Thailand Live Friday 13 Aug 2010

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BANGKOK FILM FESTIVAL

The Greens sentenced to 6 months in jail for bribing

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Burma to hold general election on November 7

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Thai Navy reveals arrest record at Phuket base

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South-bound highway blocked by trees, mud following storm

RANONG (NNT) -- The south-bound Petchkasem highway has been blocked by mud, rocks and fallen trees after the area was hit by a heavy storm on Thursday night.

A heavy downpour last night triggered landslides and accidents in many spots along Petchakasem Road. Local police had to shut down a road leading in to downtown Ranong to prevent accidents after it was inundated by mud and trees.

In the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, a bus transporting 43 soldiers traveling back from the deep south reportedly slipped off the wet road and hit an electrical pole, leaving 7 soldiers injured.

The Meteorological Department reports that Thailand is currently covered by a strong southwestern monsoon that will cause heavy rains throughout the nation this week. People living in Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Chanthaburi, and Trad are warned of possible flash flooding.

-- NNT 2010-08-13

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E-banking users warned of online crime

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Police are warning online bank users to not to download e-mails attachments that may be used for information theft.

Crime Suppression Division Police suggest online bank users limit their account sums for online usage and avoid downloading attached files from e-mails after authorities arrested German hackers using Trojans to steal important information via e-mail.

Commercial banks have recommended customers login only via direct websites and never download unfamiliar programs that may help con artists insert fake web addresses. Users should use banking alert systems to confirm their activities were not intercepted.

Victims of online bank theft suggest users pay attention to irregularities when engaging in internet based transactions, noting all banks have a report system that should corroborate transactions within a few minutes.

The Government has received demands to strengthen the Computer Crime Act as it has proved ineffective in arresting cyber-criminals despite being in use for since 2007.

-- NNT 2010-08-13

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DIT announces bottled water price cap

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Department of Internal Trade has officially announced retail prices for bottled water at 7 THB and 14 THB for 0.5-0.6 liter and 1.5 liter sizes respectively.

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has officially declared that 0.5-0.6 liter and 1.5 liter bottled water must not be sold above their price caps of 7 THB and 14 THB. According to DIT Director-General Vatchari Vimooktayon, the DIT will dispatch officials to survey and notify entrepreneurs on the pricing of bottled water over the next two weeks.

After the grace period, legal actions will be taken against vendors found selling bottled water above the regulated price. Violators will be subject to prison terms of up to seven years and/or a fine of up to 140,000 THB.

The DIT decided to impose the price caps after sellers were unresponsive to its urgings to self-regulate since July.

Consumers are encouraged to notify authorities via the DIT hotline at 1569 or at their local DIT office.

-- NNT 2010-08-13

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Special Report: Exits for Preah Vihear Saga

The unilateral management plan for the Preah Vihear Temple and its environs has once again ignited the sense of animosities between Thailand and Cambodia, prompting the conflict to brew further. Although the deliberation of the issue has been deferred to next year, this one-year period is indeed critical for authorities of both sides and their citizens.

According to Mr Akarapong Khamkoon, an academic from Pridi Banomyong International College of Thammasat University, Thailand risks losing its reputation for being compromising in its diplomatic relations ever since the reign of King Rama V, should the Government fails to address the problem in a mature manner.

Mr Akarapong urged that both Thai and Cambodian Governments should stop accusing each other via the media and resort to more formal diplomatic channels to communicate with sincerity instead. He stated that the Thai Government should assert its intention to protect the national sovereignty and at the same time maintain healthy ties with its Cambodia counterpart.

The academic believed that joint development for the world heritage site and its environs by Governments of both sides would be the best way to prevent border clashes. He recommended the two nations appoint a joint panel specifically for this purpose, or establish a peace zone for the temple and the 4.6 square-kilometers overlapping area.

As for Thai citizens, Mr Akarapong cautioned that people should consider information from all sides, have faith in patriotism of all Thais, and reduce prejudice against Cambodia by looking to the future, instead of getting mired in the past emotional rust, historical sediment, and ethnic bias. He quipped that while people with strong nationalistic viewpoint were yelling for the Khmer ruins in cities, those living near border areas were encountering hails of bullets, bomb storms, and sluggish border trades.

The Preah Vihear dispute has considerably strained the relations between Thailand and Cambodia. Everyone is looking forwards to seeing this saga of conflict ended in a diplomatic manner, with a win-win outcome. All sides, from the authorities to citizens of both countries must, therefore, help solve the imbroglio together, as neither side wants to pay a price for being uncompromising.

-- NNT 2010-08-13

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HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn pays a royal visit to the Federal Republic of Germany

BANGKOK (NNT)-- Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will pay a Royal Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from the 15th to the 19th of August, B.E. 2553 (2010).

The Bureau of the Royal Household said that during the trip, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will observe activities of various institutions such as Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences and Francke Foundation. In addition, Her Royal Highness will also visit places of interest such as Moritzburg Castle, Handal House Museum and Wasmeier Museum.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan Province on Sunday, the 15th of August , B.E. 2553(2010) at 23.45 hours (by Thai Airways International Public Company Limited flight number TG 920, and will return by Thai Airways International Public Company Limited flight number TG 925, scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan Province, on Thursday, the 19th of August, B.E. 2553 (2010) at 13.40 hours.

-- NNT 2010-08-13

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Pattaya: Good Samaritan viciously assaulted in revenge knife attack

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Phuket woman held over theft of rental cars

Ms Jintana Jarassuwimon, aka Paninda, has thus far denied all of the charges mounting against her.

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New Phuket bridge mars local village life

Workers prepare one of the enormous pillars that will support the completed span.

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Phuket Town coastal community flooded by seawater

The damaged seawall, the community's last defense against high tides, tsunamis and storm surges.

Some sections of the retaining wall are almost completely destroyed.

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Central Festival Phuket food hall now open

Part of the cheese selection at the Central Food Hall.

The Central Food Hall salad bar.

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PHREAH VIHEAR DISPUTE

Thai-Cambodian border dispute should be solved via talks

By The Nation

Chavanond

Border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia could be solved through bilateral mechanism, without party intervention, Foreign minister's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Friday.

"Thailand will settle the border conflicts with a neighbouring country through talks. We neither have any intention to threaten nor intrude militarily into Cambodian territory as earlier claimed by Cambodian authorities," he said.

He was speaking after Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that he would ask UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to mediate with Thailand over the disputed area near Phrea Vihear Temple. UN chief Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to officially visit Cambodia October 27-28.

Chavanond said the bilateral discussions on the disputed area are already in progress. Thai officials are awaiting a joint parliamentary meeting to approve three documents agreed by Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

After the approval, he said, the officials will schedule the next JBC meeting. Its primary agenda item is setting up the sixth working group on a joint land survey for border demarcation.

In the General Assembly meeting in New York in September, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will clarify the issue to the UN Secretary General for an improved understanding before his visit to Cambodia in October.

-- The Nation 2010-08-13

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PM Suthep: PM to decide early next week on lifting emergency decree in 10 remaining provinces including Bangkok; Cabinet approval not needed /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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Pattaya Fireworks Festival (Aug 14) held in honor of the Queen´s birthday anniversary

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 14 August 2010

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