Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Jan 2013

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Thailand Live Wednesday 2 January 2013

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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ROAD ACCIDENTS

Holidaymakers flood back to capital; fewer road deaths

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After spending time with families to celebrate the New Year, revellers from all over the Kingdom headed back to the capital yesterday, ready for the first working day of 2013.

Full story:

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ABAC POLL

Charter battle, graft worry Thais this year: Poll

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Many Thais fear that constitutional amendment and corruption could ignite a new round of political conflict in 2013, a survey by Abac Poll has found.

Full story:

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2016

The road ahead

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- 2013 will be another exciting year, with a lot of interesting issues waiting to unfold. The Nation looks at some topics that are expected to gain a lot of attention in the new year in the area of politics, telecoms, healthcare, mass transit and lifestyle, among others.

Full story:

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NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

Millions of phone greetings

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Millions of Thais expressed New Year's greetings with their mobile devices during the peak hours of December 31, according to cellphone companies Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Total Access Communication (DTAC).

On AIS from 11pm to midnight on December 31, about 3.3 million subscribers sent New Year's greetings on Facebook, 2.5 million on the Line messenger and about 1 million via Whatsapp.

Over at DTAC, in just 15 minutes from 10 to 10.15pm, 1.3 million subscribers concurrently used mobile devices to send their best wishes to Facebook, Line and Whatsapp.

The National Office of Buddhism said 30 million people chanted to mark the beginning of 2013 at 30,000 temples nationwide, while around 50,000 worshippers marked the New Year at Thai temples overseas.

Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 worshippers went to each of the main provincial temples hosting New Year's services. District-level temples had 2,000 to 3,000 attendees each, 1,000 to 2,000 at tambon-level temples and 1,000 to 1,500 at each village-level temple.

More than 100,000 people chanted at Bangkok's Golden Mount, Wat Sraket - 80 per cent of them youngsters and working-age people, the office said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-02

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AROUND THAILAND

Chiang Mai: a city of MICE

The Nation

Chiang Mai's brand new Conference and Exhibition Centre is all set to open in March, paving the way for the Lanna capital to become a MICE centre.

CHIANG MAI: -- The world class International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which commemorates His Majesty the King's seventh cycle birthday anniversary, stands on 130 acres of land, and has the capacity to handle 10,000 participants per day. The centre is fully equipped with exhibition halls, concert halls, conference rooms, accommodation and restaurants. The Night Safari and Queen Sirikit are a short drive away. Chiang Mai is set to become a MICE city centre in 2016.

Full story:

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Red-shirt influence and the constitutional question

Titipol Phakdeewanich

Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It is now two years since the phenomenon of the red-shirt "Villages for Democracy" emerged across Thailand, and since December 2010 over 16,000 villages have declared themselves, as this movement continues to evolve and adapt.

Full story:

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King's good health tops hopes

The Nation

Vehicles stream down Phaholyothin Road in Nakhon Sawan province as holidaymakers rush back to Bangkok on the last day of the long holiday yesterday. Phaholyothin is one of the main roads that connect the North to the Central region.

People also want Yingluck, Abhisit to work for reconciliation: Survey

BANGKOK: -- First and foremost among Thais' wishes for the new year is that His Majesty the King is healthy and strong.

Full story:

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Sexual assault suspect and 'gunman' arrested in separate cases

The Nation

BANG LAMUNG: -- Police yesterday arrested a Thai man suspected of being one of three who raped, assaulted and robbed two Russian women at a reservoir in Bang Lamung in Chon Buri late on December 26.

After a morning raid on a Bang Lamung house to seize a pickup suspected of being used in the attack and interrogation of a woman who owned the truck, police brought in the two victims, who then identified the vehicle as the one used by their attackers. Police later arrested a man named Wichian Jaija, the truck owner's husband, at his mistress' house in Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district.

The arrest reportedly came after police investigators were given information by some locals that Wichien and two others had robbed the Russian women and Wichen, together with an accomplice, allegedly raped the women while the third man acted as a lookout. The other two suspects were made to undergo a drug test and interrogation but neither had been charged at press time.

Meanwhile, a Thai man was arrested yesterday after an alleged brawl and fatal shooting at 5am on Pha-ngan - a popular tourist island in the South - on New Year's morning. British tourist Steven David Ashton, 23, died after being shot by a "stray bullet" in a bar on Koh Pha-ngan.

Surat Thani police chief Kiattipong Khaosam-ang said two teenage gangs had a brawl and a bullet from a subsequent shooting "strayed" and killed Ashton, who was partying with two female friends at Zoom Bar on Rin Beach.

At 9am, police nabbed suspect Ekkapan Kaewkla, 26, who was alleged to have confessed to the crime and was thus charged with murder. Police contacted the British Embassy to locate the tourist's family, while an autopsy was performed on the body by Provincial Police Region 8, he said.

Police would contact the Rights and Liberties Protection Department to seek Bt100,000 in compensation for the family of the slain man. He said this case was closed because the shooter was arrested and had confessed to the crime.

-- The Nation 2013-01-02

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UPDATE

British Tourist killed at New Years Eve Party on Koh Phangan

By Staff Reporter

Steven Ashton killed on K Pang Nang ( photo from Facebook)

British Tourist killed on Koh Phangan at Haad Rin Beach On new years Day

Full story:

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Former NBT broadcaster Phuket's first road death for the new year

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A former broadcaster for the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) has become the eighth person to die on Phuket’s roads since the Seven Days of Danger national new year road-safety campaign began last Thursday.

Full story:

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Storm leaves 70 Rohingya adrift off Phuket

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A boat carrying about 70 Rohingya fleeing persecution in their homeland in Myanmar were taken into custody by the Thai authorities off Phuket today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ift-off-phuket/

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Popular Swedish tourist paradise in Thailand burned down

MAE PHIM: -- At midnight new years eve the beach at Mae Phim village in Rayong east Thailand was turned into a inferno of fire. The culprit was a rocket which ignited a thatched roof of Joe Joe restaurant and minutes after the whole lane of restaurants was on fire.

Full story:

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Arrest made in Russian Assault and robbery case by Pattaya Police

PATTAYA: -- A series of events occurred on New Year’s Day which culminated in the arrest of the main suspect wanted in connection with the abduction, assault and robbery case involving two female Russian tourists on 25th December.

Full story:

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RT @ChadapornLin: Mechanical error at Nana station causes delay to BTS service

Travellers flow into Bangkok after New Year's holiday; Mo Chit, Southern bus terminals, Hualamphong crowded; taxi shortage, traffic snarled /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,401.85, gains 9.92 points /MCOT

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Belgian Threatens Suicide Outside His Former Girlfriend's Central Pattaya Apartment

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....taya-apartment/

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Feature

Thai 'scavengers club' turns trash to treasure

by Apilaporn Vechakij

BANGKOK, Jan 2, 2013 (AFP) - Thai grandmother Nom Prom-on rummages through rubbish bins looking for bottles, cans and paper to trade for food and other goods at a recycling cooperative providing a lifeline for Bangkok's poor.

Full story:

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Thai suspect arrested in Russian tourists Christmas robbery, rape case

By Digital Media

CHACHOENGSAO, Jan 2 -- A Thai suspect has been arrested in connection with the rape, assault and robbery of two female Russian tourists on Christmas Day, December 25, in the tourist district of Pattaya in the nearby province of Chonburi.

Full story:

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US

RT @HuffingtonPost: BREAKING: Fiscal cliff deal has enough votes to pass House. Members still voting http://huff.to/YMrxS5

RT @cnnbrk: House approves bill averting fiscal cliff. http://on.cnn.com/UjwDVR #fiscalcliff

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New Year road death toll now 315 /Bangkok Post

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House approves 'fiscal cliff' deal

WASHINGTON: -- After Republicans dropped their demands for additional spending cuts the House approved legislation meant to avert the ‘fiscal cliff’.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: 332 people killed on Thai roads during first 6 first days of holiday: Day 1 (33), Day 2 (38), Day 3 (77), Day 4 (54), Day 5 (52), Day 6 (78)

RT @RichardBarrow: The number of recorded deaths on Thai roads during the 7 dangerous days of Thai new year only include people who died at scene of accident.

RT @RichardBarrow: The reported 332 deaths & 3,037 injuries during first 6 days of the new year holiday should be seen as the minimum. Real numbers higher.

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RT @RichardBarrow: Most dangerous provinces were Nakhon Pathom (16 deaths), Chiang Mai (14), Bangkok (13), Chumphon (11), Nakhon Sawan (11) & Phetchabun (11)

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PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY

FM expresses concern over ICJ verdict

File photo : Preah Vihear Temple

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the Thai-Cambodian dispute over the Preah Viharn temple, saying that were it not in favour of the Thai side, it could lead to undesirable action by Thai people.

Full story:

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Krabi tourists roused by new year fire

Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Tourists on holiday in Ao Nang, Krabi, across the bay from Phuket, were roused from their new year slumber early yesterday morning as hotel staff ordered an emergency evacuation and firefighters attempted to douse a blaze in a room full of gas cylinders.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/608935-krabi-tourists-roused-by-new-year-fire/

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Phuket Rohingya repatriated to Myanmar

Phuket Gazette -

The Rohingya rescued from an open boat adrift off Phuket, including women and children who were fleeing violent persecution in their home state of Arakan, are to be repatriated to Myanmar. Photo: Chalong Police

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/608874-storm-leaves-70-rohingya-adrift-off-phuket/#entry5982827

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2.5 mln vehicles forecast for 2013 production: Automotive Industry Club.

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan second - Thailand's total Auto production is forecast at 02/05 million Units this year, According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Automotive Industry Club.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong, Auto Club Spokesman, said the High production volume is Due to the government's fist. Car scheme and economic growth in general.

He said the Number of first Car owners submitting documents to Claim tax refunds reached Almost 03/01 million, resulting in the Number of Cars produced and transferred to owners this year, together with vehicles not in the first Car scheme. , at up to another seven hundred thousand Units.

Out of 2.5 million Cars forecast to be manufactured this year, about 1/1 million Units Will be for Export, he said.

Regarding the New Vehicular Excise tax structure in Accord with Carbon dioxide (CO2) Emission Standards,. Mr Surapong noted automotive companies will study its impact and make further proposals to the government. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2013-01-02

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Smaller Thai industries soon to be shaken by minimum wage requirement

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 2 – Five to ten per cent of Thailand's labour intensive businesses, unable to tolerate the new Bt300 daily minimum wage, will close down in the first quarter of this year, a leading industrialist said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/608942-smaller-thai-industries-soon-to-be-shaken-by-minimum-wage-requirement/