Thailand Live Saturday 16 Apr 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 16 April 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Probe into Bangkok killing rampage

Committee will look into extrajudicial killing of suspect, check if hostage was hit by police bullet

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Thaksin will only return if granted amnesty: Chaiyasit

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DSI wants red-shirt leaders back in jail for violating bail conditions

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Son vows to honour dead father's wish

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Songkran Revellers set new 'human wave' record; road death toll down 30%

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Five laws to pass before House dissolved: MP

By THE NATION

The government will try to pass five bills through Parliament before dissolving the House and this may lead to a delay in the dissolution date.

Attawit Suwanpakdee, Democrat MP for Bangkok and secretary of the government whip, said the bills included the proposed Consumer Protection Independent Organisation Act, which will help create a new consumer body that can penalise offenders.

It also includes the proposed Public Assembly Act, which will require people staging protests to inform the public in advance in order to minimise the impact on others and to forbid the carrying of any weapons.

The third bill is the Social Security and Monetary Compensation Act, which aims to help workers in the informal sector. It would be the first time workers in the sector received social security, with part of the contribution provided by the state.

The other bills are the Environmental and Independent Health Organis-ation Act, which would help set clear standards and procedures factory bosses must follow in order to avoid adverse environmental and health impacts.

And the Thai Occupations Act aims to raise the standards of Thai traditional medicine and other indigenous professions.

"These bills are into their third readings and the government will rush them through. Most have to do with policies and it's expected that the last parliamentary meeting on April 28 will approve them," the whip's |secretary said.

In regard to the Public Assembly Act, Attawit said both the military and police had been invited to hear the details. The bill was first proposed when the People Power Party (PPP) was in office.

He said the government would try to shape the details so as to have the least effect on people's rights.

Attawit insisted the process of informing officials about protests was different from asking for permission, but said it would depend on the courts to decide if a gathering was permissible or not. Opponents, however, say it will limit their constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

-- The Nation 2011-04-16

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Clean-up continues, life returning to normal in flood-ravaged South

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with local government leaders in the southern areas affected by the recent floods yesterday to work out a framework of government assistance to those affected.

Abhisit was in Surat Thani to meet with local government officials. Initial assistance of Bt5,000 per household was agreed earlier.

Tinnakorn Puwapatchim, chief of the committee overseeing flooded areas in Surat Thani,

met with district chiefs, village headmen and chiefs of Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAO) in order to listen to their views and verify facts about the Bt5,000 per household payment approved on April 4 to ensure swift, just and transparent help for the region.

The government was criticised over recent days for alleged lack of transparency in handling the monetary assistance. It now aims to have a list of all affected residents by tomorrow in order to rush the money out.

In Phunphin district in Surat Thani province, at a village called Moo Baan Sinthorn, where about 1,000 houses were affected, the water has now receded and some 100 soldiers from Nakhon Ratchasima were busy cleaning streets. Some soldiers took the occasion to sprinkle water on elderly people in the village to the mark the Thai New Year.

Phunphin district chief Paisarn Tree-rattana said the cleanup would be finished in a week's time and everything would return to normal.

Elsewhere in the district, some 100 householders along the Tapi River in the sub-district of Thakam still could not return home - they are still waiting for the water level to recede.

But the water level in many flooded areas had gone down significantly, enabling villagers to return home to clean up their homes and neighbourhoods.

At Thakam, many villagers earn a living as hired palm farm workers, and in construction and small trades. Those who do building work can go back to work but others still have to wait.

Crocodiles had also been spotted in a flooded palm plantation. Local villagers said they avoided the beasts and tried not to hurt them.

-- The Nation 2011-04-16

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Muslim leader stable in ICU after stroke

By The Nation

Chularajamontri Asis Phitakkumpol, who suffered a stroke last Sunday, remains in intensive care at Chulalongkorn Hospital.

He is reported to be in a stable condition, conscious and able to consume light meals.

The doctor in charge said Asis had no fever and his heart rate was stable, although his left leg and arm remained weak.

Physical therapy had been carried out and would continue for some time while the Chularajamontri remains at the ICU ward.

-- The Nation 2011-04-16

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Hong Kong man commits suicide in Trang

Trang - A Hong Kong man has been found dead in a guesthouse room in what appeared to be a suicide, police said.

The body of Taischin Sieng, 37, was found on his bed Friday by staffs of Station Apartment in Muang district Friday evening.

The staffs broke into the room after the man did not come out for dinner and did not answer the door knocking.

Police were alerted to investigate and found that the man sealed all ventilations and the room's air-conditioner with plastic bags before he took sleeping pills and lit up some charcoals, causing himself to be suffocated during his sleep.

-- The Nation 2011-04-16

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Sound of gunfire during Songkran celebration on Silom Rd caused havoc, resulting in 5 people injured /TAN_Network

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Meteorlogical Dept forecasts hot weather for all parts with rain over 20% of country /TAN_Network

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BKK's bus and train stations and highways leading into BKK still quiet this morning; traffic expected to pick up after noon /TAN_Network

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Opera Siam 18th-26th: buy 2 BLUEBEARD tickets & get 2 free tickets to MAE NAAK [email protected] /via @somtow /via@RichardBarrow

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Hualampong train station crowded with Songkran festivalgoers returning to BKK, Transport Company prepares more buses to respond to high demand on Sunday /MCOT

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18 wheeler crashes into bus in Kanchanaburi, killing 2 and injuring 18 /TAN_network

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5th day of 7 danger days for Songkran road accidents saw 188 deaths and 2,786 people injured; highest deaths in Ayutthaya at 10 /TAN_Network

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Songkran 2011: Phuket records first road death

Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers treat two foreign tourists

whose motorbike crashed into a drainage ditch in Kamala yesterday.

The ‘salaeng’ after being struck by the passenger van this morning.

Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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40 dead, 470 injured, 443 road accidents reported on fifth of seven dangerous Songkran holiday days; cumulative death toll for five days 188 and 2,786 injured /MCOT

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Songkran festivalgoers gradually return to Bangkok; Extra buses prepared

BANGKOK, April 16 -- Train and bus services nationwide are nearing full capacity as Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, officially ended yesterday, and holiday-makers left for Bangkok and other provinces to resume work next week.

Train services departing the northern province of Phitsanulok were fully packed with some travellers having no choice but to stand during the entire journey. An announcement was posted at the train station, saying that every Bangkok-bound train and class was fully booked.

Tickets for train services heading for upper North were still available though.

A similar scene was witnessed at the main bus station in Phitsanulok as would-be travelers lined up in a long queue to buy tickets for Bangkok and other provinces. In order to cater to huge demand, the bus station has reserved 140 air-conditioned buses departing for the capital today to ensure that passengers would be able to leave and resume work on Monday.

Meanwhile, a large number of travelers were seen queuing at the main bus station in the southern district of Hat Yai early Saturday, hoping to get on extra buses provided by the station.

Tickets for all 35 regular buses destined for Bangkok were fully booked until Sunday.

Hat Yai bus station has decided to offer 21 additional buses to meet increased passenger demands. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-16

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Bangrak district chief: 350,000 Songkran festivalgoers enjoy water splashing at Silom, with Bt50 million circulated during 3-day festive Thai New Year /MCOT

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Mo Chit crowded with returning vacationers

BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT) – Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal has started welcoming a flow of people who return from their Songkran celebration outside Bangkok while more of them are expected to arrive this evening.

As the Thai New Year of Songkran has come to an end, holidaymakers have begun their travel back to the city after celebrating the occasion with families in their hometowns. Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal has been swarmed with arriving passengers, most of whom coming from nearby provinces. A larger crowd is to be seen later today as people are trying to avoid heavy traffic tomorrow and to come back early to spend the remaining time resting before resuming work on Monday.

Authorities at the bus terminal have warned passengers to keep their eyes on their valuable belongings as the bustling scene is conducive to theft. As for traffic around the terminal, congestion is reportedly building up, especially on Kamphaengphet Road.

-- NNT 2011-04-16

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Ms. Yingluck meeting Thaksin in Russia today

BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT)-Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser Noppadol Pattama has revealed yesterday that Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr. Thaksin’s younger sister, will be visiting her brother in Russia today.

He denied knowing whether they will be looking for a candidate for the Prime Minister position.

Meanwhile, Mr. Noppadol said following the request by a group of MPs led by Mr. Mingkwan Saengsuwan for Mr.Thaksin to reveal the Pheu Thai Party’s PM candidates that it would be disclosed immediately after the House dissolution.

-- NNT 2011-04-16

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Pheu Thai accuses Gov of cheating in the next poll if Pheu Thai fails to win

BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT)-Democrat Leader’s Spokesperson Thepthai Senpong said the 270-seat claim by the Pheu Thai Party was to mislead the public by saying that if it did not win the next election it would be because the government was cheating.

According to Mr. Thepthai, the Opposition Party said it would win a majority of 270 seats in the Parliament and become the single party government. The Pheu Thai Party added to their confidence that the only reason it would not win the next election could be only because the government has already orchestrated a plan to cheat in the next poll in order to topple the Pheu Thai Party.

The Opposition also claimed that the public had now been enlightened since their last gathering on 10 April 2011 and would make an appropriate choice for themselves in the election. However, Mr. Thepthai is confident that both the Democrat and Pheu Thai Parties will win similar seats of approximately 200 in the Parliament.

-- NNT 2011-04-16

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Maj Gen Sanan wished to see Democrats and Pheu Thais join hands to form an administration

BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister Maj Gen Sanan Kajornprasart said it would be up to the Court whether to withdraw the bails for Red Shirt core leaders while also foreseeing no party to dominate in the next election.

Chat Thai Pattana chief adviser Major General Sanan added following the attempt to revoke the bails by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) expected to take place next Monday that the Court may need sometime to deliberate on the matter. If any of them found to have violated bail conditions, they would be prosecuted.

Meanwhie, he expressed his confidence that there would be no single party government after the election. He added that a multi party government is more likely than the other way around, adding he wished to see both the Democrat and Pheu Thai Parties join hands in establishing the new government. He cited no problem for his own party to be in the opposition.

-- NNT 2011-04-16

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Police on alert as revelers return to Bangkok; Road fatalities climb up

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to be continued,

Thailand Live Monday 18 April