Thailand Live Monday 23 Apr 2012

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PORN PIC IN THE PARLIAMENT

Parliament to seek LG help to check source of porno picture

Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/549814-girlie-picture-in-thai-parliament-ombudsman-petitioned-to-investigate/#entry5242980

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Banyat's son cleared of sending porno picture to be displayed on Parliament TV monitor

A son of former Democrat Party leader Banyat has been cleared of sending a pornographic picture to be displayed on a TV monitor inside the assembly hall during a charter debate last week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/549814-girlie-picture-in-thai-parliament-ombudsman-petitioned-to-investigate/#entry5242992

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Administrative Court denies request for a no-demolition order

BANGKOK, 23 April 2012 (NNT) - The Central Administrative Court has denied a resort owner’s request for a protection order, who faced with an eviction notice from forest authorities in Wang Nam Khieo district.

Deputy Chief of the Thap Lan National Park, Nuwat Leelaphata , has informed Im Poo Hill ’s resort owner, Kanit Praengnakhon, that the request for an injunction against the demolition of the resort’s structures has been turned down by the Central Administrative Court which ruled that the court order would not be fair to the other 8 resort owners whose establishments had already been torn down. The protection order would also interfere with the other 200 cases now pending in court.

Mr Kanit, upon hearing the ruling, accepted the court’s verdict.

Mr Nuwat said that the Im Poo Hill resort had been accused of encroaching on protected forest land in the district in 1998, along with 48 other resorts. The Administrative Court at the time declared the case a mistrial as no motive can be established by prosecutors.

Im Poo Hill resort’s structures will be demolished as soon as the budget request for the demolition process is approved.

Forestry authorities have raided and finished compiling evidence against owners of 41resorts out of the 118 found to have been built in a forest reserve in Wang Nam Khieo district.

-- NNT 2012-04-23

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HM the King grants THB84mil for Utokapat Foundation establishment

BANGKOK, 23 April 2012 (NNT) – His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has graciously granted a sum of 84 million baht for the founding of the Utokapat Foundation, which will oversee water management in Thailand.

Director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII) Royol Jitdon disclosed that His Majesty the King has graciously contributed a budget of 84 million baht to fund the establishment of the Utokapat Foundation following the request of the HAII. His Majesty has also kindly taken the foundation under his royal patronage.

Additionally, HM the King has permitted the use of the Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut, or the Great Crown of Victory, as the foundation’s official symbol. Formed by the words “Utok” (water) and “Pat” (development), the name of the foundation, "Utokapat", means a foundation for the development of water-related matters. The foundation is also the first of its kind to be operated under His Majesty’s royal patronage.

Mr. Royol added that the Utokapat Foundation will work in collaboration with other relevant agencies to efficiently manage water resources in Thailand, given the past flood of 2011 saw problematic management of water in major rivers as well as community water resources. At the same time, the foundation will also conduct researches on water as well as allocate scholarships to support researchers to expand the field of water study in Thailand.

Chaired by Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation Sumet Tantivechakul, the Utokapat Foundation will be officially launched on 25 April. However, it still remains undecided whether the location of its official headquarters will be at the HAII or the Chaipattana Foundation.

-- NNT 2012-04-23

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DPM orders speedy assistance for drought victims

BANGKOK, 23 April 2012 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has instructed all provincial authorities to provide speedy assistance to drought victims in all areas. Meanwhile, 48 provinces have so far been declared drought disaster zones.

During a video conference with provincial governors on the current drought solution, Mr. Yongyuth has underlined the importance of providing speedy assistance to drought victims in all affected areas. In order to achieve this goal, an advanced budget of 50 million baht will be allocated to each of the provincial governors. However, in the case of large-scale damage in agricultural lands, provincial authorities are to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture to request for a central budget from the cabinet to aid farmers.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that the drought situation is to be considered an urgent matter which requires the integration of all relevant agencies as well as the cooperation of local administration offices and communities. With 48 provinces already declared drought disaster zones, the Interior Ministry has ordered the affected provinces to set up an ad hoc operation center to prevent and resolve drought situation at provincial, district and local administration levels.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Wiboon Sanguanpong has disclosed that department has established an urgent measure to deal with the drought situation, focusing on the sufficient provision of water for consumption and agriculture, employment in villages to create income and prevent migration, prevention of epidemics and assistance measures for drought victims. Additionally, all relevant parties have been urged to conserve water and devise an efficient water management strategy, which will help alleviate and contain the drought crisis.

-- NNT 2012-04-23

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Two suspects arrested in Chiang Rai with two kilos of crystal methamphetamine, 158,000 speed pills worth Bt50 million in Chiang Rai: Police /MCOT

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Government urges fast relief to 48 drought-hit provinces

BANGKOK, April 23 -- Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit on Monday urged Thailand’s authorities nationwide to accelerate their response to the ongoing drought crisis and urgently aid affected residents after 48 provinces were declared drought-hit disaster zones.

Mr Yongyuth, heading a special committee of the drought resolution operations centre, met via video conference with governors nationwide, instructing them to act quickly to counter drought-related problems and assist drought-impacted people immediately.

Emphasising drought relief, the minister said that governors are authorised to allocate Bt50 million advance payment to ease the difficulties.

If large areas of farmland in the provinces are badly damaged by drought but the provinces have inadequate funds to help the affected farmers, the governors can coordinate with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to seek funding from the Cabinet, Mr Yongyuth advised.

To resolve the country’s ongoing drought crisis quickly and efficiently, as an urgent issue, integrated participation and assistance from multiple government agencies, communities and civil society groups are needed, the deputy premier stated.

In response to the drought disaster in 48 provinces, the interior ministry has assigned local authorities to set up special operations centres to fight the drought and help drought-affected residents.

Wiboon Sanguanpong, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said that the agency adopted urgent measures to deal with the drought.

The measures focused on providing enough water for family consumption and agriculture as well as bracing for other possible disasters and epidemics related to the hot weather. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-23

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Airlines voice confidence in Phuket Airport emergency evacuation measures

Phuket Airport officials said practice drills like this one, held last September, were the key to the success evacuation of the airport on April 11. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Following the evacuation of Phuket International Airport after the 8.6-Richter earthquake on April 11, several airlines on Friday expressed their confidence in how officials handle the emergency exercise.

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House Porn Scandal Probe Sees Progress

BANGKOK: -- The House deputy secretary-general has brought in telecommunication officials to check phone signals in Parliament's compound and they found that a phone with android system could transfer pictures onto a projector screen in the meeting room while iPhone could not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....25#entry5243209

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PM brushes aside election defeat to opposition Democrat Party in Pratum Thani; says defeat have no impact on overall popularity /MCOT

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Two Pattaya Jet Ski Operators arrested following recent assault on Macau students

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....macau-students/

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Two Russian’s shaken by armed necklace snatch in North Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-north-pattaya/

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SET index closed at 1189.35, down 5.25; Bt/USD30.80; GBP49.56; AUD31.73; EUR40.53; CAD30.82; HKD3.96; SGD24.54; JPY37.67

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PM to propose tax measures at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to reduce 300 baht wage hike burden on small, medium-scale enterprises /MCOT

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Glasgow Celtic shows support for Thai children with Down’s syndrome

BANGKOK, 23 April 2012 (NNT) - Glasgow Celtic soccer players, who won the 2011-2012 Scottish Premier League, were seen during their match against Motherwell on Sunday wearing team shirts with their names printed in Thai.

Motherwell lost a home match at Fir Park Stadium to Glasgow Celtic on Sunday with the score of 0-3. But most importantly, the winning team sported soccer shirts with their names spelt in Thai in their support for Thai children with Down’s syndrome, who were also present at the game.

Celtic FC had successfully raised enough funds earlier this year to enable the children from the Good Child Foundation, or Thai Tims, which is located in Thailand’s eastern province of Chanthaburi, to visit Scotland for the soccer match.

The children have also been invited to appear and perform at a concert at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on May 10 as part of Celtic’s celebration of its victory. The report also stated that the children will also get to see another soccer match between Celtic and St. Johnstone up close on May 3.

-- NNT 2012-04-23

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Phuket officials threaten to swoop down on illegal swiftlet barn owners

Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak said swiftlet barn owners can either improve the standards for their ranches or be closed down. Photo: Khanitta Rodpasa

PHUKET: -- Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak has warned local authorities that they will suffer written warnings if they do not file updated reports on any swiftlet barns in their respective areas.

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86 smart phones online in Parliament when porno picture displayed on monitor

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Phuket go-go bars in Soi Bangla pass the AHTD test

Phuket babes in bikinis, but they’re legal. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) of the Royal Thai Police and Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) on Friday night inspected go-go bars in Soi Sea Dragon, off Soi Bangla in Patong, but failed to uncover any evidence of lewd behavior.

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Thailand Live Tuesday 24 Apr 2012