Thailand Live Friday 11 Apr 2014

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People start to leave Bangkok for home provinces

BANGKOK, 11 April 2014 (NNT) – People have started departing Bangkok to spend the Songkran holidays in their home provinces, resulting in heavy traffic major roads leading away from the capital city.

Mochit bus terminal and Hua Lamphong train station were more crowded than usual yesterday because of the influx of holiday-goers. Road traffic was jammed on the Mittraphap Road sections in Pakchong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Muak Lek, Saraburi.

Around 4,500 police officers have been tasked with helping with traffic and facilitating commute through Nakhon Ratchasima during the Songkran travel period. Four speeding checkpoints have also been set up along Mittraphap Road to deter drivers going over the speed limit.

In the meantime, the Department of Highways has deployed mobile CCTV cameras to facilitate real-time traffic reports, in addition to setting up 200 roadside service stations for commuters.


-- NNT 2014-04-11

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FOURTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Four years since 2010 crackdown
PRAPASRI OSATHANON
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE UNITED Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) held an event yesterday to mark the fourth anniversary of the dispersal of red-shirt protesters from Bangkok's Ratchaprasong intersection in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718026-subdued-vigil-marks-red-crackdown-anniversary/?p=7676115#entry7676115

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UPDATE:

Editorial: The Real Tragedy Of 2010 Crackdown
By Khaosod English



BANGKOK: -- It was the Democrat administration who ordered the crackdown in 2010, but the Pheu Thai government has also failed to address the suffering of those affected by the violence.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718026-subdued-vigil-marks-red-crackdown-anniversary/?p=7676117#entry7676117

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Slain general's widow vows to continue fight for justice
PIMNARA PRADUBWIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- WHILE commemorating the death of her husband on April 10 four years ago, Nicha Hiranburana Thuvatham told The Nation it was time for Thai society to join hands and set good moral standards in order to block bad people from continuing to violate laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718077-slain-thai-generals-widow-vows-to-continue-fight-for-justice/

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UPDATE:

LESE MAJESTY
Police to seek arrest warrant for key red shirt
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI,
PANYA THIOSANGWAN,
PANOR CHOMPHUSRI
THE NATION

Court action sought against 'Ko Tee' for lese majeste coments to media

BANGKOK: -- POLICE WILL today ask the court to issue an arrest warrant for a red-shirt leader who allegedly insulted the monarchy in a recent interview with the foreign press, the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717959-arrest-warrant-sought-for-redshirt-leader-ko-tee/page-3?p=7676128#entry7676128

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
I can't broker talks: Prem
THE NATION

Privy council chief rules out mediation role; says political rivals won't listen to him

BANGKOK: -- THAI POLITICS has reached such an unbreakable stalemate that even a highly charismatic senior figure like Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda admits he would not be able to mediate the dispute, as the conflicting parties would not listen to him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717953-prem-doubts-suthep-yingluck-would-listen-to-him/page-2?p=7676134#entry7676134

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Lee: Thai crisis is weakening Asean ahead of integration


Singapore Prime Minister Prime Minister Lee, second left, talks with Nation Multimedia group chairman Suthichai Yoon, left, and editors of other Asia News Network media organisations.

BANGKOK: -- Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong maps out the road ahead for regional ties in a roundtable discussion with the region's newspaper editors on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Asia News Network. Excerpts from the first half of their discussion

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718078-singapores-lee-thai-crisis-is-weakening-asean-ahead-of-integration/

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APRIL 13
A Songkran SURVIVAL kit
MANTA KLANGBOONKRONG
THE NATION



The water festival turns lots of people into anti-social shut-ins. They can have their own kind of fun.

BANGKOK: -- THANKS TO THE Songkran Festival, mid-April in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted. Gleefully stretched out from today through next Wednesday, the country's biggest annual celebration can also be the most annoying and uncomfortable time of year for anyone who's not fully prepared.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718079-a-songkran-survival-kit/

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BAHT
BOT won't intervene in strengthening baht
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand is not worried about the strengthening baht and will not intervene through policy as it believes the movement of the national currency is due to external factors.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718080-bot-wont-intervene-in-strengthening-baht/

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RICE BIDING
High demand seen as 18 rice traders take part in govt auction
Petchanet Ptatruangkrai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Eighteen rice traders joined the Thai government's auction for 420,000 tonnes of rice late yesterday, reflecting high market demand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718081-high-demand-seen-as-18-rice-traders-take-part-in-thai-govt-auction/

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EDITORIAL
Trust gap widens in the deep South
The Nation

Government claims that state agencies have nothing do with the recent spike in deadly attacks are simply not believed by local residents

BANGKOK: -- Lt-General Paradon Pattanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council (NSC), says the recent attacks by insurgents in the heart of Yala stemmed from the change of Fourth Army Area commander. Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha provided a different explanation for the timing of the attacks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718082-thai-editorial-trust-gap-widens-in-the-deep-south/

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Water level at Bhumibol and Sirikit dams is critically low



BANGKOK: -- The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand EGAT) has urged people of all sectors to use water sparingly pointing out that the volumn of water in the two major dams has dropped to a level of great concern.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718084-water-level-at-bhumibol-and-sirikit-dams-is-critically-low/

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Dead boy's family in Phuket 'mob' against Russians
Anthika Muangrod


Region 8 Police Volunteers posted a photograph of ‘Larisa’ and Valentin’ on their Facebook page, asking for information on the couple.

PHUKET: -- A large group of Thais gathered outside the Villa Market in Chalong yesterday (April 9) to protest over the death of 16-year-old Thananbavorn “Lotus” Durongpan, who was killed just after 1am on Saturday (April 5) when he was hit by a car as he rode his motorbike along Patak Rd from Chalong Circle.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718085-dead-boys-family-in-phuket-mob-against-russians/

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Man drowns after Phuket road crash
Eakkapop Thongtub


A police officer photographs the upside-down car.

PHUKET: -- A man from Satun drowned this morning (April 10) after his car ran out of road at high speed on a curve on the old airport road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718086-man-drowns-after-phuket-road-crash/

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21 year old man accused of sexually assaulting 74 year old woman in East Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday afternoon Nongprue Police were called to a small village backing onto the Railroad close to Soi Kao Noi to investigate reports that villagers had detained a man accused of sexually assaulting a 74 year old woman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718087-21-year-old-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-74-year-old-woman-in-east-pattaya/

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Oil washed ashore along Jomtien Beach



PATTAYA: -- On Thursday the local authorities were alerted to a 2km stretch of Jomtien Beach which was covered in lumps of oil.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718088-oil-washed-ashore-along-jomtien-beach/

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Thailand to export 8.7 million tonnes of rice this year, UN predicts

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will export about 8.7 million tonnes of rice this year, ranking it the second largest exporter after India, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said Thursday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718089-thailand-to-export-87-million-tonnes-of-rice-this-year-un-predicts/

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BURNING ISSUE
Thais must resist being dragged into the escalating war of words
SAMUDCHA HOONSARA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A few days after Songkran, the anti-government group will probably start counting down the days until the demise of the caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra government.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718090-thais-must-resist-being-dragged-into-the-escalating-war-of-words/

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Pheu Thai member petitions Senate against NACC nominee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Singthong Buachum on Wednesday petitioned the Senate to object to a Constitution-appointed selection committee's decision to nominate Supa as the new member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), alleging she has a tainted record.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718091-pheu-thai-member-petitions-senate-against-nacc-nominee/

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Society deeply polarised, veteran insurgents say
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- There are similarities and differences between the current political conflict and the Kingdom's nearly two-decade-long war against communism, but the current conflict is even more severe in the eyes of three former communist rebels.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718092-thai-society-deeply-polarised-veteran-insurgents-say/

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Parents urged to invest in child car seats
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thai children's deaths in road accidents, second only to deaths by drowning, have been blamed on as few as 1 per cent of the country's parents using child car seats, a recent study showed yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718093-parents-urged-to-invest-in-child-car-seats/

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UPDATE:

Joint effort launched to make 'Seven Dangerous Days' of Songkran holiday safer
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Thammaraj Kijchalong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- With the festive Songkran mood in the air, organisations from various sectors have come together to make the upcoming holiday "safe and happy" for everyone.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717961-commuters-warned-of-accidents-as-songkran-exodus-begins/#entry7676242

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KHLONG OM NOI
More evidence of severe pollution
Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

Authority awaits cabinet green light to build wastewater treatment plant

BANGKOK: -- In a severe aggravation of pollution, an 800-metre-long trace of wastewater discharged into the Tha Chin River was found near Samut Sakhon’s Khlong Om Noi sluice gate, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s Wastewater Management Authority said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718095-samut-sakhon-more-evidence-of-severe-pollution/

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Two gangs behind ATM card hacking
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have initially identified suspects involved in a criminal gang that hacked at least 40 ATM cards in Bangkok as Malaysian. While another gang allegedly stole some Bt600,000 from people's bank accounts.

The authorities are now looking for suspects captured on CCTV cameras while reportedly installing a skimmer device behind the ATM in the Pracha Niwet 1 area, deputy national police chief Pol General Aek Angsananont said following a meeting yesterday morning with related parties at the police headquarters.

He explained that the job was done by two gangs - one that installed skimmer devices and sold information to another that hacked accounts and withdrew the cash elsewhere.

However, Aek said this case had nothing to do with the gang whose two Romanian members were arrested in Bangkok's Lumpini area on Tuesday because they had brought in foreign ATM cards to withdraw money in Thailand.


-- The Nation 2014-04-11

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PM Yingluck says she bows to charter court's power
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 11 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stood firm that she did not dismiss the Constitution Court’s power, but admitted that she was concerned with the upcoming judgement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718115-pm-yingluck-says-she-bows-to-charter-courts-power/

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US Health Secretary Sebelius resigns amid Obamacare row

WASHINGTON: -- US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is resigning following the problematic launch of President Barack Obama's healthcare law, US media report.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718116-us-health-secretary-sebelius-resigns-amid-obamacare-row/

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Microchips for ATM, debit cards to tackle fraud
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 11 – Commercial banks in Thailand will use microchips instead of a magnetic system on ATM and debit cards to prevent fraud, starting next year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718122-microchips-for-atm-debit-cards-to-tackle-fraud-bank-of-thailand/

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UPDATE:

Ko Tee escaped the country, denies lese majeste’ offence

11 April 2014, (NNT) - Wuthipong ‘Ko Tee’ Kotthammakhun, a leader of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship in Pathumthani Province, has denied the lese majeste’ offence filed against him by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/717959-arrest-warrant-sought-for-redshirt-leader-ko-tee/page-4?p=7676683#entry7676683

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Daily Weather Forecast For Thailand 11 April 2014

General Situation
The high pressure area has extended to middle China and will cover the South China Sea by today. It has affect to the easterly winds over the country during 11-16 April, 2014. The westerly trough will move cover to the North during 14-15 April, 2014. More thundershowers with gust are likely in Thailand. People should beware of the severe weather that leads to the loss of lives and properties.
The low pressure cell covers Malaca Strait. Abundant rains are likely in the South west coast.

Weather forecast for Thailand from 6.00 a.m. Friday to 6.00 a.m. Saturday.
Northern Thailand -Hot and haze during the day. Widely scattered thundershowers and isolated gust mostly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao and Nan. Minimum temperature 21-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 35-37 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Northeastern Thailand -Scattered thundershowers with isolated gust mostly in Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket. Minimum temperature 22-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-34 degree Celsius. Easterly winds 15-30 km/hr.

Central Thailand -Partly cloudy with hot and haze during the day. Isolated thundershowers with gust. Minimum temperature 25-27 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 35-37 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 10-30 km/hr.

Eastern Thailand -Cloudy and widely scattered thundershowers with isolated gust mostly in Sa Kaeo, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Minimum temperature 25-27 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-35 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter and above 2 meters in thundershower areas.

Southern Thailand East Coast -Cloudy and widely scattered thundershowers mostly in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Minimum temperature 24-26 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 32-34 degree Celsius. Southeasterly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter and above 2 meters in thundershower areas.

Southern Thailand West Coast -Cloudy and widely scattered thundershowers mostly in Krabi, Trang and Satun. Minimum temperature 23-25 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 33-34 degree Celsius. Westerly winds 15-30 km/hr. Wave height about 1 meter.

Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity -Cloudy with hot and haze during the day. 20% chance of rain thundershowers with gust. Minimum temperature 27-28 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature 35-36 degree Celsius. Southerly winds 15-30 km/hr.


-- NNT 2014-04-11

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,384.15, falls 5.41 points /MCOT