Thai Forum http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/index.php Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:11:30 +0000 10 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3440-mahidol-aims-to-be-thailands-university-of-choice/ Mahidol aims to be Thailand's 'University of Choice'
By CHULEEPORN ARAMNET
THE NATION
Published on September 6, 2010

Mahidol University (MU) is improving its infrastructure in a bid to upgrade itself as the "University of Choice" and the first university Thai students want to enter, its president Clinical Professor Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn MD said last week.

Piyasakol made these remarks in a speech on new visions for MU's 35th anniversary.

He said Mahidol targeted to reach international standards and be one of the country's top research universities, with aca-demic quality, a creative studying atmosphere and activities, and well-rounded graduates with vol-unteer's mindset.

Being the University of Choice, the president said, "cream of the crop" stu-dents would choose to fur-ther their stud-ies and conduct research at MU. So, the country could attract elite students, who would surely benefit foreign countries with useful research work if they stud-ied abroad, to study and help their homeland. To lure them to study locally, MU needed to have high enough capacity to draw them in.

He said MU's lecturers and students would have to conduct research in communities together with local people.

MU had extended its curricu-lum to cover all fields. It focused on producing good and quality graduates able to live and work with others in society, he said.

"The university council has approved MU to provide 70 per cent of its areas as green areas. MU has recruited knowledgeable lecturers, provided well-equipped laboratories, easy Internet access, comfortable dormitories, and had freshmen in different fields learn living and studying together. In addition, its herbal garden will be turn into the most beautiful natural park in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces. A large concert hall will be also available for hosting graduation ceremonies and for students to show their musical performanc-es," he said.

Despite infrastructure improvement, tuition fees would not be raised, he insisted.

Source: ]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:11:30 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3440-mahidol-aims-to-be-thailands-university-of-choice/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3439-no-oil-spill-from-phuket-wreck/ 'No oil spill' from Phuket wreck
By Sarinee Prabh
The Nation
Published on September 6, 2010


Phuket - A provincial marine official confirmed yesterday that an oil slick from a boat that sank off Phuket on Saturday appears to have dispersed and no traces remain.

"There is no more spilled oil from the boat," Bhuripat Theerakulpisut, a provincial marine official, said.

The tanker, Choke Tavorn 6, was carrying 40,000 litres when it went down about 10 nautical miles from Chalong bay after being damaged in a storm. All four crew members were rescued without injury.

Bhuripat said he went to the area in the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre division 5, with an undersea operation team, marine police, and other relevant agencies.

They found there was no more oil leaking from the boat. Marine officials had col-lected samples of water around the sunken boat to study the quality of water.

"At this time, we believe the oil leakage will not cause environmental damage in the sea as the oil slick dispersed very quickly," Bhuripa said.

Officials are now waiting for the best weather condi-tions to salvage the boat, he said, as strong winds had been blowing across the Andaman sea.

Pramuan Nuad-ngarm, owner of the Choke Tavorn 6, said about 25,000 litres of oil remained inside the boat.

Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre director Wannakiat Tabtimsang said he had sent staff to collect samples of hydrocarbons released from the oil to study whether it would affect the environment and marine life.

Royal Thai Navy division 3's chief of staff Rear Admiral Navin Thananet said the tanker carrying 40,000 litres of oil was a modified fishery boat and legally registered with the authority.

Inside the boat, he said there were four tanks, which could carry 35,000 to 40,000 litres of oil. He said the boat was tied to a buoy to stop it from sinking to the seabed. The oil slick found on the sur-face of the water yesterday morning had leaked from the boat's machinery, not from a tank.

The Royal Thai Navy divi-sion 3 had sent a boat, Laung Rang, and another two vessels from the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre and Marine Police would collect water samples for testing.

"The team had brought instruments to get rid of the leaked oil, including spray and a buoy. This should be enough to handle the problem," he said.

Source: ]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:09:12 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3439-no-oil-spill-from-phuket-wreck/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3438-virus-may-be-re-emerging-ministery-warns/ Virus may be re-emerging : ministery warns
By PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION
Published on September 6, 2010

The Public Health Ministry has warned of a widespread return of the 2009 flu virus after reports that two people in Lop Buri and Nonthaburi provinces died from the infection of the type-A (H1N1) virus last week, raising the death toll for this year to 57.

About 260 people have been hit with the flu-like symptoms in the last two weeks, lifting the number of infected cases this year to 8,442.

Recent cases have been reported in 20 provinces between August 15-28, including : Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Lop Buri, Sa Kaew, Sing Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, Sukhothai, Phayao, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Rai, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et,Si Sa Ket, Khon Kaen, Kalasin,Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pattani, and Songkhla.

"We found the number of infected cases from type-A (H1N1) influenza virus has been rising continuously in the northern and north-eastern regions," Department of Disease Control's director-general Dr Manit Teeratantikanont said.

According to a flu infection surveillance report during August 22-28 from 710 hospitals across the country, 232 hospitals in 68 provinces saw an increase in the number of patients with influenza-like illness to over 10 percent, exceeding the standard ratio of 5 percent or lower.

In Nakhon Sawan, a group of 228 young monks in a temple at Tak Fa district developed the flu-like symptoms during August 13 - 26, and 36 of them were sent to undergo medical treatment. The remainder received the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

The hospital's medical staff confirmed the infection was of the type-A (H1N1) virus. Public health officials vaccinated the healthy monks and urged them to clean their accommodation.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, 49 medical workers at the local hospital developed flu-like symptoms and throat swab tests showed that 19 had been infected with the 2009 flu virus.

Four were surgery room staff. All patients were given Tamiflu as the hospital conducted a vaccination campaign. No new cases of infection have been reported so far.

In Bangkok, 3,563 students at a school in the Sikan-Don Muang area, have contracted the virus since the end of July. Most were primary school students. They were admitted to Vibhavadi General Hospital and Mongkutwattana General Hospital.

Sample test results showed that 10 Pathom 1 students were infected with the type B influenza virus and six students from Pathom 3 had the 2009 flu virus.

In Sukhothai, 33 police students from a police camp at Muang district's Tam bon Wang Tra Kor had flu-like symptoms and five were admitted to Sukhothai hospital. All are said to be getting better.

The 2009 flu virus spread through Thailand in April that year and infected 30,336 cases and killed 197.

In July,the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the end of the type-A (H1N1) pandemic after it had spread to 214 countries and killed over 18,449 people around the world.

Source : http://www.nationmul...s-30137320.html]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:27:29 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3438-virus-may-be-re-emerging-ministery-warns/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3437-justice-for-sale-freedom-for-a-fee/ Justice for Sale, Freedom for a Fee


Cynics have long claimed that justice in Thailand is a marketable commodity like almost anything else. A current issue involving a wealthy elderly Swede, accused of multiple cases of sexual abuse of children, financially manipulative lawyers perverting the course of justice and a greedy adulterous judge, have cast a 'cloud of corruptive gloom' over the Courts of Justice in Thailand.

Mr. Solberg [Alias] [60], a Swedish national, was charged on multiple counts of sexual abuse after having had sexual relations with underage boys in Pattaya, Thailand. Along with two other foreigners, Mr. Solberg was arrested and remanded in custody in 2009, following an extensive police investigation.



Seeking representation, Mr. Solberg hired a lawyer from a firm located in Soi R, Moo.10, South Pattaya. Miss Wanida [alias], who runs the legal practitioners, had tried to bail her client out of remand more than 10 times, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Allegedly by chance, Miss Wanida was introduced to another woman Miss Linda [alias] by an associate law firm. Miss Linda was supposed to be very powerful woman and 'close' to a judge in the Court of Appeals, who revealed that she may be able to help Miss Wanida and her client.

Using Miss Linda's connections in an attempt to gain her client bail, Miss Wanida, a lawyer and Mr. Nopadol [alias] (an intermediary for Miss Linda) signed a strong MOU [Memorandum of understanding] regarding procedures and payment. In using Mr. Nopadol (for a minor fee), both Miss Linda and the aforementioned Judge were thus concealed from any involvement in the case.

On the 14th of September 2009, Miss Wanida and Mr. Nopadol opened a joint bank account at the Siam Commercial Bank, Central Ladprow branch. The account deposited in the new account totaled 3.5 million baht.



Under the terms of the MOU and resultant account, both had to sign their names in order to withdraw the money. If the bail application was successful for all three cases, Miss Wanida would have to sign over to Mr. Nopadol. If the bail request was rejected, Mr. Nopadol would have to sign for Miss Wanida to withdraw. The MOU was signed at the Central Ladprow Department store.

Two weeks later, on the 30th September 2009, the judge at the Court of Appeals remarkably signed permission for the Swedish man to be released on bail, despite more than 10 previous rejections!

On the 3rd of October 2009, Miss Linda asked Miss Wanida to withdraw 100,000 baht to pay Mr. Nopadol and for the remaining 3.4 million to be transferred into her own account at the same bank. According to media sources, she later made cash withdrawals of not more than 1 million each time in order to pay the judge.

After the successful bail requests, the Swedish man was so impressed with Miss Linda's job that he then signed a MOU hiring her to handle his cases until all charges are dismissed.



This time Mr. Solberg, residing at 404/118 Moo. 12, Nongprue, Banglamung,Chonburi, signed the MOU as the principal [payer] using another Thai woman, Miss Bee [39], as the go-between. The amount to buy his complete freedom was set at 9.2 million baht by Miss Linda. The MOU was signed on the 16th of October 2009 at a house in Chimplee, Bangkok. Miss Wanida also signed her name on the new MOU but only as a witness to the agreement.

Mr. Solberg allegedly paid Miss Linda 1 million baht by way of a Bangkok Bank draft at the Pattaya 2nd road branch. The payee was Miss Linda. The MOU mentioned that the 2nd payment would be on the 31st October 2009 [Bt1.5 million] and that a third of 1.5 million would be due on the 15th November 2009.

If the three cases were dismissed the payer would pay the payee another 5.2 million baht to conclude payment. Mr. Solberg had already deposited this amount into an account identical to the one used under the previous agreement.

Should the three cases not be dismissed, the payee agreed in the MOU to return the total amount of 4 million baht, the deposit of 1 million plus two installments of 1.5 million, back to the payer, immediately.

Cuckolded Husband Intervenes on Proceedings



The bribery would have been another successful story for Miss Linda and the judge if the formers husband had kept quiet about the situation.

Mr. Apichet [alias], the depressed husband of Miss Linda, had been skeptical about her 'behavior' for quite some time, following her and confronting her with the facts he finally got her to confess that she had been having an affair with the aforementioned judge.

Scorned, Mr. Apichet subsequently filed a complaint against his wife, Miss Linda, and the judge for adultery and bribery. The confidential complaint, along with documents and supporting evidence was sent to the Chairman of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Apichet told a Thai investigator that he had been threatened by Miss Linda and the judge on several occasions. He said Miss Linda and the judge wanted him to divorce her and to withdraw the case against them. Mr. Apichet's car repair shop was then closed down following an injunction by the involved judge.



As a result, Mr. Apichet then filed a civil case, suing the judge, Miss Linda and her gang, a total of 9 people, for threatening and closing his shop at Talingchan Court, Bangkok. This new case seemed to make the situation worse, resulting in 'more serious' threats received by Mr. Apichet, who subsequently fled the capital.

On the 25th August 2010, a reliable source from the Office of the Judiciary confirmed to reporters that the Judiciary Committee was investigating both Miss Linda and the judge on many similar accusations involving more than 70 million baht in bribery payments.

Initially, the accused judge was transferred to the Office of the Judiciary where he has no judicial duties, particularly those concerned with the ongoing investigation into the bribery cases of which he is accused. If he is found guilty he will be investigated by the National Commission Anti-Fraud Protection Division.



On the 2nd of September 2010, at 5.30 pm, Miss Wanida told the press by phone that she admitted that she had signed the MOU with Mr. Nopadol, claiming that it was a legal document hiring him to handle the bailing process. The 2nd MOU was signed by Mr. Solberg, hiring Miss Linda and her team as the legal consultants for his cases. Miss Wanida was hired as a translator and signed as a witness. She added that she had already withdrawn as the legal advisor on Mr. Solberg's cases and reportedly had not yet been contacted by investigators.

A reliable source has informed the press that the bribery complaint cases have also been sent to all the Privy Councilors, the DSI and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

How Pattaya Attorney Avoids the Fire

1. She mentioned in the MOU that the 3.5 million baht was transferred into her account from Mr. Solberg for use in bail proceedings and other expenses.
2. In the second MOU, she said she was only the translator and witness.
3. She said she did not know that Miss Linda was the judge's mistress and was unaware of how Miss Linda would get the bail permission for her client.
4. She also said she resigned the contract between her company and Mr. Solberg after he had opted to engage the services of Miss Linda directly.



Editor Notes:

It is my opinion that Miss Wanida and Miss Linda had likely been long time associates, working together on many cases of a similar degree and profitable outcome in the past.

Mr. Solberg is now out on bail. Do you think he would come back to face court after the bribery revelations and already serious nature of his offences? I sincerely doubt it.

Well, 4 million is already paid to Miss Linda and 5.2 million is being held in a joint account, one wonders whether they will get together and withdraw the money or has Mr. Solberg already departed the country?

Mr. Gibbs, his British friend, is no longer in Thai custody. After spending 14 months awaiting his trial, he was released at 10:00 on the15th August 2010. He was found NOT GUILTY on all of the charges against him at Bangkok Criminal Court and is being released from Prison at that night.

"JUSTICE FOR SALE IS NO JUSTICE AT ALL"

Warina Punyawan
Editor-In-Chief
Pattaya Daily News
editor@pattayadailynews.com

Source : http://www.pattayada...edom-for-a-fee/]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:16:27 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3437-justice-for-sale-freedom-for-a-fee/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3436-check-point-a-success-after-new-zealander-is-caught-with-gun/ Check Point a Success After New Zealander is Caught with Gun


Pattaya Police operated check points, in order to catch suspects in possession of firearms and drugs.

Pattaya, 4th September 2010 [PDN] On the 2nd September, at 3.20pm, Police Lieutenant Nunthawut Suwanla-ong, Pattaya Police Superintendant, along with Lieutenant Colonel Klitsakorn Thongin, Pattaya Police Deputy Superintendant, led a police task force in setting up a check point in Pattaya City at three points during 02.00- 04.00am. It was aimed at catching suspects in possession of firearms and drugs.

The result of the inspection at the check point was the apprehension of suspects, Mr. Wicha Kongmueng [35] a Thai man who was in possession of a .38 gun with 12 bullets that was found hidden under the seat beside the driver of a NV Nissan car. Another case was Mr. Cary Clarke [29] from New Zealand who was arrested for possession of a 9 mm. gun with 4 bullets. In addition to this, the officers discovered purple urine, which was the result of 9 suspects who gave urine samples in a drug test. All suspects were restrained for judicial proceedings at Pattaya Police Station.

Subsequently Mrs. Ratchanee Ratchaton [26] from Nongplalai, Banglamung, Chon Buri who was a victim informed police that Mr. Clarke used his gun to shoot her but luckily he missed, so she was not injured. The incident occurred in front of a house in Soi Khaomaikaew, Banglamung. Mrs. Ratchaton rushed to Pattaya Police Station after hearing that Mr. Clarke had been apprehended. The officer then suggested she reports the incident at the Banglamung Police Station who responded by investigating.

Source: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:06:04 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3436-check-point-a-success-after-new-zealander-is-caught-with-gun/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3435-storms-ravage-many-areas-in-lop-buri-and-the-northeast/ Storms ravage many areas in Lop Buri and the Northeast
By THE NATION ON SUNDAY
Published on September 5, 2010


Section of Ratchasima-Chok Chai Rd bulldozed to release water


Several central and northeastern provinces were hit badly by heavy rain and inundation, damaging farmland and residences.

In Lop Buri, its Tha Luang district was under water as the Pasak River rose by about 15cm an hour yesterday and left riverside farmland and homes under 50-70cm of water.

In Muang district, heavy downpours worsened the flooding, which by yesterday extended to the economic and trade areas along Phaholyothin Road, prompting shops to close.

The provincial governor got 300 soldiers to urgently help affected residents move their belongings to safer ground and pile sandbags as flood barriers.

In Ubon Ratchathani, residents in Ketkaew community in Warin Chamrap district yesterday were evacuated to tents set up on safer ground near the district land office. The Mul River remained stable at one metre below its banks, but acting provincial governor Wichit Chatpatsit said all agencies were prepared for possible flood problems. District officials were not allowed to take leave during this period. The province along with Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, and Si Sa Ket, was bracing for a worse situation as rainfall is forecast for the next five days.

In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, 2,000 residents in about 400 homes in tambon Nongbua Sala continued to endure floods for a third day.

Some residents in Jamjuree and Nong Talumpuk villages were reportedly so fed up that they announced they wanted to sell their homes. They opened a centre for donations of food and drinking water in front of Jamjuree village, while officials at Tambon Nongbua Sala were considering asking for Bt35 million in funds to build a "monkey-cheek reservoir" as a long-term solution.

As heavy rainfall continued, local authorities' installed water pumps to drain water but conditions in some areas were tough - under 70cm-1.2 metres of water. A one-kilometre section of the Ratchasima-Chok Chai Road was impassable, which prompted highway authorities to use heavy machines to demolish a road island to drain floodwater into nearby farmland.

In Khon Kaen, the Ubonrat Dam was holding 1,539 million cubic metres of water out of its 2,400 million cubic metre capacity. Officials announced a plan yesterday to release 17 million cubic metres a day - up from 12 million cubic metres, but reassured that people should not be affected as the Lam Nam Pong waterway could take about 35 million cubic metres of water per day.

In Pathum Thani's Lam Lukka district, residents in Rinthong Housing Estate yesterday lamented that besides the structural issue of house and road subsidence in January, they suffered from floods with some parts under 60-80cm of water. They said PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtoey had visited earlier this year and said he would help contact related agencies to repair the collapsed road, but nothing had been done yet.

In Lampang's Thoen district, days of heavy rain caused a flood from Mae Mok Forest to damage a section of Thoen-Thung Saliam Road at the 8-9km marker. A temporary bridge was set up for vehicles under 10 tonnes to use and motorists were advised to use other routes.

In Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district, a rainstorm on Friday night damaged the roof and ceiling in 13 homes in Preuksa 9 Housing Estate, 28 homes in Preuksa 11 Estate, 19 homes in Preuksa 12 Estate and five in the nearby Thai Somboon village.

Source: ]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:36:10 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3435-storms-ravage-many-areas-in-lop-buri-and-the-northeast/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3434-fuel-boat-sinks-off-phuket-40000-liter-spill-feared/ Fuel boat sinks off Phuket: 40,000-liter spill feared


The PTT tank farm at Cape Panwa in Wichit. File photo.

PHUKET: A boat carrying 40,000 liters of oil sank in heavy seas off Phuket yesterday, prompting fears of environmental damage if the vessel could not be salvaged in time.

Phuket Marine Police deputy commander Prasert Srikhunrat received a distress call from the crew of Choke Thavorn 6 at about 11am.

The vessel was delivering the oil from a tank farm in Phuket's Wichit district to Koh Racha Yai, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket.

The vessel was foundering in four-meter-high seas about 10 nautical miles south of Rawai village, at the southern tip of Phuket island.

Marine Police vessel Khun Pum (Tor 814) responded to the call.

By the time it arrived, Choke Tavorn 8, a sister vessel of Choke Thavorn 6, had already rescued the four crew members. However nothing could be done to save the vessel, which sank with its 40,000 liters of oil in water estimated to be 30 meters deep.

Officers say they are monitoring the situation and trying to detect signs of leakage, but it is a difficult task given the sea conditions and darkness.

Fishermen are advised to stay in port until the rough offshore conditions improve, Lt Col Prasert said.

The Meteorological Department’s forecast for the 24-hour period starting at 4pm does not auger well for a salvage effort. The report calls for “fairly widespread” rain covering 70% of the province, with isolated heavy rain and Southwesterly winds of 20kmh to 35kmh.

Source: ]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:33:28 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3434-fuel-boat-sinks-off-phuket-40000-liter-spill-feared/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3431-red-shirts-plan-bangkok-chiang-mai-rally-19th-september/ Red shirts plan Bangkok-Chiang Mai rally
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation
Published on September 4, 2010

The red shirts will organise a motorcade rally from Bangkok to Chiang Mai along with other activities to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 19 military coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.

Other events include a gathering at the Rajprasong intersection in Bangkok to commemorate both the fourth anniversary of the coup and the fourth month since the May 19 military crackdown on the red-shirt protesters.

The motorcade rally will leave Bangkok on September 18 from Imperial World Lat Phrao, and is scheduled to arrive in Chiang Mai the following day. About 50 vehicles are expected to take part. In Bangkok, red shirts led by Sombat Boon-ngam-anong, leader of the Red Sunday group, will tie dozens of red cloth pieces at the Rajprasong intersection.

Meanwhile in London, a group of red shirts led by exiled activist Ji Ungpakorn is expected to hold a rally on the same day.

At a press conference yesterday, Suwit Lertkraimaethee, a former member of the now-defunct 19 September Network against the Coup d'Etat and a key member of the July 24 Democracy group - a leftist faction of the red shirts - said the September 19 coup marked the beginning of the declaration of war against the people by the amataya, or bureaucratic elite.

"We know whom we are fighting against. The [incident] unveiled the dark force as never before. People have opened their eyes and crossed that darkness that shrouded their thoughts as never before," Suwit told a press conference in front of Red Power magazine's editorial office at Imperial World Lat Phrao. "People are now brave enough to be willing to bring down this system."

Suwit said the struggle would be long and September 19 this year would mark the launch of the "eye-opening campaign" against the old elite. He said the deaths of red shirts in April and May had made more people aware of the current political problems.

Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, editor of Red Power and leader of the July 24 Democracy Group, urged the government to release all red-shirt "political prisoners" immediately to foster the right climate for reconciliation. He said his group would push for economic reforms such as the introduction of progressive income tax and land and inheritance taxes.

Somyos, whose magazine was threatened this week with a closure order by the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) after being accused of attacking a senior general and the monarchy, said he would move the printing of the publication to another province such as Chiang Mai, which is currently not under emergency rule. If the CRES continues to insist on closing down Red Power elsewhere, Somyos said he would then organise a mobile rally to discuss political problems in all provinces.

Somyos warned the government not to resort to assassinating key red-shirt members. He said many people believed a red-shirt guard was recently shot to death, allegedly by the military.

"Assassination cannot stop the movement [of the reds]. Let me remind the government that we come with good intentions and want to reform this country. I thank [PM's Office minister in charge of the media] Ong-art Klampaiboon for saying he doesn't think [Red Power] should be shut down yet."

Source: ]]> Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:50:00 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3431-red-shirts-plan-bangkok-chiang-mai-rally-19th-september/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3429-pleas-to-extend-lin-pings-stay/ Pleas to extend Lin Ping's stay
By The Nation
Published on September 4, 2010


During his visit to Shanghai tomorrow, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be urged to speak to relevant Chinese authorities and negotiate for an extension of Lin Ping's stint in Thailand.

According to the original agreement, the panda cub is allowed to stay in Thailand for two years, and her term will be completed next May.

Assistant to the natural resources minister, Pimuk Simarote, said he would ask Abhisit to seek an opportunity to negotiate Lin Ping's stay while he is in Shanghai.

"Lin Ping has another 10 months with us, and we will try our best to keep her here for longer," he said.

Source: ]]> Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:45:15 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3429-pleas-to-extend-lin-pings-stay/ http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3428-dengue-fever-patients-in-ranong-hits-133/ Dengue fever patients in Ranong hits 133

RANONG, 3 September 2010 (NNT) - A total of 133 residents of the southern province of Ranong have been infected with dengue fever while a warning has been issued over the epidemic, which remains rampant nationwide.

MD Thongchai Kiratihattayakorn, Physician of the Ranong Public Health Office, revealed that the accumulated number of dengue fever patients in the province stood at 133 during the first eight months of 2010. Most of the patients were reported to be at the age of 10-14 years old.

The Ranong residents are advised to eliminate breeding sites of house mosquitoes in order to prevent the spread of dengue fever. People are also instructed to seek immediate medical check-ups if they suspect themselves of being infected.

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/en]]> Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:14:39 +0000 http://www.thai-discovery.com/forum/topic/3428-dengue-fever-patients-in-ranong-hits-133/