Thailand Live Tuesday 14 Dec 2010

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Train derails at Trang, over ten passengers slightly injured; flood-damaged track seen as cause; repair work complete in two days /MCOT

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Thongma named new stock billionaire

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No red menace for New Year holiday: CRES

By The Nation

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has detected no security threats, including those involving the red shirts, to take place during the New Year holiday, its secretary general Tawin Pleansri said on Tuesday.

"Based on the security assessment report, no violence is expected to erupt and disrupt the New Year festivities," he said.

Tawin said the lifting of the state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas is delayed to next week because the CRES has yet to finalised security plans to be enforced following its disbandment. The internal security law is slated for enforcement in lieu of emergency rule.

He said the security authorities did not anticipate the recurrence of violence because of the sentiment against violent struggle.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Cabinet Approves Salary Increases for MPs, Senators

Today's Cabinet meeting has approved salary increases for Members of Parliament, Senators, and civil servants. MPs will get their raises after they are re-elected back in the next round of elections. Senators and civil servants will received the increased pay in April 2011.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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RT @veen_NT: Disaster prevention authority: Pattalung is the only remaining province in Thailand which is still flooding /via@ThaiKhuFah

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FETTA Demands State Support for Tourism Industry

The Federation of Thai Tourism Association has criticized the Tourism and Sports Ministry for lacking a clear plan to promote the tourism industry in the country.

Meanwhile, hotels have increased their rates by 30 to 40 percent for the high season.

The Federation of Thai Tourism Association, or the FETTA, has approved an operational plan for 2011, in which the organization will provide support to local tourism businesses throughout the country.

The FETTA is also planning to organize at least five promotional events for the tourism sector in all of the five regions of Thailand.

FETTA said that the plan was formulated because of a lack of assistance from the state, as most of the high-ranking officials at the Tourism and Sports Ministry are only experienced in athletic programs, not in management of the tourism industry.

In 2011, FETTA is planning to invite the prime minister to attend a seminar covering the government's plan to promote the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, they are reporting that during this high season for travel, the number of reservations has increased significantly.

As a result, some hotels, mostly in the South, have hiked up the room rates by 30 to 40 percent.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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Cabinet oks pay hikes for bureaucrats and lawmakers

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an across-the-board pay raise for civil servants, officials of Parliament and political office holders, seeing the income of MPs and senators increased by 14.3 per cent to 14.7 per cent following a freeze since 2004.

The new pay package will be enforced under nine executive decrees.

The new salary for MPs will take effect following the general election in a bid to avoid criticism for lawmakers voting in self-interest. The pay hikes for lawmakers are expected to cost additional Bt8 billion per year.

In addition to salary adjustment, the positions of House speaker and his deputies, Senate speaker and his deputies, committee members in upper and lower chambers, and opposition leader will se increased monthly allowances.

The pay hikes for senators, civil servants and officials of Parliament will take effect in April.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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INN: Motorists will get free access to the Motorway between Dec 27 - Jan 3 /TAN_Network

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Motorists Get Free Access to Motorway Between Dec 27 - Jan 3

Motorists will be allowed free access to Thailand's Motorway between December 27 and January 3. Officials announced the move in hopes of alleviating traffic congestion during the New Year's holiday.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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Tollway waived during New Year

By The Nation

The Highways Department will waive toll fees of all motor ways during December 27 to January 3, to increase the travelling convenience and reduce traffic in front of toll booths.

Transport Minister Sophon Saram said this will encourage more people to celebrate their New Year with families in provinces and boost the local tourism.

The waive will run from 4pm of December 27 to midnight of January 3.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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SET index closed at 1037.41, up 4.09; Bt/USD29.89; GBP47.41; AUD29.66; EUR40.10; CAD29.67; HKD3.84; SGD22.84; JPY35.67

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Man Arrested for Ayutthaya Road Rage Killing

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the gun murder of a 12 year old boy in a car attack in Ayutthaya.

At 2 A.M. last night, Ayutthaya police chief Police Major General Anurak Taengkasem and his team raided an apartment in Ayutthaya's Bang Pa in district.

Police broke into Room 505 on the fifth floor of the building and managed to apprehend Noppon Prasongsin, also known as Jib Phaikeaw, along with a 38 caliber pistol.

The man is believed to be responsible for the death of 12 year old Phokin Deepheaw in a road rage shooting case in Ayutthaya province on December 4.

The victim was killed by a hail of bullets while traveling in his family's car on the highway and was pronounced dead on December 11 at Phra Nangklao Hospital, succumbing to severe injuries.

Police were able to locate the suspect by tracing his mobile phone signal.

Senior Police Adviser and Acting Region 1 Police Commander Police General Assawin Kwanmuang disclosed that Noppadon confessed that his brother Charnchai Prasongsil, or Joke Paikiew, fired at a car carrying the boy in a road rage attack.

His brother was earlier killed during a police raid.

Assawin said Noppadon claimed it was his brother who fired at the victim's car while he was the one driving the motorcycle.

He added police will also proceed with a drug trafficking case as the two brothers were major drug dealers in Ayutthaya.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-14

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Chiang Rai police have found a dead body with 100,000 speed pills

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Map Ta Phut wells contaminated

Contamination in many artesian wells and shallow wells around the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong is over safety limit.

Pollution Control Department (PCD) director general Supat Wangwongwattana disclosed the information Tuesday.

He was speaking based on findings from PCD water-quality tests.

For example, up to 30 of 39 artesian wells in the industrial estate and nearby areas had too much iron. At least 15 wells had too much manganese. Up to seven shallow wells had too much arsenic.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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BMTA workers rally to demand more buses

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) workers Tuesday rallied in front of the Government House over the lack of adequate vehicles at their agency.

BMTA labour union's vice chairman Chamnarn Sinlapakij led more than 70 workers to stage the protest.

They were unhappy that the BMTA did not get any new vehicle to replace 700 buses being decommissioned or put under maintenance.

According to them, BMTA as a result has lost between Bt3million and Bt3.5million in lost business opportunities.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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Breaking: Juno Bill passed!!! Cabinet approves juno bill; allowing teen mothers to study during their pregnancy /via@veen_NT /via@Juarawee

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Bag Snatch by fake Police Officer in Jomtien

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Ministry Of Justice Official Visits Pattaya In Relation To 24 Hour Entertainment License Proposal

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Mother Discovers Her Child Is Being Used As A Prostitute On Pattaya Beach

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AFTERMATH

Pheu Thai secretary denies quitting

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Pheu Thai Party secretary general Suphon Fongngam on Tuesday denied he would step down to take responsibility for his party's disappointing by-election outcome, particulary its defeat in Surin on Sunday.

"I don't think the disappointing outcome should warrant my resignation and I have already apologised for poor performance to my party's senior figures," he said.

His party already accepted his apology and voiced sympathy for the difficulties he encountered and resolved for campaigning, he said, insisting his party elders wanted him to carry on his job.

Next week the party panel in charge of campaigning will meet and assess the by-election outcome, he said. Based on his preliminary assessment, Pheu Thai's defeat was attributed to the coalition's reliance on state mechanism to sway votes, he said.

"Senior local officials were more than 100 per cent partisans, siding with the coalition parties particularly in the three-day final strech of campaigning," he said.

He voiced confident that Pheu Thai would win more than 230 House seats from the Northeast in the general election. He said fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has remained popular.

Furthermore incumbent MPs are loyal to Pheu Thai, he said, denying speculation about a mass defection to Bhum Jai Thai Party.

He was speaking amid wild rumour that he had already submitted his resignation before changing his mind following a telephone conversation with Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinnawatra.

In their conversation, Yingluck reportedly told Suphon to remain in office because his resignation would cause confusion and demoralisation among the opposition lawmakers.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

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German’s Phuket stay goes to pot

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to be continued

Thailand Live Wednesday 15 December 2010