will help develop the country in all areas.

“We’ve seen 90% progress and will continue to talk to reach the goal while Thailand is Asean’s chair,” he said.

The RCEP is a free trade agreement championed by China between the 10 Asean members and six countries with which Asean has existing free trade agreements – China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The agreement is viewed as China’s response to the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership but does not set environmental or labour standards.

Negotiations for the RCEP began in 2012 and were supposed to have concluded by the end of 2015. However, they have dragged on for years amid disagreements over market access and protected sectors, especially between China and India.

Asean leaders pledged last weekend in Bangkok to work on completing a deal by the end of this year.

8

THAILAND NEWS

DDC urges HIV tests to curb spread of the virus THAILAND THE DEPARTMENT OF Disease Control is encouraging members of the public to get free HIV/Aids tests from state-run hospitals, after it found that at least 28,000 Thais are unaware that they have contracted the disease.

On Monday (July 1) the Director-General of the DDC, Suwanchai Watthanatingcharoen said tests are provided free at state-run hospitals to mark the Voluntary Counselling Testing (VCT) Day for HIV/ Aids, which falls on July 1 each year.

T h is yea r’s t heme is “Know Your Status”, which is aimed at expanding access to free-and-fast HIV tests, as well as affordable treatments from state-run hospitals.

DDC figures show that about 6,400 new HIV/Aids cases have been reported to date in 2019 – or 17 new cases per day.

Up to 49 people lost their lives after succumbing to Aids each day last year, Dr Suwanchai said.

The National Health Security Office said that 451,384 people are aware of their

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Ex-employee steals B2.3mn from 7-Eleven NAKHON RATCHASIMA Prasit Tangprasert

A

The National Health Security Office said that 451,384 people are aware of their HIV+ status while at least 28,000 are not.

HIV+ status.

“However, the fact that at least 28,000 people are unaware that they have contracted the disease makes treating and preventing the spread of the virus more difficult,” he said.

Dr Suwanchai added that anyone with a Thai national identity card can access the tests free-of-charge at state-run hospitals up to twice a year.

“We strongly advise the public – especially those who practice high-risk lifestyles – to undergo routine testing to keep an eye on things,” he said.

Bangkok Post

lone robbe r who made off with about B2.3 million from a 7-Eleven store in Muang district turned out to be a former employee of the store who was fired last year for alleged theft.

Rotjana Chongklang, 25, of the province’s Nong Sung district, was apprehended at her house in tambon Dan Khla of the district, Pol Maj Gen Thakoon Nattheesri, deputy commander of the Provincial Police Region 3, said on Tuesday evening (July 2).

The arrest came after a robber, initially reported to be a man, robbed a 7-Eleven branch in Ban Pho community at about 2.30am on Monday.

Store staff said the robber, wearing a full-face helmet, threatened them with a long knife and then took all the cash in the store’s safe.

Police began the investigation and examined surveil-

Surveillance camera footage shows a lone robber, wearing a full-face helmet, robbing a 7-Eleven store in Nakhon Ratchasima. Photo: Bangkok Post lance camera footage that led to the arrest of Ms Rotjana, said Pol Maj Gen Thakoon.

According to a police investigation, the suspect used to work at the store but was fired last year for alleged theft. She admitted to robbing the store and

claimed unemployment and huge debts forced her to do it as she had a one-year-old child to take care of but could not find money to feed him.

The suspect insisted she had acted alone. After the robbery, she fled and threw away the helmet and clothes

on the way. She hid stolen cash in a septic tank behind her house and used some of the money.

The investigation would be extended to find whether there were other people involved, said police.

Bangkok Post

Retiree injured in massage chair LOP BURI A RETIRED SOLDIER was injured when an electric massage chair malfunctioned, nearly strangling him, at a department store in Muang district.

Sg t Maj 1 Sut has Muangpha, 63, said he had been a regular user of the massage chair service at the store. He found it relaxing.

On Monday (July 1), he put B20 in coins into the slot in one of the chairs, as usual, for a 10-minute massage.

It functioned normally for about five minutes. Then the rollers suddenly began strangling his neck and head.

He shouted for help and people came to his rescue, Thai media reported.

He suffered head injuries and swollen eyes.

Representatives of the company that installed the chairs later visited the injured victim and gave him B20,000 in compensation.

TV Channel 8 reported that the representatives said the firm would take responsibility if anyone else suffered the same problem.

Sgt Maj 1 Suthas Muangpha, 63, shows an injury and his swollen eyes after a massage chair malfunctioned.

Photo: Screen capture from TV Channel 8 But Sgt Maj 1 Suthas said he was now scared off using the chairs for good.

Photos of the retired soldier and his injuries drew sympathy after they were posted online.

Food and Drug Administration deputy secretarygeneral Surachok Tangwiwat said the firm that installed the massage chairs at the store had been registered with the FDA to import medical devices since 2016.

However, it did not notify the FDA it was importing electric massage chairs.

T he FDA has f iled

charges against the firm for its failure to notify. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail and/or a fine of B200,000, Dr Surachok said.

He said the massage chairs were medical devices that posed no threat to life.

They were allowed to be installed for massage and relaxation.

However, any operator who exaggerated the chairs’ benefits, claiming they could cure illness, would face charges, the FDA deputy secretary-general said.

Bangkok Post thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS

9

Trimming down expectations TAT revises down 2019 arrival figures, focuses on niche markets TOURISM Dusida Worrachaddejchai

T

he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revised down the number of international arrivals this year to 40.2 million from the 41.3 million forecast earlier this year.

The agency also cut revenue growth of overall tourism receipts, which include domestic travel, to 9.5% from 10%, bringing revenue this year to B3.38 trillion, down slightly from the previous projection of B3.4trn.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn has attributed the fall to the global slowdown, the baht’s appreciation and soaring fuel prices disrupting travel plans.

Revenue this year will break down to B2.21trn from international tourists and B1.17trn from domestic travellers.

Speaking at TATAP 2020 (Tourism Authority of Thailand Action Plan 2020) in Udon Thani on Monday (July 1), Mr Yuthasak said he hoped some of the negative conditions surrounding Thai tourism would ease next year.

Together with the marketing plans of the TAT, better conditions

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn has revised his agency’s expected tourism arrivals and revenue figures for the year. Photo: Bangkok Post will help boost tourism revenue to B3.72trn in 2020, or 10% growth year-on-year, Mr Yuthasak said.

The target is a challenging task but achievable, he said, as the agency will place greater focus on market

segmentation and potential niche market groups, especially lifestyle and health-oriented individual tourists who tend to spend more during trips compared with mass tourism.

The aim is to increase the portion

Inflation falls for third month ECONOMY INFLATION IN THE FIRST half of this year was reported at 0.92%, while inflation in June was reported at 0.87% due to continually falling oil prices, reported the state news agency NNT on Monday (July 1).

Phimchanok Wornkhorphorn, Director of the Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said the ministry has again adjusted inf lation forecasts for the whole of 2019 to between

@thephuketnews

Phimchanok Wornkhorphorn.

Photo: NNT 0.7% and 1.3%, or an average of 1% – compared with earlier forecasts of 0.7% to 1.7% or an average of 1.2%.

The latest adjustment was in line with the country’s current economic situation, Mr Phimchanok said.

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.87% in June for the fresh food category, such as vegetables and fruit, which may have been damaged during the rainy season causing a price increase of 12.7%, Mr Phimchanok reported.

Other goods, which have sold at higher prices, included rice and pork, he said.

However, oil prices had dropped 5.62%, thus slowing June’s inflation for a third consecutive month, compared to a 1.15% increase in oil prices earlier this year, Director Phimchanok explained. NNT

of quality tourists who have income above US$60,000 a year to 20% by 2021 from 13% at present.

Cooperation with online travel agencies (OTAs) will be strengthened to broaden Thai tourism and facilitate foreign visitors abroad.

OTAs can serve as game-changers because they are an online platform with numerous demands, Mr Yuthasak said.

“We have to reconsider the tourism marketing plan from making it fast to making it last in the long run instead,” he said. “The TAT will not only aim to raise income but also balance sustainable development through the return-on-experience strategy to impress tourists with local experiences and attract them to come back for more.”

Next year, the volume of foreign arrivals is projected at 42 million, contributing about B2.43trn or 65% of total receipts, while domestic travel will make up the balance at B1.28trn.

Tossaporn Sirisamphan, chairman of the TAT board, said it’s necessary for the authorities to improve existing tourism destinations and offer new attractions that meet global trends in order to maintain Thailand’s status as a preferred destination.

One of the five-year goals for

Thai tourism is to move up to 30th place from 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness report by 2022, Mr Tossaporn said.

In order to achieve the goal, the tourism sector has to focus on development of five key tourism products, namely creative tourism, business tourism, marine tourism, tourism that connects to other regions, and beauty, health and wellness tourism.

According to Mr Tossaporn, the national policy plan for tourism has placed a focus on promoting tourism in small provinces in order to use the sector to distribute income to locals. The plan aims to narrow the ratio of tourism receipts from major cities against second-tier provinces to 80:20 by 2022 from 87:13 last year. The ratio is set to rise to 60:40 by 2037.

Under the national plan, there are some projects that could promote tourism on site and nearby such as a “Southern Economic Corridor” to create a strategic area between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, especially Ranong province with its eight-metre-deep seaport.

Another project is the development of the decade-old “Thailand Riviera” marine tourism hub concept, a scheme already tabled for Cabinet consideration.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Wiggle room for safety

Patong Mayor steps aside in nationwide crackdown on illegal hotels TOURISM The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

F

ollowing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 12 ordering all illegal hotels to register under an amnesty in effect until Aug 18, Patong Mayor Chalrmluck Kepsup has confirmed that Patong Municipality will not be taking any action whatsoever under the order until further notice, despite the call by PM Prayut that the focus is on fire safety.

Operators of illegal hotels on June 12 were ordered by PM Prayut to register with local authorities. The order also temporarily suspended the enforcement of town planning and local building control regulations on certain buildings that are used for hotel business operations, effectively granting amnesty to hotel operators who have not been in compliance with these regulations and hotel laws in the past.

While it is not clear whether the order specifically targets owners of condominium buildings where units are rented out for periods of less than 30 days – by which the building by law will be deemed as operating as a hotel as defined under the Hotel Act – the plethora of small hotels in Patong that have have dodged regulation are now squarely in the fir-

A tuk-tuk makes its way down Bangla Rd. Photo: The Phuket News /file ing line as the order by PM Prayut was issued through the “emergency powers” Section 44 of the Constitution.

The much-feared Section 44 specifically empowers the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader to issue any order “for the purpose of reforms in various fields, for the enhancement of unity and harmony among people in the country, or for the prevention, restraint, or suppression of any act which undermines public order or national security, the Monarchy, the national economy, or State affairs, irrespective of whether such act occurred inside or outside of the Kingdom”.

Section 44 orders issued are all deemed lawful, consti-

tutional and final, and require a report to be submitted to the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister “for acknowledgement without delay”.

Ms Chalermluck this week dismissed any responsibility for rolling out the order, instead saying that the responsibility lay with Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai.

She even declined to give an estimate of how many hotels were believed to be operating illegally in Patong, Phuket’s busiest tourism town.

“It’s a lot,” she said. “But all that information is with V/ Gov Supoj.”

“We are not anything to them [illegal hotels] yet. We

will wait for the Vice Governor first,” she said.

Operators of illegal hotels have two months to register their businesses correctly, Mayor Chalermluck noted.

“After that, it all depends on what special instructions V/ Gov Supoj has,” she said.

“We want illegal hotels to become legal, but it is Vice Governor Supoj’s responsibility. He will call out to all small hotels, including illegal hotels, across Phuket, not only those in Patong,” she added.

Ms Chaler mluck also confirmed that the amnesty granted under the June 12 order only re-confirmed an amnesty already granted in the fallout from a crackdown on illegal hotels in Phuket three

years ago, when the Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Descriptions of Other Types of Building Used for a Hotel Business Operation 2016 under the Building Control Act (1979) was introduced.

However, the regulation applies only to buildings that existed before it came into force and whose owners desire to use the property as a “Hotel” as defined by the Hotel Act. The regulation issued in 2016, and the amnesty provided under it, remains in effect for five years, coincidentally until nearly the exact same Aug 21, 2021 deadline in the latest amnesty issued by PM Prayut on the condition that hotel operators register with local authorities.

“We know this regulation has been active for three years, but still some hotels are avoiding becoming legal, but now the Prime Minister has issued this order because he is concerned about tourist safety right now,” Mayor Chalermluck said.

Regarding breaches of building regulations other than fire safety, such as illegal wastewater disposal, Mayor Chalermluck assured that Patong Municipality officers were still “conducting inspections from time to time”.

“We [Patong Municipality] have done our part already with other things. We always repeat to them [hotel operators] about wastewater and trash,

but it is nothing to worry about as most small hotels have their wastewater systems emptying into Patong Municipality drains. The drains connect to the wastewater-treatment plant,” she said.

Mayor Chalermluck’s assurance to The Phuket News oddly contradicted her own repeated pleas for hotel operators to have their wastewater systems connected to the council’s sewage network and the repeated – and self confessed – failings of Patong’s wastewater treatment plant to cope with the volume of wastewater flowing to it and through the Bang Yai Canal, which empties into Patong Bay at the southern end of the beach.

“I want them [hotels] to fix some parts to be correct, even now parts of some buildings can be fixed to comply with the rules, but we have to wait for them to register before the August deadline first.

“V/Gov Supoj plans to bring together all hotels to join together in two months’ time. We will relay announcements immediately through the Patong Municipality website and Facebook page,” Mayor Chalermluck said.

While not avoiding contact from The Phuket News, at the time of this article being sent to print Phuket Vice Governor Supoj so far had been unavailable for comment due to his current busy schedule.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Khema, a trailblazing Queen turned nun

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

13

The mastery learning school of thought

16

A bird’s-eye view of Zeavola.

ECO BLUEPRINTS Zeavola Resort GM pens environmental e-book

Amy Bryant editor1@classactmedia.co.th

W

alking through Zeavola on Koh Phi Phi, barefoot as encouraged, you’ll see an almost zero impact resort in total harmony with the nature and community that surrounds it. Fresh produce from Phuket arrives in reusable baskets and ice chests.

Some 16 different species of bird, including Klaus the rooster, chatter, cheep and crow. Guests refill their glass and metal bottles with filtered, purified rainwater. And staff support local sea gypsies with educational supplies, weekly lunches and, on International Children’s Day, a full-blown carnival.

The man behind this exemplar of eco-tourism is Florian Hallermann, a hands-on Austrian with 30 years’ experience in the hotel industry across Asia who can often be found wading into the sea by Laem Tong Beach to welcome his guests or collecting ocean plastic on his long-distance kayak trips.

But Zeavola hasn’t always been so green. When Florian took over as custodian and general manager in 2008, the resort was in the hands of a “flamboyantly robed sugar baron” whose penchant for luxury came at the expense of sustainability. The Zeavola you see today is the result of 11 years of hard work and careful efforts to balance both.

To tell the resort’s remarkable story, Florian, with the help of the team at QWERTY PR, has penned Zeavola’s Little Green Book. A versatile piece of work, the e-book sits somewhere between an animal encyclopedia, history book and hotel welcome guide, chroni@thephuketnews

cling the island’s limestone karsts and resident creatures alongside the sustainable journey of the resort in 42 strikingly illustrated pages. Florian’s dry sense of humour shines through and makes it an amusing, honest-todeath read that manages to avoid the trap of dragging the reader down with the weight of environmental responsibility or corporate jargon.

“It’s not my intention to be known.

I love to be under the radar. I do these [sustainable] things because it’s the right thing to do,” says Florian. “But I realise that there is a story here and the time is right to tell it. The hotel business has such an impact and I want to say, ‘If a small, fiercely independent hotel can do it, what’s stopping you?’”

Florian’s eco-conscience has its origins in his childhood. Seeing his mother campaign at a grassroots level against farmers infringing on national parks, and his father reuse shopping bags before plastic pollution was even in the public understanding, sowed the seeds that Zeavola gave him the opportunity to cultivate.

And how those seeds have grown.

Florian and 150 members of dedicated staff have reduced laundry water consumption by 4,000 litres a day, saved 260 kilograms in plastic food packaging a year, stopped using 120,000 plastic bottles a year and recently implemented a composting machine which will reduce wet waste by a staggering 18 tonnes a year.

The first green change Florian and his team made to the resort back in 2008 – replacing plastic bottled bathroom amenities, such as single-use shampoos, conditioners and shower gels, with refillable ceramic containers dispensing or-

GM Florian. ganic, cruelty-free products – alone has saved the resort B4 million in 11 years.

While these statistics, impressive for an independent 53-villa resort, have their place, Florian also marks his success in less tangible ways: his interactions with guests; seeing his daughter, a champion swimmer, open her eyes underwater for the first time in the chlorine-free pool; catching a glimpse of a rare bird species pass through the resort during migration season.

Helpfully, the island has always had a way of telling him when he’s on the wrong course or his eco efforts aren’t in the spirit of the land.

“Whatever I do, I always consider how nature is going to give me a bill for it. Because, in due time, nature will give you a bill and it will be expensive,” says Florian. “You have to balance the spirits of the land. After all, they allow us to be successful. The sea gypsies, Klaus, the wildlife, they’re all part of us being successful.”

A resort’s choice to respect its natural and cultural surrounds is, of course, a correct and moral one, but it comes with

economical benefits too. There is profitability in sustainability, says Florian, and hoteliers should not be scared to make the changes they want to see.

As Zeavola’s Little Green Book gains traction in the hospitality industry, Florian’s earlier question becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. Over to you, Phuket resorts and hotels. If a small, fiercely independent hotel can do it, and can even provide you with the very blueprints to do it, what’s stopping you?

Zeavola’s Little Green Book is available as a download for B140 at www. zeavola.com/greenbook with all proceeds being reinvested in green projects at the resort. Florian will be speaking at the Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism 2019 event on Sept 23 at Hilton Arcadia Phuket.

12 DINING

Magic at Mom Tri’s

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Spectacular views at Mom Tri’s Kitchen.

Lunch and a chance meeting with a true Phuket visionary THE CULINARY DETECTIVE Chris Watson chriswatsonth@gmail.com

I

suspect that a number of today’s readers travelled here in the ’80s with the intention of making it their home. And I am confident that those who remember the Phuket of almost 40 years ago will agree with me when I say that our island has indeed since changed enormously.

Not least of these changes has been the continually evolving hospitality industry. Whilst not the first luxury hotel to be built in Phuket, the Royal Phuket Yacht Club, opened in 1986, raised the stakes a notch or two and became the place for the Hollywood glitterati to spend their off-time in between movie shoots. It is now The Nai Harn, but was originally designed and built by the same inordinately talented individual who went on to build The Boathouse, the latter conceived primarily to cater for his family and friends who didn’t really like to stay in the stereotypical hotel.

Whilst this same iconic gentleman also conceptualised other celebrated properties across the is-

Crispy Phuket sole fillet. land, these two establishments still stand today as landmarks of luxury and culinary dynamism in Phuket.

They sprang from the visions of the inspirational Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul, more commonly referred to as Mom Tri. Harvard educated, an architect and a renowned artist, he literally transformed the landscape of Phuket. So, upon receipt of an invitation to dine at Mom Tri’s Wok Gallery Kitchen, I of course leapt at it.

Undertaking my usual diligent research I discover Mom Tri’s Wok Gallery Kitchen was opened relatively recently, in 2016, however I notice that Executive Chef Santi who oversees the kitchen has been with Mom Tri for nearly two decades, and I look forward

Andaman blue crab soufflé. to experiencing his hallmark of combining both Thai and Western cooking styles.

On entering the restaurant, located at the top of Kata Hill, occupying a majestic position affording spectacular views of Chalong Bay, I see several contemporary sculptures by the owner, and within the restaurant itself a display of paintings by a local artist, which regularly changes, providing local artists an opportunity to showcase their best and hence the reason for ‘gallery’ in the restaurant’s name.

Escorted onto the terrace and having left the choice of lunch dishes to the chef, I savour the breathtaking vista.

A cornucopia of dishes arrive,

The legendary Mom Tri. a Kiewan Goong Pan – mini crêpes filled with fresh prawns in a delicate yet piquant green curry – and a classically French cheese soufflé with cloud-like texture and a pleasant hint of slightly sharp cheese.

These are followed by juicy river prawns with spicy chilli paste and a superlative crispy sole fillet.

Whilst enjoying the combination of flavours and textures, I notice an unassuming gentleman surveying the room and realise this is none other than the man himself, Mom Tri. I pause my culinary enjoyment to introduce myself as a “celebrated” food writer for The Phuket News, eating at his restaurant at the invitation of Khun Dan, general manager of Mom Tri’s Villa Royale. We engage in conversation, and whilst clearly proud of this restaurant, he enquires if I have eaten at Mom Tri’s Kitchen at Villa Royale. Replying “not yet”, he gently insists that I should do so the following day. I don’t protest at all, return to my table with a broad smile and finish my meal with a traditional mango and sticky rice and an innovative peppermint soufflé.

Opened in 2004, Mom Tri’s Villa Royale was originally built as the patron’s summer holiday home, its name reflecting his royal heritage as a descendant of King Mongkut Rama IV. Both hotel and restaurant have won many accolades over the years for the rooms, the food and the outstanding cellar. It also has a number of long-serving staff in its culinary team including Chefs Darren and Sura with a combined 30 years between them both.

After navigating the steps down to the semi-covered restaurant perched at the water’s edge, truly a spectacular setting overlooking the bay and the pristine azure blue waters of the Andaman, I am greeted

by Vic, the food and beverage manager, who will take care of me today. I again leave selection of the menu to Vic and the chefs.

I begin with an ethereal Andaman blue crab soufflé and delicious rock lobster translucent raviolis in a morel mushroom sauce. These I follow with a truly special Nue Yang Panang of grilled New Zealand tenderloin in a fragrant and creamy curry sauce. I complete my lunch with refreshing Phuket pineapple and deep fried homemade coconut ice cream.

As I depart, I reflect on my “Mom Tri weekend” and doff my hat to this visionary. He truly shaped Phuket and I am delighted to observe that his style, eye for detail and passion to create memorable culinary experiences continue unabated. My humble acknowledgment of both this legend and his legacy.

Long may he continue!

Chris is a former Michelin Guide Inspector who, following an international career in hospitality spanning 30 years in both the Middle East and Asia, has now settled in Thailand and contributes a monthly restaurant column. thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CULTURE 13

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Artist: U Ba Kyi

Trailblazers: Queen Khema The forgotten women living in the time of Buddha: Part 4 ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

Q

ueen Khema’s exact royal status is somewhat hazy in ancient Buddhist records.

Some Southeast Asian records imply that she may have been of royal birth. Other sources sometimes describe her as a queen. And there are other records which document her as a consort.

Regardless, Queen Khema was a young queen to King Bimbisara of the ancient kingdom of Magadha. However, unlike several queens that Trailblazers previously visited, Khema was not involved with King Bimbisara’s conversion to Buddhism. The King was already a Buddhist by the time Khema became his royal consort. Rather, it was King Bimbisara who wanted Khema to meet Buddha, and he would have to invent ideas never before seen in the ancient world in order to make it happen.

In her era, Khema was simply everything that a great king could want. She was vivacious, she was voluptuous, she was smart, she was beautiful, she was epic and, although nobody knew it yet, she was destined to leave her handprints on the heart of ancient Buddhism.

Khema was born in the Magadha Kingdom and caught King Bimbisara’s eye when she came of age. Profoundly beautiful, she became a consort to King Bimbisara shortly after she reached marriageable age.

Yet, while her elevated status and great beauty sparked large crowds, the canon suggests that Khema might not have been entirely ready for the life ahead of her. The young Queen was very attached to the pleasures of this world and she was leery of the austerity of Buddhism.

So, she refused to meet Buddha.

Bemused that he could not motivate Queen Khema to meet Buddha, the befuddled King finally had an epiphany. @thephuketnews

He arranged for a concerto of elite royal musicians to play the most heavenly sounding melodies live at the Buddhist monastery where Buddha was staying.

In the ancient world, this was a massive undertaking. As she gently strolled through the gardens, the Queen was drawn in by the music as well as the most beautiful smell of an uncountable array of fresh flowers. Still, Khema was somewhat sheepish as she made her way towards the sermon hall.

Upon seeing the young Queen, Buddha engaged in telepathy and projected an image of a profoundly beautiful woman in Khema’s sight. Khema was overawed by the facade of this woman’s beauty. She realised that she would never be so beautiful as this woman who stood directly before her. But then the woman began to rapidly age directly before Khema’s very eyes. The woman grew haggard, old, decrepit and promptly died in a heap right at Khema’s feet.

Finally, the heap of bones vanished into the thin, telepathic air from which they came and Buddha appeared before Khema. As Buddha drew closer to her, He used His ‘Divine Eye’ to read Khema’s mind. Then, Buddha said, “Khema, those enslaved by lust drift down the stream as a spider glides on a self-spun web. Having severed all of this, the wise wander elsewhere, indifferent to the pleasures they have renounced.”

In the heat of an epiphany, Khema was separated from the oppressive yoke of material things. She entered the flow of the living moment and instantly realised the highest insights of Buddhism.

Walking back to King Bimbisara, the shellshocked young Queen relinquished her royal titles and sought the King’s permission to ordain as a Buddhist nun.

She traded in a life of luxury for little more than an ascetic’s robe.

Yet, Khema’s fame and abilities were only to grow. She would soon become one of Buddha’s most important early nuns and would draw many women into the Buddhist faith from all corners of the known world.

But as Khema amassed a large

following, she also gained an enemy.

Ancient Buddhists knew him as ‘Mara’; Western readers might know him better as ‘the Devil’.

One day, the Devil came to visit Khema. He was disguised as a powerfully attractive young nobleman. Yet, the ancient texts record that Khema felt no temptation and she strongly confronted the Devil. Turning his fallacies straight back upon the him, Khema’s immortal rebuke echoes across all time: “Know this, O evil one, thou art defeated!”

By the end of her life, Khema blazed a trail that many generations of future women would follow. She helped popularise a new world faith that would soon sweep through virtually all of Asia, and the former Queen is recorded as one of Buddhism’s most important early nuns.

In her time, Khema helped build a Buddhist India, and the ancient India that she helped build had relatively equal educational opportunities for women. Large crowds of fans would follow educated women and this phenomenon spewed over into other faiths of the time, like Jainism.

Alas, in roughly 10 centuries, the Buddhist India that Khema knew would

fall. Other religions would displace Buddhism in India, and British colonialists would occupy India for a time, too.

The collapse of Buddhism was complete in India by the 12th century and women’s rights would significantly erode with its fall. Buddhism would not be reestablished in India until the 19th century.

Today, recommissioning the defunct Buddhist Order of Nuns remains hotly debated in Southeast Asia. Thailand’s Sangha Supreme Council opposes the idea on theological grounds, leaving only Buddhist monks officially recognised by the state.

However, new generations of Buddhist writers are making certain that these trailblazing women are not forgotten. Their stories are once again being retold for all the world to hear. The only real question is: Will all the world listen?

Editor’s Note: For further information about Khema’s life and times, consult the ancient Khema Sutra, The Dhamapada Commentary 24 (5) [vs. 347] or the Jatakas # 354, 397, 501, 502, or 534. For a record of Khema’s confrontation with the devil, see the Therigatha # 139-144.

14 PETS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Pets behaving badly

How to change your dog’s problem behaviours UNLEASHED Russell D Russell info@k9pointacademy.com

Remember that your dog is in it for reward, so whatever behaviour you want him to do instead has to be more rewarding than the one he’s exhibiting now.

“P

lease help us. Our dog is driving us crazy. We have to change his behaviour!” This is something I hear a lot, and when I ask the owners what they mean, the answer is always the same: they want their dog to stop.

Simple. Stop jumping, stop barking, stop lunging, stop counter surfing, just stop, stop, STOP! And herein lies the problem. That is a “behaviour stop”. And when one behaviour stops, another comes along to take its place, whether you want it to or not.

So the real question needs to be: What do you want your dog to do instead?

You see, contrary to what you may think, dogs don’t do things just to annoy you. They don’t do things out of spite. They don’t do things “that they know are wrong”. That’s us projecting our own emotions, and our own failings, onto our dogs. Dogs just do whatever is rewarding for them in that moment and they form pictures of what works through consistent repetition.

For your Fido, good and bad don’t exist, it’s just a simple case of what works and what doesn’t. We are the arbiters of what is right or wrong. We get to decide which is which, but remember that, on its own, this means nothing to your Fido.

Before you start to work on answers to “What do you want your dog to do instead?”, remember that your dog is in it for reward, so whatever behaviour you want him to do instead has to be more rewarding than the one he’s exhibiting now.

Pre-counter surf. Photo: Pexels For example, your dog is constantly jumping up on you, your guests, your kids. In response, we shout “NO!”, maybe wave our arms, bop him on the nose, yet the behaviour continues. Disengaging from this behaviour might give him pause (pun intended!) for thought and he might try something else, like sitting, at which point we reward him.

The sit gets him treats, cuddles or attention, but jumping up gets him nothing. It’s an easy choice for your Fido.

Maybe your dog is jumping up on the counters for food. Again, his reward is often attention from us: “NO, GET DOWN” as well as the extra bonus of any food he can quickly grab whilst he’s up there, whereas we could simply direct him to his bed and reward him for being there. He’ll think, “Why expend all that time and energy when I can lie here and have you drop treats for me?”

Behavioural change is a two-step process about teaching our dog a new behaviour (that we want) to replace an old one (that we don’t). We get to decide which is which and then we have to make the one we want more rewarding than the one we don’t.

Teach your dog something new and specific, something better. By being consistent with the new behaviour, we

help our dog forget the old one ever existed in the first place.

In dog training, we often talk about management vs. training. Management is prevention – we block access to countertops or certain rooms, we put chewable shoes in a cupboard or on a shelf, we make sure kids’ bedroom doors are shut etc – and this helps us to shape the training part to guide him down the road of the behaviours we actually want.

Set your dog – and yourself – up to succeed and you’ll be amazed how quickly things can change.

As you’ve gone through this article, you have probably thought of a bunch of things you want your dog to stop doing. So make a list of those behaviours and, next to them, write down what you want him to do instead. Then give us a call…

If you would like some more information on canine training, or behavioural issues, then please to contact us on 091 654 1960, email info@k9pointacademy. com, or check our website www.k9pointacademy.com. CPA is the only K9 organisation in Thailand accredited with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Evaluator.

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT 15

Simply Marvellous Action and suspense in Spider-Man: Far From Home

I

David Griffiths

f you thought the post-Endgame Avengers universe would see the quality of the films in it drop, think again because Marvel has just released one of the best films of the year. To be blunt, SpiderMan: Far From Home is brilliant.

With some of the most creative action sequences the franchise has seen and a storyline with twists and turns galore, this film is going to be loved by Marvel fans both young and old.

Set in the aftermath of Endgame, the film finds the world still mourning the loss of the fallen heroes. When it comes to the Avengers themselves, no one is as upset as Peter Parker (Tom Holland – The Impossible). The youngster has kept Spider-Man away from epic adventures and has instead concentrated on school, wooing MJ (Zendaya – The Greatest Showman) and helping his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler) with charity events.

However, with a trip to Europe on the cards Peter is suddenly surprised to find Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau – Chef) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson – Pulp Fiction) pushing him to help out against a new evil. Peter’s reluctance changes, though, when he finds that Tony Stark (Robert Downey

@thephuketnews

Now showing in Phuket.

Jr. – The Judge) has chosen him to take over his mantle and he meets Fury’s brand-new champion Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler).

This is the kind of film that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Director Jon Watts (Cop Car) and his duo of screenwriters keep the suspense flowing throughout. Just as you get comfortable and think you know what’s going to happen next, they shock with a surprise that you never saw coming. Suspense raised, the darker side of the film comes to the fore, adding an exciting new element to the Marvel universe.

Then there are the jaw-dropping action sequences created by Watts. If you thought Into The Spider-Verse threw up some interesting sequences, then

you will be pleasantly surprised by the unique visuals that Watts creates during some of the more creative battles that Spider-Man finds himself in at times. But even that pales into insignificance with the epic battle in London that involves hundreds of drones. Spider-Man fans are going to freak out as their hero embarks on one of the most impressive action sequences that the franchise has ever seen.

The brilliant screenwriting here sees a huge step up in acting as well.

Tom Holland is now a legitimate star.

Not only does he pull off the action sequences with ease, but he is also forced to deliver some comedic and some seriously emotional scenes which see him go to a whole new level. His ‘will-theywon’t-they’ scenes with Zendaya en-

hance the film while Jake Gyllenhaal gives everybody around him a true lesson in acting.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is an absolutely phenomenal film. It shows just what Marvel can achieve with just the right amount of comedy, action and true suspense. Like Captain America: Winter Soldier, this film sees some true brilliance from a promising director while allowing Tom Holland to snatch the mantle of leading man in a memorable performance.

David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus

16 EDUCATION

Mastery learning

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Behind the educational philosophy at QSI Phuket Eben Plese

Mastery learning allowed me to teach in a way that was more natural. It allowed me to teach to my students instead of teach toward an assessment.

I

think that my experience as a student will be familiar to many of you. I sat through classes with peers all my age and was presented with information. After a period of time on that topic, I was given some kind of assessment and I got a grade on that assessment. Regardless of how I (or anyone else in the class) did, we moved on to the next topic, and each test grade was averaged together with other assessments, homework, quizzes, tests and sometimes far more subjective ideas like “class participation”. In the end, my class grade was a letter that was somewhat arbitrarily aligned to my overall average and, again, I moved on to the next class to start the whole thing over again.

The above scenario is very much focused on the assessment. The grade you get on that test (or project, essay or homework assignment) is what you deserved because you worked hard and studied, or

Masters of mastery learning. didn’t, or perhaps simply because you aren’t smart enough to do well on that topic. The learning itself is secondary.

The fact that a number like 90% may not actually relate all that much to any specific learning is irrelevant. And the fact that perhaps further learning happened after the assessment and the concepts were understood more deeply is also irrelevant.

I’ll give an example. In high school, I decided to study German, a strange decision given that the only opportunity I had in my New England town to actually practice in front of real Germans was when I was talking to my teacher.

Luckily, I enjoyed that teacher and the class and so I kept going, although I was a lousy German student. By that, I mean that I did a horrible job of sitting and studying vocabulary and memorising how grammar structures work.

My friends were far better students who studied hard and got good grades on their vocabulary quizzes. I found, though, that I was learning, not by studying vocabulary out of context, but instead by the conversations that I was having with my German teacher.

In fact, one of the most memorable moments of my high school years was in 1989 when my teacher, Mrs Lincoln, walked into class crying with joy because the Berlin Wall had come down.

This moment of learning, both of history and of the language it took to talk with my teacher about it, represents a great deal of the way I was as a student: I liked to learn rather than study.

It’s with this framework that I want to look at the philosophy of mastery learning. Rather than looking at school as a place in which we take tests, mastery learning posits that we should be looking at school as a place where learning takes place. If we are operating from this assumption, then the schooling that I described above doesn’t work. A teacher can’t just walk away from a concept because they are done teaching it; the work is only done when the students understand it, or when they have “mastered” it.

So, in a school that operates under a mastery learning philosophy, teachers are always checking in with students to gauge understanding. Grades are specifically about what they have mastered, rather than what they “deserve”, and students who have not mastered concepts are not just left to languish and they are not left behind, but rather teachers continue to work with

them and reteach these concepts until everyone is on board, until everyone understands and until everyone has mastered them.

So, why mastery learning? I would say we should embrace mastery learning because I hope we believe that school should be about ensuring all students are learning, rather than ensuring students know how to take tests.

But more than that, in a mastery learning environment we can ensure that all students are growing. In fact the entire philosophy starts with that idea: that all students can be successful.

A mastery learning environment also ensures that every concept is mastered by everyone. There’s no 90% or 75%, arbitrary numbers that don’t really mean that much. After all, I believe I got a “C” in that German class which equates to 75%. But the big question was always: 75% of what? What exactly was that 25% that I missed, and what if that was the most essential part of that work? Or, conversely, what if that 75% that I had mastered was really being able to communicate in the language, and the 25% was points marked off because I showed up late to class?

So, again, why mastery learning?

I’ve taught in a mastery learning system for the past decade of my career.

Before that, I taught in a traditional American high school and I struggled with the idea of needing to put a number on everything, since the entire grade programme we had was based on percentages. I taught writing, which is the ultimate mastery learning topic, and I always wanted my students to continue working on their writing, to revise and improve even after they turned their work in because this was the way that real writers operate: we work and rework until it is exactly the way that we want it to be. But the system I was working in didn’t encourage this; instead, it encouraged a student getting a grade and being done.

Mastery learning allowed me to teach in a way that was so much more natural. It allowed me to teach to my students instead of teach toward an assessment. And that’s where my belief in mastery learning comes from.

Eben Plese is the QSI Regional Supervisor for China/East Asia, which includes QSI International School of Phuket. For more information, visit www.qsi.org/thailand/pkt or email phuket@qsi.org thephuketnews

ENVIRONMENT 17

Animal liberation THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Soi Dog’s John Dalley helps another animal in need, the sea turtle only has to stand on Laypang Beach at night to see a wall of trawlers. The chances of a turtle getting through that wall unscathed must be slim.

J

Anchalee Buesching

ohn Dalley, co-founder of Soi Dog Foundation, was taking his dogs for a routine Monday morning walk on the beach on June 24 when Laypang Beach a young turtle in a homemade fish trap. Believing it was dead, he continued his walk with a heavy heart. This was a first-time occurrence for him on this particular beach, but witnessing the cruel impact of human behaviour isn’t a new experience for John who has long fought animal cruelty, and especially the dog meat trade, in Southeast Asia.

Despite feeling helpless, John had an urge to return to the turtle. With Yao, his maid, and his dogs piled into the car, he set off to find the trap again in order to move it. Originally, he intended only to raise awareness about turtles and marine litter by taking a few photos. However, after relocating the trap away from the water’s edge, Yao noticed movement in the turtle. Miraculously, it had survived.

John removed the young turtle from the trap, Yao filled two bottles with seawater and they brought the turtle home, placed it in a bucket of seawater and got in contact with the Mai Khao Sea Turtle group.

It was later discovered that the youngster, now identified as a critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle, is suspected to have eaten plastic. It is currently at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre where it will receive specialist care and possibly surgery.

Here John shares with The Phuket News his thoughts and experience on finding the turtle, and the greater picture of the plight of turtle conservation in the region.

What is your opinion on turtle welfare in Phuket?

There are some good groups who try to help and rescue turtles in Phuket and Khao Lak, though I have always been concerned about the turtle releases that occur at some hotels. This is not ecotourism, but exploitation. The turtles released are not newborn, and my un-

@thephuketnews

Did this have an impact on you and/or your beliefs?

Not really. I am already only too familiar with the damage we are causing to the other inhabitants of this planet and, of course, through Soi Dog, the cruelty man is capable of inflicting on animals.

As my late wife used to say, “If there is a God then the biggest mistake he made was putting man on this planet”!

The young turtle in a homemade fish trap. derstanding from experts is that turtles should be released as newly hatched babies at night and in a location well away from human activity, as all female turtles that do survive, which is not many, will return to the same beach they were released from. Whether this happens after they have grown for a few months I have no idea, but if there are lights and noise, as is the case in front of all hotels, then likely they will not come ashore and instead abort the eggs.

Tell us about your experience of finding the turtle.

At first I was sure it was dead as it was totally motionless. The trap it was caught in had come adrift from its mooring and was fairly high up the beach, and at that time the tide is low, so it had been there some hours, and there is no knowing how long the turtle had been caught in the sea before the trap was washed ashore in the heavy seas.

I was sad but I felt there was nothing I could do. After getting back to the car and rejoining my maid who was walking separately with a very old and disabled dog, something made me decide to go back to the site.

I planned to move the trap right off the beach and take a photo to show what these things can do. When moving the trap my maid noticed a slight movement. I managed to untangle it and sure enough it was alive though clearly weak.

John with the freed turtle.

What kind of message do you think this kind of incident spreads?

I hope it raises more awareness of the plight of these creatures – whose numbers are dwindling because of us – and hope hotels will stop releasing babies in what is in reality only a tourist event in front of their premises. People pay to release a turtle in a totally unsuitable location. It is exploitation at its worst sold as an eco-event.

Getting it home we put it in a plastic container together with the seawater and made sure it could keep its head above the water. We also covered it with a wet cloth on the advice of the turtle rescue people. It was both a rewarding experience knowing we had saved its life but also upsetting as of course vast numInjured sea turtle findings can be rebers of turtles are killed every year by the fishing industry whether commercial ported to the Phuket Marine Biological or as in this case a local fisherman. One Centre on 076 391128.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

ISLAND SCENE 19

Behind the scenes with Live89.5’s Chris Howson.

Kajonkietsuksa saying thanks for a fun morning.

Hands up for a free Class Act Media cap!

Future journalists?

KAJONKIETSUKSA SCHOOL VISITS CLASS ACT MEDIA, IMAGE ASIA OFFICE There was a full house at the Class Act Media and IMAGE asia office on June 28 as 60 M1 English Programme students from Kajonkietsuksa School came along on a school trip. Students saw how the company’s many publications are put together, spent time with JP as he made his Phuket Xtra news videos and even went live on the ‘Good Morning Phuket’ radio show with Chris Howson on Live89.5. Thanks to the teachers and staff who made this fun visit possible.

Good deeds at the Phuket Special Education Center.

Four of the 10 children awarded life-changing scholarships.

NAN FAH THAI FOUNDATION DONATES B100K TO DISABLED CHILDREN On June 25, kind souls at the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (Phuket Flight Control Center)’s Nan Fah Thai Foundation donated B100,000 towards scholarships for disabled children during a ceremony at the Phuket Special Education Center. The scholarships were awarded to 10 children at the event, which is in its 13th year.

The future resort is in their hands!

SIGNING CEREMONY HELD FOR ADM AND WYNDHAM GARDEN DEAL June 28 saw Wyndham Vice President, Development & Acquisitions South East Asia and Pacific Rim, David Wray, sign an agreement with New World ADM Platinum for the company’s new project: Wyndham Garden Platinum Bay Phuket. “We are confident that Wyndham Garden will become popular with international travellers, while also creating a compelling new product for Phuket’s tourism industry,” said David at the event. @thephuketnews

Golf, Fon, Jason, Nok, Gift and Beer.

A VISIT FROM THE DREAM TEAM Friends and colleagues at Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa and Beach Club paid a visit to the Class Act Media and IMAGE asia office on June 27 and kindly brought some jars of dreamy cookies with them. Thank you and see you again soon!

20 EVENTS

FRI

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

choice of sauces. Reservation recommended. 295 baht P.P. shakersphuket@ gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

5 JUL Grow Boating Networking Evening - Jul 2019

Mussels night @ Shakers 1.2kg mussels served with French fries, your choice, your style: natural, marnière, Provençale, garlic and cream or Thai style. Reservations recommended B295 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBQ RIBS Come join us for our WEEKLY BBQ EVERY FRIDAY served ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in All You Can Eat BBQ Pork Ribs, Chicken and Sides for ONLY 495 BAHT! Our BBQ is famous at Two Chefs! Come try us out and enjoy our mouthwatering pork ribs, flavor-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD Stay for the Fun. www.twochefs.com Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

The Grow Boating Networking Evening for July 2019 will be held at The Lagoon Saloon, at The Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina from 5pm onward. Please contact us if you would like to be our drinks sponsors.

Sponsorship is available from 10,000 baht and includes a generous advertising package from The Phuket News. Lagoon Saloon will fire up the BBQ serving their famous Friday night burger free to all attendees and there will be special prices on your favourite beverages. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome. There is no entry fee, just drop your business card or register at the bar. To join our mailing list please send an email to growboatingphuket@gmail.com The Grow Boating Networking Evening is organised by the Thai Yachting Business Association. Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/groups/491098897758155/ or our Website https://www.thaiyachtingbusinessassociation.com/

SAT

6 JUL

All you can eat Sunday Roast Buffet Beef, Pork and Lamb – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes – Yorkshire pudding – roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes – gravy, mushroom sauce, mint sauce. Reservations recommended. B350 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

Collective Series 15 – A Red Affair Kata Rocks’ Collective Series 15 returns on Saturday 6 July 2019 with a seductive ‘A Red Affair’ party that promises to deliver an epic evening of flirtatious fun.

Set in a private Sky Pool Villa Penthouse, the event is in partnership with Bangkok’s award-winning Eat Me Restaurant showcasing six signature beverages, each inspired by the unique cultural heritage of East Asia’s infamous dens of iniquity.

Priced at THB 2,200THB per guest inclusive of six refreshing beverages and canapés (from 6:30 to 9 pm) plus entertainment and live DJ. The party continues till late, beverages will be served at the special price of THB 200 net after 8pm. Space is limited so advance reservations are highly recommended. Visit http://bit.ly/2x24BZn for more details or email dining@katarocks.com for enquiries.

SUN

7 JUL

Light and Fresh Buffet The Watercourt is presenting a line of tasty Italian Cold Cut, Gourmet Salads, Hearty Soup, Flavourful Desserts and Seasonal Fruit. From THB 1,200 net per guest (Choice of Meat & Seafood grilled - Additional). Banyan Tree, The Watercourt,fb-phuket@banyantree.com, 076 372 400.

2019 Bartender of the Year Championship 2019 Bartender of the Year Championship on Friday, 05 July 2019 from 3-5 PM at the Beach BBQ, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort. Catch the most creative ’mixologists’ of Marriott Resorts in Southern Thailand showcase their concoctions. Brought to you by Marriott Resorts Southern Thailand. ADMISSION IS FREE!

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

MON

8 JUL

All you can eat BBQ night 6pm – 11pm: Beef, Pork, Chicken, Burgers, Sausages, Prawns and Squid, Salad buffet, Choice of potatoes and sauces, bread, buns and garlic bread. Reservation recommended.

B395 P/P. shakersphuket@gmail.com 081 891 4381.

TUE

9 JUL

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night Come enjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast EVERY SUNDAY at Two Chefs Kata Center, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong. Indulge in our Traditional Sunday Roast ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT for ONLY 445 Baht! Enjoy a Large ALL YOU CAN EAT selection of your favorites! Featuring: Roast Aussie Beef, Pork Loin and Chicken. Roasted or Mashed Potatoes. Roasted Mixed Vegetables Flavored with Thyme and Garlic.

Yorkshire Pudding and Gravy. Enjoy Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. RESERVE Your Table Now Online at bit.ly/TwoChefsReservations Check out more details on our website at bit.ly/TwoChefsEvents Reservations, Karon, Kata Beach and Patong., Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286479 Patong 076-344-914.

ANDAMAN CATCH TUESDAY Every Tuesday our culinary team prepare a special Andaman Catch menu featuring our fish of the day selection prepared in one of three ways, a special seafood appetiser and a sweet finish dessert. Pair your catch with one of our sommelier selections special offers, available Tuesday only. 950* Baht. 18.30 - 22.00 www.salaphuket.com Advance bookings are recommended - 076 33 8888. *Subject to 10% service charge and 7% value added tax.

Sala Phuket. thephuketnews

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EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

TUE

9 JUL

Thai Night Buffet Experience Authentic Thai Food. Let’s take a tasteful journey through Thai cuisine, Baan Talay is feature a tempting selections of traditional Thai food and local Phuket delicacies. Enjoy with a variety of live station; Thai papaya salad, spicy soup and much more to give a true taste of Thailand. THB 950++ per person. Every Tuesday from 6 pm to 10 pm. Reservation, Angsana Laguna Phuket, fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com, 076 358 500.

WED

join us for our special Cajun Grilled Chicken Breast served on a wooden plate with mashed potato, red wine sauce, and bearnaise sauce for ONLY 395 THB. Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to the Two Chefs banana flambé served with vanilla ice cream for ONLY 95 THB. Sit back and enjoy one of our drink specials as you listen to the famous Two Chefs band performing all your favorite retro hits and more! Live music starts from 8:30pm and goes late at all of our Two Chefs locations.

Reservations are highly recommended.

You can book on our website at WWW. TWOCHEFS.COMor find us on Facebook at WWW.FACEBOOK/TWOCHEFSTHAILAND COME FOR THE FOOD STAY FOR THE FUN! Reservations, Call us directly at Two Chefs Kata Center 076-330-065, Kata Beach 076-333-370, Karon 076-286479, Patong 076-344-914

FRI

THU

QSI Summer Camp 2019 The Phuket Drum Circle 7th Year The Phuket Drum Circle will celebrate the 7th year anniversary on Sunday July 28 in Naiharn Beach from 4:30 pm to about 10:00 pm. This event is always free and open to the public. Participants can drum, dance, or enjoy the scenery and good vibes. Experience the magic of community drumming and dancing! For updates and videos visit the Facebook page: Phuket Drum Circle

Phuket Business Networking - Jul 2019

Devour our succulent pork rib set complete with sweet corn chowder, blue cheese salad, moist cornbread and finished off with a bread and butter pudding. DJ Q will keep the soul flowing and your toes tapping as you wash down those tender ribs with a bucket of craft brews. Full Rack set 1,400 Baht, half Rack set 1,100 Baht. Reservations, SALA Phuket, events@salaphuket. com, 076-338-888.

SUN

A small entry fee, THB 500 per person, that includes the first 3 drinks and a light buffet. Make sure to bring lots of business cards, as getting to know each other is what PBN is all about. Location - Ramada Plaza Phuket Chao Fah. Register your attendance here - https://www.facebook. com/events/395819527694538/ or call Jason - 086 479 7471.

MON

15 JUL

11 JUL

EVERY DAY

28 JUL

12 JUL

10 JUL

Ribs, beats, brews Wednesday

Marriott Resort and Spa, Merlin Beach on Monday, 15th July. Tickets are on sale now for 350 THB (early bird), 650 THB (show only), 950 THB (burger, two selected beverages & show), 1200 THB (hotel buffet & show), or 1450 THB for VIP tickets, which include free-flow drinks from 7-10 PM and meet & greet with the comedians. Tickets are available for purchase at: www.phuketticketmaster.com Magic Rock, Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, Phuket.

FRI

Open to all children from 5 - 12 years of age. American curriculum intensive. English course with the option of Map testing at the end of the camp. Each student receives 2 Tee shirts and a cap as well as daily snacks and lunch. Sign up today at phuket@qsi.org or call 076 304 312.

9 AUG

Prime at Rock Salt

PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards 2019 Celebrate Thailand’s finest developers by nominating them for the industry’s most prestigious awards. With a professionally run judging system supervised by the award-winning team of BDO, one of the world’s largest auditing and accountancy firms, the Asia Property Awards is the gold standard in real estate. Gala Dinner & Awards on 9 August 2019 at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok.

Prime at Rock Salt is the home of smoke and fire at Naiharn Beach. An exclusive eatery, Prime offers a collection of roasted, smoked and chargrilled creations from its custom-designed kitchen. The al fresco dining experience is completed with panoramic ocean views across Naiharn Beach.

Open Daily 6.00 – 10.00 pm at Naiharn Beach For more information and bookings, please call +66 76 380 200 or rocksalt@thenaiharn.com

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON BACK TO THE ’70s & ’80s EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT Don’t miss out on our newest, exciting weekly event at Two Chefs. Come and @thephuketnews

JOHN LYNN IN PHUKET Do not miss JOHN LYNN (Ireland) with special guest KAVIN JAY (Malaysia) and host SAM SEE (Singapore) at Phuket

22 TIME OUT

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York 1. What percentage of the London Underground is actually underground?

2. Which is hotter: the centre of the Earth or the surface of the Sun? 3. What led to the delay of 30 trains and 12,000 passengers in Japan last month?

4. What is the boiling point of alcohol?

5. What is Paul McCartney’s middle name?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Medium

Across 1. Pro’s antithesis 5. Ginger ___ 9. 7:4, for example 14. Bookstore sect.

15. Daddy-o 16. Élève’s place 17. Words of accusation 18. “Combat” painter, William 19. Office appliance 20. Protective charm for some Native Americans 23. Prefix with science 24. “Horrors!”

25. Classic sports cars 28. “I cannot tell ___” 31. Wool 33. Harvest goddess 36. Wearer of three stars: Abbr.

39. Genesis twin 40. Continually working for unrealistic goals 44. Granada greeting 45. Riyadh inhabitant 46. Compass point 47. Makes into law 50. Light shades 52. Scepter of authority 53. Whip mark 56. ___ Michel Jarre 59. Biblical dream subject 63. “The Wild Duck”

playwright 66. Qatar’s capital 67. ‘’Thereabouts’’ 68. Wild Tibetan donkey 69. Nibble away 70. Eggs of a parasite 71. Ethereal singer, and namesakes 72. Lines of thought, for short?

73. Recessed area

26. Nibbles 27. Lush 29. UK TV channel 30. Caviar, essentially 32. Yiddish mister 33. Earthy pigment 34. DJ’s device 35. Spaghetti or Greek 37. Historic period 38. Seagoing: Abbr.

41. Pocket 42. Rocky Mountain Down state: Abbr.

1. Sickly 43. Soldier of fortune 2. Rocket fuel 48. Electric guitar ingredient, for noises short 49. Min.part 3. Certain carving 51. Arizona tourist 4. Large lizard locale 5. Work detail 54. Hunting cabin 6. “___ chance!”

7. Is ___ (probably will) 55. New York strip alternative 8. Soul is its original definition 57. Leaking 9. Fly-by-night?

58. Birds’ homes 10. Rent-___ 59. German university 11. Crawler city 12. Project 60. Hairstyle conclusion?

61. Community rules 13. Over, for Keats 62. Ceremony on “The 21. Pop music’s ___ Bachelor” Vanilli 22. Let me think about 63. ____ Turner, singer 64. Lidded container it.....

65. Verbalize 25. Soups

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 4) 78 °C (173 °F); 5) Paul. His first name is actually James.

1) 45%; 2) The centre of the Earth; 3) An electrocuted slug;

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

1

inch is how much Mount Everest grows by every year.

99

percent is the average rating the entire Toy Story series has on Rotten Tomatoes.

2,700

litres of water are required to make one cotton shirt, enough to meet the average person’s drinking needs for two-and-a-half years.

100,000 years is how long it would take to travel across the Milky Way galaxy if we could travel at the speed of light.

5 billion

videos are watched on YouTube every day. 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.

Source: Uberfacts

View from Khao Khad View Tower. Photo by Tony Edwards Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

This week in history July 5, 1946 The bikini goes on sale after debuting during an outdoor fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris.

July 6, 1885 Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was badly bitten in 14 places by a rabid dog.

July 7, 1985 Boris Becker becomes the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon at

July 10, 1913 The temperature in Death Valley, California, hits 134 °F (57 °C), the highest temperature ever to be recorded on Earth.

age 17. Becker was even younger than the Wimbledon junior champion that year, Leonardo Lavalle.

July 8, 1947 Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident.

July 9, 2011 South Sudan gains independence and secedes from Sudan. 98.83% of South Sudan voted for independ-

Hotting up in Death Valley, California. ence in the referendum in January of the same year (of the 97.58% of the population that voted).

July 11, 1960 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is first published, in the United States. The novel has since been translated into 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Jobs

GE UR

NT

Personal Assistant

For retired UK/CAD businessman in high end resort. Good English, some driving, shopping etc.

Part Time OK. Brian 089 054 4354.

@thephuketnews

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ART HOUSE DEVELOPMENT

Looking for Russian speaking marketing representative with good communication skills high motivated and confident training will be provided. info@arthouse. asia, 089 594 6888

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Trades & Services

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Trades & Services

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARINE SERVICES

OTHER

PROPERTY SERVICES

TRAINING

ADVERTISE HERE

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE

Car for sale

Car For Sale

Ford Fiesta 2012 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 Janthisa Jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอถลาง จังหวัดภ เู กต็ , B 250,000 info@lifestyleinthailand.com, 0826291419

BUSINESSES FOR SALE G

Refurbished Restaurant & Bar

Recently refurbished restaurant & bar for sale in Karon, Phuket, with accom located above. CCTV fitted throughout the building. The business is up for sale for 1.9MB or near offer and includes all fixtures, fittings and stock at point of sale. 062 210 1368. newconceptbars.thailand@gmail.com

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Golden Business Opportunity

Brand new two story massage shop for sale with high end furniture. 10 Beds, 6 chairs and nail Salon. Great opportunity for high season. B900,000 ono, Lek, Soi Post Office, Patong Beach Road, sweet_lek55@hotmail.com, 099 362 7979

CARS, TRUCKS FOR RENT G UR

EN

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Car rental @fair prices

We offer car rentals at affordable prices. Monthly from 10,000 Baht. Daily from 400 Baht. Call us to find out what we offer.

10,000 Monthly. Stig Johansson, 110/78 Moo 2 T Paklok A Thalang 83110 Phuket, stigisaan@gmail.com, 0848474377.

@thephuketnews

Willing to sell or rent your property in Laguna area? Please contact me raisa@rl-property. com +66 (081) 737 1687 (Viber, WhatsApp, Line) Raisa Sheludkina, Railand Property International., 46., Lagoon Road.,Cherngtalay. ,Thalang.,Phuket 83110., raisa@rl-property. com, 0817371687, 076324448.

Car for sale

250,000THB incl VAT. For boat up to 32 feet / 9.5 metres. Contact: Asia Yacht Agency Co., Ltd. Contact@AsiaYachtAgency.com, 081894 -3234 (French/English), 086-269-0808 (Thai/English).

UR

Willing to Sell / Rent Property in Laguna?

Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ 2.8 CC. 4X4 For sale English 095 420 9662 Thai 082 629 1419 janthisa jaikwang, 199/14 หม ู ่ 5 ตำ�บลศร สี นุ ทร อำ�เภอ ถลาง จังหวัดภ เู ก ็ต, info@lifestyleinthailand.com, B 725,000

FOR SALE AIR BERTH M320

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PROPERTY WANTED

Bought 30th Dec 2015 we paid baht 1,500,000 sell for 890,000 or nearest offer. 062 956 5777.

Monterey 415SY. Perfect condition. 1 owner.

Regular maintenance in authorised centers.

Twin Volvo IPS600 435hp, joystick control, Engine Hours: 670. Furuno radar. GPS. B6,900,000. 0878970501.

SA

@thephuketnews

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE

42ft Sport Yacht, Reduced Price

T EN

The Phuket News

MEMBERSHIPS

Allamanda 2 Bed Freehold

Hi, Am looking for a 2 Bedroom Freehold Unit at the Allamanda in Laguna.

Budget is 8million baht. Can contact me on wandererthomas1@gmail.com Thanks in advance!

BLUE CANYON GOLF MEMBERSHIP

425,000 THB and Seller pays the transfer fee. For more information call 098 946 0709. Rob George.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

House Wanted in Chalong

4 Bedroom House Wanted in Chalong for under 10 million baht. Please email me at mick11468@gmail.com

BABY GRAND w/ DISC PLAYER

“Classic” Baby Grand Piano with “Disc Player”. In perfect condition. 7 years old. Original price 428,000 THB. 170,000, Phuket Town, daryldavies9@gmail. com, 080 159 5239

PROPERTY WANTED The Chava Surin - Freehold

Hi, Am looking for a Freehold Condominium Unit at The Chava in Surin. Please email details to mick11468@@gmail.com . Many thanks! Michael

Mandala Condo Freehold Wanted

Foreign Freehold Wanted for Mandala Condominium in Kamala. Please email details to mick11468@gmail.com.

U RG

ENT

3 Bedroom Condo Wanted

Looking for 3 Bed Condo/Apartment any area of Phuket for 3million Thai Baht or thereabouts. Please email mick11468@gmail.com. Thanks! B3,000,000, Mike

SPORTING GOODS, EXERCISE GYM EQUIPMENT TREADMILL

LIFE FITNESS F1 TREADMILL - FOLDABLE Brand new: THB 35,000+(VAT) from retail price of 188,000 Compact foldable treadmill. 35000, carolinelaleta@gmail.com, +66869504961

28 CLASSIFIEDS

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Buy & Sell PROPERTY FOR SALE

RPM by owner

Unique luxury condo 2 bed, 2 bath, 155sqm. Foreign FREE HOLD. Architect remodel in tropical white. Jacuzzi. All round beautiful views. Completely furnished to a high standard. Very motivated owner leaving Thailand. Available to agents. Priced just REDUCED to 15MB or offers. Contact Brian (Owner) 089 054 4354, 076 360 943. bggvirgo@gmail.com

1 story building for rent

150m2 Located in Allamanda 1 Laguna Phuket is available for rent. The building has its own drive in, at this time only short term rental available. 096 646 6287

Apartment Block in Soi Ta-Eiad

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OCEAN FRONT LAND

7 Rai with 185 meter of ocean frontage, 800 meter from Yacht Haven Marina on Phangnga side, water, electricity, concrete road on the back of property, building permission for 12 two storey pool villas. For sale direct by owner for only 6 mln Baht per Rai. + 66 95 0147888.

Karon 1 Bed Condo for Sale

Karon Butterfly hillside condo for sale just 800m from beach. Amenities close by. Fully furnished and condo facilities. Great investment in great area of Phuket. Shuttle Bus to Beach and Rental Program. A must see!!!! B4,300,000, Dmitry , phuket@thairesidential.com

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Paul MOORHOUSE

‘Frontline’ sea view villa overlooking G Ao Yon Bay and the southern islands.

UR Magnificent property with private elevator, 4 bedroom suites/6 bathrooms as well as 2 living areas, European design kitchen, games room, bar, sauna, steam room and wonderful pool deck with in-ground jacuzzi, infinity pool and waterfall. Fabulous property reduced to 65 million Baht for quick sale. 0898737075.

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1 Bed Condo in Kamala

Great 1 Bed Condo just 200m fromKamala Beach. Comes with pool and on- site restaurant. Fantastic location and not to be missed. Fully furnished with appliances. Homestay or investment. B5,417,000. Call Andy. 083 800 1888

OCEAN FRONT VILLA

@thephuketnews

LE

44 sqm Condo for sale at The Deck Patong – Parking space included – Quiet Unit – Listed first on AirBnB. +66937198098.

3 Bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 10 meter infinity swimming pool, maid quarter, fully furnished and ready to move in, usable area of over 330 sqm, very convenient located in a gated community at the south end of Aopor, 50 meter from the ocean, 150 meter from the new Sheraton Grand Bay Resort , 3 minutes from Grand Aopor Marina, 20 minutes from Airport and shopping centers, for sale directly by owner 22.9 mln. + 66 95 0147888.

The Phuket News

PROPERTY FOR SALE

A CONDO FOR SALE THE TS EN G DECK PATONG UR

Amazing residential block for sale comprising of 5 x 190sqm fully furnished 3 Bedroom Units. Highest quality fixtures and finishing’s with exceptional build quality. All units have internal surround sound systems and wireless internet routed in the walls. Full Western kitchen in all units. Rooftop Salt Water Swimming Pool with 8 person Jacuzzi and bar. Spectacular panoramic views. Units currently being rented out with almost 100% occupancy, so fantastic investment opportunity. Potential returns of 9% per annum. B61,500,000, Tina, phuket@thairesidential.com

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Phuket Town 1 Bed Condo

Wonderful 1 Bedroom Condo near Central Festival area. Just 10 minutes to Panwa Beach. A must see!!! Fully furnished and conveniently located.

Amenities close by as well as tourist attractions. Full condo facilities.

B2,500,000, Tina, phuket@thairesidential.com, 0948411918.

2 Bed Condo Bangtao Phuket

Mandala Condominium - Wonderful spacious condo. Great location near Bangtao beach and Laguna. 184sqm with private pool and tropical gardens. B15,900,000, Andy, 083 800 1888

Dream Village Phuket house

2bed 2bath 295sqm land 100sqm living + veranda, compl. renovated: new water, electric., tiles, paint in/out, windows, 3A/C, built in kitchen. 0870608400 English/German. Email: picharly@gmail.com, B4.9mill.

Royal Phuket Marina 2 Bed

2-Bedroom Royal Phuket Marina Condo. Seen to be believed. 195m2 Stylish, Tastefully-Decorated Condominium Fully Furnished Overlooking Yacht Marina an absolute bargain @ 13.5 Million BahtTina, phuket@thairesidential.com, 948411918.

2-Bed Furnished Kathu House for Rent

2bd/2bth furnished house for rent in Kathu near Loch Palm Golf Course. See link for more photos and details. www.kathuhouseforrent.com B13,500, May or Wes, wes@pillarmarketing.com, 0899733276

PROPERTY FOR RENT

1 Bed Condo Sale Rawai

Saturdays Residence beautiful condo in Rawai. Tastefully decorated with class. Short drive to beach. All condo amenities. Looks so good that you do need to see to believe. You will fall in love at first sight. B6,300,000, Dimitry, phuket@thairesidential.com, 082 030 7199

1 Bed Condo in Kamala

MontAzure Twinpalms Residence-Great condo located in Kamala. The ultimate in luxury.

Has got to be seen to be believed. Fantastic facilities in this resort condo. B15,800,000, Tina, 0872699206.

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m. Chanote

PASAK LAND 3.9MB 510 sq.m.

Chanote

Property for rent YAMU

Very big house. 400sqm, Land 4400sqm. Available 1st May. 4 bedrooms- 4 bathrooms , swimming pool. Close BIS, UWCT. Must see. Long term lease 110,000 baht/month including pool+ garden service. Khun DIDIER, aouichedidier@ hotmail.com, 093 717 9343 (English+French)/ 089 552 9303 (Thai).

Shop for rent at Amari Phuket, Patong Beach

Fantastic seaviews. Fully furnished. Condo facilities including pool and gym. Close to amenities. This 53sqm condo at Babylon Sky Garden is a great buy. B4,297,277, Andy, phuket@ thairesidential.com

Lovely condo at Utopia Kata for Sale. Completed in 2017 and close to Kata Beach. Fully furnished. Close to restaurants and amenities. Great views. Rental programme. Full facilities. Dimtry, 082 030 7199. B7,100,000

Mai Khao beach condo. Great new condohotel. 470 meters from the sea. 36 sqm.

Wonderful place in Phuket. B3.5mn, +66812958526, Victoria.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Rawai 1 Bed Seaview Condo Sale

1 Bedroom Condo Kata Sale

Mai Khao 1 bed condo for sale

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Located at Amari Phuket's lobby building. Size: 33 sqm. Partly furnished: shelves, counter, airconditioner and telephone line. 40,000 THB/ month (negotiation available). Khun Mallika, mallika.t@amari.com, 076 340106 #8006

PROPERTY FOR RENT

COMMUNITY

Renovated 3bed Home Boat Lagoon

AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY: Beautifully renovated & decorated 3bed+mezzanine, 250 sqm contemporary house featuring: boat berth, rooftop jacuzzi, open kitchen, wine cooler, 2 parkings, storage & laundry area. B 75,000 per month, Henry Cumberlege, hcumberlege@gmail.com

Private location in prestige area.

Outstanding Value. Call owner (Alan): 084 0657590.

Villa in Patong prime location

One of the last Villas available in Patong. in top condition. 24 hour security. 3 bed, 3 bath, 160sqm living. Fully furnished, garden.

Ms. Manatchanok, 0800409411

Stunning Ocean Views!

4 bed/bath large pool villa. Privately located in Cape Heights Cape Yamu.

Furnished. Gardens. Fiber WiFi. 80,000/rent long term or 30 million to sell. Richard, Cape Yamu, Phuket, richarddesmondcapeheights@yahoo. co.uk, +66824203270, WhatsApp

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quiet area, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance. 0870608400 engl/ german 12.9MB, picharly@gmail. com

Beach Front Land

* 128 meter of white sand beach frontage * amazing views * 9 Rai , Secure Nor Sor 3 Kor tittle * located on Koh Yao Yai * 20 minutes boat drive from Phuket * public road with water and electricity * ideal for high end development * ready to build * sale direct by owner *ONLY 11.9 Mill. Baht / Rai montha_phuket@yahoo.com, 095 014 7888

thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

SPORT 29

Serena, Murray dream team

Champions pair up to take on Wimbledon mixed doubles title TENNIS Pirate Irwin

A

ndy Murray and Serena Williams will form a mixed doubles dream team at Wimbledon, his management announced Tuesday (July 2), as he gradually returns to tennis following career-saving surgery.

Murray, who is easing his way back into the sport following a radical hip resurfacing, will join forces with Williams in an all-star partnership.

The two-time Wimbledon champion’s partnership with seven-time winner Williams will make them instant favourites for the title.

“We’re a lot alike on the court. I’ve always liked that about him,” Williams said of her fellow former world number one.

“His work ethic is just honestly off the charts. That’s something I’ve always respected about him. His fitness, everything.

“To do what he’s done in an era where there’s so many other great male tennis play-

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams will join forces with two-time winner Andy Murray at the this year’s grand slam. Photo: AFP ers, so much competition, to rise above it, not many people have done it. He’s actually one of the few. There’s so many things to be admired.”

She added: “Above all, he really stands out, he really speaks up about women’s issues no matter what. You can tell he has a really strong woman in his life. I think above all that is just fantastic.”

Murray had been searching

for a mixed doubles partner but had complained that he had been turned down by a number of players.

“I do want to play,” the 32-year-old said last Saturday at a pre-Wimbledon media day.

“We’ve had a number of conversations with a few players. Yeah, the plan’s definitely to play.

“Conditions look like it’s supposed to be good for the

HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Run #1744: Saturday July 6 Run Start Time: 4pm Hares: Saint Bl*w J*b, Fungus, Butt-Cycle Location: Baan Para Directions: From Heroines Monument go East 12.8 km and turn left (HHH) into the Soi (hardware shop on the corner).

THIS IS BEFORE BAAN PARA SCHOOL. Go straight 650 m Laager in the trees on the right, just past the T junction. Only essential vehicles on the laager site please.

Plenty of easy parking on the road. This is a new Laager Site and the Hares ask everyone to respect it and leave it tidy. Please be aware of the road widening works in progress.

Bus pick-up: Patong @ Expat Hotel: 14:15 | Kamala @ Aussie Pub: 14:45 | Chalong More info: phuket-hhh.com

@thephuketnews

fortnight, which is a positive thing.

“I was speaking to some of the doubles guys, asking them why they don’t play mixed. It was for the reason that they had some years where they’ve been backed up. Sometimes the mixed is not the priority to get on the court.”

Mur ray played mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2006 where he teamed with

Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens and reached the second round.

He was also a silver medallist with Laura Robson in the London 2012 Olympics which were played at the All England Club.

Serena is a two-time mixed doubles champion at the Slams.

In 1998, she partnered with Max Mirnyi to win Wimbledon and the US Open.

Some 64 pairings compete in the mixed doubles, which is disputed over the best of three sets.

The Scot is already entered into the men’s doubles at Wimbledon where he is playing alongside France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Murray conceded on Saturday it will be tough to face his brother Jamie should they play each other in the third round of the men’s doubles at Wimbledon.

The 32-year-old will end up in that scenario should he and partner Herbert, and older brother Jamie and his partner Neal Skupski make it through.

T he you nger Mu r ray returned with aplomb following surgery, winning the

Queen’s doubles tournament with Spaniard Feliciano Lopez last month.

However, he came back down to earth with a first round exit at Eastbourne alongside Marcelo Melo.

The main boost, though, has been his hip has not registered any pain and he is even mulling over a return to singles, potentially for the US Open.

Murray, though, is more focussed on coming through Wimbledon first – an arena where he won two of his three Grand Slam singles titles and the first of his two Olympic singles crowns.

“I mean, if we play each other, it would be difficult in some respects,” said Murray.

“You’re competing against your brother, biggest tennis event in the world.

“At the same time I’d rather be on the same side of the net with him.

“But it’s cool if we did get the opportunity, that we’d be doing it on the biggest stage in our sport, as well, which would be nice.

“We’ll see if we get there.”

AFP

30 SPORT

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Powering into a new era Verstappen, Leclerc offer Formula One a tantalising glimpse of future BOX OF NEUTRALS Michael Lamonato michael@boxofneutrals.com

W

hen Max Verstappen almost stalled his car at light-out for the Austrian Grand Prix, only the bravest of punters would have dared predict he’d sweep his way back through the pack to take the chequered flag first barely an hour later.

Yet that’s exactly the unpredictable outcome the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix delivered, reinvigorating a Formula One in desperate need of excitement after the stupor-inducing race in France seven days earlier.

Of course it would be pure hyperbole to proclaim the championship anything other than settled in favour of Mercedes, but the result at the Red Bull Ring was a crucial reminder that, first, the reigning German team is fallible and, second, that Formula One’s future is bright despite the prevailing silver dynasty.

Max Verstappen takes first place from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the Austrian Grand Prix as Honda mark their first win since 2006. Photo: Mark Thompson T he Max Verst appen who took the chequered flag bears little resemblance to the Dutchman who spent the early part of last year barrelling into rivals and barrier alike.

Little more than 12 months on and that aggression has been harnessed, allowing him to turn in performances

of perfect judgement and ruthless efficiency of the sort displayed in Spielberg.

But credit must go too to Charles Leclerc, the man Verstappen vanquished just three laps from the end to seal the deal.

Leclerc has had an impressive if inconsistent start

to his Ferrari career in his sophomore season, but not for the first time he comfortably held the measure of championship-winning teammate Sebastian Vettel on a weekend the circuit, weather and tyres suited Ferrari’s troublesome SF90. He made good use of his opportunity,

capturing pole position and executing a slick getaway to control the pace.

But the Scuderia was lulled into a false sense of security

by Verstappen’s clutch trouble off the line. At the pit stop window it focused on covering Valtteri Bottas, for most of the race the Monegasque’s nearest challenger, and looked in total control of the race thereafter, but Red Bull Racing exploited Leclerc’s diverted attention to execute a clever strategy that would allow its man the benefit of fresher tyres at the end of the race, and Verstappen used his advantage ruthlessly.

The grand prix came to a head with some sublime racecraft from both parties on laps 68 and 69. Verstappen dived down Leclerc’s inside at turn three to force Leclerc to alter his line and surrender the position, but the Ferrari driver ably clung to the Dutchman’s outside to claim the grippiest part of the track on exit. Almost unbelievably he pulled ahead of Verstappen on the run to turn four, and a beautiful example of late braking guaranteed him

position for the rest of the lap.

But Verstappen is nothing if not persistent, and the next time around he ran a wider line at turn three, squeezing his rival on exit. The two locked wheels, bumping Leclerc off the track in a move judged firm but fair by the stewards post-race, and the Dutchman had his lead, denying the Monegasque a maiden F1 victory.

It was only a fleeting battle, but it offered the sport a tantalising glimpse at what’s in store for the next decade and more. Verstappen and Leclerc are only 21 years old and brimming with ability – all they need now is regularly competitive machinery and Formula One will have a rivalry for the ages.

Expect regular Mercedescontrolled service to return at the British Grand Prix later this month, but know now that once the Silver Arrows are overcome – and they will be overcome; Austria reminded us that no team is unbeatable, even if we have to wait for it – Formula One’s future will be bright.

thephuketnews

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Spurs smash transfer record on Ndombele FOOTBALL

Kieran Canning

T

ottenham smashed their club transfer record on Tuesday (July 2) with the signing of French international midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for a fee that could rise to 70 million euros (B2.4 billion).

Lyon confirmed that the initial fee will be 60mn euros with 10mn euros more in add-ons.

Tottenham’s previous record deal was the £42mn (B1.45bn) they spent on defender Davinson Sanchez in 2017.

“We are delighted to announce the signing of Tanguy Ndombele,” Tottenham said in a statement.

“The France international central midfielder has signed a contract with the Club until 2025.”

Ndombele’s arrival came just hours after Spurs made their first signing in 18 months by securing teenage winger Jack Clarke from Leeds.

Clarke, 18, will spend next

Record signing: French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele will join Tottenham for a club record fee.

Photo: Nicolas Tucat / AFP

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season back on loan at Leeds in the Championship.

However, securing Ndombele, a player coveted by a host of top clubs around Europe, is a sign of intent from Tottenham, who moved into a new 62,000 capacity stadium last season.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has challenged the club to match his ambition after reaching the Champions

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League final for the first time.

“We need to make that step,” Pochettino said after finishing fourth in the Premier League.

“We realise we can continue in this process, we can put Tottenham with the best teams in the world.”

Pochettino has transformed Spurs’ fortunes in five years in charge with next season a

Arsenal sign Martinelli, bid for Zaha ARSENAL HAVE SIGNED 18-year-old Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano Futebol Clube for an undisclosed fee, the Londoners announced on Tuesday (July 2).

Martinelli scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Sao Paulo-based club Ituano and was called up for a training camp with the senior Brazil squad ahead of the Copa America.

“It is a dream since I was a child and also my family’s

SPORT 31

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha is a target for Arsenal. dream for me to be playing in Europe and playing for a big team like Arsenal. I am going to take this opportunity,” he told the Arsenal website.

Martinelli becomes Arsenal’s first new recruit of the summer, while a reported

£40 million (B1.5 billion) bid for Wilfried Zaha has been rejected by Crystal Palace.

The Eagles, who sold rightback Aaron Wan-Bissaka for a deal worth up to £50mn (B1.9bn) to Manchester United earlier this week, are believed to value Zaha at £80mn (B3.07bn).

However, Zaha’s brother has pleaded with Palace to let him join the club he supported as a boy.

Zaha is currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

AFP

fourth consecutive campaign in the Champions League.

However, the Argentine is yet to win a trophy in his managerial career.

Tottenham have been in need of midfield reinforcements since Mousa Dembele’s move to China in January.

Ndombele, 22, starred as Lyon reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season

Goodwood

and finished third in Ligue 1.

The fee represents a massive profit for the French side, who bought Ndombele from Amiens for only eight million euros (B276mn) 12 months ago after a successful season on loan at Lyon.

“OL thanks @T_Ndombele for his involvement with the club since his arrival in 2017 and congratulates him

GP of Germany – Main Races Festival of Speed

for his professionalism and his performances which have enabled him to join the French national team,” Lyon said in a statement on Twitter.

Ndombele made 96 appearances in total for Lyon, scoring four goals and providing 16 assists, and has been capped six times by world champions France.

AFP

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editor3@classactmedia.co.th

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019

Young drivers offer glimpse of F1 future > p30

UNITED STAND Assumption Utd win the National Youth Champions League FOOTBALL Poria Mermand editor3@classactmedia.co.th

B

angkok-based Assumption United FC won the under-15s National Youth Football Champions League at Phuket’s Surakhul Stadium last Sunday (June 30) for the second year running after a goalless draw led to a penalty shootout decider.

The competition, held in Phuket this year, featured the top 16 U15 youth teams in the country that finished first and second in their regional leagues during the 2018/19 season. A draw was held to put the teams into four groups with the opening game played on Wednesday, June 19.

With the country’s best 15-year-old footballers battling for a top prize of B1 million, the stakes were high. Banners around the stadium highlighted that these were Thailand’s

Assumption United FC lift the National Youth Champions League trophy. Photos: Assumption United FC Facebook page. future football stars – ‘The World Cup Starts Here’.

After 11 days of intense football and a total of 54 matches played, the finale arrived last Sunday.

Group A winners Samut Sakhon FC, who topped their

Police Tero FC striker Thiraphat (right)

regional league, met Police Tero FC from Bangkok for the third-place playoff in the early kick-off. Although both teams passed the ball well and created chances, Samut Sakhon were a lot more clinical in the final third, and number nine, Thiraphat, proved troublesome for the Bangkok boys as his speedy runs caused problems in their defence.

Samut Sakhon claimed the bronze after putting two goals past Police Tero, both of which Thiraphat was involved in, assisting the first from a corner on the 34th minute and tapping in the second on the 75th after a lightning counterattack with Thanakorn.

Samut Sakhon were awarded B200,000 in prize money for their third-place finish while Police Tero received

B100,000 for their efforts.

The final kicked off at 4pm between Group D winners Assumption United FC of Bangkok and BG Pathum United from Pathum Thani.

Both teams dominated their regional leagues during the season and had impressive runs to reach the final, so expectations were high.

Although there was good play-making from both sides throughout, both struggled to produce the final touches to put numbers on the scoresheet, leaving the match goalless after 90 minutes. As no extra time is played in the current format of the competition, the match went straight to penalties to settle the score.

Assumption won the toss and captain Theekawin opted to shoot first. Although the long

walk to the penalty spot would usually be a daunting prospect in a Champions League Final, the lack of spectators here relieved the players somewhat of that pressure.

As Theekawin went to take the penalty, he anticipated goalkeeper Thanagorn’s move to the left and placed the ball into the bottom right corner to open the scoring.

Number eight, Sattawat, then stepped up to the spot for BG Pathum. He shot at the bottom left corner but keeper Kasidaj made a great dive to save it.

After five penalties the score was 3-0 with Assumption on the verge of lifting the trophy.

Nattakit then managed to put one past the Assumption keeper, followed by Assump-

tion striker Oluwafemianapat’s miss off the right post to make it 3-1. BG Pathum captain, Thanakrit, then made it 3-2 after eight penalties.

Finally, Kittin stepped up for Assumption’s fifth penalty – a goal would end the match. He made his run with no hesitation and put the ball into the bottom right corner, stripping off his shirt in celebration as the team and staff all ran onto the pitch.

The ref showed him a yellow for the shirt but that didn’t dampen the mood. The team lifted the coveted trophy in the midst of fireworks and confetti and were awarded the top prize of B1 million while BG Pathum, with several of their players in tears, left with the runner-up prize of B500,000.

Nishino accepts offer to coach Thai national football team FOOTBALL FORMER JAPAN NATIONAL team manager Akira Nishino has formally agreed to be the next head coach of Thailand’s national football team and under-23 team, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) said Monday (July 1).

Nishino, who led Japan’s Samurai Blue to the round of 16 at the World

Cup in Russia last year, will take the helm of Thailand’s national team as it strives to reach the 2022 tournament through the Asian qualifiers.

He will also guide the under-23 team’s efforts at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines and the Asian Football Confederation’s U-23 Championship 2020, to be held in Thailand.

The FAT’s press release said Nishino accepted the offer after

talks with association chief Somyot Pumpanmuang and another executive, with Nishino requesting from the beginning to oversee both teams in order to build continuity and manage the two national teams in the same direction.

It added that a press conference will be held later regarding the selection of Nishino, who travelled to Thailand for negotiations. His talks with Thai football executives

on Monday afternoon reportedly ended without a concrete outcome, but further talks in the evening led to an agreement.

Thailand had been seeking a new coach for its national team, nicknamed the War Elephants, since an interim coach resigned after the team fared poorly at the annual King’s Cup tournament in Thailand in June.

Bangkok Post

Akira Nishino agrees to be the next head coach of Thailand’s national football team and under-23 team, the Football Association of Thailand said. Photo: Bangkok Post thephuketnews