Thailand Live Wednesday 14 May 2014

[webfact]

Southern insurgents sabotage two railway bridges in Narathiwat



BANGKOK: -- Two railway bridges in Narathiwat province were damaged by bombs late Tuesday night, forcing railway service to a halt.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726025-southern-insurgents-sabotage-two-railway-bridges-in-narathiwat/

[webfact]

Aftershocks bring part of a six-storey hotel building down

CHIANG RAI: -- Part of a six-storey hotel building which was under construction in Chiang Rai province collapsed late Tuesday night but caused no injury.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725981-quake-damage-reports-still-coming-in-from-chiang-rai/#entry7820278

[webfact]

Nong Khai authorities seize 120 mil baht worth of illicit drugs

NONG KHAI, 14 May 2014 (NNT) – Nong Khai’s Customs Department has seized 400,000 pills of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of crystal meth, with a combined value of 120 million baht.

Nong Khai authorities have arrested two Laotian women, aged 30 and 20, for drug smuggling. The two were apprehended at the Thai-Lao border while driving a car loaded with 400,000 meth pills and 1 kilogram of crystal meth into the Thai soil.

After the arrest, the two confessed to their crime, saying they had been hired by a Laotian drug lord who paid them 10,000 baht to sneak the drugs into the Thai territory. According to authorities, the drugs could have been worth up to 120 million baht if they had been sold to a drug network in Thailand.

Since the beginning of 2014, there have been 20 drug busts in Nong Khai Province, where more than 426,000 meth pills and 9.35 kilograms of crystal meth worth 160 million baht have been seized.

-- NNT 2014-05-14

[webfact]

BAAC workers' union disagrees with political sector’s call to double Rice Farmer Fund to 40 billion baht



BANGKOK, 14 May 2014 (NNT) – The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)’s state enterprise union and employee association have expressed their disagreement with a call by the political sector to double the Rice Farmer Fund to 40 billion baht, as they cast doubts over the Commerce Ministry’s ability to sell stockpiled rice in time before the year’s end.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726029-baac-workers-union-disagrees-with-political-sectors-call-to-double-rice-farmer-fund/

[webfact]

Missing father found dead in Chao Phraya River after family posts missing notice on Facebook
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The family of a 55-year-old man who disappeared from his music shop on Monday confirmed that the body found in the Chao Phraya river this morning is Chadchawarn Assawasopon.

Yesterday, Chadchawarn’s daughter posted a missing persons poster of her father on Facebook and it was shared online.

Sutthinan says her father disappeared from his shop located in Sampantawong district on Monday afternoon.

The family filed a missing persons report on Monday and the authorities tracked down the father from CCTV footage, which showed him walk back and forth on a pier in Khlong San district before jumping into the river.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/05/14/missing-father-found-dead-chao-phraya-river-after-family-posts-missing-notice-facebook


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-05-14

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Mall roof collapses in Surin province, 6 confirmed dead



SURIN, 14 May 2014 (NNT) - A severe hailstorm has struck Surin province last night and has triggered a flood that lasted for 2 hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726020-six-killed-in-surin-building-collapse-during-heavy-thunder-rainstorm/?p=7820530

[webfact]

Pheu Thai accuses acting Senate speaker and 40 senators of supporting rebels

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai party today filed a complaint to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accusing acting Senate speaker and a group of 40 Senators of supporting insurrection movement by anti-government leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726036-pheu-thai-accuses-acting-senate-speaker-and-40-senators-of-supporting-rebels/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Surin governor orders speeding up of probe into cause of store collapse

BANGKOK: -- The Surin governor has ordered police to speed up probe into the cause of the collapse of a construction material department store that killed six people and injured two others Tuesday evening.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726020-six-killed-in-surin-building-collapse-during-heavy-thunder-rainstorm/#entry7820694

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Smiling couple arrested for ganja possession in Prachuab Khiri Khan

HUA HIN:-- A farang and his Thai girlfriend were arrested for having ganja in their possession at Hua Yang Police station, Prachuab Khiri Khan.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726039-smiling-couple-arrested-for-ganja-possession-in-prachuab-khiri-khan/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Phuket Police rule out foul play in death of American
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Police today ruled out the possibility of criminal activity in the death of a 57-year-old American tourist whose body was found in his room at a Patong guesthouse on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/725971-death-in-phuket-of-us-tourist-suspicious-say-police/page-2#entry7820756

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Two bombings rock Narathiwat railway
By Digital Content



NARATHIWAT, May 14-- Two bomb blasts have hit and damaged railway bridges in Ra-ngae and Cho-airong districts of this restive province early today, temporarily halting rail services.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726025-southern-insurgents-sabotage-two-railway-bridges-in-narathiwat/#entry7820811

[webfact]

CAPO issues statement to warn senators against nominating new PM

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for Administration of Peace and Order Wednesday issued a statement, warning senators against violating the laws by nominating a nonpartisan prime minister as demanded by anti-government protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726045-capo-issues-statement-to-warn-senators-against-nominating-new-pm/

[webfact]

Obese man lost so much weight in Thailand border guards refused to believe he was same person
Ross Connor spent £6,000 to join a year-long kick boxing camp in Phuket and by the time he wanted to go home he was 13st - but was detained at the airport


Source: Mirror/Internet

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726048-obese-brit-lost-so-much-weight-thai-immigration-refused-to-believe-he-was-same-person/

[Lite Beer]

Red-shirt leader faces complaint for refusing to pay locals bribes
By Coconuts Bangkok

Pro-government Red Shirt supporters rally at Phuttamonthon, west of the Thai capital on Saturday, April 5. Photo: Biel Calderón

SAKAEO: -- Sixty locals of Sakaeo province filed a complaint against a red-shirt leader on Sunday after he refused to pay them the bribes they were promised.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726060-red-shirt-leader-faces-complaint-for-refusing-to-pay-locals-bribes/

[Lite Beer]

First Army Division chief denies setting up taskforce to crackdown on red shirts
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- First Army Area Division Maj Gen Apirat Kongsompong on Wednesday denied that his division had set up a taskforce in preparation for launching crackdowns on red-shirt protesters.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726062-first-army-division-chief-denies-setting-up-taskforce-to-crackdown-on-red-shirts/

[webfact]

Thai protesters occupy heart of power as crisis deepens
by Aidan JONES

BANGKOK, May 14, 2014 (AFP) - From ornate staterooms once used to host dignitaries including Barack Obama, Thailand's opposition protesters are plotting the appointment of an unelected premier in a move which government supporters warn could spark civil war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726061-thai-protesters-occupy-heart-of-power-as-crisis-deepens/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

SURIN
Six killed in building collapse
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Six people including a pregnant woman were killed when the entrance to a construction material store collapsed following heavy rain and strong winds in Surin's Muang district on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726020-six-killed-in-surin-building-collapse-during-heavy-thunder-rainstorm/?p=7821432

[webfact]

Caretaker govt postpones election talks with poll agency until tomorrow; Senate meets nine organisations to consider solution to political crisis /MCOT

Kaeng Krachan park chief Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn has been transferred to Ratchaburi for police to look into the disappearance of Porlajee Billy Rakchongcharoen. /Bangkok Post

Pheu Thai Party files complaint with DSI against Senate speaker-elect for breaking law by aiding Suthep, meeting with senators to discuss about interim PM /MCOT

[webfact]

RT @191Thailand: Lot of smoke coming from the fire in the area of the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road by Klong 1 (Pic @ton_t2524ster) http://t.co/L4yuzADT58

[webfact]

Pawn shop in Surat Thani crowded as the new school semester opens

SURAT THANI, 14 May 2014 (NNT) - The Surat Thani Municipality Pawn Shop has seen a greater turnout of customers this year as the new school semester has started.

Many parents have turned to pawn shops as a venue to obtain money in order to pay off their children’s school tuition.

However, the number of people who used pawn shop services has increased three times this year compared to the previous year.

Pawn shop manager Mr. Sunthorn Kaewsupan said that the shop has reserved up to 75 million baht in cash to safeguard themselves from customers defaulting on their payments amid this staggering economy. He also said that at least 230 million baht would be circulated monthly.

About 95 percent of the collateral were gold ornaments and jewelries, while the rest were IT accessories, and workman tools.

Apart from that, the shop has also lowered the interest rates for customers who have obtained credit no higher than 5,000 baht by charging them only a 0.50 percent monthly interest.


-- NNT 2014-05-14

[webfact]

Pistorius must undergo psychiatric evaluation, judge in his murder trial rules

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726074-pistorius-must-undergo-psychiatric-evaluation-judge-in-his-murder-trial-rules/

[webfact]

ISOC asks Council of State to clarify who is in charge of ISOC

BANGKOK: -- The Internal Security Operations Command has asked the Council of State and the Election Commission to clarify who is caretaker ISOC director after Yingluck Shinawatra has been dismissed as the prime minister.

The prime minister is ex-officio director of the ISOC.

ISOC spokesman Col Banphot Poonpien said the ISOC secretary general Gen Akara Kerdpol has written to the Council of State and EC to clarify the issue.


-- The Nation 2014-05-14

[webfact]

Chinese call center scammers arrested

BANGKOK, 14 May 2014 (NNT) – A Chinese call center gang has been apprehended by Thonglor police officers. The illegal call center was based in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726079-chinese-call-center-scammers-arrested-in-bangkok/

[webfact]

Cannes set for contentious start with Grace Kelly biopic

Cannes, France - The Cannes Film Festival is set to have a contentious start Wednesday with the opening movie about the life of Grace Kelly having already faced the wrath of the Hollywood legend's family in Monaco.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726080-cannes-set-for-contentious-start-with-grace-kelly-biopic/

[webfact]

Laborers warned: bringing drugs without prescription into UAE is prohibited

UBOL RATCHATHANI, 14 May 2014 (NNT) –Thai laborers are warned against bringing drugs without prescription into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Supoj Boonchareon, the director of Ubol Ratchathani Provincial Employment Office.

There have been reports, that some Thai laborers possessing, paracetamol, antihistamine, and decongestants without medical prescriptions, were charged with prohibited drug possession, and sentenced to a year in jail. They were also fined 20,000 Dirham (180,000 baht approximately), and were deported after the the sentence period was fully served.

He added that there are 374 items on the List of Controlled Pharmaceutical Substances. If the laborer has a congenital disease and needs a particular drug for ongoing treatment, an appropriate medical certificate in English must be presented.

For more information, please contact the Ubol Ratchathani Provincial Employment Office, 045 – 206 226 Ext. 16, during working hours.


-- NNT 2014-05-14

[webfact]

Foreign Investors eager to see formation of a new government



BANGKOK, 14 May 2014 (NNT) - Foreign investors are curious about the outcome of Thailand’s political situation, while hoping that the turmoil could clear up shortly.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726103-foreign-investors-eager-to-see-formation-of-a-new-thai-government/

[webfact]

NPL surges amid the ailing economy

BANGKOK, 14 May 2014 (NNT) – The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has reported that a total of 380,000 new credit cards were issued during the first quarter of 2014 while the value of debts in the system decreased by 7.41% or 21 billion baht.

The BOT said however the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) surged by 687 million baht or 10.35% from the previous quarter to stand at 7.3 billion baht. Out of the NPL figures, 5.19 billion baht generated from commercial bank credit cards, an increase of 523 million baht or 11.29%, while credit cards of non-bank institutions generated smaller debts with a rise of only 125 million baht in the first quarter. The central bank indicated NPLs resulting from the use of non-bank credit cards stood at 2.1 billion baht.

Overall, the credit card spending in the first quarter of this year was at 131 billion baht, a decrease of 20.6 billion baht from the previous quarter, the BOT reported, adding that most or about 100 billion baht of the spending was made within the country, a decrease of 20.8 billion baht or 16.26%.


-- NNT 2014-05-14

[webfact]

Trang Labor Employment Office tackles human trafficking

TRANG, 14 May 2014 (NNT) –The Trang Provincial Labor Employment Office is holding a campaign to cope with the human trafficking of alien workers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726104-trang-labor-employment-office-tackles-human-trafficking/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,396.03, up 20.89; Bt/USD32.20; GBP54.36; AUD30.17; EUR44.19; CAD29.46; HKD4.16; SGD25.73; JPY31.48

[webfact]

Fire rages through 3-story Saha Union paint thinner warehouse in Bang Chan industrial estate; firefighters rush to control blaze /MCOT