Thailand Live Sunday 22 Jul 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Sunday 22 July 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Google+: http://plus.google.com/116866638430460700577/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 21 Jul 2012

[webfact]

THAIVISA CONNECT

Thaivisa Forum Apps for your mobile or tablet

"Thaivisa Connect" for iPhone, iPad and iPod:

iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thaivisa-connect-thailand/id492600537

"Thaivisa Connect" for Android:

Android Market

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkthaivisa.activity

OR

For QR code just go here with your desktop or mobile:

http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Lite Beer]

Turks arrested for credit-card forgery

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- A Turkish gang has been arrested for forging credit cards, inflicting a total loss of about Bt100 million.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....y/#entry5506958

[Lite Beer]

Deadly Enterovirus 71 strain found in 2-year-old girl who died last week, hospital admits

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- The deadly Enterovirus 71 has been found in the throat of a two-year-old who died at a Bangkok hospital last week although the child had no symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571605-deadly-enterovirus-71-strain-found-in-2-year-old-girl-who-died-last-week-hospital-admits/#entry5506962

[Lite Beer]

Democrats slam Thaksin's criticism of court

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was assailed yesterday for attempting to discredit the Constitution Court and criticising its verdict in the charter-change case.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571606-democrats-slam-thaksin-criticism-of-court/#entry5506967

[Lite Beer]

Senate ex-speaker suggests holding referendum

The Nation on Sunday

Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrats, addresses party supporters at a school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday. He talked about attempts to help

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571607-senate-ex-speaker-suggests-holding-referendum/#entry5506971

[Lite Beer]

92 Thais in Myanmar face prison sentences

Boonluen Promprathankul

The Nation on Sunday July

RANONG: -- Five relatives of encroachers said to have been arrested on Friday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571608-92-thais-in-myanmar-face-prison-sentences/#entry5506976

[Lite Beer]

MORE SOLDIERS HURT BY ROADSIDE BOMB

THE NATION ON SUNDAY July 22, 2012 1:00 am

Southern unrest in Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, continued yesterday with two soldiers wounded by a roadside bomb in Narathiwat

On Friday, first day of Ramadan, a car bomb in Sungai Kolok district wounded eight people, while another roadside bomb in Ra Ngae district wounded seven people, a Ra Ngae district's rubber plantation co-op's storehouse was burned down and a civilian was injured in a Jor Irong district teashop shooting.

Yesterday at 9am, a 5kg bomb exploded, aiming to hurt a six-soldier patrol on three motorcycles in Tambon Manang Tayor's Ban Jood Daeng. It wounded Private Arisman Wayeng and Private Sangworawut Ngamprom, both 23.

Narathiwat Governor Apinan Suethanuwong said the car bomb culprits tried to park the vehicle at a bank but got chased off by guards, so they parked in front of the electrical appliance shop instead. He has had to beef up security at banks in 13 districts.

He said he asked female rangers to help police, soldiers and defence volunteers in manning checkpoints. He also asked for funds from the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre to demolish wooden homes in Ban Tha Reu in Reu So district, where a July 17 attack killed one soldier, two civilians and wounded six others, and build concrete homes that better shield people.

Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom called for modern tools for checkpoints to boost efficiency in the combined security forces' guarding seven community and economic areas in the region, as per PM Yingluck Shinawatra's "Safety Zone" policy.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Phrompong Nopparit condemned the car bomb as savage and cruel. He said the party would gather information in the Deep South to help the government, while Nakhon Si Thammarat Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong urged Yingluck to visit the Deep South to oversee and review if the policy was on the right track and agencies were working efficiently.

Sungai Kolok hotel association head Saengthong Preechawuttidech said the car bomb caused Malaysian tourists to check out and go home and it would take a long time to restore their confidence, while Narathiwat Industrial Council chief advisor Pongsak Chutichaowakun said the car bomb aimed and succeeded in hurting the city's economy.

-- The Nation 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

Drug dealers arrested

The Nation on Sunday July 22, 2012 1:00 am

Eleven drug dealers have been arrested in three provinces

Ketwadee Khaiphet was arrested with 3,900 yaba (methamphetamine) tablets. She confessed that her husband, Charun, jailed in a prison in Samut Sakhon, had ordered them for her to deliver to his customers.

Chatchawarn Kaeonammit was arrested with 240 yaba pills and 3.4 grams of crystal meth or "ice" while Amornrat Phlaibua, also in the same province, was arrested with 50 yaba pills.

Police in Nakhon Phanom have caught Wathit Yolai, Krung Sriphuwong and Sonthaya Homsaen while they were smuggling 205 kilograms of marijuana crossing the Mekong River from a neighbouring country.

Wathit confessed that they had been hired for Bt50,000 to transport the marijuana to Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Sombat Pholsakkhwa, Suphawadee Senarit, Theekhachote Preejumrat, Chatchai Phophra and Kowit Utkhawapi were caught with 854 yaba tablets and 10.3 grams of ice.

-- The Nation 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

German found dead

The Nation on Sunday July 22, 2012 1:00 am

A 47-year-old German man was found dead in a graveyard in Bangkok early yesterday morning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571610-german-found-dead-in-bangkok-graveyard/#entry5507001

[Lite Beer]

Strong opposition to new charter

The Nation on Sunday July 22, 2012 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- As many as 63.5 per cent of people opposed the idea of writing a new constitution, according to the results of a public opinion survey conducted by Bangkok University released yesterday.

A total of 19.5 per cent of those surveyed said they supported the idea of drafting an entirely new charter, while the remaining 17 per cent opted not to answer the question. The survey was conducted on 1,265 eligible voters from 22 provinces in all regions of the country.

More than 45 per cent of respondents wanted the amendment to focus on certain problematic clauses, while slightly over 25 per cent said they saw no need to change the charter at all, because there was no problem with it. Only 9.3 per cent said the Constitution needs to be entirely rewritten because it had many problems, according to the Bangkok Poll.

-- The Nation 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

PM says Europe has confidence in Thailand

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday said that her trip to Germany and France provided Thailand with a good opportunity to rebuild Europe

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571612-yingluck-says-europe-has-confidence-in-thailand/#entry5507023

[Lite Beer]

Man arrested for using counterfeit ringgit

YALA, 22 July 2012 At the provincial police station in Betong district of Yala province, Police Colonel Suwat Wongpaiboon, superintendent of the Betong police station, revealed to the media that they had arrested a man for using counterfeit Malaysian currency.

The criminal, named Mr. Somkiat U-seng, aged 32, was apprehended for using fake Malaysian money, or ringgit. The amount he used totaled 1,000 ringgit, or 10,000 THB. He spent the counterfeit money at various entertainment venues, including traditional massage parlors and the café at the Betong City Plaza hotel.

Business owners in the area had previously filed complaints with the police, and officers were dispatched to arrest Mr. Somkiat for an alleged charge of knowingly passing counterfeit foreign currency, as well as fraud. The suspect admitted to receiving the fake money from a friend, who was a Malaysian tourist. He had intended to use the money only for nighttime activities.

-- NNT 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

PM Yingluck has promised to help solve plights of Thais living abroad

PARIS, 22 July 2012 (NNT) The Prime Minister has promised to help solve the plights of Thais living abroad.

On the last day of her official visit to France, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with some 300 members of the Thai communities from France, Norway and Denmark.

The PM thanked all at the meeting for their support while expressing confidence in the Pheu Thai-led government’s efforts in the post-flood rehabilitation.

PM Yingluck stated that the government will try to make sure that all Thais, no matter where they are, will be taken care of.

Moreover, she asked attending Thais about their problems while living abroad, most of which are about their work in Thai restaurants and spa as well as their lack of ID cards. Some Thai students in France also raised their problems about living with host families.

The Premier assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take a lead in solving all problems, and that Thais living abroad would be able to have an ID card beginning in 2013, after which they would also be able to cast votes in all elections.

-- NNT 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

Her Majesty treated for minor insufficient blood supply to brain

BANGKOK: -- Her Majesty the Queen was treated at the Siriraj Hospital early Saturday for minor insufficient blood supply to the brain, the Royal Household Bureau announced late Saturday night.

The bureau said Her Majesty felt dizzy and stumbled a little bit while walking and exercising in Siriraj Hospital early Saturday morning. The bureau said Her Majesty was fully conscious and cold talk at that time.

The team of Siriraj doctors performed a medical examination and a magnetic resonance imaging scan for Her Majesty's brain and found that there was a minor symptom of insufficient blood supply to the right side of the back part of the brain. No bleeding in the brain was found.

The doctors gave intravenous medicine for the Queen and monitored her condition closely. The doctors also advised Her Majesty to cancel all activities for now.

-- The Nation 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

HM the Queen felt dizzy, MRI indicated slightly inadequate blood flow in brain; medicine administered: Royal Household Bureau /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

The agonising blows that expose the evil secrets of Thailand's elephant tourism con: The Duchess of Cornwall's brother tells how baby elephants are brutally starved and tortured

By MARK SHAND -- Mail Online

There are few things more adorable than a baby elephant.

Little more than 3ft tall and naturally curious, they are the undisputed stars of the scores of elephant camps created in the forests of Thailand to offer tourists the opportunity to get close to the world's largest land animals.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....n/#entry5507201

[Lite Beer]

Tropical Storm Vicente passing southern China; Moderate SW monsoon across Thailand, more rain over next 4 days: Meteorological Dept /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Thai Queen treated for insufficient blood flow in brain

BANGKOK, Royal physicians are treating Her Majesty Queen Sirikit after magnetic resonance imaging indicated inadequate blood flow to the rear of her brain, according to a statement by the Royal Household Bureau on Saturday.

Her Majesty the Queen experienced dizziness and staggered slightly during walking exercise at dawn on Saturday however, she was still conscious.

Doctors performed check-up and found inadequate blood flow in cerebellum, but no bleeding was detected.

The doctors administered medicine and advised her to suspend public activities for the time being.

Her Majesty the Queen has already been staying at Siriraj Hospital as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej have been residing there since he was admitted to hospital in Sept 2009 with symptoms of fever, lung inflammation and fatigue.

His latest public appearance was on July 7, when he, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, toured the Chao Phraya River on a navy boat to preside over the official inauguration of five royally-initiated irrigation projects of the Royal Irrigation Department. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

Myanmar president on trade visit to Thailand

Yangon - Myanmar President Thein Sein traveled Sunday to Thailand for an official visit to the second-largest investor in the former pariah state.

He initially planned to visit in May for the World Economic Forum, but canceled after learning that Myanmar democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi would also attend the event where she grabbed the spotlight.

On Sunday, Thein Sein was scheduled to visit Laem Chambang seaport in Chonburi, 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok.

Laem Chabang is planned to be linked by road to the Dawei deep seaport on Myanmar’s south-eastern coast, an 8.6-billion-dollar project that Italian-Thai Development Company won a concession to build and operate.

Myanmar has been under nominal civilian rule since the November 2010 general election. The government is run by the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is packed with former generals.

Thein Sein has initiated several political reforms since taking office in March 2011, most significantly allowing Suu Kyi to join mainstream politics as an elected member of parliament.

The reforms prompted the US and Europe to ease sanctions imposed on the country for two decades.

-- TNA 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Last day for International Championship Dog Show 2012 at The Mall Ngam Wong Wan, 10am-10pm

[Lite Beer]

Police check CCTV footage, presume suspects in Friday's car bomb in Narathiwat's Su-ngai Kolok same group inciting unrest in July last year /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Special economic zone proposed for 3 southern border provinces

YALA, 22 July 2012 (NNT) - Mr. Yoosin Jintapakorn, president of the provincial Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) office of Yala revealed that currently, investments and trade in the southern border provinces are still lacking.

Previously, a group of investors had planned on opening a biomass power plant in Yala, with a budget of 600 million THB, but the project still failed to reassure Yala province that investment in the province would rev up in accordance with the established policy.

Furthermore, the continuing unrest in the three southern border provinces makes new investors, particularly foreigners, wary of investing in the province. Thus, investors are more likely to turn to industrial estates in other provinces.

It is proposed that the government establish clear-cut investment policy and incentives, as well as putting into place security measures to safeguard both lives and property. These measures are intended not only for local investors, but also new investors, who require reassurances regarding industrial investment in the three southern border provinces.

The provincial FTI president also suggested that the government declare Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani special economic zone, providing higher investment privileges, such as tax exemption of 8 up to 20 years and double deduction of corporate income tax.

-- NNT 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

DDPM office in Ayutthaya educate village chiefs, communities about disaster prevention

AYUTTHAYA, 22 July 2012 (NNT) Provincial officials of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Ayutthaya traveled to sixteen districts in the province in a bid to educate communities and village chiefs regarding the early warning system for floods, as well as how to offer assistance in the case of flooding.

Mr. Noppadol Amorawate, acting head of Ayutthaya's DDPM chapter, made known that officials in his office are continually traveling to the sixteen districts of Ayutthaya province, with special attention given to the Bang Barn, Sena, and Phak Hai districts. These areas had experienced repeated inundation. The focus of this campaign is to emphasize warnings via the so-called Mr. TUAN PHAI, assistance to affected people, and the roles of staff at relief shelters. These points are in line with the objectives of the province’s DDPM chapter.

Each day, Ayutthaya's DDPM office is able to provide training to over five thousand village chiefs and volunteers, making them better understand the disaster relief operations.

Mr. Noppadol further revealed that aside from the training, his office is reporting the current water situation to citizens on a daily basis, via community radio.

-- NNT 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

Myanmar President Thein Sein heading to Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri this afternoon after arriving Thailand for July 22-24 official visit /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Rubber farmers gather in Hat Yai to submit letter to Deputy Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister demanding govt tackle falling rubber prices /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

10 workers suffering breathing difficulties, sent to hospital after inhaling from ammonia leak at factory in Ranong /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

No new cases of hand-foot-mouth syndrome in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, 22 July 2012 (NNT) - Dr. Charun Juntamattukarn, chief medical officer of the Narathiwat Provincial Public Health Office, revealed that the latest investigation regarding the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease in the thirteen districts of this province discovered one patient in Ja-nae district.

The patient, however, was not exhibiting severe symptoms and has now fully recovered. At present, there have been no new reported cases of the disease in the province.

Regarding the occurrence of the hand-foot-mouth disease in the province during January to February 2012, one hundred patients were reported, with 30 found in Ba-joh district. The majority of patients were younger children. They had all been treated by medical personnel and made full recovery.

The provincial chief medical officer gave the assurance that no one had died as a result of the disease in the area. However, caution should be exercised. Teachers, parents, and guardians are asked for their assistance in observing and taking care of small children.

-- NNT 2012-07-22

[Lite Beer]

Myanmar president visits Thailand

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, July 22, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmar's president Sunday made his first official trip to Thailand since taking power in a visit likely to focus on economic ties between his reforming nation and its more affluent neighbour.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/571668-myanmar-president-visits-thailand/#entry5508016

[Lite Beer]

At least 14 workers injured in gas leak in Ranong.

RANONG, July 22- Some 14 workers on Sunday suffered from breathing difficulties after inhaling ammonia leaked at a frozen shrimp factory in the southern province of Ranong.

At least 14 Thai and Myanmar workers were taken to Ranong Hospital after an ammonia leak at the seafood processing plant of Andaman Seafood Co., Ltd. in the provincial seat, according to Dr Thongchai Keeratihathayakorn, chief of the Ranong provincial health office.

As some of the workers were not severely affected by the gas leak, they have been discharged from the hospital.

Meanwhile, others remained at the hospital under observation.

The situation was put under control after the valve was quickly shut off. A cause of the accident is under investigation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-22