Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 4 July 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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Chuwit: PM should ask family about gambling den

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- An illegal gambling den located off Soi Phetchaburi 5 in central Bangkok has been operated by a relative of "an important person based in Dubai", Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit alleged yesterday.

Full story:

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PM'S BROTHER

Thaksin wants us to accept ruling by court: Govt MP

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After a rumour that Thaksin Shinawatra asked Pheu Thai Party not to fight if the Constitution Court objects to the charter amendment bill, a Pheu Thai MP confirmed yesterday that Thaksin wants the party to accept the court's ruling.

Full story:

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ACCIDENT

Six tourists among 10 dead in coach crash

The Nation

SURAT THANI: -- Six foreign tourists and four other people were killed yesterday when their coach, bound for Koh Pha Ngan, blew a tyre at high speed, veered into a divider strip and slammed into a power pole before flipping on its side in a ditch.

Full story:

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AVIATION

THAI to launch regional budget carrier in 2013

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National carrier Thai Airways is working on plans with its sister budget airline Nok Air to launch a new low-cost airline by the middle of next year, with a focus on the regional market.

Full story:

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Honours graduate 'hangs herself over beauty'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A new graduate from the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University reportedly committed suicide at her home in Lat Phrao, Bangkok, out of frustration that plastic surgery had failed to make her more beautiful.

Her parents said their daughter, 22, found she was not as beautiful as she wanted to become from recent operations.

The young woman hanged herself with a belt in her bedroom after having breakfast with her parents.

There was no sign of struggle or a fight in her bedroom. The woman, who graduated with first-class honours, was due to attend a commencement ceremony later this month. She had also played a leading role in a stage play organised by her institute.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

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MAP TA PHUT

Residents, activists file court complaints over coal plant

THE NATION

Rayong

RAYONG: -- Environmental activists and Map Ta Phut residents yesterday lodged a complaint against a mayor, accusing him of ignoring questionable practices at a coal processing plant despite more than five years of complaints by the community.

Full story:

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Bank of Thailand unveils banknote marking Queen’s 80th birthday

Full story:

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STOPPAGE TIME

Constitutional wrangling: same same but different

Tulsathit Taptim

Stark differences can look subtle.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Education needed before militant violence will end

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Lack of understanding seems to be prolonging the southern insurgency, with the government and local people no closer to comprehending each other

Full story:

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INUNDATION

As flood time nears, PM calls for work speed up

PIYANART SRIVALO,

NANTHIDA PUANGTHONG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Following concern that water management was progressing slowly in upstream areas, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday called a National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee (NWFPC) meeting to make reports.

Full story:

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Red shirts won't rally this week

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The red shirts will not rally tomorrow or on Friday when the Constitution Court conducts hearings about the charter amendment bill, Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua said yesterday.

"The red shirts will not pressure the court," he said.

Natthawut said he believed the majority of people backed the government in pushing for changes in the charter.

Relevant parties would outline factual evidence to defend the rewrite of the charter, he said, to say that the proposed amendments were within legal limits and in accordance with the government's pledge in Parliament, he said.

If opponents tried to exercise extra-constitutional power in bid to oust the government, then the ongoing political crisis would be unsolvable, he said.

If the high court handed down an unfavourable verdict, the government would fight for it to be overturned, he said, adding that he believed such a verdict would backfire and drive even stronger support for the government.

He said he was disappointed at seeing the "same opponents", such as Kaewsun Atibodhi and Surapon Nitikraipot, on the list of witnesses to testify against charter change.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

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Chedi in line for world heritage

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved the Culture Ministry's plan to propose a 1,000-year-old chedi in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a world-heritage site.

"The next step is to submit an application to the Unesco World Heritage Centre," Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said.

The Phra Barommathat Chedi is located at Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Built in 555 by King Si Thammasokarat I, the chedi was renovated in 1227 and now stands as a striking example of the Sri Lankan architectural style of the period.

"It is proof of Buddhism's glory in the region," commented Sukumol.

She said that if the Unesco Heritage Centre accepted the application, the chedi would appear on a tentative list of new world-heritage sites.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

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Vague treaty rules sank Nasa project

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai politics has shot down the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa)'s weather-research project, exposing the country's lack of consistent legal procedures for handling cooperation and agreements with foreign governments.

Full story:

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DSI to summons Tan Thaugsuban over 'land grab'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday it would issue a summons next week against Tan Thaugsuban - a son of Democrat heavyweight Suthep - and two partners accused of involvement in an alleged land grabbing scheme at Khao Phaeng mountain on Koh Samui.

Full story:

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BANGKOK METROPOLITAN ADMINISTRATION

DSI and BMA at odds over jurisdiction

THANATPONG KRONGSAI,

CHULARAT SAENGPASSA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday that no individual or agency had the right to interfere in the city administration's constitutionally-enshrined mandate to provide public services, such as the Skytrain system, to its residents.

Full story:

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YALA

Two bomb attacks in far south

NAKARIN CHINWORAKOMOL

THE NATION

YALA: -- A bomb placed in a motorcycle's carrier basket was set off yesterday, wounding five soldiers in Yala's Muang district.

Police suspect that insurgents, led by Abidine Pati, launched this attack in retaliation of the arrest of suspects at Ban Por Yor in Tambon Lam Mai.

The Army truck had left the Wat Lam Mai Base to drop the five soldiers off on a mission, and passed by a motorbike on Ban Niang-Phisad Road at around 8.50am, when the bomb went off, possibly triggered by remote control or a cellphone. The truck was knocked over and three or four insurgents on a white pickup then shot at the troops before speeding away.

The soldiers were rushed to Yala hospital. One was said to have sustained serious injuries.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Anusorm Eiamsa-ard said Cabinet agreed in principle yesterday for the National Housing Authority to double the special allowance given to state employees working in the three southernmost provinces from Bt2,500 a month to Bt5,000. This was due to go into effect from yesterday, he said.

Also, at about 12.15pm yesterday, another 10kg home-made bomb went off in Raman district, killing Maromeulee Jehyuno, 49, an assistant to Ban Lumo village headman. The victim, who was on his way home after a meeting at the district office, was killed immediately as the blast split his truck in half.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

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NACC queries Arisman's wife on TV shares

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

Rapipan tells anti-graft agency she had no knowledge of husband's Bt2-million holding in D Station satellite-TV

BANGKOK: -- The wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong is being investigated by the anti-graft agency for failure to report her husband’s shareholding in the company that runs the red shirts’ Asia Update satellite-TV station.

Full story:

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Firemen scramble as Thai warship catches fire

Phuket Gazette

Emergency responders rush to the scene as smoke billows out of the retired warship HTMS Lanta in Krabi Town this morning. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

GUTTED: Police officers inspect the engine room, where they believe the fire started from welding sparks while workmen carried out repairs. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Firefighters this morning scrambled to contain a fire that broke out on the retired warship RTMS Lanta, now a museum and tourist attraction in the heart Krabi Town.

Full story:

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Thailand poised to be hub for investors in infrastructure-poor Myanmar

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has potential to be a regional hub for international companies interested in expanding their investment in Myanmar, property agency Colliers International Thailand says, given the Kingdom's proximity to that country that still lacks sufficient infrastructure of its own.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: 7:30am Explosion at an oil refinery in Bang Chaak, along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Pics on @191Thailand timeline

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RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- Australia launches search and rescue operation for boat in distress south of Java

RT @mpoppel: Australian authorities believe as many as 180 people are on board the vessel

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RT @191Thailand: The fire is at the Bang Chaak oil refinery on Sukhumwit 64. Fire trucks coming from Phra Khanong - TR @ThaiPBS

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RT @ThanongK: A police officer tells Channel 3 that the fire at Bangchak refinery would be contained.

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RT @191Thailand: 8am Fire is not from one of the oil tanks but rather from a pipeline that has now been shut off. Fire dying down now.

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RT @tulsathit: “@Rawangpai: rescuers say Bang Chak fire is partly under control. Initial reports say 1 hurt.

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Explosion and fire hit Bangchak Petroleum refinery

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A blast broke out at an oil refinery operated by Bangchak Petroleum Pcl in Sukhumvit Soi 64 at about 7am on Wednesday.

Witnesses said they heard an explosion before the fire broke out.

Initial report said the explosion and the blast was the result of leaking at an oil pipeline. A SMS from Bangchak Petroleum said the fire is under control at 8.28am.

A Nation Channel reporter reported that the blast was about 500 meters from the scene and no evacuation was ordered. Traffic there is worsening.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

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Early Wed. fire at Bangchak Petroleum oil refinery at Sukhumvit 64 is now under control; no evacuation of residents; nearby school closed /The Nation

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Bangchak Petroleum Pcl shut its 125,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Bangkok after a fire on Wednesday /REUTERS