Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Apr 2014

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BMA invites cyclists to join “Fun with Pan Pan”

BANGKOK, 23 April 2014 (NNT) —Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is inviting people to join the “Fun with Pan Pan” bicycling campaign in the capital of Thailand.

“The BMA's policy is to promoting cycling instead of driving since it is more environmental friendly,” says BMA Spokeswoman Treedao Apaiwong.

The Fun with Pan Pan (Bicycle Sharing) event will be held every third Friday of each month starting from April 25 on. It aims to encourage Bangkok residents to realize the benefits of public bicycles.

The campaign will also provide knowledge about traffic laws, hand signals, protection equipment, bicycle parts, and basic repair, she added.


-- NNT 2014-04-23

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UPDATE:

POLITICS
Yingluck to leave politics if country wants it; hasn't raised issue with Thaksin
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she is ready to step down if the people want her out, but added that she had not discussed the possibility of quitting politics with her brother, ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, or other members of her family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720690-yingluck-says-she-is-ready-to-quit-politics-if-its-the-need-of-majority/page-2?p=7723639#entry7723639

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DISAPPEARANCE
Senior park official faces probe
Suriyan Panyawai,
Kampanart Khantrakool
The Nation



Kaeng krachan national park chief to be moved if investigators find him guilty

BANGKOK: -- A NATIONAL PARK CHIEF, whose name has been linked to the recent disappearance of a prominent Karen activist, is now facing investigation by his supervising agency.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720747-disappearance-of-karen-activist-thai-senior-park-official-faces-probe/

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POLITICS
Poll may be delayed until September: EC
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation


Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen, third from right, and secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong, second from right, greet representatives of parties who attended a meeting yesterday to discuss the date of a possible general election.

Democrats keep out of meeting of political parties, citing physical threat to Abhisit

BANGKOK: -- A new election could take place on July 20 at the earliest, but could be delayed until September. And if conflicting parties do not settle their differences before the election, the risk of another failed poll due to obstruction is "very high", Election Commission (EC) member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told leaders of almost 60 political parties yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720748-thai-poll-may-be-delayed-until-september-ec/

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INTERNAL SECURITY ACT
NSC ponders extending ISA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- National Security Council is evaluating the situation before deciding whether to propose extending the Internal Security Act (ISA) until the Cabinet meeting next week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720749-thailands-nsc-ponders-extending-internal-security-act-isa/

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SEASONAL FLU
35 cases of H1N1 reported Udon Thani; 4 fatalities
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 35 people - four of whom later died - were diagnosed with seasonal H1N1 flu in Udon Thani province between January 1 and April 21.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720750-35-cases-of-h1n1-reported-udon-thani;-4-fatalities/

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ENETRATING MYANMAR AROUND 360
Thai firms urged to tap GSP privileges in Myanmar
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
Sirivish Toomgum
The Nation


U Win Aung, left

BANGKOK: -- Thai enterprises should invest in many potential industries such as consumer manufacturing, garment, food processing, and tourism service to benefit from the reinstatement of the European Union Generalised System for Preferences, and tax privileges expected to be provided soon by the US to Myanmar, experts said at a seminar yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720751-thai-firms-urged-to-tap-gsp-privileges-in-myanmar/

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UPDATE:

RICE
No rice-loan request
Piyanart Srivalo, Nakarin Srilert
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan yesterday refused to request an additional Bt40 billion loan from the central budget to pay farmers for their rice pledged to the government, saying it is the Finance Ministry's responsibility to borrow Bt90 billion under the scheme.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720630-minister-of-commerce-makes-request-to-borrow-bt40-billion-to-pay-rice-farmers/#entry7723688

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EDITORIAL
Watching Newin from ringside
The Nation

Controversial punishment of wayward teens divides Thai public

BANGKOK: -- We have a choice between brawl-loving teenagers and Newin Chidchob's controversial - some might say sadistic - measure to deal with the troubled youngsters. Support either side and we could end up being accused of ignoring a social ill or something even worse. It's not easy, and the deeply divided public opinion over what happened in Buri Ram during the Songkran festival has confirmed that.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720752-thai-editorial-watching-newin-from-ringside/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Reasons why a government may not be necessary
Tulsathit Taptim

BANGKOK: -- "Show me a man or a woman alone and I’ll show you a saint. Give me two and they’ll fall in love. Give me three and they’ll invent the charming thing we call ’society’. Give me four and they’ll build a pyramid. Give me five and they’ll make one an outcast. Give me six and they’ll reinvent prejudice. Give me seven and in seven years they’ll reinvent warfare."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720753-thai-opinion-reasons-why-a-government-may-not-be-necessary/

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Phuket death hill bus, truck ban during rush hours
Wiparatana Nathalang


The new curfew is aimed at preventing this sort of scene on Patong Hill. Photo Jared Lucow

PHUKET: From May 1, in a new attempt to prevent crashes on Patong Hill large buses and trucks will not be allowed through the checkpoint in Thung Thong and onto the hill during morning and evening rush hours.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720756-phuket-death-hill-bus-truck-ban-during-rush-hours/

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Prostitutes and other criminal elements removed from Pattaya Beach



PATTAYA: -- In the early hours of Tuesday Pattaya Police conducted a search for prostitutes and other suspected criminal elements on Pattaya Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720757-prostitutes-and-other-criminal-elements-removed-from-pattaya-beach/

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To ฿ or not to Ƀ: Bitcoin debates stealing Thai baht's identity
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Antana

BANGKOK: -- First they stole the dogs, but we didn't speak out because we're cat nerds. Then they stole our sacred traditions, but we didn't speak out because it was Singapore. Finally, they came for our baht, and we said hell no you can't have our money.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720758-bitcoin-debates-stealing-thai-bahts-identity/

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Yingluck to send defence if court denies plea for extra time
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will send defence documents to the Constitutional Court today in case the court disallows her request for more time,

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720759-yingluck-to-send-defence-if-court-denies-plea-for-extra-time/

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CAPO once again questions charter court's authority
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) yesterday once again made a case against dissolving the caretaker cabinet and dismissing the premier should the Constitutional Court rule against her for illegal transfer of National Security Council chief.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720760-capo-once-again-questions-charter-courts-authority/

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BURNING ISSUE
Bid to remove anti-lese majeste 'trash' will likely backfire
Pravit Rojanaphruk



Those defaming the monarchy are "trash" to be removed and put behind bars.

BANGKOK: -- So says Dr Rienthong Nanna, the leader of a new ultra-royalist vigilante group. The group that Rienthong, a retired major general, founded on Facebook is aptly named in Thai, "Organisation for the Removal of Trash of the Land".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720761-bid-to-remove-anti-lese-majeste-trash-will-likely-backfire/

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Botulism infections put four people in coma
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Four people were in a coma from clostridium botulism infections in Chaiyaphum's Muang district.

They reportedly consumed fermented bamboo shoots without boiling them first, Chaiyaphum Hospital director Dr Sompong Charoenvatthana said yesterday.

The four victims - three women and one man - were visiting a friend in Nong Bua Daeng district when they bought the fermented bamboo shoots from a market and made a meal without boiling the shoots first. The four developed clostridium botulism infection symptoms within 30 minutes and were rushed to the hospital on April 21. Two of them were later transferred to a Chon Buri hospital for better access by relatives.

Sompong urged people to boil fermented bamboo shoots at 120 degrees Celsius to kill clostridium botulism bacteria that might be in the shoots.

-- The Nation 2014-04-23

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Sri Lanka to deport Buddha tattoo British woman

COLOMBO: -- A British tourist is to be deported from Sri Lanka because of a Buddha tattoo on her arm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720764-sri-lanka-to-deport-buddha-tattoo-british-woman/

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Kerry tells Russia of 'deep concern' over Ukraine - US official

WASHINGTON: -- US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of his "deep concern" Tuesday over Moscow's attempts to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, a senior State Department official said. Kerry also warned that a lack of Russian progress on a deal struck in Geneva last week would lead to more sanctions, the official added.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720777-us-secretary-of-state-kerry-tells-russia-of-deep-concern-over-ukraine-us-official/

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Gun attack at redshirt community radio station

BANGKOK: -- A redshirt community radio station in Lamluka district of Pathumthani province came under gun attack last night but nobody was injured.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720786-gun-attack-at-redshirt-community-radio-station/

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Janae assistant district chief escapes death from bomb blast

BANGKOK: -- An assistant district chief of Narathiwat’s Janae district narrowly cheated death and injuries when a motorcycle bomb exploded about 20 metres from the pick-up truck in which they were travelling.

Police said that assailants believed to be separatists plotted to kill Mr Wimuti Amnakmanee with a motorcycle bomb placed by the roadside of Janae-Si Sakhon road in Tambon Chang Pheuk. The bomb itself weighs about 15 kgs.

Wimuti and his four volunteers were travelling in a pick-up truck back to Janae district office after presiding over a sports event staged in the village. The suspected separatists detonated the bomb with a smart phone when the truck passed through the rigged motorbike.

Police said that the bomb blast missed the truck by about 20 metres and hence no one in the vehicle was injured.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/janae-assistant-district-chief-escapes-death-bomb-blast/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-23

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Indian surgeons find 12 gold bars in man's stomach
By Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN

New Delhi, India (CNN) -- When a team of Indian surgeons opened up the stomach of a patient complaining of abdominal pain, they had no idea they'd extract a fortune.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720790-indian-surgeons-find-12-gold-bars-in-mans-stomach/

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PM to convene with Defense Ministry officials and military top brass

BANGKOK, 23 April 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Premier is set to meet with military top brass and Defense Ministry officials to discuss national security issues.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720819-yingluck-to-convene-with-defense-ministry-officials-and-military-top-brass/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,418.77, up 3.72 points /MCOT

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Complaints of expensive school food in Nonthaburi raise alarm at MOC

BANGKOK, 23 April 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce will consult the Ministry of Education to control the price of food in schools, after receiving complaints from parents who have been troubled by the raising of food prices at a school in Nonthaburi.

Internal Trade Department Director-General Somchat Soithong said officials would be sent to the secondary school the complaints were directed at. The school has apparently raised the rent for canteen spaces, forcing vendors to raise their prices to between 30-40 baht per dish. Mr. Somchat said he would ask the Ministry of Education to monitor the rent of canteen spaces at schools under its jurisdiction, adding that food at school should, in principle, be cheaper than outside the school.

Mr. Somchat also suggested that Blue Flag food shops selling ready-made food could be introduced to schools to provide the choice of dishes that cost between 20 and 25 baht.


-- NNT 2014-04-23

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Khao Phlong landfill on fire in Chainat province

CHAINAT, 23 April 2014 (NNT) – The fire at Khao Phlong landfill in Chainat continued to burn on Tuesday, while the discovery of infectious waste at the landfill has sparked alarm among locals.

Around 10 fire engines have been trying to put out the rapidly spreading flames on a 15-rai landfill in Mueang Chainat district. Officials have brought in excavators to dig up the garbage and expose the heated parts underneath to the water jets from fire engines. With intense smoke and smell hindering their operation, firefighters expect to put out the flames within 3-4 days.

On Tuesday, officials found two garbage bags filled with blood-stained gloves, blood-stained cloths, used adult diapers and medicine bags marked with the name of a hospital. The discovery drew concern from locals who suspect that infectious waste had been continually dumped alongside waste from their community.

A fire broke out at this landfill back in March, causing air pollution that afflicted more than 8,000 local residents.


-- NNT 2014-04-23

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Prices of rice dropped by 0.30 baht

BANGKOK, 23 April 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has revealed that the price of the 5% moisture Thai rice has declined by 0.30 baht, down to 11-12 baht per kilogram, after Thailand has failed to seal a rice deal with the Philippines.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720807-prices-of-thai-rice-dropped-by-030-baht/

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OBAMA'S OFFICIAL VISIT TO MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur set to be in 'security lockdown'
The Star
Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR: -- With United States President Barack Obama coming to town, be prepared for a total "security lockdown".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720811-obama-visit-kuala-lumpur-set-to-be-in-security-lockdown/

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Phuket airport health officials ramp up MERS surveillance
Phuket Gazette


Phuket health chief Dr Kajohnsak Kaewjarus is confident in the countermeasures in place to prevent an outbreak of Mers in Phuket. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- Health officials at Phuket International Airport have ramped up efforts to identify any travellers arriving in Phuket who are suspected of carrying the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (Mers-CoV).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720813-phuket-airport-health-officials-ramp-up-mers-surveillance/

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Navy to file suit against Reuters over Rohingya report
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Navy will file suit against an international news agency for a Pulitzer Prize-winning report on the abuse of Rohingya refugees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/720814-thai-navy-to-file-suit-against-reuters-over-rohingya-report/