Thailand Live Thursday 9 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 9 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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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 Wednesday 8 Dec 2010

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Free polio vaccines for children

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is campaigning for polio prevention, asking parents to bring their children to health centers and public hospitals for free polio vaccines.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr. Ma-li-nee Suk-vej-vo-ra-kij yesterday announced that the BMA was cooperating with Rotary International in providing free polio vaccines to Thai children under five years old, and children of foreign descend under 15.

The vaccines will be given on December15th and January 19th at all government’s health centers and hospitals, as well as community mobile medical units.

Polio is considered a deadly disease, killing many children over the years. It causes limb atrophy but could be prevented by vaccination.

-- NNT 2010-12-09

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Finance Ministry looks into tax reduction measures to help ease high diesel prices

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Finance Ministry will consider lowering excise tax on fuel needed in certain industries to help lower their production costs.

According to Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, the ministry is considering reducing the amount of oil fund contribution for certain working groups or industries to help ease their financial burden, as the high prices of oil have direct effect on production costs. However, the ministry has yet to finalize which groups should receive the benefits of the reduction.

In the past the Ministry of Finance has already reduced the required contribution for the South’s fishing industry to soften the impact of rising oil prices, said the Minister.

-- NNT 2010-12-09

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Briton Found Naked, Tied To The Bars Of A Cell In Pattaya Police Station

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Democrats brace for next battle

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Security worries won't stop New Year revels

By The Nation

The traditional annual New Year countdown ceremony at the CentralWorld plaza near Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok will be held this year, despite security concerns and heightened measures in nearby areas, the organiser and police announced yesterday.

Another 40 security cameras have been installed in the plaza and nearby areas to ensure real-time measures to take out any threats, said Kobchai Chirathivat, CEO of Central Pattana, which has organised the countdown ceremony for many years.

Police said explosives disposal units would be manned in and around the plaza from the morning of December 31 while police officers will be on constant foot patrol throughout the 48-hour period. A series of evacuation and emergency plans may be conducted in advance.

Traffic will be closed throughout the Rajdamri Road section in front of CentralWorld from Ratchaprasong intersection, and on the other section to Chalermlok Bridge.

Police said there had been no intelligence reports about possible terror attacks during the New Year period or against the countdown ceremony.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Thai football fans pour frustrations online

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ENERGY

Thai Finance Minister Korn says no to oil excise tax cut

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EDITORIAL

OSCE hearing is just another PR stunt for Thaksin

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THAI TALK

New red leader tries to step out of Thaksin's shadow

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BTS hopes recent Bangkok Skytrain's Silom line problems now resolved

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Tamil detainees not terrorists, police say

By The Nation

A group of arrested Sri Lankans are just illegal immigrants seeking jobs in Thailand, and have nothing to do with the now-defunct terror separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a police spokesman said yesterday.

The 51 Sri Lankans, including women and children who were apprehended at four apartments in Soi Phaholyothin , had just stopped over in Thailand for onward travel to Canada, said Pol Maj-General Prawuth Thawornsiri.

"They pose no threat to national security, or have any links to any terrorist groups," he said.

However, verification is underway to identify the 51 people who will be repatriated after brief detention at the immigration police compound. Initially 36 were found to have overstayed their visas.

He said yesterday's arrests were conducted in cooperation with the Sri Lankan government which is now going after LTTE members reportedly attempting to revive their operation after the government crackdown in May 2009.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Health Commission casts doubt on Thailand's medical-hub policy

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Govt action urged to reduce soaring bill for imported drugs

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The government should set up a national centre to promote self-reliance in drug manufacturing and consumption after it was found that the country's spending on imported medicines had doubled to Bt38 billion over a four-year period, an academic said yesterday.

Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee of the Drug System Monitoring and Development Programme said that according to a Food and Drug Administration report, the value of imported drugs had increased dramatically during the past 10 years.

The value of imported drugs doubled from Bt19 billion in 2001 to Bt38 billion in 2005, while the value of local pharmaceutical production increased from Bt23 billion to Bt29 billion over the same period.

The disparity is related to the attitude of people towards the use of imported medicine, which many believe to be better than locally produced drugs, she said. Moreover, there is no mechanism to control the price of medicine.

The Commerce Ministry did issue an announcement about controlling the price of pharmaceutical products, but there are no regulations to implement such a move, she noted.

To tackle the soaring cost of imported medicine, Niyada wants the government to establish a national drug policy and a centre that promotes self-reliance in local manufacturing, consumption and the use of herbal products.

"This could help us stand on our own feet and reduce the level of imports," she said.

The academic added that the government should also focus on the promotion of rational drug use, the quality and safety of medicines, and access to essential treatments.

Meanwhile, Dr Prapoj Petrakas of the Public Health Ministry's Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department said local drug-makers, especially factories producing herbal medicines, should leverage their manufacturing standards to satisfy "good manufacturing practice".

This is vital, he said, as Thailand has signed the Asean Free Trade Agreement, which requires manufacturers to produce pharmaceuticals without any contamination.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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PACC leads with Northeast flood defence probe

By The Nation

Of countless suspected incidents of corruption relating to disaster and flood prevention, the new Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has chosen a project in Roi Et's Pho Chai district as its first target.

PACC acting secretary-general Ampol Wongsiri yesterday said there were redundant payments from Pho Chai district office to two Tambon Administrative Organisations. The district office's budget of Bt200,000 was ten times higher than it should have been, he said.

Residents in the district claimed a placard erected at the project said the TAOs carried it out, contrary to the truth, Ampol said. "The project was carried out - only in name - by the two TAOs, but the district office claimed credit for the work and approved it before reimbursing the money," he said.

Ampol said he would work against the suspects through the Anti-Money Laundering Office, which he said was quicker than working through the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). "PACC investigations into more than 400 cases of corruption are stuck with the NACC, with little progress made," he said.

In its first investigation since its recent establishment, the PACC is targeting corruption associated with disaster and flood prevention projects in the Northeast. Among 45 projects under its purview in Roi Et's Pho Chai, PACC has detected irregularities in 21 projects selected in a random probe.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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High court backs revocation of edict against doctors in body-detention case

By Kesinee Taengkieo

The Nation

The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday upheld a lower court decision revoking a Medical Council directive issued nine years ago that temporarily suspended the medical permits of two doctors accused of delaying treatment of a patient and later of detaining her dead body pending payment for the treatment.

Standing by the reasons given by the Central Administrative Court, which revoked the directive, the judges said the Medical Council had failed to conduct a balanced investigation into allegations filed by the Foundation for Consumers against three doctors of private Sri Siam Hospital in Bangkok's Bueng Kum district.

Dr Thamanoon Wannissorn and Dr Somchart Wannissorn saw their medical permits suspended for three months by the directive dated August 31, 2001, while Dr Aphisit Jaruphinijkul faced a brief probation over their roles in the treatment of Benjamas Thaweesuk, who died during the treatment between February and May that year.

Neither court looked into or ruled on allegations that the three doctors provided needless and expensive treatments, including many operations, to Benjamas, who was injured in a road accident. Rather, it focused on allegations over detention of her body while demanding payment for the costly treatment, the subject of the foundation's complaint.

The final court verdict agreed with the Central Administrative Court decision that Benjamas's relatives had signed a pre-treatment agreement that they would be responsible for all costs after Sri Siam Hospital took over treatment of Benjamas from Phetchavej Hospital, to which she was initially admitted through a social-security package.

According to the three doctors' defence, which was not stated during the council investigation but later in the Central Administrative Court hearing, Sri Siam Hospital was authorised to require Phetchavej Hospital to pay all costs on top of the payment Benjamas had made to it, so it had no reason to detain her body to demand unpaid amounts from the patient's family.

The two courts agreed that the Medical Council's investigation, in which none of the three doctors had representation, was unlawful, and its subsequent directive imposing the penalties on them was therefore revoked.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Wikileaks supporters shut down Visa, Mastercard sites

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Fans gather in NYC to honor John Lennon 30 years after his death

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PM departs for Laos to attend inauguration of Nam Theun 2 Dam project in Khammouane province /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,032.68, up 7.60 points /MCOT

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PM promises to prevent diesel oil price from rising over Bt30

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva promised Thursday to use measures to keep the ceiling of retail diesel oil price at Bt30.

He said he had discussed with Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij that the Oil Fund would be used to subsidise the retail price to prevent it from rising over Bt30.

If the Oil Fund is unable to shoulder the subsidy, the government would consider several other options, Abhisit said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Criminal Court issues warrant for Jatuporn's arrest

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100 policemen deployed to guard Constitution Court

The Metropolitan Police deployed 100 policemen to keep security at the Constitution Court Thursday when the court is scheduled to decide whether to proceed with the judicial review in a case against the Democrat Party.

The party was accused of having received unlawful donation worth Bt258 million from TPI Polene.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Thaksin cancels US trip

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Lethal ordnance exploded in East Pattaya

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Urgent: Court dismisses second dissolution case against Democrat

The Constitution Court Thursday voted 4:3 to dismiss the second party dissolution case against the Democrat Party.

-- The Nation 2010-12-09

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Labour Board increases minimum wage by an average of 11 baht per day; Phuket sees biggest increase of 17 baht; effective Jan 1, 2011 /TAN_Network

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"it's the second "technical victory" for the Democrat Party in a matter of weeks..." /via@veen_NT /via@suthichai

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CRES Proposes Gov't Cancel Emergency Decree, Dissolve Center

The Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, or CRES, has proposed that the government cancel the use of the State of Emergency in the remaining provinces, including Bangkok. It also urges the administration to dissolve the center altogether. The proposals will be made by the National Security Council in the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-09