Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 18 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 17 Jan 2011

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Inflated Lottery Pricing Continues Unresolved

The country’s lottery regulator has conceded that overpriced lottery sales are still rampant in the local market even though it has printed more tickets to meet the growing demand.

Government Lottery Office, or GLO, Director General Wanchai Surakul said that the number of lottery tickets the GLO has printed for the December 30, 2010, draw has been increased by as much as four million.

The office has also lowered ticket prices to correspond with higher supply.

Right after the change, the GLO found that retail lottery prices still ranged between 82 and 83 baht per pair of tickets.

However, Wanchai conceded that prices are going up again to around 84 to 85 baht, while popular betting numbers can see prices go up to as high as 87 baht per pair.

He reckoned that the elevated prices were caused by the fact that demand has also risen to meet increased supply.

The GLO chief vowed to continue monitoring the situation before the next draw, which will take place before the Chinese New Year on February 3.

He added that the GLO will decide again if it will need to implement any other measure to solve the problem of inflated lottery prices after March 16, which is the final draw with the addition of four million tickets.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-18

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Fighting in Myanmar Panics Thai Border Villages

As fighting continues near the Thai-Burmese border, stray mortar shells and bullets have landed on the Thai soil, causing fear and panic among locals in nearby border towns.

Fighting between the Burmese junta's troops and two Karen factions, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, or DKBA, and the Karen National Union, near the Walay army camp has spilled onto Thai territory with an M-79 grenade landing near the Mae Sot Task Force base at a village in Tak's Pobphradistrict.

Neither side has claimed responsibility for the stray grenade and Mae Sot Special Task Force Commander Colonel Suphachoke Thawatpirachai has dispatched teams to inspect the area where it landed.

More than 300 Karen refugees have fled the fighting and crossed into Thailand.

Some have sought shelter at the homes of relatives or acquaintances while others set up camps on the border line at Walay and Morkeryang villages.

At the Walay village, more than 100 residents have gathered to discuss with subdistrict chief Chalerm Boonpromwong and military personnel the possibility of making the refugees leave.

Villagers complained numerous robbery cases and sanitation problems have been brought on by the refugees.

Locals have urged responsible parties to move the refugees from the village or set up a temporary camp for them.

Teachers at the the Walay School said the recent border clashes have reduced school attendance by half as many students must return across the border with their parents while others fear for the safety of their children crossing the border to attend classes.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-18

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FLASH: Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence /via @Reuters

Steve Jobs internal memo: “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can.." /via@klustout

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Banks Expected to Raise Interest Rate on Residential Loans

Several financial institutions have signaled that the interest rates for residential loans are likely to be raised soon.

As the recent hike in the interest rate has started to affect the residential loans, Assistant to the President of Kasikorn Bank Chartchai Payuhawichai pointed out that the recent interest rate adjustment is responsible for the increase of the minimum loan rate and minimum over draft rate customers.

However the number of the promotional interest rate loans has not yet been affected in 2011.

At any rate, Chartchai, has indicated that if its competitors raise the promotional interest rate, the bank may have to follow suit since the loan and deposit interest hike will also raise costs.

Meanwhile, Executive Vice President of Bank of Ayudhya Thakorn Piyapan has admitted that the recent interest rate surge many have a psychological effect on residential loan lenders.

Meanwhile the bank has already adjusted its promotional rate since the New Year.

At the same time, Senior Director of the Small Loan Department at Krung Thai Bank Tinkorn Booyagalin said since the interest rate is likely to go up, the bank may have to reconsider its available capital and interest rate for residential loans made earlier.

It is possible that the fixed interest and the zero percent promotional rates for 1 to 2 years will be shortened to 3 to 6 months.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-18

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Rally at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong

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Over 50 Thai girls went missing after online chats with strangers

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ENVIRONMENT

Tourist numbers at reefs hit by bleaching may be limited

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BURNING ISSUE

It's Thailand election year - a time to wheel, deal and team up

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Chalerm opts out of censure debate

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Cambodian Court to hear bail plea by five Thais

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Thailand's hospital debt crisis could have been avoided

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Death and illness as cold weather embraces Thailand

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BMA's 'green booths' to help deal with crime

By The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is spending Bt16 million to set up "green booths" to be manned by city law-enforcement officers, initially at 112 of 579 spots prone to crime in Bangkok.

BMA deputy spokesman Wasan Meewong said yesterday that sites for the booths would be set after talks with police and public groups so there was little overlap with existing police booths. The BMA green booths should be set up this year.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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Police name suspect in pilot's road rage shooting

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Poorly fed bison highlight park wildlife problems

By By Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

A bison and its calf - recently rescued from a resort near Nakhon Ratchasima's Khao Yai national park by the Royal Forestry Department - are now said to be suffering from malnutrition.

Wildlife conservationists have criticised park officials for not taking care of wild animals and allowing bison to be hunted. They revealed hunters killed some 10 bison last year.

Veterinarian Pattarapol Manee-on from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department yesterday led park officials and media members to view a health check on the female bison named Mae Mali, and its calf Thong Daeng, at the 2nd park conservation unit at Kradat Cliff.

Collecting the bisons' dung for testing, Pattarapol said that, in general, health of the two was quite good but he was concerned over a malnutrition issue because they lived solely on grass and bananas and sometimes ate trash.

Their dung also had many parasites, so he gave them vermifuge [a de-worming drug] along with the bananas. Mae Mali showed signs of malnutrition - thin, rough fur with faded colour, and cracked hoofs.

"The two bison also seemed addicted to eating bananas and so they suffer from malnutrition", the veterinarian said.

Park chief Manote Kanpanak-ngan insisted that the bison had not been taken to the resort, as they were under the care of forestry officials. He said he would ask resorts around the park to take care of wild animals straying onto their properties so they wouldn't fall victim to hunters or villagers, Manote said the park was preparing an additional area with grass, water and salinated soil for wild animals, especially those that graze grass.

Meanwhile, president of the Khao Yai Bisons' conservation group Tawan Srikanin also cameto show documents about the park's bison issues to reporters and confirmed that the bisons were lured to live in the resort for tourism benefits. He said the group had offered to take care of the bison duo and cover expenses to keep them in the park but they didn't get any co-operation from park officials. What the group now worried about was the wildlife hunting in the park especiall bisons, he said, last year some 10 bisons were killed by hunters using rifles. He also showed them pictures of wildlife animals he said had been hunted and killed.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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MPs damn plan for new system

By THE NATION

Senior politicians yesterday voiced opposition to a proposal for a constitutional amendment to allow a semi-presidential system, under which Parliament could not remove a government, a premier could not be nominated by MPs and a PM no longer has the right to dissolve the House.

The proposal came from the government-appointed reconciliation committee on political reform and charter amendments, chaired by Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, rector of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).

Democrat MP and party adviser Charoen Kanthawongs said yesterday that he believed many politicians would find it unacceptable to separate the legislative branch from the executive branch, particularly at a time when the country's checks-and-balances system remains inefficient.

For instance, he said, in the US a congressional committee is empowered to summon anyone to testify and that it is against the law not to appear for such a testimony.

However, all efforts to establish such a power for Thailand's legislature have failed, he explained.

The veteran politician also warned that allowing the winning political party to stay in power for a full four-year term without facing a censure debate would lead to "massive vote buying" by parties hoping to win the election.

Puea Pandin Party leader Charnchai Chairungruang said yesterday that the proposal went against the principle of a two-chambered Parliament, in which elected MPs should have the power to elect a prime minister.

"I think the academics based the proposal on a theory that cannot be put into practice," he said.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said he did not think it was democratic to allow an elected government to be in power for a full term without facing any no-confidence debates.

When a reporter suggested that it was similar to a presidential system, Chai said: "Anyone who thinks of the presidential system in Thailand does not love the King. Any country with a monarch has no president [as head of state]."

Chuan Leekpai, the ruling Democrat Party's chief adviser, declined to comment on the matter, saying the questions should be directed at people who want to make the changes.

Wuthisarn Tanchai, secretary to the Sombat panel, said the proposal was based on the belief that a party winning the most House seats should be given the mandate to run the country, with other parties not being allowed to "rob" it by getting into secret deals and forming a coalition government behind its back. He was citing the current coalition government formed by the Democrat Party, which won the second highest number of House seats in the 2007 general election and took over after the People Power Party was dissolved by court in 2008 for electoral fraud.

"It's against the mandate of voters for the number two political party to form a government," he said, adding that the proposal was meant to ensure that the country had a stable government that could stay long enough to complete its full four-year term.

He added that a similar practice had been adopted in some European and Scandinavian countries where a minority government is allowed even though it has insufficient support in the House to pass new laws.

He said that if the government agreed with the committee's proposal, the next step would be to amend the Constitution to allow the formation of a new charter-writing committee because the matter required major changes, which cannot be done through normal procedures.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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Ministry wants Bt120m for 'dharma' project

By The Nation

The Culture Ministry wants Bt120 million from the national budget to expand its project to promote religion and dharma among the general public, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombut said yesterday.

In a move to mark His Majesty's 84th birthday this year, the ministry, temples and local authorities around the nation have organised a four-phase project. The first phase involved 2,459 temples, while another 3,513 temples were expected to join the second and third phases.

The 4th phase aims to get a total of 3,635 temples to set up Sunday religious schools, with 461 temples providing the Lan Boon Lan Panya or "plaza of merit and wisdom" and 563 temples working as religious assistance centres, he said.

The Department of Religious Affairs was already getting cooperation from the Sangha Supreme Council, which had instructed the abbots at different temples to promote the project, Nipit said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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Welfare proposal 'unfair' to SSO members

By The Nation

The proposal to expand welfare under the National Health Security Office, or free universal healthcare, to the same coverage as under the Social Security Office was unfair to SSO members, the Labour Ministry said yesterday.

"SSO members are willing to contribute because they expect superior treatment.

"Transfers of SSO benefits to be under NHSO conditions will make them feel like 'Why should they get benefits equal to those who pay nothing'?" permanent secretary Somkiat Chawasriwong said at a press conference.

SSO members contribute each month while those under NHSO, originally the Bt30 universal healthcare scheme, paid nothing to get state-subsidised treatment for illnesses, he said.

All Thais would ideally be covered entirely by the SSO, which offers extra welfare such as retirement funds and compensation for work-related deaths or disabilities, while the NHSO only provided medical care, he said.

The SSO would also need to recruit up to 30 per cent more staff to accommodate a new government policy to welcome non-employees as SSO members, through their monthly contribution of Bt100 or Bt250 according to the plan they choose.

To solve the cash-flow problem the SSO anticipates facing over the payment of retirement benefits, the government should be paying the funds for those living beyond 15 years post-retirement - or money earmarked for those who die before the 15-year period, instead of paying to those live beyond that, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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HEALTHCARE

Budget cuts may see some drugs denied

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Govt workers may lose medication for eight diseases

Government employees could see their drugs for eight major medical conditions including hypertension, heart disease and cancer taken away from them under a cost-cutting move by the Comptroller-General's Department.

"I think the Comptroller-General's Department's plan is a good way to control the rise in the healthcare budget for its members but civil servants also should receive reasonable medical treatment," Dr Paijit Warachit, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said yesterday.

The department plans to control the state's spending on healthcare by not allowing members of the civil servant medical benefit (CSMB) scheme to seek reimbursement for drugs that are not included on national drug lists that are used to treat the eight conditions.

Paijit said the plan would limit the alternatives for physicians at state hospitals that provide medical treatment to CSMB members instead of giving them more chances to prescribe medicines that are appropriate for use by inpatients.

The plan aims to cap CSMB's pharmaceutical expenditures at Bt70 billion this year by targeting drugs for degenerative joints, blood lipids, osteoporosis, gastric ulcers, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and heart failure, platelet aggregation, and cancer.

Under this plan, CSMB members will no longer receive drugs not on the national drug list and prescribed by physicians to treat their chronic diseases, Paijit said.

"Each drug has different indications for use in patients. Some drugs are on the national drug list but cannot be used with a patient. That's why the doctor will have fewer choices to select a drug that's appropriate for use in a patient," he said.

Dr Adisorn Patradul, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital, said that even though the plan will not strain the hospital's financial management, it would cut options for doctors in prescribing medicines for their patients.

Saree Ong-somwang, secretary for the Foundation for Consumers, said she supported the plan to control the healthcare budget for CSMB.

The government should also force the country's three healthcare schemes to use the same drug list for their patients. However, the Comptroller-General Department's plan would not affect patients, she said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-18

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FC Phuket scores Thai star as manager

Former Thai national team star Surachai Jirasirichote gets his message

across at his first training session with FC Phuket as the club’s new manager.

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Phuket marine center moves to save bleached coral

Coral at Surin National Park.

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,026.05, up 2.86 points /MCOT

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TPN to use whole length of Ratchadamneon Ave to reach Royal Palace in handing in petition to the King /TAN_Network

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Police Confiscate 400,000 Methamphetamine Pills in Two Cases

Police have announced the seizure of more than 400,000 methamphetamine pills in two separate cases in Lampang province.

Region 5 Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Chaiya Siri-amphankun, stated that authorities have confiscated 400,000 methamphetamine pills in two busts in the northeastern province of Lampang.

In the first case, four suspected drug traffickers were arrested while boarding a train in Muang district on January 14.

Police said some 220,000 pills wrapped in stockings were found hidden under four people's shirts.

In the second case, Ngao district Police arrested two suspected female drug dealers at a checkpoint and seized 226,000 pills on January 16.

Officers said the two women hid the pills in a seat of their sedan.

They conducted an additional investigation and seized the drug paraphernalia found on the two dealers which was worth 12 million baht.

Police Lieutenant General Chaiya Siri-amphankun disclosed that the two arrests came after the government called for police to step up anti-drug measures, adding that the drug networks have recently tried to recruit more and more women to sell and distribute drugs and are using increasingly complicated modes of transportation to deceive police officers.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-18

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TPN march, estimated in the thousands, leaves Govt House /TAN_Network

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TPN March Leaves Gov't House to Hand in Petition at Royal Palace

Members of the Thai Patriots Network have left the Government House in their march towards the Royal Palace. Estimated in the thousands, the march will use the entire length of Ratchadamneon Avenue. Commuters are advised to avoid the area. They are handing in a petition to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary at the Royal Palace.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-18

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Cabinet to consider extending state of emergency in three provinces in restive South, except in Pattani's Mae Lan district,for another 3 months: NSC chief /MCOT

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1.7 mn passengers recorded at Suvarnabhumi Airport during New Year

BANGKOK, 18 January 2011 (NNT) – The number of passengers using Suvarnabhumi International Airport for 12 days during the 2011 New Year festival totaled 1.7 million people, an increase of 2.65% year-on-year.

According to Suvarnbhumi Airport Spokesperson Wilaiwan Natwilai, the number of passengers using the airport from 25 December 2010 to 5 January 2011 was concluded at 1,713,102 people, or approximately 143,000 people per day on an average.

The number of domestic passengers, during the 12 days festive season, stood at 419,184 people, a drop of 3.75% year-on-year; whereas the number of international passengers accounted for 1,293,918 people, an increase of 8.91% year-on-year.

Air traffic during the New Year festival was recorded at 9,854 flights: 6,975 domestic and 2,879 international. The number of the latter rose by 8.91% year-on-year, while the figure for the former fell by 0.13% year-on-year.

In addition, there were 546 chartered flights, 99 from Nordwind Airlines of Russia alone, during the 12-day festival, increasing by 52.09% from the 359 flights recorded during the 2010 New Year festival.

-- NNT 2011-01-18