Thailand may set up a Tourist Court to fast track case involving foreign tourists who would otherwise depart from this country before any lawsuits could be judged by an ordinary court.

According to Tourism & Sports Minister Somsak Purisrisak, the so-called Tourist Court will handle varied criminal and civil lawsuits lodged by foreign visitors against any accused persons in Thailand in relatively prompt fashion, compared to the existing courts of justice which may spend a longer period of time than the plaintiff tourists can wait. Somsak said:

There are so many cases in which plaintiff tourists such as those who may have been robbed or physically assaulted have already departed from the country before they are eventually ruled in court. We've been concerned that such legal snags might inadvertently fail to serve justice or maintain the confidence of the tourists in the safety of their own lives and property while staying in our country.

The Tourist Court might be called on to work day and night.

The government will discuss the idea with the judicial branch and, if it is finally approved, will see to it that legislation will be submitted to the legislative branch for the establishment of the Tourist Court in foreseeable future.

Police say at least four people were killed when a small bridge collapsed near Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Several motorcycle drivers and their vehicles fell into the Pasak river on Sunday while they were crossing the suspension bridge in the district of  Tha Ruea. Authorities found four bodies under the rubble. Twelve people were injured.

A police spokesman said that the cement bridge was built a few years ago for pedestrians and small vehicles to cross but has not been well maintained and it was in poor condition.

Viacom, the US media conglomerate, is bringing back its MTV channel for Thai audiences.

AppleTool, a satellite TV arm of VR1 Media Group, will operate MTV Thailand with localised content for Thai viewers. The company has hired a satellite transponder from MCOT, the broadcaster of Modernine TV.

The MTV channel will be officially launched next Wednesday on the C-band and Ku-band satellite platforms, which provide access to TrueVisions' free-view package.

Amarit Sukhawanit, the managing director of MTV Thailand, said the firm is spending 100 million baht to promote its channel among youth audiences, who are the main targets for advertisers.

MCOT has also got a license from VIMN to broadcast Nickelodeon channel, a US children's channel. The Nickelodeon channel will be distributed across major platforms including TrueVisions, PSI (C-band) and DTV satellite (Ku-band).

Fahtum pandinsoong (Boundary) is a 2013 Thailand/Cambodia/France documentary by Nontawat Numbenchapol.

Thailand's film censors have banned a documentary about the country's long-running border dispute with neighboring Cambodia.

Boundary tells the story of the Thai-Cambodia conflict through accounts of an ex-soldier who lives near the border, as well as villagers from the two countries. The film also shows scenes from the 2011 political protests in Bangkok that left more than 90 people dead.

Director Nontawat Numbenchapol said that the Culture Ministry's film screening office informed him that they believe the movie's content is a threat to national security and international relations.

The border dispute is currently being considered in international court at the Hague.

Update: Unbanned

26th April 2013. See article from bangkokpost.com
See trailer from YouTube

The Thai government film censor has lifted its ban on a documentary film on Thai-Cambodia border conflicts. The reversal marks the first time a ban on a film in Thailand has been lifted.

Directed by Nontawat Numbenchapol, Fah Tam Pan Din Soon , or Boundary , was banned by the sub-committee of the National Film and Video Board on grounds that it was misleading and a threat to national security.

The censor board, however, has asked the filmmaker to cut a portion of background sound from the film. Nontawat agreed to their request to make a slight alteration by muting a few seconds of ambient soundtrack. The scene in question takes place at the New Year celebration at Ratchaprasong intersection. An announcer on stage can be heard saying: Let's count down to celebrate His Majesty the King's 84th anniversary.

The film has now received an age 18-plus rating.

The chief censor Pradit Posew said the sub-committee, which had previously banned the film, acted beyond its jurisdiction. He explained that only the main committee can decide on an outright ban. He also said that protocol should have permitted the director to defend his case in advance of a ban ruling by the committee. Nontawat was given no such opportunity.