Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 4 January 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so 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 Monday 3 Jan 2011

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Harbor Department announces a freeze on public boat fares

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Director General of Harbor Department has announced a freeze on public boat fares, adding the policies would apply to all Chao Phraya and Sansab Express Boats, as well as the ferry.

Director General of Harbor Department Tawanrat Onsira has revealed that even though the price of diesel oil has gone up to 29.69 baht per liter, the Department has decided to maintain the fares for Chao Phraya Express Boat, Sansab Express Boat,and ferry boat at present rates. The fares will be reconsidered if diesel price reaches 30 baht a liter.

The current fare rate for Chao Phraya Express Boat, known as the yellow flag, is 15 baht per trip; 20 baht for the yellow one; and 10-15 baht for regular boats. Sansab Express Boats fares is ranging from 10 to 22 baht.

-- NNT 2011-01-04

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Check-in service starts today on Suvarnabhumi Airport Link

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WORLD HERITAGE

Unesco status plan for Kaeng Krachan forest

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will officially inform the Cabinet today of its plan to nominate Kaeng Krachan Forest Area as a candidate for Unesco World Heritage Site status.

A source said the proposal would be in line with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

The Department of Natural Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has already compiled a report on the Kaeng Krachan Forest Area, which spans over 482,225 hectares on the eastern part of Tenasserim (Tanao Sri) mountain range.

The area covers the Mae Nam Pachi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kui Buri National Park, the soon-to-be-established Chalerm Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park as well as the zone linking Kaeng Krachan to Kui Buri National Park.

The Kaeng Krachan Forest Area is in the Indo-Makayan eco-region's Tenasserim-South Thailand semi-evergreen rainforest, where the Phetchaburi, Pachi, Pranburi and Kui Buri Rivers begin. It is also home to more than 720 animal species including crested firebacks, red-billed malkoha, red-eyed bulbuls, banded langurs and fresh-water crocodiles.

According to the Department of Natural Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Kaeng Krachan Forest Area plays a crucial role in conservation. Its characteristics are similar to the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Spanning Kanchanaburi, Tak and Uthai Thani provinces, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries have had a World Heritage Site inscription since 1991.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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SPECIAL

Closer links among Thai agencies key to better disaster preparedness

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CHARTER COURT

Thai Constitution Court president to resign : source

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THAI-KHMER TIES

Video Clips worsen case of detained Thais in Cambodia

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Red shirts to stage mass rally on Sunday regardless of bail rulings: Jatuporn

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Crashes down slightly in Thailand's first 5 'dangerous days', booze still top problem

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PACC uncovers flood relief graft, plus illegal ID-cards

By Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

Unnecessary withdrawals from the disaster budget, national ID cards issued to alleged Wa drug dealers and an illegal land title deed issued to investors - these were some cases of graft found by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) over the past year.

PACC acting chief Ampol Wongsiri said yesterday that the commission, given the job of investigating disaster budget spending by the premier late last year, dispatched officials to randomly check on provinces supposedly hit by a disaster, such as Sakhon Nakhon and Roi Et. They found some district officers sought unnecessary funds from the local administration body, while some provinces said they were spending the Bt6-million disaster budget on relief bags, when they were just hit by heavy rains and not flooded.

Budgets sought for repair were also exaggerated and, in some cases, university students were named as project contractors without their knowledge.

PACC staff also looked into the suspicious issuing of land title deeds in areas such as Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district. An investor reportedly bought land given to farmers under the agricultural reform project, had title deeds issued for them and later encroached into forestland in order to build a golf course. The PACC is taking legal action over five to six plots covering 300 rai.

The same investor is also accused of encroaching on a mangrove forest in Krabi, where his child was allegedly named as the landlord. Once the title deed for the forestland was obtained, there was further encroachment onto 12 rai on a nearby mountain.

Ampol said the PACC had concluded the cases in Nakhon Ratchasima and Krabi, and was passing them to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to take action against the state officials involved.

It has also urged the Land Department to revoke the title deeds, and forwarded the case to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to take action against the investor for encroaching on state land.

The PACC, part of the Justice Ministry, has also looked into the issuing of Thai identity cards, especially to ethnic Wa people in the North, who are believed to be drug dealers.

Another case looked into state funding for reforestation, as the government plans to cut this budget by more than half.

Ampol said under the reforestation project, 120 employees were on the books, when only 30 people worked on the project. He said the other 90 "employees" died long ago - so it looked like the government was hiring ghosts.

Ampol said he believed there was no plan to merge the PACC and NACC, as rumoured. The agency had two main duties: to suppress graft and implement an anti-corruption policy. This month should see Parliament setting up a board of directors for the commission, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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Senate panel to look into policemen's death down South

By The Nation

An ad-hoc Senate committee will tomorrow look into the deaths of two bomb-disposal officers, who were killed on New Year's Day despite wearing bomb-protection gear.

"I will raise the issue at the committee's next meeting," Senator Anusart Suwanmongkhon said yesterday.

He is assistant secretary to the ad-hoc Senate committee on monitoring problems in the deep South.

Anusart said he had heard that the bomb-protection gear had already expired, and thus could not protect the policemen. The explosion, which took place in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district killed the two policemen and injured nine others.

"I want to look into the cause behind the policemen's death," Anusart said.

There are currently two theories: the bomb-protection gear had lost its efficiency because it had expired or the blast was simply too powerful.

Anusart is also planning to ask local police officers how they maintain their bomb-protection suits.

"We may need information from the manufacturers as well," he added.

Deputy National Police Commissioner General Adul Saengsingkaew admitted that the warranty for the gear had already expired, though he said the bomb was far too powerful.

Southern Border Province Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Paitoon Chuchaiya also said the blast was far too powerful for the protection gear to work, adding that he had never ignored the quality and efficiency of the protection devices the police had to use.

"I have already submitted the purchase plan and am seeking additional budget," he said.

Apart from the bomb-protection gear, the quality of the bomb-disposal robots is also being questioned. This is because the two policemen opted to get close to the explosive device when they saw that the robot, manufactured by the Lanna Technical College, was no longer working.

Office of Vocational Education Commission's secretary-general Sasithara Pichaichannarong explained that this robot was the result of an experiment, and would need to be developed further if it were to be used in a real-life situation.

So far, Paitoon said, the police still did not know who had planted the deadly bomb because the security cameras near the blast site were out of order.

According to Anusart, the bombers were clearly targeting people attending an alms-giving ritual, but luckily the venue for the ceremony was changed due to rain.

Meanwhile, a security source said more insurgents had returned to Thailand after undergoing terrorism-related training in a neighbouring country.

"They are preparing to stage attacks on January 4, which will mark the 7th anniversary of a bloody raid on an Army base," the source said.

The raid openly marked the re-emergence of a separatist movement and violence has continued with attacks taking place almost on a daily basis since then.

For instance, unknown insurgents set off a bomb on a Narathiwat road yesterday morning when a group of soldiers approached on their motorcycles and later opened fire on the contingent. Luckily, a reinforcement team quickly rushed to help and the terrorists retreated. The incident left three soldiers injured. They were Corporal Watcharasilp Kongsilp, Private Sakariya Daemh and Private Samree Beuraheng.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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Early Thailand poll might favour the government

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'Little rangers' set to handle security on Children's Day

By Sathien Viriyapanpongsa

The Nation

Government House yesterday launched a project for "little rangers", selecting about 50 children from the Eua Arthorn Project in Bangkok's Khu Bon area to provide security at the premises during National Children's Day on Saturday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will on Friday preside over a ceremony granting ranger hats to these kids, who are undergoing daily training by police this week.

Six lucky youngsters will guard Abhisit during activities at Government House that day. They are Denpong Charoenta, Lalita Khongman, Chonlada Khongman, Thammasorn Suanphut, Piyathida Wanichapong and Saifa Wongkliang.

The idea was to let the kids take charge of maintaining order at the National Children's Day celebration to get them interested in social work and to have public consciousness, said Vittayen Muttamara, secretary to the Prime Minister's Office minister. Khu Bon was chosen because the community had effectively run similar "house police" and "little police" programmes so adults and children could participate in protecting their community.

The Khu Bon Eua Arthorn Project's training of such volunteers was misunderstood and widely talked about as a training platform for the "men in black" during last year's political unrest after pictures were released on the Internet.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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Draft law aims to protect media standards

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

A Cabinet meeting today will consider a draft law to protect freedom of the press as well as promote professional standards for mass media professionals.

The PM's Office Secretariat has proposed the law - according to the constitutional rights of freedom of the press and freedom of expression - which must not be under influence from the government, or state agencies, state enterprises or media business owners.

According to the proposal, the 10-member committee would be selected from representatives of media business owners, editors and an editorial staff from printed media and broadcast media. Moreover, the committee members will include experts in law, human rights, mass communication and consumer protection.

A selection committee would consist of representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, independent agencies, Lawyer's Council of Thailand, heads of non-governmental organisations, the president of the Press Council of Thailand, and of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association.

The committee would be in charge of receiving complaints related to media professionals under an ethical framework. The panel would also consider cases of media professionals whose rights have been abused, as well as arbitrate on work continuation.

Basic codes of conduct are specified and an organisation guilty of abuse must undergo disciplinary penalties and, in some cases, membership revocation.

The proposed penalties for an offending agency include fines up to Bt30,000, or daily fines up to Bt3,000, until correction has been made according to the laws.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

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EDITORIAL

Punish the parents to set an example on law and order in Thailand

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Weather bureau: North, Northeast, Central and BKK still see chilly temperature and fog; South to still see rain /TAN_Network

Sakaeo governor admits Democrat MP Panit knows he was violating Cambodian territory before he was detained /TAN_Network

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MySpace facing 'dramatic' cuts

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Facebook's value now at US$50 billion

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Sorry about the iPhone alarm glitch. We had absolutely no way to prepare for 2011. /via@ceoSteveJobs

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Deputy PM admits Thailand is in difficult position in helping seven Thais detained in Cambodia

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UPDATE

Old Drunk German Motorcyclist Causes Death In Serious Accident

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Thais Gather Close to Cambodian Border to Call for Release of Thais

A large group of Thais are currently gathering very close to the Thai-Cambodian border near Preah Vihear Temple in Si Sa Ket province to call for the release of the 7 detained Thais, which includes Democrat MP Panit Wikitset.

Border law enforcement officers are on high alert and have been stationed at the border to prevent any Thais from violating Cambodian territory.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,042.65, up 9.89 points /MCOT

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Red-shirt leader Tida to submit request for bail for 7 detained red-shirt leaders with bond at Bt3 mln each /TAN_Network

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Karenni man with explosive device holds Thai national hostage near UN office in Tak's Mae Sod district demanding democracy in Myanmar /MCOT

6 danger days for New Year sees 325 deaths and 3,453 people injured from 3,227 road accidents /TAN_Network

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DKBA leader releases Thai hostage after Tak governor negotiated for an hour; Karenni to be charged and tried by Thai court /TAN_Network

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PM says he assigned Panich to inspect disputed border area

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PTT increases benzene 91 price by 50 satang/lr, B5 diesel by 30 satang while Shell increases gasohol 91 and 95 price by 30 satang/lr /TAN_Network

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Over 100 Doctors Sued in 2010

The Medical Council of Thailand discloses the number of lawsuits against doctors in 2010 dropped three-folds compared to 2009.

The Medical Council of Thailand stated although some 100 charges were brought against doctors in 2010, the figure fell three-folds when compared to 2009.

The council explained that most cases involved substandard medical practice that led to deaths or disabilities, mistakes in writing out prescriptions, and low-quality medical equipments. More private hospitals were sued than public hospitals.

To deal with a complaint filed by a patient, the council stated the process involves a letter sent to the physician in question so that doctors have a chance to defend themselves. The council will then launch a probe into the matter by means of an investigation by a panel. As the investigation may take up to one year, in a lot of cases, the patient would decide to file a suit with the court, which makes the details of the case public. The doctor involved will have their reputation tarnished and would have to pay court-related expenses.

The council disclosed that only five physicians' licenses were revoked in 2010. Most of these doctors worked in private hospitals and were involved in crime which led to jail terms.

The Medical Council allows doctors who have already served their jail terms to return to the medical field to work as assistants to doctors but only at hospitals that lacks staff.

In an attempt to reduce malpractice cases against doctors, the council has vowed to educate medical students on morality and work with other related agencies to increase public understanding about doctors' role.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-04