Thailand Live Saturday 16 Jun 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 16 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 15 Jun 2012

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Aussie woman jailed for false sexual assault report in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Police are charging an Australian woman for filing a false report of being raped. Photo: Golf Thairath

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....port-in-phuket/

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EURO 2012

Grammy seeks renegotiation with Uefa

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- GMM Grammy Plc, the Euro 2012 broadcasting rights holder in Thailand, has instructed its legal team to renegotiate with Uefa on the broadcasting terms.

Full story:

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Ombudsman questions Natthawut's ethics

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua was forced to face his past when the Office of the Ombudsman questioned him about his ethics and whether they allowed him to participate in the 2010 red-shirt protests.

Full story:

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NEGOTIATIONS

Thaksin wants to make deals: Suthep

The Nation

Democrat Party members hold a rally at a park near the Min Buri district office yesterday as part of their campaign to block the reconciliation bill, which they say is actually meant to whitewash the 'Prime minister's brother pushing opposition to stop haranguing her'

BANGKOK: -- Veteran Democrat politician Suthep Thaugsuban insisted yesterday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sent negotiators over to see him and ask the party to stop opposing his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Full story:

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Govt can handle effects of European crisis

THE NATION

Kittiratt

BANGKOK: -- Senior officials yesterday expressed confidence in the government's ability to minimise the impact of the European debt crisis on the Thai economy, saying it is ready to spend more if necessary.

Full story:

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Thailand, Cambodia launch direct bus services linking Bangkok, Phnom Penh

Full story:

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UN workshop trains police cadets to protect women

Tossaporn Wongwaikolayoot

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Violence against women and girls has been a hidden issue for decades. Even today, the statistics on violence around the world are just loose estimates. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) estimates that one third of women around the world have experienced violence, more than 20 per cent of them at the hands of their partner.

Full story:

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Views from a Nation University classroom

Kwanriam Kaewsuwan

The Nation

Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon, right, and Nation Broadcasting Corporation president Adisak Limprungpatanakij teach a class of students at the Nation University

BANGKOK: -- The country's current hottest issue - the controversy over the broadcasting of Euro 2012 football matches - was put up for discussion at a Nation University classroom yesterday.

Full story:

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WATCHDOG

Thaksin unhappy with government economic team's performance

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

BANGKOK: -- Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly expressed concern over the performance of the government's economic team and suggested there should be a reshuffle of portfolios.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Still no resolution to the Thai-Saudi diplomatic spat

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Saudi Arabia's envoy to Thailand is leaving the post disappointed that our domestic political turmoil has overshadowed attempts to restore full relations between our countries

Full story:

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Dog killer moved to desk job

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A junior traffic policeman who hacked a stray dog to death and became the subject of hate on social media has been moved to a desk job and ordered to make merit for the animal that was wellliked by those living at a police apartment complex near Soi Udomsuk in Bangkok's Bang Na district.

Deputy commander of Traffic Police Division under the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Colonel Khomsak Sumangkaset, said Pol Snr SgtMajor Sayant Thaweesin had been relieved of his duties as expressway patrol officer. He has also been ordered to cover the cost of treatment for Khem Khaeng at a veterinary hospital in Samut Prakarn where he was treated for wounds to his face and his hacked off leg before he died.

Sayant reportedly attacked the dog for killing his roosters. The officer faces the maximum fine for animal cruelty and has been moved to a desk job "so he does not work close to people", the colonel said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

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Schools temporarily closed as hunt on for six suspects

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Don Muang Technical College yesterday decided to shut its doors for a week after it was proved that a group of its students was behind the shootout on a city bus on Wednesday evening, which killed an innocent commuter and a student from the rival Thaivichitsilp School. Stray bullets also injured two other bus passengers.

Full story:

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Exam papers included dubious marks, symbols

The Nation

SI SA KET: -- Nearly one fourth of the test papers submitted in a recent noncommissioned police recruitment examination contained suspicious marks and symbols, investigators said.

"We have gone through about 4,000 sets of test papers and more than 900 of them included suspicious symbols," Provincial Police Region 3 deputy commander MajGeneral Jaktip Holasutakul said yesterday.

Jaktip, who leading the investigation into the cheating scandal, said more than 36,000 sets of test papers were submitted at the June 10 examination.

"We will summon the students whose test papers contained these suspicious marks and symbols along with their parents. We need to determine if they had anything to do with the cheating," he said.

To date, six people including the wife of a policeman have been arrested for their alleged role in the cheating. Some of the suspects were caught carrying signal transmitters.

Meanwhile, the Nakhon Ratchasima Court has now issued an arrest warrant for suspect Wiboonsak Saenjak. National Police Bureau spokesman MajGeneral Piya Uthayo said Wiboonsak, 29, was suspected of playing a key role in the examcheating network.

"We believe he's a key gobetween," Piya said.

Two policemen, Captain Sananpon Kallayawattanangarm and Pol Snr SgtMajor Wachiranusorn Pongphan, have been transferred out of Muang Si Sa Ket Police Station because they had close links with one of the suspects.

"We expect to conclude this investigation by Monday," Jaktip said.

Piya said that apart from looking at the exam papers, investigators had also checked images captured on security cameras at nearby hotels and other target locations.

"We have also got some clues from social media," he said.

On Monday, National Police Commissioner General Priewpan Damapong will hold a teleconference with relevant agencies in a bid to prevent future cheating in civil service examinations.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

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Floodwaters rise in Pichit, recede in Trang

The Nation

PICHIT: -- The Yom River is rising in the Northern province of Phichit, forcing farmers to harvest their not yet fully mature rice yield to prevent losses. Flooding in the river basin in Phichit's Sam Ngam district remains critical and has spread more widely to cover lowlying areas due to heavy rain and continued runoff from Phisanulok and Sukhothai.

Meanwhile, in the Southern province of Trang, floodwaters have receded in some areas. The situation is expected to return to normal in the next two days if there is no rain or high tide.

Flooding has affected five subdistricts in the provincial seat. More than 150 houses along the Trang River are surrounded by 20 to 50 centimetres deep water. However, with waters receding, some residents are returning home. Initial damage in the province has been estimated at about Bt10 million.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

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Snitching wins bail for two suspects

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two key suspects in the pseudoephredine case have provided useful details to the police, implicating key accomplices based in other countries.

Owing to this, sales representatives Phichet Chuathong and Norramol Moolsawas, have been released on a bail guarantee of Bt600,000 in assets and Bt300,000 in cash, LtColonel Phongin Intharakhao, a senior official of the Department of Special Investigation, said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

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Hospitals urged to follow rules

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry yesterday encouraged more than 19,000 private hospitals and clinics to strictly follow regulations and maintain regional standards before the Asean Economic Community kicks off in 2015.

Speaking at a seminar, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said the single most important rule for all 19,149 private hospitals and clinics, including the 4,161 in Bangkok, was to not exaggerate the services they offer.

In the past three years, authorities have handled 61 cases reportedly involving private hospitals and clinics for providing unauthorised surgery and illegal services such as abortions and beautifying procedures without permission. Also during this period 104 complaints were lodged against 45 clinics, of which 14 are undergoing prosecution, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-06-16

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'Coups don't solve problems'

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nearly six years have passed since the coup of September 19, 2006, yet those who were so loud in denouncing it have done little to free Thailand from the fear of yet another putsch, because no reforms have been introduced within the Army.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Amazing OTOP at Challenger 1-2 Muang Thong Thani, 15-19 June, 10am-9pm

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RT @AP: BREAKING NEWS: Daredevil Nik Wallenda takes first steps on wire-walk across Niagara Falls; 1,800-foot journey. -MM

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Transport Ministry to launch new Thai-Cambodian rail route in 2013

BANGKOK, 16 June 2012 (NNT) - Thailand is set to open a new rail route, which connects the country with Cambodia, to further boost the transportation connection with Vietnam.

Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said on Friday that Cambodia has recently asked Thailand to build a railway bridge to connect the country's Aranyaprathet District with its Poipet District.

Mr. Charupong stated that the project, which will link the two neighbors' railway service, is expected to be completed in 2013.

He said that the construction plan is a part of the policy to make Thailand and Cambodia become better connected by land, rail and water transport.

The Transport Minister noted that the new rail track will also strengthen the link between the 2 countries and Vietnam.

After completion, the entire route will enable passengers and goods to travel from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, via Aranyaprathet, Poipet and Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, Sa Kaeo Governor Sanit Naksuksi said that the Province is planning to open a new border checkpoint by the end of this year, to help alleviate the traffic flow at the Aranyaprathet -Klong Luk checkpoint, where 12,000 people pass through each day.

He said that the heavy traffic of people has made goods transport to start only after 10 a.m.

According to Mr. Sanit, the total trade value at this checkpoint is worth nearly 40 billion baht, or almost half of the country's total border trade value of 80 billion baht.

-- NNT 2012-06-16

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Thai PM calls for close watch on impact of Eurozone crisis

BANGKOK, 16 June 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has urged all related agencies to keep a close eye on the economic crisis in Europe as its impact can be drastic for Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....s/#entry5394345

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Phuket City top cop transferred

Phuket Gazette

Effective immediately, Col Sermphan Sirikong (pictured) has replaced Col Chote chitchai as Phuket City's top policeman. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Police Superintendent Chote Chitchai has been transferred to Takua Thung Police Station in Phang Nga province, just north of Phuket.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Every Saturday from 11am-3pm, at Chatuchak Weekend Market, a @SCB_Thailand van offers banking services for tourists

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Daredevil Nik Wallenda has finished his attempt to become the first person to walk on a tightrope across the Niagara Falls /Sydney Morning Herald

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RT @RichardBarrow: Pet Showcase 2012 at CentralPlaza Bang Na this weekend. Features a dog talent show, free check-up and sale of pets

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RT @RichardBarrow: Blue Flag Fair this weekend at the provincial hall in Samut Prakan. Over 300 stalls of discounted items /via @PaknamNews

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Officials push for new Phuket hospital

Phuket Gazette

Phuket officials are pushing for the Chalong Health Promoting Hospital, or ‘Chalong Clinic’ as it is better known, to be upgraded to full hospital status complete with emergency room facilities. Photo: Chalong Health Promoting Hospital

The clinic currently treats about 70 patients from the south of Phuket each day. Photo: Chalong Health Promoting Hospital

PHUKET: -- Officials are pushing for the public health clinic in Chalong to be upgraded to a fully equipped hospital in order to reduce the number of people dying en route to emergency wards at major hospitals in Phuket Town.

Full story:

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Surat Thani still facing deep floods, more than 5,000 rai of rubber & palm plantations under more than 2 metre deep water, cows lack grass /MCOT