Thailand Live Wednesday 11 Aug 2010

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Transport Company offers 50 percent discount on Mother´s Day

BANGKOK (NNT) -- To honor the Thai National Mother’s Day, the Transport Company is offering a 50% discount to passengers who travel with their mothers during the entire month of August.

During the promotion period, which kicked off at the beginning of August, passengers who travel with their mothers will be entitled to the price deduction simply by showing their identity cards and a copy of their house registrations at the company’s ticket booths nationwide. According to Wuthichart Kalyanamitra, the Acting President of Transport Company Limited, passengers can avail themselves of this offer on all company’s buses, except for the 24-seat VIP and VIP double-decked ones. Suburban buses serving the routes under the distance of 100 kilometers and buses with tickets sold on board are also excluded from the offer.

Mr Wuthichart said that the company has been in support of the Thai government’s policy, such as the driving safely campaign. He stressed on the importance of relieving the burden of and giving back to the society. The Company has also participated in the building of artificial coral reefs, by sinking discarded vehicles into the seas, in honor of Their Majesties, he added.

-- NNT 2010-08-11

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Civil Court to organize blood drive on Mother's Day

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bangkok Civil Court will organize a public blood drive in honor of HM the Queen Sirikit’s birthday anniversary.

The blood drive will be held at the Civil Court on 12 August 2010, the National Mother's Day. Deputy Director of the Bangkok Civil Court judge Likit Rattaprapabphan will preside over the event by presenting a golden ornamental tray of flowers to and sign in the book of well-wishes for HM Queen Sirikit. The highlights of the event include merit-making rite, alms giving to monks, royal exhibition, and free lunch for participants.

Yesterday, the court judge council, civil servants, and Court employees donated blood at the Siriraj Hospital, in honor of Her Majesty the Queen, whose birthday anniversary will be celebrated nationwide tomorrow.

-- NNT 2010-08-11

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Drowned Bahraini tourist was a former lifeguard

Despite the red flags, foreign tourists continue to

tempt fate at Phuket's west coast beaches.

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Fugitive Red-Shirt Leader Arisman Reportedly Spotted Singing In Cambodian Hotel

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TEMPLE CONTROVERSY

PM Hun Sen's letter to UN "misquoted, out of context and misunderstood" : PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva tells the United Nations that letter of Cambodia' Prime Minister Hun Sen to the UN concerning Preah Vihear controversy is "misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood."

Abhisit said in his letter signed on August 10 to Vitaly Churkin, President of the United Nations Security Council, that despite the ongoing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the temple, they maintained close relationship under many bilateral and regional frameworks.

"I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that my remarks as appeared in the said letter were misquoted, taken out of context and misunderstood," according to the letter.

-- The Nation 2010-08-11

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Defense Minister wishes for peaceful country as birthday gift

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan wishes for a peaceful Thailand on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary celebration on Wednesday.

Permanent Secretary for Defense, General Apichart Penkitti, led the military top brass as well as officials of the Ministry to extend birthday wishes to General Prawit’s birthday at the 5-Province Adjoining Forest Preservation Foundation in the First Infantry Regiment King's Own Bodyguard today.

General Prawit said he would like to see the country peaceful and prosperous, and hoped that the main institutions of Thailand would be stabilized. According to him, the situation could be materialized if people rendered cooperation and stayed united.

The Minister also expressed his thanks for all well-wishers travelling to celebrate the occasion.

-- NNT 2010-08-11

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No casualties in Narathiwat car bombing

NARATHIWAT: -- A commercial bank branch office in the southern province of Narathiwat was targeted in a car bombing on Wednesday, but no injuries were reported in the latest violence in Thailand's insurgency-impacted border region.

Pol Lt-Col Somchai Noppasri, deputy superintendent of Narathiwat's Ruso police station, led his team to investigate the crime scene in front of Kasikorn Bank, Ruso branch, located just 150 metres from the police station and found a burning car.

After the fire was put out, police found fragments of explosive device in the remains of a 20 kg gas cylinder hidden in the car and believed it was detonated by mobile phone Wednesday morning.

The blast damaged the bank's glass entrance door, as well as ten other buildings in the area. No one was wounded in the incident.

Initial investigation said witnesses saw a young man drive the vehicle and park it outside the bank prior to another man driving a motorcycle to collect him.

More than 4,100 people were killed since insurgency-related incidents resumed in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat in 2004, with more complicated and more violent attacks. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-11

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Villagers react to tense situation at Thai-Cambodian border

BANGKOK: -- The situation along Thai-Cambodian border became more tense Wednesday as villagers avoided farming at border areas for fear that they could be captured by Cambodian troops following a recent opinion survey backing the government to push Cambodians out of the contested area near Preah Vihear temple.

Some villagers at Phoomsarol village in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province on the Cambodian border told reporters they were fearful regarding the tense situation and dared not to go to work on their farms near the border area for fear that they could be captured by Cambodian troops.

Meanwhile, soldiers from the Suranaree Task Force and the 16th Infantry Regiment set up barricades using concrete tubes and barbed wires, to strictly control the entrance and exit road to Preah Vihear.

At Surin province, Thai and Cambodian troops have deployed along the border line particularly at ancient Ta Muan Thom ruins, Phanom Dong Rak district.

Patrol units and soldiers are deployed at the entrance to the ruins round the clock but situation was normal. The Thai army however has reportedly prepared a contingency plan in response to any incident.

Meanwhile, Chong Chom border market in Kab Cheng district has been quiet as Cambodian villagers are fearful about crossing into Thai territory as tensions are building up.

The uneasy situation came after Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said in a recent interview that his government is uninterested in joining with Thailand to develop Preah Vihear temple, awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962.

The Suan Dusit Poll of Rajabhat Suan Dusit University survey released Tuesday found that a majority of respondents supported the Thai government to push Cambodians out of the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple.

UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status. UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission during its meeting in Brazil on July 29 postponed reviewing the management plan proposed by Cambodia to its 2011 session to be held in Bahrain.

Preah Vihear temple is located atop a 1,722-foot escarpment in the Dangrek Mountains, about 150 miles north of the Cambodian capital. Reaching it by road is easiest from the Thai side of the border. The two countries area are disputing a 4.6 sq km area of scrub near the temple. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-11

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Pheu Thai to push for Chavalit as next PM

The Pheu Thai Party will, at the upcoming poll, campaign for its party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as the next prime minister, party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Wednesday.

Prompong was speaking after Chavalit paid a visit on Tuesday to his Nakhon Phanom constituents, pledging to contest the race for the position of prime minister in a second term. Chavalit served briefly in 1997 before resigning to take responsibility for the financial crisis.

-- The Nation 2010-08-11

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Acclaimed Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev appears in Thai court for bail hearing on rape charge, asks for permission to leave Thailand for concert tour /via @MCOT

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Urgent Need For O-Negative At Ram Hospital Chiang Mai

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Phuket celebrates HM The Queen's Birthday

Phuket Governor Wichai Phriasa-ngop and his wife Thaisika plant

a Yang Na tree as Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana (left) looks on.

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Thai-Cambodian JBC Meeting Postponed

The Defense Ministry has revealed that the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee has postponed its talk indefinitely due to the inadequate preparation of documents.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-11

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Prosecutor Files Suit against Red-shirts with Court

The public prosecutor has filed suits against 19 red-shirt members with the Criminal Court with a review of the testimonies scheduled for Monday.

The authorities are still on the hunt for 6 other red-shirt members who have fled.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-11

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SET index closed at 862.16, up 0.21; Bt/USD31.56; GBP49.70; AUD28.30; EUR41.17; CAD30.20; HKD4.01; SGD23.10; JPY36.71

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26 red shirts to face arson trial in Udon Thani

Provincial prosecutors on Wednesday completed their review on cases involving red shirts in Udon Thani, deciding to target a first batch of 26 for trial.

The Udon Thani Provincial Court has scheduled Thursday for notifying charges to the defendants.

The defendants will be tried on two separate cases, prosecutor Sirichai Suthiwirakachorn said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-11

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Prosecutors issue indictments against 19 Red Shirt on terrorism, agitation; court hearing set for August 16 /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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"Perseid" Meteor showers observable on Mother´s Day

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Star gazers will be able to view "Perseid" Meteor showers, the King of Meteorites under the Thai sky on the night of the Mother’s Day.

According to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Prof Boonraksa Soonthorntham, the "Perseid" Meteor showers is predicted to occur on the night of 12 August until the morning of 13 August, especially after midnight and at around 04.00-05.00 hrs before sunrise.

Meanwhile, another phenomenon where the four planets circling the crescent moon, which will appear as a smiley face on the sky can be viewed at 19.00-20.00 hrs of 12 August. The two phenomena, however, are observable only under the non-overcast sky condition.

Prof Boonraksa also updated on the construction progress of the Stars Observatory in Chiang Mai, established to commemorate His Majesty the King’s 84 Birthday Anniversary, in which a 2.4m-diameter telescope being made in the United States will be ready for installation in mid 2011.

-- NNT 2010-08-11

Edited August 11, 2010 by webfact

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383 dengue cases in Phuket

An Aedes aegypti mosquito. GNU photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim.

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Thaksin claims he has been targeted with Supreme Court's refusal of his appeal in asset seizure case; vows to fight on /via @TAN_Network

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Asset appeal rejection expected, Thaksin to keep on seeking justice: adviser

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will carry on looking for justice following the high court's decision not to launch an appellate review on the Bt46 billion asset seizure case, his legal adviser Noppadon Patama said on Wednesday.

"We are disappointed because Thaksin has fallen prey to political bullying tactics since the coup to oust him from power," he said.

Noppadon said Thaksin had been informed about the rejection of his appeal and that the defence team would continue to explore options in seeking justice.

"I think after hearing the rejection, Thaksin and his family members felt they did not get fair treatment," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-11

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Suspicious case of Belgian suicide uncovered in Pattaya

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Update

Prosecutors issue indictments against 19 Red-Shirts on terrorism

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HM the Queen Thanks Thais for Well Wishes

On the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's birthday tomorrow, Her Majesty has addressed Thais, thanking them for their well wishes, which has given Her Majesty the support to continue working.

Her Majesty also assured Thais that His Majesty the King has regained his strength.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-11

Edited August 11, 2010 by webfact

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Hunt Out for Killers of Chonburi Brothers

Police in the eastern province of Chonburi have met to discuss the probe into the brutal murder of two brothers found dead last Sunday.

They believe the motive is likely related to a gang of loan sharks looking to threaten the mother of the victims.

Assistant national police chief Police Lieutenant General Assawin Kwanmuang, held talks with Chonburi police officers, asking them to speed up their hunt for the murderers of two local boys who were brutally slain on August 8.

Police said the boys, identified as Sahakit Tantrakul and Pattana Tantrakul, were brutally killed in a eucalyptus forest in broad daylight, but no witness has come forth.

While the two were on their way to a store to buy their mother a Mother's Day gift, the culprits intercepted them and later slit their throats.

Investigators are working around the clock to determine the murderers' whereabouts, given the brutal nature of the crime.

As for the motive, police are blaming a loan shark gang and believe that the culprits intended to threaten the mother of the victims. They have ruled out robbery as there was nothing missing.

Undercover police were assigned to look for possible suspects and a 100,000-baht reward was offered.

Police said the bodies of the two brothers will be sent to forensic experts for further examination.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-11

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to be continued

Thailand Live Thursday 12 August 2010

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