63rd Royal Household Bureau announcement on King's condition

BANGKOK, 30 April 2013 (NNT) - His Majesty the King suffered a slight fever and cough on Sunday (April 28), but his general condition has improved after treatment.

The Bureau of the Royal Household cited a report by the team of royal physicians tending His Majesty the King at Siriraj Hospital as saying that His Majesty experienced discomfort and had slight cough followed by a high temperature early Sunday. His breathing was slightly faster than normal while blood pressure was lower. An X-ray showed mild inflammation in his lower lungs, and he was given medicine and fluid intravenously.

The announcement stated that the royal physicians found His Majesty’s temperature, blood pressure and breathing rate to be normal by afternoon, and his general condition continued to improve.


-- NNT 2013-04-30

Tourism Ministry to set up tourist court for better protection of foreign travelers

file photo

BANGKOK, April 30, 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Ministry is working on a plan to set up a tourist court to offer better protection to foreign visitors to the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636168-thai-tourism-ministry-to-set-up-tourist-court-for-better-protection-of-foreign-travelers/

Health Ministry campaigns for end of squat toilet use to lessen arthritis risks

file photo

BANGKOK, April 30, 2013 (NNT) – The Health Ministry is continuing its campaign that calls on the whole country to give up the use of squat toilet to lessen risks of arthritis.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636169-thai-health-ministry-campaigns-for-end-of-squat-toilet-use-to-lessen-arthritis-risks/

Phuket tour guides protest 'Great Chinese Takeaway'
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: More than 200 Thai tour guides massed at Provincial Hall to file a complaint to the Phuket Governor against Chinese nationals working illegally as local tour guides.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636086-phuket-tour-guides-protest-great-chinese-takeaway/

BURNING ISSUE
Water projects awash with uncertainty
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government's much-trumpeted Bt350-billion master plan to manage water resources and prevent floods countrywide is sailing into a storm, not only because of harsh criticism from opposition politicians and outsiders worried about corruption, but also because of power plays within their creator.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636170-thai-govts-water-projects-awash-with-uncertainty/

Army chief worried by court protest
By English News



BANGKOK, April 30 - Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday expressed concern regarding the Red Shirt rally at Constitution Court and urged the protesters not to violate the law.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636171-thai-army-chief-worried-by-red-shirt-rally-at-constitution-court/

UPDATE
Officials yet to conclude cause of Ayutthaya bridge collapse; EIT blames faulty construction

AYUTTHAYA, 30 April 2013 (NNT) – Engineers from the Town and Country Planning Department have yet to conclude whether the collapse of a small suspension bridge in Ayutthaya was a result of design failure or shoddy construction materials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/635909-5-dead-in-ayutthaya-bridge-collapse/?p=6351607#entry6351607

NSC rejects BRN demands at peace talks
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai authorities on Monday rejected demands by the southern Muslim separatists in their second round of talks, but both sides agreed to hold another meeting on June 13.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636173-national-security-council-rejects-b-r-n-demands-at-peace-talks-thai-south/

FARES
Slight rise in BTS fares in June
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- New fares will take effect on the original network of the Skytrain from June 1. The maximum fare rise will be from Bt40 to Bt42 per trip. The original network covers a combined 23.5 kilometres.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636176-slight-rise-in-bangkok-b-t-s-skytrain-fares-in-june/

Thailand supports progress in democratic development
The Nation


Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra addresseshe 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies, in Ulan Bator yesterday.

ULAN BATOR: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra spoke at the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies, Ulan Bator, Mongolia, yesterday. The following is her statement to the meeting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636178-thailand-supports-progress-in-democratic-development/

EDITORIAL
Thailand can be a better neighbour to Myanmar
The Nation

Instead of focusing only on profit from 'development', the Thai govt should also be helping to solve Myanmar's deep-rooted problems

BANGKOK: -- There is nothing wrong with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra making appointments to meet Myanmar President Thein Sein every time she has an opportunity on the sidelines of international conferences, but the topics of discussion should go far beyond the Dawei port and special economic zone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636179-thailand-can-be-a-better-neighbour-to-myanmar-editorial/

Plodprasob defends water-management scheme
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In response to criticism about the withdrawal of several Japanese contractors from the government's large-scale flood and water-management scheme, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi told the press yesterday that the companies were bidding at prices higher than median rates.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636180-plodprasob-defends-water-management-scheme/

Pongsapat to return to police post
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King has endorsed former gubernatorial candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen's reinstatement as deputy police commissioner general.

The PM's Office yesterday announced that His Majesty issued his royal command on April 24 to reinstate Pongsapat. The royal command was countersigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Pongsapat resigned from the police force to contest the Bangkok governor election on March 3 but lost out in the poll to Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra.


-- The Nation 2013-04-30

PCD seeks measures to combat toxic waste
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Plan to control illegal dumping

BANGKOK: -- The Pollution Control Department (PCD) will propose measures to Cabinet to strictly control the movement of hazardous industrial waste - after discovering the illegal transfer of 30 million tonnes of waste from manufacturers to unknown destinations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636181-thailands-pollution-control-department-seeks-measures-to-combat-toxic-waste/

ACCIDENT
Ayutthaya officials 'failed to act quickly'
The Nation



Suspension bridge was damaged and tilting, but remained open

AYUTTHAYA: -- An initial probe into the Ayutthaya suspension bridge collapse on Sunday - that crushed four people to death and injured 10 others - has found that one sling had been torn previously and the pillars were in a deteriorated condition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636182-ayutthaya-suspension-bridge-accident-officials-failed-to-act-quickly/

Despair over move to stop film about the South being screened
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The fact that a film about the deep South will most likely not be screened in Thailand has sparked speculation about the real reasons and many in the film industry agree that this is yet another setback for a society already plagued with censorship.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636183-despair-over-move-to-stop-film-about-thailands-deep-south-being-screened/

PM slams agencies for abusing power
The Nation


Yingluck

Rule of law and democracy suffered setbacks after Thaksin's ouster, Yingluck says in Mongolia

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday heated up the ongoing confrontation between the government - backed by its MPs and supporters - and the Constitutional Court. In an unprecedented action, she assailed independent agencies, accusing them of abusing their power.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636185-rule-of-law-and-democracy-suffered-setbacks-after-thaksins-ouster-yingluck-says/

Hearing on lawsuit against DSI postponed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday agreed to postpone the first hearing of the case in which former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and hsi former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban are suing the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The defendants, DSI chief Tarit Pengdith and three investigators, asked the court to postpone the hearing on grounds that the public prosecutors, who are their defence lawyers, need time to study the case. The three DSI investigators are Pol Lt-Colonel Wannapong Kacharak, Pol Major Yutthana Praedam and Pol Captain Piya Raksakul.

The court rescheduled the hearing for July 8 as Abhisit and Suthep did not object.

In the lawsuit, Abhisit and Suthep allege that the defendants abused their authority to charge them with collaborating to "murder" red-shirt protesters in 2010 when they were simply carrying out their duty of maintaining law and order during the red-shirt protests.

Abhisit was at court yesterday to testify as the plaintiff's witness, but agreed to have the hearing postponed.

The Criminal Court yesterday also postponed the first hearing of a case against 96 yellow shirts, who were charged with besieging the two Bangkok airports in 2008.

Initially, the 96 defendants were to enter their plea yesterday, but their lawyers asked the court for time on grounds that some defendants have yet to appoint a lawyer. The plea hearing has been postponed to July 29.


-- The Nation 2013-04-30

UPDATE:
93-year-old Australian carried into court to face charges of sexually assaulting four sisters aged 7 to 15
Karl Joseph Kraus is too ill to stand trial, according to his lawyers

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623501-93-year-old-australian-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-4-young-thai-children/?p=6352038#entry6352038

Australian falls to his death from 21st floor Jomtien Condominium

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636201-australian-falls-to-his-death-from-21st-floor-jomtien-condominium/

Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,593.08, up 8.15 points /MCOT

Death of US Citizens in Thailand by Non-Natural Causes

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636212-death-of-u-s-citizens-in-thailand-by-non-natural-causes/

RT @RichardBarrow: Coronation Day (วันฉัตรมงคล) is on 5 May & as that is a Sunday, 6 May will also be a holiday making it a long weekend.

UPDATE

Court for tourist protection proposed
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Personal safety is critical to sustaining the tourism boom, so a special court should be set up to look after international visitors more specifically, following foreign models, Tourism Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636168-thai-tourism-ministry-to-set-up-tourist-court-for-better-protection-of-foreign-travelers/#entry6352392

Labour Day celebrated in Phuket tomorrow
Nattha Thepbamrung

PHUKET: -- Tomorrow (May 1) is celebrated in Thailand – as in many countries around the globe – as Labour Day. It is an official holiday for employees, so many businesses will be closed for the day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636216-labour-day-celebrated-in-phuket-tomorrow/

93-Year-Old Australian Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Thai Children Goes On Trial

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636224-93-year-old-australian-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-thai-children-goes-on-trial/

Major airports get facelift to facilitate elderly and disabled passengers

BANGKOK, 30 April 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is launching a project in major airports across Thailand, aiming to facilitate disabled and elderly passengers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636239-major-airports-in-thailand-get-facelift-to-facilitate-elderly-and-disabled-passengers/

Livestock Development officials sprays anti H7N9 virus agent in areas inhabited by migratory birds

CHIANG RAI, 30 April 2013 (NNT) – A Livestock Development Department office in this northern province and the provincial animal quarantine center are conducting a coordinated campaign to spray the border area inhabited by migratory birds from China with germicides against H7N9.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636244-chiang-rai-officials-sprays-anti-h7n9-virus-agent-in-areas-inhabited-by-migratory-birds/

Education minister calls on all sectors to help solve student brawls

BANGKOK, 30 April 2013 (NNT) – Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana has called on all sectors to pitch into the effort of solving student brawls, and suggests that those who commit severe offense be expelled from their place of study.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636246-thai-education-minister-calls-on-all-sectors-to-help-solve-student-brawls/

Court rules Private Narongrit Sala died from military bullet during anti-government Red Shirt protest in April 2010 near National Memorial on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road /MCOT