Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Sep 2012

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Search launched for 17-year-old feared drowned in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Rescue workers were forced to call off their search for missing 17-year-old student Nithipol Lorlaem after midnight last night. The search resumed at 8am today. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

Villagers gathered on Nai Yang Beach last night to keep a watchful eye on the dangerous surf for any sign of Mr Nithipol, now feared drowned. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- The search continues for a 17-year-old student who disappeared in strong waves at Nai Yang Beach late yesterday afternoon.

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Protest at US Embassy

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The US Embassy in Thailand today released a security message, warning its citizens of a protest at 10am, tomorrow

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MRTA to go ahead with pink line electric train construction

BANGKOK, 26 September 2012 (NNT) – The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is looking to go ahead with the pink line electric train construction, linking Khae Rai and Min Buri.

According to MRTA Governor Yongsit Rojsrikul, the company will hold a bidding for the construction of the pink line at the beginning of next year. He hoped the new route will be in operation in 2017, charging a 20-baht flat rate.

Besides, the MRTA will propose to the cabinet a budget of 54 billion baht, up from the original 35 billion, for the construction of the new route, saying the company will add six more stations, up from the 24 originally planned, along the route; it will also propose that the route be extended from Min Buri to Suwintawong Road.

The MRTA will first propose the details to the Transport Ministry for consideration. Under the plan, the pink line will have connecting stations with four other lines.

Mr Yongsit added the pink line train will be of a monorail system. The government will invest on the basic structures and trains and then hire a private company to run its operation. He expected the new line to transport more than 33,000 people per hour.

-- NNT 2012-09-26

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Yongyuth's political post to be examined

BANGKOK, Sept 26 – Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) was formally requested today to check the parliamentary qualifications of Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit after a decision by the Civil Service Committee (CSC) to dismiss him from the civil service for illegally endorsing the sale of monastic land to private real estate and golf club companies.

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Chalerm orders security beefup for political gathering venues

BANGKOK, Sept 26 - Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung on Wednesday instructed Thailand’s national police chief to step up security during the country’s political gatherings following yesterday's clash between supporters of the red shirt and yellow shirt movements.

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Thai 'Yellow Shirt' founder cleared of royal slur

BANGKOK, Sept 26, 2012 (AFP) - A Bangkok court on Wednesday acquitted the founder of Thailand's monarchist "Yellow Shirt" protest movement of royal insult charges for repeating excerpts from a speech by a political rival.

Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thailand's most controversial political figures, had "no intention" of breaching strict lese majeste laws in his 2008 comments, according to one of the judges in the capital's Criminal Court.

"The court has found that the defendant quoted parts of another person's speech with the intention to call for police to take legal action against that person," she said at the hearing, attended by around 50 supporters of the nationalist Yellows.

"The defendant's action was not intended to insult the monarchy."

Media mogul Sondhi said the charges against him originated from unspecified political rivals.

"There is an effort to put me in jail," he told reporters, alleging that some elements in the court system had worked in collusion with politicians.

Protests by the Yellow Shirts helped to trigger a coup by royalist generals in 2006 that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Sondhi's longtime rival.

Thaksin now lives in self-imposed exile overseas to avoid a jail term imposed in his absence for corruption, but his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra is the current prime minister.

In 2010 Sondhi was convicted of defaming Thaksin and handed a six-month suspended jail sentence.

In February this year, the Criminal Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for corporate fraud in a case dating back to the mid-1990s. He was released on bail pending an appeal hearing on those charges.

The royal family is a highly sensitive topic in politically turbulent Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been hospitalised since September 2009.

The woman whom Sondhi quoted, Daranee Charnchoengsilapakul -- a hardcore supporter of the rival "Red Shirts" -- was jailed for 15 years in December for her comments, which she made during political rallies four years ago.

Thailand has seen a series of rival street protests in recent years by the Yellows and the mainly poor and working-class Red Shirts, whose demonstrations in Bangkok in 2010 sparked a military crackdown that left about 90 people dead.

The Yellows claim allegiance to the throne and are backed by the Bangkok-based elite, although their influence has waned since 2008 when they seized Bangkok's airports and stranded hundreds of thousands of tourists.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-09-26

[Lite Beer]

EVERY WOMEN EVERY CHILD (EWEC)

Thailand is eager to cooperate with UN on project : Yingluck

NEW YORK: -- Thailand is eager to cooperate with the United Nations on the Every Women Every Child (EWEC) project to achieve its goal to improve the health of women and children around the world, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in New York on Tuesday.

The premier was speaking a conference in New York on Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health of the Every Women Every Child (EWEC) campaign. The conference was conducted in parallel with the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The campaign is a project initiated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to mobilise and intensify global action to improve the health of women and children and cut their death rate around the world.

In the keynote speech "The transformation of women and children’s lives through health and socio-economic empowerment", Yingluck underlined the Thai government’s role in supporting the EWEC project.

She said that Thailand's Universal Health Coverage covers 99 per cent of the country's overall population, which reflected the Thai government's emphasis on the quality of life for women and children.

In addition, the Thai premier emphasised the importance of women's empowerment. The National Development Fund for Women initiated by the Thai government is designed to enable women's participation in economic growth.

Yingluck pledged to support and cooperate with the project to achieve the goal to improve the health of women and children worldwide and to give more opportunity for them to access better quality health care services.

-- The Nation 2012-09-26

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Commerce Ministry: Export in August shrinks 7%, worst in the year

BANGKOK, 26 September 2012 (NNT) – The Commerce Ministry has reported that the export value in August shrank by 6.95%, the worst in the year, while the nation faced a 13-billion dollar trade deficit.

Deputy Commerce Minister Phum Saraphol said the export value in August was worth 19.7 billion US dollars, a 6.95% decrease year-on-year. He added the import also saw a decrease, valuing at 20.7 billion dollars; therefore, the nation faced a trade deficit of around 1 billion dollars in August.

For the year’s first eight month, Thailand exported 151 billion dollars' worth of goods, a 1.31% decrease; while, import was valued at 164 billion dollars, or a 7.6% increase year-on-year. Therefore, the trade deficit has increased to around 13 billion baht. Mr Phum said the main factor contributing to the deficit is the escalating European economic crisis.

The Commerce Ministry expected the export in the last four months of the year would value above 19 billion dollars per month, making the export expansion for the whole year at 4-5%.

The deputy minister said the import figure has been increasing since the flooding last year but saw a decrease in August for the first time in seven months, citing oil import as the main factor. As for export, he commented that August was the first month that nearly all countries, except Switzerland and Hong Kong, experienced shrinkage.

-- NNT 2012-09-26

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PM meets UAE foreign minister to discuss trade cooperation

NEW YORK, 26 September 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has met with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister to strengthen trade cooperation and relations between the two countries.

During the 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Ms Yingluck held a bilateral discussion with the UAE Foreign Minister. The Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul also joined in the discussion.

To strengthen the trade cooperation, the UAE promised to send representatives to Thailand to coordinate the matter. The UAE minister also said that ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should tighten their relationships. He also invited the Thai prime minister to visit the UAE while Prime Minister Yingluck extended her invitations to the UAE leaders to visit Thailand and sign bilateral trade deals.

Thailand and the UAE have long been in good relations, and many Emiratees have been visiting Thailand for both tourism and medical purposes. Besides, the Middle Eastern nation has also been supporting Thailand in the latter’s bid to host the World Expo 2020.

-- NNT 2012-09-26

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RT@tulsathit: Thai Rath: Woodless celebrate inauguration sale of Thai Viagra on Oct 1.

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Court ruling gives clearance to 3G auction

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has won clearance to go ahead with the third generation cellular service on the 2.1gigahertz spectrum, following acquittal in a court case.

The NBTC announced today that the Central Administrative Court has dropped the cases brought by CAT Telecom and TOT against the now defunct National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in 2010, which questioned the NTC's authority to hold a licence auction for third generation cellular service on the 2.1gigahertz spectrum.

Takorn Tantasit, secretary general of the NBTC, said that the commission, which assumed the powers of the NTC, is now cleared to go ahead with the 3G auction.

-- The Nation 2012-09-26

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Cow Herdsman murdered in Pong, Pattaya

By Staff Reporter

PONG, Banglamung: -- The body of a murdered cow herdsman was discovered in a deserted field on Wednesday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....n-pong-pattaya/

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RT @tulsathit: MBK prices of iPhone5: 16GB=36,000bt (white), 37,500bt (black), 32GB=43,000bt, 64GB=45,000bt via matichon

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21 most horrendous traffic jams in Bangkok revealed

BANGKOK, 26 September 2012 (NNT)-The Royal Thai Police has revealed 21 zones with most horrendous traffic jam where commuters are advised to avoid at all costs during a heavy downpour.

According to the Royal Thai Police, the 21 areas throughout the capital city which are infamous for horrible gridlocks include Ratchadaphisek road starting from Fortune Tower all the way to Robinson Department store, Huaykwang intersection, Sriayutthaya road around Suanpakka Palace museum, Prachasuk road, Dindaeng, Phayathai police station, Ramkhamhaeng soi 21-26, Asoke intersection, Maepra intersection, Vivhawadi road moving towards Dindang and Paholyothing road near Kasetsart University, and Pattanakarn road from soi 9-21.

-- NNT 2012-09-26

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WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Leading physicians to meet next month in Bangkok

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Physicians from international national medical associations will gather in Bangkok from October 10-13 for the World Medical Association's annual general assembly.

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SET index closed at 1274.62, down 12.79; Bt/USD30.83; GBP49.84; AUD31.84; EUR39.69; CAD31.27; HKD3.97; SGD24.92; JPY39.4

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Star treat for poverty-stricken Thai children

BANGKOK, Sept 26 – UNICEF goodwill ambassador Li Ming visited the Silapadej Child Development Centre in Bangkok's suburban Jomthong community today.

The famous Hong Kong actor/singer, also known as Leon Lai Ming, said the visit was aimed at encouraging people to participate in activities for children such as storytelling and painting.

The first six years is the most important period for a child’s development, he said.

Silapadej Child Development Centre currently takes care of 30 children, aged three to five, from poverty-stricken families. It is operated with the initiatives and cooperation of people in the community.

Li Ming attended a UNICEF three-day fund-raising seminar which ended today.

The media refer to Li Ming and his fellow entertainers Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-26

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Thailand to sell generic Viagra drug: officials

BANGKOK, Sept 26, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand has approved an affordable generic version of the anti-impotence drug Viagra to go on sale next week as the country looks to combat rampant counterfeit production, officials said Wednesday.

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AVIATION

More AirAsia flights from Don Mueang to Chinese destinations

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Moving the operations to Don Mueang Airport on Oct 1, AirAsia is prepared to launch more services from the airport re-opened for international flights, with a focus on Chinese destinations.

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Yellow Shirt leader Sondhi acquitted of lese majeste charge

BANGKOK, Sept 26 -- The Criminal Court on Wednesday ruled that Sondhi Limthongkul, a key leader of Thailand's yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), was not guilty of lese majeste, saying he had no intention to insult the monarchy when he quoted comments by an activist of a rival group.

Mr Sondhi was prosecuted for the lese majeste charge after restating comments by Red Shirt activist Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul criticising the monarchy as he was on the PAD stage at Makkhawan Bridge on July 20, 2008.

He quoted Ms Daranee's remarks to support his demand for law enforcement agencies to prosecute her for anti-monarchist activities.

Ms Daranee, commonly known as "Da Torpedo", was sentenced to an 18-year-jail term for making speeches deemed insulting to the monarchy during the Red Shirt rallies in 2008.

The Criminal Court said that Mr Sondhi had only selected parts of Ms Daranee's speech and summarised them for his supporters at a PAD rally to call for legal action against her.

The court ruled that Mr Sondhi had no intention of violating the criminal law in his 2008 comments and dismissed the charge.

Mr Sondhi told the reporters after the court ruling that there was an attempt to put him in jail by any means. He also thanks the judges for making decision based on truth and facts.

The media mogul who is facing dozens of legal cases said that he would not escape to anywhere and is ready to be imprisoned if the court sentenced him to jail in any cases he still faces. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-26

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Thai citizens abroad now able to renew ID cards at embassies

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RT@mpoppel: BREAKING -- Singer Andy Williams has died, USA Today reports

RT@BBCBreaking: US singer Andy Williams of "Moon River" fame has died aged 84. Details soon bbc.in/OUDPsz

[george]

Fearing loss of visa fees, Thailand opts out of common visa plan

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....mmon-visa-plan/

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Thailand Live Thursday 27 Sep 2012