Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Mar 2015

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MURDER
A Thai woman arrested in Texas for murder-for-hire hit in Texas

A Thai woman and two Americans are in police custody for the death of a McKinney man found in his home in Texas.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809463-a-thai-woman-arrested-in-texas-for-murder-for-hire-hit-in-texas/

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Unidentified Foreigner In Failed Suicide Bid

PATTAYA: -- An unidentified foreign man was taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a failed attempt to take his own life by drowning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809466-unidentified-foreigner-in-failed-suicide-bid/

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UPDATE:

Thailand to ask US for man accused of 'financing' grenade thrown at court
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Intent on prosecuting several citizens living abroad, Thailand will test the limits of reciprocal extradition agreements by asking U.S. officials to hand over a junta critic living in San Francisco.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809189-bangkok-bomb-attacks-interpol-will-be-asked-to-arrest-manoon-sanfran/#entry9196767

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NLA President: Outsider PM necessary in times of crisis

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) - The president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) says an outsider prime minister will be necessary when the country reaches the point where it cannot move forward due to political unrest.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809472-nla-president-outsider-pm-necessary-in-times-of-crisis/

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UPDATE:

Thai woman accused of murdering Brit husband in Texas
By Coconuts Bangkok



A 33-year-old Thai woman was arrested in Texas recently and accused of hiring someone to murder her husband.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809463-a-thai-woman-arrested-in-texas-for-murder-for-hire-hit-in-texas/#entry9196844

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Toothfish poaching vessel detained in Phuket - Sea Shepherd
One News

(YVNZ) The toothfish poaching vessel Kunlun which fled from the New Zealand Navy in the Southern Ocean has been detained in Phuket, Thailand, on fisheries-related violations, according to conservation group Sea Shepherd.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809502-toothfish-poaching-vessel-detained-in-phuket-sea-shepherd/

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Soldiers Seize Alleged Redshirt Weapon Cache from NE Temple

By Khaosod English


Weapons and Redshirt memorabilia allegedly found by soldiers in a temple in Saraburi province, 17 March 2015.

SARABURI — Military officers say they discovered a weapon cache belonging to an underground militant group affiliated with the Redshirt movement at a temple in northeastern Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809506-thai-soldiers-seize-alleged-redshirt-weapon-cache-from-ne-temple/

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UPDATE:

Junta Spokesperson Admits to Detaining Missing Woman

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — The spokesperson for Thailand’s military junta admitted today that the army detained a woman who went missing six days ago, explaining yesterday’s denial as a "lack of communication" between different military units.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809172-witness-of-2010-temple-crackdown-deaths-abducted-by-military/page-8?p=9197042#entry9197042

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Monk has 15 degrees

BANGKOK: -- A monk, who is a lecturer at the Maha Chulalongkorn Raj Witthayalai University or the university for monks has graduated with 15 degrees.

Phra Mahamongkolkan Titathammo, 35, said he has 12 bachelor's degrees, two master degrees and a doctorate degrees.

The monk said he has got one bachelor degree from the monk university, five from Ramkhamhaeng University and six form Sukhothai Thammathirat University. He got a master degree from Naresuan University and another from the monk university as well as the doctorate degree from the monks university.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Monk-has-15-degrees-30256184.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-17

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Energy Ministry: Sales of Gasohol 91 to continue

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy will not terminate the present sales of Gasohol 91 oil as the termination requires a thorough consideration to avoid raising the living costs of the public, says the Permanent-Secretary.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809510-thai-energy-ministry-sales-of-gasohol-91-to-continue/

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1st Bangkok Bike Thailand Challenge 2015 in Cha-am to be held on Apr 5

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) - The first “Bangkok Bike Thailand Challenge 2015 in Cha-am” will take place early next month, with four royal trophies granted by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn up for grabs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809512-1st-bangkok-bike-thailand-challenge-2015-in-cha-am-to-be-held-on-apr-5/

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Police hold accident prevention measures meeting for Songkran festival

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police has held a meeting with related agencies on the accident prevention measures that will come into effect during the Songkran festival, emphasizing on strict law enforcement while providing assistance to the public.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809513-police-hold-accident-prevention-measures-meeting-for-songkran-festival/

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Navy order Phuket worker̕s camp be demolished
Eakkapop Thongtub


The work camp which encroached on public land was said to be 300 metres in length.

PHUKET: -- A team from the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Area Command carried out a raid on a worker̕s camp near Tritrang Beach yesterday (March 16) and have ordered that all buildings at the camp be demolished in 15 days.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809515-navy-order-phuket-workers-camp-to-be-demolished/

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Kanchanaburi village chief busted with bundle of yaba
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A Kanchanaburi village leader was arrested yesterday after police said they found 100,000 methamphetamine pills in the back of his car.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809517-kanchanaburi-village-chief-busted-with-bundle-of-yaba/

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SET index closed 1,515.33 down 0.24; Bt/USD32.79; GBP48.40; AUD24.64; EUR34.44; CAD25.43; HKD4.20; SGD23.40; JPY26.84

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Hotel bookings for Songkran already rise by 15%-20%

CHIANG MAI, 17 March 2015 (NNT) - Hotel reservations for Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai have increased by 15%-20% due to greater number of foreign tourists comprising mostly Chinese and backpackers, Mr. Pornchai Jitnavasathien, President of Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association said.

Even though the haze situation in the northern region of Thailand still prevails with particulate matter measured at 300 micrograms per cubic meter, news reports about the haze are not publicized so negatively. Pornchai said no cancellations have been made to the reservations made by the Chinese group tours while 60% of the accommodations have been reserved by individual tourists.

Meanwhile, the haze situation is likely to be mitigated by the end of March or early April due to rainstorms which usually comes in the advent of the rainy season, said Mr.Pornchai.

He urged Thai tourists to book their rooms in advance as it will be nearly impossible to find a room on arrival due to a great number of foreign tourists during the festival.


-- NNT 2015-03-17

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Cabinet grants autonomy to Silpakorn University

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has given the green light to an autonomous university bill proposed by Silpakorn University, allowing the institute to separate its management from the government system.

Education Minister Admiral Narong Pipattanasai reported that the Cabinet agreed to the proposed bill that would entitle Silpakorn University to freedom from the government’s control and give it the right to administer its own organization. Following its approval, the bill is set to be passed on to the National Legislative Assembly to deliberate.

According to Secretary-General of the Office of the Higher Education Commission Dr Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, Silpakorn University is the latest institute that has been given autonomy. Three more universities are expected to follow suit, namely Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Srinakharinwirot University and Prince of Songkla University.

A number of leading institutes in Thailand have already been operating as autonomous universities, including Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. Despite their separation from the state, support funds are still allocated to these universities annually as a way to guarantee the quality of their educational services.


-- NNT 2015-03-17

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Ex-minister Boonsong, 20 others, indicted over rice deals

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) Tuesday indicted former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 others in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders for alleged wrongdoing over the government-to-government rice deals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809528-ex-minister-boonsong-20-others-indicted-over-rice-deals/

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Two men sentenced for Bangkok courthouse blast
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Two Thai men were handed five-month jail sentences Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a grenade attack outside a criminal court in Bangkok this month.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809529-two-men-sentenced-for-bangkok-courthouse-blast/

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One troop injured in Pattani blast

Muslim insurgents detonated a homemade bomb to ambush a patrol unit of troops in Pattani's Saiburi district at 3:35 pm Tuesday, injuring one of them.

The troops form the Phupha Taskforce were patrolling a road in Tambon Trohbon and reaching a bridge when the explosion occurred.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/One-troop-injured-in-Pattani-blast-30256188.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-17

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Govt. to provide THB15 bn soft loans for SMEs

BANGKOK, 17 March 2015 (NNT) - The Cabinet has given the green light to issue 15-billion-baht loans for SMEs and help them pay the interest.

The Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a project to comprehensively assist SMEs by providing low-interest loans totaling 15 billion baht for them. The government will subsidize the interest by 3% and help them with marketing.

The government will also find new markets in the AEC for them and loosen loan rules for those with bad debts.

President of the SME Bank Salini Wangtan said the bank would announce details of the project as well as its performance and strategies on 20 March 2015.


-- NNT 2015-03-17

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Norwegian man wanted in Phuket arrested in Bangkok
Darawan Naknakhon

Beeny Falk had an arrest warrant issued for a fraud case in 2012.

PHUKET: A Norwegian man with an warrant arrest from Phuket Provincial Court was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10am this morning (March 17).

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809572-norwegian-man-wanted-in-phuket-arrested-in-bangkok/

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Surviving bears to be rescued from temple
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Anger over the sad and unnecessary death of a malnourished Malayan sun bear may have saved her friends from the same fate.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809584-surviving-bears-to-be-rescued-from-temple/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 18 Mar 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/809630-thailand-live-wednesday-18-mar-2015/