Bangkok braces for imminent tropical storm beginning today



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is bracing for expected tropical storm beginning today after the Meteorological Department issued its latest warning of thunderstorms in the northern, northeastern, eastern and central regions beginning today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819240-bangkok-braces-for-imminent-tropical-storm-beginning-today/

Thai bookseller given jail term for royal defamation
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A Thai man was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail for selling books that allegedly defamed the monarchy, the latest in a string of convictions under the country's notorious lese majeste law.

Thailand's Court of Appeals overturned a 2014 court decision which had cleared Udomsak Wattanaworachaiwathin of any wrongdoing in a case which stretches back nine years.

A bail request was set to be heard later Wednesday.

The 66-year-old was initially arrested in May 2006 for selling two books that allegedly defamed Thailand's revered but ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a protest in a downtown Bangkok park.

But prosecutors only filed charges against him seven years later, according to iLaw, a local legal group that monitors Thailand's lese majeste cases.

A criminal court dismissed the charges in March 2014 after ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove that Udomsak knew the content of the books was defamatory of Thailand's now 87-year-old monarch.

Prosecutors then appealed the ruling, resulting in Wednesday's conviction.

"The defendant's behaviour has shown that he knew the book had insulting details about the monarchy, and he could not prove the two copies he sold belonged to other people as he had claimed," the judge told the court.

But the judge said she decided to reduce the sentence from three to two years because of "useful testimony" by Udomsak.

Thailand's monarchy is protected by one of the world's harshest lese majeste laws and the country's ultra-royalist military junta has significantly ramped up prosecutions since seizing power in a coup last May.

Under Section 112 of Thailand's criminal code anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Earlier this month a military court jailed a 58-year-old man for 25 years for a series of Facebook posts that allegedly defamed the monarchy, a sentence that received widespread international condemnation including from the UN.

Reporting lese majeste cases is fraught with difficulty and media must heavily self-censor. Even repeating details of the charges could mean breaking the law.

Critics of the law say it is used as a weapon against the political enemies of the royalist elite.

Udomsak, a grey-haired man dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

His lawyer Yaowalak Anuphan they would appeal to Thailand's Supreme Court.

"We are confident he is innocent, he really had no idea about the (contents of the) book," she told AFP.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-04-22

Body found of Bangkok woman vanished during Songkran
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A woman reported missing after she lost contact with her family during the Songkran holiday was found dead in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district this morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819242-body-found-of-bangkok-woman-vanished-during-songkran/

UK supermarket giant Tesco reports record full-year loss of £6.4bn /BBC

Tesco posts record £6.4bn annual loss

LONDON: -- Tesco has reported the worst results in its history with a record statutory pre-tax loss of £6.4bn for the year to the end of February.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819246-tesco-posts-record-l64bn-annual-loss/

Cabinet approves proposal to collect Bt150 monthly garbage fee
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved a draft directive of the Health Department that will empower municipalities nationwide to collect Bt150 a month from every household for garbage disposal fee, Health Department Director General Pornthep Siriwanarangsun said.

He said the rate is based on the study that each family approximately generates five kilogrammes of garbage a day.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Cabinet-approves-proposal-to-collect-Bt150-monthly-30258497.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-22

Light helicopter crash injures three



BANGKOK: -- A chartered four-seat helicopter crashed into a grass field in Koh Kred district of Nonthaburi province injuring three people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819215-unidentified-helicopter-crashes-in-nonthaburi/?p=9329502#entry9329502

Thailand could lose nearly $1 bn to EU import ban: minister
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Thailand on Wednesday warned it risked losing nearly $1 billion a year if the European Union makes good on a threat to ban fish imports from the kingdom unless it does more to halt illegal fishing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819272-thailand-could-lose-nearly-1-bn-to-eu-import-ban-minister/

NACC extends deadline for Tarit to defend assets to May 19
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A subcommittee of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Wednesday agreed to extend the deadline for former Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith to defend how he has acquired his asset.

Preecha Lertkamolmas, chairman of the subcommittee, said his panel agreed to give 30-day extension to Tarit so he could defend himself within May 19.

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NACC-extends-deadline-for-Tarit-to-defend-assets-t-30258498.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-22

Thai School Director Transferred for Banning Hijab
By Khaosod English


While running for office in 2011, former PM Yingluck Shinawatra donned a hijab during her visit to Narathiwat province, 14 June 2011.

BANGKOK — The director of a public school in southern Thailand has been transferred from her post after barring Muslim students from wearing hijabs in school, a government official said today.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819274-thai-school-director-transferred-for-banning-hijab/

PARIS (AP) - French minister announces Paris arrest of extremist planning imminent attack on church.

Ministry of Transport tackles impact of sky lanterns on airplanes

NAKHON RATCHASRIMA, 22 April 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Transport and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) have joined hands to prevent floating lanterns from damaging aircraft in the Northeast.

Both organizations have invited related agencies in 20 northeastern provinces to discuss ways to allow traditional activities like floating lanterns and firing bamboo rockets, which are carried out yearly, to continue without disturbing the airplanes.

The conference will share statistics and information regarding the impact of sky lanterns on the aviation industry and whether frequencies used by local radio stations have been interfering with air traffic communications.


-- NNT 2015-04-22

BMA estimates 40 per cent of pet dogs in Bangkok have rabies
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's deputy city clerk Pirapong Saichua said Wednesday that about 40 per cent of pet dogs in Bangkok have rabies.

He said the BMA is trying to eliminate rabies from street dogs but the pet dogs have the disease. As a result, the BMA is campaigning for dog owners to have their pets receive free vaccinations from BMA clinics.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/BMA-estimates-40-per-cent-of-pet-dogs-in-Bangkok-h-30258505.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-22

Soi Dog regrets Wat Suan Kaew's refusal to renew MoU
The Nation


New dog shelter after Soi Dog stepped in to help Wat Suan Kaew.

BANGKOK: -- Soi Dog Foundation, Thailand's leading animal welfare charity, has expressed regret that Wat Suan Kaew has refused to renew a memorandum of understanding with the foundation, prompting its on-going works to help dogs and cats at the temple to be terminated.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819321-soi-dog-regrets-wat-suan-kaews-refusal-to-renew-mou/

SET index closed 1,552.00 down 17.35; Bt/USD32.24; GBP48.00; AUD24.66; EUR34.48; CAD26.10; HKD4.13; SGD23.73; JPY26.80

Garbage collection fee to increase sevenfold
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- New legislation for garbage management is being drafted by the Ministry of Health in response to a daily average increase from about 9,400 tons to 10,000 tons this summer, the responsibility for which Thatri Wattanakachorn, director of garbage disposal, dumps on the bounty of tropical fruits for sale.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819323-garbage-collection-fee-to-increase-sevenfold/

Copper cable theft incurs extensive damages to telecom industry



BANGKOK: -- Theft of copper telecommunications cable is causing large scale damage to the telecom industry with the state owned TOT Plc reporting over 100 million baht damage last year.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819327-copper-cable-theft-incurs-extensive-damages-to-thai-telecom-industry/

A UK fugitive wanted for allegedly masterminding a £2 million cigarette-smuggling ring has been captured hiding in Hua Hin. /Bangkok Post

Police launch probe after digging up infant corpse
The Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- Police have launched an investigation after discovering an infant's corpse, covered in gold leaf and inside a glass coffin, under a Brahma shrine in Chiang Mai province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819328-police-launch-probe-after-digging-up-infant-corpse-in-chiang-mai-province/

BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union opens antitrust case against Gazprom amid worsening EU-Russia relations.

Defense Min: Thailand more peaceful in last 6 months

BANGKOK, 22 April 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the nation has been more at peace since the current administration came into office while feeling confident that happiness will be restored among the people.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819348-defense-min-thailand-more-peaceful-in-last-6-months/

Commercial diplomats to swiftly clarify Thai fishery situation to the world

BANGKOK, 22 April 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has assigned commercial attaches worldwide to make urgent clarifications regarding Thailand’s ongoing efforts to solve problems in its fishing sector.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819350-commercial-diplomats-to-swiftly-clarify-thai-fishery-situation-to-the-world/

Three taxi drivers fined and suspended
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE Land Transport Department has swiftly punished three taxi drivers - two for charging Japanese passengers more than their meter-based fares and the other for abandoning his passengers.

The three drivers, who all picked up passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport, were slapped with a fine and 30-day suspension of their driver's licence.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Three-taxi-drivers-fined-and-suspended-30258509.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-22

Brit who masterminded UK tobacco smuggling ring captured in Hua Hin

HUA HIN:-- A wanted British national who it is alleged was at the centre of a multi-million pound tobacco smuggling ring has been captured by police in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan province.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819353-brit-who-masterminded-uk-tobacco-smuggling-ring-captured-in-hua-hin/

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Thailand Live Thursday 23 Apr 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819434-thailand-live-thursday-23-apr-2015/