Thailand Live Thursday 2 May 2013

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Transport Ministry continues study of high-speed train system

BANGKOK, 2 May 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is on course in its study for the construction of the country’s high-speed railway project.

Director-General of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Chula Sukmanop said on Wednesday that a feasibility study for various possible routes for Thailand’s first high-speed train, connecting Bangkok with Chiang Mai.

Mr. Chula said, for some of the alternative routes, new tracks will be constructed along the whole of existing ones, while some suggested the combination of existing tracks and new tracks.

He reckoned that a conclusion on the choice of the route will be derived within June and the construction will begin by mid-2014 in order for the service to commence around the end of 2019.


-- NNT 2013-05-02

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Reds urge mass rally at court
The Nation

File photo - The Nation

Group calls for 100,000 people to protest outside charter court next week to pressure judges to resign

BANGKOK: -- A red-shirt group protesting against Constitutional Court judges yesterday called on fellow red shirts nationwide to join a rally in front of the court next week in order to step up pressure against the nine members of the bench.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636652-red-shirts-call-for-100000-people-mass-rally-at-constitutional-court-in-bangkok/

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PM urges workers to upgrade skills
Thammaraj Kijchalong
The Nation



Yingluck says government backs labour group's list of demands

BANGKOK: -- Marking Labour Day yesterday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra thanked workers for their contributions to Thailand's economy but emphasised the need for labourers to improve their skills.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636653-yingluck-urges-thai-workers-to-upgrade-skills/

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FAKE BOMB DETECTORS
Focus on purchases after UK ruling
Opas Boonlom
The Nation

Officials from 13 govt agencies investigated over procurement

BANGKOK: -- The GT200 "bomb detector" is back under the media spotlight after a British court found wealthy businessman Jim McCormick guilty of three charges of multimillion-pound fraud in relation to three types of fake bomb detectors he sold to state security agencies across the world - including Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636654-fake-bomb-detectors-focus-on-thailands-purchases-after-u-k-ruling/

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Charter change may cut appointed senators' terms
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Appointed senators may lose their posts after draft changes to the charter requiring that all senators be elected are passed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636655-thai-charter-change-may-cut-appointed-senators-terms/

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THAI TALK

Danger: Politicians try to demolish independent agencies

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

Charan Pakdithanakul

BANGKOK: -- A new war is brewing between the Pheu Thai Party and the Constitutional Court - a new round of confrontation that could decide the fate of independent agencies in the Constitution, which is the subject of a proposed amendment by the ruling party.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636656-danger-thai-politicians-try-to-demolish-independent-agencies/

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EDITORIAL
Time to use the resources we have in abundance
The Nation

There is no excuse for Thailand, blessed as it is with sunshine, not to embark on an expansive programme of solar-energy production

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636657-time-to-use-the-resources-we-have-in-abundance-thai-editorial/

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BURNING ISSUE
Does the PM's speech herald fresh conflict?
Attayuth Bootsripoom



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivered some aggressive political comments during a speech on Monday during the seventh Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, which was attended by political leaders from many countries.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636658-does-yinglucks-speech-in-mongolia-herald-fresh-conflict/

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Abhisit, Suthep face additional charges
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban will be summoned to acknowledge additional charges of authorising killings during the 2010 unrest in Bangkok, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636659-abhisit-suthep-face-additional-charges-2010-bangkok-protests/

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Crackdown on Drug Dealers in Social Media
The Nation, Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- Police have arrested 11 suspected drug dealers allegedly trading through social media like Facebook and seized hundreds of amphetamine tablets from them.

Pol Maj Gen Chamnarn Ruedrew, deputy commander of Chiang Mai police, said yesterday that police had received intelligence from suspects arrested earlier in the province that Thongchai Piyaparb, 21, and Mattawan Kanjina, 22, both locals, were involved in selling drugs to youths.

The two suspects were caught on Monday with 125 yaba pills in their possession.

Mattawan told police that they took and placed orders via Facebook and the free Line messaging service.

Police apprehended the nine other suspects by baiting them in those social networks.

Chamnarn said the suspects used the aliases Namnueng Jaidiewkan and Kaengjued Rodped to register for Facebook and sent coded messages to conduct their business.


-- The Nation 2013-05-02

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Court to rule on water-scheme injunction today
Kesinee Taengkhiao,
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court will today hold a special hearing to determine whether to halt the bidding process for the government's Bt350-billion water-management and flood-prevention scheme.

Qualified business groups are scheduled to tender bids for the projects by tomorrow (May 3). The Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC) earlier suggested it would announce the bidding results a week later.

Yesterday, Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya and a lawyer represented 45 people in filing a complaint with the court against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM), the WFMC and the National Water and Flood Management Policy Committee over the project.

According to the complainants, Yingluck and the SCWRM did not adhere to procedures in creating the water-management master plan, causing all subsequent activities relating to it to be suspiciously rushed. For example, they said, a press conference on the master plan was held on January 20 last year. Six days later, the Cabinet approved a decree authorising the Finance Ministry to seek a massive loan to finance the projects called for under the plan.

The complainants asked the Central Administrative Court to nullify the master plan. They also requested that an injunction be ordered first to ensure the bidding process for the master plan is suspended.

Meanwhile, the operator of Thaiflood.com yesterday lodged a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission against Yingluck, her Cabinet and WFMC accusing them of abusing their authority. "We have acted on behalf of the public sector," Poramate Minsiri said.


-- The Nation 2013-05-02

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Four ministries draft emergency plan to prepare for H7N9 bird-flu threat

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Four ministries will propose to the Cabinet an urgent plan of action to prepare for a possible pandemic of the deadly bird flu H7N9, as well as other emerging diseases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636660-four-thai-ministries-draft-emergency-plan-to-prepare-for-h7n9-bird-flu-threat/

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Action sought against top GPO official
Puangchompoo Prasert,
Piyanut Thamnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong has asked the board of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to consider taking disciplinary action against managing director Witit Artavatkun for his alleged involvement in the paracetamol procurement scandal.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636661-paracetamol-scandal-action-sought-against-top-thai-official/

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Belgian found dead in his South Pattaya Apartment



PATTAYA: -- On Wednesday the body of a 57 year old Belgian was found in his 3rd floor apartment in South Pattaya and although no obvious signs of a disturbance in the room or injuries to the victim were seen, the cause of death remains unexplained for now.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636664-belgian-found-dead-in-his-south-pattaya-apartment/

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Thailand takes the rap in US fake goods review



BANGKOK: -- An American organization has released its annual Top ten countries in a league of nations they accuse of being the major sources of pirated goods.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636668-thailand-takes-the-rap-in-u-s-fake-goods-review/

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Strong baht hurts govt's new rice lot release under fixed prices govt-to-govt deals; may affect 8-9% exports growth target:Commerce Minister /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,597.20, down 0.66 points /MCOT

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Hospitals to start implementing P4P

BANGKOK, 2 May 2013 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health’s Pay-for-Performance (P4P) initiative will be implemented in some hospitals that are ready, at the beginning of May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636698-thai-hospitals-to-start-implementing-pay-for-performance/

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6 people,including a 3y-o boy were shot dead in brutal attack by suspected insurgents at grocery store in Pattani late Wed. night /The Nation

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Toddler among six dead in Thai south shooting: official

PATTANI, Thailand, May 2, 2013 (AFP) - A three-year-old boy was among six people shot dead when gunmen opened fire on a village grocery shop in Thailand's restive south, a Thai security official said Thursday, vowing tentative peace talks would continue.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636700-toddler-among-six-dead-in-thai-south-shooting-official/

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North Korea sentences US man to 15 years hard labor

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636702-north-korea-sentences-u-s-man-to-15-years-hard-labor/

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Australian dies at South Pattaya Guest House

PATTAYA: -- A 75 Year Old Australian, who is thought to have consumed sex enhancement medication, died in a Guest House located on Walking Street in South Pattaya, early on Thursday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636719-australian-dies-at-south-pattaya-guest-house/

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Thai government announces plan to spruce up its websites
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- This Wednesday, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Anudith Nakornthap announced that eight of the Thai government’s major websites would be getting a facelift.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636725-thai-government-announces-plan-to-spruce-up-its-websites/

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Focus

Fast fashion, fair wages: Vietnam's lesson to Bangladesh

by Cat Barton

HANOI, May 2, 2013 (AFP) - From factory fires to slave labour, the growth of mass manufacturing in South East Asia has not been problem-free, but having shed its "sweatshop" reputation, the region could have lessons for Bangladesh.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636727-fast-fashion-fair-wages-vietnams-lesson-to-bangladesh/

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DSI cracks down on counterfeit products

Bangkok, 2 May 2013, (NNT)-- Director General of Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Tarit Pengdit, Deputy Agricultural and Cooperatives Minister, Nuttawut Saikuea, and Deputy Secretary General of the Anti-Money- Laundering Office (AMLO) Female Police Captain Suwanee Sawangpon, yesterday announced the results of a joint operation in eradicating counterfeit products during the month of April, confiscating items worth around 30 million baht from 4 major raids.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636749-thailands-d-s-i-cracks-down-on-counterfeit-products/

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UPDATE

Six civilians killed in brutal attack in Thailand’s South
By English News



PATTANI, May 2 – Six people including a three-year-old boy were shot dead in an attack at a grocery store in this Muslim-predominant province in Thailand’s far South last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636700-toddler-among-six-dead-in-thai-south-shooting-official/?p=6360436#entry6360436

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UPDATE

Film's Vietnam vet find after 44 years false: US

HANOI, May 2, 2013 (AFP) - A man who claimed in a widely publicised documentary to be an American soldier, missing since his helicopter was shot down during the Vietnam War, is actually Vietnamese, the US said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636410-sgt-john-hartley-robertson-us-army-veteran-found-living-in-remote-vietnam-village/#entry6360492

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Thai-Sino trade to rise to US$100 billion in 2015
By English News



BANGKOK, May 2 – Thailand and China will develop trade relations to reach a combined value of US$100 billion in the next three years, the Thai deputy prime minister/foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul said China is keen on investing in water resource management and development of Thailand’s infrastructure under the Bt2 trillion borrowing programme.

He said after a two-hour meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the two countries are interested in jointly developing a high-speed train line in Thailand while cooperation on tourism has been successful with 2.8 million Chinese visitors to the kingdom last year.

The number of Chinese tourists should reach three million this year, he said.

Mr Wang Yi also informed the Thai deputy prime minister that China will permit Lin Ping, a Chinese panda born in Thailand, to stay after the lending term agreement expires soon.

It’s time for the panda to return to China for mating but China will allow Ling Ping to stay longer, he said, adding that representatives of the Chinese Forestry Department will meet with the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the issue. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-02

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Appeals Court rejects Korkaew's bail request
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court Thursday reaffirmed the Criminal Court's decision to reject the request of Pheu Thai party-list MP Korkaew Pikulthong to be freed on bail.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/636769-appeals-court-rejects-pheu-thai-party-list-m-p-korkaews-bail-request/

[Lite Beer]

1,000 new medical graduates needed to solve doctor shortages in rural areas

BANGKOK, 2 May 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health and higher education institutions have vowed to produce 1,000 medical graduates a year in their attempt to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Suphan Srithamma said that there are not enough doctors in the rural areas at present. A joint effort has been set up between Public Health Ministry and medical schools in various parts of the country to try to recruit 1,000 new graduates each year for local hospitals where doctors are needed.

Dr. Suphan said he hopes there will be no shortages of doctors in the future as medical graduates recruited to work in the local hospital are locals who live in the same province where they are supposed to work.

-- NNT 2013-05-02