Thai Deputy PM to talk with Myanmar seeking release of Thai detainees

BANGKOK, July 12 – Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa is expected to hold talks on Thai detainees with a high-ranking Myanmar official during his visit there on Thursday.

He will fly to Yangon this evening to attend the SEA Games Federation Council meeting and is expected to hold talks with the Myanmar official in a sideline meeting.

Gen Yuthasak, assigned by the prime minister to welcome Myanmar President Thein Sein on his planned visit to Thailand on July 22, said he expected that progress in the case will certainly be seen this week.

The investigation is underway, the deputy premier said, adding that the exact number of Thai detainees expected to be targeted for legal action has not yet been specified by the Myanmar authorities.

Those thought to have committed no offence are likely to be freed first while those who possessed illegal drugs or weapons will remain in custody.

The Thai nationals were reportedly taken into custody by Myanmar troops on July 4 at Koh Song, opposite Ranong's Kra Buri district. They allegedly cut trees and clearing forest area to plant para rubber trees in Myanmar territory.

Initial investigation on the land encroachment found that Thai workers were lured by brokers to buy plots of land at a cheap price not realising that the land was actually Myanmar territory.

Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Tanasak Patimapakorn said after his visit to Myanmar that negotiations are being carried out at local and regional levels through the Thai-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) and the Thai- Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC) as well as diplomatic channels.

There should be no problem as the two countries have good relations, he said.

All detainees are safe and Myanmar officials have not filed any charges against them pending further investigation.

Those without wrongdoing are expected to be sent home before the planned visit of the Myanmar president. The number of detainees has not yet been confirmed as they were detained in several areas, the supreme commander said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-12

Police arrest suspect for murder of Phuket teen

Phuket Gazette –

Confessed killer Kittikhun Wonghajak (left) with Col Wanchai Palawan of the Phuket Provincial Police this morning. Photo: Krisada Meuanhawong

Family and friends began bathing rites for the late Sunisa at Wat Lakthiwanaram (Wat Tai) in Chalong, Phuket yesterday. The cremation is scheduled for Saturday. Photo: Krisada Meuanhawong

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/569369-police-arrest-suspect-for-murder-of-phuket-teen/#entry5477565

Iranian man arrested allegedly with 3.9 kgs of 'ice'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An Iranian man was arrested along with 3,980 grams of crystal meth worth Bt14 million at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Royal Thai Customs Department's Investigation and Suppression Bureau chief Rakop Srisupaart announced Thursday.

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Krabi Police search for mother of murdered newborn

Phuket Gazette

KRABI: Police are searching for the mother of a brutally-murdered newborn found in a plastic trash bag on a Krabi roadside yesterday morning.

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True Visions to be blacked out late Sunday night

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- True Visions subscription TVs will be blacked out from late Sunday night to Monday morning when the largest subscription TV operator will make a major upgrade to its clients' receivers, it has announced.

True Visions announced in a press release that its customers of both satellite-based and fibre optics cable-based systems will not be able to watch True Visions TV from 11pm Sunday to 9am Monday.

During the 10-hour period, True Visions will beam data to upgrade the HD Plus receivers of its customers to rearrange channels to accommodate 17 more High Definition channels.

True Visions said the upgrade would also use a new encryption software to prevent unauthorised receivers from watching True Visions programmes.

To allow its customers to monitor Golf PGA and Tennis WTA during the upgrading period, True Visions will allow its customers to watch the live sports broadcast on its Facebook at www.facebook.com/truevisions.

True Visions urged its customers to check its July programme guide for the times of reruns of sports programmes that they will be unable to watch during the software upgrading time.

As part of the upgrade, True Visions will broadcast its channels for Silver, Gold and Platinum packages in MPEG4 video encoding technology instead of MPEG2.

Since older versions of receivers cannot decode MPEG4 movies, True Visions has been changing receivers for its customers to HD Plus receives since October. Customers who are still using older versions of receivers are urged to contact customer service immediately.

-- The Nation 2012-07-12

Phuket Customs director: Illegal diesel probably used to support terrorism

Phuket Gazette

Director of the Investigation and Suppression Bureau, Customs Department, Rakob Srisupa, with the illegal fuel. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

The 141 gross ton ship, Nok Nan Nam, was illegally importing 230,000 liters of fuel. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- Customs officials who seized over 200,000 liters of smuggled diesel fuel off Phuket on Monday suspect the profits from such sales are likely being channeled to support terrorist activities.

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RT @AP: BREAKING: Olympic officials tell AP: Saudi Arabia to send 2 women athletes to London Games. -RAS

PM urges all parties to receive court verdict calmly

BANGKOK, July 12 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday counselled all parties to stay calm on the eve of the Constitution Court verdict on the constitutionality of the charter amendment bill Friday, asking the public not resort to violence and act within legal limits.

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PM to discuss issue of wandering elephant during mobile meeting

BANGKOK, 12 July 2012 (NNT) - The issue of wandering elephants will be high on the agenda at this month’s mobile cabinet meeting in Surin province.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Preecha Rengsomboonsuk and Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Surawit Khonsomboon are holding talks with 8 governors of the lower Northeastern provinces in Surin, with a goal to speed up preparations for the upcoming mobile cabinet meeting slated for July 29-30.

Mr Preecha said on the sideline of the meeting that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is giving top priority to the problem of wandering elephants in the province. Ms Yingluck is expected to be briefed on the situation and to devise a long-term sustainable solution to the growing issue.

During the cabinet meeting, she is scheduled to visit Surin Elephant Study Center in tambon Kra Pho to observe the pachyderms’ living conditions.

-- NNT 2012-07-12

Polish tourist found dead in Krabi hotel

KRABI, July 12 – A polish tourist was found dead in a hotel room in Thailand’s southern province of Krabi on Thursday.

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RT @mpoppel: RT @BNONews: Severe form of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease was responsible for 54 child deaths in Cambodia, probe confirms.

Spanish man blogs Bangkok suicide on Facebook: police

BANGKOK, July 12, 2012 (AFP) - A Spanish man found dead in his apartment in downtown Bangkok on the eve of his 37th birthday had live-blogged his suicide on his Facebook page, Thai police said Thursday.

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Cambodian troops 'fire at passenger jet': Thai army

BANGKOK, July 12, 2012 (AFP) - Cambodian troops fired shots at a passenger aircraft flying near the country's disputed border with Thailand, believing it to be a spy plane, the Thai army said Thursday.

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Thailand Live Friday 13 Jul 2012