Thailand Live Monday 23 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 23 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 Sunday 22 Jul 2012

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Reds to rally at court for ruling on Jatuporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts will stage a rally today in front of the Criminal Court, which is due to decide whether to revoke the bail of red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan.

Full story:

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287 firms bid for flood projects

The Nation

A flood barrier section is under construction in Nakhon Sawan, where four tributaries meet to form the Chao Phraya River. :Photo By Suphakit Khumkun

BANGKOK: -- Nearly 300 local and foreign companies have tendered for Bt300-billion worth of flood and water management projects.

Full story:

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EV71 case 'no cause for panic'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Department of Disease Control chief Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan yesterday advised the public not to panic over the discovery that a toddler had died at a Bangkok hospital from an Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection.

Full story:

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SPECIAL REPORT

Chao Phraya's great wall

Pongphon Sarnsamak,

Chularat Saengpassa

From the river's sourse in Nakhon Sawan to its mouth near Bangkok,flood barriers are go upping

BANGKOK: -- Flood barriers - in some spots as high as 5.5 metres - are going up along the Chao Phraya River.

Full story:

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DTAC

Founder Boonchai's family boosts stake

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Total Access Communication (DTAC) founder Boonchai Bencharongkul and his family appear to have raised their stake in DTAC as part of the second-largest cellular operator

Full story:

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Farmers want to know: Will our plots become water-retention areas?

Pongphon Sarnsamak,

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

ANGTHONG: -- Anxiety is growing among farmers in the lower Chao Phraya basin because their next farming season is due to start in less than two months and they are still in the dark on whether their paddy fields are marked as water-retention areas.

Full story:

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Myanmar president Thein Sein given tour of Laem Chabang

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Govt backs reform efforts, looks to shore up support for Dawei deepsea project

Full story:

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Royal strings attached

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation

HRH Princess Chulabhorn, khon dancers and Chinese acrobats will perform together next month

BANGKOK: -- Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn will play the ancient Chinese guzheng as part of the fifth "Two Lands One Heart" cultural exchange from August 17 to 24, celebrating Thailand's friendship with the People's Republic.

Performances including the Princess playing the Chin Dynasty stringed instrument take place at the National Cultural Centre in Bangkok on August 17 and 18, Khon Kaen University on August 21 and Srinakarinviroj University in Hat Yai on August 24.

Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Soamsawali will attend the Bangkok shows, the former on August 17 and the latter on the 18th.

Princess Chulabhorn gave the press a preview at Siriraj Hospital's Chalermprakiat Bulding last week, revealing that the melodic sound of the guzheng enchanted her the first time she heard it, on a visit to China 12 years ago.

She learned to place the venerable instrument of the imperial court and so impressed officials of the Chinese government that they suggested a musical exchange programme. China's Culture Ministry and the Chulabhorn Research Institute take turns hosting the annual event.

Next month's shows at all three locations will feature the Princess performing 10 songs - "Xi" ("Yesterday"), "Man Ywei" ("Full Moon"), "Spring River in the Moonlight", "Luo Hua Fei" ("Falling Flowers"), "Lonely Night", "Moonlight Lake", "Perfect", "Missing", "Ri Luo Zhi Lian" ("Love at Sundown") and "Zhong-Tai Yi Jia Qin" ("Two Lands One Heart"). Her guzheng teacher Chang Jing will join her for duets on some of the songs.

The Princess said she considers "Love at Sundown", composed by His Majesty the King, as the highlight.

"This will be the first time the song will be performed on a guzheng," she said. "It's quite difficult to play on the guzheng because the instrument has only five notes, but we'll have full orchestra support."

Princess Chulabhorn said she prefers to practise in the serenity of the evening. She loves how the melodic sound of the guzheng resonates through the air.

Rounding out the show will be five Chinese cultural performances selected by the Princess, plus khon artists from Thailand's Fine Arts Department presenting "Phra Rama at Sea", a masked dance from the Ramakien.

From China, Xiuse is a song-and-dance ensemble from Shanghai's Oriental Youth Dance Troupe. The Sunshine Girls do gymnastic acrobatics, Lady Yang and the Pearl Blossoms is part of the Beijing Opera. Ye Shen Chen is another singing and dancing troupe from Shanghai, and Pursuit offers acrobatics on bamboo poles.

Seats on sale

Seats for the Bangkok shows cost Bt800 to Bt1,800 at the Chulabhorn Research Institute (call 02 574 0622) and www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

Tickets in Khon Kaen and Hat Yai cost Bt400 to Bt1,500 and are available from the local governors' offices.

Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Princess Mother's Medical Volunteer Foundation.

-- The Nation 2012-07-23

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Queen suffers dizziness

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Her Majesty the Queen has been treated at Siriraj Hospital for a drop in the supply of blood to her brain, the Royal Household Bureau said on Saturday. During her daily walk early on Saturday morning, Her Majesty started to experience dizziness and disequilibrium, but maintained full consciousness and full speech functions.

A magnetic resonance imaging scan found insufficient blood circulation in her right cerebellum but no haemorrhaging.

Her Majesty has been put on intravenous medication and ordered to suspend all duties and rest for a brief period.

Royal physicians are monitoring her condition.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, upon her return from Europe last night, immediately proceeded to the hospital and presented a bouquet to Her Majesty through Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, deputy secretary-general of the Royal Household Bureau.

-- The Nation 2012-07-23

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The European Union grants scholarships to 55 Thai academics

The Nation

The European Union (EU) has awarded scholarships to 55 Thai academics

BANGKOK: -- Their fields of study include, among others, subjects like engineering, natural sciences, international relations, public policy, forestry, architecture, arts and humanities. Since the start of the EU's Erasmus Mundus programme in 2004, more than 400 Thai students and scholars have been granted such scholarships.

At the EU's annual Erasmus Mundus reception in Bangkok on Friday, Ambassador David Lipman, head of the European delegation to Thailand, congratulated the awardees.

"Every year we meet to congratulate the talented Thai Erasmus Mundus students and researchers, who were selected from applicants worldwide. They will enrich European-Thai relations through academic exchanges that take place when great minds meet, but also through the personal experiences they will have while living in European cultures and speaking European languages. I can think of no better example of international cooperation," Ambassador Lipman said.

Some 40 students and scholars have been awarded Erasmus Mundus scholarships to cover part of their education at European universities, while the remainder will go to Thai "partner" universities.

Another seven Thai students have been awarded Erasmus Mundus scholarships for full-time master’s and doctorate studies at two or more of the best universities in the European Union. The Thai awardees are among 1,298 graduate students and 197 doctorate candidates selected worldwide to receive Erasmus Mundus scholarships in 2012.

-- The Nation 2012-07-23

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Gun-toting British "doctor" arrested in parking dispute

Full story:

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Turks Arrested For Credit-Card Forgery

Full story:

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Work on high-speed rail project faces two-year delay

WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- "Undertaking an environment impact assessment together with a public hearing might take as long as two years after the feasibility study for a project is completed," Chula Sukmanop, inspector-general of the Transport Ministry and acting director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), said last week.

Full story:

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Thailand - Land of smiles or tourist trap?

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two Canadian sisters die mysteriously in their rented bungalow on an idyllic Thai island, believed poisoned. Less than week later, a 60-year-old Australian woman is stabbed to death in botched robbery outside a luxury resort in Phuket.

Full story:

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HM the King has good appetite, sleeps well; slight bleeding in his brain has stopped: Royal Household Bureau /MCOT

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Asia fuels record elephant, rhino killings: WWF

by Karl Malakunas

Manila, July 23, 2012 (AFP) - China, Vietnam and Thailand are among the worst offenders in fuelling a global black market that is seeing record numbers of elephants and rhinos killed in Africa, environment group WWF said on Monday.

Full story:

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Sex, drugs, stigma put Thai transsexuals at HIV risk

by Aidan Jones

BANGKOK, July 23, 2012 (AFP) - From a cafe near the go-go bars of a Bangkok red light district where she campaigns for safe sex, Gigi gives an unvarnished view of how she joined Thailand's growing ranks of transgender people with HIV.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,188.83, down 19.72 points /MCOT

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King recovers from minor bleeding in his brain

BANGKOK, July 23 – His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has recovered from minor bleeding in his brain, according to the 56th statement of the Royal Household Bureau, released on Sunday.

A computer scan, performed on Sunday found that the slight bleeding in the left frontal area of his brain's outer membrane had gone.

His Majesty the King has good appetite and slept well.

The Royal Household Bureau issued a statement on July 13, saying King Bhumibol experienced twitching in his right hand and a slightly increased pulse rate.

A computer scan found bleeding in his brain's outer membrane. The monarch had been given medications intravenously and has recovered with a normal pulse rate and blood pressure, and no more twitching.

The world's longest-reigning monarch has been in residence at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital since Sept 2009 when he was hospitalised with fever, fatigue and a lung inflammation. He recovered from those symptoms but remained in hospital ever since for nourishment. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-23

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RT @RichardBarrow: The next Bangkok Car Free Sunday cycling event is scheduled for 29th July and starts from Saranrom Park

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Red shirts gathering at Criminal Court to show support to their leader Jatuporn over court's review of his bail on terrorism charges /MCOT

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Ukraine dance troupe wows Phuket

Phuket Gazette

NO STRINGS ATTACHED: One of the lively Ukrainian performers gets some air during yesterday’s performance at the Simon Star Cabaret Theater in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Muanhawong

PHUKET: -- Fans of traditional eastern European dance will have a chance to catch the world-renowned Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble at the Simon Star Cabaret in Phuket this afternoon.

Full story:

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Japanese workers in Bangkok increases condominium demands

BANGKOK, 23 July 2012 (NNT) - A property expert has revealed that more Japanese workers have moved to Thailand, after the East Asian nation has been suffering from bad economy, resulting in rising demand for condominium in Bangkok.

According to Keisuke Tanaka Managing Director of Homes Property Media (Thailand) Co, operator of the Thai property portal www.homesthailand.co.th, over the past two years, many fresh Japanese graduates have found it difficult to find jobs in Japan. As a result, many of them decided to work abroad and Thailand was the number-one destination, reasoning that Thai laws permit them to work easily and the cost of living is also lower.

Mr Tanaka said new Japanese communities have been seen in Bangna and Ladprao, and no longer limited to just areas around Sukhumvit as before. He explained that condominium units in Bangna and Ladprao are cheaper, at around 1.5-2.5 million baht, while those in Sukhumvit are priced at around 3-5 million baht.

According to Homes Property Media, around 80,000 Japanese reside in Thailand. Out of this, 20,000 are living close to Ayutthaya’s industrial estates, while 60,000 are in Bangkok. Thailand houses the most number of Japanese workers; around 20,000 of them work in Indonesia and around 10,000 are in Beijing and Shanghai.

-- NNT 2012-07-23

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North, Northeast to experience more rain

BANGKOK, 23 July 2012 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has announced that the Tropical Storm Vicente is expected to sweep through the north of Vietnam, which will result in more rain in the North and Northeast of Thailand.

According to the Meteorological Department, Tropical Storm Vicente is slowly moving westward from the East of the Hainan Island. It is expected to hit North of Vietnam on Wednesday. As a result, the North and Northeast of Thailand will experience more rain from Monday to Wednesday.

Fishermen are warned to be cautious when leaving shores as the winds are strong in both the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.

-- NNT 2012-07-23

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Pheu Thai spokesman: Red shirts rally outside Criminal Court not pressuring judges, hopes court will review Jatuporn's bail fairly /MCOT

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No Thai workers in civil-war torn Syria: Labour Ministry

BANGKOK, July 23- No Thai labourers are currently working in the Syrian Arab Republic, where fierce fighting and other violence is now endemic, according to Thailand's Labour Ministry.

Prawit Khiangphon, director-general of Thailand's Employment Department, affirmed on Monday that there are no Thai workers in Syria.

Some 13 Thai labourers, who were permitted to work in restaurants and Thai-styled massage parlours there since 2009, returned to Thailand several months ago.

No other skilled Thai workers have been employed in Syria either, Mr Prawit said. Syria suspended construction-related employment as it has neither city development plans, infrastructure or building of industrial facilities for many years.

Violence has rocked the Syrian capital Damascus with Syrian rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Unrest has currently spread to Aleppo, Syria's main commercial and industrial hub, where rebels also battled government forces.

The ongoing uprising has left more than 19,000 people dead in total, including soldiers, non-combatant civilians and rebels, across the country since fighting erupted in March 2011. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-23

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Thailand offers Japan Bt5 mln aid for recent flood, landslides

BANGKOK, July 23 - Thailand has offered Japan financial assistance of Bt5 million to help address Japan's recent natural disasters, both flooding and landslides, in the southwestern island of Kyushu.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ood-landslides/

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THAI-MYANMAR TIES

Relatives of detainees await outcome of discussions between Thein Sein and Yingluck

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Families and relatives of the Thais detained in Myanmar on Monday have waiting expectantly for the results of discussions between visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein and the Thai premier.

They travelled from Surat Thani province and arrived in Ranong province this morning to wait for the outcome of the meeting.

Myanmar troops arrested 92 Thais 82 men and 10 women on July 4 in Victoria Point opposite Ranong's Kra Buri district for allegedly encroaching on its land to cultivate rubber and marijuana. The troops reportedly seized weapons during the raid.

Weerathum Yimwan from Khiri Ratthanikhom district said his six relatives are among 92 Thais detained in Myanmar.

"I'm very happy that the Thai prime minister will raise the issue with President Thein Sein. The discussion between them gave me and other families hope that they would be freed soon," he said. He and the others will wait in Ranong to welcome the Thais if they are freed after the discussion.

He claimed that the Thai detainees unintentionally encroached on Myanmar soil as they were lured to believe that the land was in Thai territory.

Meanwhile an informed source said that Myanmar has already finished questioning the detainees and they would be charged with illegal entry, encroaching, destroying lands without permission, farming marijuana, possession of war weapons and resisting arrests.

It is expected that the Thais who are charged with such offences as illegal entry and unintentional encroachment on forest land, which are not considered serious offences, would be sent to court and a decision on their fate would be at the court's discretion.

Thein Sein meanwhile arrived at the Thai Government House on Monday to begin the second day official of his visit to Thailand. His original visit set for June was postponed as it coincided with that of Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

He arrived on Sunday and travelled to Laem Chabang Port in the eastern seaboard province of Chon Buri to be briefed on its operation.

On Monday, he and Yingluck will witness the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on development projects in Myanmar, covering the Dawei Special Economic Zone and related projects before giving a joint press conference.

President Thein will visit the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha temple on Tuesday before returning home.

The threeday visit to Thailand by the Myanmar President is his first since taking office in March last year.

-- The Nation 2012-07-23