Thailand Live Sunday 5 Sep 2010

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Thailand Live Sunday 5 September 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 Saturday 4 September 2010

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Buranat: PM ready to negotiate with Pheu Thai to reduce political rifts

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is prepared to negotiate for an end to the rift with opposition Pheu Thai Party core leaders, according to Democrat Party Spokesperson MD Buranat Samutrak.

MD Buranat said that the negotiation process towards peace was practical and would help ease the political tension to prevent any more violence that might occur in the future. He indicated that the premier would be ready to immediately negotiate with core leaders of the opposition Pheu Thai Party after returning from his official visit to Shanghai, China.

Regarding some Pheu Thai members' disagreement to means of negotiation, MD Buranat did not deem the reaction as an obstacle, citing that past talks with the opposition party had shown that both sides had a common goal to work towards national reconciliation.

The Democrat Party spokesperson believed that the move to stop conflicts was feasible without the need for approval from relevant personnel from the Pheu Thai Party, such as Mr Jatuporn Prompan and exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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Public Health Min launches mobile medical unit to serve Buddhist monks nationwide

BANGKOK (NNT) --The Public Health Ministry is arranging a mobile medical unit to provide medical check-up for 400,000 Buddhist monks and novices across the country in honor of HM the King on his coming 84th birthday anniversary.

To celebrate HM the King's 84th birthday anniversary on 5 December 2011, the Ministry of Public Health has launched a medical project for novices and monks around the nation. The mobile medical unit comprises personnel from central and provincial divisions in several fields such as doctors in modern, Thai and Chinese traditional medicines, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and medical technologist.

This project will be run from 8 November 2010 until 5 November 2012.

According to a survey by Priest Hospital and provincial public health offices, only 30% of monks have access to medical services. Most diseases found among them are diabetes and hypertension.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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Long Boat Race kicked off in Phichit province in the North

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The annual long boat-racing festival of Phichit province is organized on 4-5 September 2010, competing for the King's Cup.

Deputy Prime Minister Maj Gen Sanan Kachornprasart chaired the opening ceremony of the festival, held in Nan River in Pichit province. 276 teams join the competition with over 20,000 people and tourists cheering on their favored teams.

The highlight is the decorated King's Cup long-tailed boat parade in honor of HM the King.

Pihchit's Long Boat-Racing Festival is arranged annually during the Buddhist Lent Period in the Nan River, in front of the Tha Luang Pier. The race is a Thai traditional sport which has been arranged continuously since Ayutthaya Kingdom era.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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Bangchak expects oil prices to go down in 2-3 months

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Bangchak Petroleum Plc speculates that the price of gas will decrease in the next two to three months due to the baht appreciation and the large capital inflow.

According to Bangchak President Anusorn Saengnimnuan, the retail price of oil is expected to decrease due to the continuation of the strengthening of the Thai currency as well as the inflow of foreign funds into Thailand and Asia. At the same time, he attributed the possible decline to economic uncertainties of the US and the EU, which had not shown promising signs of expansion.

Mr Anusorn noted that an important factor to keep an eye on is the next meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which could cause the global oil price to dip below 70 USD/barrel.

However, in the short term, the domestic oil price next week is speculated to be volatile in line with the global price.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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36th Congress on Science and Technology of Thailand to be held from 26-28 Oct

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Science Society of Thailand gears up to organize the 36th Congress on Science and Technology of Thailand from 26-28 October in an effort to exhibit Thai and foreign scientific works.

The Science Society of Thailand under the Patronage of His Majesty the King, in cooperation with Thammasart University, is hosting the 36th Congress on Science and Technology under the concept “Science and Technology for a Better Society.” The event, to be organized at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC) during

26-28 October 2010, will be inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

President of the Science Society MR Jisnuson Svasti said science was crucial for the country’s development potential.

He indicated that the event would provide a space for academicians and researchers to exchange information on science and technology and exhibit their works to the public.

The main features in the event will include research seminars, special lectures from the world’s leading scientists,

innovation and technology fair and activities for youngsters to instill their love of science.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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Pattaya to hold Halloween Festival to boost tourism

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Pattaya City will organize the Halloween Festival 2010 on 30-31 October to stimulate the local tourism industry.

Pattaya City Mayor Ittiphol Khunpluem said that the Pattaya Halloween Festival 2010 would be held under a budget of 6 million THB in total. One million THB was allocated from the Office of the Pattaya City Manager’s 2011 budget, and the other 5 million THB came from the Pattaya Provincial Administrative Organization.

According to the mayor, the grand Halloween celebration is aimed to stimulate the beach vacation city’s tourism industry and promote quality and sustainable tourism. The main target group is Thai and Asian tourists.

The Pattaya Halloween Festival will be held at Central Pattaya Beach on 30-31 October 2010. Highlights will include performances by musical artists and a fancy costume contest with prize money worth over 100,000 THB in total.

-- NNT 2010-09-05

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Probe into DSI 'lobbying'

By The Nation on Sunday

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga yesterday ordered a probe into alleged lobbying by a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigator to help suspects in the Best 59 pyramid scheme involving Poodang Kitozan products.

After DSI Special Criminal Case Office chief, Pol Col Piyawat Kingket, last week revealed audio records as evidence, Pirapan said yesterday a fact-finding committee would look at actions by the investigator this week. He insisted there was no interference by the government in DSI work, but said he didn't know if there had been interference by others.

Meanwhile, a source at the Justice Ministry said Piyawat's revealing of audio clips that tarnished the agency's image and upset some politicians, who then tried to get Permanent Secretary for Justice Kittipong Kittiyarak to transfer Piyawat to another position. The source said there was another audio clip that had not been revealed yet, in which the investigator "claimed to know snipers" in a reported attempt to threaten Piyawat.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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'Insurgent' nabbed

By The Nation on Sunday

A Runda Kumpalan Kecil (RKK) insurgent suspect was apprehended yesterday while crossing from Malaysia to Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district in a reported attempt to instigate violence during the upcoming Islam festival Hari Raya.

Following a tip-off that RKK members would cross the border into Thailand to create violence during the festive time, 50 security officials were dispatched to guard checkpoints along the border area, looking for a suspect. The 33-year-old suspect Mahamad-iskanna Ari, wanted for alleged murder and illegal possession of a gun, was nabbed at the Sungai Kolok municipality's Chompoo Pier and taken for interrogation at the 36th special task force Army base in Tambon Puyoh. The suspect denied any wrongdoing but an initial check by officials into his background found he allegedly conspired with others to cause several incidents in Sri Sakhon district.

In neighbouring Pattani's Kapor district, Malaysian man aged 22 was killed and his Thai friend Yaohari Hama, 21, hurt when suspected insurgents opened fire at them while they rode a motorcycle home at 4.45am yesterday.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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Drug dealers' cars

By The Nation on Sunday

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) yesterday opened bids for 14 "super" cars worth more than Bt80 million, which were seized from the Narathiwat brothers Humdam and Usman Salaemang's drug trafficking network that used a second-hand car-dealership as a cover for illegal business.

They included a Bt20 million Ferrari with the price of Bt15 million, a Lamborghini sport car worth Bt12 million and an Aston Martin worth Bt10 million.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga presided over the opening ceremony. He said Usman reportedly hid in other countries and dealt in drugs to fund unrest in the three southernmost provinces.

ONCB has seized and auctioned 1,802 cars and earned Bt512 million - Bt294 million of which was returned to car financiers, while Bt218 million was put into the ONCB Fund. Another 647 cars that were seized and auctioned were kept for civil service use.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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Media caravan crash

By The Nation on Sunday

MAE HONG SON - A tractor that was part of a caravan led by deputy government spokesman Marut Massayawanit, media members and officials overturned yesterday while running down a slippery road during the group's visit to Pai River basin Development Centre.

No one was injured, as those on board managed to jump out of the vehicle in time. The group continued their schedule with some delay.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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Thaksin phones in during Pattaya rally

By The Nation

Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra last night made his presence felt during a 10-minute phone-in before a gathering of several thousands of supporters in the eastern resort city of Pattaya.

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PM Abisit ready for 'peace talks' with Pheu Thai

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Plenty of opportunities for PM to talk with Hun Sen this year

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Phnom Penh

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will have a private meeting in New York when they attend the second Asean-US Leaders' summit later this month.

Sources in Phnom Penh confirmed that apart from New York, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen have three opportunities to meet and discuss ways to boost bilateral relations.

Both Thai and Cambodian sources, who did not want to be identified, pointed out that after the New York meeting, the two leaders are scheduled to have another get together in Brussels on October 5-6, when they attend the Asia-Europe Meeting.

Two other opportunities will arise at the Asean Summit in Hanoi from October 27-29 and the fourth Ayawaddy-Chao Phya-Mekong Economic Cooperation summit on November 16-17 in Cambodia.

The sources said both sides were upbeat that relations would improve following the return of their ambassadors recently. There have been several high-level visits by senior officials in the two capitals.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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Ship carrying oil goes down off Chalong Bay

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

A ship transporting 40,000 litres of diesel oil yesterday sank some 10 nautical miles off Phuket's Chalong Bay amid heavy rain and four-metre-high waves but crew members were saved by another ship sailing beside it.

The scene remained inaccessible at press time due to the rough seas and weather.

There were concerns that the spilled oil might damage nearby coral reefs, used by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as an incubation ground for giant clams, and affect other marine life.

Despite confirmation by the ship owner that the oil tank valves were securely sealed, the director of the Marine, Coastal, and Mangrove Forest Resources Research and Development Institute, Wannakiat Taptimsaeng, got a team ready to collect water samples and assess oil leakage as soon as it is calm.

-- The Nation 2010-09-05

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Storms ravage many areas in Lop Buri and Thailand's Northeast

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Viktor Bout wants panel to consider his case

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No mass protests but Thai student activism still alive

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Pheu Thai's offer of peace should be welcomed

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Tsunami drill in Phuket on Sept 13

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UPDATE

Fuel boat sinks off Phuket: 40,000-liter spill feared

The PTT tank farm at Cape Panwa in Wichit. File photo.

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As feared 40,000 liters of diesel fuel is leaking from the wreck of Choke Thavorn 6, a small tanker that sunk about 10 kilometers south of Phuket yesterday morning

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Oil spill from sunken ship off Phuket starts spreading to Phi Phi island /MCOT

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Phuket pow wow over illegal alien workers

A shop set up near the Supercheap Phuket shopping complex to help Burmese workers verify their nationality

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[george]

UPDATE:

Officials finding ways to solve oil spill in southern Thailand as diesel slick drifting toward Phi Phi Islands:

[george]

Update:

Thai Rath: The capsized ship went down near pristine coral reef areas and oyster breeding ground.

[george]

Police seeking warrant for suspect allegedly stabbing student at MBK mall Saturday /via @MCOT

[george]

PM Abhisit: Cabinet to begin consideration of Chinese 'speed trains' in next two weeks:

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Number of Dengue fever patients in Thailand's Surin province hits over 2,300

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Prachantakham district declared flood disaster area

PRACHIN BURI (NNT) -- Prachantakham district of the eastern province of Prachinburi has been declared a flood disaster zone.

The provincial authorities and related agencies have dispatched teams of officials to Prachantakham district to provide assistance to the flood victims, helping them move their belongings to safe areas.

The district is reported to have been severely damaged by sudden forest flood triggered by the incessant rains battering the area during the past week. Traffic in the district has been brought to a standstill.

The flood situation at the district remains grim as the water level, now one-meter high, is expected to rise further in the next few days.

Mr Siripong Hantrakul, Prachin Buri Governor, has declared the district a disaster zone, while more help is on the way for flood victims.

-- NNT 2010-09-05