Thailand Live Wednesday 20 Feb 2013

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Tortured Karen girl to undergo surgery

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The 12-year-old Karen girl who suffered extreme abuse at the hands of a Thai couple for five years in Kamphaeng Phet was Wednesday taken to Bangkok's Ramathibodi Hospital, where she will be admitted for surgery in a week.

The girl, accompanied by PM's Office spokesman Tossaporn Serirak, met with hospital director Dr Surasak Ripileelaudom and cosmetic surgeon Dr Athi Kreuwit for an evaluation. Tossaporn said the government and the hospital would cover the girl's medical bills until she made a full recovery.

Athi said the examination found scarring all over the girl's body. She is unable to raise her left arm because of fascia between her armpit and chest, so she will undergo a four-hour operation to treat the problem, after which she will rest at the hospital for another one or two weeks.

-- The Nation 2013-02-20

[Lite Beer]

RT@terryfrd: Here's our first photo of Pongpat Bowsoey, 26, self-confessed rapist of Scottish student. Photo: Nucharee Rakrun http://t.co/EadQhDwT

[Lite Beer]

Minister warns electricity bills to rise

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Feb 20 - Thailand's Energy Minister did not rule out possibility of power outages during the scheduled disruption of Myanmar gas supplies during the annual hot season, which will result in higher power tariffs.

Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn said the stoppage will be from April 5-14.

He said the Energy Regulatory Commission reported that a fuel adjustment tariff rise of Bt0.48/unit will result from the replacement of 86 million litres of natural gas with 25 million litres of imported bunker oil and sulphate combined, while 47 million litres of diesel fuel will be needed.

Mr Pongsak explained that even if supplier Total postponed closing its Yadana gas field maintenance in Myanmar from April 4-12 to April 5-14, that could help reduce risks in electricity use at a certain level, for April 4 in past years was usually the peak day for electricity use in Thailand.

Postponement is estimated to allow 750 megawatts of reserve power, or 2 per cent of power productivity, from an earlier forecast of 600 megawatts if the project started April 4.

On April 5, the amount of electricity use in the country is expected to reach 26,300 megawatts, another peak day.

Meanwhile, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) director Suthat Pattamasiriwat said it will be the most risky situation in Thailand has faced, as power reserves will reach their lowest level in the country.

Risk factors come from Thailand's overdependence (70 per cent), on natural gas and that large and private power plants or some Independent Power Producers (IPP) postponed production due to demonstrations against plant construction. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02020

[Lite Beer]

Thai suspect reenacts 'gang rape' of British teacher, 20, but claims he had consensual sex with her while his friend watched

By DANIEL MILLER

Suspect: Pongpatana Porsoi, 26, wearing a stab vest to protect him, is led away by police in Thailand. He denies raping a 20-year-old British teacher claiming the sex had been consensual

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/620663-thai-suspect-reenacts-assault-of-british-teacher-20-but-claims-he-had-consensual-sex-with-her/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 21 Feb 2013