Thailand Live Friday 7 Jun 2013

[webfact]

Indian Defense Minister visits Thailand

BANGKOK, 7 June 2013 (NNT) - Thailand’s Defense Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat on Thursday welcomed his Indian counterpart AK Antony during his official visit to Thailand.

Mr Antony has been on a 4-day visit to Asia-Pacific countries, which include Singapore, Australia and Thailand. His day-long visit came a week after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Thailand.

The discussion between Mr Antony and ACM Sukumpol was focused on reviewing bilateral ties and deliberating on means to enhance the existing mechanisms for exchanges between the armed forces and joint patrols of both nations along their maritime boundary.

India and Thailand held the first meeting of the India-Thailand Defense Dialogue in 2011. The two sides have cooperated in a number of areas, including the battle against terrorism and piracy and the enhancement of the armed forces’ capacity. A defense dialogue was conducted between the two countries in February of this year, where they agreed to scale up the regular Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) conducted by the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy.


-- NNT 2013-06-07

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Two dead in bank conference room stabbing

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A real estate loan gone sour ended in the stabbing deaths of the borrower and the lender in the conference room of a bank in Phuket Town early Thursday afternoon.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644721-old-men-stab-each-other-to-death-in-phuket-bank/?p=6481741#entry6481741

[webfact]

Beams tumble from MRTA building site
MONTHIEN INTHAKET
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Mass Rapid Transport Authority is being urged to upgrade safety standards on its Purple Line extension after nine steel beams fell on to vehicles at Bangkok's Tao Poon Intersection yesterday, damaging four vehicles and injuring one person.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644806-bangkok-steel-beams-tumble-from-m-r-t-a-building-site-crush-cars-and-injure-commuter/

[webfact]

Price-pledging fiasco
Supannee Pootpisut,
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Cumulative losses from Thaksin govts' farm schemes touch almost Bt400 billion

BANGKOK: -- Governments linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have inflicted cumulative losses of almost Bt400 billion on the country through the pledging schemes for rice and other farm crops, and the current government is responsible for a loss of up to Bt260 billion as at the end of May.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644807-cumulative-losses-from-thaksin-govts-farm-schemes-touch-almost-bt400-billion/

[webfact]

DSI finds super-car reassembly units sorely lacking
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- In its initial inspection, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) learned that the facilities where super cars were allegedly assembled were no more than mere godowns.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644808-thailands-d-s-i-finds-super-car-reassembly-units-sorely-lacking/

[webfact]

HEALTHCARE ROW
Both sides reach a compromise
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION

Rural doctors accept revised P4P scheme

BANGKOK: -- PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva presides over a meeting to discuss the pay-for-performance policy at Government House yesterday. The meeting was arranged to diffuse conflicts between the Rural Doctors' Society and Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644809-rural-thai-doctors-accept-revised-p4p-scheme/

[webfact]

THAI TALK
The complications of the Yingluck-Thawil confrontation
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Expect a drawn-out battle between Premier Yingluck Shinawatra and Thawil Pliensri, the former secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), who is demanding to be reinstated in his former post. The Administration Court last week ruled that the premier must give him his job back.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644811-the-complications-of-the-yingluck-thawil-confrontation-thai-talk/

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE
Bad credit rating or not, the outlook doesn't look good
Thanong Khanthong


A rice warehouse in Samut Prakan province. Thailand has been the world

BANGKOK: -- Moody's Investors Service has threatened to issue a negative outlook for Thailand's credit rating, which is now assigned a "Baa1" rating. It is also reviewing risks associated with the sub-debt of the major banks of Thailand, given the fact that Thailand has shifted away from its policy of providing a blank cheque for bank bailouts in times of crisis. Is Moody's threat justified?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644812-bad-credit-rating-or-not-the-outlook-doesnt-look-good-thai-opinion/

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Father Imprisoned Own Daughter For Over 20 Years


An elder father imprisoned his own daughter for over 20 years after he was aware of his daughter’s mental illness. He built an islet at the of his house to imprison her.

CHUMPORN – June 5, 2013 [PDN]; Journalists and reporters were informed by 37 year-old Surasak Manatirat that an elder man had to imprison his daughter for over 20 years, as his daughter was suffering from an mental illness.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644709-father-locks-mentally-ill-daughter-on-manmade-island-for-20-years-in-chumphon/page-2#entry6481793

[webfact]

Thai Spring to target Thaksin online
The Nation


Members of the white-mask group rally outside Government House yesterday demanding that the prime minister sack Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi over the insults he levelled at protestors on previous occasions.

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Spring group is set to launch an anti-government Web page called Thai Spring Forum as a venue to hold regular online meetings, before calling on supporters to stage rallies when the time is right.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644814-thai-spring-to-target-thaksin-online/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Pheu Thai's dangerous double game on amnesty
Supon Thanukid
The Nation


Nattapat Akahad, right, the brother of paramedic Kamolked who was shot dead during the 2010 crackdown on red shirts, speaks at a press conference held by people opposed to the proposed amnesty laws last month.

BANGKOK: -- Families of red-shirt protesters who were killed during the 2010 political unrest recently called on the government to draft a reconciliation law that gives primary consideration to ordinary protesters and is free from political influence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644815-pheu-thais-dangerous-double-game-on-amnesty/

[webfact]

Plan to shift F1 venue
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand may ask the International Automobile Federation to consider moving the F1 race from Bangkok to Phuket following strong opposition from residents, the tourism and sports minister said yesterday.

Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Purisrisak said Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, has been given the task of getting the venue shifted.

Somsak said Phuket, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima had offered to host the Formula 1 race after communities around the Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok expressed strong opposition.

The minister also said that the Sports Authority of Thailand might also consider the Government Complex in Chaeng Wattana or Muang Thong Thani as possible venues.

-- The Nation 2013-06-07

[webfact]

Shoddy repairs caused deadly bridge collapse: EIT
THE NATION



AYUTTHAYA: -- Criminal proceedings are to be launched against officials and contractors who oversaw the renovation of a suspension bridge in Ayutthaya prior to its deadly collapse in April, after the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) yesterday confirmed an initial finding that the collapse resulted from the use of substandard cables.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644816-shoddy-repairs-caused-deadly-bridge-collapse-in-ayutthaya/

[webfact]

Surapong seeks ideas in Germany for commercialising R&D

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation, Berlin

BERLIN: -- Germany's approach to the commercialisation of research and development efforts would be applied to Thailand's development, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644817-surapong-seeks-ideas-in-germany-for-commercialising-r-d/

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Deputy chief rejects rescue worker's viral video
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj-General Worasak Noppasittiporn said yesterday he wants to file charges against a rescue worker who posted a video on Facebook that alleges Min Buri traffic police told a medic team to clear out as they tried to revive a victim of a fatal motorcycle wreck.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644592-injured-man-dies-after-bangkok-cop-tells-ambulance-to-move/page-9?p=6481823#entry6481823

[webfact]

One dead in fire at Success Inn Bangkok, Phahonyothin 26; blaze under control /MCOT

[webfact]

Pattaya Jet Ski Operator offers partial refund of money taken from Indian Tourists

PATTAYA: -- In, what is claimed to be, a gesture of good-will by the Jet Ski Operator, a partial refund of money taken from two Indian Tourists who were allegedly involved in an accident involving two hired Jet Ski’s, was made at Pattaya Police Station on Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644829-pattaya-jet-ski-operator-offers-partial-refund-of-money-taken-from-indian-tourists/

[webfact]

UPDATE:
Comprehensive inspection of suspicious luxury cars underway
By English News



BANGKOK, June 7 – Owners of nearly 10,000 luxury cars declared as re-assembled in Thailand will be summoned for questioning in a large-scale investigation against tax evasion, according to the chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644808-thailands-d-s-i-finds-super-car-reassembly-units-sorely-lacking/

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,483.86, down 6.35 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Phuket, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima could be a new site for Thailand 1st ever Formula One race in 2015 /The Nation

[webfact]

One killed, five injured following Bangkok fire
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A man jumped to his death in a panic after a fire broke out at his five-storey apartment building Friday, police said.

The fire at the apartment building on Soi Phaholyothin 26 also injured five others people.

Police said the man was apparently frightened by the blaze and jumped down on the fifth floor.

The fire was put out at around 8:40 am.


-- The Nation 2013-06-07

[webfact]

Formula 1 heading for Phuket?

PHUKET: -- Phuket, Khon Kaen or Nakhon Ratchasima could be a new venue for Thailand’s first Formula One event in 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644839-formula-1-heading-for-phuket/

[webfact]

Abhisit firmly rejects govt's Bt2 trillion loans
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 6 – The House scrutiny committee resolved today to abide by the original bill on Bt2 trillion loans for Thailand’s infrastructure development despite the opposition’s insistence that the mammoth borrowing could be slashed to Bt200 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644841-abhisit-firmly-rejects-govts-bt2-trillion-loans/

[webfact]

Police step up measures against illegal firearms

Bangkok, 7 June 2013 (NNT) -- The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has tightened measures against arms smuggling following reports of arrests of six Thais in the US for exporting restricted firearms to Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644844-thai-police-step-up-measures-against-illegal-firearms/

[webfact]

260 kilograms of marijuana seized in Bung Kan province

BANGKOK, 7 June 2013 (NNT) – Police in Bung Kan have arrested 2 men who were trying to smuggle 260 kilograms of dried marijuana into the country.

Supphachip Mibun and Bunluea Sawimon were caught with marijuana sticks worth around 2 million baht when officials intercepted their pickup truck in Mueang Bung Kan district and found the narcotics hidden in fertilizer bags on the truck.

Mr. Bunluea confessed he was doing the smuggling for 20,000 baht per trip, and has already carried out the act twice. The marijuana would be picked up at the border area in Hokham sub-district and then delivered to a groups of individuals in Akat Amnuai district in Sakhon Nakhon Province. Those accepting delivery would use an ice transport truck to pick up the drugs. Bunluea said he did not know where the marijuana would be taken after he made his delivery.


-- NNT 2013-06-07

[webfact]

SET index falls sharply, but Thai bourse remains attractive
By English News

BANGKOK, June 7 – The Thai stock market remains an attractive haven for investors despite an index plunge by 32.45 points -- 2.12 per cent -- yesterday, according to analysts.

The fall on the Thai bourse was more severe than most Asian markets which suffered an average drop at 1 per cent given investors’ concerns about the US Federal Reserve’s less active purchase of bonds from September onwards.

Chatrapee Tantichalerm, Krungsri Asset Management chief executive officer, predicted several supporting factors contributing to the Thai stock market’s rebound including global capital inflows into emerging countries, a continued trend of low interest rate in the next few years, strong domestic consumption, increasing confidence among consumers and operators, and the private sector’s ongoing investment projects.

Business performances of listed companies are satisfactory with a 14 per cent growth in Q1 and a predicted expansion by 15-20 per cent this year, he said.

External volatility may have an impact on the Thai stock market but it will be short term, he said.

The baht weakened to close at Bt30.58/60 against the dollar yesterday due to foreign capital outflows following sell-offs in the Thai stock market. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-07

[webfact]

North Korea to reopen hotline with South

PYONGYANG: -- North Korea says it will restore a key hotline with South Korea, as the two Koreas discuss where to hold talks on a jointly-run industrial zone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644877-north-korea-to-reopen-hotline-with-south/

[webfact]

Police seize 1 million meth pills at Bang Na condo; two arrested at southern bus terminal with 31 kg of heroin bound for Hat Yai /MCOT

[webfact]

PM calls urgent meeting to discuss rice pledging scheme issue /MCOT

[webfact]

Woman dies in jump from Bangkok apartment blaze
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 7 – A woman attempting to escape a fire at an apartment in Phaholyothin Soi 26 was killed from falling to her death instead.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644879-woman-dies-in-jump-from-bangkok-apartment-blaze/