Thailand Live Sunday 19 Dec 2010

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Thailand Live Sunday 19 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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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 18 Dec 2010

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THAI to raise Bt8 bn from bonds

By SUCHAT SRITAMA

THE NATION

Thai Airways International plans to issue Bt8 billion bonds in the first quarter of the new year, mainly for refinancing purposes.

President Piyasvasti Amranand said the maturity would range from seven to eight years, matching the terms of Bt29-billion in loans extended earlier by financial institutions. The company will soon appoint the underwriter for the bond issue, which will help it lock in the current low interest rate.

The board of directors yesterday approved Bt2.3 billion out of the proposed Bt5 billion to Bt6 billion budget for aircraft refurbishment between 2011-2013. It also approved fuel hedging of 69 per cent of total oil consumption, as well as fuel surcharges to keep up with the renewed oil price spike.

Under the programme, first-class cabins will include 180-degree flat seats with 23-inch personal screens. Business-class will have 180-degree reclining seats on intercontinental routes and 170-degree reclining seats on regional routes, with 15-inch personal screens. New economy class seats will be provided with 9-10.6-inch personal screens. Passengers in all classes will enjoy in-flight connectivity functions to access voicemail, short messages and multi-media messages and the Internet. Additional galley equipment will include microwave ovens and espresso coffee machines, Galley Air Chiller for consistent tem?pera?ture control of foods, and Induction Heat Unit (IHU) for preserving the true flavors of freshly prepared meals.

In November, the airline reported that its available seat-kilometre (ASK) for November 2010 was 4.2 per-cent higher than in November 2009. Revenue passenger-kilometre (RPK) was 1.4 per cent higher than November 2009. Cabin factor averaged 72 percent.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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EC to rule on vote complaints in Nakhon Ratchasima

By The Nation

The investigative report on alleged fraud in Nakhon Ratchasima by-election has completed and the Election Commission will check and review its findings before forming a decision, EC member Somchai Juengprasert said on Friday.

In the complaint, winning candidate Boonjong Wongtrairat from Bhum Jai Thai Party has been accused of buying votes and other campaign violations. The EC will soon rule whether to drop or open an inquiry on the Boonjong case, Somchai said.

In regard to the arrest of a vote convasser Thongchuay Boonchu trying to buy votes for Pheu Thai Party before the Sunday's vote, he said the EC was in process of launching the criminal prosecution for the accused.

The EC decided not to issue the red card or electoral disqualification since the candidate in question was defeated, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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TROUBLE IN AYUTTHAYA

Call for probe into police killing

By THE NATION

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Klong Dan corruption case nearly completed, NACC says

By ATTAYUTH BUTRSRIPOOM

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

The corruption case over the Klong Dan wastewater treatment project continues and has not been stopped by the statute of limitations, the National Anti-Corruption Committee (NACC) said yesterday.

With some 130 witnesses and 30,000 pages of documents against the defendants, including former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame, who remains at large, the NACC was confident the case would be concluded early next year.

The NACC agreed yesterday to reveal progress on two aspects of the case after a request from a media network against corruption to reveal the status of its probe.

Firstly, the anti-graft body said it had completed its inquiry into the accusation that Vatana and others had abused their authority to gather land in Samut Prakan to sell to the Pollution Control Department (PCD) for the wastewater plant, finding Vatana guilty.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders had sentenced Vatana to a 10-year jail term but he had failed to show up and remains a fugitive, so the Supreme Court has issued a warrant for his arrest.

Secondly, the NCCC had assigned a subcommittee led by NACC member Wichai Wiwitsewi to probe alleged corruption by Vatana, PCD officials, Land Department officials and several private firms in the Klong Dan construction project. The subcommittee had interviewed some 130 people and gathered 30,000 pages of written evidence and found that various state and private officials were involved, so it would file charges against them.

The accused were in the process of explaining themselves, NACC said, so the subcommittee would conclude its findings to the NACC early next year. The case had not exceeded the statute of limitations yet, it said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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Empower people in Thailand's rural areas, scholar says

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Wonder and thunder on the Street of Kings

By ONRAVEE TANGMEESANG

SPECIAL TO THE NATION

Thousands of people, both Thai and foreigners, gathered along Rajdamnoen Avenue yesterday to be part of the historic Street of Kings Rajdamnoen Red Bull Bangkok 2010 event.

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Money for victims of floods in south

By The Nation on Sunday

Over 3,000 residents affected by floods in Songkhla province's Sathing Phra district received money yesterday to help them recover from recent floods.

On the first day of the first round of payments, some 3,641 residents got cash, while another 2,915 affected people will be able to collect the money today. A further 3,192 residents will be able to receive it tomorrow.

Other flood-affected residents who have not submitted details to support claims for assistance can now hand submissions to the district's tambon and municipal officials or at Sathing Phra district office.

Meanwhile, more than 11,000 residents hit by flooding in Hat Yai are entitled to Bt5,000 in relief payments.

All the 11,904 residents will be able to collect money from Hat Yai City Municipality from tomorrow till Wednesday (December 20-22) between 8.30am and 4.30pm. The residents whose first names start with the Thai alphabets of Kor to Nor can collect the money on Monday. Ones with names started with Bor to Wor characters can receive the money on Tuesday. Others who names started with Sor to Hor characters can collect it on Wednesday.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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Soldiers shot dead

By The Nation on Sunday

Two soldiers providing security to Buddhist monks in Yala were shot dead yesterday early morning, while one of the monks was slightly injured.

Closed circuit television cameras near the scene captured the shooting drama and the licence plate number of the suspects' vehicle as well as the road used to escape.

Meanwhile, in Pattani, Saphol Waeha, 59, was severely injured by gunshots to his torso and left arm. He was rushed to Nongjik Hospital.

Six assailants on a pick-up shot Private Sunsudi Masae, 28 and Corporal Suriya Chaiyan, 48 while they were escorting monks travelling back to Wat Hua Saphan after receiving alms. They also took an M16 rifle from the soldiers. The injured monk was Sawat Khemwino, 48.

Reports said authorities had been ordered to strengthen security measures to prevent possible attacks.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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Death in Pattaya

By The Nation

A Japanese woman was found dead after she fell from her room on the eighth floor of a condominium in Pattaya on Friday night. Police said they found no signs of foul play.

Nobuko Wachida , 63, had lived with her husband at the condominium Yoshikasu Wachida, 67, for years.

On Friday before she fell from the room, Yoshikasu went out for massage treatment. Later, a security guard at the condominium heard a sound of crash on the ground and foreign residents screaming, before they found Nobuko's broken body.

Meanwhile, Yoshikasu knew that his wife died when he arrived at the condominium.

Police said Yoshikasu told them she suffered from many diseases and needed to see doctors often. So, they presumed that her sickness might have caused her to jump to death, or she may have fallen accidentally from the room.

Nobuko's body was sent to Institute of Forensic Medicine Police General for an autopsy.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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Suphan Buri show

By The Nation on Sunday

Among hot destinations for the New Year celebrations, Suphan Buri will be one province that celebrates grandly.

Provincial Governor Somsak Phurisrisawat said there would be light and sound performances reflecting the unique culture and traditions of the Tha Chin River, also known as Suphan Buri River.

He said the performances would show the importance of the river, communities and the river, love of men and women in the province and paying respect to the river.

Local residents' way of life and prosperity from the past to present would be also presented to revellers. There would also be fireworks to entertain the revellers.

People can enjoy the shows on December 25-26 and December 29-January 2 at Wat Phrao and Wat Worachan in Muang district.

-- The Nation 2010-12-19

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Pheu Thai 'to expose' govt corruption

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Thai PM Abhisit has matured like a good wine, poll suggests

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Phuket Call To Save 7 Month Old 'Tuptim'

Baby requires urgent liver transplant or will die within weeks

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Nigerian man arrested in Bangkok with 2kg cocaine worth US$175,000

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Police Arrest Female Pick Pocket Gang Following Robbery Of German Tourist

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Red Shirts gather at Ratchaprasong, leaders make merit at Pathumwanaram temple for those killed during May rally /MCOT

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Woman Bites Off Estranged Husband’s Penis And Stabs Him To Death

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Thai public not happy with police performance

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Suvarnabhumi Airport Link check-in system launch set for Jan 4

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AFP: Thousands of Thai Red Shirts gather in Bangkok

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