Thailand Live Monday 29 Jul 2013

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GULF OIL SPILL
Legal action sought
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Achara Wisetsri
The Nation
Rayong


A boat tries to control and eliminate the oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand after a leak in a crude-oil pipeline at an offshore platform in Rayong.

Greenpeace, SGWA urge govt to seek financial compensation as PTTGC moves to limit oil's spread

RAYONG: -- Environmental activists are pushing for legal action and compensation against PTT Global Chemical following an oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand, which experts say could cause severe damage to the marine ecosystem.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656884-gulf-of-thailand-oil-spill-legal-action-sought/

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UPDATE
Anti-Thaksin group behind YouTube video : NSC chief
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The producers of the YouTube video with a clear death threat to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra are from the group in this country seeking to overthrow him, Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656672-al-qaeda-video-threatening-thaksins-life-dismissed-as-fake/page-6?p=6659920#entry6659920

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SPECIAL REPORT
Amnesty fallout: govt unafraid
Somroutai Sapsomboon,
Papinya Iamtarn
The Nation

Administration believes bill's opponents lack unity, resources; police prepared

BANGKOK: -- Buoyed by its successful crack-down on the anti-government Pitak Siam group last year and firmly backed by police, the Yingluck government is confident it can manage any possible political disturbances that might arise from its decision to push an amnesty bill through Parliament.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656887-amnesty-fallout-thai-govt-unafraid/

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Russian Go-Go Bar and Thai Pub raided by Pattaya authorities

PATTAYA:--In the early hours of Sunday Pattaya Police and Banglamung District Licensing Officials conducted raids on two late night entertainment venues on Walking Street and off the South Pattaya Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656830-russian-go-go-bar-and-thai-pub-raided-by-pattaya-authorities/

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340 Baht murder suspect caught in East Pattaya

PATTAYA:--A 28 year old man who allegedly murdered a man over an unpaid bill of 340 Baht from a Whisky Shop in East Pattaya was arrested by Police as he prepared to leave Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656831-340-baht-murder-suspect-caught-in-east-pattaya/

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UPDATE:

Cambodian strongman PM's party claims election win
by Suy SE

PHNOM PENH, July 29, 2013 (AFP) - The ruling party of strongman Cambodian premier Hun Sen claimed victory in Sunday's elections which were marred by allegations of widespread irregularities, but it faced rare competition from a resurgent opposition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656666-hun-sen-tipped-to-retain-power/#entry6659954

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Thailand needs more qualified researchers
Chularat Saengpassa,
Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation


Kamjorn

Few doctorates in science or technical fields; Ohec unable to control quality

BANGKOK: -- In order to improve Thailand's competitiveness and improve the quality of its education, research is needed. However, there is a shortage of qualified people to conduct this research.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656890-thailand-needs-more-qualified-researchers/

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9 Foreigners arrested at Illegal Casino in South Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- 9 foreign nationals including two Cambodian Casino workers were arrested after Pattaya Police conducted a raid at a 2-storey house on the Pratamnuk Road in South Pattaya early on Sunday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656814-9-foreigners-arrested-at-illegal-casino-in-south-pattaya/

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School building collapses
Somjit Rungjamrasrassamee
The Nation


Following a landslide, officials and teachers work to salvage educational materials in a school in Tak. The whole building came crashing down soon after.

TAK: -- A two-storey building at Padeh School in Tak's Mae Sot district damaged by a mudslide collapsed yesterday, but no casualties were reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656891-school-building-in-taks-mae-sot-district-collapses/

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thailand first female election commissioner would do it all again
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation


Sodsri

BANGKOK: -- Sodsri Satayathum, the only female election commissioner in Thailand's history, will complete her term next month. Looking back, she has seen many tough times but the most upsetting was the mud-slinging directed at her daughter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656892-thailand-first-female-election-commissioner-would-do-it-all-again/

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NSC says anti-government protesters pose no threat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council (NSC) believes that there is no need to impose any security restrictions in light of the anti-government campaign against the House deliberation of an amnesty bill, secretary general Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656894-nsc-says-anti-government-protesters-pose-no-threat/

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Govt planning transfer of Chiang Mai Zoo operations
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- The government plans to transfer the operations of Chiang Mai Zoo over to the Office of the Prime Minister's Pinkanakorn Development Agency, said the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's permanent secretary Chote Trachu yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656895-govt-planning-transfer-of-chiang-mai-zoo-operations/

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Chalerm Baffles Nation By Insisting Young Star Did Not Take Drug


Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung and Ms. Sutatta "Pan Pan" Udomsilpa

BANGKOK: -- The revelation that a rising young actress of a popular teen series had been photographed as she was taking methamphetamine took a dramatic and bizarre turn after a top politician insisted that the actress did not do any drug, contrary to her father′s confirmation that she did.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656897-chalerm-baffles-nation-by-insisting-young-star-did-not-take-drug/

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World Pro Poker Players arrested in Thai Illegal Gambling Den



PATTAYA: -- Despite strict rules against gambling in the nation of Thailand, Police were tipped off about a poker game involving serious pro players from around the globe playing in Jontien near Pattaya this week end.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656814-9-foreigners-arrested-at-illegal-casino-in-south-pattaya/?p=6660222#entry6660222

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Oil slick from PTT Global Chemical pipeline leak spreads onto Koh Samet's Phrao Bay /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,462.87, down 13.84 points /MCOT

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UPDATE:

Cambodian opposition rejects Hun Sen election win

PHNOM PENH, July 29, 2013 (AFP) - Cambodia's opposition on Monday rejected the claim of victory by the ruling party of strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen in weekend elections, alleging widespread irregularities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656666-hun-sen-tipped-to-retain-power/#entry6660449

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UPDATE:
More than 70 percent of spilled oil has been cleaned

RAYONG, 29 July 2013 (NNT) -- At least 70 per cent of the oil spilled off Rayong coast has been cleaned as the Royal Thai Navy's patrolling aircraft sprayed chemical to dissolve the crude oil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656884-gulf-of-thailand-oil-spill-legal-action-sought/#entry6660563

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Police on lookout for Toyota in Phuket shop hit-and-run

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police are on the lookout for the driver of a Toyota vehicle make and model unknown that slammed into a motorbike repair shop in Thalang early yesterday morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656926-police-on-lookout-for-toyota-in-phuket-shop-hit-and-run/

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PTT oil slick spreads to Koh Samet
By English News



RAYONG, July 29 -- Oil leakage from a PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) pipeline has grown and spread onto Koh Samet's Phrao Bay in the eastern province of Rayong, with 600 metres of one of Thailand's most popular tourist-attracting beachfronts hit with sticky crude oil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656930-ptt-oil-slick-spreads-to-koh-samet-beachfront/

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Flood walls in Rangsit to be ready at the end of August

BANGKOK, 29 July 2013 (NNT)-The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has revealed that the construction of flood barriers along Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal has now been 80% completed and is expected to be fully operational at the end of August.

According to Director of the Water Allocation and Drainage Planning of South Rangsit Irrigation Project, under the RID, Pruthipong Tassa-unchuleekul, the construction is aimed at preventing flooding as the rainy season progresses.

The flood walls consist of four sections with the first one located at Chulabhorn Water Gate, which is connected to Khlong 1. The construction was continued to Khlong 3 and then Khlong 5 respectively. The last barrier, of which the completion had to be put off while the required public consultation and survey were underway, is currently being erected at Rangsit Tai, commonly known among locals as Khlong 7.

Mr. Pruthipong said the construction has been carried out with flexibility to allow enough time for any objects to be removed to pave the way for the barrier. It will be up and running at the end of August when the amount of rain is expected to increase.

Around 493 million baht has been spent on building these walls to prevent the deluge while the efficiency of water pumps at several spots has, too, been increased. The additional dredging work has also been carried out at the lower part of Khlong 6 to make room for more water.


-- NNT 2013-07-29

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BREAKING: Cambodian opposition party wants investigation of election results despite impressive gains /AP

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Political confrontation intensifies on Amnesty Bill
By English News



BANGKOK, July 29 – Thailand’s political temperature over the controversial Amnesty Bill has heated up, but Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra refuses to take a stand on the issue and has left the question of whether it will be debated in Parliament or not to the government whip and Parliament itself to decide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656951-political-confrontation-intensifies-on-thai-amnesty-bill/

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Forest runoff covers Tak's Mae Sot municipality 1 metre deep; Nakhon Phanom prepares for Mekong River peak /MCOT

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Deputy PM Pracha confirms video threatening to kill ex-PM Thaksin faked, made by malicious person wanting to topple govt /MCOT

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RPT-Thai oil spill reaches tourist resort

(Reuters) - Crude oil that leaked from a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand over the weekend has reached a Thai tourist resort, pipeline operator PTT Global Chemical Pcl said on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656930-ptt-oil-slick-spreads-to-koh-samet-beachfront/page-3#entry6661232

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Koh Samet oil disaster - first pictures of the beach

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656930-ptt-oil-slick-spreads-to-koh-samet-beachfront/?p=6661188

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UPDATE

Pheu Thai in search of person posting clip that claims Al-Qaeda death threat against Thaksin

BANGKOK, 29 July 2013 (NNT) -The Pheu Thai Party is now in search of a person who posted a video clip threatening former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying the clip was a fake and was not done by the Al-Qaeda group.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656672-al-qaeda-video-threatening-thaksins-life-dismissed-as-fake/page-7?p=6661292#entry6661292

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ENVIRONMENT
Oil spill reaches Samet Island

An oil spill caused by an offshore pipe leak in the Gulf of Thailand has reached Samet Island, a popular tourist destination on the eastern coastline, tourism authorities said Monday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656930-ptt-oil-slick-spreads-to-koh-samet-beachfront/page-3?p=6661312#entry6661312

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RT@RichardBarrow: Park officials temporary close Ao Phrao on Samet island after oil slick hit the bay (Bangkok Post)