Thailand News

Phuket Gazette: Myanmar lifts ban on Suu Kyi; Malaysia willing to help Thailand; Request for Iranian

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:10:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Myanmar lifts government ban on Suu Kyi ralliesPHUKET (News Wires): Myanmar election authorities have lifted a ban on rallies by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after the National League for Democracy (NLD) complained about the restrictions, a Burmese news organization in exile reported yesterday.

According to Mizzima News, the Union Election Commission (UEC) said a ministerial order from the sports minister which restricted campaign rallies in stadiums had been lifted. The announcement came after the main opposition party, the NLD, complained in a press conference that the campaign process was not free and fair.

Blasts hit confidence; Security tightened; Bomb expert trained suspects

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:10:34 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Confidence of tourists will be hit by blasts PHUKET (The Nation): Tourism business operators believe that Tuesday's bomb blasts in Bangkok will have a slight impact on the industry in the current first quarter of the year, according to a survey by the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

However, further incidents would have a longer and larger impact on the economy - especially due to an increase in travel warnings issued by embassies, the number of which could exceed 20. Currently 13 embassies are posting terrorism warning messages on Thailand, said Thanavath Phonvichai, the CEBF's director.

Phuket Gazette: Bangkok bomb plot update

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:11:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Bangkok bomb plot deepensPHUKET (The Nation): Iran and Israel dropped diplomatic bombshells on each other yesterday, accusing one another of being behind Tuesday's bomb blasts in Bangkok.

Israel was quick to implicate Iran in the bomb incidents. "The attempted attack in Bangkok proves once again that Iran and its proxies are continuing to act in the ways of terror and the latest attacks are an example of that," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said.

Phuket Gazette: Thai Deputy Premier wants fast execution of drug convicts

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:30:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

PHUKET (The Nation): A legal study is underway on orders from Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to determine whether drug-related convicts on death row can be executed within 60 days after final verdicts have been reached.

With national drug-related crime statistics reflecting the surge in arrests in Phuket, swift killings would help to combat rampant drug dealing, Chalerm believes.

Chalerm says a new regulation stipulates that verdicts in drug-related convictions are regarded final at the Court of Appeals, not the Supreme Court as in all other charges.

Phuket Gazette: Americans alerted in update on bomb blast in Bangkok; US Embassy issues warning

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:58:21 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

UPDATE: Bomb blast in Bangkok
PHUKET (News Wires): Three explosions, six injured; first one goes off at rented house; UK embassy issues warning; Iranian lobs bomb at taxi, then at police car, loses his legs in blast; another Iranian arrested.

An Iranian man was badly injured and a second Iranian was arrested after a series of grenade attacks that caused panic in the capital and left five bystanders injured yesterday.

A senior official denied any links to terrorism, but police have yet to rule on whether the blasts were part of a terrorist attack, or if they had anything to do with last month's arrest of a Lebanese man with Swedish nationality in an alleged bomb plot.

Phuket Gazette: Bomb blasts in Bangkok

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:58:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Arab-looking man launches two bomb attacks in BangkokPHUKET (News Wires): Pol Lt Col Witthaya Poonsin, deputy commander of Klong Tan traffic police, said a foreigner, who has yet to be identified, threw the first bomb at a taxi on Soi Pridi Panomyong. The taxi was damaged in the explosion.

Witthaya said the man later walked to the main Sukhumvit 71 Road and when he spotted a police officer tried to lob another bomb at the officer.

Phuket Media Watch: Thai PM orders investigation into army shooting of four Muslims

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:27:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Thai PM orders investigation into army shooting of four MuslimsPhuket Gazette / News Wires
PHUKET: Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered an investigation into the shooting deaths of four Muslims by paramilitaries in the restive south on Sunday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha to investigate the incident and report his findings in detail immediately. She said if those killed and wounded in the incident were found to be innocent villagers, the government would fully 'take care' of them.

Phuket Media Watch: Thai government welcomes Twitter censorship announcement

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:49:47 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Thai government welcomes Twitter censorship announcement Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The Thai government welcomed an announcement from the social networking website Twitter that it will start censoring controversial content on a country-specific level, local media reported.

Jeerawan Boonperm, the permanent secretary at the Information and Communication Technology Ministry in Thailand, said last week's announcement is a "welcome development." She said the Ministry will contact Twitter to discuss how they might be able to collaborate, according to the Bangkok Post.

Phuket MP joins call for opposition to Nitirat group

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:13:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

MP Sathit Wongnongtoey cites danger over 'distortion of information' The NationPHUKET: Opposition mounted yesterday to the Nitirat group of law lecturers and their controversial proposals regarding the monarchy.

At a reunion party, a group of Thammasat University law graduates called for the removal of five of the Thammasat university law lecturers who are members of Nitirat.

Representatives of the Law School class of 1958, including Suthep Niran and Sichart Sahatchote, led the call.

Phuket Media Watch: Palestine thanks Thailand; News office attacked; Western ships

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:36:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

'Thailand recognizes Palestine as independent state' Phuket Gazette / News Wires
PHUKET: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked the government of Thailand after it apparently decided to recognize Palestine as an independent state. Thai officials were unavailable for comment.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said his office received an official letter from the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations on Tuesday which stated that the Thai government has officially recognized Palestine and has initiated a process to establish diplomatic relations.

Phuket Media Watch: Thailand regional round-up - Suu Kyi; Tony Blair; Khmer Rouge

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:27:28 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Opposition leader Suu Kyi registers to run in Myanmar by-election Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday registered to run for a parliamentary seat in Myanmar's upcoming by-election, a Burmese news organization in exile reported.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner officially filed to run for the near-rural constituency of Kawhmu, on the outskirts of Rangoon, during the April 1 by-election. Hundreds of supporters of the 66-year-old democracy icon's National League for Democracy party gathered outside of the commission office, Mizzima News reported.

Phuket Media Watch: Will Phuketians eschew meat?; Supalai eyes Phuket

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:01:00 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Phuket Lifestyle: Turning away from meat?Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: More and more meat eaters are turning their backs on steaks and even fish in favor of healthy vegetarian fare as part of their personal healthcare regime. However, many complain there are not many options when it comes to vegetarian dining.

But the editors of "Veg Haven" are confident that vegetarians will be spoiled for choice when travelling in the region.

Dutchman sought by police in Thailand gets 28 years in jail in Peru

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:57:50 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

Dutchman wanted in Thailand gets 28 years in Peru PrisonPhuket Gazette / News Wires
PHUKET: Dutchman Joran Van der Sloot,

Phuket Media Watch: Flood, landslide warnings for South Thailand

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:05:34 GMT

PHUKET MEDIA WATCH� Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket's international community

South on alert for floods, landslides; Phuket not affectedPhuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Weather conditions in the lower Gulf of Thailand will get rough over the next few days, the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) warned this morning.

It also warned of possible flash floods, landslides and mudslides in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat through Monday.

Phuket, located on the South's west coast, was not included in the warning and is in fact enjoying good weather, albeit graying skies, as this is posted to the Web this evening.

Bangkok terror alert: Deputy PM Chalerm denies threat

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:18:42 GMT

Following US Embassy warning to Americans, Thai authorities confirm arrest of suspect linked to Hezbollah

PHUKET: Senior Thai officials scrambled yesterday to deny that Thailand faced an immediate terrorist threat, following a dramatic