Thailand Live Friday 17 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Friday 17 December 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 16 Dec 2010

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PM Urges National Security Agency's Impartiality

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the government must instill the people with the habit to abide by the law to prevent political disputes from bringing a threat to national security.

He also insists the National Security Council must work impartially for national interest.

Speaking during the opening ceremony for the “The National Security Council: Moving Forward" conference at the Army Club, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated the government's mechanisms in handling the country's peace must be credible and not serve as a tool for any certain party, but for the nation's sake.

Abhisit continued that the recent political disputes have had adverse effects on national security while his government has tried to address the crisis by instilling a public sense of law abiding and eradicating social inequality.

As for the situation in the strife-ridden southern border provinces, he said the government plans to replace the emergency rule with normal laws in the region.

He said the government is considering lifting the Emergency Decree in some districts in Songkla.

He also conceded that the current number of illegal immigrants in Thailand is too big to send back to their home countries, so his government would proceed to recognize and formalize their entries.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-17

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US Embassy Consular Outreach Clinic In Phuket

FRIDAY DEC 17, 2010

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Police Hunt for Drug Gang that Shot 2 Officers

Police continue to hunt down a group of alleged drug dealers who reportedly shot two officers during a recent sting operation.

The wounded policemen are now in critical condition and under close observance by medical teams.

MMetropolitan Police chief Lieutenant General Jakthip Chaijinda earlier today visited Senior Sergeant Major Arun Taengsamut and Sergeant Noppadol Muendee, who have been admitted into the Police General Hospital after being shot by a group of suspected drug dealers on Wednesday.

Arun is recuperating in the intensive care unit from severe bleeding and broken spines while Noppadol’s condition is now out of danger.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau will initially provide cash aid of 50,000 baht for Arun and 30,000 baht for Noppadol.

When asked about the investigation update, Jakthip said the Nonthaburi police will be responsible for the manhunt of the runaway shooters.

He said the wanted men likely remained in the greater Bangkok area.

After the incident, checkpoints have been set up in and around the capital to help find the suspects.

Jakthip also turned down a speculation that widespread public criticism against the police’s extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects may deter investigators’ handling of crime.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-17

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Daughter of British nuclear physicist faces death in Malaysia

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CAPITAL

Bangkok submerged in a decade: study

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POLITICS

PM Abhisit, red shirts agree on bail for jailed protesters

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Thai Taxpayers urged to file complaint over MPs, Senators' pay rise

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12 year old Thai boy's shooting blows lid on drug network, corrupt police

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Tsunami In Gulf Of Thailand Seen Unlikely

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Once 300kg Thai released home at 87.5kg - Chula hospital's success story

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Thousands of new teachers sought for 2011

By The Nation

The Education Ministry will seek to recruit more than 23,000 teachers and school administrators before the start of the new academic year.

The new recruits will replace education officials who have reached mandatory retirement age or who joined the earlyretirement programme.

Last year, more than 4,000 education officials left the service. This year, another 12,000 officials have opted for early retirement while over 7,000 others retired two months ago.

"So, we have more than 23,000 positions to fill," Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said yesterday. The 2011 Academic Year will start around May.

According to Chinnaworn, a Cabinet resolution has allowed his ministry to replace retiring staff. However, the Office of Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) has not yet given the green light for his ministry to start the recruitment.

"We will report the matter to Cabinet," Chinnaworn said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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Chiang Mai set for huge telescope

By The Nation

The Science and Technology Ministry will open a new observatory featuring one of East Asia's largest telescopes at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai late next year, Science Minister Veerachai Veeramethakul said yesterday.

The Bt300million facility will officially open late next year or in January 2012 at the latest. The 2.4meterradius telescope will be one of the two largest in East Asia - the other being in China.

The ministry has also approved the construction of five regional observatories in Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Khon Kaen and Phitsanulok.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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CENSORSHIP

Filmmaker holds out hope for banned 'Insects'

By The Nation

The Culture Ministry's National Film Board chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankiri and Cultural Minister Pinit Intarasombut, who heads the committee, is now watching the controversial gay-themed movie "Insects in the Backyard" at Bangkok's Katana Studio in Ratchadaphisek district.

After viewing the 90-minute-film, the board will announce the final decision, expected around 10pm.

Among the board members are director Prachya Pinkaew and film critic Kittisak Suwanpokin.

Director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, reporters from the film magazine Bioscope and members of the Network of Film Lovers are waiting with hope in front of the screening room.

"Insects in the Backyard" has twice been turned down by censors, who refuse to grant permission for a commercial release of the film.

On last Friday's Constitution Day, the gay transvestite director led a protest of the Culture Ministry's ban by burning a DVD of the movie in a mock funeral at the Thai Film Archive, which had planned to show "Insects" as part of a seminar on the film law. The Cultural Promotion Department sent a letter, warning that anyone screening the banned film would face fines of Bt200,000 to Bt1 million and up to a year in jail.

"Insects in the Backyard" is the story of a gay transvestite father, played by Tanwarin, whose

teenage daughter and son have a confused sense of their own sexuality. Various sex acts are depicted.

The movie was selected for the Dragons and Tigers competition at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and also screened at the World Film Festival of Bangkok.

Tanwarin is hoping to secure a limited commercial release for the film, with an aim to have it rated 20-, in which viewers would have to be aged 20 or older and have their ID checked at the cinema.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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Employers In Thailand expected to resist expanding maternity leave

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WEATHER

Rain to bring big chill

By The Nation

This week's unseasonal rain is forecast to continue over the next two days and will cause a temperature drop of 36 degrees Celsius in Bangkok and some northeastern provinces, the Meteorological Department says.

The rain resulted when a low temperature mass from China met with warm air in Thailand, said Meteorological Department deputy chief Somchai Baimuang.

The northeastern monsoon over the South China Sea will bring rain to Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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AFTERMTH

Red-shirts' legal action against Apichart, EC

By The Nation

Apichart

The June 24 faction of the red-shirt movement yesterday filed a police complaint charging party registrar Apichart Sukhagganond with negligence relating to the two Democrat Party dissolution cases.

In his complaint lodged with the Crime Suppression Division, faction leader Somyos Prueksakasemsuk said Apichart failed to draw a conclusion on the two cases following two respective judicial decisions to dismiss the charges against the Democrats.

"Apichart's negligence has derailed the judicial review, causing the Democrats to elude punishment," he said.

After meeting with police, he said his faction would launch a signature campaign to initiate impeachment proceedings for the five-member Election Commission, including Apichart.

Next week his faction plans to petition for the EC to rectify its flawed proceedings in order to seek a new round of judicial review against the Democrats, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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Thailand on the right path, southerners believe

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ASTV: MRT to be in service till 2 A.M. on Dec 31 and Jan 1 /TAN_Network

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Oscar-winning director Blake Edwards, who made "Pink Panther" movies and romantic comedy blockbuster "10," has died aged 88 /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,031.63, up 2.03 points /MCOT

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according to the german spiegel thailands tourism decreased by 20% because of fortune teller warning about an upcoming tsunami /via@vaitor

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Police Officials on High Alert after News of More Car Bombs in South

The National Police chief has ordered officials to be extra vigilant during the New Year holidays after intelligence reports suggest more car bombs are being planned for Had Yai and the three southernmost provinces.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-17

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Thailand's November car sales volume passes 78,000, 38% increase from same period last year, highest volume in 47 months /MCOT

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New-year gift for Thailand's grass roots

By Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

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Sihanat denies being henchman after his promotion at Amlo rejected

By The Nation

Anti Money Laundering Office acting chief Sihanat Prayoonrat on Friday dismissed speculation that the Cabinet rejected his promotion because he was a henchman of the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have no idea why I was denied my due promotion," he said.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet turned down the nomination for permanent appointment of Sihanat as Amlo secretary general and instructed the selection committee to review its nomination.

Sihanat, presently Amlo deputy secretary general assigned to fill the top post in the caretaker capacity, said his nomination was proper.

He said his job record was clean because his legal wrangling in a serious disciplinary proceedings had been expunged due to an amnesty law. The selection committee decided to endorse his nomination after approving his job vision statement over that of another job applicant, he added.

After the rejection of job nomination, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said certain ministers voiced reservation whether Sihanat was fit for the job.

Sihanat is an ex-police officer transferred to work at Amlo and has involved in a number of controversial cases seen as trump-up charges against political opponents.

In 2002 he was a lead investigator raising money laundering charges for journalists and media outlets critical of Thaksin. Charges were later dropped. NMG, publisher of the Nation, and its journalists were among the accused.

By The Nation

Anti Money Laundering Office acting chief Sihanat Prayoonrat on Friday dismissed speculation that the Cabinet rejected his promotion because he was a henchman of the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have no idea why I was denied my due promotion," he said.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet turned down the nomination for permanent appointment of Sihanat as Amlo secretary general and instructed the selection committee to review its nomination.

Sihanat, presently Amlo deputy secretary general assigned to fill the top post in the caretaker capacity, said his nomination was proper.

He said his job record was clean because his legal wrangling in a serious disciplinary proceedings had been expunged due to an amnesty law. The selection committee decided to endorse his nomination after approving his job vision statement over that of another job applicant, he added.

After the rejection of job nomination, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said certain ministers voiced reservation whether Sihanat was fit for the job.

Sihanat is an ex-police officer transferred to work at Amlo and has involved in a number of controversial cases seen as trump-up charges against political opponents.

In 2002 he was a lead investigator raising money laundering charges for journalists and media outlets critical of Thaksin. Charges were later dropped. NMG, publisher of the Nation, and its journalists were among the accused.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

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High-tech clearance on the horizon for Phuket yachts

TIME'S UP: The new system will cut down on time spent filling out entry forms.

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Police Chief concedes reported possible car bomb during New Year in southern border provinces, believes police able to control situation /MCOT

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Rights officials meeting detained Red Shirt leaders Friday

BANGKOK, Dec 17 - Thailand's Rights and Liberties Protection Department on Friday said its representatives will visit 19 Red Shirt leaders imprisoned at Bangkok Remand Prison this afternoon to discuss possible legal help and bail request.

Director-General Suwana Suwanjuta of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department made the remarks after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met Thida Thavornseth, acting chairperson of the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) 'by chance' yesterday at a Bangkok hotel.

They reportedly discussed the issue of securing bail for the detained Red Shirt leaders, while the premier said the Justice Ministry's Rights and Liberties Protection Department would help in dealing with bail on a case by case basis. He said, but the court would give its final decision whether or not to grant bail for the detainees.

Ms Suwana said Friday that Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has instructed the department to visit detained Red Shirt leaders and provide help for them.

So far there are 180 Red Shirt leaders and activists detained in prisons and 151 of them told the department that they wanted legal assistance as offered by the department, she said.

Only 29, mainly protest leaders, rejected the department's legal aid, saying they did not want to meet the rights and liberties officials, Ms Suwana said.

Nineteen UDD leaders are now being detained in Bangkok Remand Prison, while another ten are being kept in separate cells in other prisons, said Ms Suwana.

However, she said she will led the department team to meet 19 key UDD leaders detained at Bangkok Remand Prison this afternoon to ask if they still want assistance and in what ways, and that the department will send its staff to discuss the issue with other ten protest leaders on Sunday.

The department chief added she will report the results of the talks to the justice minister, who also chairs the Justice Fund, on Tuesday.

Top Red Shirt leaders have been detained since they surrendered to the police after the army operation broke up their protest at Ratchaprasong on May 19, followed by the arrest of many of the movement's allies and supporters whom authorities believed caused violence during the ten weeks of demonstrations.

Most Red Shirt leaders, charged with terrorism, were rejected bail as the court expressed concern regarding their possible flight.

The court recently granted bail to three of 11 Red Shirt allies using financial aid from the Rights and Liberties Department and Justice Fund. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-17