Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Mar 2013

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Deputy PM Chalerm to meet ex Malaysian PM Mahathir March 28; will revoke emergency decree in six southern districts /MCOT

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Indonesia on the road to overtaking Thailand

THIS year Indonesia could pass Thailand to become the largest vehicle market, by unit sales, in Southeast Asia.

BANGKOK: -- That's no small thing, given Thailand has edged into the world's top 10 vehicle producers and Indonesian output, at the growth rate of the past five years, will get there by 2020.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623857-indonesia-could-pass-thailand-to-become-the-largest-vehicle-market/

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Work begins on Phuket bypass stabilisation
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The slope on the bypass road. Photo Google street view.

PHUKET: -- Highways Department workers are currently clearing vegetation from a steep bank between the south- and north-bound lanes of the bypass road as part of a project to stop the bank collapsing in heavy rain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623859-work-begins-on-phuket-bypass-stabilisation/

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Myanmar Navy makes historic visit to Phuket
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Under a tight program, Capt Aung Zaw Hlaing, Commander of Myanmar Number 1 Fleet, still made time for an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette during the navy’s historic first diplomatic visit to a foreign country

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623862-myanmar-navy-makes-historic-visit-to-phuket/

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Phuket: Trojan bug targets KBank accounts

PHUKET: -- Kasikornbank (KBank) has issued a warning to users of smart phones, particularly those running the Android system, that a “Trojan/spyware” program is currently doing the rounds, posing as a Kasikornbank app.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623863-kasikornbank-kbank-issues-a-trojan-warning-to-users-of-smart-phones/

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PM Yingluck calls Thailand a haven for foreign investment
By English News



BRUSSELS, March 6 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged the Belgian private sector to take part in investment in Thailand’s mega infrastructure projects.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623866-yingluck-calls-thailand-a-haven-for-foreign-investment/

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RT@veen_nt: Pongsapat to go and welcome PM Yingluck at the airport tomorrow to discuss about his return to former post at the Pol Dept. via @Bancha_nna

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Army chief denies nepotism
Panya Thiosangwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday denied any favouritism for his younger brother Lt General Preecha, who is reportedly tipped for promotion to commander-general of the Third Army Area in the mid-year reshuffle next month.

"Preecha has advanced in his military career on his own merit," Prayuth said.

Does his brother have to change his family name in order to get the new assignment, he asked his critics.

Army posts would be dispensed according to a candidate's qualifications and seniority as well as applicable regulations without any interference from the chief, he said.

The incumbent Fourth Army Area head would recommend his successor in due course, he said.

Speculation is spreading in military corridors as Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat has set next Friday as the deadline for the armed forces branches to complete their list of job rotations.

-- The Nation 2013-03-06

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Billionaire Belgian nobleman finds interest in promoting football for hill tribe youths

CHIANG RAI: -- The stadium was hot in the afternoon, given it was made of concrete. But it was fairly occupied, and served its functions well. Above and over this, it has the biggest giant LCD screen in Chiang Rai, mostly playing latest music videos from the world's top charts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623913-billionaire-belgian-nobleman-finds-interest-in-promoting-football-for-hill-tribe-youths-chiang-rai/

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Police submitted case against Red Bull heir to prosecutors,charging him w/ reckless driving causing death of policeman; fleeing accident scene /The Nation

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Self-confessed insurgent questioned after surrender
By Digital Media



SONGKHLA, March 6 – Police on Wednesday continued questioning an admitted insurgent said to have been involved in seven criminal cases who surrendered to the authorities two months ago.

Abdulloh Samodaman, a suspect in seven security cases, surrendered on January 5. He confessed to carrying out seven attacks in Saba Yoi district, including the killing of Witthaya Suwannarat and the fresh market bombing in Saba Yoi district in which four people were killed and 26 others were injured in 2007. The police investigation team said his testimony was useful for the investigation.

Pol Col Kritsakorn Pleethanyawong, head of the special probe committee, said the questioning is being conducted under the Article 21 of the Internal Security Act to establish the facts in parallel with legal procedure.

The committee will forward its conclusion to the director general of Internal Security Operations Command. Under Article 21 of the Internal Security Act, a wrongdoer who gives up to authorities may be allowed to undergo training for a maximum of six months. After the training under conditions set by the court, criminal charges against him may be dropped. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-06

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TAT to go on travel promotion tour in Germany during 6-10 March

BANGKOK, 6 March 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to go on a tour to Germany this week to promote Thai tourism at a major international travel trade show.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said on Tuesday that the TAT will be leading a group of travel business operators and representatives from the Thai tourism industry to Berlin, Germany during March 6-10.

Mr. Suraphon stated that the visit to the German capital was intended for the 48th ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show.

The TAT Governor said that various travel business promotional and PR activities are what visitors to ITB Berlin will get to see during the 5-day event.

He added that 86 tables, showcasing 108 Thai tourism operators and industry’s representatives, will be present at the fair, which welcomes more than 180,000 visitors from over 180 countries each year.


-- NNT 2013-03-06

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Chalerm: Emergency decree to be lifted in six southern districts
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, March 6 - Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said on Wednesday that enforcement of the Emergency Decree will be revoked in six districts of three southern border provinces, stating the government commits to a nonviolent approach to resolving the southern violence.

However the deputy premier did not specify which six districts where the draconian law will be lifted or the timing of when the current enforcement is to be revoked.

He told a gathering of 20 local community leaders from Pattani at Government House in the capital this morning that the government decided to use peaceful means in an effort to end the nearly decade-long violence in the region through Article 21 of the Internal Security Act.

Under Article 21 a wrongdoer who innocuously violates the law and gives up to authorities could be spared from prosecution.

The Fourth Army Region Command is now pressing ahead with the talks with key leaders of insurgent groups, the deputy premier said, adding that about 20 leading insurgents will soon emerge to talk with him.

Mr Chalerm added he would travel to Malaysia's Langkawi island March 28 to discuss Thailand's southern insurgency with former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-06

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What a relief: No power outage, no FT charge hike
By English News



BANGKOK, March 6 – Thailand will be spared a power shortage during the maintenance of a natural gas platform in Myanmar April 5-14, the energy minister announced today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623927-no-power-outage-no-f-t-charge-hike-during-maintenance-of-gas-platform-in-myanmar/

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Red Bull heir's hit-and-run case reaches prosecutors' hands
By Coconuts Bangkok


Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya. Photo: tlcthai.com

BANGKOK: -- Today, Deputy Metropolitan Police Anuchai Lekbamrung stated that Thonglor investigators handed over the murder case against Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya to the prosecutors at the South Bangkok Criminal Court this Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623930-red-bull-heirs-hit-and-run-case-reaches-prosecutors-hands-bangkok/

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SET index closed at 1559.35, up 10.04; Bt/USD29.60; GBP44.72; AUD30.30; EUR38.47; CAD28.72; HKD3.81; SGD23.68; JPY31.62

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Probe into Red Bull heir's crash completed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police Area 5 investigators submitted their final report on the hit-and-run case against Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of the Red Bull energy drink founder, to the Southern Bangkok Court's public prosecutor on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623930-red-bull-heirs-hit-and-run-case-reaches-prosecutors-hands-bangkok/?p=6178128#entry6178128

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PCC faces more charges, lawsuit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Other than fraud charges, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will Thursday file the charge of bidding collusion against PCC Development and Construction, the contractor that had delayed the construction of 396 police stations. The DSI added that the Royal Thai Police could also sue the company for a compensation of Bt2.9 billion.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said the firm had offered an unusually low price to deter other bidders and had hence violated the Anti-Price Collusion Act. He said this charge was punishable by one to three years in jail and/or a fine worth 50 per cent of the bidding price proposed, Bt2.9 billion in this case, in addition to the money it got in advance payments.

-- The Nation 2013-03-06

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Red Cross on hunt for type-A blood
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai Red Cross Society is calling on people with blood of the A-type to make donations as it only has about 400 units in its stock.

The agency's director Soisa-ang Pikulsod told a seminar Wednesday that so far, only 80 per cent of the donated blood underwent testing via the Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (NAT). Hence, she said, in order to protect patients, Red Cross was going have all its centres use the NAT tests.

She said NAT testing on 3,758,833 units from 2009-2012 showed 34 units being HIV-positive, 11 had Hepatitis C and 1,489 had Hepatitis B.

She also explained that the agency refused to take blood from people of the homosexual orientation due to international regulations, not sexual bias.


-- The Nation 2013-03-06

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EC to withholds endorsement of Bangkok gov.-elect Sukhumbhand's win,pending probe into complaints /The Nation

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 7 Mar 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624081-thailand-live-thursday-7-mar-2013/