Thailand Live Friday 27 Apr 2012

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Saraburi police find 3,000kg of marijuana worth Bt50 mn to be sent overseas during a raid in Nongkae District /TANN

Private bus concessionaires meet with deputy transport minister to seek fare hike on higher cost; threatens to stop running on May 16 /TANN

Democrat MP Sirichoke to file suit against Pheu Thai MP Pracha for claiming Dem ldr Abhisit had someone vote in Parliament on his behalf /TANN

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Democrat Party Leader to File Petition for Accusations Regarding Proxy Voting

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat MP for Songkhla disclosed that the Democrat Party leader might file a petition against the Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan in accusing him of proxy voting.

Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee earlier accused Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for having a colleague vote on his behalf during a House meeting on an amendment to the Land Transport Act’s vehicle weight control regulations on March 14.

In return, the Democrat MP for Songkhla Sirichok Sopha has came out to clarify the matter.

Sirichok said that the matter is obviously not true, as Pracha claimed that he also has proof, and that if Pracha was found intended to slander Abhisit, the Democrat Party leader will file a petition.

Sirichok further said about a photo that Pracha took while a Democrat MP was voting on behalf of Abhisit cannot be used as solid evidence to prosecute the Democrat Party leader, as there is no proof when the photo was taken.

Meanwhile, Bhumjaithai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said that he has talked to his party's MP for Samut Prakan Revadee Rassamithat, who was accused of voting for others during the constitutional amendment debate and that her actions have been recorded in a video clip.

However, the details could not be revealed yet, as they are still awaiting the investigation of the House Commission.

Nevertheless, she accepted that the person in the clip was her but she was not voting for the absent MPs.

Even though this matter has ruined her reputation, she has not considered about filing a petition.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-27

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California WOW Fitness Bankrupt Sued By Bangkok Bank

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....y-bangkok-bank/

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Aussie tourist dies of heatstroke in Phuket

The Australian tourist collapsed about 200 meters from Phuket’s Surin Beach (pictured). Photo: Gazette file

A synoptic chart of the weather situation at 7am today. Image: TMD

PHUKET: -- An Australian tourist found unconscious by the side of the road near Surin Beach has died from heatstroke, Phuket rescue workers have reported.

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PM Yingluck to visit South after Krue Se massacre anniversary

BANGKOK, 27 April 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will visit the South this Sunday, the day after the 8th anniversary of the Krue Se massacre.

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SET closed down by 1.39 points at 1,207.88 points with value of Bt11.19 bn during midday Friday break /TANN

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Prasarn disagrees with plan to use reserves for infrastructure development

BANGKOK, 27 April 2012 (NNT) – Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatworakul has rejected a plan to use the nation’s 180 billion baht worth of international reserves to fund infrastructure development.

Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRFD) Chairman Veerapong Ramangkul earlier proposed an investment on infrastructure development in Thailand using 180 billion baht budget taken from the nation’s international reserves.

In response, Mr Prasarn said the reserves should not be used for projects outside the Bank of Thailand Act. He, however, admitted that the nation needed to revamp its infrastructure but the central bank could only offer the international reserves to the private sector to exchange for dollars for import purposes.

During the Asian Banker Summit 2012, the BoT governor expressed his opinion on the government’s debt moratorium scheme, saying the policy will not affect Thai financial system because the moratorium is offered by the government’s banks under special circumstances.

In the meantime, he believed that the Thai commercial banks have potentials to compete against other ASEAN banks, many of which have begun to enter the ASEAN market race, Mr Prasarn said

-- NNT 2012-04-27

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Democrats may sue Pracha for defamation

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The Democrat Party may sue Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasobdee for defaming party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in connection with the voting scancal.

"Pracha has three days to prove Abhisit's involvement in the scandal," Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said on Friday.

Chavanond said he suspected Pracha had brought up a trump-up charge against Abhisit in order to divert attention from the scandal involving Pheu Thai MPs.

During the charter change debate on Wednesday, certain senators and MPs called attention to the scandal in which coalition MPs cast votes by using electronic identification cards of their colleagues who were not present.

The Pheu Thai Party rigorously denied the involvement of its MPs. Subsequently Pracha alleged that Abhisit too involved in the scandal. He said Abhisit was absent from a March 14 voting session but a Democrat cast the vote on his behalf.

Chavanod countered that Pracha fabricated the story without evidence to back up.

-- The Nation 2012-04-27

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Star Kickboxer Sued for 100 Million Baht

Por Pramuk Gym has filed a civil lawsuit against Buakaw, a famed kickboxer.

The court has scheduled its first hearing on July 16.

Yesterday, Teerapat Rojanatan, the owner of Por Pramuk Gym, filed a civil lawsuit against the organizer of Thai Fight, a kick boxing tournament, the fight promoter, and Sombat Banchamek, who is commonly known as Buakaw, a sensational kickboxer and his agent for breach of contract.

Teerapat is seeking 100 million baht in financial damage with the annual interest rate of 7.5 percent.

The gym owner claims that Buakaw took part in a fight during the past April 17 in Pattaya with another manager despite a binding contract between them.

Teerapant is also asking the court to issue an injunction to prohibit the kickboxer and his agent from participating in any more fights.

The gym's attorney also said that he will ask the police to take action against the Board of Boxing Sport, the Sport Authority of Thailand, for misconduct by permitting the disputed fight to take place.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-27

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RT@cnni: Pakistan deports bin Laden family http://t.co/tvh40dcX

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Red-shirts issue statement asking supporters not to criticize PM for meeting Gen Prem, slams Democrats for causing divide with govt /TANN

Kasikorn Research Center expects Monetary Policy Committee to maintain policy rate at 3 pct during meeting on May 2 to support recovering economy /TANN

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KRUE SAE MASSACRE

Extra vigilance in place as south marks the 8th anniversary

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government has initiated proactive strategies to deal with the violence in deep southern border provinces as Saturday marks the eighth anniversary of the Krue Sae incident.

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Paiboon launches new Phuket CCTV control center

Phuket Gazette

Paiboon Upatising (right), recently re-elected as Phuket OrBorJor president, inspects the CCTV control room. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

The Phuket OrBorJor CCTV control room has access to footage from 250 CCTV cameras, making it the largest CCTV network outside of Bangkok, said Mr Paiboon. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- With the Thailand National Youth Games in Phuket just around the corner, local authorities yesterday checked the readiness of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) closed-circuit television (CCTV) control room.

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Phuket Rush Hour: Car flips over on bypass road

No serious injuries were sustained in the accident, which occurred on Phuket's bypass road during rush hour. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A car ended up on its roof in the central ditch on Phuket’s bypass road this morning when the possibly drunk driver of a saleng (motorcycle with side car) cut in front of the vehicle.

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Phuket hosts international conference on disaster nursing

Phuket Gazette

Nurses from around the world take part in a workshop on emergency trauma treatment at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

Among the guest speakers at the conference are Dr Colin Graham (center, in black suit) of the Emergency Medicine division at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong.

PHUKET: -- More than 100 registered nurses from around the world are in Phuket for a three-day seminar on emergency nursing, including how to respond to disaster situations.

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Jilted Man Takes Ex-girlfriend Hostage

Earlier today, a man held his ex-girlfriend at knife point on a bus. After more than two hours of tense negotiations with police, the man decided to release the hostage.

Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai spent more than two hours talking down Tone Srichum, a 32-year-old man who held his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend at knife point on a bus after she told him she was leaving him.

The bus driver recounted that he heard a scream and was told by other passengers that a woman was being held hostage so he drove to the nearby Din Daeng police station to seek help.

After two hours of tense negotiations, the man decided to release the hostage unharmed.

He is initially being charged with attempted murder and hostage taking.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-27

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SET index closed at 1211.78, up 2.51; Bt/USD30.69; GBP49.56; AUD31.77; EUR40.42; CAD31.00; HKD3.95; SGD24.57; JPY37.89

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Shan drug kingpin suspect held in Laos, says Chalerm

BANGKOK, April 27--- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung on Friday confirmed that the Lao authorities have arrested Jai Norkham, ethnic Shan drug kingpin suspected by the Thai authorities for alleged involvement in the killing of 13 Chinese Mekong River shipping crewmen last year in Chiang Rai.

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Jailed Thai activist given extra years for royal slur

BANGKOK, April 27, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai political activist already serving a seven and a half year sentence under controversial royal insult laws was given an extra two and a half years for similar charges Friday, an official said.

The Criminal Court in Bangkok found Surachai Danwattananusorn guilty of insulting the monarchy during several public speeches he gave to supporters of his "Red Siam" movement in 2010.

"He was given five years this morning but the judge commuted the sentence because he admitted the charge," the court spokesman said.

Surachai was previously sentenced in February over speeches made between 2008 and 2010.

The activist was head of Red Siam, a hardcore offshoot of the Red Shirt movement, which is broadly loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.

Two months of mass anti-government protests by the Red Shirts in Bangkok in 2010 descended into the kingdom's worst political violence in decades, with more than 90 people killed in a military crackdown.

Surachai's is the latest in a string of high profile convictions under Thailand's royal defamation laws -- which ban criticism of the king, queen, heir or regent -- amid growing calls for reform of the legislation.

The sentencing came ahead of an anticipated verdict on Monday in the closely-watched trial of a web editor facing decades behind bars over remarks about the monarchy posted by other people on her website.

The royal family is a highly sensitive topic in politically turbulent Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch and revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been hospitalised since September 2009.

Rights groups say the use of the rules to suppress free speech has worsened under the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra -- Thaksin's sister -- who rode a wave of support among Red Shirts in an election last year.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-27

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R.I.P: Thaivisa senior member "Blinky Bill" aka Ian Douglas, dies in airplane crash

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....53-blinky-bill/

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Thailand Live Saturday 28 Apr 2012