Thailand Live Saturday 20 Apr 2013

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Royals to attend Dutch crowning
The Nation

THE HAGUE: -- HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will visit the Netherlands to attend the crowing ceremony of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, 45, on April 30, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul yesterday.

The minister expressed gratitude to his Dutch counterpart Frans Timmermans at a meeting in The Hague, saying that everything had been prepared for the royal visit.

Surapong also discussed investment opportunities with Timmermans. The Thai minister was in The Hague for hearings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the dispute over Preah Vihear temple.

During their meeting he invited the Netherlands to invest in the Bt2 trillion infrastructure projects, along with the Dawei industrial development project in Myanmar.

"I suggested that he explore opportunities in Asean, in order not to miss the investment bandwagon," Surapong said.


-- The Nation 2013-04-20

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Pheu Thai MPs to seek impeachment of Constitution Court judges

The Nation

Judges abused authority by agreeing to review charter-change bill, they say

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai MPs yesterday threatened to file criminal charges against Constitutional Court judges and seek their impeachment over what they regard as the court's interference in the legislative branch's power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633964-pheu-thai-m-ps-to-seek-impeachment-of-constitution-court-judges/

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Thailand rejects use of Annex I map
Supalak Ganjanakhudee
The Nation
The Hague



THE HAGUE: -- Thailand yesterday rebuffed Cambodia's use of the Annex I map, saying it could only be used to indicate Cambodia's sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple and that it never marked a clear boundary between the two countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633965-i-c-j-preah-vihear-hearing-thailand-rejects-use-of-annex-i-map/

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ELEPHANT DEATHS
Politicians may be involved: park chief
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Official to seek DSI probe; experts say locals can help protection efforts

PHETCHABURI: -- he chief of Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park, Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, will next week ask the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe the possible involvement of politically connected criminal gangs in the recent killing of wild elephants in the park.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633966-thai-politicians-may-be-involved-in-elephant-killings-kaeng-krachan-park-chief/

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Competing visions on nation's future
Achara Deboonme
The Nation



Kittiratt, Korn go head to head over Bt2-tn bill, interest rates, rice pledging

BANGKOK: -- Every debate has its own attractions. When Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij convened for their first face-off on Thursday night, the audience was not disappointed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633969-kittiratt-korn-go-head-to-head-over-bt2-tn-bill-interest-rates-rice-pledging/

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CONVERGENT NEWSROOM
Opportunities across continents
Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
The Nation


British Ambassador HE Mark Kent with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Britain's ambassador to Thailand, HE Mark Kent, sees great potential in the proposed Thai-European Free Trade Area

BANGKOK: -- Mark Kent, the UK's ambassador to Thailand, is a strong advocate of the ongoing Thai-European Union Free Trade Area (TEUFTA) negotiations. The envoy suggests that consumers, in the end, will benefit from freer trade in goods and services, as well as from increased flow of investment.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633970-britains-ambassador-mark-kent-sees-great-potential-in-the-proposed-thai-european-free-trade-area/

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Phuket Town citizens setting up safety zone
Tanyaluk Sakoot



PHUKET: -- A new Phuket Town safety zone is to be set up soon, following the success of the safety zones that have been in operation in Patong since July last year and more recently in Chalong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633971-phuket-town-citizens-setting-up-safety-zone/

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Phuket police boss slams Bangkok over CCTV delay
Tanyaluk Sakoot



PHUKET: -- The gold shop robbery and murder on April has highlighted once again a nagging problem for Phuket’s police force: the continuing lack of decent coverage of the island with CCTV cameras, despite proposals to the government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633972-phuket-police-boss-slams-bangkok-over-c-c-t-v-delay/

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Biased views of neighbouring nations must change, experts say
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The teaching of Thai history and the history of Thailand's relations with its neighbours should be reformed to eradicate Thais' superiority complex and condescending attitude, mistrust and even hatred towards its closest neighbours, two Thai experts said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633973-biased-views-of-neighbouring-nations-must-change-thai-history-experts-say/

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UPDATE

Korkaew to learn his fate on Monday
The Nation


Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong, left, raises hands with his fellow red-shirt leader Jeng Dokjik to show his positive state of mind as he goesl into court yesterday to hear whether he will be allowed bail during the period when his immunity as MP is no l

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court will decide on Monday whether or not to allow Pheu Thai party-list MP Korkaew Pikulthong to remain on release from Bangkok Remand Prison.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633891-pheu-thai-party-list-m-p-korkaew-to-learn-his-fate-april-22/#entry6319626

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BMA to go easy on street vendors
Thanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

file photo

City police will try to avoid arresting or imposing fines on street vendors in Bangkok.

BANGKOK: -- "Instead, our focus will be on seeking cooperation from stall owners in a bid to ensure that they follow guidelines in plying their trade," Deputy Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633976-bangkok-city-police-will-try-to-avoid-arresting-or-imposing-fines-on-street-vendors/

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Investigation launched into suspect chemicals
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Defence Pharmaceutical Factory (DPF) have detected 44 tonnes of problematic precursor chemicals for paracetamol production, supplied between 2011 and 2012, according to a top official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633977-thai-f-d-a-launches-investigation-into-use-of-dodgy-chemicals-for-paracetamol-production/

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DSI summons St Gabriel's execs over finances
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Executives of the St Gabriel's Foundation are expected to testify before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633978-bangkok-d-s-i-summons-st-gabriels-execs-over-finances/

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Get going on 3G contract fixes, CAT and True told
Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has ordered CAT Telecom and True Group to speed up their joint amendment of their third-generation service-partnership contracts to comply with the 2010 Frequency Allocation Law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633979-get-going-on-3g-contract-fixes-c-a-t-and-true-told/

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Finlander Dies While Thai GF Celebrates Songkran

A 73-year-old Finland man died alone in his Pattaya condominium while his 34-year-old girlfriend went back home to visit her family in Pitsanulok for Songkran. He died several days before his body was discovered, apparently from natural causes.

PATTAYA – April 18, 2013 [PDN]; at 10:30 a.m., a report of a foreigner dying of unknown causes was received by Pol. Capt. Phitak Nernsaeng, investigation officer, Pattaya police station, Chonburi province. The rescue officers of Sawangboribul Pattaya foundation were dispatched to the scene, along with police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633981-finnish-national-found-dead-in-pattaya/

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DPM/FM Surapong, standing in for PM on her weekly programme, clarifies Thailand's oral statement on Preah Vihear case at World Court /MCOT

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Chaotic but FUN as Pattaya celebrates the Songkran Festival

PATTAYA:--For some it is considered a day to avoid, for others it is a day where the thought of venturing out is non-existent, but for thousands of others it’s a day to converge on Pattaya to celebrate the Thai New Year, also known as the Songkran or Water Festival.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633987-chaotic-but-fun-as-pattaya-celebrates-the-songkran-festival/

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Coke Clothing Importers Arrested



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Police have arrested a man from Ghana, along with his Thai girlfriend and some very interesting clothing this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633992-ghanaian-man-arrested-with-cocaine-impregnated-pants/

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RT @AP: BREAKING: Communist Party official: China earthquake kills 32 people, injures more than 600. -SS

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Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder still on active duty
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder after a violent attack on Valentine’s Day remains on active duty in Thalang, while police prepare their case for the prosecutor.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633999-phuket-policeman-charged-with-attempted-murder-still-on-active-duty/

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RT @ChannelNewsAsia: 72 dead, 600 injured in China's Sichuan quake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale

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Abhisit slams Thai government on amnesty move
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 20 – Thailand’s opposition leader has warned that the government-sponsored Amnesty Bill will lead the country backwards and result in political confrontation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634006-abhisit-slams-thai-government-on-amnesty-move/

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Nosediving gold prices batter Thai pawnshops
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, April 20 – The plunge in gold prices has wreaked havoc on Thai pawnshops where 80 percent of received assets are the precious metal, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634007-nosediving-gold-prices-batter-thai-pawnshops/

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Obama vows to find out what turns 2 young US residents accused of Boston bombings to hate, after 2nd suspect is captured alive /MCOT

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RT@RichardBarrow: 20 April: Schedule of football matches on Thai TV tonight pic.twitter.com/ifjhpiqLNo

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Thailand opposes use of so-called Annex I map at ICJ
By Digital Media

THE HAGUE, April 20 -- Thailand rejected Cambodia's use of the so-called Annex I map in the 1962 Judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying it has never marked a clear boundary, but could cause further problems between Thailand and Cambodia.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633965-i-c-j-preah-vihear-hearing-thailand-rejects-use-of-annex-i-map/

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Suspected insurgents burn tyres, CCTV cameras, telephone booths at 14 locations in four districts of Pattani province /MCOT

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Drunk Teen Driver Causes Multiple Car Pile-Up
PATTAYA:--Four people were seriously injured in a chain reaction of car collisions, after a speeding drunk driver rammed into a line of cars stopped at a traffic intersection. The young driver was also seriously injured. Police assumed he was drunk after finding cans of beer.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634049-drunk-teen-driver-causes-multiple-car-pile-up/

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Gold Traders Association: Gold prices fluctuating 7-9 times/day resulting in less gold buying /MCOT

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500 Red-shirts in Si Sa Ket tried to block Democrat Party leader Abhisit from reaching Rajabhat Si Sa Ket Uni to deliver a speech/The Nation