Thailand Live Thursday 30 Aug 2012

[Lite Beer]

'I deserve a Cabinet seat'

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Atapoom Ongkulna

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Once the Criminal Court decided it would not revoke the bail of terrorism-accused Jatuporn Promphan, the red-shirt leader's name was back on the list of potential new ministerial candidates for the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/580788-i-deserve-a-cabinet-seat-says-jatuporn/#entry5618797

[Lite Beer]

Energy Ministry asks oil business operators to keep diesel under THB30/L

BANGKOK, 30 August 2012 (NNT) - The Energy Ministry is pleading with oil business operators to help keep local diesel prices under the 30-baht-per-liter.

Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon said on Wednesday that the Energy Ministry will report its one-year performance statement on September 6. Mr. Arak said that the statement will list out all achievements the ministry has completed in the past year, including the energy price control, especially the diesel price which is set to go further up.

He stated that the outlook of more expensive diesel has been adding more pressure to business operators and leaving them with the marketing margin of less than one baht a liter, which is considerably lower than the sound level of 1.50-1.80 baht a liter.

Nevertheless, the Energy Minister is asking related businesses to keep local diesel price under 30 baht a liter, as the National Energy Policy Committee is yet to approve the State Oil Fund subsidy due to the volatility in the global market.

In doing so, Mr. Arak reckoned that oil business operators will altogether incur approximately 25 million baht of financial burden each day, but he promised to seek any possible assistance once the energy business outlook appears more clarified.

-- NNT 2012-08-30

[Lite Beer]

Thailand claims Guinness World Record for mass massage

Thailand claimed to have pipped Australia on Thursday in providing the world's largest and longest mass, synchronised massage.

FullStory: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/580801-thailand-claims-guinness-world-record-for-mass-massage/#entry5618871

[Lite Beer]

Search continues for killer Phi Phi speedboat

Phuket Gazette –

Speedboats bring hundreds of tourists to Phi Phi Island every day. Photo: Gazette file

The area is very popular with tourists snorkeling just offshore. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: Krabi Police are still working to identify vessels that were at Tonsai Beach on Phi Phi Island when a French tourist was killed while snorkeling in the area on August 18.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/580804-search-continues-for-killer-phi-phi-speedboat/#entry5618920

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Villager beheaded, burnt in Yala

YALA, Aug 30 - A villager was beheaded and his body was burnt in a pickup truck in Bannang Sata district of Yala province.

Central Institute of Forensic Science director general Porntip Rojanasunan led her staff to collect evidence and DNA at the scene on Talingchan-Si Sakhon Road in Bannag Sata district.

The victim was identified as Tuan Daoh Tuan Sulong, 58, a Yala merchant. His body was found totally burnt on the back of the pickup truck which was also greatly damaged by fire.

His head was found, also burnt, at the roadside, five metres from his vehicle. Forfensic investigators said a bullet was found in his head, while an empty petrol bottle was found at the scene.

According to the initial investigation, Mr Tuan Daoh was alone early today when he drove his pickup truck for an errand in the Yala provincial seat. It was believed that he was ambushed on the way.

Police did not rule out either the insurgency or personal conflict as the cause of the killing. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-30

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Thai firm pleads guilty over Australian oil spill

Sydney, Aug 30, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai state-owned firm on Thursday admitted four charges over a huge oil spill off northwestern Australia, the country's worst ever offshore drilling accident.

Full story:

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Death penalty abolished for young offenders /Bangkok Post

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Former irrigation chief blasts govt for vague water management plan

BANGKOK, 30 August 2012 (NNT) – A former Irrigation chief has criticized the government for its vague flood prevention and water management plan, adding the people remained uninformed of the water management details.

Full story:

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SET index closed at 1214.55, down 5.61; Bt/USD31.24; GBP49.34; AUD32.15; EUR39.07; CAD31.37; HKD4.02; SGD24.76; JPY39.47

[webfact]

Thailand sets world record for mass massage

Bangkok, Aug 30, 2012 (AFP) - Hundreds of people pushed, prodded and stretched their way to a new world record for the biggest simultaneous group massage, in the Thai capital Bangkok on Thursday, organisers said.

Full story:

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Ex-Thai PM in court over 'Red Shirt' protest deaths

BANGKOK, Aug 30, 2012 (AFP) - Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva testified in court on Thursday for the first time in connection with dozens of protest deaths in 2010, saying the authorities had tried to avoid loss of life.

Full story:

[george]

British ex-pat gunned down as he rides home on his motorbike in Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....me-in-thailand/

[Lite Beer]

French family sues for manslaughter after Thailand death

RENNES, France, Aug 30, 2012 (AFP) - A French family has filed a civil suit for manslaughter after a family member died after he was hit by a passing boat as he swam off a beach in Thailand, prosecutors said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/580804-search-continues-for-killer-phi-phi-speedboat/#entry5620335

[Lite Beer]

THAI-MYANMAR TIES

Myanmar court to rule on two Thais next month

RANONG: -- A court in Myanmar's Kawthaung or 'Koh Song' will sentence two Thai detainees accused of being drug dealers on September 10, Thailand-Myanmar border coordination centre in Ranong said Thursday.

The two detainees are Kalaya Thawo, 49, Surat Thani's resident and Thanom Chansamut, 52, Chumphon's resident.

They were among 92 caught by Myanmar soldiers last month for illegal entry on land. Both confessed that they had produced and sold marijuana many times, according to pervious investigation by the court.

Previously, Thanom was charged with possessing war weapons. He faced penalty of seven years in jail. Before that he was also sentenced three and a half years in jail for illegal entry and intrusion on a state forest.

Meanwhile, 83 other Thai detainees with only the penalty of illegal entry and intrusion are in the process of requesting a pardon in the capital Nay Pyi Daw.

-- The Nation 2012-08-30

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Thailand Live Friday 31 Aug 2012