Thailand Live Thursday 10 May 2012

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Jatuporn's lese majeste charge to drop: DSI

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation has found no cause to invoke the lese majeste law against Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, DSI director general Tarit Pengdith said on Thursday.

"The DSI report recommends for charges be dropped," he said in reference to the report being forwarded for the approval of public prosecutors.

Tarit said the report found that Jatuporn's rally speech on April 10, 2011 could not be construed as violating Article 112 of the Criminal code. The provision is the key clause on royal insult.

To mark one year after the crackdown on the red shirts at Rajdamnoen Avenue, Jatuporn spoke to the reds at the Democracy Monument.

In his speech, he made a reference to "royally-bestowed bullets". The phrase came up while Jatuporn was attacking the military and the Abhisit Vejjajiva government for the crackdown.

In retaliation, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha instructed the military legal team to file a complaint. The case was subsequently assigned to the DSI.

-- The Nation 2012-05-10

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Man Claimed to be Modeling Agent Arrested for Sexual Assaults

BANGKOK: - The police have arrested a man claimed to be a modeling agent for allegedly sexually assaulting at least 16 women.

Twenty-nine year old Samrit Thongsrikaew, a man suspected of having sexually assaulted 16 women, has been arrested by the police's Crime Suppression Unit.

Samrit has introduced himself to the victims, who are all models, as a modeling agent for a foreign adult magazine.

Later on, he allegedly lured the victims to apartments in Bangkok and Pattaya City with false promises of photo shoots before raping them.

The suspect has also recorded many of his victims on videotapes in order to blackmail them.

One of the victims recounted that she was promised 53,000 baht to show up at a photo shoot in a shopping mall in Bangkok where Samrit was the only one there.

Initially, Samrit is being charged with multiple counts of sexual assaults. The police, refusing to release him on bail, are currently investigating the case to determine if there are other culprits.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-10

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Car Stolen in Showroom Robbery in Chachoengsao

CHACHOENGSAO: -- Three armed men have stolen a brand new sedan, in a robbery at a car showroom in Chachoengsao Province.

Three men have broken into a Nissan showroom in Chachoengsao's Bang Pai Sub-district and got away with a brown Almera sedan, with two security guards being hurt and tied up.

The manager's room and cabinetry in the show room were rummaged, with three hard-disk drives missing, including the one storing security camera footage.

Police have found an iron pipe and a sledge hammer left in the showroom, and are checking with local service stations for more clues.

Checkpoints have also been set up on various roads possibly used by the robbers.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-10

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No Evidence of Misconduct in Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison Corruption Scandal

BANGKOK: -- The deputy director general of the Department of Corrections reported that no evidence of corruption has been found at Nakhon Si Thammarat prison.

Deputy Director General of Department of Corrections Kobkiat Kasiwat has reported the result of the investigation into the corruption scandal at Nakhon Si Thammarat prison, in which some inmates were asked to pay bribes in exchange for not having to be chained.

Kobkiat said that from the testimonies of randomly selected inmates, none of them have been forced to pay money and the transactions were likely mutually agreed on between the inmates and prison officials.

As a result, the allegation is still lacking in evidence. However, he is asking those with incriminable evidence such as bank transfer receipts or proofs of meeting between prison officials and inmates' relatives to come forward.

Kobkiet added that this is not the first time that an allegation of corruption in prison has been made, but it is hard to catch the wrongdoers because both sides have mutually benefited from it, with an exception of the inmates cheated of their money.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-10

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Chiang Mai Night Safari Holds Naming Contest for White Tiger Cubs

CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai Night Safari is holding a naming contest for its new white tiger cubs, while the winner will be getting a one-year free entry to the zoo.

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Govt urged to focus on unwanted pregnancy problems

BANGKOK, 10 May 2012 (NNT) – The National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC) has suggested the government pay more attention to teen pregnancy problems and uplift abortion standards.

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BMA eyes 50% discount BTS tickets for senior citizens

BANGKOK, 10 May 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is currently in the process of negotiating for a 50% discount in BTS Skytrain fares for senior citizens, hoping to implement the new rate by the end of the year.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaipiboon said that the BMA is looking to cut BTS fares by half for passengers over 60 years of age. The BMA has already proposed this plan to the operator of the BTS skytrain, Bangkok Mass Transit System Company (BTSC), who is expected to give the BMA an answer next week.

With approval from the BTSC, the new rate is expected to be applied to senior passengers before the end of 2012. In order to be eligible for the 50% discount, the passenger must present his/her identification card as proof at the ticket office.

Apart from senior citizens, the BMA and the BTSC have also been discussing fare reductions for certain groups of people, including children and community groups, as well.

-- NNT 2012-05-10

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Internal Trade Dept: Pork, egg prices increase due to rising demand

BANGKOK, 10 May 2012 (NNT) – Pork and egg prices at the farm have reportedly increased, while the Internal Trade Department said the price rise is normal as demand rises.

Internal Trade Department Director-General Vachari Vimooktayon said pork prices at the farms have risen from 50 baht to 64-65 baht per kilogram, while egg prices have increased from 2.20 to 2.40 baht per egg. She commented that the increase is considered normal; saying it will allow farmers to make a little profit.

She explained that retail prices in the market did not increase much, adding that normally the prices would rise at the beginning of school sessions due to the rise in demand.

Ms Vachari said the department has to take care of both the consumers and farmers; it cannot force product prices down if farmers suffer losses.

In addition, she stated that animal entrails prices have dropped significantly, as there have been more imports from Europe, China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The department will discuss with related agencies how to reduce the import of entrails.

-- NNT 2012-05-10

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Tsunami drill to be held in Phuket

PHUKET, 10 May 2012 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is holding a tsunami alert and response exercise in Phuket province during May 10-11 in order to ready local authorities and residents for possible giant waves in six provinces along the Andaman Coast.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554003-tsunami-drill-to-be-held-in-phuket/#entry5288333

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Thailand seeking cooperation from Myanmar to arrest, extradite Karen rebel leader

BANGKOK, May 10 -- Thailand will press for cooperation from Myanmar to arrest and extradite Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Commander-in-Chief Gen Saw Ler Pwe, also known as Na Kham Mwe, to Thailand for drug related charges, according to the chief of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554010-thailand-seeking-cooperation-from-myanmar-to-arrest-extradite-karen-rebel-leader/#entry5288389

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Chalong-Jatuporn rift healed: Yongyuth

BANGKOK:-- Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit on Thursday said he had mediated and settled the conflict between two Pheu Thai MPs - Jatuporn Promphan and Chalong Raewrang.

"I talked to the two and resolved their differences since yesterday," he said.

The conflict arose after Chalong stepped forward to oppose the possible appointment of Jatuporn to the Cabinet, saying this would unfairly impact on the job quotas for MPs from the Central Region and that Jatuporn's name was mired by the lese majeste allegation.

-- The Nation 2012-05-10

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Grounded dive boat back in Phuket

The Aloha captain, with 30 years of experience, grounded the dive boat in shallow water on the leeward side of the island, simplifying the Andaman Ocean Safaris rescue efforts. Photo: Tom Booth

Passengers and crew members from the Parapis 7 were assisted by dive instructors and flotation devices during their 40-meter swim to the Andaman Ocean Safaris’ boat. Photo: Tom Booth

PHUKET: -- The dive boat forced to ground on Koh Gai island after its hull cracked in stormy weather last weekend was re-floated and towed back to Phuket yesterday.

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Brisk business at Phuket City Pawnshop as schools re-open

In the run-up to the Thai school year starting today, more than 400 people have been turning up at Phuket pawnshops to hock items for cash. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Most of the items pawned are gold ornaments, which are mostly kept in small plastic bags as shown above. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Phuket City Municipality Pawnshop is reporting brisk business this week as parents pawn off gold to pay for back-to-school supplies for their children.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....chools-re-open/

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ICT signs MOU with China, acquiring 400,000 tablets

BANGKOK, 10 May 2012 (NNT) – The Thai government has signed an MOU with a Chinese tablet manufacturer who agrees to provide Thailand with 400,000 tablet PCs worth altogether 32 million US dollars.

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BBC: At least 40 people are killed and 170 injured in two blasts targeting an intelligence building in the Syrian capital.

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Thailand buys Chinese tablet computers for schools

BANGKOK, May 10, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand on Thursday signed a multi-million dollar deal to buy hundreds of thousands of Chinese-made tablet computers for primary school children, an official statement said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....rs-for-schools/

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SET index closed at 1190.65, down 16.60; Bt/USD30.93; GBP49.84; AUD31.15; EUR39.98; CAD30.75; HKD3.98; SGD24.61; JPY38.6

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Victims of 1991 fire ask PM's help with centre

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Victims of the huge chemical fire that devastated Bangkok's Klong Toei community in 1991 day urged PM Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday to speedily implement the Thaksin Shinawatra administration's resolution to establish an occupational medicine and environment centre.

The 30-strong group also asked about progress in the Administrative Court of their lawsuit filed in 2009 by 105 affected residents through the Lawyers' Council of Thailand.

Leading resident Thassanee Phrombutr said the lawsuit asked the Public Health Ministry and other agencies to implement the May 1, 2002 cabinet resolution about establishing the centre to rehabilitate the 105 affected people for a five-year period. However, years have passed and the court has not given any order, so they are asking about progress and when the trial would take place.

-- The Nation 2012-05-10

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Cooked food to be placed on govt's price control list; reference price for cooked food to be announced in June /TANN

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Protestors rally against red-shirt villages in Phuket

Phuket Gazette –

President Boonsupaa Tanthai (left) explained to Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak that the red-shirt rally would cause disharmony in Phuket. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Phuket residents rallied in protest to the red-shirt planned rally on Sunday. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: Hundreds of members of the “We Love Phuket Club” arrived at Provincial Hall this morning to submit a letter of complaint against a planned rally by red-shirt activists at Nai Yang Beach on Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554161-protestors-rally-against-red-shirt-villages-in-phuket/#entry5289520

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Thailand Live Friday 11 May 2012