Thailand Live Wednesday 10 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Wednesday 10 November 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Tuesday 9 Nov 2010

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Thailand South East Hotel Association believes that the recent flooding situation does not affect tourism

KOH SAMUI (NNT) -- Thailand South East Hotel Association believes that the flooding situation will not affect tourism.

According to the Association chairman Ruangnam Jaikwang , flood in Koh Samui does not in any way have impact on the isle's tourism, as the situation is short-lived; the actual reasons for a decrease in the number of tourists in Koh Samui are that October is part of the low-season period, and the strengthening of the baht has also driven visitors away; not floods.

The chairman added that he would like the government to urge more Thai as well as foreign tourists from the Asian region to travel in Thailand.

-- NNT 2010-11-10

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Finance Ministry propose the Cabinet allow children of full time employees to receive pension money

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Finance has proposed to the Cabinet an amendment to its regulations to allow children of deceased employees who worked on a full time basis to draw their parents' pension.

The deputy Finance Minister, Mun Patnothai, disclosed that the Ministry had proposed that the Cabinet consider amending the ministerial regulations to allow children of the deceased with a minimum of 25 years employment to qualify for a pension.

According to Mun, the present law only allows the entitlement to the children of civil servants. If approved, children of all deceased employees, regardless of their parents' work status, will be eligible for the pension which, otherwise, would go to the employees if they were alive; providing that their parents have worked for at least 25 years. The pension will be calculated at 15 times the amount of the parents' last salary; the payment will be retroactive to the year 2009.

-- NNT 2010-11-10

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FLOOD

Evacuations ordered as South faces serious landslide risk

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Suthep ranked least honest; Abhisit tops Thai poll

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Thaksin Supports Reconciliation Talks: Sanan

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WESTERN FRONT FIGHTING

Burmese Refugees head home; Thailand's Sangkhla a war zone

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BY ELECTION

Boonjong may vie for own seat

By Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation

The Bhum Jai Thai Party will field Deputy Transport Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat in the Nakhon Ratchasima poll to fill his MP seat.

“A clear-cut decision will be made during the party meeting on November 11 and Boonjong will have to comply with the party’s resolution,” Interior Minister Chavarat Chanweerakul, who is the Bhum Jai Thai leader, said yesterday.

Boonjong and five other MPs were recently disqualified by the Constitution Court for holding shares in firms with state concessions.

Boonjong was reportedly ready to let his wife contest the by-election in Constituency 6 for him, as he does not want to resign from the Cabinet to enter the race.

However, a party source said the party has assessed the situation and believes that she does not have enough clout like her husband to beat the Pheu Thai Party.

The constituency is seen as a red zone and the party’s supporters may shift their allegiance to Pheu Thai if Boonjong does not run himself.

Boonjong has learned about the party’s concern and has decided to give up his portfolio, the source added.

Songsak Thongsri, a core party member, said Boonjong’s chances to retain his seat were good because he regularly visited the electorate after he became deputy interior minister.

Boonjong is the pride of Korat, he said.

However, it was not certain that the meeting to select Boonjong would be held tomorrow because the House will be in session then, he said.

Boonjong does not have to step down right away, he said. He can wait until candidacy registration, scheduled for November 22-26.

The Election Commission agreed that Boonjong and Deputy Transport Minister Kuakul Danchaiwijit do not have to leave the Cabinet, as the two Cabinet members had sold their shares before taking office, EC secretary-general Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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FLOOD RELIEF

Govt rejects claim against ministers

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CONTROVERSIAL COURT CLIPS

Another court clip posted online

By The Nation

Another video clip relating to alleged abuse of power at the Constitution Court has been released on YouTube leading to an unsuccessful bid by the ICT Ministry to block it from being seen here, on claims the content breached the emergency decree.

The latest clip is titled “Confession of a admission exam cheater” and was posted on Monday by the same source as earlier ones" “ohmygod3009”. It is 5.36 minutes long and has captions.

The clip shows a meeting between Pasit Sakdanarong, the now dismissed secretary of the Constitution Court, with two young men. They are named as children of judges who work at the court and alleged to have received help from three judges to pass a test to get work at the court office.

The sound quality of the clip isn’t very clear, except the voice of Pasit, who speaks most of the time, while the two others mostly nod in agreement.

Pasit was recorded as telling the two to admit they cheated in the recruitment exam and they nod their heads. After some talk, one of the two men admits that a court judge brought the exam answers to his home while the other man admits receiving the exam answers at a judge’s office.

It then appears the video was edited and what follows is Pasit telling the two to never admit they received the exam answers in advance. The two then nod their heads.

The clip states the name of another staff member at the court, who is a relative of a judge, but he is not seen. The caption in the clip also claims one judge held a press conference in an attempt to undermine the credibility of the court by those who have failed to receive favours from the court but the judge cited in the clip apparently failed to take account of what really took place, which is shameful.

The clip also accuses the government of double standards, alleging that a senior policeman in Tak province “caught” in a separate video clip harassing a female subordinate not long ago was prosecuted, but it said nobody bothered to go after the person who took and released the video.

It claimed the government was now trying to curry favour with the court by trying to hunt down the person behind the video leak despite the fact that previous incidents had eroded public faith in the court.

A postscript claims that one judge played golf in Singapore and “did something more” and that people wanting to see this otherwise morally righteous judge unmasked should make their request heard.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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COURT

Sombat rape accuser jailed for perjury

By The Nation

The Appeals Court on Tuesday dropped an extortion and defamation case against a woman who publicly accused then deputy interior minister Sombat Uthaisang of raping her.

The court, however, upheld the guilty verdict against 34-year-old Pakaporn Santhalunai for perjury. On this conviction, she was ordered to serve two years in jail.

Evidence showed she had consensual sex with Sombat. Pakaporn vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Sombat, 74, told the court that Pakaporn had tried to extort Bt1million from him by threatening to expose their sexual encounter at a hotel. In 2005, the Criminal Court convicted Pakaporn of extortion, perjury, and defamation and handed down a seven-year jail term.

In addition, she was ordered to pay Sombat Bt10million in compensation.

Pakaporn has appealed the verdict.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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BURMA'S FIGHTING

Burma traders switch to Ranong

By The Nation

Border traders are moving en masse to Ranong to get goods into Burma after the closure of northern checkpoints in the wake of a prolonged closure at Mae Sot and clashes at Myawaddy and Pyaduangsu, opposite Three Pagodas Pass.

Nit Uitekkeng, head of the Ranong Chamber of Commerce, said that in the past two days about 50 fully loaded trucks had driven down from the North each day, after the closure of checkpoints at Mae Sot in Tak province and Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province.

“Nothing [disruptive] happens at the checkpoint in Ranong and trade continues as usual, as no Burmese insurgents reside in this area,” he said. Ranong is considered safe, although traders must travel further. As soon as the situation is resolved, most will resume using the northern checkpoints due to the shorter distance.

Burmese residents in Thailand told Nation reporters that following the violence, stricter checks had been imposed along the border. All buses and ferryboats are being thoroughly checked.

Krissana Iamwongnatee, a Thai businessman who operates a fishing business in Dawei, Burma, and is president of the Federation of Thai Industries Ranong, said the situation in Burma is being closely monitored as violence would certainly affect Thailand.

“Southern checkpoints are not yet affected, but if the problem continues [bad] side-effects are guaranteed,” he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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CRIME

Search for accused drug-running official

By The Nation

Police are hunting for a highway official suspected of trafficking Bt70million worth of illicit drugs confiscated in a recent haul. The suspect is identified as Suthep Promwiharn, 41.

Up to 200,000 methamphetamine tablets and 10 kilos of crystal methamphetamine were allegedly found alongside guns in his pickup. The vehicle was abandoned on the Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road in Bangkok on Monday night.

“If sold in the market, the illicit drugs are worth about Bt70million,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt General Jaktip Chaijinda said yesterday.

He said the alleged suspect was now on the run. “We will go after him and will nail down his accomplices too,” Jaktip said.

He said Suthep has been charged with having methamphetamine/crystal methamphetamine in his possession with the intention of selling it, and with unauthorised possession of guns and ammunition.

Jaktip said police went after Suthep’s pickup after receiving tips-off that a huge amount of illicit drugs was moving from the North to Bangkok in such a vehicle.

Suthep might have sensed that something went wrong and thus decided to abandon the vehicle, Jaktip said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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FDA withdraws type-2 diabetes drug

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday refused to approve the diabetes drug rosiglitazone which works as an insulin sensitiser after it found that patients using it were at a higher risk of heart disease.

An FDA sub-panel that was given the job of studying the dangers of the drug on October 29 proposed that medicines containing rosiglitazone should be withdrawn after studies showed that it was linked with heart problems, Vimon Suwankesawong, chief of FDA’s medical product safety surveillance centre, said yesterday.

“The FDA is seeking cooperation from pharmaceutical companies that produce this drug to recall their medicines from hospitals and markets immediately,” she said.

Rosiglitazone, a thiazolidinedione class of drug, has been used in Thailand to treat patients with type-2 diabetes since 1999. The drug can only be prescribed by doctors, who have to comply with the caveat that their patients’ blood be studied for the level of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

However, a study conducted in two major Thai hospitals by Yupapan Mankrato, a pharmacist at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, found that some doctors still prescribed the drug without testing patients for haemoglobin A1c, thus putting them at risk.

The other study conducted in seven hospitals across the country by Pattama Tantawiwat, a pharmacist at Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, found that doctors were prescribing large amounts of rosiglitazone to patients under the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme so they could get large reimbursements from the government.

Yupadee Sirisinsuk, deputy manager of the programme to develop surveillance mechanisms on drugs, said the European Medicines Agency had taken rosiglitazone off the market and treatment schemes because it wanted to protect patients from adverse reactions.

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration is strictly controlling the use of rosiglitazone as a treatment option for patients with type-2 diabetes.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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EDUCATION

Enrolment into tenth grade to be changed

By The Nation

The automatic enrolment of ninth graders into tenth-grade classes in the same schools will be soon abolished, to encourage students to maintain their good grades or work harder to stay on, the Office of Basic Education Commission said yesterday.

In Thailand, ninth grade is the final year in the lower secondary level while the tenth grade is the first in the three-year upper secondary level.

OBEC secretary-general Chinnaphat Phoomirat said the new enrolment proposal would open competition among ninth graders and attract good students from other schools through entrance exams.

The idea had been raised by parents and schools, he said, and would be put soon to Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, who would decide when the new practice would be put in place. It was not likely to be in time for the next school semester, next May.

A study and analysis would be needed to collect statistics to decide the minimum GPA imposed on ninth graders. Information was also needed on the number of students being either kept by schools, or being removed to open seats for those coming from other schools through entrance exams.

The practice was most suited to about 360 best-known schools across the country, which could attract good students more easily from other schools.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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Weather Dept warns of heavy rain, strong winds in Gulf of Thailand; all provinces south of Chumporn beware of flash floods /TAN_Network

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Most Myanmar nationals who fled clashes between Karen and government troops return home as hostilities cease /MCOT

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Dept of Disaster Prevention, Mitigation: Death toll from flood related cases countrywide reaches 185; 12 provinces named disaster zones due to cold weather /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,047.80, up 0.25 points /MCOT

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Villagers Warned of Escaped Crocodiles in Pattani

Local authorities in Pattani have issued a warning to residents in Bana sub district after more than a hundred crocodiles broke loose from a farm.

Fisheries Department officials in Pattani province inspected a crocodile farm in Bana sub district as workers were mending a concrete pond that had been broken by a fallen tree last week.

More than a hundred full grown crocodiles escaped, each between three and four meters in length.

Farm workers were able to capture 27 of the crocodiles, while the others are thought to have escaped to a nearby canal that connects to Pattani River.

Fearing that people who live along the riverside could be attacked by the crocodiles, the farm owner, Somdit Thammavech, has urged villagers to be watchful and to contact his farm immediately if they spot them.

He is also offering a reward of 5,000 baht for anyone who can capture a crocodile.

Elsewhere in Ratchaburi province, a crocodile was caught at Baan Laemthong village in Bang Phae district.

According to a fisheries official, the crocodile must have escaped from a farm far away, as there is no crocodile farm in the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-10

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Bangkok Poll on Corruption Shows Public Concern

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Former Deputy PM Suthep reports at Parliament as newly-elected MP; says PM will decide on Cabinet reshuffle, he is ready for any assignment /MCOT

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Weather bureau issued warning: heavy rain,windy for the deep South;floods in Nakorn Sri Thammarat;landslide in Samui due flash floods from hills /Nation

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Nakhon Srithammarat Faces Landslides and Floods

Lanska in the southern province of Nakhon Srithammarat is experiencing many landslides, and more collapses are likely to take place soon, as there has been a series of rainfalls.

District Chief Apinan Puekpong and related officials inspected the collapse sites, saying most of the areas in question are located inside a preserved forest.

Another spot is near Chang See hill.

There have been some landslides reported and they are located very close to a village.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the landslide victims in Khanom and Sichon districts. Villagers said they felt better after the premier visited them.

Authorities said the location of the landslide area is now impassable as it has become quicksand.

District Chief Apinan Puekpong said the two landslides are far from each other and are not likely to harm residents.

He added, however, that preparations will be carried out in case of a collapse.

The Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department recently issued a warning over possible landslides and floods, as the ongoing storm is likely to worsen.

The eastern coast of the southern region is also likely to see more rainfall.

Concerning Pakpanang river, Nai Laung dam is said to be working very well, as the water level rapidly drops.

However, some floods are still being reported in a number of districts.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-10

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Old wooden house in old Bangkok community collapses

A wooden house in an old Bangkok community in Sathon district collapsed Wednesday morning, causing panic among residents of the community.

No one was injured.

The two story house is located in a community, which has existed on Soi St Louise 3 for some 40 years, collapsed and the its walls fell down.

Officials of the Sathon District office checked an found that the house was very old its wooden beams had broken, causing the house to collapse.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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Some 500 Karen refugees sent home Wednesday

Tak: The Thai authorities repatriated another 509 Karen refugees back to Myawaddy Wednesday morning.

The refugees took a refuge in the 346th Border Patrol Police Company head office in Mae Sot following clashes between Burmese Troops and Karen rebels.

Third Army Area deputy commander Maj Gen Sonthisak Witthaya-anekanan told the refugees that the fighting in Myawaddy had stopped so they could return home.

The authorities transported the refugees in trucks to a pier across the Moei River.

-- The Nation 2010-11-10

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Three Red-Shirt Members Released Temporarily

Three of red shirt members have been temporarily released on bail paid for by a fund.

Meanwhile, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department will seek to help the 50 other inmates who want to request bails.

Rights and Liberties Protection Department Director General Suwana Suwanchuta said the Justice Fund has agreed to allocate money to bail out three of red shirt members who have been charged with a breach of the Emergency Degree.

Thiradet Sangkhatat and Sommai Inthanakha were set free temporarily with 60,000 baht each, while Boonyarit Sodakam was bailed out with assets worth 200,000 baht as he was also indicted for possession of weapons.

Meanwhile, the request for the release of two more red-shirt members are being considered by the court.

The director general went on to say that she will have a talk to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to deliver help to 48 people who have been detained for violating laws involving security during the April bloody protest.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-10

She said her department is examining the eligibility of those who request bail.

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Bangkok prepares to launch World Diabetes Day 2010 event

BANGKOK, 9 November 2010 (NNT) – Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is holding the ' World Diabetes Day' event in the hope of to raising people’s awareness of the disease.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukavejworakit has disclosed that, in recognition of the World Diabetes Day, the BMA is organizing an activity aimed at disseminating information regarding this deadly disease to the public.

The event, held simultaneously in nine hospitals under the supervision of the BMA , aims to inform Thais of danger of diabetes, services available to them in terms of preventive measures against it, assessing the risk of having it, and recognizing early signs of the disease, as well as how they should change their way of life and eating habits. The event is now being held and will last until November 12, 21010.

Realizing that diabetes is a major cause of deaths worldwide, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO, have designated November 14 as the World Diabetes Day, in order to remind people of this deadly disease. The number of the Thai adults with diabetes has risen to7 percent of the population, up from 4.4 not long ago. Most of the diabetics in Bangkok are between 60 to 69 years of age.

-- NNT 2010-11-10

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Probe result into airport car park scandal to be forwarded to AOT board

BANGKOK, 9 November 2010 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry has indicated that the floppy policy in car parking management at Suvarnabhumi International Airport was the major cause in corruption and other problems surrounding the concessionaire.

Transport Minister Sopon Zarum revealed the result of an initial investigation into the mismanagement of Parking Management Company, the company with the concession to run the airport parking service. After the Board had changed the policy from having the airport manage the parking service to letting a private company run the concession, Mr Sopon said the policy was not strictly followed.

The Ministry will forward its findings to the Airports of Thailand (AOT) Board for consideration; wrongdoers must face the music, the Minister said.

The company failed to honor its commitments stated in the contract, particularly in terms of security. Rumors of corruptions relating to political figures were circulating when the car park was seized by a group of armed men last month. The seizure, which greatly damaged the image and reputation of the airport, has led to the AOT’s decision to terminate the concession with the Parking Management Company.

-- NNT 2010-11-10

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Thai Marine Dept Urged to Check Pier Safety Ahead of Loi Krathong Festival

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