Thailand Live Friday 29 Mar 2013

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Part of Purple-line train route to be run as MRT

BANGKOK, 29 March 2013 (NNT) - The SRT board has decided that the connection between the MRT and the Purple-line rail should be constructed and run by BMCL, and be an underground train line like the MRT.

The board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decided that the one-kilometre route, connecting the MPart of Purple-line train route to be run as MRTRT station Bang Sue with the Purple-line train station Tao Poon, should be jointly built by the government and the BMCL, who is currently running MRT train services.

According to chairwoman of the SRT board Ratchanee Tripipatkul, the route should be run as an MRT underground route because it is physically connected with the MRT station at Bang Sue.

SRT Director-General Yongsit Rojsrikul said that he agreed with the board's decision. He added that the SRT would talk with BMCL and see whether the construction of the one-kilometre connection could be added as an extension to the SRT's existing contract with the BMCL.


-- NNT 2013-03-29

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Education Ministry's website hacked for the 102nd time

BANGKOK, 29 March 2013 (NNT) - The website of the Education Minister has been hacked, for the 102nd time.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629412-thai-education-ministrys-website-hacked-for-the-102nd-time/

[Lite Beer]

Eleven PAD leaders & activists indicted over airport closure after 4-year delay

BANGKOK, 29 March 2013 (NNT) - 11 more members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been indicted on the charge of closing down Bangkok's two airports in 2008.

The 11 PAD members include the second-generation PAD leader Sarunyu Wongkrachang, the director of ASTV channel Surawit Weerawan, the PAD leader and ASTV presenter Sarocha Pornudomsak, and the PAD leader and Manager Online columnist Panthep Puapongpan.

The 11 indicted are the second batch of the 31 PAD leaders and protesters indicted earlier this month for a similar charge. The indictment came four years after the PAD occupied two of Bangkok's airports in late 2008.

The court has accepted the case, and the first hearing session is scheduled to take place on April 29.

-- NNT 2013-03-29

[Lite Beer]

Thailand, Bangladesh sign MoU extending rice agreement
By English News

BANGKOK, March 29 - Thailand and Bangladesh signed an agreement to extend the timeframe of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on their rice trade for another three years to 2016, said Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

The MoU between the Thai and Bangladeshi governments was earlier set to end now, in March 2013.

The minister said the framework of the agreement is to trade parboiled rice at a maximum amount of one million tonnes annually, depending on the rice production situation of each side and the global market price.

In 2011, the Thai Ministry of Commerce entered a government-to-government contract with Bangladesh to trade 200,000 tonnes of parboiled rice.

In 2012, Bangladesh did not import rice from Thailand as the country had no a natural disaster.

Bangladesh has a population of more than 160 million and the demand for rice is about 35 million tonnes annually and it imports about 178,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand each year on average. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-03-29

[Lite Beer]

Tortoise Smugglers Caught With 10 Percent Of Entire Species At Thailand Airport
The Huffington Post | By Ryan Grenoble

Two smugglers are facing charges in Thailand after authorities caught them attempting to sneak more than 10 percent of the remaining population of a critically endangered species into the country.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629427-tortoise-smugglers-caught-with-10-percent-of-entire-species-at-thailand-airport/

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RT@191Thailand: Ranger outpost attacked in Yala (Bangkok Post)

[Lite Beer]

Minor progress in KL peace talks, sets April 29 for next meet
By English News

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 – Thailand and Muslim insurgents from the South have reached an agreement on a terms of reference (TOR) for their peace dialogue in the first round of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629320-nine-of-15-delegate-members-attend-dialogue-in-kuala-lumpur-thai-south-crisis/#entry6251228

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Thai-Cambodian trade in Surin reaches new record high

BANGKOK,29 March 2013 (NNT)-The border trade in Surin province has reportedly reached 1 billion baht for the first time. The figure is said to be the new record high as the situation on the border of Thailand and Cambodia remains calm.

Surin's trade official Sitthiporn Bangkeaw said the trade via Chong Jom checkpoint over the border of Thailand and Cambodia in Surin has seen steady growth and has now reached 1.06 billion baht and, according to him, the number continues to rise.

Mr. Sitthiporn said this is due to the relatively calm situation on the border and the prospect of ASEAN integration in 2015. He said these factors have prompted the export of fuel and everyday items from Thailand, while we need cassava from Cambodia for the industrial sector.

According to Mr. Sitthiporn, the export to Cambodia last year through the checkpoint was valued at 888 million baht, while the import from the country was worth 173 million baht. In January 2013, the overall border trade value at Chong Jom was 107 million baht, with fuel being the biggest export commodity, worth 69 million baht, from Thailand.

Other products in demand in Cambodia include fruit juice and condense milk, whereas Thailand imports cassava, used clothes and plastic items.


-- NNT 2013-03-29

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Cops Nab German-Thai Couple Opening Illegal School



Police arrested a 45-year-old German man and his Thai wife for opening a German language school without a permit. Concerned parents notified the police after discovering the school was illegal. Police also found that the German has pending arrest warrants from his native country

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629432-thai-police-arrest-german-thai-couple-for-opening-illegal-school/

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Finance Ministry raises 2013 growth forecast to 5.3% from previous projection at 5% /MCOT

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PM defends using high-speed trains network for perishable goods
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Friday cried foul over Facebook users' widespread ridicule of her debate on the Bt2trillion loans bill on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629436-yingluck-defends-using-high-speed-trains-network-for-perishable-goods/

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SET index closed at 1561.06, up 16.49; Bt/USD29.15; GBP44.24; AUD30.25; EUR37.29; CAD28.55; HKD3.75; SGD23.38; JPY30.83

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Princess Sirindhorn introduces her new book

BANGKOK, 29 March 2013 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday morning (March 28) chaired a function to introduce her book entitled “Nari Nakharin” (city of females), a translation from a Chinese novel by a female writer in central China's Hubei province. The ceremony was held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Bang Rak area, Bangkok.

Nari Nakharin reflects a social phenomenon regarding the inner beauty and power of women as a mother, wife and friend, as well as the changing ways of life of Chinese people following the modernization in China. The book focuses on the strength of women in the past which continues to the present time and will be the same in the future.

With her interest and talents in Chinese language and culture, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn translated the story last year and graciously gave permission to Nanmi Books Company Limited to publish it for the first time this year. Apart from the book, Her Royal Highness has written several other books about China following her frequent visits to that country since 1981.

At yesterday’s function, Her Royal Highness also opened the Hubei Cuisine Festival at Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant, at the same hotel. The cuisine was mentioned in the book as a prominent culture of the people of Hubei.


-- NNT 2013-03-29

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Spate of Phuket parking lot robberies prompts security boost
Phuket Gazette


Ms Chonnakarn’s car was broken into while she was exercising at Bang Maruan lagoon in Thalang. It was the fifth such break-in at that location in two months. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- Five car burglaries in two months at the Bang Maruan lagoon in Srisoonthorn has prompted Deputy Mayor Sakchai Mulikabutr to boost the number of security guards patrolling the area in the evenings.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629446-spate-of-phuket-parking-lot-robberies-prompts-security-boost/

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Court sentences 9 men behind Supoth robbery
ANUPHAN CHANTANA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The mastermind and seven accomplices involved in robbing "corruption money" from the former permanent secretary for Transport Suphoth Sublom were convicted and sentenced by the Criminal Court Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629448-court-sentences-9-men-behind-supoth-robbery/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 30 Mar 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/629543-thailand-live-saturday-30-mar-2013/