Thailand Live Monday 20 Feb 2012

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RT @RichardBarrow: Police found a "SEJEAL" sticker in motorcycle of Iranian bomb suspect. Now they are everywhere: http://yfrog.com/kgh38moj

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Malaysian, Thai leaders discuss border unrest

KUALA LUMPUR, February 20, 2012 (AFP) - The leader of Muslim-majority Malaysia Monday pledged full assistance to visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to help resolve the Muslim insurgency raging in southern Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/535075-malaysian-thai-leaders-discuss-border-unrest/page__view__findpost__p__5072831

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Pregnant Swede still in Phuket hospital after chlorine gas exposure

Phuket Gazette –

Gundersen Ohrstrand from Norway carries his one-year-old son Martin at Patong Hospital after the incident. Martin was the youngest person to be affected by the chlorine cloud. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Phuket Orchid Resort General Manager Philip Raiss at a press conference at the resort on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534467-explosion-at-karon-hotel-at-least-30-tourists-injured-at-phuket-orchid-resort/page__view__findpost__p__5072854

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BOMB EXPLOSIONS

Police question Iranian on blast-related charges

BANGKOK:-- Police on Monday questioned Iranian bomb suspect Mohammad Hazaei and formally charged him with involvement in the Bangkok Valentine Day blasts.

Hazaei, who was arrested 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.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat, who is heading the investigation, formally notified him of the joint charges, with the other suspects, which include 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 Hazaei and evidence such as clothes, hats and shoes collected from the rented house in Sukhumvit 71.

Gen Jarumporn, however, said the DNA test to determine connections with another suspect Saeid Moradi, who lost both legs when his own explosive device rebounded and is now hospitalised at Chulalongkorn Hospital, has not yet been conducted.

The Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for five Iranians on various charges related to the 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 last 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 Leila Rohani. She reportedly rented the house for the group and returned to the Iranian capital of Tehran several days before the explosions.

The fifth suspect is a Middle Eastern man who may have been involved in the blasts. CCTV camera images show him walking from the rented house where the first explosion took place, apparently by accident.

-- The Nation 2012-02-20

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AMLO: Blacklisting of Thailand unrelated to BKK blasts

BANGKOK, 20 February 2012 (NNT) – The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has dismissed any connections between Thailand’s inclusion in a money-laundering blacklist and the recent bombings and arrests of terrorist suspects in Bangkok.

Acting Secretary-General of AMLO Pol.Col.Sihanart Prayoonrat said the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) had put Thailand on its blacklist due to the country’s failure to meet international conventions in terms of its anti-money laundering standards. Thailand’s anti-money laundering work is said to lack criteria and investigatory methods to learn about clients as well as penalties for sponsors of terrorist acts.

According to the Acting Secretary-General, the blacklisting will make Thailand’s international transactions more difficult and reduce the country’s competitiveness.

Pol.Col.Sihanart suggested that Thailand urgently enforce ministerial regulations to set up criteria and methods to acquire information about its clients. The country would also need to speedily pass laws that comply with international standards, restructure AMLO and work with relevant units to bring clarity to its policy against financial aid for terrorism.

-- NNT 2012-02-20

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Thai adventure ends in death on beach

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: Mark Robson was found strangled on a beach in Phuket, Thailand.

Sameer Naik

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/532491-27-year-old-english-teacher-reported-missing-in-phuket/page__view__findpost__p__5072931

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 21 Feb 2012

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