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Gregbee
31-12-05, 05:37 PM
Does anyone know what became of the story regarding a German couple who claimed that a photo showed their lost daughter alive a day after the tsunami. They claimed they were 1 million per cent sure it was her and travelled to Phuket to find her.
This was the last I read, in Phuket Gazette of 17th Dec. It was frontpage and a quick examination of subsequent online frontpages reveals nothing:-
http://www.phuketgazette.net/secondweek/news.asp#1
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has assigned a team to help Sascha and Patchara “Riem” Meissmer investigate the identity and whereabouts of a Eurasian-looking girl in a photograph posted on the Internet.
The Meissmers believe the girl in the picture may be their daughter, Solitaire, who was identified as having died in last year’s tsunami.
The Governor said on December 13, “The girl in the photo does resemble their daughter. We are not sure who she is, but I want to help the Meissmers find answers to their questions.
“The Royal Thai Police and Phuket Province will co-ordinate efforts to help them. With the local police we are now trying to investigate when and where the photo was taken, and what happened to the girl in the picture.
“We need to gather information on the children processed at the OrBorJor on December 27 and 28. We will check the list of passengers [evacuated by air] with the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office and the Thammasat center on relevant dates to see if there were girls of [Solitaire’s] age on one of those flights. If there were, the next step will be to find out where they are now.
“I do not think there has been a mistake in the DNA matching process, as a number of different experts agreed that the match [of a body identified as being Solitaire, which was later cremated] was 99.99%. Nonetheless, the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) unit will set up a team to re-examine the case.”
TTVI Joint Chief of Staff Pol Col Pornprasert Kanjanarin said, “To reassure the family, we will look into the case again. However, we have full confidence in our [DNA matching] process.”
Asked whether the original DNA match might have been from a family other than the Meissmers, he responded, “In all cases, we have what is called a ‘chain of custody’ at every point in the process and we have documented everything. We know what samples were sent to the lab when and by whom, so we have confidence in the results.
“We can take a DNA sample again [from the Meissmers] but not from the victim’s body, which has already been cremated.”
Mr Meissmer commented, “I am pleased that the Governor and the TTVI are willing to look into the matter; 99.99% is still not 100%, and I can’t help wondering if there may have been a DNA mix-up of some kind.”
K. Riem said, “On December 26, I held onto Solitaire as tightly as I could, but the second wave ripped her out of my arms. A friend later told me he saw my daughter being rescued. I have long sensed that my daughter is still alive somewhere, and when I saw the picture [on the Internet], I felt more sure. We may yet find her.
“I can’t get the photo out of my mind,” Mr Meissmer told the Gazette earlier. “We cannot stop looking for Solitaire now. If we did, one day I might look at her photo and ask myself, ‘Why didn’t I look deeper into this?’”
“It is just possible that the girl in that photo is our daughter,” Mr Meissmer said. “We have to do whatever we can to find out. I don’t want to reach age 50 or 60 thinking I could have found my daughter years ago if only I had tried harder.”
The photograph may be seen at www.phuketremembers.com/gallery/CIMG2608.jpg
By Shiona Mackenzie
& Anongnat Sartsiput
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Capsized tour boat ‘not overcrowded’ – Marine Police
PHUKET: The ill-fated tour boat that capsized and sank in stormy seas off the Phi Phi Islands yesterday was not overloaded at the time of the disaster, Krabi Marine Office Chief Suriya Kittimonthon told the Gazette today.
The 17.4-meter vessel was not overcrowded and a vessel of that size would normally be rated for about 60 passengers, he said.
However, documents held by the boat’s current owner, Suriyan Sroyson, list it with an operational passenger capacity of only 11 passengers, possibly for tax or business purposes, K. Suriya said.
..........
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5943
Phi Phi death boat overloaded
65 tourists were on board the King Fisher, which was licensed to carry only 15 people.
---------------------------------------------
The capsized boat King Fisher, which sank off Phi Phi island on Tuesday, was carrying 50 more people than allowed, chief of Krabi Marine Transport Office Suriya Kittimonthon said yesterday.
He said police have already detained boat driver Suriyan Soison, 34, for further questioning.
The King Fisher was taking the tourists to Maya Bay, a popular diving spot in Krabi, when it capsized.
An Israeli man died and another Israeli tourist was seriously injured, said Pol Maj-Gen Choochat Suwannakhom, Tourist Police Division commander.
The dead man was identified as Nissim Lugasi, 33. He was trapped under the boat and died.
The propeller almost cut off the left leg of another Israeli tourist, Adam Bedbichevsky, 24. Mr Bedbichevsky is now in stable condition.
Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said his ministry will ask authorities in destinations where water and marine sports are popular to strictly enforce water transport safety.
May expire soon
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121393
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Blacklist threatened for bars that break request for ‘national mourning silence’
PHUKET (Kom Chad Luek, Gazette): Muang District Chief Wisit Kurattanavej this afternoon threatened to blacklist entertainment venues that do not follow the government’s request to observe the national mourning of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed away early yesterday morning.
K. Wisit made the announcement at a meeting to discuss a ban on “entertainment noise” during the 15-day national mourning period, which began yesterday.
At the meeting were Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima and top officials including Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth and Phuket’s three district chiefs.
At the meeting it was announced that each District Office today began distributing a letter asking entertainment operators to not stage any live music performances and not use any sound systems during the 15-day period.
In the meantime, apart from the request for silence, entertainment venues can trade as usual.
Normal noise levels on the island can resume January 17.
As for public celebrations, the Phuket Provincial Red Cross Fair currently underway at Saphan Hin will continue until Monday as originally scheduled, but with all concerts and stage performances canceled.
The ban on celebrations will also affect Children’s Day on January 12. “Activities can still proceed as planned but we ask that organizers adjust the entertainment lineup so that it is in line with the request for silence, which will show children how important the Royal Family is,” Vice-Governor Worapoj said.
Phuket, Thailand
17:44 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?ref=2008139134
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Phuket rakes in B94bn in 2007
PHUKET: Suwalai Pinpradap, director of the Southern Region 4 office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has announced that more than 5 million tourists visited Phuket in 2007, spending a total of 94.239 billion baht.
She forecast that this year there would be 6 million visitors to the island.
According to the TAT’s latest statistics, about 8 million tourists visited Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces, together spending a total of 120 billion baht.
Phuket was clearly the three provinces’ leading money maker, with about 62.5% of visitors to the region visiting the island, and 78.5% of the region’s income being realized in Phuket.
Phuket, Thailand
12:09 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6578
See also NEW 'Phuket Crime' thread:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=3431
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tourism steady despite economic woes
PHUKET CITY: Despite global economic problems, tourism in Phuket continues to grow, with 4.79 million tourists having passed through Phuket International Airport since the beginning of the fiscal 2008, up 600,000 from the same period a year earlier.
Anoma Thongyai, deputy director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) South Region 4 Office in Phuket, revealed the figures at the monthly Governor Meets the Press conference held on August 15.
Although fuel prices are still high and tourism destinations around the world have felt the strain of a volatile global economy, occupancy rates in Phuket's hotels remain at between 40% and 55%, about average for low season on the island, Khun Anoma added.
One area of change lies in the spending habits of tourists, who after shelling out for costly air tickets are more careful about spending and less likely to buy extravagant items on impulse, she said.
Tourists visiting Phuket this low season are come mostly from Australia, the Middle East, India, Hong Kong, China, Korea and Japan. The number of Japanese visitors is increasing, partially in response to the reopening of the direct Narita-Phuket route in July, which has seen load factors averaging about 90%.
There are also eight charter flights operating between Hong Kong and Phuket.
While the number of foreign visitors has remained steady, fewer Thais have been visiting, said K. Anoma.
She cited the reduction in domestic flights available from carriers low-cost Nok Air and One-Two-Go as a major factor.
PIA Director Wg Cmdr Wicha Nernlop said that after One-Two-Go and Nok Air ceased operating flights from Phuket, some100 tourists a day were left waiting for standby seats on flights out of PIA, leading to cramped conditions in the airport's waiting area.
THAI Airways is expected to announce the addition of several more flights between Bangkok and Phuket, he said.
However, a member of THAI Airways reservations department today told the Gazette that the only impending increase in carrying capacity would come on September 1, when flight TG 1221 from Don Meuang to Phuket, and its return leg, would resume service.
The flights were suspended starting March 30 for the low season, she said.
There are no new flights planned, but THAI might add special, non-scheduled flights to help meet passenger demand during peak periods, she added.
Phuket, Thailand
16:22 local time (GMT +7)
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=6720
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