Thailand Live Monday 27 May 2013

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Rumblings over F1 race
The Nation

State officials and community leaders concerned about damage to historic areas in Rattanakosin if event is staged in 2015

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's bid to stage the Formula One race in 2015 might encounter some bumps from the very outset as there is mounting opposition from concerned agencies and communities to the proposed idea.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642211-rumblings-over-f1-race-in-bangkok/

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Govt threatens action against masked FB users
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party threatened yesterday to trace and take legal action against Facebook users with profile photos of the Guy Fawkes white mask for attacking the government and former prime minister and de-facto party leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642213-thai-govt-threatens-action-against-masked-facebook-users/

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'Management crucial at all small schools'

Chularat Saengpassa,

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Experts also want Obec to assess proposed mergers

BANGKOK: -- As more and more small schools are merged, management of them is crucial, if they are to deliver a proper standard of education, experts said recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642214-management-crucial-at-all-small-thai-schools-education-experts/

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Academics ask: do we really need a Senate?
Attayuth Bootsripoom
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation


National Institute Development Administration (NIDA) rector Sombat Thamrongthanyawong

BANGKOK: -- The ruling coalition parties' attempts to rewrite the charter - to remove appointed senators and restrictions against parents, spouses and children of MPs to qualify as senators - have met with strong criticism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642215-academics-ask-do-we-really-need-a-senate-thai-analysis/

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Bailed British Expat Caught Attacking a 13 Year old Boy

PATTAYA: -- A British Businessman spent the night in Sattahip Police station, after reporting another Englishman for assault on a 13 year old schoolboy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642216-bailed-british-expat-caught-attacking-a-13-year-old-boy-near-pattaya/

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PM'S VISIT
Govt may copy Japan's model of elderly care
The Nation

Health minister lauds country's social scheme to manage 'rapid changes'

BANGKOK: -- The government is pondering adopting certain features of the Japanese social security scheme, especially additional care for senior citizens, Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642217-thai-govt-may-copy-japans-model-of-elderly-care/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Thailand withers as Myanmar rises
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Last Thursday while Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his residence and urging Japan to invest in the mega-project in Dawei, there were news headlines in Myanmar that Abe would be visiting Yangon the next day - offering loads of financial assistance and long-term economic development plans worth nearly US$1 billion. Both Japan and Myanmar have the Thilawa port in mind, not the proposed Dawei development plan, for the time being.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642218-thailand-withers-as-myanmar-rises-opinion/

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Police emergency number hit by problems

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Those who need to dial 191 in a police emergency may have to exercise a little patience after it was revealed that the emergency number is having problems with its new telephone operator.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642219-thai-police-191-emergency-number-hit-by-problems/

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UPDATE:
Former teacher arrested over Bangkok bomb explosion
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police arrested a former teacher suspected of planting a homemade bomb at road-side shopping area on Ramkhamhaeng Road that exploded Sunday night, injuring at least six people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642161-explosion-in-bkk-ramkamhaeng-431/?p=6442070#entry6442070

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Two die as errant festival rocket engulfs car in ball of flames
The Nation



NONG KHAI: -- Two people were killed yesterday after a "Bang Fai" rocket failed to properly take off, dropping instead onto a car in the Wat That community of Nong Khai's Mueang district, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642220-two-die-as-errant-bang-fai-rocket-engulfs-car-in-ball-of-flames-nong-khai/

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Local residents oppose Formula One proposal
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Residents living in the Rattanakosin Island area have expressed opposition to the proposed plan for a Formula One race there in 2015, citing concerns of road safety, traffic congestion cultural exploitation and noise pollution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642211-rumblings-over-f1-race-in-bangkok/#entry6442092

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Political risks for Yingluck govt on rise, survey finds
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Factors that could be seen as posing political risk for the Yingluck Shinawatra government are rising, an opinion survey has found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642221-political-risks-for-yingluck-govt-on-rise-survey-finds/

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Two men seriously injured after another gang-related incident in East Pattaya

PATTAYA:--Two men aged 23 and 24 were seriously injured after they were forced off their motorbike and brutally attacked in East Pattaya early on Sunday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642137-two-men-seriously-injured-after-another-gang-related-incident-in-east-pattaya/

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5 Million Baht DSI Raid at Pattaya Beach Shopping Center

PATTAYA:--On Sunday afternoon officers from the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) Eastern Branch, conducted a raid of a South Pattaya Shopping Center and seized over 5 Million Baht’s worth of counterfeit branded items.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642154-5-million-baht-dsi-raid-at-pattaya-beach-shopping-center/

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8 Injured in road crash as Taxi Van jumps Red Traffic Light in Jomtien

PATTAYA:--8 Passengers of a Taxi Van travelling from Rayong to Bangkok reportedly went through a red traffic light and side-swiped a pick-up resulting in injuries sustained to 8 passengers inside the Taxi in Jomtien.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642136-8-injured-in-road-crash-as-taxi-van-jumps-red-traffic-light-in-jomtien/

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EGAT: "Blackout in 14 southern provinces caused by lightning at transmission tower"

PHETCHABURI, 26 May 2013 (NNT) – The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has come out to assure the public that last week’s blackout that hit 14 southern provinces was caused by lightning accident at a transmission tower.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642223-blackout-in-14-southern-thai-provinces-caused-by-lightning-at-transmission-tower-e-g-a-t/

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Public Health Ministry to provide free vaccines for flu prevention nationwide
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 27 - Thailand's Public Health Ministry is to provide free vaccines for flu prevention nationwide, starting today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642224-thai-public-health-ministry-to-provide-free-vaccines-for-flu-prevention-nationwide/

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German gang leader escapes Interpol at Suvarnabhumi
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- An alleged gang leader from Germany escaped Interpol officers at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport earlier this month while waiting for a connecting flight to Germany.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642225-german-gang-leader-escapes-interpol-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,597.85, down 9.61 points /MCOT

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Govt agencies to provide measures to avoid blackouts, brownouts
By English News



BANGKOK, May 27 – Measures to prevent power blackouts and compensation to southerners from last Tuesday’s outage in 14 provinces in Thailand’s South will be discussed by concerned agencies today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642223-blackout-in-14-southern-thai-provinces-caused-by-lightning-at-transmission-tower-e-g-a-t/#entry6442554

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7 wounded in Ramkhamhaeng explosion
By English News



BANGKOK, May 27 -- Seven persons were hurt in an explosion in the Thai capital Sunday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642161-explosion-in-bkk-ramkamhaeng-431/?p=6442570#entry6442570

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Burmese man slashed in Phuket gas pump fracas
Phuket Gazette


Mr Mao (center) was slashed after he punched a fellow Burmese national in the face for refusing to pay for gas. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Burmese man working as a pump attendant at a Phuket gas station was slashed yesterday after he punched one of five Burmese customers who did not have the money to pay for the gas they had just received.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642262-burmese-man-slashed-in-phuket-gas-pump-fracas/

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Bombing at Ban Kalapor School in Pattani's Sai Buri district, three teacher protection unit members wounded /MCOT

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Thai Police summon nude ladyboy dancers in connection with internet video

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642267-thai-police-summon-nude-ladyboy-dancers-in-connection-with-internet-video/

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Two Lampang students win science Olympics in U.S.

LAMPANG, 27 May 2013 (NNT) -- Two Grade 11 students from Lampang's Boonyawat Witthayalai (บุญวาทย์วิทยาลัย) won bronze medals from the International Sustainable World Energy Engineering & Environment Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP 2013) in Houston, U.S.

The duo, Pattapong Chaisanwang (ปัฐพงศ์ ไชยแสนวัง) and Vitchaya Sittirak (วิชญะ สิทธิรักษ์) were parts of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC)'s Young Scientist Competition project. After their return from the U.S., they paid a courtesy call on Lampang Governor Twatchai Therdpaothai (ธวัชชัย เทอดเผ่าไทย).

The Governor congratulated Mr. Pattapong and Mr. Vitchaya for their success and making names for Thailand and Lampang Province. He termed them as pride of the college and the province.

Their winning project "The Magic of Leonardite : the Absorbent Agent to Clean Wastewater" won the third place from the team chemistry competition of the I-SWEEEP.

Ms. Ratchnok Suwannajak, the project adviser of the college, explained that the students’ work highlighted the use of Leonardite coal to clean heavy metal waste water in industrial factories, saying that it would reduce the amount of chemicals used in the cleaning process.


-- NNT 2013-05-27

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203 KG marijuana seized in Nongkai Province

Nongkai, 27 May 2013, (NNT) -- Nongkai Provincial Administration Office has announced a drug bust, seizing 203 kg. of marijuana while being smuggled across the Mekong River. The illegal drug is estimated to be worth 2 million baht in street value.

The announcement was jointly made by Deputy Nongkai Governor Vichien Piyawarakorn (วิเชียร ปิยะวรากร), and the provincial defense officer Kittikhun Butrkhun (กิตติคุณ บุตรคุณ).

The seizure was made following a tip-off that the smuggling would take place on the Mekong River in Baan Viengkuk (บ้านเวียงคุก), in Viengkuk Sub-district.

Upon the team's arrival, they spotted a long-tail boat with 3 passengers and several rice sacks in it. When the boat reached the Thai shore, officials identified themselves in order to search the content of the sacks. The 3 suspects immediately fled the scene and remain at large.


-- NNT 2013-05-27

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Anti-narcotics police confiscate 600,000 meth pills, former local official arrested

CHIANG RAI, 27 May 2013 (NNT) -- Chiang Rai Anti Narcotics Police arrested a former member of the Tambon Khirirat Administrative Organization of Tak Province for his involvement with illegal drug trade. They seized more than 600,000 methamphetamine pills on the scene.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642284-chiang-rai-anti-narcotics-police-confiscate-600000-meth-pills-former-local-official-arrested/

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Thailand to re-emerge as global rice centre: Commerce Minister
By English News



CHIANG MAI, May 27 – Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said today that Thailand will spring back as the world’s rice trading hub despite disappointing exports of the Thai grain last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642294-thailand-to-re-emerge-as-global-rice-centre-commerce-minister/

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Phuket beach lifeguard deal signed in the nick of time
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Kamala lifeguards pictured in a file photo.

PHUKET: -- Thirty-eight locations on Phuket’s beaches will be covered by lifeguards in June following the signing yesterday (May 26) of special one-month contract between the Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor) and the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642300-phuket-beach-lifeguard-deal-signed-in-the-nick-of-time/

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One soldier dead, two wounded in Pattani ambush
By English News

PATTANI, May 27 - A bomb at a rest area near a school was apparently an ambush which claimed one military fatality and two wounded soldiers in a teacher protection unit here.

The bomb was hidden at a rest area near the entrance of Kalapor School in the southern border province.

The victims were rushed to hospital; one died in hospital and the two others are being treated. The authorities are investigating the case.

Regarding the bombings of electric power poles in three locations in Yala’s Yaha and Kabang district several days ago, police are tracking the bombers. Initial investigation found that all six explosive devices were similarly composed.

In another incident, in which a bomb in Yala’s provincial seat wounded four soldiers and two villagers, surveillance camera footage captured images of two suspects believed to be in their 20s, wearing helmets and riding a black motorcycle.

This morning's victims were returning from inspecting the electric power pole bombings when they were ambushed. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-27