Thailand Live Monday 15 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Monday 15 November 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 Sunday 14 Nov 2010

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PM ensures transparency in flood assistance

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has reassured that all flood assistance measures have been carried out in a transparent manner.

In his weekly televised program “Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit”, the Premier talked about his visit to the flood stricken areas down south in Surat Thani, Nakorn Srithammarat, and Pattani provinces. He stated that the Cabinet had approved many changes in assistance measures to enable related officials and agencies to fully and efficiently assist flood victims.

A number of measures still needed to be thrashed out, given assistance measures were broadly planned out. All government officials had been working in a transparent manner, the premier added.

-- NNT 2010-11-15

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Public Health Min warns of ringworms from secondhand clothing

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Public Health Ministry has warned buyers of used winter clothing of ringworms, uggesting that they wash and boil the clothes for 15-30 minutes before wearing them.

With the cold weather breezing in, Deputy Public Health Minister Dr Phansiri Kullanartsiri has warned Thais who buy secondhand winter clothes to be careful of bacteria, fungus, and other diseases, which could come with the clothes.

She added that washing the clothes and exposing them under the bright sunlight were not enough, suggesting the clothes be boiled to kill the germs.

As many people tend to go hiking and camping in the forests during winter, Dr Phansiri has warned them of scrub typhus fever and malaria while in the jungle. She reported that 41 had died of these two diseases this year.

According to the Department of Disease Control, over 22,000 people have been infected with malaria, while more than 5,000 have been infected with scrub typhus fever this year. Both diseases are reportedly found most in the northern region.

-- NNT 2010-11-15

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FLOOD

Alert over possible landslides in south

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MERCHANT OF DEATH

Deadline for Bout remand due on Friday

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PRO-THAKSIN GROUP

We wil help red-shirt detainees to get bail: PM Abhisit

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POLITICS

Prince Chulcherm rejects speculation about interest in politics

By The Nation

Prince Chulcherm Yugala has denied speculation about any political aspirations, saying due to his lineage, he is devoted to serving the Royal Family. “I am a royal, how can I get involved in politics?” he asked.

The speculation spread last week after Pheu Thai chief adviser Chavalit Yongchaiyudh hinted he was poised to welcome a “mom chao” who wishes to enter politics under the banner of the main opposition party.

Chavalit did not identify the prince but said he was alluding to a younger royal.

Chulcherm, 63, is a senior royal but his name came up because of press reports linking him to barred party executive Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, seen as a broker for Chavalit.

“The reports were false and caused a lot of confusion,” the prince said.

He said he was close to Sudarat because they had worked together on a number of royal-initiated projects.

In their most recent meeting, he said he talked about forming a football club and that he had asked her to act as a go-between to solicit Chavalit’s support for the club.

“I have known Chavalit since he was the Army commander and prime minister,” he said.

He said his contacts with Sudarat and Chavalit were private and had nothing to do with politics.

He added that Chavalit came from a family with a long history of serving the monarchy, hence he had no reason to question his character. He was speaking in reference to speculation Chavalit wanted a royal to team up with the opposition in order to dispel doubts about his loyalty.

Sudarat stepped out to dismiss allegations that she was working on Chavalit’s behalf to recruit a royal.

She said she had never talked politics with Chulcherm. “Our talks were confined to two topics the work to a charity foundation and the football club,” she said.

She said she still faced a five-year ban from politics, so she was in no position to conduct any political negotiations.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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Wrapping for Wat Saket

By The Nation

Large crowds joined a procession to Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara (Temple of the Golden Mount, better known as Wat Saket) yesterday to celebrate His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej turning 84 on December 5 next year.

The event was also held to celebrate the 111th anniversary of inviting Buddha relics to the Golden Mount pagoda in the Rama V era.

The pilgrims held a 3kilometrelong red fabric to be wrapped around the Golden Mount pagoda in the annual ceremony of worshipping the Buddha relics.

The monastic chair of the event was His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, president of the executive committee for the Supreme Patriarch.

Office of National Buddhism director Nopparat Benchawattananan, as layman chair of the event, said it had been a tradition since the reign of the King Rama V, when the relics were invited from India to be worshipped with the Buddha relics in the Golden Mount pagoda. The ceremony is believed to eliminate evil and bring prosperity to the country.

Since ancient times, the use of red fabric was aimed to draw attention and notify people about the celebration.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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Pattaya Lady-Boy Blinded By Bogus Doctors

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Govt should field candidates to test public faith

By The Nation

The opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday challenged the Democrat-led government to field candidates to contest by-elections in all five constituencies of five provinces to test the government’s job approval rating and public faith in its administration.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party executive board would today decide on five MP candidates to run under the Pheu Thai banner on Dec 12.

They are Preechapol Pongpanit, who would stand in Khon Kaen, Apicha Lertpatcharakamol in Nakhon Ratchasima, Panida Tantirattananont in Surin, Ongart Watcharaong in Ayutthaya and Pongpisut Chintasopon in Bangkok.

Prompong said the coalition parties had yet to decide on fielding candidates to contest some provinces. He had heard the Democrat and Bhum Jai Thai parties would not field any candidates to compete with Pheu Thai.

“The fact that the Democrat and the Bhum Jai Thai Party will not field candidates in Khon Kaen shows that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is not ready to dissolve the House.’’

He called on the PM to field candidates in every constituency in the byelections to find out if the public accepts the government and its performance over the past two years.

Puea Pandin Party spokesman Dr Alongkot Maneekat said the party’s executive board would meet tomorrow to decide on the nomination of MP candidates.

A source in the Puea Pandin Party said the party may not field MP candidates in constituency 6 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Bhum Jai Thai Party chairman Prachak Klaewklahan said the party executive board would meet today to decide whether deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrirat would step down and contest the byelection.

There have been reports that Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban would meet with Bhum Jai Thai patriarch Newin Chidchob to ask Boonjong to step down if he wants to contest the byelection and abide by Democrat Party rules.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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Court claims should be probed quickly, publicly: graft council boss

By Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Nuntida Puangthong

The Nation

The chairman of the body that staged the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok last week suggested the Thai judiciary investigate video clips and claims about the Constitution Court publicly and quickly.

“There is an allegation, [but] we have yet to find out whether the allegation is correct or not. And there are videos shown on YouTube; we have yet to find out whether the people in the videos were involved with the court or not,” IACC Council chairman Barry O’Keefe said in response to question from The Nation on how to restore trust in the judiciary in relation to the scandal.

“My suggestion is to deal with that matter publicly and quickly. Find out what the facts are, and deal with the facts. Do it quickly and move on,” he said.

O’Keefe spoke on Saturday during a discussion about the independence of judicial bodies as part of the 14th IACC held here. National Anti-Corruption Commission member Vichai Vivitsevi was also among the panelists.

Vichai said Thai judges had never been questioned like this before, as they were taught to keep a distance from other people especially those in the political arena. They took it strictly as a tradition.

But Constitution Court judges came from many sources and there were some complications.

“That’s all what I can say,” he said on the stage. No others on panel commented.

The video clips posted on YouTube include one allegedly showing Ranong MP Wiruch Romyen discussing the Democrat dissolution case with Pasit Sakdanarong, the former secretary of the Constitution Court president.

Another allegedly showed judges discussing moves to help people get work at the court.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit has asked for the results of a Democrat Party probe into Wiruch and what action Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will take once the result is know. Another clip of Wiruch’s alleged meeting with Pasit was posted recently.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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NJ Magazine spelling bee offers interesting travel prizes

By The Nation

Nation Multimedia Group’s NJ Magazine and many partners including Bangkok University are jointly hosting the 13th NJ Spelling Bee Competition.

The winner will receive a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and a scholarship to study English in Australia for four weeks. His or her adviser will get to join a field trip to Australia’s Eltham College Melbourne for two weeks.

With the contest’s regional rounds already completed, the final round will take place on November 27 at Bangkok University’s Kluaynamthai campus.

For more details, logon to www.247friend.net.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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2nd RMUTIC international conference, Nov 24-26

By The Nation

The 2nd Rajamangala University of Technology International Conference (2nd RMUTIC) will take place in Thailand next week under the theme of “Science and Technology Development in Creative Economy”.

The academic conference will run from November 24 to November 26 at the Chulabhorn Research Institute.

Held by nine Rajamangala universities of technology, this international event seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience among researchers, as well as networking for academic cooperation.

“This is going to be the forum for researchers to present academic works at not just the national but the international level,” Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) president Numyoot Songthanapitak said in his capacity as the chair of organising committee.

Privy Councillor Dr Kasem Watanachai, a former education minister, will join the forum as a keynote speaker. He will deliver a special address about “Science and Technology in Creative Economy.

Other speakers include Dr Krissanapong Kirtikara from the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi, Dr Rohan Nelson from Australiabased Offset Method Development Office, Prof Dr Hiroyuki Hamada from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Dr Mervyn Dobbin from Britainbased De Mongfort University.

In all, 312 items of academic work will be presented both in Thai and in English during the upcoming international conference.

Anyone who is interested in joining this event can call 0254949902 or browse into www.rmutt.ac.th for more information.

-- The Nation 2010-11-15

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Bill Clinton Films Cameo for 'The Hangover 2' in Bangkok http://tinyurl.com/24w4n75 /via@RichardBarrow:

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Temperature 1-3 deg. Celsius cooler in North East, Bangkok low today at 24-25 C: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

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Thailand are among sixteen countries including Colombia, the Philippines and India that deemed to be at "extreme" risk from terror attacks: Maplecroft - British global risks advisory firm /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,014.40, down 4.46 points /MCOT

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Princess Sirindhorn to visit orphans in Phuket, Phang Nga

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn opens a deposit account at the

Government Savings Bank in Bangkok to commemorate its 95th anniversary in 2008.

File photo.

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Big C to Take over Carrefour Thailand

The mega retail chain Big C will be taking over all Carrefour branches in Thailand. The deal is estimated at over 3.5 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-15

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Police Officer Denies Assault Charge

A police officer has denied assault charges after he was accused of abusing his authority, saying he was merely protecting himself.

Police Lieutenant General Chatchawan Duangkaeo insists that he did not physically attack a man as was claimed in a recent rumor.

The Chokchai police station officer explained that the other man involved in the dispute, Theerachai Thongpheni, who is a lawyer, tried to escape being searched when he saw Theerachai parked car on a road in Bangkok.

The officer says he believes Theerachai ran away because Theerachai was in possession of drugs.

As a result, he decided to follow Theerachai until they arrived at Theerachai's house.

Then, Theerachai hit him, so he had to fight back to protect himself.

Police Lieutenant General Chatchawan Duangkaeo went on to say the evidence Theerachai presented was distorted.

He said Theerachai didn't file charges against him as he was intoxicated at the time and would have likely faced another intoxication related charge if he had.

Chatchawan noted that he will see that the culprit is brought to justice, adding that there is no need to negotiate, as he was acting in accordance with his duty.

Metropolitan Police Commander Police Lieutenant General Chaktip Chaijinda ensured justice for both sides.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-15

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Refined-sugar supply still sufficient for the market

BANGKOK, 14 November 2010 (NNT) – The latest survey of supermarkets has found no shortage of pure white refined-sugar: however, some supermarkets allow each customer to buy only three bags of sugar at a time.

According to the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, the office has been working hand in hand with 46 sugar factories nationwide trying to curb sugar smuggling. A number of Thai exporter and importers have been known to have long been smuggling sugar to neighboring countries, given they can get better prices in those countries than in Thailand, where prices of sugar have been pegged.

The survey shows that sugar has been selling for 23.50 baht per kilogram in supermarkets in Bangkapi. Although no shortage has been reported, the markets have limited each customer to only three bags of sugar at a time.

-- NNT 2010-11-15

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Recent flood situation

SRI SAKET, 15 October 2010 (NNT) - People in many provinces are still suffering from floods. The water level in the Moon River has been on the rise, causing flood in several communities in Srisaket Province. Meanwhile, the district of Chaiya, Surat Thani Province, is still in danger of continuous mudslides.

Mudslides have been reported in 7 Tambons in the district of Chaiya, Surat Thani. Several roads have been closed thanks to continuous rainfall and mudslides; those that remain open are only accessible by four-wheel driven vehicles .

In Srisaket province, the water level in the Moon River has been steadily rising, with the overflow flooding some communities. Locals have to wade through deep water to get clean drinking water and food supplies from the local administration. Water levels in some areas are so high people have to go around by boats.

Meanwhile, the Kalasin Provincial Governor and other officials inspected the water barriers at the Shee River after troops from Khon Kaen Province had reinforced them with sandbags. Floods have inundated over 10,000 rai of farmland in the province since last week.

-- NNT 2010-11-15

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HM King endorses Suthep Thaugsuban's reappointment as Deputy PM, oath taking set for Friday Nov 19 at Siriraj Hospital /MCOT

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Thailand's flood death toll rises to 223

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Phuket to host Asian Beach Games 2014

The temporary beach volleyball stadium set up in Karon to host

the Phuket Thailand Open women's beach volleyball tournament.

Most of the Asian Beach Games 2014 events will take place in

Patong and Karon, organizers say.

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Suthep Royally Endorsed as Deputy Prime Minister

His Majesty the King has graciously endorsed a minor Cabinet reshuffle, putting Suthep Thaugsuban as Deputy Prime Minister effective today. Suthep will be sworn in on November 19 at 5:30 P.M. at Siriraj Hospital.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-15

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Thai education can't improve due to the lack of ICT

BANGKOK, 15 November 2010 (NNT)-Prime Minister Abisit Vejjajiva has said information and communication technology will help develop the nation's education in the second decade of education reform.

In his speech speech at the event held by the Ministry of Education to bolster education in Thailand, the premier concluded that the lack of technology primarily has hindered the development of Thai education so far.

The government has; therefore, developed a 3 Ns policy which will help Thailand overcome the hindrance in education. The policy is focused on establishing the National Invention Network, National Invention Information System, and National learning Center that will benefit every agency involved in the nation's education reform, according to Mr. Abisit

The premiere also expressed his confidence that the policy would help achieve the Ministry of Education’s objectives to enhance the education system in Thailand.

-- NNT 2010-11-15

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Thai Democrat party accuses Thaksin of making misleading comments

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Thai Superstar 'Bird' to Release New Single

A Pop idol superstar is set to release the second single from his soon to be released album following the huge success of his debut single.

'Bird' Thongchai McIntyre has announced that the second single from his new untitled album will be released online soon after his first song 'Yu Kon Doew', or Alone, received overwhelming positive feedback.

He reported that 'Yu Kon Doew' topped the download chart and also sailed in at number 34 on Youtube.

Thongchai went on to say he is glad fans like his song, since he has not released an album for around three years to date.

As for a concert, the superstar said a show will likely take place in February 2011.

Bird said he is now preparing for the concert and that most of the songs featured will be dance and up tempo beat tracks.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-15