Thailand Live Thursday 25 Nov 2010

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Commerce Ministry Deals with Sugar Shortage in Thailand

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Thai Army: Never apply double standards when enforcing emergency decree

BANGKOK, 24 November 2010 (NNT)-The Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Prayuth Chan-Ocha, has denied the Army has been applying double standards when enforcing the emergency.

In light of the People Alliance for Democracy’s rally against the constitution amendments, now being voted on in the house, General Prayuth said the PAD had the rights to so as long as they did not resort to violence. He, however, added that it was still necessary for the emergency decree to be in place until the situation improved. He also reiterated that the ban on products that might lead to disunity in the nation would remain in effect, adding that the ban was not aimed at depriving people of their freedom of expression, but at keeping peace.

Asked what the army would do if the ruling Democrat was spared by the constitution court, which could then lead to mass gatherings by groups of protesters, the Commander said the army would see to it that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner and that no one got hurt.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

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90% of parents surveyed agree to have sex edu in schools but only 47.6% of them advice their kids regarding sex. /via @Aoodda /via @veen_NT

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Provinces on High Alert After Outbreak of Swine Disease

Local authorities in Phitsanulok and Chanthaburi provinces are on high alert following an outbreak of a pig disease that has killed more than 2,000 swines.

Trisadee Chaonacharoen, an Agriculture Ministry inspector, and Chawaphan Antrasen, the head of the Livestock Office in Phitsanulok province, inspected six pig farms in Bangrakam district, after a number of swines died of Porcine and Reproductive and Respiratory syndrome or PRRS.

Trisadee said the PRRS virus is only found in pigs and it destroys their respiratory and reproductive systems, causing premature delivery and stillbirth.

He reported that the outbreak has been reported in Muang, Bangrakam and Wangthong districts, and the latter two have been declared danger zones.

The inspector added that more than 2,200 cases of pig miscarriages and deaths have been reported.

He said Livestock officials and volunteers have been sent to educate pig farmers about the disease and disinfect pig farms in nine districts in hopes of controlling the epidemic.

In Chanthaburi province, local authorities and pig farmers in Koh Khwang district are on high alert following a reported outbreak in Phitsanulok province, since the district is a major pig farming area.

Many farmers are cleaning up their ranches and surrounding areas, as well as checking the water and feeding systems, to prevent infection.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-25

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INN: Joint Parliament rejects Dr. Weng's draft charter amendment /TAN_Network

Vote on Dr. Weng's draft: Accept 222, Reject 235, Abstain 123 /TAN_Network

Next up for voting: Draft proposed by 102 MPs, backed by Bhum Jai Thai /TAN_Network

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Bushfire Breaks out Along Petchkasem Highway in Prachuab Khiri Khan

A bushfire has broken out and is spreading across a wide area along Petchakasem Highway in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Firefighters are trying to contain the fire, while emergency vehicles have been deployed to aid traffic flow.

The fire was reported between kilometer 291 and 292 of Petchakasem Highway at Baan Nong Moo in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Smoke from the bushfire has spread over an area of more than half a kilometer of the highway.

Three fire trucks have been deployed in an effort to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby houses and power pylons.

Emergency vehicles are stationed on the highway to guide traffic through.

According to authorities, the fire started at a bamboo grove along the highway, which spans hundreds of acres.

It is believed to have been caused by extremely dry weather together with strong winds.

Motorists are advised to drive with great care when passing the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-25

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Democrat MPs are abstaining on Bhum Jai Thai draft /TAN_Network

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Yellow Shirts to end protest after Parliament votes on charter amendments

BANGKOK, Nov 25 - The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Thailand's Yellow Shirt movement, will end their low-key protest Thursday after members of parliament and senators complete their voting on four constitutional amendment drafts, PAD leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang said on Thursday.

The PAD activists will convene again Dec 11 to rally against the three reports of the recent meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

The three-day protest at Parliament is a rehearsal for the PAD’s mass rally next month at Makawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Road, he added.

Gen Chamlong said he expected the voting would finish around 3pm and at that time the PAD leaders will discuss the results to plan their next move. No matter what the results will be, the PAD will end their protest outside Parliament because it will stage another mass rally on Dec 11.

The general, a former mayor of Bangkok and leader of an ascetic Buddhist sect, said that the planned PAD protest opposes the emergency decree put in place in Bangkok.

If the PAD is arrested, they will lose freedom for only a period of time, but they cannot let the country lose its territory, which is a significant matter.

Sondhi Limthongkul, another key PAD leader, said the variable in today’s parliamentary vote is the senators. If the opposition Puea Thai Party wants to force the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House, it has to convince senators not to vote for the proposed amendments. However, he believed that if the bills pass parliamentary vote, the prime minister is likely to dissolve the House in January.

Mr Sondhi said that the PAD on Friday would submit a letter to the prime minister to oppose the three documents emerging from the recent Thai-Cambodian border meetings.

After the two-day debate, MPs and senators on Thursday vote on four drafts, the first proposed in 2008 by the People’s Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution led by the leader of the PAD rival United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship Weng Tojirakarn, similar to the now scrapped 1997 Constitution, and another proposed by 102 coalition party MPs led by the Bhumjaithai Party.

The last two drafts were sponsored by the government and focused on Article 190 requiring parliamentary approval for any treaty to be signed with other countries and Articles 93 and 98 on amending Thailand's electoral system. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-25

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Riot at Lopburi Prison

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Red-shirt charter amendment draft rejected

MPs and senators Thursday voted to reject the constitutional amendment bill proposed by red-shirt voters.

The bill was proposed by the people's committee for constitutional amendments headed by red-shirt leader weng Tojitrakarn. It was rejected with 235 to 22 votes. A total of 123 MPs and senators abstained.

Voting for three other bills was still going on.

-- The Nation 2010-11-25

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The military will not intervene in the Constitutional Amendments

BANGKOK, 25 November 2010 (NNT)-The Ministry of Defense has asserted that the Military will by no means intervene in the constitution amendments.

BR> Defense Minister General Pravit Wongsuwan has said that the Military has no intention to intervene in the amendments, adding that it is up to parliament to make the decision which version of the drafts will be chosen.

Asked whether or not the emergency decree would be terminated before the end of this year, General Pravit said the decision would be made by the whole CRES committee, not by any individual; adding that the government was ready to lift it but had yet to wait for the situation to return to normal.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

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Tax duty of E85 vehicles cut

The Cabinet today approved the reduction of the tax duty of the imported E 85 vehicles to 60 per cent from 80 per cent, according to Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul.

-- The Nation 2010-11-25

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THAIVISA NEWS

Three New Zealand boys rescued after 50 days lost at sea with no food or water

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Actor Attacked by Acid

An actor has sustained severe burns on his mouth, back, and wrists after his former lover threw a cup of acid at him out of anger.

Actor 'Dan' Danai Samutkochon was hospitalized after his ex-girlfriend smeared acid on him following a misunderstanding.

Danai explained that he was talking with a female friend from the U.S. at his house when his former lover broke in and attacked him with acid.

According to Danai, his American friend is not his lover.

He explained that she is just a friend who is on tour in Thailand, but his former girlfriend misunderstood and did not listen.

Danai added that he called the village security guards to stop the brawl, but he was accidentally attacked while trying to protect his American friend from the acid attack.

The actor insisted he does not want his former girlfriend to be involved in his life any longer, and he has nothing to say to her from now on.

He added that he has filed a complaint with the police.

Dan has now been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.

The female attacker has been indicted on trespassing and assault charges.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-25

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Phuket Immigration launches online hotel guest registration drive

Col Panuwat shows a hotel staffer how to log on.

Photo by Janpen Upatising.

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INN: Parliament accepts Cabint's proposed amendments to articles 93-98 /TAN_Network

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AFP: Thai Prisoners Riot Over Confiscated Cell Phones

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SET index closed at 996.42, down 9.55; Bt/USD29.91; GBP47.06; AUD29.25; EUR39.77; CAD29.53; HKD3.85; SGD22.71; JPY35.65

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Parliament Approves in Principle Draft Amendments on Article 93, 98

Members of the joint Parliamentary session have accepted in principle the Cabinet's proposed amendments to the electoral system in articles 93 and 98. Votes are as follows: Accept 330, Reject 156, Abstain 34

-- Tan Network 2010-11-25

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Whale stranded in Chantaburee

CHANTABUREE (NNT) -- Local residents of Koh-Perd , Chantaburee Province, found a whale stranded at Klong-long (คลองลง) beach. Volunteers finally rescued it, dragging it back into deep water. Local residents who found the whale mistook it for a boat before noticing some movements. He immediately called for help from a group of volunteers and rescue units to take it back to the sea.

The whale, 6 meters in length and weighs more than 2 tons, was believed to have been hunting for small shell fish in an area where several shrimp farms are located when it was stranded in shallow water.

According to locals, no whales of any species have ever been spotted in the province. They assumed that a large number of small fish and crustaceans in this area are what attracted the whale. The Chantaburee provincial tourism department is now planning to include Klong-long beach as one of the province’s many eco-tourism hot spots.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

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Tourism Authority of Thailand Sees Bright Prospect for High Season

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Pheu Thai members walk out of Parliament after refusing to participate in joint committee to amend Article 93, 98 /TAN_Network

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Vote taking on last proposed draft starts after several hours of debate on joint committee for Article 93, 98 /TAN_Network

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to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 26 November 2010

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