Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Sep 2012

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Flood takes steam out of Tiger Discotheque extension inquiry

Phuket Gazette

Patong Municipality lost the original plan to the building in a flood nearly a decade ago. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Thamrongsak Boonrak, legal counsel for the Tiger Group. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The investigation into whether or not the alleged "extension" to the ill-fated Tiger Discotheque in Patong was legal fell flat last week after Patong Municipality admitted that it had lost the original plan to the building in a flood nearly a decade ago.

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Strange Ski Mask Burglar Nabbed By Sattahip Police

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....attahip-police/

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Women urged to take part in politics

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has held a seminar, encouraging women to take part in politics in order to help develop democracy in the country.

Election Commissioner Prapan Naikowit informed 100 female inmates, who will be released within next year, about the election process so that they understand their role in the democratic system. It is hoped that they will pass on the knowledge to others in their families and communities when given the freedom.

The seminar was part of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s initiative to promote women’s participation in the political arena. It is believed that the women will be able to help improve the Thai democratic system.

Mr Prapan said the EC will also extend this campaign to other people besides women as he deems it beneficial to all.

-- NNT 2012-09-04

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UTCC urges govt to focus on border trade

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) – The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has urged the government to emphasize on border trade as Thailand is likely to be affected by the world economic crisis.

Dr. Thanawat Polvichai, Director of the UTCC's Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, has stated that the world economy is likely to worsen as the Euro-zone debt crisis has shown no sign of recovery, coupled with the slowdown in Chinese, Japanese, and US economies. He therefore has urged the government and entrepreneurs to rely more on border trade as it will help trigger the Thai economy.

The Director added that Thailand will have to face an inevitable impact from the domino effect of the world economic downturn, saying the European economy seems to have worsened which has resulted in the slowdown in US and Chinese economy, while Japan has been hit hard by the devastating tsunami. All of these risk factors have put Thailand in a bad position. Therefore, Dr. Thanawat is urging Thai SMEs to take advantage of border trades with ASEAN members instead of worrying about the world economic situation.

-- NNT 2012-09-04

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Southern Islamic school’s assets seized

BANGKOK, Sept 4 – The Thai government's Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized the assets of an Islamic religious (pondok) school in Narathiwat province in connection with the insurgency in Thailand’s far South and for allegedly using the school as a centre for making bombs and sheltering insurgents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/581889-southern-islamic-schools-assets-seized/#entry5633679

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PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

Condo projects totalling Bt10 bn planned for Hua Hin

SOMLUCK SRIMALEE

THE NATION

HUA HIN: -- Property firms are launching more than Bt10 billion worth of condominium projects in Hua Hin in the current half of the year after launching 17 such projects worth Bt35 billion in the final quarter of 2011.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....n/#entry5633746

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Cabinet appoints Wibul as new permanent secretary for Interior

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday promoted Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director-General Wibul Sanguanpong as the new permanent secretary for Interior Ministry.

The Cabinet approved Wibul's promotion and reshuffle of other senior Interior Ministry officials as proposed by Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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DSI reports new details on 91 political deaths

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has disclosed further details on the 91 deaths from the red-shirt mass riot in 2010, saying 36 of them might have been caused by army officers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/581798-bangkok-police-to-probe-9-more-deaths-during-2010-crackdown/#entry5633775

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Nakhon Ratchasima Governor appointed new PAD chief

The Cabinet Tuesday transferred Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Chuan Sirinanporn to the powerful position of the director-general of the Provincial Administration Department.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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Chiang Mai Governor who vowed to crack down on red-shirt protesters sidelined

The Cabinet Tuesday transferred Chiang Mai Governor M.L. Panadda Dissakul to an inactive position of deputy permanent secretary.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/581898-chiang-mai-governor-who-vowed-to-crack-down-on-red-shirt-protesters-sidelined/#entry5633808

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Eriksson's arrival hailed as new dawn for Thai football

Lerpong Amsangiam

The Nation

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has joined BEC Tero Sasana as technical coach until the end of the Thailand Premier League season for an estimated salary of Bt50 million.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/581764-sven-goran-eriksson-joins-bec-tero-sasana/#entry5633821

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Protesters lined up outside Government House

Many groups of protesters gathered at the Government House on Tuesday, with several of them occupying Rajdamnoen Road and causing traffic congestion.

The first group, comprising some 1,000 protesters from the National Municipal League of Thailand and Subdistrict Administration Organisation Association of Thailand arrived at 8.30am and gathered near the Government House on Rajdamnoen Road.

They wanted to submit a petition to the premier, demanding that the government help raise their salaries to the level of government officials with bachelor degrees.

They said they should be paid Bt15,000, the same as those with bachelor degrees, and Bt9,000 for those with education levels below bachelor degree.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

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Weather officials warn of heavy rain, possible floods in 20 provinces

LAMPANG, Sept 4 – Thailand’s Meteorological Department today warned that heavy rain is likely in various parts of upper Thailand and local residents should beware of flash flood through Thursday.

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Hungry ghosts inspire new Phuket TAT chief to push cultural tourism

Phuket Gazette

Children wearing traditional ‘Peranakan’ Straits Chinese attire are paraded through the streets of Phuket’s Old Town on rikshaws as part of the Por Tor ‘Hungry Ghost’ festival. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

The huge red turtle cake was cut into pieces that were handed out to people as a way of making merit. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The new director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office is drawing up plans to push Phuket’s cultural festivals after witnessing his first Por Tor festival in Phuket.

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World Bank: 2011 flood world's 4th costliest disaster

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry has reported the damage caused by the 2011 flood, citing the World Bank ranked the devastating flood as the world’s 4th costliest disaster.

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PM orders 29 agencies linked with southern development to speed plans; Chalerm inviting southern MPs from all parties to brainstorm problem-solving options /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1236.31, up 0.83; Bt/USD31.06; GBP49.24; AUD31.74; EUR39.05; CAD31.37; HKD3.99; SGD24.81; JPY39.41

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Red Line train service to be launched by year-end

BANGKOK, 4 September 2012 (NNT) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has begun testing its Red Line train system in the first section from Bang Sue to Taling Chan before it is officially open for use late this year.

According to Acting SRT Governor Viroj Triampongpan, the newly-constructed Red Line is 7 kilometers in length. A trial operation has been held since August to assure the rail integrity and will be carried on until November. Two trains, each with two compartments, have been used in the trial at various speeds.

While the rail is being tested, a platform at each stop will be bolstered to accommodate passengers getting on and off the train. Mr. Viroj said so far no problems have been reported.

The Governor added that the progress on the trial operation of the Red Line train has constantly been reported to the Ministry of Transport for acknowledgement. Furthermore, the SRT will come up with the number of passengers expected to use the Red Line each day in order to determine the frequency of train departures.

Mr. Viroj assured that after the test run, the new train line will commence its service before the end of this year. At the beginning, he said passengers might be able to use the train free of charge.

-- NNT 2012-09-04

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Cabinet bestows Thai Ambassador to Austria post to Princess Bajrakitiyabha, effective Oct 1, 2012 /The Nation

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Cabinet approves naming Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, deputy police chief, as Narcotics Control Board secretary-general /MCOT

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Creepy Thai doctor fined by police for filming nurses using ladies restroom

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Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Sep 2012