Thailand Live Sunday 23 Mar 2014

[Lite Beer]

Jatuporn calls red-shirt rally on April 5
Prapasri Osathanon,
Praphan Jindalertudomdee,
Pimnara Pradubwit
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suthep vows to oppose election if it is held before national reform

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Promphan yesterday announced a mass rally of red shirts on April 5 but did not specify the venue.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713047-jatuporn-calls-red-shirt-rally-on-april-5/

[Lite Beer]

Blasts 'may be political'
The Sunday Nation

A car was badly burnt after two home-made bombs hidden inside exploded early yesterday outside a house in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Police investigate grenade attacks, boost security for key figures

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713049-blasts-may-be-political/

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thawil vows to be politically neutral when he regains top National Security Council post
Naya Jaikawang,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Sunday Nation

Thawil

BANGKOK: -- Thawil Pliensri has said he will carry out his duty with strict political neutrality and not work to the advantage of any political camp after the Supreme Administrative Court ruling that the caretaker government must reinstate him to the post of secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713050-thawil-vows-to-be-politically-neutral-when-he-regains-top-national-security-council-post/

[Lite Beer]

Firemen close to extinguishing Samut Prakan dump fire
Tanatpong Kongsai,
Suwannee Bandisak
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A big team of fire-fighters were sent to a large landfill in Samut Prakan yesterday to try to put out a fire that has been burning for six days and forced thousands of local residents to flee the area to escape noxious fumes.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713051-firemen-close-to-extinguishing-samut-prakan-dump-fire/

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Mai haze forces four flights to turn back
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Four flights were forced to return to Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports yesterday morning after being unable to land at Chiang Mai Airport due to poor visibility because of the haze, said Chiang Mai Airport director Wing Commander Lakchai Chaloeyprach.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713052-chiang-mai-haze-forces-four-flights-to-turn-back/

[Lite Beer]

NACC to give documents to Senate
The Sunday Nation:

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission will submit documents to the Senate tomorrow on the impeachment of caretaker Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij, NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak said yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713053-nacc-to-give-documents-to-senate/

[Lite Beer]

EC: No threat to Senate poll
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission is confident the Senate election will be held smoothly despite the Constitutional Court's ruling to nullify the general election on February 2.

EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said that prior to the advance Senate election today, no group had come out to oppose it.

More than 2 million eligible voters have registered for advance voting.

Absentee voting will also be held today to elect 77 senatorial seats, representing 77 provinces.

The Senate election is set for next Sunday.

The Senate comprises 77 elected senators and 73 appointed senators.

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

Couple arrested with drugs
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Thai couple was arrested with 1.7 million yaba pills and 12 kilograms of crystal meth at a checkpoint in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district, police announced yesterday.

Reungsak Pochara, 40, and wife Anocha Maneethong, 41, were apprehended at the tambon Ban Saew checkpoint after police found the narcotics hidden in a secret compartment under the floor of their sixwheel truck on Friday night, Provincial Police Region 5 Deputy Commissioner MajGeneral Chamnan Ruadrew said at a press conference.

Reungsak reportedly confessed that he got the drugs from tambon Koh Chang in Mae Sai district.

He also reportedly told police that he was driving to Chiang Mai's Muang Mai Market to buy farm produces to cover the drugs before delivering them to a recipient in Bangkok.

He said he had done this five times before and each time he was paid Bt200,000.

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

Foreign minister expresses regret
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has written to his Malaysian counterpart expressing regret over the missing Malaysia Airlines plane and its passengers and crew.

In his letter, Surapong said that on behalf of the Thai government and people, he would like to convey to the Malaysians "our profound sense of regret as well as our heartfelt sympathies on the fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 and the passengers and crew on board".

Surapong told the Malaysian foreign minister that "Thailand stands ready to offer any further assistance and support to Malaysia at this difficult time."

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

Police rescue 31 girls in 'sting' operation
The Sunday Nation

Thirty-one girls were rescued and four human-traffic suspects arrested in a police sting operation early yesterday that targeted three karaoke bars in Chacherngsao's Ban Pho district.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713054-police-rescue-31-girls-in-sting-operation/

[Lite Beer]

Falling tree kills motorcyclist
The Sunday Nation

ROI ET: -- A motorcycle rider was killed by a large falling tree during a storm in Roi Et's At Samat district yesterday morning.

The Nakhon Ratchasima disaster prevention authority reported almost 900 homes in 11 districts were damaged in storms from March 19-21.

Following the accident report at 10.20am yesterday, police found the body of Thawit Palajit, 25, underneath a large rubber tree on rural road number 3013 at Samat-Suwannaphum.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, 4,000 people were affected when 893 homes were damaged by storms in Kham Thale Sor, Sikhiu, Sung Noen, Non Daeng, Prathai, Khong, Non Sung, Non Thai, Phra Thongkham, Muang Yang and Lam Thamainchai districts.

Provincial governor Winai Buapradit instructed the authorities to survey the damage so a disaster mitigation budget request can be made and officials dispatched to help residents repair homes.

In Chiang Mai's Muang district yesterday, gusty winds toppled stage panels at the Central Festival Mall during a preparation for a music festival but no one was injured.

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

Steam train at Bang Sue Station in #Bangkok #Thailand pic.twitter.com/Hlfwde7D6L

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Traffic in front of Ramkamhaeng Univ congested due to admissions test for master's program

[Lite Beer]

Rt@fratticcioli: Red Shirts in Khon Kaen: “If the UDD needs them, the people here are ready to join.” http://bit.ly/1iq5tcg pic.twitter.com/Zu2ixlXcXZ

[Lite Beer]

More rain for Phuket this week
The Phuket News

More rain for Phuket this week

PHUKET: More rain is on the way to Phuket this coming week after parts of the island saw brief showers on Saturday evening (March 22), according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713073-more-rain-for-phuket-this-week/

[Lite Beer]

RT@BeingAndrea: Many people here in #ChiangMai are not happy with #thai #political #election pic.twitter.com/PARoDYSSdc

[Lite Beer]

Thai Protest Leaders Strike a Pose

By NOPPARAT CHAICHALEARMMONGKOL

BANGKOK–Antigovernment protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s celebrity status has recently gotten a new edge thanks to his appearance on the cover of one of Thailand’s leading fashion magazines.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713074-thai-protest-leaders-strike-a-pose/

[Lite Beer]

Early voting for senate election begins, with light turnout nationwide; no obstruction from anti-government protesters /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Steam train arriving in Ayutthaya #Thailand pic.twitter.com/KXQMECQ4Xu

[Lite Beer]

Advance Senate elections go smoothly
By Digital Content

NONTHABURI, March 23 - The advance voting of the Senate election nationwide today has run smoothly so far, with no reports of any irregularities and without any obstruction from the anti-government protesters, according to Election Commission (EC) chairman Supachai Somcharoen.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713097-advance-senate-elections-go-smoothly/

[Lite Beer]

RT@191Thailand: Train derailment in Pattani is affecting services in 3 southernmost provinces. Should be open soon (Pic @TopNewsTH) pic.twitter.com/Qy39WsPBeb

[Lite Beer]

RT@191Thailand: Small oil slick found on Saengchan Beach in Rayong - TR @TopNewsTH pic.twitter.com/o5R6rRuqIW

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

PDRC anti-government protest leader calls Bangkok mass rally on March 29
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, March 23 -- Anti-government leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Saturday night called for a fresh major rally on March 29 to demand political reforms before the country holds a new general election.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713047-jatuporn-calls-red-shirt-rally-on-april-5/page-3?p=7597460#entry7597460

[Lite Beer]

Pallet, belts sighted in Australia hunt for MH370

PERTH, Australia - Australian officials said Sunday that a wooden cargo pallet along with belts or straps have been spotted in the remote Indian Ocean by one of the aircraft deployed in the hunt for a missing Malaysian jet.

The objects were seen by a civilian aircraft assisting in the search for Malaysia Airlines MH370 on Saturday in what the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed was the "first visual sighting in the search so far".

"Part of the description was a wooden pallet and a number of other items which were nondescript around it and some belts of some different colours around it as well, strapping belts of different lengths," AMSA aircraft operations coordinator Mike Barton said.

"We tried to refind that yesterday, one of the New Zealand aircraft, and unfortunately they didn’t find it. That’s the nature of it -- you only have to be off by a few hundred metres in a fast-travelling aircraft," he told a press briefing.

Barton said Sunday’s search, which will involve four military and four civilian aircraft, would return to the area to try and zero in on the objects again.

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

No disruption so far during advance Senate poll

BANGKOK, 23 March 2014 (NNT) – The advance Senate election began on Sunday with no reports of disruptions from political protesters. Not many voters have turned up to vote at the polling stations.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713097-advance-senate-elections-go-smoothly/#entry7597517

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

EC Chairman confident of a high voter turnout for senate election

NONTHABURI, 23 March 2014 (NNT) – The Chairman of the Election Commission was today confident of a high voter turnout for the senate election. He encouraged people to vote for good candidates to work in the parliament and consider draft laws.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713097-advance-senate-elections-go-smoothly/#entry7597529

[Lite Beer]

DPM Pongthep: Govt. is not responsible for failed election

BANGKOK, 23 Mar 2014, (NNT) - The government does not have to take any responsibility for the struck-down February 2nd election, says Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713106-dpm-pongthep-govt-is-not-responsible-for-failed-election/

[Lite Beer]

EC: New election could be held in next three months

BANGKOK, 23 March 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) believes the new general election will be held in the next three months after the Constitutional Court ruled to have Feb 2 election annulled.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713108-ec-new-election-could-be-held-in-next-three-months/

[Lite Beer]

AOT opens bike route in Suvanabhumi airport as an exercise spot

BANGKOK, 23 March 2014 (NNT)- Squadron Leader Sita Divari, Chairman and Director of Airports of Thailand PLC has overseen the opening of an airport bicycle route.

He said that as so many cyclists were interested in cycling in the area of the airport, the company had responded to the interest by launching this green corridor project. The company has improved the road surface of the track, which had been used as a flood barrier for its 23 kilometer length.

The track has also been upgraded to become a fine para-rubber non-slip bicycle lane. The road surface is also designed to suit the climate.The route is considered the longest dedicated bicycle route in Asia.

The trial session will continue between 6 AM and 6 PM, and after traffic lights are installed the route will become a permanent green spot for out door exercise and interest at Suvanabhumi Airport.

-- NNT 2014-03-23

[Lite Beer]

Over 20,000 TB patients in Thailand left untreated

BANGKOK, 23 March 2014 (NNT) – The Department of Disease Control organizes the celebration of the World Tuberculosis Day 2014 on 24 March with the objectives to identify and cure TB among at-risk groups.

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control MD Somsak Akhasilp spoke on the World TB Day 2014, saying that Thailand was one in 22 countries worldwide with a high number of TB patients. There were around 20,000 TB patients in Thailand who did not have access to the public health system. Over 2,300 of them were alien workers and 1,750 inmates, the doctor said.

The department has set plans to urgently search for TB patients, treat them correctly and prevent drug-resistant TB with the goals to decrease the fatality rate in Thailand to 5% and make sure that all TB patients have access to drugs.

According to MD Somsak, the theme of the celebration revolves around HM the King who has supported anti-TB activities in Thailand for more than 60 years. The target groups of this year’s activities include TB at-risk people such as public transport drivers, the elderly, the disabled and inmates.

-- NNT 2014-03-23