Thailand Live Monday 12 May 2014

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BMA to close Lumpini Park two days after PDRC moves out

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will close the Lumpini Park for two days and reopen it to the public on Wednesday, a senior BMA official said Monday.

BMA deputy city clerk Banjong Sukdee said the park would be closed for bomb disposal officials to check for possible remaining bombs and for the BMA workers to clean it after anti-government protesters moved out on Monday.


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

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MOPH warns of fatally poisonous mushroom

BANGKOK, 12 May 2014 (NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health has reported that more than 91 cases of mycetism or mushroom poisoning, have recently been found.

The Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Narong Sahamethapat pointed out that the rainy season of every year is conducive to the spread of naturally growing mushrooms. The misidentification comes from the close resemblance in terms of color and general morphology of the toxic mushroom species with the safely edible species, resulting in the deaths of some, and the sickness of many villagers.

The Bureau of Epidemiology has reported that from January to May this year, no fatalities were reported, however in 22 provinces people fell ill from eating the wrong mushrooms. Phang Nga (a southern province of Thailand ) ranks in first place for patients made ill from eating poisonous mushrooms.The number of patients is expected to grow 4-5 times in the rainy season this year.

All Provincial Public Health Offices are urged to give residents information on the poisons of a certain family of mushrooms. He also encourages all people to be wary. The Director of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), Dr. Sopon Mekthon stated that poisonous mushrooms contain a variety of toxins that can differ markedly in toxicity.The most severe and the one responsible for the majority of fatalities is the death cap mushroom.The death cap’s deadliest toxin, is called an amatoxin.

The amatoxin can destroy liver, kidney, brain, blood system and breathing system within 4-10 hours. Even high heat in the cooking process cannot remove the toxin. The first aid treatment is to have the patients vomit, to remove as much toxin as possible from the digestive system. The method is not applicable to children under five years of age. Such patients must be rushed to hospital. For more information please contact, Tel. 1422 or 0 2590 3183.


-- NNT 2014-05-12

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SET index closed 1,377.49, up 0.12; Bt/USD32.51; GBP54.74; AUD30.29; EUR44.64; CAD29.71; HKD4.18; SGD25.90; JPY31.77

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Surapong to sue nine Constitutional Court judges

BANGKOK: -- Former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Surapong Tovichukchaikul said Monday that he would file a malfeasance lawsuit against nine Constitutional Court judges for having removed him from office.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725566-surapong-to-sue-nine-constitutional-court-judges/

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PRO-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN
Redshirts continue gathering at Aksa road Monday
Photo : Pakdee Sukperm



BANGKOK: -- Pro-government supporters, known as redshirts, cheer as their leaders spoke on stage at their rally site on Aksa road on Monday.

Redshirts core leaders vow to take action against People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)’s attempt to have non-elected premier. PDRC meanwhile dissolved their Lumpini Park rally site and moved to Rajdamnoen rally site near the United Nations headquarters.//Photo : Pakdee Sukperm


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

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Calls for drinking age to be raised to 21
Julia Medew
Health Editor

SYDNEY: -- Pressure is mounting for Australian governments to raise the legal drinking age to 21 to protect the health of young people whose brains are still vulnerable to the toxicity of alcohol at 18, leading health experts say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725568-australia-calls-for-drinking-age-to-be-raised-to-21/

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RT @191Thailand: Passenger van going from Victory Monument to Future Park crashed into back of a truck injuring 7 - TR @Nalinee_PLE: http://t.co/cn6TRqxW7T

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Acting PM Niwatthamrong asserts caretaker govt can run country; will meet election agency Wednesday, hopes poll will be held July 20 /MCOT

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'Stray Rocket' Obliterates Yasothon House
By Khaosod English


Damage from a Bang Fai rocket that crashed into a Yasothon house, 12 May 2014.

YASOTHON — A residence in Yasothon province has been severely damaged by a stray rocket that was launched during a nearby traditional rain-seeking ceremony.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725574-stray-rocket-obliterates-yasothon-house/

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New Boko Haram video claims to show missing Nigerian schoolgirls, as group's leader demands a prisoner exchange /BBC

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Man of State group seeks backing from armed forces chiefs over request for King to intervene

BANGKOK: -- A group of former top bureaucrats and high-ranking military called Man of the State, or Rattha Bukkon, have sent letters to commanders of the armed forces seeking their support in the group's bid to have His Majesty the King solve the political crisis.

Letters were sent to Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, Army Commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Navy chief Admiral Narong Pipattanasai and Air Force Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong.

The letters were sent on behalf of the group's leader, former supreme commander General Saiyud Kerdphol.

In the letters, the group said the military should not take sides in politics but should perform its duty lawfully and protect the country, religion and the monarchy.


-- The Nation 2014-05-12

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POLITICS
Acting prime minister insists on elections


File photo : Niwatthamrong

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725576-acting-thai-prime-minister-niwatthamrong-insists-on-elections/

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SME Bank joining 22 agencies to help SME businesses

BANGKOK, 12 May 2014 (NNT)-The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand ( SME Bank ) and Representatives from 23 agencies under the Ministry of Industrial Organization are signing an agreement to cooperatively support SME entrepreneurs in accordance with the Ministry of Industry’s policy.

The SME Bank and the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) will launch the special measure to grant loans to the SME entrepreneurs in electronics and power, vehicles , garments and the plastics field who are affected by economic conditions and political demonstrations.

Mr.Witoon Simachokedee Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry revealed that the agreement is a collaboration between the agencies, to help SME entrepreneurs to enhance their potential in production and to survive the economic recession.

The SME bank will grant the loan and the TCG will be the guarantor.

To relieve the economic difficulties brought on by political unrest, the SME Bank will create a fund totaling 8,000 million baht in liquidity, enabling each qualifying entrepreneur to seek a loan up to a limit of 40 million baht, guaranteed by the TCG.

The authorities were later due to meet to plan and set up measures to exercise the project in accordance with the Ministry of Industrial policy.


-- NNT 2014-05-12

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand visa: Missing MH370 ‘behind visa run crackdown’. Fingerprints next?

PHUKET: A senior Immigration officer has given a clue as to the reasons for the current crackdown on tourists doing “out-in visa hops” from Ranong to Myanmar and back, and across all other land borders with Thailand’s neighbours: MH370.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725592-thailand-visa-missing-mh370-behind-visa-run-crackdown-fingerprints-next/

-- Phuket News 2014-05-12

[Lite Beer]

Pulitzer reporters may face arrest in Thailand: police

BANGKOK, May 12, 2014 (AFP) - Reporters with the Reuters news agency could face arrest in Thailand in connection with a Pulitzer Prize-winning article alleging Thai military involvement in people smuggling, police said Monday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725598-pulitzer-reporters-may-face-arrest-in-thailand-police/#entry7812644

[Lite Beer]

New Thai PM open to talks with protesters

BANGKOK, May 12, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's new prime minister on Monday offered talks with protesters trying to topple the government, as his political rivals pushed for the appointment of an unelected leader to take power.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725601-new-thai-pm-open-to-talks-with-protesters/

[Lite Beer]

Thai Meteorological Department today reported earthquake of 5.0 magnitude at 11.05 a.m. Mae Lao district of Chiang Rai.

There was no immediate report of damages but the tremor forced local residents to run out of their homes to stay outside.

Earlier last week, a 6.3 magnitude also rattled Chiang Rai’s Pan and Mae Suai districts damaging more than 8,000 homes.One person was killed in the worst ever quake in the country.

-- Thai PBS 2014-05012

[Lite Beer]

Uproar Over 'Doctored' Photo of Princess' Van At Red Rally

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — A foundation run by His Majesty the King's eldest daughter is denying claims that they sent support to the Redshirt rally in Western Bangkok.

The claims stem from an undated photo that shows a white Toyota van operated by the Miracle of Life Foundation, which is founded and chaired by Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, parked amid Redshirt demonstrators on Aksa Avenue.

The caption accompanying the photo claims that "903" - a codeword commonly understood to mean Princess Ubolratana - is throwing her support behind the pro-government movement and has dispatched supplies to the demonstrators in their rally site.

After the photo was widely circulated on social media, Manas Nonuch, an executive committee member of the Miracle of Life Foundation, met with Thammasala Police in Nakhon Pathom province today and urged them to pursue legal action against the original author of the post.

According to Mr. Manas, the photo was doctored to mislead the public. The Foundation has only one white Toyota van in its fleet, and that vehicle has never been dispatched to a Redshirt rally, Mr. Manas said.

"Let me stress that the Foundation is not related to this matter in any way," said Mr. Manas. "The forgery is utterly inappropriate and offensive toward [Princess Ubolratana]."

He added that attempts to tie the Foundation to any political faction is condemnable because the Foundation is dedicated to impartially assisting those who suffer from poverty or natural disasters, regardless of political affiliation.

Police say they have accepted Mr. Manas' complaint and initiated an effort to identify the original author of the post.

Although Princess Ubolratana relinquished her official royal title to marry an American in 1972, the Thai public nevertheless regards and addresses her as a member of the Royal Family.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1399897043&section=11&typecate=06

-- Khaosod English 2014-05-12

[Lite Beer]

5.0 magnitude quake hits Chiang Rai again today

CHIANG RAI: -- As local authorities are hastily repair a major highway damaged by the strongest ever 6.3 magnitude earthquake to rattle Chiang Rai province last week, another quake of 5.0 magnitude hit Chiang Rai’s Mae Lao district before noon today, sending residents to run out of their homes for fear of building collapses.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725607-50-magnitude-quake-hits-chiang-rai-again-today/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Crackdown banning 'walk-in visa runs' to begin August 13

Foreigners will be allowed to continue to re-enter Thailand on three consecutive “walk-in” visas until August 12, Ranong Immigration Superintendent Ekkorn Bussababordin assured the Phuket Gazette today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725610-thailand-visa-crackdown-banning-walk-in-visa-runs-to-begin-august-13/

-- Phuket Gazette 2015-05-12

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 13 May 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725671-thailand-live-tuesday-13-may-2014/