Thailand Live Friday 16 Nov 2012

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Gun thief caught after Uncle reports him to Police

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Dozing Driver wrecks 18 wheel truck on Pattaya main highway

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More shops in Narathiwat's Tanyongmas market open today; joint police, military, admin staff deployed to ensure safety /MCOT

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British Embassy hopes to rais awareness of the dangers of driving in Thailand

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More shops open for Friday trade in Narathiwat

By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, Nov 16 - More shops have opened for trade despite the insurgents' threat of possible harm to those ignoring their clandestine warnings in this southernmost province Friday amid tight security.

Combined teams of military, police and local government administrators are now deployed in Tanyongmas municipality, particularly at its fresh market as more shops opened for trade today.

Col Chalermchai Suthinuan, commander of Ranger Forces Regiment 45 in Rangae district, said the cooperating agencies are speeding up boosting confidence of residents regarding tightened security measures after Friday trade went quiet last month following threats of insurgent attacks against those who traded on that day of the week, the Muslim holy day of obligatory public worship.

The military officer said pro-active measures have been implemented by many parties to restore confidence there as soon as possible. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

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10th World's Film Festival of Bangkok at Esplanade Cineplex, Ratchadapisek Rd., Nov.16-25 /The Nation

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Laos-China railways ready to roll next year

VIENTIANE: -- Construction on a 7-billion-dollar railway linking Vientiane to the Laos-China border will start next year and be completed by 2018, state media reported on Friday.

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RT @RichardBarrow: Media complaining US officials not camera friendly. Not surprised with front pages headlines like "US Secret Service startled by lizards"

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RT @CoconutsBangkok: RT @RichardBarrow Elections for the Bangkok Governor (เลือกตั้งผู้ว่าฯ) will take place on 17 February 2013

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100 kilos marijuana seized in Nakhon Phanom

By Digital Media

NAKHON PHANOM, Nov 16 – One hundred kilogrammes of marijuana were seized Thursday on the Mekong River in this northeastern province, bordering Laos.

Capt Surasak Suwan-arsa, commanding a naval patrol unit on the Mekong River in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom said in a news conference on the seizure of 101 kg of marijuana on the Mekong riverside in Ban Phaeng district.

The confiscated drugs are worth an estimated two million baht at street value.

The patrol unit found suspicious men with some unidentified goods in a long-tailed boat, arriving at the pier. The suspects escaped and the police seized the drugs.

It is presumed that the drugs were being transited from nearby Laos to an agent in Thailand.

Capt Surasak said he ordered routine patrols to keep an eye on drug smuggling. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

[Lite Beer]

Thai authorities jittery as anti-government rally nears

BANGKOK, Nov 16 - Security agencies concerned about the upcoming Pitak Siam anti-government rally will meet Monday at Government House in a meeting to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung as the Nov 24 protest date draws nearer.

Secretary general Paradorn Pattanathabutr of the National Security Council (NSC) said today that the meeting will evaluate the scale of the rally and crowd-control measures to deal with the demonstrators, initially estimated at 50,000-60,000 people.

Police will exercise the Korakot Plan in handling the crowd, he said. The plan gives detailed guidelines for taking demonstrators into custody -- from bare-handed arrests, using handcuffs, tear gas and more. It clearly assigns responsibilities to specific officers to control the crowd.

Lt-Gen Paradorn said it has yet to be decided whether the National Security Act will be imposed during the political action, adding that it will mainly depend on the size of the crowd.

He said safety measures will be reinforced in areas near the demonstration, the Royal Plaza, including checks for weapons to prevent a third party from infiltrating the rally.

Security officials spoke with retired Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the Pitak Siam leader, who promised to closely supervise the crowd and to maintain order.

Opposition Red Shirt supporters have been instructed to not demonstrate in response and to otherwise avoid confrontation, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

[Lite Beer]

Democrats put defence minister in hot seat.

BANGKOK, Nov 16 - The opposition Democrat Party today officially called on the Thai parliament to strip Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat of his ministerial post for abusing his power.

Democrat MP Pusadee Tamthai submitted a letter, endorsed by 153 MPs, to Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich seeking ACM Sukumpol's dismissal for malfeasance and breach of the law in issuing an unlawful order to strip Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of his acting sub-lieutenant rank.

The defence minister is not authorised to strip the rank of a person who is no longer in state service, the letter states, adding that Adm Sukumpol intentionally and hurriedly wanted to cause damage to Mr Abhisit given an earlier announcement in the Pheu Thai party that Mr. Abhisit would be stripped of his rank by the end of October.

The Democrats related Adm Sukumpol's maneouvring to its planned no-confidence debate against the government.

The parliament spokesman said he would check the authenticity of the 153 signatures before submitting the letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2012-11-16

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Thai police hold serial panty thief after jewel heist

BANGKOK, Nov 16, 2012 (AFP) -

Thai police said Friday they had discovered thousands of items of stolen women's underwear at the home of a robbery suspect, the second time the man has been found hoarding undergarments this year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/598529-thai-police-hold-serial-panty-thief-after-jewel-heist/#entry5850269

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Krabi Police raid illegal gun factory

Phuket Gazette –

Krabi Provincial Police Commander Nunthadej Yoinual inspects a homemade shotgun seized in the raid. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/598531-krabi-police-raid-illegal-gun-factory/#entry5850294

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Thai man's penis removed after botched enlargement

BANGKOK, Nov 16, 2012 (AFP) - Health officials on Friday told Thai men size does not matter after a patient had to have his genitals removed following a botched attempt to enlarge his penis by injecting olive oil into the organ.

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Thai private sector welcomed to invest in Uganda

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Thai businessmen to invest in his country, assuring potential investors of his nation’s sufficient supply of raw materials and economic efficiency.

He made the overture in a meeting between Thai and Uganda investors, which was jointly organised by the Thai Board of Investment and the Foreign Ministry at a Bangkok hotel on Thursday.

The Ugandan leader said his country welcomed Thai investments in food processing and agricultural industries, adding that Thai investors can also use Uganda as a springboard for business and export opportunities in other eastern African countries. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-16

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RT @AP: BREAKING: U.N. court in the Hague overturns all war crimes convictions of 2 Croat generals

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PROSTITUTION

Russian arrested in connection with prostitution in his home country

The Nation

Photo : Konstantin Avdoshkin

Immigration police have arrested a 29-year-old Russian for his alleged involvement in prostitution in Russia.

PATTAYA: -- The arrest of Konstantin Avdoshkin on November 6 was made after Thai police received a tip-off from the Russian consulate general in Thailand, said Immigration Police commissioner Pol Lt Gen Panu Kerdlarbpon Friday.

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POLITICS

Motion to impeach Sukampol over Abhisit army row

The Nation

Sukumpol//Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party on Friday filed an impeachment motion against Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, alleging that he abused his authority in stripping the Democrat leader of his Army rank.

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Jet ski vendor arrested for 25,000 baht extortion, returns money

PATTAYA:--Pattaya police arrested a jet ski vendor who allegedly extorted 25,000 baht from an Indian tourist who allegedly scraped the side of the boat.

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SET index closed at 1280.13, up 6.11; Bt/USD30.62; GBP48.46; AUD31.51; EUR38.99; CAD30.45; HKD3.94; SGD24.81; JPY37.55

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Brave Kids Crossed The Sea To Find Mom

A 10-year-old girl held her little brother’s hand, and carrying only 100 baht cash, they left their home on Koh Larn island to find their mom, who had gone away to find work. They rode the ferry to land, but soon ran out of money. So they rested at a wayside shelter until a kind lady called the police.

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Australian fall survivor recovering in Phuket ICU

Phuket Gazette

Police visited John Hurley from Sydney Australia at Vachira Phuket Hospital ICU before he underwent surgery earlier this week.

PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: -- The Australian man from Sydney who fell from an 18th storey Phuket hotel balcony earlier this week was still receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Vachira Phuket Hospital this afternoon.

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UDD urges supporters to not confront anti-government Pitak Siam protesters who will rally Nov 24; Red Shirt have no Bangkok rally plan /MCOT

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Thai Smile Air to separate from flag carrier THAI

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Thai Smile Air, a budget airline operated by Thai Airways International (THAI), will be split off as a sister company of the national flag carrier, according to a resolution by the THAI board of directors.

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Thailand Live Saturday 17 Nov 2012