Thailand Live Tuesday 14 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 14 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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Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Monday 13 Dec 2010

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PM Welcomes Return of Coalition Ministers to Original Posts

The prime minister has no objection if government coalition parties will nominate their MPs, who have earlier been disqualified and forced to leave their posts, to return to their ministerial jobs.

Following the coalition government’s unofficial victory in the weekend by elections in five constituencies, plans are now underfoot to reinstate previously disqualified ministers to their previous positions.

They include former deputy interior minister Boonjong Wongtrairat from Bhum Jai Thai Party and former deputy transport minister Kuakul Danchaiwijit from Chart Thai Pattana Party.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would not object to the decisions to reinstate the ministers by the coalition partners.

Abhisit, however, noted that the restatement of the two MPs will be possible only after the Election Commission has officially endorsed the poll results.

When asked about the Democrats’ defeat in the Northeast, Abhisit said that he is somewhat content with higher votes the party's candidate had won this time around.

The premier reasoned that the number of votes for the Democrat candidate was five times more than what the party had received in the previous poll.

In other news, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban affirmed that the government will not interfere in the investigation into corruption allegations at the Interior Ministry.

The allegations, which centers around the bidding of a computer lease contract at the ministry, reportedly involve Advisor to Interior Minister Sak-siam Chidchob and a number of ministry officials.

Suthep also said that he is not worried that the probe may jeopardize the stability of the coalition government.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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Verdict Reading against Red-shirt MP Scheduled for Dec 17

The Criminal Court is scheduled on Friday to hand down the ruling on a defamation case which the prime minister has filed against a red-shirt core leader.

Jatuporn Promphan has been accused of libel by the premier for allegedly stating that the premier had considered himself an equal to His Majesty the King.

The Criminal Court today held the hearing into the last defendant witness who represents the Royal Household Bureau in the libel suit filed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva against red-shirt core leader Jatuporn Promphan, who is also a Pheu Thai MP.

The charge stemmed from Jatuporn's remark on January 13 last year that the prime minister had behaved inappropriately by sitting at the same level as His Majesty the King during one of the royal audiences with the Monarch.

However, the court canceled the hearing since this witness has already given his testimony.

The court then scheduled to hand down its ruling in the case on Friday.

On the same day, the Criminal Court deliberated the evidence submitted in another libel case in which PM Abhisit has lodged against Jatuporn.

In this case, the red-shirt leader had publicly accused the premier of ordering the massacre on red-shirt protesters in April this year.

Abhisit's lawyer will present a total of five witnessess in three hearings.

Jatuporn's lawyer will put 40 witnesses on the stand in ten hearings.

The court then scheduled the first hearing into the plaintiff's witness on July 6, 2011.

In an unrelated development, the Criminal Court has re scheduled the libel case between Wassamon Pengdit, wife of Director General for the Department of Special Investigation Tharit Pendit, against Jatuporn to be settled out of court on January 20.

The charge stemmed from Jatuporn's speech that she demanded a 150,000 baht kickback from a businessman in exchange for his tax evasion lawsuit to be dropped.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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12 Thai journalists will be visiting Cambodia

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand is prepared to send 12 Thai journalists to Cambodia to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In light of Cambodia journalists visiting Thailand last month, Thailand ,in reciprocity, is sending a group of 12 Thai journalists to visit Cambodia ; between December 18-21. The group is to participate in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. However, no details have been given whether the group will meet with Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen or its foreign affairs minister Hor Numhong, according to Mr. Koi Kurng, the Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson.

In addition, Cambodia has also extended an invitation to Thailand's foreign affairs minister Kasit Pirom to attend the celebration, which will be held in Panom Pehn on Dec.19.

-- NNT 2010-12-14

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ANALYSIS

Vote may trigger Thailand election early next year

Opposition makes few inroads

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More heavy rain forecast after traffic chaos in Bangkok

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EDITORIAL

Gutter Thai politics leaves a stain on all institutions

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Thai Govt seeks ways to ease energy price burden

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FTI protests as ministry pushes for hike

By The Nation

Federation says rates distorted, might hurt businesses, scare away investors

The Labour Ministry will go ahead and ask Cabinet to approve a hike in the minimum daily wage despite protests from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

If Cabinet gives the increase the green light today, workers nationwide will get between Bt8 and Bt17 more each day.

"I want to deliver this wage hike as a New Year's gift to workers," Labour Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said yesterday.

However, the FTI expressed doubts about the Central Wage Committee's decision to approve the hike at a rate much higher than that proposed by provincial wage committees.

"If possible, the government should review the plan," FTI president Payungsak Chartsutipol said.

The federation convened a meeting to discuss the "controversial" plan yesterday, and later asked the government to explain why the Central Wage Committee's rate of increase was much higher than what was proposed by provincial wage committees.

"The provincial committees have only proposed a hike of between Bt2 and Bt10," an informed source said.

For instance, the provincial wage committee proposed a Bt2 daily wage increase in Pattani, but Central Wage Committee approved a Bt11 hike.

The same source said the Central Wage Committee was also seeking to award Bt8 more than the amounts proposed by the provincial panels for workers in Yala, Phang Nga, Trang, Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Chumphon, Krabi, Phatthalung, Satun, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.

Sing Tangjaroenchaichai, who heads the Federation of Industries in the Central region, said the Central Wage Committee didn't just listen to the provincial wage committees, it also paid attention to recommendations made by a newly established academic panel.

"That's why the rate has been distorted. If we allow this to happen, the country may lose its appeal in the eyes of foreign investors," Sing claimed.

He said the much higher minimum daily wage would definitely hurt entrepreneurs in the food-processing and apparel sectors.

"We will send a letter directly to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva," FTI vice-president Taweekij Jatujarernkhun said, adding that if the rate was too high, some businesses may have to lay off workers.

However, Chalermchai said he did not believe the wage hike, sought by the Labour Ministry based on the Central Wage Committee's recommendation, would adversely affect business owners.

"If any employer feels his or her business is going to crumble because of the pay hike, then they should step forward with evidence," the minister said.

Chalermchai said employers should not complain about the hike, but focus instead on how to use the higher pay to motivate their workers to become more productive and efficient.

Meanwhile, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee rep Wilaiwan sae Tia said the proposed rates were in fact still lower than what workers wanted. "But the offer is not too bad," she said.

However, Wilaiwan urged the government to control product prices because if the cost of living rose too high, the wage hike would do nothing to improve workers' quality of life.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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DSI says shooting of Japanese photographer still unclear

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Internal security law to replace the emergency decree

By The Nation

The government will enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA) to replace the emergency decree, which is due to be lifted before New Year's Day, a government source said yesterday.

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva told a meeting of government agency chiefs that he would lift the emergency in the last four provinces, including Bangkok, before January 1.

The Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) will be automatically dissolved once the emergency law is lifted, he said.

The government will later enforce the ISA, which will be handled by the Internal Security Operation Command, he said.

The capital was put under the emergency decree in April in a move to control red-shirt protesters. It gives the government the authority to detain as many red shirts as it wants. The ISA is a similar draconian law authorising the government to control the movement of people.

National police chief Wichean Potephosree told the meeting that he was worried about what might happen once the emergency law is lifted and that the police alone would not be able to control the situation.

Wichean met with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban separately yesterday to discuss lifting of the emergency decree and security plans for the New Year celebrations. Suthep has told the police to come up with a master plan for security in the period leading up to Christmas Day, Wichean said.

"Basically, there will be some 4,000-5,000 police officers, mostly border patrol police, taking care of the capital during New Year's, and I can request more security forces and equipment from the Army if necessary," Wichean said.

"But don't worry, the police will not make the situation scary, because security officers will be in plain clothes and carry no weapons."

The security plan will focus on Ratchaprasong, where tens of thousands people will gather for the New Year countdown, he said.

Ratchaprasong became a battle zone in May, when the military cracked down on rioting red-shirt protesters, leading to the death of nearly 100 people.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Drug trafficker handed 33year jail term

By The Nation

The Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a drug trafficker - whose brother died in a gunfight with police last year to 33 years and four months in jail.

Terdkiat Chunhachai, 29, was also ordered to pay an Bt800,000 fine.

He was arrested in November last year in a sting operation during which his brother, Ekachai or Ekkhao Chunhachai, shot dead Pol Captain Athit Buppha. Days later, Ekachai died during a gunfight with police who surrounded his home in a bid to arrest him.

The court yesterday dropped the murder charge against Terdkiat but found him guilty of drug trafficking.

His conviction could mean life imprisonment, but the court found his statements during interrogation useful and granted leniency.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Students sought to build robot football champion

By The Nation

The search is on for the best university student team to represent Thailand in the World Robocup Humanoid League 2011, to be held in Turkey next July.

Applications for the 2011 humanoid robot soccer competition - considered among the most challenging of robotic championships - are open until January 7 and offer a cash prize of Bt200,000.

Each team has to step up to the challenge by developing both hard and software to equip a robot with football skills, playing a football match with the same basic rules of who scores most goals wins.

The contest is a collaboration of Seagate Technology (Thailand), Thai Robotics Society (TRS), National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC) and the Institute of Field Robotics (FIBO), King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi.

"The Robocup Soccer Humanoid League helps develop students' capabilities in robotics technology and automation," said TRS President Thavida Maneewan. NECTEC deputy director Suthee Phucharoenchanachai said, "NECTEC supports the participation of Thai youth in innovative and challenging electronic technologies, computer and robotics. Participation in this contest will further enhance their creativity as well as problem-solving and teamwork skills."

While the winner will represent Thailand in the World Robocup Humanoid League 2011 and receive a cash prize of Bt200,000, the first runner-up will receive a cash prize of Bt100,000.

All applicants are required to take part in an advanced robotic-development training programme to select the 10 teams to compete in the preliminary round. Finals will be held on March 26-27.

The 10 finalist teams will receive a Humanoid Soccer Robots Development Fund award of Bt100,000 each.

Details and application forms can be downloaded at http://www.thailandhumanoid.org/.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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New helmet laws introduced as fatality rate soars in Thailand

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Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to integrate public transport networks

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BURNING ISSUE

Pheu Thai party may need to rethink strategy

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Pap smear campaign to battle cervical cancer

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Public Health Ministry will next year launch a massive campaign against cervical cancer - the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Thailand - by helping more than 13 million women access Pap smear tests to detect cancerous cells.

The test will be available free of charge at state hospitals nationwide. Women aged 30 to 45 are advised to get a Pap test and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), while women aged between 40 and 60 are advised to get the Pap test, named for Georgios Papanikolaou, the Greek doctor who invented it.

"Early detection would help woman access treatment and reduce the mortality rate," Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit told a press conference.

The ministry's campaign will be five years in duration, from 2011 to 2015.

Cervical cancer is the country's second leading cause of cancer death after breast cancer. The morbidity rate of cervical cancer is 18.1 per 100,000 population.

Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The early stages of the cancer may be completely asymptomatic. Vaginal bleeding may indicate the presence of malignancy. Also moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge are symptoms of cervical cancer. In advanced disease, metastases may be present in the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere.

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, a single swollen leg, heavy bleeding from the vagina, leaking of urine and bone fractures.

Pap smear screening and VIA can identify potentially pre-cancerous changes. Treatment of high-grade changes can prevent the development of cancer.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Thai auto industry records highest sale ever

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ABC News: U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke dead at 69

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,036.37, up 3.05 points /MCOT

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Pheu Thai denies waning sentiment on Thaksin

By The Nation

The voting outcome of the Sunday's by-election did not signal the lowering popularity of fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said on Tuesday.

"I believe Thaksin remains popular and that the red shirts are still very active," he said, arguing the voting outcome had no linkage to Thaksin's popularity.

Plodprasop said his main opposition party viewed the by-election as an opportunity to gauge the government's performance.

The opposition met all expectations in the voting outcome by keeping its House seat from Khon Kaen, he said, dismissing speculation about a mass defection of opposition MPs due to disappointment in the vote.

Pheu Thai's defeat in Surin was attributed to the fact that the constituency was the backyard of Bhum Jai Thai Party, he said, adding even Puea Pandin Party decided not to contest the race.

He said Pheu Thai had reason to remain upbeat about the sentiment in the Northeast because its victory in Khon Kaen was achieved by a bigger margin than that of the last general election.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Deadly riots in Bangkok let local photographers shine in top photo contest

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Cancellation of Emergency Decree Won't Be Proposed to Cabinet Today

The National Security Council has revealed that it will not be proposing a cancellation of the emergency decree to Cabinet as scheduled today. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban earlier said security agencies will take another couple of days to study the pros and cons before proposing the issue to Cabinet next week.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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PM Urges Citizens to Pay Taxes for National Development

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Police Arrest Murder about Kid Victim

Police arrest a man in connection with the murder of a kid in Ayudhaya province Early December.

Police said they managed to nap a man in an apartment believed to be involved in the death of a boy on December 4 in Ayudhaya province.

The victim was 12 year old Phokin Deepheaw.

He was killed by a hail of bullets while travelling in a car of his family on a highway.

The victim was pronounced dead on December 11 at Phranangklao hospital due to severe injury.

Police said the suspect has been identifed as Noppon Prasongsin, alias Jib Phaikeaw.

They said although the suspect claimed he was only the driver, the degree of penalty will remain unchanged.

An initial investigation suggested the suspected killer is showy and posseses a very high ego, often encouraging his friends to come see the body of the victims after he slain them.

Police said the suspected criminal has committed crimes like this for six times. And he has been also involved in drug cases.

The mother of teh victim said she wanted the suspected killer, along with all his family members, to come and apologize the victim, saying she wanted them to realize how the loss she is suffering.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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Model taxpayers receive award from PM Abhisit

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Army Area Commander: Thai-Myanmar border at Three Pagodas Pass has returned to normal, Myanmar reopens border pass for Thais /MCOT

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Thailand to host international conference on Islamic studies

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Phuket November: A month of murder

Narcotics cases, especially those involving ya bah (methamphetamine),

were the most numerous criminal offenses reported in Phuket last month.

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