Songkran Revellers Begin to Flow out of Bkk

Holiday revelers have begun to leave Bangkok to celebrate the Songkran festival, causing congestion along main highways.

The northeastern-bound lanes of Friendship Highway, passing Nakhon Ratchasima, have become congested as Thais head homes to celebrate the Songkran holidays, officially beginning.

However, traffic is still still flowing well.

Highway officials have set up several service stations along the routes to handle the traffic flow and ensure the safety of motorists and passengers.

These stations will also provide drivers with free refreshing beverages and massages.

Meanwhile, the Nakhon Ratchasima bus station has been packed with arrivals, mostly from Bangkok, for connections to other areas in the region.

In Nakhon Sawan, the gateway to the North, traffic police have banned tucks from using a section of Pahonyothin Road, linking the province with Kamphaengpet and Phitsanulok, and arranged a city bypass for them in a bid to ease congestion over the holiday.

The northbound road passing through Nakhon Sawan is still congested with traffic heading north to top tourist-destinations.

Several routes to the South are also experiencing heavy traffic as travellers head to tourist destinations in the Andaman coastal provinces.

The Chumphon highway office has put up barriers, lights, and traffic cones at several sharp curves to alert drivers to reduce their speed.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-12

Thai Airways slashes prices by 50% to boost tourism during Songkran

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Bangkok Poll: Tourists want to enjoy Songkran on Khao San Rd

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Songkran takes to the sky over Phuket

Les Vorosmarthy stole the show in this aircraft at the Phuket Airpark Fly-in

earlier this year. He, and it, will do the same over Patong tomorrow and Thursday.

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Earthquake jolts northeastern #Japan -- TV /via@REUTERSFLASH

DSI considering seeking bail revocation of red-shirt leaders, particularly Jatuporn, after finding lese majeste speeches on rally stage /TAN_Network

Second major aftershock measuring 6.3 rocked northeast Japan, swaying buildings in Tokyo, shortly after govt upgraded its nuclear crisis to that on par with Chernobyl in 1986 /MCOT

Thailand’s Princess Chulabhorn gives US$150,000 for Japan disaster victims

BANGKOK, April 12 – Thailand’s Princess Chulabhorn on Tuesday donated Bt4.64 million baht (about US$150,000) to assist Japan through Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.

Laxanachantorn Laohaphan, representing the princess, presented Bt4.64 million, over 1100 plastic products, 4,400 plastic bottles, 2,000 flashlights with batteries and 500,000 bottles of drinking water to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Seiji Kojima.

Mr Kasit said the ministry will arrange a C-130 transport aircraft to send the relief supplies to Japan. While rehabilitation work continues in Japan, the ministry will discuss more assistance for Japan from the Thai private sector, especially construction companies as Thai architects and engineers in a number of companies have been working in Japan for several years.

Thai organisations are speeding up their efforts to provide assistance to Japan to the best of their abilities as the two countries have had long-established amicable relations and Japan has provided development and other assistance to Thailand for decades, the Thai foreign minister said.

Concerning latest aftershocks in Japan on Monday night and Tuesday morning, Mr Kasit said the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and is assessing the impact of radioactivity as well as safety and security concerns. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-12

Road Accident Death Possibly Involving Police

A man has been killed in a road accident which his relatives claim police caused.

Twenty seven year old Somchai Changthong was found lying dead in Soi Chalermprakiat 39 in the Suanluang area in Bangkok.

His body sustained a severe head wound and his arms and legs were also injured.

His motorcycle was found five meters away.

A police truck from Udomsuk police station was also at the scene, with shattered front lights and a dented front.

A friend of Somchai said the police truck collided with the victim when the truck appeared suddenly from a small lane. Somchai was driving to get milk for his children.

However, police officers said they were just setting up a checkpoint in the area to block a motorcycle gang that was causing noise pollution.

The officers said the victim was travelling at high speed and crashed into another vehicle before losing control and ramming into the police truck.

Somchai's relatives dismissed officers' claim and blocked forensic experts from getting near the body, saying the police truck killed Somchai and even accusing police officers of shooting him.

An initial probe suggested the body did not have a bullet wound as claimed by the deceased's relatives.

Metropolitan Police Division 4's Deputy Commander, Police Colonel Anat Kletmanee has vowed to set up a fact-finding panel to ensure fairness for both sides.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-12

World marking 50th anniversary since first human space flight

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Bangkok to host 3rd Asian Mayors Forum

BANGKOK, 12 April 2011 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has voiced its readiness to arrange the third Asian Mayors Forum (AMF), which is expected to take place in December 2012.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the BMA proposed itself as host to the conference to celebrate the 85th birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and to boost investment and tourism in the capital city.

The proposal was accepted at the second AMF held in Istanbul, Turkey from 31 March to 3 April 201. Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr Teerachon Manomaiphibul represented the mayor of Bangkok at the meeting, which had as its theme “The Impact of World Financial Crisis on the Economy of Asian Cities.”

The second AMF was attended by mayors and local administrative authorities from about 60 cities in Asia who exchanged their experience and opinions in an effort to create cooperation network for the sake of people in the region.

-- NNT 2011-04-12

Election Commission endorses list of 73 appointed senators /TAN_Network

People's Alliance Insists on "Vote No" Campaign

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People's Alliance Insists on "Vote No" Campaign

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29 road deaths on first day of Songkran's 'seven dangerous days'b]

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DSI chief to file charges against UDD leader Jatuporn, 10 other Red Shirts for lese majeste in April 11 rally, seeking to withdraw his bail on April 18 /MCOT

Army spokesman reveals army chief will file suit against red-shirt leaders Jatuporn, Suporn, Vichien for lese majeste speeches /TAN_Network

Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel to #Syria because of deteriorating security situation /via@BBCBreaking

Thailand's southern floods cause US$300 mln in damage to industries: FTI

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Cabinet approves budget of Bt940m for road repair, Bt100 mln for hospital repair in flooded South; extends southern emergency decree /TAN_Network

Suvarnabhumi Airport Beefs Up Security for Songkran

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Japan's PM Naoto Kan says tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is gradually stabilising and that amount of radiation being released is declining /MCOT

SET index closed at 1084.91, up 8.58; Bt/USD30.02; GBP48.84; AUD31.34; EUR43.20; CAD31.27; HKD3.86; SGD23.76; JPY35.40

AFP: Thailand prolongs emergency rule in south

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Tax Incentives Approved for Foreign Film Production in Thailand

The Cabinet has approved new tax incentives for foreign actors and foreign film production to support film making in Thailand.

Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pattaraprasit said the Cabinet has agreed with a new tax proposal to promote international film shooting in Thailand.

The new tax incentives include exemption of income tax for foreign film companies and foreign actors who work in Thailand on foreign films.

This is hoped to attract huge investment from international film makers and enhance Thailand's capacity to compete with other Asian countries.

Pradit added that such tax concessions would not only promote investment from global firms but would also provide employment opportunities and increase the country's revenue on services related to the film industry.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-12

Phuket raises B12.6mn for Japan, flooded South

Japanese rock star Yuki Masahiko of the band Lucifer at the concert Sunday night.

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AFP: Pirates free Thai ship for US$5 million

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 13 April