Thailand Live Monday 31 Mar 2014

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Thai PM set to give defence against negligence charges

BANGKOK, March 31, 2014 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected Monday to mount her defence against negligence charges linked to a controversial rice subsidy scheme that could presage her removal from office and a ban from politics.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715165-thai-pm-set-to-give-defence-against-negligence-charges/

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POLITICS
New Senate could decide PM's fate
The Nation

Jaruwan maintaka tops vote in Bangkok, pro-govt figures lead in Isaan and the north

BANGKOK: -- POLLS opened yesterday for 77 Senate seats that could hold the key to the fate of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who, after five months of street protests, may face impeachment for negligence of duty.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715168-new-senate-could-decide-pm-yinglucks-fate/

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POLITICS
Nuttawut challenges Suthep, Abhisit to live televised debate
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- RED-SHIRT leader Nuttawut Saikuar yesterday challenged Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, and Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Democrat Party, to a political debate on live TV.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715169-nuttawut-challenges-suthep-abhisit-to-live-televised-debate/

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VIOLENCE
Grenade attacks 'not meant to kill'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MOST PEOPLE believe that the grenade explosions near protest sites are used to intimidate and threaten protesters but not kill, according to Dusit Poll.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715170-dusit-poll-grenade-attacks-not-meant-to-kill/

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Welcome to the fray, new senators
The Nation

New members of upper house could have their mettle tested early on with impeachment votes

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715171-welcome-to-the-fray-new-senators-thai-editorial/

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Ex-Pageant Contestant Files Charge Over 'Nipple Photo'
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- A former Miss Thailand World contestant has pressed charge against owners of a beauty clinic in Bangkok for advertising with a photo showing her nipple.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715172-former-miss-thailand-world-contestant-files-charge-over-nipple-photo/

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British Man’s “Suicide” at Central Pattaya Condominium



PATTAYA: -- On Sunday Morning Police and Medics were called to a Central Pattaya Condominium to deal with a British National who appears to have committed suicide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715174-british-mans-suicide-at-pattaya-condominium/

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HEALTH
Forum sounds alarm on diabetes
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AROUND 180 people are killed by diabetes every day in Thailand - or nearly eight deaths per hour - and the number of Thais living with the disease is expected to increase, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

The information was revealed at the "Diabetes Leadership Forum" hosted by the Royal Danish Embassy, the World Diabetes Foundation and Novo Nordisk last week.

Dr Anders Dejgaard, president of the World Diabetes Foundation, cited data from the IDF about the sobering diabetes death rate in the Kingdom.

"In Thailand, the challenges are that a large number of people with diabetes don't know they have the disease, that a large number of people with diabetes can't efficiently control their blood sugar level and that most people fail to control risk factors well enough," said Dr Wannee Nitiyanant, president of the Diabetes Association of Thailand under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Today, about 6.4 per cent of the Thai adult population, or 3.2 million people, live with diabetes, Dr Wannee told the forum. She said that number was expected to increase by 1.1 million people to 4.3 million, or one in every 12 people, by 2035.

Diabetes ranks among the country's top five serious diseases - and shares many of the same risk factors as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Dr Chaicharn Deerochanawong, of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit at the Department of Medicine, said the Ministry of Public Health had estimated the total medical cost for diabetes treatment and related illnesses to have soared to Bt50 billion a year.

Dr Dejgaard described diabetes as a serious disease because it could lead to serious and costly complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputations of feet and legs, and early death. He said about half of all people living with diabetes were unaware they had the disease.

In order to challenge the rapid increase of diabetes as a silent but serious threat, the forum urged all relevant parties in Thailand to take action for better prevention and control of diabetes.


-- The Nation 2014-03-31

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CHALK TALK
Overseas internships a big boost for young Thais
PRIYAKORN PUSAWIRO, Dr. Ing
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An increasing number of Thai students have headed overseas for an internship as they hope to enrich their experiences, seek hands-on knowledge and upgrade their profile.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715175-overseas-internships-a-big-boost-for-young-thais/

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Saudis seek answers after 24-year wait for justice
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite expecting a positive outcome in a key murder trial ruling today, relatives of slain high-profile Saudi Arabian businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili have questioned why it took 24 years to get to this stage and who has benefited from the long delay.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715176-saudis-seek-answers-after-24-year-wait-for-justice/

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TAT moves quickly to cash in on easing of Hong Kong's 'black' alert
PICHAYA CHANGSORN
THE NATION



The Tourism Authority of Thailand is embarking on an intensive marketing campaign to lure back tourists from Hong Kong, quickly exploiting the removal of the "black alert" travel warning issued by the Hong Kong Security Bureau earlier this month. The Nation's Pichaya Changsorn reports from Hong Kong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715178-tat-moves-quickly-to-cash-in-on-easing-of-hong-kongs-black-alert/

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UPDATE:

2 men killed carrying home-made bomb
The Nation


Policemen inspect the site of a roadside bomb attack by suspected separatist militants on a pick-up truck

BANGKOK: -- Min Buri police are looking into a mysterious home-made bomb explosion on Saturday night that killed two men who were carrying it on a motorcycle while travelling in the Bangkok district. In what may be a related development, police later found two home-made bombs left by a motorcycle by Rat Uthit 12 Road, not far from where the explosion occurred on Rat Uthit 25 Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715008-two-men-killed-in-motorcycle-bomb-explosion/page-3?p=7630255#entry7630255

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Thailand's 'red shirts' gear up for a fight
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE AND AUBREY BELFORD
KHON KAEN/BANGKOK

(Reuters) - The clock is ticking for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who faces impeachment within weeks, but her supporters are hatching plans to thwart any move to dismiss her, with some leaders assembling what amount to militias.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715179-thailands-red-shirts-gear-up-for-a-fight/

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2 injured in crossfire in shootout between 2 motorbike taxi gangs in South Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- A Vietnamese Flower Seller and a 17 year old boy were injured as two rival motorbike gangs collided outside of a South Pattaya Barbeque Restaurant on Pattaya 3rd Road in the early hours of Saturday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715180-2-injured-in-crossfire-in-shootout-between-2-motorbike-taxi-gangs-in-south-pattaya/

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Thailand new hub for auto industry
ROWAN CALLICK - THE AUSTRALIAN

An Australian auto industry subcontractors puzzle over their future without cars being assembled in Australia, Thailand is moving to lure them — including with duty-free terms for imports — to establish operations there, where their clients are starting to create one of the world’s key auto industry hubs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715182-thailand-new-hub-for-auto-industry/

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EC announces unofficial Senate election results

BANGKOK, 31 March 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has announced unofficial results of the senatorial election held on Sunday, with Khunying Jaruwan Benjawan Mainthaka winning the Bangkok Senate seat.

According to the EC, only 18 million, out of 44 million eligible voters, cast their ballots yesterday; accounting for only 42.5 percent. More than 15 million, or 83 percent, of the ballots were valid and 5.15 percent invalid. Nearly 12 percent of the voters opted to “vote no,” as they did not want to elect any candidate on the list.

Former auditor-general Khunying Jaruwan Mainthaka, as predicted, won Senate election in Bangkok with more than 500,000 votes.She led the vote count from the start, after the poll closed, until the end.

Meanwhile, Waraporn Asavahame bagged the majority of the votes in Samut Prakan Province; Arporn Sarakham, the wife of the red-shirt leader in Udon Thani, easily took the province's seat, and Adisorn Kamnerdsiri won the seat in Chiang Mai.


-- NNT 2014-03-31

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Commerce hopes to secure a deal to sell rice to Philippines

BANGKOK, 31 Mar 2014, (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry is keen to secure the sale of 800,000 tons of rice to the Philippines on April 15th, saying the other main contender is Vietnam.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715219-commerce-hopes-to-secure-a-deal-to-sell-thai-rice-to-philippines/

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Chanthaburi police hunt rifleman



BANGKOK: -- Chanthaburi police are calling a meeting with all investigators to hunt down a rifleman who was seen shooting from a waited Toyota Vios sedan at the former Democrat MP Yugol Chanawatpanya yesterday with a rifle mounted with telescope.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715222-thai-police-hunt-rifleman-who-was-seen-shooting-at-former-democrat-mp-yugol/

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,372.56, gains 3.66 points /MCOT

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Kardashians in Phuket, catch glimpse of Muay Thai fights
The Phuket News


Kardashians in Phuket, catch glimpse of Muay Thai fights

PHUKET: -- Members of the Kardashian family are currently in Phuket to film for the their reality TV show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians'.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715225-kardashians-in-phuket-catch-glimpse-of-muay-thai-fights/

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Thai stock market predicted to have a brighter outlook as foreign capital returns

BANGKOK, 31 Mar 2014, According to the Kasikorn Assets Company Limited, Thai shares have a brighter outlook this week as foreign capital starts returning to the market.

K-Assets predicts that this week’s resistance level would be in the range of 1,381 to 1,400 points and the support level should be at around 1,351 to 1,342 points, indicating the index may gain more than expected due to the foreign capital factor.

The company said the driving factors this week are the political situation, US’s Institute of Supply Management Manufacturing figures, factory goods sales, non-agricultural employment, and Chinese Purchasing Managers Index figures.

Last week, the SET index adjusted higher due to purchasing activities of foreign investors, capping off the week at 1,368.90 points, an increase of 0.62% from the previous week. The daily trade however decreased by 29.52% at 25.5 billion baht.


-- NNT 2014-03-31

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THAI-SAUDI RELATIONS
Charges against police in Saudi murder trial dismissed

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court on Monday dismissed charges in the high-profile trial of five police officers accused of snatching and murdering a Saudi businessman with close links to the Saudi palace 24 years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715236-charges-against-thai-police-in-saudi-murder-trial-dismissed/

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In Thailand, Copyright Enforcement Comes as a Shock
Copyrights Come Into Fashion as Music Publisher Seeks Fees; Rap on Ownership
By JAMES HOOKWAY

PHRA PRADAENG, Thailand—The land of fake Rolex watches, knockoff DVDs and counterfeit Viagra is now discovering copyright, and it is coming as a bit of a shock for many Thais.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715239-in-thailand-copyright-enforcement-comes-as-a-shock/

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Sukhumbhand announces ending duty as BKK governor due to legal proceedings for allegedly slander campaign, urges fairness from court /MCOT

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Russian withdrawal: Chinese tourist scammed out of B400,000
Phuket Gazette


Thieves in Russia withdrew 400,000 baht from Mr Sun's account while he was in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A Chinese tourist issued a warning to other Phuket visitors of skimmer gangs after thieves in Russia withdrew 400,000 baht from his account.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715240-russian-withdrawal-chinese-tourist-scammed-out-of-bt400000/

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Two police cadets killed sky diving

Two police cadets died on Monday after their parachutes failed to open while undergoing skydiving training in Phetchaburi's Chaam district.

The second-year cadets were identified as Chayakorn Phutachaiyong and Nuttawut Tirasuwannasuk. Parachutes of three others cadets who jumped in the same group failed to open but they landed safely.


-- The Nation 2014-03-31

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No joy for joyriding Phuket water truck driver
Eakkapop Thongtub


The water truck flipped on the Heroines-Baan Manik Rd.

PHUKET: -- What was supposed to be a fun day out yesterday (March 30) for a municipal water truck driver and his pals turned into disaster when he flipped the truck onto its roof.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715244-no-joy-for-joyriding-phuket-water-truck-driver/

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The official Senate Election result to be announced within a week, says EC



BANGKOK, 31 March 2014 (NNT) - The Sunday Senate election was peaceful. Every polling booth nationwide was able to open as planned, reports the Election Commission.

The Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, said the situation was completely different from the general election on February 2.

Currently, the EC is in the process of investigating any complaints related to voting. Somchai said the result would be officially announced within the next seven days.

He attributed the low turn out to the large number of candidates who were not familiar faces to voters. The law states that Senate candidates should not be involved with, nor relate to any political party.

Sunday's Senate election was to fill 77 seats in the 150 seat upper house. The other Senators are all appointed.


-- NNT 2014-03-31

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Protest leaders nationwide to thrash out 'big battle' April 5
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 31 - Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has set April 5 for a major assembly of leaders of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) nationwide.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715247-pdrc-protest-leaders-nationwide-to-thrash-out-big-battle-april-5/

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Thai GDP lowered from 4% to 2.4%
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 31 - Thailand's long-standing political turmoil has compelled the Finance Ministry to lower this year's gross domestic product (GDP) projection from 4 per cent to 2.4 per cent, according to a senior official.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/715248-thai-gdp-lowered-from-4-to-24/