Thailand Live Friday 6 Jul 2012

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ANALYSIS

Two legal titans clash over charter change

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In a nutshell, the charter change inquiry boils down to a simple dilemma - the Constitution has not empowered Parliament to write a new charter but does not ban such action either.

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Myanmar's Thein Sein to make Thai state visit

Bangkok, July 6, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmar's President Thein Sein is scheduled to make a delayed state visit to Thailand later this month after twice postponing the trip, a senior Thai minister said Friday.

The reform-minded leader will arrive for a three-day visit to neighbouring Thailand on July 22, more than seven weeks after postponing an appearance at a forum of business leaders in Bangkok, where Aung San Suu Kyi stole the show.

"President Thein Sein will definitely visit Bangkok between July 22 and 24 and we will hold meetings to prepare to welcome him later today," Yutthasak Sasiprapa, one of the Thailand's deputy prime ministers told reporters.

Thein Sein was initially due to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Bangkok in late May, but rescheduled the visit for June 4, sending his Minister for Energy instead.

He ended up postponing the trip again, citing "unfavorable conditions", but without elaborating.

Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi was the star attraction at the two-day forum on her first trip outside of Myanmar since 1988.

Addressing the forum she urged "healthy scepticism" over Myanmar's dramatic reforms, saying only the rule of law could cement recent political progress and foster clean investment.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-07-06

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PM'S BROTHER

Thaksin gets US visa: Noppadon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has, for the past few months, sought and received visa to enter the United States, his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said on Friday.

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Man found dead in Phuket Town sala

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers remove the body of the late Mr Prasit, whose demise is suspected to be partly related to intoxication. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A man was found dead in a sala [a Thai-style open pavillion] in Phuket Town yesterday afternoon, just 50 meters from where hundreds of people gathered for the first day of the Department of Internal Trade's 'Blue Flag Fair.

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AOT: Runway sinkhole was not caused by construction flaw

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT) - Following the collapse of a runway in Suvarnahumi Airport last night, the airport’s General Manager, Somchai Sawasdeepon, said the collapse did not result from a construction flaw.

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Ferry sinks off Koh Lanta, 80km southeast of Phuket

Phuket Gazette

A BRIDGE TOO FAR: The ferry was transporting materials for the construction of the long-awaited bridge from Koh Lanta Noi when it started taking on water. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The project to build a bridge between the two islands Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai took a soggy step backward yesterday morning when a ferry waiting to unload its cargo of construction materials to build the bridge started taking on water in the rough weather currently affecting much of Thailand, including Phuket.

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CONSTITUTION COURT

Three justices not excused for duty in charter change inquiry

The Nation

Wasant

BANGKOK: -- Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisudh and two justices, Nurak Marpraneet and Suphot Khaimuk will continue to preside over the inquiry on the charter amendment bill after the high court panel turned down their respective requests to withdraw.

Wasant said the Friday's inquiry session was slightly delayed because the panel had to review the status of three justices, including himself.

He said the three wanted to exit the inquiry due to concerns about prejudiced decisions, as they had given interviews about the case.

On Thursday, justice Jaran Pakditanakul sought and received the permission to withdraw from the inquiry on grounds that his past remarks had revealed his thoughts on how he would form a decision.

Eight justices still remain on the inquiry panel.

-- The Nation 2012-07-06

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Travel insurance fails as Phuket tourist faces B600k medical bill

Phuket Gazette

Amy Myles with Sean Kenzie. Family and friends are struggling to raise funds for Sean’s spiralling medical expenses after travel insurance left him stranded in a Phuket hospital. Photo: Facebook

PHUKET: -- Family and friends of New Zealander Sean Kenzie, who suffered extensive injuries after being knocked off his motorbike in Phuket, have launched a campaign to raise funds to pay his spiraling medical bills.

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SET index closed at 1200.08, down 1.72; Bt/USD31.51; GBP48.79; AUD32.19; EUR38.90; CAD30.86; HKD4.06; SGD24.69; JPY39.24

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Turkish robbery suspect caught by Police in Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567905-turkish-robbery-suspect-caught-by-police-in-pattaya/

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Public Health Ministry orders 4 mil Tamiflu in case of bird flu outbreak

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health has reaffirmed that no outbreak of avian flu has been detected in Thailand, but to play it safe the ministry has ordered millions of doses of antiviral drugs of Tamiflu in case of emergency.

According to Department of Disease Control Director-General Dr. Pornthep Sririwanarangsan, the stocking up on Tamiflu is necessary because not only has the avian flu outbreak been reported in China, but also in Mexico.

Dr. Pornthep said even though Thailand has been free of such flu since 2007, the Ministry of Public Health is taking no chances. It has instructed public health volunteers across the country to monitor the poultry situation and notify authorities if the animals’ deaths are suspected to have been caused by H1N1.

He claimed that no dead poultry in Thailand have been found infected by the avian flu so far. He assured the public that since Thailand is an exporter of poultry, it is unlikely for the avian flu to enter the country.

However, 4 million Tamiflu tablets will be obtained to make sure people receive the medication immediately should they develop the H1N1 symptoms. Moreover, the quarantine zones along the Thai border have also been told to be extra cautious about all the birds imported into the country.

-- NNT 2012-07-06

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Nakhon Ratchasima reports over 800 cases of dengue fever

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 6 July 2012 (NNT) - Nakhon Ratchasima’s Public Health office has reported over 800 cases of dengue fever in the province, resulting in 1 death.

Provincial Health Office Director, Dr. Wichai Kattiyavittayakul, said that for the past 6 months, 871 cases of dengue fever and 1 death have been recorded in the province - the highest number of cases in the Northeastern region. Children aged 10-14 are the highest risk group of contracting the fever.

With the rainy season being the peak period for dengue fever, Dr Wichai has instructed local health units to provide additional health check-ups for residents in the area and to monitor the situation closely. The use of insectiside-fogging measures against mosquito vectors, he said, will be implemented in areas with outbreaks of dengue fever.

Fogging is a method where the nauseous gas Malathion is used to kill dengue-carrying mosquitoes to halt the transmission of the disease.

-- NNT 2012-07-06

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Asean Plus Three agree to cooperate on universal health

The Nation

PHUKET: -- Asean and its key partner countries including Japan, South Korea and China Friday strongly agreed to make universal health coverage as essential health services to provide to over billion people in the region.

The joint statement was made by the 5th ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting including Japan, South Korea, and China. The meeting was held in Phuket province on July 6.

The delegations has discussed progress in implementation joint activities in the health sector, especially the topic of universal health coverage, shared their concerns and expresses their commitment to strengthen the collaboration.

-- The Nation 2012-07-06

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SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

11 flights affected by West Runway's crack

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Airports of Thailand Plc, the operator of Suvarnabhumi Airport, has already fixed the crack on the West Runway, which led to the diversion of 11 flights last night.

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European conmen arrested in US$10 million Thai scam

BANGKOK, July 6, 2012 (AFP) - A gang of international fraudsters who duped European victims into investing eight million euros ($9.9 million) in fake funds have been arrested in Bangkok, Thai immigration police said Friday.

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Aussie tourist airlifted to Bangkok after fall from Phuket tuk-tuk

Phuket Gazette

Rescue workers attend to Australian tourist Zachary Noble, who suffered a serious head injury after falling from a moving tuk-tuk in Patong. He was airlifted to Bangkok today, but has yet to regain consciousness. Photo: Kritsada Meuanhawong

PHUKET: -- An Australian tourist on holiday in Phuket has been flown to Bangkok to receive treatment after suffering a serious head injury from falling off the back of a tuk-tuk in Patong last night.

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[Lite Beer]

Thai court defers key ruling on PM party

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 7 Jul 2012

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