Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Jul 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 13 July 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Monday 12 July 2010

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THAI expects 10% rise in passenger number in Q3

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thai Airways International (THAI) expects a 10% rise in the passenger number in the third quarter of this year after the political abyss came to an end.

THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand stated that the number of both international and domestic passengers had rebounded steadily since June in the wake of the political unrest. He believed that the cabin factor for the first half of this month would top that of the same period last year to stand at 75% and could reach up to 78-79% at some points. The national flag carrier also expects to see an increase of 10% in its passenger volume in the same quarter.

Mr Piyasvasti however admitted that the total revenue of the company in the third quarter might be below target because the company had launched many promotional campaigns, including ticket discounts, in order to persuade people to resume traveling. However, he believed that the revenue would achieve its target in the fourth quarter of the year when the high tourist season approached.

Regarding the company’s plan to sell its shares to recapitalize the business, Mr Piyasvasti stated that the issue would be proceeded within the third quarter as planned despite the vulnerable situation in the foreign capital market at present.

-- NNT 2010-07-13

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DIP asks all department stores to peg cooked food price at 25THB/ dish

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Commerce Ministry requests all department stores, hypermarkets and food shops to peg their cooked food price at 25 THB/ dish, while the cost of drinking water will be investigated after complaints of overpriced drink are received.

Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Director-General Ms Vachari Vimooktayon cited that numerous complaints were received from consumers on prices in food courts of many department stores as well as 500-600 cc of water in some restaurants.

DIT accordingly held a meeting with those operators to retain food price at 25 THB/ dish at least for one menu in each shop, saying Carrefour has already launched a campaign of Blue Flag Menu with 25THB/ dish in food courts while other stores has scheduled to commence the campaign soon. Those operators said food had been costly due to high cost of location rent.

Meanwhile, with the petition on overpricing of drinking water in some restaurants, the Commerce Ministry has arranged appropriate price for drinking water for each size to guide the people in buying the products. Also, the investigation of production cost will be made, particularly on packaging and freight.

-- NNT 2010-07-13

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More laborers flooding into auto industries

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Labor shortage problem in the auto and auto parts industries has eased off after the number of new laborers entering the industries in the first six months of 2010 hit 150,000, according to Thailand Automotive Institute.

Vallop Tiasiri of Thailand Automotive Institute stated that the newcomers added 150,000 laborers to the existing workforce, jumping from 300,000 to 450,000 strong. He said laborers were attracted by the minimum wage of more than 300 THB a day, 100 THB higher than that required by law.

About 80-90% of the new laborers were employed in other industries such as electric appliances and electronic goods, or textiles, others used to work as technical staffs.

Mr Vallop expected that the auto and auto parts industries would not face the problem of labor shortages experienced by other industries, which at present are in need of about 100,000 laborers. He said the auto and auto parts industries are able to offer wages higher than others because labor accounted for only 3% of the total production cost.

-- NNT 2010-07-13

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BY-ELECTION

Close prison watch on Kokaew campaign

By The Nation

Published on July 13, 2010

The Corrections Department is examining a letter written by the detained Pheu Thai by-election candidate, Kokaew Pikulthong, to be used in his campaigning.

The department's director general, Chatchai Suthiklom, said yesterday that Kokaew has been requested to rewrite certain parts of the letter before it is approved to be sent out from prison. He added however that Kokaew could verbally pass on his message for voters to his visitors.

Kokaew has been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison along with other red shirt leaders on a charge of terrorism in connection with the recent political unrest.

His lawyer, Karom Polthaklang, said he would today seek Criminal Court permission for Kokaew's temporary release ahead of the coming weekend for campaigning in the last stage before the July 25 by-election in Bangkok's Constituency 6.

The Corrections Department chief said yesterday the agency would follow court judgement regarding Kokaew's temporary release. In regard to a plan to have Kokaew's voice recorded and his photos taken from inside the prison, Chatchai said he would consider any formal request with other senior department officials and prison executives.

He said there had never been any precedent on this matter, adding that if voice recording is permitted, the recorded message would be screened by the Corrections Department officials.

In a related development, Jatuporn Promphan, an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party and a key leader of the anti-government red-shirt movement, yesterday said the red shirts would hold a concert on August 1 in Samut Sakhon to raise funds for people injured during the recent political unrest and for families of those killed.

He noted that Samut Sakhon is not now under a state of emergency which has been retained in 19 provinces, including Bangkok and mostly northeastern provinces. The concert would be performed by singers who played on stage during the recent red shirt protests in Bangkok.

Jatuporn said the red shirts would also hold exhibitions about the red shirts' protest sites in provinces where the emergency decree has not been declared, starting from Surin.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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FUGITIVE EX-PREMIER

Thaksin has resumed his twittering

By The Nation

Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra kept a low profile during almost the entire World Cup football tournament - but now, shortly after the final match, his Twitter messages have resumed.

He resumed his attack against the government and repeated his call for negotiation to end the political conflict. He also promised "good compensation" for people injured in the recent political unrest and relatives of those killed or still missing when "this cruel government leaves its office".

Thaksin posted his first message shortly after 4 am Thailand time, noting that Spain could defeat the Netherlands as had been "predicted" by Paul the octopus in a German zoo.

He said it was just 1am in the city where he was staying, although he did not specify the place.

The ex-leader said Her Majesty the Queen's birthday on August 12 was just a month away and he called on the government to hold a grand celebration in her honour. He said that when he was prime minister he made preparations long in advance for important occasions like this.

"The government often monopolises loyalty to the monarchy. They should prove it by their action. The institution already stays above politics and politicians should not use the institution as a tool to destroy their political enemies. People who use the institution as their political tool have no sincere loyalty," Thaksin said in his latest Twitter messages.

"Don't think you can get rid of all your enemies. There are many instances of a political conflict like ours and finally it can only be solved by negotiation," Thaksin said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's so-called roadmap for national reconciliation as "a flowery term that can't help due to a lack of mercy". He said the government was trying to retain its power through dictatorial methods.

"You can deceive yourself and your people, but you can't fool other people and the world community," Thaksin's Twitter message read.

He also said he remained healthy although he had travelled to 16 countries in the past three months. Thaksin excused himself to go to bed a little over an hour after he sent his first message. He last posted his Twitter messages on June 20, when Thailand was in the middle of World Cup fever.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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PARTY DISSOLUTION TRIAL

Democrats may seek more legal help

By The Nation

The Democrats are recruiting more lawyers to take care of the party's dissolution cases.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said yesterday the party never planned to change its legal team, however, Culture Minister Nipit Intara-sombat, who is currently in charge of the case about the alleged misuse of Bt29 million in EC funds, was busy enough with his ministerial post.

Nipit knew the case better than anyone, but he could only help the party when he was free from his ministerial work, Chuan explained.

Chuan said he would meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the party leader, on Thursday to discuss who would be assigned to full-time work on the case for the Democrats.

The legal team would also discuss with Bundit Siripant, a veteran lawyer working for the party on the Bt258-million donation case, on whether should be more lawyers from outside the party to help work on the matter, Chuan said.

When the Democrats defended a dissolution case in 2006, some lawyers from a legal office worked full-time on the case, he said.

Chuan, who is a former PM, said it was normal for anyone sued to be worried. But he was still confident in the fairness and justice of the Constitution Court and the laws of karma that people who do good deeds get good results in return.

Chuan said he asked the government to ensure the safety of staff working at independent organisations. Some had faced threats they did not deserve, such as the Election Commission, which was told its office would be burnt and EC members would be assassinated.

Deputy attorney-general Waiyawut Lortrakul said a team of prosecutors had finished drafting one case and submitted the writ, with over 100 pages of reports, for the attorney-general to approve. Unless a change was needed, the case could be submitted to the Constitution Court by the deadline this afternoon.

Jirayu Huangsap, deputy spokesman of the Opposition Pheu Thai Party, said some Democrat MPs had asked MPs from his party to support the government in case some of Democrats are disqualified over the dissolution cases. They had been told they would be rewarded with a ministerial seat for every five MPs who switch sides, he claimed.

Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong denied the report.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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Thai Democrats Legal Woes Not A Crisis

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Thai Students Pregnancy Bill Draws Much Controversy

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WORLD CUP 2010

One in hundreds of millions

Postal workers unloaded some of millions postcards of Thai punters in a World Cup lucky draw in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 12.

Up to 206 million postcards from nationwide had been mailed in to predict the winner of the FIFA World Cup 2010 soccer tournament in hoping to win the first prizes of Bt10 million(US$ 308,975 or 245,692 euro).

Spain won the World Cup trophy against the Netherlands 1-0.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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Thai students collect gold, silver in maths Olympiad

By The Nation

Thai whiz kids have scored one gold medal and five silvers at the 2010 International Mathematical Olympiad in Kazakhstan. Overall, the Thai team was ranked fifth in this international competition of outstanding high-school students from 93 countries. It opened on July 2.

Dr Pornpun Waitayangkoon, director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), said yesterday that the Thai gold medallist was Nipun Pitimana-aree from Srinakharinwirot University's Patumwan Demonstration School.

Thanat Kurutach, Pongpak Pumiwat, Pakawut Jiradilok, and Supachai Khamteu from Triam Udom Suksa School each won a silver medal. The other silver went to Wijit Youngjit from the Mahidol Wittayanusorn School.

Several university lecturers accompanied the whiz kids to Kazakhstan as their trainers.

"I have had great interest in maths since I was a primary student. To me, mathematical knowledge is the foundation for many other subjects like physics, computer and chemistry," said Nipun, who is a Mathayom 4 student.

Nipun said the Academic Olympiads had inspired him to pursue his interest seriously and he had joined the IPST math and science training projects while a Pathom 6 student.

Pongpak pointed out that mathematical knowledge helped in daily life too, such as time management and money calculation.

"Academic competitions have bolstered my analytical thinking and information reorganisation skills," he said.

Pakawut said that if possible, he would like to become a maths teacher for Academic Olympiads.

Teaching was also a dream profession for Supanat. However, he said he was also interested in becoming a researcher.

"Maths are the basis for various applied science disciplines," he said.

Thanat said his father had inculcated in him the love for mathematics and had always encouraged him to join academic competitions.

"To prepare myself for the 2010 International Mathematical Olympiad, I joined the IPST camp for two months. I also browse the Internet to practise tackling math questions," he said.

Wijit said he was fascinated with inequality in mathematics. "Whenever I have free time, I work on it," this whiz kid said.

The Thai kids will return home on Flight KC 931 this Friday, scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 4.30pm, when a welcoming ceremony will greet them.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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No shortage of motives for candidate's slaying: police

By Supachai Petchtewee

The Nation

Police yesterday released a sketch of the gunman who shot dead Surat "Hung Wat Sai" Sathitangkul, a Pheu Thai Party candidate for a council by-election in Bangkok's Chom Thong district on Saturday.

Police now have more details about an alleged love affair and an unpaid loan, which may have been a motive for the killing. They said Surat borrowed and failed to repay Bt300,000.

The 46-year-old politician, who had served three terms as district councillor before losing in last year's ballot, was shot dead by one of two men on a motorbike at Wat Sai in Ekkachai Soi 23.

With the help of witnesses, police were able to compose a sketch of the gunman, who was described as a Thai man aged about 25-30 years old and 165-170cm tall. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt, a pair of jeans and a black hat, Bang Khun Thien superintendent Police Colonel Charn Kaewthamai said.

Police sent the sketch to Soi Ekkachai and nearby areas to try to find out if the gunman scouted the area before the shooting. They also checked footage on security cameras in the area.

One witness told police that one of the two men let his friend know the movement of their target, who they called by his nickname "Hung" over the phone. The gunman had yelled Hung's name and shot him before the two fled on a motorbike with no licence plate.

Pol Col Charn said that in regard a motive for the killing, police now gave more weight to the love affair he had with a Bang Bon-based businesswoman, from whom Surat allegedly borrowed Bt300,000 and failed to repay the money.

The officer said that Surat's remark "I know who shot me" before he passed out and was taken to hospital suggested he and the culprit knew each other.

Police felt they should be able to make an arrest within three days.

Other possible motives included his alleged unfulfilled promise to help a drug suspect in exchange for Bt200,000 paid to him, his previous success in revealing a politician's involvement in a corrupt fire-engine purchase, and the by-election next month.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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Thailand Almost A Failed State - Surely A Failed Conscience

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Thai colleges get a dressing down over short skirts

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Baht at 32.35/USD,almost a 3-week high on expectations Thai central bank will tomorrow raise interest rates for 1st time in almost 2 years /NATION

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Rampant gambling among Thai students raises alarm

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Prosecution writ on the Democrat dissolution case filed Tuesday afternoon

Public prosecutors will Tuesday afternoon file the prosecution writ at the Constitution Court, paving way for the judicial inquiry into the Democrat Party financial records related to the Bt258 million campaign contritbutions in 2004.

The prosecution contends that the Democrats have been involved in the bogus contract which was designed to cover up the Bt258 campaign contributions.

The prosecution writ outlines that a listed company PTI Polene reported the financing as publicity payments but the funds were laundered and channelled back to the Democrats. This is an offence punishable by dissolution under the Political Parties Act.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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UDD to tour country, starting 1 Aug to raise fund for families of fallen members

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) plans to organize exhibition-cum-fundraising events in the provinces unaffected by the Emergency law, starting on 1 August.

UDD core leader and the opposition Pheu Thai Party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan revealed that the anti-government demonstrators would pull together for a nationwide concert to raise fund for the victims killed in the rally dispersal in May. The first of such events will be organized in the central province of Samut Sakhon which is not the area under the State of Emergency. Numbers of pro-UDD folk artists will be performing in the concert.

Mr Jatuporn said the UDD would travel only to the provinces which are not covered by the emergency decree. The Pheu Thai Party would at the same time launch a campaign to address people in similar zones, starting in the northeastern province of Surin.

Mr Jatuporn said sarcastically that if the government reactivated the law in those provinces, the UDD would then move its events to international waters.

-- NNT 2010-07-13

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No back-up party for Democrats: Suthep

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday dismissed speculation about forming a back-up party in the face of the Democrat Party dissolution case.

Suthep also confirmed there is no plan to dissolve the House even if his main coalition party is penalised by disbandment.

"I don't know those responsible for registering a new party but Democrat Party leader, party secretary general and all of the party executives have no involvement in the matter," he said in reference to the registration of the Thai Khemkhaeng Party.

-- The Nation 2010-07-13

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Taxi Runs into Panich's Motorcade, Injuring 5

A taxi cab has accidentally run into Panich Vikitsreth's motorcade as he was campaigning in Constituency 6. The accdient caused five minor injuries.

Police are interrogating the taxi driver for possible links to the red shirt movement.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-13

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DSI to Release 21 People from Suspected Financier List

The Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, is preparing to release 21 names from its list of suspected red shirt financiers. However, another 57 names will be summoned for a second round of questioning soon.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-13

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Holes in Thailand's drug fences

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Brit Arrested over Ridiculous “Putter” Theft Case in Pattaya

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Thai-Myanmar border trade and transport at Tak-Myawaddy at a standstill

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Five murders in Phuket in June

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Tourists warned not to feed Bangkok's street elephants

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Australian found dead in South Pattaya apartment:

Pattaya drug dealer caught in Sattahip by Navy narcotics officers

Truck hits train at level crossing in south Pattaya

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Old Phuket Town cable project: phase II starts August

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SET index closed at 817.35, down 2.26; Bt/USD32.00; GBP48.05; AUD27.68; EUR40.07; CAD30.68; HKD4.06; SGD23.00; JPY35.88

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Police monitor debt collections during post-World Cup

PHATTHALUNG (NNT) -- After the 2010 FIFA World Cup came to an end, police in the southern province of Phatthalung have been tasked with monitoring debt collections, which could lead to more crime.

Police Major General Weerasit Phetkhlai, Phatthalung Provincial Police Commander, disclosed that 12 football gambling venues had been closed down so far in the province with more than 500,000 THB worth of betting money confiscated during the past World Cup from 11 June to 11 July.

Moreover, Police Major General Weerasit believed that more football gamblers would be harassed by debt collectors following the World Cup. He, therefore, instructed officers to find a preventive measure for the problem in order to suppress a possible rise in the crime rate of the province.

-- NNT 2010-07-13