Thailand Live Friday 20 Aug 2010

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Thailand Live Friday 20 August 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on

a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those

who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 19 August 2010

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41 provinces warned of sudden floods

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has warned people in 41 provinces throughout the Kingdom of possible flashfloods during 19-23 August 2010.

DDPM Director-General Anucha Mokkahavesa suggested the residents of those 41 flood-prone provinces to follow up weather reports and stay alert for unusual signs of nature in order to prepare for immediate evacuation.

The risky provinces are Lampang, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Tak, Phitsanulok. Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Uttaradit, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Kalasin, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket, Yasothon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Buri Ram, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang.

Mr Anucha stated that the DDPM would coordinate with its operation centers in the mentioned areas to prepare first aid kits and necessities for people in need.

People troubled by sudden floods can contact the DDPM Hotline 1784 for further assistance around the clock.

-- NNT 2010-08-20

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Chiang Mai to Host Hill Tribe Games

The Office of Sports and Recreation Development has asked Chiang Mai Province to host the 22nd Hill Tribe Games from September 3 to 7, to promote the ethnic minorities' health and sports.

Permanent-Secretary of Chiang Mai Province, Surachai Jongrak, presided over a press conference announcing that the province has been selected by the Office of Sports and Recreation Development and the Tourism Authority to host the 22nd Hill Tribe Games, a sporting competition event among the ethnic minorities inhabiting the hills in the northern part of Thailand.

The games will be held from September 3 and 7 at the Chiang Mai Municipal Stadium in Muang district.

Surachai said it's a great honor that the province has been chosen to host the event. The provincial government has been giving great importance to the games, and has appointed 22 organizing committees.

The Chiang Mai permanent-secretary expressed confidence that the games will be successful and the participating athletes will be well received.

Meanwhile, Director of the Office of Sports and Recreation Development, Chalit Kieowpumpuang, has indicated that six sports will be included at the games including football, volleyball, sepak takraw, petong, track and field, and other traditional sports.

The competition is aimed to promote health among the hill tribes and to develop their athletic capability at the national level.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-20

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Air Asia resumes Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai flight

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The first resumed flight Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai - Kuala Lumpur AK770 landed on Thursday at Hat Yai Airport in the southern Songkhla province amid warm welcomes by Hat Yai residents and relevant agencies.

According to the Director of TAT Hatyai Prapas Inthanapasart, AirAsia has resumed such a flight after several years’ suspension. The facilitation will help boost the number of tourists especially those from Malaysia as Malaysian tourists are the main target of Hat Yai tourism. Moreover, it will also benefit both countries’ business sectors.

The direct flight Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai - Kuala Lumpur is operated on a daily basis.

-- NNT 2010-08-20

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PM Declines Vietnam's Offer to Mediate Border Dispute

The prime minister declines Vietnam's offer to mediate the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, saying his government needs the problem adressed through bilateral means.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government will resolve the Preah Vihear border dispute with Cambodia on a bilateral basis and there is no need to give any further explanation to ASEAN, now chaired by Vietnam.

Abhisit believes ASEAN will understand the motive behind Cambodia's effort to seek a resolution on the matter multilaterally He also urged Cambodia to respect the Thai Parliament's decision to put on hold its review on the framework of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban said the Thai Parliament's postponement of deliberation on the three recent minutes of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee is the country's internal affair and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen should not criticize the move.

Suthep also insisted the Thai government wants the Preah Vihear dispute addressed through bilateral negotiations and added Cambodia's effort to get the United Nations' intervention into the matter must receive approval from Thailand first.

Suthep also stated he has received no detail about the meeting between the secretary general for the ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan and Hun Sen.

Suthep continued he had no information about Surin's remark on his planned arrangement of a sideline meeting for the two countries' leaders during their participation in the Asia-Europe summit in Belgium and added he was unsure if the ASEAN secretary general has already contacted the Thai premier.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-20

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Seh Daeng's aide linked to Narathiwat massacre

Edited August 20, 2010 by webfact

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US lawmakers warn Thailand on alleged Russian arms dealer

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Bangkok Poll: Democrat gained 26.3% votes in Bangkok local election

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Bangkok Poll finds Bangkokians favor Democrat Party than opposition Puea Thai’s candidates in the city council election on 29 August 2010.

The Research Institute of Bangkok University or Bangkok Poll conducted an opinion survey among people in all 50 districts of Bangkok over the council election to be held on 29 August. The survey cited Democrat Party was the top popular for voters, at 26.3% followed by the opposition Puea Thai Party at 20.4% and New Politics Party 3.8% while 44.9% said they were undecided.

Additionally, 95.8% of those were informed of the date of election on 29 August while 4.2% were oblivious of the election.

Those 43.4% interviewees said they would select the one with his/her contributions in resolving communities’ problems, 18.2% would vote for those with competence and visions while 18% referred to his/her party.

Meanwhile, several candidates are accelerating their campaign to persuade people with the policies to uplift people’s standard of living such as professional skill development, setting up seniors' clubs and promoting sports among youth.

-- NNT 2010-08-20

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NHSO defends purchase of stents

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) yesterday insisted that the stents - artificial tubes used to keep coronary arteries open for heartattack patients - bought via the bidding process and distributed to state hospitals were good quality and of the correct size.

NHSO's secretarygeneral Dr Winai Sawasdivorn said the stents bough from a private manufacturer had been verified by cardiology experts from several medical schools including Chulalongkorn, Ramathibodi and Siriraj.

He said the first batch of 1,000 stents had been bought from a Chinese firm in December before being distributed among hospitals nationwide. Winai added that though the NHSO did receive a few complaints about the size of the devices, it had never received any complaints about the quality.

"I would like to ask doctors who say the stents are of poor quality, to show us how they may have had problems with the devices over the past 10 months," he said. "Just make sure the complaints do not stem from the emotional factor."

Winai said heart surgeons who had problems with the size of the stents could also submit an appeal and explain why the devices provided cannot be used. After that, they can purchase the correct devices and file reimbursement claims within the price ceiling.

He explained that stents come in sizes ranging from 8mm to 35mm, and each patient's needs were different. Winai said that though the devices provided by the NHSO would not cover all sizes, they would cover most.

In a survey conducted by the Cardiology Intervention Association of Thailand, 41 cardiac surgeons from 23 state and private hospitals nationwide were asked about the problems they might have with the stents provided by the NHSO. Of the respondents, 63.15 per cent said the size did not match the diameter of the patients' arteries; 44 per cent said the stents were too large; 7 per cent said it was difficult to remove the devices, while 5 per cent said the stents got dislodged easily.

The surgeons also complained that the devices were of poor quality and suggested that the NHSO drop the idea of buying the devices via bidding. They also called on the authorities to give hospitals the best option to save lives.

The Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said the ministry's executives would meet on Monday to discuss the issue with the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and see if conducting a bidding session for stents would be a feasible idea. He said the ministry also had to find out how many stents were needed each hospital because the state did not have enough money to purchase big lots in one go.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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CHOPPER CRASH

Crash 'deeply saddens' Queen

By The Nation

Sahat's daughter: He has proved to me that goodness exists in this world

Her Majesty the Queen graciously presided over the royally-sponsored bathing rite for the five helicopter-crash victims at Wat Phrasri Mahathat in Bangkok last night. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn accompanied her mother.

"I am deeply saddened," Her Majesty was quoted as saying.

Killed in the accident on Tuesday were Natural Resources and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Saksit Tridej, the ministry's inspector-general Kowit Panyarong, Royal Household Bureau adviser Sahat Boonyawiwat, pilot |Major Jenwit Arunsawat, and mechanic Sergeant Withoon Thienngoen.

All the victims died on duty when their helicopter crashed on the way to inspect a royally initiated project in Nan.

Their Majesties the King and the Queen are to host the funeral for seven days.

At the bathing rite for the deceased yesterday, Her Majesty warmly talked to the families of the victims. She was also seen gently patting the heads of Jenwit's and Withoon's daughters.

"All worked for the country," HM the Queen was quoted as saying.

Sahat's wife Samlee Boonyawiwat said Her Majesty also recalled how Sahat had worked really hard and had gone on many helicopter rides before.

"The areas where he went to work were so far. But he kept going," Her Majesty said.

Sahat's daughter, Dr Ornsuree Boonyawiwat, said she was proud her father had worked for the Royal Family.

"He's my role model," she said, "He has proved to me that goodness exists in this world."

The bathing rite for the crash victims attracted a large number of mourners, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paochinda, and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti.

Earlier in the day, Suwit ordered the entire helicopter fleet of the Natural Resource Conservation Aviation Office - to which the helicopter belonged - suspended from service pending inspection.

The crash has now been widely blamed on the lack of weather radar on the helicopter. Suwit has ordered all similar aircraft of the office to be checked and equipped with the necessary safety features.

Suwit gave the order during a meeting with the office's aviation expert, Pol Lt-Colonel Anan Salangkul.

Anan said the office had 14 helicopters - nine of them in flying condition.

"We have discussed the provision of additional equipment for the nine helicopters, including weather radar," he said. Suwit will today inspect the helicopter parking facility of the office's fleet.

Anan said the 13 pilots at the office were shaken by the accident. "It will take time to restore their morale," he said.

An aviation expert at the Royal Thai Army commented that weather radar would not be a good option for the office's helicopter fleet.

"Such helicopters are too small. How can they accommodate weather radar equipment?" he said on condition of anonymity. "You need to think about the extra weight. Can the helicopter shoulder it?"

He said these small helicopters were designed for visual flight rules (VFR), and not intended for full-option features.

"The weather radar is appropriate for aircraft with instrument flight rules [iFR], but not the VFR type," he added.

He said the government should consider buying IFR helicopters instead of trying to upgrade the current VFR fleet with weather-radar installation.

"Otherwise, the government has the option of borrowing IFR helicopters from other government agencies for the Natural Resource Conservation Aviation Office," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Lampang resident dies from toxic air

By The Nation

Another victim succumbed to toxins released by the Mae Mo lignitepowered plant in Lampang province, while waiting for the Supreme Administrative Court to consider his appeal, a source said yesterday. Kham Inkhampa, 79, died from chronic respiratory disease last Saturday.

Kham, who developed respiratory disease from exposure to toxins, and two of his neighbours filed a lawsuit against the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) in 2004 and the court ruled that the victims be compensated. However, the case is currently pending appeal. The two neighbours died before Kham succumbed to the disease last week, leaving his wife Dip as the sole plaintiff of this lawsuit.

Dip lamented that she and Kham suffered from respiratory illness over the past 10 years, and though Egat provided the necessary care as per a previous agreement, the family had to travel to Chiang Mai for treatments, which now amounted to Bt100,000. She said she did not know where to find the money to pay the medical bills or cover her husband's funeral. Kham will be cremated on Sunday.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Ex-police chief sues ASTV for libel

By The Nation

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court yesterday accepted a libel lawsuit filed by former police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan against ASTV for publishing a report in its ASTVManager Daily alleging that police positions were bought between August 1026 last year.

The court said the lawsuit had some grounds and set the first hearing on October 4, 9am.

Previously, the court also accepted a libel lawsuit filed by Patcharawat against the ASTVManager Daily for publishing a report last year suggesting that he deterred the investigation into the April 17 assassination attempt on People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Govt mulls changes to 2008 video act

By The Nation

The government is thinking about amending the 2008 Film and Video Act in order to cut down the penalties on people caught selling old VCDs, as a total of 166 related cases have been filed at the e Ratchadaphisek and Southern Bangkok criminal courts so far.

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat said yesterday that he would hold a meeting next Friday with cinematheatre operators, attorneys, representatives of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and police to discuss the possibility of amending the law. He said the first item on the agenda would be lowering the Bt200,000 to Bt1 million fine and finding ways to prevent people with ill intentions from using it as a loophole.

A source reported that 82 related lawsuits had been filed at Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court, including the highly publicised one of a city garbage collector being hit by a huge fine for selling VCDs he found in the trash, and 84 at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Hospital "maltreatment" blamed for mother's death

By Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

Varataya Chailangka

The Nation

A woman yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Office of Permanent Secretary for Public Health overseeing Wiang Sa and Nan hospitals for Bt1.5 million in compensation, claiming the hospitals' maltreatment led to her 68yearold mother's death.

Following the woman's complaints, the Nan Hospital director insisted the probe found the dental treatment, blamed for the allegedly fatal mouth infection, was performed according to professional standards.

Panisa Chaikhrong, 40, said her mother, Son Reunnoi, had a severe headache last August and a Wiang Sa Hospital doctor said she had low red blood cells and urinary tract infection and transferred her to Nan Hospital.

At Nan Hospital, Son was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia and urinary tract infection and admitted to a dental cleaning procedure to prevent mouth infection, she said. However, Son developed gum bleeding and infected wounds inside her mouth. Her condition worsened, prompting the hospital to forward her to Chiang Mai University's hospital on September 9 last year, Panisa said.

The university hospital couldn't save Son because, being an old person with aplastic anaemia, she couldn't undergo surgery and succumbed to the blood infection resulting from a fungi infection in mouth, Panisa said.

After Son's death on September 16, Panisa said she tried to contact Nan Hospital, as she blamed the dental procedure for her mom's death. But the hospital insisted it didn't carry out any dental cleaning procedure on Son and the patient records did not match up, she said. Panisa decided to file the lawsuit before the oneyear statute of limitations was up.

Nan Hospital director Dr Niwatchai Sujaritjan said a case probing committee, chaired by the Public Health Region 6 InspectorGeneral and joined by two legal experts, had summoned some 10 dentists, doctors and medical staff related to this patient's care.

They found the dentists carried out the procedure to professional standards, he said. He emphasised the patient didn't die at Nan Hospital but was sent to Chiang Mai hospital where she was treated for 78 days before succumbing to the illness. He said that during Son's time in Nan Hospital there was no surgery or risky treatment carried out on her. He added that the two dentists who treated Son had moved out of Nan Hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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MALPRACTICE BILL

Doctors to support bill, with conditions

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Medical Council yesterday vowed to conditionally support the draft bill on Medical Malpractice Victim Protection which it has opposed for several weeks - saying doctors would be protected if the bill did not allow patients to file a law suit against them after receiving compensation.

The deciding resolution came after a meeting of council executives held yesterday at the Medical Council.

Council president Dr Somsak Lohlekha said some executives agreed to support the draft bill - provided articles which could damage doctors were revised, such as article 5 (2) and article 6. Also articles 38 to 41, about the negotiation process for compensation between doctor and patient, must be deleted from the draft bill.

Somsak said article 5 (2) - that patients must not file law suits against doctor after they receive compensation from the nofault compensation fund, should be revised.

Similarly, article 6 - that compensation should not be paid in the event that damages suffered by the victims are common symptoms of a disease, should also be revised. Also, when treatment has finished, compensation should not be paid for damage that did not trouble the patient.

" If the bill is revised to the Medical Council's suggestion, I think doctors would be happy as they need not worry about law suits or finding money to pay for compensation," Somsak said.

He said this resolution would be brought to a meeting of the council's adhoc panel of 80 medical workers and physicians to discuss the bill in detail next Friday.

He accepted that the council's executive had changed its stance because the council had learnt it could not fight the government's campaign which supports the bill.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Research agencies to integrate work in efficiency drive

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Key researchpromotion agencies plan to work together with a view to improving their results and making research more applicable to the country's needs in the period 2012 to 2016.

"All the key agencies involved in research have tried to integrate their work for a long time, but failed as governments often changed, so the policy also changed. We haven't been able to work continuously," Prof Soottiporn Chittmittrapap, secretarygeneral of the National Research Council of Thailand, said yesterday.

The move is part of the eighth National Research Policy and Strategies, drafted by the NRCT and set to be implemented during 20122016.

"To solve the weak points, integrating our work will give a better picture of the overall aspects of research in the country. We'll see which fields we're strong or weak in, based on research findings. We will also share researchproject and researchgrant databases with each other. Then we can manage research grants more effectively, as we can reduce support for redundant research projects," he said.

The five major researchpromotion agencies are the NRCT, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the Thailand Research Fund, the Health Systems Research Institute and the Agricultural Research Development Agency.

All five agreed a few months ago to share their databases, which would be displayed in real time. The NRCT and NSTDA have already linked their databases.

The five bodies have invited other research institutes and universities to share their databases as well.

"By sharing the databases, we will know who the experts are in each field. It's easier to find them and make use of their research findings. We aim to integrate our work with local people and the private sector, passing on researchers' useful knowledge to them.

"If we can prove to the organisations allocating the budget that we can make use of our research findings effectively, it won't be difficult to defend the research budget," Soottiporn said.

He said the new concepts of the draft national policy and strategies had been created to overcome weak points, in particular the separate and sometimes overlapping work among research agencies and universities and the problem of unusable research findings being kept on shelves.

Moreover, an aggressive strategy will be implemented to reach out more to local people and private companies with different needs.

Under the new policy and strategies, research will focus on food, alternative energy, the environment and international trading.

"We'll analyse many of the findings of already conducted research on rice, rubber and cassava to see how they can be implemented to assist people, and we'll consider whether the researchers need to conduct more projects on these plants to seek new knowledge," Soottiporn said.

The draft also conforms to the Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan, which says that Thailand should reduce imports and develop its knowledge and technology base, especially among local people in communities.

The NRCT held a public hearing on Tuesday to listen to opinions from stakeholders about adjusting the draft before submitting it for Cabinet approval.

One participant from Samut Prakan Provincial Administration Organisation urged the NRCT to promote research projects that help prevent repeated flooding in the province and tackle the problem of a rise in sea level as a result of global warming.

Another participant, an engineer, urged the council to focus on research on the way to handle political conflicts among Thais.

Soottiporn said the national research budget for the coming fiscal year starting in October was Bt9.9 billion, down from Bt10 billion in the current year, whereas the private sector was invested Bt8 billion in research and development this year.

However, he believes the integration of work among key agencies and institutes will help them manage the official budget more effectively.

Meanwhile, there are good signs for R&D investment in the private sector. Soottiporn said large companies had told him they were likely to invest more in R&D next year. He estimates Bt9 billion of privatesector investment in 2011.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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2011 BUDGET BILL

Pheu Thai attacks Bt170-bn defence budget

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BUSINESS

Record trade deficit amid rising gold, auto part imports

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Sweden Delivers Gripen Aircraft to Thailand

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STREET WISE

We needed a budget watchdog - but we got toothless Pheu Thai

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Govt Whip Chief Confident Budget Bill Will Be Passed Today

The government chief whip is confident the Budget Bill will pass Parliamentary scrutiny when the voting takes place today at 2 P.M.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-20

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Thais detained by Cambodian border police while collecting forest products near Thai-Cambodian border in Surin; trio charged with being spies /via @MCOTENglishnews

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Aussie Red Shirt Conor Purcell is back in Thai court this morning. Jeff Savage who pleaded guilty has already gone home /via @RicardBarrow

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Thai stocks open up 0.29 pt, 0.03 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) opened on Friday at 891.52, up 0.29 point, or 0.03 per cent.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 609.11, up 0.39 point, or 0.06 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: QH, JAS, PTT, TRUE, PTTCH.

-- The Nation 2010-08-20

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Blackberry phone usage complies with Thailand's Computer Crime Act

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Thai Court Grants Extradition Of Alleged Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout

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Environment Minister: 5 out of 14 Helicopters Working

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti inspected the ministry's helicopters and found that 5 out of 14 are in working condition. He will seek Cabinet's approval for the purchase of new helicopters.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-20

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Australian Red-Shirt Conor David Purcell To Be Deported From Thailand

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Phuket Lifesaving Carnival set for September 11

The organizers hope to inject some Australian enthusiasm for lifesaving skills into the Phuket community.

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Second Area Army Commander: Thais Arrested by Cambodia

The Second Area Army commander has revealed that 3 Thai nationals have been arrested by Cambodian officials and charged with espionage. The 3 are currently being detained in Siemreap while the Thai government is negotiating for their release.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-20