Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Sep 2010

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Authorities ready for tsunami evacuation drill

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has ensured the readiness of related authorities for the upcoming tsunami evacuation rehearsal to be conducted in six disaster-prone provinces in the South.

Mr Suthep on Monday chaired a meeting of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee to lay down preparations for the tsunami evacuation exercise in six Andaman coastal provinces scheduled for 13 September 2010.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that there was nothing to be worried about because the preparations have been carefully made in all aspects from personnel, equipment, to all levels of coordination at local, district, and provincial levels.

Mr Suthep added that local people had been well informed regarding the evacuation rehearsal to ensure their readiness and prevent possible panic.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Extortion and confusion mar Thailand's migrant crackdown

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3rd-year Student allegedly kills police in drunk driving

A third-year university student, who appeared to be drunk, allegedly killed a policeman at a road check point early Tuesday.

The accident happened at 2:30 am on the Ratchapruek Road in Bangkok's Talingchan district.

Pol Cpl Damnoensin Kraichomsom, 27, was stopping a taxi to check a passenger when he was hit by the car of Natthapol Titithamcharoen, 21. He is a third-year student of Thai Chamber of Commerce University.

The impact hurled the body of the police man to the other side of the road.

Pol Senior Sgt Maj Manas Taengkaew said he and his subordinates manned the road checkpoint when Natthapol's car was speeding towards the checkpoint. The car hit a footbath and lost control and hit a police patrol pickup and the policeman.

Natthapol was driving with Noppamas Prasong, 27. Both were slightly injured and described to be drunk. Police found a half bottle of whisky in their car.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Teacher killed, another injured in Narathiwat drive-by shooting

Narathiwat - A teacher was killed and another severely injured in a drive-by shooting in this southern border province Tuesday morning.

The two teachers were married couples teaching at two schools in Tambon Manang Tayo in Muang district.

The husband, Wilas Khongkham, 54, was killed while the wife, Phetprom, 53, was severely injured.

Police said the two were riding their motorcycle to the Tanyongmus Market when two men on a motorcycle caught up with them and the pillion rider opened fire at them with an MP16 assault rifle at 6:10 am.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Risk prone spots under tight watch

BANGKOK (NNT) – Security units are stepping up surveillance in attack-prone areas as the National Security Council stands firm on keeping the State of Emergency activated.

National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tawin Pleansri said the government’s Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has been mulling over the revocation of the Emergency Decree in remaining areas. However, some areas are still considered under threat.

All relevant units have been instructed to tighten security control in sensitive areas and crowded sites such as train stations, transport terminals and department stores. Authorities believe such spots are particularly susceptible to attack.

Mr Tawin later urged all parties to move away from conflict and cooperate to move the nation away from its current impasse.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Phattalung Highway Police Seizes Cough Medicine and Kratom

The Highway Police in Phattalung province seized a large shipment of cough medicine and kratom leaves.

The Highway Police in Phattalung province has seized more than 3,500 bottles of cough medicine and approximately 90 kilograms of kratom leaves.

The shipment was being transported by a 10 wheeler freezer truck that was discovered by highway police in Khao Chaison district.

The 19 year-old truck driver from Pattani province was arrested, but a second suspect was able to get away.

The authorities believe that the shipment was intended to be used in large-scale narcotics manufacturing.

The suspect has refused to cooperate with the investigation, saying that he will only testify in court.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-07

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Excise Dept to Stem Fuel Smuggling

The Excise Department reports that fuel smuggling is costing the nation 77 billion baht annually, prompting it to begin an effort to satisfy fishermen's demand for cheaper fuel while also working with four other agencies to prosecute fuel smugglers.

Excise Department Director General Areepong Phucha-um disclosed that smuggling of fuel into Thailand is costing the Kingdom 77 billion baht yearly in lost revenue.

Arrests of smugglers grew by 106.76 percent between 2009 and 2010, but seizures have dropped by 12.3 percent.

The department reported that smuggling of fuel is commonly committed along marine and land borders with gangs using a large number of small-time smugglers to evade arrests.

Smuggled fuel costs seven to eight baht a liter less than that retailed at gas stations.

Excise tax from fuel is a major source of revenue for the government, totaling 400 billion baht in the past 11 months alone compared to only 70 billion baht from automobiles.

Areepong stated that his department has continually worked to combat the smuggling problem and created the Green Fuel project, which provides tax-free fuel for fishermen.

Boats using Green Fuel are required to be fitted with a GPS tracking device to monitor their whereabouts.

The Excise Department has joined hands with the Customs Department, the National Police Office, the Energy Policy and Planning Office and the Energy Business Department to consolidate efforts against fuel smuggling.

The efforts have succesfully kept out 11 million liters of smuggled fuel and Thailand is currently in talks with Malaysia to expand the operations.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-07

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Students’ Brawl Alert Thai Society Once Again

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Bottled water prices adjusted in line with regulation

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Department of Internal Trade reports that bottled water prices have been adjusted to its recommended range accordingly.

According to Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Director-General Vatchari Vimooktayon, the prices of bottled water sold in wholesale and retail shops, department stores, bus terminals, train stations, convenience stores, mini marts, and super markets, have been adjusted in accordance with newly enforced retail prices since 1 September 2010.

A survey was conducted from 1 to 3 September 2010 by DIT officials to confirm that retailers were not overcharging consumers. Violators are subject to a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to 140,000 THB.

Ms Vatchari added that the price of food sold in the canteens of state offices has decreased by 5 THB after the department called for cooperation from vendors. The urging came in the wake of the complaints filed by state officials about expensive food.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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AoT: New Suvarnabhumi Airport director assigned after reshuffle

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Airports of Thailand (AoT) has agreed to transfer the director of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport to the Don Muang Airport, paving the way for a probe into irregularities in the leasing of the airport’s parking lot.

According to AoT Chariman Piyapan Champasut, the meeting has resolved to order Nirand Theeranartsin, the current Director of the Suvarnabhumi Airport, and Flying Officer Thanomkulbutra, the to the Don Mueang Airport Director, to swap jobs. Nirand is to oversee the old Don Mueang Airport; Anirut, meanwhile, will be in charge of the Suvarnabhumi Airport. The order takes effect immediately.

The move came after the AoT found out that the signing of the lease of a piece of property at the Airport was shady, and that the committee signing the contract had overstepped its authority by signing a fifteen-year lease instead of a five-year one as allowed under the rules.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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Interior Minister: Sincerity needed to create peace

NONTHABURI (NNT) -- Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul has voiced his belief that reconciliation and peace can only be achieved if both the Government and opposition show their sincerity to do so.

Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul stated while extending his best wishes to Deputy Prime Minister Major General Sanan Kajornprasart on the occasion of his 75th birthday anniversary at his Sanam Bin Nam residence in Nonthaburi on Tuesday that both the ruling Democrat Party and opposition Pheu Thai Party should act to show their sincerity to end conflicts within Thai societ. He alleged that until now, the two sides have only sought to fulfill their own political agendas.

Both parties, Mr Chavarat said, have accused each other of not intending to live in harmony. He elaborated that a proposal from Pheu Thai was shot down by the Democrat side which had its own peace plan and reconciliation process rejected by the opposition.

Mr Chavarat, also the coalition Bhumjaithai Party leader, affirmed the readiness of his party to cooperate in restoring peace and unity to the kingdom.

-- NNT 2010-09-07

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SET likely to reach 1,000 due to continued foreign capital inflow

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Man Found Dead in Bangkok Canal

Forensic experts from Police General Hospital have inspected the body of a Thai man found dead in a canal in the Ramkamhaeng area.

Officials explained that the body of the 20-year-old victim was found hidden in a one-hundred-liter plastic tank that was stuck on the poles of a bridge over the Saen Saeb canal in the Ramkamhaeng area.

An initial probe suggested the dead man's neck and legs were tied together in the fetal position with a rope and covered with a white shirt.

They believe the man had been killed 12 hours before his body was found by authorities. No identification documents were found in his possession.

Officials at the Hua Mak police station added that the spot where the killer dumped the victim into the tank was probably at least seven kilometers from the Saen Saeb bridge.

They added that they will be working to determine the identity of the victim and will be conducting further probes into the case to determine exactly what happened.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-07

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All Asean leaders will meet Obama in NYC

By The Nation

All 10 Asean leaders will have a working lunch with US President Barack Obama at the Waldorf Hotel in New York on 24 September, according to an informed source.

But Brunei, Burma and Indonesia would be represented by their foreign ministers. At first, the proposed second Asean-US leaders' meeting held in the US was in limbo fearing that some of the Asean leaders might not be able to attend.

During the NY meeting, both sides are expected to set up an eminent person to study ways to promote bilateral relationship, the source said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to leaving for NY on 23 September for a series of meeting including an address at the UN General Assembly including a four-eye meeting with Pirme Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Unrest in Thai south kills four, sparks school closures

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Insurgent camp in Narathiwat seized

Narathiwat - Rangers, troops and marines jointly raided a camp of southern insurgents on a mountain here Tuesday morning.

But no arrest was made as the camp was deserted when the authorities arrived at 9:30 am.

The camp was hidden on a mountain about 2 kilometres away from Buajae village in Tambon Bongor in Ragnae district.

Five makeshift houses were found at the camp and the officials seized some M16 ammunitions, fertilisers and some equipment for assembling bombs from the camp.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Police nab 4 suspects smuggling 12kg 'ice' worth Bt36 mln in Chiang Rai; believed related to network of drug kingpin Wei Sia Kang with bounty of Bt62 mln /MCOT

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Swiss man falls to his death in Phuket

A Forensic Police officer dusts for fingerprints at the

section of the balcony from where the Swiss man is presumed to have fallen.

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Security Tightened for VIPs in Northeast

The Provincial Police Bureau 3 has resolved to tighten security in the lower northeastern region after receiving intelligence about further unrest and plots to assassinate key figures.

Provincial Police Bureau 3 Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Dechawat Ramsompop spoke of intelligence indicating that major figures, such as former politicians in Buri Ram province, have been targeted for violence.

The situation has prompted police to dispatch details to all individuals under threat and to call for security to be elevated in all eight provinces in the lower part of the Northeast.

There has yet to be a request for extra police protection, but as a precautionary measure, authorities are planning a crackdown on weapons and contraband.

Investigation officers have also been instructed to work with the military in gathering intelligence.

Bhum Jai Thai MP for Si Sa Ket's Constituency 2 Worasak Tungpunpolsawad, along with another local administrator, was shot by unidentified assailants on August 31.

Police have issued arrest warrants and have uncovered that the incident was motivated by local politics.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-07

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Drug case suspect gunned-down in front of the Chonburi Provincial Courthouse

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11 and 14 year old suspected thieves caught by Na-Jomtien Police

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Nigerian suspect arrested following drug sting in Central Pattaya

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Former Pattaya Red Shirt leader caught brandishing a gun in South Pattaya

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Cabinet approves 350 mil baht for PRD replace equipment/structures damaged in riots /via @news1005fm /via @TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 923.89, down 7.63; Bt/USD30.84; GBP47.32; AUD27.89; EUR39.36; CAD29.33; HKD3.92; SGD22.75; JPY36.48

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Australian Red Shirt Conor David Purcell Finally Deported From Thailand

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Pattaya: Suspected Child Sex Ring Uncovered In Gay Porn Busts

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Tragic irony: Phuket road rescue volunteer dies in horror smash

The wreckage of the late Mr Warak's Honda sedan this morning.

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Janitor killed by insurgents in Pattani

Pattani - A school janitor was shot to death early Tuesday, police said.

Mahama Saleh, 55, janitor of Chamao Samton School in Tambon Traobon in Sai Buri district was found dead in front of his school.

Police said he was shot at his back apparently by insurgents, who staked out outside the school.

-- The Nation 2010-09-07

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Thai Cabinet Approves Measures To Curb Student Brawls

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 8 September 2010

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