Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Sep 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 7 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 Monday 6 September 2010

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BoT wants cross-province money transfer fee cancelled

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bank of Thailand (BoT) will hold a meeting with commercial banks on Wednesday to discuss the restructuring of money transfer fees in the whole banking system.

BoT Deputy Governor Chim Tantiyaswasdikul said the talk with commercial bank executives would focus on the entire fee calculation system particularly the cross-province cash withdrawals and transfers.

Mr Chim stated that, if possible, the BoT would like the banks to totally waive the fee charged on such transactions. The waiver includes the fee collected on transfers of salary to each employee’s account. The fee collection could be revoked completely by the fourth quarter of next year if all commercial banks agreed to the BoT’s initiative.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Gold price will hike in the range of 1,300-1,350 USD by year-end

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Gold price tends to rise in a range 1,300 – 1,350 USD/ ounce by this year-end, according to a gold trader.

Deputy Managing President of YLG Bullion International Co., Ltd., Ms Pawan Navawattanasap cited that the global economic recovery situation including unemployment problem as well as exchange rate volatility and public debts were the factors affecting gold price trend until this year-end.

In Q4, India will launch its national festival which causes high demands, and the gold price will be pushed up to 1,300-1,350 USD/ounce.

During the past eight months, gold price reached its peak in June at 1,265 USD/ounce, more than 100 USD increase from March.

Ms Pawan recommended investors to sell their gold during this period or its price would go down due to the strengthening of the Baht currency.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Families of 9 killed at Khok Wua clash seek court-ordered autopsies

BANGKOK: -- A lawyer on Monday led family members of nine persons who were killed during the April 10 clash between troops and Red Shirt supporters at Khok Wua intersection to the Criminal Court seeking a court order for autopsies to be performed.

Karom Ponthaklang, a lawyer representing the anti-government Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), led the relatives of the nine dead to the criminal court to seek a court order for autopsies.

They also called for the early questioning of witnesses related to the case in which the Office of the Attorney-General had indicted key Red Shirt leader Veera Musikapong and 18 other UDD leaders and supporters on terrorism charges in connection with political unrest during April-May in Bangkok and the provinces.

Meanwhile, the defendants also sought court approval to allow forensic experts from abroad to witness the autopsies of the nine bodies with their Thai couterparts.

Mr Karom said the relatives of the nine dead had not petitioned any agency concerning the April 10 incident.

Currently the nine bodies, claimed by the Red Shirt demonstrators as key evidence for the case, are kept at temples.

In the meantime, the families of the nine victims would like to hold cremation rites, the lawyer said, adding that they are afraid that if no autopsy is performed before the cremation, the case will lack key evidence for further investigation.

The April 10 clash between the army and the anti-government Red Shirt protesters left 26 dead, including a Japanese photographer, and injured more than 800 persons.

The fatal violence erupted in the late afternoon when the security forces tried to remove the anti-government supporters from their protest site at Phan Fa bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-07

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Govt pledges to end violence and social controversy

BANGKOK: -- The Government pledges to end violence and controversy in the Thai society.

Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday claimed he had not heard from the opposition Pheu Thai Party on reconciliation, following the party’s failed attempt to disclose its representative to negotiate with the Democrat-led government on the national reconciliation issue.

According to Mr Abhisit, no matter what the results are, the government would still continue to lessen controversy and protect the Thai Monarchy.

Mr Abhisit doubted it was some internal issue that barred Pheu Thai Party from announcing its representative, but once the decision is resolved then the issue of setting up the national government will be re-discussed.

Speaking upon the promotion of Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom as Assistant National Police Chief, which had gained negative feedbacks from the Government of Saudi Arabia due to his relations with murdered Saudi Arabian businessman, Mr Abhisit had assigned Deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Thaugsuban to handle this issue.

Mr Abhisit, however, still believed that the Thai - Saudi Arabian ties would run positively as the appointment of Lt Gen Somkid conformed to Police Bureau’s regulations.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Thai-Malaysian governments to enhance bilateral tourism cooperation

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand and Malaysia aim to tighten more relations in tourism aspect and to promote rail routes as another ourism option.

Malaysian and Thai Tourism Ministers had a meeting to discuss tourism cooperation of the two nations. They agreed to promote touring by train as it would be another option among related operators to create new tourism packages for their customers. Rail routes in Malaysia will be propagated in the first implementing stage followed by the routes in the South of Thailand.

The Malaysian side requested all tour companies to inform the number of tourists and their objectives before entering the country to prevent illegal immigration.

The number of Malaysian people visiting Thailand last year was reported at about one million persons.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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PTP to check govt´s readiness before joining peace plan

BANGKOK: -- Opposition Puea Thai Party pledged to check the Government's readiness before joining the national reconciliation talks.

Puea Thai Party leader Yongyuth Vichaidit, accompanied by his deputy Kanawat Wasinsangworn and the party’s secretary-general Sunee Luengwichit made a statement against Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban’s remarks on the Pheu Thai's participation on the Government’s National Reconciliation Plan.

According to the statement of Mr Suthep and other government figures, the talk on national reconciliation issue will commence only if Pheu Thai Party terminates any violence-related movements.

The opposition party countered Mr Suthep’s statement, affirming their intention meant no harm to anyone. They denied supports on violence and confirmed their deep respect for the Monarchy.

The Party's representatives will first check the government’s readiness before partaking in the reconciliation plans. It also confirmed now that the party leader, Yongyuth Vichaidit would lead other representatives in the discussion.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Ensure justice, HM tells military judges

By The Nation

HIS MAJESTY THE KING yesterday told the military to ensure justice so that the country will survive any threats and perils.

Military judges "must be honest and straightforward to maintain justice. Senior military officers have an important duty of maintaining order in the country," he told a group of newly-appointed court-martial judges and armed forces' judge advocates having a royal audience at Siriraj Hospital for a swearing-in ceremony.

"Soldiers must maintain justice strictly and everything will be all right. If soldiers are strict about ensuring justice for the country, things will proceed well," he said.

The King urged senior military officers to serve as good examples for their subordinates in performing their duties honestly and devotedly. He told new judge advocates to strictly keep their vow of honesty given before him yes-terday. "Then our country will be able to survive any future threat and peril. If you perform your duty well, everything will go well. I wish you maintain justice so that the country will be in peace as you desire."

Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan led the group for yesterday's royal audience. Also present were outgoing Army commander Gen Anupong Paochinda, Armed Forces Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jakkrabatr, and permanent secretary for Defence General Apichart Phenkitti.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Map Ta Phut blockade threat

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UPDATE

German mayor trying to bring comatose man home

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Princess brings relief to Pathum Thani flood victims

By The Nation

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali yesterday made a personal visit to residents in the Narinthong Housing Estate in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district, where land subsidence caused a second blow after severe flooding.

The Princess, who was welcomed by about 1,000 officials and members of the public, brought the affected residents relief items from the Thai Red Cross Society's Princess Pa Foundation and cooked for them at the foundation's mobile kitchen.

In Lop Buri's Muang district, days of downpours caused floodwater to inundate about 500 homes in Tambon Khao Sam Yod and Tambon Tha Sala, prompting the local authorities to install pumps to help drain water. The Thepsatri Rajaphat University dormitory was also under 40 centimetres of water.

The flooding forced officials to close the 4,000-student Muangmai Chaloarat Rangsarit School and Pranarai School, which has 6,000 students, for two days.

Lop Buri Highway Office 1 chief Suriya Saengtrong said floodwater still covered Phahol-yothin Road, especially a section from Pranarai roundabout to Nikhom Sang Ton-eng intersection. The situation was expected to return to normal in two or three days, provided the rainfall stops.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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AFTERMATH OF VIOLENCE

Relatives of riot victims meet in Bangkok

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Even though almost 100 days have passed since the April 10 clashes in Bangkok that left 26 people dead and more than 800 injured, 14 relatives of the victims gathered to console each other and discuss their problems.

Coming from as far afield as Surin, Nakhon Sawan and Ratchaburi, their foremost motive was to push for the government to take responsibility for the deaths of their family members. They met at a Bangkok department store, but were anxious to withhold details for "security reasons".

The 14 relatives decided to pursue a campaign of cultural activities, such as concerts, which they believe will help the public understand the red-shirt movement and its push for democracy. But the move got no further than an idea.

Much of the discussion centred on justice for the victims and ways of fighting with the government to further their cause.

"We have learned to care for one another since we first met three months ago," said Suwimon Fhungklinchan, whose 29-year-old son Therdsak was killed at Khok Wua Intersection.

She told the group that since her son died she has been running her small Bangkok grocery store on her own, and was unable to make ends meet.

Suwimon said she had received compensation from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, but it could never pay for her son's life.

"I want the government to care about the feelings of the red-shirt people. The government should not divide us from others in the country," she said. "How will the government achieve national reconciliation if it does not really want to do that?"

She said she was repeatedly told by the Department of Special Investigation that no progress had been made in her son's case.

"This is one example of the government's lack of sincerity and commitment to national reconciliation," she said. "If the government is sure that a group of men in black suits killed red-shirt protesters, then find them and bring them to justice. Don't just keep talking about them."

Klin Tienchan, a brother-in-law of Wasant Phuthong, 39, from Samut Prakan, who died of a gunshot wound to his head, said he still could not organise a funeral for Wasant because the cause of his death was still being investigated and justice had yet to be done.

"There is no progress in Wasant's case," he said. "I don't want compensation, I want his life back."

Klin said the government should talk with relatives of riot victims about what compensation they wanted, because their needs did not end with money. They also urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, "who bosses the troops", to accept responsibility.

Samran Wa-ngam, whose 28-year-old son Sawat was also shot in the head on April 10, said he still missed his son and cried for him.

"We used to have dinner together. Now I see an empty chair," he said.

Samran and Sawat came from Surin to find work in Bangkok. Samran worked as a security guard until his son's death made it impossible to keep up with his job.

Sawat was the first family member to attend the red-shirt rally, but his 15-year-old brother Woramet joined him on April 10.

"I don't want to talk about it," Samran said. "You will never understand my feelings until you face a similar situation. The compensation is not worth my son's life."

Boonnam Tharueng, 54, whose younger brother was shot in the back and died later in Klang Hospital, said she had just received compensation from the government. "It came very late," she said.

Boonnam said her brother's funeral would only be held after new elections are called and his case is solved.

"He always stood fearlessly in the front lines," she said. "His funeral will be held when his wishes come true."

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Rowdy students may be sent to the far South

By Supinda Na Mahachai

The Nation

Education Minister Chinnavorn Boonyakiat yesterday ordered the Bang Kapi Technology School to be closed for a week, following the murder of a nine-year-old schoolboy on a bus last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a student who was suspected of stabbing rivals at MBK shopping mall last Saturday, surrendered to police yesterday.

In a bid to solve problems of student brawls, Education officials will soon meet with Army chiefs to discuss the possibility of sending at-risk students to a camp to do community work in the restive South.

After a meeting yesterday with 40 "at-risk" secondary schools, Bangkok deputy governors and parents' network representatives to discuss possible solutions to student brawls to be submitted to the Cabinet today, Chinnavorn said he had signed an order to close Bang Kapi Technology School for one week starting yesterday on grounds that its students repeatedly fought with others.

In regard to the Cabinet meeting today, he said he would explain measures the ministry had asked "at-risk" schools to undertake. He would also propose a proactive measures including having Obec sending at risk Mathayom and vocational college students to attend camps and do community service work in a challenging area that required youths to act with responsibility, such as the three southernmost provinces.

Chinnavorn said he instructed Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary general Chinnapat Phumrat to prepare a budget for and set details for such a plan.

He said he intended to send students to challenging areas because members of society felt it was a worthy suggestion - that "at risk" students should learn to take responsibility for their actions. He said he would discuss possible activities that students sent to camps in the far South could undertake with Army representatives.

In related news, Pathumwan Police yesterday morning took a 17-year-old student, who allegedly stabbed three Debsirin students at a bowling lane on the seventh floor at MBK mall last Saturday, to the Central Juvenile and Family Court after his parents brought him to police early yesterday.

The youth reportedly confessed to police that he ran into the victim's group and remembered one of them had beaten him up at Bonanza Mall on Friday. He went to "clear the air" but thought the rival students were pulling a weapon to attack him, so he took out a knife he carried and attacked them before fleeing home in a taxi.

One of three students he stabbed - 17-year-old Kanapat Theekhananthaporn - remained in a critical condition in a ICU room yesterday, whilst the two others were stable and had moved to a special patient room, the deputy director of Police General Hospital Colonel Supol Jongpanichkulthorn said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Bombs, gunplay wound several in South

By The Nation

Several violent attacks in the deep South yesterday wounded at least nine officials and farmers.

In Yala's Raman district, a bomb hit four security officials who were investigating a nearby explosion in the morning.

The second bomb exploded right after the officials parked their vehicle about 100 metres from the scene of the first bomb attack.

Three of the victims were from a police bomb-disposal squad. They were Senior Sgt-Major Chawakarn Sarnsuwan, Corporal Sarayut Suphaka, and Corporal Pongwiwat Weruwan. The other victim was Army Private Sornsak Laksanawong.

All were being treated at local hospitals.

Police believe the attacks were staged to fan unrest in the deep South.

Later in the afternoon, a bomb wounded two rubber-tappers.

Thavorn Pudnil said he and his son were working on their plantation when his son stepped on the device.

"Then it exploded," he said.

A source said Thavorn's plantation was just across from where bombs had exploded earlier in the day.

In Narathiwat, unknown attackers shot up a pickup truck carrying a kamnan, Usoh Sama. All six occupants survived but three were wounded. They were Saree Beuraheng, a deputy village head, Abdulloh Yeemayee and Muhamad Jeh-ae.

"I saw a black pickup chasing us. When it caught up, a man in the back opened fire and the pickup sped away," Usoh said.

The Internal Security Operations Command said intelligence sources had constantly given warnings about insurgents' plots to stage motorcycle-bomb attacks in the three southernmost provinces.

Officials and locals in the areas were advised to be on high alert.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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SSO lifts benefits for injured workers

By The Nation

As part of new conditions set by the Social Security Office (SSO) this year, people who sustain work-related injuries will now be entitled to 70 per cent of their monthly salary - up from the 60 per cent they were able to get earlier, SSO secretary-general Pan Wannaphinij said yesterday.

People who sustain work-related disabilities will be able to get 15 years of financial support, while beneficiaries of those who die while at work will be given aid for 12 years instead of eight.

Pan revealed the changes at a seminar yesterday called "What do Beneficiaries get from the SSO's 20th Anniversary?"

Pan said he agreed with plans to run the SSO as an independent agency in the future, instead of a government agency, as called for by more than 9 million SSO members.

He was also repeating an old complaint about the SSO's commitment to pay pension funds for 30 years from 2015. "This is a problem the SSO will face, and will end up being shouldered by future beneficiaries if I stay silent on the issue," he said.

Wilaiwan sae-Tia, a labour leader who was at yesterday's seminar, said running the SSO as an independent agency would ensure transparency and greater efficiency and increased profits.

She also complained about Bt200 million the SSO had ear-marked to publish personal details of SSO board members.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Thammawattana rivalry lingers despite court clearing Noppadol

By Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong,

Monthien Intaked

The Nation

The Court of Appeal's recent ruling to drop the murder charge against Noppadol Thammawattana has helped him reconcile with some of his siblings.

Aside from clearing his name, the ruling yesterday brought several relatives back to his side.

Noppadol's younger sisters Kaneungnij Thammawattana and Naruemol Mangkorn-panich presented him with a flower garland and asked him to forgive them.

They said they had misunderstood him for up to 11 years.

The apology was made in public as part of the press conference called by Noppadol.

"We are here together not for image making. It's just that my sisters have now understood me," he said.

Noppadol was a prime suspect in the alleged murder of politician Hangthong Thammawattana in September 1999. The family has a huge fortune, including the lucrative Yingcharoen Market near Don Muang. It has also been plagued by many killings.

Hangthong was found dead in his luxury home with a gunshot wound to the head. His brother Noppadol was charged with murder five years later, but despite three autopsies, forensic experts differed over whether the MP's death was suicide or a deliberate killing.

The Court of Appeal decided last week to drop the charges against Noppadol, citing a lack of adequate evidence.

"The evidence and court rulings have cleared my name," Noppadol said yesterday.

He said he hoped his other relatives, apparently referring to his brother Parinya, would be feel differently.

"Greed might have eclipsed the conscience of some of my siblings," Noppadol said. His younger brother Parinya now oversees Yingcharoen Market.

Naruemol said she felt so sorry for what had happened to her family, and claimed she had been duped into giving up control of family properties.

"I am so sorry that I took sides with the wrong guy and left my elder brother Noppadol as a suspect in the eyes of society for so long."

Kaneungnij also criticised Parinya for raising rental fees vendors in the Yingcharoen Market must pay. Many vendors from the market showed up to express support for Noppadol. They said they wanted him and his sisters to take over running of the market.

Noppadol also criticised Khunying Dr Porntip Rojanasunand, who is director of Central Institute of Forensic Science, alleging that she had tried to frame him after she conducted the second autopsy on Hangthong's body, when the case was reinvestigated.

Porntip hit back yesterday, challenging Noppadol to file a court complaint against her if he really thought she done wrong. "I've never said that Noppadol killed Hangthong. But clearly, Hangthong didn't kill himself," Porntip said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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DEMOCRAT DISSOLUTION TRIAL

Court hears complex tale of 'retroactive' receipts

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PM Abhisit's US visit quite uncertain

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Pain in the Back

By Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

Former prime minister Chuan Leekpai is admitted to hospital after suffering severe back pain during the Democrat dissolution hearing at the Supreme Court.

Chuan, 72, who is also Democrat chief advisor, was accompanied from the courtroom at 12.30pm.

He is part of the legal team defending the party dissolution. During the trial, Chuan appeared agitated. When the hearing finished, Chuan stood up as the team of judges left the courtroom. He cried out in pain as he sat down.

He was helped from the courtroom and went directly to the hospital. He was scheduled to meet doctors about his back pain in the afternoon.

After doctors examined him, he was discharged from the hospital. The back pain is caused because he exercised without warming up.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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MERCHANT OF DEATH

Sirichoke hits back in row over Bout

By The Nation

Democrat Party MP Sirichoke Sopha yesterday released a state-ment concerning a prison interview between him and suspected arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The move was in response to a statement with contradictory con-tent issued on Sunday by an opposition MP who had visited the Russian the previous day.

Sirichoke claimed no other people were present during his meet-ing with Bout, countering what was said by the chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, Pheu Thai MP Torphong Chaiyasarn, that an unidentified person also listened to their talk.

The Democrat MP said the Corrections Department and the prison chief could back up his statement about no one else being present during the interview. He also hit back at Torphong, saying he was unsure which country he served as a House panel chairman, as he had worsened Thailand's image. "He is doing damage to the country and I am not sure if he can call himself a Thai."

Sirichoke said that while it was Torphong's right to believe any-thing Bout had said to him on Saturday, it was common for the Russian not to tell the truth. So he had probably chosen to tell the Pheu Thai MP any story that might minimise his chances of being extradited to the US.

The Democrat said he would attend the House committee meeting tomorrow whether or not he was invited to do so, in order to "cut open" Torphong with evidence and photos in a session in which the media would be present. "Torphong did not do his homework before his visit, and he was convinced by everything the suspect said."

Sirichoke said he had been well prepared before his own visit with background information about Bout and was able to trick him into speaking about "knowing Thaksin well", but the MP declined to give more details. "Certain details need to be verified, as they have impli-cated third countries," he added, without elaboration.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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PM Abhisit calls Pheu Thai to resolve differences before talks

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Thai-Saudi ties: Promotion 'won't affect' Al-Ruwaili probe

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Thai Reconciliation is nice to talk about, but hard to achieve

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Euro currency at 3-week high

The euro currency rose to 1.2918 to the U.S. dollar, its highest since August 12, helped by Asian central banks (excluding Japan) converted U.S. dollars into euros.

European shares trading was subdued with U.S. financial markets closed for the Labor Day holiday.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Bank of Thailand (BoT) may need to recruit senior staff outside country

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Suspected Insurgents Wreak Havoc Across South

Suspected insurgents in the southern province of Narathiwat burned down several areas and created chaos at 30 different sites last night, making good on a threat made earlier.

Forensic police officers said that militant forces set telephone booths, bus stops and tires on fire as well as opening fire on a local administrative organization office, causing a border patrol police unit to have to cut down tress to block roads last night.

Despite the authorities efforts, the rampage spread across nine districts in Narathiwat province.

Officials believe the attacks were well-coordinated and that the suspects were carrying out threats that they had made earlier.

Police reportedly arrested two suspected militants whose bodies were covered with oil from a spill.

In a separate attack, three residents were seriously injured in a gun battle.

The suspected militants reportedly traveled in a pick-up truck and opened fire on the victims before fleeing the scene.

In Yala province, four officers were seriously wounded in a bomb attack at a rubber plantation. The culprit reportedly triggered the bomb while officials were inspecting the plantation.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-07

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PM Office Minister Ongart to ask Cabinet for 350 mil baht for replacement of equipment/structures destroyed in red riots /via @TAN_Network

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Thai stocks open up 5.07 pt, 0.54 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) opened on Tuesday at 926.45, down 5.07 points, or 0.54 per cent.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 636.88, down 4.51 points, or 0.70 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: KTB, CPF, PTTCH, ADVANC, TRUE.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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RECONCILIATION TALK

Pheu Thai-Gov't fence-mending talks on track

By The Nation

The five-point Pheu Thai plan for reconciliation with the government has remained on table, party deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said on Tuesday, dismissing speculation about the plan aborted.

"Pheu Thai will not be discouraged nor call off the reconciliation just because someone in the government made offensive remarks," he said.

The speculation about the collapse of fence-mending talks circulated after Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban voiced scepticism about the opposition's sincerity by citing continuing attempts to undermine the monarchy.

This prompted a fiery denial from Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit.

Plodprasop said he was surprised by the Suthep-Yongyuth spat since the two had family ties and came from the same hometown, Surat Thani.

He insisted, however, that Yongyuth merely reacted to Suthep's remarks in his personal capacity, which did not reflect on the party's stand.

"The reconciliation plan has been endorsed by the Phue Thai executive board," he said, adding his main opposition party is in the process of naming its representatives for fence-mending talks.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Phuket Police nab postal fraud trio

Fraud suspects (seated, from left) Ya Paenkaew, Phayak Nakhadee and

Rachata Piamjit pose with some of the officers who helped solve the case.

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