Thailand Live Thursday 11 Apr 2013

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His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain pays official visit to Thailand

BANGKOK: -- At the invitation of Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain will graciously pay an official visit to Thailand from 18 to 20 April 2013, as the guest of the Royal Thai Government.

The invitation was extended during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain in May 2012.

Thailand and Bahrain established diplomatic relations on 17 January 1977. The two kingdoms have since worked closely together to realize the close and cordial relations enjoyed by both sides today. The official visit of His Majesty the King of Bahrain is therefore a testament to the long-standing and close friendship between the two nations. It also reflects the shared aspirations to further enhance these strong bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest.

Her Excellency Prime Minister Yingluck is scheduled to have a royal audience with His Majesty the King of Bahrain during the visit to discuss means of promoting further cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, food and energy security, and education. Cooperation under various multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations (UN), the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), for example, is also expected to be discussed as the two countries play important roles in their respective regions. the development of stronger links between Southeast Asia and the Gulf region, especially through closer cooperation between ASEAN and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), is another important issue over which there will be an exchange of views. Following the royal audience, the Thai Prime Minister will host an official banquet in honour of His Majesty the King of Bahrain.

-- NNT 2013-04-11

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RT @RichardBarrow: Heavy rain reported in Pattaya at the moment. Some parts of BKK too - RT @Praewaawaa: พัทยา ฝนตกหนักมาครึ่งชั่วโมงแล้วค่ะ

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RT @ChannelNewsAsia: CAR RECALL: #Toyota recalling 1.73m vehicles worldwide, manufactured between Nov '00 - Mar '04 due to airbag problem

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Security chief: April 29 peace dialogue to continue
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 11 - The next round of the peace dialogue between Thai security authorities and Muslim militant leaders in Malaysia, set for April 29, will be held as scheduled, according to the National Security Council (NSC).

NSC Secretary-General Paradorn Pattanathabut said today that he was reassured by Malaysia – the quasi-mediator in the peace process – that the talks will not be postponed despite the approaching general elections in the neighbouring country.

Malaysians will go to the polls on May 5.

He said Malaysian officials promised to coordinate the peace talks and confirmed that internal politics will not affect the planned dialogue in Kuala Lumpur. The first two rounds of meeting took place in the Malaysian capital the presence of its high-ranking officials.

Lt Gen Paradorn admitted that attacks on Thai government forces in the three southern border provinces may continue in parallel with other attempts to achieve peace in the region.

Security forces in the South including the commercial district of Hat Yai, Songkhla, have been on high alert during the Songkran, or Thai New Year, holiday which officially starts tomorrow and ends next week, he said.

In Songkhla, an integrated operation of police, military forces, administrative officials and civic groups was launched today in four sensitive districts adjacent to the three Muslim majority provinces to provide security to people and tourists during the Songkran festival.

The joint force conducted a blanket search on 30 areas in Chana district but did not find any unscrupulous activities. They nabbed three suspects and seized a pistol, drugs and smuggled cigarettes. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-04-11

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Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, recall 2.92 million cars over airbags

Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Co, Honda Motor Co and Mazda Motor Corp are recalling a total of 2.92 million vehicles globally over airbag problems, Jiji Press reported Thursday

-- The Nation 2013-04-11

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Mo Chit, Hua Lampong crowded with passengers flowing out of Bangkok for long Songkran holiday MCOT

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Phukradung National Park forest fire doused
By English News

LOEI, April 11 – Firefighters successfully extinguished a forest fire on Phukradung mountain in this northeastern province.

Titsak Suriyachaiwattana, head of Phukradung National Park said, firefighters worked tirelessly through the night to control the blaze in the pine forest.

At least, 70 acres (175 rai) of wooded forest areas have been burned. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

It is initially believed that the hot and dry weather with temperatures as high as 31 degrees Celsius on Wednesday may have caused the fire. Other possible reasons for the blaze might be poachers setting a fire to force wildlife animals to flee, or a cooking fire which accidentally set fire to its surroundings, or which had been abandoned without being put out properly. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-04-11

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RT@KristieKenney: It sure looks like rainy season has arrived in Bangkok this afternoon....that's quite a rainstorm out there now.

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Talks with separatists not affected by Malaysian house dissolution

BANGKOK: -- The talks between the Thai government and a separatist movement set for April 29 in Malaysia will proceed as scheduled, a Thai chief negotiator said Thursday.

Malaysia's recent House dissolution and general election on May 5 would not affect the talks, said Paradorn Pattanatabutr, secretary general of National Security Council.

"Malaysia has confirmed that the talks on April 29 are still on and its House dissolution and the general election would not have any impact on the arrangement," Paradorn said.

-- The Nation 2013-04-11

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Chopped Skeletal Corpse Found In Septic Tank

Skeletal remains were discovered by workers cleaning a septic tank behind a Chiang Mai karaoke shop. The dismembered body had been put in a fertilizer bag and dumped in the tank. The age and sex of the body is still undetermined.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632350-chopped-skeletal-corpse-found-in-septic-tank/

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Outbound Bangkok trains, bus terminals crowded by Songkran exodus



BANGKOK, April 11 -- Train stations and bus terminals in Bangkok are crowded with passengers beginning to flow out of the capital to celebrate the Thai traditional new year, or Songkran long holidays, and homecoming trips.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632372-outbound-bangkok-trains-bus-terminals-crowded-by-songkran-exodus/

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DPM Chalerm, police chief arrive Pattani about noon for visit to 3 southernmost provinces; no confirmation regarding overnight stay /MCOT

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Tour of Thailand official slams into power pole during Phuket storm

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- An official of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup Tour of Thailand 2013 cycling event, whose riders were in Phuket earlier this week (story here), was injured when his pickup truck slid off the road during the storm yesterday afternoon and slammed into a power pole.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632378-tour-of-thailand-official-slams-into-power-pole-during-phuket-storm/

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Phuket gets Thailand's newest planetarium

PHUKET: -- The latest generation of cinema, with a screen in the shape of a dome, giving a 360-degree “immersive” experience has opened at Central Festival – the first of its kind in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632386-phuket-gets-thailands-newest-planetarium/

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Constitutional Court is interfering: Thaksin
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has threatened to use the people's force against the Constitutional Court if it interferes in the power of the executive and legislative branches.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632395-thaksin-threatens-to-use-the-peoples-force-against-the-constitutional-court-if-it-interferes/

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BTS flooded after heavy thunderstorm
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The floors of several BTS train cars were covered by water after a severe thunderstorm hit Bangkok earlier today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632420-bangkok-b-t-s-flooded-after-heavy-thunderstorm/

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SET index closed at 1516.81, up 26.56; Bt/USD28.87; GBP44.19; AUD30.35; EUR37.67; CAD28.35; HKD3.71; SGD23.19; JPY28.87

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Chalerm makes low-key trip to Thailand's South
By English News



BANGKOK, April 11 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung quietly flew to the southern province of Pattani today for an overnight inspection of the situation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632424-chalerm-makes-low-key-trip-to-thailands-south/

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Thailand presses on to get off money laundering blacklist
By English News



BANGKOK, April 11 – Thailand is set to announce the first batch of 100 “terrorists” in an attempt to be removed from a blacklist by a global intergovernmental organisation, the Thai justice minister said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632427-thailand-presses-on-to-get-off-money-laundering-blacklist/

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Constitutional Court rejects petition against Democrat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court Thursday unanimously ruled to reject a petition filed by Ruangkrai Leekijwattana to disband the Democrat Party for its alleged involvement in vetting the charter amendment bills.

The court ruled that the Democrats did not violate Article 68 of the Constitution as alleged thus Ruangkrai's request to ask the court to issue an injunction be dismissed.

Article 68 of the Constitution prohibits toppling constitutional monarchy system or gaining power to rule the country in an unconstitutional way. It allows Constitutional Court to dissolve any political party violating this law.


-- The Nation 2013-04-11

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 12 Apr 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/632484-thailand-live-friday-12-apr-2013/