Thailand Live Wednesday 24 Apr 2013

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Former Nation reporter found dead in her flat
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Salisa Phruttitum, a novelist and former reporter at The Nation, was found dead in her condominium in Bangkok's Thonglor area yesterday.

Born in 1972, Salisa spent her childhood in the US. She studied at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and graduated with a degree in economics from Northwestern University. She returned to Thailand in 1994 and completed a master's degree at Sasin Graduate School of Chulalongkorn University.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634869-former-nation-reporter-found-dead-in-her-bangkok-flat/

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Thailand, Iran sign anti-drug smuggling cooperation pact
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, April 24 -- Thailand and Iran on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on anti drug trafficking cooperation, aiming to curb drug smuggling from Iran to Thailand directly and via neighbouring countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634871-thailand-iran-sign-anti-drug-smuggling-cooperation-pact/

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Leading Thai trader optimistic on gold price
By English News



BANGKOK, April 24 – A Thai leading gold trader predicted that the precious metal’s price will climb beyond Bt20,000 per baht weight this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634872-leading-thai-trader-optimistic-on-gold-price/

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UPDATE
CP All deal raises fear of market dominance
Business Reporters
The Nation


Korsak Chairasmisak, centre, chief executive officer of CP All, smiles as he leads a press conference to announce the Bt189-billion takeover of Siam Makro in Thailand

Makro will be used to offer opportunities to SMEs, farmers, CEO tells press

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry will closely monitor Makro and 7-Eleven after the announcement of a tie-up, which would create a giant with the largest revenue in the retail sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634767-thai-tycoon-in-66-bn-bid-for-discount-retailer-siam-makro/#entry6332577

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UPDATE
30 Democrats show up to face charges
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

Legal expert says case groundless as all financial transactions were revealed

BANGKOK: -- As many as 30 Democrat Party MPs turned themselves in yesterday to face the charge that they violated the Political Party Act by donating money to their party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634765-thailands-d-s-i-calls-in-democrat-m-ps-over-party-donations/#entry6332579

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CORRUPTION
Irregularities found in blood-glucose devices
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Rural doctors fault ministry over Bt147m purchase

BANGKOK: -- The Rural Doctors Society has allegedly found irregularities in the Public Health Ministry's Bt147-million procurement of a portable medical device used to measure blood-glucose levels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634874-rural-thai-doctors-fault-ministry-over-bt147m-purchase-of-blood-glucose-devices/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Bombs 'best defused on site'
The Nation



NARATHIWAT: -- Insurgent bombs should be defused or dismantled at the site instead of being done at military ordnance labs, a senior Army explosives expert said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634876-thai-south-crisis-insurgent-bombs-should-be-defused-on-site/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Things we learned from Songkran accident statistics
Tulsathit Taptim



BANGKOK: -- Thanks to a foreign friend, the newly-released figures related to the traditional road carnage of Songkran seem to offer some added perspectives. The numbers show both what we expected - i.e., the high risks of riding a motorcycle during the water festival - and what we weren't quite aware of.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634877-things-we-learned-from-songkran-accident-statistics/

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EDITORIAL
The govt should join the cultural bandwagon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With the success of Thai films abroad, the authorities should take the financing and promotion of artistic products much more seriously

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634879-the-thai-govt-should-join-the-cultural-bandwagon-editorial/

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Unrepentant Korkaew plans another bail request

The Nation

File photo : Korkaew

BANGKOK: -- Korkaew Pikulthong, a Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader, refused yesterday to apologise to the Constitutional Court, saying it was unclear which law the Criminal Court applied in ruling that he had failed to show remorse.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634880-unrepentant-korkaew-plans-another-bail-request/

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Overhaul in teaching methods
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Teaching methods in Thailand for science, technology and mathematics will be overhauled with the aim of upgrading students' knowledge and capability to meet international standards in 14 years, a top education official told the media yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634881-teaching-methods-in-thailand-will-be-overhauled/

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Conflict over Preah Vihear should be kept within the ICJ

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- As Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen put it, Thailand and Cambodia are like tongue and teeth; one cannot be removed from the other. "Whatever the court's decision will be, Cambodia and Thailand will not become enemies to each other," he said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634882-conflict-over-preah-vihear-should-be-kept-within-the-i-c-j/

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Plan to register ivory items to stop slaying of elephants
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is considering a pardon for people who possess ivory and ivory products to encourage them to legally register the items.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634883-plan-to-register-ivory-items-to-stop-slaying-of-elephants/

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Antiques missing from museum
Thanapon Saengthong
The Nation



CHAI NAT: -- Some 61 antiques have gone missing from the Chainatmuni National Museum in Chai Nat's Muang district. Their value is incalculable, according to the museum's chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634887-antiques-missing-from-museum-in-chai-nat/

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UPDATE
200 TB cases found in nightspots
Poungchompoo Prasert
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Over the past year, 186 cases of suspected tuberculosis have been found at more than 800 night venues in Bangkok, of which 24 have been confirmed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634770-nearly-200-t-b-cases-found-in-800-bangkok-nightspots/?p=6332677#entry6332677

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Suthep, Seri face EC over Bangkok election
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Seri Wongmonta, an academic on mass communications, and Democrat leading member Suthep Thaugsuban, on Tuesday met investigators of the Election Commission to deny charges of having framed the Pheu Thai gubernatorial candidate.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634888-suthep-seri-face-e-c-over-bangkok-election/

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UPDATE
No motive cited as summonsing begins
Opas Boonlom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has begun summonsing 43 Democrat Party MPs, accused of violating the political-party donation law, for questioning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634765-thailands-d-s-i-calls-in-democrat-m-ps-over-party-donations/#entry6332689

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CHARTER REVIEW
Activists call on court to halt Article 190 change
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Chanikarn Phumhirun
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of activists yesterday asked the Constitutional Court to halt the planned amendment of Article 190 of the charter, while an academic filed a complaint with police against the court's judges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634889-thai-charter-review-activists-call-on-court-to-halt-article-190-change/

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Police on the hunt for anonymous rock-thrower



Bangkok police are on the hunt for a man who is being implicated in a pair of rock-throwing incidents earlier this week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634896-bangkok-police-on-the-hunt-for-anonymous-rock-thrower/

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Phuket recycling network set up
Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The Regional Environment Office (REO) in Phuket has announced that it has opened a network of centres around the island for people to drop off recyclable waste. All are at existing junk shops.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634899-phuket-recycling-network-set-up/

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Thai authorities clash with drug dealer caravan in Chiang Rai; one dealer wounded, 12 escape, 120,000 meth pills seized /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,557.30, up 7.95 points /MCOT

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PM attending 22nd ASEAN Summit in Brunei
By English News



BANGKOK, April 24 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra leaves Bangkok today for Brunei to attend the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan April 24-25.

The 22nd ASEAN Summit is hosted by Brunei, the current ASEAN chair, under the theme “Our People, Our Future” to reflect the significance of the people themselves in mobilising ASEAN and determining the region’s future.

According to the government website, the ASEAN leaders will follow up establishment of the ASEAN Community and related progress based on the resolutions made during the past meetings.

For Thailand, Ms Yingluck will follow up earlier Thai proposals such as the drug-free ASEAN operations plan, anti human trafficking operations plan, disaster management, resource mobilisation for ASEAN connectivity, and the promotion of public participation in the ASEAN Community.

The Thai PM will also reveal Thailand's standpoint and vision regarding the future direction of ASEAN, particularly on how to maintain a good economic environment, and to make ASEAN a key mobiliser of various regional cooperation frameworks.

Ms Yingluck and other ASEAN leaders will follow up progress in ASEAN Community Building to be realised in 2015 comprising three main pillars, the Economic Pillar, the Political-Security Pillar and the Socio-Cultural Pillar.

On this occasion, the Thai premier will propose the connectivity of the Three Pillars through cultural activities and tourism to promote public interaction.

Ms Yingluck will also attend the 7th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) meeting where the plan for connectivity between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand will be pushed forward through construction of more motorways and sea ports, the establishment of a special economic zone and product distribution centre, and the standardization of various products, as well as customs and related border crossing processes. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-04-24

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Twitter hacker posts bogus report of attack on Obama

NEW YORK: -- A group of hackers broke into the Twitter account of the Associated Press and posted a false news report Tuesday about President Barack Obama being injured in two explosions at the White House.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634926-twitter-hacker-posts-bogus-report-of-attack-on-obama/

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Storms cause damage in Lampang & Singburi; drought worsens

LAMPANG, 24 April 2013 (NNT) – The drought situation continues to exacerbate, with water sources drying up. Meanwhile, storms pounded several provinces in the northern region last night, tearing off the roofs of many homes.

In Don Fai sub-district, Mae Tha district, Lampang province, roofs were blown away from many homes and downed trees crashed onto many others when the storm passed through. Locals said everybody was asleep when suddenly violent gusts blew in, forcing them to take shelter on the ground floor of their homes. Residents from around 100 households have so far lodged their plights with the local administrative organization, and the latter has arranged to purchase 500 roof tiles for initial distribution to the households.

In Inthaburi district, Singburi province, the storm caused a century-old bhodi tree to fall onto electricity poles, resulting in a full night of blackout for homes in Mu 4 of the district. Municipal officials had to restore power by hooking up power cords in a temporary manner, before all the debris can be cleared.

In the meantime, drought continues to eat away the livelihood of people in Nakhon Sawan. The confluence where Yom and Nan rivers meet in Ban Koei Chai in Chumsaeng district has dried up to the point very little water remains. This is forcing farmers along the river banks to dredge the banks and dig up new channels to feed their farmland, compensating for loss of irrigation.


-- NNT 2013-04-24

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RT @191Thailand: Update: 3 dead & 57 injured in the Tak tour bus crash late last night. Nationalities & names unknown.

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Tiger pushing for 'fairness' in Phuket fire case
Tanyaluk Sakoot


The gutted interior of the disco after the blaze was extinguished.

PHUKET: -- With the court hearings to decide blame and punishment in the Tiger Discotheque fire gradually approaching, Tiger’s legal counsel has launched a campaign to “ensure fairness”.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634930-tiger-pushing-for-fairness-in-phuket-fire-case/

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Red Shirt activists vow to block Constitution Court office
By English News

BANGKOK, April 24 – Thailand's Red Shirt activists threatened to seal off the country's Constitution Court today, demanding the resignation of all nine judges.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634934-red-shirt-activists-vow-to-block-constitution-court-office/

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Thailand Authorities Investigate Smoke on Singapore Airlines Aircraft

BANGKOK: -- Singapore Airlines Ltd. (C6L.SG) and authorities in Thailand are investigating activation of extinguishers following cargo-hold smoke warnings on a flight from Singapore to Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/634935-thailand-authorities-investigate-smoke-on-singapore-airlines-aircraft/

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EC invites eligible voters to turn up in full force for elections of local councilors

BANGKOK, 24 April 2013 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has invited eligible voters to exercise their rights in the elections of local councilors and administrators in their respective areas.

The EC Public Relations Department Director General Police Major-General Dejpol Korsanan revealed that this month the EC is holding elections of 204 positions in the local administrative organizations nationwide. He said that these positions are vacated largely due to the completion of terms by previous holders. Police Major General Dejpol said some of the elections have already been conducted.

According to him, this weekend the EC will hold an election of members of the provincial administrative organization in constituency 3 of Lopburi, and another election of members of Tak municipality. Maj-Gen Dejpol thus invited locals in those areas to exercise their rights. He also urged the public to check necessary information on the EC website at www.ect.go.th.


-- NNT 2013-04-24