Thailand Live Thursday 13 Jun 2013

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Princess Sirindhorn presides over graduation ceremony at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy

BANGKOK, 13 June 2013 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday afternoon (June 12) represented His Majesty the King, in presiding over the graduation ceremony for successful military and police cadets in the 2012 academic year, held at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in the central district of Nakhon Nayok Province.

A total of 494 successful cadets received their respective swords and degrees at the ceremony. They included cadets from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, cadets who finished their studies at foreign military institutions using Royal Thai Army funds, successful cadets of Phramongkutklao College of Medicine and those finishing their studies at the Royal Thai Police Academy.

In her congratulatory speech, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said the work of both the police and military is mainly to maintain peace, order and security of the nation and its people. “…In carrying out such a task which is directly involved with the happiness of the people and the country’s security, officers in charge must sometimes be stern and decisive in their action in order to maintain fairness and peace for the majority.

However, in some situations, it might be more suitable to be lenient in order to create happiness for the society." The Princess urged the graduates to carefully consider her piece of advice and to firmly put their mind and heart on the job while exercising their power of intelligence and fair consideration, for the progress of themselves and the long-lasting peace and happiness of the country.


-- NNT 2013-06-13

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Maxim Cover Girl Told Police She Was Drugged

Image: Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- A well-known sexy idol reported to police that she woke up half naked in a motel room with a man after a night-out during which she might have been drugged.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646241-maxim-cover-girl-tells-thai-police-she-was-drugged/

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3 Thai unis make Asian top 100, but rankings drop
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has three universities in QS University Rankings' top 100 higher-education institutions in Asia this year, but they are falling behind their peers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646243-3-thai-universities-make-asian-top-100-but-rankings-drop/

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Water project hinges on court decision
Kesinee Taengkhiao,
Jutatip Tipnumpa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A big hurdle awaits the government's Bt350-billion water-management scheme, as the Central Administrative Court will decide on June 27 as to whether it can go ahead with the flood-prevention modules.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646244-thai-govts-bt350-billion-water-management-scheme-hinges-on-court-decision/

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Pressure on to achieve peace
Pakorn Peungnetr
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Third round of talks set to start; Chalerm will consider other groups if discussion with BRN fails to cut attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646245-third-round-of-peace-talks-with-the-barisan-revolusi-nasional-thai-south/

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Ekkayuth's body found; theft motive disputed

The Nation

Victim's lawyer says case political; 4th man sought

PHATTHALUNG: -- Mystery still surrounds the murder of businessman and government critic Ekkayuth Anchanbutr, whose body was found in the southern province of Phatthalung yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646246-ekkayuths-body-found;-victims-lawyer-says-case-political/

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THAI TALK

Even the government's 'good news' is badly handled

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

Commerce Minister Boonsong Taeriyapirom and his two deputy ministers meet the press.

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was supposed to have blown her top during a special meeting of Cabinet members on June 7 at Baan Phitsanulok. Thai Post Daily said she was very upset that ministers and their assistants had left her to defend the government almost all alone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646247-thai-talk-even-the-governments-good-news-is-badly-handled/

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EDITORIAL
The govt needs to get its own house in order
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt harassment of government opponents smacks of hypocrisy when they themselves 'champion' and demand freedom of speech.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646248-the-govt-needs-to-get-its-own-house-in-order-thai-editorial/

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Police arrest two fraud suspects
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The police's Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) yesterday announced the arrest of two wanted fraud suspects who allegedly duped 100 people in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen out of money with promises of well-paid jobs in Japan.

AHTD chief Pol Maj Gen Chavalit Sawangphet told a press conference that Noppadon Tientipjarat, 68, and Satit Pinthong, 54, had allegedly charged workers a fee of Bt50,000 to Bt60,000 each to help find them a job in the construction, agriculture and fisheries sectors. Instead, they fled with the money.

Chavalit said the two suspects had confessed to the crime and said they used another man called Don Jankomwong, who surrendered to police earlier, to invite the workers to join the bogus scheme.

Chavalit said Noppadon was previously charged in other fraud cases, while Sathit had been dismissed from military service without honour. He believed there were more victims and urged them to contact hotline number 1191.

In a separate case, the AHTD also announced the recent arrests of Khon Kaen restaurant owner Wongjan Sonsupap, 39, and her employee Saifon Jairak, 19, for procuring a girl under the age of 18 for prostitution.


-- The Nation 2013-06-13

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Constitutional Court to consider cases today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court will meet today to consider whether it should accept petitions related to charter amendments filed by a Democrat MP and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

It will also consider a complaint filed against former PM and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The court is due to look into the petition filed by the PAD and Songkhla Democrat MP Wiratana Kalayasiri demanding that amendments to Articles 68 and 237 be blocked.

The court will also look into the case filed by 134 MPs, who are calling for the revocation of Abhisit's MP status as the Defence Ministry had revoked his military rank of sub-lieutenant.

The case was filed on May 30 and is awaiting a final verdict.


-- The Nation 2013-06-13

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Forecast for heavy downpours, floods
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A warning was issued yesterday for heavy downpours and possible floods and landslides until tomorrow in 39 provinces of upper Thailand as well as Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Phang Nga in the South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646249-39-thai-provinces-warned-of-heavy-downpour-and-floods/

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Suspected brick-thrower caught on camera
The Nation

KANCHANABURI: -- Police yesterday said that security camera footage had captured a possible suspect after a brick was thrown at a moving pick-up truck in Kanchanaburi's Tha Maka district last Saturday night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646250-suspected-brick-thrower-caught-on-camera-in-kanchanaburis-tha-maka-district/

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All silent on withdrawal from expo bid
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- All parties involved with Thailand's failed bid to host the World Expo 2020 have declined to explain to the public why the Kingdom apparently just opted out of the race.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646251-all-silent-on-thailands-withdrawal-from-expo-bid/

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Land eyed for train project 'being used'
The Nation



PHITSANULOK: -- Wing 46 insisted yesterday that it was already using the land in Phitsanulok's Muang district that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning was eyeing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646252-land-eyed-for-train-project-in-phitsanulok-being-used/

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BMA to review TISI report on explosions

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Sukhum-bhand Paribatra said yesterday that an initial police investigation into the mysterious explosions of two fire extinguishers installed in communities this year concluded on June 10 that they might have fallen and the impact set them off.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646253-bangkok-administration-to-review-tisi-report-on-fire-extinguisher-explosions/

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DSI gets a lead in super-car case
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has received information from a transport firm owner about who might own the luxury cars that were damaged in a trailer-truck fire in Nakhon Ratchashima last month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646254-thailands-dsi-gets-a-lead-in-super-car-case/

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BURNING ISSUE
Govt must re-think South peace talks
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- The third round of the peace dialogue between the government and southern insurgent group the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) takes place today, and no one can predict whether progress will be made or not.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646255-thai-govt-must-re-think-south-peace-talks/

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Japan's visa waiver a boon to Thai tourism
By English News



HOKKAIDO, June 13 - Thai and Japanese tourism operators today hailed the move to waive visa requirements for Thais, predicting the number of visitors to the island country will leapfrog.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646256-japans-visa-waiver-a-boon-to-thai-tourism/

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British oil worker, 61, is kidnapped at gunpoint in Indonesia

Malcolm Primrose was being driven to a work site in Aceh, Indonesia, when he was stopped by a group of armed men
At least six armed men halted the car and took him by force
Driver was tied up, along with the Scottish worker

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646257-british-oil-worker-61-is-kidnapped-at-gunpoint-in-indonesia/

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RT @KristieKenney: The US has invested over $20 million to combat HIV in Thailand. Our shared goal is a generation free of HIV/AIDS.

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UPDATE:

Phuket beach encroachment top concern of Senate tourism sortie
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A fact-finding tour of Phuket’s top west coast tourist beaches yesterday identified encroachment by hotels, resorts and restaurants as the top concern among members of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646166-will-the-problems-on-phukets-beaches-be-solved-soon/#entry6502283

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,383.69, down 49.78 points /MCOT

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US Ambassador Kenney showers praise on Phuket
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- US Ambassador Kristie Kenney praised an array of aspects of Phuket during her one-day outreach trip to the island yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646279-us-ambassador-kenney-showers-praise-on-phuket/

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Thai stock market remains attractive despite index plunge
By English News



BANGKOK, June 13 - Foreign investors will continue their long-term investment in the Thai bourse despite an index plunge for almost two weeks, according to an executive of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646283-thai-stock-market-remains-attractive-despite-index-plunge/

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Supreme Court drops charge against former EC commissioners
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court Thursday dropped the lawsuit against former Election Commission chairman Wassana Permlarp and two other former EC commissioners, who were accused of unlawfully organising the 2006 by-elections.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646286-thai-supreme-court-drops-charge-against-former-ec-commissioners/

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Real estate expert says Siam Square is overvalued

By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- On Wednesday, veteran real estate evaluator Sopon Pornchokchai, president of the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA), said that the land in and around Bangkok’s Siam Square might be grossly overvalued.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646288-real-estate-expert-says-bangkoks-siam-square-is-overvalued/

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UPDATE:

Maxim model files police complaint after being drugged, waking up naked
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, Pilawan Arreerop, a 30-year-old model who was crowned Miss Maxim 2010, filed a complaint with police after she was allegedly drugged and stripped naked earlier this month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646241-maxim-cover-girl-tells-thai-police-she-was-drugged/?p=6502596#entry6502596

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Deputy PM Kittiratt: Rice pledging price ceiling of 15,000 baht could be lowered to reflect declining global rice price /MCOT

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The Changing Face of Thai populism
Written by Peter Warr

Pheu Thai policies mask preferences for Thailand's elites

BANGKOK: -- In Thailand, the term 'populism' does not yet have the negative connotations it has earned in Latin America and Europe, but the trend is in that direction. That was the message of a seminar entitled 'Rethinking Populist Policy: From Thaksin to Yingluck', held on 30 May at the Thailand Development Research Institute in Bangkok.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646313-the-changing-face-of-thai-populism/

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Phuket flood, landslide warning issued as weekend deluges forecast

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- An island-wide flood and landslide warning has been issued as heavy rains continue to soak Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646323-phuket-flood-landslide-warning-issued-as-weekend-deluges-forecast/