Thailand Live Friday 21 Mar 2014

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Yasothon happiest province in Thailand

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) - The Department of Mental Health has conducted a survey on happiness and found that Yasothon is the happiest province in the country while Denmark is the happiest country in the world according to the United Nations.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712612-yasothon-happiest-province-in-thailand/

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Statistic: 87 Cases Of Sexual Violence Reported Per Day
By Khaosod English


A suspect shows the police the spot where he allegedly raped and murdered a 6 year old girl, 17 December 2013. His alleged crime is among more than 31,000 cases of sexual violence reported in 2013.

BANGKOK: -- An average of 87 cases of sexual violence are reported each day in Thailand - one case per every 15 minutes - according to newly unveiled statistics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712614-87-cases-of-sexual-violence-reported-per-day-in-thailand/

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Landline Phones To Be Charged By Minute
By Khaosod English


Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks on phone with members of the public, 2 July 2010.

BANGKOK: -- Landline phones in Thailand are no longer to be charged under a flat fee of 3 baht per call, an official said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712617-landline-phones-in-thailand-to-be-charged-by-minute/

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TAT eyes exempting visa for Chinese, Taiwanese tourists

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) – In an effort to boost the number of East Asian tourists, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is mulling over a measure to suspend visa requirements for those coming from China and Taiwan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712618-tat-eyes-exempting-visa-for-chinese-taiwanese-tourists/

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TAT campaign to lure office ladies from Hong Kong
Pichaya Changsorn
The Nation
Hong Kong

BANGKOK: -- As part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's intensive marketing plan to revive the important Hong Kong source market, TAT will target office ladies, who love to visit Thailand on weekends to have a good time with spas, detoxes, makeovers and other activities.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712619-tat-campaign-to-lure-office-ladies-from-hong-kong/

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POLITICS
Senate Speaker indicted by NACC
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation


Nikom prepares to defend himself against impeachment move.

Nikom faulted for role during charter debate on change to Senate make-up

BANGKOK: -- The position of Parliament President appears to be in vacuum after the National Anti-Corruption Commission voted unanimously yesterday to indict caretaker Senate Speaker and acting Parliament President Nikom Wairatpanij over alleged violation of the Constitution while chairing parliamentary meetings to deliberate a charter amendment bill on the Senate composition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712620-senate-speaker-nikom-indicted-for-violating-thai-constitution/

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UPDATE:

MISSING MH370
No confirmation images of debris pertain to MH370
The Straits Times
Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Every effort is being made to locate missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 but the "credible" sighting of possible wreckage was yet to be confirmed, acting Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709464-missing-malaysia-airlines-jet-carrying-239-triggers-southeast-asia-search/page-103?p=7588388#entry7588388

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SAMUT PRAKAN
Dump fire likely 'destroying evidence' : DSI
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI,
TANATPONG KONGSAI,
POUNGCHOMPOO PRASERT
THE NATION


DSI says it might be difficult to prove who has been dumping illegal waste

BANGKOK: -- THE RAGING fire on a large landfill in Samut Prakan might have already destroyed evidence of illegally dumped industrial waste, |a senior official from theDepartment of Special Investigation (DSI) said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712621-samut-prakarn-dump-fire-likely-destroying-evidence-dsi/

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EDITORIAL
Police, drunk drivers and cabbies: an unholy alliance
The Nation

The surrogate-driver scam is another depressing example of how traffic laws are being flouted in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Some people will find it amusing, others will be dismayed. But, no matter how you look at it, the news that drunk drivers are hiring cab drivers to guide their cars through police checkpoints demonstrates a crisis in Thai law enforcement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712622-thai-police-drunk-drivers-and-cabbies-an-unholy-alliance/

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British tourist dies following Jet Ski accident at Pattaya Island



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday Afternoon, Pattaya Police, who have jurisdiction over Larn Island which is off the coast of Pattaya, received a report of a British Tourist who had died following a Jet Ski Accident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712623-british-tourist-dies-following-jet-ski-accident-at-pattaya-island/

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Jatuporn as UDD chief may be hardline
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The leadership change at the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) could be a "game-changer", giving rise to the possibility of civil strife and the country heading towards disintegration, some fear.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712624-jatuporn-as-udd-chief-may-be-hardline/

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BURNING ISSUE
If you can't face the consequences, just don't do it
Supon Thanukid
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- "I have faced all sorts of problems. My request is for justice to be retained in this society. We have the principle of loving-kindness for everyone. We work for the country and our good intentions should be taken into account. The law should not be used to affect other people's rights.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712625-if-you-cant-face-the-consequences-just-dont-do-it-thai-politics/

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M79 grenades explode at community near Constitutional Court Judge Jaral's house

BANGKOK: -- Three explosions were heard at a Bangkok community near the house of Constitutional Court Judge Jaral Phakdeethanakul late Thursday night and a man was seriously injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712628-m79-grenades-explode-at-community-near-constitutional-court-judge-jarals-house/

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Protesters thank soldiers, policemen for security oversight

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) – The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand on Thursday expressed thanks to soldiers and policemen who were deployed to provide security around the group's protest site in Bangkok.

The group, led by Nitithon Lamluea and Uthai Yotmani marched from the current rally site at Chamaimaruchet Bridge on Phitsanulok Rd., near the Government House, to each of the military-erected bunkers in the vicinity of the protest site. The demonstrators thanked the soldiers at each of the bunkers for helping to ensure the safety of people. The group later traveled to the Metropolitan Police headquarters to give drinking water and energy drinks to policemen, and to ask the police to continue providing safety oversight for the protesters.

Several roads along the protesters' travel route had to be closed to traffic on Thursday.


-- NNT 2014-03-21

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Annual 3-month fishing ban on Andaman Coast announced

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) – The Fisheries Department on Thursday announced the upcoming annual 3-month closing of the Andaman coast to fishing activities for the protection of juvenile marine life.

According to department officials, fishermen collaborated well with the measure in the previous year. Scientific data has revealed that the measure has allowed deteriorated areas that had lowered numbers of pelagic fish and demersal fish to make a comeback, with improved abundance of marine life.

Under the measure that covers 4,600 square kilometers of area in Krabi, Phuket and Trang, several types of fishing equipment, such as mechanized trawling nets and fishing nets with small openings, are banned.

Those found to violate the ban are subject to 5,000 to 10,000 baht baht, a maximum prison term of 1 year, or both.


-- NNT 2014-03-21

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UPDATE:

M79 grenades fired at Constitutional Court judge’s house but missed

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712628-m79-grenades-explode-at-community-near-constitutional-court-judge-jarals-house/#entry7588954

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Ousted Pian back in the Phuket race for Patong mayor
Phuket Gazette


Patong mayoral candidates Pian Keesin (left) and Chalermluck Kebsab arrived early to register for the election. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, recently found guilty of vote fraud, is back on the battlefield for the chance to reclaim his position as leader of Phuket’s premier party town.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712659-ousted-pian-back-in-the-phuket-race-for-patong-mayor/

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,360.72, down 0.75 points /MCOT

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DSI and FDA officers seize B10mn of illegal drugs with fake FDA labels
Phuket Gazette


The drugs were being sold in small bottles containing 80 pills for 3,100 baht and larger bottles containing 180 pills for 5,800 baht. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Illegal hormone drugs worth about 10 million baht targeted at the Chinese tourist market were seized by Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officers yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712665-dsi-and-fda-officers-seize-b10mn-of-illegal-drugs-with-fake-fda-labels-phuket/

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Navy vessel sunk near Phuket to make new dive site

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712661-navy-vessel-sunk-near-phuket-to-make-new-dive-site/

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Hail of bullets fired at Pheu Thai Party coordinating centre of red shirt leader Suporn Attawong in Korat; no casualties reported /MCOT

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Cambodia's central bank won't recognise bitcoin


Cambodia's central bank won’t recognise bitcoin as a form of payment, making the Kingdom the latest Asian country to reject the digital currency, according to The Phnom Penh Post.

PHNOM PENH: -- National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) director-general Chea Serey confirmed the regulator’s stance on the issue on Wednesday, citing the absence of any e-commerce law in the Kingdom as one of the main reasons.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712671-cambodias-central-bank-wont-recognise-bitcoin/

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Thai court to rule on election validity

BANGKOK, March 21, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's Constitutional Court is expected to rule Friday on a new legal bid to nullify a February election disrupted by opposition protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712674-thai-court-to-rule-on-election-validity/

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Pattaya police chief spending 6 million baht of own money to expand HQ



PATTAYA: -- Pattaya’s police chief is spending 6 million baht of his own money to upgrade the small, shabby Soi 9 city police station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712678-pattaya-police-chief-spending-6-million-baht-of-own-money-to-expand-hq/

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Pheu Thai coordination centre in Korat attacked with assault rifles



BANGKOK: -- A home office of the former deputy secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Suporn Attawong, in Koraburi district of Nakhon Ratchasima province was attacked before dawn by unknown number of gunmen wielding assault rifles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712681-pheu-thai-coordination-centre-in-korat-attacked-with-assault-rifles/

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UPDATE:

Grenades explode near Constitution Court judge’s home; 1 injured
By English News



BANGKOK, March 21 – Genades were thrown at two houses and an area near the residence of a charter court judge late last night, seriously injuring one man, police said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712628-m79-grenades-explode-at-community-near-constitutional-court-judge-jarals-house/#entry7589524

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Speeding Truck Crashes, Flips Over In Rangsit
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A truck has crashed and flipped over on an elevated road in Pathumthani province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712685-speeding-truck-crashes-flips-over-in-rangsit/

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Pheu Thai to meet on Mar 25th to discuss the party's managing board restructuring

BANGKOK, 21 Mar 2014, (NNT) - The Pheu Thai Party will call a general meeting on March 25th to discuss the party restructuring, says the party spokesperson.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712691-pheu-thai-to-meet-on-mar-25th-to-discuss-the-partys-managing-board-restructuring/

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UPDATE:

Erawan Center: Explosion at Ekkamai Road injures one

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Erawan Emergency Medical Service Center has reported that one person has been injured in an explosion taking place in the Ekkamai 30 community.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712628-m79-grenades-explode-at-community-near-constitutional-court-judge-jarals-house/page-2#entry7589699

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UPDATE:

Thailand ranked 36th among world’s happy people
By English News

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/712612-yasothon-happiest-province-in-thailand/#entry7589717