Thailand Live Thursday 11 Jul 2013

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Farmers warned to postpone farming along Chao Phraya

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) – The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has warned farmers living along the Chao Phraya River to postpone farming as the monsoon season has come to an end and water level in major dams has dropped below its standard level.

Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong says the Irrigation Department has been following up on the water situation around the country. After an inspection, it is found that the water level in major dams, including Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pa Sak Chonlasit, and Khwae Noi dams, is now at a lower-than-expected level. The minister cited the end of rainy period as one of the causes. He has, therefore, urged the farmers to delay their planned cultivation until the end of July as he expects the rain to come back at the beginning of August.

He further revealed that as of now 6.28 million rai of land have already been used for agriculture which accounts for 65 percent of all targeted land for agriculture. He said those who have not yet started their planting should wait until August during which there will be more rainfall.


-- NNT 2013-07-11

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Minister of Transport Hails Motorcycle Taxi To Work

BANGKOK: -- Images of Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan riding on motorcycle taxi have surfaced and caused much interest on Thai social network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652840-thailands-transport-minister-hails-motorcycle-taxi-to-work/

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Public Health Ministry actively campaigning for food safety in schools

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has launched a pilot project in nine provinces with an aim to promote food safety in schools and nurseries and to push Thailand to become ASEAN’s leader in food standard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652841-thai-public-health-ministry-actively-campaigning-for-food-safety-in-schools/

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LUANG PU NENKHAM
Jet-setting monk found to have bought 22 luxury cars
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- After discovering that Luang Pu Nenkham Chattigo, who also goes by the moniker Phra Weerapol Sukpol, spent Bt95 million to buy 22 Mercedes Benz cars, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will also investigate to see if the monk was part of a money-laundering racket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652842-jet-setting-thai-monk-found-to-have-bought-22-luxury-cars/

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DEFENCE MINISTRY
Yingluck starts her job as defence chief
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who also holds the post of defence minister, will start her first working day at the ministry today where she will appear with the military top brass for the first time since a controversial audio clip was leaked. The clip allegedly features a plot to bring back former PM Thaksin Shinawatra using military support.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652843-yingluck-starts-her-job-as-defence-chief/

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PROSTITUTION
Two women rescued from HK brothel
Saowanee Nimpanpayungwong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two Thai women rescued from a Hong Kong brothel have recalled to investigators how they were forced into prostitution after being lured to the Special Administrative Region with the promise of Bt90,000-month jobs working as masseuses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652844-two-thai-women-rescued-from-hong-kong-brothel/

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CHARTER AMENDMENT
Thammasat University lecturers split
Anuphan Chantana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University researchers have chosen not to make any conclusions on their study about the charter amendment while the government is waiting for the study results of two other universities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652845-thai-charter-amendment-thammasat-university-lecturers-split/

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UPDATE:
Soldiers to lie low during ramadan
The Nation

Police, defence volunteers to replace troops; Paradorn denies bowing to BRN

BANGKOK: -- As part of a truce agreement with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), police and defence volunteers will replace soldiers in villages in the Muslim-dominated border provinces in the South during Ramadan, which began yesterday, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652676-thai-south-police-defence-volunteers-replace-soldiers-over-ramadan/#entry6598761

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THAI TALK
Honest bureaucrats should be praised, not threatened
Suthichai Yoon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE Finance Ministry has set up a very unusual committee with a very dubious assignment. It is charged with the unenviable task of trying to find out what a senior official there told a Senate committee seeking information about the controversial rice price-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652846-thai-talk-honest-bureaucrats-should-be-praised-not-threatened/

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EDITORIAL
Education Minister should start with a clean sheet
The Nation

Too many changes of leadership and too many misguided policies that focus on quantity rather than quality add up to failure in our schools

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652847-education-minister-should-start-with-a-clean-sheet-thai-editorial/

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Protesters call on Army to stage 'peaceful coup'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- About 100 anti-government protesters staged a rally outside Royal Thai Army Headquarters yesterday, calling on Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to stage a peaceful coup against "parliamentary dictators who were attempting to bring the Army under their control".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652848-protesters-call-on-thai-army-to-stage-peaceful-coup/

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Govt struggles to put on a brand new face
Attayuth Bootsripoom

BANGKOK: -- The recent Cabinet reshuffle was viewed as an attempt to help improve the government's worsening image problem, particularly the damage done by the corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652849-thai-govt-struggles-to-put-on-a-brand-new-face/

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Credit Union execs accused of embezzling Bt12 billion
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Mounting evidence that Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative Ltd embezzled nearly Bt12 billion has led the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to launch an investigation into the company and its executives.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652850-credit-union-execs-accused-of-embezzling-bt12-billion/

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Muggers of KPN singers sentenced
The Nation J



BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court yesterday gave jail sentences to the two men found guilty of beating up and robbing KPN Awards singers Taspak "Bie" Chi, 21, and Anurak "Bomb" Boonpermpol, 27, in Bangkok last year.

Since their confessions were useful to the case, the court halved the sentences for Tawut Praputsorn and Anusorn Yawong, both 19.

On the night of July 10, 2012, the defendants on two motorcycles cut in front of the victims' motorcycle before beating them up with baseball bats and escaping with valuables worth a total of Bt93,400. Some of the stolen goods were retrieved after their arrest.

The two victims were easily able to identify the suspects as the site of the attack was well-lit.

The initial sentence for the young men was 18 years each, with Tawut earning a further three months for insulting state officials and also fined Bt1,000 for traffic-law violation.

The court halved their sentences. Tawut will thus be jailed for nine years, one month and 15 days and pay a Bt500 fine, while Anusorn will be jailed for nine years. The court also ordered them to pay Bt76,000 in compensation to the victims.


-- The Nation 2013-07-11

[george]

Google retires Latitude - A new Google Maps app for smartphones and tablets

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652852-google-retires-latitude-a-new-google-maps-app-for-smartphones-and-tablets/

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Bangkok: Russian arrested in ATM card scam

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652727-bangkok-russian-arrested-in-atm-card-scam/

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Urgent call for A- blood
The Phuket News

PHUKET: -- Vachira Phuket Hospital has put out an urgent call for Group A Rhesus negative (A-) blood.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652856-urgent-call-for-a-blood/

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Bomb ambush in Yala's Raman district targets patrol unit on military truck, eight soldiers wounded /MCOT

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Cat alerts home owner to 5-meter python house call
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A woman was alerted to the presence of a giant snake in the carport of her home in Phuket Town yesterday by her cat.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652861-cat-alerts-phuket-home-owner-to-5-meter-python-house-call/

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,409.13, up 20.72 points /MCOT

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Princess Sirindhorn opens Thai-Guangxi Culture Festival in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on July 10 presided over the opening ceremony of the Year of Thai-Guangxi Culture Festival 2013, held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok.

The festival is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Thailand’s Ministry of Culture to publicize the diversified cultures of Chinese ethnic groups living in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The event also signifies the good relationship existing between Thailand and China.

After the opening of the festival, Her Royal Highness visited the exhibition featuring culture and traditions of Guangxi people including their costumes, embroidery, cloth weaving and dyeing techniques. The Princess was also entertained by musical and dramatic art performances of the visiting Chinese troupes. This included a show by an acrobatic troupe from Guangxi and dances by the Yao ethnic group.


-- NNT 2013-07-11

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Anti-graft agency finds irregularities in govt-to-govt rice contract
By English News



BANGKOK, July 11 - Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Wednesday said irregularities have been found in a government-to-government rice contract as the payment figure was unusually low.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652875-thailands-anti-graft-agency-finds-irregularities-in-govt-to-govt-rice-contract/

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MPH to quickly eradicate mosquitoes as number of dengue fever patients rises

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has launched a caravan promoting eradication of mosquito nationwide as the number of dengue fever patients has become 3 times higher than last year's.

Public Health Minister, Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong, presided over the caravan launching ceremony, in which he handed out campaign flags and brochures, as well as mosquito repellent herbal ointment for distribution to villagers. He stated the caravan would help spread information on dengue fever, urging people with symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. Visible signs of the fever include persistently high fever, stomach ache, and vomiting.

He expressed his concerns that this month is the most prone to the disease, as mosquito population rises due to the rainy season.

According to the latest report, the number of dengue patients in the first 6 months of this year reached 59,000 with 68 deaths. The figure is 3 times higher than the same period of last year.

Most of the patients are between 15 and 24 years old. The anti-dengue fever campaign started simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday and will take 7 days to complete.


-- NNT 2013-07-11

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Fiery showdown at Klong Mudong in Phuket


Hero of the people or villain? Jirapat Pumi calls a friend to let him know about his impending arrest.

PHUKET: -- A fiery stand-off took place on Wednesday afternoon (July 10) between Vice-Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak and the leader of the Klong Mudong Chalong Community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652889-fiery-showdown-at-klong-mudong-in-phuket/

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MFA: Two Thai crew recover well after plane crash

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that the two Thai flight attendants injured during Saturday’s plane crash in the United States have made a rapid recovery and are expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.

According to Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, the two Thai flight attendants identified as Maneenart Tinnakul and Siritip Singhakarn who work for Asiana airline are currently undergoing medical treatment at Stanford hospital. Ms Maneenart is left only with bruises while Ms Siritip will leave the intensive care unit on Thursday.

Representatives of the Royal Thai Consulate paid the pair a visit yesterday and met with Asiana executives to request further assistance for the injured Thai crew.

An Asiana Airline plane crashed on landing at San Francisco airport on Saturday, hitting the sea wall at the end of the runway before breaking out in flames.

Another two flight attendants were ejected from the back of the plane during the crash and landed on the edge of the runway. They were injured but survived the impact of the crash.


-- NNT 2013-07-11

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PM works her first hands-on day as defense minister at ministry; many groups of anti-govt protesters gather outside /MCOT

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Kittiratt: Failure to launch water and infrastructure projects will harm country

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) – If the government’s mega projects were to be cancelled, it would have a detrimental effect on the country and destroy investors' confidence, said the Finance Minister.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652907-kittiratt-failure-to-launch-water-and-infrastructure-projects-will-harm-thailand/

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Min Niwatthamrong denies rumor on rice with chemical residue

BANGKOK, 11 July 2013 (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongpaisan, has denied rumors on social media regarding toxic chemical residues found in rice under the rice pledging scheme. He asked anyone with proof to show it so that culprits can be prosecuted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652909-min-niwatthamrong-denies-rumor-on-thai-rice-with-chemical-residue/

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Go Eco Phuket gets going
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: After hosting the world’s largest underwater cleanup last year, local marine conservation group Go Eco Phuket and the Thai Government are joining forces again this year to break last year’s record by garnering support from over 1,000 participants for the reef and beach cleanup in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday on August 12.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652913-go-eco-phuket-gets-going/

[Lite Beer]

Yala police to watch out for militants in disguise

Yala, 11 July 2013, (NNT) --Yala police have been instructed to be on the lookout for militants who disguise as women to carry out attacks.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/652676-thai-south-police-defence-volunteers-replace-soldiers-over-ramadan/