Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Aug 2010

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Bangkok Police begin permanent crackdown on traffic violations

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Missing Helicopter Found

The missing Natural Resource Ministry helicopter has been found to have made an emergency landing in Nan province due to heavy rain.

All passengers are safe.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-17

Edited August 17, 2010 by webfact

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Police Bust High School Students Using Meth

Police have discovered a group of high school students in possession of drugs inside a house during school hours.

Police in Phetchaburi province conducted a raid at a house in Muang district after having received a tip that a number of high school students were seen gathering inside the house during school hours.

Inside the smoke-filled house, police found six male and female students in uniform, aged between 14 and 16 years old. Some were seen as couples in separate rooms.

A 14 year-old male student has admitted to taking methamphetamines bought from a student at their school.

The students' identification cards have been recorded in a police report, and they were tested for drugs before being released to their parents.

Police say further investigation should lead to the arrest of the drug dealer.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-17

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Radio Thailand Phuket announces contest winner

The winning photo by Sakorn Jarasbusarakam.

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A drug addict beat an elderly couple to death at their home in Chaiyaphum in a robbery. The couple's 14-year-old grandson was injured. /via @Urisara_NT

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10mn THB lodged to bail out 5 UDD leaders

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has lodged 10 million THB to the Criminal Court in a bid to bail out its five core leaders with terrorism charges.

UDD lawyer Karom Poltaklang today travelled to the Court on Ratchadapisek Road to seek bail for the five suspects. The anti-government group spends 2 million THB on each core leader to support the request.

The five UDD leaders comprise UDD Secretary-General Nattawut Saikua, Mr Viputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, Mr Kwanchai Praipana, Mr Nisit Sinthuprai, and Mr Yosawarit Chuklom (Jeng Dokjik).

According to Mr Karom, the bail was requested on the grounds that the five UDD members should be granted a chance to collect evidences to fight against the allegation by themselves since they were indicted with the terrorism charge which is a serious offence carrying execution as the highest penalty.

Moreover, all the five UDD members had surrendered themselves to authorities and have never attempted to escape. Interrogations by inquiry officers have also been completed while public prosecutors do not oppose the request for the bail, Mr Karom said.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

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Airport Link to commence on schedule

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) confirms Suvarnabhumi Airport Link is ready to officially commence on 23 August 2010 as scheduled.

SRT Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said the Airport Link – both City Line and Express Line - would be ready for commercial service on 23 August. Both lines will operate from 06.00 -24.00 hrs daily, departing every 15 minutes.

The ticket price for the regular line, which stops at every station -- Phaya Thai, Ratchaprarop, Makkasan, Ramkamhaeng, Hua Mak, Thap Chang, Lad Krabang and the last terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport, will start at 15 THB. Meanwhile, the ticket for the non-stop Express Line which runs from Makkasan to the airport costs 100 THB for a round-trip.

The luggage check-in system at Makkasan Station is still under installation and testing process. Passengers with large suitcase are not recommended to take the train pending the installation. The system is, however, expected to be put in service by year end.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

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In-house corruption costs Health Ministry 33mn THB

BANGKOK (NNT) -- At least 38 officials in the Public Health Ministry have been found guilty of corruption in the past two years, costing the agency a total loss of more than 33 million THB.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, MD Thanongsan Suthatham said the ministry had always given precedence to corruption suppression efforts to curb the long-existing malpractice. It has always stressed to the officials to do their job with honesty and transparency in order to earn credibility.

The ministry, in cooperation with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor General, has recently organized a workshop to train members of the public on scrutiny process and granted them with the authority to be involved in officials’ work examination. Over 200 people have participated in the training.

MD Thanongsan revealed that between 2007 and 2009 at least 38 state officials had been punished for being involved in fraudulent activities. 31 of them were ousted while 7 others were decommissioned. The loss from malpractices was 33.85 million THB worth in total.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

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Democrat to punish its MPs absent from house meeting

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban has confirmed his party MPs absent from the joint house meeting will face the music.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that MPs must show their potential, voice their opinions on behalf of people in their constituencies, and perform their duties by attending all house meetings. He added that action will be taken against members failing to perform his/her duty.

Earlier, the ruling Democrat Party had tasked Government Chief Whip Witthaya Kaewparadai with jotting down the names of party MPs who failed to show up at the house meeting and presenting the list to Mr Suthep, the party Secretary-General.

According to Mr Suthep, MPs absent from with no apparent reasons will be excluded from the candidate lists in the next general election, which is the gravest punishment. He noted that this would be applicable to all issues, not just to the deliberation of the budget bill like this time.

The Secretary-General then expressed his confidence that the budget bill draft consideration in the joint house meeting would go on smoothly with no problems.

-- NNT 2010-08-17

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Fire Damages Popular Petchaburi Gift Shop

A fire has broken out at a well-known sweet and gift shop in Petchaburi province. Damage has yet to be estimated while police are launching a probe into the cause of the blaze.

Last night, fire trucks from Muang Petchaburi and nearby municipal areas rushed to put out the fire that broke out at Chidchanok, a popular shop known for its local desserts and souvenirs.

Petchaburi's power agency was forced to temporarily cut off the area's electricity supply as the fire caught on nearby power poles.

Firefighters took over one hour to contain the blaze and found that 11 nearby stores were damaged.

Chidchanok shop owner Adisak Mingmitpattanakul said that the blaze broke out from the nearby dried seafood store. He ruled out electrical malfunction as the cause since there are no power lines near that shop.

Nonetheless, Adisak is waiting for the authorities to determine whether the blaze was possibly an arson attack.

Chidchanok has been in business for more than 15 years, selling desserts and gifts to tourists passing through the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-17

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Foreigner in Phuket charity drive to save his son's life

Rino Mangon Vogt, who is bravely battling Ebstein's Anomaly with the support of his loving dad, Ritchie Newton.

The family is accepting all donations in their quest to raise the needed 2 million baht.

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Fast-acting attendants avoid potential Pattay petrol station disaster

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SET index closed at 865.78, up 5.23; Bt/USD31.35; GBP48.98; AUD28.03; EUR40.30; CAD29.88; HKD3.98; SGD23.01; JPY36.49

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INN: Ladprao, Sathorn, Silom roads flooded after heavy rains hit the capital; heavy traffic citywide /via @TAN_Network

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Bail Requests Denied for 5 Key Red Shirt Leaders

The attempt by a red-shirt lawyer to secure temporary release of five detained red-shirt leaders, namely Nutthawut Saikua, Wiputhalaeng Patthanapumthai, Kwanchai Praipana, Nisit Sinthuprai and Yossawarit Chu-klom. Earlier a bail request for another key leader, Weng Tojirakarn, was also denied by the Criminal Court.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-17

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Woman accused of stealing number plates from cars parked in Temple grounds

Shotgun, drugs and money found in car parked outside Pattaya Provincial Courthouse

Attempted robbery at Foreign Exchange Booth in Central Pattaya

Angry Mob Chases Thieving Ladyboy in South Pattaya

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German man found dead in Phuket home

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Iranian nabbed for smuggling 2kg of 'ice' at airport

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Thai police bust Taiwanese call centre banking scam

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 18 August 2010

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