Thailand Live Thursday 28 Mar 2013

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Cambodians held
The Nation

SA KAEW: -- Ninety-five Cambodians have been rounded up and will be repatriated after being found to have illegally crossed the border to Sa Kaew to get work, police said yesterday.

The Burapha Force and immigration police searched a community opposite Rongkluea border market in Aranyaprathet district and found 51 Cambodian men and 44 women, including two boys and two girls, who had no travel documents.

They said they had travelled across Cambodia to find work in Bangkok. Police took their pictures and kept their records before coordinating with Poi Pet immigration officials in Cambodia to repatriate them.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

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Political calm cited for enhancing hotel occupancy as Songkran nears
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Hotel operators are beaming as their rooms fill up and expect the trend to continue for the whole year if political unrest does not surface as a threat to the hospitality industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629078-political-calm-cited-for-enhancing-hotel-occupancy-as-songkran-nears/

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Get inside the world's greatest minds with NMG
The Nation



BANGKOK> -- Intrigued by the genius of Albert Einstein, Philip Kotler and Steve Jobs? Developed an interest in opportunities in Myanmar? If so, you'll want to check out the Nation Multimedia Group's booth at the 41st National Book Fair and 11th Bangkok International Book Fair 2013 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre starting tomorrow and running until April 8.

This year, NMG is launching the Thai edition of Walter Isaacson's "Einstein: His Life and Universe" after the success of the Thai edition of "Steve Jobs" biography. Launched in late 2011, Jobs' biography, also written by Isaacson, remains a best-seller.

The Thai editions of "Good Works" and "Marketing 3.0" by Prof Philip Kotler, the world's top marketing guru, will also be available at the Nation Booth alongside a vast selection of books for all ages. Offerings include English-language titles "Doing Business in the New Myanmar" and "The Creativity Gym". E-books by NMG are also available.

Discounts of 15 to 90 per cent and other temptations will be on offer. For every Bt250 purchase, get a chance to win prizes, which will be handed out every hour. For every Bt800 purchase, get a Book Barista bag or a gift voucher worth Bt100. And for every Bt1,500 purchase, get a gift voucher worth Bt300.

The Nation booth is located at site M15 in Zone C and at Y09 in the Ballroom Zone. Book baristas from Nation University promise to make your shopping experience "more than impressive".


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

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Dems to 'keep pressure on'
Kornchanok Raksaseri,
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation


Democrat MP Atavit Suwannapakdee

BANGKOK: -- House debate on govt's Bt2-trillion borrowing bill kicks off today, Opposition to make case that on-budget spending is the best option

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629079-house-debate-on-thai-govts-bt2-trillion-borrowing-bill-kicks-off/

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Minister faces head-on clashes over P4P
P4P Puangchumpoo Prasert
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong has been on a hot seat since his ministry introduced the Pay-for-Performance (P4P) concept for its medical staff.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629080-thailands-health-minister-faces-head-on-clashes-over-p4p/

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Special admin zone for South not on the agenda
Anapat Deechuay,
Supitcha Rattana
The Nation

NSC chief denies BRN issued a 9-point proposal

BANGKOK: -- Ahead of its dialogue with separatists today, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Paradorn Pattanata-butr yesterday dismissed as untrue a report that the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) had prepared a preliminary nine-point proposal. Paradorn said the report was in fact released by a group that disagreed with the dialogue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629082-special-admin-zone-for-thai-south-not-on-the-agenda/

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Public Health Ministry vows sweeping reform
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Restructuring set for Oct 1 would streamline policy, decentralise power

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry yesterday vowed to go ahead with its ambitious plan to restructure the country's public-health system, which will take effect by October 1. The plan calls for reform of the structure of health-related agencies and decentralisation of the ministry's authority to local bodies.

The massive overhaul is aimed at improving the public health system and making it more efficient, the ministry's permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametha said.

The new structure would bring all five independent health agencies - the National Health Security Office, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Emergency Medical Institute, Health System Research Institute and National Health Commission Office - under the management of the National Health Authority's National Health Policy Commission, which has been established to oversee the country's health policy.

At the same time, the Public Health Ministry's powers would be decentralised to local agencies. To facilitate this, all health agencies under the ministry are now drawing up plans to reform their own organisations.

The National Health Policy Commission will be chaired by the prime minister and managed by ministers with related portfolios. All health agencies including the Public Health Ministry and the independent health organisations will have to propose their projects and budgets directly to the new commission.

The new commission would then select health-related projects that are in sync with the country's health policy direction for submission to the Cabinet for final approval.

Currently, the five independent health agencies propose their projects directly to the Cabinet for budgetary approval. This has led to duplication of projects, which wastes money.

The Public Health Ministry will divide its management into two parts comprising central agencies and 12 Health Area-Based Services.

The central agencies will act as a back office to support the area-based services.

The latter, to be overseen by ministry inspectors, will comprise central hospitals, general hospitals, community hospitals and health-promotion hospitals.

Authority will be transferred from the permanent secretary to the inspectors to manage the public-health system and services in local areas. The inspectors will be able to move or transfer any local health officials, without having to wait for a decision from the permanent secretary. They will also have authority to manage the local areas' budgets.

Narong has given agencies under the Public Health Ministry three months to come up with plans for restructuring their organisations, before the overall plan to reform the public-health system is implemented by October 1.

Those health-related agencies that are not ready to implement this plan will be given one year to adjust to the coming changes.

"They must come up with action plans to reform themselves. They must give a precise timeframe for reform to enable the country's public-health system to become stronger," Narong told more than 200 health officials at the ministry yesterday.

The ministry is expected to spend about five years reforming the health system.

In the next step, it will allow local administration organisations to co-manage the public-health system and services in local areas.

The Public Health Ministry is also revising its method for paying additional allowances to medical workers across the country.

The new allowance rates will be based on the amount of work done - the so-called pay-for-performance principle. It will take effect on Monday, April 1.

Currently, the rates are based on the remoteness of the worker's location and the number of years they have worked.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the new pay plan in principle, pending its further study of the plan. It will give its final approval for the new allowance system at a two-day mobile Cabinet meeting in Chachoengsao province this weekend.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

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Pattaya Police get tough on late-opening bars

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629009-pattaya-police-get-tough-on-late-opening-bars/

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Foreigner falls from 6th and later dies at Central Festival Pattaya Beach

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629010-foreigner-falls-from-6th-and-later-dies-at-central-festival-pattaya-beach/

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THAI TALK
Strong baht offers a chance for an economic shakeup
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation


Central-bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul

BANGKOK: -- The baht may have strengthened a bit too much, too soon, but both the Bank of Thailand and the Finance Ministry seem to have taken it in stride. This, to all intents and purposes, isn't anything near a "crisis". In fact, it may provide a rare opportunity for a major restructuring of the Thai economy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629083-strong-baht-offers-a-chance-for-an-economic-shakeup/

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Thailand to unveil new Bt20 banknotes April 1
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, March 28 – Thailand’s new Bt20 banknotes will be released into the market on April 1, gradually replacing the present note design which has been in circulation for over a decade, a Bank of Thailand (BoT) deputy governor said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629084-thailand-to-unveil-new-bt20-banknotes-april-1/

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Experts call on Bangkok residents to prepare for impacts of volatile weather conditions

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) – Experts have been urging the residents of Bangkok to start preparing for the escalation in volatile weather conditions, expected during in the next decades.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629086-experts-call-on-bangkok-residents-to-prepare-for-impacts-of-volatile-weather-conditions/

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DSI says Democrat government's rice sale fishy
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has concluded that there was an irregularity regarding the previous government's decision to sell 3.4 million tons of rice from the state-held stock to only nine rice exporters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629088-thailands-d-s-i-says-previous-democrat-govts-rice-sale-fishy/

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Staunch Thaksin critic agrees to take Somyos' appeal case
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former National Human Rights commissioner Vasant Panich said yesterday that he would take convicted lese majeste offender Somyos Prueksa-kasemsuk's case to the Appeal Court.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629089-staunch-thaksin-critic-agrees-to-take-somyos-appeal-case/

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Dried-up Mekong River inflicts 450 million baht loss to Chiang Rai; Haze remains critical

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) – Drought in the North has dried up the Mekong River and stalled as many as 20 cargo ships in Chiang Rai, while the haze situation in the province remains critical.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629096-dried-up-mekong-river-inflicts-450-million-baht-loss-to-chiang-rai;-haze-remains-critical/

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Cancer, not gunfire, killed bystander
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday found that Thanuthat Asawasirimankong, 50, had died of cancer complications, not gunshot wounds in connection with the 2010 political strife.

Thanuthat, his wife and their daughter, were waiting for a bus on May 14, 2010 at Rama IV Road. The bus stop is located near Bon Kai community, where violence erupted between protesters and security forces.

After hearing gunfire, only Thanuthat remained at the scene while the other two returned home. Subsequently Thanuthat sustained gunshot wounds in his back. He died in February 2012 while undergoing treatment.

His case doctor testified the patient succumbed to a lung infection and weakened respiratory muscles due to complications of cancer.

Forensic checks confirmed the cancer complications. The gunshot wounds, which paralysed his legs, were not fatal.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

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Suphoth burglary verdict due tomorrow
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday postponed its verdict for nine defendants accused of stealing Bt18 million from the home of Suphoth Sublom, former permanent secretary for transport.

The court has rescheduled the verdict session for tomorrow after granting the defence's request for a delay due to illness of a defendant's mother.

The case came to light in November 2011, and triggered suspicion over how and why Suphoth had amassed the huge amount of cash.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission subsequently probed Suphoth's wealth, then impounded Bt64 million worth of his assets on suspicion of them being ill-gotten gains.

Public prosecutors are in the process of seeking judicial approval to seize the assets.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

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Millions hit by biggest ever internet slowdown as cyber-hackers drop 'nuclear bomb'
- SpamHaus group under attack from cyber-vandals in Geneva
- But other unconnected sites across the world have been caught in attack
- Now, emails have slowed down as a result, expert claims

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629105-millions-hit-by-biggest-ever-internet-slowdown-as-cyber-hackers-drop-nuclear-bomb/

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Property developer knocks down part of Berlin Wall

BERLIN: -- A property developer removed more of the Berlin Wall on Wednesday in a surprise dawn move amid a bitter running protest over the dismantling of the once-detested Cold War division.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629106-property-developer-knocks-down-part-of-berlin-wall/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,557.90, down 2.97 points /MCOT

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Thai team to fight temple dispute with a 'twist' from Cambodia
By English News



BANGKOK, March 28 – The legal team defending the Thai position in the Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) dispute next month will insist on the world court’s impotence to give a ruling on the land dispute as proposed by Cambodia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629133-thai-team-to-fight-phra-viharn-temple-dispute-with-a-twist-from-cambodia/

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The Crown Prince changes robe for the Emerald Buddha

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was yesterday entrusted by His Majesty the King in changing the robe of the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram in the Grand Palace. Arriving at the monastery at 16.52 hr, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince , accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort, officiated at the ceremony of changing the winter robe on the sacred Buddha image to the summer attire.

The Emerald Buddha is one of the most sacred Buddha images of the country. The figurine was meticulously carved from a single block of jade in a sitting posture with crossed legs, having a height of 66 centimeters and a width of 48.3 centimeters at its lap. The Buddha image was first installed at the temple in 1784 during the reign of King Rama I who then ordered the creation of the summer and rainy season cloaks for the statue. King Rama III later ordered the making of a winter robe for the image. In 1996, after the robes became worn out due to long years, the Thai government built a new set of seasonal robes for the Buddha image as part of the celebrations on the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the Throne.

The summer season attire is made of gold adorned with diamonds and gems. It is put on the Emerald Buddha on every first waning moon of the fourth lunar month (March) by His Majesty the King.

After changing the robe for the Emerald Buddha, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sprinkled the lustral water left over from the ceremony on officials and people who had assembled to witness the unique costume change ritual, both inside and outside the Wat or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, to seek blessings of the deity for good fortune during the upcoming season.


-- NNT 2013-03-28

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Cops bust six for running telephone investment scam
By Coconuts Bangkok


Bangkok's Bang Na District

BANGKOK: -- Earlier today, Bangkok police announced the arrest of two Thais and four foreigners in Bangkok’s Bang Na district. The sextet had allegedly been running a telephone investment scam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629146-brit-dutchman-filipino-busted-in-bangkok-telemarketing-scam/

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130 Siamese rosewood chunks confiscated in Mukdahan

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) – One hundred and thirty chunks of Siamese rosewood have been confiscated in Mukdahan Province while being smuggled out of the country.

The police said the arrest was made at the CITES checkpoint in Mukdahan where a cold storage truck was ordered to stop for an inspection. The police found 130 Siamese rosewood chunks packed in the cold storage. The truck belonged to Betagro Company.

The driver has been taken into custody for further investigation, while related persons will be summoned for interrogation.

According the police, smugglers were employing new techniques in transporting rosewood out of the country. People are therefore urged to help keep an eye on the practice and report suspicious activities to the police.

The Siamese rosewood has just recently been listed on the CITES Appendix 2. This means that trade in the wood can take place, under permission of the exporting country and the importing country. The listing also requires measures to prevent a decline in the number of the species in nature to the point that puts the wood at risk of extinction. The originating country of the wood must also be specified in the trading process. Such developments make it harder to smuggle the wood out of Thailand for selling in other countries.


-- NNT 2013-03-28

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Thai man jailed for selling royal documentary: lawyer

BANGKOK, March 28, 2013 (AFP) - A Thai man was sentenced to more than three years in prison on Thursday for selling copies of a controversial Australian documentary about Thailand's royal family, his lawyer said.

The imprisonment of Eakachai Hongkangwan, 37, is the latest in a series of tough sentences handed down by the kingdom's courts for royal defamation, to the dismay of human rights campaigners.

"The court found him guilty of lese majeste and sentenced him to five years, but due to his useful testimony, the sentence was reduced to three years and four months," lawyer Anon Numpa said afterwards, adding his client would appeal.

Eakachai was also fined 64,000 baht ($2,200) for selling CDs without a licence.

The documentary was broadcast by the state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) in 2010 in the midst of a military crackdown on anti-government "Red Shirt" demonstrations in Bangkok.

Thailand warned at the time that the broadcast could affect ties with Australia.

The royal family is an extremely sensitive subject in politically turbulent Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 85, is revered by many Thais but has been in hospital since September 2009.

Rights groups have criticised the kingdom's royal insult laws as an attack on freedom of expression.

Under the legislation, anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

In January the European Union said it was "deeply concerned" by an 11-year jail sentence handed to a former magazine editor in connection with two articles deemed offensive to the royals.

Thailand has been riven by political divisions since the Red Shirts' hero, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was topped by royalist generals in a coup in 2006.

Two months of mass street protests by the Red Shirts against the previous government in early 2010 triggered the kingdom's worst civil violence in decades with 90 people killed, mostly in a bloody military crackdown.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-03-28

[Lite Beer]

Dog traffickers arrested; 20,000 dogs already slaughtered

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) - A gang of dog traffickers has been arrested by a Mekong River patrol unit in Nong Khai province.

Three persons, including two dog sellers and one buyer, were arrested by the Mekong River Operation Unit as they were bargaining the price of dogs.

The sellers reportedly came in two pickup trucks, with about 90 dogs between them to sell. One of the sellers said he had gone through villages to acquire unwanted dogs from villagers, sometimes for free.

The buyer confessed to running a business buying dogs in lots from sellers for 300 baht per dog, and slaughtering them before selling their meat for 40 baht per kilogram wholesale, or 60 baht per kilogram retail.

He admitted he had slaughtered over 20,000 dogs since he started his business in 2007.

-- NNT 2013-03-28

[Lite Beer]

Phra Viharn hearings to air live in Thailand

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) - Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, who is leading Thailand's legal team in the Phra Viharn temple case against Cambodia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has said that the government will air the hearings live on television and radio.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629133-thai-team-to-fight-phra-viharn-temple-dispute-with-a-twist-from-cambodia/#entry6247855

[Lite Beer]

Security truck driver denies B500k Phuket cash heist

Tanyaluk Sakoot

Sampan Inaksorn (blue shirt) is brought into Chalong Police Station after his arrest yesterday.

PHUKET: A security truck driver, arrested on a charge of stealing B500,000 from KasikornBank while delivering cash to ATMs five weeks ago, has denied carrying out the theft.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629178-security-truck-driver-denies-b500k-phuket-cash-heist/

[Lite Beer]

Speedboat plan to ease ride to Phuket airport
Naraporn Tuarob

Santisuk Tharaporn, GM of Phuket Adventures, believes hydrofoils would be more appropriate for the service, if deepwater piers can be built for them.

PHUKET: With traffic getting worse and worse on Phuket’s roads, authorities are seeking new ways to get people from Phuket International Airport to their destinations on the island.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629180-speedboat-plan-to-ease-ride-to-phuket-airport/

[Lite Beer]

Rising heat to bring thundershowers

BANGKOK, 28 March 2013 (NNT) - As the summer season approaches, the weather bureau warns that the rising heat is expected to bring about thunderstorms in the Northeast and the East.

The Meteorological Department announced that the high pressure cell previously covering Thailand’s Northeast and the South China Sea is subsiding. A low pressure cell is currently prevailing over the upper parts of the country, possibly inducing isolated shower and strong wind in the East.

In addition to battling drought and haze, the North today recorded the highest temperature at 40 degrees Celsius. Tak and Lampang are hardest hit by the heat wave.

In Pathum Thani province, a truck driver was found dead in his vehicle early this morning. Initial forensic evidence suggests that his death could be attributed to the effects of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

-- NNT 2013-03-28