Thailand Live Saturday 5 Jan 2013

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Thailand Live Saturday 5 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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CENSORSHIP

Govt denies pulling controversial TV show

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Government figures yesterday denied any political intervention in the abrupt termination of a controversial soap opera on Channel 3, which was unexpectedly replaced last night with a new drama series.

Full story:

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POLITICS

Abhisit to file second suit against Sukampol

The Nation

File photo: Abhisit

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would file a complaint with the Administrative Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission for a second time, saying an order by Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat was unlawful and Sukampol had abused his power.

Full story:

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Foreigners Attack Hazing Ritual At Thai Universities

Full story:

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Thailand loses top rice exporter title

Full story:

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REDS

Thida to seek clarification from judges on charter

The Nation

File photo: Thida

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt chairwoman Thida Thawornseth said she was preparing to send an open letter to the Constitution Court judges seeking clarification on its advice that a national referendum should be conducted before a charter rewrite.

Full story:

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TWIN CITIES

Phnom Penh, Bangkok now twin cities

The Nation

Phnom Penh

File photo: Sukhumbhand

BANGKOK: -- Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday signed a contract with his Phnom Penh counterpart Kep Chuktema to make the two capitals twin cities.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Win or lose, the point is to put up a good fight

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Is the foreign minister conceding defeat to Cambodia even before the case of disputed Preah Vihear temple comes up for review at the ICJ?

Full story:

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Thai Foreign Minister: Border dispute may not end in Thailand's favor

Full story:

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PAD threatens to take to streets again over Preah Vihear, makes seven demands

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ongoing battle with Cambodia over the ancient Hindu temple Preah Vihear has renewed the political fervour of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who threatened yesterday to hold street protests if the government failed to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Full story:

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Thai expats can renew, replace identity cards in country of residence

The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, centre, and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, right, jointly address a press conference at Government House on the government providing services to renew identification cards for Thais

BANGKOK: -- Thai nationals living overseas will be able to renew their identity cards or have them replaced in case of loss or damage at Thai embassies or consulates in their country of residence.

Full story:

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2004 ARMY CAMP RAID

Security tightened for anniversary

The Nation

Thais gather at the Central Mosque of Narathiwat province yesterday to pray for the restoration of peace and prosperity. Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of the insurgents

Police fear insurgents will repeat attack; govt urged to lift martial law

NARATHIWAT: -- Security in the southern province of Narathiwat was tightened further yesterday in preparation for the ninth anniversary of an insurgent-led raid on an Army camp in Joh I Rong district.

Full story:

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Suspect sought in brutal slaying

The Nation

NONTHABURI: -- Police are searching for a young man suspected of brutally killing his girlfriend during the New Year celebration.

Full story:

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Illegal rafts seized from national park

The Nation

SURAT THANI: -- A set of illegal rafts, docked in a lake in Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani, were yesterday seized by forest rangers and five people were apprehended by police for allegedly possessing or building the rafts without permission.

The five suspects have also been charged with possessing a number of restricted logs without permission. The logs were found hidden under water, below the eight rafts. The rafts were previously used by Cheo Lan Chalet to serve as floating resorts.

All the suspects are Surat Thani locals who had been hired as workers to construct and renovate the rafts, each of which is worth about Bt200,000. Yesterday's search and arrest followed complaints filed last month by local residents.

Park chief Somkiat Luangbamrung said the rafts' ownership had been transferred to Anek Nurak without registration with the Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. A canteen, worth about Bt150,000, was also being built without permission next to one of the rafts, he added.

The previous owner, Rungthiwa Phoolkerd, will be questioned over why she had not registered the sale of the rafts to Anek. The rafts have been towed to Ratcha Prapha Dam located next to Khao Sok National Park, in Ban Ta Khun district.

-- The Nation 2013-01-05

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Life's good in Bangkok, sort of, poll finds

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Bankokians' average level of happiness stands at 3.37 on a 5-point scale, with major concerns about the economy and cost of living, political conflicts, corruption, and harmony among Thais, according to the Life's Good Poll.

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Police meeting discusses rising crime and Pattaya's reputation

PATTAYA: -- Police Colonel Suwan, the Pattaya Police Chief held a meeting of all Pattaya Police Officers on Friday afternoon at Pattaya City Hall to discuss recent events and how they are impacting on Pattaya, at a time when the entire country is looking towards the ASEAN Economic Community formation in 2015.

Full story:

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Ladyboy arrested in Russian drugging and robbery case from Sattahip

BANG SAREY: -- A Ladyboy who was looking to raise funds so he could undergo a silicon breast implant procedure and allegedly drugged and robbed millions of baht from a Russian resident in the Bang Saray area has now been arrested.

Full story:

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Foreign Couple caught being a little-too affectionate on Pattaya Beach

PATTAYA: -- As Pattaya attempts to change its image from a city dominated by its adult nightlife to a city welcoming families and young children, the last thing the city needs are young foreign couples showing their affections publicly on Pattaya Beach for all to see, which is what occurred in the early hours of Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/609672-foreign-couple-caught-being-a-little-too-affectionate-on-pattaya-beach/

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Thai man murdered in Pattaya Potato Field

PATTAYA: -- On Friday afternoon, Police from Huay Yai Station were called to a Potato Field located 500 meters from the main Huay Yai Road to investigate reports of a murder.

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Police Officer involved in Pattaya Station shooting "retires"

PATTAYA: -- As the case of the Police Senior Sergeant Major, accused of firing a shotgun at the apartment of the Police Station Chief early on New Year’s Day continues, news has reached us confirming the 56 year old officer has been forced to retire following orders from the National Police Chief, despite the fact that he vehemently denies allegations of being involved in the shooting.

Full story:

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UFO spotted in Sakon Nakhon on Christmas Day

You just can't fake this stuff.

SAKON NAKHON: -- The Thai online community is buzzing about an alleged photo of a UFO that was taken by an eighth grade student on Christmas Day.

Full story:

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No wage-hike fund for employers: Kittiratt

Akarin Srilert,

Thammarat Kijchalong,

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Labourers carry large bags of goods while working at a market in Bangkok Friday.

FTI keeps up compensation push; minister denies recent plant closures caused by Bt300 wage

BANGKOK: -- Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong yesterday ruled out the idea of setting up a fund to compensate employers in 70 provinces for the added cost of raising the daily minimum wage to Bt300.

Full story:

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RT @RichardBarrow: The next long holiday weekend in #Thailand is 23-25 February 2013 for Makha Bucha Day

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Snowmobile accident kills six in Italian Alps

Milan, Jan 5 (AFP) A snowmobile accident in the Italian Alps has left six tourists dead and two others seriously injured, the ANSA news agency reported.

Full story:

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RT @ACSBKK: Appointments required for regular services, make an appt @ACSBKK http://ow.ly/gwMkj

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Cabinet to discuss assistance measures for smaller industries

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 5 – A “relief package” to help smaller enterprises impacted by the nationwide minimum wage hike to Bt300 will be tabled to the cabinet on Tuesday, according to Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsub.

Full story:

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Thai airports service 74 million passengers last year

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 5 – More than 74 million passengers passed through six airports in Thailand last year, a 12 percent increase from the previous year, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) reported.

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British Embassy in Bangkok Replies to Worried Pattaya Residents

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Drunk Belgian Tourist Robs Musicians of their Tips

By Staff Reporter

Tourist Madness Strikes again as a Belgian ex policeman steals the tips from a bar band in Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- At 1.45 on Saturday morning, Police officer, Satien Ratpong was called to the Lucky Star Bar in Pattaya to deal with the most stupid of tourists, 50 year old Mr.De Sinet Jos, who was reported as totally drunk and stealing the tips from the bar band who had played all night for customers.

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