Thailand Live Thursday 14 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 14 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 Wednesday 13 October 2010

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Police to Keep Watch on Oct 14 Anniversary Activities

Two companies of police will be deployed to maintain security at Thammasat University and the Democracy Monument on the anniversary of the October 14, 1973, student-led political uprising.

Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Chaktip Chaijinda, has ordered commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai, to oversee security at the rallies marking the anniversary of the October 14, 1973 student led political uprising incident at Thammasat University and the Democracy Monument.

The police plan to deploy two companies of personnel to maintain peace and order.

Chaktip has expressed confidence that there will be no unruly incidents.

The commissioner also commented on a claim made by Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn that 28 red shirt militants have infiltrated Bangkok and are waiting to stage an attack, saying that at the moment no plot has been uncovered but intelligence units are keeping a close watch on all public sites.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-14

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Canceling 2 million tons of rice contract

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Prime Minister has confirmed that the 2 million-ton rice deal will be terminated if the private company in China can not take delivery of the lot within 5 months.

Prime Minister Abisit Vejjajiva has said if M. T. Trade Center, a Chinese company, requests a delivery time extension, from 5 months to 18 months, as widely speculated; the government will cancel the contract. Government policies do not allow any private company to extend the contract in terms of delivery taking. If that is the case, the deal will be handed to other private companies.

The Prime Minister has already emphasized with Mr Trairong Suwankiri, the Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President of the National Rice Policy Committee, that every deal must be carried out in accordance with the law.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

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PM believes this year GDP will grow by 7-8 percent

BANGKOK (NNT) -- This year's Gross National Product( GDP) can grow by 7-8 percent, following an official assessment that exports will expand up to 20 -30 percent, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva According to the Prime Minister, the Thai economy will expand by 7-8 percent this year, much higher than the 4-5 percent growth projected earlier. The growth is attributed to the nation's export sector, which has grown by 20-30 percent.

Part of the growth is due to the recent ASEAN summit, during which members countries joined hand pushing ahead with the establishment of several trade zones as well as forming economic partnership with India, China, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

Moreover, trading among ASEAN countries has expanded rapidly; it is considered as one of the most important factors that helped restore the economy in Asia.

The Prime Minister also said that the GDP of the 10 ASEAN countries will be worth over 2.5 trillion dollars in 5 years' time, which will be one of the world's biggest economies, making it one of the most important players in the world economy.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

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The suspect in the RPG case has turned himself in

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The owner of the rocket-propelled grenade( RPG) found in an apartment near the Phue Thai Party headquarters has turned himself in. He denied all charges.

Suksant Rangwiren, who is said to have been the owner of the RPG discovered in an apartment near the Opposition headquarters, yesterday turned himself in to the police in Chumphon province. He, however, denied any wrongdoing, saying he rented the apartment when he was working as a security guard at the Party; but quit and went back to his hometown of Sakon Nakorn last May. When he found out that he had been wanted by the police, he turned himself in.

The accused has been charged with illegal possession of war weapons and held at the Bangrak police station for further interrogation.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

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CAT Telecom is loosing revenue

BANGKOK (NNT) -- CAT Telecom has incurred a loss of over 1.6 billion baht in the first eight months as a result of decrease in concession fee.

According to CAT Telecom Chief Executive Officer Jirayuth Rungsrithong, the company earned 31.657 billion during the first eight months of this year, ten billion of which came from its own operations; the other 21 billion, or 60% of its total income, was from concession fees. After deducting the expenses, the company was in the red by 1.687 baht. The loss was attributed to a decrease of 260 million bah in income from its concessionaires, which included DTAC ,True Move, and other minor partners. The delays in the acquisition of Hutchison and the expansion of its multimedia project also caused heavy losses to the company.

-- NNT 2010-10-14

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Arms Suspect Surrenders to Police

The city police are preparing to extend their probe after a suspect in the illegal arms possession case at an apartment room near the former Pheu Thai headquarters turned himself in to the Chumphon police before he was brought to Bangkok for further interrogation.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Chakthip Chaichinda revealed that Suksan Rungwiren, a suspect in the illegal arms possession case, is being detained in Bangkok.

Suksan rented an apartment room near the former Pheu Thai headquarters, where an RPG rocket launcher, grenades, as well as AK bullets were found.

The apartment owner found the weapons when the room was inspected after Suksan disappeared.

The suspect turned himself in to the Chumphon police earlier before being transferred to the Bang Rak police station in Bangkok and detained there.

Investigators are preparing to charge him and carry out further interrogation to find more accomplices in the crime.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-14

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Bangkok Eye to be taller than London Eye

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Viktor Bout takes plea to Thai Appeals Court

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NONTHABURI BLAST

PM calls for caution in public

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RED SHIRTS HARDCORE

Red-Shirt leader Jatuporn to sue actor Methee for defamation

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New police statues to wave at Bangkok motorists

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Progress in breaking deadlock over malpractice bill

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Public Health Ministry has come up with five initial changes aimed at resolving the conflict between the medical profession and a patients' network over the controversial draft bill for the protection of medical-malpractice victims.

Permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit yesterday said the ministry on Tuesday held a fourth meeting of a special panel tasked with resolving the dispute.

He said 11 aspects of the draft bill had needed resolution. The meeting was able to resolve five of these, including changing the title of the draft legislation from the Medical Malpractice Victims Protection Bill to the Public Health System Services Error Victims Protection Bill, as the latter would cover both patients and doctors under the country's public-health system.

The meeting also agreed to revise the make-up of the committee that would manage the "no-fault fund" under the bill. Paijit said there would now be an equal number of representatives from medical service providers, medical profession associations and patients' networks on the panel.

He said there needed to be a further meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, to work out ways to solve the remaining six issues. The revised draft will then be submitted to Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.It will also be forwarded to the government's chief whip, Witthaya Kaewparadai, for consideration by the House of Representatives.

"I think there was much progress [at Tuesday's meeting] in the debate between the two sides," he added.However, Dr Oraphan Methadilokkul, a vice president of the Federation of Healthcare Workforce of Thailand, said she opposed the resolutions reached at the meeting.

She argued that most of the participants were not members of the committee tasked with resolving the conflict.

The chairwoman of the patients' network, Preeyanan Lorsermwattana, who attended the meeting, said she also opposed the resolutions that were reached.

She said she did not agree with the change in the bill's title, as the purpose of the legislation is to protect and compensate patients affected by medical errors.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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Pay Thai teachers better for smarter kids, advises UNESCO director

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Human-trafficking gang cracked in Laos-Thai operation

By Visith Chuanpipatpong

Three members of a human-trafficking gang were arrested yesterday for luring 12 Laotian women into prostitution in Lop Buri, while a Burmese woman and her two male accomplices were arrested in Bangkok's Lat Phrao area for allegedly forcing at least seven women into prostitution in Prachin Buri.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai and Laos Ambassador Uone Phommachak presented Khanong Chiewcharn, 49, Anusit Lertlon, 26, and Thanawat Wattana, 21, to the press yesterday. The three men were subordinates of Pairoj Sukpitak, 47, a previously arrested human-trafficking suspect and patron of the Chanathip karaoke bar.

Khanong and Anusit were arrested in Lop Buri, while Thanawat was nabbed in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district.

They all face charges of forcing women into prostitution, procuring minors, as well as molestation, physical and mental assault.

The arrests stemmed from a police raid of the bar and the subsequent rescue of 12 Laotian girls - all under 18 - who were being detained at Holiday Inn Hotel in Muang Lop Buri. At press time, Pairoj and six subordinates were arrested, but the five women from Laos, who reportedly lured the girls and delivered them to Pairoj, are still at large.

Laos Ambassador Uone said this was just one of the many human-trafficking cases that both countries were jointly working to crack. Affirming that Laos had tough laws against human trafficking, he said a hunt was on for the remaining accomplices.

Thirty minutes later, Issara hosted another press conference to announce the arrest of a Burmese woman, identified as Duan, 23, and two Thai men called Warodom Kayankan, 27, and Thanawat Boonrong, 35. The three were arrested at an apartment in Lat Phrao. Police also rescued seven women aged between 16 and 20 who were being held against their wishes at the apartment. Of the seven women, one is a Laos national and two Burmese.

Also presented as evidence was Bt38,700 in cash, five mobile phones, a Honda Jazz car, a fake Thai ID card under the name of Patcharee Pattanapreedakul that was used by Duan, 42 coupons for sexual services, three account books and receipts for services rendered.

The crackdown took place after police received a complaint from a 17-year-old victim, saying Duan and Thanawat had forced her into prostitution at the Spicy karaoke bar in Prachin Buri's Kabin Buri district. The three suspects reportedly told police that they had delivered the women to the karaoke bar, but claimed they did not own the bar and had not forced them to sell sexual services.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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PHUKET

Fire on diving boat injures 7

By The Nation

Phuket

A fire broke out on a diving boat during a maintenance session yesterday morning, injuring seven repairmen, one of them seriously.

All the victims were rushed to the Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The fire engulfed the West Coast Divers' boat, Ladawan 2, at around 10.50am, causing about Bt10 million in damages.

"The boat can seat about 30 passengers," a company official Somjai Karndee said. "It has been in service for about eight or nine years already."

According to her, the boat was used six months of the year to transfer tourists from Phang Nga to the Similan Islands.

"The other six months it stayed docked in Phuket, while maintenance work was done on it," she said.

Ladawan 2 was taken out of its mooring yesterday to undergo maintenance because it was scheduled to start doing the Phang Nga-Similan Islands run from November 1. The cause of the fire still remains unclear.

A worker said a spark from welding work being done on an exhaust pipe might have started the fire.

Another witness Pratuang Boonrod said he heard an explosion before seeing the injured people being rushed out of the boat.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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HOUSE SESSION

Bill on national pension scheme passes first reading

The House yesterday passed its first reading of the National Saving Fund Bill and told the 36-member committee to scrutinise the draft provisions, paving the way for its final passage.

The bill is designed to offer retirement benefits to workers not covered by the civil service, the Provident Fund or social security.

Under the draft, workers between the ages of 20 and 60, who are not entitled to benefits under the existing schemes, can make monthly contributions of Bt100 to Bt1,000 to get a pension upon retirement. The government is obliged to match their savings.

In a debate leading to the approval of the first reading, Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvikrom voiced concerns about paying retirement benefits from the ages of 60 to 80.

Warong questioned what would happen to those who live beyond 80 and those who die before getting the full benefits. He urged the vetting panel to rewrite the bill and extend the coverage to life.

Pheu Thai MP Santi Chaiwirattana, meanwhile, cast doubts on whether the government would be in a financial position to meet liabilities incurred by the fund. He also suggested that the fund be restricted to seeking earnings via debt security and avoid speculative investment.

Another opposition lawmaker, Cholanan Srikaew, voiced concerns that the fund excluded workers who did not have a regular income.

Puea Pandin MP Waemahadee Waeda-oh said some draft provisions went against Islamic law. For example, the benefits are to be distributed equally among the children if a fund member dies, though Muslim law requires that more money be allocated to sons than to daughters, he said.

He added that the draft should be rectified to allow Muslim contributors to withdraw from their funds for the purpose of charity.

In his justification of the bill, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the government would keep its liability at about Bt23 billion, or 1 per cent of the annual budget, and thus within its financial limits.

Korn said he was open to the draft being rewritten in relation to the allocation of the fund's investment portfolios to ensure financial stability and sustainability.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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RECONCILIATION

Sanan, Snoh join up to promote reconciliation

By Kanittha Thapphajorn

The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart and Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong, both veteran politicians, have agreed that forming a national government was a promising option for reconciliation.

"The rifts can be mended if a 'government for the nation' is formed, with some leaders from the government and some from Pheu Thai Party holding hands and reaching out to the people," Snoh said.

He said this would be "a government for the people".

Sanan, who is also chief adviser for the Chart Thai Pattana Party, has been visiting politicians to discuss reconciliation and has been promoting the idea of forming a national government to run the country for a while now.

Snoh, meanwhile, said: "Let's talk like brothers and sisters, and not repeat mistakes. The country has some rules we have to respect. Lawbreakers and wrongdoers should be convicted. However, their punishment could be reduced for the sake of reconciliation."

Some Pheu Thai MPs, including deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, opposition chief whip Wittaya Buranasiri and MP Prakiat Nasimma, were invited to join yesterday's session at Snoh's house.

At the meeting, Sanan said the first priority would be talking to each other nicely.

Sanan is scheduled to meet key members of the Puea Pandin Party today, and said he would visit the military top brass and the Democrats by the end of next week.

He said he expected all parties, including the public, to welcome his talks. However, he said, he would not reveal the content of the talks to Kanit na Nakorn's Truth and Reconciliation Committee, because it was an independent panel and not a stakeholder as such.

Sanan said he expected some conclusion to the reconciliation project in the next few months.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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Thaksin Plans Phone-In to European Red Shirt Meeting in Copenhagen

Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to make a live phone-in to a gathering of European Red Shirts in Copenhagen on Saturday 30 October 2010.

The Red Shirts plan to meet at Town Hall Square in the centre of Copenhagen at 13.00 on that day. After singing "Daeng Tour Pan Din" (Red All Over the Land) they claim to be able to introduce Red Shirt representatives from each country in Europe.

The details of the meeting are published on the website http://thaienews.blogspot.com/ which is blocked by Thailand's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

The Red Shirts plan to close the public event in Copenhagen at 16.00 with taking of a group photo and singing "Ta Kon Bok Fah" (Chanting to Sky) and "Nak Suu Tuu Lee Din" (Warrior of Earth). Afterward there will be a dinner at 18.00.

Swedish Red movement

Also in Sweden, the Red Shirts seem to be active. Here, there is a Red Shirt meeting already this Saturday 16 October at 17.00 hrs at Hong Thai Restaurant, in Solna, a suburb to Stockholm.

This political group has a website http://www.thairedsweden.com/ although with a relatively limited impact. Yesterday, it had been visited by 1064 from a Thai IP address and 526 from a Swedish IP address since it was started two months ago. The website was not blocked by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology when this text was uploaded.

According to the website, participants in the meeting this Saturday will be able to change to wear a red shirt at the restaurant if they don’t want to wear it from home.

Source: http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?news_id=7483&coun_code=dk

SCANDASIA

-- 2010-10-14

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First of six rescue workers underground to be lifted out now that all 33 miners have been rescued. /via @CNN

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TCC urges more measures to curb baht surge

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AirAsia says Thai AirAsia plans share offer by 3Q 2011

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Rescue of 33 trapped miners ends in northern Chile after 22 hours

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Thailand's SET Enjoys Best Q3 Performance In Region

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 998.68, up 6.08 points /MCOT

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Danger Of Elected Provincial Thai Governors - ANALYSIS

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2 defence volunteers killed in Yala

Yala - Two defene volunteers have been killed by insurgents in this southern border province, police said.

The two were attacked while riding their motorcycle on the Raman Road in Raman district heading to Yala downtown. The attack happened at 8:30 pm and police reported it at 8 am Thursday.

The two were identified as Issaran Jehtah, 31 and Useng Jada, 30.

-- The Nation 2010-10-14

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Thailand: US Woman Held in Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre for 'Visa Run' Overstay Blunder

Full story: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/woman-held-entry-overstay-blunder-13102/

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Oct 14, 1973 Student-led Popular Uprising Remembered

Relatives of victims of the October 14, 1973 student-led popular uprising gathered at the October 14 memorial on Ratchadamnoen Avenue since early this morning to lay flowers and make merit for their loved ones. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva sent PM's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon in his stead to lay a wreath and address the crowd.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-14

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Rumors of PM's Assassination Worries Wife

The wife of the prime minister has told her husband to be more cautious, following a report on an assassination plot against him.

Pimpen Vejjajiva, wife of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, acknowledged that she is concerned about her husband's safety after a report says he is a target of potential assassination.

She said, however, that she has always told her husband to be cautious, especially while traveling to work in the provinces.

Pimpen chaired a meeting with ministers' wives at the Santi Maitree Building in the Government House to prepare activities to be held in celebration of His Majesty the King's 83rd birthday.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-14