Thailand Live Monday 10 Jan 2011

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PM to visit deep South on January 17

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will visit the deep South on January 17 to consider lifting state of emergency there, Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Sennieum said Monday.

He said the prime minister would make an inspection visit to consider whether the situation there is suitable for enforcing the Internal Security Act instead of the emergency decree.

The prime minister will chair the ceremony to remit Bt512 million for developing 2,281 villages in the southern border provinces. The ceremony will be held in Pattani's Maelan district.

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

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Criminal Court: Jatuporn can participate in political rallies but must not speak about terrorism case against him /TAN_Network

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PM calls urgent meeting with FM Kasit and DM Prawit to discuss help for 7 detained Thais /TAN_Network

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Thai Patriots Network activist Chaiwat Sinsuwong submits petition to UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon; seeks help for 7 Thais detained in Cambodia/MCOT

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Govt may lift state of emergency in two more southern districts

The government may lift state of emergency in two more districts of southern border provinces on Saturday, Deputy Interior Minister Thavorn Sennium said Monday.

He said the current state of emergency in Yala's Betong district and Narathiwat's Sukhirin district will expire on Saturday.

If the National Security Council is not opposed to it, the Interior Ministry will ask the government to decide against continuing the state of emergency in the two districts, Thavorn said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

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Laos is set to open stock market Tue, hoping it will attract capital to its largest enterprises and thus boost economy /MCOT

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Thailand requests China to extend stay for panda Lin Ping

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SOUTH UNDER WATER

Schools hit by flood can resume within a few days

By The Nation

Schools that have been closed due to the flooding in Narathiwat province should be reopened within three days as the rains have now stopped, a senior regional education official said Monday.

Heavy floods and continuous rains have forced suspension of schools in 13 districts of Narathiwat, which were declared flood disaster zones on Sunday, said Adul Promsaeng, director of the Educational Service Area 2 Office.

"Some schools should be able to reopen within three days after the has water receded. They will be restored with help from soldiers and classes can resume by Thursday, January 13.

The flood prevention and mitigation centre for Narathiwat said the floods have affected 36,908 people from 11,053 families in 284 villages in the 13 districts. The torrential rains caused the three main rivers in the province to burst their banks and flooded houses nearby ruining 9,000 rai of farmland and washing out 67 roads.

Vegetable exportations to Malaysia were severely disrupted as the road connecting Thailand to her neighbour was covered with water making travel and transport in both directions and resulting in products going rotten inside warehouses,

On Sunday, Narathiwat Govenor Kissada Boonrat urged people to closely monitor their surroundings and move immediately to the second floor of their houses if water levels rose further.

Meanwhile His Majesty the King has granted relief packages to Narathiwat residents affected by the floods.

Top provincial official, Dejrat Simsiri together with police and soldiers, travelled by boat to Sungaikolok district in Narathiwat to distribute relief packages to local flood victims. The residents were stuck inside their home without electricity for more than one week after water levels reached a depth of more than 1.50 metres.

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

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Yellow-shirt Member Nabbed for 2008 Airport Protests

The Immigration Bureau police have arrested a yellow-shirt member for fleeing an arrest warrant on terrorism charges over the airport protests in 2008.

The suspect has been temporarily released on bail.

Investigators brought a member of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, Tonfan Saeng arthit, for questioning after she was arrested by the Immigration Bureau police at a checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province.

She was on her way to Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh to give support to the seven Thais arrested and detained there for alleged border trespassing.

Tonfan is the 81st PAD member on the wanted list on terrorism and two other charges for the group's protest rallies at Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in 2008.

She was later released on 300,000-baht bail.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-10

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Thai Military's Attack on Cambodians Unconfirmed

The supreme commander says the speculation that Thai military forces attacked a neighboring country's citizens still has not been confirmed, but he insists every action over the handling of border peace must be made in compliance with the law.

Supreme Commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara said he has not received any report concerning a video clip of Thai security forces opening fire at citizens of a neighboring country, but said such an act is legitimate if there was resistance against arrest or the use of firearms by the citizens.

Songkitti continued to say if the matter is only a rumor, it will have no adverse effects on the border situation.

The general also said the assistance for seven Thais detained in Cambodia for alleged intrusion of its territory has proceeded through the cooperation mechanisms of the two countries' governments.

Songkitti said both sides have to respect each other's sovereignty, which is significant for their coordination on security, while the military has the supportive role of maintaining peace and handling border demarcation issues.

As for the bomb attack on the library of the Prem Tinsulanonda School in Khon Kaen province, the supreme commander said the crime was not the work of military officers unhappy with the planned establishment of the Third Cavalry Division in the Northeast as suggested by the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

Songkitti went on to say the decision whether to tighten security for the Privy Council president rests with related agencies.

He also declined to comment about the recent moves of the red-shirt group and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying their activities are now being watched by related officials.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-10

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Cambodian PM Hun Sen forbids attempt to interfere with the court in the 7 Thais' case; says defendants can appeal if unhappy with ruling /TAN_Network

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Soybean oil is on the verge of shortage

BANGKOK, 10 January 2011 (NNT) - Soybean oil is on the verge of shortage as consumers rapidly snap them up after the price of palm oil has skyrocketed.

According to Soybean and Rice Bran Oil Processors Association chairman Vichit Vitayatanagorn, consumers have now turned to soybean oil for cooking instead of palm oil, snapping them up so fast that shortage is very likely. The buying frenzy began in the wake of the government's approval of the increase of palm oil prices to 47 baht from 38 baht per liter.

As some department stores do not limit their consumer purchases, paving way for consumers hoarding on soybean oil. It is very likely that shortage will soon be looming over the market, given local production capacity of soybean remains unchanged.

Currently, the consumption of palm oil nationwide accounts for 70 percent of the total oil consumed, while that of soybean oil hovers at 28 percent, with a possibility of increasing if palm oil price continue to rise.

Internal Trade Department director-general Vatcharee Vimuktayon has reiterated that the department will not intervene in the pricing in the market, but will instead allow market mechanism to decide the prices.

-- NNT 2011-01-10

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Alongkorn to ask US to remove Thailand from From Priority Watch List (PWL)

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ABAC Poll: Majority of the people understood the govt populist-policy scheme

BANGKOK, 10 January 2011 (NNT) - Up to 70 percent of the audience watching the Prime Minister Weekly Show, during which he revealed the government's populist measures, have a clear understanding of the scheme, according to the ABAC real-time poll.

According to the survey, conducted among 1,138 people in 17 provinces on whether viewers understood the government's nine populist scheme, 73 percent of the public said they were clear about the planned reduction in living costs, utility bills, and traveling expenses: 62 percent understood the plan to assist taxi and motorbike taxi drivers.

On the other hand, 66 percent did not understand the proposed plan to curb corruption in the government; 56 percent said they did not understand the idea behind the creation of dedicated areas for street vendors..

49 percent were unclear about the issue of safety in lives and property. In addition, 68 percent said the plan was nothing new; however, 67 percent had confidence in the government's effort to help the people.

-- NNT 2011-01-10

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Lawyers of 7 Detained Thais Submit Request for Bail

The legal team representing seven Thai nationals being held by Cambodian authorities have submitted a request for bail to the Criminal Court. Reports indicate that a response to the request could be known in five days. ASTV is reporting that Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has tried to call Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at least ten times. However, PM Hun Sen reportedly refused to accept his calls.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-10

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SET index closed at 1018.03, down 18.42; Bt/USD30.54; GBP47.35; AUD30.22; EUR39.30; CAD30.63; HKD3.92; SGD23.36; JPY36.5

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FM Kasit reveals he has made at least 10 phone calls to Cambodian PM Hun Sen but Hun Sen refuses to pick up /TAN_Network

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Politics Not Ruled Out in Khon Khaen School Blast

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Foreigner arrested in Sa Kaeo with fake passport

A foreigner was arrested at the Sa Kaeo immigration checkpoint Monday for carrying a fake passport.

The passport identified the man as Christian Alphonse, 35, Guinean.

Officials, however, found the passport was forged. The Guinea embassy also denied issuing this passport.

The suspect has now been detained. He admitted paying Bt8,000 for the fake passport but still insisted he was a Guinean.

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

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Rubber plantations invading parks, wildlife sanctuaries

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Monday warned that rubber plantations would be replacing all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the South from Chumphon down within the next 10 years.

"Investors have now hired alien workers to plant rubber trees in the forest zones at night," the ministry's deputy permanent secretary Damrong Pidej said at a press conference.

The event was called to mark the National Forest Conservation Day.

-- The Nation 2011-01-10

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Major Phuket blackouts to start Tomorrow

PPEA workers perform maintenance on high-voltage power lines in Phuket.

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Woman beaten unconscious on Phuket beach

Surin Beach fruit vendor Maiwadee Tonglaw at Thalang Hospital.

Photo: Yodsak Jarana

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New development plan for Phuket’s Saphan Hin

A composite image showing the area to be developed under the plan.

Image: LMG

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Iranian Loses Leg In Pattaya Motorbike Accident

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Missing man found dead in Naklua

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Miss Slovakia contestants visit Pattaya

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to be continued

Thailand Live Tuesday 11 January 2011