One killed in explosions in Narathiwat, Yala
By Digital Content



NARATHIWAT, May 12 -- At least one person was killed and 14 others wounded in a series of bombings in Thailand's southernmost provinces of Narathiwat and Yala yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725440-narathiwat-yala-rocked-by-bombs/#entry7809977

Yingluck relaxes in Chiang Mai



CHIANG MAI: -- Deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is now relaxing in Chiang Mai with her son under tight security protection.
She was accompanied by former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to Chiang Mai

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725433-ousted-pm-yingluck-on-vacation-in-chiang-mai/page-2?p=7809998#entry7809998

New mayor 'to use persuasion' to solve Phuket problems
Wiparatana Nathalang


Mayor-elect Chalermluck Kebsap in the garden of her Patong home.

PHUKET: -- Patong’s mayor-elect, Chalermluck Kebsap, has said she will tackle the town’s problems by trying to convince the people causing the problems to realise that they are damaging themselves in the long run.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725461-new-mayor-to-use-persuasion-to-solve-phuket-problems/

Political turmoil erodes tourist confidence in Thailand

BANGKOK, 12 May 2014 (NNT) - Thailand’s prolonged political conflict has caused a fewer amount of foreign tourists to spend their holidays in the Land of Smiles.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725463-political-turmoil-erodes-tourist-confidence-in-thailand/

This is what happens when Godzilla invades Bangkok
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- YouTube all stars VRZO have envisioned an enraged Godzilla attacking Bangkok in a promotional video for the Warner Bros. film.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725465-this-is-what-happens-when-godzilla-invades-bangkok-video/

Complaint filed against PDRC secretary general

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party on Monday complained with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) against rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who it claims, has violated royal prerogative and committed treason.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725467-complaint-filed-against-pdrc-secretary-general-suthep/

Firefighters battling new fire at smouding Praeksa landfill in Muang district, Samut Prakan, started by someone burning garbage to get at scrap metal. /Bangkok Post

UPDATE:

POLITICS
Protesters leave Lumpini for Rajdamnoen


Photo : Charnnarong Porndilokrad

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters on Monday cleaned Lumpini Park as they prepared to move to a new rally site at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Rajdamnoen Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725276-pdrc-to-move-its-protest-venue-to-ratchadamnoen-on-monday/page-5?p=7810340#entry7810340

Fire rages at landfill site in Samut Prakan's Phraeksa district, same location engulfed by blaze in March /MCOT

Explosives found at Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom after Phra Buddha Issara says he will return to his temple; bomb is defused /MCOT

Chiang Rai Quake generates 712 aftershocks so far

CHIANG RAI, 12 May 2014 (NNT) - The Chiang Rai earthquake that struck on the evening of May 5th has created a total of 712 aftershocks so far and caused severe mental distress to a number of locals living near the quake’s epicenter.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725478-chiang-rai-quake-generates-712-aftershocks-so-far/

Third fire at Phraekasa landfill

BANGKOK: -- A third fire in within two months reoccurred at Phraekasa landfill in Tambon Bangpoo of Muang district of Samut Prakarn, forcing local authorities to call in fire engines to fight the blaze before it goes out of control.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725479-third-fire-at-phraekasa-landfill-in-samut-prakarn/

Delivery Man in Coma After PCAD Stabbing
By Khaosod English


Members of PCAD "guards" at a protest in front of the Royal Thai Police headquarters, 26 February 2014.

BANGKOK — A savage stabbing by a group of anti-government militants has left an ice delivery man in a coma, police and witnesses said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725480-delivery-man-in-coma-after-pcad-stabbing/

Australian expat dies from heart failure in Phuket bathroom
Phuket Gazette -

Phuket expat Ronald Douglas Litherland, 67, was to fly back to Australia today to undergo medical treatment. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: Australian expat Ronald Douglas Litherland, 67, from Brisbane, Australia, was found dead at his rented home in Cherng Talay yesterday afternoon.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725484-australian-expat-dies-from-heart-failure-in-phuket-bathroom/

Phuket police ‘closing in’ on second suspect in Frenchman's murder

Wiparatana Nathalang

The bungalow in Rawai in which Fabrice Boigeol was bludgeoned to death as he slept.

PHUKET: Police believe they are closing in on Maung Myo, the second of the two men accused of beating French tourist Fabrice Boigeol to death in his sleep when they burgled his bungalow in Rawai on April 18.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725485-phuket-police-closing-in-on-second-suspect-in-frenchmans-murder/

RT@karmanomad: #Thailand PM meeting foreign media now. pic.twitter.com/4zzxCUp93G

RT@p_pichayada: High-spirited anti-govt supporters wait for Suthep; will march to new rally site at Makkhawan bridge @ChannelNewsAsia pic.twitter.com/UVFdjtFJDi

UPDATE:

PDRC denies their guards stabbed ice delivery man
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) core member said their guards were not involved in the near-fatal stabbing of an ice delivery man in front of Channel 5 television station on Saturday night.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725480-delivery-man-in-coma-after-pcad-stabbing/page-2#entry7810700

RT@karmanomad: #Thailand PM : I don't think we will have civil war. We will be able to manage this peacefully.

Full Moon party postponed to Wednesday

The famous Full Moon party at Haad Rin beach on Koh Pha Ngan for this month will be postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday to avoid alcoholic ban sale on Visakha Bucha Day.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725494-full-moon-party-postponed-to-wednesday/

Police paratroopers to arrest PDRC leaders



BANGKOK: -- Head of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) Chalerm Yoobamrung said he would use border police paratroopers to arrest all the 51 leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725496-chalerm-police-paratroopers-to-arrest-pdrc-leaders/

Chalerm chairs CAPO meeting despite court's ruling

BANGKOK: -- Chalerm Yoobamrung, former labour minister, Monday chaired a meeting of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725499-chalerm-chairs-capo-meeting-despite-courts-ruling/

Praekkasa Garbage Dump fire erupts again

SAMUT PRAKAN, 12 May 2014 (NNT) - Firefighters and local authorities have been deployed after hearing reports that the Praekkasa landfill site in Samut Prakan province has erupted again.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725479-third-fire-at-phraekasa-landfill-in-samut-prakarn/#entry7811065

EOD police destroy a home-made bomb at Luang Poo's temple



BANGKOK: -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) police on Monday destroyed a home made explosive found hidden at the gate of a temple in Nakhon Pathom province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725528-eod-police-destroy-a-home-made-bomb-at-buddha-issaras-temple/

Pheu Thai urges EC to speed up election preparations

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party Monday called on the Election Commission to speed up preparations for holding a new election on July 10.

In its press release, the Phe Thai said the election would be a peaceful solution for the country and it would respond to the people's wish.

The statement also called on the EC not to create any condition to support the effort to change the country's ruling system by the "dictatorial movement".

The Pheu Thai said if the election is not held or violence happens, the EC would also be held responsible by the laws and the people.


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

Army prepared to prevent clash, but no sign of it so far: spokesman

BANGKOK: -- The Army has prepared a plan to prevent clash between the red-shirt people and anti-government protesters, Deputy Army Spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said Monday.

He added that so far there has been no sign that supporters of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship would clash with those who support the People's Democratic Reform Committee.

Winthai also urged the people not to believe coup rumors that have been spread on social networks.


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

Senators called in for unofficial meeting to solve political crisis



BANGKOK, 12 May 2014 (NNT)-The First Vice-President of the Senate, and Acting Speaker of the Senate has invited senators to attend an unofficial meeting (May 12) this afternoon.

Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai, The First Vice-President of the Senate, and now Acting Speaker of the Senate is holding the meeting to discuss the ongoing political situation in Thailand and to seek an immediate solution to the many problems.

The meeting is being held because of concerns over the movements of the two controversial protest groups.

After initial discussions among all senators, the Senate may invite chiefs of government sectors and political figures to discuss options.


-- NNT 2014-05-12

Buddha Issara Defends Guards' Brutality
By Khaosod English


Buddhist monk and anti-government activist Buddha Issara leads protesters to the CAPO headquarters, May 2014.

BANGKOK — Buddhist monk and anti-government activist Buddha Issara has defended the savage attacks on innocent bystanders that anti-government militants have committed in recent weeks.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725534-buddha-issara-defends-guards-brutality/

MALAYSIA
Thai woman sentenced to death on cannabis smuggling charge
The Star
Asia News Network

BANGKOK: -- A Thai divorcee was sentenced to death by the Alor Setar High Court here for trafficking 23,123 grams of cannabis two years ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725540-thai-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-malaysia-on-cannabis-smuggling-charge/

Monsoon rains end Phuket's worst drought in 30 years
Phuket Gazette


Heavy rains are forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s worst drought in the last 30 years appears to be at an end, after heavy showers soaked parts of the island over the weekend and more are forecast for the coming days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725546-monsoon-rains-end-phukets-worst-drought-in-30-years/