Thailand Live Sunday 17 Mar 2013

[Lite Beer]

Top insurgents targeted slain officer due to popularity among locals
The Nation on Sunday

NARATHIWAT: -- Officials investigating a bomb attack that killed three police officers in Narathiwat's Rusoh district on Friday say they have identified several suspects, all of them leading insurgents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626517-top-insurgents-targeted-slain-officer-due-to-popularity-among-locals/

[Lite Beer]

ECONOMY
Avoid mistakes of the West: Stiglitz
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation on Sunday

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has an on-stage interview with Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon.

BANGKOK: -- Kingdom needs its own growth model, must opt out of TPP, Nobel laureate advises

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626519-avoid-mistakes-of-the-west-stiglitz/

[Lite Beer]

BROADCASTING
New rules needed for self-censorship: Supinya
Opas Boonlom
The Nation

Supinya Klangnarong

BANGKOK: -- The clearer rule on self-censorship among TV stations is necessary following the decisions by Channel 3 and Thai PBS, said Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's broadcasting committee.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626520-new-rules-needed-for-self-censorship-supinya/

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
After 2 decades, politics runs in Sudarat's veins
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation on Sunday

Though the veteran politician insists her focus is on dharma, she still manages to keep her finger on the pulse.

BANGKOK: -- For well over two decades, Sudarat Keyuraphan has been seen as a big-name politician. Her long-standing political career, perhaps, is a reason why she still thinks and breathes politics.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626521-after-2-decades-politics-runs-in-sudarats-veins/

[Lite Beer]

Funds sought for study on cable car
The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- The public organisation Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) has called on the government to provide funds for the study of a 3.8-km cable-car service at Phu Kradung National Park even as environmentalists continue to oppose the proposal.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626522-funds-sought-for-study-on-cable-car/

[Lite Beer]

ANALYSIS
Does NSC chief's 'gaffe' reveal secret intent of the government?
The Nation on Sunday

Paradorn

PATTANI: -- Are they prepared to give autonomy to Pattani local administration?

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626523-does-nsc-chiefs-gaffe-reveal-secret-intent-of-the-government/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Fishermen heard gunshots on the night Thai Navy accused of firing on boat people (Bangkok Post)

[Lite Beer]

Two big drug hauls in North
The Nation on Sunday

Police yesterday seized 1 million yaba tablets with a street value of over Bt200 million and arrested a Hmong man in Chiang Rai's Mae Saruay district on suspicion of trafficking the drugs.

Following a tip-off about an attempted drug delivery, police manning a Mae Saruay checkpoint arrested Jeah Saetao, 43, a resident of Chiang Mai's Phrao district, after his pickup was stopped to be searched. However, Jeah tried to flee, leading to a brief car chase. After police found yaba in the pickup truck, Jeah confessed to having been hired for Bt300,000 to deliver the illicit drug to Chiang Mai's Mae Rim district.

Meanwhile, police arrested two ethnic Lisu men, Sitthidet Siwalee, 28, and Sitthikorn Saeli, 30, with 394,000 yaba tablets and 5kg of crystal meth worth Bt120 million in Lampang's Sop Prap district on Friday night.

-- The Nation 2013-03-17

[Lite Beer]

Thai PBS team halts programme on monarchy
The Nation on Sunday

A scene from the series of programmes on monarchy

BANGKOK: -- The production team behind a controversial Thai PBS talk show announced yesterday that it would stop producing the programme to protest the public television station's decision not to air Friday night's episode.

Host Pinyo Traisuriyathamma decided to stop hosting "Tob Jote Prathet Thai" (Answering Thailand's Questions) after the second part of a two-part series on the monarchy institution was removed from the schedule.

Pinyo posted a message on the programme's Facebook page saying that he and his team would stop producing the show. In the message he denied reports that the axing of the episode was a result of interference by the government or those close to or linked with the monarchy institution.

The dropped programme featured interviews with Thammasat University lecturer Somsak Jeamteerasakul and social critic Sulak Sivaraksa.

Thai PBS's news programme at noon yesterday clarified the cancellation, saying a group of people came to the station and requested that the programme not be aired. The management explained that the decision was not made at the request of a state agency or any institution.

Thai PBS said the programme had over the past week presented different perspectives on national reconciliation and amnesty and issues on Article 112 of the Criminal Code, which is related to the lese majeste offence. Interviewees included former foreign minister Surakiat Sathirathai, who used to serve the Royal Family. An earlier programme that also featured an interview with Thammasat's Somsak sparked public criticism. Pol General Vasit Dejkunchorn, a former chief of the Office of the Royal Court Security Police, presented his views against Somsak.

Attracting the most criticism was an episode featuring a debate between Somsak and Sulak, who has declared that he is a loyalist who wants to protect the monarchy. Critics questioned the motivation for Sulak's outspokenness about the move to amend the lese majeste law.

Thai PBS said that following a protest, its policy committee called an urgent meeting of news editors to make a decision. The meeting was carried out in accordance with media ethics and was not subject to coercion by any agency or institution, the station said.

Pinyo's Facebook message said: "To show our media standpoint against internal intimidation and interference without professionalism, which is also deemed in violation of the Constitution, and to express strong disapproval against the cancellation of the programme's episode 'The Monarchy Institution under the Constitution', I and my team have made a unanimous decision to stop producing the programme, because I can no long answer questions over how we can maintain media freedom, which is protected by the Constitution.

The message said that although the station's policy committee had unanimously approved the airing of the episode, the last minute change not to air it had widely eroded public faith in Thai PBS.

-- The Nation 2013-03-17

[Lite Beer]

30,000 illegal CDs confiscated
The Nation

Over 30,000 CDs were confiscated during a police raid in a famous Bangkok market in Khlongtom.

Ten shop owners were arrested for selling illegal movie CDs which are estimated to cause damage of over Bt100,000.

Initially, they are charged of renting or selling movies without licenses and possessing non-censored movies which is in violation of the motion-picture law.

-- The Nation 2013-03-16

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Digital TV master plan reaches a crucial juncture
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Much criticised during 3G telecom bidding, NBTC faces another big test

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626524-digital-tv-master-plan-reaches-a-crucial-juncture/

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: There are speculation Pheu Thai MP's abrupt resignation is to pave way for Yaowapa to become MP in case PM gets disqualified

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Get on the bus
Phuket Gazette -

The Gazette encourages everyone to try the new airport-to-beaches buses. Image: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: There is only one way that breakthrough projects such as Phuket’s first airport-to-beaches bus service get up and running, and that is if everyone in the community gets behind it and supports it. That means: use it. Get on the bus and go to work, to the beach, to see a friend, a movie or even spend a night on the town – just use it.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626528-phuket-opinion-get-on-the-bus/

[Lite Beer]

Interview: Thailand's proposed high-speed railway should boost regional connectivity: former premier Abhisit

English.news.cn

By Surasak Tumcharoen

BANGKOK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that Thailand's high-speed train project should be designed not only to improve domestic transport but also to boost regional interconnectivity.

According to the blueprint prepared by Thailand's transport ministry, four major high-speed railway will be built to link the capital Bangkok to Chiang Mai in the north, Nakorn Ratchasima in the northeast, Pattaya in the east and Hua Hin in the west.

Abhisit, the leader of the opposition Democrat Party, said in a recent interview with Xinhua the estimated 2 trillion baht (66.6 billion U.S, dollars) project should contribute to the region's concerted efforts in interconnectivity.

He urged the government to review its plan so that the project should not only "connect Thai people to Thai people but Thailand to the neighboring countries."

Major construction of the rail system is scheduled to start later this year until 2020 and the bidding process to select international partners may take place in September.

Full Story: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2013-03/16/c_132238950.htm

--English.news.cn 2013-03-17

[Lite Beer]

RT@191Thailand: Tuk Tuk crashed into the barrier of the Thai-Japanese Bridge near Wat Hua Lamphong. One dead (Via @js100radio) pic.twitter.com/Nbq4S6Dunc

[Lite Beer]

Burmese accused of attempted sexual assault at South Pattaya Camp-site

PATTAYA:--Early on Sunday Morning Police were called to a constructors camp-site in South Pattaya to investigate reports of an attempted sexual assault on a 32 year old woman.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626530-burmese-accused-of-attempted-sexual-assault-at-south-pattaya-camp-site/

[Lite Beer]

Police Commissioner visits Plutaluang Police Station caught-up in construction scandal

Police Commissioner visits Plutaluang Police Station caught-up in construction scandal
SATTAHIP:--On Saturday Thailand’s Top Police Officer, Police General Adul, visited Plutaluang Police Station in Sattahip District and close to Pattaya to inspect the working conditions for officers after construction of their new Police Station was halted last year.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626531-police-commissioner-visits-plutaluang-police-station-caught-up-in-construction-scandal/

[Lite Beer]

Situation under control after inmates protest in Samut Sakhon prison, claiming improper care of inmate with heart attack who later died /MCOT

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Lamphun gears up to tackle haze problem, about 180 hotspots detected this month, air quality beyond safety standard for 4 days /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Lamphun gears up to tackle smog problem
By Digital Media

LAMPHUN, March 17 – The northern province of Lamphun geared up to tackle smog as the air quality has been over the safety standard for four days.

Phinit Harnpanit, Lamphun governor ordered local authorities in eight districts to monitor smog situation closely as the air quality has been measured at 139 microgramme per cubic metre for four days over the safety standard at 120 microgramme per cubic metre.

If the situation worsens, it can have an impact on public health, tourism and economy, he said.

Lamphun natural resource and environment reported that from March 1-15, 184 hotspots were detected in the province, including 71 hotspots in protected areas, 83 in national reserve forests and 30 in farming areas.

About 160 operations to extinguish or contain forest fires were conducted, and about 56 acres of land have been damaged by forest fire thus far. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-17

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Crown Prince of Belgium visits Thailand 2020 exhibition organized by govt; exhibition extended to Wed

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: 13,200 cases of dengue fever reported in 2 months

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RT@RichardBarrow: Serious pollution in Mae Hong Son today. Member of the public should limit prolonged outdoor activities pic.twitter.com/JDcJR5T1AZ

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Dengue fever cases rise significantly in Thailand with 16 deaths & 13,200 people infected during first two months of 2013: Health Ministry /MCOT

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Thailand’s shrimps are dying en-masse, and no one can figure out why
By Shane Danaher and Praj Kiatpongsan on 17.03.2013 at 1:44 pm


Tom Yum Goong no more? Prawn farms in Thailand have been hit with an epidemic of Early Mortality Syndrome. Photo: Praj Kiatpongsan

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626565-thailands-shrimps-are-dying-en-masse-and-no-one-can-figure-out-why/

[Lite Beer]

Subdistrict official killed in his car by gunmen in pickup truck in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district /MCOT

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RT@ChadapornLin: Thai ophthalmologist breaks Guiness record by treating 450 patients in 1 hour

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RT@ChadapornLin: Crown Prince and Princess of Belgium granted an audience with HM the King on Thursday

[Lite Beer]

Subdistrict official in Narathiwat shooting
By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, March 17--- A subdistrict official was killed in his car by gunmen riding in a pickup truck in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district on Sunday, according to local police.

The victim was identified as Mayi Ahtae, a 64-year-old subdistrict administration organisation member of Mayung subdistrict.

The attack occurred late Sunday morning when Mr Mayi was travelling in his sedan, returning from a market in Si Sakhon district to his home.

While the victim was driving on Rueso- Si Sakhon Road, a group of men in a black pickup truck without a licence plate approached the victims’s vehicle.

Then men in the back of the pickup truck armed with AK-47 assault rifles opened fire at Mr Mayi’s car and stole his 9mm pistol before speeding off. He died on the spot, according to Pol Col Payong Sanukul of Si Sakhon police station.

An initial investigation found that the sedan was riddled with several AK-47 bullet holes, before hitting a roadside lamp post.

Police presume that the attack was carried out by a group of insurgents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-17

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Thailand among 11 countries bidding to host Asian Cup 2019 after Australia which is hosting 2015 tournament

RT@ChadapornLin: Motorshow to be held at Impact from Mar 27-Apr 7 with 60,000 vehicles expected to be sold and 1.9 million visitors expected