Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Jun 2013

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Princess Soamsawali to open Kaset Fair next Friday

BANGKOK, 12 June 2013 (NNT) - The annual agricultural Kaset Fair will take place from June 21 to 30, 2013 at Kasetsart University in Bang Khen area, Bangkok, with Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali presiding over the opening ceremony on Friday, June 21, according to a press conference.

The fair is jointly organized by Kasetsart University and the Princess Pa Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society, to raise funds for victims of natural disasters in all parts of the country.

The fair is also a way to publicize agricultural innovations and researches that Kasetsart University has developed such as the tools to fight droughts and floods which people can adapt for use in their households.

The fair will be divided into 10 zones such as pets, herbal plants, ornamental plants, food and fruits and community OTOP products. Princess Soamsawali will grace the fair opening at 3 p.m. next Friday, after which she will tour around various stalls and exhibitions.


-- NNT 2013-06-12

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CRIME
Driver 'admits' killing Ekkayuth
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The chauffeur of missing businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr admitted to his murder last night, former police spokesman Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri, said on his Twitter account.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645979-driver-admits-killing-ekkayuth/

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NARCOTICS
Drugs suspect sought by FBI arrested in Din Daeng
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Immigration Police yesterday arrested a 32-year-old US citizen, wanted in Florida on suspicion of dealing drugs, at an apartment in Bangkok's Din Daeng district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645981-us-man-sought-by-fbi-arrested-in-bangkoks-din-daeng-district/

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After Rattanakosin ban, search for F1 site widens

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Rattanakosin Island would not be used to host a Formula One race, and organisers would have to search elsewhere for a site to host the country's first F1 race in 2015.

Tourism Minister Somsak Phurisisak said that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration issued a law on May 16 which prohibits car racing in historic Rattanakosin, where organisers had wanted to locate the F1 circuit.

He added that efforts to launch a Thailand Formula One Grand Prix would not cease as the committee would look for a new site, focusing their search in the Chaengwattana Government Office Complex and Muang Thong Thani areas of the capital. "In fact many cities have shown an interest in hosting the race. We have no plans to build a stadium, as the circuit is expected to run through cultural sites," Somsak said.

Vettel's win deceptive: Ferrari

Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali believes Sebastian Vettel was flattered by the manner of his win in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

But Domenicali said he believed it would have been a completely different picture if two-time world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso had started from the front row instead of sixth place on the grid.

"I believe if Fernando had been on the first row like Sebastian then it would have been a different story," he said. "The main difference was that everyone, I believe, thought that the super-soft was the tyre for the race, but because the temperature was higher, then it was the other way around."

-- The Nation 2013-06-12

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DON MUANG BY-ELECTION
Poll expected to be very tight
Praphan Jundalertudomdee
The Nation


Democrat candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara, centre, spends time with Don Muang residents as part of his election campaign. Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has accompanied him on several occasions.

Democrat candidate's dedication to locals may earn him more votes

BANGKOK: -- The Don Muang by-election is expected to be a neck-and-neck race between the Pheu Thai and Democrat Party candidates.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645982-don-mueang-by-election-expected-to-be-very-tight/

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Vice Govt Spokesman Disagrees With Redshirts' Actions At Lamphun

BANGKOK: -- The vice spokesman of the government, Mr. Pakdiharn Himatongkum, said the Redshirts had gone too far when their supporters staged a protest near the venue of Democrat Party′s rally in Lamphun province on Saturday (8 June).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645983-vice-govt-spokesman-disagrees-with-redshirts-actions-in-lamphun/

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'Prank Bomb' Sets Off Panic At Samut Songkram Post Office

SAMUT SONGKRAM: -- Police in Bangkontee district, Samut Songkram, received report from post office employees in the district that a suspicious package has been found at the office. The police then dispatched bomb squad to investigate the scene.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645984-prank-bomb-sets-off-panic-at-samut-songkram-post-office/

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Prachuap Khiri Khan Deputy Governor commits suicide

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 12 June 2013 (NNT) - According to reports, Deputy Governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Sutthipong Terdrattanapong has committed suicide by shooting himself on Tuesday.

Mr Sutthipong, aged 57, was found dead in his home in Prachuap Khiri Khan Municipality with a semi-automatic handgun and a gunshot wound on his right temple. The body has been sent to Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital for autopsy.

Witnesses said a loud gunshot was heard from the deputy governor’s residence around midday.

His spouse told police that her husband suffered from depression and insomnia and had been seeking medical attention since he was transferred from Nakhon Si Thammarat.


-- NNT 2013-06-12

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EDITORIAL
TV show could be overstepping the bounds of decency
The Nation

Boosting ratings by courting controversy is an obvious tactic, but the public may react negatively to extreme cases of tastelessness

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645986-tv-show-could-be-overstepping-the-bounds-of-decency-thai-editorial/

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BURNING ISSUE
Want the truth about Thailand? Look abroad
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- While things appear calm on the surface, one revealing fact about the ongoing debate about the role of the monarchy surfaced last week when Prachatai.com online newspaper reported that Army Ranger Unit 45's Special Task Force had been busy engaging in cyber 'warfare'.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645987-want-the-truth-about-thailand-look-abroad/

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UPDATE:

Thais may not need visa for Japan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai nationals will most likely not need a tourist visa for Japan from as early as next month as part of Tokyo's move to attract more travellers from Southeast Asia, an NHK news report said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645848-japan-to-ease-visa-rules-for-asian-tourists/#entry6497993

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WATER MEGA-PROJECTS
Ditch dams, river networks tell PM
The Nation

Say locals left out of moves to curb floods, as govt starts project talks

BANGKOK: -- People's networks from river basins in the North, Northeast and South submitted an open letter yesterday calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her deputy Plodprasop Suraswadi to cancel the Bt350-billion flood management projects because they lacked public participation and contravene the Constitution.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645989-locals-left-out-of-moves-to-curb-floods-as-thai-govt-starts-water-project-talks/

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UPDATE:

Campaign launched over cyber attacks
Asina Pornwasin,
Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation

Five-year programme to regulate cyber security, rapid responses

BANGKOK: -- The government launched a national effort yesterday to regulate cyber security and implement measures against possible cyber attacks. The five-year programme is the first such action in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645850-thailands-first-cyber-security-meeting-held-at-government-house/?p=6498009#entry6498009

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Smart card for mothers, children
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- By August, the Department of Health will implement the "Mother and Child smart card" containing health information and child development data in a bid to boost good health and grant people easy access to healthcare services.

Dr Sarawut Boonsuk, chief of the mother-and-child sanitation division, said the card would contain all health data from |pregnancy, childbirth, infant vaccination, breast-feeding to congenital diseases, plus the child's height, weight. It will also give out childcare books.

Dr Siriporn Kanjana, chief of the Thai Breastfeeding Centre, said she encouraged breastfeeding for the first six months as it was important for the child's health and also saved mothers up to Bt3,000 a month. She is also planning to launch a campaign against the sale of breast-milk substitutes and possibly push for a related law in the future.


-- The Nation 2013-06-12

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BMA plans new service points
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) hopes to ease people's access to household-registration related services by setting up service points at shopping malls and Skytrain stations.

The first will open on a pilot basis at the Paradise Park Mall in Prawet district on June 20 before being officially launched in July, Deputy Governor Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang said yesterday.

He said the BMA was looking for rent-free locations to open such service points as it was providing a social service.

It is also eyeing BTS stations in Siam, Mor Chit and Phrom Pong, in addition |to Taksin and Bearing stations.


-- The Nation 2013-06-12

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Respect rights of car owners, DSI told
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Pracha Promnok has instructed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to help people when they're called on to submit luxury cars for inspection.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645990-respect-rights-of-car-owners-thailands-dsi-told/

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Peace in deep South will take time, analysts say
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Academics and security experts believe peace in the deep South cannot be achieved soon despite ongoing efforts to hold a peace dialogue with a coordinating insurgent group.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645991-peace-in-deep-south-will-take-time-thai-analysts-say/

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Prosecutors to decide on BTS case
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Public prosecutors will decide soon on whether to pursue charges against 10 suspects including a legal entity over their role in extending the BTSC contract to run the original Skytrain network by 13 years.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645992-prosecutors-to-decide-on-bangkok-bts-skytrain-case/

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Rural Doctors revive protest threat
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Rural Doctors Society and the Network for Justice in Health Systems vowed yesterday to push ahead with their demand for Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong's to be sacked and to protest outside Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's house.

"If we aren't happy with the government's sincerity in keeping its promises and following up on our demands to resolve the controversial medical allowance issue and stop the political interference in the healthcare system, we will absolutely gather before Yingluck's house," said Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat, president of the society.

Pradith said he would today invite representatives from the society to help the ministry establish a special committee to revise the criteria to pay additional allowances to medical workers including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses. The criteria are based on the pay for performance principle, or P4P.

The society issued a statement yesterday to inform to public it had received no response to its demands to reform the medical salary system and keep politicians away from two agencies - the National Health Security Office and Government Pharmaceutical Organisation - from the mobile Cabinet meeting in Kamphaeng Phet on Monday.

The resolution from last week's talks between the network and the government was not considered by Cabinet, Kriangsak said.

"The Cabinet responded only to the recommendation issued by Pradith from his personal viewpoint," he said.

"The negotiations were only a fake talk set up by the government. It was just a political game," he said.

According to the resolution, Pradith told the public he would form a special committee to revise implementation of the P4P scheme, to allow representatives from the society to attend.

Kriangsak said he was called by PM's secretary Surand Vejjajiva, who asked him not to stage a mass demonstration at Yingluck's house. Kriangsak said he would meet him to talk again in two days.


-- The Nation 2013-06-12

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Patriots leader's home attacked
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two bombs have exploded the home of Thai Patriots Network's core member Chaiwat Sinsuwong on two consecutive nights. Nobody was killed or injured.

"On Sunday night, a ping-pong bomb exploded in the dustbin outside my house," Chaiwat said, adding that another such bomb was hurled into his compound on Monday night.

He said he believes the attacks are politically motivated. "I am being targeted because I led anti-government rallies in Sanam Luang," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-06-12

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Rolls-Royce opens boutique showroom here
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- British luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched the world's first Rolls-Royce Boutique showroom at Bangkok's Siam Paragon mall.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645994-worlds-first-rolls-royce-boutique-showroom-opens-at-bangkoks-siam-paragon/

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Police and Customs raid Turkish-owned Luxury Car Showroom in Central Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646009-police-and-customs-raid-turkish-owned-luxury-car-showroom-in-central-pattaya/

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Americans starting to like George W. Bush: Poll

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646002-americans-starting-to-like-george-w-bush-poll/

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Phuket tipped as venue for Thailand's first Formula One race in 2015

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646013-phuket-tipped-as-venue-for-thailands-first-formula-one-race-in-2015/

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Prehistoric cliff paintings found in Surat Thani

BANGKOK, 12 June 2013 (NNT) – Park rangers in Surat Thani are securing a recently discovered site of prehistoric paintings on a cliff in Phanom district, estimated to be thousands of years old.

Deer-like animals and an unknown image were portrayed in the paintings.

The site is 200 meters up a cliff after a 2 kilometers walk from Ban Song Phi Nong in Mu 5, Khlong Sok sub-district, Phanom district.

Bandit Bunsuk, head of Khlong Phanom National Park, said park rangers are now guarding the site to prevent any damage from local honey gatherers who have been active around the site. He revealed he has received reports of other paintings on another cliff in the park, and the finding of sea shells. However, these sites cannot yet be explored because of the treacherous terrain.


-- NNT 2013-06-12

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,438.34, down 14.29 points /MCOT

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International call for human rights protection in Thailand
By English News



BANGKOK, June 12 – Amnesty International (AI) has called on Thailand to press for human rights protection in Southeast Asia, abolish shackles among inmates and stop pushing Rohingya ethnic migrants from the kingdom.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646035-international-call-for-human-rights-protection-in-thailand/

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UPDATE:

Missing businessman's driver admits killing boss
By English News



BANGKOK, June 12 -- The driver of missing businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr admitted killing his boss and burying his body in the southern province of Phatthalung.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645979-driver-admits-killing-ekkayuth/#entry6498627

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Two wounded in bomb ambush of teacher protection unit in Pattani's Khok Pho district /MCOT

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Consumer Protection Police Division arrest restricted medicine and cosmetics smugglers

BANGKOK, 12 June 2013 (NNT) – The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) has apprehended smugglers of restricted cosmetics and medicines, seizing more than 10 million baht worth of illegal items.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646040-thailands-consumer-protection-police-arrest-restricted-medicine-smugglers/