Thailand Live Friday 20 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 20 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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Foreign inmate boasts of drug activity in Bang Khwang on YouTube

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A video clip posted on YouTube showing a Western inmate at Bang Khwang maximum-security prison doing drugs and telling stories about how he and other inmates are able to freely use the Internet and make phone calls is genuine, Corrections Department director general Suchart Wonganantachai said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571165-american-inmate-boasts-of-drug-activity-in-bang-khwang-prison-on-youtube/

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SEX TRAFFICKING

The trade in sex and bodies

Jim Pollard

The Nation

Thai immigrantion police arrested about 40 Uzbek women in a raid on Bangkok's Grace Hotel in 2005. And the trafflicking of women is continuing. Nation Photo: Nuttapone Tipvateeamorn

A TV documentary on trafficking in Thailand delves into the Bangkok underworld

BANGKOK: --A National Geographic Channel documentary tonight sheds light on the trafficking of Central Asian women to Thailand for sex work. The programme, "Inside: 21st Century Sex Slaves", looks at the case of Uzbek women caught in a web of deceit in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Full story:

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Just one-fifth of wastewater is being treated

Janjira Pongrai

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nearly half of the country's existing wastewater-treatment facilities have run into problems, and at present capacity, just one fifth of Thailand's wastewater is being treated.

Full story:

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THAI-KHMER TIES

First step taken to comply with ICJ order: Defence Minister

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Cambodia are continuing with their tasks and obligations to complete the process of troop withdrawal from the Preah Vihear Temple area in accordance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said yesterday.

Full story:

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LESE MAJESTY LAW

Court defers lese majeste case, defence advised

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Ekachai Hongkangwan's lese majeste trial has been deferred to mid-November after judges advised the defendant to change his plea by saying that he had no intention to defame the monarchy but that he merely wanted to share information.

One of the two presiding judges said the defendant did not necessarily have to prove if the information was factual or not. "Because if it is true, it is more defamatory and if it isn't true, then it's super defamatory," Judge Aphisit Veeramitchai explained to lawyer Arnon Nampha and the defendant yesterday. "So proving whether the information is factual or not will not be beneficial to you at all… You have to consider this yourself."

The judge went on to say that the prosecutors were not out to prove if the information provided in a Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) documentary or on a WikiLeaks cable was factual or not. "They say the content defames [the monarchy]," he said.

However, in his rebuttal, Arnon said that he and his client still wanted to prove the factuality of the information referred to in the documentary, which led to Ekachai's arrest. Police arrested Ekachai on March 10 last year after he was caught carrying two sets of WikiLeaks diplomatic cable papers as well as peddling unauthorised CDs of the ABC documentary at Bt20 apiece. He was released on bail nine days later.

Arnon told the judges that he had already filed three court requests to summon Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda and Councillor Sith Savetsila to explain their remarks on the future of the monarchy that were referred to in the WikiLeaks papers. He went on to say that he personally believed that Prem and Sith would be truthful about whether the information attributed to them on WikiLeaks was indeed a fact.

After nearly 30 minutes of consultation and 20 minutes of recess, all sides agreed that the trial should be deferred to November and that the defence would focus on proving that Ekachai had no intention to defame the Crown Prince or the monarchy.

However, the defence lawyer said he reserved the right to have the court summon Prem and Sith in case the prosecution still wished to prove the factuality of the information. The court has also accepted the defence lawyer's request to seek a Constitution Court ruling as to whether or not the lese majeste law contradicts the Constitution because Arnon's argument is that it violates freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Ekachai said he still wants to prove that none of the information provided in the documentary or the WikiLeaks papers was provided with malicious intent.

The former lottery agent went on to say that it was imperative for Prem and Sith to testify, adding "I don't think I will get away by trying to fight on the basis of my intention".

-- The Nation 2012-07-20

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THAI-MYANMAR TIES

Myanmar workers held with Thai encroachers

The Nation

Ranong

RANONG: -- Myanmar authorities yesterday revealed that 23 Myanmar workers were arrested along with the 92 Thai landencroachment suspects taken into custody on July 4, an informed source reported. Like the Thais, the local workers would be charged with encroaching on forestland without permission.

The Myanmar authorities were processing the case speedily and notified the Thais of five charges against them; illegal entry, encroaching on forestland without permission, growing the narcotic plants marijuana and kratom, possessing war weapons, and obstructing officials performing their duty. They would be brought to court on July 27, the source said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-20

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Defence Ministry keeps evidence against Abhisit under wraps

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Defence Ministry has decided not to publicly disclose evidence related to the conscription records of Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva for fear the issue might get politicised.

Full story:

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DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

DSI to file case over useless bomb detectors

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation will seek legal redress against those responsible for the procurement of imported bomb detectors proven to be useless.

Full story:

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Court shows leniency to bankaccount hacker

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a 24yearold Thai man to 117 years in prison and fined him Bt35,000 for hacking 14 Siam Commercial Bank customers' online accounts from May 26 to July 8, 2011, stealing a total of Bt103,050 on 39 occasions. Ekkapan Kummanoi spent the money on online games and phone bills.

The sentence was halved to 58 years, five months in prison with Bt17,550 in fines due to his confession, with a maximum of 20 years served. However, the court, seeing that Ekkapan had repaid the Bt103,050, had no previous criminal record, and was his family's breadwinner, gave him a chance to turn over a new leaf by reducing the imprisonment to a threeyear suspended jail term plus another two years on probation and 48 hours of social services.

-- The Nation 2012-07-20

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Bangkok again top destination city in Asia

Full story:

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Rock Star Doherty Kicked Out Of Thai Rehab Clinic

Full story:

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Bt300 minimum wage a failure, survey says

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bt300 minimumwage policy has failed to elevate workers' quality of life, according to the results of a survey released yesterday by the Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee (TLRC), which urged the Labour Ministry to review its role and do more to protect workers' rights.

Full story:

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Don Muang flood victims in lawsuit threat

The Nation

Foreign tourists continue to visit Ayutthaya's Wat Chaiwattanaram after the place was severely hit by flood last year and several parts remain under repairing./By Suphakit Khumkun/The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After repeated complaints, followed by frequent rallies and roadblocks, floodaffected residents of Bangkok's Don Muang district have threatened to lodge a joint petition with the Central Administrative Court against the Finance Ministry and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration over regulations that prevent them from receiving blanket compensation of Bt20,000 each.

Full story:

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Meeting discusses security improvements for tourists in Pattaya

Full story:

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Kind-Hearted Pattaya Taxi Driver returns cash and valuables to Frenchman

Full story:

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Kiwi lifesaver in Thailand rescue drama

By Abby Gillies

PHUKET: -- A lifesaver from the Kapiti Coast has proved you're never off duty after helping to rescue a fellow Kiwi while holidaying in Thailand.

Full story:

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Roadside bombing on Yala-Betong road, one villager killed, one seriously wounded: Police believe RKK planned attack /MCOT

Car bombing in Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok district; fire engulfs commercial building, electrical appliance shop; two wounded /MCOT

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RT @Reuters: China's Ai Weiwei says barred from hearing tax case verdict http://reut.rs/NKXAkv

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,217.97, up 5.01 points /MCOT

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Job openings in Bangkok

TV Producers, Script Writers, Editor, Admin, Ad Sales

MCOT English, Thailand's first official 24 hour English Television station on TRUE 99 has openings for 2 producers, 2 script writers, Editor, Ad sales and general Admin. Office is at MCOT on Rama 9.

Email [email protected] if you know of anyone interested.

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Video: Visa Run to Burma

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571201-the-most-cinematic-thailand-videos-youve-ever-seen-new-episode/

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Car bombing in Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok district

NARATHIWAT, July 20 - A car bomb in Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok district on Friday morning caused a fire which engulfed a commercial building, but the authorities rescued four persons stranded on the top floor of the building and brought the fire under control.

Muslims worldwide, including in the southernmost Thai provinces, marked the first day of fasting for Ramadan on Friday.

The bomb was set off shortly after 6am in front of a computer shop on Chorenkhet Road in Su-ngai Kolok municipality, and the power of the blast set fire to four rooms of the commercial building.

Four residents fleeing the blaze fled to the building’s rooftop, and were rescued by fire emergency workers. A fire fighting truck with a rescue platform was brought to retrieve four people from atop the building.

Some 10 fire engines rushed to control the fire, preventing its spread to nearby commercial buildings.

No casualties were reported, but overall communications were disrupted in the district.

The bomb caused severe damage to the building, and destroyed four cars and motorcycles at an estimated loss of more than Bt10 million.

The initial investigation indicated that a 50kg homemade bomb was hidden inside a pickup truck parked in front of the building before the explosive was triggered.

Meanwhile, in the nearby province of Yala, a local resident was killed in a roadside bombing on Yala-Betong Road.

The dead man was identified as Manoon Norsiri, while the other victim, identified as Arun Kaenkaewphet, was severely wounded.

The two were returning home from collecting forest products when a bomb estimated at 5kg was triggered by a mobile phone.

The police initially believed that it was the work of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent group, active in the area. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-20

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Inter-provincial air-con Bangkok-Satun bus crashes at curve in road in Phattalung, killing one passenger, injuring 11 /MCOT

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Two killed in Thai south as Ramadan starts

NARATHIWAT, July 20, 2012 (AFP) - Two civilians were killed and four wounded in bomb and shooting attacks in southern Thailand, a military spokesman said Friday, as the region marked the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

A 25-year-old male security guard was shot dead by gunmen in Pattani province on Thursday morning, while a 39-year-old man was killed later in a roadside bomb attack in neighbouring Yala, which also left one person with shrapnel injuries.

A car bomb ripped through a shopping street early Friday in the small town of Sungai Kolok, in the southernmost province of Narathiwat which borders Malaysia, wounding three people and destroying several shops.

"Three people were wounded but none is serious," Colonel Pramote Prom-in, army spokesman for the volatile region, told AFP.

The explosives had been packed inside pick-up truck parked on the street and triggered as people gathered at a morning market, he added.

Authorities had warned that militants were likely to attempt a large-scale attack ahead of Ramadan.

A shadowy insurgency, without clearly stated aims, has raged in Thailand's three southernmost provinces -- Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala -- since 2004.

Daily bomb or gun attacks have targeted both soldiers and civilians, Buddhists and Muslims, claiming more than 5,000 lives in eight years.

A state of emergency is in force in the worst-affected parts of the region, which rights campaigners say in effect gives the tens of thousands of military troops based in the area legal immunity and fuels rights abuses.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-07-20

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Labor & Foreign ministries together evacuated Thai nationals from Syria for safety reason

BANGKOK, 20 July 2012 (NNT) – The Thai government has announced that all Thai nationals in violence-torn Syria have been evacuated for safety reason.

The Labor Ministry’s Bureau of Coordination for International Cooperation Director Singhadet Chu-Umnart revealed on Thursday that, with continued deadly fighting in Syria elevated to a crisis level, the Bureau has collaborated with the Foreign Ministry to bring around 50 Thai nationals back to Thailand.

According to Mr. Singhadet, most of the evacuees are students or Thais married to Syrians.

He added that, at the same time, the Labor Department office in Saudi Arabia has been instructed to watch over all Thai workers in the Middle East, when crisis in the region is yet to dissipate.

According to data from the Thailand Overseas Employment Administration (TOEA), there were 6 Thai workers who traveled to Syria in 2011.

However, it cannot be confirmed if all of the 6 workers have already returned to Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-07-20

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Phuket Raceweek gets off to a lively start

Phuket Gazette

ANY WHICH WAY: Boats round the leeward mark in the shadow of Phuket's Big Buddha. Photo: Chris Hudon

BRACE YOURSELF: Phuket Raceweek gets off to a lively start. Photo: Chris Hudon

PHUKET: -- The 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek got off to a lively start last night with the opening party attracting over 500 guests.

Full story:

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Thai consumer confidence index drops by 3%

Nielsen report

Full story:

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11 arrests in Phuket loan shark hunt

Phuket Gazette

The loan sharking operation was being run out of a rented house in Chalong. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Col Watcharapol Thongluan led in the arrest of 11 suspects alleged to be associated with loan shark operations in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Two suspected loan shark operations in Phuket were shut down by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) Police yesterday morning, putting eleven suspects behind bars.

Full story: