Phuket Police to order Bangkok autopsy for Dutch tourist

Phuket Gazette - Monday, January 14, 2013 2:04:37 PM

PHUKET: Police investigating the death of a Dutch tourist whose body was discovered floating off Patong Beach yesterday will send the man’s body to Bangkok for an autopsy in order to identify the cause of death.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/611627-mystery-over-tourists-body-found-floating-off-phuket-beach/page__st__25#entry6018377

SOUTH

Suspect in Narathiwat karoke pub attack arrested

The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- A man was arrested on Monday in Narathiwat for his alleged involvement in an insurgency attack on a karaoke pub and a restaurant in the province earlier this month.

The suspect was identified as Kareeya Pi, 31, one of five men who opened fire on Nong Nut Karaoke and a nearby restaurant on January 9. Four were injured in the attack.

Capt Somkiat Ponprayoon, commander of Narathiwat marine unit said the marines conducted a raid in Ngee Ngor district and arrested the suspect at his house in the district after monitoring him and other suspects for days after the attack.

Somkiat claimed Kareeya confessed during interrogation to being one of the gang as well as to being responsible for identifying the venue and cooperating with other suspects. He identified two of the other four as Asem Bueraheng and Maroemuelee Kajaekasor, both of whom are now hiding in Ruesoh district.

-- The Nation 2013-01-14

It's official: Deputy police chief to run in Bangkok election

By English News

BANGKOK, Jan 14 – Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen announced his resignation from the national police force today – his first step in contesting the Bangkok governorship in the upcoming election.

The deputy national police chief officially informed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House this morning of his political endeavour and readiness to run in the city election, set for March 3. He holds a concurrent post of secretary general of the Narcotics Control Board.

“I told her my personal decision in leaving the police service to which I have been attached for over 35 years. I admitted to her that I’m not a politician and I’m starting from scratch,” he said.

“I’m determined to serve Bangkok which is also the policy of Pheu Thai party. I want to return happiness to Bangkok people. I want to create smiles on the face of every Bangkokian.”

He quoted the premier as expressing her desire to see Bangkok being developed as the hub of the ASEAN Economic Community.

He is contesting in the polls against Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a member of the rival Democrat party, who had been at the helm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for the last four years. Mr Sukhumbhand officially resigned from the BMA last week to pave the way for an election within 60 days as stipulated by the law.

Gen Pongsapat said he will officially hand in his resignation after the Election Commission (EC) announced the election date. The EC has yet to make an official announcement though it is tentatively set for March 3.

Citing the advantage of smoothly coordinating with the central government (if a Pheu Thai member is elected), he said the strength of a “seamless co-administration” with the government will be the focus of his election campaign.

He said he will refrain from personally attacking others while he himself will be ready for any personal onslaught against him, adding that he will go ahead with his campaign as a solo candidate until the Pheu Thai party selects candidates for his deputies.

He is scheduled to bid farewell to officials of the Narcotics Control Board tomorrow after which he will apply for official membership in the Pheu Thai party and announced his vision statement to Pheu Thai MPs, city and district councillors. The prime minister will formally announce his Bangkok candidacy later in the day and kicked off his first election campaign on Wednesday.

Democrat campaign manager Ong-art Klampaiboon, also a listed MP in the Lower House, welcomed the deputy national police chief into the local political arena.

He said the Democrat party was not focusing on vying against Gen Pongsapat but rather competing with itself in working for Bangkok people.

The Democrats launch their first campaign this afternoon in Bangkok’s Chinatown -- Yaowaraj Road – one of its strongholds in the capital where it has made clean sweeps in most national and gubernatorial elections.

Mr Ong-art announced the Democrat party’s policy of upgrading Yaowaraj as “ASEAN Chinatown” and developing Bangkok as a “City of Happiness” with better mass transport service for the public’s convenience. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-14

Deputy PM: High spending for Thai education with poor results

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 14 – Deputy Prime Minister/Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana today expressed displeasure at the quality of Thailand’s education despite the mammoth national budget that has been allocated.

He said education must be free from politics though people share different views and it must move towards the same direction with the objectives of successively building people and building the nation.

He made the remark at the opening of a seminar on Thailand’s education strategy (2013-2015), aiming at upgrading the country’s education quality and efficiency.

Mr Phongthep asked educators to give their feedback, opinions and proposals so as to improve the qualities of educational courses, students and educators.

Similar feedback-gathering seminars will be separately held in Chiang Mai for the North late this month, in Nakhon Ratchasima for the Northeast next month, in Kanchanaburi for the Central region in March and in Phuket for the South in April. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-14

RT @mpoppel: UN calls for international inquiry into N. Korea, calling it "one of the worst" human rights situations in the world

Danish resident falls from 23rd balcony at Jomtien Condominium

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/611790-danish-resident-falls-from-23rd-balcony-at-jomtien-condominium/

FDA to boost Thai herbal drug manufacturers' competitive edge

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Jan 14 – Manufacturing of Thai herbal medicine will be upgraded to meet international standards and become competitive in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, a senior health official said today.

Boonchai Somboonsuk, secretary general of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), said it is the FDA’s policy to promote Thai herbal medicine and improve its production quality to meet the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to contribute to consumer confidence in Thai products and boost Thailand’s competitive edge in the Southeast Asian region.

Good manufacturing practices are production procedures and testing practices to ensure quality products. Pharmaceutical companies must follow GMP procedures in order to safeguard consumers’ health.

Dr Boonchai said among the more than 700 manufacturers of Thai herbal medicine, some smaller ones lack capabilities to compete in the AEC in the next three years.

The FDA is seeking government financial support in strengthening their competitiveness by hiring experts to help them with their product, manufacturing, laboratory tests and quality control development. FDA-certified Thai herbal medicine is guaranteed for their safety and healing quality.

Dr Boonchai said more foreign herbal medicine will flow into Thailand in the near future, giving consumers more choices in the pharmaceutical market.

The Thai FDA is ready to certify quality herbal medicine from abroad, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-01-14

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Phatthalung holds tourism fair

PHATTHALUNG, 14 January 2013 (NNT) - The southern province of Phatthalung is organizing a tourism fair to promote the province during this high season.

The annual tourism fair is held to promote local forests, beaches, culture and traditions, as well as to prepare the province for the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community. Visitors will enjoy virtual exhibitions showcasing the local ways of life including that of the Sakai jungle tribal people, and tourism attractions such as rafting, nature trail hiking, horticultural gardens, and bird nest collection at Koh Si and Koh Ha.

Traditional music and cultural performances are also part of the fair. Visitors can also taste and purchase native food and vegetables.

The fair is being held at the Phatthalung Town Hall from today until January 21st.

-- NNT 2013-01-14

Telecom watchdog NBTC resolves to give away discount coupons to 22 million households to buy set-top boxes for digital TV /MCOT

Chiang Mai declares 18 districts disaster zones

CHIANG MAI, 14 January 2013 (NNT) - Chiang Mai province has declared 18 districts disaster zones, after over 200,000 residents are affected by a prolonged cold snap.

The province has recorded its lowest temperatures in years during the past 5 days, with mercury plunging below 15 degrees Celsius in most areas.

According to the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation unit, 4 additional districts are set to be declared disaster zones this week, with 80,000 more households hit by the cold spell.

Om Koi district is the worst hit area with over 50,000 residents affected. The district is battling both a cold snap and a drought crisis.

The province is requesting an additional budget worth 42 million baht to secure winter gear and relief packages.

-- NNT 2013-01-14

PM invited to join Credit Suisse conference

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is invited to join the 16th Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference (AIC) during March 18-22 in Hong Kong.

The invitation was extended during the meeting with Jose Isidro N. (Lito) Camacho, vice chairman of Credit Suisse Asia Pacific, in Bangkok. The conference, dubbed as one of the biggest in Asia Pacific, will feature 280 leading Asian companies. At last year’s event, some 2,000 institutional investors, money managers and high net worth individuals, representing more than US$3 trillion of assets under management, attended the conference, which attracted 4,000 delegates in total.

Yingluck said she was willing to join the conference, if not tied with other national duties. She foresees the need of further public-private cooperation, particularly ahead of the Asean Economic Community.

-- The Nation 2013-01-14

Thailand arrests more than 150 Rohingya: police

BANGKOK, Jan 14, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand arrested and pledged to deport more than 150 Myanmar Rohingya migrants discovered in a hidden camp near the country's southern border with Malaysia, police said Monday.

Full story:

RT @191Thailand: 27 year old Tuk Tuk driver climbed to the 6th floor of a school building & jumped to his death in front of the kids on the basketball court.

Foreign Ministry, minister sued for providing false info on Preah Vihear

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of activists Monday filed a lawsuit against the Foreign Ministry, foreign minister and four other senior ministry officials accusing them of providing false information about the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Leaders of the Thai Patriotic Group, namely Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Wanwipha Burutrattanaphan and Somboon Thongburan, filed the lawsuit with the Criminal Court.

In addition to Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, the other defendants are permanent secretary for foreign affairs Seehasak Puangketkaew, East Asia Department director-general Passakorn Siriyaphan, Department of Information director-general and ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi and Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs deputy director-general Thatchayut Phakdi.

They are being accused of malfeasance in violating Articles 83, 90, 91 and 157 of the Penal Code, as well as loading false information into a computer system, which was damaging to the public.

-- The Nation 2013-01-14

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