Thailand Live Tuesday 24 Apr 2012

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Bhum Jai Thai bomber to serve 35 years in jail

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Anek Singkhunthod with a 35-year jail term for bombing the Bhum Jai Thai Party headquarters in 2010.

The court initially handed down a life prisonment before citing the defendant's confession and guilty plea as grounds for leniency.

Anek, a fruit vendor, sustained serious injuries after accidentally triggering the home-made bomb he wired to the push-cart left in front of the party headquarters on Phaholyothin 43 Road.

The incident happened in the wake of the dispersal of red-shirt rallies.

-- The Nation 2012-04-24

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Toshiba to build new chip plant in Thailand

TOKYO, April 24, 2012 (AFP) - Toshiba said Tuesday it would build a new chip factory in Thailand to replace one hit by record flooding last year that hammered Japanese manufacturers operating in the Southeast Asian nation.

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US expected to put Thailand on Priority Watch List for another year

BANGKOK, April 24 –The head of Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property said the United States is likely to announce by the end of this month that Thailand, among other countries, will remain on its Priority Watch List (PWL) for another year.

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Bhumjaithai Party bomber sentenced to 35 years prison

BANGKOK, April 24 – Thailand’s Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced one of six men implicated in then June 2010 bombing of a Thai political party’s headquarters during a period of political chaos.

Anek Singkhuntod was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the bombing at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters, but his jail term was reduced to 35 years due to his confession. He was fined Bt50 (US$1.62).

Five other are held as accomplices in the 2010 bombing but prosecutors separated the cases as the accused denied all charges.

Mr Anek was prosecuted on three charges including making explosive devices in conjunction with others, possessing explosive devices without permission and taking an explosive device into the city without reason and causing an explosion.

He was arrested when seriously wounded when the explosive device was detonated near the Bhumjaithai Party head office in Bangkok June 22, 2010.

Red Shirt guard and supporter Kamphon Kamkong and Dejphon Bhuddajong were later arrested after Mr Anek confessed to being hired to park a pushcart carrying TNT-filled gas cylinders near the headquarters of the main coalition partner in the former six-party government of then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Anek confessed that he was ordered to detonate the bomb but an error occurred and the would-be bomber injured himself in the process. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-24

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Mega Bangna Mall to Open on May 3

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's new shopping center, Mega Bangna, will open on May 3. More than 110,000 shoppers are expected to visit the place each day, or 40 million shoppers per year.

The company is also planning to build more shopping complexes west and north of Bangkok in 10 years.

SF Development Company Vice President and also Mega Bangna shopping center executive Caroline Murphy stated that Mega Bangna shopping center will officially open on May 3.

More than 800 shops and giant department stores, namely Robinson, Big C Extra and HomePro, as well as Mega Cineplex and IKEA will serve shoppers.

At least 110,000 visitors a day, or 40 million a year, are expected to visit the mall due to convenient access and transport.

Murphy went on to say that the company plans to invest 20 billion baht to build two more horizontal shopping centers west and north of Bangkok in 10 years.

It will be convenient for people residing 30 to 120 kilometers from the malls to visit.

MAJOR Cineplex Group President Wicha Poonworaluck said his company invested over 400 million baht to build 15 digital movie theaters, 24 bowling lanes and a large ice skating rink.

He is confident that a large number of shoppers will visit the new entertainment complex.

The revenue growth is expected to hit the target in the first quarter this year as many new movies from the United States will be released in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Big C Vice President for business and property development Prapan Iamrungroj believes that Mega Bangna will cover investment returns in five to six years.

He added Big C will expand its business to other provinces. In 2012, the company projects sales growth between eight and ten percent from last year's 120 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-24

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PM Mum on Thaksin's Stand on Poll Defeats

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister is silent on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Skype session in which he urged the Pheu Thai Party member who has lost two elections in a row to quit.

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14 Chiang Mai districts declared drought disaster zones; 100,000 households affected: Governor /MCOT

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Justice minister: Cabinet approves Bt2,080 million to compensate southern violence victims; hopes situation will improve /MCOT

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Cabinet approves 2.08 bil bt to South victims

BANGKOK, 24 April 2012 (NNT) - The cabinet today approved Bt 2.08 billion in compensation for victims of violence in the Deep South.

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Three-year-old boy among eight wounded in Narathiwat bombing

NARATHIWAT, April 24 - Eight persons, including several soldiers and a three-year-old boy, were injured in a roadside bombing on Tuesday in restive Narthiwat’s Tak Bai district, according to local police.

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Police Arrest 2 in Bangkok Drug Raid

BANGKOK: -- Police from Bangkok's Samray station arrested two drug suspects with 80,000 methamphetamine pills and about 900 grams of crystal meth along with two million baht worth of properties.

Two drug suspects, 33-year-old Pannipat Tirakotai and 28-year-old Wiwat Klongpakornkul, were arrested by Samray police.

More than 80,000 methamphetamine pills, 941 grams of crystal meth or ice, one digital scale, 220 plastic bags, one .38-caliber pistol and 21 rounds of ammunition were also seized.

Police caught both suspects at a garment factory after arresting 56-year-old female suspect, Noi Wimonsin, along with 81 methamphetamine pills in Samray area.

The suspect confessed that she received the drug from Pannipat and Wiwat.

Both suspects were charged with possessing narcotic drugs with intent to sell and illegal firearm possession.

The suspects' properties worth over two million baht were also seized.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-24

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Thais urged not to panic over severe skin disease in Vietnam

BANGKOK, 24 April 2012 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry has urged Thai people not to panic about the discovery of a severe skin disease in Vietnam, saying it is not an epidemic.

The mysterious skin disease has claimed 19 lives in Vietnam so far. Thai authorities are keeping an eye on travelers from Quang Ngai, Vietnam.

In response to the concerns expressed by the World Health Organization (WHO) over the issue, Disease Control Department Director-General Pornthep Siriwanarangsan has told Thai people to remain calm as the disease symptoms do not indicate it could become an epidemic. He explained the disease was discovered in 2011 but only 150 people have been infected; therefore the spread is considered slow.

Mr Pornthep elaborated that the disease has only been found among farmers in Quang Ngai and that it causes liver failure, which has led to death in some cases. He suspected that the disease might have been caused by toxic chemicals in the soil.

He also added that the disease is unlikely to spread to Thailand as Quang Ngai is not a tourist destination. However, to ensure safety, all hospitals have been told to keep a close watch on patients with skin symptoms during this period while disease control authorities are also following reports from the WHO. Hotline number 1422 is now available for any questions about the disease.

-- NNT 2012-04-24

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RT @tulsathit: Wall Street Journal: "For ppl who sit most of the day, their risk of a heart attack is about the same as smoking".

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Thailand to compensate victims of southern unrest

Bangkok, April 24, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand on Tuesday approved a $67 million compensation package for victims of an insurgency in the Muslim-majority deep south that has left thousands dead over the last eight years, officials said.

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SET index closed at 1199.86, up 10.51; Bt/USD30.87; GBP49.65; AUD31.73; EUR40.49; CAD30.98; HKD3.97; SGD24.59; JPY37.83

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5 carriages of oil-carrying train derail at Don Mueang, no one injured /MCOT

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German experts dismiss N. Korean missiles at parade as mock-ups

SEOUL, April 24 (Yonhap) -- The new intercontinental ballistic missiles displayed in a military parade in North Korea were mock-ups and the presentation was "a nice dog and pony show," according to two German experts on North Korean missiles.

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Lingering Drought Cripples Provinces

PHITSANULOK: -- Drought continues to plague many parts of the country, with both humans and animals suffering from the effects.

The ongoing drought is worrying rice farmers in Wangwon Subdistrict in Phitsanulok's Phrom Phiram District as they are facing water shortage due to inadequate water supply from the irrigation system.

Affected farmers are calling on provincial irrigation officials and related agencies to urgently solve the problem since water is still being distributed to several rice fields through irrigation canals in neighboring Sri Pirom Subdistrict.

They believe that the problem is caused by the failure in water management.

In Uthai Thani Province, temperature has risen to almost 40 degrees Celsius in Ban Rai District, resulting in shortages of water for human and animal consumption.

Guava growers in Hoo Chang Subdistrict decided to install sprinklers to help their plants survive the drought.

In the meantime, officials from the Royal Rainmaking Operations Center in Khon Kaen Province rushed to dispatch a plane with two tons of artificial rain chemicals to start operations over Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, and Udon Thani to ease drought in the areas.

However, the operation was not as successful as hoped due to the effect of hot weather.

The drought situation has worsened in Maha Sarakham Province.

Governor Weerawat Chuenwarin declared one more district as drought disaster zone, raising the number of districts declared disaster zones in the province to six.

They are Yang Sisurat, Wapi Pathum, Kae Dam, Kut Rang, Na Chueak and Kosum Phisai.

The provincial administration initially approved a budget of one million baht to each district.

The district chiefs have been asked to assess damage and submit a report to the province so that assistance can be given urgently.

At the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi Province, zoo staff needed to feed animals with water mixed with sugar and frozen fruit to help them survive in the hot condition after temperature there has risen to almost 40 degrees Celsius.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-24

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RT @RichardBarrow: Massive fire at Wat Phananchoeng in Ayutthaya. 40 Million Baht teak building lost http://bit.ly/K53KF3 /via @191Thailand

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RT @RichardBarrow: 5:20pm Due to the train derailment at Don Muang, outbound traffic on Viphawadi Rd is very congested - TR @js100radio

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RT @RichardBarrow: Pictures of the 40 m Baht teak wood building on fire http://yfrog.com/h85mqwsj http://yfrog.com/o0haxyyj TR @Chai_DN

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SRT temporarily stops north-bound train services to salvage derailed oil-laden train at Don Mueang believed caused by heat-induced track expansion /MCOT

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Apr 2012