Thailand Live Saturday 4 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Saturday 4 December 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 Friday 3 Dec 2010

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Finance Ministry reducing equity holding in THAI

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Ministry of Finance will reduce its equity holding in Thai Airways International (THAI) to less than 50 per cent next year to relieve the national flag carrier of state enterprise status and achieve more efficient management.

Permanent Secretary for Finance Areepong Bhoocha-oom said it is likely the ministry will reduce its stake in THAI to less than 50 per cent from its current holding of 51.03 per cent so that the company is able to conduct its business more efficiently.

At present, the national flag carrier is negotiating with its creditors to revise loan conditions requiring the ministry to hold a more than 50 per cent stake in THAI.

“THAI wants to streamline its management to operate like a private company. We think it is not difficult if we need to reduce our equity holding in the company by 1 to 2 per cent.

“Still, we have not yet discussed how much stake will be reduced. We must wait until the company finishes negotiating with its creditors,” said Mr Areepong. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-04

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Yellow Shirts postpone Dec 11 rally to next month

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's yellow-clad movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), on Friday postponed its protest planned for next week against the Thai Constitution amendment regarding the requirement of Parliamentary approval for international treaties to next month, citing it's close the king's birthday celebrations.

The PAD earlier announced the group's rally on December to oppose the charter amendment on Article 190 regarding the requirement for parliamentary approval on any treaty made with other countries, saying the move may favour Parliament's endorsement of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting reports, which they claim will make Thailand lose territory to the neighbouring country.

Yellow Shirt leader retired Gen Chamlong Srimuang however said on Friday that movement resolved that they will postpone their Dec 11 rally to Jan 25, starting from 10am on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

As the celebrations to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5 will take place between Dec 1-9, Gen Chamlong said the planned rally on Dec 11 is quite close to the festive events. The PAD wants December to be the month of happiness, at the same time, the southern region is also facing flood situation, so the group's mass protest will be delayed until Jan 25.

Gen Chamlong added the group will travel across the country to give correct information on the protest to the public.

The protest leader however raised their demands that the government must withdraw Thailand from the World Heritage Convention, and revoke the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Cambodia in 2000 as well as its supporting documents.

"If the government fails to respond our demands, we need to stage a mass protest, as in our lifetime, nothing is worse than Thailand losing its territory to Cambodia." said Gen Chamlong.

The PAD leader also pledged to prolong the Jan 25 demonstration to pressure the government to respond their requests.

Informed of the PAD demand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asserted on Friday that the government cannot withdraw from the World Heritage Convention.

He reasoned that the World Heritage committee has listened to Thailand’s stance during the past wo years, while the kingdom needs to use this forum to communicate with the world community.

As he earlier said he was seeking to talk with the PAD leaders before next week's rally, Mr Abhisit said he still wants to discuss with the protest leaders but the talk is yet set, as concerned officials of both sides are still discussing whether it will be held or not, with who and how. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-04

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EDITORIAL

Thailand needs a new plan for 'green' awareness

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Disabled dad fights on for his kids

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Nonthaburi

Being a good father is hard enough for anyone. For a man with a disability, it's even harder. But despite having only one leg, Chalit Numma, 45, says his disability has not stopped him from being a good father to his two daughters.

"I aim to see both my daughters graduate with bachelors degrees," said Chalit, who lost his left leg in a landmine explosion when he was 22. "Although I don't have a lot of money, I will do my best to earn as much money as I can to pay for their education."

Hi youngest daughter, nine-year-old Thossaporn, is studying at primary school, while 14-year-old Thitapa is in secondary school. The family lives in Nonthaburi.

"Being a disabled father is hard," he said. "I cannot work as hard as others. When I walk or carry heavy objects, my plastic prosthetic leg wounds my skin. It hurts, but I try not to stop working because I want to get a full wage."

Chalit is not the only disabled member of the family. His wife Sawaeng, 42, has a withered leg.

Born into an agricultural family upcountry, Chalit's education ended after primary school. Afterwards he went to an occupational training centre, learning welding and engine repair.

"I'm lucky that the Thai Wheel Factory run by the Thai with Disability Foundation has employed me as a welder for almost 10 years," he said. "But the monthly salary of about Bt8,000 is not enough to feed my family and pay for my daughters' education. Therefore, my wife and I do other jobs to earn more."

For the past three years, after finishing work at the factory, Chalit has ridden out on his three-wheeled vehicle to sell lottery tickets. Sawaeng, meanwhile, runs a small hair salon on the first floor of the house they rent, and sells steamed rice.

Chalit urged any able-bodied fathers feeling discouraged by life's challenges to fight on. "Every part of your body works well. We, the disabled, keep on fighting. Why don't you?" Chalit said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-04

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Kingdom's greatest show

By The Nation

More than 30,000 loyal subjects to take part in historic procession down Chao Phraya; Boat parade to coincide with release of 8,000 floating lanterns; provinces send in vessels

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Foreign manufacturers ripping off Thai brands

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Timetable - Royal birthday celebrations

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CRES presses on Sombat's show

By THE NATION

The Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation yesterday urged red-shirt leaders to postpone a political talk show scheduled to take place on His Majesty's birthday.

CRES spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said police would ask red-shirt leaders to cancel or put off the event by Sombat Boonngarm-anong.

Sombat plans to stage the "Worn Norn Kuk" show on Sunday at red-shirt headquarters in the Imperial World Lat Phrao mall. The title means "asking for jail", suggesting the talk show could be highly political.

"It is not good for the show to be held on this auspicious occasion," Sansern said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-04

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Apichart challenges court's dates on timeframe

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DSI reports on alleged scam at Interior

By The Nation

An investigation into suspected corruption at the Interior Ministry involving a computer-rental project has been completed, implicating four high-profile figures.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has submitted its investigation report to the prime minister, while two of the four figures have been informed of the probe results. They made no public statements or any other reaction to the implications.

Klanarong Janthik, a member of the National Anti-corruption Commission, said the NACC, which took over the case from the DSI, was "carefully" working on it before issuing indictments against the four unnamed figures. "We are summoning witnesses for their testimony, and cannot tell when our investigation will be completed," he added.

The Bt3.49-billion project, initiated by the Department of Provincial Administration and due to be supervised by it, is the rental of a computer programme and database to run the ministry's identity cards and store profiles of cardholders.

However, Wibool Sa-nguanphong, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, who chairs the ministry' internal investigation looking into the Bt3.49-billion project, said there was still a long way to go and that he could not tell when his work would be finished.

"The issue involves many complicated matters that need to be looked into one by one. We are summoning people and documents involved in the process," he added.

-- The Nation 2010-12-04

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HELP FOR THE POOR

Govt to lower prices for LPG, cooking gas

By The Nation

Measures okayed before Dec 17 will be announced as New Year's gift

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday officially unveiled a new policy that aims to ease the burden on the urban poor nationwide. Under the policy, cooking gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cars and trucks would be further subsidised, while prices of food items such as eggs would be reduced soon.

The measures are meant to help labourers and people not included in the social-security system, such as taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi operators, vendors and people working at night entertainment venues, he said.

A Government House source said Abhisit agreed with many proposals submitted by a government panel working on the policy, including easy down payments and soft loans for the purchase of motorbikes for taxi motorcycle operators who have been working for more than 10 years.

Abhisit will meet with the committee next Tuesday to discuss and finalise measures tabled for his approval. Those that are approved by December 17 will be announced as New Year gifts for the public.

The prime minister's announcement about the reduction in LPG prices yesterday ended a year-long speculation about government subsidies and the future of LPG production and imports. Thailand uses 320,000 tonnes of LPG in various sectors under a monthly subsidy of about Bt1.8 billion to Bt2 billion.

About 200,000 tonnes of LPG is used as cooking gas, and 55,000 tonnes is for cars and trucks. According to Abhisit, 65,000 tonnes used in industry and 160,000 tonnes used in the production of petrochemicals will no longer be subsidised.

The government also aims to cut the prices of other commodities in the long run, such as pork, electricity, petrol and eggs, whose price structures need to be changed.

"These commodities are monopolised by a few vendors. There will be government-commissioned analyses of their production costs and market shares for future negotiation to lower the prices," he explained.

The government will also see what factors are behind the increase in prices.

"We will also study why legal mechanisms such as anti-monopoly law are not effective enough to keep prices low and in line with [relatively low] production costs," he said.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Office said six benefits had been approved and would be soon be officially available: Bt12,000 to Bt13,000 to help with child delivery costs; Bt350 to Bt400 in monthly child support; Bt250 to Bt350 but not exceeding Bt600 pear year for dental care; free dentures for teeth lost in accidents or those above the age of 53; free treatment for mental sickness; free treatment for disabled people at government hospitals; and Bt4,000 help for treatment at private hospitals.

-- The Nation 2010-12-04

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DSI fights against bail for Jatuporn, Karun

By THE NATION

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will on Tuesday file a petition with the Criminal Court asking that bail requests for opposition MPs Jatuporn Promphan and Karun Hosakul be cancelled.

DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said he would personally request a review of the bail and the MPs' remand now that public prosecutors are refusing to act on the DSI's behalf.

As lead investigator, Tharit has the power to bypass public prosecutors to present his arguments in court.

Jatuporn and Karun are fighting terrorism charges stemming from the March-to-May red-shirt protests. Tharit said he would focus on Jatuporn because there was clear evidence that he had threatened state witness Methee Amornwuthikul.

-- The Nation 2010-12-04

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Russian Mafia Active In Thailand: US Embassy Cables

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AFP: Thai tech pioneer converts waste into wealth

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Eligible voters begin to cast ballots in advanced by-election in BKK Ayutthaya, Korat, Khon Kaen, Surin /MCOT

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Phuket ‘night tsunami’ drill update

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Ayutthaya, Surat Thani, Phattalung still face flooding while flood death toll climbed to 258;15 provinces declared cold disaster zone /TAN_Network

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Police arrest Phuket’s ‘midnight arsonist’

Accused arsonist Sangworn Toe-udtha hold s up two of his

lighters as Phuket’s top policemen appreciate the irony.

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Election Commissioner Somchai: EC will not re-file Bt29 mln suit against Democrat Party /TAN_Network

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Phuket 'mangrove road' wins EIA approval

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Phuket golf prodigy Pariwat drives on

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PM: State of Emergency to Be Lifted in Jan

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has hinted that the state of emergency in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani can be lifted by as early at January next year.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-04

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Thai Foreign Ministry believes Wikileaks report on Bout case is false; no need to clarify Bout's extradition with Russia /TAN_Network

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Sombat Boonngamanong, Red Sunday group leader, cancels UDD talk show at Big C Lad Phrao on Sunday; Monday show to be held as planned /MCOT

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AFP: Five shot dead in gun attacks across Thai south

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Gun Fire at Pattaya Karaoke Bar leads to arrest by SWAT officers

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Bar Workers Protest in North Pattaya

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TAT to use Bangkok CentralWorld as New Year countdown venue

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