Thailand Live Tuesday 5 Jun 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 5 June 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Abhisit urges end to House session

The Nation

Deputy Senate speaker calls on MPs to defy court, continue charter deliberation

BANGKOK: -- Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged the Cabinet to call an end to the current parliamentary session in order to ease the ongoing political confrontation and enable all parties to seek some form of solution.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Better justice set-up would cut inefficiency and reduce risk of further violence: TRCT chief

Achara Deboonme,

Chularat Saengpassa,

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The October massacres in 1973 and 1976, plus the bloody clashes in May 1992 and mid-2010, all point to long-standing injustice in Thai society - and the structural fault must be addressed with participation by all if similar violence is to be prevented, a top law expert says.

Full story:

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Govt to continue rice pledging next year despite complaints

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Although rice exporters complain vociferously that pledging has damaged trading competitiveness, the government will prolong the policy next year to drive the price of white rice up to the target of US$800 per tonne.

Full story:

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Parties trade blame over House ruckus; 5 Democrat MPs face ethics probe

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Democrat Party are seeking action against MPs from their opposing camps for alleged violation of ethics codes following last week's commotion during a House of Representatives meeting.

Full story:

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Antiglobal warming ideas win Toyota awards for students, villages

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Tokyo, Japan

Students at Saingam Pitthayakom School, in Kamphaeng Phet province, switch off their motorcycle at the school

KAMPHAENG PHET: -- For their outstanding work in reducing the impact of global warming, Kamphaeng Phet province's Saingam Pitthayakom School and Chiang Mai province's Ban Num Hlong community will receive this year's prestigious Stop Global Warming Award.

Full story:

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Buddhists mark Visakha Bucha Day nationwide

The Nation

Her Majesty the Queen presides over a ceremony to mark Visakha Bucha Day yesterday as part of Buddha Jayanti rites at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. The Queen also paid respect to sacred relics on a day that commemorated the 2,600th anniversary of the Lord Buddh

BANGKOK: -- As Buddhists nationwide made merit at temples to mark Visakha Bucha Day yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen presided over the triple circumambulation around the Buddha relics - which had been moved from the Grand Palace to Sanam Luang - at 5.35pm. This followed a ceremony at Buddhamonthon in Nakhon Pathom at 4pm, where Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn represented His Majesty the King.

This year, the Visakha Bucha Day celebration, which commemorates the Buddha's three major life events - his birth, enlightenment and death - also marked the 2,600th anniversary of the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha, or Buddha Jayanti.

Prior to the triple circumambulation, the Queen listened to a report of the Visakha Bucha and Buddha Jayanti events from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and then attended the holy rituals.

Earlier in the morning, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra led thousands of Thais to mark the special day by giving alms to 260 monks at Sanam Luang.

From 10.30pm until midnight, the Department of Religious Affairs and related groups hosted the "2,600 prayer rounds for the 2600year Buddha Jayanti" event at Sanam Luang.

Many Buddhists attended the activities Sanam Luang, which included the worshipping of Buddha relics, exhibitions on the Buddha's life, Dharma lectures and Buddhist practices as part of Buddhism Promotion Week and the International Day of Visakha Bucha in honour of Buddha Jayanti. Many also made merit at nearby temples such as Wat Sa Ket, where an alms offering to 119 monks was held in the morning, followed by a triple circumambulation around the Golden Mount pagoda.

Elsewhere, Buddhists in various provinces including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Lamphun, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom and Surat Thani gave alms to monks in the morning and attended triple circumambulation rites in the evening.

Nakhon Si Thammarat also saw many people celebrating Visakha Bucha Day and Buddha Jayanti by making merit and attending the waterblessing of the main pagoda at Wat Mahathat Woramaha Viharn. They also covered the pagoda with two Royally sponsored holy cloths, featuring 29 pictures of the events of Buddha's life.

In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, in a speech at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima, praised Buddhists celebrating the auspicious occasions, urging them to uphold Buddhism and lead their lives according to Buddha's teachings.

Gen Prem also served as the chairman for laymen in a greatmerit robe offering ceremony for various temples in the province. He donated Bt547,600 in cash to the ceremony.

-- The Nation 2012-06-05

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EDITORIAL

Young people see farming work as a dead end

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As crop prices fluctuate and incomes decline, the Asia-Pacific region faces the challenge of keeping the younger generation in the agriculture sector

Full story:

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Reconciliation bills not aimed at getting Thaksin's money back, his lawyer says

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A lawyer for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday rejected allegations by the Democrat Party that the government-backed reconciliation bills were aimed at granting amnesty to the ex-leader so he could get back Bt46 billion seized by the Supreme Court before the red-shirt uprising two years ago.

Full story:

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Police chief needs to curb hawkish style: Democrat

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A senior Democrat MP voiced concern yesterday that the new Metropolitan Police chief's "hawkish" background would be a problem in his new job of dealing with people protesting against the reconciliation bills.

Full story:

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Two killed as vans crash

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two transport vans collided on Rom Khlao Road in Bangkok's Min Buri district yesterday at 5.20am, resulting in two deaths - a van driver and his 12year-old son. Sixteen other people were injured.

Full story:

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Malaysians found with modified fuel tanks

The Nation

SADAO: - Four Malaysians suspected of smuggling oil were arrested yesterday along with 2,000 litres of illegal gasoline worth Bt800,000 in Songkhla's Sadao district.

Goh Chor Aik, Ooi Bak Hee, Azhar Bin Hadnan and Hadnan Bin Ahmad and their four cars - with tanks modified to transport illegal gasoline - were stopped at a ThaiMalaysian border checkpoint in Tambon Samnak Kham.

Customs Region 4 office director Prayuth Maneechote said the bust showed that oil smuggling gangs had changed tactics from using Thais driving Thai modified cars to using Malaysians, pretending to be tourists, driving modified cars to smuggle fuel. So, Thai authorities would now strictly check vehicles of both Thais and Malaysians.

-- The Nation 2012-06-05

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Ranong residents prepare to flee after quake rocks province

Boonluan Phromprathankul,

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

Ranong

RANONG: -- A 4.0 magnitude earthquake jolted Ranong province yesterday, panicking people into preparing hastily for evacuation.

Full story:

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Volunteer shot dead in Yala

The Nation

YALA: -- A village defence volunteer was shot dead while riding a motorcycle home in Yaha district in Yala yesterday morning. Somchat Chaiphaet, 32, was riding his bike from Muang district to his home in Yaha when unknown gunman shot him at around 10am on the YalaYaha Road. Police suspect this was part of ongoing southern violence.

Police yesterday investigated two ranger bases hit by M79 grenade attacks on Sunday night, although no casualties were reported. They also went to Yarang district in Pattani to inspect a fire lit at a building at Taladnad Ban Ton Makham School, as well as a slightly burnt DTAC signal pole in Tambon Tanyong Daloh.

Police suspect insurgents led by Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) leaders "Majajah" and "Masore Deurama" were involved, to take revenge at the arrest of their colleague Mali Daoh in Pattani's Yarang district, and the seizure of many weapons by Thai officials.

-- The Nation 2012-06-05

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Bt1.6 billion sought for vocational

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than Bt1.6 billion will be sought by the Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) for the hiring of nearly 9,000 teachers for the 2013 academic year.

Full story:

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British man caught using fake card at South Pattaya ATM

Full story:

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Krabi FC footballer denies sexually assaulting American student

The logo of the high-profile Krabi Football Club, of which the accused is a member.

PHUKET: -- A Krabi FC football player has denied allegations that he raped a 23-year-old American exchange student near Krabi Town, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, last Thursday night.

Full story:

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RT @USEmbassyBKK: We will be in Pattaya tmr for psport renewals/pages, notarials, voting info, etc No appt required. http://1.usa.gov/JC7iyG

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RT @RichardBarrow: From 5:49am-11:49am in Thailand tomorrow, you will be able to see the rare event of Venus passing between Sun & Earth

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Surin: Kap Choeng Immigration Office Reopens

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ration-reopens/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,119.57, up 4.38 points /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Singha Battle for the Belts (Muay Thai), Saturday 9 June at Impact Arena. Tickets free-2,000 Baht http://bit.ly/KLmMoW

RT @RichardBarrow: Commart Next Gen Thailand 2012 starts this Thursday at Queen Sirikit (QSNCC) & showcases latest IT gadgets.

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Democrat MPs petition PM,calling for closure of House session,citing concern over possible violence from reconciliation bills' deliberation /MCOT

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Two Crocs Found in Sattahip Tourist Diving Area

Tourists, divers, navy men and sailors were shocked to discover two three meter long sea crocodiles near popular diving area in Sattahip Bay.

SATTAHIP – June 3, 2012 [PDN]; Rear Admiral Vinai Royal Thai Navy was notified by Captain Aphakorn Yukongkaew that they had found the two large crocodiles near a diving point on the north of Juang Island, Sattahip, Chonburi province.

Full story:

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Govt back-pedalling from charter hurdle

The Nation

BANGKOK: - The government has no involvement nor mandate in resolving the legislative hurdle over charter change, Council of State secretary general Achaporn Charuchinda said on Tuesday.

Full story:

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Danish Man Found Dead on Thai Beach

news Dennis Krog

KRABI: -- According to the Danish paper Ekstra Bladet, the body of a 46 year old Dane was found last week in the waters of Ton Sai beach in Krabi. An eccentric lifestyle makes foul play likely, and a close friend to the Dane dismisses any chance of suicide.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: 12pm Stormy weather on Samui causing delays to ferry services to smaller islands http://bit.ly/KHILgc (Pic @freakingcat)

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Consumer price index in May drops 1st time in 6 months due to concerns over political instability: Survey /MCOT

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TCT: Q3 tourism confidence index to drop due to political conflict

BANGKOK, 5 May 2012 (NNT) – The private sector has predicted that the ongoing political conflict will cause the country's tourism confidence index in the third quarter of 2012 to drop, while entrepreneurs have expressed concerns about the domestic economy.

Chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Kongkrit Hiranyakit has revealed that the tourism confidence index during the second quarter (April-June) stands at 85, a drop from that of the first quarter average of 94. He cited domestic and international economic crisis as well as the 300-baht daily minimum wage hike as the two main factors which led to the decrease.

Meanwhile, the tourism confidence index has reported that 62% of tourism entrepreneurs are worried about the domestic economy while 37% are concerned with the global economic situation, especially the ongoing crisis in the European Union, which may impact tourists’ purchasing power.

In the meantime, a downward trend in the tourism confidence index has been predicted for the third quarter (July-September), as a result of the internal political turmoil.

Mr. Kongkrit commented that the TCT has submitted these figures to the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economy, Mr. Kittiratt Na Ranong, so that the government will acknowledge the problem and come up with a solution to aid entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.

-- NNT 2012-06-05