Thailand Live Tuesday 30 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 30 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 Monday 29 Nov 2010

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National Parks exempt entrance free for every one on the occassion of His Majesty the King

BANGKOK (NNT)-- The Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is organizing a special event entitled “Luang-Fah-Mahamongkol ” in honor of His Majesty the King’s benevolence for Thai people.

Tourists both Thais and foreigners will be able to visit 123 national parks across the country free of charge. There will also be no charge for vehicles entering national parks during this auspicious event, which will take place from December 4th-6th.

-- NNT 2010-11-30

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Army Chief prepares safety plans during HM

BANGKOK (NNT) --The Army Chief, General Prayuth Chan-O-cha, said the Army and the Ministry of Defense have reviewed its security plan expected to be employed during the celebration of His Majesty the King’s 83rd Anniversary.

According to General Prayuth, a meeting will be held today, during which security measures to be applied during His Majesty’s birthday celebration, will be discussed. The measures, if necessary, will be review or revised to ensure that it was foolproof. He

is not worried about safety issues, given all Thais are aware of the importance of the auspicious event.

-- NNT 2010-11-30

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Mekong River drying up, making it difficult for vessels to deliver goods

NAKORNPANOM (NNT) -- Local merchants conducting business in the market near the Mekhong River in Nakornpanom are having a rough time as the river begins to dry up forcing vessels carrying goods to take a detour.

Travel time required to deliver goods has increased by 100 percent, from only half an hour to one hour, at present. Shallower water ways mean large vessels will have to take a detour, taking them much longer time to get to their destinations to deliver their merchandise.

Merchants have to pay more in expenses, incurred during the delivery. Some of the vessels have to be moored in the deep water half a kilo meter away from the pier, making it necessary for owners to pay more for local labors to carry the goods to the market.

If the River continues to dry up, imports of farm products from Laos will decrease, according to a merchant.

-- NNT 2010-11-30

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ANALYSIS

'Technical' escape leaves Thai politics more or less the same

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RETURN OF HONEY-COATED RAZOR

Former Thai PM Chuan stands tall when his party needs him

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BURNING ISSUE

Thai Democrat Verdict puts spotlight on Apichart's role

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ANALYSIS

More rough water ahead for Thai PM Abhisit

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DISSOLUTION CASE

Sighs of relief over Thai Democrat court verdict as SET index rises

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Police sting ends in gunfight with gang

By Suparat Iamtan

Ekkapong Praditpong

The Nation

Police officers, who arrested a drug dealer in a sting operation in Bangkok's Soi Inthamara 14, found themselves surrounded by a crowd who allegedly threw stones at the police car in an attempt to free him, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Presenting suspect Yindee Imsuwan, 26, along with 1.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride at the press conference, Police Bureau Division 1 Commander Pol Maj-General Wichai Sangprapai said Yindee was nabbed in a sting operation at Soi Inthamara 14 in Phaya Thai district. While police were placing the suspect and drugs in their car, some 50 people surrounded the vehicle, threatening police and demanding they release Yindee. He said some threw stones at the police vehicle and tried to snatch the suspect. The police fired some shots in the air and made their escape in the car.

Finding that a policewoman and a policeman were slightly injured from the stone throwing, the team brought the damaged car to file a complaint at the Bang Sue police station. The three alleged culprits were identified as Tom Detchsiam, 31, Sithichai Janreung, 55, and Soraya Panrenu, 20. Police investigators applied for arrest warrants on charges of obstructing police work, trying to take a suspect from police custody by force, causing injuries and property damage.

'The Soi Inthamara 10, 12, 14 area is a community ravaged by drug abuse and gangsters.The three suspects who tried to help Yindee would be investigated if they were involved with drug dealing," Wichai said.

Chiang Mai's Drug Suppression Police officials have had a gun battle with a drug gang in Ban Pang Kwai in Fang district's Doi Ang Khang area, leading to the deaths of three drug suspects.

The deceased were identified as Thoon Lungthong, 36, Kolhing Lungkham and an unnamed man - alleged members of a drug-dealing Shan ethnic gang based in the Northern border area.

As part of a sting operation, undercover police contacted the gang to buy 100,000 Yaba tablets at Bt5.75 million. They met with the three gangsters at the village to exchange the drugs and money. Police then presented themselves to make arrests but the three resisted and the brief gunfight followed.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Skytrain's Soi Baring extension to run in August

By By Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday signed a contract to have Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) operate the 5.25km-long Skytrain extension from On Nut to Soi Baring in exchange for Bt647.1 million per year.

Prapanpong Vejjajiva, director of Krungthep Thanakom - a BMA enterprise - and BTS President Khiri Kanchanapas signed the contract in front of BMA deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul.

BTS chief operating officer Surapong Laoha-Unya said that, under this one-year contract worth Bt647.1 million (including VAT), the company would provide trains to serve commuters on the extension from On Nut to Soi Baring, which would be officially open for public use from August 12, 2011 onwards.

After the contract ended, they would discuss about renewal - possibly for another 19 years, equal to the remaining period of Sukhumvit and Silom lines' concession granted BTS by the city.

Following this contract signing, BTS would buy 35 more bogies from Germany-based Siemens for Bt2 billion to run on the Sukhumvit line and this extension. Also a previous order remains for 12 trains (totalling 48 bogies) from China that would operate on the Silom line.

BTS will collect all fares for the BMA for this extension but not pocket them - because BTS already has received the city's payment for its operating service. It was expected that 100,000 people would use it per day in the first year.

Affirming that BTS was financially strong enough to run the city's Skytrain extensions if approved in future, Khiri said the firm planned to issue a convertible bond of Bt10 billion on the foreign currency market - following the domestic bond worth Bt12 billion it issued last August.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Children get access to porn in Thai media at very young age, poll reveals

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Technology means faster traffic tickets

By The Nation

Police will officially implement the "e-ticket" system in the Metropolitan Police Area 5 and Pathum Thani from December 7 onwards.

Linked to the Police and Land Transport Department databases, the new system would take one minute to issue a traffic ticket - to which an offender could pay a fine at all Thai post offices or police stations - and take only 30 seconds to check arrest warrants and stolen cars, said Pol Maj-General Somdej Khaokham, who heads the Information Technology taskforce. The Metropolitan Police Area 5 and Thai Traffic Police will be equipped with 20 e-ticket machines while Pathum Thani police will be equipped with 10 machines, he said. All Bangkok precincts would be equipped within a year. After thirty days in service, the system would be assessed and evaluated for further improvement.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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IQ tests to be conducted next month

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Department of Mental Health will conduct a major study to measure the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of nearly 100,000 primary and secondary students across the country after finding the IQ of Thai teenagers was at a critically low level.

The study aims to collect information that can be used to boost the IQ of Thai teenagers over five years.

The study will be conducted next month, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday.

According to a survey last year, the average IQ for Thai teenagers was 91 points, near the bottom of the world average range of 90 to 110 points.

The study will start collecting information from December 13-24 this year. The results will be revealed in January.

Researchers will use a set of graphic pictures to test children's IQ. Each child will spend 40 minutes doing the test.

Department of Mental Health adviser Dr Yongyuth Wongpiromsant said the study would reflect real information in all provinces across country about Thai children's IQ level. The results would be used to develop a plan to improve children's intelligence.

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of low IQ in children, so the Public Health Ministry has issued a ministerial order to force manufacturers that make salt, fish sauce and related products to add iodine.

The ministry has also provided iodine tablets to pregnant women across country to prevent iodine deficiency in newborn babies. They will also have to undergo thyroid hormone tests.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Police bust drug haul from Laos

By The Nation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Police yesterday nabbed four men for allegedly transporting 160 kilograms of marijuana worth Bt3.2 million from Laos, in order to sell some at attractions and forward the rest to European countries.

Suspects Natthawut Jaithiang, 31, Monta Saedchalee, 33, Niwat Saengthong, 30, and Thawatchai Thapthong, 39, were presented at yesterday's press conference along with the 160kg marijuana, two mobile phones and a Toyota Vios car. Following the arrests of drug users and retailers that yielded a lead about drug smuggling from Laos via the Roi Et border, police arrested Natthawut and Monta - allegedly with the drugs - and later ran a sting operation on drug deliveries to Niwat and Thawatchai at a Pathum Thani market. The group reportedly confessed the drugs were for distribution at tourist attractions and in some European countries and they had transported drugs many times before, in exchange for Bt50,000.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Red shirts disappointed with Thai Democrat verdict

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Fugitive former PM Laos-bound

By The Nation

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is going to Laos within a few days, a source from the Pheu Thai Party revealed yesterday.

The source said Thaksin was now in Vietnam, where some opposition party MPs met him to seek advice on by-elections being held on December 12.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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'All parties need to be dissolved'

By The Nation

Praphas Ngok-soong-nern, head of the People's Councils in Four Regions, said all political parties deserved to be dissolved as they could no longer be dependable.

"It should be better if there are no political parties left. We the people cannot depend on them or the politicians. Elections are not necessarily a good sign for society," he said.

"People are sick of elections, because politics has now prompted the division of the people. We the people don't pay any attention to politics. We now care more about our grievances the government has promised to alleviate, but failed to deliver," he added.

In Khon Kaen's Muang district, Phasphadorn Niampradit, manager of the popular Bang Lamphoo market, said the court decision was not beyond expectation, and the technical reasons cited by it was a good way out.

"Politics will be stable for the government to solve economic and other problems. If the Democrat Party is dissolved, a drastic change will occur in politics and then the people will not know what party to depend on. The Democrat Party is surely not the best solution, but as the chief coalition party, the public now depend on it to continue running the country to solve all immediate problems," he said.

In Chiang Mai, red-shirt leader Sriwan Janphong said the decision in favour of the archrival of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra "further underlines the double-standard notion and even widens the social gap".

Worrawuth Rujjanaphi-nant, a pro-red disc jockey and a leader of the pro-Thaksin Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, said any bomb attacks that occur in protest against the Constitution Court's decision would not be conducted by the reds. "The red shirts will not resort to violence, because it would only result in defeat after defeat," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Verdict to draw storng criticism : Suriyasai

By The Nation

The technical reasons cited by the Constitution Court in not dissolving the Democrat Party are not favourable for the court itself and would invite more attacks from those harbouring ill intent toward the court, New Politics Party secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said yesterday.

The court's scrutiny of technical reasons without heeding the facts would result in greater scepticism by the public towards the court and the case, he said.

"The inquisitorial system practised by the court is detrimental to the court and the entire procedure because while it produces legal end-results, it yields no factual details for the public," he added.

Suriyasai said the court should have sought legal interpretation over the legality of the Election Commission's indictment and later scrutinised the facts submitted in the indictment to see if the legality was verified and certified. "The court could have aborted the case later if it found the legality was not valid. This should be a way to minimise criticism," he said.

Meanwhile, responding to the court ruling, Election Commissioner Prapan Naikowit said that every party had to accept the outcome because it is final.

The political registrar and the Election Commission did their duty to the best of their ability in presenting facts in the case even though the court did not deliver a judgement on the issue, he said.

Election Commissioner Somchai Jungprasert commented that with the court making such a decision, it should not have wasted time on hearing the case for a whole year. The outcome has deprived people of the chance to know if the Democrat Party is really guilty as charged. The Election Commission would have to review itself, even though this case was the work of the political registrar and did not concern election comissioners. The EC will discuss this matter to prevent the same incident from happening again.

"There had been a warning during EC meetings that laws must be strictly adhered to because the court verdict is legally binding on every state agency," he said.

However, the Democrat Party's fate is still hanging in the balance because the Election Commission had filed two separate dissolution cases against the party. Apart from the present case over the alleged misuse of the Bt29 million electoral grant, the party still has to face a court verdict on alleged irregularities in the Bt258 million donated to the party by TPI Polene.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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PM Appears in Court as Witness in Libel Suit

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appears in court this morning as the first witness in his libel case against red shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan. Jatuporn had said on the red shirt rally stage that the PM ordered the killings of innocent protesters. Reports say he's all smiles today.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-30

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EC done its best but lost on the Democrat case: Prapun

By The Nation

The Election Commission has put utmost efforts into the Democrat Party dissolution case, EC member Prapun Naigowit said on Tuesday, conceding defeat on the yesterday's verdict.

"Although EC members are well versed in the law, there are differing legal interpretations," he said.

Prapun said the EC worked on the case with honest intention and without any pressure. The judicial decision resulted in the case closed, he said.

He said the EC was obligated to abide by the verdict that its steps to disband the Democrats were unlawful and that he will keep his personal opinion on the matter to himself.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,006.67, down 2.33 points /MCOT

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Petroleum exploration underway off Phuket

The green circles show where boreholes will be drilled if the results

of the geological study now underway show potential for significant reserves.

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THAIVISA NEWS: Police: Gunman releases all 24 hostages from Wisconsin high school

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Police Confiscate 160 KGs of Marijuana in Nakhon Ratchasima

The Region 3 Police cracked down on a major drug trafficking ring, arresting four suspects and confiscating 160 kilograms of marijuana.

Deputy Region 3 Police Commissioner, Police Major General Korakot Sariya held a press conference, where he discussed details of the arrest of four suspected drug traffickers, 31 year old Nattawut Jaitieng, 33 year old Monta Charlie, 30 year old Niwat Saengthong, and 39 year old Tawatchai Tapthong.

The first two suspects were arrested as they drove through a checkpoint on the Friendship Highway, on the inbound lane to Nakhon Ratchasima province in the Northeast.

They were found to be hiding 160 kilograms of marijuana, worth three million baht, in the trunk and under the car's backseat.

The two confessed to having been hired to transport the drugs from Roi Et province to Nakhon Ratchasima where another group of drivers was to take the drugs into Bangkok.

Investigators were later able to arrest two other suspects.

The value of the confiscated marijuana is said to be worth ten times its value had it been exported and sold abroad.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-30

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5 policemen, several civilians injured in Songkhla market bomb attack

Songkhla - Insurgents detonated a homemade bomb near a weekly market in Sabayoi district, injuring five policemen and several civilians Tuesday morning.

The explosion occurred at 9:30 am.

Police said a bomb was hidden under a marble bench on Maharaj Road near the market. The spot was used for patrol police to rest.

The bomb was detonated with a mobile phone.

-- The Nation 2010-11-30

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Leading Thai Banker Wary of Retaliation to Verdict on Dissolution Case

One of Thailand’s most noted bankers is warning the public that there is the possibility of street protests now that the Democrat Party has survived its electoral fraud case.

Kasikorn Bank CEO and President Banthoon Lamsam said that all eyes should be kept open for possible street rallies by various political groups since the Constitutional Court has ruled not to disband the ruling Democrat Party.

Banthoon noted that if a new round of demonstrations does not ensue, Thai politics appear to be stable, a scenario that will benefit the already improving investment climate in the country.

He said foreign businesses are still interested in investing money in Thailand thanks to the country's comparatively low cost of labor and sound basic infrastructure.

Banthoon is also calling on the government to quickly improve transportation, telecommunications and educational infrastructure to help move the country further ahead.

On the baht's movement, Banthoon reckoned that the Thai currency will likely appreciate after, while the direction of interest rates will depend largely on inflationary pressure.

In terms of domestic economic growth, he forecasts that the Thai GDP will expand four percent in 2011.

Thailand’s third largest bank, Kasikorn, expects its business to expand no less than seven percent next year.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-30

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One flood-related death reported in 3rd round of flooding in southern province of Phatthalung; locals warned of possible flash flood, mudslide /MCOT

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Police Arrest Construction Worker for Murdering Co-Worker

Police have arrested a man for allegedly slaying his co worker in the eastern province of Prachinburi.

Police have taken a man into custody for allegedly murdering a fellow construction worker in the eastern province of Prachinburi.

The suspect, identified as 19 year old Pichitchai Utnok, was tracked down by police in the northeastern province of Chaiyapum.

Police say the deceased victim has been identified as 19 year old Panya Simsee, and that his body was found buried in a eucalyptus jungle.

Pichitchai was taken back to the crime scene to re-enact the crime and ended up pleading guilty to all charges.

The owner of the land where the body was buried discovered the body on November 28.

The suspect said he killed his co worker out of anger after his fellow construction worker refused to buy methamphetamines on November 4.

He has been indicted on charges of premeditated murder.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-30