Pattaya Police arrest German in Fake Driving License Scam

PATTAYA: -- A German resident of Pattaya was arrested at the culmination of an undercover operation early on Wednesday Morning, accused of offering fake driving licenses to other foreigners.

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India sitar legend Ravi Shankar dies

Ravi Shankar performs in Delhi in March 2009. File photo, source: wikimedia

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RT @AP: BREAKING: White House calls North Korea launch a 'highly provocative act that threatens regional security.'

RT @mpoppel: Kyodo: No object orbiting in space after N. Korea launch: Japan defense chief

RT @ACSBKK: American Citizen Services Bangkok reaching out in Khon Kaen! We will be at the Pullman Hotel from 8-12, info: http://ow.ly/g1Ic7

RT @RichardBarrow: Sting Live in Bangkok tonight at 8:30pm at Impact Arena. Tickets 2,000-6,000 Baht.

Court acquits two youths accused of Central World shopping complex arson at end of UDD anti-government protest in 2010: 'no evidence' /MCOT

Palm planters heat up protest, set deadline for government action on palm nut price

SURAT THANI, Dec 12 – Thai oil palm planters from six southern provinces rallied here today to demand government action to boost palm nut prices at a minimum of Bt5 per kilo.

Initially threatening to block roads if their demands were not met, the farmers now say they will not block transport routes.

However the farmers proposed forming a government committee to survey stocks of crude palm oil with farmer representatives. The farmers set a deadline for next Tuesday for government action in response to their demands.

Farmers from Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani gathered on the grassy lawn at the Surat Thani Cooperatives office under the watchful eyes of provincial security personnel.

Complaining that refineries buy fresh palm nuts at only Bt2.90 per kilo, they threatened to block provincial roads if their demands are ignored.

Sukon Chalermpipat, an honorary member of the National Oil Palm Policy Committee, represented farmers in presenting a petition to the government calling for urgent action to shore up palm nut prices at not less than Bt5/kg.

They also asked the government to compensate smallholder farmers who have registered with the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) now that the price of fresh palm nuts has dropped further to Bt2.50 per kilo, as they say there capital cost is nearly twice that at Bt4.30/kg.

A central stock for palm nuts pending refining should be set up and the government’s biodiesel policy should be quickly implemented, they said.

Many farmers began growing palm oil in recent years due to government policies promoting biodiesel fuel for automobiles and trucks, but the policies have not been fully implemented.(MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-12

End attacks on children in Thai south: UN

UN BANGKOK, Dec 12, 2012 (AFP) - The UN on Wednesday called for an end to violence against children in southern Thailand following the "senseless and unacceptable" shooting of a baby girl in a region racked by nine years of unrest.

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Collapse of marriage registration system ruins romantic mood

By Coconuts Bangkok

The first couple at Bangrak District office. Photo: Instagram user @fanggingny

Hundreds of couples were disappointed today by a breakdown of the marriage registration system at District offices across Bangkok. A bevy of would-be newlyweds flooded the system, trying to tie the knot on the numerically curious date of “12/12/12.”

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/604574-collapse-of-marriage-registration-system-ruins-romantic-mood/

PM to visit southern provinces Thursday to give moral support to residents, soldiers /MCOT

Thai shrimp exporters appeal for help

By English News

BANGKOK, Dec 12 – The Thai Shrimp Association today called on the government to urgently unlock the United States’ anti-dumping measures against Thailand which have affected Thai shrimp exports.

Somsak Panitatyasai, association chairman, said the US took the action on the assumption that Thai shrimps are exported to that country at prices lower than their actual market value.

The US action was made due to an unfair comparison of shrimp farming costs between Thailand and the US, Mr Somsak said.

He pointed out that Thailand, charged with failure to combat child labour, has been on the Tier2 Watch List for the third consecutive years.

Thailand’s export outlook will worsen if it is placed on the Tier3 Watch List, he said, adding that higher duties could be slapped on Thai exports if Europe excludes Thailand from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) which provides duty-free entry for exported Thai products.

Mr Somsak said Thailand’s shrimp exports this year will reach 540,000 tonnes, a 10 per cent decrease from last year but it should reach 500,000-600,000 tonnes next year. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-12

Couples converge on Bangkok’s Bangrak to register marriages on auspicious day

By English News

BANGKOK, Dec 12 – Thai couples streamed into one of the busiest neighbourhood;s of the Thai captal to register their marriages at Bangrak district, which means the district of love in Thai, on the auspicious day of 12/12/2012.

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Number of LINE users in Thailand passes 10 million

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 12 - Tech-frenzy Thailand has up to 10.2 million LINE users, an increase of 1,150 per cent in just one year. This intriguing number, a large chunk of the total 85 million users worldwide, has grown rapidly.

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Court drops arson charges against two teenage boys

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Juvenile Court Wednesday dropped charges against two teenage boys who were accused of taking part in the arson attack against CentralWorld on May 19 2010.

The court ruled that the public prosecutors lacked evidence and witnesses to prove that the 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy had taken part in setting fire to the shopping mall.

The two boys were charged with collaborating with Saichon Paebua and Pinij Channarong and other people, who were still elusive, in setting fire to the shopping mall during the crackdown on red-shirt protesters, causing a man to be killed inside the mall. The man was identified as Kittipong Somsuk.

The court ruled that the two boys were arrested at 5 pm but the authorities did not find any item on them that could be used to implicate them in the arson. Moreover, the two were not caught on security camera setting fire to the mall. The two testified that they were afraid of the crackdown and simply hid inside the mall.

The two boys and their lawyer asked the government to pay remedy to them, saying the long trial against them caused them to lose their job and cause them to leave school.

-- The Nation 2012-12-12

Thaksin files defamation complaints against Pitak Siam leader, Democrat MP

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra Wednesday had his lawyer file defamation complaint with police against the Pitak Siam leader and a Democrat MP.

Worawit Laolaeng represented Thaksin to file the complaints at the Dusit police station.

In first complaint, Thaksin alleged that Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the leader of Pitak Siam and other organizers of the November 24 rally played an audio clip of someone and deceived their audience that it was Thaksin's voice, attacking the monarchy.

Thaksin said in a letter handed to police by Worawit that the voice did not belong to him but the rally organizers showed his picture to deceive the audience it was his voice.

In the second letter, Thaksin alleged that Democrat MP Withoon Nambutr defamed him during the censure debate on November 25.

-- The Nation 2012-12-12

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Graduate student files police report against Tiffany queen for assault and animal cruelty

By Coconuts Bangkok

Photo: Dailynews

BANGKOK: -- A graduate student filed a report at the Don Muang Police Station on Tuesday against Miss Tiffany’s Universe, claiming that she had assaulted both he and his cat.

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Educators in Thai South close schools after two teachers killed in Pattani

By Digital Media

PATTANI, Dec 12 – Thailand’s teachers in the besieged southernmost provinces, represented by their Teachers Federation, on Wednesday endorsed a collective decision to close all schools in the provinces one day after presumed insurgents entered a school in Pattani and killed a teacher and the school principal.

The two teachers were shot dead while they were having lunch in the Baan Bango school in Mayor district on Tuesday.

The federation meeting action effectively closes all school tomorrow and Friday (December 13-14), to permit security agencies time to assess their operation in providing teachers’ protection, find and apprehend those who are guilty of attacking and killing the teachers.

The teachers are asking the security agencies to propose improved security plans to protect teachers on Monday.

Federation representatives conceded that both Buddhist and Muslim teachers fear for their safety and dare not to go to school.

Schools will reopen if the teachers can be confident in their safety and in the security that is provided. However, if their demands are not met, the educators will again reassess the situation and announce their next decision. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-12

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Thailand Live Thursday 13 Dec 2012