Thailand Live Monday 26 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 26 March 2012

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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Red shirts plan across border Thaksin celebrations: Jatuporn

BANGKOK: -- Thousands of red shirts will celebrate Songkran with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Laos and Cambodia, Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday.

Full story:

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Fights loom over emergency care: Thailand

Heads of national health schemes fear clashes with patients unless conditions are spelt out to public

BANGKOK: -- The rush to give citizens free access to emergency medical services from any hospital - while a progressive advance in public health policy - could cause clashes between patients and doctors due to a lack of clarity.

Full story:

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Prices, not politics, worry Thais: polls

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The public is worried about the rising cost of living, getting tired of dithering politicians and is increasingly turned off by the political divide, two leading pollsters said in surveys released yesterday.

Abac Poll found that one in two people said they viewed the economy as more important than the political situation.

Their major concerns in the past 12 months were rising prices, higher fuel costs, earnings falling behind expenditures, natural calamities and illicit drugs.

Many voiced puzzlement that the Internal Trade Department could not keep prices in check.

Suan Dusit Poll said three in five people were no longer interested in news reports on political bickering. Instead they were keen to know what the government and politicians were doing about rising prices.

They said they wanted to monitor news on price fluctuations, measures to improve livelihoods and wage adjustments.

About one in two people said they followed news reports on drug suppression and the distribution of tablet computers to students.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Burma seek details on bike crash just prior to blasts

The Nation

MAE SAI: -- Burma has asked Thailand to look into a possible link between a motorcycle accident in which a Thai teenager was injured in Mae Sai on Saturday and two explosions at a border hotel opposite the Chiang Rai town.

Burma said it was informed that the crash at about 2am Saturday happened after the teenager crashed his speeding motorcycle into an electricity pole. He is now being treated in a private hospital in Muang district.

The accident took place a few hours before two bombs exploded at a golf course adjoining the hotel in Tachilek, which is opposite Mae Sai. The course was hosting a golf tournament held to mark Burma's Armed Forces Day.

Four Burmese were injured in the blast and are being treated in a hospital in Chiang Rai.

Burma also sought help tightening security at the border after the bombs to prevent people with ill intent entering Burma.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Bank of Thailand chief Prasarn bullish about growth

Thanong Khanthong talks to Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, about the prospects for the Thai economy.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Thai society can achieve reconciliation

BANGKOK: -- Dr Chaiwat Sathaanand, a lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Political Sciences, and the winner of the Sriburapha Award, believes Thai society can achieve reconciliation by embracing tolerance and shunning hatred.

Full story:

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Ceremony rehearsal

The Nation

SOLDIERS MARCH during the second major rehearsal yesterday of the cremation of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda at Sanam Luang on April 9.

The Phra Maha Pichai Ratcharot chariot will carry the royal urn. Princess Bejaratana, the only child of King Rama VI, passed away at the age of 85 last July.

Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said the run-through was photographed and recorded on video for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to view.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Cold-drug case narrows to 7 suspects

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An ongoing probe has suggested that seven government officials, most of them pharmacists, have committed grave disciplinary offences in embezzling a huge amount of pseudoephedrine-containing tablets out of state hospitals.

The missing pseudoephedrine tablets have raised great concern because they can be used to produce methamphetamine.

"If found guilty, the maximum punishment is dismissal from the services without any severance pay or pension," Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday. The probe was ongoing, he said.

He added that even after the panel headed by the Public Health Ministry's inspector-general concluded its probe, the accused officials would still have a chance to defend themselves before the relevant civil-service subcommittees.

To date, the probe has pointed the finger at seven government officials at the Kamalasai Hospital in Kalasin, the Phu Sing Hospital in Si Sa Ket, the Udon Thani Hospital in Udon Thani, the Thong Saen Khan Hospital in Uttaradit, and the Hot and Doi Lor hospitals in Chiang |Mai.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) senior official Pol Lt-Colonel Sa-ard Sunthorn said his team had gathered much information on the medicine-embezzlement cases in Chiang Mai but these cases had not yet been transferred to the DSI.

"We will investigate further if the cases come under DSI jurisdiction," he said.

Before the DSI can officially take up any case, it must win approval from its board.

To date, investigation of medicine embezzlement at state hospitals is still under police jurisdiction.

"A primary investigation has shown that the medicines went missing from the Hot and Doi Lor hospitals. We have established another committee to look into the case further to determine why they have gone missing," Chiang Mai public-health deputy chef Dr Surasing Wisarurat said.

Meanwhile, police yesterday announced the seizure of 500,000 methamphetamine tablets and 5.4 kilos of crystal methamphetamine.

"Police at a checkpoint in Lamphun intercepted a pick-up last Friday and found the illicit drugs," Li police station superintendent Colonel Sompoj Sonkanok said.

He said the pick-up's driver, Pirun Rittitraipop, 33, was now in detention.

According to Sompoj, the suspect confessed he was paid to deliver the illicit drugs to Bangkok. Pirun is now charged with having an illicit drug (type 1) with an intention to sell.

An informed source said Pirun was fluent in French because he had been a mercenary in France for a long time.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Australian charity head accused of faking the rescue of Thai hill tribe children resigns

The head of an Australian charity that has been accused of faking the rescue of Thai hill tribe children from sexual slavery has resigned.

Full story:

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Former MP Suebsaeng dies, aged 71

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat MP Suebsaeng Promboon passed away at the age of 71 at Bhumibol Hospital early yesterday.

He was taken to the hospital after going into shock while riding in a taxi on Saturday night.

The hospital said Suebsaeng had suffered an abnormal narrowing of his blood vessels.

His funeral was held at Makut Kasatriyaram Temple.

Born on December 18, 1941, Suebsaeng was a graduate of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Arts. He contested elections under the banner of another political party before finally joining the Democrats.

At the height of his political career, he was a vice minister for education. He also served as an adviser on foreign affairs to the education minister in 1994 and 1995.

"I am so saddened by his passing," said Democrat party-list MP Charoen Kanthawong, a close friend of Suebsaeng for more than 30 years. "The country has just lost a good man."

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Free English course at Rajamangala

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- People keen on improving their English skills can now attend an evening class in English for communications. Best of all, it is free of charge.

The Liberal Arts Faculty at Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin is offering the English course to interested people at the Borpitpimuk Chakrawad Campus until April 11.

The hours are 5pm-8pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

For more information, call 02 221 2896 ext 5104 or download an application form from foala.rmutr.ac.th and e-mail it to pla_plada@ hotmail.com or fax it to 02 221 2896 ext 5104.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Debate association to hold youth forum

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The International Debate Education Association (IDEA), in partnership with United Thailand, will organise, for the first time in the Asean region, the IDEA Asia Youth Forum.

Thailand is the official host of the event.

Youths from the Asean countries of Malaysia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia as well as other Asian countries such as Mongolia, Palestine and China will be participating.

The objective of this event is to help make Asia a truly integrated and educated community through interesting activities, such as a debate competition, educational workshops, intercultural learning and social programmes.

The forum will be held from May 14-26 at Thammasat University's learning centre in Pattaya and at Rangsit University in Bangkok.

Registration is open until Saturday.

For more information, call 083 123 4284 or 981 7719, or visit www.idebate.org/asiayouthforum/index.php.

-- The Nation 2012-03-26

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Two killed in separate shootings in deep South

NARATHIWAT, March 26 -- An assistant village headman on Sunday was gunned down by suspected insurgents in restive Narathiwat while a defence volunteer was shot dead in Pattani, according to police.

Adisak Tayae, a 53-year-old assistant village headman, was killed in Rueso district on Sunday in a shooting while riding home, according to Pol Lt Ukrit Sangkamanee of Rueso police station.

The body of the assistant village headman was found lying in a pool of blood next to his vehicle after being shot four times in his torso by two assailants on a motorcycle. Before fleeing the scene, the assailants took the victim’s 9-mm pistol.

His body was taken to Rueso Hospital for an autopsy, the police officer said.

In a separate attack in the adjacent province of Pattani, Defence Volunteer Ahmad Duerae, 49, was ambushed in a shooting late Saturday night in Khok Pho district, while he was on duty, Pol Col Rapepong Sukpaiboon, superintendent of Khok Pho police station said on Sunday.

A preliminary investigation found that while Mr Ahmad was driving a pickup truck to visit defence volunteers and find out insurgency-related information, an unknown number of assailants in a pickup truck shot him several times using AK-47 assault rifles. The victim died immediately at the crime scene.

The police presumed that the two incidents were the work of suspected insurgents.

The insurgency in the far South, which erupted in 2004, has claimed more than 5,000 lives of residents, government officials, and suspected insurgents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-26

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EDITORIAL

Economic slump in China will be felt here also: Thai opinion

Slowdown means cautious policies are best amid current uncertainty

THAILAND: -- China's slower growth has become an emerging factor to dampen the prospect of Thai economy. China is the biggest export market for Thailand while Chinese tourists contribute to Thailand's foreign exchange earnings every year. Therefore, if China's economic growth slows down, our economic sector is likely to feel a pinch.

Full story:

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RT @AP: BREAKING NEWS: Director James Cameron returns to the ocean's surface after journey to Earth's deepest point

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RT @RichardBarrow: According to sources, State Railway of Thailand have suspended all annual steam train trips until further notice.

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RT @mpoppel: AP: Seoul warns it might shoot down North Korean rocket if it violates South Korean territory.

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Counterfeit Banknotes Spread in Ang Thong Province

ANG THONG: -- Vendors are concerned after a new wave of counterfeit 50 baht banknotes have spread rapidly, and that the latest version of these notes are sophisticated and hard to detect.

Authorities are urging the public to be aware of the counterfeit banknotes.

Vendors in Kaset Suwapan Muang Thong Market in Ang Thong Province have closely examined banknotes, especially a new version of 50 baht banknotes, which have just released recently.

Many vendors have received fake 50 baht banknotes in early morning, when the market was busy and hard to examine the banknotes.

A 59-year-old vegetable vendor, Somboon Thongchod, disclosed that she did not examine the banknotes when receiving or paying the customers, and that the new version of 50 baht banknotes is difficult to detect. Vendors have found many counterfeit banknotes.

The Ang Thong Municipality has suggested vendors to use banknotes examining machines that can be found in the shops to initially prevent from receiving counterfeit banknotes.

Meanwhile, authorities are preparing to crackdown on the counterfeiting.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-26

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,198.39, up 3.95 points /MCOT

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Fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Promises to Return to Thailand in Full Glory

SURIN: -- Fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra informed his red shirt supporters through a phone call that he would eventually return to Thailand in full glory.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-in-full-glory/

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Farmers gather at Govt House to pressure the govt into addressing their problem of land to make a living /TANN

Members of Govt Pension Fund to gather at Govt House tomorrow to call for higher returns and increasing benefits /TANN

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TAT to Officially Unveil 'Miracle Year of Amazing Thailand' Campaign Next Week

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand will officially launch the 'Miracle Year of Amazing Thailand' mega-campaign with a grand exhibition next week at the IMPACT Arena Muang Thong Thani.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: 10:45am Fire at the Panich building on Sukhumwit 42 near Ekamai bus terminal. Fire trucks are there now TR @oneman_alone

RT @suthichai: RT @RichardBarrow: Picture of the fire behind Ekamai Bus Terminal - RT @Golfmarley: ไฟไหม้ เอกมัย http://bit.ly/GQNGff

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RT @RichardBarrow: In April, Two lanes on Sukhumwit Rd (Bearing to Paknam) will be closed for building the Samut Prakan skytrain extension

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Phuket elections: Phudit in power in Rassada; Samran retains Chalong seat

Phuket election officials post unofficial results of voting for seats in the Chalong election last night. Photo: Warisa Temram

A Phuket police officer deters a drunken man from affecting the polling underway at the Raassada election yesterday. Photo: Stephen Fein

PHUKET: -- Preliminary results of two local elections in Phuket yesterday indicate that Phudit “Ko Noi” Raksarat will take over administration of Rassada Municipality, while Somran Jindapol has been elected Mayor of Chalong Municipality.

Full story:

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Deputy PM Yuthasak sees no 2nd Council of National Security; neither coup maker, nor sign of coup, government works well with military /MCOT

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Thai PM, visiting Seoul, invites Korean investors to boost investment in Thailand's value added industries, services /MCOT

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Court Denies Red-Shirt Bail Talks with Thaksin

Full story: