Thailand Live Friday 11 May 2012

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Fire at Swiss Hotel Concorde under control

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Firefighters managed to control blaze at a five-star hotel on Rachadapisek Road on Wednesday.

The fire which reportedly started on the first floor of Swiss Hotel Le Concorde shortly before noon, sent guests and people running out in panic.

As of noon, the fire was put out, remaining was thick smoke. One was injured from choking and was rushed to a Rama IX hospital.

Already-congested traffic on the road became worse, police told people to avoid the area.

-- The Nation 2012-05-11

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Nakhon Ratchasima Suffered from Water Shortage Problem

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- The governor of Nakhon Ratchasima Province is attempting to address the water shortage problem at nearly one thousand homes in the province.

Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima Province Chuan Sirinantporn along with officials from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and the local administration, has dispatched three tank trucks, carrying more than 20,000 liters of water to Muen Wai Sub-district of Muang District, where nearly a thousand households have been suffering from severe water shortage during the past six months.

Chuan said that the local water filtration plant cannot keep up with the growing demand.

The Provincial Waterworks Authority has also been ordered to divert some water supply from the municipal area to alleviate the shortage in Muen Wai Sub-district.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-11

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Yongyuth: Drinking water sufficient during drought

BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has indicated that his ministry has been providing assistance to drought victims across the nation, insisting drinking water will be sufficient.

As over 50 provinces have been declared drought disaster zones, Mr Yongyuth assured that the Interior Ministry has been taking care of water supply for household consumption and is closely monitoring the situations in drought-hit areas. The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has been tasked with providing water for agriculture.

Mr Yongyuth said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged all sides to solve the drought crisis in a systematic manner to avoid corruption.

-- NNT 2012-05-11

[Lite Beer]

PM prepares clarifications on Preah Vihear case

BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has held a meeting to prepare for the Preah Vihear case clarifications with related agencies before forwarding the clarifications to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in June.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554235-thailand-advised-to-play-the-good-child-in-border-dispute/#entry5291486

[Lite Beer]

Charter change debate picks up speed

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Parliament on Friday's morning cast two successive votes to approve two draft provisions of the charter amendment bill, making the debate on the second reading for charter change nearer to completion.

The clause No 291/14 was passed by the 338-to-96 votes following a "surprisingly-quick" debate of less than two hours. Only eight of 82 Democrats, who reserved the right to speak, spoke on the floor.

Some 20 minutes later, the clause No291/15 came up for the balloting and was passed by the 344-to-88 vites. No Democrats spoke on the floor.

Clause No 291/14 prescribes for the new charter to be dropped upon the royal veto.

Clause No 291/15 prescribes for the disbandment of the Constitution Drafting Assemby upon the loss of half of charter writers.

The debate continues for the two remaining clauses.

-- The Nation 2012-05-11

[Lite Beer]

Karen rebel leader’s drug case will not grow into Thai, Myanmar bilateral issue: Gen Yuthasak

BANGKOK, May 11--- Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa on Friday said he believed that the drug-related case of Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Commander-in-Chief Gen Saw Ler Pwe, also known as Na Kham Mwe, listed by Thailand as one of the 25 most-wanted suspected drug dealers, will not be raised as an issue between Thailand and Myanmar.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554248-karen-general-offers-to-host-thai-drug-busters/#entry5291557

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Chalerm: Those MPs left out of the Cabinet to see Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Friday criticised Pheu Thai MPs planning to meet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in China as those left out of the Cabinet.

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No change in lese majeste law: PM

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday confirmed her government had no policy to amend the lese majeste law despite the demand from the red shirts.

"I confirm once again the government will not amend Article 112 (of the Criminal Code," she said.

Yingluck said she wanted to devote her full attention to check the price increase.

In the wake of the death of lese majeste inmate Ampon Tangnoppakul, the red shirts and the Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Article 112 have renewed the push for change in the lese majeste law.

Yesterday the Ampon funeral procession passed Government House and Parliament in order to raise awareness on the push for change.

-- The Nation 2012-05-11

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Mekong murder suspect flown to Beijing

Beijing, May 11, 2012 (AFP) - A gang leader suspected of masterminding the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River last year has been flown from Laos to Beijing for questioning, an official said Friday.

The sailors died last October in a raid on two Chinese cargo boats on the Mekong, an attack thought to have been carried out by a notorious gang in the "Golden Triangle" area known for drug smuggling.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the suspect, Nor Kham, was arrested on April 25 and arrived in Beijing on Thursday, describing him as a "drug lord". His gang is from Shan state in northern Myanmar.

An official reached by telephone at China's Ministry of Public Security confirmed Nor had arrived in Beijing for questioning.

"Yes, Nor Kham was transferred to Chinese police," said the official, who declined to give her name.

China reacted angrily to last year's attack, summoning diplomatic envoys from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar and asking authorities to speed up investigations into the incident.

China and its Southeast Asian neighbours have since begun operating armed patrols to protect ships navigating the Mekong River, a key waterway that flows through Yunnan province in China's southwest and into Southeast Asia.

China had worked with authorities in Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to bust the drug gang that Nor ran, Xinhua quoted the head of the ministry's narcotics department as saying.

The gang had more than 100 members and was suspected of committing kidnap, murder, looting and other crimes along the Mekong River, as well as drugs smuggling, Xinhua said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-11

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Thai PM insists no reform of royal defamation law

Bangkok, May 11, 2012 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Friday she would not seek to change the country's harsh royal defamation law despite outcry over the death of a grandfather jailed for the offence.

Ampon Tangnoppakul, 62, who was dubbed "Uncle SMS", died Tuesday inside Bangkok prison hospital, while serving a 20-year sentence for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy in 2010.

His death prompted renewed calls for reform of Thailand's lese majeste law, with the prime minister's supporters -- known as Red Shirts -- leading the clamour for change.

"I want to reaffirm that my government policy is to stay put," Yingluck said in response to questions about possible reform of the law.

"I have already told groups who push for amendment that the government's urgent mission is to solve economic problems," she said.

Under article 112 of the Thai criminal code, anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Ampon, who was described as a "prisoner of conscience" by Amnesty International, pleaded not guilty during his trial, one in a series under the royal defamation legislation, which critics say is used to stifle free speech.

His conviction triggered rare public protests against the lese majeste law in the capital Bangkok in December.

The royal family is a highly sensitive subject in the politically turbulent kingdom. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 84, has reigned for 66 years but has been in hospital since September 2009.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-11

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Consumers Feel Pinch of High Goods Prices

BANGKOK: -- The recent price increase for goods, especially vegetables, has dramatically affected consumers.

The prices of vegetables at a fresh market in Trang Manicipality have increased by ten to 20 percent. Chinese Cabbage previously cost 35 baht per kilogram, but now sells at 50 baht per kilogram.

The price of cowpea jumps from 30 baht per kilogram to 50 baht. The price of Chinese mustard green increases from 25 baht per kilogram to 35 baht.

Last year's floods, which have seriously damaged many agricultural farms, especially in the central region, coupled with epidemic, have led to shortages of produce, causing the prices of vegetables to soar.

Trade activities were quiet at a fresh market in Kamphaengphet Municipality, where prices of vegetables went up by five to ten percent.

In Phitsanulok Province, a large number of people flocked to buy duck eggs sold at 80 baht per tray by the a cooperative group at the Muang District Office to help people cope with the rising cost of living.

Many cooperative groups are holding events to sell community goods at low prices to help the public.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-11

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RT @RichardBarrow: From 9pm on Saturday night to 9am on Sunday morning the roads through Samut Prakan will be closed for a mass alms giving

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Andaman coast threatened by erosions

BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 (NNT) – Several popular beaches along the Andaman coast might become things of the past if nothing is done to prevent coastal erosions.

Chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources project to draft preventive plans against coastal erosions along the Andaman Coast Phayom Rattanamani said that at least 40 spots in six coastal provinces are being eroded seriously.

They include such beaches as Hat Pak Meng and Ban Laem Makham in Si Kao District, Trang Province; Rawai and Nai Yang beaches in Phuket; Ban Nam Khem in Phang-nga; Laem Son National Park and Ban Thale Nok in Ranong; Noppharat Thara Beach and Ban Tha Lane in Krabi; and Ban Thung Sapoh, Ban Pak Bara, Ban Pak La-ngu and Ban Rawai Tai in Satun.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has assigned the Prince of Songkla University to conduct a study into the problem and draw up solution guidelines to be later made into an action plan to protect beautiful southern beaches from coastal erosions.

-- NNT 2012-05-11

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SET index closed at 1191.01, up 0.36; Bt/USD31.04; GBP49.94; AUD31.02; EUR40.03; CAD30.73; HKD3.99; SGD24.65; JPY38.66

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Thai ICT Ministry flooded with complaints over mobile network quality

BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 (NNT) - According to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and the ministry have been flooded with complaints over a dramatic drop in mobile network service quality across the country. The ministry is set to hold a meeting with all mobile phone network operators to resolve the issue.

Full story:

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Taiwanese airline captain drowns at national park north of Phuket

Tourists board longtail boats at Khao Sok National Park, north of Phuket, where the fatal accident happened yesterday afternoon.

PHUKET: A Taiwanese airline captain has drowned and his Thai boatman remains unconscious after an accident in Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, several hours drive north of Phuket.

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DSI: Authorities crack down on biggest pirate CD producer at seven locations, seize equipment machines valued at more than Bt100 million /MCOT

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 12 May 2012