Thailand Live Friday 9 Nov 2012

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Pattaya Bikers represent Local British Legion at Remembrance Day in Kanchanaburi

Pattaya Bikers join Rememberance Day Services alongside British Legion

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EXAT to resolve traffic issue in front of toll plazas during rush hours

BANGKOK, 9 November 2012 (NNT) - The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has announced that it plans to add more personnel to toll booths in Bangkok in order to speed up toll payment and prevent traffic.

Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suwannatat said, after attending an expressway safety management meeting hosted by EXAT, that the plan was hatched in a bid to increase safety for motorists. The plan will add an additional toll collector to booths to speed up the process.

General Prin stated that EXAT has also planned to promote the use of EZ passes in order to further reduce time spent by motorists getting onto tollways.

Meanwhile, EXAT Governor Aiyanat Tinarpai said other measures, including the installation of warning signals and traffic barriers to help cushion accident impacts, have also been implemented at highly congested highway entrances throughout the capital.

-- NNT 2012-11-09

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Retired Swedish expat found hanged at Phuket shopping mall

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Staff arrived at the HomePro Village in Chalong this morning to find a retired Swedish expat hanged from a drainpipe at the back of the complex.

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Two teachers shot by gunmen, turn tables, though severely wounded

By Digital Media

PATTANI, Nov 9 - Two teachers were severely wounded in a shooting attack in the violence plagued province of Pattani.

Two men on a motorcycle followed the teachers as they rode a motorcycle to their classrooms at Baan Tungmakham School. However, today’s attack may have turned the tables on the gunmen.

The streetsmart teachers, identified as Sukit Ritthideth and Wanphen Chankaen, were wounded but did not try to flee. An assertive response by Mr Sukit, using his motorcycle as a weapon, may have saved the lives of both teachers.

After being shot, Mr Sukit, despite unarmed, drove his motorcycle directly at his assailants vehicle, knocking it over onto the road. The attackers stopped shooting, and fled into a nearby village, abandoning their motorcycle.

The police are tracking them and checking the licence plate, found to belong to a missing motorcycle, which was notified as stolen to the authorities in Yarang district. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-09

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Trade in Thailand’s far South returns to normal

By Digital Media

YALA, Nov 9 - Following a number of Fridays when trade came to nearly a full stop for fear of insurgent threats, it is now business as usual in Thailand’s southern border region today as security has been tightened to prevent untoward incidents.

Most Thai Buddhist and Malay Muslim vendors appeared as before at fresh markets in Yaha sub-district of Yala province. Local customers were buying foodstuffs and other necessities in a brisk trade.

Meanwhile, soldiers and police manning several checkpoints searched suspicious vehicles after intelligence reports indicated that a grey Nissan Sunny sedan with licence plate number 5040 from Songkhla might be used in a bombing.

About 90 per cent of the normal number of vendors returned to work at two main markets in Yala municipality. However vendors outnumbered their customers in some locations despite heavy security measures being put in place.

In Pattani's Thetwiwat 1 Market, local people of both communities came to shop in larger numbers than on the previous Fridays. Many shops were also open for business as well. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-09

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Lampang weather bureau monitors thick fog, affect airport visibility

LAMPANG, Nov 9 - The local meteorological department and Lampang Airport reported thick fog, affecting aircraft landing this morning.

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Chiang Mai top destination for Thai tourists in cool season: NIDA Survey.

BANGKOK, Nov 9 - Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai ranks as the top destination for Thais wanting to travel during the annual cool season, according to a survey.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/596831-chiang-mai-top-destination-for-thai-tourists-in-cool-season-nida-survey/#entry5827419

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RT@tulsathit: Abhisit admits his being stripped of Army rank might complicate his MP status and thus the opposition's censure motion.

RT@tulsathit: Abhisit: There's always an attempt to take me out of politics for good.

[Lite Beer]

Govt scraps term limits rule for village leaders

BANGKOK, (NNT) - The Ministry of Interior has heeded the calls of village heads and sub-district chiefs who protested in Bangkok yesterday to scrap a bill that limits their terms of office.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan elaborated that the Department of Provincial Administration will be instructed to draft a new bill that addresses concerns of local leaders. However, he pointed out that his ministry does not have the authority to withdraw the bill from the parliamentary agenda.

He yesterday addressed the estimated 18-thousand local administrators gathered at the Royal Plaza, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed. The protest was called to oppose the bill that would reduce their terms to five years, from the current stipulation that they may serve until retirement.

Demonstration leader Yongyos Kaewkhiew stated that the rally would be renewed if the interior minister failed to keep his promise.

-- NNT 2012-11-09

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South Korean leader visits Thailand

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 9 -- President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea arrived Bangkok on Friday for an official visit to Thailand as a guest of the government through Sunday.

During the visit, the South Korean President will have bilateral discussions with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House with an aim to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, focusing in particular on political, economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity, as well as other regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Both sides also planned to sign a memorandum of understanding calling for upgrading their ties to a "strategic partnership."

Mr Lee was scheduled to pay his respects at the monument to Thailand’s Korean War Veterans at the 21st Infantry Regiment in Chonburi province.

Thailand was one of the first countries to dispatch troops to help South Korea repel invading troops from North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. About 8,700 Thai soldiers participated in the war.

On Saturday, Mr Lee plans a Chao Phraya River and the Lad Pho Canal in a move seen as underlining South Korea's willingness to share its water management experience and know-how. Thailand is working on a $11.3 billion project to build a large-scale water management system.

The visit will be his first official visit to Thailand as president of the Republic of Korea. His previous visit to Thailand was to participate in the 12th ASEAN-ROK Summit, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Cha-am Hua Hin in October 2009. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-09

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Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn represents HM the King progressing by royal barge procession to Wat Arun for Royal Kathin Ceremony /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: 3:45pm Saphan Pinklao bridge is still closed to traffic. Motorists advised to use Rama VIII Bridge which is now open

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Thai rhino horn trader gets 40 years in S. Africa jail

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 09, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai national who pled guilty to organising bogus trophy hunts to sell rhino horns on the international black market was sentenced to 40 years in a South African jail on Friday, local media reported.

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Opposition Whip submits no confidence motion against PM, DPM Chalerm, Sukumpol, Chat to Parliament Speakers, who ask all whips to agree debate date /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1290.83, down 2.87; Bt/USD30.51; GBP48.71; AUD31.65; EUR38.85; CAD30.37; HKD3.93; SGD24.79; JPY38.14

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New generation of rescue workers train up for marine incidents

Phuket Gazette

More usually seen rushing to a road traffic accident, Phuket Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation workers do have a role in marine rescue missions. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

RIGHT WAY UP: Setting off to save someone amounts to nothing if you are unable get yourself out of trouble. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A new generation of rescue workers and Phuket Marine Police received necessary training in marine search and rescue as part of their adaptation to the growing number of water related deaths on the island, said the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation President.

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Drugging And Robbery At Gas Company In East Pattaya

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British Ambassador replies to complaints about Pattaya Consulate closure

By Staff Reporter

British Embassy replies to Pattaya 103 FM letter of complaint about Consulate closure

After the recent announcement of the closure of Pattaya’s British Consulate, we, at Fabulous 103 FM, received numerous emails and Facebook messages from concerned UK ExPats. So much so that we wrote to the Ambassador and the Foreign Secretary, and published our letter to them on our website and facebook pages.

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Thailand Live Saturday 10 Nov 2012