Thailand Live Sunday 04 May 2014

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Garbage dump catches fire in Ayutthaya
The Sunday Nation

AYUTTHAYA: -- A fire broke out at a garbage dump in Ayutthaya's Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district yesterday afternoon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723475-garbage-dump-catches-fire-in-ayutthaya/

[Lite Beer]

PM asked to step down
Chanon Wongsatayanont,
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Abhisit urges Yingluck, Cabinet to quit before court verdict; outlines proposal

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723477-pm-asked-to-step-down/

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Doubts voiced
The Sunday Nation

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announces his proposals to help resolve the political stalemate during a press conference at Sukosol Hotel yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposal yesterday was met with doubt as politicians and academics said some of his suggestions were unconstitutional.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723478-doubts-voiced-over-abhisit-proposals/

[Lite Beer]

Support for reform up amid poll doubt
The Sunday Nation May 4, 2014 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- People fear another disrupted ballot; many want changes now, surveys find

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723479-support-for-reform-up-amid-poll-doubt/

[Lite Beer]

Another gaur found dead in Kui Buri National Park
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- A veterinarian, local police and related officials will today check the carcass of a female gaur, found in Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Friday, to try to determine the cause of death, park chief Prawatsat Chanthep said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723480-another-gaur-found-dead-in-kui-buri-national-park/

[Lite Beer]

Suspects caught with Siamese Rosewood
The Sunday Nation

ROI ET: -- Four suspects were arrested yesterday with 200 pieces of Siamese Rosewood in Roi Et's Phanom Phrai district.

Crime Suppression Division's Special Operation Sub-division chief Pol Lt-Colonel Torsak Sukwimon said the arrests stemmed from an investigation into a gang in the province that sold Siamese Rosewood to foreign investors.

The suspects reportedly confessed that they gathered the wood pieces from local merchants in order to export them to other countries where they could fetch as much as Bt30 million.

-- The Nation 2014-05-04

[Lite Beer]

PM to discuss LPG price rise proposal with EC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will talk with the Election Commission about a proposal to raise the LPG price in the transport sector to the same level as the household consumption price, Energy Policy and Planning Office director Samerjai Suksumek said yesterday.

Samerjai said that during a meeting of ministry permanent secretaries chaired by Yingluck on April 30, Energy Ministry deputy permanent secretary Kurujit Nakornthap raised the urgent need to increase the LPG price to prevent smuggling.

The government increased the LPG price for households by Bt.50 per month for 12 months from September last year.

LPG for household consumption is Bt21.63 per kilogram while LPG in the transport sector is Bt21.38 per kg.

With the price difference, there was the chance of LPG for household consumption being smuggled, Samerjai said.

The ministry also urged Yingluck to expedite construction of a power plant to replace the Mae Moh power unit 4-7, which has a capacity of 600 megawatts, to ensure power stability. The project has failed to get off the ground, as it needs approval from a new government, he said.

Samerjai said Yingluck ordered the ministry to consult with the Council of State to find ways to get these two issues solved.

He said she would talk to the Election Commission on May 20 to find out if the caretaker Cabinet could resolve the issues.

-- The Nation 2014-05-04

[Lite Beer]

Pinit, the humble MP, succumbs to cancer
The Sunday Nation

Pinit

Pinit Chansomboon, who had been a Kanchanaburi MP for four times, died of gastric cancer yesterday at hospital in his province. He was 59.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723482-pinit-the-humble-mp-succumbs-to-cancer/

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT
E-cigarettes just as deadly as normal smokes, experts warn
Pantipa Jitrawutthiporn
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry plans to push through a law to include electronic cigarettes in existing laws controlling the sale of ordinary cigarettes, amid concern that users face the risk of heart disease and cancer. The draft should be sent to Parliament for consideration soon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723483-e-cigarettes-just-as-deadly-as-normal-smokes-experts-warn/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Police seize drug suspect's assets worth Bt150m
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Up to Bt150 million worth of assets in Chiang Mai's Phrao district belonging to drug suspect Anan Jaiwan have been seized, police told the press yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723372-150-million-baht-worth-of-assets-seized-from-a-disc-jockey-by-oncb/#entry7772168

[Lite Beer]

Alleged ATM thieves arrested
The Sunday Nation

CHON BURI: -- Police have arrested two men and a teenage boy who allegedly stole nearly Bt3 million in cash from an ATM in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district after their car's licence plate was captured by a security camera.

They are alleged gang leader A-tid Saengprasert, Tanong Boonket and the 17-year-old boy.

They allegedly used a gas-welding machine to extract the cash from the Siam Commercial Bank ATM on Sukhumvit Road's inbound lane towards Sattahip district last week.

A-tid confessed that he had attempted to rob ATMs four times before in Bangkok but had failed until last week's heist, Chon Buri police chief Maj-General Khatcha Thatsat told a press conference.

Police are trying to retrieve the cash and are looking for the gas-welding machine and gas cylinder in Bang Pakong River, where the suspects claimed to dump the evidence.

-- The Nation 2014-05-04

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EDITORIAL
Thailand may face trade sanctions over human trafficking
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Top US official highlighted the kingdom's dismal record in regard to the Rohingya; threat of downgrade possible

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723484-thailand-may-face-trade-sanctions-over-human-trafficking/

[Lite Beer]

-- The Nation 2014-05-04

[Lite Beer]

MRTA to close road at Tha Phra junction for construction of blue line rail route.

BANGKOK, 3 May 2014 (NNT) -The MRTA is closing the road at Tha Phra junction for construction of the Blue Line rail route. The governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Yongsit Rojsrikul advises that Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction PCL, the main contractor of the Blue Line from Tha Phra- Lak Song Station, will now start to build the portal frame at Tha Phra junction.

Therefore, two road lanes , next to Tha Phra tunnel from Soi Charansanitwong 1 to Soi Charansanitwong 3 heading towards Fai-Chai junction, will be closed. And two lanes in Tha Phra tunnel from Charansanitwong road heading toward Ratchadapisek will also be closed from May 6th– July 2014.

To accommodate the period of closed roads, the traffic flow must be rearranged. Those who come from Petchkasem road heading to Bangkae and who want to go on to Charansanitwong road, take a right turn at Tha Phra junction.

For those coming from Petchkasem toward Wongwianyai and wishing to go on to Charansanitwong road, take a left turn using the traffic lane which heads to Ratchadapisek, then slightly left to Charansanitwong road.

Those who come from Ratchadapisek road and want to go to Charansanitwong road, go straight into the tunnel. While those who come from Charansanitwong road and want to go to Ratchadapisek, take the road next to the tunnel without going into the tunnel.

However, the overall construction and the closing of some road lanes can still cause inconvenience and traffic jams. When possible please avoid the affected roads.

-- NNT 2014-05-04

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RT@ChadapornLin: Village headmen gathering in front of Interior Ministry causing surrounding roads to be closed off

[Lite Beer]

Dusit Poll: Most Thais view political confusion as troublesome, see no way out /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Body found in Phuket petrol toilet thought to be overdose
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: Police believe the corpse of a Thai male found late last night in a Phuket petrol pump toilet stall was most likely the result of a drug overdose.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723527-body-found-in-phuket-petrol-toilet-thought-to-be-overdose/

[Lite Beer]

Ben Affleck banned from Vegas casino for counting cards

Washington - Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has been banned from a Las Vegas casino after being caught counting cards, news reports said Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723531-ben-affleck-banned-from-vegas-casino-for-counting-cards/

[Lite Beer]

Agricultural ministry: There will be enough water for farming in May

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives confirms there will be sufficient water for farming during the beginning of the rainy season while urgently making assistance measures for longan farmers in the wake of a possible price drop.

Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chavalit Chukhajorn said on Sunday that produce in the dry season this year was in a normal level. The Royal Irrigations Department would continue allocating sufficient water for farmers from the beginning of this crop season until June when seasonal rainfall was expected. The rains would help agricultural activities and increase water in reservoirs, Mr Chavalit said.

The permanent-secretary however warned of a produce price drop, especially longan, due to oversupply. He said the ministry was going to propose measures on longan distribution in terms of exports and domestic sales to the Committee on Farmers Aid within this month and then the caretaker government.

-- The Nation 2014-05-04

[Lite Beer]

Police successfully reclaim Interior Ministry rally site

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014, (NNT) - Police have successfully reclaimed the Interior Ministry, a rally site of People’s Democracy Reform Committee (PDRC), just in time to avert a possible standoff between the protesters and the combined forces of village heads and sub-district chiefs nationwide who planned to gather at the site today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723540-police-successfully-reclaim-interior-ministry-rally-site/

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

EC says may not need to consider Abhisit’s proposal

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) says it may not be necessary to consider Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s political reform roadmap, explaining that it has already reached a conclusion with the government.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723477-pm-asked-to-step-down/page-3#entry7773232

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Pheu Thai willing to listen to Abhisit’s proposal

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) – The ruling Pheu Thai Party says it is willing to hear from Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva about his political roadmap, which is aimed at ending the ongoing political conflict.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723477-pm-asked-to-step-down/page-3#entry7773245

[Lite Beer]

800,000 meth pills seized in Nong Khai

NONG KHAI, 4 May 2014 (NNT) – Nong Khai police have seized 800,000 pills of methamphetamine before they were smuggled to another province.

Nong Khai police arrested 2 men identified as Pitchaya Sakulkasikorn (26) and Mana Saesong (27) who were trying to smuggle 800,000 meth pills out of the province. According to authorities, the drugs were wrapped in a fertilizer bag that was hidden in the truck of a car.

The two confessed they had been hired by a drug supplier in Nong Khai to deliver the package to a drug ring in Nakhon Sawan Province and that they would receive 200,000 baht upon the delivery of the pills.

Thai Police have been working hard to crack down on drug smuggling in accordance with the government’s policy to eradicate drug problems in the Thai society.

-- NNT 2014-05-04

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UPDATE:

Sub-district chiefs and village headmen gather in front of Interior Ministry

BANGKOK, 4 May 2014 (NNT) - Sub-district chiefs and village headmen from many provinces on Sunday morning converged on the Ministry of Interior where anti-government protesters used to occupy. Only their representatives were allowed to enter the vacated ministry.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723374-village-headmen-from-chiang-mai-to-challenge-anti-government-protesters-at-interior-ministry/page-5?p=7773295#entry7773295

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Siam Paragon parking lot full; shoppers should park at Siam Center instead or use BTS

[Lite Beer]

Thai people begin camping out space near Hua Hin's Klai Kangwon Palace to welcome HM King on Coronation Day tomorrow /MCOT

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Thailand ready to be production hub for electric appliances
By English News

BANGKOK, May 4 - Thailand is ready to become the production hub for electrical appliances following the upcoming launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and improved signs of exports to US and Japanese markets.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723554-thailand-ready-to-be-production-hub-for-electric-appliances/

[Lite Beer]

Commerce Ministry to expand organic goods markets worldwide, to boost domestic consumption by 15% /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Protesters move out of Interior Ministry to Lumpini park

BANGKOK: -- The People’s Democratic Reform Committee has decided to lift the siege of the Ministry of Interior to avert a possible confrontation with kamnan and village heads who have threatened to retake the ministry today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723540-police-successfully-reclaim-interior-ministry-rally-site/page-2?p=7773736#entry7773736

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Village headmen arrive in Bangkok to reclaim ministry



BANGKOK: -- Sub-district chiefs and village headmen from many provinces on Sunday morning converged on the Ministry of Interior to reclaim the ministry from anti-government protesters used to occupy.
But protesters have abandoned the ministry since last night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723540-police-successfully-reclaim-interior-ministry-rally-site/page-2?p=7773754#entry7773754