Thailand Live Sunday 19 Sep 2010

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Thailand Live Sunday 19 September 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 18 September 2010

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Education Minister calls on UDD not to damage nation´s image

BANGKOK, (NNT) -- The Education Minister calls on the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) not to exploit political activity as a tool in damaging the nation.

Following the rally to be staged by the anti-government UDD on Sunday, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat cited that any dispute at present would be solved by legal procedure.

He said the situation currently could run smoothly in the democratic system, so he hoped all parties especially the UDD leaders would not use political activity as a tool to damage the nation’s image.

He viewed that security officers would be able to control the situation on Sunday as no one wanted to see violence among the Thai people.

-- NNT 2010-09-19

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Jurin: dengue fever and influenza to be dealt with as urgent issues

BANGKOK, 18 September 2010 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry announces dengue fever and influenza as urgent issues to be dealt with, while the situation in the North and Northeast areas need to be monitored closely.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit stated that from January to September 11, the numbers of patients infected by dengue fever were at 75,852 with 87 deaths. Most patients were found in Northeastern provinces, followed by the Central, Southern and Northern regions.

However, the Minister said the number of dengue fever patients in the South was already reduced, but the North and Northeast still needed to be closely monitored. The Ministry has also instructed all related agencies to report the progress of problem-solving continuously.

Relevant agencies nationwide are ordered to educate the people on preventive measures against dengue fever and influenza, and to control disease outbreak in each area.

-- NNT 2010-09-19

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Final verdict over 3G auction to be made on 20 Sep

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Supreme Administrative Court has scheduled to make a verdict on 3G license auction on 20 September 2010 whether the auction can go on under the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Following the petition made by CAT Telecom lately against the NTC, the Central Administrative Court granted a temporary injunction to halt such an 3G auction which was due to run on next Monday. An appeal was made by the NTC, and the Supreme Administrative Court’s final judgment will be made on 20 September at 08.30 hours whether the NTC can organize the auction or not.

Mr Kriangkrai Kanjanapokin, the President of Index Event Agency an event organizer of this auction, stated that bidding system and surveillance cameras had been installed, while overall arrangement had been finished by 95%. He said the company would continue its work until there was a clear instruction from NTC.

The NTC has spent a budget of 80 million THB to organize this 3G auction, but there is no report of damages of the NTC and related parties if the auction is ordered to terminate.

-- NNT 2010-09-19

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UDD protestors arrive in Ayutthaya amid tight security

BANGKOK, 18 September 2010 (NNT) — The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protestors from Bangkok have arrived in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province amidst high security provided by police.

More than 200 UDD supporters in Ayutthaya along with the Pheu Thai Party MP for the province, Mr Surachet Chaikoson, warmly welcomed the UDD caravan of 70 vehicles en route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to participate in the mass demonstration scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Police Major General Jaruwat Waisaya, Commander of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Police, has dispatched anti-riot police, traffic police as well as intelligence units to maintain peace and order and to prevent violence throughout the activities of the UDD. He said no irregularities or law violations had been reported thus far.

-- NNT 2010-09-19

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Legal check on new building rules

By The Nation

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam yesterday asked for three months in which to follow the Council of State's progress in scrutinising the ministerial regulation about criteria for building controls and exemptions for state-built residential facilities for low-income people.

The regulation, approved in principle by the Cabinet on September 14, was sent to the Council of State Prime Minister Abhsiit Vejjajiva for urgent con-sideration, Thaworn said. He also sought permission from the Interior Minister to be the agency representative to clarify regulations to the council to confirm that exemptions such as the narrower space from land markers wouldn't affect building stability or safety. He said if the regulation was approved it would help state projects such as the Ban Mankong scheme, which aims to provide homes for slum dwellers, but has limited land.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Accident at airport

A tow-truck yesterday collided with a bus carrying airport staff at Suvarnabhumi Airport, reportedly causing one death and inuring 10 others.

No foreign tourists were involved.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Coma man leaving

By The Nation

A German tourist who sus-tained serious injuries in a fall at Hat Yai International Airport and was comatose for almost a year is due to fly home today.

Matthias Stefen Koch, 38, has been treated at Songkhla Nadarind Hospital since October 26 last year. Hospital chief Reungsak Leethanaporn said yesterday they opened a bank account for donations to pay for Koch's medical bills and the cost of flying him home. Donations reached Bt200,000 after Thai and German media carried stories about him. A lot of money came from Koch's home town, Bamberg City.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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LPG tanker rolls

By The Nation

A truck transporting 17,800 litres of LPG gas crashed into a foot path and overturned in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Kheow district yesterday morning, causing nearby resi-dents to panic. Some got dizzy from the gas and others kept away for safety.

The accident took place at 5.15am at the 76km marker on Kabin Buri-Nakhon Ratchasima Rd. With gas leaking, local offi-cials rushed to seal the truck's tank valves and spray water.

Driver Suthep Chanang-khlang, 38, who was slightly injured, told police he was tak-ing the gas from Rayong to some gas stations in Non Sung and Phimai districts, but dozed off while going into a down-hill curve. Police charged him with reckless driving and causing damage to state property.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Filipino drug runner

By The Nation

A Filipino woman was nabbed at Suvarnabhumi Airport with 3kg of "ice" (crystal meth) worth Bt9 million, police said yesterday.

After a tip-off that a Philippine woman carrying the narcotics would pass through the airport, police spotted the 44-year-old suspect, Carmen Arungo Donaerie, travelling from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, when she arrived at 1pm on Friday. Police found the drug in her travel bag. They said she confessed to collecting the drug in Mali before boarding the plane in Ethiopia. Police found she was a member of a West African drug ring and had trav-elled through Thailand four or five times before.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Two shot dead

By Nation on Sunday

An assistant to a Channel 7 journalist and his male friend were shot dead by a rival in "Bitchy Pub" of Chon Buri's Muang district early yesterday.

Local journalist Theeralak Suwannapho and his friend Athipat Athinyo were killed in front of the pub's restroom at 2.45am by a rival, named Supachoke Kosol, 29, who then fled on a motorbike to hide at an associate's house in tambon Ban Suan.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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PM meets Saudi envoy over police controversy

By the nation on sunday

Prime Minister Abhsiit Vejjajiva met Saudi Charge d'Affaires Nabil Hussein Ashri yesterday morning to explain the promotion of Somkid Boonthanom to the post of assistant police chief.

The meeting was held at Baan Phitsanulok at 8.15am. The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and the PM's deputy secretary-general Panitan Wattanayagorn.

The meeting lasted about 45 minutes.

Saudi Arabia's concern about Somkid's promotion stems from his alleged involvement in the unsolved disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammed al-Ruwaili in Bangkok 20 years ago.

Somkid has been promoted from the post of chief of Police Region 5.

Speaking to reporters after the

private meeting, Abhisit said he explained to the Saudi envoy that Somkid had received clemency under the law that allows people to have records of wrongdoing cleared when His Majesty the King turned 80 in 2007.

Abhisit said he also explained to the envoy that Somkid's promotion was also related to the complexity of other related laws.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Proactive moves needed to prevent brawls: Abhisit

By The Nation on Sunday

Proactive measures were needed to stop student brawls, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

His comment came after a second-year Siam Technology College student was gunned down late on Friday night.

The shooting took place at 11pm at the mouth of Charan Sanit Wong Soi 15.

Nonthachai Mairoyros, 19, a friend of the victim, told police he went with Khunakorn Lertloi, 22, to an ATM machine. Khunakorn's motorbike was pushed onto the footpath when two unknown men on another motorcycle parked at a dark spot nearby.

One of the men reportedly asked the duo which school they were from and whether they thought they were cool, before firing a shotgun at them - hitting Khunakorn and causing him to fall - before fleeing. Nonthachai called police.

Bangkok Yai police station inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Noppon Thanapatnant said later that Nonthachai only described one suspect as a tall fair-skinned man in his 20s. Police suspect the shooting may have been a result of a misunderstanding.

Noppon said prior to the attack, the two students rode past their college and honked their horn to pay their respects before the sacred Phra Pirun statue. But teenagers riding three to four motorbikes in front of them may have misunderstood that the horn was to mock them.

Police were now checking security camera footages at the scene and along the route to try to find the shooter, he said.

Meanwhile, PM Abhisit attended a yesterday seminar to promote a sense of reconciliation among Thai youths to mark National Youth Day tomorrow.

A technology college student representative urged all sides to study the reasons why students fight each other and to promote constructive activities among young colleagues to prevent student brawls, rather than reacting after the loss of lives.

The premier then asked the student why youths fight. The student said there were many reasons such as faulty values.

Abhisit said he agreed that this issue needed more proactive measures, that authorities should not wait till problems occur and try to solve the situation, then only talk about punishment. He also supported the idea of more constructive activities.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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WET SEASON BLUES

Homes flooded in Angthong as river rises

By The Nation on Sunday

Low-lying farms in Pathum Thani and Maha Sarakham also inundated

About 100 houses in Pa Mok district in Angthong province were underwater yesterday as heavy rainfall continued to ravage areas nationwide.

Angthong residents hurriedly built barriers with sandbags with the help of soldiers.

The Chao Phya Dam has been releasing 1,778 cubic metres of water per second since Friday night, causing the main river to rise by 10 centimetres in Angthong's Tambon Phong Pheng. This flooded 100 homes in six downstream villages while some riverbanks were eroded, Tambon Administrative Organisation president Wiroj Damsanit said.

In Pathum Thani, Lam Lukka district chief Panuwat Jenprasert said people had complained that water in Klong Hok (Canal 6) to Klong Sipsee (Canal 14) rose so high that thousands of rai of riverside farmland were now inundated.

They blamed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for closing the floodgates of Klong Luang Phaeng and Klong Phra Ongchao Chaiyanuchit, which should have helped absorb water in Pathum Thani. Panuwat said he ordered Tambon Lam Lukka officials to provide initial assistance to affected residents and he would contact the BMA about closing the floodgates.

Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra inspected flooding in Soi Lasalle (Sukhumvit Soi 105) in Bangkok's Bang Na district yesterday, which received 170mm of rain from Friday evening till 3am yesterday. Having only one drainage channel via Bang Na Canal and ongoing roadwork made the situation worse than usual.

In Maha Sarakham, the 8 million cubic metres Kaeng Loeng Chan Reservoir overflowed and sent floodwaters into 500 rai of low-lying farmland nearby. This caused the provincial governor to order water to be drained via the Chi River's Kud Daeng floodgate to stop Maha Sarakham town from being flooded. But with the Chi River also rising beyond critical levels, the province warned riverside residents to brace for floods over two days.

Up North, Lamphun's Mae Kaung River remained at 4.8 metres, just under the critical 5-metre mark, while one of two men swept away by floodwater in Mae Tha district was found yesterday afternoon on an island in middle of the Ping River in Pa Sang district.

Department of Rural Roads officials yesterday brought heavy machines and 60 concrete pipes to build a temporary detour near a 100-metre section of road in Tambon Wawi in Chiang Rai's Mae Saruay district, after it was hit by a forest flood and landslide.

Meanwhile, people in four tambons in Phrae's Wang Chin district - Saroy, Mae Phung, Pa Sak and Mae Kerng - were on alert for possible landslides and forest floods, and prepared to evacuate after days of continuous rain.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Thailand less free now, activists say

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Thailand On Red Alert

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Thai Finance Minister Korn Warns Of Danger If 3G Auction Goes Ahead

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2,000 police deployed in Bangkok to handle Red Shirt's Sunday activities

BANGKOK: -- Nearly 2,000 police will be deployed around Ratchaprasong where anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) activists will conduct activities to mark the fourth month since government forces forcefully regained the area from the protesters.

Eighty-nine persons were killed, and at least 1,900 were wounded during several confrontations before the protest ended on May 19.

The activities also marked the fourth anniversary of the September 19 coup which toppled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont said 1,800 police from the Special Branch Police and the Metropolitan Police Bureau would be deployed at Ratchaprasong intersection and surrounding areas.

Checkpoints are being set up to search where security will inspect for arms and third-party suspects who might cause disruptive incidents.

He said the police will focus on security for important persons, MRT Underground and BTS Skytrain stations.

The police will also photograph and make audio recordings during the gatherings and checked later whether they had violated emergency decree, he said.

Lt-Gen Santhan said the police believed that the activities would not be prolonged.

A leading activist of the Red Sunday group, Sombat Boonngamanong will reportedly lead Red Shirts in making merit at Wat Hua Lampong Sunday morning.

He and other Red Shirt members will gather at 1pm at the Democracy Monument from where they will ride bicycles to Ratchaprasong intersection, where they will light candles, place flowers and release balloons. Other Red Shirts would gather at the intersection at 5pm.

Ratchaprasong intersection was the main venue of the UDD protesters.

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Friday appointed Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda to monitor the overall situation Saturday and Sunday, while the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) will monitor the Red Shirt movement in the provinces. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-19

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Phuket Opinion: Muslim prayer rooms are part of local life

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NBTC's establishment to be sped up if 3G auction delayed: PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on TV that the establishment of the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will be sped up if the Administrative Court rules to stop the 3G licenses auction.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, the prime minister said his government was trying to push fwd the 3G auction as soon as possible in line with the law.

He said the government had already discussed the authority of the National Telecommunications Commission and believed that it was authorized to hold the auction.

But now that the Central Administrative Court is considering whether the NTC is authorized to do so, the government will have to wait.

If the court rules that the NTC cannot issue 3G licenses, the government will push for the NBTC's establishment, which will be done the end of 2010 or early 2011, the prime minister said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Former PM Thaksin tweeted last night, saying he's in Lebanon & desires to see peace, where Thais look forward into the future together. /TAN-Newtwork

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Students, Red Shirt activists hold activities, lay wreaths at Democracy Monument to mark 4th anniversary of September coup, disperse peacefully /MCOT

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Suspected insurgents kill four villagers in their homes, torching three houses in Narathiwat /MCOT

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12:36 pm Ratchaprasong intersection is open to traffic but 1000's of Red shirts spilling onto street /via @RichardBarrow

Redshirts crowd just grew!! http://twitpic.com/2pvqov /via @Dany_k

Fight starts out between police and red girl http://twitpic.com/2pvozd /via @Dany_k

Cars now parked 3 deep in front of Central World. More reds arriving. http://twitpic.com/2pvmfy /via @RichardBarrow

Sombat on back of pick-up talking to red shirts. One lane now blocked at Ratchaprasong. http://twitpic.com/2pvlgj /via @RichardBarrow

Population of reds just jumped massively in the past 30 mins http://twitpic.com/2pvlew /via @Dany_k

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Red-shirts Tie Red Cloths at Ratchaprasong

Red-shirt protesters have gradually turned up at Ratchaprasong Intersection to tie red cloths around the area to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the Sept 19 and four months after the red-shirts were dispersed from the Ratchaprasong Intersection where they gathered for months.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-19

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ECONOMY

Korn hints more banking fee cuts

By Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Finance Minister Korn Chakivanij promised more cuts in electronic banking service fees, to protect consumers particularly thsoe who have to pay high fees for inter-regional money transfers

At a seminar in Hua Hin on Saturday, he said more cuts should be known next week.

The Bank of Thailand and commercial banks will also work out an action plan to promote credit card usage, he added. Popularity of cash creates high cost for banks and makes the entire system inefficient.

Meanwhile, on the baht appreciation, he said that the central bank is fully aware about the positive relationship between interest rates and baht value.

He conceded that the baht is a victiim of market volatility, as super power economies could not agree how to coordinate policies. For instance, Japan alone intervened the market to check the rise of the yen but the US presses China to revalue the yuan. Korn also said strong baht reflects sound fundamentals of Thai economy.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Police chief Wichean: Reds are allowed activities until 8 pm only. And in meantime they must not violate the law or set up stage. /via @tulsathit

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Red shirts block Rajprasong Intersection

Red-shirt protesters started blocking the Rajprasong Intersection at noon Sunday.

At 12:32 pm, the protesters on motorcycles reached the intersection.

The number of protesters was initially estimated at 2,000 and their number kept growing.

Police Commissioner-General Wichien Phojphosri said the protesters would be allowed to occupy the intersection until 8 pm but they would not be allowed to set up a stage.

-- The Nation 2010-09-19

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Just back from Ratchaprasong, I'd guess 3000 and growing. Cops totally outnumbered. /RT @seacorro /via @RichardBarrow

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Skywalk a chitlom packed! http://twitpic.com/2pw5b1 /via @Dany_k