Thailand Live Friday 21 Jan 2011

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Indonesian woman with mental disorder locked and chained for 20 years

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World Cup Oracle Octopus Paul Gets Memorial

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2 policemen injured in Pattani bombing

Pattani - Two policemen were injured when insurgents detonated a homemade bomb to ambush their patrol car Friday morning.

The explosion occurred at 9 am on the Pabon-Chang Hai Tok Road in Tambon Pabon in Khokpho distric.

The explosion caused a 2-metre-wide and 1.5-metre-deep hole and damaged the patrol car.

Pol Sgt Maj Bukhori Mina, 34 and Pol Senior Sgt Maj Udo, Kateb, 44, were injured.

The two were driving to the Khokpho district police station to deliver official documents when the insurgents detonated the bomb at the spot.

-- The Nation 2011-01-21

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Residents near Suvarnabhumi protest at passenger terminal, demanding urgent compensation from AOT to 14,000 noise-affected residents /MCOT

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Suspects in Narathiwat Army Base Attack Arrested

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New US ambassador to Thailand officially in office

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Thailand experiencing drought, cold disasters

BANGKOK, 21 January 2011 (NNT) – There have already been five provinces facing drought and 37 provinces declared cold-spell disaster zones, according to the latest report of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

DDPM Director-General Viboon Sanguanpong reported that droughts had hit 36 districts in five provinces including two in the North, another two the Northeast and one in the central region.

The mentioned northern provinces are Kamphaeng Phet and Phayao while the two northeastern provinces include Udon Thani and Surin. The affected central province is Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Meanwhile, 508 districts in 37 provinces have been declared cold-spell disaster zones since 5 November 2010. Authorities are now handing out assistance to villagers in the area accordingly.

-- NNT 2011-01-21

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Three killed in Thai south shootings

YALA, January 21, 2011 (AFP) - Three Muslim civilians, including a married couple, have been shot dead in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south, police said Friday.

Unknown gunmen killed a 33-year-old man and his wife, 23, at an evening market in Narathiwat province on Thursday.

In a separate incident on the same night, a 23-year-old man was killed in drive-by shooting in Yala province.

Two police officers, who had just finished providing security for local teachers, were also wounded in a roadside blast in Pattani province.

The bloodshed comes after armed rebels staged an unusually brazen attack on a Thai military base in Narathiwat on Wednesday night, killing at least four soldiers and wounding several more.

Shadowy insurgents have waged a violent campaign in the southern region bordering Malaysia since early 2004, leaving more than 4,400 people dead, including Muslims and Buddhists.

On Tuesday, Thailand extended emergency rule in most of the Muslim-majority southern region for another three months, despite rights groups' concerns about the powers given to the military.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-01-21

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Viktor Bout, suspected Russian arms dealer is due Friday to make only his second court appearance since being extradited from Thailand in case that has strained relations between Washington and Moscow /MCOT

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Phuket News: Soi Dog uses ‘firebreaks’ to stem distemper outbreak

Black spots mark where large outbreaks have occurred. Green spots

mark where mass vaccinations have been performed as ‘firebreaks’

to stop distemper from spreading. Image: SDF

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Cambodian court questions 7 Thais charged with trespassing; Panich first to testify; verdict expected for five after questioning excluding Veera and Ratree /MCOT

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Police's Curfew on Minors Wins Support

The Metropolitan Police Bureau's latest measure to ban youngsters under 18 from leaving their home after 10 P.M. has gained support from many agencies, including representatives of youths and parents.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioners Police Major General Worasak Nopsitthiporn and Police Major General Amnuay Nimmanoe today held a meeting with agencies concerned to discuss the measure recently announced by the Metropolitan Police Bureau to protect minors by prohibiting youngsters under 18 years from leaving home after 10 P.M. without justified reasons.

Those participating in the meeting included officials from the Permanent Secretary Office, the Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups, academics as well as representatives of the National Parents Networks Association and students from Nawamintrachutit School.

Amnuay said the measure is not a curfew for minors under 18 or the violation of youths' rights, but it is a protection measure which was earlier carried out when he was commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 2 and found that it could help curb crime by 20 percent.

He noted statistics showed that there were more than 44,000 cases of criminal offenses by minors nationwide last year and over 4,000 took place in Bangkok alone.

Amnuay explained that crime frequently took place after 10 P.M and the restriction is also in accordance with a law requiring internet and gaming cafes to close at 10 P.M.

However, he stressed that police will not arrest children found to still be out and about in such places or are under suspicion of using drugs, but they will be brought to police stations for profiling.

Their parents will then be informed to pick them up.

Sukanya Wetchasin, a representative of the Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups, said she agreed with the measure while suggeting further discussions on its implementation.

In the meantime, representatives of students also showed their support to the restriction, but asked the police to make clear about their action against minors.

They suggested that police work with officials from other agencies in conducting a patrol to ensure transparency.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-21

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Aung San Suu Kyi has finally had Internet access installed at home /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1006.57, down 15.59; Bt/USD30.54; GBP48.56; AUD30.05; EUR41.23; CAD30.57; HKD3.92; SGD23.64; JPY36.6

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Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew wants his family home torn down for redevelopment after he dies instead of being turned into historical shrine /MCOT

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Phuket News: Swedish man dies in luxury condo

Officers inspect Mr Larsson's room.

There was nothing found at the scene to suggest Mr Larsson’s death

was a homicide, say police.

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Man arrested for allegedly shooting THAI pilot in road rage

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Jet Ski Scam With A Difference Discussed At Pattaya City Hall

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Real and fake monks accused of illegal drug use in Chonburi Temple

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Region 2 Police announce results of month-long crime suppression operation

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Gas leak on container truck causes traffic chaos on Chonburi Bypass

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Osama bin Laden says France will pay dearly for its policy in Afghanistan, elsewhere - : AlJazeera /RT @tulsathit: /RT @b_surisa:

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AFP: Five Thais on trial in Cambodia over border case

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AFP: Five Thais walk free in Cambodia border case

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 22 January 2011