Thailand Live Friday 16 Mar 2012

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Moei River Drying Up, Affecting Water Consumption

BANGKOK: -- Officials in Thailand and Myanmar are concerned that the low water level of the Moei River is affecting the process of preparation for drinking water, while the Mae Sot District chief is worried that river dredging could affect the relationship between Thailand and Myanmar.

The drought crisis is making it difficult to produce clean water, because the Moei River, which borders Thailand and Myanmar, is drying up. It's becoming difficult to pump the water from the river to produce clean water for consumption.

The Tak Provincial Waterworks Authority proposed a short-term plan to dredge the river to create a waterway that will allow water to flow into a low pressure water treatment pump.

The long-term plan is to build a second reservoir and construct a water pipe that will receive water from the mountains directly. Meanwhile, Myanmar has also been facing a water supply shortage and difficulties producing clean water. Currently, Myanmar has been installing a large water pipe from the middle of the Moei River to process the water.

Mae Sot District Chief Preecha Jaiphet disclosed that the drought season has arrived early this year. As a result, the Moei River is drying up faster. It has become difficult to pump water from the river to produce clean water for the public.

The chief has ordered officials to dredge the river to build a waterway. However, he is concerned that the dredging must be carried out carefully, so it will not cross over the Myanmar border to prevent a possible conflict.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-16

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Whitney Houston's daughter accused of incest

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SET index midday up 11.96 pts, 1.02 pct

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Friday stood at 1,183.30, up 11.96 points, or 1.02

per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt17.70 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 832.38, up 8.99 points, or 1.09 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: IVL, PTTGC, PTTEP, PTT, ITD.

-- The Nation 2012-03-16

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PM Yingluck orders check on consumer goods, food prices

BANGKOK, March 16 – Amid consumer outcries over rising food prices, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today convened an urgent economic meeting at the Commerce Ministry to check raw material prices, according to Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

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TOURISM

Thailand as most popular Asian destination

BANGKOK:-- Thailand was named the "Asia's Most Popular Destination" for ninth year in a row by Go Asia, a marketing network that specialises in marketing Asia as a destination for travellers.

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Inquest on six Wat Pathum deaths to begin June 18

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The Criminal Court will on June 18 convene an inquest into six people killed at Wat Pathum Wanaram in connection with the anti-riot operations to disperse the red-shirt rally at Ratchaprasong in May 2010.

"The prosecutors have planned to call 104 witnesses to testify," Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj General Anuchai Lekbamrung said on Friday.

Anuchai said police investigators had completed their reports on all 18 deaths suspected to involve state officials during the political disturbances from April to May 2010.

Of the 91 deaths, the Department of Special Investigation put 18 cases into a batch which might have a linkage to riot forces. The DSI then sent the 18 cases back to police for forensic checks, paving way for the inquest on cause and circumstances.

Anuchai said the court had already scheduled inquest sessions for 17 deaths, including the six for the Wat Pathum case.

The inquest on the final case No 18 is expected to be scheduled soon since police have resubmitted the report to public prosecutors following the gathering of additional evidence, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-16

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RT@RichardBarrow: The 10 million Baht of gold that was left in a BKK taxi has been found. Pic via @fm91trafficpro http://t.co/tDE1h3We

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Taxi driver returns gold worth Bt13 million to owner

BANGKOK:-- A taxi driver Friday returned gold ornaments worth Bt13 million to its owner via the FM91 (Sor Wor Por 91) radio station.

The taxi driver came out to return the gold after its owner, Akekarat Kanokwannakorn, 60, told police Thursday that he had left the 540 baht weight of gold in a pink Toyota Altis taxi.

Akerat told police that he had flagged down on Bangkok’s Worachak Road to travel to Si Mum Muang Market in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district.

-- The Nation 2012-03-16

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Phuket bus crash victims all safe

Phuket Gazette –

Rescue workers carefully remove bus crash victims by using backboards. Photo: Warisa Temram

The tour bus carrying Ministry of Labor officers plowed into Ms Sunisa’s home as it descended Patong Hill. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541247-phuket-bus-crash-victims-all-safe/page__view__findpost__p__5139010

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Assets of Cabinet ministers made public by NACC

BANGKOK, 16 March 2012 (NNT) - The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has made another disclosure of assets and liabilities of cabinet members after the Cabinet reshuffle on 23 January.

According to the NACC, of the 16 ministers in 17 positions, Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa has the highest amount of assets worth 380 million baht and Deputy Finance Minister Thanusak Lek-uthai has the least amongst the ministers, holding about 400,000 baht.

The disclosure shows that Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Natthawut Saikua has 16 million baht worth of assets and Ms. Nalinee Taweesin, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, has 18 million baht worth of assets.

The NACC is making public the list of assets and liabilities of political office-holders until March 29th. People are invited to inform the NACC of any irregularities they may find with the declarations.

-- NNT 2012-03-16

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RT@RichardBarrow: 47 dogs were rescued in Nakhon Phanom as they were about to be sent across the Mekhong River TR@thaiquicknews

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Thai taxi driver returns $410,000 in gold to owner

BANGKOK, March 16, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai taxi driver Friday returned 8.2 kilograms (18 pounds) of gold ornaments worth around $410,000 to their owner who had left them in his car three days ago, police said.

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Ethnic Hmong arrested in Lampang with 2 m meth pills; claims drug picked up from Myanmar; police seek arrest of three more suspects /MCOT

Chiang Rai police detain 3 suspects with 2.5 million meth pills, 50 kg of 'ice' with Bt800 million street value /MCOT

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LESE MAJESTY LAW

Da Torpedo bail rejected

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court on Friday confirmed the lower court's decision to reject the bail application of lese majeste convict Daranee Chanchoengsilapakul, aka Da Torpedo, on the grounds that she poses a flight risk.

The high court's decision said Daranee might flee in the face of her serious charges and penalties. Daranee applied for temporary release pending the appellate review on her 2011 conviction and sentencing to 15 years in jail.

Daranee, an anti-coup activist, was arrested for royal insult in 2008 after joining a Sanam Luang rally organised by the red shirts.

Following the 2009 trial, the lower court sentenced her to 18 years in jail. The high court declared a mistrial in 2011 and ordered that the case be tried again pending a review by the Constitution Court.

The mistrial was attributed to the failure to properly address a defence argument that a non-public trial was unconstitutional.

The Constitution Court subsequently ruled in favour of the lower court's decision not to open the first trial to the public, paving way for a second trial, which ended up with the same guilty verdict but with the sentencing cut by three years.

-- The Nation 2012-03-16

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New York girl abducted by her father found safe in Thailand

A New York girl kidnapped four years ago by her father has been found living in Thailand by FBI agents, Daily Mail online reported Friday.

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Probe Underway for Missing Cold Pills

KALASIN: -- Police are rushing investigation into the disappearance of a substantial amount of cold pills from a hospital in Kalasin Province. Staff responsible for the hospital's pharmaceutical storage facility have been transferred to inactive posts during the investigation.

On Tuesday, Kamalasai Hospital Director Supat Tatphet reported to police that more than 300,000 “Actifed” cold tablets, which contain pseudoephedrine, disappeared from the hospital's pharmaceutical storage facility. The substance can be use in producing illegal drugs.

Kalasin Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Kanitsorn Noinart pointed out that he is looking into a list of possible buyers for the missing drugs. He also questioned individuals involved in the case.

Meanwhile, the hospital director stated that he will hand out the highest punishment to hospital officials found to be involved. The director has also set up a special committee to investigate the missing Actifed.

At this time, three hospital workers who were responsible for the storage room have been transferred to inactive posts at the provincial public health office.

Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri ordered all hospitals across the country to inspect their inventory.

Similar incidents have occurred at hospitals in Udon Thai and Uttaradit provinces. Police will launch further investigation whether or not the incidents are related.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-16

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SET index closed at 1189.56, up 18.22; Bt/USD30.58; GBP47.92; AUD32.04; EUR39.88; CAD30.63; HKD3.93; SGD24.10; JPY36.45

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Man Arrested for Newspaper Office Attack

RAYONG: -- Deputy Commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 2 announced the arreste of a suspect accused of attacking the Daily News Newspaper's eastern news bureau. Police are searching for further culprits behind the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Bureau 2 Police Major General Niwat Rattanatammawat announced that an arrest was made for an individual believed to be behind the attack of the Daily News Newspaper's eastern news bureau in Choeng Nern Subdistrict of Rayong Province on January 19.

Niwat said evidence and investigation has led to 36-year-old Pongthep Ploymanee.

Since the incident, Pongthep has been hiding out in Chantaburi's Kaeng Hang Maew District.

On February 22, he was arrested by Kaeng Hang Maew police for being involved in a drug case. Pongthep was arrested along with an AK-47, ammunition, and a silver Isuzu pick-up truck.

Police found that the AK-47 bullet shells were the same as those collected from the crime scene.

It was further found that Pongthep has a connection with influential figures suspected of encroaching on the Khao Khun In Forest in Rayong's Wang Chan District.

Police claimed that Pongthep was hired by these individuals to attack the news office because they were dissatisfied with some news reports, which have affected their business dealings.

However, Pongthep is now under the interrogation, in order to seek further culprits behind the incident.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-16

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LOST AND FOUND

Honest taxi driver returns Bt13 million of gold

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver on Friday returned more than eight kilograms of gold ornaments to their owner, an elderly passenger who left the cab without taking his valuables. The returned gold is worth more than Bt13 million.

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Red Shirts to mark 2nd anniversary of protests

BANGKOK, March 16 -- The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or the Red Shirt movement will hold ceremonies next month to mark the 2nd anniversary of its protests against the then Abhisit administration at Democracy Monument and Ratchaprasong intersection, UDD Chairperson Thida Thavornseth said here Friday.

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Thai Officials to Visit Malaysia for Bomb Suspect Extradition

BANGKOK: -- Police and state attorneys are preparing to visit Malaysia in their bid for the extradition of an Iranian wanted for the recent triple blasts in the heart of Bangkok.

Deputy Police Chief Police General Parnsiri Prapawat said investigators and public prosecutors will visit Malaysia between March 25 and 26 to meet authorities there on the extradition of Iranian suspect Sedaghat Zadeh Masoud, wanted for the Valentine's Day blasts on Sukumvit Road.

Parnsiri said the process in now in the stage where related documents are being translated into English for Malaysian authorities to proceed with Thailand's petition.

The Malaysian deputy public prosecutor yesterday said the extradition process should take a couple months and his agency is waiting for evidence from Thai authorities.

Masoud was arrested by Malaysian police while waiting for his return flight to Iran.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-16

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Austrian tourist arrested at Aranyaprathet border on drug charge

SA KAEO, March 16 - A 51-year-old Austrian tourist was arrested at Thailand’s Aranyaprathet district immigration checkpoint for bringing several types of restricted drugs from Cambodia.

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Thailand Live Saturday 17 Mar 2012