FOOTBALL

Thai football rocked by match-fixing allegation

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai football has been rocked by an allegation of attempted match-fixing at November's FA Cup final between Buriram United and Army United.

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The Japanese referee in charge of the match has reported he was approached by unknown

persons and asked to help fix the result. Buriram won the game 2-1, to clinch their second successive title plus an AFC Champions League play-off place.

Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said he would open an investigation into the accusation, reported to Asian soccer's governing body, the AFC, by the Japanese official. "We have already received the report the Japanese referee sent. I'll discuss the incident with Fifa and AFC officials as well as with Interpol when I travel to Malaysia on Thursday for a seminar about the problem of match-fixing. We have already sent them all the relevant evidence we have about the game in question," said Worawi. "However, we will also be discussing the issue at the association's board meeting tomorrow. We already have a committee to take care of the matter."

Worawi said it remained unknown what impact the investigation would have on Buriram's participation in Asia's Champions League. Buriram beat Australia's Brisbane Roar on penalties to book a berth in the group stage earlier this month.

The allegation in Thailand comes amid revelations of a match-fixing scandal across 15 countries and centred on the influence of organised crime syndicates based in Asia. Europol's investigation has so far led to dozens of arrests.

-- The Nation 2013-02-19

Driver In British Cyclists' Fatal Road Accident Released On Bail

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Richard Briers, The Good Life star, dies aged 79

Briers at a Memorabilia event, March 2009

File photo. Source: wikipedia.org

LONDON: -- Actor Richard Briers, best known for his role in TV's The Good Life, has died at the age of 79, his agent has said.

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ROAD ACCIDENT

Warn tourists about Thai driving habits, expert says

Wannapa Khaopa,

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It is time for all foreign tourists to be informed frankly about how to travel safely in Thailand, an expert on accident analysis urged yesterday.

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BURNING ISSUE

Bangkok poll is critical for the govt and Thaksin

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The March 3 vote will be a litmus test on whether fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will come home or end up in permanent exile.

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CRIME

Manhunt ordered for 'abusers' of Karen girl

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Bt100,000 reward will be offered for information on the hiding place of a couple charged with detaining and torturing a 12-year-old Karen girl after they failed to report by yesterday's deadline, police said.

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SOUTH CRISIS

Govt offers an olive branch to militants

The Nation

Military ordnance personnel inspect motorcycles parked in front of a hospital in Pattani, as a precaution against bomb attacks. It follows a spate of attacks by insurgents in response to a marine ambush in Narathiwat last week, when 16 insurgents were killed

Replacing Emergency Decree with ISA seen as step toward peace in deep South

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EDITORIAL

The southern issue boils down to lack of trust

The Nation

Soldiers inspect the body of a suspected insurgent after a clash with Marines at a navy base in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, on February 13.

BANGKOK: -- The Malay-Muslim insurgency in the deep South cannot be ended until both state and minority learn to respect each other's point of view

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STREETWISE

The show must go on, and we must suffer it

Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- All over the world, Cirque de Soleil is known as one of the greatest circus companies. It lives up to expectations, with its dramatic and stunning mix of traditional circus arts and street entertainment. Few spectators would ever say that the company has dashed their expectations.

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POLITICS

Chuwit's signs taken down

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday had staff remove signs set up by Rak Prathet Thai MP Chuwit Kamolvisit apparently attacking the Democrat Party over irregularities in the new police station project.

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Criminals acting as MEA agents

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has warned its customers that there are criminals posing as its agents.

These people usually warn consumers of an imminent power disconnection and offer to take care of the bill payment personally. Several customers have been cheated.

"Their covert operations start with issuing a warning to home owners who have yet to pay their electric bills and asking them to pay the bill immediately or their electrical power will be cut off. If the home owners believe them and give them the money, the scammers then give them a fake receipt," said Siriwan Kitikun, Director of Corporate Communication Department.

"The criminals have often been spotted wearing black suits and caps. They usually appear after real MEA agents issue legitimate warnings of power disconnection," she said.

Under MEA rules and regulations, no MEA agents are authorised to take money from power consumers. MEA strongly suggests that all power users only pay their bills at MEA offices or via other authorised channels such as Mobile Banking, ATMs and convenience stores. All power users are required to pay their bills within the due date to avoid the cheating.

"If someone claims to be an MEA staff and demands for direct payment, please immediately inform MEA or call the 24-hour MEA Call Centre 1130."

-- The Nation 2013-02-19

Teenagers found to be 9 times more likely to contract HIV than the average person

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health is promoting the use of condoms, after finding that teenagers are 9 times more likely to contract HIV than an average person.

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Bring out truth about Tak Bai: rights advocate

The Nation

Says govt must deal swiftly with militants' tactic in trying to gain locals' sympathy

BANGKOK: -- The government must quickly deal with the latest tactic of the insurgents in raising the spectre of 2004's Tak Bai incident to gain the sympathy of locals in the South, Human Rights Watch researcher Sunai Phasuk said yesterday.

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Missing Thailand traveller Tom Armstrong found 'safe and well'

BANGKOK: -- A 22-year-old man who went missing in Thailand for more than a month has been found "safe and well", police have said.

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Missing Brit found alive in Thailand

Tom Armstrong.

THAILAND: -- The family of missing British tourist Tom Armstrong, 22, has announced that their son is alive and well, after being reported missing while in Koh Tao earlier this year.

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Boxing Legend coming to Pattaya

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Shots fired as two Pattaya Drug Dealing Suspects caught in sting operation

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,529.27, up 5.98 points /MCOT

Royal Thai Police ready to host ASEAN National Police Chiefs Conference

BANGKOK, 19 February 2013 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police is ready to play host to the ASEAN National Police Chiefs Conference, where discussions on transnational crime suppression will be tabled.

National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, on Monday, announced Thailand’s readiness to host the 33rd ASEAN National Police Chiefs Conference during February 18-22.

The National Police Chief said the meeting, held in Pattaya City, Chon Buri Province, will focus on cooperation related to the suppression of transnational crimes, including drug and arms trade, human trafficking, terrorism and cybercrime.

He added the conference sees the participation of national police chiefs and representatives from 10 ASEAN nations as well as from 5 major partner countries, which are China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Pol. Gen. Adul affirmed that the Royal Thai Police is ready in hosting and assuring safety of all participants, while stating that continued violence in Thailand’s restive south will not shake international confidence in the country.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

Public Health Ministry postponed 5-10pct medical service fees hike at state hospitals, as requested by Comptroller-General's Dept /The Nation

Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat widens lead against rival Sukhumbhand 46:29 in gubernatorial race: ABAC poll /MCOT

Police seize over 100 pangolins in truck in Nakhon Si Thammarat; two men charged with possessing endangered species /MCOT

Motorcycle passenger gunman kills village head assistant in Pattani early today; teacher wounded by suspected insurgents last night /MCOT

Allowances for teacher in restive south being considered

BANGKOK, 19 February 2013 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Pongtheo Thepkanjana has insisted that there is no shortage of teachers in the restive south, while adding that the allowance for them is being considered.

Education Minister Pongthep said the security unit will continue to provide safety for teachers in the three southern most provinces and impose Section 21 of the Internal Security Act when the curfew is no longer in place.

Meanwhile, he said there is no need to send border police to teach in schools as there are already volunteers filling up vacancies. He added that the decision to provide those teaching in risk prone areas with extra allowances is being expedited.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

Book House Project launched at IMPACT

BANGKOK, 19 February 2013 (NNT) – The Education Minister has launched the 'Book House Project' to support informal learning and reading outside of classroom.

Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana on Monday presided over the launch of the first phase of the Book House Project. The Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education commenced this project to set up 41,000 book houses for 80,000 villages across the nation to promote reading.

The Education Ministry is alloting 11,500 baht per year for each book house, to be spent on book and newspaper purchases. The book house is for everyone in the community to seek information, news, knowledge and entertainment from books, magazines, and newspapers.

By next year, the ministry aims to establish more book houses for 40,000 more villages.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

Nong Khai Governor visits Rohingyas, provides water and clothes

NONG KHAI, 19 February 2013 (NNT) – Nong Khai Governor Wirat Limsuwat has visited Rohingyas and given them water and clothes, while ordering all immigration officers to take good care of them.

The Nong Khai Governor yesterday visited 105 male Rohingyas who have been detained since they were picked up while trying to illegally sneaking into Thai territory last month. After inspecting the shelter, the governor gave the detained Rohingyas water, blankets, pillows, and t-shirts. He said the shelter was in good condition, with lots of room.

The governor also ordered the officers to look after them and provide them with basic necessities. At present, he said Nong Khai officials are cooperating with the Red Cross in providing food, water, and other necessities for the migrants. However, he did not know how long the Rohingyas would have to stay before they were sent back to their own country or transferred to a third country.

Before leaving the shelter, the governor promised to provide more first-aid kits for the detainees.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

Explanation to the International Community about the Latest Situation in Southern Thailand

Thailand will explain to the international community, especially the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the latest situation in the deep South concerning the attack on a marine base in Bacho district, Narathiwat province, on 13 February 2013, by a group of heavily armed militants.

The incident was considered one of the major militant assaults in several years of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand, and 16 militants died in the attack. Owing to a tipoff from local residents about the movement of this small group of militants, officials were able to protect the marine base.

Secretary-General of the Office of the National Security Council Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanathabutr said that there was an attempt by perpetrators to publicize false information about the incident. Some of the information indicated that the dead victims had been tortured before they died. In fact, officials have strictly followed legal procedures in dealing with those who have created unrest.

He explained that the incident in Bacho was meant to defend the military base against the attack and it did not violate human rights, as claimed by the perpetrators. Earlier, teachers and schools were the targets for their attacks, which were strongly condemned by the international community. So they have shifted their violent acts to state officials, their original target since early 2004.

The Secretary-General said that the authorities were concerned about the safety of officials and innocent people because of possible revenge by the perpetrators after the 16 militants were killed. The Government would provide assistance to families of the dead victims for humanitarian reasons, since they had nothing to do with the illegal activities of the perpetrators.

He said that Malaysian authorities had been informed of the latest situation in southern Thailand, as well. They were also told that some perpetrators of violent incidents might flee into Malaysia.

Malaysia has supported Thailand’s efforts to cope with unrest in the southern border provinces, which share borders with Malaysia. The country also reiterated its opposition to separatism in Thailand’s southernmost region.

OIC member states, at the 12th OIC Summit in Cairo on 6-7 February 2013, showed their confidence in Thailand’s efforts to tackle violence in the southern border provinces. In the Final Communiqu? issued at the summit, they were encouraged by the Thai government’s continued efforts to overcome the obstacles in the implementation of the commitments included in the 2007 Joint Statement. They also requested the OIC Secretary-General to cooperate with the Thai government and to pursue constructive dialogue in the interest of Muslims in southern Thailand toward the achievement of peace and stability there.

In a move to create better understanding about the southern situation in the international community, the Thai government invited a delegation of 18 ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from OIC member states to visit Muslim communities in the deep South on 31 January 2013. The group received first-hand information and was told that the Government attached great importance to southern development in accordance with the local way of living and aspects of culture and identity.

Previously, the Thai government and OIC had both denounced the indiscriminate acts of violence against innocent civilians in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The acts were described as deeds against the teachings of Islam. Thailand now serves as an observer of OIC.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

LPG installation stations get random inspection

BANGKOK, 19 February 2013 (NNT) – The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has inspected an LPG installation stations in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, after accidents from the LPG installation in both households and vehicles occurred too often.

TISI Secretary-General Surapong Chiangtong and his entourage visited Chuen Siri Company, a certified LPG installer for households and vehicles. Afterwards, the group inspected the company that imports LPG tanks on Pattanakarn Road in Bangkok. The inspections are aimed at ensuring safety of LPG users, after accidents and explosions happened from unqualified LPG installations.

Mr Surapong revealed that the TISI wanted to make sure that all of the LPG tanks being installed have been inspected and are up to the standard. He said so far the inspection has found neither sub-standard practice nor any unapproved product, but the officials will randomly collect tank samples for analysis.

Those who import unapproved products or illegally install the LPG tanks will receive up to 2 years’ imprisonment and/or face up to 1 million baht fine. Consumers can report the wrong-doings to TISI at 02-793-9300 or www.tisi.go.th.

On February 7, an explosion took place at a garage offering LPG installation in Bangkok’s Taling Chan district. The blast injured five people and destroyed four nearby cars.

-- NNT 2013-02-19

Pongsapat widens lead against Sukhumbhand in Bangkok governor's election

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Feb 19 - A university survey said ruling Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen widened his lead over his rival Sukhumbhand Paribatra from the Democrat Party in the upcoming gubernatorial race, and more Bangkokians are expected to cast their ballots than in last election.

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Bangkok's Earth Hour campaign

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Feb 19 - On March 23 for one hour -- 8.30pm-9.30pm, Bangkok will be plunged into darkness for the annual Earth Hour Campaign, part of the global effort to raise awareness about climate change. With the aim of reducing up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity use, joint efforts between the private and public sectors are keen on reducing unnecessary electrical usage.

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