Thailand Live Friday 1 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Friday 1 October 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 Thursday 30 September 2010

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People flock to welcome HM the King on his way to the concert

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thai people flocked to welcome HM the King on his way to attend a concert by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra held at the Phaetthayalai auditorium of Sirirat Hospital on Wednesday.

His Majesty the King accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn proceeded to attend the concert performed by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, held at Sirirat Hospital. It was the first time for HM the King to attend a concert following his admission to the hospital for treatment since 20 September 2009.

HM the King smiled and waved to the people in attendance along his way to the auditorium.

-- NNT 2010-10-01

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Thai PM to visit Myanmar after Nov 7 general election: FM Kasit

NEW YORK: -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to visit the neighbouring country of Myanmar after its general election on Nov 7, aiming to acknowledge its post-election policy and to hold talks with officials about the continued Thai-Myanmar border closure, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya, in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.

The minister said that as a result of the planned official visit, the prime minister will directly receive Myanmar's administrative strategy from its leaders after the completion of its first general election in two decades on Nov 7.

Mr Kasit added it is a good opportunity to express the international community’s concern over the continued detention of Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu kyi and other jailed opposition politicians as well as minority groups.

Meanwhile, the premier planned to negotiate with the Myanmar authorities about the ongoing Mae Sot-Myawaddy border closure in Tak province since July 12 that has jeopardised border trade between the two countries.

The foreign minister also said that bilateral cooperation to improve its transportation network connecting the two countries, customs clearance procedures and a follow-up about transportation construction projects financially supported by Thailand were other agenda items on the prime minister's official visit.

As Myanmar begins more free trade plans and would like private sectors to succeed some jobs from the Myanmar's state enterprise, the Thai government needs to acknowledge related measures, aiming to inform Thai private sectors interested in investing in the neighbouring country, Mr Kasit explained.

Earlier, the Thai premier's trip to Myanmar was first scheduled in July a year ago but was delayed as it coincided with the incident in which an American man swam across the lake to the home of pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi, who is confined under house arrest.

The planned visit to Myanmar in August was again postponed due to demanding schedules on the part between the leaders of the two countries. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-01

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Sanan to hold peace talk with Pheu Thai representatives

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Chief Advisor of Chart Thai Pattana Party, Major General Sanan Kajornprasart has agreed to discuss national reconciliation plan with representatives from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

Deputy House Speaker and Pheu Thai MP, Colonel Apiwan Wiriyachai disclosed on Thursday that Major General Sanan Pheu Thai Party Leader had confirmed his meeting with Yongyuth Wichaidit to discuss peace issue, while Pheu Thai Party senior adviser Gen. Chaowalit Yongchaiyuth has not yet agreed to participate in the talk.

Colonel Apiwan noted that he and the party would rather forge ahead with the reconciliation process than the acceleration of an Amnesty Bill.

-- NNT 2010-10-01

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Energy sources well secured

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Energy Minister MD Wannarat Channukul has confirmed strong security measures for energy sources in the wake of the frequent explosion and terror incitement in the country.

Regarding recent series of bombing at various government agencies and many other places, MD Wannarat ensured strong security measures for safety of electric power plants and gasoline pipelines following international standards.

The Minister admitted that he had not sought additional assistance from the police to help take care of the matter by now. He, nonetheless, noted that security measures for the premises had been tightened already to stay alert.

MD Wannarat continued that he personally believed that no one would destroy the energy system because people in general as well as the economy would be negatively affected if there was any energy shortage.

-- NNT 2010-10-01

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Bt5-bn plan for Thailand to produce own vaccines

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The National Vaccine Commission will ask the government to approve a Bt 5-billion plan to develop and produce a vaccine against seven deadly diseases: dengue haemorrhagic fever, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis type B, and tuberculosis - which affect thousands every year.

" If we could develop vaccines by ourselves, that would mean standing on our own feet and no longer depending on other countries for imported vaccine," Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday. Jurin was chair of the National Vaccine Commission following a committee meeting on vaccine development.

Currently, Thailand spends about Bt 3 billion a year importing vaccine.

If the government approved the plan, Thailand would spend 10 years developing and producing a dengue fever vaccine; two years for a vaccine cocktail against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus; four years for hepatitis type B; five years for Japanese encephalitis; and 10 years for a tuberculosis vaccine.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation will undertake the trial on hepatitis type B, Japanese encephalitis, and the cocktail against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.

Mahidol University will undertake trials on a dengue fever vaccine and the Thai Red Cross Society's Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute will produce tuberculosis vaccine on an industrial scale for export to Asia and Africa, where the disease has spread widely. It will also expand its BCG vaccine production plant.

Under the plan, Jurin will ask the government to set up a national institute to develop vaccines, establish a vaccine stockpile, and manufacture them.

Dr. Sutee Yoksan of Mahidol University's Centre for Vaccine Research, said his team of researchers has now developed live attenuated vaccine against four strains of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Since he started his project in 2005, his team could now produce a prototype dengue virus which combined types 1-4 which are the most common mosquito born disease in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region.

After testing the prototype dengue virus in animal trials - in long-tailed macaques - Sutee said the prototype vaccine, which is used to produce live attenuated vaccine, could boost immunity to a promising level.

He said his team had asked the government to allocate Bt150 million to support the building of a pilot plant to conduct clinical trials and produce dengue haemorrhagic fever.

He said if this pilot plant meets World Health Organisation certification, it could produce a vaccine to test in humans and for export to other countries facing outbreaks of either disease.

His team is now waiting to test vaccine in human trial in the next two years and expects to end the trial within eight years.

The first phase of human trial testing will involve 50 volunteers; the second will run to 400-500 volunteers; and the third phase will include over 1,000 volunteers in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Latin America.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Thai Democrats might get away on technicalities

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Viktor Bout's Extradition depends on Thai court ruling over charges

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Rayong protesters threaten 3-day rally over offenders' list

By Jumpol Nikhomrak,

Atchara Wisessri,

Jeerapong Prasertphonkrang

The Nation

Rayong

Stop Global Warming Association chairman Srisuwan Janya will today petition the Supreme Administrative Court against the Central Administrative Court's decision to let more than 70 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut resume operations.

Their operations had previously been suspended by an injunction ordered by the court while it was deliberating whether the projects failed to honour the constitutional clause on environmental pollution.

Meanwhile, More than 1,000 demonstrators kicked off their three-day rally in Rayong yesterday to protest the government's decision to declare just 11 industrial activities as having possible serious impacts on health and the environment.

The Network of Eastern People organised the rally in collaboration with its many allies, who brought members from faraway provinces like Phichit, Phetchabun, Ayutthaya and even Nakhon Si Thammarat.

"If there's no satisfactory response from the government, our rally will drag on for three days," Sutthi Atchasai said yesterday in his capacity as co-ordinator for the Network of Eastern People.

His group is demanding the government honour the recommendation by the four-partite panel, established by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to solve the Map Ta Phut crisis, that 18 industrial activities should be declared as having potentially serious impacts.

The rally yesterday started in front of the Rayong administrative centre, as two companies of police stood firm to ensure a peaceful gathering.

The demonstrators, well over 1,000 in number, rallied without blocking a road.

However, some in the afternoon paraded to the Rayong Public Health Office to demand the disclosure of information on how many people had fallen ill in the wake of serious pollution in Map Ta Phut.

They also threatened to move to the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, if the government failed to respond to their demands.

Abhisit yesterday stood by the decision to put just 11 industrial activities on the list of those having potential to seriously harm health and environment.

"There is no significant difference between the 18-activity list and the 11-activity list," he said.

He believed there was no point to protest against the 11-activity list.

Abhisit said Map Ta Phut problems today were more about how it could acquire efficient buffer zones between factories and communities. "Another main issue is about whether it can accommodate more industrial growth," he said.

Abhisit added that government representatives had been in talks with the demonstrators.

"Communications will finally clear up any misunderstanding," he said hopefully.

Abhisit also denied a report that four-partite panel chairman Anand Panyarachun, also a former prime minister, felt he was exploited after the panel's recommendation was ignored.

"It's not true. We have talked," the current premier said.

Abhisit added that even if all 18 activities were declared as having had serious impacts, someone would still have staged a protest.

"It's impossible to make everyone think alike. Therefore, when a problem erupts, we just need to talk and see how to solve it," Abhisit said, "There's no need for confrontation".

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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The challenge of A rising Thai baht amid global crisis

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Bank of Thailand (BoT) deputy chief quits in surprise move

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Supreme Patriarch lauded for propagation of religion

By The Nation

The Mahamakut Buddhist University yesterday honoured Supreme Patriarch His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara by saying that he is the role model for Buddhism propagation by founding religious missions overseas.

Deputy dean of the social science faculty, Phra Anil Thammasakiyo, made the comment at ''Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism in the 21st Century'' - an international conference being held at the Nakhon Pathom university to mark His Holiness' 97th birthday. The forum started yesterday and runs until today.

Phra Anil said the promotion of the Theravada tradition was lagging behind the Vajrayana or Mahayana sects because Thai temples overseas, despite their great number, mostly focused on Thais instead of locals. He also praised the Supreme Patriarch for establishing the training centre for promoters of the faith since 1966, thus helping the tradition become stronger in many countries including Indonesia and Australia.

Richard Gombrich, director of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies and chairman of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies, said the focus on ceremonies made it difficult for people to apply the tradition in real life and the tradition was presented more as a mental refuge rather than Buddha's teachings.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Would-be citizens block road in protest

By Boonluen Prompratarnkul

The Nation

Some 400 pending citizens yesterday blocked a road in Chumphon's Phato district to protest soldiers' refusal to let them drive to a meeting in Phatthalung.

The group was travelling on seven buses to attend a discussion today on applying for Thai citizenship, but soldiers manning the Pak Son checkpoint on the Ranong-Lang Suan section would not let them pass.

The group then sealed off a road near the checkpoint, causing hours of traffic jams. The protest continued into the night, but the road was clear for vehicles to pass through.

The leader, identified only as Farida, said the group's members had Thai identification cards with numbers starting with "0", meaning their citizenship was pending the verification process, and they should be able to move around freely.

But the troops treated them worse than Burmese migrant workers, who just presented their red passports to go anywhere in Thailand, she said.

About 3,000 people are waiting for verification in Ranong, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phang Nga and Tak. In 2002, these people established a network and pushed a Thai citizenship bill, which is now under Parliament's consideration, she said.

Captain Surasak Pheungyaem, head of a task force from the 25th Infantry Regiment, said the law stated that those awaiting verification must obtain permission from the district chief and governor and the group couldn't show such documents to the soldiers.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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FILM-ANNIE SAGA

Annie seeks police aid after receiving threat

By The Nation

Annie Brooke told the police yesterday that a threat had been made against her child.

The actress, who moved into a condominium after controversy erupted about whether heartthrob Rattapoom "Film" Tohkongsub is her son's father, said she received a call from someone threatening to steal her son and has asked patrol police to check on them.

Supensri Pungkoksung, from the Friends of Women Foundation, said members of her agency and a lawyer had visited Annie to offer mental support and legal assistance. Meanwhile, secretary-general of the Law Society of Thailand, Wanchai Sornsiri, said comments made by RS CEO Surachai Chetchotisak about Annie were within the frame of defamation, and she should file a police complaint or ask for help to file a civil lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai, who has tried to mediate between Film and Annie, said he had spoken to Annie yesterday morning, giving her moral support and advising her not to appear on television any more. He said he couldn't reach Film yet.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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THAI-BURMA JOINT BOUNDARY COMMITTEE

Politicisation of boundary issues complicates matters : JBC chief

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Chiang Rai

Chief of Thailand's Thai-Burmese Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) Vasin Teeravechyan yesterday called for the de-politicisation of boundary issues so officials could solve border disputes peacefully and maintain good relations with neighbours.

Speaking at a public hearing on the Thailand-Burma boundary demarcation in Chiang Rai, Vasin said the national policy clearly categorises boundary issues as a technical problem, which should be solved through technical expertise.

"Boundary issues can be solved legally and with technology. Politicisation makes the issue far too complicated," Vasin said.

In reference to the ongoing dispute after Burma shut down the border checkpoint at Myawaddy-Mae Sot in July, Vasin suggested a joint technical committee be set up to handle the problem.

Burma shut down the checkpoint in response to Thailand's construction of an embankment to prevent soil erosion along the Moei River, which affected the boundary line.

"We regard this issue as a technical problem which can be solved by negotiation and technical cooperation," Vasin said.

At an informal meeting on July 30, Burma agreed with Thailand's decision to set up a joint technical committee to solve the problems of rivers that border the two countries, but it has not yet chosen representatives for the body, he said.

Thailand and Burma share 2,401 kilometres, including 714km of water.

Of this border area, only 59km of the Mae Sai and Nam Ruak rivers in Chiang Rai are demarcated. The two countries have agreed to use a "fixed boundary" technique to demarcate the boundary in accordance with the 1991 memorandum of understanding.

However, setting a fixed boundary would not end the problem as rivers keep changing all the time. The flow of the river in several locations in Chiang Rai has changed even though the boundary line remains the same. This, however, has confused local residents who see the river as the boundary, an official at the Foreign Ministry said, adding that some residents had mistakenly built buildings on the boundary line or in Burmese territory, the official told the public hearing.

Furthermore, there are at least six locations along the border, which both countries have had problems demarcating due to geographical changes, construction by local people as well as different interpretations of treaties and maps.

The six locations included Kuteng-Nayong, Doi Lang-Doi Huay Ha, Moei River, Mae Konken, Three Pagoda and Ta Yim Island.

The Thai-Burma JBC was set up in 1993 to take care of boundary demarcation problems and it has left several issues unsettled since its meeting in 2005. Burma is supposed to be hosting the next meeting, but it has not scheduled it yet.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Sanan welcomed at Pheu Thai

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart Thursday received a warm welcome during his visit to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to sell his idea of reconciliation.

In a positive response similar to that from the People's Alliance for Democracy, the main opposition party voiced support for Sanan's push for fence mending. It also said it was not a direct party to the conflict and that it believed the true reconciliaton would hinge on the just enforcement of the law.

Sanan had the meeting with Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit. Pheu Thai chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh dropped by to greet the deputy prime minister but did not participate.

The Sanan team included his son and MP Siriwat Kachornprasart and another MP Asawin Wiphusiri. The Yongyuth side included two opposition lawmakers, Sunai Jullapongsathorn and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan.

Emerged from the meeting, Sanan said he was in the process to soliciting opinions from all sides in order to find a common ground to bring about reconciliation.

He said he felt encouraged to carry on his work because the main opposition party appeared supportive of his role as the facilitator.

At the meeting, Jatuporn had highlighted several greivances of the red shirts related to the violence erupted in April 2009 and May 2010, he said, pledging to look into the issued involved.

He said he was heartened that the opposition did not make any pre-conditions for reconciliation. In regard to the scheduling of his meetings, he said he would next hold a series of talks with every political party, the Election Commission and key academics, including those in Thammasat and Ramkhamhaeng universities.

Commenting on his planned talks, he said he would meet Abhisit Vejjajiva as the leader of the Democrat Party and not in his capacity as prime minister.

After concluding his talks with key players, he would then proceed to meet with fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Jatuporn priased Sanan as a veteran politician acceptable to all sides, voicing his approval for the role of facilitator.

As an ex-convict for political charges sharing the prison cell with red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong in 1977 and a barred party executive, Sanan could understand the plight of the red shirts, he said.

"I told Sanan that the reds will not object to reconciliation if the law is justly enforced on all parties involved - this means those responsible for ordering the crackdown must be prosecuted too; or if the country needs a fresh start, then everything should be revert back to before the 2006 coup," he said.

He said he saw Sanan as a glimmer of hope for opening a dialogue leading to a solution.

"I find it very difficult to find someone willing to talk," he said, in reference to Abhisit's refusal to negotiate with "terrorists", the labelling of the red shirts which he could not accept.

He said he deemed it impossible to strike a deal before addressing the injustice inflicted on 91 people killed and more than 2,000 injured.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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RECONCILIATION TALK

Talks with Pheu Thai 'positive' : Sanan

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Everyone should have a say in reform, says PM

By PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

All sectors should have a say in the national reform process and its success hinges on people's cooperation and acceptance, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday, despite the fact that the red shirts are boycotting the reform process and have set up a parallel one.

Abhisit, speaking at the annual seminar organised by the National Economic and Social Advisory Board on national reform, said the reform committees would most likely have something concrete to propose by the end of the year. The chiefs of all these panels were chosen by the PM.

The prime minister added that the National Economic and Social Development Board should include the committees' recommendations into its five-year development plan as reform will take years to achieve.

He admitted that the political division had quickly turned into social division and reform was needed to bring out a new approach in dealing with problems.

Abhisit said that by 2016 or 2017, Thailand should have an integrated welfare policy including a farmers' saving fund as well as a national saving fund.

Speaking on environmental reform, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said the environment could only be dealt with if the livelihood of farmers is addressed first, this way they can protect the environment with a full stomach.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said that though the disparity of income is a real issue to be tackled and is likely to persist, Thai society should try to give everyone equal opportunities.

He said many people did not have access to loans at a fair rate, and that poor people had to pay a higher interest rate than the rich. Also, financial discipline is needed among people and the Thai government needs to be more efficient in using allocated budgets so projects are more effective.

Paiboon Wattanasiritham, a member of the National Reform Assembly Committee, said the current crisis was coming from within society, and that it would take a few decades for real reform to materialise.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Interior probe into alleged graft may miss deadline

By THE NATION

A senior Interior Ministry official who is leading an investigation into alleged irregularities against a would-be permanent secretary said yesterday that the probe might not be completed within two weeks as ordered by the interior minister.

Vibul Sanguanpong, deputy permanent secretary for Interior, said he would call the first meeting of his investigative panel next Tuesday to set up a framework for the mission, adding that summons would be sent out to involved people and related documents.

His panel's mission is to determine whether Mongkol Surasatja, whose appointment as the next permanent secretary for Interior was suspended by the premier, was actually involved in irregularities regarding the purchase of computers for the ministry.

"We will see if the findings are sufficient for a conclusion of the investigation. I may not be strict about the time, but I will try to finish it as soon as possible," he said, in reference to an instruction from Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul for the probe to be completed in two weeks.

Vibul joked that there were many more complaints of irregularities involving the Interior Ministry.

During the House of Representatives meeting yesterday, an opposition MP questioned Chaovarat about the "problematic" appointments of many senior officials in the ministry.

Pheu Thai MP Pongpan Sunthornchai said that certain appointees were not sufficiently senior or qualified for their new posts and suggested that Interior Ministry officials close to certain senior figures in the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party appeared to have been "rewarded".

Both Chaovarat and his deputy, Boonjong Wongtrairat, are from Bhum Jai Thai.

The opposition MP said at the House meeting that he suspected favouritism was behind several appointments of senior ministry officials, including those of some provincial governors. He also noted that there were allegations that as much as Bt10 million had been offered in exchange for a senior post.

Boonjong, responding to the question on Chaovarat's behalf, said all the right regulations, both those of the ministry and civil service, have been followed in the appointments of provincial governors and other senior officials.

Pongpan also alleged that Interior Ministry officials close to politicians from the Chidchob family appeared to have been given coveted seats despite their lack of seniority. He mentioned the newly appointed governor of Pathum Thani province, Thanee Samartjit, who worked closely with Saksayam Chidchob, chief of the interior minister's working group who is also the younger brother of Bhum Jai Thai's de-facto leader Newin Chidchob.

Boonjong dismissed allegations of bribery, saying such allegations had never been proven. He advised people who are unhappy about the appointments to petition the Civil Service Commission or file cases with the Administrative Court.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Overstay! Pattaya One strongly stands by Immigration story

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Pattaya One Forum Opens On Thaivisa.com

1st October 2010

Pattaya One’s interactive forum has opened in the Pattaya section of ThaiVisa.com’s website

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/157-pattayaone/

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Police urgently negotiate with 40 men who closed Suvarnabhumi parking lot in airport taxi concession conflict /MCOT

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5.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off northern Taiwan, no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning is issued /MCOT

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Chinese Murder Suspect Arrested In Thailand After 11 Years At Large

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Zone 2 Parking Lot at Airport Closed off by Armed Men

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Forty men who closed Suvarnabhumi airport parking lot in concession conflict disperse, situation returns to normal: Police /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 980.20, up 4.90 points /MCOT

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Ranger injured in attack by insurgents in Yala

YALA: - A ranger was injured when insurgents mounted an attack at a ranger post in this southern border province Thursday night, police reported Friday morning.

Police said an unknown number of insurgents opened fire at the Ranger Taskforce 4147 in Moo 2 village of Tambon Bacho in Bacho district at 8:15 pm.

Ranger Masak Kritayeh, 38, was injured and rushed to the Yala Provincial Hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-10-01

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Police chief believes mentally ill person made bomb threat call to Siriraj Hospital; confident in ability to control situation; no sign of violence in Oct /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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Political tensions in Thailand not affecting foreign business sentiment

Greg Lange, CEO of Sunbelt Asia interviewed

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/402530-political-tensions-in-thailand-not-affecting-foreign-business-sentiment/