Thailand Live Sunday 11 May 2014

[Lite Beer]

Govt raises legal questions over election of new speaker
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Sunday Nation

Niwattumrong

BANGKOK: -- Acting PM wants check, amid fears that Surachai may move to impeach Yingluck

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725210-govt-raises-legal-questions-over-election-of-new-speaker/

[Lite Beer]

Showdown looming
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suthep wants appointed PM by Monday or he'll act on his own; red shirts warn of civil war

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725212-showdown-looming/

[Lite Beer]

Wat Rong Khun 'needs Bt150m for repairs'
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG RAI: -- The builder of Chiang Rai's Wat Rong Khun and well-known artist Chalermchai Kositpipat said repairs to the quake-hit temple would require Bt150 million and three years to complete. The temple was among many places damaged by the May 5 earthquake, which centred in Chiang Rai and was also followed by some 450 after-shocks in the past week.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725214-wat-rong-khun-needs-bt150m-for-repairs/

[Lite Beer]

'Don't remove the cone': latest advice on the Net
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The message "Don't remove the cone" has been spread both seriously and in jest in social media after another case of a person being assaulted for doing so on a road blocked by anti-government protesters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725215-dont-remove-the-cone-latest-advice-on-the-net/

[Lite Beer]

Fire at Chiang Mai golf course
Nisanart Kangwalwong
The Sunday Nation

Police inspect the burnt-out golf cart storage facility at the Green Valley Golf Club in Mae Rim in Chiang Mai early yesterday.

CHIANG MAI: -- A fire destroyed 160 golf carts at the Green Valley Golf Club in Chiang Mai's Mae Rim area early yesterday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725216-fire-at-chiang-mai-golf-course/

[Lite Beer]

From grocery delivery boy to Senate Speaker
The Sunday Nation

Surachai

BANGKOK: -- Surachai Liengboonlertchai, who was elected by fellow senators as the new Senate Speaker on Friday night, comes from a humble background. Born in a family that ran a small grocery store, he served as a "temple boy" during his school days.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725217-from-grocery-delivery-boy-to-senate-speaker/

[Lite Beer]

Three more arrests over illegal logging
The Sunday Nation

KHORAT: -- Police arrested three more suspects - a village headman, his assistant and a local woman - in Nakhon Ratchasima's Soeng Sang district yesterday and seized 35 Siamese Rosewood pieces.

The arrest followed the detention of two Wang Nam Khiao district forest-patrolling officials - Apai Chadanin, 48, and Kitiphum Wihokrat, 41 - along with accomplices for alleged illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood in the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex's Thap Lan National Park.

Police in Khu Muang district in Buri Ram, meanwhile, seized 40 Siamese Rosewood logs from three workers along with two chainsaws while they were cutting down three large Siamese Rosewood trees within a local temple compound in tambon Pornsawan yesterday. The men reportedly confessed to police that they were hired to cut down the trees for Bt2,000 per tree.

The abbot reportedly told police he sold the trees to an investor in Mukdahan for Bt400,000 to fund construction of a temple hall and that sale of the trees had been approved by the community at a public hearing. However, the monk was unable to present police with a land title deed for the temple, only an application for establishment of a monastic retreat.

-- The Nation 2014-05-11

[Lite Beer]

Asean ministers keen for peaceful end to crisis in South China Sea
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Sunday Nation
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Asean has collectively expressed serious concern over the disputes and tension in the South China Sea, where fresh rows between China and Asean members the Philippines and Vietnam have arisen.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725219-asean-ministers-keen-for-peaceful-end-to-crisis-in-south-china-sea/

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Local communities need to get more involved
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Education reform has been woefully delayed by political opportunism and strife; it's time this vital sector got a better deal

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725220-local-communities-need-to-get-more-involved/

[Lite Beer]

Three arrested for smuggling 'yaba'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday arrested three men and seized 200,000 'yaba' pills, which they had tried to smuggle from Chiang Rai to Ayutthaya.

Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen told a press conference yesterday that following a tip-off about drug smuggling, police investigators found that Si Sa Ket resident Buatee Saisom, 31, had allegedly got on a bus with the yaba bag while his accomplice, bus conductor Chanchai Kultasri, 24, hid the bag. The duo was to deliver the drugs to Boonlert Muang-ngen, 24, in Ayutthaya.

Police searched the bus in Phayao and arrested Buatee and Chanchai along with the drug haul, before proceeding to arrest Boonlert at the supposed meeting place in Ayutthaya. Pongsapat said Bt500,000 was paid to transport the drugs.

In Nan, a member of Yap Hua Na Tambon Administrative Organisation in Wiang Sa in Nan and a female accomplice were arrested after being found in possession of 80,000 yaba pills, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, Pol Major Chamnan Ruadrew told a press conference yesterday. Saensung, 55, and Somsri Laohang, 31 were arrested during Friday's "sting" operation at the parking lot of Rong Kwang Hospital, he said. Police now plan to arrest Lee's accomplices in Phrae and Nan provinces.

-- The Nation 2014-05-11

[Lite Beer]

CAPO reiterated that PDRC’s movement unlawful

BANGKOK, 10 April 2014 (NNT) – The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has reiterated that the demonstrations staged by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) are in violation of the law.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725221-capo-reiterated-that-pdrcs-movement-unlawful/

[Lite Beer]

Caretaker PM: Govt to carry out duties until establishment of new cabinet

BANGKOK, 10 April 2014 (NNT) – Caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn says the government will carry out its duties until a new cabinet is established.

Mr. Niwatthamrong, as the replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has affirmed that the current caretaker government is obliged by the Constitution to remain in power until the new government is finalized, adding that he can't step down until the new prime minister, elected through a poll process, takes office.

The caretaker PM also made known that Thailand would be accepted by the international community only if it moved forward in a peaceful and democratic way.

As for the new Senate speaker, he said the government would seek a royal endorsement for the appointment of Surachai Liengboonlertchai as the new Upper House Speaker.

Mr Surachai was chosen during a Senate meeting that took place on Friday. After receiving the majority of the votes, the new Upper House speaker came out to thank his fellow senators for their support and trust, vowing that he would carry out his tasks in a fair, unbiased and independent manner. He also urged all of the senators to be prepared to get involved in the effort to resolve the ongoing political turmoil as he would not allow the country to be plagued by the problem any longer.

-- NNT 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

Abhisit worries the political situation could escalate into a coup

BANGKOK, 11 May 2014, (NNT) -The Democrat Party Leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has expressed his concern over the current political impasse, saying that if the situation does not improve soon, it may escalate into a coup d'etat.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725223-abhisit-worries-the-political-situation-could-escalate-into-a-coup/

[Lite Beer]

Austrian bearded drag queen wins Eurovision song contest

Photo Ailura

COPENHAGEN: Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday for the first time in 48 years with "Rise Like a Phoenix" sung by bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725227-austrian-bearded-drag-queen-wins-eurovision-song-contest/

[Lite Beer]

Prayuth ready to act only as last resort

BANGKOK: Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has said the military is ready to help solve the national conflict, but any action must be the last resort to end the crisis.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725228-prayuth-ready-to-act-only-as-last-resort/

[Lite Beer]

Two M79 grenades fired at rally site near Government House, injuring two

BANGKOK: -- A man and a woman were slightly injured with bomb fragments when assailants fired two M79 grenades at a rally site near the Government House late Saturday night.

The attack against the rally site of the Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform happened at 10:30 pm.

The first grenade fell behind the rally stage, injuring Naronchai Seesirirungrot, 52, and Isarawan Sriklai, 55.

The second grenade fell in front of the Rajvinit Secondary School, damaging three phone booths and three cars.

-- The Nation 2014-05-10

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Left lane in front of Sukhumvit Soi 31 flooded due to burst pipe

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Today starts fine of 5,000 baht for passengers of public transport who don't wear safety belts (prob just for taxis,not sure abt back seats)

[Lite Beer]

Horse Racing Gamblers caught at Pattaya Bar

PATTAYA- May 11, 2014 [PDN]: The police was informed that there were 7 foreigners performed illegal online gambling at the Red-Bili bar located in Soi Leng at the intersection road of Pattaya Sai 3 and Central Pattaya Moo9 Nong Prue Banglamung Chonburi.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725242-seven-foreigners-caught-gambling-on-horse-races-in-a-pattaya-bar/

[Lite Beer]

RT@ChadapornLin: Anti-govt protesters to move out from Lumpini Park to Govt House

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RT@BPbreakingnews: PDRC key member Thavorn Saenneam says he will end Channel 5 blockade and move protesters to Ratchadamnoen Avenue today.

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Last chance today for Thailand Comic Con at Paragon, Mobile Expo at Queen Sirikit & Bangkok Farmers' Market at The Vue

[Lite Beer]

Distraught husband petitions hospital for explanation after wife and son die after childbirth
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: Nampon Inthawong, a 42 year-old taxi driver, lost both his wife, 37 year-old Pontip Bootdikam, and his two-day-old son Atsawin Inthawong a week ago, following complications after childbirth at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725251-distraught-husband-petitions-hospital-for-explanation-after-wife-and-son-die-after-childbirth/

[Lite Beer]

Dusit Poll: 92% of Thais surveyed say political problems should be resolved; 29% say they support each party to take one step back /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: #Bangkok Protest Update: Protesters are withdrawing from the TV Stations & returning to Lumpini to prepare for the big move to Ratchadamnoen

[Lite Beer]

2 bombs explode near NSPRT rally site early morning; 2 injured; PDRC to hold Big Cleaning Day at Lumpini Park; Red Shirts gather on Aksa Rd /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Fifty countries issue travel warnings

BANGKOK, 11 April 2014 (NNT) – Fifty countries around the world have issued warnings, informing their nationals about the ongoing political conflict in Thailand.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725267-fifty-countries-issue-travel-warnings/

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: Sutep: PDRC will visit Parliament House tomorrow to witness the Senate meeting.“@Phop_NTV pic.twitter.com/dim2Ym9IgE”

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Strict new immigration regulations mean crackdown on visa runs

Example for a visa run from Thailand to Laos, same day entrance and departure.

PHUKET: According to reports, Thai Immigration began enforcing new regulations from yesterday (May 10) that will in effect mean that foreign nationals residing in Thailand will no longer be able to exit and then re-enter the kingdom via a land border crossing in order to gain another 30 or 15 day stay.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725053-final-crackdown-for-border-runners-new-strict-immigration-regulation-in-force-from-today/page-25?p=7805873#entry7805873

[Lite Beer]

46 provinces face severe drought

BANGKOK, 11 May 2014 (NNT) - Although many parts of the country have been battered by torrential rains in the past week, more than half of the country is still facing severe drought.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that 46 provinces have been suffering from drought and locals are in need of immediate assistance.

According to Drector-general of the Department, Chatchai Promlert (ฉัตรชัย พรหมเลิศ) , as of May, nearly 20,000 villages, most of which are the northern and northeastern provinces, have suffered from extremely dry and hot weather conditions. The most serious problems are shortages of water for consumption and agriculture.

The department has ordered each province to collect data and come up with water management plans as well as promptly distribute water to the people in those areas.

-- NNT 2014-05-11