Thailand Live Tuesday 12 May 2015

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Thai court jails mentally ill woman for insulting monarchy
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A Thai court on Tuesday jailed a mentally ill 65-year-old woman for one year for allegedly defaming the monarchy by insulting a portrait of the nation's revered king.

Thitinan Kaewjantranont, a so-called Red Shirt supporter of the toppled former government, was accused of "inappropriate action against a portrait of the king" at the Constitutional Court in northern Bangkok on July 13, 2012, with no further details given.

Initially Thitinan was given a suspended sentence for the 2012 offence as she was deemed to suffer from mental health problems, but the Court of Appeals rolled back the one-year suspended sentence Tuesday after prosecutors appealed.

"The defendant's behaviour was so evil... her actions should not be imitated by others, so the Court of Appeals lifted her one year jail term suspension," a judge said, reading the ruling.

Recognising she suffers from mental health issues, the court said she is ordered to see doctors every six months, without giving details of her condition.

Thailand's monarchy is protected by one of the world's harshest lese majeste laws, and convictions have surged since a military 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.

In late April the International Commission of Jurists -- an international human rights group -- said at least 49 people have fallen foul of the royal defamation rules since the coup, including those investigated, detained, convicted or awaiting verdicts.

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

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.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-12

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Magnitude 7.1 quake strikes in Nepal-USGS

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A strong earthquake shook Nepal on Tuesday, sending people in the capital Kathmandu rushing out on to the streets weeks after a devastating quake killed more than 8,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, eyewitnesses said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824653-magnitude-71-quake-strikes-in-nepal-usgs/

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Scandinavian tourists cancel trips to Krabi

KRABI: -- Many Scandinavians have cancelled their trips to Krabi after their friends who have visited the southern seaside province have encountered polluted sea and garbage stench, Wiyada Srirangkul, chief of the Krabi office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824654-scandinavian-tourists-cancel-trips-to-krabi/

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SOCHI, Russia (AP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Russia to meet Putin amid Ukraine, Syria tensions.

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Another major earthquake hits Nepal, epicenter in remote area near Chinese border.

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Ten people arrested following raid on brothel in Hua Hin


Photo credit: Talay Hua Hin

HUA HIN: -- Eight women have been arrested for prostitution following a raid at a brothel in Hua Hin.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824658-ten-people-arrested-following-raid-on-brothel-in-hua-hin/

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Some 70 pigs killed in truck accident in Sakaew
The Nation

SAKAEW: -- About 70 pigs were killed when a truck carrying some 200 pigs overturned on the Sakaew-Chanthaburi road in Sakaew's Wang Namyen district at 7:40 am Tuesday, police said.

The truck was transporting pigs to a market in Cambodia. The truck driver, Thanongchai Attawong, 20, said he dozed off behind the wheel, leading to the accident.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Some-70-pigs-killed-in-truck-accident-in-Sakaew-30259894.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-12

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LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) - Activist: Hundreds of Rohingya packed aboard ship plead for rescue; 3 days without food, water.

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Two arrested for smuggling 77 Myanmar workers into Thailand
The Nation

KANCHANABURI: -- Troops and police joined force to intercept two pickup trucks on a road in Kanchanaburi's Thong Pha Phum district and foiled the attempt to smuggle 77 Myanmar people to Bangkok at 4:30 am Tuesday.

The two truck drivers, one of them a Myanmar man, were arrested. They took the Myanmar people from Sangha Buri, which borders Myanmar.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Two-arrested-for-smuggling-77-Myanmar-workers-into-30259896.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-12

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Cyclists press for progress of a case in which three cyclists were killed



CHIANG MAI: -- About 50 Sansai district’ club cyclists rallied in front of Doi Saket district police station in Chiang Mai to present a bouquet of flowers to the police and to enquire about the progress of the case in which three of their colleagues were killed by a car on May 3.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824660-cyclists-press-for-progress-of-a-case-in-which-three-cyclists-were-killed/

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Areepong appointed new THAI board chairman
The Nation

The board of directors of Thai Airways International Tuesday elected Areepong Bhoocha-oom, permanent secretary for the Energy Ministry, as the new chairman of the THAI board, the THAI secretary office announced.

The board also appointed ACM Trithot Sonjaeng, Soythip Traisut and Rangsan Sriworasart as the first, second and third vice chairpersons respectively.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Areepong-appointed-new-THAI-board-chairman-30259902.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-12

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UPDATE:

7.3-magnitude quake hits devastated Nepal: USGS

KATHMANDU (AFP) - A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit devastated Nepal on Tuesday, sending terrified residents running into the streets in the capital Kathmandu, according to witnesses and the US Geological Survey.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824653-magnitude-71-quake-strikes-in-nepal-usgs/?p=9398593

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UPDATE:

AMLO to check a key suspect’s 100 million baht worth of assets



BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) will examine the 100 million baht worth of assets belonging to Mr Patchubun Angchotipan, former head of Satun provincial administration organization, to determine whether any of the were illegally acquired.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824650-key-suspect-in-rohinya-human-trafficking-escapes-thai-police-arrest/#entry9398631

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UPDATE:

Another major quake hits Nepal, epicenter near China border
BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, Associated Press
KATY DAIGLE, Associated Press

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A major earthquake hit Nepal in a remote region near the Chinese border on Tuesday, killing at least four people less than three weeks after the country was ravaged by another deadly quake.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824653-magnitude-71-quake-strikes-in-nepal-usgs/#entry9398660

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7.3 magnitude aftershock in Nepal not affecting Thailand, says TMD

BANGKOK, 12 May 2015 (NNT) – The Meteorological Department has released a statement regarding the latest aftershock in Nepal today, saying it has had no effect on Thailand.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824667-73-magnitude-aftershock-in-nepal-not-affecting-thailand-says-tmd/

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Chinese aviation officials to check safety standards of Thai chartered airlines



BANGKOK: -- Chinese civil aviation officials will arrive in Thailand on May 16 to check the safety standards of four Thai chartered flight operators, starting with Nok Scoot.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824668-chinese-aviation-officials-to-check-safety-standards-of-thai-chartered-airlines/

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Prachaup Khiri Khan to launch tourism caravan to Myanmar

PRACHAUP KHIRI KHAN, 12 May 2015 (NNT) – Prachaup Khiri Khan province is set to launch the inauguration tourism caravan to Myeik in Myanmar, to mark the official opening of the Singkhon special border checkpoint on 23 May 2015.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824671-prachaup-khiri-khan-to-launch-tourism-caravan-to-myanmar/

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SET index closed 1,485.72 down 15.58; Bt/USD33.65; GBP52.20; AUD26.33; EUR37.66; CAD27.65; HKD4.31; SGD24.98; JPY27.87

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Gov approves plans to construct parks along Chao Phraya River



BANGKOK, 12 May 2015 (NNT) - The government has approved the Chao Phraya River development project, and agreed to replace the Deputy Minister of Energy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824674-gov-approves-plans-to-construct-parks-along-chao-phraya-river/

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PM warns he may scrap government lottery if the retrial price is over 80 baht



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha warned today that he might scrap the government lottery if the retail price of lottery cannot be kept at 80 baht a piece.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824675-pm-warns-he-may-scrap-government-lottery-if-the-retrial-price-is-over-80-baht/

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UPDATE:

5 killed, 300 injured in latest Nepal quake
English.news.cn

KATHMANDU, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and at least 300 others injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824653-magnitude-71-quake-strikes-in-nepal-usgs/#entry9398837

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Bangladesh man the latest blogger killed in the country

SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Masked men wielding machetes stabbed a blogger and author to death Tuesday near his home in northeastern Bangladesh, police said, the third fatal attack this year against a blogger in the South Asian country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824677-bangladeshi-blogger-who-wrote-on-site-promoting-secularism-is-killed/

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Thai Government Mulls Opening Refugee Camps for Rohingya
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — Thai junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said the government is "in talks" about potentially opening refugee camps for Rohingya refugees who have fled ethnic persecution from Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824682-thai-government-mulls-opening-refugee-camps-for-rohingya-people/

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's Home Ministry says at least 19 people killed and 981 injured in latest earthquake.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 13 May 2015

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824753-thailand-live-wednesday-13-may-2015/