Wallop said the man might have died two or three days before his body was found on the rooftop of the building, which used to belong to Thai Fa Group.
The man was found in a sitting position with his neck tied by a hose, which was hung from the scaffold of the billboard.
Wallop said he received a phone call at 1 am from a man claiming to be singer Annan Anwar, saying his friends went to play the "free running" game on the building and found the body.
Wallop said the building was unfinished so stairways were the only access to the rooftop.
Ekkachai Krudnak, an official of the Asset Management Corporation, said the building used to belong to Thai Fah but was seized by a bank following the 1997 economic crisis. The building has been auction off, he said.
-- The Nation 2012-04-02
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Army chief says Thailand facing 3,000 militants
Bangkok, April 2, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand is fighting against more than 3,000 Muslim militants waging a shadowy insurgency in the deep south that has claimed thousands of lives, army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha said Monday.
Suspected militants set off a series of car bombs on Saturday that killed 14 people and wounded hundreds in the deadliest attacks to hit the region in recent years.
"There are about 300 of leader rank, 3,000 operators and about 10,000 supporters," the general said, adding that their numbers had fallen due to arrests.
Prayut called for people to remain calm following the weekend attacks in which a tourist hotel was targeted, raising concerns as Thailand prepares for the mid-April new year Songkran holiday.
"Do not panic because that is what this group wants," he said.
Prayut was speaking in Bangkok before accompanying Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on a visit to the largest southern city of Hat Yai, where a car bomb at a hotel triggered a fire that killed three people and injured more than 400.
The attack came about an hour after car bombs killed 11 people and wounded more than 100 in the town of Yala further south.
The hotel attack was an apparent escalation in the tactics of militants who have waged a deadly insurgency in the far south since 2004 that has claimed both Buddhist and Muslim lives.
Hat Yai, a popular destination for tourists from Malaysia and Singapore, has largely been spared the violence which plagues the three neighbouring far southern provinces on an almost daily basis but rarely on the scale of Saturday's attacks.
The insurgents are not thought to be part of a global jihad movement but are instead rebelling against a long history of perceived discrimination against ethnic-Malay Muslims by successive Thai governments.
Struggling to quell the unrest, authorities have imposed emergency rule in the region, which rights campaigners say effectively gives the army legal immunity.
The region was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until it was annexed in 1902 by mainly Buddhist Thailand.
-- ©Copyright AFP 2012-04-02 | AFP News Sponsor
Published with written approval from AFP.
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Russian tourist found hanged in ThailandPHUKET: -- A Russian tourist has been found hanged on the Thai holiday island of Phuket.The man, aged 66, was hanging from a tree in a garden near Phuket's popular Patong beach, police said.
There were only 20 baht (60 cent) in the man's wallet. A passport which was found on him suggested he had arrived in Thailand on March 15.
Doctors are currently examining the body.
Source: http://english.ruvr....04_03/70474861/
-- The Voice Of Russia 2012-04-03
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Posted 2012-04-05 16:18:34
Man Arrested after Taking Wife Hostage
BANGKOK: -- Earlier today, a drug-rage man held his wife at knifepoint. He was eventually tasered by the police after an unsuccessful four-hour negotiation.
At about 3 A.M., 27-year-old Sakdawut Ngarm-siri, who is a factory worker, took his 39-year-old wife hostage by holding her at knifepoint on a drug rampage in the Rama III area.
He demanded a taxi to drive him to see his brother in Sukhumvit area of Bangkok.
Prior to the incident, Sakdawut was arrested by the police for public intoxication and was bailed out by his wife.
After returning to their apartment, he got into an argument with his wife as he believed she told the police to arrest him.
His sister-in-law struck Sakdawut with a club which provoked him even more.
He dragged his wife out to the street and demanded a taxi.
The authorities had to shut down the road while negotiating with him.
After four hours of futile negotiation, the police decided to fire a taser gun at Sakdawut's back, bringing him down and freeing his wife.
The police had to rush him out of the scene, away from the angry mob, to the Wat Prayakrai Police Station while his wife was taken to a nearby hospital to have her condition checked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BANGKOK: -- Earlier today, a drug-rage man held his wife at knifepoint. He was eventually tasered by the police after an unsuccessful four-hour negotiation.
At about 3 A.M., 27-year-old Sakdawut Ngarm-siri, who is a factory worker, took his 39-year-old wife hostage by holding her at knifepoint on a drug rampage in the Rama III area.
He demanded a taxi to drive him to see his brother in Sukhumvit area of Bangkok.
Prior to the incident, Sakdawut was arrested by the police for public intoxication and was bailed out by his wife.
After returning to their apartment, he got into an argument with his wife as he believed she told the police to arrest him.
His sister-in-law struck Sakdawut with a club which provoked him even more.
He dragged his wife out to the street and demanded a taxi.
The authorities had to shut down the road while negotiating with him.
After four hours of futile negotiation, the police decided to fire a taser gun at Sakdawut's back, bringing him down and freeing his wife.
The police had to rush him out of the scene, away from the angry mob, to the Wat Prayakrai Police Station while his wife was taken to a nearby hospital to have her condition checked.
Food at bus terminals, train stations found below par
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Most of the food sold at passenger terminals has been found to be below safety standards or even poisonous, Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said yesterday.
Citing a survey on food hygiene as part of a ministry campaign to ensure food safety during the four day Songkran holiday, he said 32 out of 81 samples showed Ecoli contamination, six contained the staphylococcus aureus bacteria, four showed salmonella and one had vibrio parahaemolyticus.
He called on consumers to always purchase ice or drinking water packaged in containers with a Food and Drugs Administration stamp of safety. He also urged consumers to only use straws with plastic covers. The survey was conducted at three key bus terminals and a major train station.
Police have also been warned against aiming high powered water guns at people's eyes or ears to avoid injury, and revellers are being told to not throw water at motorcyclists to avoid accidents. Revellers who cause a motorcycle to tip over by using high powered water guns will face assault charges, which carries a two year imprisonment sentence and/or a fine of up to Bt4,000. People are also not allowed to mix ice cubes or crushed ice in the water used to throw at each other. Shops selling banned watergun brands as well as those made from water pipes will be subjected to fines.
Bangkok police chief Pol LtGeneral Winai Thongsong has warned partygoers from getting out of hand and also encouraged women to avoid dressing scantily or participating in provocative moves. Men who touch female revellers inappropriately or molest them will be arrested. The key areas of Songkran celebration - Khao San, Silom, Royal City Avenue and Suan Luang Ror 9 - will be under close police watch, he added.
Deputy police chief Pol MajGeneral Wichai Sangpraphai said, so far, there had been no intelligence reports of planned insurgent attacks over the four day break.
A total of 105 areas in Bangkok will be under extra police security, along with all key bus terminals, train stations and both airports.
A joint operation centre run by the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been set up to implement road safety measures under the "Seven Dangerous Days" campaign to keep road casualties at the minimum from April 1117.
Speed limit, driving discipline, safety helmet law and don'tdrivedrunk policies will be strictly implemented. In addition, all public transport systems are undergoing safety checks and equipment inspection.
Medics and emergency medical services along with rescue and fire units will be on standby round the clock for seven days.
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Tsunami warning issued for Thai coastal provinces following 8.9-scale quake in Indonesia
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has issued an urgent warning for people living on Andaman coastal areas in southern Thailand to evacuate following a 8.9-Richter-scale quake in Indonesia.
The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was at the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia at 3:45 pm.
-- The Nation 2012-04-11
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KFC Thailand in earthquake promotion apology
BANGKOK, April 12, 2012 (AFP) - KFC Thailand apologised on Thursday for a post on its Facebook page urging Thais to hurry home and monitor earthquake news with a promotional bucket of chicken as tsunami fears gripped the nation.While people in coastal areas rushed to reach higher ground in the wake of a huge earthquake in Indonesia on Wednesday, the KFC Thailand fan page told followers to order a takeaway.
"People should hurry home this evening to monitor the earthquake situation and don't forget to order the KFC menu, which will be delivered direct to your hands," it said.
The post, which was later removed, generated a storm of outrage on Thai webpages.
"The person behind this advertisement should be fired for their lack of common sense and responsibility," said one of the dozens of posters on the subject on the Pantip web board.
A new message on the KFC Facebook page on Thursday apologised for the "mistake".
"The KFC Thailand fanpage team... would like to apologise for an inappropriate post relating to the disaster," it said.
An Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert was issued after a 8.6-magnitude quake struck off the city of Banda Aceh and was followed by another undersea quake measured at 8.2.
The tremor prompted fears of a repeat of the 9.1-magnitude quake in 2004 that unleashed an Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 220,000 people, including an estimated 5,400 people in Thailand alone.
But no large tsunami was generated by Wednesday's earthquakes, during which five people in Aceh province died.
-- ©Copyright AFP 2012-04-12 | AFP News Sponsor
Published with written approval from AFP
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88 Killed in 824 road accidents during first two days of '7 Dangerous Songkran Holidays'
BANGKOK: -- A total of 58 people were killed in road accidents yesterday, the second of the "seven dangerous days" of the Songkran holidays, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Friday.
The total holiday road toll rose to 88, from 30 reported on Thursday.
Phichit and Chumphon had the highest number of road fatalities, with five deaths each, followed by Chiang Rai, Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Kalasin (three each), the department said.
Drunk driving identified as main cause of accidents.
-- thaivisa.com 2012-04-13
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3 slain as Songkran turns ugly
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Youth, 16, shot by rival gang on Sathorn
Three vicious murders marred Songkran celebrations in separate incidents around the country yesterday.
In one, a 58-year-old man in Chumphon was clubbed to death by a drunken reveller for objecting to being drenched with water.
In another case in Bangkok, an underage member of an illegal motorcycle gang was shot dead and four others wounded when a rival gang opened fire after a Silom Road water fight turned deadly.
And in Satun, a man knifed a drunken reveller to death for allegedly molesting his sister during a water fight.
Wissanu Wilaikaew, 16, took a bullet to his left chest and four fellow gang members were shot and injured in a salvo fired by members of a rival gang, who approached them on 15 motorcycles on Sathorn Road, near Silom, at around 10pm. Survivors said the groups had brawled earlier in the day during the festivities on Silom, but they had not expected a reprisal so long afterward.
The shooter, described as chubby, was among 15 racers who followed the victims' group from Silom.
In Chumphon, 58-year-old Piak Thongsakul was found dead, with Bt1,300 apparently stolen. Quoting witnesses, police said Piak was on his way to a funeral when he was drenched with water by a man, estimated to be around 25 years of age, who had been throwing water at passers-by.
Piak was seen complaining to the suspect and later making his way by motorcycle to the funeral. The suspect was seen following Piak and reportedly struck him in the face and head repeatedly near a T-junction in Lang Suan district. Piak was described as a poor painter well liked by his neighbours.
In Satun, Prawit Langmuang, 30, was stabbed in his left chest after suspect Ekkaphol Mekmok, 20, scolded him for touching his adult sister, who was celebrating and engaged in a water fight across the street. The men argued before Ekkaphol stabbed Prawit, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya, after relatives delivered him to police. Sarawuth Sapharb, 20, was roundly criticised after video clips of him dancing were posted online.
Sarawuth begged for forgiveness from the public and called on Thai youths not to do as he had. He said he was drunk at the time, and succumbed to encouragement by cheering friends who goaded him into stripping off his T-shirt and dancing provocatively.
-- The Nation 2012-04-16
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Breaking News: Reports of earthquake flood across Phuket
Phuket Gazette
PHUKET: Reports of an earthquake being felt across all parts of Phuket are flooding in to the Phuket Gazette.
Gazette staff felt the strong shudder at 4:45pm. Reports of other Phuket residents experiencing the same have been coming in from all parts of the island, including Chalong to the south, Phuket Town and Kathu in the center of the island and Kamala on the west coast.
-- Phuket Gazette 2012-04-16
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Man held in poisoning deaths of four
WISIT CHUANPIPATPONG
THE NATION
NAKHON PATHOM: -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of killing at least four people by serving them pesticide-laced beverages, while plotting to steal their valuables and vehicles.
Three victims have survived, while two others remain unaccounted for.
Police yesterday announced the arrest of Nirut, or Jamlong, Sornkhamharn, 43. They said he was nabbed at a rented room in Nakhon Pathom on Monday.
Nirut reportedly confessed to causing the deaths. "But I didn't intend to kill them. Only those who drank all the coffee in their cups died," he said.
Nirut said he received Bt50,000 per stolen vehicle he handed over to a gang based in Songkhla's Hat Yai district. "I have also stolen valuables from the bodies of my victims," Nirut said. All the victims were drivers offering transport services. Nirut said he randomly called his victims from telephone numbers he saw in advertisements.
One of his surviving victims, Paitoon Pattapho, said he received a phone call from Nirut on January 28 offering him Bt4,500 for a job to collect goods from Prachuap Khiri Khan's Pran Buri district. "We had reached Cha-Am [when] he suggested we get something to drink. He volunteered to buy the drinks," Paitoon recounted. "But after three sips, I felt the coffee taste was so bitter. Minutes later, I felt numb and my legs jerked. So, I did my best to pull [the car] aside".
Paitoon said he lost consciousness and when he woke up, he was in forestland with all his valuables gone.
"I still consider myself lucky because I survived," he said.
Not all victims were fortunate. Sombat Suebchua said his 23-year-old son went with Nirut on January 3 and never returned.
"We haven't found his body. We at least want his body back so that we can hold proper funeral rites for him," Sombat said. Nirut said he could not remember where he left his victims.
This suspect has now been implicated in nine crimes. In one case, he allegedly tied stones to the body of Yupin Jomkhem and threw it into Lampao Dam in Kalasin in January last year in a bid to cover up his crime. He is now facing charges of pre-mediated murder, and stealing of vehicles.
Nirut is behind bars at the Crime Suppression Bureau. Sources at the bureau said he attempted to hang himself using an old electric wire but the cable snapped and he fell down, cutting his head.According to the sources, a suspect killed himself in this cell before and many others have attempted to commit suicide there.
-- The Nation 2012-04-18
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Ban on imports of used vehicles
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved the Transport Ministry's proposal to ban import and registration of second-hand vehicles. Four types of vehicles are targeted by the ban: motorcycles, sedans, pick-ups and vehicles that carry more than seven passengers.
The ban also aims to prevent or minimise the smuggling of parts used to assemble vehicles that cab then be sold as new.
The initiative is viewed as being beneficial to domestic auto-makers as well as for the sake of public safety because ministry officials say many illegally assembled vehicles, especially motorcycles with large engine sizes, were being used for street racing.
-- The Nation 2012-04-18
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320 killed on highways in seven days of Songkran
BANGKOK, April 18--- Thailand’s death toll from road accidents nationwide during Thailand’s traditional week-long Songkran new year reached 320 with the number of injuries at 3,320 persons, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
During seven days of the Songkran holiday from April 11-17, 320 deaths were reported, rising by 49 persons compared to the same period last year, Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit told a news briefing on Wednesday in his capacity as director of the Road Safety Centre.
There were 3,129 accidents in total.
The deputy premier said that the northernmost province of Chiang Rai recorded the highest number of accidents at 125 and the highest number of casualties at 124.
Meanwhile, the southern province of Surat Thani had the highest death tally at 13 persons.
However, six provinces, including Nakhon Phanom, Trat, Trang, Pattani, Ranong and Satun, recorded no deaths from road accidents.
The major cause of accidents was attriibuted to drunken driving, followed by speeding, Mr Yongyuth explained.
He said that the road safety centre would compile the 7-day road accident statistics and provide suggestions to report to the Cabinet later and coordinate with concerned agencies to come up with measures and plans, aiming to reduce the number of deaths and injuries to zero.
In an attempt to cut the number of traffic accidents and casualties to the lowest levels possible, the government launched its campaign during the "Seven Dangerous Days" beginning April 11 through 17 to raise awareness among motorists to drive more carefully during Thailand’s traditional new year. (MCOT online news)
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DPM Yongyoot declares success in anti-road fatality campaign during Songkran holidays
BANGKOK, 21 April 2012 – The government has declared success in its “Zero Songkran Holiday Death” campaign.Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit said during the weekly “Yingluck Government Meets the People” program that the government regrets the loss of lives and the injuries suffered by the public during this year's Songkran holidays.
Mr. Yongyoot stated that both deaths and injuries seen in the past holiday are tragic and remain a lesson for those who live to remember.
However, the Deputy PM is pleased that the government-initiated campaign to rid the country of road fatalities during the Songkran holidays ended up with six provinces recording 'zero' death this year. They include Nakhon Phanom, Trat, Trang, Ranong, Pattani and Satun.
He added that, with more than 260 districts across the country reported no road accident at all, the campaign could be declared a success of a certain level.
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Posted 2012-04-18 21:01:14
Thai parliament flashed by erotic picture
BANGKOK, April 18, 2012 (AFP) - The graphic image of a naked woman caused shockwaves in Thailand's parliament on Wednesday when it flashed across big screens during a legislators' debate.
Monitors that had been showing a close-up shots of the parliamentarian addressing the house suddenly flashed a picture of a woman of Asian appearance in a provocative pose.
MP Sanong Thepaksornnarong, from Thailand's Bhumjaithai Party, spotted the picture and called for the session to be halted.
Screens were hastily turned off and an investigation was launched.
House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said an official told him the picture signal was beamed in from outside parliament by hackers.
Representatives, from both the lower and upper houses, later recommenced their discussion on a controversial constitutional amendment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BANGKOK, April 18, 2012 (AFP) - The graphic image of a naked woman caused shockwaves in Thailand's parliament on Wednesday when it flashed across big screens during a legislators' debate.
Monitors that had been showing a close-up shots of the parliamentarian addressing the house suddenly flashed a picture of a woman of Asian appearance in a provocative pose.
MP Sanong Thepaksornnarong, from Thailand's Bhumjaithai Party, spotted the picture and called for the session to be halted.
Screens were hastily turned off and an investigation was launched.
House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said an official told him the picture signal was beamed in from outside parliament by hackers.
Representatives, from both the lower and upper houses, later recommenced their discussion on a controversial constitutional amendment.
Foreigner and 2 Thais, Randomly Shot by Pattaya Teenager
PATTAYA:--A teenager in Pattaya, Banglamung, fired his handgun randomly at some passerbys, this action injured innocent victims, the Police rushed to the scene.
PATTAYA – April 17, 2012 [PDN]; At 1830 Pol.Col. Thammanoon Mankong, Director of Pattaya Police Station, Chonburi, with Police Officers went to the scene of the incident, there were 3 victims, who had received gunshot wounds. The victims were taken too Pattaya Memorial Hospital. The scene of the crime was at a beer bar, at the top of Soi 8, Central Pattaya Beach Road, which is only 30 meters from the local Police Station and near the Tropicana Hotel, Pattaya Beach Road.
The information from the hospital regarding the victims was, there were 3 victims, one was a Foreign Male, Mr. Michael Golop, 66years of age and the other victims were 2 Thais, the first was Mr. A (Aliase) 17 years of age, who had received a gunshot wound to the middle of his back and Mr. Anont Kaeochit, 18 years of age.
Miss Thawarat Plookmor, 39 years of age, who is the Thai wife of Mr. Michael, stated that, while they were splashing water at the beer bar on the top of Soi 8, a teenager with a gun came in to the bar and randomly fired shots and said “ who hurt my friend?” then everyone tried to avoid him . She later discovered that her husband had been shot.
Full story:http://www.pattayada...ttaya-teenager/
--PATTAYA DAILY NEWS 2012-04-19
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Police Probe Human Skulls Found in Fertilizer Bag
PATHUM THANI: -- Five human skulls have been found in a fertilizer bag left by Rangsit Canal in Pathum Thani Province.
Police were informed by an undertaker from a local temple that human skulls were found inside a fertilizer bag by Rangsit Canal in Thanyaburi District of Pathum Thani Province.
At the scene, police found five human skulls with some crushed bones inside the fertilizer bag. Apparently, the skulls' foreheads, occipital bones and both temples were broken. The forensic team is currently gather evidence around the scene.
The undertaker said that he was told about the skulls by a local who found the bag while fishing nearby. Police were promptly contacted afterward.
The investigation team said that the holes found on the skulls were not caused by bullets but more likely drilled. The skulls will be thoroughly inspected to check where they came from.
Police Major General Kamronwit Thoopkrajang, acting commissioner of Region 1 Police Bureau, reported that it has not yet been determined if the skulls belonged to men or women or how long they had been left there. They will be sent to the forensic unit for further examination.
Police suspect that the skulls were drilled for some kind of superstitious ritual or dug up from an old grave. The bag was probably placed there on purpose, not swept by last year's floods.
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Man who shocked and groped people at Silom Songkran beaten to death
BANGKOK: -- A young man who electrically shocked people and groped women at Songkran festivities in the Silom area was beaten to death on April 15, Matichon reported.
The case began when police from Bang Pong Pang Station found two apparently dead men lying near Bhumibol Bridge on Rama III Road in the Yannawa District of Bangkok. The victims were covered in blood and smelled strongly of alcohol. One man turned out to be alive though and had been playing dead, while the other man, about 20-years-old and identified only as Bang Sid, was dead.
Police later found another survivor of the beatings, 15-year-old Poomtham Somboonrod or “Han”, who told them his side of the story. Han said that he and seven others, including Bang Sid and Pongrapipat, were drinking earlier in Bang Na and then headed to the Songkran festivities in Silom.
Bang Sid brought an electroshock weapon to Silom and was going around asking groups of teenagers what school they attended – if they didn't answer he would shock them. He was also groping women. [more...]
Full story: http://www.coconutsb...beaten-to-death
-- COCONUTSBangkok 2012-04-20
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DOOMSDAY, APRIL 28, 2012 - EARTHQUAKE SCARE
Phuket Governor takes action against rumourmongers
File photo : A road in Phuket is full of vehicles and people who ran out of buildings as quake hit the province on April 16.
PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Tri Akaradecha on Friday ordered that a complaint be filed with police against persons spreading rumours that doomsday will arrive in Phuket by April 28.
The rumours have been spreading like wildfire ever since a quake rocked Phuket on Monday causing panic among many locals. Several aftershocks have followed, with a tremor of 3.2 magnitude felt at 2am on Friday.
"Messages are have posted on Facebook and leaflets distributed warning people to evacuate Phuket by April 28," Phuket's disaster prevention and mitigation chief Wiroj Suwanwong told police.
He filed the complaint at the Mueang Phuket Police Station on behalf of Tri.
"We want to see fast action against the individuals who are spreading the rumours," Wiroj said. "Such actions are punishable by both a fine and a jail term".
Tri said he was ready to give up his post if Phuket were to really disappear from the world by April 28.
"Please have confidence in the authorities. Rumours are just rumours. Aftershocks will continue for seven more days but they won't cause any big shaking," Tri said.
Tambon Si Sunthorn Municipality mayor Worawut Songyos meanwhile disclosed that the quakes had damaged more than 170 houses in his area.
"The number of complaints from people keeps rising," he said.
-- The Nation 2012-04-20
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Pattaya Drug Dealing Brit-Cum English Teacher Caught
Chonburi police arrested an English teacher, British nationality, a ya-ice dealer. The suspect was arrested in a rental room in Pattaya
PATTAYA – April 22, 2012 [PDN]; Pol. Capt. Suphan Jaiharn, Pattaya police and detectives arrested Mr. Steven Palmer age 42, British national working as an English teacher at famous school, Amphur Sattahip, Chonburi.
The police nabbed Mr. Steven Palmer in an undercover operation where ya-ice worth 4,000 THB were supposed to change hands.
The appointment was made in front of the rental room of Mr. Palmer who was arrested with ya-ice contained in a clear plastic bags: weight 17.35 g and three smaller bags weight 0.53g, 1.53g and 1.33g altogether 20.56 g.
The police then searched Mr.Steven’s room # 4, on the 3rd floor of the no name rental room in Soi Bua Khao, central Pattaya, Banglamung and found all of the drugs hidden in a lady’s make up box. The police also found a digital scale and various drug paraphernalia in the room. [more...]
Full story: http://www.pattayada...teacher-caught/
-- Pattaya Daily News 2012-04-23
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SURVEY
Thais worried about wrinkles, not brains
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- When it comes to the effects of getting older, Thais are more likely to worry about ageing skin and wrinkles than about mental deterioration, a recent survey found.
Singapore-based Brand's Brain Research Centre asked 1,800 respondents aged between 25 and 49 about their attitudes and behaviour relating to ageing and anti-ageing measures in eight Asian markets: mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
It aimed to find out people's attitudes and perceptions towards anti-ageing measures for the brain, behaviour to combat the mental effects of ageing, and any specific concerns they have regarding ageing.
The survey showed that most respondents in those eight markets felt that the brain, heart and bones were the top three parts of the body that needed to be protected from the effects of ageing. Asked to name the three signs of getting older they were most worried about, about 45 per cent of Thai respondents answered that ageing of the skin and wrinkles were their main concern, followed by reduced physical-function capacity and deterioration of vision.
Respondents in Singapore said brain deterioration was their main worry, followed by reduced physical function and increased chance of cardiovascular disease.
The main signs of ageing are reduced physical function, ageing of skin and wrinkles, brain deterioration, loss of memory, increased chances of cardiovascular disease, slow thinking, greying of hair, loss of teeth and deterioration of vision.
Asked about signs of mental deterioration, Thais were mostly worried about poor memory, forgetfulness and slower thinking. Meanwhile, respondents in other places such as Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan were concerned about a lack of concentration, lower levels of alertness, inability to absorb new information and poor judgement.
Asked what they felt were the most effective ways to slow the biological effects of ageing, about 84 per cent responded that they would use anti-ageing cream to protect themselves from degeneration symptoms.
This was followed by maintaining a healthy and balanced diet (83 per cent) and getting enough sleep (71 per cent). Only 49 per cent of respondents thought that taking supplements would protect them from ageing.
The survey found that about 65 per cent of Japanese respondents felt that maintaining a healthy and balanced diet was the most effective way to slow the effects of ageing.
This was followed by regular physical exercise (58 per cent), getting enough sleep (49 per cent) and minimising stress (43 per cent). Only 7 per cent of Japanese respondents believed that taking food supplements was the best approach for them.
-- The Nation 2012-04-24
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ELECTION PROMISE
No deal on tablets, ministry prepares textbooks
Supinda na Mahachai
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- The Education Ministry is now preparing for what could be called Plan B - to hand out textbooks to Prathom 1 students, because it has become apparent computer tablets will not reach their hands for the coming semester.
A new term starts next month for school students across the country, but the government and its chosen Chinese supplier have failed to conclude a purchase contract.
Initially, the government planned to implement its much-publicised One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) scheme by handing close to one million tablets to all Prathom 1 students at the start of the upcoming semester.
"But we have a Plan B. We will rush to ensure that textbooks reach the students' hands before the new semester begins," Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej said yesterday.
He said his ministry had a budget for textbook procurement.
It would also have to seek funds for the procurement of tablets for 500 selected teachers, scheduled to attend intensive training on the use of tablets so they can serve as trainers for other teachers.
Suchart said if a purchase contract was signed, the Chinese supplier would have to swiftly deliver 2,000 tablets to Thailand initially, as the devices would be needed for use in training.
"These 2,000 tablets are unlikely to reach Thailand in time, either," Suchart said.
In a related development, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) president Asst Prof Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleepan said that a study on the use of tablets for learning in class would be concluded soon.
The Education Ministry had assigned the university to do this research.
Chalermchai said the findings would be done by yesterday(April 23), but the team would take some time to interpret the findings, which have shown both benefits and disadvantages of using tablets.
"We will release the findings in easy-to-understand language to the public in early May," Chalermchai said.
-- The Nation 2012-04-24
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Posted 2012-04-28 06:43:01
2 killed, one hurt in high-speed crash on tollway
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Two people were killed when a Porsche collided with a Toyota Fortuner pickup truck early yesterday on the tollway in Bangkok's Lak Si district.
The collision took place at 12.30am in the right lane of the outbound tollway near the headquarters of the Daily News newspaper. Police found the body of Major Sakdipat Pathummarak - the son of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chranchai Pathummarak - in the driver's seat of the truck, which had been rammed from behind by the Porsche.
In the driver's seat of the Porsche, whose front section was wrecked, they found the body of Thaifa Chayaworaprapa, 54, Buddy Group executive and owner of the Buddy Village Hotel on Khao San Road.
The driver of a third car caught up in the collision, Amnat Klinyoo, 30, was injured.
An investigation showed that the vehicles ended up 120 metres from the spot where they collided, and that both vehicles had been travelling at high speed. The Porsche's speedometer was stuck at 280km per hour. Police were checking the tollway's CCTV footage.
-- The Nation 2012-04-28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Two people were killed when a Porsche collided with a Toyota Fortuner pickup truck early yesterday on the tollway in Bangkok's Lak Si district.
The collision took place at 12.30am in the right lane of the outbound tollway near the headquarters of the Daily News newspaper. Police found the body of Major Sakdipat Pathummarak - the son of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chranchai Pathummarak - in the driver's seat of the truck, which had been rammed from behind by the Porsche.
In the driver's seat of the Porsche, whose front section was wrecked, they found the body of Thaifa Chayaworaprapa, 54, Buddy Group executive and owner of the Buddy Village Hotel on Khao San Road.
The driver of a third car caught up in the collision, Amnat Klinyoo, 30, was injured.
An investigation showed that the vehicles ended up 120 metres from the spot where they collided, and that both vehicles had been travelling at high speed. The Porsche's speedometer was stuck at 280km per hour. Police were checking the tollway's CCTV footage.
-- The Nation 2012-04-28
Record marijuana haul seized in Saraburi
KWANHATAI MALAIKARN
PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI
THE NATION
SARABURI: -- Police yesterday seized the Kingdom's biggest-ever haul of marijuana, weighing about 3.45 tonnes, at a house in Saraburi. Officials estimated it to be worth about Bt51 million.
The marijuana was packaged in boxes with a British address listed as their destination.
Police arrested Nipon "Yap" Mopad, 43, for possession of the illicit drug. His arrest was announced at a press conference.
Saraburi police chief Maj-General Chalit Preechaharn said Nipon confessed that he had been paid Bt100,000 to deliver the drug to the Bangkok Port, from where it was to be sent to an overseas destination.
"He has done it a few times before. He said the illicit drug came from the Northeast," Chalit said.
The suspect has implicated two other men, Chalit said. However, these accomplices were identified only as "Tos" and "Tong". Nipon's pickup truck and gun were seized and his bank accounts frozen, the officer said.
"We will investigate the case further," Chalit said.
At the same press conference, Highway Police Commander Maj-General Noraboon Naenna said Saraburi Highway Police officers intercepted a pickup truck on Phaholyothin Road in Saraburi's Nong Khae district yesterday morning and found 648 kilograms of marijuana bars in the vehicle.
"The pickup driver, Achariya Pomyukon, tried to flee the scene, but the Highway Police officers managed to arrest him," Noraboon said.
According to Noraboon, the suspect later confessed that he had picked up the illicit drug from Amorn Khamlah at a Tesco Lotus outlet in Nakhon Phanom and was preparing to take it to the Min Buri market in Bangkok. Achariya said he was paid Bt35,000 per delivery.
Meanwhile, Corrections Department director-general Suchat Wong-ananchai announced that his department had found nearly 60,000 methamphetamine tablets, 9,513 cell phones, and 5,834 SIM cards in prisons across the country during the past six months.
"We have dismissed 28 prison officials for allowing these banned items in the correctional facilities," Suchat said.
Sources said that apart from the assistance gained from corrupt prison officials, wealthy inmates had received outside help from people in their circles, including engineers who had been assigned to complete tasks inside the prisons, and gang members who married local women so their wives could gain easy access to the correctional facilities.
-- The Nation 2012-04-28
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Posted 2012-04-25 16:23:15
No megaflood in Thailand this year: Water committee chair
BANGKOK, April 25 - Dr Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairperson of the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF), said on Wednesday he was confident Thailand will not face a repetition of last year's flood crisis, as the government has been on the right track on water management and flood prevention.
He spoke on the direction of the Thai economy on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Thai Television and 35th anniversary of MCOT, Thailand's leading broadcasting company.
Dr Virabongsa said the government has invested more than Bt350 billion to improve flood prevention infrastructure. More flood embankments, canals and flood-related structures have been built, which he said would prevent future floods and the public could rest assured of the matter.
He also added if major floods do happen, neither this government nor himself in his position could last long.
Thailand's worst flood in decades late last year devastated vast areas of the kingdom, especially in the central plains where major industrial estates are located, and left more than 600 people dead.
The estimated financial losses of industrial plants due to the flood crisis reached Bt230 billion, according to the Department of Industrial Works.
"Foreign investors are [now] more confident in investing in Thailand,” he said as evidenced by only Bt350 million of the government's Bt50 billion insurance fund being used. “Such a fund might not be necessary in the future," Dr Virabongsa said.
Apart from flood prevention plans, he said the government must improve and modernise the country's infrastructure such as railways and information technology in order to support expansion of the business sector.
Dr Virabongsa said that after developed countries such as the United States and Europe have faced economic problems in the past 4-5 years, emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil have shown signs of more investment. If the economies of these nations grow, it will help the Thai economy grow as well.
He said he believed the new economies will have immense trade and investment value in the next 15 years, particularly in Asia and the Southeast Asian region. (MCOT online news)
-- TNA 2012-04-25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BANGKOK, April 25 - Dr Virabongsa Ramangkura, chairperson of the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF), said on Wednesday he was confident Thailand will not face a repetition of last year's flood crisis, as the government has been on the right track on water management and flood prevention.
He spoke on the direction of the Thai economy on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Thai Television and 35th anniversary of MCOT, Thailand's leading broadcasting company.
Dr Virabongsa said the government has invested more than Bt350 billion to improve flood prevention infrastructure. More flood embankments, canals and flood-related structures have been built, which he said would prevent future floods and the public could rest assured of the matter.
He also added if major floods do happen, neither this government nor himself in his position could last long.
Thailand's worst flood in decades late last year devastated vast areas of the kingdom, especially in the central plains where major industrial estates are located, and left more than 600 people dead.
The estimated financial losses of industrial plants due to the flood crisis reached Bt230 billion, according to the Department of Industrial Works.
"Foreign investors are [now] more confident in investing in Thailand,” he said as evidenced by only Bt350 million of the government's Bt50 billion insurance fund being used. “Such a fund might not be necessary in the future," Dr Virabongsa said.
Apart from flood prevention plans, he said the government must improve and modernise the country's infrastructure such as railways and information technology in order to support expansion of the business sector.
Dr Virabongsa said that after developed countries such as the United States and Europe have faced economic problems in the past 4-5 years, emerging economies such as China, India, Russia and Brazil have shown signs of more investment. If the economies of these nations grow, it will help the Thai economy grow as well.
He said he believed the new economies will have immense trade and investment value in the next 15 years, particularly in Asia and the Southeast Asian region. (MCOT online news)
-- TNA 2012-04-25
MP phone could have sourced porn pic, says Pheu Thai
BANGKOK:-- The Pheu Thai Party Sunday held a demonstration on how to share pictures on an LG LED TV to try to back up its allegation that a Democrat Party MP had displayed a pornographic image on a TV monitor in the parliamentary assembly hall.
Pheu Thai deputy spokesperson Sunisa Lertphakwat used an LG TV of the same model that is used in the parliamentary assembly hall as part of the demonstration.
She shared an image from an iPhone onto the LG LED TV in front of reporters at the Pheu Thai head office to prove that an iPhone could share images in this way, using a Wi-Fi connection.
On April 18, during a televised debate on constitutional amendment, large display screens inside the parliamentary chamber briefly showed a picture of a partly unclothed woman in a lewd pose.
Close the same time, Democrat MP Nutt Bantadtan was seen viewing a pornographic photo on his iPhone smart phone. Nutt later apologised, saying he was simply checking what pictures were sent to his phone.
An earlier investigation by a committee of the House Secretariat found that an iPhone and iPad could not share photos on the LG TV because the TV would require the iPhone and iPad users to key in a password.
-- The Nation 2012-04-29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brit Billionaire's Son Vanishes on Samui – Reward Offered
A future Thai step-mother reported to the police that her 23-years-old British son to be had disappeared on Samui island. She believes he has left for Malaysia. The young man has a brain dysfunction. The future step mother is worried.
SURATHANI: -- Miss Sulawan Talungpet, age 24, the owner of a clothing store and a large car rental company on Koh Samui contacted the Daily News journalist in Koh Samui regarding her missing future stepson.
She informed the journalist that she has a boyfriend: Mr.Robert Thomson a 46-years-old British national whom she is going to marry to in June. Mr. Thomson is a ultra-high-net worth computer businessman from the UK.
In March, Mr.Robert Thomson arrived in Thailand with his son Markus Robert Thomson, age 23, for their holiday in Samui. Markus suffers from a brain dysfunction and needs daily medication otherwise he will have epileptic seizures.
On April 23, Markus disappeared from his residence, he was wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a green jacket, riding a black and gray Honda motorcycle, registration number (KorThorChor) คธฉ-776 Surat Thani.
He was carrying 200 THB in cash and a gold necklace. Markus disappearance was reported to Pol.Lt.Col. Thawatchai Promtep, Borpood police station, Koh Samui island.
After checking the CCTV footage at the port of Sea Transferry company on Koh Samui island. The CCTV footage showed Markus on April 23, at 17:00 hours after he had bought a ticket. He rode off on his motorcycle and has not been seen since.
Miss Suawan asked her boyfriend, the father, he said he had not received any call from his son. One of Markus’ friends said that Markus had told him that he wanted to go to Malaysia, but his passport was at his house.
Miss Sulawan pleads to contact her if any one knows the whereabouts of Markus her telephone number: 087-470-7607 or 083-796-6295
Mr.Thomson will pay a cash reward to anyone who can provide information on Markus Robert Thompson who is in urgent need of his neurological medication.
Source: http://www.pattayada...reward-offered/
-- Pattaya Daily News 2012-04-30
