Thailand Live Wednesday 24 Jul 2013

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Thai & Cambodian hospitals to be paired up for better patient care

BANGKOK, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – The health ministries of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to jointly care for people who reside along the two countries' border area, while Thailand has also proposed it will support Cambodia in establishing a universal healthcare system.

Minister of Public Health Pradit Sintawanarong revealed that the two public health agreements were reached at a recent conference between Thailand and Cambodia, which was held to discuss human resource development along the border of the two countries and transportation linkages.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655738-thai-cambodian-hospitals-to-be-paired-up-for-better-patient-care/

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24-hour protection provided for Sa Kaew girl prostituted to teacher

SA KAEW, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – Police officials are now providing protection for the family of a girl who was prostituted to a teacher in Sa Kaew to prevent them from receiving any threats from the alleged offender, who has been freed on bail.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655741-24-hour-protection-provided-for-sa-kaew-girl-prostituted-to-teacher/

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CONTROVERSIAL MONK
Brother says he, not Wirapol, was man in bed
The Nation,
Nonthaburi



BANGKOK: -- Jet-setting former monk Wirapol Sukphol's younger brother yesterday told the media he was the person in the controversial picture that had been thought to be of Wirapol, better known then as Luang Pu Nenkham, lying alongside a woman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655742-brother-of-controversial-thai-monk-says-he-not-wirapol-was-man-in-bed/

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FATAL ACCIDENT
Tests needed to identify many victims of bus crash
Noppadon Sritaweekart
The Nation

Six of 19 killed in Saraburi collision known late yesterday

SARABURI: -- Forensic experts are working to identify victims whose bodies were burnt beyond recognition after a horror bus crash in Kaeng Khoi in Saraburi early yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655743-fatal-saraburi-accident-tests-needed-to-identify-many-victims-of-bus-crash/

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POLITICS
Amnesty bill 'could face legal challenge'
Hataikarn Treesuwan,
Praphan Jindalertudomdee,
Pimnara Pradubwit
The Nation


File photo : Ukrit

Worachai draft might be unconstitutional, reform panel chief Ukrit warns Pheu Thai

BANGKOK: -- Former parliament president and renowned lawyer Ukrit Mongkolnavin has warned that an amnesty bill proposed by Pheu Thai Samut Prakan MP Worachai Hema is at risk of being ruled unconstitutional, as it might discriminate against certain people involved in political violence since the 2006 military coup, a party source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655745-thai-amnesty-bill-could-face-legal-challenge/

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SOUTH CRISIS
Abhisit calls on govt to counter BRN's claims
Pimnara Pradabwit,
Narong Nuansakul,
Pares Lohasan
The Nation

Authorities urged to reaffirm their stance on turmoil in south

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party leader yesterday urged the government to issue a statement responding to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN)'s accusation that Thailand breached the Ramadan ceasefire agreement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655748-abhisit-calls-on-govt-to-counter-brns-claims/

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Mum calls off search for missing American Brett Bean
Phuket Gazette


Lynne Bean holds up posters of her missing son Brett Bean, 43, last seen in Phuket on November 25. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Phuket search for missing American surfer Brett Bean, 43, was called off by his mother, Lynne Bean.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655749-mum-calls-off-phuket-search-for-missing-american-brett-bean/

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New ownership announced for Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek


Grenville Fordham (left), Raceweek Founder and Managing Director of former rights holder Image Asia Events, congratulating new owner and rights holder, Byron Jones (right), Managing Director, Media Business Services (MBS).

PHUKET: -- Media Business Services, lead by Mr. Byron Jones and Mrs. Kanyarat Jones, have been announced as the new owners and rights holders of the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655750-new-ownership-announced-for-cape-panwa-hotel-phuket-raceweek/

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Substandard slings used in Ayutthaya bridge that collapsed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Reporting progress in the investigation into the collapse of a suspension bridge that killed five people in Ayutthaya's Tha Rua district in April, Assistant National Police Commissioner Lt General Jaramporn Suramanee said that substandard slings had been used for the construction of the bridge.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655752-substandard-slings-used-in-ayutthaya-bridge-that-collapsed/

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Golf-course land deeds illegal: RFD
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

RAYONG: -- The Royal Forest Department is seeking the revocation of title deeds for a popular golf course in Rayong after finding that they were issued illegally and the golf club had encroached on public land.

"We are now preparing an official letter to ask the Lands Department to investigate the issuance of title deeds for this golf course and withdraw the title deed of this area," Boonchob Suthamanuswong, director-general of the Forest Department, said yesterday.

The golf links occupy 109 plots of land covering 1,344 rai in Tambon Huay Pong and Tambon Sam Nak Kra Thon of Muang district.

According to an investigation, about 32 plots located within the links' grounds are areas where |individuals are not allowed to own land.

Seven other plots were located in overlapping areas between the department's land and private land.

The Lands Department is not authorised to issue title deeds for this golf course, he said.

Provincial authorities had set up a committee to investigate the issuance of title deeds for this golf course and determined that 20 plots were located in forest areas and 19 plots in the overlapping areas.

The committee had resolved to ask Governor Wichit Chartphaisit to instruct agencies to take legal action and allow the landowner to oppose the results of the investigation.

According to the provincial lands office, 530 plots on 2,700 rai are located in a public area in Muang district and 3,344 plots on 19,000 rai in a public area in Ban Chang district.

However, Thatree Namasonthi, assistant provincial governor, said the committee had also sent the results of its investigation to the provincial lands office asking it to withdraw the title deeds a month ago, but there had been no progress in taking legal action against the unlawful title deeds.


-- The Nation 2013-07-24

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BURNING ISSUE
Thais need to see many colours aside from red and yellow
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- Corrupt politicians, abuse of power, military coups, vote buying, self-censorship - these are often cited by Thais as evils plaguing Thai politics. But the problem of dichotomous thinking - or "black or white" thinking - is seldom discussed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655753-thais-need-to-see-many-colours-aside-from-red-and-yellow/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
The opposition is only doing its job: Korn
The Nation


Korn

BANGKOK: -- Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij speaks to The Nation's Hataikarn Treesuwan on the opposition's role in checking and balancing the government's power once the Parliament reopens on Thursday next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655754-the-opposition-is-only-doing-its-job-korn/

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Deadly crash highlights dangers to Thailand tourists
By Karla Cripps and Simon Busch, CNN

(CNN) -- A deadly bus crash in Thailand has raised further concerns about travel safety in a country increasingly known for not just its beautiful beaches but also the high volume of road-related deaths that occur every year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655755-deadly-crash-highlights-dangers-to-thailand-tourists/

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Tourist's Hotel Room Goes Up In Flames In Koh Chang



A hotel room in Sai Kaew Beach went up in flames, the tourists that were trapped in burning apartment were all successfully rescued.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655756-tourists-hotel-room-goes-up-in-flames-in-koh-chang/

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Two year old child locked in car at Makro Car Park in Jomtien

PATTAYA:--A 2 year old child was left inside a car at Makro’s in Jomtien on Tuesday afternoon while his mother went shopping. She left the car running but the child removed the key and locked the doors which deactivated the air-conditioning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655768-two-year-old-child-locked-in-car-at-makro-car-park-in-jomtien/

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Chanthaburi still critically flooding, water level in some areas one metre high; 14 schools closed;Roads damaged in Ranong due to flood /MCOT

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Army chief visits southern provinces, await investigation result showing which groups behind recent violent attacks /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,509.86, down 3.45 points /MCOT

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Floods hit parts of Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, 24 July 2013 (NNT) - Heavy overnight rains in Chiang Mai have flooded parts of the municipal areas, paralyzing traffic.

The municipal seat is submerged under 50 centimeters of water and is impassable for small vehicles. Local authorities have been pumping floodwater out of affected areas to divert the water flow.

Chiang Mai mayor said the flooding is an annual occurrence during the rainy season as the city is situated in a low-lying area and the sewage pipes have been clogged due to years of use.

Residents have been advised to move their belongings to higher ground as more heavy rains are predicted during the next few days.

Floods were also reported in the southern province of Ranong, the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday after days of heavy rain.


-- NNT 2013-07-24

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2 suspects arrested in rosewood seizure in Bueng Kan Province

BUENG KAN, 24 July 2013 (NNT) -- Rosewood smuggling ring took advantage of the just-finishing long holiday, attempting to smuggle out the valuable logs which were nabbed by the police before reaching the destination in a neighboring country.

Two smugglers, Mr. Prakong Bualakon and Mr. Dusit Homtom, have been arrested by the police while transporting 140 logs of Siamese Rosewood in a pickup truck registered in Bueng Kan Province. Authorities are also able to seize a boat used in the operation.

The police estimated the logs to be worth at least 4 million baht in the black market.

The arrest was a joint operation by the provincial police, and marine and forestry officials, following intelligence indicating the smuggling would take place around the construction site of a barrage in Khok Kwang Sub-district, Bung Khla District of the province.

During the initial investigation, the two suspects were charged with possessing protected woods and attempting to illegally smuggle conserved items out of the kingdom.

-- NNT 2013-07-24

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Bomb in Narathiwat, kills 2 teachers, wounds 3 others; one police officer severely wounded /MCOT

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Ayutthaya industrial estate assured of flood-free status
By English



BANGKOK, July 24 – Construction of a 5km long anti-flood dyke, to protect one of Thailand’s major industrial estates in the old capital of Ayutthaya, costing Bt40 million, will be completed this month, according to a senior official of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655789-ayutthaya-industrial-estate-assured-of-flood-free-status/

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UPDATE:

Search called off in Phuket as ‘missing’ American phones home


Brett Bean.

PHUKET: -- The case of disappearing American Brett Bean has been laid to rest with his family calling off the search this week and cancelling the B50,000 reward for information after receiving “several” calls from him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655749-mum-calls-off-phuket-search-for-missing-american-brett-bean/?p=6644114#entry6644114

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UPDATE:

Flood situation in Chantaburi still critical
By English News



CHANTHABURI, July 24 -- The flood situation in Thailand's eastern province of Chanthaburi is still critical as the water level in some areas has reached more than one metre high as high tides slow the runoff of water to the sea, with 14 schools forced to close.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655639-floods-hit-korat-and-chanthaburi-after-heavy-downpours/page-2#entry6644172

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Transport Min emphasizes on safety measures of public transport

BANGKOK, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is stepping up measures on the safety of public transport, especially buses, urging the Transport Company to check its tour bus condition regularly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655794-thai-transport-min-emphasizes-on-safety-measures-of-public-transport/

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Army Chief in Yala, provides policy guidelines on security

BANGKOK, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has visited Yala province to provide policy guidelines to officers in order for them to maintain order and protect innocent lives.

During his visit to Yala Province, General Prayuth said he was determined to find solutions to the violence-torn area. According to him, the priority of soldiers working in the south is to protect people’s lives after numerous incidents have happened during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Apart from providing policy guidelines, the Army Chief’s visit was also aimed at building morale among soldiers, who have been doing a good work to protect the people and facilitate them in their religious activities.

The army chief said he was keen on finding a solution to the restive south and would review all cases of violence in order to find flaws and mistakes, so that officers could prevent it from happening in future.


-- NNT 2013-07-24

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UPDATE :

Severe floods hit Thailand's eastern, northeastern provinces.
By English News

CHANTHABURI, July 24 - Heavy rains and run-off water have wreaked havoc in this eastern seaboard province where patients were moved out of the provincial hospital and more than 10 schools were barely accessible.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655639-floods-hit-korat-and-chanthaburi-after-heavy-downpours/page-2?p=6644398#entry6644398

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Two teachers killed in Narathiwat bombing
By English News

NARATHIWAT, July 24 -Two teachers were killed, and another teacher and two police officers were wounded in a bombing ambush in this restive southern province as the army chief visited a nearby violence-plagued area today.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655807-two-teachers-killed-in-narathiwat-bombing/Full story:

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June's car sales drop 14.2%

BANGKOK, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – Despite its disappointed sales in the month of June, which dropped 14.2 percent year on year and 5.21 percent month on month, Thailand auto industry boasted a 22.1 percent increase in the first half of 2013 compared to last year's figure.

According to Mr. Payungsak Chartsutipol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, the number of cars sold in June stood at 106,000 units, a 14.2 percent drop year on year and 5.21 percent decrease month on month. He further revealed that the number of motorcycles sold in June was more than 190,000 units, dropping 11 percent year on year, but rising 0.42 percent from the previous month.

In the first six months of 2013, over 740,700 cars were sold, which accounted for a 22.1 percent rise from the same period last year, whereas the number of motorcycles sold in the same period was over 1 million units.

The FTI chairman also disclosed that the number of vehicles produced in the month of June stood at 217,000 and up to 1.3 million cars were produced in the first half of the year.

-- NNT 2013-07-24

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LEPROSY
Leprosy conference gets underway in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A three-day international summit on leprosy opened in Bangkok today, with health ministers from eight countries as well as global experts expected to discuss the current situation of the disease as well as strategies for further reducing the disease burden and realising a leprosy-free world.

The summit is being organised by the World Health Organisation and the Nippon Foundation.

Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, regional director of WHO Southeast Asian office, said at the opening ceremony that the challenge is to sustain the quality of leprosy services and to ensure that all persons affected by leprosy, wherever they live, have an equal opportunity to be diagnosed early and treated by competent health workers.

"While we've covered a lot of ground in reducing the disease burden in all endemic countries, there is no room for complacency. The final battle against leprosy is yet to be won," he said.

The multidrug therapy developed in the 1980s has effectively cured 16 million people over the past 20 years. But in many countries where the disease is endemic, new casedetection rates have been either static or showing increases. Globally, every two minutes, a new case of leprosy is detected and seven out of every 10 cases is a child. Misinformation about leprosy is common and the disease continues to be shrouded in stigma with communities shunning patients even after they are cured.

Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, cautioned that the remaining challenges are becoming increasingly more difficult and complex.

"The target populations are living in difficult to reach areas such as urban slums, border areas and ethnic minority areas. Moreover, available resources in each country have declined," Sasakawa said.

He called on all parties involved to make political commitments and contribute resources and expertise to the fight against leprosy. To this end the Nippon Foundation will be committing US$20 million for the next five years, Sasakawa announced.

The summit will adopt "The Bangkok Declaration," to recognise that further work needs to be done and to reaffirm the WHO's and its partners' resolve to achieve a leprosy-free world.

-- The Nation 2013-07-24