Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Aug 2012

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Waterworks authority lays new pipelines to support growing population

BANGKOK, 22 August 2012 (NNT) - The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has used 2 billion baht on laying new water pipelines across Bangkok to support the growing population.

A team of MWA executives and the press visited the construction site of a new pipe in front of the Chinese Embassy on Ratchadapisek Road. The new pipeline is 1 meter in diameter and 2.8 kilometers long, starting from Rama IX Road to the bridge over Khlong Bang Sue.

The construction is taking place at night to avoid causing inconvenience to commuters. The MWA has cooperated with traffic police in preparing alternative routes and facilitating the traffic.

Besides this project, 11 more pipelines have been laid across Bangkok, altogether worth 2 billion baht. All of the new pipes will enable the MWA to increase water pressure and provide enough water to more people in the future.

-- NNT 2012-08-22

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Photo Gallery : Honda Showroom torched in Pattani

Some ten armed men raided a Honda showroom in Nong Chik district early Wednesday morning.

They seized security guards and torched the showroom, gutting altogether 15 cars both new and used. There were no reports of injuries.

-- The Nation 2012-08-22

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Govt allocates Bt130 mln to reduce Thailand's logistics costs /MCOT

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RT @veen_NT: BEC-Tero says 10,000 tickets of Maroon 5 concert in Bangkok scheduled on Oct 8 are sold out.

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Phuket Live Wire: Goodbye to ol' Hotmail

Phuket Gazette

ET TU OUTLOOK? The familiar pastiche of ads and distractions no more. Instead, a Spartan, four-column layout with the boxy design Microsoft used to call “Metro” (a harbinger of Windows 8). Photo: Ali

PHUKET: -- If you have a Hotmail account, you’re in for a big surprise. Microsoft is throwing away Hotmail completely

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E-passport system improved for Thai consulates across the world

BANGKOK, 22 August 2012 (NNT) – The Foreign Affairs Ministry has held a meeting of Thai consulate officials from across the globe to discuss ways to effectively issue passports to Thai citizens abroad, with an emphasis on the newly improved e-passport issuing system.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul presided over the meeting, which is held during August 20-24 under the theme “Go Beyond Routine” to urge consulate officials to think outside the box and provide effective services to Thai expatriates.

Mr Surapong told the officials to place an emphasis on passport and visa issuing services, which are their major tasks. Since e-passport has been on high demand, new technology has been developed with more safety features. The new device, now in use, requires scanning of all 10 fingerprints of a passport applicant. Previously the issue of passports required only a thumbprint.

The Foreign Minister added the computerized and online system have been improved to prevent hackers. He asked the participating officials to discuss appropriate ways to dispose of the old passport issuing machines, to avoid them ended up being just junks.

The meeting was also aimed at informing the officials about diplomatic policies, as well as current economic and political situations in Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-08-22

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RT @Aim_NT: Criminal Court revokes bail for red shirt leader Yoswarit Chooklom (Jeng Dokjik) saying he incited the ppl. Via @Bancha_nna

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RT @tulsathit: Court's decisions on red shirts' bails: Jatuporn's bail not revoked. Jeng Dokjik (Yoswarit Chooklom) goes back to jail.

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PM to give speeches at UN meetings; possible UK visit in the pipeline

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is to visit the United States next month and will deliver a speech at the United Nations headquarters, Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said on Wednesday.

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MP's son killing appears to be motivated by road rage: police

The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Road rage might have caused the gunfight which killed Farut Thaised, son of Chart Thai Pattana MP Chada in Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday, Provincial Police Region 3 commissioner said Wednesday.

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RED LEADERS

Court revokes bail of Jeng Dokjik

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court decided on Wednesday to revoke the bail of a red leader after he was found having the intention to "create disturbance and harm" Constitution Court judges and their families by announcing the phone number of these people in front of redshirt gathering.

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SET index closed at 1234.14, up 1.85; Bt/USD31.25; GBP49.31; AUD32.54; EUR38.89; CAD31.39; HKD4.02; SGD24.84; JPY39.16

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Phuket floods delay flight, mudslide confirmed

Phuket Gazette

A snail enjoys the spectacle of Phuket traffic being slowed to his own pace, as motorists navigate floodwater that seriously affected Thepkrsattri Road in Koh Kaew this morning. Photo: Stephen Fein

PHUKET: -- The floodwater that slowed traffic to a snail’s pace across Phuket this morning resulted in a Thai Airways flight being delayed to ensure passengers caught in traffic jams could get aboard.

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PM warns southern residents to brace for flashfloods

BANGKOK, 22 August 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has indicated that the flood situation in Phuket has now begun to return to normal although residents in 5 other provinces in the South have been warned of flashfloods.

Ms. Yingluck said she has been informed of the improving situation in Phuket as flood levels have begun to decrease in some areas. The Prime Minister claimed that Phuket residents had been warned two days ahead of the deluge to brace for the impact.

However, due to continuous downpours, people living in 5 other southern provinces have been informed of possible flashfloods in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the compensation for flood victims will be deliberated according to the damage.

-- NNT 2012-08-22

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UDD activist Jeng Dokchik transferred to prison as Criminal Court revokes bail; lawyer unable to submit bail bid in time for his release /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Court revokes bail for leading Red Shirt activist

BANGKOK, Aug 22 - Thailand's Criminal Court revoked bail for Yossawaris Chuklom, a leading United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) activist, saying he demonstrated ill intent to stir unrest for political gain.

The Court dismissed a petition seeking to revoke bail for 17 other key Red Shirt figures, including former Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan, saying their behaviour did not violate their conditions of bail. However, the Court added new conditions for their temporary release, prohibiting them from instigating any disturbance or threatening to harm others as well as barring them from going abroad.

The Constitution Court earlier petitioned the Criminal Court to revoke bail for Mr Jatuporn and 23 other UDD protest leaders After they criticised the Constitution Court's decision to review petitions against the government-sponsored Constitution amendment bills in June.

Yossawaris Chuklom, aka Jeng Dokchik, had announced the addresses and telephone numbers of Constitution Court judges from the Red Shirt rally stage in June, an action in which the Court said violated his bail conditions.

The 24 leaders were charged with terrorism for their alleged role in the violent protest against the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration two years ago. They were granted bail with conditions including a ban from making public addresses which could lead to chaos.

Mr Yossawaris was immediately sent to Bangkok's Lak Si Temporary Prison Centre after the court order. Some Red Shirt supporters gathered outside the prison compound to give him moral support.

Karom Ponthaklang, a lawyer representing the UDD, said the legal team will not immediately submit a bail request for his client as they must first study the court ruling thoroughly.

The Criminal Court on Wednesday read its verdict on bail revocation for 19 Red Shirt leaders, but one was absent due to illness, and five ruling Pheu Thai Party MP cases were deferred for consideration in November when Parliament ends its ordinary session. It was feared that there could be legal complications as the five have parliamentary immunity.

The five members of parliament are Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakan, Korkaew Pikulthong, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai and Karun Hosakul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-22

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Southern insurgents shift target to private sector: Deputy PM

BANGKOK, Aug 22 -- Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa said today's high profile arson by anti-government insurgents in Pattani showed that they have shifted their target to the private sector which is a soft target after they could not achieve much success against government authorities.

Gen Yuthasak, who oversees national security, commented after today’s burning of an automobile agency by presumed insurgents, who destroyed 15 new Honda cars.

The insurgent groups in Thailand’s Malaysian border provinces are trying to intensify the violence, he said, suggesting that businesses will now be targeted as they insurgents had proved themselves not very successful in attacking government security units. He said the anti-government insurgents have shifted to more vulnerable targets with the intention to impact public and private sectors in urban areas.

He said that the authorities now were arresting some insurgents at the operational level and are closing in on the leading insurgents behind the local actions.

Gen Yuthasak said that insurgent leaders have contacted the government seeking to surrender. The government is now considering some conditions which could not be revealed to the public at the moment.

Both police and military in the insurgent-affected area should provide moral support to the public while seeking to resolve the violence in the far south, he said.

Urban areas should have more strict security measures in place, Gen Yuthasak said.

The national security chief said he will meet with security agencies Thursday at 2pm, particularly intelligence units and agencies deploying staff in the southernmost provinces. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-22

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Thailand Live Thursday 23 Aug 2012