Thailand Live Thursday 14 Oct 2010

[george]

Bangkok's Lumpini Police in hot water in wake of child porn raid

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[webfact]

Stolen Phuket bikes 'bound for Burma'

In uniforms, from left: Phuket Police Commander Pekad

Tantipong, his deputy Komol Wattaraporn and Phuket

Governor Tri Augkaradacha at yesterday's press

conference.

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[webfact]

Controversial new Thai monk movie wins 3 awards at film festival in USA

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[george]

Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra to increase activities ahead of Thai polls, says party

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[george]

Update:

4 detained Pakistanis in Yala may be linked to UN financial terrorism watch list

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[webfact]

110 students rushed to hospitals

Chanthaburi - A total of 110 students from Si Sa Ket were rushed to two hospitals in this eastern province late Wednesday night after they suffered from foods poisoning.

The students from Khukhan Rajbamrung School were about to leave Chanthaburi back to Si Sa Ket following a field trip study there when they suffered from diarrhea and vomiting at 9:45 pm.

Eight of them were admitted to the Makham Hospital and the rest to Pong Nam Ron Hospital.

Teachers said the students had sea foods at market in the afternoon and started suffering from foods poisoning at 9:45 pm.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

[webfact]

Govt will not intervene in baht value: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday ruled out an intervention to weaken the baht value against US dollar.

Abhisit said lessons from the past showed that al countries failed to intervene in their currencies' value.

The prime minister said any intervention would not be able to stop the baht appreciation and the Bank of Thailand would lose more money.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

[webfact]

PM: Cautious needed before any news briefing on Red Freedom Fighters

BANGKOK, 14 October 2010 (NNT) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has demanded that the National Security Council (NSC) be more careful when giving news briefing on the red shirts arms training, as it might affect the relationship with Cambodia. He has also confirmed that the Thai government is not accusing Cambodia, saying he will discuss the issue with his Cambodian counterpart when the investigation is concluded.

During his meeting with NSC Secretary-General Tawin Pleansri yesterday, the Prime Minister urged him to verify any information received pertaining to the red shirts' alleged arms training in Cambodia before releasing it to the press; as this might have detrimental effect on the two countries' bilateral relations, which had been soured until a few weeks ago.

The report drew sharp response from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who denied any knowledge relative to the arms training said to have taken place in his country by the NSC.

According to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, the report will not affect bilateral relations, and when the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has completed its investigation, the Ministry will send it to Cambodia to ask for its cooperation.

Last week Thai police nabbed 11 red shirts in Chiang Mai. Upon interrogation, they confessed that they had undergone terrorist training in Cambodia. The police also discovered that they were planning to kill high-profile figures including Suthep Thaugsuban, the Deputy Prime Minister.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

[webfact]

Thai Court Accepts Viktor Bout's Appeal

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[webfact]

Flash floods continue to batter Thailand

TRAT, 14 October 2010 (NNT) – Flash floods and heavy rain have wreaked havoc on the popular tourist island of Koh Chang, Trat Province. Rescue teams and volunteers have joined hands cleaning up the affected areas. Meanwhile, Rayong Governor has ordered an investigation into the causes of reservoir break.

According to Rayong governor Tawatchai Therdpaothai, an investigation team has been probing the cause of the break at the three private reservoirs. The Department of Irrigation, at the same time. is checking on the four remaining reservoirs to make sure they are in sound condition. The Governor has also urged the Department of Water Resources to install a warning system in order to boost confidence of the locals.

Meanwhile, the situation in Trat remains critical. Authorities and volunteers from all sectors have been working day and night to bring it under control. Koh Chang’s officer Sakprasert Jaroenprasit said workers would have to wait until the rain stopped before they could enter the battered area to dismantle the building which collapsed killing one worker last week.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

[webfact]

Red Shirt Faction Leader Warns Some Red Shirts May Become Suicide Bombers

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PM orders blacklist of travel firms causing problems to Thai Muslims who plan to make Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia /MCOT

[webfact]

SET index closed at 993.72, up 1.12; Bt/USD29.68; GBP47.44; AUD29.49; EUR41.72; CAD29.62; HKD3.82; SGD22.82; JPY36.31

[webfact]

Englishman commits suicide in Phuket hotel

Soi Jintana in Patong, with a photo of the late Mr Bibby inset.

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[webfact]

Abhisit vows not to tolerate corruption

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has reaffirmed he would rather risk his political survival than condone corruption.

In replying to an opposition's query raised from the House floor Thursday, Abhisit said he stood by his ethical standard, known as the nine iron rules, designed to ensure a clean government. He tried to dispel lingering doubts that he might turn blind to irregularities allegedly linked to ministers from Bhum Jai Thai Party.

"I have always enforced what is known as my iron rules and will not compromise my standard for the sake of saving my government," he said.

The query filed by Pheu Thai MP Chavalit Vichayasuthi cited three graft cases in the Interior Ministry to claim the prime minister's reluctance to sack the ministers involved.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

[webfact]

House panel resolves to shelve Medical Malpractice Victim Protection Bill

The House committee on government affairs yesterday resolved to shelve the Medical Malpractice Victim Protection Bill until all parties concerned can patch up their differences.

The draft law has provoked a big clash between the bill's supporters and some groups of medical workers.

The supporters including medical-malpractice victims' networks and the Foundation for Consumers

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

[webfact]

Torrential Rainstorms cause havoc around Pattaya

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Winter festival launched in Mae Hong Song

Mae Hong Son is organising a winter festival at Doi Kiew Lom, which has some of Thailand's most spectacular scenic views. Provincial Governor Thanin Supasan said the festival begins on November 5.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the cool weather and extraordinarily beautiful sunsets and there will be many activities laid on for them, he said. In addition, tourists will be offered a variety of privileges for the night of November 5, including those planning to camp out at Doi Kiew Lom

Churairat Prawprai, Director of Mae Hong Son Tourism and Sports Office, said there will be a hula-hoop competition and the winner will receive special discounts on accommodation, meals and other prizes.

For those interested in making their own way by road should follow highway 1095.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

[webfact]

Phuket expected to make at least Bt400m from vegetarian festival

The Chinese Vegetarian Festival is expected to inject tourism revenues of between Bt400 million and Bt500 million into Phuket.

The festival, which kicked off last Friday, will end Saturday.

Bang-ornrat Chinaprayoon, who heads Phuket Tourism Office, said that the festival had attracted a large number of tourists from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

She said that the atmosphere was livelier than in previous years and tourists from Australia, New Zealand and also from Europe wanted to visit Phuket during the festival as a procession of sacred Buddha statues is on show at various venues around Phuket town.

"Hotel occupancy levels at hotels along the procession route is at 100 per cent and in other parts of Phuket the occupancy rate is between 60 and 70 per cent," Bang-ornrat said

She added that the number of tourists was up by 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Sintawee Hotel managing director Thanakhom La-ongkul said most tourists were elderly. "They have come mainly as part of tour groups," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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Huge increase in Phuket vehicle numbers

ROAD WARRIORS: 14,833 motorbikes were registered in the

province during the first eight months of 2010.

By Apinun Saitong.

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[webfact]

Bangkok Airways to launch Phuket - Trat flights

Bangkok Airways Vice President ML Nandhika Varavarn.

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[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 15 October 2010

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