Thailand Live Tuesday 16 Apr 2013

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Phase 2 of Don Mueang Airport face-lift expected to complete in Mar 2014

Done Muenag. File photo, source: Wikipdia.org

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is expecting the second phase of the improvement of the Don Mueang Airport will soon begin to help it cope with a constant rise in the number of air travelers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633189-phase-2-of-don-mueang-airport-face-lift-expected-to-complete-in-mar-2014/

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Twin blasts shatter Boston marathon finish line, killing 2 and wounding 23

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633186-twin-bomb-explosions-shatter-boston-marathon-finish-line/

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Bus drivers reported as reckless by passengers to be fined

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) – The Land Transport Department will fine drivers of buses who were reported by passengers as reckless drivers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633191-bus-drivers-reported-as-reckless-by-passengers-to-be-fined/

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POLITICS
Push for amnesty bill may bring chaos: critic
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A critic of the government warned yesterday that the ruling Pheu Thai Party's push for early deliberation by the House of Representatives of an amnesty bill could lead to a new round of political conflict, but this concern was rejected by a senior government figure.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633193-push-for-thai-amnesty-bill-may-bring-chaos-critic/

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UPDATE
WORLD COURT'S FINAL PUBLIC HEARING
Still quiet on Thai-Cambodian border
The Nation

SI SA KET: -- The national park next to the Preah Vihear Temple was closed to traffic in Phumsrol, a border village of Si Sa Ket, before yesterday's hearing of the International Court of Justice into the World Heritage Site's territorial status.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633129-no-activity-at-thai-cambodian-border/?p=6307007#entry6307007

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POLICE STATION CONTRACT
PCC to sue police if Bt5.8-bn contract cancelled
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Pol Lt-Colonel Santana Prayoonrat, adviser to PCC Development and Construction executive Pibul Udomsithikul, said the company would sue the Royal Thai Police if the agency cancelled the Bt5.848-billion contract for the building of 396 police stations nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633194-p-c-c-to-sue-thai-police-if-bt58bn-contract-cancelled/

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PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY
Cambodia's ICJ stance 'expected'
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
The Hague


The International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, began hearings on the Thailand-Cambodia territorial dispute over the land surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple yesterday.

Phnom Penh says Thailand's 'vicinity' claim violates Preah Vihear judgement

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633196-preah-vihear-controversy-cambodias-i-c-j-stance-expected/

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UPDATE:

Thailand dodges power blackout
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has escaped a possible energy crisis, thanks to the national energy-saving campaign and lower-than-expected temperatures, according to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) governor Sutas Patamasiriwat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633106-energy-crisis-has-passed-egat/#entry6307041

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Ammonia leak from Uttaradit ice factory injures one
Boonpim Baiya
The Nation
Uttaradit

UTTARADIT: -- Ammonia leak from an ice factory in Uttaradit's Muang district yesterday left a Myanmarese worker injured, while other workers and residents were evacuated for safety reasons.

Surachai Thatchakawinm from the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office said the worker, identified as Laso, was found unconscious after inhaling the gas. He was rushed to Uttaradit Hospital and is now safe.

He said the continuous use of the ice-producing machine to meet higher demands could have caused the leak.
Uttaradit Municipality sent officials to help workers and residents move away from the site, after which a fire truck sprayed water in the area to dilute the chemical. Later, a municipality official, dressed in a protective suit, entered the site to close the pipe's valve, Surachai said. The pipe was repaired later.


-- The Nation 2013-04-16

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Convict tags to rehabilitate
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Charnchao Chaiyanukij, deputy justice permanent secretary, yesterday affirmed the electronic tagging of offenders was an option for Corrections Department sentence management.

He said it was time for authorities to change and adopt electronic monitoring (EM) devices such as wrist/ankle bracelets because the real goal wasn't just to punish but also to rehabilitate offenders.

He said EM would be used on two groups. First, those already jailed for some time and who could be remanded outside correctional facilities until their term ended. The department was setting criteria, with qualifications including eligible needs, remorse and redemption, to ensure most suitable inmates were given a chance. The second group were those allowed to serve time outside correctional facilities. The department is conducting a pilot project on 200 Bangkok youths, on whom EM could be implemented soon.

-- The Nation 2013-04-16

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Police check video after bystanders killed in shoot-out
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Police are examining security-camera video for evidence to issue arrest warrants for three young people who shot dead a 25-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl and wounded seven others in Bangkok's Soi Inthamara 29 on Sunday, Pol Colonel Charoen Srisalak, Metropolitan Police Area 2 deputy chief, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633198-police-check-video-after-bystanders-killed-in-bangkok-shoot-out/

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Accused Phuket tourist cop refuses to answer questions
Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The Tourist Police senior sergeant at the centre of the Phuket Town boarding shootout investigation in late March is still refusing to answer many police questions about the incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633213-accused-phuket-tourist-cop-refuses-to-answer-questions/

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Food Sellers And Cabdrivers May Pay VAT Taxes



BANGKOK: -- The Thai government is making adjustments to its tax system, and may eventually require taxi drivers and food merchants to start paying VAT taxes. Recently the corporate tax rate was cut by 3 percent, and the government wants to raise the VAT tax rate from 7 to 8 percent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633215-thailands-food-sellers-and-taxi-drivers-may-pay-v-a-t/

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RT @RichardBarrow: Songkran Road Deaths: Day 1 (39), Day 2 (62), Day 3 (72), Day 4 (45) & Day 5 (37). Total: 255 deaths /via @191Thailand

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Revelers make their ways back to Bangkok, causing taxi shortages

Bangkok, April 16, (NNT) Mor Chit 2 bus terminal on Tuesday morning faced a taxi shortage problem as holidaymakers make their ways back to Bangkok.

Although travelers have been arriving at the station since early morning, authorities at Mor Chit 2 are expecting even a bigger influx of revelers in the evening, when traffic is extremely heavy given it is the last day of the Songkran holidays.

Once passengers arrive at the terminal, they usually hail a cab to take them home; however, due to the large number of the people, there are not enough taxicabs in Mor Chit 2 bus depot to meet the demand.

Passengers have to wait in line more than 20 minutes for a cab. Traffic surrounding the bus terminal, however, remains light, despite the rain.


-- NNT 2013-04-16

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Police call for longer opening hours gets mixed reviews

File photo

BANGKOK: -- A police proposal to extend nightlife closing times by two hours to 4am is getting a mixed reaction.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633259-thai-police-propose-to-extend-nightlife-closing-times-by-two-hours-to-4am/

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Thailand ready to defend temple case at The Hague tomorrow
By Digital Media



THE HAGUE, Netherlands, April 16 – Thailand is set for a showdown at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) tomorrow in the oral hearing as senior Thai ministers have given reassurances that the country’s legal team’s well-prepared statement will defend the Thai position against Cambodian allegations regarding the disputed territory surrounding the Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear) temple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633196-preah-vihear-controversy-cambodias-i-c-j-stance-expected/?p=6307946#entry6307946

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Security measures more tightened at 6 major Thai airports, officials urged to be on high alert after Boston Marathon blasts: AoT /MCOT

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Heavy thundershowers expected in South, East and Central Plains

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) - The Meteorological Department has warned residents in the Central Plains, the East and the South to brace for heavy rains.

The weather bureau said a low pressure cell covering the Andaman Sea and the southeastern monsoon prevailing over the South will bring heavy rains to provinces in the South, East and Central Plains during the next two days.

As strong winds will generate up to 3 meter-high waves, small boats should be kept ashore on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Isolated thundershowers can also be expected in Bangkok and its vicinity, particularly in Bang Sue, Din Daeng and Lad Krabang. Average temperature in the capital has dropped to 31-33 degree Celsius.


-- NNT 2013-04-16

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RT@RichardBarrow: UPDATED: Full Road Accident Statistics for Songkran 2013 - Days 1-5: http://t.co/Br0kLNV9FY

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Eight injured as Phuket bus overturns in Krabi
Phuket Gazette -


Eight people were injured in the accident, but no serious injuries were reported. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Eight passengers received minor injuries when a bus heading from Phuket to Trang ran off the road and overturned in Krabi on Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633284-eight-injured-as-phuket-bus-overturns-in-krabi/

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One soldier killed, 6 others wounded in bombing in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district /MCOT

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Death toll on 5th day of Songkran stands at 255

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) - The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has disclosed that the number of road casualties on the first five days of Songkran reaches 2, 290.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633292-death-toll-on-5th-day-of-songkran-stands-at-255/

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US embassy put under maximum security after bomb attack in Boston

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) – The embassy of the United States in Thailand has been put under maximum security following the recent explosions at Boston marathon finish line in the US.

According to Pol Maj Gen Chaiwat Chantaworaruk, head of the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Commission, security measures at the US embassy have been intensified to the maximum level; however, the embassy has yet to request for an increase in security forces.

Pol Maj Gen Chaiwat added that a police intelligence unit has detected no signs of attempt to create chaos or any irregular activities in Thailand, particularly at the US embassy.

The bomb blastsin Boston resulted in at least 3 dead and over a hundred injured.

-- NNT 2013-04-16

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RT@MaxFosterCNN: “Wherever we find Americans we will kill them, but we don’t have any connection with the Boston Explosions” - Pakistani Taliban

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EAST ASIA PACIFIC
Transnational organised crime flows generate $90 billion annually: UNODC
The Nation


Transnational crime flows

BANGKOK: -- Illicit markets in East Asia and the Pacific earn organised criminal groups nearly US$90 billion a year - an amount roughly equal to twice the GDP of Myanmar, according to a UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633295-transnational-organised-crime-flows-generate-90-billion-annually-unodc/

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Thaivisa.com launches global car rental service

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/rent-a-car/

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Thai mum jailed in Australia for prostituting daughter
By Christine Flatley, AAP

BRISBANE: A Thai prostitute who sold her daughter for sex for seven years, from the age of nine, has become the first person in Australia to be jailed for child trafficking.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633297-thai-mother-jailed-in-australia-for-child-trafficking-of-daughter-nine/

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Phuket Songkran: Four days without death on the roads
Phuket Gazette


On the 4th day of the Seven Days of Danger yesterday, 3,646 vehicles were reportedly stopped and checked and 415 people caught committing traffic offenses. Photo: Irfarn Jamdukor

PHUKET: -- For the first time in years, Phuket has maintained its zero death toll for the first four days of the Songkran Seven Days of Danger national road-safety campaign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633307-phuket-songkran-four-days-without-death-on-the-roads/

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Fun's finished; time to clean up
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 16 – Over 500 workers were dispatched to Silom Road, the capital’s prime business street, today to clean up a one kilometre stretch which was turned into a water-splashing waterworld festival for the last three days.

Bangrak district chief Suachana Sudcharoen said about 100,000 merry-makers swarmed Silom each day to celebrate the Thai traditional new year's Songkran festival April 13-15 which contributed to an estimated Bt60 million in circulation.

The one-kilometre distance from Saladaeng to Nararom intersection has been closed for the last three days to facilitate the annual festival.

Mr Suachana said more plainclothes policemen will be assigned to provide security next year to prevent untoward incidents in light of a firecracker explosion which frightened Songkran revellers this year.

Business will resume as usual tomorrow. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-04-16