Indian PM's Bodhi Tree gift for HM the King
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present a sapling of the original holy Bodhi tree from Bodhgaya to His Majesty the King during a royal audience today.

It will be a special gift marking the Indian PM's first official visit in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) has close connections with Buddhism and Buddhists as it's widely believed that Prince Siddhartha received enlightenment under the tree 2,600 years ago and became the Lord Buddha.

The Bodhi tree at the Mohabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya is the exact place where the Lord Buddha sat. Buddhists around the world mostly revere the Bodhi tree and in many countries worship it as sacred. Bodhi trees can be found in most Buddhist temples around Thailand.

One tale says Mahamogglayan, one of the

two foremost disciples of the Lord Buddha, took the fruit of the original Bodhi tree and planted it at Sravasti in India while Lord Buddha was alive.

During the 3rd Century BCE, King Ashoka discovered the site of Vajrasana, the seat on which Lord Buddha sat, and the Bodhi tree. The king later erected a temple to protect the holy site.

King Ashoka's daughter Sanghamitta took a cutting of the original tree to Sri Lanka where it still grows in Anuradhapura.

The complex of the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya along with Vajrasana and the holy Bodhi tree was inscribed as a world heritage site by the Unesco World Heritage Committee in 2002.


-- The Nation 2013-05-30

Govt stresses stability
The Nation



Democrats say the poor are paying more while firms enjoy bigger profits, less tax

BANGKOK: -- The government highlighted eight strategies yesterday when outlining the 2014 fiscal budget, and voiced confidence that the budget would help it achieve economic stability.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642984-thai-govt-stresses-stability/

PUBLIC HEALTH ROW
Ministry bans officials from joining rally
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION

Rural Doctors' Society chief vows to sue if stopped

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry has vowed to stop its officials from joining a rally led by the Rural Doctors Society and its allies calling on the government to dismiss minister Pradit Sinthawanarong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642985-thai-public-health-ministry-bans-officials-from-joining-rally/

STATE VISIT

Indian PM here for trade talks

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Manmohan Singh seeks to enhance ties, discuss Dawei link, tariff cuts

BANGKOK: -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will arrive in Bangkok today for a two-day official visit to enhance bilateral relations, reaffirming Thailand as a gateway to forge links between India and Southeast Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642989-indian-p-m-manmohan-singh-visits-thailand/

Thais 'need to tap into new, social media'
TANPISIT LERDBAMRUNGCHAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Good governance advocates yesterday urged the government to adopt new media, or social media, to boost the public's access to information because "to learn about a piece of information late is equal to not knowing it at all."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642990-thais-need-to-tap-into-new-social-media/

THAI TALK
A country with no plan b for major undertakings
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Energy Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal says the power blackout in all 14 southern provinces on May 21 was "unavoidable". He says the cause was a natural occurrence: lightning striking a high-voltage transmission line that supplied power to the South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642991-thai-talk-a-country-with-no-plan-b-for-major-undertakings/

EDITORIAL
What goes wrong between the source and tap?
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bottled water is expensive, but many people prefer drinking it rather than tap water because they are wary about health and safety standards.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642994-thai-editorial-what-goes-wrong-between-the-source-and-tap/

BURNING ISSUE
How long before online campaigns will spill on to the streets?
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- It is unlikely that anti-government pressure groups will restrict their campaigns to cyberspace. Among the latest groups to have emerged is the V for Vendetta movement, which uses a Guy Fawkes mask as its profile photo. It has been attacking the Pheu Thai government and its de facto controller, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642996-how-long-before-online-campaigns-will-spill-on-to-the-streets/

Court defers action on Article 68 amendment, awaits more details
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court yesterday postponed the judicial review of four petitions against the Article 68 amendment, pending the filing of written explanations by the Parliament president and Senate speaker.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642997-thai-court-defers-action-on-article-68-amendment-awaits-more-details/

Suphanburi Kindergarten Kid 'Bullied To Death'

SUPHANBURI: -- A 5 year old boy died from various injuries reportedly caused by a first grader and a seventh grader at his school who bullied him violently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642998-suphanburi-kindergarten-kid-bullied-to-death/

Luxury cars worth Bt100 million destroyed in semi-trailer fire
KAWINTRA JAISEU
THE NATION



NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- A semi-trailer transporting six luxury cars caught fire on the Mitraparp Highway in Nakhon Ratchasima early yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642999-luxury-cars-worth-bt100-million-destroyed-in-semi-trailer-fire/

Angry ranger shot his team members: Army
PARES LOHASAN
THE NATION


A PARAMILITARY ranger checks the garbage outside Ban Kalapor School in Pattani

PATTANI: -- A paramilitary ranger who allegedly shot dead his team leader and another comrade in Pattani's Mae Lan district on Tuesday reportedly confessed to committing the crime out of anger because he was often scolded by the team leader.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643000-angry-ranger-shot-his-team-members-thai-army/

Democrat murder case 'still in limbo'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Investigation into the death of a Democrat had made no progress since the event almost a year and a half ago, party spokesperson Mallika Boonmeetrakool said yesterday.

Mallika said Nathatai Kruengsai, wife of late Chutidej Suwannakerd, filed a petition for the police to look into her husband's murder, but has received no response yet. This is despite the fact that the police already have a closed-circuit TV recording, which should serve as good evidence, Mallika said.

Chutidej, a close aide to Democrat MP candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara, was murdered on December 10, 2011.

Democrat MP Somchai Lohsthapornpipit, chairman of House Committee on police affairs, had warned investigators to not assume that the motive was personal, as Chutidej had exposed an illegal gambling den and used to work for an influential family before defecting over to Democrats to work with Tankhun.


-- The Nation 2013-05-30

Fire breaks out at Lampang hotel
The Nation

LAMPANG: -- A five-star hotel in this northern province was hit by a fire at 3 am, sending over 100 tourists to flee.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643002-fire-breaks-out-at-a-five-star-hotel-in-lampang-100-tourists-flee/

Foreigner Robs Bangkok Suburban Bank




(photographs courtesy of Facebook.com)

NONTHABURI: -- Staff in a Nonthaburi bank reported an armed robbery by a foreign man who escaped with over 300,000 Baht on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643003-foreigner-robs-bangkok-suburban-bank/

CTH offering satellite as well as cable-TV
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Facing difficulty in expanding its cable network upcountry in such a tight time frame, subscription-based TV operator CTH has opted to introduce satellite-TV receivers in a bid to attract more subscribers to watch live broadcasts of English Premier League (EPL) football matches during the coming season.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643005-c-t-h-offering-satellite-as-well-as-cable-t-v-thailand/

DSI to file murder charges against Abhisit, Suthep
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 30 – Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is mulling additional charges against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban in connection with the death of Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi in the 2010 political violence in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643014-d-s-i-to-file-murder-charges-against-abhisit-suthep;-fabio-polenghi/

Opposition to impeach finance minister over savings fund
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 30 – The opposition Democrat Party is planning to impeach Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong for violating the law which requires the government to set up a National Savings Fund.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643016-opposition-to-impeach-thai-finance-minister-over-savings-fund/

Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,590.49, down 11.12 points /MCOT

King Power plans THB1 billion complex
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- King Power International Group, Thailand's largest duty-free operator, is planning to invest more than THB1 billion in creating a stand-alone duty-free complex. The new complex will be situated at Lat Krabang and is slated to open before October of this year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643030-king-power-plans-1-billion-baht-complex-at-lat-krabang/

Swedish Muay Thai fighter found dead on Koh Lanta
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The body of a Swedish Muay Thai fighter was found yesterday at the popular tourist island Koh Lanta, across the bay from Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643031-swedish-muay-thai-fighter-found-dead-on-koh-lanta/

Phuket hosts full-scale tsunami drill
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A total of about 300 emergency-response officers from Phuket and Phang Nga joined forces to stage a full-scale tsunami evacuation and sea rescue drill off the northern tip of Phuket yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643037-phuket-hosts-full-scale-tsunami-drill/

PM assigns BOT to find more measures to tackle strengthening baht; asserts rice pledging scheme improves farmer's well-being /MCOT

Man arrested for masturbating in BTS Siam station

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, Lumpini police arrested Sang Kattiya, a 36-year-old Phayao man, for committing a lewd act at BTS Siam station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643043-man-arrested-for-masturbating-in-b-t-s-siam-station/

“Bad Police” reported by Bangkok Promotion Girl at Pattaya Police Station



PATTAYA: -- A 22 year old Promotion Girl who works in Bangkok and was in Pattaya on holiday with her foreign boyfriend reported allegations of an unlawful detention by Police who accused her of taking drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643066-bangkok-promotion-girl-reports-bad-police-at-pattaya-police-station/

US Navy sailors caught in Phuket taxi blockade
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Taxi drivers have set up a blockade at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port, where the USS Nimitz and the USS Princeton are anchored.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643069-u-s-navy-sailors-caught-in-phuket-taxi-blockade/

Front tyre of Nok Air's Bangkok-Chiang Rai flight falls off while landing
The Nation

CHIANG RAI: -- A Nok Air's Boeing 738 plane lost its left front tyre while landing at the Mae Fah Luang Airport Thursday morning but the pilot managed to land it safely and no one was injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643085-front-tyre-of-nok-airs-bangkok-chiang-rai-flight-falls-off-while-landing/

Chumphon police seize over 600 kilos of marijuana

Chumphon, 30 May 2013 (NNT) – Over 600 kilograms of marijuana have been seized in Chumphon Province while being smuggled to Thailand’s South. The drug is believed to have a street value of 12 million baht.

According to the police, the arrest came after an intelligence report saying there would be a smuggling of drug from the Northeast. After setting up check points, police spotted 3 suspicious-looking cars and ordered them to stop, but the drivers sped away. The police gave chase for about 5 kilometers before finding a car that was carrying the drug left on the side of the road.

Upon inspection of the car, the police found 608 kilograms of marijuana. The police believed that the drug was on its way to the South before being sent off to Malaysia. If the drug had gotten out of the country, it could have been worth up to 12 million baht, said the police.

-- NNT 2013-05-30

Bangkok man arrested for possessing rosewood

Bangkok, 30 May 2013, (NNT) Police have apprehended a Bangkok resident for possessing 21 logs of Siamese Rosewood. The suspect has denied all charges.

Police disclosed that they arrested the suspect, Noppadon Chaleawlertampon, while he was transporting the logs on Mitraparb Road in Nakhonratchasima Province, adding that the rosewood logs were found locked in the pick up truck.

Mr. Noppadon initially claimed that he did not know what the truck was carrying, saying that he was paid 5,000 baht to deliver the 'goods' to an unnamed military chief of staff in Bangkok. The police asked the suspect to break open the truck bed, exposing the rosewood, which led to his arrest.

According to Mr. Noppadon who operates a storage space service in Bangkok, a military officer convinced him to deliver the goods to Surin Province for a fee of 5,000 baht, assuring him that there would be no problems as the officer could pull strings if he needed any assistance during the trip. Mr. Noppadon agreed to do the delivering.

The suspect is now in custody awaiting trial.

-- NNT 2013-05-30

Mahasarakham Uni finds oldest asian box turtle fossil in the world

MAHASARAKHAM, 30th May 2013 (NNT) - Mahasarakham University has found the oldest Asian box turtle fossil in the world. The turtle is believed to be of the specimen that existed in Thailand 12 million years ago.

The discovery was made at a coal mine in Chiang Muan district, Phayao privince by Ms.Wilailuck Naksri, a Paleontology Ph.D student at the faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University who studies turtle fossils in Phayao province.

She said the discovery helped reveal the evolution and reproduction secrets of the Asian box turtles in Asia. These turtles are found only in Asia and are believed to have originated in Thailand 12 million years ago in the mid Miocene period.

This newly found turtle fossil will be named Cuora Chiangmuanensis. It is the fossil of the oldest fresh water turtle that has ever been found, which belongs to the same family as the Asian box turtle.

According to Dr. Supachai Samappito, Chancellor of Mahasarakham University, given Mahasarakham is the center of the North-Eastern Thailand region and is an area that has a high rate of fossil discovery, it is suitable to have a research institution in the field of Paleontology established in the province.

He also recommended the development of more local personnel with skills in this field, as fossils are important resources in the North-Eastern region. The University has created a website for virtual education, where browsers can check out the museum and gain knowledge from their computer or smart phone screens at www.vkp.msu.ac.th

-- NNT 2013-05-30