Thailand Live Saturday 7 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 7 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 6 Jul 2012

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European conmen arrested in US$10 million Thai scam

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....lion-thai-scam/

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Thai court defers key ruling on PM party

Full story:

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Runway crisis deepens

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit,

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

The eastern runway of Suvarnabhumi Airport undergoes repairs. Passengers at the airport have complained of delays.

Sinkholes delay flights; govt, AOT urged to take prompt action to prevent loss of confidence

BANGKOK: -- Executives in the aviation and tourism industries have called on the government and Airports of Thailand (AOT) to work together more closely to maintain Suvarnabhumi Airport's safety standards after two sinkholes were found on the west runway on Thursday night, causing delays.

Full story:

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

Full story:

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I've done nothing wrong, Somsak insists

Kanittha Thepjorn,

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

Speaker says he isn't taking orders from Thaksin, confirms stance on bills

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont insisted yesterday that he had done nothing wrong by discussing political issues with his Pheu Thai Party members, a recording of which was leaked by pro-Democrat Blue Sky Satellite TV channel earlier this week.

Full story:

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Thai growth to be solid: UBS

WICHIT CHAITRONG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The political situations in China and Europe will contribute to volatility in global financial markets, but the Thai economy is expected to grow at a reasonable pace this year and next, said Paul Donovan, managing director and global economist at UBS Investment Research.

Full story:

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Universal healthcare essential, Asean+3 health ministers say

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

PHUKET: -- Asean and its key partners Japan, South Korea and China yesterday jointly decided to make universal health coverage an essential provision for the more than 2 billion people living in the region.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Charter change brings up serious legal dilemma

The Nation

Court decision on whether it's possible to write a new constitution will have only one definite result: a worsening of the country's political divide

BANGKOK: -- After two days of a Constitution Court hearing, it seems that the charter-change controversy boils down to a simple dilemma: While the present Constitution does not empower Parliament to write a new charter - or initiate the writing - it apparently does not ban such action either.

Full story:

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Judges not allowed to pull out of enquiry

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Constitution Court president Wasant Sroypisut and justices Nurak Marpraneet and Suphot Khaimuk will continue to oversee the enquiry into charter amendment bills because their request to quit was turned down by a high-court panel.

Wasant said yesterday's inquiry session had been slightly delayed because the panel needed to review the status of him and the other two judges. He explained that they wanted to exit the inquiry due to concerns about their decision being biased because they had already spoken to the press about the case.

On Thursday, Judge Jaran Pakdithanakul was given permission to withdraw from the inquiry on grounds that his previous remarks had revealed his thoughts on how he would form a decision.

Eight judges still remain in the inquiry panel.

-- The Nation 2012-07-07

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Travel insurance fails as Phuket tourist faces B600k medical bill

Full story:

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3 prison wardens fired over drugs

The Nation

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Three Nakhon Si Thammarat prison wardens were fired and 11 were transferred to other facilities for allegedly being involved in supplying inmates with drugs and mobile phones.

Corrections Department chief Suchart Wongananchai said that police had discovered a large amount of drugs and several mobile phones in a surprise raid on the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison. They also discovered that prison officials had supplied many of these forbidden items.

"For now we have dismissed three wardens because we have strong evidence against them, while the other 11 will be moved out of this area. Investigation into this case is still ongoing and if we find more officers involved in this case, they will certainly be punished," Suchart said.

He also said that prisoners found in possession of prohibited items would be moved to the high-security Klong Pai prison in Nakhon Ratchasima.

-- The Nation 2012-07-07

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Families of tollway crash victims undergo counselling

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The families of two passengers killed in a horrific tollway accident in December 2010 met with psychiatrists and counsellors yesterday as ordered by the Central Juvenile and Family Court.

The court has set another counselling session next Friday for the families of another three of the total nine people killed in the accident.

The families have been complaining publicly about the slow progress of the trial and the fact that the defendant - a minor at the time of the accident - and her family had not made an official commitment for full compensation or even offered an apology.

Thongphoon Phanthong, the mother of the van driver, said that she was being harassed for Bt570,000 in damages from the owner of a Honda sedan, which was hit during the crash. Thongphoon said all she wanted to know was when the court would make a verdict.

-- The Nation 2012-07-07

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Govt seeks release of more than 80 Thais captured in Myanmar

THE NATION

RANONG: -- Officials in Ranong province are seeking to negotiate the release of more than 80 Thai nationals caught by Myanmar authorities on Wednesday for encroaching into their land.

Full story:

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Siriraj Hospital is regional pioneer in robotic knee surgery

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Siriraj Hospital has become the first medical facility in Southeast Asia to provide robotic surgery for patients with partial knee-joint problems.

Full story:

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Aussie claims beating by Thai youth gang in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Mr Williams lifts his borrowed shirt to show his wounds to workers at the Srisoonthorn Public Health Center in Phuket. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar.

Wound to the back of the Australian, which he claims were administered by a gang of 12 Phuket youths. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar.

Full story:

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RT @mpoppel: Preliminary 5.4-magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand's North Island at a depth of 114 kms - GeoNet

RT @mpoppel: UPDATE: Magnitude of quake on New Zealand's North Island upgraded to 5.7 - GeoNet

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RT @mpoppel: Chicago man released from prison after 30 years; DNA evidence showed he was not responsible for sexually assaulting and killing 3yo girl

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RT @RichardBarrow: HM The King will be go upriver from Siriraj Hospital to Koh Kret & so the Chao Phraya River Express will stop from 5pm

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BKK Governor leads public alms giving to 12,000 monks, Asoke closed until 10am; motorists advised to avoid Sukhumvit sois 23,31,39,& 55 /MCOT

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Public lining up along Chao Phraya River, hoping to catch sight of HM the King during his boat trip to launch 5 irrigation projects /MCOT

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Tourism Ministry mulled strategies to boost travel revenue to THB2tril by 2015

BANGKOK, 7 July 2012 (NNT) – The Tourism Ministry has been mulling strategies to help the country achieve record travel revenue of 2 trillion baht by the year 2015.

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Suwat Sidthilaw said on Friday that, at the latest workshop on tourism and strategies to boost revenue to 2 trillion baht by 2015, PM’s Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal who chaired the meeting instructed all participating agencies to select 20 tourist destinations that need a revamp.

When compared with the list proposed by the Department of Tourism, the workshop found 7 destinations that all agencies agreed that an emergency facelift is needed. They are such popular places as Phi Phi Island in Krabi Province and Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram Province.

Mr. Suwat said that the workshop had concluded on more concrete marketing plan and development for all tourist destinations, which will be presented to Prime Minister Yngluck Shinawatra on July 9th for review and the delegation of responsibilities to related state offices.

The workshop also agreed that water treatment, garbage collection, the control of beachside stalls and the safety of tourists are essential elements for the development of seaside tourist destinations.

-- NNT 2012-07-07

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Marine Dept laid out water traffic plan during HM the King’s boat trip on Sat

BANGKOK, 7 July 2012 (NNT) – The Marine Department has announced a set of water traffic rules in the Chao Phraya River during the time of the royal trip of HM the King on Saturday.

Ahead of the royal trip by boat of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to Nonthaburi on Saturday, the Marine Department has declared the Chao Phraya River a temporarily-controlled waterway.

The control order will be in effect from the Rama IV Bridge to the Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge or the Memorial Bridge, from 1 pm to 9.30 pm.

Under this order, no other boats are allowed in the middle of the river while the royal barge is in motion.

Moreover, another order has been issued to forbid all boats between the Kiak Kai Pier and the Krung Thon Bridge during 6 pm and 9.30 pm.

The Marine Department has asked all boats active in the Chao Phraya River to strictly abide by its order and comply with the instructions given by Marine Department officials, the Marine Police and the Royal Thai Army.

It stated that those, who violate the orders, will be subject to a fine of 500-5,000 baht and may risk seeing their licenses suspected up to 6 months.

-- NNT 2012-07-07

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Royally initiated projects to be opened today useful to half-a-million-rai farmland

BANGKOK, 7 July 2012 (NNT) – The five royally-initiated irrigation projects to be officially opened by His Majesty the King today are of great benefits to farmers, enabling the second rice cropping in 500,000 rai of farmland.

Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department Lertviroj Kowattana says the five irrigation projects are located in different parts of the country, but they will be opened simultaneously by His Majesty the King in one ceremony to be held at the Royal Irrigation Department in Bangkok this evening with the aid of video conferencing technology.

One of the projects is in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. His Majesty has graciously named it ‘U-Thokkawipat Prasit Water Gate’, meaning ability to divide fresh and salt water. It is located in the Pak Phanang River basin and serves to prevent salt water from intruding into the Pak Phanang River. The project thus helps people to have sufficient water for agriculture and consumption. It enables them to plant the second rice crops in the drought season over a combined area of 200,000 rai, compared to only 50,000 rai before the construction of the water gate. The project also efficiently relieves the flood problem in the basin.

Two other projects are in the Northeast. One of them is the Lamphayoung Phumiphat Water Diverting Tunnel in Kalasin. Built across the Lam Phayoung River, the project consists of a reservoir with a storage capacity of 4 million cubic meters of water and a 710-meter-long tunnel to divert water to the reservoir. It supplies water to usually arid land in the province, expanding cultivation areas by more than 16,000 rai. The other project in this northeastern region is the Thoranit Naruemit Water Gate in Nakhon Phanom, which has the capacity to store 16 million cubic meters of water, helping irrigate 16,500 rai of cultivation areas. It also reduce flash flood hazards.

The fourth project to be officially opened on Saturday is the Khwae Noi Bamrung Daen Dam in Phitsanulok Province in the lower North of Thailand. The project is built with a capacity to store nearly one billion cubic meters of water, helping irrigate 440,000 rai of agricultural land and reducing flood risks in the lower Chao Phraya basin. The final project involves a dam in the central province of Nakhon Nayok. The dam has been named by His Majesty as Khun Dan Prakan Chon, meaning the wall that keeps water in. The 225 million cubic meters of water stored inside the dam are supplied to nearly 200,000 rai of agricultural land in the lower part of the Nakhon Nayok river basin and another 60,000 rai in the dry season. It also relieves the problem of acid soil and floods in the region.

-- NNT 2012-07-07

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Graft-busters probe plunder of Phuket forests

Phuket Gazette

'As government officers, we should work with honesty and integrity, having the courage to ensure justice for the benefit of the country and its people.' - Kajadpai Burutpat, chairman of NACC subcommittee studying encroachment issues nationwide.

Panumet Dam-on, chief of the Royal Forest Department’s conservation unit in Phuket, told the meeting attempts to uphold the law are met with lawsuits filed by wealthy 'investors'.

PHUKET: -- A team of National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) officers stopped in Phuket this week as part of a nationwide inspection tour aimed at putting an end to widespread encroachment on state forest reserves.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: Live pictures of HM The King's trip upriver to Koh Kret will be broadcast live on all terrestrial stations from 4pm-8pm

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PM Yingluck: Eurozone debt crisis will not affect Thailand

BANGKOK, 7 July 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has assured the country that the Eurozone debt crisis will not have any serious impact on local economy, with the government keeping a close eye on the situation.

Full story:

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Surin prepares for Amazing Surin Elephant show

SURIN, 7 July 2012 (NNT) - The Amazing Surin's Elephant Round-up 2012 has been scheduled for November 14 to 25, with special elephant shows to be staged on November 17 and 18.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Nirun Kalayanamit, governor of Surin province, said the province is well-known for having successfully raised and domesticated a large number of elephants. This has led to the province holding an annual elephant show, entitled “Amazing Surin's Elephant Round-up”, to demonstrate the pachyderms’ abilities and support tourism to the province. The event also aims to promote local culture and customs by exhibiting the close bond between elephants and the people of Surin.

This year’s event will feature demonstrations on how elephants are raised and related rituals, an elephant round-up practised in the old days, a game of tug-of-war between humans and elephants, an elephant soccer match, a battle on elephant’s back , a contest of table arrangement for an elephant buffet, feeding of elephants, and a beauty pageant.

-- NNT 2012-07-07

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PM urges public not to panic, affirms Thailand can handle Europe's debt crisis

BANGKOK, July 7 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday urged the Thai public and private sector not to panic or halt investments due to Europe's debt crisis, for she was certain the government could deal with the issue.

Full story: