Thailand Live Saturday 23 Jul 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 23 Jul 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 22 Jul 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: Thai Hookers Paid To Smuggle S. African Rhino Horns: Reports

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CAT puts brakes on DTAC 3G launch

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UPDATE

THAIGERMAN DISPUTE

Crown Prince asks govt not to pay for plane

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BLACKHAWK UPDATE

The search is over

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BLACKHAWK UPDATE

Tears for the nine

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BLACKHAWK UPDATE

Rest in peace

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Fans brim over with joy as Chelsea team arrives

By Kitinan Sanguansak

The Nation

Star-studded English Premier League club Chelsea received a rock- star reception when they touched down in Bangkok yesterday prior to the "Coke Super Cup" exhibition match against the Thailand Premier League All Stars team.

Taking a flight from Malaysia, the first of three countries on the London club's pre-season Asia tour, the Blues' travelling party, led by new coach Andre Villas-Boas, arrived at Suvanabhumi Airport around mid-day.

The airport's VIP area was packed with Chelsea fans, eager to catch a glimpse of their football idols. Fans cheered and screamed the names of familiar faces such as John Terry, Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard who made their way to the waiting bus in front of the building. Supporters were particularly pleased to see the club captain Terry, who responded to the cheers by taking a photo of the fans with his mobile phone.

In the afternoon, former Porto manager Villas-Boas and Ivorian striker Didier Drogba split from the Blues main group staying at the Shangri La Hotel to take a river cruise along the Chao Phraya on the way to visit Siriraj Hospital.

Hundreds of fans, many of them sporting the English club's shirt, braved the rain for a chance to get up close with the two Chelsea men, who visited the hospital to sign the well-wisher's book for His Majesty's quick recovery.

Both Villas-Boas and Drogba were quickly swarmed by supporters upon their arrival at the hospital compound. While the two walked through a small garden under tight security, two college students, a boy and a girl, jostling for place nearly fell into a pond before the Chelsea forward came to their rescue by pulling them up by their hands.

Both men were visibly in a relaxed mood during their brief visit to the hospital. They obliged their fans' pleas for autographs and responded with smiles whenever supporters called out their names. Drogba, though, appeared more popular than his boss.

Among dozens of fans wandering around the hotel lobby was Amelia Asri, a teenager who made the long trip from Indonesia along with 26 friends, specifically for the game. The 18-year-old struggled to contain her delight after seeing some of her idols.

"I love Chelsea so much, that's why I made my first visit to Thailand. I can't explain how much I love the team. They're just amazing," said Asri, who was hoping to get the autograph of her favourite player, England midfielder Lampard, before she leaves for home on Tuesday.

Chelsea will hold a public training session at Rajamangala National Stadium, the venue of the game, today at 7pm, with admission priced at Bt100.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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Tourism operators 'hit hard' by crackdown

By The Nation

Room reservations made with resorts in Wang Nam Kheow district in Nakhon Ratchasima have been cancelled as a result of a crackdown on illegal land acquisition, the chief of the local tourism business association said yesterday.

A large amount of farm products normally sold to tourists and visitors have been left rotting after the cancellation, said Samer Jindaphong. Farmers living in adjacent areas under farmlease contracts had also lost a daily income of up to Bt3,000.

Normally, 25,000 tourists visit the Wang Nam Kheow area each day and stay in more than 5,000 units, he said. Resort owners and developers play crucial roles in making Wang Nam Kheow a tourist attraction, which is to hold a flora exhibition this year, Samer said.

The loss of income caused by the cancellation and absence of tourists has reached about Bt100 million, he said, or Bt30 million a day according to his preliminary estimate. Samer called on relevant agencies to rethink the crackdown, adding that he might need to file complaints against them with the Central Administrative Court.

An owner of a homestay resort, Bunchuay Artjabok, said he had lost all walkin clients and regular reservations. He called on the Royal Forest Department to reconsider the crackdown and immediately stop issuing daily statements on the issue.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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Thailand's Expo 2020 campaign gathers pace

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Army colonel to face charges over road rage

By The Nation

An Army colonel will be facing attempted murder charges for allegedly hitting an Army doctor with his car, deputy Bangkok police chief Pol MajGeneral Amnuay Nimmano said yesterday.

Speaking after a threehour meeting with Dr Phannakorn "Muk" Imwitthaya and her mother, the officer said he had obtained key evidence and has asked the victim and her mother to not speak publicly about the case.

He said the compilation of scientific evidence was nearly complete, which would prove that Colonel Saksit Phooklan was the actual driver of a Nissan Neo sedan, which was seen hitting the victim on images caught on surveillance camera.

Police investigators will finalise the attempted murder charges along with other acts of crime allegedly committed by Saksit. The colonel will be asked to acknowledge his charges next week, Amnuay said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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Wang Nam Khiao faces flash floods, landslides

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Wang Nam Khiao district in Nakhon Ratchasima Province could face severe flash floods and landslides this year if rainfall exceeded 300 millimetres for three days, the head of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) says.

"Severe flash floods and massive landslides damage to residential areas in Wang Nam Khiao district," said DNP directorgeneral Sunant Arunnoppharat.

People living on the slopes of hills in the district were at great risk from landslides due to massive deforestation and torrential rain, he said.

The department has identified 48 resorts that have allegedly been built illegally in Thab Lan National Park.

The authorities have already closed eight of them and are set to impose noentry orders on the remaining 40 soon.

Meanwhile, Khao Yai National Park chief Manot Karnpanakngarn said he had instructed his staff to monitor rainfall in six areas around the national park, including Wang Nam Khiao district.

The officials reported that the amount of rainfall had exceeded 300 millimetres during the past month.

"I am afraid that Wang Nam Khiao district could face massive landslides, like the tragic incident in Nakhon Si Thammarat province's Nopphitam district," he said.

"We have to keep a close eye on torrential rain from now to October," he added.

Earlier this month, the authorities observed a landslide in Prachin Buri province's Kabin Buri district after rainfall exceeded 300 millimetres.

In Wang Nam Khiao, some of the targeted resort owners will petition the Administrative Court to issue an injunction to suspend the DNP's legal action. Sunant said he would comply with the court's orders.

However, if the new government wanted to go ahead and allow these resorts to remain in national park areas, it would have to revise the 1961 National Park Bill, he said.

"We have never revised the law to favour or allow any individuals to build resorts and other constructions in national park areas," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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North overflow to hit Nakhon Sawan

By The Nation

Floodwaters from the North will inundate the Nakhon Sawan plains, a local irrigation office warned yesterday.

Narong Leenanont did not provide exact details about the areas facing this risk and how high the floods are expected to be. "Lowlying areas and areas that are regularly flooded will be inundated," he said.

Phichit province, which borders Nakhon Sawan to the north, has seen thousands of rai inundated for weeks because it is in the path of the nowswollen Nan River and waterways travelling from nearby Phetchabun mountain range.

Residents along everbrimming Moei River have been evacuated on both sides of the ThaiBurma border in Tak's Mae Sot district.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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DNP chief bows to public pressure over cliff viewpoint

By Chayanont Praneet,

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation's directorgeneral Sunant Arunnoppharat yesterday ordered officials at Khao Yai National Park to bring the construction of a viewing platform at Pha Diew Dai cliff to a complete halt.

The move came after environmental activists launched a campaign on Facebook demanding that the platform, which is nearly complete, be demolished so animals have free space to roam. They also voiced concern that creating a trail for tourists to follow could destroy indigenous plants.

The viewing platform and trail are being constructed by the Khao Yai National Park office so visitors have a safe point from which to view the valley. The project, sponsored by PTT, is expected to cost Bt95 million.

"I have instructed the department's officials to stop the construction at Pha Diew Dai, and will talk to the activists to find the best way out," Sunant said.

Khemthong Morat, a representative of the online Network of Lovers of Pha Diew Dai, said his group was satisfied with the department's move.

Manote Karnpanakngarn, chief of the Khao Yai National Park office, said it would take about two days to pull down the steel structure.

-- The Nation 2011-07-23

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Internal row behind leaked National Human Rights Commission report

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ECONOMIC POLICIES

Poll reveals inflation fears

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Power Buy sets aside Bt1 bn for new stores, renovation project

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Death toll climbs to 17 in Norway attacks

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UPDATE: Gunman kills 'at least' 80 at youth camp near Oslo

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/pictures added

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Pha Mo I Daeng at Khao Phra Wihan National Park in Si Sa Ket reopens, light tourists visit; Thai & Cambodian troops on high security /MCOT

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6.5 just off northeastern Japan /via@mpoppel

Earthquake update: TEPCO tells Daily Yomiuri temblor causes no problem at damaged Fukushima nuclear plant /via@BreakingNews:

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AFP: Norway twin attacks toll mounts to 87

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Police arrest hacker for accessing 14 SCB clients' bank details and embezzling Bt500,000 /TAN_Network

Body of Ch 5 cameraman from chopper crash second to arrive at Kaengkrachan army camp; transport of remaining bodies hampered by rain /TAN_Network

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Oil rigs off Phuket may become 'national issue'

PTTEP Vice President Visit Coothongkul points out the location of the oil field test sites.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 25 Jul 2011

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