Thailand Live Sunday 28 Nov 2010

[webfact]

Thailand Live Sunday 28 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 Saturday 27 Nov 2010

[webfact]

NEW!

Follow thaivisa.com on Google Buzz:

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

[webfact]

Economy likely to grow as targeted this year: FPO

BANGKOK: – Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 7.3-7.4 per cent as targeted for this year, despite the impact of major flooding in many provinces nationwide, according to the Fiscal Policy Office.

Pisit Puapan, director of FPO’s Macroeconomic Analysis Division, said the inundation had reduced GDP growth slightly by 0.1-0.3 per cent. Therefore, it is projected that GDP for 2011 would still expand in a targeted range of 7.3-7.4 per cent.

Mr Pisit believed the stronger baht would have little impact on the country’s exports. The currency has already weakened to around 30 to the US dollar since more foreign capital has flowed to invest in assets in the form of the greenback.

FPO Director-General Naris Chaiyasoot said the Thai economy continued to expand in October, albeit at a slower pace than that of the previous month due to the inundation.

So did exports, which had slowed partly due to the stronger baht and lower growth of private consumption.

Private investment remained sound, as witnessed by an increase in the capital goods import by 11.2 per cent per annum.

External demand has also increased at a slower pace as evidenced by export growth of 15.7 per cent per annum, down from 21.2 per cent per annum, due to lower economic expansion of many of Thailand's trading partners, such as the US, Europe and Japan. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Thai Police Arrest French ATM Fraudster

Follow this link:

[webfact]

ARV drugs greatly cut HIV risk: Chiang Mai University

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Crucial verdict could be handed down tomorrow

Follow this link:

[webfact]

First of four rituals, other events, for aborted

By Prapasri Osathanon,

Yossawadee Hongthong

The Nation on Sunday

Prime Minister's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday attended a major merit-making ritual for the souls of 2,002 human foetuses that were discovered at Bangkok's Wat Phai Ngern earlier this month.

Sukhumbhand said he instructed the city's education and health authorities to campaign in 436 schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) about sex education, the dangers of premature sex and self-protection in inevitable cases - while the abortion law was a national matter that the government would act upon.

Ongart said the foetuses' cremation would need to wait for the completion of autopsies, which will take some time.

Ongart also has consulted with the Office of National Buddhism to get all temples to ensure no foetuses were dumped in their compounds.

Wat Phai Ngern will contact the families of the dead whose bodies were kept at the morgue, as they initially wished to demolish the morgue and turn it into a park in memorial to these foetuses.

A large crowd attended the ritual - prepared by famous fortune-teller Luck Rekhnites - and many brought toys and baby clothes as offerings to the souls, while those who underwent abortions were given the chance to write an apology on a piece of paper, which was then burnt in the ceremony.

After this ritual, three other merit-making events will be held to mark the seventh day, the 50th day and the 100th day, Luck said, adding that he would also name all of the 2,002 foetuses to give them identities and hence they wouldn't hold grudges.

In related news, Democrat Party executive Sathit Pitutecha yesterday said that he was seeking MP signatures to propose an abortion law in the next parliamentary session, in a bid to reduce illegal abortions, which often lead to women's deaths, infections and high disability rates among the surviving children

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Great games of Guangzhou

By Kitinan Sanguansak

The Nation

Guangzhou

Thailand finishes a credible ninth, but disturbing signs linger

The curtain was officially brought down on the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou yesterday after 16 days of competition in what was widely hailed as arguably the biggest, if not best, edition of the continent's biggest sporting tournament.

A 476 gold medals were up for grabs in 42 sports in the 16th edition of the quadrennial competition, one of the biggest sporting events ever held.

The Games also became a stage for hosts China to consolidate its status as the world's dominant force in sports after they smashed their 20-year gold medal record of 183, the haul they claimed in 1990 in Beijing, by finishing only one short of 200 at the end.

Critics mocked China's dominance at the Games, suggesting the continental sporting event increasingly became a Chinese national competition, with its athletes taking centre stage in most disciplines.

Thailand fielded its biggest ever squad at the Games with more than 600 athletes and they had a fair share of moments in the spotlight. The Kingdom concluded its campaign with a respectable 11 gold, 9 silver and 32 bronze medals to finish in ninth place overall.

Despite Thailand retained its mantle as the top country in South East Asia, but the numbers of golds being won is showing a worrying trend. After snatching as many as 24 Asiad titles at the home Games in Bangkok 12 years ago, the figure has dropped ever since from 14 in Busan and 13 in Doha and now 11 in Guangzhou.

To put the Thai performance under microscope, there were more concerns since there was no sign of progress in aspects of sports development. The 11 golds Thailand clinched this time came from only five disciplines while in the previous edition in the Qatari capital they claimed 13 gold from seven sports.

Tennis, shooting, weightlifting and billiards failed to come up to the scratch, with athletes in these sports returning empty-handed after a title was won in each in Doha.

Following the retirement of Athens Olympic gold medalist Pawina Thongsuk, all of the country's hopes in weightlifting were pinned on Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakul, who tasted Olympic glory in Beijing two years ago.

However, Prapawadee was left picking up pieces of her hopes of following Pawina's footsteps by adding the Asiad title to her Olympic gold medal in the women's 53kg division following home weightlifter Li Ping's imperious performance, which saw her set two new world records on the way to defend her title in emphatic style.

A tearful Prapawadee, who finished in third place at the end, blamed her disappointing performance on her career duty as her preparation suffered a disruption when she had to attend military training for three months.

Having eventually emerged out of Paradorn Srichapan's shadow to become the country's No 1 tennis player, Danai Udomchoke, who struggled with injury problems over the past year, saw his title defence lost as early as in the quarterfinal round.

To rub salt into the wounds, the Thai tennis team, boasting high-profile players such as evergreen Tamarine Tanasugarn and former Wimbledon junior champion Noppawan Lertcheewakarn in its ranks, had to settle for a solitary bronze in the women's team competition.

These failures illustrate the Thai sports' malaise. With many of the country's established names reaching the twilight of their careers, it was no doubt that there was a need to breed new talent at international level. The problem, though, is the country doesn't have a huge pool of competitors like China does.

The Thai football team's elimination in the quarterfinals of the men's Under-23 competition following a loss to regional powerhouse Japan, who went on to win the title with their virtual under-21 side, also exposed the lack of concrete efforts to develop sports in the country.

Thailand had no financial restraints hindering the sport's development, however, there was no constructive plan to spend the money on the projects which would yield long-term benefit. And the country's stature has suffered in the international arena as a result.

The country should not look too far beyond China's well-structured sports development for an example to emulate. A testament to Chinese efforts was the fast progress they made in the sepak takraw competition after their women's squad notched up two silver medals in team and doubles events.

If Thailand's development continues at this pedestrian pace, there is high possibility that they will soon find themselves behind even in sports they have long enjoyed monopoly, such as sepak takraw.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

More services needed in Thailand for people with disabilities

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Abhisit may dissolve House in April

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will not stay in power full term but will dissolve Parliament in April next year, Government whip Withaya Kaewparadai said Saturday.

He said if Parliament clears the Constitution amendment bill in according to legislative procedures in February, the PM would dissolve the House in April. If Parliament does not pass the charter amendment bills in February, the PM will dissolve the House in February and call a general election in April.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Damage to farmland totals Bt15 billion

By The Nation on Sunday

The recent floods caused damage totalling Bt15 billion to 910 agricultural cooperatives in 55 provinces, and affected some 156,113 people, a senior official said yesterday.

Co-operative Promotion Department director-general Somchai Charnarongkul said the floods damaged 2.2 million rai of farmland worth about Bt15.1 billion, killed 229,650 livestock worth Bt21.7 million and ruined fishery ponds worth Bt417.6 million.

Somchai said he had urged provincial co-operative offices to provide initial assistance to the affected with commodities, farm input and home-repairing tools, worth a total Bt47.5 million.

The government will also extend the period in which people can repay debts without interest for co-operative members for three years, from 2010-2012.

Meanwhile, officials from a royal veterinarian service under HM the Queen's initiative will visit flood-affected farmers in Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Sing Buri and Angthong to provide treatment for sick animals and to advise farmers on livestock care, from December 1-3 and December 8, Livestock Development Department chief Preecha Somboonprasert said yesterday.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday reported that the rehabilitation of the flood-hit Wat Thevaratkunchorn community in Dusit district and the Tha Wang community in Phra Nakhon had progressed, thanks in part to vocational students. The students helped to repair homes and appliances so everything could be back to normal in one month.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Thailand to ask China to let Lin Ping stay for 2 more years

Thai authorities are considering asking China to let Lin Ping, the first female panda born in Thailand, to stay in Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo for two more years.

Prasertsak Boontrakulpuntawi, head of the zoo's panda-research project, said the contract to keep Lin Ping is going to expire in another six months, after which they have to send her to China.

Following talks to keep Lin Ping longer, Thai officials will have another talk in Thailand with senior Chinese wildlife conservation officials on December 20. Hopeful for a green light from China, the zoo planned the panda section expansion and requested Bt28.5 million from the Zoological Park Organisation or the government for the 2012 fiscal year.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Thai PM Abhisit will call an early election, Withaya says

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Corruption busting should top Thai national agenda

Follow this link:

[webfact]

'Former court official' warns judges in new video clip

The Nation on Sunday

A video of a man claiming to be Pasit Sakdanarong, the former secretary to the Constitution Court president, has been posted on YouTube. In the six-minute clip, he uses an analogy to warn the court's judges to be righteous and impartial.

Pasit, who was allegedly involved in video clips related to top court, is thought to have left the country for Hong Kong about six weeks ago but his whereabouts are not known.

The video clip was posted under the name "Judo585". It features six minutes of a speech by the man and a letter supposedly endorsed by Pasit on Friday.

The man, in jacket suit and necktie, sits at a table, introduces himself and says: "I have a story to tell you. There is a company in an industrial estate. This company has a chairman and a board and officials. One day the manager of the industrial estate instructed this company to stop any communication and relations with certain suppliers. The chairman was ordered to keep contact with only certain suppliers but some suppliers should not be allowed to continue, even though these companies violated the same or almost the same regulations set by the industrial estate.

"The chairman then ordered the company's high-ranking officials that there has been a sentiment from the industrial estate manager and the chairman also talked to a panel how to interact with certain suppliers in a distorted way. If the officials stick to righteousness, they probably won't survive. The outside sentiment from outside the company can tell the company to turn left or right. It is awful. This turning left or right should not happen. Every thing should be handled in a straightforward manner in dealing with suppliers under the same standard. I am only an alarm clock and hope I am understood. I hope that the board and the chairman will not use the words 'waiting for a punishment to be imposed' for certain suppliers that the manager supports,'' he said.

After the clip, there was a message saying the Constitution Court ruling is legally binding on all agencies and is final, but does not bind every citizen to think and accept the ruling if it is not righteous.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

Accident in PM's motorcade injures

By The Nation on Sunday

A policeman riding a motorcycle as part of the prime minister's motorcade was slightly injured yesterday morning when a pickup truck in the motorcade went out of control and hit the motorbike.

Pol Sergeant Pongsakorn Sisai was injured when the truck, belonging to an official of the 11th Infantry Regiment who was part of the bodyguard team for acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn, hit his motorcycle at about 9.30 am.

The accident occurred after PM Abhisit Vejjajiva left the Phloenchit Fair to go to the NBT station to record his weekly TV programme. The accident happened when the motorcade was entering the expressway at the Trok Chan tollgate.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[webfact]

N.Korea places surface-to-surface missiles on launch pads in Yellow Sea - YONHAP /REUTERS

S.Korea orders residents in Yeonpyeong island evacuated to shelters - Reuters witness /REUTERS

N.Korea says to hit back if any violation of its territorial waters - KCNA /REUTERS

[webfact]

(URGENT) S. Korea's military spots signs of N. Korean artillery firing: official /vi@octavianasr /RT@YonhapNews:

S.Korea withdraws orders on sending Yeonpyeong island residents to bunkers - Yonhap /REUTERS

[webfact]

More villagers flee Myanmar to Thailand's Mae Sot border town after overnight fighting betw. government troops and ethnic Karen rebels /MCOT

[webfact]

PM invites the Thai people to join King's birthday celebrations to be held Dec 1-9 /MCOT

[webfact]

FC Phuket 2 - 0 Bangkok FC

FC Phuket supporters, who call themselves The Hulks, celebrate

last night's victory.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Ban verdict nears for Thai ruling party

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Police tighten security as PM joining Thai Chamber of Commerce meet in Khon Kaen amid possible Red Shirt protest /MCOT

[webfact]

Korean man injured by relative following quarrel over Thai bar girl

Pattaya, Chon Buri - A South Korean man was wounded by his relative after the two quarreled over a karaoke bar girl here early Sunday.

Police said Yoo Sang Won, 31, was wounded by a knife on his left arm and his relative Jun Sang Ho, 38, was arrested.

The two visited a karaoke bar in Nort Pattaya area and had a quarrel over a female staff working there.

-- The Nation 2010-11-28

[george]

UPDATE:

‘I am helping Thai tourism’, says US porn photographer Tony Poer:

Full story:

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Monday 29 November 2010

//CLOSED//