The Phuket News December 20, 2019

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

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SEVEN DAYS

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LIFE

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A Traffic Police officer checks a driver’s licence at a checkpoint in Patong. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

NEW PHUKET TRAFFIC POLICE CHIEF SETS SIGHTS ON ZERO DEATHS FOR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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huket has a new Traffic Police Chief, and he has set his sights on zero deaths from road accidents on the island over the New Year holidays.

Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Santat Layangkul recently transferred from the Institute of Police Forensic Science Training and Research in Bangkok.

He explained to The Phuket News this week that his battle plans for the “intensive control” phase of the annual “Seven Days of Danger” road-safety campaign for the New Year – this

year from Dec 27 to Jan 2 – include moving checkpoints and the efforts of some 675 police officers, officials and volunteers.

“I have set the target of zero deaths from road accidents over the Christmas and New Year holidays,” Col Santat said.

The campaign during the seven days will see 11 major checkpoints set up across the island, along with three “minor” checkpoints and 10 “service” points, he explained.

“The major checkpoints will remain at the same place where they are set up for the full seven days, but the minor checkpoints and the service points might be moved during

the campaign, depending on where more accidents happen and where these checkpoints might be more effective,” Col Santat said.

“Traffic Police and officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) will analyse the road accident data each day to determine where our efforts should be directed,” he added.

In order to carry out the campaign, Col Santat has enlisted help from a variety of departments and government agencies, as well as volunteers.

“Police will be co-ordinating 675 people in total, including police officers, DDPM officials and volunteers,” he said.

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“They will be assigned to four types of teams: 11 public relation teams totalling 22 people; 22 traffic management teams of 198 people; 14 accident prevention teams totalling 315 people; and 14 law enforcement teams totalling 140 people,” he said.

Col Santat also confirmed that during the campaign officers will be entering any fines into the national database so that drivers will have demerit points accredited against their driver’s licences for traffic violations.

“The demerit point penalties for traffic violations will start on Dec 19,” Col Santat warned.

“Phuket police will follow national policy, and points will be attributed...

SPORT

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Outrage as poisoned cat, kittens found on beach > p5

Battle plans laid for Seven Days Continued from page 1 ...automatically when traffic police enter the charge into the database. Police can enter the charge and fine on their smart devices from anywhere, even by the side of the road,” Col Santat said.

Col Santat explained that he drew up his plans for the New Year road-safety campaign on Tuesday (Dec 17), one day after Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan held a video conference with provincial governors around the country to make clear what is to be done to reduce the number of deaths and injuries during the New Year holidays, one of the most dangerous periods on Thai roads throughout the year.

At the meeting, Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan ordered all rescue teams to be on standby at all times during the seven days.

He also called for all road construction projects to be

suspended and equipment at the worksites stowed in order to help traffic flow during the holidays.

TOUGH TARGET Col Santat has his work cut out in aiming for zero deaths over the New Year holidays.

Phuket concluded the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign last New Year with six dead and 53 injured in 55 accidents from Dec 27, 2018 to Jan 2, 2019 – averaging one dead every 28 hours throughout the campaign.

As of Wednesday (Dec 18), the official website of Thailand’s Road Safety Committee listed Phuket as suffering 89 people killed and 9,025 requiring hospital treatment for injuries from road accidents so far this year – giving an average of one dead nearly every four days.

In short, the New Year holidays are nearly four times

Medics attend to one of the boys injured in the motorbike accident last Thursday (Dec 12). Photo: Kathu Police as dangerous for motorists in Phuket than any other “average” day of the year.

The plans for the New Year campaign also came after Phuket suffered a slew of serious accidents. About 4:30am last Saturday (Dec 14) a semi-trailer fully loaded with 36 tons of particle boards being delivered from Surat Thani overturned on Thepkrasattri Rd in Muang Mai

and slammed – and heavily damaged – a pedestrian footbridge. The driver, Thanaphon Somnuan, escaped with only minor injuries.

Last Thursday (Dec 12), shortly before 1:30am, Canadian tourist Sean Cundell, 35, from Ottawa, died after the motorbike he was riding hit the back of a tuk-tuk on Chao Fa East Rd in Chalong. The force of the impact had flipped

the tuk-tuk onto its side.

Mr Cundell, whose family is well known in Ottawa for their long-standing horse stable business that his greatgrandfather established in 1890, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, said police.

That accident came hours after two young boys sustained serious head injuries when the motorbike they were riding struck a parked pickup truck on Wichit Songkram Rd in Kathu about 8:30pm last Thursday night (Dec 12).

“The boys are approximately 10 years old,” said Capt Surapong Puangprom of the Kathu Police.

“Neither boy was wearing a helmet when the collision occurred,” he noted.

As of Wednesday, one of the boys remained in the ICU at Vachira Phuket Hospital, while the other boy remained in hospital but with less seri-

ous injuries, police confirmed.

Even on Wednesday this week, when Col Santat spoke with The Phuket News, a van driver heading home after delivering tourists across the island escaped with minor injuries after his van slammed into a roadside power pole just north of the Heroines Monument at about 2:20am.

Chaiyan Buppha, 35, told police he was tired and fell asleep at the wheel. No tourists were in the van when the accident happened and Mr Chaiyan was not subjected to an alcohol test, but he was fined B500 for reckless driving.

Regardless, Col Santat remains confident efforts over the New Year will be effective.

“The measures we will have in place will reduce the number of accidents, because we will be able to check more drivers and hold them more responsible for their driving on the roads,” he said.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Divers join search for missing kayak couple Tanyaluk Sakoot reporter2@classactmedia.co.th

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amily members of the couple who disappeared on a kayak off Yanui Beach more than a week ago provided DNA samples to police on Monday (Dec 16) to add to the official missing persons reports as the search teams started to focus on coastal and inshore areas, with divers now leading the efforts.

Search efforts continued this week, though the search teams turned to using divers last Thursday (Dec 14), five days after the couple – Polish tourist Mateusz Juszkiewicz, 26, and Thai national Werakan Siriprakon, 23 – disappeared.

Meanwhile, family members of the missing couple provided DNA samples to officers at Chalong Police Station on Monday morning.

Mr Juszkiewicz’s sisters, Malgorzata Juszkiewicz and Monika Tyszkiewicz, arrived in Phuket last Sunday. On Monday, the two sisters, along with Ms Chudarasa Siriprakon, who is the mother of Ms Werakan, went to Chalong Police Station to provide the DNA samples.

“This is just in case police are later notified of a body found. Even though it is hard to think this way, if they are dead, at least we will be able to find some closure,” Anongkan Srisupat, a friend of Ms Werakan’s family, told The

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MAIN: Divers prepare to search the underwater areas off Koh Mun, located off Yanui Beach. INSET: Werakan and Mateusz. Photos: Tourist Police / Supplied Phuket News on Monday.

“Chalong Police confirmed that they will again question the four other people who joined the kayak trip that day. They also said they will search and follow up with fisherman in nearby areas, and check any CCTV available near Yanui Beach,” she added.

On Monday afternoon, Phuket Tourist Police led the family members to join the search efforts by boat at Koh Mun and the islands off Phuket’s southern coast, Ms Anongkan noted.

“We found nothing,” she said.

The two sisters are still holding onto hope the missing couple are alive, but

are well aware time is running out, Ms Anongkan said.

“Both are very sad, and when they talk with each other about what’s going on, they cry,” she said.

No officials were available to comment to The Phuket News on Monday on any progress made in the search since public announcements stopped last Saturday.

However, Ms Anongkan told The Phuket News on Monday afternoon, “Tomorrow, we will go by boat to Racha Yai and Racha Noi islands. Officials from the Polish embassy will join us, and divers will search underwater for any sign of them.”

PHUKET NEWS

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Hunt begins after Florida man flees custody on foot CHALONG POLICE ON Wednesday issued a wanted poster for 28-year-old Florida man Ezekiel Shilon Dolcide, who escaped police custody by running away while still handcuffed on Monday afternoon (Dec 16).

Dolcide was being transferred to Chalong Police Station to await deportation after he was convicted of marijuana possession and overstaying in the country when he made his getaway simply by running off after police opened the vehicle door for him as he arrived at the station.

Dolcide fled past the busy Chalong Circle and down Wiset Rd toward Rawai, then disappeared in the jungle behind the SuperCheap store some 260 metres away.

“He scaled over a wall and ran into the jungle,” said Col Sarawut Chuprasit.

Police and about 30 Rawai Municipality officials and volunteers joined the search for the now-fugitive American who was believed to be hiding in the jungle behind the Rawai Post Office.

“But he was not there.

We failed to find him,” Col Sarawut said.

Chalong Police have re-

Police are now scouring popular tourist areas after Dolcide fled on Monday.

Photo: Chalong Police quested a warrant for Dolcide’s arrest and issued a wanted poster urging people to contact them if they see the American.

Following his recent convictions, Dolcide was already prohibited from entering Thailand, and he now also faces a charge of escaping from custody, Col Sarawut explained.

Dolcide may be considered as dangerous, he said.

“I believe he is still in Phuket, maybe in Rawai, Kata, Karon or Patong,” Col Sarawut said, “Anyone who sees Dolcide, or even someone who looks like him, please call the Chalong Police at 076-381247 or call the police hotline 191 – or call me personally on my mobile at 081-5350419,” he added.

Tanyaluk Sakoot

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Another Vice Governor moved in mass transfers

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THANYAWAT CHANPInit, who has served as Phuket Vice Governor since Oct 8, 2018, has been transferred out of Phuket among the regular transfers announced last week.

Mr Thanyawat will move to Maha Sarakham in Northeast Thailand, where he will take up the post of Vice Governor there.

His transfer was announced in a Ministry of Interior order published last Thursday (Dec 12), announcing the transfer of 16 Vice Governor nationwide.

Arriving in Phuket on Dec 23 to take up the post of Vice Governor will be Phichet Panaphong, who has just completed a term serving as Vice Governor in Maha Sarakham.

Mr Phichet previously served as an Inspector of Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.

Mr Thanyawat’s transfer

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Wastewater pours into Ao Yon bay The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

Vice Governor Thanyawat has been transferred to Maha Sarakham in Northeast Thailand. Photo: PR Dept follows that of Prakob Wongmaneerung, who served as a Phuket Vice Governor from Oct 1, 2017, to Oct 1 this year.

Mr Prakob moved to Ratchaburi province in Central Thailand to take up the post of Vice Governor there.

He was replaced by Wongsakorn Nunchukan, who previously completed a term serving as Vice Governor in Satun province, south of Phuket on the Andaman coast.

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ublic health officials at Wichit Municipality say they will submit a request for the budget to improve the network of public drains at Cape Panwa after water exiting a drain earlier this month was found to be releasing foul-stenched wastewater into Ao Yon bay.

A senior official at the Division of Public Health and Environment at Wichit Municipality, who declined to be publicly named, said that health officers had deployed EM balls into the drain, which she said had become clogged with silt and sludge.

The EM balls were deployed last Thursday (Dec

Officials are drawing up long-term plans to overhaul the drain network to prevent more untreated wastewater from spoiling the beach at Ao Yon. Photo: Supplied 12), the official said.

“They are already having a positive effect on clearing the water that is being discharged from the drain,” she added.

On inspecting the drain, public health officials found that it had become clogged with mud and natural debris, but was also backing up with wastewater released by the local community.

“This caused the water

to change color and the foul smell,” the senior official said.

“We have already cleared the drain so it flows smoothly,” the official added.

“Next, we are drawing up a long-term plan to have a wastewater-treatment system to cover this area. The details of construction and the proposal on who is to operate the plant will be presented to the Wichit Municipality council later,” she said.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Kanokwan (Meo) Rungseang 088 754 1371 sales1@classactmedia.co.th

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Poisoned cat, kittens found dead on beach The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

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he discovery of four dead kittens and a mother cat at Sai Kaew beach has led to an emotionally charged backlash on social media with one poster cursing the same fate befall the perpetrator.

A Facebook account by the name of “Rain Forest” posted the story about the dead cats who were found by her grandmother and friend on Dec 9.

The account posted four photos of the dead cats stating she was “feeling angry” and captioned in Thai to curse whoever killed the animals.

“I don’t know which words to use to curse this evil animal. If you don’t like the cats anymore then leave them and allow them to live their lives. They were innocent but you poisoned them and let them struggle and die on the beach. How could you do that? I curse you to face the same thing that you did to the cats in the next 3-7 days. I’m shocked, speechless.”

The cats were originally discovered and buried at Sai Kaew Beach by two food vendors, Petch Saejia, 58, and Karnchana Senghuad, 55, who is the grandmother of the Facebook poster.

Ms Petch recalled that on the morning of Dec 9 she came to her stall as normal when she and Ms Karnchana noticed several dead kittens laying on the beach.

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‘I don’t know why or how humans can be this cruel to animals. It’s such a depressing scene to see,’ said one of the food stall owners who found and buried the poisoned cat and kittens. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother cat then appeared and tried to move to aid her kittens but died without being able to do so.

“When I saw the dead cats, I immediately cried,” said Ms. Petch. “I don’t know why or how humans can be this cruel to animals. It’s such a depressing scene to see.

“Near the kittens I found a plastic cup filled with water and some white powder in the bottom which we suspect to be poison. Karnchana and I dug a pit together and buried the cats.”

Ms Karnchana recounted how, on

finding the four dead kittens and the mother cat struggling, she broke down in disbelief and sadness at what she saw.

“Everyone has their own lives,” she said. “If you want to abandon your pets then just do so but please do not kill them. The cat must have been owned by someone because she was wearing a collar with a small bell.

“After we buried that cats, my grand daughter posted about the incident on Facebook and the post has been commented on and shared many times with many outraged,” Ms Karnchana said.

PHUKET NEWS

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Chinese tourist dies after collapsing on island trip A CH I N ESE TOU R IST has died after collapsing in the water while on a day trip to Koh Hei, better known as Coral Island, off Phuket’s southeast coast last Sunday (Dec 15).

Lt Jaruwit Khuncharoen of the Chalong Police was notified of the incident at 2:45pm.

According to the police report by Lt Jaruwit, the Chinese tourist, Dong Jun, 56, from Yunnan, was on a day trip to Coral Island with his wife when he was found choking in shallow beach water.

Mr Dong had travelled to Phuket with his wife. They arrived last Saturday (Dec 14) and were scheduled to return home on Wednesday (Dec 18). The couple were staying at a resort in Bang Tao, Lt Jaruwit said.

According to the report, Mr Dong and his wife were swimming in the shallow water when Mr Dong fell face down in the water and started choking.

Tourists swimming nearby took him ashore. By that time Mr Dong was unconscious, and a dive instructor who happened to be nearby started administering CPR. Mr Dong was rushed to Chalong Hospital, but he was

People look on as a dive instructor administers CPR to Mr Dong on the beach.

Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub later pronounced dead.

His body was taken at Vachira Phuket Hospital, Lt Jaruwit noted in his report.

Mr Dong’s wife told police that her husband had suffered from polio and high blood pressure, according to Lt Jaruwit’s report.

Lt Jaruwit also noted that the tour Mr Dong had joined had insurance for all participants and will pay B1 million as compensation for death.

Lt Jaruwit did note that Mr Dong and his wife were on a tour provided by Yong-seung Tours Co Ltd, and had travelled to the island on a boat from the Nonthasak Marine fleet, when the incident happened.

Police would continue their investigation to confirm Mr Dong’s cause of death, Lt Jaruwit said.

Eakkapop Thongtub

Opinion 6

OPINION

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

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CHRIS HUSTED

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

Degree in business management.

Spare time spent sailing or with family.

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Sport Editor

061 806 8132 editor3@classactmedia.co.th Uk born and bred but living and working overseas for 20+ years.

A career working in sales, marketing, news and media has seen him based in Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, San Diego and Singapore. Most recently with Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg, both in Singapore.

Ambition in the heart, not in the head.

EDITORIAL

Loud and Proud

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huket has a new event to be proud of: the Miss Coral Queen 2019 beauty pageant, for transgenders only. The event will be held as part of the annual Red Cross Fair at Saphan Hin over the New Year and will be the first time that the annual festival has held a pageant specifically for kathoey.

The reasons for holding the Miss Coral Queen pageant as explained this week are wholesome. The fact that it is the Phuket chapter of the Red Cross Society of Thailand hosting the event is a factor to be proud of, leading the way against discrimination of any trans people. Also of significance is that it was the chief of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Culture, of all offices, stepping up to explain the decision to host the event.

Thailand is making some progress in the advancement

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If discrimination stops there, laws would be unnecessary.

Mr Kormet also rightly pointed out that Thailand still has a long way to go, such as with the legal right to same-sex marriage. We look forward to Thailand joining the international community on that front soon.

People come from around the world to enjoy natural beauty of Thailand, and its people. The general attitude is acceptance, but sadly that is not always the case. Many ladyboys find themselves in tourist hotbeds such as Phuket and Pattaya for the simple reason that they can just be themselves here – something not so accepted in their rural villages back home.

If the Miss Coral Queen pageant plays any part in breaking down those barriers, we support it and we celebrate its support by the community.

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Fire scare in Patong as restaurant catches alight Mother holds out hope for daughter missing on kayak Missing kayak couple search shifts focus to coastal area Phuket Opinion: Gasping for marine safety No sex in my tuk-tuk, says driver Tributes flow for Canadian tourist killed in motorbike collision with Phuket tuk-tuk Phuket police hunt Florida man, fled custody in handcuffs Not enough tourists for Koh Samui hotels PSU study brands Phuket economy at ‘tipping point’ Week-long search fails to find missing kayak couple as slew of water safety incidents kills 10 in two months

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

HAVE YOUR SAY A hole in one?

TANYALUK ‘MANGO’ SAKOOT

of LGBT rights, as with the introduction of Gender Equality Act in 2015. Since that act came into effect it is illegal in Thailand to engage in gender or sexual orientation discrimination. Violators will face up to six months behind bars and or a B20,000 fine.

The new law states “unfair discrimination among the sexes” is any act which “segregates, obstructs or limits the rights” of a person because they have “a sexual expression different from that person’s original sex”.

And rightly so. No one needs to hear again the ridiculous tale of Anwar Ibrahim’s not one, but two sodomy trials that spanned nearly two decades in the country immediately to Thailand’s south.

Yet, as pointed out by Phuket Culture office Chief Mr Kormet, the attitude on the streets is what counts most.

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com

Re: Andara founder Allan Zeman launches golf resort in Phang Nga Thailand will soon become a destination for mega rich people only.

Tim Johnson

More water woes

Re: Gasping for Marine Safety I’ve just spent a month on Phuket having been there many many times before. I used Nikhorn Marine for a day trip and was very impressed with this years improvement in client safety, all travelers were signed in and listed, we had strong wristbands not those silly paper stickers for your T-shirts as previously given, and all had to stay seated on the boat wearing a life jacket.

We were well taken care of, thank you.

Sue Bunyan Went diving with family and friends at Racha Yai Island. I witnessed several boats on the same mooring.

Snorkelers and scuba divers swimming on surface and below to access coral reefs while tour and dive boats,

speedboats and longtail-boats are speading near scuba divers and snorkelers. Very unsafe and scary with no Thai officials to regulate the mess.

Seafarer Divers Charlie Phuket The local speedboats ripping through mooring fields, close to swim areas and their basic disregard for safety MUST be addressed. They are totally out of control James Bahr

Yet again...

Re: Chinese tourist dies after collapsing in water on day trip to Coral Island So very sad as this happens over and over again. The problem is so many “guides” are just that. They are not snorkel guides. They are not dive guides. Most are not even in the water with the customers.

With all good dive trips (who also do snorkeling) have 4:1 ratio diving and 6:1 snorkelling and the fully trained guide is in the water with the customers at all times. This is so sad as its the same thing over and over again, year in year out.

Its a very easy solution but nothing ever changes on the

speedboat tours. So sad and rest in peace. Thoughts go to the family.

Simon Lomas When we went snorkeling in the Philippines (group of Westerners, all good swimmers), there were two lifeguards in the water with us at all times, keeping a very close eye on us. It would not be hard to do that in Phuket if safety was taken more seriously.

Matthew Lempriere Why would the insurance company pay, unless Yongseung Tours Co Ltd were at fault? The story reads to me as if its just a case of another “face down in the water”, Chinese tourist.

Geoffrey Morris

Lights Out’rage

Re: Tributes flow for Canadian tourists killed in motorbike collision with Phuket tuk-tuk ‘ How many people are y’all going to let die before you stop the check points and start stopping the speeders and reckless drivers?

One thing the police never check is the lights, and in gen-

eral many locals never bother repairing the rear lights if they are out. I’ve had people tell me before when I told them rear lights not working, “What do I need them for, I don’t need it to see where I’m going.”

Michael Dawson

Flushing our resources down the drain

Re: Officials tackle untreated wastewater pouring into Ao Yon Bay Yes, I went swimming there two weeks ago and compared to swimming there two years ago, the water was quite dirty with sewage floating in the sea. Phuket needs to take care of this as water quality is a factor in what draws tourists to the beach.

Andrea Hogg

Give us our Dalley bread

Re: Inside Soi Dog, Asia’s largest animal welfare organisation Total respect to John and his team for all that they do and have done to help and care for the dogs and cats.

Andrea Hogg

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

THAILAND NEWS

7

Thai ‘Jack The Ripper’ caught

Last train for serial killer as he is apprehended by authorities KHON KAEN Bangkok Post

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paroled serial killer dubbed “Thailand’s Jack the Ripper” was taken into custody on Wednesday morning (Dec 18) for the murder of a woman in Khon Kaen province.

Police arrested Somkid Pumpuang on a Surin-Bangkok train at Pak Chong station. Officers found Somkid, 55, asleep and sitting alone next to a window on the train. He was wearing a cap, his lower faced covered by a mask, and had covered himself with a jacket.

According to Thai media reports he was identified and reported to police by two students, who noticed a mark on his forehead and compared it with police photos using their phones.

Police said Somkid bought a ticket at Buri Ram train station. He did not resist arrest. Police confirmed they received a call and a video clip of Somkid from a train passenger.

The suspect was taken to the Provincial Police Region 3 office in Nong Sarai district for interrogation.

Somkid, dubbed “Jack the Ripper of Thailand”, is suspected of murdering Ratsami Mulichan, 51, at

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Police arrest Somkid Phumphuang, 55, on a Surin-Bangkok train at Pak Chong station in Nakhon Ratchasima province Wednesday (Dec 18). Photo: Royal Thai Police her house in Ban Mai Chai Mongkol village in Kranuan district of Khon Kaen last Sunday (Dec 15).

Jakkrit Chueakprom, the victim’s 25-year-old son, said his mother had earlier told him her new lover was a lawyer who handled cases nationwide.

The man also offered to buy her a new car, said Mr Jakkrit, who does

not live with his mother.

He said he chatted with his mother over Facebook last Saturday, and nothing she said suggested anything untoward might be about to happen to her.

Somkid moved into Ms Ratsami’s house on Dec 2, only 13 days before she was murdered.

Police believe Ms Ratsami, a

divorcee, was Somkid’s sixth victim.

Somkid, 55, from Trang, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering five women – nightlife singers or masseuses at hotels in Mukdahan, Lampang, Trang, Udon Thani and Buri Ram provinces – in 2005.

One victim was killed in January, and the other four in June that

year. The serial murders led to the Thai media dubbing him “Jack the Ripper of Thailand.”

The Appeal Court in August 2012 upheld the Criminal Court’s sentence of life imprisonment, commuted from the death penalty because he confessed.

Somkid was paroled and let free on May 17 this year. The Corrections Department said he was a “model prisoner.”

Ms Ratsami reportedly worked as a hotel maid. She let him move in to live with her on Dec 2, telling her son the man would buy her a car.

Ms Ratsami died of suffocation. Her body was wrapped with a blanket, naked from the waist down. Her wrists and ankles had been tied. An electric wire was fastened around her neck, held with transparent adhesive tape.

It was not yet known if she was attacked and killed while asleep or conscious. A blood stain showed that the victim was either punched or slapped on her face.

Police found Somkid’s fingerprints, clothes and vehicle documents at Ms Ratsami’s house.

He also left his mobile phone, clearly letting investigators know they could not trace him by its signal, police explained.

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THAILAND NEWS

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

End of the road for Asean?

China’s increasing influence could affect regional structure ASEAN Thana Boonlert

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decentralised world order could disintegrate the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) into factions, with mainland countries gravitating to China, maritime states forging closer ties, and Thailand left hanging in the middle, a forum was told on Dec 13.

Sp e a k i ng at “ W he re Northeast Asia Meets Southeast Asia: The Great Powers, Global Disorder, and Asia’s Future” held at Chulalongkorn University, Donald Emmerson, the director of the Southeast Asia Programme at Stanford University, raised the possibility that Southeast Asia could cease to exist in its present form.

“The region will change into a form where Asean shrinks to a maritime version on the extreme northern tier of Southeast Asia on the border with China with the exception of Vietnam, which for historical reasons you all understand will not cater to

Asean may split up. Photo: Bangkok Post China unless it is in its own national interest to do so," he said.

“If you leave Vietnam aside, the other three countries become part of greater China and Asean then falls back to the maritime region.

Remember that it is obviously physically different from the Chinese mainland and

also religiously different.

That’s why you have Muslimmajority nations,” he told the Bangkok Post.

Meanwhile, T hiti nan Pongsudhirak, the director of the Institute of Security and International Studies Thailand at Chulalongkorn University, pointed out that some mainland countries

still retain their autonomy from China.

“You can’t really say they are coming into China’s orbit because of Vietnam and, to a lesser extent, Thailand and Myanmar. But you can make a case for Laos and Cambodia,” he said.

Despite the prevalence of the Chinese, the associate

professor said the country is “a force to reckon with” and took note of growing weariness and scepticism towards the major power in Asean.

“The Cambodian government is pro-China, but its people are sceptical. In Thailand, that is why there has been no rail progress. In the worst case, there could

be a backlash against China.

You can look at a pushback against the BRI [Belt and Road Initiative] in many countries.

If you get below that, there is a popular disenchantment with the Chinese overwhelming, overbearing influence,” he said.

However, former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said he cannot give up on the idea of the integration process of Asean.

“The 10 of us have to find a way to work together. We cannot split to be eaten alive

by China. A couple of things have to be done. I have been talking to US, European, and Japanese diplomats. In terms of their professionalism and obligation, they must keep on pushing with the host governments in the Indo-Pacific region about openness and the success stories of combining democracy and liberal thinking with capitalist, social-oriented economic development. In the past, they gave areas of Southeast Asia to the Chinese and Russian inroads about the one-party system,” he said.

Bangkok Post

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESS NEWS

9

The Zeman is back

Launches luxury golf resort in Phang Nga PROPERTY

The Phuket News

A

llan Zeman, the Hong Kong property mogul who brought to Phuket the upscale Andara resort, has joined with another Hong Kong property heavyweight, Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd (PCPD), to launch the first phase of a high-end villa resort encompassing the Thai Muang Golf Course.

The development, Aquella – Aquella Lakeside Villas, covers more than 1,100 rai and offers 2.5 kilometres of beach frontage. The site includes a series of lakes and lagoons centered around the 18-hole, 7,000-yard golf course and exclusive country club.

“The first residential phase of 15 pool villas, named Aquella Lakeside, are currently being marketed and enjoy a prime location in the heart of the project, surrounded by fairways and lush landscape all adjacent to a picturesque

@thephuketnews

Benjamin Lam

An artist’s impression of the front exterior of the villas, which are for sale for US$1-2 million. Image: Aquella lake and the planned wellness spa sanctuary,” explained a release highlighting the launch this week.

To create the development, Mr Zeman through his Lan Kwai Fong Group (LKF) joined forces with Hong Kong-based developer PCPD, which is owned by Richard Li, the son of Hong Kong property tycoon and the territory’s richest man, Li Ka-shing.

The waterfront villas range from two to four bedrooms and have been designed by the award-winning Paradise Designs in Phuket. The design created by Phuket-based Paradise Group, was among the winners at the recent Thailand PropertyGuru Property Awards.

The project will be developed by a joint venture between PCPD and Mr Zeman’s venture LKF with an

Allan Zeman undisclosed stake, but PCPD holding the majority, “Our journey in Thailand began with Andara Resort and Villas and the Andara Signature Villas developments,” Mr Zeman told the Bangkok Post.

“We have been active in Phuket for more than a decade now, and are continuing to see strong, ongoing global demand for well executed resort residences and memo-

rable vacation experiences.

The partnership with Pacific Century Premium Developments at Aquella allows us to bring this expertise to the Phang Nga province, a stunning international tourist destination in the Greater Phuket area.”

Benjamin Lam, PCPD Deputy Chairman & Group Managing Director, added, “With the natural attributes and strategic location of the Aquella site, we are excited to create a year-round luxurious exclusive community that will set a new benchmark for the golf, hospitality and leisure industries in South East Asia.”

“PCPD has held this plot for more than a decade, but just started development this year as the company was busy with luxury resorts in Hokkaido,” Mr Zeman said.

PCPD bought the plot, which included a suspended golf course, from Sommai Phasee, a former finance minister, in late 2007 at a cost of B7 million per rai.

PCPD plans to develop

Aquella, a beach, golf and country club resort, into phases that will take 10 years to complete. It is constructing an 18-hole golf course on 400 rai projected to open by the end of next year.

Near the golf course will be the first phase, a joint venture between PCPD and Paradise Pinetree Development Ltd, a company wholly owned

by Mr Zeman. Phase 1 will occupy 50 rai, comprising a country club, six tennis courts, a spa and wellness centre.

The phase is expected to have 15 lakeside villas on plots sized between 600 and 800 square wah each, with a usable area from 342 sq metres, priced from US$1-2mn.

Launched for sales two months ago, it has sold five units, the Bangkok Post noted.

Mr Zeman expects to sell the remaining villas by the end of 2020 and will start development of the next phases, with more villas for sale and a luxury hotel with 100-150 rooms, managed by an international chain.

10 BUSINESS NEWS

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Phuket at ‘tipping point’ TOURISM

The Phuket News editor@classactmedia.co.th

A

study by the research department of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus has found signs that Phuket’s economy is changing with the research director branding the island’s economy as at “tipping point”.

The study results were announced by Dr Chayanon Pucharoen, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at PSU Phuket’s Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism last Thursday (Dec 12).

“Our studies have recently found quantitative signals which raised questions about the sustainability of growth in one of the most promising economies in Thailand, Phuket,” said Dr Chayanon, who holds a PhD in Economics from Chulalongkorn University.

“Throughout the last decade, Phuket economy has grown at the average pace of 6.7% per year, which was continuously higher than the nation’s average GDP growth.

“However, the concerns about province’s prosperity have become widespread during the last year,” he added.

Dr Chayanon explained that recent data has shown that the number of Phuket job vacancies decreased for the first time in the past three

The purchasing power of most Phuket tourists had deteriorated as much as 11.13% (y-o-y) for tourists from Euro-denominated nation, Dr Chayanon explained. Photo: PSU years (quarterly basis yearon-year comparison) – only in the third quarter of 2019, job vacancies plummeted by 24.5%.

“In addition, Phuket’s overdraft figures, which are an extension of funds for business, increased by 6% in the latest quarter.

“In terms of consumption, recent statistic figures also reveal a slowdown, for example, negative growth rate in Phuket new passenger-car registration is observed for the first time in past five years,” he added.

“However, the economic stagnation has not only been an issue in Phuket. The 2019 Bank of Thailand (BOT)

nationwide survey indicates a deterioration in income for overwhelming number of respondents, when compared to the 2018 survey figures,” Dr Chayanon pointed out.

In a written statement, Dr Chayanon noted, “Tourism is the main (and perhaps only) engine that drives Phuket economy. When observing the (relatively) real time passenger arrival data, a growth of 4% (Jan-Nov) can be noted. This makes the question of what is actually happening to Phuket’s tourism in the year 2019 even more puzzling.”

Dr Chayanon identified three issues in particular that he said “might” provide some clarity on Phuket’s economic

slowdown. He noted in his presentation the following observations, and recommendations: Thai baht appreciation Dr Chayanon explai ned that the study found 74% of Phuket’s tourists are international, particularly from China and the European Union.

With the recent baht appreciation, the purchasing power of the majority of Phuket’s tourists declined. The deterioration rate is as much as 11.13% (y-o-y) for tourists from Euro-denominated nations and 10.53% (y-o-y) for mainland Chinese tourists, he said.

“Although an updated fig-

ure of spending per tourist has not yet been released, we anticipate a waning figure, due to a decline in price competitiveness of Thailand’s offered products and services.

“Conversely, the purchasing power of Thai travelers due to the baht appreciation increased, encouraging Thais to spend their holidays abroad rather than on a domestic trip,” he explained.

“Our recent data indicates that even the ARR and occupancy rates of well-established luxury hotel brands in Phuket declined by 7% and 10% y-o-y respectively,” Dr Chayanon noted.

Dr Chayanon gave the recommendation that local operators’ pricing strategies not be based on baht-denominated value alone, and that entrepreneurs should rather consider changes in purchasing power of their main customers.

Digital Disruption and a new landscape of competition Digital transformation has increasingly affected almost every player in the Phuket tourism industry, Dr Chayanon also explained.

Accommodation expenditure accounts for the largest portion (28%) of average tourist’ spending. Digital middlemen had made their mark on Phuket’s accommodation industry many years ago in the form of OTA, he added.

“Our 2018 survey found that 64% of Phuket Gen Y tourists booked their room

through OTAs. The new online platforms such as Grab, Klooks, etc. progressively play a role in other categories of tourists’ spending as well, such as transportation (11.51%) and entertainment & tours (21.91%),” he noted.

For this issue, Dr Chayanon gave the recommendation that tourism entrepreneurs adjust their business practices to be able to compete within the new landscape of competition and tourist behaviour.

Phuket as a nature tourist destination?

Dr Chayanon pointed out that Phuket has been promoting its natural resources to attract an inflow of tourists for over three decades, but explained that promotions of the natural attractions had presented a distorted image to the public.

“Our recent big data analysis had found that words associated with Phuket’s natural attractions, beach and water for example, were more frequently mentioned with negative rather than positive connotations. Simultaneously, recent studies revealed the rising of creative and cultural tourist tourism images of Phuket,” Dr Chayanon said.

To this Dr Chayanon called for integrated and significant efforts from all stakeholders be concretely set with the aim to improve and broaden Phuket tourists’ experience while holidaying on the island and the surrounding area.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Red Cross looks to crown Miss Coral Queen

14

Going Dutch gets serious in Phuket

16

YOU’RE WELCOME

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Unesco lists Thai massage as intangible cultural heritage The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket’s high-level, award-winning spas have welcomed the move by Unesco to officially list traditional Thai massage as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage”.

Dr Pramote Satianrat, Deputy Director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, announced the decision last Friday (Dec 13). He also thanked the Culture Ministry’s Department of Cultural Promotion for submitting traditional Thai massage to Unesco for consideration.

The Unesco committee agreed to list traditional Thai massage, or Nuad Thai, as an “intangible cultural heritage” at its meeting in Bogotá, Colombia.

Dr Pramote made the announcement at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, widely known as Wat Pho and a centre of learning of Thai massage.

Joining him was Culture Minister Itthipol Khunpluem and Preeda Tangtrongchitr, Director of Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School.

“Being recognised like this shows us that the Thai massage practice really has a place in the world now, culturally, and will truly help grow the awareness of this amazing treatment which goes back centuries. I do hope that this will also help to keep the practise alive in the coming generations,” said Tim Sargeant of award-winning The Pavilions Spa at the Phuket Pavilions resort.

“We always look to create unique experiences for our guests by offering several different styles of Thai massage

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Traditional Thai massage techniques are now recognised by Unesco as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’. Photo: The Pavilions Spa / The Pavilions Phuket

techniques, however with the treatment now being part of Thailand’s cultural fabric this will only enhance our guest experience further, which is great,” he added.

The Pavilions Phuket won five awards from the prestigious 2019 Haute Grandeur Awards, leading the country in all nominated segments – including Best Boutique Spa in Thailand and Best Luxury Spa in Thailand.

Arphatsara Thunngan, Director of Spa and Gallery Operations at Banyan Tree Phuket, agreed, saying the recogni-

tion was a long time coming.

“I am very pleased and proud that Thai massage has been included on Unesco’s World Heritage List,” Ms Arphatsara told The Phuket News.

“Especially because Thai massage is a traditional science; it is the art of healing that has been developed by the Thai people over a long time,” she added.

“At Banyan Tree Spa, one of the world’s leading spa services, we have long practiced traditional Thai massage techniques, and we also combine this with traditional Thai treatments. Our

guests learn this, and carry this understanding back out into the world.”

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also welcomed the announcement as a success for the Thai people and the Kingdom “in making local wisdom become globally known”.

“The Public Health Ministry will develop Nuad Thai as a traditional medical science for the maximum benefit of Thai people, including relieving and curing symptoms and making it a profession for Thais,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

12 HISTORY

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

The ‘Tin’acious Dutch

Dutch Malacca in the 17th century from 1640-1700 HISTORY OF PHUKET Colin Mackay

T

he Dutch had originally come to the Phuket peninsula to buy pepper. But as the market in Europe for porcelain, tea and silk began to boom they concentrated more on their trade with China and Japan. The problem was that Holland, in fact Europe, had few products that China needed. But China did always want tin, which was widely used in religious ceremonies and for making bronze (rust-proof) cannons.

So the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC, widely known by it’s British name the Dutch East India Company, started to focus on obtaining tin in the Malay Peninsula for its China trade. For this it began to turn to the tin mines of southwestern Siam around Phuket. The official VOC “Dag-

registrar” (records book) records that the first Dutch tin-buying expedition to Phuket had been in 1639 under Captain Orlando Thibault. However two years later, after conquering Ma­lacca in 1641, the Dutch moved more aggressively to expand their tin-buying activities up the surrounding peninsular west coast.

The Dutch claimed that Malacca’s

traditional “dominion” over Phuket had devolved on them “by right of conquest”.

King Prasat Thong must have felt that having the powerful Dutch as semiallies to cover the cantankerous and rebellious Malay lords in the peninsula was an attractive alterna­tive to sending and having to pay for his own less formidable warships. He therefore gave the Dutch permission to open fortified

factories in several peninsular ports and the right to make exclusive trade contracts with the local lords there. In 1642 the Dutch established a factory in Keddah. In 1643, trade contracts were signed and factories built in both Phuket and Songkla and two years later at Bangkhli (a town in Phang Nga province just north of the bridge between Kokloi and Thai Muang today), which was then the main tin port of western Phang Nga province.

In 1644 the VOC then built a fortified trade factory in Phuket, probably just east of the big Chinese temple opposite the wat by Thepkasatri road in Tharua today. It was most likely constructed of a mortar of lime and stone, plastered, then whitewashed, with a nipa palm thatched roof and surrounded by a defensive earth rampart and wooden palisade about two meters high.

Here the VOC agents lived (for security) and stored all the trade goods they were buying or selling.

VOC correspondence during the 17th century shows that the Dutch considered

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HISTORY 13

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

History of Phuket. that the traditional Malaccan, not Ayutthayan, jurisdiction over Phuket Island and the west-coast tin centers still applied. For example, Governor Balthasar Bort, the VOC head in Malacca, wrote that Malacca’s “dominion and jurisdiction in this strait have always extended to the said island [Phuket] … tolls and licenses … instituted by the Portu­g uese for the maintenance of the rights of Malacca have now devolved on us by right of conquest.” The Siamese court in Ayutthaya of course did not interpret this situation in the same way.

The VOC adopted the former Portuguese monopolistic licensing system from Malacca. The company started trying to force all non-Dutch ships trading in Phuket and other surrounding ports to get a license from it. In this way, the VOC believed local trade could be diverted through Malacca, which apart from allowing it to secure more tin at cheaper prices, was also a means to get rid of the pesky and more efficient Muslim trad­ers. As Commissioner Schouten in Malacca clearly stated, “It would be a good thing if the company’s territory could be cleared of Moors [Muslim Indians] and Gentyos [Hindu Indians] because not

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VOC Salkla Klang. only would more tin be secured but also large quantities of cloth could be marketed.”

This VOC licensing blockade of the southwestern Siamese ports was enforced by armed Dutch blockade ships policing the region and forcing any unlicensed ships to go to Malacca to apply for expensive licenses.

These were meant to oblige everyone to come to trade in Malacca at controlled prices favorable to the Dutch.

The Dutch blockade captains were instructed that all non-VOC vessels must be “politely and not rashly ex­amined” and merchandise from unlicensed ships should be confiscated and “half the tin taken out and the owners paid 40 reals a bahar for it [below market price].” The English however described the activity of these Dutch blockade ships in less rosy terms. The English private trader William Dampier, for example, summarized this policy as: “Where there is any trade to be had, yet not sufficient to maintain a factory, so as to secure the whole trade for themselves, [the Dutch] send their guard ships which lying at the mouths of rivers deter strangers from coming thither and keep the petty princes in awe of them. They commonly make a show as if

they did this out of kindness to the people, yet most of them know otherwise.”

Captain Francis Light, an Englishman who lived and traded on Phuket in the 18th cen­tury wrote of the Dutch blockade ships, “These vessels ill paid and commanded by the lowest people became pirates and smugglers as it suited their conveniency, Their custom is to order the Naqueda (Muslim trade captain) on board to examine his pass which they frequently take from him and plunder his vessel, and they sometimes meet with resistance, their barbarity proceeds so far as to destroy the whole crew.”

Local leaders soon realized that the VOC was insisting on paying unrealistically low prices for the tin by backing up its trading dictates with force. The local and Moorish traders attempted successfully to dodge their tall blockade ships. One VOC report at the time grumbled that, despite their trade agreements with the local rajahs, the Moors “still crept past the Dutch cruisers.” In response, the VOC increased the number of patrols and the harshness of its searches and confiscations, taking a further step down the slippery slope towards conflict.

14 COMMUNITY

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Bridging the beauty divide Phuket Red Cross Fair to host inaugural transgender beauty pageant The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

F

or the first time in the more than two decades since the Phuket chapter of the Red Cross began holding its annual fund-raising fair at Saphan Hin, on the outskirts of Phuket Town, this year will see the renowned event hold a Miss Coral Queen Phuket beauty pageant open exclusively to ladyboys.

The annual Red Cross Fair will return to its traditional grounds at Saphan Hin from Dec 29 to Jan 9. The fair again has been rebranded, this year to be called the “Good Phuket Products Fair”, but the main aim of the fair is to raise funds for a variety of community projects to be carried out by Phuket Red Cross members throughout next year.

Top prize in the popular lucky draw remains a B2.29 million townhouse in Thalang, with second prize being a Toyota Yaris ATIV 1.2 j valued at about B700,000. Up for grabs as the “third-place” prizes are two Honda Wave 110i motorcycles, followed by “fourthplace” prizes of three gold necklaces valued at about B21,000 each, with 30 gold necklaces valued at about B5,400 each as the “fifth-placed” prizes.

A host of Thai celebrities will perform live on stage throughout the event, yet the main highlight of the festival is hoped to be the new Miss Coral Queen beauty pageant, which is open exclusively to members of the cross-dressing and transgender community, called “katoey” in Thai.

The new Miss Coral Queen beauty pageant was announced at Phuket Provincial Hall last Friday (Dec

Ruethaipreya ‘Dear’ Neuanglee is crowned Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2019.

It is hoped a Phuket ladyboy beauty pageant will make transgenders feel more at home in Phuket. Photo: Miss Tiffany’s Universe 13), at a meeting presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Thanyawat Chanpinit.

At the meeting it was announced that the regular Miss Pearl Phuket beauty pageant, open to women 1827 years old, will be held on the main stage at Saphan Hin Park on Jan 3. The Miss Coral Queen Phuket beauty pageant, open to people 18-35 years old, will be held on the same stage on Jan 6.

Both pageants are open to contestants from anywhere in the country, explained Komart Pankeard, Chief of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Culture, who sits on the fair’s organising committee.

The winners of the pageants will each receive the same prize money: B30,000 for first place, B20,000 for first runner-up and B10,000 for second runner-up.

“Contestants who win the photogenic award and the popular vote will each receive B5,000,” Mr Komart said.

To enter either pageant, contestants must submit their applications in person at the Phuket office of the Ministry of Culture before 4:30pm Christmas Day (Dec 25). Entry to either pageant costs B500, he added.

Asked why the Red Cross Fair made the move to host a transgender beauty pageant, Mr Komart told The Phuket News, “People will see how talentedw transgenders are. In other areas, such as Pattaya, there are a lot of transgender beauty pageants, and Phuket is a developed city full of diversity, so we’re ready to hold this kind of pageant.

“This pageant may create more opportunities for talented transgenders to work and generate more income by showing people what they can do,” he said.

Mr Komart explained that it is hoped hosting the Miss Coral Queen pageant will open people’s minds and encourage them to be more accepting of diversity.

“Everyone has their own right to live, no matter what skin colour we have, what gender we are or what language we speak. This pageant will at least be a place where transgenders can showcase their talents,” he said.

Mr Komart noted that Thailand was making progress in gender equality but admitted there is still a long way to go.

“People are more accepting of members of the LGBTQ (-plus) community. Now we’re in modern society.

There are some same-sex marriages in Thailand, but even that has not yet been approved by law,” he said.

“We are holding this pageant for them to show what they have. Phuket is full of difference, in terms of races, languages, culture, and genders. I think if we hold a quality event for them, more of them may feel welcome to come to visit Phuket,” Mr Komart said.

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CULTURE 15

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Holiday Miracles Photo: Thaiembassy.org

King Bhumibol & Sheikhul Islam (Chularajmontri)

Photo: Weekly Election Times

‘When One Religion Respects another Religion’s Traditions, Miracles Are Born’ ALL ABOUT BUDDHISM Jason A. Jellison mitnoy@live.com

I

t has often been said that the power of music is universal. For some reason, certain songs just have a way of staying with us and we’ve all experienced plenty of holiday songs which somehow managed to touch our souls; even though we couldn’t literally understand the words.

K-pop is all the rage in Thailand these days. I was recently taking in a very beautiful music video of a Korean song called Miracles In December. The holiday love song is interesting because it is clearly set during the Christmas holiday; a holiday which did not arrive in South Korea until only a few centuries ago.

The music video is a consummate reminder that every generation of young people always finds a way to repackage the holiday traditions which have been gifted to them from previous generations of their fellow countrymen.

Often, an exchange of traditions generally ignites a clear process which usually unfolds in a similar way: First, someone else’s traditions somehow take root in a land which previously had not known them. Then, the traditions gain cultural currency.

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Finally, later generations make the traditions their own, slightly changing those traditions in the process.

Today, there are many new traditions which are winding their way through Thai culture at large. In particular, the traditions from Thailand’s Islamic far south are becoming more widely known. This is because King Bhumibol the Great made crosstraditional exchange a hallmark of His 70-year reign. (1946-2016) The Buddhist King took a personal interest in these provinces from very early on in His reign and went to great lengths to improve the lives of Thailand’s Muslim population. His royal policies would encourage development not only through financial means, but also through having a deeper understanding of differing traditions.

In 1962, the Counsel of Saudi Arabia paid a visit to the late King and presented H.M. with the gift of an English-language Qur’an. King Bhumibol read the book and He contacted Thailand’s chief Muslim leader to eagerly commission a Thai version.

He then royally dispatched a Thailanguage Qur’an to every mosque in the Kingdom.

The King was very active in Thailand’s southern provinces. In 1968, He commissioned a royal procession in order to mark the 1,400’th anniversary of the Qur’an’s completion. He also had a Royal Development Study Center

and Royal Palace commissioned in Narathiwat so He could be closer to the Islamic community.

He dispatched royal physicians to treat the sick and indigent who resided within these Islamic provinces and He personally donated the money to build a number of very important mosques. He also proactively encouraged the Thai Government to support the construction efforts and He personally attended many grand opening ceremonies when the mosques were completed.

Many Thai Muslim leaders would grow close to the King as the years and decades passed by. However, one of the more prominent names that many Thai Muslims remember was a man that few Westerners have ever heard of. His name was ‘Uncle WahDeng,’ “the friend from Saiburi.”

Also known as ‘PohDeng,’ Thai Muslims remember that the two had a close friendship for twenty years. Uncle WahDeng raised excellent fruit and was a very talented agriculturalist. He was very familiar with the area so he often was called upon for local insight.

Uncle WahDeng passed on in 2012 and King Bhumibol the Great passed on four years later, but the effects of the King Bhumibol’s reign still are leaving their handprints on our world today. A royal family member still participates in the annual Mawlid alNabi ceremony which celebrates the

birth of the prophet Muhammad and once-impoverished areas have now found lasting prosperity.

Today, young Muslims are graduating from Thailand’s southern universities and spreading not only their knowledge- but also their traditions- as they fan out across the Kingdom. Delicious Halal food can easily be found in many of Thailand’s major cities and there are an increasing number of mosques being constructed throughout many parts of the Kingdom.

The trading of traditions really is a wondrous thing. Whether it be religious tradition, culinary tradition, the ways of our ancestors or maybe just some good K-pop; when we take the time to embrace and support traditions that are new to us, miracles truly do become plum for the taking.

Editor’s note: For further detail, read ‘His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Thai Muslim Community’ at The Royal Thai EmbassyGeneral of Kolkata at www.thaiembassy.org/kolkata/en/home All About Buddhism is a monthly column in The Phuket News where I take readers on my exotic journey into Thai Buddhism and debunk a number of myths about Buddhism. If you have any specific queries, or ideas for articles, please let us know. Email editor1@classactmedia.co.th, and we will do our best to accommodate your interests.

18 ISLAND SCENE

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Sanjeev and Siritorn.

Guests are all smiles at the event.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Aronkanya, Ratthitiporn, Vachini and Sewie.

Rajiv, Dean and Robert.

CANADIAN CHAMBER LAUNCHES THAILAND SOUTH CHAPTER IN PHUKET The Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce formally launched a Southern Chapter at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort last Saturday (Dec 14). Over 50 Canadians and others heard presentations from Sanjeeev Chowdhury, the Charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Thailand; CanCham Thailand President John Stevens; Kasien Laiyakosit, Vice Chairman of the Surat Thani Chamber of Commerce; artist and YEC member Wishulda from the Surat Thani Chamber of Commerce; and Rajiv Parrab, board member and a director of CanCham Thailand and CEO of A&II (Thailand) Co Ltd. Following the presentations there was a chance to network with great food and drinks provided by Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort.

QSI Phuket Director Rob Peters (3rd from left) welcomes the delegation.

Students, teachers and the cultural exchange delegation pose for a group photo.

QSI PHUKET STEPS UP TO WELCOME CULTURAL EXCHANGE FROM NIGERIA This past week QSI Phuket hosted Lifeforte International School from Nigeria for a cultural exchange between students. Forty students and six staff spent the day at QSI Phuket, teaching about Lifeforte and Nigerian Culture and learning about Thai Culture and QSI.

Sayamon, Serafin, Visarute, James and Edayat at the exhibition launch.

James and Fon.

ANANTARA MAI KHAO PUTS SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH ART ON CELLULOID Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Visarut Angkatavanich have launched their photography exhibition, “Siamese Fighting Fish: The Beauty of Siam”. James Hewitson, Cluster General Manager at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, last Friday (Dec 13) announced the launch of the captivating exhibition, a portrait series by renowned photographer Visarute Angkatavanich. Visarute’s work took the world by storm with his richly hued portraits of the iconic Thai fish, the Betta splendens. thephuketnews

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ISLAND SCENE 19

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Chef Tony with the Oriental Events Team.

Massimo and Anthony.

Michael & Nantida Bosch.

Chef Tony, Toatae and Simon.

SALA PHUKET COOKS UP STELLAR THANK YOU FOR PARTNERS, ASSOCIATES More than 50 agents and suppliers gathered on the lawn at Sala Phuket for a relaxed afternoon BBQ style thank-you event last Sunday (Dec 15). General Manager Anthony Van Sleeuwen and Executive Chef Tony Wrigley made sure everyone’s plates and glasses were full on a great Phuket Sunday afternoon.

Gulu (2nd from left) hands over the donation.

SANTA CLAUS COMES EARLY AT ROYAL PHUKET MARINA This year’s Royal Phuket Marina Festive Festival, Snowy White Christmas, held on Dec 7-8, was joyfully received by all attendees and the Phuket Has Been Good To Us charity. The two-day event featured entertaining shows from local schools, gifts, handicrafts, food, drinks, and merriment. The attendees embodied the true spirit of Christmas through their generous giving. Royal Phuket Marina Chairman Gulu Lalvani, donated the proceeds to Phuket Has Been Good To Us.

A moment for Solidarity.

MÖVENPICK RESORT & SPA KARON CELEBRATES SOLIDARITY WEEK Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket this week continued its commitment to help change the lives of society’s most disadvantaged members by celebrating Solidarity Week by AccorHotels by visiting Phuket Sunshine Village, a local charity located in Phuket Town that provides a loving home for children through foster care.

The team donated essential items such as clothing, stationery and kitchen items.

The five-metre-tall tree stands proud in the lobby.

Sabrina, George, Kurtis and Libor at the lighting ceremony.

JW MARRIOTT USHERS IN FESTIVE SEASON WITH HUGE CHRISTMAS TREE The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa recently held its second traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony to usher in the much-awaited festive holiday season and joyful celebrations. The towering five-metre giant Christmas tree stands tall in the resort’s lobby, welcoming guests upon arrival. The event was led by General Manager George Varughese alongside United World College Thailand’s Head of School Jason McBride and Primary School Principal Kurtis Peterson, with Christmas Carols performed by 38 students from UWC Thailand International School joined by hotel guests, parents, media, associates and Phuket residents. @thephuketnews

20 EVENTS

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

20 DEC St. Joseph’s Parish Phuket Christmas & New Year Mass

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.

Banyan Tree Best of Brunch

Rotary Christmas Party Join us for the Rotary Christmas Party at The Holiday Inn Patong Beach from 6:30pm. Free flow, full roast dinner and music. Members B1,600, guests B1,900. All profits go to RCoPB Charity. RSVP, by Dec 17, 2019, at rotarypatong.org

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, flavour-bursting chicken and more! Join us for Live Music from 8-Late Performed by Our Famous Two Chefs Band! Come for the FOOD - Stay for the Fun. www.twochefs.com Kata Beach 076-333-370 Karon 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

SUN

22 DEC

Musical Weekend

SAT

MON

23 DEC

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.

Sunday Roast All Day, All Night

Friday & Saturday, from 6:00 - 10:00 pm. at Lagoon Quay.

From 15 November 2019 - 28 March 2020. Live music, DJ, Balloon, Bozo and movie corner. Good fun, Good atmosphere, Good dining. It’s all at Phuket’s most Lively Marina… the place to be. Email: events@phuketboatlagoon.com.

Tel: 076 239 888 ext.318.

From noon to 15:30 on Sundays, we brunch introducing Banyan’s Tree Best Of Brunch showcasing our culinary’s team favourite dishes combined with an array of refreshing cocktials relax. Enjoy & indulge it’s Sunday. Food Only - THB 2,800 per guest. Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks hops, grapes - THB 3,700 per guest. Inclusive of free flow bubbly - THB 4,000 per guest. Reservation, The Watercourt at Banyan Tree Phuket, fb-phuket@banyantree.com, 076 372 400.

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 Flavoured 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 076-286-479 Patong 076-344-914.

TUE

Tues, 24 Dec 2019: Christmas Eve • 10:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling • 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Wed, 25 Dec 2019: Christmas Day • 10:30 a.m. Christmas Caroling • 11:00 a.m. Christmas Day Mass. Thur, 26 Dec 2019 • 06:30 p.m. St. Stephen & Tsunami Memorial. Tue, 31 Dec 2019 • 11:00 a.m. Thanksgiving Mass (End of the Year). Wed, 01 Jan 2020 • 06:30 p.m. New Year Mass (Mary, Mother of God) Simbang Gabi • 05:00 a.m. - 16 - 24 Dec 2019 - Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition. It is a series of nine dawn masses. It begins on 16 Dec and ends on the midnight of the 24 Dec, which is the midnight mass. Note: All masses are held in English. Details can be found on the church website at phuketcatholics.com

24 DEC

Christmas Eve Buffet & Party @ Friendship Beach Resort Friendship Beach Waterfront Resort Welcomes you to our Christmas Eve. Dinner Buffet & Party. Live Music w/ the Colin Hill Quartet (Pop Rock Blues), Children’s Choir, Santa Claus w/presents for the kids. Welcome Cocktail, Traditional Holiday Buffet w/ Imported Roast Turkey, Christmas Ham, Apple Cranberry Stuffing, Cranberry Port Sauce, Thai Seafood Special, Smoked Salmon and a large selection of Sides, Salads and Desserts. Vegetarian options available.

Adults THB 1,900++ Children under 12 THB 600++ For Reservations call (66) 89 728 5304 or email to chef@friendship beach.com Chef Charlie, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap Rawai Phuket 83130.

Festive Season 2019

21 DEC 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.

All you can eat BBQ Ribs night 6PM – 11PM: All you can eat BBQ Ribs served with salad buffet, potato salad & choice of sauces. Reservation recommended. 295 baht P.P. shakersphuket@gmail.com, 081 891 4381.

XANA Sunday Fun Brunch An extraordinary weekend with XANA Sunday Brunch at Angsana Laguna Phuket, spend quality time with friends and family, enjoying a one of a kind Sunday brunch on a perfect day of sunshine by the ocean at XANA Beach Club.

Every Sunday from 12.00 to 15.30 hrs. Call 076-358500 E: fbreservation-lagunaphuket@angsana.com

High Tea@ChaoFah served with free Day Pass to fitness and pool High Tea @ChaoFah serves more than 10 options of selected teas, delightful cream sandwiches, home-made warm scones with all the trimmings and truly Peranakan specialties. in the surrounding décor of exquisite SinoPortuguese architecture. Every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm and special on Sunday, nice music from Annie Guzheng. Free for children under 12yrs with complimentary day pass to fitness and swimming pool. RSVP +66 76 338 699.

Ramada Plaza Chao Fah.

Come and celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve oceanside style. We are offering an exciting program as you bid farewell to 2019 and look ahead to 2020 at The Nai Harn Phuket overlooking beautiful Nai Harn Bay. Please contact us for more details at Tel: 076 380 200 Email: fbsec@the naiharn.com Reservation, The Nai Harn Phuket, fbsec@the naiharn.com, 076 380 200.

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.

TUE

24 DEC

’Tis the Season to be Jolly @ Two Chefs Bar & Grill.

Spread the holiday cheer and make your Christmas more merry with Two Chefs Traditional Christmas Buffet at Two Chefs Kata Beach branch on Tuesday the 24th of December 2019. Two seatings are available (6pm and 9pm). Adult Rate: 1,250 baht per person, Kids under 12 yrs: 625 baht per person. For bookings and reservations kindly email jonas.vir tanen@twochefs.com or call us at: 076 333 370.

A TASTE OF CHRISTMAS IN THAILAND | CHRISTMAS DINNER TREE HOUSE FOOD & FRIENDS CULINARY SERIES: “A TASTE OF CHRISTMAS IN THAILAND” CHRISTMAS DINNER | From 7PM at TREE HOUSE RESTAURANT | LIMITED SEATS Experience the true spirit of TREE HOUSE and expand your horizons with a Christmas Dinner centered on the sustainable practice of foraging, while celebrating this festive time of the year again! DINNER PACKAGE: THB 1,900 ++ per person. For more visit facebook.com/TreeHousePhuket. fbreservations@bluetree.fun

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

WED

EVENTS 21

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

25 DEC

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26 DEC

including fois gras, Beef tenderloin, Canadian lobster and goat cheese ice cream and more for only 1,295 baht per person! Our ala carte menu and our highly appreciated vegetarian menu is also available as usual. For more information please visit our website:www.twochefs.com Sing and dance your night away as we countdown to 2020! What are you waiting for? billy.agren@twochefs.com

lished as the leading yachting and luxury lifestyle event in the country, the Show will once again showcase spectacular displays of yachts, marine exhibits and lifestyle products, plus an improved programme of side-events, parties and family-friendly activities.

EVERY DAY BOXING DAY BRUNCH CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT PHUKET’S NEWEST HOTSPOT - TREE HOUSE PHUKET: BOXING DAY BRUNCH The festive season begins at Tree House. Dine on a very special holiday menu from our culinary team featuring the season’s favorites & classic Christmas dishes! From THB 2,200 ++ per person - Rider access to Blue Tree Lagoon is included into the brunch ticket. For more visit facebook.com/ TreeHousePhuket. fbreservations@bluetree.fun

TUE

31 DEC

WED

1 JAN

MARILYN BAND’s new exhibition at Mom Tri’s WOK Gallery MARILYN BAND, one of Phuket’s most significant artists, invites you to her new exhibition from 30 November 2019 - 31 January 2020, at Mom Tri’s WOK Gallery Kitchen. “...

I am presenting recent work, a more abstract expression of Phang Nga Bay’s beauty, which intends to encourage the viewer the opportunity to interpret and appreciate a little bit of paradise.” Contact Lies Sol, liesphuket@gmail.com

Ribs, beats, brews 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.

FRI

3 JAN

Grow Boating Networking Evening - January 2020

New Years Eve. Dinner Buffet & Party @ Friendship Beach Friendship Beach Waterfront Resort Rawai welcomes you to our New Years Eve. Dinner Buffet & Celebration - Welcome Cocktail, Cabaret Show, Fire Show, Live DJ, Great Fireworks Display. International Buffet with: Imported Beef Filet, Grilled Salmon, B.B.Q. Pork Ribs Roast Duck Curry, Prawn Cocktail, Stuffed Salmon Lox, and a large selection of Sides, Salads & Desserts. Adults THB 2,100++ Kids under 12 yrs. THB 700++. For reservations call (66) 89 728 5304 or email to chef@friendshipbeach.com Chef Charlie, 27/1 Soi Mittrapap Rawai Phuket 83130.

The Grow Boating Networking Evening for January 2020 will be held at The Lagoon Saloon in Phuket Boat Lagoon on Friday the 3rd of January 2020 from 5pm onward. We are very pleased to announce that the Southeast Asia Pilot will be the drinks sponsor. See https://www.southeastasiapilot. com/ Once again 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.

We hope to see you there and if you know anyone you think would be interested in coming please invite them along. To join our mailing list please send an email to growboatingphuket@gmail.com Grow Boating is kindly supported by our media partner The Phuket News, Live 89.5 radio and Phuket News TV. See www.thephuketnews.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/grow-boatingnetworking-evening

THU

@thephuketnews

From Nov 1st to March 1st. Test your fishing skills Phuket and Catch a Monster fish and Monster Prize. 50 tagged fish with 50 prizes valued at over 1.5 Million baht. Anyone can enter for just 1,000 baht in addition to your daily fishing ticket ................. Exotic Fishing Thailand, Phang Nga, exoticfish ingthailand@gmail.com, English 088 379 9377 and Thai 081 199 5922.

9 JAN

DAILY EVENT UPDATES ON

It’s definitely Jingle Bell Time @ Two Chefs Bar & Grill Come and celebrate Christmas Day with us at Two Chefs Bar & Grill Patong Branch on Wednesday the 25th of December 2019 from 12pm to 12am. We have prepared a 4 course Traditional Christmas set menu dinner that will surely light up your holiday cheer! Price is 995 baht per person.

For more information please visit our website:www.twochefs. com For reservations please email us: patong@twochefs. com or call us at: 076 344 915.

The Exotic Fishing Thailand 1.5 Million Baht Tagged Fish Challenge

Bid the year 2019 goodbye and welcome the new year Two Chefs style!

Thailand Yacht Show 2020

Listen to awesome tunes partnered with great food and drinks! We will be serving an elegant four course set menu

The fifth edition of the Thailand Yacht Show returns to Royal Phuket Marina on the 9 – 12 January 2020. Firmly estab-

22 TIME OUT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Crossword by Myles Mellor & Sally York

1. What was the former name of New York?

2. Which country was formerly called Ceylon?

3. What was the Latin name of Paris in Roman times?

4. Which city was the capital of Australia from 1901 to 1927?

5. Which country sent its navy around the world to fight the Japanese in 1904?

Answers below, centre

SUDOKU

Medium

66. Prefix with second Across 67. Señor’s emphatic 1. Cabinet dept. yes 5. Gather in the 68. Poem boardroom 9. Performed one’s work 69. Newspaper piece 70. Gossip tidbit 14. Surrounding glow 15. Major or Minor Bear 71. “That’s for sure” 72. Gets married to 16. “Bye for now” 73. Low tide 17. Horse controller 18. Evening, informally 19. Billy and namesakes Down 20. Has a musical role 1. Tombstone lawman 2. Some showdowns 23. Vegas attraction 24. Imperfect diamond 3. Dickens’ Heep 4. Ravine formed by 25. It has a taxing job a river 28. Teutonic turndown 5. Certain bond, 31. Gym exercise informally 33. How-___ 6. Yeats’s land 36. Act the skeptic 7. Cornerstone abbr.

39. Actor, Gooding 8. Modern workout 40. You might hear it system at the Walt Disney 9. Statue base Concert Hall 10. One of ‘’Charlie’s 44. March Madness Angels’’ inits.

11. OJ’s trial judge 45. “Crime and 12. It may be smoked Punishment” 13. Salk and Pepper, heroine abbr.

46. Naut. heading 47. Fenced off, in a way 21. Alfred Nobel, e.g.

22. Basketball’s three50. Nurse point line, e.g.

52. Jerk 25. Sign on a plane 53. Clark’s partner facility 56. Part of the Corn Belt 26. Apply thoroughly, 59. Woodstock and as lotion others 63. Good way to go out 27. “Star Trek” setting

29. Aegean Sea island 30. Snacks at the bar 32. Post-E.R. place 33. Skater Harding 34. Grampuses 35. Some identifying marks 37. Friend 38. “___ pis!” (“Too bad!,” in France) 41. Deceived 42. Old soap ingredient 43. Crazed 48. Marries in haste 49. ER role 51. Knocks off 54. “You don’t have to tell me” 55. Suffix with land and moon 57. Pen 58. Baffled 59. Rambler 60. Lacking width and depth 61. Acceptances 62. Chump 63. Prefix meaning egg 64. Book before Esth.

65. Grate on one’s nerves

Solutions to last week’s puzzles:

Answers to this week’s Pop Quiz: 1) New Amsterdam; 2) Sri Lanka; 3) Lutetia; 4) Melbourne; 5) Russia

GOT YOUR NUMBER

ISLAND VIEW

35

million years ago giant sloths were eating Avocados.

40

percent of a cow is used for antifreeze, insulin, blood thinners, toothpaste and lipstick

60

percent of that cow is used for food.

200

Phuket Town lightning. Photo by Tony Edwards Got an unusual or particularly beautiful picture of Phuket? Email it to execeditor@classactmedia.co.th

galaxies exist for

every person on Earth

10,000 dollars is what Mike Tyson

offered a zookeeper to let him punch a gorilla he believed was bullying other primates in the 1980’s Source: Uberfacts

This week in history December 20, 1924 Adolf Hitler is released from Landsberg Prison.

December 21, 1941 World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.

December 22, 2010 The repeal of the Don’t ask, don’t tell policy, the 17-year-old policy

banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama.

December 23, 1954 First successful kidney transplant is performed by J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray.

December 24, 1914 World War I: The “Christmas truce” begins.

Illistration: The Illustrated London News December 25, 336 Frst documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome.

December 26, 2004 The 9.1–9.3 Mw Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).

One of the largest observed tsunamis follows, affecting the coastal areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia; death toll is estimated at 227,898.

Source: Wikipedia thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Jobs

NT GE UR Good staff required

(Thai)

Staff required for popular hotel in Patong.

We have several positions available. Great starting salary and lots of extras including commissions. Potential to grow and develop with the business. Must speak English. Great career oppurtunity.

@thephuketnews

CLASSIFIEDS 23 The Phuket News @thephuketnews

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Admin assistant wanted - Part Time

1. Social Media Officer - No need experience 2. Senior Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 3. Google Adverting 4. Social Media Specialist 5. Real Estate Sales Agent (Based on Kamala Full time) 6. Financial Officer 7. Project Construction Supervisor (Expat) 8. Quantity Surveyor 9. Personal Assistant to CEO and COO 10.

Senior Associate Attorney – Real Estate 11. Marketing 12. Architect HRBluehorizon-thailand, recruitment@bluehorizon-thailand.com, 061 149 3233.

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 25

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Trades & Services

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

CLEANING SERVICES

CORPORATE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

MARINE SERVICES

@thephuketnews

26 CLASSIFIEDS

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Trades & Services

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

classifieds@thephuketnews.com

MARINE SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PERSONAL SERVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

SERVICE

OTHER

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

CLASSIFIEDS 27

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Buy & Sell BOATS, YACHTS FOR SALE Speedboat for Sale

14.2 m Speedboat, named Rayao DD, is still in a good condition with 3 engines, four-stroke engine, Yamaha manufacture. The boat is owned by 1 owner for 1 year (2018) with well maintenance. 4,400,000, Jane, social@karonseasand.com, 062 842 486.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Business opportunity

Four 3-bedroom pool villas, located on the south end of Ao Por, on the east coast of Phuket..., only 50 meters from the sea, 150 meters from new Sheraton Grand Bay Resort, 3 minutes from Ao Po Grand Marina........ Each villa has 330sqm buillt-up area, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 10-metre infinity pool, western kitchen, fully furnished, ready to move in or rent out.... Price reduction from 98 mln to 78 mln for all.. for viewing or more details please contact owner directly Tel : +66 62 8133888 Email : montha_phuket@yahoo.com

CARS, TRUCKS FOR RENT Toyota Fortuner 2007 for sale

200,000 km. Two owners. Smart TRD 3.0 Good condition! Great deal! Call now!! 590,000 THB, Nony, Kathu, Phuket, Thailand, Nony_ntp@hotmail.com, (Eng/Thai) 099 2650808.

7 seater for rent

We have a New top-model Sienta 7 seater for rent. Has reverse camera, mag wheels, leather and automatic sliding doors. Available from Sept 7. Price daily or per month.

0848474377. stigisaan@gmail.com

@thephuketnews

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

CARS, TRUCKS FOR SALE UR

GE

NT

AMAZING DEAL!

Toyota Vios Model E with only 48,000 Km on it and I have been the only owner, bought in January 2015. Automatic, Power Windows, Electric Mirrors, Power Steering, Adjustable Steering Column, Remote Central Locking, CD/MP3 Player, Air con, ABS, Passengers and Drivers Airbag, Front Fog Lights Tinted Windows, Rubber Floor Mats, Rain Shields On All Windows, Reverse Parking Sensor. The car is fully up to date with all the Toyota maintenance checks. Only driven locally in Phuket. It is kept in great condition and is available to view in Chalong. Only 365,000 THB. If you are interested or Call Adam at 0910161167.

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Car rental @fair prices

Low season prices Monthly from 10,000 Baht. Daily from 400 BHT. High Season from 12,000 monthly. All our cars are in very good conditions at affordable prices. From 10,000 BHT monthly, Stig Johansson, 110/78 Moo 2 T Pa­klok A Thalang 83110 Phuket, stigisaan@gmail.com, 0848474377.

LIKE BRAND NEW

2014 Ford Focus S white w/ black leather interior, sunroof, full options, one owner, accident free. LED front, black roof, 9,400km. Ted Blenkers, Chalong Phuket kapitanted@gmail. com, 0899085199

Mitsubishi Mirage 10/2018

9 months old, 9,000km, first class insurance. Like new. THB 360,000. Andy, Call 082 281 5976 ENG/098 059 8714 THAI

FURNITURE Lis Anette Bergström

Luxury leather sofa by KELVIN GIORMANI As NEW Never used Price 135000 Now 50% off 67500. Anette, lisanette2002@gmail.com, 0930914502.

MEMBERSHIPS Blue Canyon Family Membership

Blue Canyon Country Club Family Membership For Sale 450,000 split transfer fee 092-801-9855

Golf Membership

Phuket Country Club. Family membership. Two golf courses. Walk or buggy.

Reduces for quick sale. 300,000 baht plus transfer fee. Alan, paradise11@mac. com, 084 065 7590

Loch Palm - Membership

280,000+transfer. Call 083 388 8036 and Thai 089 972 5378.

Loch Palm Memberships

Loch Palm Memberships with share (family) 340,000+1/2 transfer. Call 089 594 4067.

PROPERTY WANTED 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!

COMMUNITY Play Bridge

Come and join our happy group of Bridge players. Whether you are a beginning or champion, you will have a great time with people from many countries.

Didier, 080 142 8122.

House Wanted in Chalong

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

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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

Buy & Sell SERVICES Credit and investment in private section

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

The Phuket News @thephuketnews

PROPERTY FOR SALE

With honesty, we are offering credit and investment in private section with excellent condition.

Please feel free to contact us for more information. Georgette, GEORGESVALLER@ financier.com

SPORTING GOODS, EXERCISE Oceanus Speargun for Sale

▪72cm speargun ▪2 new Dunlop bands with wishbones ▪1 stock steel spear ▪1 tempered-steel Salvimar spear ▪10m of multifiliment line Rawai, Phuket, 618921323.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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

Seaview Condo for sale Karon

Luxury Condo for sale 300 m. from the beach. 100 sqm., furnished, parking, 4th floor, foreign freehold, 1 bedr. Reduced from 6.9m. Claudio, claudstrey@gmail. com, 0867479292.

2 or 5 BR OCEAN FRONT CONDO

137-274 sqm (2 or 5 BR)/180 sqm terrace. 5 bath. Inside 5 stars hotel estate. New hotel projected 2022?. Foreign/Thai freehold. 18 or 28 M THB. Agents welcome. Contact: Khun Gim mob. +(66)859182238/waruneehangan@hotmail.com

2 bed, 2 bath Stunning Villa

Stunning 2 bed, 2 bath fully furnished villa for sale in Baan Wana gated community, Cherngtalay. Large backyard w/ spacious patio. Swimming pool with new outdoor shower. Fully equipped European kitchen.

Email: mrsglasses1@gmail.com for full color property brochure 9,600,000 baht , Khun Ju, Baan Wana Pool Villa, Unit 4a, phukethrm@hotmail.com, +66835037655.

Luxury Condo Sale

2 Bedroom, fully equipped Kitchen – 212 SQM. Very high standard with a nice view.

2 Big Balcony, Jacuzzi. Location: Kathu, 5 min. Phuket Town and all department stores and International Hospitals. 086-268-7901.

THB 11,5 M, Martin, martinhkt@yahoo.com

White sand beach

29 Rai with breathtaking views and 128 meter of white sand beach frontage on Koh Yao Yai , just 20 minutes from Phuket away , secure Chanote tittle , public concrete road , water, electricity and ready to build for sale direct from owner for only 5.5 mln per Rai. Montha, montha_phuket@yahoo.com, 095 0147888.

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.

OCEAN FRONT VILLA

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

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 engl/deutsch, price is negotiable picharly@gmail.com, 66870608400

Villa in Patong prime location

Villa in central Patong , top condition.

Can generate 1.3 MB tourist rental income/y . 3 bed, 3 bath, 160sqm living.

Furnished, garden. Ms. Manatchanok, 0800409411.

PROPERTY FOR SALE G UR

T EN

SA

LE

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 Bedroom Condo Kata For Sale

PROPERTY FOR RENT G UR

EN

Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa

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Absolute Beachfront Pool Villa, 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, fully serviced. Short Term Rental from 35‘000 THB/Week to 195‘000 Month depend on Season. Long Term on Agreement.

Casa Lagoon Phuket House 4 Rent

We have four houses with AmaZing Lagoon view Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully furnished available for short & long-term rental in a quiet area located in Koh Kaew area Phuket 0624236499.

Thalang House for RENT

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

2 Bedrooms, semi-furnished with next door gym and smiming pool. 199/167 Moo 9 Thepkasattri Rd. Thalang Phuket, 089 882 9246 sawasdeeka84@hotmail.com

Super villa for sale

Condo in Patong for Rent

Super villa for sale. 4 bed, 4 bath, 450 sqm private pool villa, 500 sqm land, Heavily reduced price 14.9M. Call +66 (0) 92-6950329 15.000.000 baht, +66 (0) 92-6950329.

Full-furnished studio with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchenette, mountain view, and free wifi. 2 Rooms available; 66 sq.m and 88 sq.m. Start from 25,000 THB/month, Jane, social@ karonseasand.com, 062 842 4861.

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

Villa Mission Heights Big Pool

CONDO FOR SALE THE DECK PATONG

44 sqm Condo for sale at THB 5,200,000 – Parking space included – Quiet Unit – email: sale. hd.design@outlook.com - 66937198098.

PROPERTY FOR RENT

COMMUNITY

3bed, 3 1/2 bath, 330sqm living, 900 sqm land, very quite aera, 2 km mission hill golf, 6km UWC, 8 km airport. owner finance.

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7 Bed Boutique Hotel for Sale

A unique opportunity to buy a beautiful, fully licensed and 100% legally compliant boutique hotel business in Cherng Talay. The resort has full restaurant, alcohol and cigarette licenses.

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PROPERTY FOR RENT

1 story building for rent

150m2 - Located in Allamanda 1 Laguna Phuket is available for rent. Rent is negotiable especially for long term lease. 096 646 6287.

House in Boat Lagoon for rent

Boat Lagoon-Only 5 minutes from BIS, 3 bed/4bath. Great for families with kids. Furnished. Longterm (12 months or longer) Available now. 50.000, Claudio, claudstrey@gmail. com, 0867479292.

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

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

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thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Phuket’s Yan shows No Mercy in Vegas victory MMA

The Phuket News editor3@thephuketnews.com

P

huket-based Petr Yan was in dominant mood at UFC 245 in Las Vegas (Dec 14) as he knocked out Urijah Faber in the third round of their Bantamweight clash courtesy of a devastating kick to the head.

“No Mercy” certainly lived up to his name with a confident display of pure power and control, dominating the Octagon from the outset and never giving “The California Kid” Faber even a glimpse of an opening to attack.

Yan stayed patient during the early exchanges before finally getting the breakthrough, stunning Faber with a straight left. He dropped Faber to the canvas twice in the second round with big punches and opened up a nasty cut with an elbow strike which could have seen the fight stopped.

The doctor allowed Faber to continue into the third and final round although it lasted a mere 43 seconds as a per-

@thephuketnews

Phuket-based Petr Yan connects with opponent Urijah Faber on the way to his third round victory at UFC 245 in Las Vegas last Saturday (Dec 14). Photo: AFP fectly placed left high kick by Yan while exiting the clinch dazzled his opponent and left him reeling backwards to the fence in defeat.

“I’m very glad I won, I’m really happy. I hope today Urijah’s fans are gonna become my fans,” Yan told Joe Rogan inside the Octagon. “When

I exit the clinch I always try to strike.”

Yan says he wants a title shot next against bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, mocking the latter’s self-proclaimed “Triple C” status as “Triple Clown”.

Victory against Faber extended 26-year-old Yan’s

impressive record to 14-1.

“I’m very glad that my career in the UFC is progressing so quickly. I’m working very hard for it, it’s not easy, I had a lot of fights this year and I’m glad I could finish this year with such a big win,” Yan said via his official Twitter account.

SPORT 29

Game of drones as ‘Milk’ shakes rivals E-SPORTS T H A I LA N D’S WA Nraya “Milk” Wannapong continued her mastery in drone racing by retaining the crown in a world competition in China.

The 12-year-old won the women’s race organised by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) on Saturday, beating her older South Korean and American competitors in the competition held outside Ningbo, 150km south of Shanghai.

“She successfully defended her title to finish ahead of Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Ten Ma, 34, of the USA,” the organisers said on a message posted on its Facebook account last Sunday.

Milk stunned the world last year when, aged 11, she became the youngest drone racing champion in the contest in Shenzhen.

This year, South Korean drone racers dominated the event with wins in the overall, junior and team categories.

Wanraya Wannapong, 12, after defending her drone racing crown in Ningbo, China. Photo: World Air Sports Federation Markus Haggeney, the FAI acting secretary general, praised them all, but had special words for the young girl from Thailand..

“Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years old,” he said.

The competition drew 112 participants this year.

Bangkok Post

30 SPORT

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Tiger roars to unlikely win

Playing-captain Woods inspires Presidents cup comeback GOLF Martin Parry

T

iger Woods’ United States produced a stunning turnaround to deny the Internationals a first Presidents Cup in 21 years Sunday (Dec 15), dominating the singles on a tense final day that went to the wire at Royal Melbourne.

Veteran Matt Kuchar was the hero, with his winning putt on the 17th in the penultimate match enough to ensure victory, sparking wild celebrations from playing-captain Woods, who set the tone by getting the first point on the board.

It was a crushing loss for Ernie Els’ young Internationals who led for the first three days of the biennial matchplay event.

They went into Sunday’s 12 singles matches with a 10-8 lead but Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson were among those racing to big early leads as the scoreboard became swathed in US red.

Webb Simpson beat South Korea’s An Byeong-hun to guarantee the US a share of the Cup at 15-12 with three matches still in play.

Australian Cameron Smith grabbed a point by beating Justin Thomas, ensuring a nailbiting finale with Kuchar’s birdie to go one-up on

US team captain Tiger Woods and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Presidents Cup golf tournament. Photo: AFP 17 enough to secure at least half a point and ensure there was no way back for Els’ team.

“I trusted all my 11 guys. I trusted them implicitly. I told them from the very get go. They went out there and got the points we needed. We fought,” said Woods.

“Even the points we lost, we were making them earn every one

of them, and this Cup wasn’t going to be given to us. We had to go earn it, and we did.”

No side before had rallied to win on the last day after trailing for three days, further cementing the reputation of Woods, who went undefeated in his three matches.

President Donald Trump, an avid golf fan, immediately paid tribute on

social media.

“Congratulations to Tiger and the entire US Team on a great comeback and tremendous WIN. True Champions!” he tweeted.

The playing-captain, in his ninth Presidents Cup, took the responsibility of going out first in the singles and won 3 and 2 against battling Mexican Abraham Ancer.

In doing so he passed Phil Mickelson to become the most successful Presidents Cup golfer in history with a 27-15-1 win-loss-tie record to his countryman’s 26-16-13.

“I could have made different choices in the singles today. I can take it on my shoulders,” said Els. “The questions will come that I made mistakes in the selection of where I put my players, but I followed a plan 100%, and it didn’t quite work out. But we came damn close.”

At one stage the Americans were ahead in nine matches, and world number five Dustin Johnson ensured a second point, crushing Li Haotong 4 and 3.

It ended a difficult Presidents Cup for the first Chinese player to take part – Li was overlooked for the opening two days and never looked at ease.

Patrick Reed’s caddie was banned after shoving a fan on Saturday as tensions boiled over following the controversial American’s penalty for improving his lie in the Bahamas last week.

The former Masters champion turned to his swing coach to carry his bag and raced to six-up through seven holes against Taiwan’s CT Pan in front of taunting fans before closing out a 4 and 2 win.

AFP

thephuketnews

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Ozil kicking out at global controversy FOOTBALL

The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

S

imilar to his laconic playing style, Mesut Ozil seems to court controversy in an almost effortless manner.

He has been heavily criticised for several years over a lack of desire and commitment on the field, at club and international level, yet possessing a great desire to bank a staggering pay check each week from his employers Arsenal.

Controversial Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was best man at his wedding earlier this year. Shortly after he was ambushed by armed robbers in broad daylight in London, although it must be stressed he was very much the victim on that occasion.

This week has been another tumultuous one for the German.

He was booed off the field by certain sections of the Emirates crowd during the trouncing by Manchester City last Sunday (Dec 15).

That disdain may have been due to yet another ineffective on-field display or the fact that, when substituted with his team trailing 0-3, he decided to take a slow, casual stroll towards the touchline instead of an urgent exit.

Regardless, it riled the home support who let their angst show. He responded by rolling up his gloves and kicking them towards the bench – the only shot he made on target all day, critics quipped – before slumping sullenly into a clear sulk.

Two days earlier, a broader controversy occurred when Ozil posted on Instagram to his millions of followers his views on the persecution of the Uighur community in

@thephuketnews

SPORT 31 English Premier League 2019 - 2020 1

Team

MP

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Liverpool

17

16

1

0

42

14

+28

49

2

Leicester City

17

12

3

2

40

11

+29

39

3

Manchester City

17

11

2

4

47

19

+28

35

4

Chelsea

17

9

2

6

31

25

+6

29

5

Tottenham Hotspur

17

7

5

5

32

24

+8

26

6

Manchester United

17

6

7

4

26

20

+6

25

7

Sheffield United

17

6

7

4

21

16

+5

25

8

Wolverhampton

17

5

9

3

24

21

+3

24

9

Crystal Palace

17

6

5

6

15

19

-4

23

17

5

7

5

24

27

-3

22

10 Arsenal 11 Newcastle United

17

6

4

7

17

24

-7

22

12 Burnley

17

6

3

8

22

29

-7

21

13 Brighton

5

5

7

21

25

-4

20

18

14 Bournemouth

17

5

4

8

19

24

-5

19

15 West Ham United

17

5

4

8

19

28

-9

19

16 Everton

17

5

3

9

20

29

-9

18

17

17

4

3

10

23

30

-7

15

18 Southampton

17

4

3

10

18

36

-18

15

19 Norwich City

17

3

3

11

18

35

-17

12

20 Watford

17

1

6

10

9

32

-23

9

Aston Villa

Mesut Ozil is using his position of influence to shake the global political landscape. Photo: AFP China, condemning his fellow Muslims for their silence on the issue.

Ozil is a Muslim who won the World Cup with the German national team before quitting international football amid claims of racism and disrespect over his Turkish heritage.

His post drew an angry response from Chinese statecontrolled media and social media platforms. The Chinese Football Association issued a statement that the Arsenal star “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people” despite censoring the content of the post so readers didn’t know why their feelings had been hurt.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV cancelled live coverage of Arsenal’s game against Manchester City. The foreign ministry even stepped in and said the footballer had been “blindfolded by fake news”.

Many have applauded him for speaking out about the Uighur’s plight and helping to raise awareness of one of the worst human rights atrocities of the modern era.

His club, however, are not one of those.

Double standards?

Arsenal immediately distanced themselves from the player, no doubt placing their commercial interests ahead of any potential political or human rights quarrel.

They will have witnessed the recent fallout involving NBA team the Houston Rockets whose General Manager Daryl Morey had tweeted in support of protesters in Hong Kong.

The repercussions were severe as a storm between China and the NBA ensued.

Arsenal took to Chinese social media platform Weibo.

“Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement,” it read. “The content published is Ozil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”

It seems strange then that the club took no stance when, only a day previous, defender

Hector Bellerin spoke out via an expletive tweet urging people to vote against the Conservative party and Boris Johnson in the recent UK general election.

Maybe Arsenal don’t see as much financial gain in the UK post-Brexit as they do in the “lucrative” Chinese market? It certainly appears they threw Ozil under the bus.

Football, the global game Events took another turn on Tuesday (Dec 17) when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stepped in to share his views.

“China‘s Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor @MesutOzil1088 and @Arsenal’s games all season long, but the truth will prevail,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter. ”The CCP can’t hide its gross #HumanRights violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world,” he said. Seems football truly is the global game.

One thing for certain is Ozil has once again kicked the

Live Sports TV Schedule *Times may be subject to change

SPORT

START STOP

EVENT

TEAMS / INFO

Friday 20 Dec th

Cricket

12:00 20:00 Test Match 2 - Karachi Pakistan v. Sri Lanka, Day 2

Saturday 21st Dec Rugby Union 22:00 00:00 Gallagher Premiership 00:00 02:00 Gallagher Premiership Soccer

Soccer

Cricket

Leicester v. Exeter Sale v. Northampton

19:30 21:30

EPL

Everton v. Arsenal

22:00 00:00

EPL

Newcastle v. Crystal Palace

00:30 02:30

EPL

Man City v. Leicester

22:00 00:00

EPL

Norwich v. Wolves

00:30 02:30

EPL

Aston Villa v. Southampton

12:00 20:00 Test Match 2 - Karachi Pakistan v. Sri Lanka, Day 3

Sunday 22nd Dec Rugby Union 23:00 01:00 Gallagher Premiership Soccer

Cricket

London Irish v. Bath

21:00 23:00

EPL

Watford v. Man United

23:30 01:00

EPL

Tottenham v. Chelsea

15:00 23:00

ODI3 - Cuttack

India v. West Indies

hornet’s nest and agitated many.

Controversy seems to shadow him more effectively than an on-field opponent tasked to follow his every move.

Irrespective of opinion, for a sports star to so rattle the world’s number two economy then receive direct endorsement from its first speaks volumes as to the world we live in and

how a game can transcend its boundaries.

Ultimately it is just a game, something Ozil clearly recognises. Maybe he will now just hunker down and focus on lending some much needed support to help lift his team this weekend against Everton.

Let his feet do the talking. Now wouldn’t that be controversial.

Sport

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

THEPHUKETNEWS.COM

editor3@classactmedia.co.th

Arsenal’s Ozil causing a global stir > p31

CREST OF A WAVE

Phuket’s SEA Games Silver Medalist on her win and surfing future Annissa Flynn catching a break.

Photo: Surfing Federation of Thailand

SURFING The Phuket News editor3@classactmedia.co.th

P

huket surfing sensation Annissa Flynn won a silver medal in the women’s short board competition at the recent SEA Games in the Philippines. She is also three-time defending women’s world flowboard champion.

The Phuket News managed to catch up with her to hear about her competItion experience, her views on the sport and what the future holds for her.

Talk to us about your experience at the recent SEA Games, in particular the silver medal triumph in the short board finals.

I was extremely lucky to have had

two weeks to stay in La Union with the Thailand team before the competition started. We had professional support from Next Level Surf Coaching out of Byron Bay, Australia and coach Pete was with us the whole time to help us through everything we needed to know. We were also really fortunate to have a full support team including a physiotherapist so everything support wise was set. During the actual contest and every heat that I went into I didn’t think about the outcome at all. I just wanted to do my absolute best and give it my all. And I couldn’t be happier that I was able to bring a silver medal back home.

This now opens up major doors of opportunity – what are the next steps and what does the

future hold?

Thailand’s national surfing team is currently working out my schedule for next year and it will definitely mean more and more competition. I think the 2020 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China next November is definitely on my schedule. I’m really excited for what the future has in store for me.

You’re also a women’s world flowboarding champion. Can you tell us a little more about this?

The surfing high season here in Phuket lasts for about five to six months [May to November]. Outside of that conditions are flat and waves all but non-existent. Flowboarding is a great alternative. I started about six years ago and immediately loved it! It blends elements of surfing, bodyboarding and snowboarding as

you ride an artificial wave called a FlowRider. We currently have two Flowriders in Phuket: at Surf House in Kata and Surf House Patong. I won my first world title in Mexico in 2017 and have defended it successfully ever since.

What does surfing mean to you and what do you like most about it? What’s the best place you’ve surfed and your favourite place to surf?

Like many things, surfing is very personal and it is hard to describe to someone who doesn’t have that personal connection. For me the feeling of being out there on the water not thinking about anything is very calming, almost like a form of meditation. And the actual surfing itself is like standing on water, a truly magical feeling.

One of my favourite spots to surf is Banda Aceh, off Sumatra in Indonesia. The break is left-handed and it creates a perfect ‘A frame’, a peak-shaped wave that breaks equally left and right. It’s really secluded and not may people know about it, so it’s one of my favourite spots to date.

Who has been your biggest influence as a role model, personally and professionally?

Ever since I was young, Stephanie Gilmore has always been my surfing idol. The way she surfs with such power and flow, it’s just truly incredible.

My parents are my main role models. They have made me who I am today, they have supported me through everything and I couldn’t be happier to have them in my life.

European victory in 6th Pryder Cup at Kamala Lawn Bowls Club BOWLS THE 6TH EDITION OF the Pryder Cup – Kamala Lawn Bowls Club’s equivalent of the Presidents or Ryder Cup in golf – took place on Tuesday (Dec 17) when a team representing Europe locked horns against a Rest of the World (ROW) collective.

The Europeans were

defending their trophy for the third time, but with the addition of some new blood in their team the ROW team had high hopes.

After the opening foursomes were shared, the score stood at 1-1, with all to play for. With one point for a win and a half for a draw, seven and a half points was the “magic” number to reach to win the Cup. The Europeans took a

gamble and left their strongest players till last when perhaps the ROW should have loaded their middle section in hindsight.

Going against expectations, the European middle three pulled off a white wash. Crucially “Honorary” European player for the day player Vorada (Nid Noi) Junkiri pulled off a remarkable comeback against Deb Coleman, snatching victory

from the jaws of defeat with a maximum four on their last end to complete the unlikely clean sweep.

This left Europe with an unassailable 8-3 margin going into the last three games.

The ROW team did salvage some pride by those remaining games 2 to 0.5 to leave the overall score 8.5 to 5.5 in Europe’s favour, meaning they regained the trophy.

The victorious European team stand proud after capturing the ‘Pryder Cup’ at Kamala Lawn Bowls Club, Tuesday (Dec 17). Photo: Rob Knight.

Kamala Lawn Bowls Club is open six days a week.

All equipment is provided.

For more info contact the club on 0948987476.

Robert Knight thephuketnews