Thailand Live Friday 13 Apr 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 13 April 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 12 Apr 2012

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Thai expert warns of another quake in Andaman region

BANGKOK: A fierce earthquake from the Nicobar Islands could strike over Songkran, sending a tsunami crashing into the Andaman Coast, an expert warned yesterday after finding that the 8.6magnitude Sumatran tremor three days ago was exceptionally deep.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....andaman-region/

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PTT gas pipeline route ignites explosion fears: Thailand

AYUTTHAYA: -- The PTT project to lay a 195-kilometrelong naturalgas pipeline from Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district to Nakhon Sawan's Krok Phra district has raised concerns among affected residents, particularly those living near the Royal Thai Army's armoury in Nakhon Sawan's Phayuha Khiri district.

Full story:

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US wants Thai decision on joining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

BANGKOK: -- The United States has urged the government to decide soon whether it wants Thailand to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, as Washington will be pressing ahead with negotiations with the nine other countries currently signed up to the pact.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-tpp-agreement/

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PM'S BROTHER

Thaksin's two-fold mission to Laos

Thaksin Shinawatra presents monk robes and undergoes a welcoming ritual to celebrate Songkran at That Luang Temple in Vientiane, Laos, yesterday.

VIENTIANE: -- Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra visited Laos with two purposes: to ward off bad luck and to discuss business as the brother of the prime minister of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ission-to-laos/

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RT @mpoppel: RT @stevenportnoy: BREAKING: ABC's Martha Raddatz reports the North Korean rocket launch has FAILED.

RT @mpoppel: Kyodo: U.S., S. Korea trying to determine if N. Korea rocket launch has succeeded

RT @mpoppel: Kyodo: Japan says has yet to confirm N. Korea's long-range rocket launch

RT @mpoppel: North Korean state-run media not yet reporting on rocket launch

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EDITORIAL

We've heard the warnings; why can't we learn?: Thai opinion

BANGKOK: -- Songkran brings the short annual campaign against drunk and irresponsible driving, but this should be a permanent programme to teach people about personal responsibility

Full story:

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VIENTIANE

Few red-shirts cross over for Thaksin

Only 22 of 62 reserved buses used to transport 1,000 or so supporters

VIENTIANE: -- Far fewer than expected red-shirt supporters were seen heading to the capital of Laos yesterday to welcome fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....er-for-thaksin/

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Yingluck to miss charter debate for China, Japan

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will miss the parliamentary meeting on Constitution amendment shortly after the long Songkran holiday in favour of a trip to China and Japan from April 17-22.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- Japanese Defense Minister says NKorean rocket appears to have fallen into ocean

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Tsunami panic to have only minor impact on Thai tourism

Some Songkran cancellations locally; international visitors 'not concerned'

BANGKOK: -- The initial panic over Wednes-day's tsunami alert in provinces on the Andaman Sea coast has translated into only a minimal impact on the tourism industry in those areas, with cancellations for the Songkran period at between 10 and 20 per cent, tourism and hospitality industry veterans said.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: REU: SKOREA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS ROCKET BROKE UP AND CRASHED AFTER

A FEW MINUTES

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Water trucks banned from Khao San, Silom

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Roving trucks transporting revellers and water tanks have been banned over Songkran from Rattanakosin Island and the prime Bangkok watercombat theatres of Khao San and Silom.

Metropolitan Police said yesterday that for freer traffic, such vehicles would not be allowed to enter Khao San Road from 9am12pm and Silom Road between the Sala Daeng and Nararom intersections from 8am8pm.

These roads will be turned into mostly walking streets from today to Monday.

Parts of Chokchai 4 Road will also bar water trucks from 11am10pm, while Thavee Wattana Road from the Thavee Wattana checkpoint to the Sanam Luang Thon Buri Market Intersection will be off limits to water trucks from 10am8pm.

The 15 roads where water trucks are banned all the time include Rajdamnoen Noi, Rajdamnoen Klang, Rajdamnoen Nok, Na Phra Lan, Na Phrathat, Uthong Nai, inbound Somder Phra Pinklao between the Arun Amarin and Pan Pipop Leela Bridge intersections, and Arun Amarin between the Arun Amarin Intersection and Rama VIII Bridge.

The five roads where the ban is in effect only from noon to midnight include Samsen Nai between the Si Sao Thewet and Bang Lamphu intersections, Phra Sumen between Phra Sumen Fortress and the Wan Chat Intersection, Phra Arthit between Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge and Phra Sumen Fortress, Tanao between the Chao Phor Seu Shrine Intersection and the Sib Sam Hang roundabout, and Sib Sam Hang.

For details about routes and to report traffic problems, call the 1197 hotline or visit www.trafficpolice.go.th.

-- The Nation 2012-04-13

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COLD PILL SCANDAL

11 hospital directors to be questioned

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul,

Jakkraphong Rawiwan

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Directors of 11 government and private hospitals and clinics from which pseudoephedrine tablets have gone missing will be summoned by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for questioning to determine whether they were involved in stealing the drugs and selling them to amphetamine makers, DSI directorgeneral Tharit Phengdit said yesterday.

The 11 directors will be asked to meet with DSI interviewers from April 1820.

The DSI questioning of the directors is the result of a key meeting between the DSI, ministry officials and Food and Drugs Administration officials yesterday. It was agreed that the DSI would be fully authorised to conduct the questioning of the 11 directors. Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Phaijit Warachit had said earlier that a parallel ministry probe concluded that three directors had been found to have committed minor breaches of the disciplinary code of conduct.

The three directors, who have been identified in news reports but were not named by Phaijit yesterday, may still have to be transferred to inactive posts at the ministry if the move is endorsed by ministry officials who have been scrutinising the cases.

The three hospitals are Kamalasai Hospital in Kalasin, Udon Thani General Hospital and Thong Saeng Khan in Uttaradit. Pseudoephedrine tablets are used as a reactant to make amphetamines. Many cases of their disappearance from government hospitals have occurred. Resident pharmacists are suspected of stealing them for sale to narcotics makers.

Phaijit said the directors were not directly at fault for pseudoephedrine tablets going missing from their hospitals' inventories, nor were they were found to have pocketed money through illegal sales of the tablets.

"It is that their supervision of the purchase, delivery and dispensation of the pseudoephedrine tablets was not good enough," he said.

The eight other hospitals or clinics are Doi Lor, Hot, Nawamin 1, Siam Raj, Nong Kee, Phoo Sing, Suphornchai and Samphan.

A DSI investigation at the Kamalasai Hospital would also be recommenced, said Banthoon Chimokra, a senior DSI agent, following the coming to light of new evidence that specifically incriminates former ministers and highranking ministry officials in the theft and sale of pseudoephedrinecontaining tablets.

The reinvestigation at this hospital has reportedly been substantiated with extra evidence supplied by Phasit Sakdanarong, an adviser to the ministry, who personally led an inspection and reportedly uncovered important documents implicating the unnamed former ministers and senior officials.

Phasit yesterday held a meeting with the Office of the Auditor General to discuss a coming blanket inspection of spending by all government hospitals to look for suspiciously frequent purchases of medicines by any hospitals from any pharmaceutical firm.

Acting Auditor General Phisit Leelawachirophas said Phasit told him that many hospitals other than those 11 facing DSI probes had purchased medicines in a suspicious manner.

-- The Nation 2012-04-13

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Princess lays in her final place of rest

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King yesterday assigned HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to perform royal ceremonies in making merits in dedication to HRH Princess Bejeratana and in placing her royal relics at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall on his behalf.

The princess, the only child of King Rama VI, passed away last July.

Following the royal cremation earlier this week, her royal relics had been kept at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Both throne halls are located inside the Grand Palace.

The crown prince arrived at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at 10.30am. He was accompanied by his sister HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, his royal consort HRH Princess Srirasmi, and his daughter HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

The meritmaking ceremony took place at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

After food was presented to monks, the royal procession to bring the royal relics of HRH Princess Bejeratana to the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall followed.

The crown prince and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn lit candles to show respect for the late princess at the Chakri maha Prasat Throne Hall before they left.

-- The Nation 2012-04-13

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RT @mpoppel: REU: SOUTH KOREAN ARMY SAYS ROCKET DEBRIS CRASHED BETWEEN 190KM TO

210KM OFF KUNSAN, A CITY ON WEST COAST OF SKOREA

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RT @mpoppel: AP: SKorea’s foreign minister says NKorean launch confirmed a “failure”.

RT @mpoppel: AP: NORAD: 1st stage of North Korean missile fell into sea, 2 other stages failed.

RT @mpoppel: REU: NORTH KOREA SPACE AGENCY SAYS HAS NO INFORMATION REGARDING

ROCKET LAUNCH - YTN

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Fine Arts Dept extends time period for royal crematorium at Sanam Luang until Apr 25 from 9am-7pm /TANN

35 yr old vendor got electrocuted and fell unconscious on Silom Rd opposite CP Tower; he's been brought to hospital /TANN

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BMTA to extend service during Songkran

BANGKOK, 13 April 2012 (NNT) – The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will extend service during Songkran festival to facilitate inter-provincial transport of holiday makers.

Between April 12 and 18, the BMTA will increase the number of buses operating on 108 normal routes and will also lengthen service hours so that holiday makers can leave the capital faster.

The BMTA will also launch Line 3 and Line 54 buses to offer free shuttle service to Mohchit 2 Bus Terminal. It will in addition prepare buses which will run pass several spots and link Chatuchak, Talingchan, Ekamai Bus Terminals and Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

At the same time, people deciding to celebrate Songkran in Bangkok will be able to use free bus service to visit 12 major temples around Rattanakosin Island from April 12 to 17. Those interested in the trips are advised to get on the bus at Mohchit 2 Bus Station from 7 am until 7 pm.

Furthermore, the BMTA will offer Bangkok-Ayutthaya and Bangkok-Saraburi trips between April 9 and 18 at Mohchit 2 Bus Terminal. The fares are equal to those charged by Transport Company. Passengers aged over 60 will be exempted from paying fares on April 13 which is the National Elderly Day.

For more information, call 184 or log on to www.bmta.co.th.

-- NNT 2012-04-13

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Metropolitan police on top of Songkran celebrations to assure public and property safety

BANGKOK, 13 April 2012 (NNT) – Bangkok police have pledged to step up security measures during the Songkran holiday celebrations while urging the public to enjoy the festivities without risk of violating any laws.

Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief, Police Lieutenant General Winai Thongsong said on Thursday that all police officers across Bangkok have been instructed to be extra-vigilant as the annual Thai New Year holidays are getting into full swing.

In the capital, the city police are going to heighten their watch on all 26 locations, known to be actively celebrating the Songkran festival, such as Khao San Road, RCA night entertainment hot spot and Silom Road.

Police Lieutenant General Winai stressed that officers will be paying high attention to 2 main issues -- the protection of private property of the city's residents and the public safety.

He said that emphasis will also be given to how to keep the Songkran celebrations under control and in line with good Thai traditions, as well as the enforcement of alcohol sales ban and the clampdown on any illicit and obscene acts in public areas.

The Metropolitan Police Chief has assured that there are sufficient police officers on duty throughout the holiday period.

-- NNT 2012-04-13

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Thai stock markets are closed on Friday for public holiday; trading will resume on Tuesday /MCOT

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North Korean long-range rocket fails shortly after launch

Full story:

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2nd day of 7 danger days for Songkran road accidents sees 88 deaths, 890 people injured in 824 road accidents /TANN

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Traffic police bans water splashing pick up trucks on 15 roads in BKK due to the congestion they cause /TANN

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Water splashing festival begins at Siam Square, Khao San Rd in BKK, nationwide after people give alms to monks to mark Thai New Year /MCOT

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PM kicks off traditional New Year celebration in Chiang Mai

The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Friday kicked off the northern traditional New Year celebration in her home province of Chiang Mai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5214911

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2012 Songkran Chiangmai - A Lot Of Fun! Pics

http://www.thaivisa....ot-of-fun-pics/

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Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan 'detained' in US

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....detained-in-us/

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88 killed, 890 injured in road accidents during 1st two days of Songkran's 'seven dangerous days'; drunken driving identified as main cause of accidents /MCOT

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88 Killed During First Two Days Of '7 Dangerous Songkran Holidays'

Full story: