Thailand Live Thursday 13 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 13 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 Wednesday 12 Jan 2011

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Instant noodles Mama's price to hike up

BANGKOK (NNT) -- In the wake of the Commerce Ministry allowing an increase of 9 baht per a liter of palm oil, the producer of the best known instant noodles ‘ Mama’ is prepared to hike the price of the leading noodles.

According to Chief Executive of the Thai President Foods Pipat Paniangvait , his company will have to raise the price of its famous noodles soon. The hike, a result of palm oil price increase, has caused production costs to rise considerably. Adding to the woes is the price of flour, one of the main ingredients of noodles, which has also gone up by over 100 percent, from 90 baht to 200 baht a sack in just a month’s time. Minimum wage hike also gives the company a headache, making it necessary for the producer to raise the price of ‘Mama’—a poor man’s feast.

Palm oil which cost 20 baht a liter two months ago now costs nearly 60 baht, much higher than the maximum of 47 baht allowed by the commerce ministry.

-- NNT 2011-01-13

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Govt to issue first national science, tech, innovation plan

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The government is set to issue the first national science, technology and innovation plan as a guideline to drive the country forward.

Presiding over the 9th National Congress of Science, Technology and Innovation for Development held at BITEC, Science and Technology Minister Veerachai Veerametheekul gave a special speech on the development of Thailand’s science, technology and innovation (STI) industry

According to the Minister, the Congress will this year gather opinions from experts in the field and submit them to the government , enabling it to come up with the first national STI plan.

The STI Thailand Award 2011 was also held to honor scientists and entrepreneurs working in the field of science, technology, and innovation.

-- NNT 2011-01-13

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BURNING ISSUE

Leadership a vexing issue for Pheu Thai

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THAI-JAPAN TIES

Exhibition to mark century of Thai-Japan ties

By Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation

The 121 ancient artefacts from Thailand and Japan, including the Japanese Joumon-period flame-shaped pottery aged some 2,500 years, will be on display at the National Museum in Bangkok from January 14 to March 13.

The items later move to Japan's Kyushu National Museum to be displayed from April 12 to June 5.

The artefacts were brought together by the two nations' Fine Arts Departments to celebrate 100 years of bilateral relations, the Culture Ministry's vice minister Flight Lieutenant Suriya Soucksakit said yesterday.

The Thai Fine Arts Department director-general Somsuda Leyavanija said the exhibition at the National Museum would be free of charge. The display would be divided into four sections: the beginning of the two countries from pre-historic time onwards; the influence of Buddhism in their culture and crafts; Thai-Japanese trade and cultural ties; and performance arts.

National Museum's director Amara Srisuchat said organisers from both countries agreed that the items on show should be related.

For instance, Thai pottery dating back 2,600 to 1,800 years, which was unearthed in Roi Et's Ban Muang Bua archaeological site, will be displayed alongside Japan's 2,500 year old flame-shaped pottery unearthed in the Niigata prefecture's Jitte archaeological site. Under the religion section, Thailand will present its 12th-14th Buddhist era Dhamma Chakka symbol and crouching deer found in Nakhon Pathom, alongside Japan's 14th-15th Buddhist era statue of Phra Paisatkuru.

Another important display is a painting depicting Japanese volunteer soldiers serving the King Rama V court in 1681.

The Japanese Fine Arts Division chief Saito Takamasa said that this is the first time that Japanese artefacts have been put on display in Thailand, adding that one of the key pieces was a Momoyama-era screen depicting Chinese and European ships.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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LANGUISHING THAIS

Thai activists vow to ramp up tensions

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RED RALLIES

PM urges talks between retailers

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HORROR TOLLWAY CAR CRASH

Crash driver's kin to be questioned

By The Nation

The Bangkok Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre is considering summoning parents, teachers and other people who might have close ties with the under-age driver involved in a recent tollway accident.

The girl has testified and undergone checks on her physical and mental health.

"I've heard that probation officials at the centre want to obtain well-rounded information on the girl," the director-general of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, Thawatchai Thaikhieao, said yesterday.

Probation officials will soon form an opinion on the girl and decide whether she needs any help or rehabilitation, he said. This opinion will be forwarded to a multidisciplinary panel of the centre, which in turn will forward its report to investigators and the Juvenile and Family Court.

The girl has been charged with reckless driving causing deaths and injuries.

Meanwhile, Thammasat University's student council yesterday urged the Transport Ministry to implement four more measures to ensure safety in public-transport vehicles, while Transport Minister Sophon Saram announced that this would be the year of transport safety and vowed that he would have transport vans in order by April.

The council's secretary Saripong Ariyasunthorn led 20 students to submit their demand to Sophon. The group said the ministry should set better standards when issuing public-transport driving licences, including lessons on safe driving; work with related agencies to stop under-age and unauthorised drivers from taking to the roads; educate the public on road safety; and investigate this case seriously.

In addition, they said, the public sector should proactively promote all sides' participation in transport safety and reform the public-transport system, especially vans.

Sophon said that under the safety policy, strong action would be taken against drunk driving; drivers of public-transport vehicles would have shorter working hours; operators with accidents would be blacklisted; the notorious green Bangkok buses would be taken off the roads; and public-transport vans would be put into safe working order by April.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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EDITORIAL

Thailand's press freedom bill raises new issues of concern

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THAI TALK

Why do we allow politics to be Thailand's main risk factor?

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PIRATED GOODS

Bt10m worth products seized in Bangkok MBK, Indra Square raid

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Boonjong nominated for post of deputy interior minister

By The Nation

The Bhum Jai Thai Party has nominated its newly-elected MP Boonjong Wongtrairat for the position of deputy interior minister, party leader Chaovarat Chanweerakul said on Wednesday.

"I nominated Boonjong for the job since Tuesday," he said.

Chaovarat said the prime minister had no objection for Boonjong to return to the Cabinet.

Boonjong left the government to contest the last month's by-election for House seat from Nakhon Ratchasima. The Election Commission just endorsed his victory last week after dropping complaints on electoral fraud.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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Sonthi visits South to introduce Matumbhum candidates

By The Nation

Matubhum Party leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday visited the three Southern-most provinces to meet constituents and introduce his party's candidates for the next general election.

Sonthi, a Muslim and former junta leader, started the first leg of his tour in Pattani province, where he was warmly welcomed by local politicians and religious leaders.

He later attended a rally before introducing Sanit Nawae to contest a House seat from Pattani. Sanit is currently chairman of Tambon Rata Panyang Administrative Organisation, Yaring district.

Matubhum, formed in 2008, is a junior coalition party with three House seats.

Sonthi took over the party in 2009 as a springboard to enter politics after the junta was disbanded.

Of the party's three MPs, party-list MP Areephen Uttarasin and Narathiwat MP Najmuddin Uma are from the Wa Dah faction, which is supported by Pattani's veteran politician Den Tohmeena.

The party's third MP is Farida Sulaiman from the Northeast province of Surin.

Deputy Finance Minister Man Pattanothai is the party's adviser.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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Clinic's owner may be charged over abortions

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

A retired high-ranking public health official will be examined by the Medical Council of Thailand for violation of the medical ethics code after his arrest for allegedly running an illegal abortion clinic in Bangkok's Bang Phlat district.

The Medical Council's secretary-general Dr Samphan Komrit said the council's committee yesterday resolved to investigate possible ethics violations by the owner of the private clinic at Jaransanitwong following a request from the Department of Health Service Support.

The owner of 24 Nor Clinic may have contravened the 1998 Medical Premises Act by allowing another person to conduct abortions in his clinic. He could also face criminal charges if he had observed an abortion. His medical licence could also be suspended if the council determined he had abused the Medical Practice Law.

The council is also scrutinising the owner of another private clinic at Ramkhamhaeng area on the same grounds.

"The council has suspended the medical licences of doctors [in the past] for violating the code of medical ethics and if the court finds these doctors guilty council will automatically withdraw their licences," Samphan said.

The Department of Health Service Support's director-general Dr SomchaiPinyopanich said he will examine other private clinics in the Din Daeng area after the department found a clinic had sent some pregnant women to undergo abortions at the Jaransanitwong private clinic.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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Wide police sweep finds guns but no drugs

By The Nation

More than 200 policemen conducted simultaneous searches in Ayutthaya yesterday in a bid to destroy a drug-trafficking network there - but without success. The operation failed to uncover any haul.

At the first location, police showed up on a house belonging to Nikorn Kongsu, 35, and waited in front of the door for more than an hour.

Nikorn was identified as a member of the "Jib - Joke Phaikhiew" drug-trafficking ring.

After police failed to get Nikorn to open the door, they broke in and found Nikorn - who had just completed a jail term for drug charges from 2007 - inside.

He told police he had already flushed a quantity of methamphetamine pills down the toilet.

Police arrested him and confiscated his motorcycle, which did not have a licence plate.

At another location, police searched a house belonging to a former village head. They found two shotguns in the house but no drugs.

Although the former village head's son could produce gun-ownership licences, police seized the weapons to check whether they were ever used in crimes.

At seven other spots, searches uncovered 100 rounds of ammunition and eight other guns. Police will check them and investigate the cases further.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, police arrested Bancha Saengkirang, 25, after they found sun-dried meth-amphetamine pills in the yard at the front of his house.

Further search in the house allegedly uncovered a total of 2,269 methamphetamine tablets worth around Bt900,000. Inside the house were 7.3 grammes of crystal methamphetamine worth around Bt10,000.

Bancha was charged with having illicit drugs in his possession with intention to sell.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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Legal action planned over 1984 Phuket land-rights move

By The Nation

The Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is preparing to take legal action against a former Lands Department deputy director-general for alleged corrupt practices during his tenure in Phuket.

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

These locals use the royally given surname Pramongkij, which HRH Princess Srinagarindra the Princess Mother granted during her visit to their settlement in 1967.

This fishermen's village has more than 200 families.

PACC acting secretary-general Ampon Wongsiri yesterday said the plots covered 60 rai (9.6 hectares) in Phuket's Mueang district and were worth more than Bt500million.

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

Ampon said investors told the locals in 1984 that they were encroaching on their plots. The locals rejected this, saying they had lived there for a long time and the plots claimed by the investors even had a cemetery for the locals' ancestors.

After Ampon checked records, he found that a lands official in Phuket had illegitimately issued land-rights documents to investors.

"Those land-rights documents must be revoked," he said.

He added that even though the official had climbed up the career ranks and then retired, legal action would be taken.

"We are going to ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission to pursue legal action against that official," Ampon said.

He added that he would also inform the justice minister that the Rights and Liberties Protection Department should be assigned to help local people.

Legal proceedings must be initiated to have illegitimately issued land-right documents revoked.

"After that, the locals should be allowed to obtain a community land deed over the plots," Ampon said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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SSO to ready for expected 2.4m voluntary members

By The Nation

The Social Security Office (SSO) will restructure its operations to support 2.4 million new voluntary members attracted by free medical coverage and a Bt200-per-day sick-leave allowance.

One of the government's urgent measures is to get people into the social-security system on a voluntary basis.

According to Article 40 of the Social Security Act of 1990, there are two plans available, for Bt100 and Bt150 per month, SSO inspector-general Raksak Chotechaisathit said yesterday.

The government will allocate an initial Bt1.2 billion to the Social Security Fund (SSF) for this purpose, because it cannot contribute to the fund pending a law amendment, he said.

In the first year about 2.4 million people are expected to join in this way - which is the start of good welfare for the people, he added.

SSO chief Pan Wannapinit said he had proposed the reorganisation plan to the Cabinet because the agency still had insufficient manpower but had to prepare a registration system and a publicity campaign to access more people.

The Royal Decree for this change should be completed this month for submission to the Council of State and other agencies before it is considered by the Cabinet.

Pan said that what motivated people to want to join the SSF was that they could get medical treatment as part of the SSO package and also Bt200 per day in compensation for absence from the job during their illness. However, this would be available only for those who had contributed for three months.

For those on the Bt150 plan, besides being entitled to medical, sickness, disability and death benefits, they will receive a pension, he said.

Sathitpong Thanawiriyakul, a pharmacy lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said this policy extended welfare coverage to more people, but it would be more worthwhile for people to join the National Savings Fund. That was because Article 40 paid retirement benefits only once in a lump sum, which wasn't very large, while the NSF would pay in the form of a monthly pension.

Dr Thavorn Sakulpanich, deputy director of the Health Systems Research Institute, praised this policy as going in the right direction, but expressed concern that more and more people with risky behaviour would enter the SSF. A solution was to get as many people as possible into this fund so that there would be a good mix of physically strong and weaker members.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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NATION journalist held up at gunpoint by 'police'

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Thai Patriot Network gathers at Govt House demanding strong govt action to help 7 Thais detained in Cambodia;threaten to close border at Sa Kaeo checkpoint /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,028.63, up 9.12 points /MCOT

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Activists Give Jan 15 Deadline for Talks on Pak Mun Dam Issues

The Assembly of the Poor in Ubon Ratchathani province gathered to seek clarity over Pak Mun dam issues, giving the government January 15 as a deadline to hold talks with the group.

Members of the Assembly of the Poor in Ubon Ratchathani province read a declaration in which they demanded that the government hold talks with the group to solve issues surrounding the Pak Mun dam, by January 15.

The group threatened to step up their movement if their request is not met.

Meanwhile, over a thousand villagers from Ubon Ratchathani's Kong Jiam, Sirindhorn and Phiboon Mangsahan districts camped out in front of the province's city hall, awaiting the government's response to their call.

The rally was generally peaceful, with police and security volunteers working to maintain order.

Provincial authorities arranged an area for the villagers to rally peacefully without intruding on public venues.

Earlier, the sub committee on Pak Mun dam issues, chaired by the Prime Minister's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtoey, had resolved to allow the dam's sluice gates to be opened permanently, in order to restore ecological balance, and to pay compensation to more than 6,000 families affected by the construction of the dam 20 years ago.

The panel had also promised to seek cabinet approval for the permanent opening of sluice gates in January.

However, on December 29 of last year, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand closed the gates, while the proposal for the permanent opening of the gates has, so far, not been presented to the Cabinet.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-13

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City Police Announce Latest Arrests

Various Metropolitan Police stations have reported their latest arrests as a part of the campaign against crimes, which include drug trafficking, drugging tourists, and manslaughter.

Bang Na Metropolitan Police station announced the arrest of Chainarong Umpha and Thaworn Usap after finding 10,000 methamphetamine pills and a .38 millimeter handgun in their possession.

The suspects confessed to the charges and said they received the methamphetamine shipment from a man name Lek, who drove a blue taxi to drop off the drugs in front of a gas station on the Bang Na Trat Road.

The two suspects then drove to Lop Buri province to deliver the drugs to a man name Karn, and here they received 20,000 baht in payment.

Chainarong said the handgun was for protection when he dealt 10 pills to some teenagers in Lopburi province.

The authorities have charged the two men with possession of a controlled substance for illegal distribution, and unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition in public areas.

Meanwhile, Pra Kanong police station announced the arrest of 24 year old Suwanee Panurak following an incident in which two Japanese tourists filed a police report against four Thai women in August 2009 for drugging and robbing them.

The Japanese tourists said they met the women at Kao San Road and the suspects invited them for a meal and later for a drink at King's Park Avenue Hotel in Suphapong Soi 3.

The room was booked under Swuanee's name and after a few drinks, the victims lost consciousness along with their passports, cash, and belongings worth more than 130,000 baht.

After a thorough investigation, police arrested Suwanee in front of Sabina underwear company in Bangkok Noi.

The suspect has denied the charges but admitted to booking the room and receiving a small share of the loot. She has denied knowledge about the drugging.

Lastly, Thonglor Police officers arrested Thanongsak Wongphrom in an apartment complex behind the Thonglor police station.

The suspect is wanted for killing Thanwa and Urairat Ratraikit at an apartment in Krabi's Muang district, where the suspect and victims were drinking.

Thanongsak confessed to the charges, but claimed the manslaughter was sparked by a heated argument.

He slit Thanwa's throat with a peeling knife and then killed Urairat before going into hiding in Bangkok.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-13

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US-based Caterpillar chooses Thailand as manufacturing base

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Democrats and coalition partners to meet Jan 25: Suthep

By The Nation

The Democrat Party will on January 25 host a dinner party for coalition partners, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday, expecting thrash out a solution on the proposed apportionment of House seats.

"It is a tradition for coalition partners to meet over dinner before the House reconvenes and I expect an amicable atmosphere to help a trade-off among the partners," he said.

Suthep was commenting on the Democrat push to apportion 375 House seats for constituency MPs and 125 seats for party-list MPs while junior coalition parties prefer the 400-100 formula.

He said he was optimistic he could convince the coalition partners to come around even though his counterpart Sanan Kachornprasart from Chart Thai Pattana Party predicted a sure defeat for the Democrats.

He declined to say what the main coalition party would do if the push for the 375-125 formula failed, saying this was not the time to speculate.

He said, however, the Democrats would not rely on intimidation tactics, such as threatening to dissolve the House, in order to sway the votes.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

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Explosion at fireworks-producing household in Ayutthaya kills three, injures two; four homes damaged by fire /MCOT

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Cambodian court grants bail to Democrat MP Panich and Narumol,taken from prison; not allowed to return to Thailand in order to fight charges /MCOT

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Uttaradit province declared disaster zone as cold wave continues bringing frigid temperatures to residents in all 9 districts /MCOT

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Three Chinese Men Arrested for Deceiving People

Three Chinese men have been nabbed for falsely claiming to be mute to lure donations.

The men have been blacklisted from entry to the Kingdom.

Tourist and immigration police officers in the northern province of Nan have arrested three Chinese natives who allegedly demanded money from people.

The arrest came after people at Nan intercity bus terminal and major tourist attractions complained that three suspicious people acted as if they were mute and asked for money to sustain their lives.

After an inquiry, police said the three men were from the Chinese province of Hubei and entered Thailand through a border in Chiang Rai province.

The men are said to have asked a Thai person who runs a photocopy business to make signs for them.

The men stayed in Chiang Mai province for several days before moving on to Nan province on January 11.

Police said the men have been blacklisted and banned from entry to Thailand and charged for illegal business and deception.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-13

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Raid Finds 12.2 Million Baht Worth of Pirated Goods in Ratchaburi

More than 120,000 pirated CDs, along with pirated brand-name handbags, have been confiscated in Ratchaburi province.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Phonbutr has announced the arrests of three pirated CD producers who caused 12 million baht in damages.

Over 120,000 pirated CDs were confiscated in the arrest.

The suspected dealers have been identified as Panupong Kohud, Somchai Pliddok, and Worawat Banditnat.

They were conducting the business at a market in Ratchaburi province.

The deputy minister said the apprehended items include music and movies, as well as brand name handbags. The items are estimated to be worth as much as 12.2 million baht.

The producers have been charged with an unauthorized duplication according to the Copy Right Act.

Alongkorn added that the arrest is a part of the Pracha Wiwat project, which is aimed at reducing the crime rate by 20 percent by June 2011.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-13