Thailand Live Friday 19 Jul 2013

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Drug dealers from prison network arrested in Rayong

RAYONG, 19 July 2013 (NNT) – Rayong police have arrested 6 members of a drug dealing network operated by prison inmates in Ratchaburi province, and seized around 30 million baht worth of drugs.

Rayong provincial governor Wichit Chatphaisit and deputy commander of Rayong provincial police, Police Colonel Traisun Niemsap, announced the arrest of the men, who belonged to the drug dealing network under the direction of inmates at Khao Bin prison in Ratchaburi. The 6 were caught with about 110,000 methamphetamine pills and 7.8 grams of Ice in their possession.

According to the Governor, Rayong is being used as a storage site for drugs belonging to prominent narcotic networks, for the purpose of facilitating distribution to nearby provinces. He said the police have been on the trail of the prison network for a long time, before arresting suspects at the command level, small-time peddlers as well as drug addicts.


-- NNT 2013-07-19

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Turk nabbed for shoplifting

SAMUT PRAKAN ― A Turkish man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing goods worth about 5800 baht at a Tesco-Lotus outlet in Bang Phli district.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654705-turkish-man-nabbed-for-shoplifting/

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Chinese Tour Group report Hotel Problems at Pattaya Police Station

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654619-chinese-tour-group-report-hotel-problems-at-pattaya-police-station/

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Lampang Hospital Director Arrested For Lethal Drunk Driving



LAMPANG: -- Hospital director in Lampang province was arrested after he allegedly killed a 17-year-old man as he was driving under influence of alcohol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654706-lampang-hospital-director-arrested-for-lethal-drunk-driving/

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RICE CONTAMINATION
Thai rice safe for consumption, experts say
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- After doubts about the quality of Thai rice spread like wildfire on social media, experts and academics yesterday insisted that Thai rice was safe for human consumption.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654708-thai-rice-safe-for-consumption-experts-say/

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RICE SCHEME
Groups vow rice checks
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Anapat Deechuay
The Nation



No decline in orders, exporters say; foundation seeks talks with PM on ways to protect consumers.

BANGKOK: -- As the government scurries to restore consumer confidence in Thai rice, buyers abroad are unfazed by problems with pesticides and fumigation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654709-groups-vow-thai-rice-checks/

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COURT
Court sides with Samut Sakhon villagers
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation



Coal firm ordered to halt operations, modify building

BANGKOK: -- Samut Sakhon villagers scored a major victory yesterday in their years-long legal battle against a coal production and transportation firm and various local officials.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654711-court-sides-with-samut-sakhon-villagers/

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EDITORIAL
Army still doesn't understand that the people are boss
The Nation

In threatening to prosecute the producer of a satirical video, the military proves that old habits die hard

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654712-thai-army-still-doesnt-understand-that-the-people-are-boss-editorial/

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American dies in hotel in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI: -- An American tourist was found dead from a suspected drug overdose in a hotel room in Chiang Mai province on Thursday, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654715-american-dies-in-hotel-in-chiang-mai/

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NATION ANALYSIS
Emergency decree a quicker process for amnesty to bring Thaksin back
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Panthongtae, the son of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said recently on his Facebook page that the voice in a mysterious audio clip widely distributed on the Internet belonged to his father - although he claimed the recording might have been edited.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654716-emergency-decree-a-quicker-process-for-amnesty-to-bring-thaksin-back/

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SHIN SATELLITE
Surapong, senior ICT official reject NACC claims
The Nation

Anti-graft body had accused them of dereliction of duty for allowing changes to Shin Corp contract

BANGKOK: -- Former Information and Communications Technology Minister Surapong Suebwonglee yesterday rebutted on a radio programme the accusation of the anti-graft commission that he had breached the disciplinary code and committed dereliction of duty a decade ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654718-shin-satellite-surapong-senior-ict-official-reject-nacc-claims/

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RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME
Democrat seeks clarifying on reported rice imports from neighbours


File photo : Chavanond

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party on Thursday called for the government to clarify a Customs Department's report on imports of rice from Myanmar and Cambodia despite oversupply in the state's stocks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654720-democrat-seeks-clarifying-on-reported-rice-imports-from-neighbours/

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Abac Poll respondents say Yingluck an 'ethical role model'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Almost 50 per cent of Thai people believe that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is a politician who could be an ethical role model, according to a recent survey by the Abac Poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654721-yingluck-an-ethical-role-model-abac-poll-respondents/

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DSI finds first clue in monk's case
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation yesterday found the first clue in its hunt for the eight tonnes of gold bars and ornaments that were allegedly donated to Wirapol Sukpol during his time as a monk. The clue was found in a gold shop in Ubon Ratchathani.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654722-hunt-for-8-tonnes-of-gold-thailands-dsi-finds-first-clue-in-monks-case/

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Two arrested with large cache of pills
The Nation



RATCHABURI: -- Two men have been arrested for allegedly possessing 119,100 amphetamine tablets worth more than Bt30 million with the intent to sell. The suspects confessed to have done drug deals with an inmate in Ratchaburi's Khao Bin prison.

The suspects were identified as Krit Isarapong and Jaroon Saowarod, both 24, who were arrested on Tuesday by Rayong police in the Map Ta Phut area after they raided the men's home. Drug users and small-time dealers who had been arrested earlier named Krit and Jaroon.

The two men said they knew the inmate they did deals with merely as Pod. Khao Bin prison only holds convicts arrested for drug-related offences and has installed devices to jam mobile-phone signals to prevent drug deals from within the jail.


-- The Nation 2013-07-19

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BURNING ISSUE
Authorities better prepared to nab misbehaving monks
Opas Boonlom,
Supon Thanukid
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Buddhists in Thailand are perhaps facing one of the worst crises in the Sangha as articles about misbehaving monks continue appearing on newspapers' front pages almost every day.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654723-thai-authorities-better-prepared-to-nab-misbehaving-monks/

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Nerd Alert! Thailand to start cracking down on illegal online content
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Seven major Thai online service providers will soon start working with the Thai government to create new guidelines for tackling the spread of illegal content on the web. But just who those new guidelines will affect and what specific content they'll restrict isn't yet clear.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654726-thailand-to-start-cracking-down-on-illegal-online-content/

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PM inspects flood prevention system at Ayutthaya's Wat Panan Cheng; protesters block Asian Highway, calling for government help on debt /MCOT

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Farmers say rice at Bt13,500/tonne is fair price
By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Three Thai farmers associations have jointly proposed to the government that it purchase white rice at Bt13,500/tonne and jasmine rice at Bt20,000/tonne in the next harvest season, according to a senior Commerce Ministry official.

Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, director general of the Internal Trade Department, said the proposal would be submitted to the National Rice Policy Committee for consideration next Monday.

Representatives from the Thai Rice Farmers Association, Thai Farmers Association and Thai Farmers Promotion Association said the production cost for white rice is around Bt8,000-9,000/tonne.

They also proposed that farmers be allowed to sell rice under the pledging scheme at the maximum of Bt400,000 per household.

It is estimated that next year’s crops will yield 28 million tonnes of paddy nationwide.

The farmers said they would receive only Bt9,000/tonne if the government fixed the pledging price at Bt12,000/tonne.

Rice millers allow humidity level at only 15 per cent for the rice they purchase but the humidity of harvested paddy is normally around 28-30 per cent, compelling farmers to lose Bt3,000/tonne for the high humidity in rice, they explained. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-19

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,488.20, up 1.01 points /MCOT

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Thailand to urgently regulate amount of chemical residues in rice
By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Thai Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong will accelerate the country's implementation of a food safety regulation to regulate the amount of chemical residues in accord with World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to help ensure the quality of Thai rice.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654709-groups-vow-thai-rice-checks/#entry6627838

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Manhunt for 3 suspects in Ramkhamhaeng explosion
By English News

BANGKOK, July 19 – Police have warrants and are seeking three fugitives implicated in a bombing near Ramkhamhaeng University on Sunday evening May 26.

Deputy Metropolitan police commander Prinya Chansuriya said the Criminal Court has issued warrants for five suspects, two of whom were arrested. He reaffirmed that there was no apparent link to the southern insurgency.

They were identified as Affahum Sa-ah and Idris Satapoh. Three suspects at large are Kamki Lateh, Ilroheng Waemae and Halem Mali.

Pol Maj Gen Prinya said the two suspects in custody said one of the fugitives, Mr Kamki, urged the four others to make the bomb and be on the lookout as he planted the explosive near Soi Ramkhamhaeng 43/1.

Gen Prinya said the five suspects had no record of involvement in the southern insurgency, adding that conflicts over space rental for vending booths in the Ramkhamhaeng area or personal disagreements might be the motive behind the incident.

City police contacted the Southern Police Operations Centre to search for the three remaining suspects, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-07-19

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PM Yingluck chosen by poll respondents as "virtuous politician"

BANGKOK, 19 July 2013 (NNT) – The ABAC Poll has revealed that its public opinion poll indicated that Yingluck Shinawatra is the most virtuous politician. At the same time, General Prem Tinsulanonda is a"virtuous senior figure".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654721-yingluck-an-ethical-role-model-abac-poll-respondents/#entry6627936

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Feature

Thailand urged to tackle dark side of 'Land of Smiles'

by Daniel ROOK

PHUKET, July 19, 2013 (AFP) - From jet ski scams to robbery, assault and even police extortion, for the millions of tourists who flock to Thailand each year the kingdom does not always live up to its reputation as the "Land of Smiles".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654773-thailand-urged-to-tackle-dark-side-of-land-of-smiles/

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UPDATE
Officials bow out of Phuket Airport Express bus launch
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: The long-awaited Phuket airport-to-beach bus hit the road at 9:30am today with little fanfare.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653351-phuket-airport-express-bus-ready-to-roll-on-july-19/?p=6628057#entry6628057

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Lampang introduces prototype OTOP/Tourism Village

LAMPANG, 19 July 2013 (NNT) -- Lampang province has unveiled a village that will serve as a prototype in tourism and OTOP development for other villages. Baan Lhuk Village is hoped to be the province’s new tourist attraction during this long weekend.

Lampang's Under Secretary Mongkol Suksai presided over the ceremony of introducing Baan Lhuk Village, in Na Khrua sub-District, Mae Tha District, to the gathering of tourists and the press. The village is chosen as one of the 8 prototype villages for tourism and OTOP products of the country. The project is drawn up by the Community Development Department with a view to showing a link between village products and the lifestyle of local people, their artistic wisdom, and culture.

Mr. Mongkol said that the public are invited to participate in the project by showcasing visitors to local activities such as wood carving, basket weaving and painting demonstrations.

Another suggested interesting activity is a boat ride which offers tourists an exquisite view of the Baan Lhuk village. The Lampang Under Secretary also released on the day a number of fish fry into the Jang River to commemorate HM the Queen's birthday on August 12th.


-- NNT 2013-07-19

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Thailand-Singapore strengthen military ties

BANGKOK, 19 July 2013 (NNT) – The Singapore Army Chief has paid Thailand a visit to promote military ties between the two countries.

Singapore Army Chief Major General Ravinder Singh was on a visit to Thailand as guest of the Royal Thai Army to bolster military ties and cooperation between the two ASEAN members.

Major General Singh was given a warm welcome by Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who chaired a ceremony to confer him with the Order of the Crown of Thailand to honor the Singapore Army Chief’s role in enhancing ties between the two armies.

Their discussion was conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, concentrating on the exchange of visits between high-ranking military officials of the two countries.


-- NNT 2013-07-19

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VIDEO: The Phuket News: On the buses, July 19

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653351-phuket-airport-express-bus-ready-to-roll-on-july-19/page-2?p=6628408#entry6628408

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Pattaya threatens demolition of illegally expanded Boutique Hotel

PATTAYA: -- City officials will go to court to force the demolition of South Pattaya’s Boutique Hotel nearly a year after discovering the owner illegally added four floors and violated building codes with an under-construction annex.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654794-pattaya-threatens-demolition-of-illegally-expanded-boutique-hotel/

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Alcohol sales banned July 22-23

PATTAYA: -- Back-to-back Buddhist holidays this week mean two dry days in Pattaya as bars, restaurants and entertainment venues are barred from selling alcohol.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654795-alcohol-sales-banned-july-22-23/