Thailand Live Saturday 18 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 18 June 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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Mystery surrounds death of Swiss woman found floating off Phuket

The bungalow resort on Koh Maphrao where Swiss national Ursula Balzan

was staying.

Mrs Balzan often went swimming at one of the beaches nearby. She was

wearing her bathing suit when her body was found.

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His Majesty recovering well from surgery: Princess

By The Nation

His Majesty the King is recuperating well after undergoing cerebrospinal surgery last month and is enjoying increasing good health, HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana said yesterday.

Speaking at the Thai Consulate during her visit to Saint Petersburg, Russia, she quoted His Majesty as saying: "I am feeling much better and much more comfortable."

"The King told me that he could now move more comfortably after the surgery [on May 2], but he is still in need of moral support and encouragement for his ongoing rehabilitation. And during the entire [post-surgery] period, the welfare of Thai people is always on his mind," she said.

The princess said she was facing a similar experience during her own rehabilitation after a surgery last October to treat thyroid-related illnesses.

"I endured a period of three months without walking. I had to learn to walk again, which was quite difficult and required a lot of strong will," she said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-18

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EC members face flak over Europe jaunt

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Cash reward for ID of 'planking monk'

By The Nation

An assistant rector of Mahamakut Buddhist University yesterday personally offered a Bt5,000 cash reward for anyone who could identify the man photographed "planking" while wearing a monk's saffron robe.

"This is my personal action. I just want to help the Office of National Buddhism [ONB] nail down the person in the picture," Songkran Achariyasap said, adding that anyone with a tipoff could call him at (083) 806 5880.

ONB deputy director Amnaj Buasiri said his office was investigating where the picture was first posted on the Internet.

"If we cannot find the original source, we may later ask for help from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry," he said, adding that if the man in the photograph was really monk, a reprimand would be issued.

"Monks and novice monks should behave appropriately," Amnaj said.

Dr Sawat Anothai, who teaches at St John's University, said monks were ordained to study dharma, not to follow any fad. "In the IT age, monks can use new media for the propagation of Buddha's teachings, not to spread planking pictures," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-18

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ANALYSIS

Thai Democrats go for broke

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CSD joins in manhunt for canvasser's murder

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Holding company to control state enterprises stakes being considered

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EDITORIAL

Free treatment in Thailand, but where is the medical staff?

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Thai police arrest 5 in Taiwan-based international call centre scam

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Red shirt leaders urge EC to rein in Abhisit's Facebook

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Police closing in on Pattani attackers

By The Nation

Security officials have some clues about who might be behind the gunning down of four soldiers in Pattani on Thursday.

"The officials are in the process of gathering evidence and interrogating witnesses," Deputy Pattani Governor Lertkiat Wongphophan said.

MajGeneral Akara Tiproh, deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command's Region 4 arm, said the attack was clearly intended to shake public confidence in security officials. The attackers also stole the soldiers' guns after the shooting.

In the attack, a stray bullet also hit a pregnant woman's left thigh. She is currently being treated at the Yaring Hospital. "She and the baby are safe now," Lertkiat said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-18

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Wages in Bangkok set to rise soon

By The Nation

The daily minimum wage in Bangkok will likely climb up by Bt5 to Bt9, but the subpanel in charge of daily wages has not decided on the final figure yet, the panel's advisor Ammorn Chaovarit said yesterday.

The minimum daily wage in Bangkok stands at Bt215, and should be increased soon given that the rate of inflation is touching 3.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Chalermchai Srion said his ministry was setting up labourdevelopment scheme to deal with the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015. This plan will seek to set up proper wage rates for unskilled and skilled workers, as well as those who have undergone vocational training. The scheme will also take into account standard skills in each field across Asean.

-- The Nation 2011-06-18

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Preah Vihear conflict heads to Paris

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Chicken case 'will be cracked in a week'

By The Nation

Police investigators say they should be able to identify all suspects behind the formalinsoaked chicken scam within a week.

"I am confident that the case will be solved in seven days," Pol Colonel Wachirawit Kritrittisak, who is chief investigator and deputy police chief in Nakhon Ratchasima province, said yesterday.

The investigation started after many abattoirs in the province's Pak Chong district were found to have processed formalinsoaked chicken carcasses earlier this month. So far, five suspects have been arrested and three have pleaded guilty. "We have summoned another suspect as well," he said.

In another case, 80 tonnes of chemicalsoaked chicken carcasses was seized in April and 10 suspects arrested. "These actions prove that the police is not being negligent," Provincial Police Region 3 Commissioner LtGeneral Dechawat Ramsompop said.

In response to growing concerns over questionable meat being put on the shelves, he said police would take action against anyone involved in such illegal activities. It is suspected that someone with very good connections or senior government officials might have been behind the formalinsoaked chicken networks.

-- The Nation 2011-06-18

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Drug Case Against Kim Roger Eriksson Sirawan Postponed

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Environment Minister Suwit has left for France to take part in World Heritage Committee meeting /

Cambodia confident Thailand would not be able to stop deliberation of Preah Vihear Temple's management plan at World Heritage meeting /

Democrats to deliver campaign speech in Ratchaprasong area on June 23 /

/TAN_Network

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TEPCO, operator of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, suspends operation to clean up radioactive water- Reuters /

Japan more: Fukushima nuclear plant cleanup halted as radiation levels rise faster than expected - Reuters /

via@BreakingNews

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Riot at Narathiwat male prison after officers conducted drug search; prison guards injured /TAN_Network

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Boonjong urges Bhumjaithai candidates to be on high alert

BANGKOK, 18 June 2011 (NNT) – Bhumjaithai Party Deputy Leader Boonjong Wongtrairat has warned all MP candidates of the party to exercise extreme caution during the last leg of the election campaign.

Mr Boonjong expressed sorrow over the recent shooting incident that killed Mr Suban Jiraphanvanich, Chief Executive of Lop Buri Provincial Administrative Organization, who was a brother of Bhumjaithai candidate for Constituency 2 of Lop Buri Mallika Jiraphanvanich. He said the attack was unfortunate and should not have taken place during this time when the election was soon approaching.

Executives of the Bhumjaithai Party have reportedly voiced concerns over the safety of Mr Suban’s relatives as many of them have been working for the party in Lop Buri. On this occasion, Mr Boonjong instructed all Bhumjaithai candidates to watch out for untoward incidents while holding their election campaigns from now on.

On the other hand, the deputy leader of Bhumjaithai insisted that activities of the party in all areas would still proceed as planned in order to acquire as many MP seats as targeted in this election.

-- NNT 2011-06-18

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Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld chosen for the PTT-EGAT Snooker World Cup

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PM says planned political rally by Democrats at Ratchaprasong on June 23 not aimed to provoke but to tell truth /MCOT

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Son Of Sydney Underworld Boss Surrenders To Australian Federal Police In Bangkok

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Phuket’s honorary consuls top reason tourists call police

YOUR FIRST FRIEND: Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary

Sombat Kuruphan (right) shares a joke with a Tourist Police officer at the

opening of the headquarters.

Maj Gen Adis Ngamchitsuksri (left), Commander of the Royal Thai Police

Tourist Police, with Permanent Secretary Sombat and Phuket Senator

Thanyarat Atchariyachai press the button to unveil the sign above the

entrance to the new Tourist Police headquarters in Phuket Town.

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Police offer Bt300,000 reward for lead in Bhum Jai Thai vote canvasser assassin and Bt100,000 for accomplice /TAN_Network

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23 prison officials injured during Narathiwat prison riot, reinforcements requested to control situation; provincial governor orders investigation /MCOT

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Envi Minister Suwit says if World Heritage Committee accepts Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear Temple, Thailand will quit panel /TAN_Network

Abhisit campaigns in Petchaboon wearing hillstribe costume /TAN_Network

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Mental Health: Planking to die out eventually

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Democrat Party says provoking 'Red Shirts' is not plan for rally at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong

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