Thailand Live Wednesday 17 Sep 2014

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Siamese crocodile species found in Phitsanulok mountain range

PHITSANULOK, 17 September 2014 (NNT) - A small population of Siamese crocodiles, which is a critically endangered freshwater crocodile species native to Thailand, have been recently discovered atop the Chomphu mountain range in Phitsanulok province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761130-siamese-crocodile-species-found-in-phitsanulok-mountain-range/

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6 Uthen Thawai students accused of murder
By Coconuts Bangkok


ABOVE: The Osot Sala pharmacy on Phaya Thai road where a student was killed on the evening of Aug. 26. Photo: Google

BANGKOK: -- Six students from the Rajamangala University of Technology's downtown Uthen Thawai campus were arrested on suspicion of murder Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761135-bangkok-6-uthen-thawai-students-accused-of-murder/

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KOH TAO MURDERS
School of slain British man flew at half mast

BANGKOK: -- Flags flew at half mast at Victoria College on Tuesday in tribute to David Miller, a former pupil who was murdered in Thailand, BBC reported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761069-hunt-for-killers-of-british-pair-goes-on-after-thai-police-free-myanmar-suspects/page-7?p=8396860#entry8396860

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Phuket's English-language radio station back on air
The Phuket News



PHUKET: -- The regionally renowned radio station Live 89.5, which is owned by Class Act Media, was given the go-ahead today by National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission to resume broadcasting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761140-phukets-english-language-radio-station-back-on-air/

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MURDERS
Friends of murdered Britons asked to remain in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Police have asked friends of David Miller, one of the British tourist killed in Koh Tao, to remain in Thailand pending further investigation into his murder, Deputy Police Chief Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang said Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761142-koh-tao-friends-of-murdered-britons-asked-to-remain-in-thailand/

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British backpacker arrested for suspected murder of fellow Britons at Koh Tao



BANGKOK: -- Surat Thani police yesterday arrested a British tourist after he was suspected to have connection with the deaths of two fellow Britons in Koh Tao off Surat Thani coast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/

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Thailand murders: Police consider Western suspects

(BBC) Police investigating the murders of two Britons in Thailand have said they may have been wrong to rule out Western suspects, including a British man.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/#entry8397255

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UPDATE:

Six students arrested for killing two rival students at Bang Sue



BANGKOK: -- Six students from Rajamangala University of Technology’s Uthen Thawai campus were arrested by police for allegedly killing two Pathumwan Institute of Technology (PIT) students last Friday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761135-bangkok-6-uthen-thawai-students-accused-of-murder/#entry8397317

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Thailand ready to set up ASEAN joint working committee
By Digital Content



BANGKOK: -- Thailand will follow the ASEAN joint agreement establishing a joint working committee after implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2016, said Commerce Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761164-thailand-ready-to-set-up-asean-joint-working-committee/

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3.7 magnitude earthquake hits Chiang Rai's Mae Suai district; Heavy rain causes flash flood in Ranong provincial seat /MCOT

Army rangers seize 800,000 meth pills at Loei's Dan Sai district; 3 suspects detained /MCOT

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UPDATE:

British tourists bludgeoned to death on Thailand beach; suspicion falls back on Brit

SUSPICION for the brutal slaying of two British backpackers on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao has swung back around onto an unnamed British man following initial forensic tests of the victim’s bodies in Bangkok last night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/page-2#entry8397654

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NACC reminds Cabinet members to declare assets by Oct 3

BANGKOK, 17 September 2014 (NNT) – The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has reiterated that all Cabinet ministers are required to file their asset declarations by October 3 before the details are made public in the following month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761198-nacc-reminds-cabinet-members-to-declare-assets-by-oct-3/

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10 provinces warned of flash flooding, mudslides

BANGKOK: -- The National Disaster Warning Centre Wednesday warned residents of ten eastern and southern provinces to brace themselves for possible flashfloods and mudslides during the day and Thursday.

Residents of Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satoon were advised to monitor for more warnings.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/10-provinces-warned-of-flash-flooding-mudslides-30243473.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-17

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American Man Caught While Swimming to North Korea

MOSCOW, September 17, 2014 (RIA Novosti) – A US citizen was caught by South Korean soldiers while trying to swim across the river that separates the country from North Korea, the South Korean Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761203-american-man-caught-while-swimming-to-north-korea/

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UPDATE:

Six suspects in murder of two British tourists, says police commissioners

BANGKOK: -- Eighth Region police commissioner Pol-Lt Gen Panya Mamen disclosed Wednesday that six persons were suspected in the brutal murder of the two British tourists in KohTao island off Surat Thani coast on Sunday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/page-4?p=8397882#entry8397882

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UPDATE:

Police Misidentify Murdered Britons in CCTV Footage
By Khaosod English


A photo given to the media by police that was mistakenly identified as the 2 British tourists who were murdered later that night on 15 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — Police say they mistakenly identified two people in a photograph distributed to the media as the British tourists who were murdered on the popular island of Koh Tao on Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/page-5?p=8397903#entry8397903

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KOH TAO
Autopsies completed on British murder victims

BANGKOK: -- The post-mortem report on David Miller, a British tourist killed on Koh Tao Island, has revealed that his death was the result of blows to the head and drowning, Pol Col Dr Pornchai Sutheerakune, commander of Institute of Forensic Medicine, said on Wednesday.

Water was found in Miller's lungs, his body showed traces of being dragged and there were wounds on the back of his hands, Pornchai said. The findings indicate that that he fought with his attackers, was beaten and then drowned, the doctor said.

The autopsy on the body of Hannah Witheridge, whose body was found near Miller's, showed she also had trauma to the head. There were also traces of recent sexual activity and sperm was found in her vagina and anus. The doctors will use the sperms to try and identify the culprit and compare the DNA samples collected from the bodies with those from the suspects.

The doctors could not say what kind of object had been used to beat the victims only that it was a blunt object. Pornchai said he could yet not tell the time of death because the bodies has been frozen before sending them the autopsy.

With the autopsies now completed, the bodies could now be claimed. However, no request for release had yet been made.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Autopsies-completed-on-British-murder-victims-30243475.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-17

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Policy rate maintained at 2%

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand today decided to maintain the policy rate at 2 per cent as expected.

In a statement, the Monetary Policy Committee said that Thailand’s economy still needs low interest rates, given an early stage of recovery. It noted that the low rates do not pose risks to financial stability.

The five committee members voted unanimously to maintain the rate.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Policy-rate-maintained-at-2-30243476.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-17

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AirAsia to launch direct flights from Guangzhou to Krabi

BANGKOK: -- AirAsia is going to launch daily direct flights between China's Guangzhou and Thailand's Krabi from November 6 onward.

The launch comes with the promotional airfare, which starts from just 388 yuan per flight (inclusive of all taxes), for bookings made by September 21. Trips must also be made between November 6 this year and October 24 next year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/AirAsia-to-launch-direct-flights-from-Guangzhou-to-30243474.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-17

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Police blame ‘jealous’ friend for David and Hannah murders on Koh Tao
By Coconuts Bangkok


ABOVE: British tourist Christopher Alan Ware is questioned by police on Koh Tao. Photo: Khao Sod.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/page-7?p=8398098#entry8398098

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3.7 Richter quake jolts Chiang Rai

CHIANGRAI, 17 September 2014 (NNT) – An earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter open-scale, at a 3 km depth shook Chiang Rai’s Mae Saruay district early today, according to the Seismological Bureau.

The quake at 08:33 am was reported after a 2.5 Richter scale tremor at 05:20 am in Mae Saruay district. At present, there is no report of any damage and injury. Meanwhile, an official of the Chiang Rai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office will look for any possible damage in the area.


-- NNT 2014-09-17

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UPDATE:

Thailand murders: Two British men to be questioned

(BBC) Police investigating the murders of two British tourists in Thailand have said two Britons are "possible suspects" and will face questioning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761157-british-backpacker-arrested-for-suspected-murder-of-fellow-britons-at-koh-tao/page-9?p=8398285#entry8398285

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SET index closed 1,570.64, up 5.23; Bt/USD32.33; GBP52.06; AUD28.96; EUR41.43; CAD29.54; HKD4.13; SGD25.32; JPY29.79

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NCPO: Stop Photo-shopping Images of Junta Leader
By Khaosod English


Junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha at the Government House in Bangkok, 17 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s military regime has scolded internet users for mocking junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha with photoshopped images and memes.

"There have been people with ill intention altering photos of the NCPO leader and posting them on social media in order to mislead the public," said spokesperson of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Col. Winthai Suvaree at a press conference yesterday.

'It is very inappropriate. It should not be done,' Col. Winthai said. 'I am sure that the people are aware it is an effort to smear Gen. Prayuth.'

While most major Thai media agencies are either controlled by the state or practicing self-censorship in the face of the junta's intimidation tactics, political discussion remains relatively vibrant on social media.

Many critics of the 22 May coup have taken to Facebook and Twitter to circulate and memes mocking Gen. Prayuth and some of his controversial statements.

The junta has sought to suppress anti-coup dissent on social media in the past by briefly blocking Facebook and encouraging citizens to report anti-coup activity on social media for 500 baht rewards.

"I am pleading Internet users to help build a quality online society and eliminate any act that distorts facts, defames, creates division and hatred, or misleads the public," Col. Winthai said.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1410946844


-- Khaosod English 2014-09-17

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Thai PM questions if 'tourists in bikinis' safe after murders
by Anusak KONGLANG

BANGKOK, September 17, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's military ruler on Wednesday questioned whether tourists in bikinis are safe in the kingdom, in comments following the murder of two Britons whose battered bodies were found on a Thai island.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761227-thai-pm-questions-if-tourists-in-bikinis-safe-after-murders/

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Autopsy shows British tourists died from blows
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Sept 17 -- The two British tourists whose bodies were found on a beach in southern Thailand earlier this week died from hard objects hitting their heads.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761227-thai-pm-questions-if-tourists-in-bikinis-safe-after-koh-tao-murders/#entry8398547

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Thai central bank holds interest rate

BANGKOK, September 17, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's central bank held its key interest rate Wednesday as the kingdom's economy showed signs of improvement, a day after the junta-appointed parliament approved a boost in spending.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761231-thai-central-bank-holds-interest-rate/

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NLA approves 2015 gov't budget
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Sept 17 -- Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved the government's Bt2.5 trillion deficit budget bill for Fiscal 2015, which begins October 1.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761232-nla-approves-2015-thai-govt-budget/

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Major roads to be closed during weekend for Bangkok Car Free Day event

BANGKOK, 17 September 2014 (NNT) – Traffic police will seal off major roads in the capital during the Bangkok Car Free Day 2014 event, which is set to take place during September 21-22.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761233-major-roads-to-be-closed-during-weekend-for-bangkok-car-free-day-event/

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Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in car crash but not hurt

(BBC) Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf has been involved in a car crash, but is not hurt, the royal palace says.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/761234-swedish-king-carl-xvi-gustaf-unhurt-after-car-crash/