Thailand Live Thursday 23 Sep 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Thursday 23 September 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 22 September 2010

[webfact]

Tourism Development Office changed into Department of Tourism

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has changed the name of the Tourism Development Office into the Department of Tourism, for more convenience in working with other agencies.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Development Office has been changed to the Department of Tourism. The new name helps in gaining support from other organizations.

Meanwhile, in 2011 the Department of Tourism has prepared to gather in-depth tourism information of each province so as to set up a data base on locations, restaurants, hotels, and transportation. The project will be conducted during 2012-2014 under an operation budget of 50 million THB for each area. Phuket, Pattaya, Chiangmai and Hua Hin will be the first areas where the project will be launched.

The Department of Tourism has received a net budget for 2011 operation at about 700 million THB. The budget has been allocated to several projects to be conducted such as 470 million THB for tourism resources development and restoration, 70 million THB for human resource development, and 80 million THB for tourism standard development.

-- NNT 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Tak Police Chief Probed over Video Clip Scandal

The National Police Office has set up a committee to investigate the case of a video clip showing the Tak provincial police chief making advances towards his female subordinate in office.

The officer in question could face dismissal if the clip is proven true.

Police spokesman Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri spoke of the video clip showing the Tak provincial police chief making an amorous approach towards his female subordinate in office.

Prawut said national police chief Police General Wichien Podposri has ordered the commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 6 to investigate the case and report the result to him within three days.

Wichien also issued an urgent order to transfer the officer in question to the Provincial Police Bureau 6 headquarters.

The spokesman further said police will determine whether the video clip was doctores as claimed by the accused officer.

If the probe, shows the clip is authentic, the officer could face maximum penalty of dismissal.

Prawut added a committee has been set up to gather more evidence while people involved, including the woman in the clip, will be called in for an inquiry.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-23

[webfact]

PM: Missing RPGs may have been sold to foreign countries

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday the initial investigation found that the rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) stolen from Lopburi arsenal might have been sold to foreign countries.

The premier commented after the army chief confirmed 30 RPGs had disappeared from the army's arsenal and two suspects were apprehended.

Mr Abhisit said the official involved will be disciplined for the arms theft.

"I don't think such a case occurred just once," said Mr Abhisit. "This problem has been mentioned for a period of time and I have stressed that people involved must be held accountable or the problem will not end."

When asked whether the stolen arms are part of transnational weapons trading, the premier said further investigation must be made but conceded that initial reports indicated as much, though an official conclusion has yet to be made.

In a related development, police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said the police are speeding up the investigation to find those responsible for the missing RPGs, but to date there has been no report of their use in recent bombings. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Police Collect Evidence for Condo Blast

Police are examining footage from surveillance cameras in their hunt for suspects in the bomb attack at a condominium in central Bangkok yesterday.

Deputy spokesperson for the National Police Office, Police Major General Piya Uthayo, said investigators are going through footage from security cameras around Supawadee Condominium to identify suspects in yesterday's bomb attack there.

Piya stated investigators have yet to determine any possible motive behind the crime, whether a personal conflict, attempt to stir chaos or a political matter.

He said the condominium has not been listed among locations prone to terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai has dispatched an investigation team to collect more evidence around the crime scene to be used in the investigation.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-23

[webfact]

PM to Meet Hun Sen in New York

The prime minister says he will meet his Cambodian counterpart on the sideline of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss key bilateral issues.

Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he will have a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during their participation in the United Nations's 65th General Assembly in New York to discuss the Phrea Vihear dispute and other issues.

Abhisit insisted his government still have the same stance of preserving and protecting the country's sovereignty and the solution to the border dispute will rely on a peaceful basis to prevent violence and adverse affects on the two countries's relations.

The prime minister said he will ask Cambodia to honor the agreements in the memorandum of understanding countersigned by the two countries in 2000 to settle their conflict over the area around the Phrea Vihear Temple.

Abhist also said related agencies have already examined the speculation on Cambodia's disapproval of the Thai army's planned renovation of Surin's Ta Meon Thom Temple.

The site is also one of the disputed locations Thailand and Cambodia claim ownership.

Abhisit believed his meeting with the Cambodian leader will bring better understanding between the two countries.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-23

[webfact]

INTERIOR

Few choices if Mongkhol dropped

By Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation

Pranai

Pranai Suwannarat and Phanu Uthairat are the only deputy ministers eligible to act as the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry if Mongkhol Surasajja cannot take office by October 1.

Among the six other deputies, one is retiring, two are taking other posts and three were just promoted and are not yet qualified to become the top official at the ministry.

Incumbent Manit Watthanasen sees off his career on September 30 and Mongkhol has been appointed to succeed him, but is facing an investigation into a computer project.

Pranai is a protégé of former permanent secretary Phongphayome Wasaphooti and has held many significant positions, including as director of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). However, Phongphayome is not popular with the current leadership at the ministry.

Phanu is close to Saksiam Chidchob, head of the political staff at the ministry and a brother of Newin, the de facto ruler of the Bhum Jai Thai Party, whose leader Chavarat Chanveerakul is the interior minister.

A source said Pranai was likely to excuse himself, while Phanu would be too busy with his extra responsibilities at the SBPAC.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday appointed an independent panel to look into the Bt3.4-billion computer-leasing deal.

The one-month deadline for the completion of the probe extends beyond October 1, the day Mongkhol is officially scheduled to take his new post.

Deputy Interior Minister Bunchon Wangtrairat said Chavarat would soon decide among senior officials from the ministry, the Auditor-General's Office and the Attorney-General's Office.

He denied that the probe was meant to whitewash Mongkhol, as most panel members were outsiders who were not supposed to fear any reprisal for fully performing their duties.

Chavarat had earlier shown frustration at reporters asking whom he would select as acting permanent secretary, citing Article 49 of a law that offered an alternative to appointing Mongkhol to assume the post unofficially.

When reporters cited Article 44 of the same law stating otherwise, and allowing only a deputy to take the acting post, Chavarat said, "No more questions. Enough. No more comments now," and walked away.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

WEAPONS DEPOT THEFT

Military officials 'involved'

By The Nation

A group of military and civilian contract officials were behind the theft of rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun ammunition from a weapons depot in Lop Buri province, Army commander General Anupong Paochinda said yesterday.

He said scientifically based evidence had been collected from the scene, a depot supervised by the Army's Ordnance Department, while an investigation of on-duty personnel was ongoing.

"Initial results show that officials inside took part in the theft, with help and coordination from outsiders. The weapons allotted to all combat units are intact but the theft took part under the depot's responsibility."

The depot is charged with storing of weapons, not the unit that uses them. The storage is supervised through contracted security, not through military command. We need to look into the matter thoroughly on how security can be handled effectively through private contracting," he explained.

News reports cited different numbers of RPG rockets missing, ranging from 30 to 39. Many other media reports missed referring to 8,000 5.56-mm rounds for M-16 assault rifles and a large number of 7.62-mm bullets for the M-60 machine-gun, which are also reported missing in Army documents.

Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Aphichart Phenkitti said the weapons were possibly stolen to be sold to foreign buyers. "The theft should not have anything to do with regular bomb attacks relating to political conflict," he said, without citing evidence or references to back up his statements.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said initial reports given to him suggested the weapons were stolen to be sold "to the outside", and declined to give details when asked whether the buyers were in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the government is expected on October 5 to review the state of emergency in seven provinces, including Bangkok - and the regulations might be lifted in some areas, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

"The lifting of emergency rule will hinge on the security assessment report submitted by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Worries over vaccine drought as flu returns

By The Nation

Published on September 23, 2010

Government Pharmaceutical Organisation chairman Dr Vichai Chokewiwat yesterday expressed concern about a possible shortage of vaccine doses for type-A (H1N1) influenza, and urged authorities to tackle the problem quickly.

Vichai said the Public Health Ministry had sent 2.1 million doses of the vaccine to the provinces, meaning Bangkok people might have difficulty accessing it.

He said Bangkok was facing a third round in the type-A (H1N1) outbreak.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr Malinee Sukvejvorakij yesterday convened a meeting with hospitals and universities to prepare for efficient control of this communicable disease.

"We are going to launch a campaign in a bid to raise public awareness about it," she said.

The campaign will start at 10am tomorrow at the Hua Lamphong train station.

"Then, our campaign will reach Skytrain stations, subway stations, and Airport Link stations too," Malinee said.

The number of type-A (H1N1) flu patients in Bangkok this year has reached 1,300 - 40 per cent of whom are children aged over six.

"Next month, many children from the provinces will head to the capital for tutorial classes. As a result, we will soon invite operators of tutorial schools to a meeting on preventive measures," she said.

Meanwhile, Office of the Higher Education Commission secretary-general Dr Sumet Yamnoon said it would soon send out information instructing all universities to educate their students about how to protect themselves from the type-A (H1N1) flu.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Thai-made artificial eyeballs effective

By The Nation

Artificial eyeballs made in Thailand have proved effective in clinical trials, Mettapracharak Watraikhing Hospital director Dr Pannet Panphuttiphong said yesterday.

His hospital has been involved with a project to produce polyethylene artificial eyeballs, in collaboration with the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre (MTEC).

The product has passed safety tests and checks by ophthalmologists.

In clinical trials, the products were implanted in 15 patients. Of them, six were women.

"After the operations, they are healthy," Pannet said, "There's no infection and the eyeballs do not slip out."

Currently, a cheap artificial eyeball costs a few hundreds of baht. However, such artificial eyeballs are prone to slipping out. Users also cannot roll these artificial eyeballs.

Patients who want high-quality artificial eyeballs thus have to rely on imported products, each of which costs around Bt29,000.

These imported artificial eyeballs are made of hydroxyapatite.

Pannet said the Thailand-made artificial eyeballs cost around Bt22,000 each.

MTEC researcher Dr Jintamai Suwanprateeb said the high-quality eyeballs would raise patients' quality of life.

"Our technology can create eyeballs that meet individual needs, too," she said.

However, before launching the Thailand-made eyeballs in the commercial market, the relevant agencies plan to first compare their cost-effectiveness with the imported polyethylene artificial eyeballs.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Anupong to stay out of politics and away from press

By The Nation

Army chief General Anupong Paochinda said yesterday he had two retirement resolutions - keeping out of politics and staying away from media.

"I am giving you a straight answer - after retiring, I want to do two things - keep as far away from politics as possible and keep away from the press," he said.

Anupong is scheduled to step down on September 30. He said he worked to the fullest extent of his capability during his career with the military, and it was now time to pass the torch on to young people.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony held to honour 175 retiring generals at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS

Two rangers injured in Pattani attack

By The Nation

Pattani - Two rangers were wounded when suspected insurgents attacked a school in this southern border province yesterday.

The casualties were identified as Somsong Jamsen, 29, and Chamnan Thongrod, 35.

About seven or eight militants on a pickup truck and another group hiding by the roadside opened fire at the 44th Ranger Post located inside Bang Thung Yangdaeng School for about 10 minutes before retreating.

When police rushed to the scene to reinforce the rangers, a motorcycle bomb was detonated to try to slow them down, but no one was hurt.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Court drops defamation suit

By The Nation

The Court of Appeals yesterday upheld a lower court's decision to drop the criminal defamation lawsuit lodged by a woman against a doctor, who had earlier alleged that this woman had duped him of millions of baht through psychological therapeutic measures.

The judges said Pemika Weerachatraksi did not clearly specify Dr Prakitphao Thomchitchong in the lawsuit claiming that he accused her of conning him through means such as group hypnosis.

In a much-publicised news report three years ago, Pemika allegedly used various psychological means, coupled with medication, to persuade Prakitphao to give her large amounts of money and assets worth millions of baht. Prakitphao owns a well-known private tutorial institute.

After undergoing treatment at a mental institute, Prakitphao said publicly on several occasions that he had been hypnotised and medicated into believing that he and Pemika were lovers in their past lives and later gave her lots of money.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Chemical leak forces school to send students home

By Monthien Inthaket

A leak of hair bleach chemicals from a nearby factory forced a Bangkok school to temporarily close and evacuate its students yesterday. However, no one was harmed.

Parents pick up their children at Somapanussorn School yesterday after health officers warned teachers to evacuate the school as leaking chemical fumes spread from a nearby building in soi Ramkhamhaeng 104.

After a chemical spill, smoke and fumes escaped from the four-storey commercial building of Beauty Professional Business, a store for hair bleach products in soi Ramkhamhaeng 104 in Saphansung district.

Phaithoon Ngammuk, sanitation technical officer of the health department at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said the leaking chemicals included potassium sulphate and sodium sulphate. Both react to humidity which caused the chemicals and smoke to spread, threatening irritation to human respiratory systems and eyes.

Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand secretary-general Chatree Charoencheevakul said the department's officers warned Somapanussorn School opposite the building to evacuate its kindergarten and primary students after the wind caused smoke to spread towards them.

Chatree said no one was harmed by the chemical spill.

Chalongchai Phummala, 52, head of the company's human resources department, said he had earlier ordered staff to remove the stored chemicals but they had leaked before work began.

The products will be taken to Ratchaburi province later for destruction.

Phaithoon said heat or rats had probably torn the products' packages and caused the chemical reaction.

Police said the company did not have a storage permit, and most of the products had expired. They would investigate causes of the chemical leak and summon and question company owner, Phumchana Phummala.

Police said that they would await test reports from the Health Department and the district office before pressing charges.

Chatree urged people who face similar emergency incidents to call 1669 around the clock to warn of trouble or ask for first aid advice.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

DAYLIGHT MURDER

Chief prosecutor's wife killed over land deal: DSI

By The Nation

The wife of the chief prosecutor in Surat Thani, who was shot dead on a public bus in Ratchaburi on Tuesday night, was killed over a land purchase deal with a man identified as the father of a Cabinet member, the Department of Special Investigation and local police said yesterday.

Suchada Kleepbua had paid Bt10 million to an unnamed person to buy 1,200 rai of land from him in a deal worth Bt25 million, but she later withheld payment of the balance after the seller offered her a different plot near a mountainous area in the western province.

The victim, 46, had earlier queried the legality of the new land on offer, suspecting it was located on a sloped area with an incline greater than 25 degrees, which is regarded state-owned and not transferable. She brought up the issue with the DSI and the military.

A DSI source said the seller had allegedly unlawfully acquired a large amount of state-owned land, and leased it to rubber planters. This person had also filed a complaint with police accusing the military of dredging state-owned land, reportedly as revenge after the military began looking into his land acquisition following Suchada's meeting with the DSI.

Suchada, wife of prosecutor Thiti Khumrak, was scheduled to meet with the DSI leadership next Monday to provide more details on the deal.

At 6pm on Monday, Suchada was on a bus travelling to the land plot she had bought in Suen Phueng district. A lone gunman boarded the bus, grabbed her by the hair and fired three shots into her head. He jumped off the bus and fled amid screaming and panic from the other passengers.

Maj-General Weerasak Raksasab, an Army specialist based in Ratchaburi, said there were many financiers funding land-grabbing schemes there. He identified them as coming mostly from the South, working with officials from many ministries and departments.

The DSI and Surasee Taskforce, an Army unit based on the border with Burma, are taking action against large-scale land-grabbing schemes in the province. Around 3,000 rai of land in sloped areas had been dredged, in addition to vast areas elsewhere.

The Ratchaburi police and a police taskforce are working jointly to hunt down the gunman, dressed partly in military camouflage, who they said probably belonged to a local gun-for-hire racket. A sketch of the suspect will soon be released.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Thai Telecoms still face risks if 3G auction gets OK

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Amnesty will not guarantee Thailand's national reconciliation

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Wayward Thai youths learn from the example of adults

Follow this link:

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Is Sanan preparing to be Thai PM?

Follow this link:

[webfact]

FOOD AND DRUG ASSOCIATION

Pet-shop owners warned about over-the-counter drugs

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday warned pet-shop owners at Chatuchak weekend market to register with the FDA before trying to sell medication for pets.

In addition, medication being sold at the stalls did not have FDA approval. Pet-shop owners who do not have a licence to sell drugs will be fined Bt10,000 and/or given five years in prison, while those who sell drugs that are not registered will be fined Bt5,000 and could face up to three years in jail, FDA drug control division director Vinit Atsawawithee said.

He was speaking at a meeting with pet-shop owners at the FDA building. In a recent survey of 50 pet shops at Chatuchak market, the FDA found that most of them were selling drugs and vaccines for animals, but that only one shop had a licence to do so.

Orn-Anong Hengcharoen, also from the FDA drug control division, said pills for heartworm and prevention measures for ticks and fleas were the most popular drugs sold at the market. Most of the drugs are produced in Thailand, but there are no details about the manufacturers.

"We cannot investigate the companies because there are no details," she said.

The FDA was told that a person known as "Single Artist" was the supplier but had now disappeared.

Orn-Anong said the FDA had received many complaints about the quality of the drugs being sold at Chatuchak market, especially rabies vaccines, because not only do they not prevent the infection, they are not effective in stopping transmission of the disease from dogs to humans.

-- The Nation 2010-09-23

[webfact]

Thai Deputy PM Sanan talks peace with Sondhi

Follow this link:

[webfact]

CURRENCY

Thai Baht will further rise despite measures: Korn

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Supreme Administrative Court rejects NTC's appeal against 3G injunction. /via TR @can_nw /via @tulsathit

The Supreme Administrative Court says although 3G auction is for public interest, it must be legitimate. /via @tulsathit

The Supreme Admin Court has given its verdict to halt 3G auction; citing although its for public interest, it must stand on legitimacy. /voa @TAN_network

[webfact]

URGENT: Thai Supreme Administrative Court Rejects NTC's Appeal Against 3G Injunction

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 949.17, up 4.17 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Sweden's Strongest Beer Brewed at 18.5 Percent

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Fish farming forum underway in Phuket

Follow this link:

[webfact]

American Arrested In Bizarre ‘Marijuana Announcement’ Pattaya Bust

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai Police and US DEA Announce Operation “Hot Spot” in Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Police arrest employee at Lopburi arsenal, three companions, for alleged theft of RPGs; seeking one more suspect /via @MCOTEnglishnews