Thailand Live Saturday 16 Mar 2013

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HM congratulates Xi on assuming presidency
The Naton

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King yesterday sent a letter of congratulations to China's new president, Xi Jinping, and expressed confidence that bilateral ties would strengthen.

"I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes for your success and happiness, as well as for the greater progress and prosperity of the People's Republic of China and her people," the King said. "I am confident that the bonds between our two countries and peoples will be further strengthened in years to come."

China's parliament, the National People's Congress, formally appointed Xi as the country's new president on Thursday.


-- The Nation 2013-03-16

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UPDATE:
Road death toll in Thailand among highest in the world
Tanpisit Lerdbamrungchai,
Suriyan Panyawai
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626230-road-tolls-in-thailand-among-highest-in-the-world/page-3?p=6209131#entry6209131

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ENVIRONMENT
Emissions in parts of city exceed limit
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Exhaust fumes from vehicles biggest cause of pollution

BANGKOK: -- People living in the capital are now at risk of developing respiratory ailments, according to the state pollution-monitoring agency, which found that the air in five main areas of Bangkok contained high levels of particles from vehicles' exhaust emissions.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626318-emissions-in-parts-of-bangkok-exceed-limit;-exhaust-fumes-from-vehicles-biggest-cause-of-pollution/

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Tourists head to Myanmar islands as Thai reefs decline
Boonleun Promprathankul
The Nation
Ranong


Coral bleaching in Thai waters has caused some tourists to travel instead to islands in Myanmar.

BANGKOK: -- Coral bleaching around Thai islands in the Andaman Sea has made a dent in tourism numbers. Many foreign divers have flocked lately to St Luke Island in Myanmar instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626319-foreign-tourists-head-to-myanmar-islands-as-thai-reefs-decline/

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Court overturns conviction in the murder of activist
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court yesterday overturned a murder conviction in relation to the killing of environmental activist Charoen Wataksorn.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626320-thai-court-overturns-conviction-in-the-murder-of-environmental-activist-charoen/

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EDITORIAL
Peace move has not been well thought out
The Nation

It's not clear whether the govt is talking to the right people as it tries to end the southern insurgency

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626321-peace-move-has-not-been-well-thought-out-thai-editorial/

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UPDATE:
Shot that killed Italian 'came from area held by soldiers'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626195-bullets-came-from-thai-military-side-witness-to-the-death-of-italian-journalist-2010/page-2?p=6209161#entry6209161

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Tech students protest Chula plan to move their campus
The Nation


Students of Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok

BANGKOK: -- Thousands of students and alumni of Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok's Uthenthawai campus staged a march yesterday to protest against Chulalongkorn University's plan to evict Uthenthawai students.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626322-bangkok-tech-students-protest-chula-plan-to-move-their-campus/

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Ministers told not to skip House meetings
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Parliament President Charoen Jankomol has asked that all Cabinet members - in particular Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra - attend House meetings and answer MPs' queries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626323-cabinet-members-in-particular-p-m-yingluck-shinawatra-told-not-to-skip-house-meetings/

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Another Side of A Sexual Assault Story

BY SIPPACHAI KUNNUWONG

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626324-chiang-mai-another-side-of-a-sexual-assault-story/

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Experts urge Thailand to make most of China
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation


Banthoon

BANGKOK: -- Thailand should focus on more bilateral trade and investment with China, especially as it is fast becoming the world's most important market, experts on international economy advised recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626325-experts-urge-thailand-to-make-most-of-china/

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Zimbabwe readies for referendum

HARARE: -- Zimbabweans are voting today in a constitutional referendum that would guarantee democracy in future elections in the crisis-weary country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626326-zimbabwe-readies-for-referendum/

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Triple homicide prime suspect caught at Phuket visa run pier
Phuket Gazette


Somsak Wongsri, wanted for triple homicide over a land conflict in Phang Nga, was arrested at the Saphan Pla Pier in Ranong. Photo: Mongkol Thahom

PHUKET: -- Police have arrested the prime suspect wanted for a triple homicide over a land conflict in Phang Nga.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626327-triple-homicide-prime-suspect-caught-at-phuket-visa-run-pier/

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THAI plane tyre explodes while landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok Post)

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Inmate executed as Indonesia resumes death penalty
Michael Bachelard
Indonesia correspondent for Fairfax Media

JAKARTA: -- Indonesia on Friday executed its first death row prisoner in five years, when seven ordinary prisoners bookended the deaths of the Bali bombers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626331-inmate-executed-as-indonesia-resumes-death-penalty/

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THAI Airways flight TG341 from India tyre bursts during landing at Suvarnabhumi but all 287 passengers arrive safely /MCOT

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Thailand readying strategic partnership with Vietnam
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, Mar 16 – Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is visiting Thailand to work on details of upgrading relationship between the two countries as “strategic partners.”

The move came on the heels of Thursday’s meeting in the Laotian capital of Vientiane between Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra on the issue.

In an unofficial Thai-Vietnam joint cabinet meeting in October last year, the prime ministers of both countries agreed in principle to foster bilateral relationship to the level of “strategic partners.”

The issue was reiterated during last Thursday’s meeting of the two leaders.

Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Thailand looks forward to wrapping up the issue before the Vietnamese prime minister’s visit to Thailand later this year.

He stressed Thailand’s readiness to host the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) which will be the major mechanism contributing to cooperation between Bangkok and Hanoi in every aspect.

The JCBC meeting should be held in September, he said.

The Vietnamese foreign minister has asked Thailand to approach fellow member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a common stand on the ongoing conflict in the South China Sea.

Vietnam is willing to cooperate in order to ease the tension and achieve the Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea as soon as possible, he said.

The 19th meeting between ASEAN and Chinese high-level officials is scheduled for April 2 in Beijing. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-16

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Over 30,000 tonnes of rice to be released from state stockpiles
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, March 16 – More than 30,000 tonnes of rice under the government’s subsidy scheme will be sold to two state enterprises in a move to release accumulating grains from the state’s stockpile.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626366-over-30000-tonnes-of-rice-to-be-released-from-state-stockpiles-thailand/

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THAI aircraft tyre bursts while landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport arriving from India

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626370-t-h-a-i-aircraft-tyre-bursts-while-landing-at-suvarnabhumi-airport-arriving-from-india/

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Thailand-China trade forecast at US$100 billion in next 3 years
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, March 16 – Trade and investment between Thailand and China will reach US$100 billion in 2015, a sharp increase from US$69.7 billion last year, according to the Thai ambassador to Beijing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626325-experts-urge-thailand-to-make-most-of-china/#entry6209896

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RT@RichardBarrow: Saturday: Schedule for football on Thai TV tonight pic.twitter.com/1Spw9eAu5X

[Lite Beer]

Ethnic Hmong arrested at Chiang Rai checkpoint with 1 million meth pills
By Digital Media

CHIANG RAI, March 16 -- An Ethnic Hmong was arrested at a checkpoint in Chiang Rai in possession of 1 million methamphetamine pills with a street value of Bt200 million.

The drug suspect was identified as Jeah Saetao, 43, a resident of Chiang Mai's Phrao district.

He was arrested at a police checkpoint on Fang intersection-Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai while driving a pick-up truck with Chiang Rai registered plate.

He was driving from Fang-Mae Saui road and turning onto Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai Road before the police asked him to stop the vehicle for searching.

Instead of stopping the pick-up truck, Mr Jeah turned his vehicle around and tried to flee the scene. The police followed his vehicle and finally arrested him.

The police searched his pick-up truck and found 1 million meth pills packed in six rugsacks.

Mr Jeah told police that he was hired for Bt300,000 to deliver the illicit drug from Mae Saui to Mae Rim district.

Meanwhile, in the nearby province of Lampang, police arrested two ethnic Lisu people with 394,000 meth pills and five kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, while they were delivering the illicit substance to drug agents in the central province of Ayutthaya.

The two suspects were identified as Sitthidej Siwalee and Sitthikorn Saeli, who lived in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai, respectively.

Commissioner of Lampang provincial police Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Pakpongsri and Deputy Lampang governor Suwan Klaosunthorn jointly told a press conference that the two were arrested last night in Lampang's Sop Prap district.

Police seized the illicit drugs from their pick-up truck. They told police that they were paid Bt300,000 to deliver the drug from Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district to Ayutthaya. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-16

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Cops Bust Walking Street Go Go For Underage Girls
Three underage girls were caught working at the Nui’s Club 2 A Go Go on Walking Street by police. The 28-year-old bar manager was arrested after a 16-year-old dancer was made available for sex with an undercover agent. Police also found two other 17-year-old female workers.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626400-cops-bust-walking-street-go-go-for-underage-girls/

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Pattaya Beach Drinkers Stabbed By Jealous BFs
A 16-year-old teen boy and his young uncle were drinking on the beach with three women they just met, but were confronted and stabbed by two mad boyfriends of the women. The seriously injured teen was rushed to the hospital. The two assailants fled the scene.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626398-pattaya-beach-drinkers-stabbed-by-jealous-bfs/

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Thailand hopes to escape from FATF’s blacklist

BANGKOK, 15 March 2013 (NNT) - The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) special committee will travel to Thailand next month to check if the country’s money laundering situation has improved before pulling it out of the blacklist.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626405-thailand-hopes-to-escape-from-financial-action-task-force-blacklist/

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Five Fugitive Criminals Caught Hiding In Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626408-thai-immigration-arrest-five-fugitives-from-france-austria-and-south-korea/

Full story:

[george]

Tourist Police Commander targets Phuket jet-ski rip-offs

PHUKET: -- A complaint by a senior Chinese consulate official has prompted Tourist Police Commander Roy Ingpairoj to visit Phuket in person to investigate unscrupulous jet-ski operators at Patong Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626435-tourist-police-commander-targets-phuket-jet-ski-rip-offs/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Sunday 17 Mar 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626518-thailand-live-sunday-17-mar-2013/