Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party face constitutional showdown

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Truck company at odds with weighing station blocks off Chainat highway

CHAINAT, 9 May 2013 (NNT) A trailer truck company owner has brought more than a dozen trucks to block the Asia Road inbound segment at Sapphaya weighing station in Chainat province, after having been upset by a delay by Chainat provincial court in processing his suit against the weighing station.

Songchai Thienpricha, owner of Samutsakhon-based Songchai Rungrueang Transport, decided to act after he was told by Chainat court that deliberation of his case would be postponed to June 17. The case involves one of the truck drivers in his company having been arrested for driving an over-loaded truck. Songchai asserted he had earlier been concerned the case may be shelved, thus he ordered his drivers to start the blockade when he learned of the postponing.

The truck drivers set up camp in tents, and gathered up food supplies, and equipped themselves with power generators and loudspeakers. The drivers also handed out leaflets with messages apologizing to commuters for the traffic jam.

Despite mediation efforts by Chainat deputy governor Chaloemkiat Worawutphutthaphong and telephone conversations with Department of Highways director-general Chatchawan Buncharoenkit, the road block remained in place as of Wednesday evening (May 8).

Sapphaya weighing station chief Thinnakon Thongbunma said the truck under Mr. Songchai's company was charged with the offense because it weighed 2.5 tons over the limit.

In the meantime, authorities have deployed a number of riot control policemen in case they are needed.


-- NNT 2013-05-09

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CARTOON CONTROVERSY
Thai society sees women 'as lowly'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

Anthropologist slams females for ignoring sexist attack on Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Using the term prostitute as a reference to slam Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra only degrades women and perpetuates misogynic attitudes, three women - a leading feminist, an anthropologist and a sex worker - said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638206-thai-society-sees-women-as-lowly/

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Thousands more join P-Move rally
TANPISIT LERDBAMRUNGCHAI
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Some 300 Pak Mool Dam villagers under the Assembly of the Poor, were among the thousands to join the People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) protesters camping outside Government House and calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's to keep her promises.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638208-thousands-more-join-p-move-rally-in-bangkok/

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Govt 'must push agenda'
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

Pheu Thai can't bow to opposition any longer on amnesty, charter change, infrastructure: party chief

BANGKOK: -- With only two years left on its electoral mandate, delay is not an option for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which badly needs to push ahead with its planned mega-projects, charter amendment and amnesty bill, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638209-pheu-thai-cant-bow-to-opposition-any-longer-on-amnesty-charter-change-party-chief/

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BMA gears up for bad traffic when schools reopen
TANATPONG KONGSAI
THE NATION



Bangkok City Hall is gearing up for particularly bad traffic once schools reopen next week.

BANGKOK: -- "We're worried about traffic congestion, especially on the first day of school, because this year more than 100,000 vehicles bought under the first-car buyer scheme will be travelling on Bangkok's streets. Plus Skytrain extensions are being constructed in many areas," Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said after inspecting a school's traffic and safety plans for the beginning of the new academic year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638210-bangkok-administration-gears-up-for-bad-traffic-when-schools-reopen/

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Stock market continues gains on global bullishness
The Nation, Bloomberg

BANGKOK: -- After riding global optimism and strong domestic demand to breach the 1,600-point psychological barrier for the first time in 19 years on Tuesday, Thai stocks' momentum gathered steam yesterday, sending the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index to an intraday peak of 1,621.40 before closing 13 points or 0.81 per cent higher at 1,614.15.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638211-thai-stock-market-continues-gains-on-global-bullishness/

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THAI TALK
Premier's intervention wont resolve BOT-Finance rift
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation


Bank of Thailand chairman Virabongsa Ramangkura

BANGKOK: -- Bank of Thailand (BOT) chairman Virabongsa Ramangkura has urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to intervene in the currency dispute between the central bank and the Finance Ministry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638219-premiers-intervention-wont-resolve-b-o-t-finance-rift-thai-talk/

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EDITORIAL
Law-enforcement agency? People begin to wonder
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With so many recent cases of police officers being caught committing crimes, it's high time reform of the police topped the national agenda.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638220-law-enforcement-agency-people-begin-to-wonder-thai-editorial/

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UPDATE:

Hackers name PM the worst ever in Thai history
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hackers got into the PM's Office website (www.opm.go.th) yesterday and posted a photograph of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra along with a message calling her the worst premier in Thailand's history.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638106-hackers-target-thai-p-m-yingluck-with-online-insult/?p=6383293#entry6383293

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BURNING ISSUE
Are the red shirts afraid of going to court?
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- At first glance, it seemed astonishing that red-shirt leaders would be brave enough to announce that they will not seek amnesty for themselves in the terrorism case which is before the court and which carries the maximum penalty of a death sentence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638221-are-the-red-shirts-afraid-of-going-to-court/

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UPDATE:
Yellows stay as reds head to Parliament
Anuphan Chantana,
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After staging a sit-in demonstration for 17 days, the red shirts yesterday announced the end of their protest after a rally motorcade from the Constitutional Court to Parliament to call for the impeachment of five judges who've accepted to hear a petition against the amendment of Article 68 of the Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638104-yellow-shirts-expect-100000-people-at-bangkok-rally/page-2#entry6383314

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Taxi owners work hard on image
THANAPAT KITJAKOSOL
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- News reports portraying taxi drivers as rapists and robbers always send shock waves across society. Yet such crimes blamed on cabbies have never really stopped, leaving a big question: Have all relevant parties made enough effort to prevent such crimes?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638222-thailands-taxi-owners-work-hard-on-image/

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Small schools to be closed, merge
THE NATION


Phongthep

Plan will boost standards, minister says

BANGKOK: -- Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana yesterday unveiled a policy in which educational zone directors will be asked to close or merge 14,816 small schools nationwide - especially those with fewer than 60 pupils and those deemed to be geographically unnecessary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638223-small-schools-in-thailand-to-be-closed-merge/

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Marine Dept probes 'sea-walker' tours
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

PHUKET: -- Responding to reports of damage to coral and wildlife caused by an unauthorised undersea tourist attraction in Phuket, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) will survey waters around Phuket's Koh Hae and Phang Nga's Koh Khai.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638224-marine-dept-probes-sea-walker-tours-in-phuket/

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UPDATE:
Police claim to know who hacked PM's Office website
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Technology Crime Suppression Division chief Thursday claimed that he knew the identity of the hacker who defaced the website of the PM's Office on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638106-hackers-target-thai-p-m-yingluck-with-online-insult/?p=6383745#entry6383745

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Singkhon border crossing for visa runs delayed - Thais only

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638232-singkhon-border-crossing-for-visa-runs-delayed-thais-only/

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,618.45, up 4.30 points /MCOT

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Child sex ring not in Thai plan, court hears

by: Kaitlyn Offer

THREE Perth pedophiles plotted in prison to set up a doll-making business in Thailand so they could access children, a court has heard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638247-australia-paedophiles-planned-to-set-up-doll-making-business-in-thailand/

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Thai patriots protest, seek government resignation on temple dispute
By English News



BANGKOK, May 9 – A people’s network protesting against the Thai-Cambodian temple dispute rallied at Bangkok's Sanam Luang yesterday and vowed to continue demonstrating until the government resigns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638250-thai-patriots-protest-seek-government-resignation-on-temple-dispute/

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Swede arrested for drug possession on Phuket
BY WACHIRAPORN JANRUT



PHUKET: -- On 8 May 2013, police in Karon on Phuket under the supervision of Police Colonel Veeravat Chantravichit at 6pm arrested a 48-year-old Swede named Jens Peter and a 29-year-old Thai man called Kwanpana Thani or known as Tom for having Methamphetamine (Ice) of 0.43 grams together with a set of drug consumption equipment in possession.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638251-swede-arrested-for-drug-possession-on-phuket/

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Phuket monks defrocked after being caught with drugs
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Four monks and a lay worker at the well-known Wat Kajornrungsan on Ranong Road in Phuket Town were arrested Tuesday night after a tip-off led police to catch them with drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638252-phuket-monks-defrocked-after-being-caught-with-drugs/

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Two Pattani business bombings target authorities
By Digital Media



PATTANI, May 9 – Security personnel were apparently targeted in the bombing of two Pattani businesses early today, but no one was hurt.

Diana Department Store and a Toyota showroom in Pattani municipality were the sites of twin bombs placed outside the premises, with the second bomb apparently intended to target the responding security team.

The first bomb exploded at 4.30 am, damaging the Diana department store entrance. The bomb was placed in a flower pot in front of the store, and was later observed on a security camera.

A second bomb exploded later some 50 metres from the first bombing.

The second blast destroyed the showroom windows of the Pithan Panich company’s Toyota agency, and is believed to have targeted security personnel responding to the first bombing.

Surveillance camera footage showed two men apparently placing both bombs after midnight, according to Col Pramote Promin, spokesman for the 4th Region Forward Command of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

The army officer said the authorities will continue using the security plan given by Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha who visited the region yesterday.

The plan is aimed to clarify local authorities security measures and preparations and to close blind spots and loopholes. He said the incidents should not be claimed as a failure of the continuing peace talks in Malaysia between the Thai government and the BRN group.

In response to series of bombings, the spokesman said that local authorities today will meet senior army officers in a video conference.

A third bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in Pattani’s Yaring district at 7.30 this morning, but no injuries were reported. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-05-09

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Sukhumvit BTS extension line’s fare cut to 10 baht

BANGKOK, 9 May 2013 (NNT) – The fare of skytrain Sukhumvit extension line will be reduced by 5 baht.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd (BTS) and the Krungthep Thanakom Co Ltd on fare reduction of Sukhumvit BTS extension line to 10 baht from the current fare of 15 baht, effective May 15 onwards.

However, the fare on the Silom extension lines will be reduced to 10 baht by December 5, pending system improvement.


-- NNT 2013-05-09

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Photo of alleged PM’s Office website hacker released
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 9 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung today distributed a photo of the alleged culprit who hacked into the website of the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638106-hackers-target-thai-p-m-yingluck-with-online-insult/?p=6384096#entry6384096

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Finance Min injects 6 billion baht to support Islamic Bank

BANGKOK, 9 May 2013 (NNT) – The Finance Ministry has approved a 6-billion-baht fund for recapitalization of the Islamic Bank of Thailand, of which the ministry is the major shareholder.

According to the Islamic Bank managing director, the Finance Ministry has given the green light to a project aimed at reviving the bank after it has been plagued by the problem of non-performing loans (NPLs). Out of the 6-billion-baht rehabilitation fund, 3 billion will come from the ministry itself, and the rest from the Government Savings Bank and the Krung Thai Bank, which are shareholders of the Islamic Bank.

The director further revealed that the first allocation of 920 million baht under the rehabilitation scheme will be made to the Islamic Bank in June. However, the second batch of 3 billion baht has yet to be approved by the parliament and is subjected to parliamentary cuts, depending on the needs for money by other units.


-- NNT 2013-05-09

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Kittiratt’s stance on baht softens, holds major meeting Monday
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, May 9 – Finance Ministry representatives will meet Monday with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the Bank of Thailand (BoT), the private sector and related state agencies to discuss reining in the surging baht.

Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said today that when speaking with BoT governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul he emphasized the MPC’s duty to simultaneously supervise the baht’s movement as well as inflation to ensure that the Thai currency corresponds with currencies in the region.

He admitted that the timing is not right to issue additional measures to tame the baht as the BoT has its management tools which can be instantly executed.

Mr Kittirat offered the Finance Ministry’s support for the the BoT in case the central bank needs to issue new measures.

All parties concerned have agreed since the April meeting that the baht should not be so strong as to negatively affect Thailand’s exports and that the MPC should adopt mechanisms, whether the policy interest rate or a combination of more than one measure, to solve the rocketing baht.

Today’s exchange rate is Bt29.35/37 against the dollar, slightly stronger than yesterday and the movement corresponds with regional currencies. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-09

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Udon Thani woman arrested for allegedly murdering 70-year-old Austrian boyfriend
The Nation

UDON THANI: -- Police have arrested a woman in this northeastern province for having allegedly murdered her 70-year-old Austrian boyfriend.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638280-udon-thani-woman-arrested-for-allegedly-murdering-70-year-old-austrian-boyfriend/

[Lite Beer]

OPM website hacker attacked Channel 3's website before: Chalerm
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The hacker who attacked Office of the Prime Minister's website is a 29-year-old man of Nakhon Si Thammarat native who had hacked Channel 3 website before, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said on Thursday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638106-hackers-target-thai-p-m-yingluck-with-online-insult/?p=6384377

[Lite Beer]

RT@191Thailand: Yala bomb wounds 4 police, 2 civilians (Bangkok Post)

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Saphan Hin teen gang member killed in Phuket drive-by
Phuket Gazette


Police question Saphan Hin community members about the drive-by shooting. Photo: Kritsada Muenhawong

PHUKET: -- A series of violent incidents between two teen gangs culminated in one of the members being gunned down in the Saphan Hin area early yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638293-saphan-hin-teen-gang-member-killed-in-phuket-drive-by/