Thailand Live Friday 3 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Friday 3 December 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 2 Dec 2010

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Commerce Ministry to consider whether to extend price pegging measures

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Commerce Ministry is to review its commodity price pegging measures early next year with an aim to restore market mechanism affected by skyrocketing prices.

The Commerce Ministry is considering whether to ask manufacturers to extend the period of price pegging to assist consumers as their purchasing power continues to decline, a result of the sluggish economy and the recent flooding, despite the Ministry‘s existing price pegging measures. The Ministry will also present its price-rise solution to the Prime Minister, asking him to consider what to do with a number of products, such as eggs, rice, and palm oil in particular, of which the prices have been distorted.

The proposed solution will consist of two alternatives, one allowing the manufacturers of palm oil to raise their prices;the other distributing the palm fruits the Ministry has in its stock to manufacturers, so they can make palm oil out of them.

Meanwhile, November's inflation rate which went up by 2.8% was lower than expected, thanks to the improving flood situation in most parts of the country.

-- NNT 2010-12-03

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Brits flee Bangkok boiler room

by Andrew Drummond

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Deputy PM Suthep unworried over planned Red, Yellow protests

BANGKOK: -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday said he is unworried over next week's planned Red and Yellow Shirt protest movements, saying the prime minister is trying to reduce the country's polarising political conflict with patience.

The deputy premier, who oversees national security, made his remarks after the red-clad United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced their planned protest on Constitution Day (Dec 10) at the Democracy Monument in remembrance of those who died during the Red Shirt protests and to demand peace.

The Dec 10 event will be led by acting UDD chair Thida Thavornseth, wife of detained Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn who succeeds Veera Musikhapong who resigned from the post before the clashes between UDD protesters and security forces at Ratchaprasong intersection on May 19.

The following day, the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy is scheduled to protest Parliament's plan to consider and endorse the recent Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting reports. The protest leaders will meet again tomorrow to decide whether to proceed with the rally.

Mr Suthep said he is unworried about the planned demonstrations of the two movements as security-concerned officials have been working together in handling the similar situation for about two years.

He said that Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), has instructed all security officials to be on alert. He gave reassurances that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is trying to solve the political conflict with patience.

Following Red Shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong's open letter urging UDD supporters to continue fighting and to set up a government in-exile, Mr Suthep said the government is monitoring the anti-government movement. Eluding the authorities, Mr Arisman escaped being served his arrest warrant and his present location remains unknown.

Mr Suthep expressed his appreciation for the remarks of the new UDD chairperson, who pledged to carry out a peaceful struggle, but he said the release of detained protest leaders as demanded by the UDD depends on the consideration of police investigators. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-03

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ASK THE EDITORS

Leaks reveal pressure on Thai Govt in Viktor Bout case

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Tsunami of WikiLeaks has hit Thailand

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Constitution court may ditch yet another Thai Democrat case

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TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

Three accused of links to terror, trafficking and arms groups

Muhammad Ather Butt

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HM'S BIRTHDAY

Expressing loyalty for His Majesty with prayers

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

For three months now, 19-year-old Nontawat Pankaew has been taking his grandmother to Siriraj Hospital, where she joins a group of senior citizens who pray for His Majesty's health.

Though most of the people sitting in vigil for their beloved King are elderly, one does catch sight of many youngsters hanging about giving moral support.

With a childhood dream to serve the monarch, Nontawat is happy to spend almost every day at the hospital with his granny, Thanom Chomphoo, 75.

"I'm really happy that I, as a rural man, can have the opportunity to pray for our King. In the past, whenever I drove my motorcycle past his image in front of a market in my home town in Krabi, I uttered 'Long live the King' in his honour. But now, I can shout it out when he passes by, smiling at us," the teenager said.

Even though he has to attend classes at Ramkhamhaeng University, Nontawat told The Nation that he tries to make as much time as he can to go to the hospital.

"I have always dreamed of serving the Royal Family. I love them," he said. This is probably the reason he did not think twice when he was asked to escort his granny to Siriraj Hospital, which he has done since August.

"My friends in university have often asked me why I spend most of my days here. All I can say is that I want to do something for the King."

Nontawat said he had caught glimpses of His Majesty several times when he left the hospital to attend to his royal duties.

The prayer group has about 30 members, with Thanom the oldest. However, her age is no problem. Thanom says she tries to make it to Siriraj every day, even though she has to ride a public bus from Bangkok's Bang Khae district to the hospital. "While His Majesty is there, I will try to go to Siriraj every day until I am not strong enough to travel."

Apart from this group of loyal subjects, a Cambodian family told The Nation that they often wrote get-well wishes for His Majesty.

"My three-year-old daughter's lungs have to be checked by a doctor here every three months. We respect the King, and every time we come here, we sign the book to wish him good health," said the 37-year-old father, Mien Pao.

"Even though we are not people of this country, we work here, so we feel that we are his subjects."

He added that his daughter referred to His Majesty as Pho Luang or father of the country, and paid obeisance every time she saw his image.

So far, more than 1.09 million get-well messages have been signed since June 1, an officer in charge of the process at Siriraj said. He added that since last Saturday, 7,000 to 9,000 messages were signed daily compared with the previous 4,000 to 5,000 because people wanted to send their best wishes to His Majesty before the country celebrates his birthday on Sunday.

-- The Nation 2010-12-03

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Three arrested over bid-rigging in school milk project

By Kavintra Jaiseu

The Nation

Khon Kaen

Three employees of two Khon Kaen-based dairy companies were arrested yesterday for allegedly playing a role in rigging bids for the school milk project, which resulted in a Bt4-million loss in government funding.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which has been investigating corruption related to the nationwide project and was behind the arrests yesterday, said it had found many dairy companies had employed this bid-rigging technique to win government contracts worth more than Bt1 billion last year alone.

Khon Kaen Dairy was awarded the contract by four Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAOs) through a dubious bidding process. In the four bids, the other two so-called competitors - Sarakham Kaset and Thung Kula Dairy Foods - bid Bt0.01 or Bt0.02 higher every time, while Khon Kaen Dairy bid exactly the median per unit.

The median per unit price announced last year for the project was Bt6.25 per bag of pasteurised milk, Bt7.75 per carton of UHT milk and Bt7.45 per package of UHT milk.

DSI agents raided Khon Kaen Dairy and arrested owner Phornchai Bunyacheewitanont and employee Jaroen Rattanapanya, before raiding Sarakham Kaset and arresting employee Pranee Saenkaew. The agents went to Thung Kula Dairy Foods, but could not find Ladda Mokha, for whom they had an arrest warrant.

The four TAOs involved overlook the Nong Daeng, Sri Suk, Wang Pherm and Sam Yang tambons in Khon Kaen's Si Chomphu district. The TAO officials will be questioned and arrested if they are found to have benefited from the bids, senior DSI official Piyawat Kingket said.

The department is investigating school-milk projects awarded by more than 7,000 TAOs across the country after receiving tip-offs regarding various instances of cheating or the rigging of bids.

-- The Nation 2010-12-03

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RED LEADERS

No reason seen to revoke Jatuporn's bail

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The virtues of systems are being overlooked in Thailand

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Mentally handicapped man found dead in Phuket City well

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Phuket black spot claims another life

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Phuket to drill for 'night tsunami'

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket (DDPM-Phuket)

chief San Jantharawong explaining plans for the tsunami evacuation drill.

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PM Abhisit warns of impact of policy interest rate hike

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AT long last. Apple launches iPad in Thailand today! 100 early birds will receive special gifts. #iPadThai RT @lekasina /via@tulsathit

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Flooding to continue in the South

By The Nation

Many provinces in the South continue to suffer from torrential rains and severe flooding.

The third round of floods in Phatthalung province yesterday forced 13 schools to close, while authorities made preparations to deal with runoffs from the Ban Thad Mountain Range.Phatthalung Education Zone 1 Office director Soljai Wibulkit said the schools in low-lying areas in Muang, Khuan Khanun, Pa Phayom, Si Banphot and Srinakarindra districts were told to close for students' safety.

Meanwhile, Phatthalung's Education Zone 2 Office director Chalong Phoonsut said he hadn't been informed about any schools under his jurisdiction wanting to close temporarily. However, he said, he has told executives of the 119 schools under his care - especially those in flood-prone areas in Bang Kaew, Khao Chaison and Pak Phayun districts - to make students' safety the top priority.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, many areas were submerged for a third time due to three days of continuous rains especially in Phra Phrome, Muang, Ron Phibun and Phrommakhiri districts, hit by runoffs from the Khao Luang mountain range.

Since the overflowing Khlong Nakhon Noi flooded several communities, Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat Mayor Somneuk Ketchat ordered that Khlong Khu Muang, Khlong Tharian and Khlong Rames be drained to mitigate the situation.

The Ron Phibun district- hit briefly by forest floods yesterday morning - has a round-the-clock evacuation plan in case of landslides. Ron Phibun along with Chawang, Khanom, Sichon, Lan Saka, Poon and Chang Khlang districts are all considered landslide-prone areas.

Meanwhile, the flood and landslide prevention and mitigation centre in Yala province said yesterday that since a ridge of intense high pressure from China still hovered over upper Thailand and South China Sea, and the Northeast monsoon was active over the South and Gulf of Thailand, the Southern region's eastern coast will continue getting heavy rain.

Therefore, residents in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have been warned against heavy rains, flash floods and landslides. Ships in the Gulf, where winds are strong and waves two to three metres high, have been told to proceed with caution. Yala Governor Krisada Boonrat said he had instructed all areas to monitor the water situation, informed the public of possible disasters and had all agencies ready to assist victims.

In Pattani, after three days of heavy downpours made the levels in Pattani and Sai Buri Rivers rise flood some low-lying areas, deputy governor Lertkiat Wongphopan yesterday ordered all the water be drained into the sea to prepare for the heavy rainfalls forecast for this weekend.

-- The Nation 2010-12-03

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,037.75, up 5.78 points /MCOT

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First hearing on Thursday for second Democrat dissolution case

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DSI chief to submit another request for red-shirt leader Jatuporn's bail revocation on Dec 7 for threatening witness in terrorism case /TAN_Network

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2005 fossil found to be of crocodile species

By Prasert Tangprasit

The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima

The fossil discovered in a field in Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district in 2005 has been confirmed as being a newly discovered ancient species of crocodile that lived in the Northeastern province about 100 million years ago.

The fossil has been named Khoratosuchus jintasakuli after the province's old name Korat and the surname of its discoverer, Pratueng Jintasakul, director of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University's Northeastern Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources.

A team of scientists from Mahasarakham University, led by Komsorn Lauprasert, inspected the fossil and announced it as being a crocodile species in an article titled "Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Ecosystems in SE Asia" published by the Geological Society of London.

The 191-millimetre-long skull dug up from an excavation site in Ban Saphan Hin is currently being kept at the Northeastern Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources.

Pratueng said close study showed that it was most likely a small freshwater crocodile with a flat head and a 1.5-metre-long body, and the characteristics of its teeth showed that it probably fed on fish. The fossil was dated as coming from the late Mesozoic Era or the early Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago.

This discovery proves that a diverse variety of animals lived in Nakhon Ratchasima in the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, he said, adding that another 10 species of aquatic animals from the Mesozoic Era had been previously dug up in the area.

This discovery also supports the theory of plate tectonics and shows that some 100 million years ago, Thailand's Northeast was close to China, based on the discovery of similar animal fossils, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-03

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Seven Employees Caught in Gas Station Fraud in Lampang

Seven people have been arrested for embezzling 10 million baht from customers at a gas station in Lampang province, over a period of three years.

Commander of Lampang Provincial Police, Police Major General Atthakij Kornthong, announced the arrest of seven gas station workers on fraud and conspiracy charges.

The group has allegedly embezzled more than 10 million baht from a pump in Pichai Sub district over a period of three years.

According to police, the suspects would turn off the meter when filling tanks for customers, and keep the money for themselves.

They would switch the meter back on after having collected 10,000 baht.

These dishonest employees would then divide the sum each day among themselves, each getting about 1,400 baht.

Officers seized 970,000 baht in cash from the suspects' bank accounts, as well as four motorcycles and a pick up truck.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-03

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New Year's Fireworks Exhibition in Chiang Mai to Dazzle Participants

Those of you who still have no plans for the New Year's Eve celebrations, you might want to consider visiting Chiang Mai, as the province will host a magnificent fireworks display.

Chiang Mai province officials held a press conference for the country's largest fireworks exhibition on New Year's Eve at the 700th Year Stadium.

The event is aimed at showing the Thai people's love and loyalty for Their Majesties the King and Queen, on the occasion of His Majesty's 84th birthday and Her Majesty's 79th birthday next year.

The display to welcome the year of the rabbit will feature a beautiful, never before seen fireworks display and a fireworks contest of five countries.

Apart from the fireworks, the event will also have an exhibition on Their Majesties the King and Queen, concerts by leading artists from different music labels, OTOP product sales, and a candle lighting ceremony to pay respect to Their Majesties.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-03

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Interprovincial bus operator, Transport Co. Ltd expects 3 mln passengers during New Year; to increase bus trips to serve 250,000 passengers per day /MCOT

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EC Chairman Apichart rules out resignation after court ruling to dismiss Democrat dissolution case; asserts no pressure put on him, can speak to public after seeing verdict /MCOT

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People's Alliance for Democracy postpones street rally from Dec 11 to Jan 25. Roadshows carried out across the country. /TANN

[george]

WikiLeaks website again offline after company cuts DNS service

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Sister of Italian killed in Thai protests slams money offer

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