Thailand Live Monday 20 Feb 2012

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Thailand may change Visa policy as country fears more terror.

Visa on arrival for Middle East countries put on hold

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Bangkok Governor Ensures Safety after Triple Blast Incident

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Royal Thai Navy intercepts 27 Phuket-bound Burmese

Phuket Gazette

Lt Commander Warawut Seerjarak and staff aboard the HTMS Chonburi captured the boat of Burmese.

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Iranian suspect in Sukhumvit bomb incident questioned

BANGKOK, Feb 20 - Thai police on Monday took bomb suspect Mohammad Hazaei, an Iranian, to the Metropolitan Police Bureau for questioning and formally charged him of involvement in the Bangkok Valentine's Day blasts.

Mr Hazaei who was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport last Tuesday while attempting to board a plane bound for Malaysia, was taken for questioning for the first time at the Metropolitan Police Bureau this morning.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat as head of the investigation team formally notified him of joint charges, with the other suspects, including assembling explosive devices, possessing explosive devices without a permit, and causing an explosion injuring other persons and property.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Jarumporn Suramanee said the DNA test showed links between the Iranian detainee and evidence such as clothes, hats and shoes collected from the rented house in Sukhumvit 71.

Gen Jarumporn, however, said the DNA test to find connection with another suspect Saeid Moradi, who lost both legs by accident from his own explosive device and is now hospitalised at Chulalongkorn Hospital, has not yet been conducted.

Thailand’s Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for five Iranians on various charges related to Feb 14 Bangkok bomb incidents.

The first two suspects were Saeid Moradi, 28, and Mohammad Hazaei, 42.

A third Iranian identified as Masoud Sedaghatzadeh was arrested on Wednesday by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur. The Thai authorities are working to conclude and translate related documents to be submitted to Malaysia seeking the suspect’s extradition to Thailand for prosecution.

The fourth suspect is an Iranian national identified as Rohani Leila. She reportedly rented the house for the group and returned to Iranian capital of Tehran several days before the explosions.

The fifth suspect was a Middle Eastern man who may have been involved in the blasts after CCTV camera images showed him walking from the rented house where the first explosion took place, apparently by accident. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-20

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Polls: Blasts Hurt Public Confidence in Government

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RT @RichardBarrow: Did you notice this man between 2-14 February? Wanted in connection with Valentine Day bombing http://bit.ly/ypS4k7

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SET index midday Mon. at 1,137.91, up 7.98 pts, 0.71 pct in line w/ regional shares /The Nation

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Customs House and Permanent Border Crossing to Set Up in Buriram Province

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PTT, Bangchak raises gasoline, gasohol prices by Bt0.60/litre, E85 by Bt0.30/litre, diesel by Bt0.40/litre, effective Tuesday/MCOT

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Don Mueang's air quality concerns Senate committees

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The Senate Sub-Committees on environment and aviation will closely monitor the hygienic standards of Don Mueang Airport ahead of the reopening on March 6.

Senator Paradee Chongsuktanamanee, chairman of the Senate Sub-Committee on Environment, said that though Airports of Thailand, the operator of the severely-flooded Bangkok airport, promised to head advice from the Health Department over air ventilation, she is concerned that the cleaning of the ventilation system may not be completed in time.

During her visit on Friday, AOT promised to complete the cleaning as soon as possible, so that the Health Department can certify the air quality within February.

The sub-committees were informed that the airport’s officers completely checked the ventilation system and found no trace of fungi and bacteria. However, another test is necessary as the air-conditioning system must be turned on.

-- The Nation 2012-02-20

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Health security system to become more accessible

BANGKOK, 20 February 2012 (NNT) – The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is set to promote primary medical care across the country while insisting that patients still benefit greatly from the health security system's free-of-charge treatment.

NHSO Secretary General Dr. Winai Sawatdiworn has revealed that the health security policy, which has been promoting free-of-charge medical treatments for over 10 years, has been met with a 90% satisfaction from the public. Moreover, the program has been praised and accepted by the World Health Organization. In order to ensure the efficiency of the system as well as create an equal opportunity of access for the whole country, the NHSO is set to develop the system to become more accessible at the community level; that is, starting with primary health care.

The treatment of hepatic disease has recently been included into the health security system; thus, patients with this disease are now eligible for free treatments. Apart from this new addition, the NHSO has insisted that the health security policy remains unchanged. Those who need further information on the system may call the office's hotline number 1330 around the clock.

-- NNT 2012-02-20

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Yingluck makes official visit to Malaysia

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Monday made an official visit to Malaysia.

BANGKOK:-- Speaking to reporters before departing on the Airbus 310-300 of the Royal Thai Air Force at 10:50 am, Yingluck said she was not sure whether she would have a chance to talk about the extradition of an Iranian suspect who allegedly involved in the three explosions in Bangkok last week. She said she would focus on talking on bilateral cooperation in general with her Malaysian counterpart.

Her entourage includes Defence Minister Gen Sukampol Suwannathat and National Security Council Secretary-General Pol Gen Wichean Phojphosri.

Yingluck is scheduled to return to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 11:25 pm.

-- The Nation 2012-02-20

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Five dead, 16 injured in Phang Nga crash

Phuket Gazette –

The 'songtaew' vehicle offered little protection for its passengers. Photo: Nation Channel

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534929-five-dead-16-injured-in-phang-nga-crash/page__view__findpost__p__5071626

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17-Year-Old Girl Jumps Off Moving Bike to Escape Sexual Assault: Had Yai

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ssault-had-yai/

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iPad Export Ban Would Threaten Global Sales

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Metropolitan Police arrest taxi driver with HIV/AIDS who raped and stole from over 10 victims already /TANN

Commerce Ministry enforces recommended price for ready-to-eat meals at food courts at no more than Bt35 and roadside stalls at Bt30 /TANN

PTT and Bangchak increase gasoline and gasohol prices by 60 satang/l, diesel by 40 satang/l, E85 by 30 satang/l tomorrow /TANN

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POLITICS

Thai Defence Minister Gen Sukampol: No war room against coup

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....m-against-coup/

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TERRORISM

Public urged to watch out for suspicious activities by foreigners: Thai Army Commander

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Plodprasop: Bangkok residents should pack and flee if floodwaters reach Ayutthaya's Wang Noi

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....hayas-wang-noi/

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AMLO notes Thailand not on money laundering blacklist but is simply at risk of being placed on blacklist /TANN

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RT @suthichai: Harvard has produced more US presidents (8) than NBA players 4...until Jeremy Lin, none since 1950s)...Time

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House in Soi Ngamduplee collapses while being renovated, killing a construction worker /TANN

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10 Spectacular Computer Keyboards

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One killed, another injured in house collapse

BANGKK: -- A person was killed and another injured when a Bangkok house being renovated collapsed Monday afternoon.

Police said the one-storey house on Soi Ngamduplee in Thung Mahamek district collapsed at 4 pm.

-- The Nation 2012-02-20

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SET index closed at 1135.92, up 5.99; Bt/USD30.61; GBP48.49; AUD32.91; EUR40.34; CAD30.69; HKD3.94; SGD24.31; JPY38.29

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Appeals Court rejects bail bid for Somyot Preuksakasemsuk, Red Shirt magazine editor detained for lese majeste /MCOT

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PE Teacher Deals Drugs to Make Extra Money

CHAIYAPHUM: -- A physical education teacher in Chaiyaphum Province has been arrested for dealing methamphetamine to students at Baan Koh Krung School. The teacher confessed he started dealing drugs to make extra money, saying his teacher salary wasn't enough to live on.

Residents and parents in Chaiyaphum alerted the police about a shocking crime. They were outraged at a physical education teacher at Baan Koh Krung School in Koh Krung District. The parents claimed the teacher, identified as Udompan Hormchant, was dealing drugs to the students at the school and teens living in the area.

The 47-year old PE teacher was tracked down and arrested by the Chaiyaphum Police on Sunday. The police found him at his girlfriend's house in Kaeng Kro District. Upon his arrest, Udompan visibly paled when the police had requested a search of his person. The police found 90 methamphetamine pills in his bag, hidden inside a drink straw. Together with the drugs, the police also found other drug paraphernalia, a gun, 3 bank books and 2 mobile phones.

According to the police's preliminary interrogation report, Udompan had confessed to dealing drugs. He explained to the police that he turned to dealing drugs to his students to make extra money since his teacher salary wasn't enough. He told the police that he bought the drugs from a neighboring country at the price of 100 baht per pill. The meth is then sold to his students for 400-600 baht each.

Udompan's girlfriend, Patcharaporn Pachongla, 25 years old, was also arrested when she tested positive for drugs.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-20

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Thai PM Yingluck Denies Misconduct Allegation

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EC selects Puchong Nutrawong, former deputy EC secretary-general, to sit as secretary-general /TANN

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RT @NajibRazak: I’m pleased to welcome PM Yingluck on her 1st official visit to Malaysia today.We both agreed to enhance cooperation between both countries.