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Authorities clear debris at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel after Saturday's car bomb attack; engineers inspect structure, basement carpark /MCOT

Posted

TOR of Thai-Cambodian Border Dispute Discussed

BANGKOK: -- The Thai foreign minister will meet with his Indonesian counterpart to establish the terms of reference for the Thai-Cambodian border conflict of which Indonesia has been assigned to observe.

Information Department Director-General Thani Thongpakdi said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul will meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalaykawa at 1.30 P.M. today to discuss the terms of reference or TOR regarding sending Indonesian observers to monitor the addressing of the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

The International Court of Justice has ordered both countries to withdraw troops from a demilitarized zone it has marked out around the Preah Vihear Temple.

Indonesia will be observing the process.

The discussion about the TOR will be on the agenda of the Thai and Cambodian joint working group meeting next week, which was scheduled by the General Border Committee meeting in December last year.

The Indonesian foreign minister has already met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Num Hong to discuss the TOR.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Police Find Details about Vehicle Used in Hat Yai Car Bomb

HAT YAI: -- Police have found out that the vehicle used in the car bomb attack at the Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province belonged to a Narathiwat local government officer who was shot dead in October of last year and that the perpetrators made off with his car.

Bomb disposal officers have been able to check the B1, 2, and 3 basement floors of the Lee Gardens Hotel in Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province, which was the site of a car bomb that killed three and injured more than 416 people on Saturday.

The initial damage has been estimated at 500 million baht. The officers still have not been able to inspect the B4 and 5 floors due to the excessive smoke and heat caused by debris from burnt cars.

Officers have prepared machines to dispel the smoke and high-power torches for a detailed inspection of those floors.

Upon their inspection of the B3 floor, officers believe that the vehicle used in the attack was a Honda Civic with Patthalung license plates, belonging to Thanasorn Kuasuk, the former deputy chief of the Choeng Khiri Subdistrict Administration Organization in Si Sakhon District of Narathiwat Province.

He was shot and killed and his car stolen on October 23, 2011.

The owners of around 200 cars and motorcycles parked in the basement have reported to the authorities with ownership documentations.

As for help for victims of the incident, the province has teamed up with many agencies to set up an assistance center in front of the Lee Gardens Hotel.

Victims are starting to report damage to assets or injuries to officials.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Authorities Raid Narathiwat Houses

NARATHIWAT: -- The authorities raided houses in Narathiwat's Rangae District and confiscated a number of drugs and weapons.

A combined force of 30 officers from the Ranger Force Regiment 45 and 11 led by its commander, Colonel Chalermchai Sutthinuan, and Colonel Chalerm Niamchuay, raided three houses in Ban Chalerm of Narathiwat's Rangae District.

The team launched its operation after being informed that a large number of men regularly visit the houses. Officials apprehended three suspects who are being held in custody at the Ranger Force Regiment 45 headquarters for further interrogation.

Authorities confiscated more than 50 items, including two pistols, ammunition, spyglass, mobile phones, cameras, batteries, camping equipment, Kratom leaves which can be made into narcotics, and drug manufacturing equipment.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Thai Chamber of Commerce Univ reports increasing consumer confidence index in Mar but concerns about oil price,living expense,politics /TANN

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SET index midday up 5.29 pts, 0.44 pct

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 1,202.06, up 5.29 points, or 0.44 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt9.34 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 846.35, up 3.44 points, or 0.41 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTTGC, BBL, SCB, TUB, MALEE.

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-- The Nation 2012-04-02

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DEADLY ATTACKS IN SONGKHLA AND YALA

Suspects identified : Security officials

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BANGKOK: -- Security agencies believe insurgents behind the vehicle bomb attacks in Yala over the weekend belong to a group close to an insurgent leader behind the Hat Yai airport bomb attack in 2005.

Full story:

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SOUTH CRISIS

PM heads to Songkhla for talks on improving security

The Nation

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SONGKHLA: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in the southern province of Songkhla on Monday to visit the victims of the weekend car bombing at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel.

The premier will chair a meeting of agencies concerned to discuss improved security measures to prevent future attacks in the southern provinces.

Fourteen people were killed and more than 500 injured in a series of mid-day car bombings in the southern border provinces of Yala and Songkhla. Two car bomb attacks took place in the provincial seat of Yala and another car bomb was detonated in the basement of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai.

Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel owner Wanchai Leelasitorn told reporters that he had not yet assessed the damage from the explosion that caused a fire at the hotel and adjacent shopping plaza, as he was awaiting an official inspection of the scene.

He said that even though the hotel applied strict security measures, it could not deter assailants who found security loopholes to launch an attack.

All closed circuit television cameras in the hotel operated normally during the incident and recorded footage that could benefit the investigation, he said.

Wanchai said that he could not specify how long the hotel would be closed, but he was ready to renovate and reopen his hotel as soon as possible.

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-- The Nation 2012-04-02

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At least 100,000 small- and medium-sized businesses likely to close down in next 6 months following daily minimum wage hike: Thai Chamber of Commerce /MCOT

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Senators criticizes govt for poor intelligence operations

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BANGKOK:-- Several senators Monday blamed the bomb attacks in Yala and Hat Yai over the weekend on inefficient intelligence operations by the government and its security agencies.

The senators discussed the latest attacks during the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Khon Kaen Senator Prasert Prakhunsueksaphan said the bomb attack at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel showed that a high building with an underground car park could be a weak point of security keeping.

Phatthalung Senator Charoen Phakdeewanich said the government should overhaul its intelligence agencies.

Charoen said the government should also visit the deep South more often to provide moral support to government officials in the southern border provinces.

Charoen also said the government should hold consultations with the Army to try to integrate all operations for maintaining security in the region.

The Phathalung senator called on the government to open a special debate on the southern situation to explain measures for rebuilding confidence in the deep South and to listen to the opinions of senators on how to tackle the deep South crisis.

Somchai Sawaengkarn, an appointed senator, said the attacks showed that the government was failing in the intelligence operations.

He said it was worrying that the violence had spread to the tourist town of Hat Yai and might later extend to airports or even Bangkok.

Somchai said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should pay more attention to the problems in the deep South.

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-- The Nation 2012-04-02

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13 districts in Lampang declared drought zones

LAMPANG, 2 April 2012 (NNT) – Several provinces in the northeast are suffering from drought crisis, which is expected to be more severe this year than in the previous years.

Villagers in Muang district of Lampang have been lining up sand bags around the Mae Mai Stream to preserve the water. The stream is the major water source of water for consumption and agriculture for the locals. Thirteen districts in Lampang have already been declared drought disaster zones.

In Lampoon province, farmers have been hard-hit by the drought; many crops have died out. Some farmers have installed water pumping machines for the crops, making the production costs go even higher. Authorities have been assigned to assist the drought victims.

Meanwhile, 18 out of 32 districts in Nakhon Ratchasima province have also been declared drought zones. Residents expect the drought to be more severe and last longer than usual this year.

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-- NNT 2012-04-02 footer_n.gif

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Special Report: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 57th Birthday Anniversary

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was born on 2 April 1955 as the third child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. After spending her school years at Chitralada School in Bangkok, she joined the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History with first class honor and a gold medal. She later obtained an M.A. in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and Cambodian) from Silpakorn University, and an M.A. in Pali and Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn University. She was then awarded a doctoral degree in Development Education from Srinakharinwirot University.

Accompanying Their Majesties the King and Queen to remote and rural areas since a young age, the Princess began her missions to develop several aspects of the Thai people’s lives, including education for Thai youths in remote areas, provide relief for victims of natural disasters, as well as occupations for the disadvantaged. Determined to develop the community and elevate the living conditions of Her people, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has dedicated her time to enhance her knowledge and skills in effective integrated development by attending training courses and workshops, including physical geography, hydrology, botany, soil and water management, remote sensing, geographic information system, cartography and nutrition, among others.

Her love for the Chinese language and culture has greatly strengthened the ties between China and Thailand. Due to the years-long bond, the Princess was voted by the Chinese people as one of the ten best international friends of China in 2009, on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China. She is able to speak fluent Chinese and has continuously developed a higher level of Chinese skills, including the translation of meaningful literature from the past and other modern stories.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also enjoys various leisure activities from Thai classical instruments to Thai classical dancing, painting, sports and cultivation. She gives special attention to the national heritage and does her best to preserve its values.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has become an inspiration to those who have followed her life and work. Her dedication and tireless efforts to help people, regardless of their social status, race or nationality, has been witnessed not only by the Thai population, but also by people from around the world. Many associations and organizations have, thus, proposed their requests to name new species of plants and animals as well as places and inventions after Her Royal Highness in honour of Thailand's beloved princess.

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-- NNT 2012-04-02 footer_n.gif

Posted

Malaysian foreign minister warns nationals not to visit southern Thailand following bombings in Hat Yai and Yala /TANN

Cabinet approves extending Parliamentary session, which is supposed to end on April 18, out indefinitely /TANN

DSI reports of fraud in civil servants' medical welfare scheme with excessive prescription of drugs, reselling of drugs, etc /TANN

DSI: Nawamin 9 Hospital found to have reported discrepancy in the purchase of 300,000 ephedrine-based cold pills /TANN

Posted

Westerner found hanged on rooftop of unfinished building on Bang Na-Trat

The Nation

Bangkok: -- A westerner has been found hanged from a billboard on the rooftop of a 32-floor building which was left unfinished on the Bang Na-Trat Road, police said Monday.

Full story:

Posted

PM instructs agencies to tighten security in the South

HAT YAI, 2 April 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nattawut Saikua today made an unscheduled visit to Hat Yai district in Songkla province after a series of car bombings rocked the Southern region yesterday.

Ms Yingluck said her unplanned visit is scheduled shortly before she is due to attend the ASEAN summit in Phnom penh this evening. She plans to meet with local authorities to discuss security issues and to give support to residents, badly shaken by the incident.

She elaborated that following the fresh attacks, the Office of the National Security Council (NSC) is now conducting a thorough investigation into the bombings in Songkla and Yala.

During the cabinet meeting today, she also instructed relevant agencies to tighten security measures to prevent future attacks in the provinces. She ensured the public that there would be no repeat of the Hat Yai’s car bombings during the Songkran period.

When asked if the series of attacks would lead to the government issuing an emergency decree in the South, the premier said the cabinet is currently awaiting conclusive results from the NSC before taking any further actions.

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-- NNT 2012-04-02 footer_n.gif

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BKK Governor launches World Autism Awareness Day

BANGKOK, 2 April 2012 (NNT) - On the occasion of the World Autism Awareness Day, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is holding activities aimed at boosting awareness about the illness among the Thai people.

During the launch of the World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) at the Vachirabenjatat Park, Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra explained that the event is aimed at encouraging people to see the importance of providing assistance as well as health care, education and freedom to people with autism. Activities held to mark the WAAD include an exhibition and sale of products made by autistic patients, and a walk rally to raise awareness of autism among the general public.

Given that the BMA realises that there are a large number of people suffering from autism in the area of Bangkok, importance has been given to measures to assist this group of people by providing medical services, setting up children development centers in BMA hospitals as well as a collaboration between BMA schools and the Khun Poom Foundation, the Association of Parents for Thai People With Autism and the Autistic Thai Foundation.

The United Nations General Assembly has assigned 2 April of every year as the World Autism Awareness Day. Together with Thailand, activities to mark the occasion are held throughout the ASEAN region and across the world.

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-- TNA 2012-04-02

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Probe Underway for Suspected Medical Scheme Fraud

BANGKOK: -- The special investigation agency is set to launch an extensive crackdown on fraud in the medical welfare scheme for civil servants after suspicious prescriptions were made.

Director General for the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, Tharit Pengdit said corruption in the medical welfare system for civil servants and their families can be divided into three parts

First is that false evidence are submitted to claim participation in the scheme.

Second is that health professionals make redundant prescriptions of expensive medicine outside the national drug list aiming to benefit drug firms.

Third is that the people under the scheme receive services at different hospitals to get expensive drugs for free and then resell them with conspiracy between patients, health professionals, drug stores and companies.

Tharit stated the DSI has already sent its investigation report over alleged redundant prescriptions against a state hospital doctor to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Finance Ministry Supa Piyajitti said state officials or their family members found to have committed fraud will be ordered to reimburse the government and stripped of their entitlement to medical welfare for civil servants.

She added disciplinary and criminal charges must be brought against them as well.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Commerce Ministry: 2012 export to expand 15%

BANGKOK, 2 April 2012 (NNT) - The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Commerce Ministry, has estimated that the export figure this year will expand by at least 15%.

DITP Director-General Nantawan Sakultanak has revealed that the export this year is expected to value over 8 trillion baht. Although the first quarter export figure has increased very little due to the ongoing recovery from the flood, Ms Nantawan said the export sector will expand more in the second quarter and it will be back to normal on the third and fourth quarters.

The DITP has planned to launch nearly 1,000 export promotion activities this year. They consist of international trade fairs in Thailand and abroad, road shows, sales promotions for foreign importers, business matchups, and entrepreneur development courses.

Ms Nantawan said the entrepreneurs have to face rising production costs, mainly due to the 300-baht minimum wage, fuel costs, and weak baht. She said the weak baht policy of the Finance Ministry will help Thai exporters in the short-term; but they have to see if the market mechanism experiences any unusual movement.

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-- NNT 2012-04-02 footer_n.gif

Posted

Meeting of ISOC on Thursday to discuss heightened security for BKK /TANN

Cabinet approves rail authority's loan of Bt48 bn, Oil Fund's loan of Bt20 bn, Bt1.4 bn to purchase pineapples at subsidized price /TANN

Posted

Engineers Sent to Inspect Bombed Hotel

Officials have been rushing to clean up debris at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, while the hotel has been announced as a danger zone after a car bomb attack on Saturday.

Engineers have been sent in to inspect the hotel's structure to see if it is still sound.

Debris has been collected from the surrounding areas of Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel by hotel employees since Saturday night after the explosion occurred. However, the building and the underground parking area have not been cleared.

The Hat Yai municipality has declared the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel as a danger zone.

Today, the civil engineer team from Songkhla Nakarin University has been assigned to inspect the building's structure before allowing hotel guests to enter the area to collect their belongings.

The underground parking area has also been inspected once again by the police bomb unit to ensure safety before hundreds of cars and motorcycles are removed. Many stores around the hotel have also opened their doors as usual.

Region 4 Army Commander, Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasarorat visited the crime scene and asked every agency to cooperate to prevent future attacks. He went on to say that it is necessary to recover confidence among locals in Hat Yai and Yala provinces.

The owner of Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, Wanchai Leelasasithorn disclosed that the extent of damage to the hotel can only be estimated after officials complete their inspection.

He disclosed that the hotel's kitchens and restaurants use electricity rather than gas, countering an earlier belief that the blaze was caused by a gas explosion.

He affirmed that the hotel will reopen after the situation eases. He did not blame officials for the incident.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has visited the crime scene and those who were injured in the blast at the Songkhla Nakarin Hospital.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Former House Speaker Fears Reconciliation Report Exploitable

BANGKOK: -- A former house speaker is urging the King Prajadhipok's Institute to withdraw its reconciliation report from the House debate because the content is incomplete and exploitable. Meanwhile, the government claims that the extension of the parliamentary session is not intended to aid former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Former House speaker Marut Bunnag, who is also one of the King Prajadhipok's Institute founders, is urging the institute to withdraw its reconciliation report from the deliberation of the House panel headed by Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the ex-coup leader, ahead of the House debate scheduled to take place on April 4.

Marut asserted that the report's content is incomplete and biased which could be exploited for political gain. He is advocating for the report's findings to be annulled in order to maintain the academics' neutrality and preserve the King Prajadhipok's Institute's reputation in the eyes of the public.

Marut has also expressed his opposition to the government's attempt to dismiss all cases brought by the Assets Examination Committee, saying that the rule of law must be upheld to the benefit the majority of the people.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet today approved indefinite extension of the current parliamentary session from the scheduled end on April 18. Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikua, who is also one of the red-shirt leaders, has reiterated that the extension of the parliamentary session is not intended to rush the debate in order to approve amnesty for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is living in self exile abroad.

Nattawut claimed that the real purpose of the extension is to give the lawmakers more time to deliberate other bills.

About Thaksin's plan to visit neighboring countries during the upcoming Songkran holiday, Nattawut said that the Cambodian and Laotian authorities have been asked to accommodate red-shirt figures who are planning to travel there to meet the ex-premier.

The minister reaffirmed that the red-shirt group will not sneak Thaksin back into the country as vowed by Kwanchai Praipana, another red-shirt leader. Nattawut also believes that Thaksin will not return to Thailand during this Songkran holiday.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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Yala Police Identify Motorcycle Bomb Suspects

PATTANI: -- police say they have been able to identify the suspects behind a motorcycle bombing in front of the Mae Lan Police Station. Meanwhile, the families of the car bomb victims in Yala Province are urging the government to quickly resolve southern unrest.

Locals and municipality officials in Yala Province gathered to clean up debris from the car bomb attacks on Ruammitr Road.

A media association in the South has been asking for donations to help victims and their families. Thirty-two people are receiving medical treatment at Yala Hospital, with ten in critical condition.

Officials have named Sahue Din Tojaema, Usaman Dengsamae, and Abdulrohing Daesoe as suspects in the case.

In the meantime, the funeral rite of 35-year-old bomb victim, Somkiat Payakorn was held at Putthabhum Temple. The victim's brother, Somsak Payakorn asked the government to resolve southern insurgency quickly.

In another incident, Mae Lan Police Station Deputy Commander, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jittakarn Kuakoyod was injured in a motorcycle bombing incident in front of the police station in Pattani Province, also on Saturday. Many houses, cars and stores were damaged as well.

Fifty two-year-old Sanya Chaichana, who owns a food stall near the site of the bombing, said she and her family have been scared and worried, and she asks insurgents to stop killing innocent people and show their loyalty to His Majesty the King.

Pattani Police Commander, Police Major General Tripichet Pitisetthapan has ordered officials to review the surveillance camera footage once again.

The officials believe the RKK group is responsible for the bomb attack. Police claimed they have identified the insurgents involved but cannot reveal their identities at this time.

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-- Tan Network 2012-04-02

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