Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Jan 2011

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Bangkok Metro Police to Cut Crime Frequency by 20% over next six month

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Soaring Oil Prices Drive NGV Sales

An executive of PTT says natural gas usage in vehicles has shown promising growth in Thailand due to the continuous rise in oil prices and growing use of large vehicles.

Executive Vice President for Natural Gas Vehicles of PTT, Wichai Pornkeratiwat, said he expects the demand for natural gas vehicles or NGV to rise further due to the soaring oil price, which has gone up to 90 dollars a barrel now.

He believes the daily consumption of NGV for vehicles will increase to 6,000 or more tons this year, from last year's 5,700 tons a day.

He expects the number of NGV-fueled vehicles will increase to 220,000 units.

Of that number, 30,000 to 40,000 units are likely to be trucks and buses, and the remaining to be taxis and sedans.

Wichai further said PTT plans to open 40 to 50 more NGV service stations to reach its target of 500 stations across the country.

However, the company put a halt to the plan after the government denied the company's request to raise the local NGV price by 2 baht per kilogram.

The government has been capping the retail price at 8.50 baht per kilo, while the actual cost of NGV is 14 baht a kilogram.

He added that with the rising demand for NGV, the Metal Mate Company has made a joint investment with a foreign company to construct a factory to produce NGV cylinders in Thailand, in place of imports.

The Metal Mate Company, the country's leader in the alternative fuel storage industry, launched an NGV cylinder on Tuesday under the brand “NEIL”.

This is a type3 CNG cylinder made in Thailand and Asia.

The sales of NGV cylinders are expected to reach 500 million baht this year.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-12

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DSI chief Tharit submits 4th request to revoke Jatuporn's bail; Jatuporn immediately submitted a counter motion /TAN_Network

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Criminal Court approves detention of red shirt guard leader who allegedly led the storming of Chulalongkorn Hospital /TAN_Network

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Thai Patriots Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong said the group will hold a mass gathering at Govt House tomorrow on the case of the 7 Thais /TAN_Network

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Court will consider DSI petition to revoke Red Shirt leader Jatuporn's bail on Jan 20; asks prosecutor, Jatuporn, DSI to attend hearing /MCOT

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SPYING CHARGE

Cambodian court completes hearing against Veera

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Red Shirts Confirm Rally at Ratchaprason on Jan 23

Red shirt leaders have come out to confirm that they will go ahead with their scheduled rally on January 23 at the Ratchaprason intersection despite calls from the area's business community to take their rallies elsewhere. The movement revealed that it will first gather at Ratchaprasong before moving to the Democracy Monument and ending their rally at midnight.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-12

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Bank of Thailand Monetary Policy Committee raises policy interest rate by 0.25%, from 2.0 to 2.25%, to curb current inflation /MCOT

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AFP: Thailand raises interest rates to curb inflation

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DSI seizes fake mobile phones, clothes worth Bt10 million

Officials from the Department of Special Investigation and Intellectual Property Department raided five shops in Indra Square and Mah Boonkrong and seized fake mobile phones and clothes worth Bt10 million.

The five shops belong to the Zirtel group.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit said the shop illegally imported goods, which imitated well-known brands.

Tharit said officials seized 23,000 pieces of goods worth Bt10 million based on the value of the genuine goods.

The seized goods included fake Nokia phones, fake BlackBerry phones, fake iPhone handsets and fake iPads.

-- The Nation 2011-01-12

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AFP: Thai firms say red shirt protests threaten jobs

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Some 2,000 people rally for compensations over Pak Mool dam

Ubon Ratchathani - Some 2,000 villagers rallied at the Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall Wednesday to demand compensations over impact from Pak Mool dam and called on the government to stop using the dam for good.

The villagers vowed to continue their rally until their demands are met.

They want PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey to inform the Cabinet to permanently open water gates of the dam.

The villagers from Pibul Mangsahan district, Sirinthorn district and Khong Chiam district said the dam caused them to be unable to make their living by fishing on the Mool River.

If the government refuses to open the water gates permanently, the government must provide 15 rai of land for each family plus a compensation of Bt500,000.

-- The Nation 2011-01-12

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Reds to rally at Ratchaprasong despite disruption of commerce

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SET index closed at 1019.51, up 6.12; Bt/USD30.28; GBP47.28; AUD29.87; EUR39.29; CAD30.60; HKD3.89; SGD23.34; JPY36.28

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Deputy Land chief faces corruption charges related to Phuket land

Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is preparing to take legal actions against a former Land Department's deputy director general for his alleged corrupt practice during his tenure in Phuket.

The official, who was not identified, allegedly issued land-right documents to investors for plots that locals had openly occupied since 1959.

These locals have used a royally-given surname "Pramongkij" - which HRH the Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother granted during her visit to their settlement in 1967.

This fishermen's village has more than 200 famiies.

PACC acting secretary general Ampon Wongsiri Wednesday said these plots covered 60 rai in Phuket's Mueang district and were worth over Bt500million.

"We have launched the investigation in response to a complaint from locals," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-12

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Cambodian court formally charges Veera with spying

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Esso, Chevron raise all oil product prices by 50 satang/litre, effective on Thursday; PTT and Bangchak oil prices remain unchanged /MCOT

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AFP: Two Thais in Cambodia court on spying charges

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to be continued

Thailand Live Thursday 13 January 2011