Thailand Live Thursday 11 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 11 November 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 10 Nov 2010

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More Financial Aid Pondered for Flood Victims

The finance minister is ready to instruct all state run banks to consider more aid measures for flood victims.

He also affirms that the Thai economic fundamentals have been significantly strong and helped the country achieve better credit rating.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the Finance Ministry will consider additional relief measures for flood victims through all state run financial institutions.

Korn said the new measures will be intended to particularly help farmers and SME operators who have been significantly affected by the flood crisis.

He elaborated that additional schemes will be similar to the measures given to business operators in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong area who were hit hard by the political violence in May.

Some new help will also be mulled for students whose homes were damaged by severe flooding.

When asked about Moody’s Investors Service’s upgrade of Thailand’s outlook from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’, Korn said calmer political environment and an apparent recovery in the local economy chiefly contributed to the better rating.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-11

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Traders Back Govt's Price Control

Despite rising costs and fierce competition, traders of packed rice, pork and eggs give assurance that they will not raise the product prices until the end of this year to help people affected by the flood crisis.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said after talking with representatives of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, the Thai Rice Packers Association and the Layer Hen Farmers Association that the prices of packed rice, pork and eggs are static now and the associations have assured her that there will not be any price hike of these products until the end of this year.

Porntiva further said some trader disclosed that they have faced financial losses as costs have significantly risen but vowed to keep prices unchanged in an attempt to help ease the economic impact of floods.

Traders of packed rice said only the price of premium grade rice earlier increased while the retail price of five percent white rice is between 110 to 130 baht per a five kilogram bag.

The retail pork price is between 105 and 110 baht per kilogram. As for a rise in the retail price of egg by 10 satang each, traders said the djustment is a result of lower supply.

Thai Rice Packers Association Chairman Somruek Tangpiruntham insisted despite fierce competition among rice packers, they have not increased the prices yet since they do not want to take advantage on consumers during the flood crisis.

In the meantime, Layer Hen Farmers Association Chairman Manote Choothapthim said his association is ready to comply with the government's policy to peg price until the end of this year.

However, he said some farmers are suffering from lower output by almost 50 percent. He added the flooding has only slightly affected the output and responsible agencies are in the process of examining real causes of lower supply.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-11

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BORDER

Thai-Burma border towns face malaria outbreaks

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

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BURMA

Border townships not fully secure yet

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CONTROVERSIAL COURT CLIPS

Police complaint filed against YouTube user

Three judges yesterday lodged a police complaint against the person who released the latest video-clip on YouTube.

The 5.36-minute-long clip with sub-titles entitled “Confession of a admission exam cheater” was posted on Monday by “ohmygod3009” the same person who posted the previous clips.

Lawyer Napol Arunasirakul, who is representing the Constitution Court judges Charoon Inthajarn, Suphot Khaimuk and Chalermpon Ake-uru, lodged a complaint with police against the person who posted the clips allegedly showing the three judges favouring certain candidates in getting jobs at their court. The complaint says posting of the video-clips was a violation of the Computer Crime Act.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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3G

Frequency allocation bill rushed through the House

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EDITORIAL

Thai Army should not decide the fate of Burmese refugees

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THAI TALK

Thai establishment and academics: who's exploiting who?

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Hotline set up to gather public opinion on charter amendments

By The Nation

Different opinions about how the charter should be amended is understandable and perhaps a referendum on the matter is needed, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday as he marked the second day of the three-day exercise to gather public opinion.

The event, ending today at 6pm, was set up by the prime minister-appointed constitution amendment committee to seek public suggestions on how to best amend or reform the junta-sponsored 2007 charter.

Sombat Thamrongtanyawong, chairman of the charter reform committee, said six areas are being looked into for reform and the public has between 10am and 5pm today to call (02) 282 3333.

Abhisit admits that charter reform is a point of political contention and is partly to blame for the current political crisis. He added that the matter shouldn’t have led to losses in society and differing opinion should be resolved so politics can move forward. The premier acknowledged that quite a few people were unhappy that the current charter was a result of the 2006 coup and this belief has led to many conflicts over the past two years.

The premier also said that since not many Thais cared or knew about the Constitution, the three-day event could help raise some awareness. As initially concluded by the committee, two issues need to be addressed in the proposed amendment and reviewed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Abhisit believes that the Cabinet would most likely approve the issues.

Meanwhile, Sombat told the press that it was common to find people, some of them from the ruling Democrat Party this time, opposing the proposed charter changes. However, he insisted that the committee did not take any single group’s interests into consideration. He added that the committee’s proposal to increase the number of party-list MPs would strengthen political parties.

“Let’s be frank about what’s important. There’s a lot of talk about vote buying in our society, especially among constituency-based MPs. But it would be difficult if the vote is spread nationwide and is unpredictable. This would be a long-term solution for Thai politics, so it’s okay that some Democrats disagree. The committee has more power over political groups and we are only carrying out our work as assigned,” Sombat said.

When asked how he would convince opposing politicians to stick to the proposed amendment, Sombat said: “If the people support it, politicians will have to rethink.” He added that politicians should realise that they work for the benefit of the people, not themselves.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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BURNING ISSUE

Bowing to PAD pressure may be a big mistake

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Somkietr steps aside for new blood

By The Nation

Former Democrat MP Somkietr Xanthavanij has decided not to run in the Bangkok by-election, party spokesman Thepthai Senapong said yesterday.

Somkietr was one of the six MPs disqualified on grounds of violating the Constitution by possessing shares linked to state concessionaires last week.

Thepthai said that Somkietr wanted to give other candidates a chance to run in the by-election, adding that he was very impressed by the former MP’s spirit and that he might be given the job of party adviser later.

The spokesman said the party’s provincial branches would spend today and tomorrow compiling a list of candidates for by-elections in five constituencies, which will get a final approval by Banyat Bantadthan next Monday.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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Thai Flood: Number of high-risk areas doubles in seven years

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DSI acts on billion baht pyramid schemes

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Censors ban Thai gay-themed film

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Three wounded in drug sting operation

By The Nation

Police and suspected drug traffickers exchanged gunfire in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district yesterday afternoon.

A policeman was injured and two drug suspects seriously wounded. They are now receiving treatment at local hospitals.

Bang Bua Thong Police Station superintendent Colonel Sopon Puengchai said the two drug suspects opened gunfire after they found they had been lured into a sting operation.

“Police fired back and wounded them,” he said.

They claim three guns, methamphetamine, and crystal methamphetamine were found in the suspects’ possession.

Sopon described the suspects as members of a big drugtrafficking ring.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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Loei residents, conservationists oppose plan for latest Mekong dam

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EDUCATION

Universities given Bt5-bn to produce researchers

By The Nation

Nine national research universities are expected to produce more than 2,000 researchers and establish 30 research centres within the next three years.

“These institutions will have to draw up a plan on how to promote research and achieve identified goals,” Sumet Yamnoon, secretary-general of the Higher Education Commission, said yesterday.

They are Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Thammasat, and Prince of Songkhla universities, Suranaree University of Technology and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.

In the 2011 fiscal year, the government has allotted Bt2 billion to boost the country’s research capabilities.

“The research budget is four times that of the previous fiscal year,” Sumet said.

The budget for fiscal 2012 will be the same and for fiscal 2013 will be Bt1 billion.

“This means we will get Bt5 billion for research purposes over the next three years,” he said.

The budget will also support similar efforts at other universities.

“The other 69 universities will get a share of the funds and together they should be able to churn out 300 doctorate-degree researchers,” he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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LOCAL

Wat ceremony rights booked out for 397 years

By The Nation

People keen to host a new royallyendorsed onceayear Kathina Buddist charity ceremony at the revered Paknam Phasi Charoen in Bangkok, will need to hand the right to their descendants the position has been booked in advance to the year 2407, or for the next 397 years.

The chief host at this year's ceremony last Sunday, Choocheep Kanjanawat, booked her right 36 years ago. However people are not deterred: 1,082 have registered to be cohosts in future ceremonies, and another 1,201 as members of fundraising panels in future ceremonies in coming years.

The temple was founded by reverence Luang Phor Sod Jantharaso, in the ecclesiastical rank of Phra Mongkhol Thepmunee, who became its abbot. The temple began requesting a royallyendorsed Kathin ceremony in 1961, two years after the abbot passed way, and this has been a tradition for 49 years.

Kathina is a special charity event held after the end of the threemonth Buddhist Lent. One temple is granted the holding of a Kathina ceremony each year, and a royal sponsorship is a muchsoughtafter privilege.

The proceedings from this year's ceremony will be spent on building an 80metre pagoda with a fivestorey housing of Buddha images and a statue of the abbot, a museum and a meditation room, within the Wat Paknam compound.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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FLOOD-HIT AREAS

Race on to alleviate hardship of people

By The Nation

The government is launching survival measures for flood victim as fast as it can, focusing on financial relief by extending payment periods and providing soft loans.

Part of the package is a three-month moratorium on the payment of electric bills for households and businesses located in flooded areas, the Provincial Electricity Authority said yesterday.

There was no information on possible conditions for the offer. Queries can be directed to the PEA via its hotline number 1129.

The PEA is now repairing flooded homes and replacing water-damaged wall outlets at no charge. PEA crews and vocational students are making the rounds of homes and providing the services free.

Blackouts are common and repair work is underway in many affected areas. More than 850 households in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Cha-uad district are without electricity until at least tomorrow when power is expected to be restored.

The Finance Ministry has already prepared more flood loans as well as education loans for after the waters have drained away.

The packages have been drawn to provide additional measures to farmers, rubber growers and SMEs, particularly in Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla’s Hat Yai district.

Specialised state banks including the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME bank) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will play a key role in providing the extra liquidity. After meeting with the prime minister, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the flood loan package will have the same criteria as the package to assist affected business owners at Ratchaprasong during the red-shirt protest, including low interest rates and longer repayment periods.

The SME Bank has already mobilised Bt5 billion in support, which will be available starting in Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday for affected businesses, expected to reach 1,000 in number.

Each business can borrow up to Bt1 million for four years with a two-year grace period and fixed interest rate of 3 per cent. No collateral is needed.

Thanom Onketpol, PM's Office secretary, said the government will call a meeting with the leasing association and car leasing companies to help flood victims. The leasing firms have about 2 million customers.

The government will consider seven measures, such as extend payment terms, to alleviate their hardships.

-- The Nation 2010-11-11

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Weather bureau issued heavy rain, flash floods warning for 5 southern provinces; Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Surat, Trang high risk of landslides /Nation

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Artillery heard from Phaya Tong Su area near Myanmar's Three Pagodas Pass; residents who fled to shelter in Kanchanaburi hesitate to return home /MCOT

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Flood death toll reaches 203; Surat Thani, Nakorn Si, Trung prepares to evacuate residents in fear of mudslides /TAN_Network

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Schools in Hat Yai, Songkhla reopen after devastating Nov 1 floods, causing traffic jam /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,047.94, up 5.66 points /MCOT

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Eleven-year-old girl injured in Surat Thani landslide, 10 homes damaged, roads cut off /MCOT

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Police Seizes 1 Million Speed Pills in North

The Chiang Rai Provincial Police have charged two men with possession of one million methamphetamine pills.

Twenty nine year old Dumnuen Parnpimpuem and Suwit Khumsak have been arrested by Chiang Rai's Mae Chan Police, for possession of one million methamphetamine pills.

The two were nabbed at Tha Klao Pluak checkpoint on a local road in Mae Chan district.

Suwit was driving a pick-up truck with a Bangkok license plate when police at the checkpoint searched his vehicle, but found no drugs.

Shortly after, Dumnuen's car ran through the checkpoint and was pursued by police.

Police later found the car had collided with a kilometer marker on the side of the road, then fell into the ditch.

The unidentified driver was able to flee the scene while Damnuen was arrested after police found a million methamphetamine pills stuffed in five fertilizer bags.

Suwit was also held for questioning as police believe he was a look out for the drug ring.

Authorities are searching for the suspect who fled the scene, as well as other accomplices involved in this major drug smuggling scheme.

Meanwhile in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Nong Bua Lamphu Governor Winai Buapradit, along with Nong Bua Lamphu Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Suphan Prasertsom, held a press conference on the arrest of four members of a local drug ring for possession of more than one thousand methamphetamine pills.

Two cars, two handguns, and many bullets were also seized.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-11

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Mysterious Tank Shell in Saraburi

A mysterious tank shell recently fell near a Buddhist temple in Saraburi province, but no one was injured.

Villagers in the Kudnongplao sub district of Saraburi province searched the area outside Tung Sarika Temple, following reports that a tank shell had fallen near a tree in the late morning.

They found a large hole under the tree, along with pieces of brass shrapnel and two dead birds.

The roof of a sermon hall was also damaged by the fragments, although no one was injured.

It's believed the tank shell was fired as a practice round from a nearby military compound.

Villagers said there have previously been many incidents of tank shells falling on rice fields and other areas close to the compound, but so far no one has been hurt or killed.

Villagers, however, are concerned that more shells could end up harming those in the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-11

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Myanmar's Supreme Court refuses democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her house arrest sentence but hopes for her imminent freedom remained /MCOT

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The World's Oldest Buddhist Scriptures Displays in Thailand

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