Thailand Live Saturday 10 Nov 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 10 November 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 9 Nov 2012

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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.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....sulate-closure/

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FORGERY CHARGE

Sukampol welcomes court showdown with opposition leader

Panya Thiosangwan,

Atapoom Ongkulna,

Olan Lertrattanadamrongkul

The Nation

Minister defends decision to retroactively dismiss Abhisit from military; says it was based on false documents

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat yesterday shrugged off Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's threat to sue him in the Central Administrative Court over a ministry committee's decision to strip Abhisit of the rank and salary given to him when he worked as military lecturer.

Full story:

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

Full story:

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Blocking of Krabi video considered

The Nation

The victim's father

KRABI: -- It is possible to block from viewing in Thailand a YouTube video clip produced by the father of a Dutch girl who was reportedly raped in Krabi, permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry Suwat Sitthilor said yesterday.

Full story:

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NAKHON SI THAMMARAT

Rust stains on stupa prompt fears of collapse

The Nation

Nakhon Si Thammarat

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Apparent rusty streaks around the base of the spire of Phra Borommathat Chedi, an ancient stupa in Nakhon Si Thammarat, have raised fears that the revered structure may collapse. The Fine Arts Department is dispatching officials to examine the stupa.

Phra Borommathat Chedi, an ancient stupa in Nakhon Si Thammarat, has developed rust stains around the base of its spire, causing concern that it could collapse.

Rusty streaks were clearly visible around the base of the spire of the stupa, whose outer part is made of gold in the shape of an inverted lotus.

Concerns of possible damage to the much-revered stupa have been widely aired by social networkers. The stupa was recently cleaned of mould and fungus and given a fresh coating with a type of cement solution.

Among those expressing concern for the stupa was former education minister Samphan Thongsamak.

Samphan urged officials to take action, saying all Buddhists were worried about the stupa, built in the early 13th century.

Samphan said it was unprecedented for the stupa to develop such rusty leaks.

Officials at the 14th Fine Arts Department Office in Nakhon Si Thammarat said the base of the spire was last repaired in 1992.

A gold section in the shape of two linked lotuses was removed for cleaning and refitted with bricks, fibreglass, tin and stainless steel to replace its wooden core, which had rotted.

Anat Bamrungwong, director of the 14th Fine Arts office, said he had instructed officials to use a special camera to check the base of the spire and report back to him as soon as possible.

He said a full commission of experts from the Fine Arts Department would have to consider the findings and decide on a course of action to fix the stupa.

-- The Nation 2012-11-10

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US

Obama visit a boost for Thein Sein's reforms

The Nation, Eleven Media Group, Agencies

Trip sends signal to China; NLD vows to give honest account of country's progress; Critics say move comes too soon, citing ethnic strife, continued abuse of prisoners

MYANMAR: -- Barack Obama will become the first serving US president to visit Myanmar when he lands in the country late next week on a mission seen as endorsing Nay Pyi Taw's political reforms while furthering Washington's strategy to counter Chinese influence in the country.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Futsal debacle should serve as lesson to Thailand

The Nation

Politicians, developers and organisers outside the Bangkok Futsal Arena during its construction.

Those responsible for the failure to complete new sports arena should acknowledge their part in the embarrassment caused to the country

BANGKOK: -- Fifa's rejection of the Bangkok Futsal Arena should serve as a lesson to Thailand, should the country plan to host another international sporting event in the future. The delay in the completion of the stadium and an inadequate public-relations campaign show that success will require full cooperation from all parties involved in organisation.

Full story:

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Chaisit tells Pitak Siam to desist from anti-govt rally

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Chaisit Shinawatra, an adviser to the prime minister, led some 40 Pre-Cadet Academy graduates yesterday to protest against Pitak Siam or the protect Siam group, which is scheduled to hold an anti-government rally on November 25.

Full story:

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UPDATE

Revise ghost-festival clip, minister orders

Pakamas Jaichalard

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome said yesterday that the "Gangnam Style" video clip advertising Loei province's famous ghost festival should be revised to ensure that it focuses on the country's cultural roots instead of fads.

Full story:

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Points up for censure debate

The Nation

Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has submitted a motion accusing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of being incompetent, ineffective as a leader and failing to implement the policies her government declared to Parliament and the people.

Full story:

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Thai expectations high from presidential trip

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The visit of US President Barack Obama next week will not only mark the 180th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Thailand and the United States, it will also bring up serious political and economic matters for discussion, officials said yesterday.

Full story:

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Songkhla police rely on security footage

Santiparp Ramasutra

The Nation

Songkhla

Police officers re-enact the fatal shooting of Nakhon Songkhla Municipality mayor Peera Tantiseranee outside the Songkhla Forum office in Muang district yesterday. Gunmen in a pickup truck targeted Peera on Wednesday night.

SONGKHLA: -- Security cameras in the area are providing visual evidence of Wednesday night's fatal shooting of Nakhon Songkhla Municipality mayor Peera Tantiseranee, police said yesterday.

"We will issue an arrest warrant for the gunmen in two days," Pol General Ratchata Yensuang said. He is the National Police Office's adviser for investigation.

In security footage, two gunmen were seen using an M16 machine-gun and a carbine to open fire at Peera.

Ratchata described the gunmen as "professionals", because even though Peera was in conversation with a woman at the time of the shooting, she got away without a scratch.

A senior police officer has inspected the crime scene in Songkhla's Muang district.

Security-camera recordings show the gunmen arriving at the scene in a bronze-coloured pickup truck at 6.29pm on Wednesday and after the shooting, the pickup was seen being driven into the parking lot of Samila radio station.

Three minutes later, a black pickup was seen coming out of the car park, which has led police to believe that the gunmen changed their vehicle there.

Police have collected fingerprints from the bronze pickup and will use them as evidence.

"The investigation is progressing well," Rachata said, adding that available evidence was already pointing at certain masterminds.

"We will summon suspects for questioning soon," he said.

Meanwhile, Peera's younger brother Jareuk, who is a councillor at the Nakhon Songkhla Municipality, said he was confident that police would be able to nail the culprits.

He said he had been trying to warn his brother before the political conflict reached boiling point, adding that he knew of the motives behind Peera's killings, though he did not elaborate. He said he would let the police pursue the case based on evidence.

Jareuk declined to comment on Peera's staunch stance against the construction of a cable car over Songkhla Lake.

-- The Nation 2012-11-10

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GUEST COLUMN

US fiscal cliff: Will Thailand fall off too?

Chodechai Suwanaporn

BANGKOK: -- Beside the euro-zone crisis, another concern for the global economy is the so-called US "fiscal cliff". The term was first used by Ben Bernanke, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, in late February before the House Financial Services Committee: "A massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases" on January 1, 2013.

Full story:

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Thailand enters ASEAN tourism pact

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports yesterday finally signed an Asean Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on tourism professionals, delayed for years by legal barriers.

Full story:

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NBTC expected to grant 3G licences after December 18 if not blocked legally

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is expected to consider granting the licences to the three bid winners of slots on the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum some time after December 18 if there is no legal obstacle or court order to halt the process, NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasit said yesterday.

Full story:

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Krabi Tourism chief blames police rape case cover-up for tourism backlash

Phuket Gazette

The YouTube video 'Evil man from Krabi' (pictured) has gone viral, prompting British tourists to cancel their holidays to the area for fear of their safety, said the Krabi tourism chief. Image: YouTube

PHUKET: -- The president of the Krabi Tourism Association has criticized the police for their handling of a rape case, accusing the local authorities of a failed cover-up that has now backfired and is costing local resorts lost revenues through booking cancellations by tourists.

Full story:

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Phuket hoteliers claim Paris Hilton party sparks B8mn in room cancellations

Phuket Gazette

Hoteliers along Surin Beach (pictured) claim that news of the mega new year party has already cost them 8 million baht in room cancellations. Photo: AbovePhuket.com

Supacheep Wanchai of the official party organizer Sydnictive Element promised to keep the noise down and to provide more than 2,000 personnel to provide security. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The hoteliers of eight resorts who have appealed to the Phuket Governor to not approve the huge Sydictive new year party at Surin Beach have claimed that just the announcement of the event by global celebrity Paris Hilton has already cost the resorts 8 million baht in room cancellations.

Full story:

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Sydney man, 51, arrested in Bangkok on AFP advice and charged with sexually abusing a Thai boy

Ian Horswill

BANGKOK: -- A SYDNEY man has been arrested after AFP advice in Bangkok and charged with sexually abusing a seven-year-old Thai boy.

Full story:

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Dept PM/FM Surapong, standing in for PM, does weekly TV show, informs of US President Obama's visit to Thailand, ministry's performance /MCOT

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PM's bilateral talks with visiting South Korean president on improving comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing on political, economic, trade cooperation /MCOT

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Brazil Ambassador announces Honorary Consul for Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Brazilian Ambassador to Thailand Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos and Jiratha Thavornwongwong, who is now the Brazilian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

A host of Phuket notables, including Governor Maitri Inthusut (center, blue jacket) and Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai (3rd from right, green jacket), joined the event to install the new Honorary Consul. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos was in Phuket this week to install Jiratha Thavornwongwong as the Brazilian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.

Full story:

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Phuket incinerator struggling to cope with landfill, rising tide of trash

Phuket Gazette

ON THE BACK-BURNER: With the landfill '100 per cent full' and 600 tons of trash arriving daily, Phuket's new incinerator is already struggling to cope with the load. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s main landfill site on the outskirts of Phuket Town is a long way from disappearing, despite the new 960-million-baht incinerator working at near-capacity of 700 tons of trash a day.

Full story:

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Norwegian raises 160,000 baht roller-skiing across Thailand for charity

PATTAYA: -- A 67-year-old Norwegian man “roller skied” across Thailand for charity, beating his planned arrival date in Pattaya by nine days.

Full story:

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Construction on new U-Tapao terminal to begin in Dec.

SATTAHIP: -- Construction crews are expected to break ground on the new passenger terminal for U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport in December, aiming to open a new, modern facility for Pattaya by next summer.

Full story:

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Rudolf Hofer appointed Austrian Consul General in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- Austrian honorary consul for Pattaya Rudolf Hofer has been promoted to Counsul General of the Republic of Austria with jurisdiction throughout Chonburi Province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ral-in-pattaya/

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U.S. & Thai doctors to study Pattaya’s declining HIV-care system

PATTAYA: -- Thai and U.S. medical researchers plan to study why Pattaya is losing health care workers caring to HIV and AIDS patients.

Full story:

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RT @KristieKenney: Batter up! Who's ready for baseball today? Opening ceremony for Bangkok Baseball Softball Association today!

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PM gives priority to foreign policy particularly overseas visits; Deputy PM

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 10 -- Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has affirms that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has given priority to foreign policy, particularly with visits to foreign countries, to build confidence on Thai economy and strengthen bilateral ties.

Full story: