Thailand Live Monday 22 Nov 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Monday 22 November 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Google Buzz: http://www.google.com/profiles/thaivisa

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 21 Nov 2010

[webfact]

Police Chief asks PAD and UDD not to rally close to each other

BANGKOK (NNT) –To prevent any unforeseen event, National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potephosree has asked the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to keep distance from each other during their planned rallies.

According to the Police Chief, both the UDD and PAD will this week hold rallies to oppose the government’s constitutional amendments. The Chief has asked both sides to keep their rallies away from each other to avoid possible clashes, given both sides have been at loggerheads in the past few years.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has insisted that the charter change is not aimed at creating conditions leading to another coup, adding the amendments does not conflict with good governance. He has said he will personally take responsibility for the move, should anything go wrong.

Mr Abhisit also said demonstrators were allowed under the constitution to hold their protests, if they were conducted peacefully and under the law.

-- NNT 2010-11-22

[webfact]

NEW!

Follow thaivisa.com on Google Buzz:

http://www.google.com/profiles/thaivisa

[webfact]

TCC in full support of corporate tax reduction

BANGKOK (NNT) ---The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) voiced its support for the government’s plan to reduce corporate tax, citing the move would enable Thai businesses to compete with their ASEAN counterparts.

Talking about the Revenue Department’s idea to revise its tax structure, TCC President Dusit Nontanakorn said it was a good idea to reduce corporate income tax. He explained that the current tax, at an average of 30%, was higher than neighboring countries’ such as Singapore and Malaysia, which collect only 20% in corporate income tax.

Another plan by the Revenue Department was the cancellation of the Board of Investment (BOI) privileges in exchange for tax reduction. Toyota Motors Thailand Company Limited agreed with the idea and suggested that the tax rate be reduced to 18% because it was already way higher than those in the neighboring countries. In addition, the Company believed that if the Department lifted the BOI tax altogether, it would greatly ease investors’ burden and encourage more of them to invest in the country, saying Thailand’s tax system was very complicated.

Revenue Department Director-General Sathit Rangkasiri said the changes had not yet been approved, adding that Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij would have to decide what would be best for the country.

-- NNT 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Meditation centre to be built at Bangkok foetus morgue site

Follow this link:

[webfact]

CAT, TOT given deadline to rectify unlawful Thai telecom concession amendments

Follow this link:

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Abhisit-Hun Sen negotiations must become a fixture

Follow this link:

[webfact]

International schools now targeting the middle class

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Concerns aired about PAD rallies

By The Nation

Fears have been raised that "third party trouble-makers" may seek to incite turmoil when the People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) stages gatherings over the next three days.

First Army commander Lt General Udomdej Sitabut said yesterday police had proposed that the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) seek military reinforcements if violence breaks out during the rallies.

"Everyone is concerned and does not want to see any rallies take place - but if they do go ahead, they must act within the Emergency Decree rules. I do not want to speculate negatively, but we must be on the lookout for third parties who may stir up violence,'' he said.

Udomdej refused to discuss that troublemakers may want to cause trouble in the hope it leads to a coup. He said the Army chief had made things clear about the possibility of a coup. "But there is a possibility opponents of the PAD could instigate unrest," he said.

He had instructed his subordinates to increase security for Loy Krathong celebrations last night so the public was safe.

He also called on all groups to refrain from staging a rally or gathering during celebrations for His Majesty the King's birthday (December 5).

Udomdej said he supported CRES' ban on the sale of goods or materials that could be offensive to the monarch or create national rifts.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Court to appoint new chairman

By The Nation

The Constitution Court will today discuss appointing a new chairman to head the panel investigating the controversy surrounding the court over alleged lobbying in the Democrat Party dissolution case and other alleged frauds, Constitution Court judge Charan Pakdithanakul said yesterday.

King Prajadhipok Institute secretary-general Borwornsak Uwanno quit the chairman's post citing time constraints.

Charan said he accepted Borwornsak's decision to quit. "There is no financial return in carrying out the work, but he might have to face negative consequences. So his decision is normal,'' Charan said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Thai Democrat meet on charter rewrite

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Bomb was bid to rob phone booth: Wichean

By The Nation

A homemade bomb exploded yesterday at a phone booth in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district an incident police said was carried out by thieves trying to steal coins.

National police chief Pol General Wichean Potephosree said authorities did not suspect any other motive behind the explosion. Asked why he thought it was the work of thieves, he said similar incidents had taken place before, without giving details.

The phone booth is near a mosque in tambon Nong Prue, and witnesses said they saw a group of teenage males on motorcycles driving by for several days.

Police did not find shrapnel at the scene, but pieces of playing cards were scattered around, along with a box full of coins the suspects failed to take with them as they fled.

Wichean denied the bomb indicated lax police action in complying with a government order to crack down on war weapons and explosives. He said some materials were industrial grade and could be bought legally.

Meanwhile, a firecracker was thrown among pedestrians by a group of drinking young males near a Loy Krathong ceremony in Soi Lat Phrao 51 in Bangkok, causing panic but no casualties.

In another incident, a group of teenagers threw firecrackers at passing vehicles on a road in Bang Khun Nont area in Bangkok. The blast caused a vehicle to lose control and almost hit the island. Police went to the scene of both incidents but made no arrests.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Laptops a success only in some cases

By Supinda Na Mahachai

The Nation

Although the “One Laptop Per Child” project didn’t make much difference better or worse to students’ academic performance, it was a useful tool to stimulate learning, according to research by the Office of the Education Council released last week.

However, for schools that haven’t adjusted their teaching and learning yet according to the new theory to support it, investing in this project wasn’t worthwhile and this tool may even be an “excess” to some classes.

At the Royal River Hotel last week, Chiang Mai University engineering lecturer Anan Sipitakkiat presented research on the “One Laptop Per Child” project carried out as a pilot project in Chiang Mai’s Ban San Kamphaeng School, Chiang Rai’s Ban Kha Yaeng School, Lampang’s Tesaban Nakhon Lampang 4 School and Ban Sam Kha School, Rayong’s Wutthinan School, Bangkok’s Darunsikkhalai School for Innovative Learning, and Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University’s Demonstration School.

This work, done mostly with upper primary schoolchildren, started in 2008 and the followup research was done in 2009.

Anan said the twoyear project had not found solid indications that the academic performance of students using computer notebooks was better or worse, only that their reading and writing skills were reportedly somewhat improved from before.

However if one looked beyond students’ grades, the children were found to show positive skills such as enthusiasm to work and ability to link computers into their learning and searching for information, which was in line with the new learning theory that emphasises getting kids to be able to think and do things, to solve problems, and search for information themselves skills demanded by modern industries.

“It’s noticeable that computer notebooks are useful tools for children’s learning at schools that have already adjusted their teaching and learning to fit the new theory,” he said. “We can see that the seven schools we studied have adjusted to ‘constructionism’, emphasizing handson learning via school projects and a focus on the thinking process. So, the computer notebooks help their learning, especially to do school projects more easily. Thus, the key to success is at the teaching and learning not the computer notebooks.”

As for “normal schools” that haven’t yet adjusted their teaching and learning to that of the “new theory”, the investment to make the project happen wouldn’t be worthwhile, he said. This was because, without adjusting teaching styles, the children would be distracted by their “new toys” in class and may get bored. The notebooks would become a classroom “excess”. Some children might only play on the notebooks and ignore teachers, leading to the notebooks being used less, as seen in some countries’ schools, he said.

The research also found that students in some schools, after using the notebooks for a while, got bored and viewed them as a burden as they had had a chance to use other computers with higher capabilities with faster connections.

He cited Tesaban Nakhon Lampang 4 School as example. At first, some kids took the notebooks home everyday but after their parents bought them a PC at home they left the notebooks at school. He said Darunsikkhalai School also found that the notebooks couldn’t motivate the students at a school located in an urban area with a lot of technology available as their classrooms already had various technologies they were more familiar with and able to use faster. The kids had so much homework and tutoring classes to attend that they didn’t have time to learn about the notebooks after school.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Thai Ministers Find Ways To Stay In The Limelight

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Singer Prayoon dies at 75

By The Nation

National artist and veteran traditional vocalist Prayoon Yomyiam has died of a heart attack. She was 75 years old.

Prayoon was pronounced dead at 5.20 pm on Saturday at Chulalongkorn Hospital where she received treatment for heart complications sustained during dialysis in October. She experienced complications at 3.30 am on Saturday and was in a coma before she passed away.

Prayoon was known for her skill in various types of traditional and folklore songs. She was recognised as a national artist in 1994, in lamtad category.

Her sevenday royalsponsored funeral is being held at Wat Sarawan in Nakhon Pathom and started yesterday.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

By-election candidate registration for five provinces--Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ayutthaya and Surin begins; seeking candidates to replace disqualified MPs /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,013.34, up 4.57 points /MCOT

[webfact]

Pongpisut gets No 1, Apirak No 2

Pongpisut Jitsophon, the Pheu Thai Party candidate for Bangkok’s by-election, got candidacy number 1 while his arch-contestant, Democrat Party candidate Apirak Kosayothin got No 2.

Apirak and Pongpisut registered their candidacy for the Bangkok by-election at the Yannawa district office Monday morning.

The candidacy numbers were given by lot drawing.

Thai Phor Piang Party candidate Jamras Inthumorn got the candidacy No 3.

Another candidate, Thammathipat Party’s Thanwa Krairirk applied at 8:45 am and given number 4.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Flood-related death toll rises to 233

The Civil Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced Monday that flood-related death toll has risen to 233.

The department said 51 provinces have been hit by flooding, affecting 8.66 million people from 2.52 million families in 31,870 villages.

At present, 16 provinces are still inundated. They are 12 central provinces and four southern provinces.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

PM Abhisit To Take Responsibility For Potential Clashes Between Red And Yellow Shirts

Follow this link:

[webfact]

114 yellow shirts to be charged for Bangkok Airports protests

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Suthep confident Democrat to vote to support charter amendments

Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban expressed confidence Monday morning that his party MPs would vote in support of the charter amendments.

He said he was certain that most Democrat MPs would vote in support of the Cabinet’s resolution to push for two points of charter amendments.

Asked whether he was confident that the amendments would not cause rifts in the Democrat and cause the coalition to collapse before its due time, Suthep said: “Yes, I am confident so.”

The government plans to amend the charter to lift the requirement for it to obtain parliamentary approval before signing contracts with foreign governments and to change multiple-seat constituency to single-seat constituency system.

-- The Nation 2010-11-22

[webfact]

Phuket Police Hunt for Suspects in Fatal Shooting of Mother and Daughter

Police are looking high and low for suspects in the double murder of a mother and her daughter in the Thalang district of Phuket province.

Phuket Police Commander Police Major General Pikad Tantipong said investigators are hunting for suspects in a drive by shooting that resulted in the death of 41 year old Jeerati Nakmee and her 20 year old daughter Kiriyaporn Anutthato, as well as injured her other daughter, 15 year old Ananthira, while the three were in their pick up truck.

He added that officers have started interrogating witnesses and relatives of the victims, and are also checking footage from several security cameras.

Initially, Police have identified business and debt disputes as possible motives for the murder.

They said the family was seriously assaulted by a group of strong men at their home two months earlier, while witnesses reported having seen a suspicious car driving in the area around their home before the murder.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-22

[webfact]

PM shifts weekly cabinet meeting from Tuesday to Thursday to allow parliament more time for charter amendment debate /MCOT

[webfact]

PM claims the constitutional amendments are for the benefits of the country

BANGKOK, 22 November 2010 (NNT)-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has reasserted that the government’s plan to amend the constitution is not for political gains, but the benefits of the country as a whole.

According to the premiere, the amendments will not include the issue of amnesty, nor will it favor politicians of certain parties. As there are two versions of the amendments proposed, one drafted by Dr. Weang Torjirakarn and the other by the government, Mr. Abhisit said he would object to the Dr. Weng’s version, citing that the proposed draft could lead to conflicts rather than promote unity.

In light of the upcoming rallies by both the Yellow and the Red shirts, Mr. Abhisit has advised that both groups abide by the law during the protest. He has also said that he is trying to set standards for Thai politics that would be acceptable to every party.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party’s spokesperson Buranatchai Samutarak (บูรณัชย์ สมุทรักษ์) has assured the public that the proposed constitutional amendments are not by any means to prevent the Party from the dissolution.

-- NNT 2010-11-22

Edited July 8, 2011 by Maestro
Corrected the Prime Minister's name

[webfact]

News That Reveals How Rotten Thai Society Has Become

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai economy back in recession: official data

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket update: Chalong Marina project

An excavator afloat on a specially designed barge dredges

the seabed at the project site.

Breakwaters will keep wave heights in the new marina under

half a meter, Marine Department officials say.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket Opinion: Good news for medical tourism

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Berserk Frenchman Bites Chiang Mai Barman’s Ear Off

Follow this link: