Thailand Live Wednesday 17 Apr 2013

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THAI-KHMER TIES
Patriots rally against ICJ hearing
The Nation



PM confident both sides will be heard, urges peaceful protest

NAKON RATCHASIMA: -- About 1,000 members of the Khon Thai Rak Chart (Thai Patriots) group gathered at Lam Takhong reservoir in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district yesterday to express their objection to the ongoing World Court hearing of the Thai-Cambodian dispute over the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633378-thai-patriots-rally-against-i-c-j-hearing/

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BOSTON MARATHON TERROR
Airports on alert after US bombings
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Security at Thailand's major airports will be stepped up following the Boston Marathon bombings, according to a senior executive of Airports of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633380-thailands-major-airports-on-alert-after-boston-bombings/

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The Price of Gold Is Crashing. Here's Why

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633363-the-price-of-gold-is-crashing-heres-why/

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Thai mother jailed in Australia for child trafficking of daughter, nine

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

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WORLD COURT
P Penh accepted Thai view years ago: temple team
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
The Hague, Netherlands



THE HAGUE: -- Thailand's legal team says it has seen a lot of loopholes in Cambodia's arguments in the court battle over the Preah Vihear dispute and will emphasise those weaknesses in the hearing today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633381-phnom-penh-accepted-thai-view-years-ago-temple-team/

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SOUTH CRISIS
One killed, three injured in Pattani blast
The Nation



PATTANI: -- A motorcycle bomb attack aimed at a special task force unit patrolling in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district killed the unit leader and injured five other soldiers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633382-one-killed-three-injured-in-pattani-bomb-blast/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Chiang Mai group keen to elect own governor
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- With Bangkok gubernatorial election well behind, some people in Chiang Mai as well as the three southernmost provinces are now seeking greater decentralisation, including the right to elect their own governor though they say it will be an uphill struggle to convince those in the security sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633383-chiang-mai-group-keen-to-elect-own-governor/

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Suvarnabhumi Airport seen very crowded at end of Songkran holidays

BANGKOK, 17 April 2013 (NNT) – An unusually high number of Thai and foreign tourists have flown in and out of Suvarnabhumi Airport as the annual Thai New Year holidays came to an end.

It is reported that Bangkok’s main airport has been exceptionally busy on Tuesday as both Thai and foreign travelers were seen flocking to Suvarnabhumi after the Songkran celebrations were getting wrapped up.

Thai travelers were reportedly returning to Thailand after the holidays while overseas Songkran holidaymakers were said to be continuing their journey to other parts of the country.

Officials at the Suvarnabhumi Airport said security measures have been active while staffs have also been instructed to facilitate travelers as usual.


-- NNT 2013-04-17

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Thai investors advised against panic as gold price hits lowest level in 30 years
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 17 – Local gold prices may dip below Bt20,000 per baht weight, or possibly even Bt18,000 when the Thai bullion market opens tomorrow after the four-day Songkran holiday, an analyst predicted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633363-the-price-of-gold-is-crashing-heres-why/#entry6310086

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Royal Thai Police on high alert after Boston attacks

BANGKOK, 17 April 2013 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police have promptly been on alert after deadly bomb attacks in the US killed at least 3.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633385-royal-thai-police-on-high-alert-after-boston-attacks/

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Car care centers see spike in business as Songkran winds down

BANGKOK, 17 April 2013 (NNT) – Car care centers are seeing a spike in business with car owners flooding into carwashes to prepare their rides for the resumption of work days, after their Songkran vacation.

At a car care center in Ram Inthra of Bangkok, the number of clients rose from the normal 30 to 70 cars per day. Most of the vehicle owners were having their cars cleansed of water marks, powder stains and color spots that made their marks on the cars during the Songkran festival.

At a car wash in Amnatcharoen province, 40-50 cars received service in just one day, whereas it usually washes only 10 cars per day; revenue has thus tripled. The car wash owner expects the income boost to prevail until April 23, and said the business is now looking for more workers to accommodate demand.

Stains from talcum powder are hard to remove if left on vehicles for too long; this fact made car owners decide to give their cars a wash as early as practical.


-- NNT 2013-04-17

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Red tape fuelling human trafficking in East of Thailand
Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation


Cambodian national Sri Mao, seen here with one of her two children, worked illegally in Chanthaburi for six months after paying Bt2,500 to an agent who smuggled her in.

BANGKOK: -- As an illegal worker in Thailand, Niang is familiar with hiding from the police - and being deported when she is found. She has, after all, been ejected from the country several times already.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633386-red-tape-fuelling-human-trafficking-in-east-of-thailand/

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Toll rises as people head back
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Traffic deaths were still up from last year during the first five of the seven dangerous days of Songkran, while injuries and accidents were down by the hundreds, according to the Road Safety Centre.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633389-songkran-death-toll-rises-as-people-head-back-home/

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All safe after dive boat sinks in Similan National Park freak storm
Phuket Gazette


HTMS Pattanee of the Royal Thai Navy has a capacity of about 500 people and was dispatched to help those anchored near Koh Ta Chai. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

PHUKET: -- A dive boat with 30* people on board sank Tuesday in the Similan National Park after being caught in a freak storm about four miles off Koh Ta Chai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633390-all-safe-after-dive-boat-sinks-in-similan-national-park-freak-storm/

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NACC freezes hotel owned by graft suspect's wife
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ordered a freeze on transactions involving a hotel belonging to the wife of a former deputy permanent secretary of the Defence Ministry.

The move follows the freezing by the NACC in late February of Bt65 million worth of assets belonging to the former official, retired General Satien Permthong-in, after he was found unusually wealthy.

NACC member Vicha Mahakun said the commission found evidence showing that Satien's wife Natnicha had announced on a website her intention to sell her Warinburi Villa and Spa Hotel, prompting the agency to freeze the asset. He added that Natnicha and the couple's adopted daughter Nichapat had agreed to testify before the NACC this month, while Satien would do so in May.

-- The Nation 2013-04-17

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RT @RichardBarrow: At 11pm tonight, the Inbound > Hua Lamphong lane of the Thai-Belgium Bridge will be closed for repairs 17 April-15 May.

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STOPPAGE TIME
The secret of 'Pee Mak's' success lies with the worms
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- Writer's note: I assume most of you have seen "Pee Mak", and those who have not may not be that interested anyway, so I will pull no punches on spoilers. If you haven't seen the blockbuster film but intend to do so, you may as well "favourite" this article and come back to it later.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633395-the-secret-of-pee-maks-success-lies-with-the-worms/

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Massive quake strikes Iran-Pakistan border region; at least 30 dead

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633403-massive-quake-strikes-iran-pakistan-border-region;-at-least-30-dead/

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Report: Twitter close to TV deal

SAN FRANCISCO: -- Twitter has long aimed to offer its users far more than 140 character tweets. It already has introduced video and photo services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633405-report-twitter-close-to-t-v-deal/

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Ladyboy nabbed for topless Songkran show
Phuket Gazette


Narinmek Phaophan, 21, told cops she had spent half a million baht on surgery to transform herself into a woman. Photo: The Nation

PATTAYA: -- A deeply-invested transsexual was nabbed by Pattaya Police for dancing topless during Songkran celebrations this past week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633407-pattaya-police-nabs-ladyboy-for-topless-songkran-show/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,524.67, down 2.65 points /MCOT

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RT @191Thailand: During the first 6 days of the #Songkran holiday in Thailand, 285 people killed & 2,783 injured in 2,581 accidents.

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BOSTON BOMBING
TFEX temporarily halts commodity futures trading
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) temporarily halted trading of gold, silver and crude oil futures during 9.45-10.15am on Wednesday, following volatility of the commodity prices after the Boston marathon bombing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633431-t-f-e-x-temporarily-halts-commodity-futures-trading/

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Death toll during Songkran 6 dangerous days reaches 285, w/ 2,783 casualties; Prachuab Kirikhan has highest death rate w 12 dead /MCOT

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Summer storm sweeps Nakhon Si Thammarat, destroys houses and factories

BANGKOK, 17 April 2013 (NNT) – A summer storm has swept through Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, destroying houses and factories, while officials are speeding up help for victims.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has been heavily hit by a summer storm. Hardest hit is Pak Phun Subdistrict where a large brick-producing factory was located. According to Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Viroj Jivarungsan, 7 houses and 3 factories were brought to the ground. The total damage is worth millions of baht.

The owner of a damaged factory told the reporter that it was only a 3-minute storm, but its impacts were devatative. Fortunately, nobody was killed or injured by the incident, thanks to the long holidays as all workers were on their vacation when the factory collapsed.

The governor went on to say that he had ordered related agencies to step up relief operations for the victims, including surveys of damaged houses which need to be restored immediately.


-- NNT 2013-04-17

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150 houses destroyed as Surin was hit by storms

SURIN, 17 April 2013 (NNT) - More than 150 houses, rice barns and mills, and animal farms in Surin were destroyed after a tropical storm hit this northeastern province last evening.

Authorities said the trail of damages could be seen in Jom Phra and Muang Districts, adding the storm has blown away roofs of many houses a few kilometers away. The provincial rice depot belonging to the government’s rice pledging scheme was also completely torn down by the storm.

Initially the local administration is working around the clock to aid storm victims.

About 20 families in Jom Phra District and 50 others in Muang District have become homeless. They are seeking shelters at temples and will stay there until repairs of their houses are completed.

Village heads in the affected districts are urgently seeking assistance from the central administration.


-- NNT 2013-04-17

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GOLD
Sharp fall in gold prices draws huge number of buyers
The Nation


A large number of buyers at a Yaowarat gold shop, as seen through Channel 3.

BANGKOK: -- A large number of gold buyers flocked to Yaowarat on Wednesday, following the historical intraday fall in the metal price on rumours of central banks' unloading.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633363-the-price-of-gold-is-crashing-heres-why/#entry6310839

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MasterCard survey finds mobile purchasing in Thailand growing

BANGKOK, 17 April 2013 (NNT) – The latest survey shows that online shopping through smart phones in Thailand and Indonesia is rapidly rising, and that Chinese consumers are more likely to make online purchase than those from any other countries in Asia/Pacific.

The survey on online shopping habits was conducted among 7011 respondents from 25 different countries in Asia/Pacific, by MasterCard Worldwide between November-December 2012.

The survey found a considerable rise in mobile shopping in the Asia/Pacific region, particularly in Indonesia where 54.5% of the respondents said they had made online purchases via smart phones in the past 3 months, followed closely by China (54.1%) and Thailand (51%). In terms of online shopping contents, 36% of the respondents expressed interest in buying music downloads, with Thai respondents leading the way at 45% , followed by India and the Philippines; at 45% and 44%, respectively.

Meanwhile, 5% of the respondents were keen on buying fashion products and accessories, particularly those in China (54%), followed by Thailand and South Korea (43%), and New Zealand (40%).

-- NNT 2013-04-17

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RT@191Thailand: Six injured in 17-vehicle accident (Bangkok Post)

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Police stop demonstrators from reaching border village in Si Sa Ket

Si Sa Ket - Police stopped a group of demonstrators from entering the border village of Phumsarol Wednesday afternoon for fear that they would clash with local villagers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633378-thai-patriots-rally-against-i-c-j-hearing/#entry6311327