Allied landed on Phuket
The Tokyo radio reported tonight that Allied troops, driving into the narrow waist of the Malay Peninsula, had landed on the island of Phuket.
Los Angeles Times, July 26, 1945
Phuket Isle Once Valued Tin Source
Phuket Island where Allied troops have landed according to Japanese assertions, once held half of all the tin resources of Thailand (formerly Siam). It was Rated Thailand’s Chief Treasury for That Commodity
The Hartford Courant, August 1, 1945
War Graves well kept
The graves of Australian prisoners of war who died while working on the Burma-Siam railway were well looked after, and the cemetery was a credit to the War Graves Commission and the Siamese caretakers in charge.
This was stated by Edward A. Lamb, of Takuapa Valley Tin Dredging Company, West Siam.
Canberra Times, January 6, 1948
Australian mine foreman ambushed
Au Australian tin mine foreman, critically ill after a savage attack in an ambush on a lonely island off the west coast of Thailand, was today flown 300 miles to Penang. […] He had been ambushed on the island on April 3, while on his way to the Katu tin dredge, where he was chief foreman.
The Age, April 12, 1956
Developing fast
This kingdom’s tourist industry is developing fast, but it is still far from developed.
New York Times, March 2, 1969, Sunday
Dreams
Thailand Isles Are the Stuff of Which Dreams Are Made.
Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1978
Calm Oasis
For all its big-city fascination, Bangkok can wear you down. At that point, its greatest charm lies in the ease with which you can leave it for the fresh air and greenery of up-country resorts ("upcountry" means anywhere in Thailand outside of Bangkok). Phuket Island: Calm, green oasis
Chicago Tribune, October 26, 1975
Red break up wedding
About 50 communist insurgents attending a wedding party in Southern Thailand opened fire on 30 policemen who had surrounded the house. Two insurgents were killed and one policeman was injured in the 10-minute shootout Friday in a district of Krabi province.
The Ledger, September 5, 1977
Pirates
7 Pirates Rob Tourists of $10,000 Off Thai Coast
Los Angeles Times, February 5, 1980
15 Thais Die in Land Mine Blast in Krabi.
The incident occurred at dawn yesterday in Krabi Province. The mine is believed planted by Communists.
New York Times, August 26, 1980
Warning
The south, although not the resort town of Phuket, is a region of banditry and insurrections. Road travel is not recommended.
New York Times, November 2, 1980
High prices
I had been tempted to Phuket by the promise of cheap and plentiful seafood. I was disappointed. Prices were relatively high and quality lacking. […] However, eat at the fishing village of Kan Eang. The place is unpretentious with shacks and dirt floors. Specialties are fresh seafood smoked over coconut husk fires.
New Strait Times, Aug 9, 1981
“Patong is a beautiful beach and you can swim in the waters all day since even at low tide the beach is white and sandy, the waters deep enough and still crystal clear. This can be said of all the west coast beaches but the cheaper stretches on Karon and Kata are more inaccessible by public transport.”
New Strait Times, August 9, 1981
A Sparkling Jewel
Phuket is what many would call paradise. The most beautiful areas of the island are just remote enough to discourage development by large hotel chains – at least for the present. On these beaches the only man-made structures are thatched-roof straw huts.
These straw “bungalows” rent for $2 a day. They are clean and equipped with veranda, double bed, shower, toilet, and plenty of room for two. Electricity is provided by a generator that is turned on at sunset and off at 11 pm.
Toledo Blade, October 18, 1981
Red-light District Swept By Fire, 7 Die
The cause of the fire, which left about 700 people homeless, was being investigated by police combing through a slum area in the central district of Phuket.
January 30, 1984
Slice of paradise
Phuket Island swings, but it’s still a slice of paradise
St. Petersburg Times, February 5, 1989
More trouble in paradise
Tourists on Thailand’s idyllic Phuket Island, where more than 300,000 visitors annually enjoy palm-lined beaches and seaside restaurants, were hard put last week to find much serenity. The peace was shattered by some 50,000 rampaging residents, angry at the projected opening of a tantalum factory near downtown Phuket.
Protesters feared that pollutants from the refining of tantalum, a tin by-product used in the production of electronic equipment, might poison both the island’s water supply and its blossoming tourist trade.
Industry Minister Chirayu Isarangkun arrived in Phuket to announce that plans to open the hated factory would be shelved, but he was forced to retreat to a neighboring province without delivering his message. Rioters looted and burned the hotel where the Minister was thought to be hiding, vandalized three banks and set fire to the factory.
Time Magazine, July 7, 1986
Drug runner arrested
Convicted Australian drug runner Donald Roy Tait is being questioned on the Thai resort island of Phuket concerning nearly 4,5 poinds of heroin found in the storeroom of his hotel, police said Tuesday.
The Courier, July 31, 1984
Thai court clears man of drug charge
An Australian pilot condemned to death on drug charges walked out of a Thai jail a free man last night. Donald Tait, 54, of Casino, Australia, who spent 3 1/2 years in prison here, was released after Thailand’s Supreme Court threw out heron trafficking charges against him on Monday. […] A Bangkok Appeals Court in January 1986 overturned the verdict for lack of evidence.
New Straits Times, February 13, 1988
James Bond villains giving way to Thai souvenir sellers
Toronto Star, February 4, 1989
Penang – Phuket
Penang and Phuket were closely linked in the old days. Most goods came from Penang Island; buildings in Phuket were shaped along the linges of those in Penang. Phuket has also the distinction of being probably the only town in Thailand with a good drainage system.
The young were sent to study in Penang and when it was time to get married, it was Penang the young men would go to in search of a Nonya bride.
New Strait Times, March 6, 1986
Underwear model arrested in Phuket temple
An American underwear model and a photographer were arrested Sunday after the photo session inside Chung Len temple, in the southern island resort of Phuket, said Pol. Lt. Amnuey Kraiwuttianant.
Ruth Young, 23, who posed in her underwear while sitting on a Buddha statue, was arrested on charges of desecrating the statue, police said today.
Deseret News, February 24, 1989
Thais to expand Phuket airport
Thailand is to expand the terminal building at Phuket airport. This is designed to promote tourism. Tourists who came to Phuket increased to 500,000 in 1986 from 200,000 in 1985.
Oana-Xinhua, June 14, 1987
Phuket Air crash
Neglect to monitor aircraft speed and inefficient air traffic instructions contributed to the crash of Thai Airways Boeing 737 which claimed 83 lives in Phuket on August 31.
Preliminary findings of the investigations into the disaster, Thailand’s worst domestic air accident, revealed that pilot and the co-pilot diverted their attention outside the cockpit when making final approach to Phuket airport.
New Straits Times, October 31, 1987
Government gambles future on casino
Thailand’s first fully elected Government in 12 years has staked its reputation, and possible its future, on the establishment of a casino after just two months in office. […] Having assembled a formidable array of 127 advisers, many whom caused raised eyebrows among Interior Ministry veterans, General Pramarn announces he had formed a panel to independently weigh up the merits of a casino.
The weighing-up process was remarkably rapid. A casino was a good idea, declared the panel after its first meeting. The only remaining question was its location.
At its next meeting, the panel, with similar dexterity, decided the casino should be built on the southern island of Phuket or in the impoverished north-east.
The Age, November 15, 1988
Baby-for-sale gang sought
Thai police are on the trail of a newly formed baby-for-sale gang.The gang had struck several times in the provinces of Surat Thani and Phuket in Southern Thailand. Investigations are being centred on the kidnap of a Phuket town council laborer’s son.
“The identity of the baby, his parents and the details of the case are being withheld by police to facilitate investigations..”
New Sunday Times, May 5, 1988
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