Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Jun 2013

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Bangkok at risk from natural disasters: World Bank
Uraiwan Poovijitsuthin
The Nation


Bangkok, file photo

BANGKOK: -- The World Bank yesterday warned that Bangkok faced a high risk of natural disaster, especially massive flooding that could cause huge economic losses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644075-bangkok-at-risk-from-natural-disasters-world-bank/

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DSI probes luxury car scam

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai

The Nation

Takes over inquiry into burnt-out cars; thousands may be linked to scheme.

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will look into cases of tax evasion involving nearly 7,000 luxury vehicles, with customs, excise, revenue, land-transport officials and politicians possibly linked to the illegal import and false registration of the cars.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644077-thailands-d-s-i-probes-luxury-car-scam/

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SOCIAL NETWORK
Bomb rumours prompt online watch
PATINYA IAMTAN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Police will keep a closer eye on the spread of frightening rumours on social-media websites following postings that falsely claimed government agencies were warning of bombings in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644078-bangkok-bomb-rumours-prompt-online-watch/

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NEWS
Top commentators in Thai PBS line-up
The Nation


From left: Former finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula, media veteran Somkiart Onwimol and Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoonspeak to Thai PBS host Nattha Komolvadhin at last night

BANGKOK: -- Thai PBS has made its nightly talk show more interesting by adding five well-known commentators to its line-up, including Nation Multimedia Group (NMG) chairman Suthichai Yoon.

The commentators will take turns in explaining the current local or international political and economic situations to the audience.

The other four in the line-up are former finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula, academic on mass communications Somkiart Onwimol, Thammasat University political science lecturer Chalidaporn Songsamphan and chairman of the Thailand Development Research Institute Somkiat Tangkitvanich.

The show's first episode was aired last night with Suthichai, Somkiart and Pridiyathorn telling the audience what they will be talking about in the next episode, entitled "Exponential Thinking".

Suthichai said he will talk about current international events as not everything makes it to the social media. He also called on everybody to express their views via Facebook.

"I shall be talking about global events related to Thailand and will make them very interesting and fun to follow," Suthichai promised.

Pridiyathorn said he will talk about the current economic situation and Thailand's integration into the Asean Economic Community, while Somkiart said he too will be talking about the AEC.

Suthichai will be joining the show every Thursday.


-- The Nation 2013-06-04

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BURNING ISSUE
Global fears of the masks, and what's behind them
Jintana Panyaarvudh

BANGKOK: -- When anti-government groups on social media started using Guy Fawkes masks in their campaign against the so-called Thaksin regime and Yingluck Shinawatra's government, some wondered how long the iconic mask would last.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644080-global-fears-of-the-masks-and-whats-behind-them/

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UPDATE:
Take group seriously: Abhisit
The Nation


Protesters from the anti-government Palang Thammatippatai group and former supporters of the Communist Party of Thailand, who have been rallying at Sanam Luang, march to Government House yesterday to show moral support for former National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri

Chalerm dismisses demonstrators as just 'yellow shirts in disguise'

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the government yesterday to consider why people had to wear masks to protest against it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643965-abhisit-calls-government-to-task-over-white-mask-protests/?p=6470970#entry6470970

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UPDATE:
Prime minister advised to give Thawil his NSC position back
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday advised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to reinstate Thawil Pliensri as chief of the National Security Council, saying Thawil was the best person qualified for the job and the Central Administrative Court had ordered his reinstatement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643966-chalerm-skeptically-welcomes-n-s-c-chiefs-reinstatement/#entry6470974

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UPDATE:

Phetchaburi mine 'may have been operating illegally'
The Nation



PHETCHABURI: -- Rescue workers continued to search for the bodies of victims in a fatal rockslide at a mine in Phetchaburi, south of Bangkok, which authorities say may have ignored an order to improve its work methods for months.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643918-mountain-collapses-over-limestone-crushing-plant-in-phetchburi-killing-6/page-2?p=6470978#entry6470978

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Somtow honoured
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai conductor and composer Somtow Sucharitkul is the first Asian to win the "Golden W" award celebrating Richard Wagner's 200th birthday.

Thousands of Wagner enthusiasts gathered at the composer's birthplace, Leipzig, last month for a festival that included the Leipzig Opera's productions of Wagner's complete works as well as a conference of the International Wagner Society, which has over 100 chapters all over the world.

At the conference, Eva Martson, the president of the society, presented the award to Somtow for bringing Wagner's oeuvre to Southeast Asia.

Ten years ago, Somtow inaugurated the Richard Wagner Circle Bangkok in the presence of Wolfgang Wagner, grandson of the composer, his wife Gudrun and late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. The visit of the Wagner family to Thailand had the air of a state visit, with the concert opening with the Bavarian national anthem.


-- The Nation 2013-06-04

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DSI to investigate BMA's fire extinguisher purchase deal

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will probe a major fire extinguisher deal after the Pheu Thai Party asked it to look into suspected bid rigging.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644081-d-s-i-to-investigate-bangkok-administrations-fire-extinguisher-purchase-deal/

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Doubts about Pradit meeting health groups
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Minister says his removal 'impossible'; rural doctors to meet PM this week

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday he would not hold any talks with the Rural Doctors' Society and its allies if they continue demanding his resignation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644082-doubts-about-minister-pradit-meeting-health-groups/

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Social media and Internet access gives Thais a voice: Kittiratt
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Some 30 per cent of Thais use social media while 40 per cent have Internet access - creating a new form of political influence for ordinary people, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday.

This new political influence, he said, "gives true voice to the people and helped connect activists".

Kittiratt gave a keynote address at the official opening of the 65th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), which is being held in Bangkok at Centara Grand Hotel and Central World.

Kittiratt said 60 per cent of Thai people were still not connected to the Internet and considered underprivileged although they still have access to printed newspapers.

The deputy PM said while facing challenges from online media and television, Thai newspapers remained important to the public and could not be easily duplicated by television or online outlets.

"Newspapers can reach people in almost all areas and newspapers remain a central point to which all the news is filtered," he said, adding that a balanced view, credibility and integrity were found in papers.

"In Thailand, the press is free to speak… the government has accepted that," he said, adding that there could be no democracy without freedom of the press.

Jacob Matthew, WAN-IFRA president, highlighted Thailand's lese majeste law during his opening address. Matthew said the law had been misused and led to a climate of fear in the Kingdom given the imprisonment of citizens and an editor. The law carries a minimum penalty of three years in jail and a maximum penalty of 15 years.

"The lese majeste law allows anyone to file a lese majeste case - anyone can accuse anyone. The misuse of the lese majeste law has created a climate of fear," he said.

"WAN-IFRA is deeply concerned of its misuse and the arrest of an editor and citizens," he said, while later praising HM the King for his annual birthday speech in 2005, in which the King stated that he could be criticised.

Matthew urges the government of Thailand and others elsewhere to protect freedom of speech on the Internet.


-- The Nation 2013-06-04

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UPDATE:
Temporary Thai Passport Office opens in Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- The Department of Thai Consular Affairs has opened a temporary Thai Passport Office in Pattaya to allow local residents to obtain a Thai Passport without travelling to Bang-Na in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643309-thai-passport-office-to-open-in-pattaya-june-3/?p=6471008#entry6471008

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Berkeley woman held on suspicion of unlicensed export of guns to Thailand
By Doug Oakley
Oakland Tribune

BERKELEY -- Federal agents arrested a Berkeley woman holding Thai citizenship over the weekend for allegedly exporting firearms parts from the U.S. to Thailand without a license.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644085-u-s-berkeley-woman-held-on-suspicion-of-unlicensed-export-of-guns-to-thailand/

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Seagate apologises for wrong export data input
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Seagate Technology (Thailand) issued a statement yesterday, apologising for the input of wrong export data in April which resulted in the incorrect value of Thailand's export in the month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644088-seagate-thailand-apologises-for-wrong-export-data-input/

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Canadian man weds Roi Et woman, offers dowry worth Bt100 million

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643974-canadian-man-weds-roi-et-woman-offers-dowry-worth-bt100-million/

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UPDATE:
Ratings giant warns rice scheme puts goals at risk
The Nation

BANGKOK: Moody's Investors Service has warned that bigger than expected losses from the government's rice buying scheme put the country's economic goals at risk.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643946-higher-than-expected-losses-negative-for-thailands-rating-moodys/#entry6471240

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Songkhla Woman Burned, Seriously Injured By Her Husband

SONGKHLA: -- A man dowsed his wife with gasoline and set her on fire in Songkhla province, reportedly because he feared she was cheating on him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644093-songkhla-woman-burned-seriously-injured-by-her-husband/

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Bomb ambush at Piyaram Buddhist temple in Yaring, Pattani, wounding 4 military rangers in teacher protection unit /MCOT

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Pathumthani Rocked By College Gang Fights

PATUMTHANI: -- Rival college gangs clashed with each other in Pathumthani, and another fight almost broke out in local hospital later where the gang members were sent to treat their wounds.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644094-pathumthani-rocked-by-college-gang-fights/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,544.52, up 5.26 points /MCOT

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State Railway told to draft master plan for Pahonyothin land development

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan has called a meeting with executives of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to discuss the managing of the SRT-owned land in Pahonyothin of Bangkok.

At the meeting, the minister told the SRT to draft a master plan for managing the 2,325 rai of land it possessed in Pahonyothin, an area slated to host the Bang Sue main terminal for all rail transport in the future. The area will also become a major junction point between electric train lines in Bangkok. The master plan should detail how the SRT would develop the area and in turn increase its revenue from commerce.

The minister also told SRT Governor Praphat Chongsa-nguan to resolve the management conflicts between him and SRT Electrified Train Co., Ltd. Managing Director Phirakan Kaewwongwatthana. Mr. Chatchart said he emphasized that the two should talk and come to an understanding, as they may have had miscommunications in the past.


-- NNT 2013-06-04

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Bollywood actress Jiah Khan found dead in Mumbai /BBC

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UPDATE:
Rock grinding plants nationwide to be inspected after fatal landslide

PHETCHABURI, 4 June 2013 (NNT) – The safety protocol at all rock grinding plants in the country will be inspected during the current rainy season, after 3 workers were killed by a landslide at a quarry in Phetchaburi province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643918-mountain-collapses-over-limestone-crushing-plant-in-phetchburi-killing-6/page-2?p=6471607#entry6471607

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PM delivers keynote address to 65th World Newspaper Congress at Centara Grand at CentralWorld /MCOT

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Michael Douglas' oral sex story goes viral
Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY
What exactly did he say?

Michael Douglas says in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that throat cancer, as he battled in 2010, can be caused by performing oral sex on women who have a sexually-transmitted disease.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644133-michael-douglas-oral-sex-story-goes-viral/

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Samut Songkhram steps up drug screening measures

SAMUT SONGKHRAM, 4 June 2013 (NNT) – Samut Songkhram Governor Tanon Vejchakorakanon has stepped up the province's narcotics screening measures by setting up a special task force to intercept drug delivery.

The task force is headed by Deputy Director of the Internal Security Operations Command’s provincial office Colonel Kriangdej Yam-Oat and comprises officials from other units such as the Narcotics Control Board, the military, police, volunteers, and provincial administrative forces.

In a related development, 2 teenagers surrendered themselves to one of the force's checkpoints, giving up 70 methamphetamine pills and requesting to be sent to rehabilitation center.

Provincial officials said the duo will be sent to a rehab center after being questioned on the source of the pills in their possession.


-- NNT 2013-06-04

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3 drug smugglers arrested in Saraburi with 600,000 meth pills

BANGKOK, 4 June 2013 (NNT) – The police have made an arrest of 3 drug smugglers in Saraburi Province along with almost 600,000 tablets of methamphetamine after a high-speed chase.

According to the police, the arrest came after they received an intelligence report that suspected drug couriers were heading from the northern province of Chiang Rai to Bangkok. When the police found the suspected car and tried to stop it, the car speeded away. After a period of chasing, the suspected car crashed into a police car, causing an injury to a cop. The police then fired at one of the car tires forcing the car to stop.

At the scene, the police arrested three men together with 3 fertilizer bags packed with nearly 600,000 methamphetamine pills. One of the smugglers was shot in the leg by the police while trying to get away.


-- NNT 2013-06-04

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Artists flock to Phuket for workshop this Saturday at the Phuket art Village

Jody Houton

PHUKET: -- The open-air and delightfully hippy Phuket Art Village in Rawai hosts an all day art workshop, exhibition and festival this Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644145-artists-flock-to-phuket-for-workshop-this-saturday-at-the-phuket-art-village/

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Customs Department confiscates 13 luxury cars

BANGKOK, 4 June 2013 (NNT) – The Customs Department has confiscated 13 luxury cars belonging to businessmen in the northeastern of Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644146-thai-customs-dept-confiscates-13-luxury-cars-belonging-to-businessmen-in-isaan/