Thailand Live Wednesday 5 Jun May 2013

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Thailand pardons Singaporean royal insult prisoner

BANGKOK, June 05, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand on Tuesday pardoned a Singaporean who was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2009 under the kingdom's controversial royal defamation law, a lawyer said.

Wanchai Sae Tan, who has lived in Thailand for several decades, is expected to be deported because his residence permit has expired, said lawyer Arnon Nampa.

"He will be sent beck to Singapore in the next few days," Arnon said.

Under the controversial lese majeste rules, anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Wanchai was reportedly arrested for handing out political leaflets deemed offensive to the monarchy.

The royal family is a highly sensitive subject in politically turbulent Thailand. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 85, is revered by many Thais but has been in hospital since September 2009.

Rights campaigners say the lese majeste law has been politicised, noting that many of those charged are linked to the "Red Shirt" protest movement, which is broadly loyal to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Two months of mass street protests by the Red Shirts against the previous government in early 2010 triggered the kingdom's worst civil violence in decades with 90 people killed, mostly in a bloody military crackdown.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-06-05

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Ministry Of Tourism Considering Yingluck's 'Thai Maldives' Proposal

BANGKOK: -- The Minister of Tourism said he′s ready to adopt the idea of turning Thailand into the new Maldives as proposed by PM Yingluck Shinawatra after her trip to the South Asian nation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644327-ministry-of-tourism-considering-yinglucks-thai-maldives-proposal/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
How much have we lost? Yingluck asks
The Nation

Flustered PM orders commerce minister to reveal details of rice-pledging scheme to ratings agency

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday ordered immediate verification of the status of the rice-pledging scheme in a bid to determine its profitability - and counter a warning by Moody's rating agency that the controversial policy could hurt the Thai economy and cause a downgrade of its credit rating.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644328-rice-pledging-scheme-how-much-have-we-lost-yingluck-asks/

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40 million baht gold reported missing from a gold shop in Ubon Ratchathani

UBON RATCHATHANI, 5 June 2013 (NNT) - Police were called in to investigate the missing of 40-million-baht ornamental gold from a gold shop in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644331-40-million-baht-gold-reported-missing-from-a-gold-shop-in-ubon-ratchathani/

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SOUTH CRISIS
More bombs amid NSC uncertainty
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- While the top post in the National Security Council (NSC) remains uncertain ahead of the June 13 peace dialogue with insurgents in Kuala Lumpur, violence in the deep South continued yesterday with three bombs in Pattani and Narathiwat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644332-more-bombs-amid-n-s-c-uncertainty-thai-south-crisis/

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NEW GOVT PR CHIEF
Close ties land Apinan top job
The Nation


Apinan

Former Buri Ram governor, who is close to red-shirt leaders, deemed 'most suitable'

BANGKOK: -- The new Public Relations Department chief Apinan Chantharangsi is close to top Pheu Thai Party members and red-shirt leaders in the Northeast, sources said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644333-close-ties-land-apinan-top-job-thai-govt-p-r-chief/

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Ministry to buy 2 Eurocopters, source says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved a special budget of 32.6 million euros (about Bt1.3 billion) from the military confidential fund for the Defence Ministry to purchase two Eurocopter EC155 passenger transport helicopters, a well-informed Government House source said.

Since the procurement will be carried out under the confidential military budget, government spokespeople were not allowed to announce the approval. The source said the procurement would be spread over three budget years.

The Defence Ministry said two helicopters would be used for map surveys and other missions. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra suggested the Defence Ministry should also allow the Natural Resources and Environment and Agriculture ministries to use the helicopters for missions some times, and Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat agreed.


-- The Nation 2013-06-05

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'Pay tax to avoid legal woes'

Piyanut Tumnukasetchai,

Kittiyanee Sommai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unsuspecting buyers of smuggled luxury cars can get out of legal problems by covering the taxes, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith advised.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644334-smuggled-luxury-cars-pay-tax-to-avoid-legal-woes-d-s-i-chief-tarit/

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Suspect re-enacts robbery, murder of Oishi promoter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A 26-year-old man accused of killing Oishi product-presenter contestant Pornpan Phromjan during an attempted car-jacking on Monday night, and of dumping her body at a Nonthaburi motel, was escorted through a re-enactment of the crime yesterday morning by police.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644335-thai-suspect-re-enacts-robbery-murder-of-oishi-promoter/

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Exam cheating probe opens with Chinnapat summons
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The probe against Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat for alleged grave disciplinary offences has already started.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644336-exam-cheating-probe-opens-with-chinnapat-summons/

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BT4-BILLION PROPOSAL
Loxley-AGT offers flood simulations
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation


Dr Ammarin Daranpop, a senior consultant for Loxely Public Co Ltd, presents ReadyMIND to members of the media yesterday.

Water-management system offers real-time data on flood scenarios

BANGKOK: -- In a move to overcome tough competition for the Bt350 billion water-and-flood management infrastructure, the Loxley-AGT consortium has come up with a unique solution, which was demonstrated at a special session for the media and other officials recently.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644337-4-billion-baht-proposal-loxley-a-g-t-offers-flood-simulations/

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Russian tourists injured as Phuket tour bus slams into Patong house

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Five Russian tourists were injured when the brakes failed on a Pegas Touristik bus while the vehicle was descending the steep hill into Phuket’s premier resort town of Patong at about 6pm Tuesday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644339-russian-tourists-injured-as-phuket-tour-bus-slams-into-patong-house/

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Phuket's most famous beachfront road to get 200-million-baht face lift
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A plan to beautify over 3.5 kilometers of the Patong beachfront road by hiding unsightly power lines underground was presented at a public hearing yesterday in Patong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644341-phukets-most-famous-beachfront-road-to-get-200-million-baht-face-lift/

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Woman Horrified To See Her Photos In Online Prostitution Ad

CHIANG MAI: -- A woman reported to Chuangpuak police station in Chiang Mai province that she was a victim of identity theft which used her photos in advertisement for online prostitution service.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644342-chiang-mai-woman-horrified-to-see-her-photos-on-a-prostitution-website/

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Police arrest French bar owner for going on naked rant in Samui Island

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644247-police-arrest-french-bar-owner-for-going-on-naked-rant-in-samui-island/

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Spanish tourists 'beat up security guards' in Phuket

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644180-spanish-tourists-beat-up-security-guards-in-phuket/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,547.21, down 8.40 points /MCOT

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Thailand heralds new IPv6 Internet era

By English News

BANGKOK, June 5 – Thailand’s Internet Protocol (IP) will be changed from version 4 (IPv4) to the latest version 6 (IPv6) to deal with IP address exhaustion in the near future, according to a cabinet resolution yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644360-thailand-heralds-new-ipv6-internet-era/

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Nattawut denies earning Bt131 million from egg deals
By English News



BANGKOK, June 5 – Deputy Commerce Ministry Nattawut Saikua has flatly rejected an allegation that he received Bt131 million in kickbacks or other benefits from egg deals in light of the skyrocketing egg prices in the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644361-nattawut-denies-earning-bt131-million-from-egg-deals/

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DPM Chalerm: Most of the drugs in Thailand come from neighboring countries

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013, (NNT) – The Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau has announced the seizure of almost 1 million pills of methamphetamine from four 4 recent major drug busts.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644369-chalerm-most-of-the-narcotics-in-thailand-come-from-neighboring-countries/

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Rescue workers search for last body in quarry collapse
By English News



PHETCHBURI, June 5 – Rescue workers on Wednesday morning continued searching for the body of a Myanmar worker, believed to be the last of three workers who were killed in the quarry collapse two days ago in a western province of Thailand.

Wisa Polsirirat, Khaoyoi district chief of Phetchburi, said the father of the victim brought a piece of his clothing to help a sniffer dog to find the body.

When the dog finds the spot, rescue workers will cut the rock to retrieve the body.

However, overnight rain seems to be an obstacle for the search as more rock could fall in a new landslide.

The district chief said if there is more rain today, the rescue operation may be temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

Petchburi province's governor on Monday declared the area a danger zone and ordered a temporary closure of all quarries in the mountains in Petchburi province's Khao Yoi district.

The Industry Ministry yesterday instructed officials throughout Thailand to make on-the-spot inspections to ensure safety conditions at quarries following the incident. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-06-05

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White mask anti-government protest to be staged in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob

PHUKET: -- Opponents of the government are to stage a “white mask” protest on Sunday (June 9) at around 5pm at Saphan Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644392-white-mask-anti-government-protest-to-be-staged-in-phuket/

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Central bank outlines 3 factors leading to weakened baht
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 5 – The United States’ application of the minimised quantitative easing (QE) programme, China’s economic slowdown and the Thai Finance Ministry’s foreign capital control are major elements contribution to the depreciating baht, according to a senior central bank official said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644393-central-bank-outlines-3-factors-leading-to-weakened-baht/

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FTI to adjust this year’s auto production figure

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013 (NNT) – The Automotive Industry Club will adjust upward the total number of cars produced this year as demand could go beyond the early expected figure of 2,500,000 units.

According to Mr Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the Automotive Industry Club, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) will adjust the number of auto production up from the previous anticipation of 2,500,000 units, or around 3 percent higher than last year’s figure. The reason behind the adjustment is that the government’s policy aimed at helping those affected by flooding, causing damage to people’s vehicles, has driven up demand. However, he said the exact number will have to be calculated after seeing the number of cars produced between the months of May and June.

He further revealed that in the first 4 months of 2013, 400,000 cars were delivered to buyers, 70 percent of which, or 300,000 units, were registered under the first-car-buyer program.


-- NNT 2013-06-05

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A 6.1-mag earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate tsunami warning issued. /AFP

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Transport Min organizes Thailand 2020 in Nakhon Ratchasima

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is set to organize “Thailand 2020” exhibition in Nakhon Ratchasima Province to educate people in the northeastern part of the country on the government’s 2 trillion baht mega- project.

According to Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, the ministry is organizing both the exhibition and the seminar tomorrow(June 6) to educate and inform residents in Nakhon Ratchasima of the government’s 2.2 trillion baht plan to improve the country’s basic infrastructure.

The project is aimed at connecting Thailand to other countries in this region, developing the country's logistics system, and enhancing its competitiveness as well as making Thailand a logistics hub of the region; ahead of the realization of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),

Both the government and the private sectors, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, scholars, locals, and the press, are set to attend the seminar to exchange thoughts and ideas on the development project.

-- NNT 2013-06-05

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Medical sector backs P4P system

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013 (NNT) – Thailand Regional and General Hospital Society has come out in defense of the pay-for-performance or P4P system works, adding that it will throw its weight behind the Public Health Minister. It has also urged those who do not like the idea of P4P to discuss the problem and together draw up a solution.

On behalf of 13 networks nationwide, the chairman of the Thailand Regional and General Hospital Society has said it is backing Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong, who is pushing ahead with the P4P system scheduled to commence on April 1st, saying the P4P provides efficiency to the country’s medical sector. Although there are still some flaws in the system, all sides should work together to iron out the problem, said the chairman; urging the protesters to discuss the matter with the Public Health Ministry to find a solution.

The chairman also said he did not oppose any group, but was simply trying to point out the pros and cons of the P4P system. Around 500 people showed up in support of the policy.


-- NNT 2013-06-05

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2,000 evacuated after Moscow metro blaze /Voice of Russia

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Wide Phuket support for Patong cable burying project
Naraporn Tuarob


Ugly tangles of power and telephone cables are a common sight all over Thailand.

PHUKET: -- A public hearing on Monday (June 3) to get local views about a long-awaited plan to bury the power cables running along Patong’s sea front road, Thaweewong Rd, met with general approval.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644413-wide-phuket-support-for-patong-cable-burying-project/

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BoT warns Thais to prepare for future fluctuation of baht

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013 (NNT) – The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has warned the country regarding the fluctuation of the Thai currency, reasoning that the baht has been appeciating against other currencies since the beginning of this year even though its value has dropped slightly recently, thanks to the bank’s interest rate policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644430-b-o-t-warns-thais-to-prepare-for-future-fluctuation-of-baht/