Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 19 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 sothat 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 Tuesday 18 Jan 2011

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Number portability has become common among cell phone users

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Samart i-Mobile Public Company Limited has revealed that the growing popularity of smart phones and competition among service providers may prompt the prices of mobile phone to drop from initially at over 10,000 baht to a range of 3,000-5,900 baht per unit.

The company has also planned to launch a new smart phone which operates the same way Blackberry does with a price tag of 2,000 baht. According to the report, more of the new-generation Samart’s android mobile phones are also expected to be released in the market very soon. The company has forecasted the revenue growth of 20 billion baht, a third of its total revenue, within the next two years

Meanwhile, the Total Access Communication Public Company Limited, widely known as DTAC, has reported an increase in its i-Phone and Blackberry sales volume of collectively 900,000 units. The company claims the spike was the result of the popularity of social networking among mobile phone users, which has increased by 200%.

Since the introduction of number portability, the Clearing House for Number Portability Company has reported that the number of users changing service providers have grown to 200 at present.

-- NNT 2011-01-19

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Suthep keeps cool on planned attack on CRES budget during censure debate

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister overseeing Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban is not worried about the upcoming censure debate during which he is expected to be grilled over budget spending of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES).

Mr Suthep, also the secretary-general of the ruling Democrat Party, stated that there was nothing to worry about since he was ready to clarify all questions made by the opposition Pheu Thai Party. He added that he knew every step in the ad hoc center as he had taken care of the center by himself.

Asked for his comment on a recent announcement by Pheu Thai MP Chairperson Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung that he would not lead the the upcoming censure debate, the Democrat secretary-general said he did not think the issue would make the debate less attractive. Although he found Pol Capt Chalerm a popular speaker in Parliament and both had often engaged in heated debates, Mr Suthep said the censure would not lose its significance without Pol Capt Chalerm’s lead participation.

Mr Suthep reiterated that as long as factual information was raised for discussion with clear arguing points, the government had the duty to give clarifications which should be useful to the public.

Mr Suthep affirmed that the Government was not worried about the no-confidence debate as it would be broadcast live by both radio and television stations nationwide.

He said people would have the chance to use their own discretion to judge who are liars.

-- NNT 2011-01-19

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Tighter Road Safety Measures in Store for Thailand

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Saudi envoy to Thailand Khoja dies at 76

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Defiant Thai activist Veera in Cambodian jail alone

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Two yellow-shirt leaders arrested for seizure of two Bangkok airports

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Bt110-billion midyear budget is approved on back of tax windfall

By THE NATION

The Cabinet yesterday approved a mid-year budget plan worth Bt110 billion, aimed to rehabilitate flood-hit victims, refill treasury reserve and give more fund supports to local governments.

As the government expected to have revenue Bt120 billion above target, given a Bt41.1 billion above target in the first quarter of the 2011 fiscal year, said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in referring to reason behind mid-year spending.

Major spending items include Bt84 billion to refill treasury reserves, Bt5 to Bt6 billion to support local governments required by law and Bt17 billion to help people suffered from severe flooding, said Abhisit.

"The Cabinet assigned a committee responsible for helping flood victims chaired by PM's Office Minister Sathit Vongnongtei and the Budget Bureau to select projects for implementation this year but a total mid-year budget should not exceed Bt110 billion and it could be lower," said Abhisit.

The details of spending should be submitted to the Cabinet next week and then the government would forward it for Parliamentary debates as the next parliamentary session will start on January 25, he said.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said that the Cabinet approved Bt10 billion more than a Finance Ministry's proposal of Bt100 billion. The increasing is because the government wants to provide more financial subsidy to local governments, said Korn.

According to original proposal, spending comprises with two items, Bt84.14 billion for treasury reserve, and Bt 15.86 billion for recovery of natural disaster or spending for other emergency incidents.

Korn insisted the government still uphold to fiscal discipline and aims to achieve balanced budget in the next five years.

Refilling treasury reserves would result in narrowed fiscal deficits for the next fiscal year, down from an estimated deficits of Bt420 billion in the current fiscal year, he said.

According to Finance Ministry, government revenue between October to December totalled Bt392.76 billion, 11.7 per cent above target and 12.5 per cent rise year on year.

Sustained economic recovery and high profits of private firms, contributed to the increasing of tax revenue. The Finance Ministry makes new revenue projection for a full fiscal year ending by end of September, to reach Bt1.77 trillion, or Bt120 billion higher than previously estimated. The government previously set annual expenditures at Bt2.07 trillion. Collections of corporate income tax, value-added tax, excise tax, specific business tax and import tariff are expected to be well above previous estimations.

Naris Chaiyasoot, director general of the Fiscal Policy Office, said that the government will have more fund available for public spending in the next fiscal after the government refills the treasury reserve.

The oppositions previously criticised the mid-year budget plan because the Democrat Party wants to please the coalition parties.

In related development, the United Nations report released yesterday called for developed countries to have additional spending in order to reinvigorate global recovery and to tackle high unemployment rate. The report entitled World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011, also called for Thailand to invest more in infrastructure projects.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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SOCIAL WELFARE

New fund for self-employed, casuals

By The Nation

Cabinet backs Off-System Labour Security Fund for 2.4 million workers

The Cabinet yesterday approved in principle a draft directive setting up a new social-welfare fund for self-employed workers and casual labourers. It will be operational from July 1, if finally approved.

The fund, labelled the Off-System Labour Security Fund, is expected to serve 2.4 million low-income earners and labourers - 120,000 of whom are based in Bangkok and 1.68 million elsewhere - upon their agreement to apply for membership and to contribute each month.

There are two types of membership: Type A, which amounts to Bt100 monthly - Bt30 from government and Bt70 from beneficiaries' own contributions. The benefits include compensation for work-related injuries or disabilities, or general illness, and death.

The Type B package requires Bt150 in monthly contributions - Bt50 from government and Bt100 from contributions, with benefits including compensation for work-related injuries or disabilities, or general illnesses, and death, and pension funds.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the fund was aimed at benefiting low-income earners and workers without regular employers, or those working for minimum daily wages across the country, over a five-year period.

"The government is confident Thai workers - both under and outside existing social security - will be happier with the coming state welfare that's taking shape," he said.

Abhisit did not approve a request by the Labour Ministry, which would supervise this fund, to recruit 450 new officials to operate it. He asked the ministry to discuss new personnel management with the Office of the Civil Service Commission and come up with fewer officials in a request due for consideration next month.

The government is pushing for the directive as a new populist policy to draw support from the urban poor and those working outside Bangkok in the next general election, some observers say.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries can pay a monthly contribution or receive compensatory pay through bank tellers or online payment at convenience stores, after applying for membership at district and provincial social-security offices.

Sujin Rungsawang, a member of an off-system labour network, said the benefits did not "really touch" labourers, because those who applied for the Type B package were required to give up their supposed rights to a recently approved National Savings Fund, in which members can apply for a separate pension fund when they turn 20 years old.

At a glance

- Anticipated number of off-system labourers: 2.4 million

- Takes effect: July 7

- Type A: Bt100 monthly - Bt30 subsidy/Bt70 own contribution

Benefits: Compensation for work-related injuries or disabilities, or general illness, and death

- Type B: Bt150 monthly - Bt50 in subsidy/Bt100 own contribution

Benefits: Compensation for work-related injuries or disabilities, or general illnesses, and death, and pension funds

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Hearings next month on direct admission centre

By Chuleeporn Aramnet

The Nation

The Office of the Higher Education Commission will go ahead next month with public hearings on its to-be-established direct-admission centre to collect student applications for all state-run universities, Ohec chief Sumet Yaemnoon said yesterday.

If one university refuses to join, the whole plan for this centre will be scrapped. A missing university would ruin the plan to save students the trouble of running around to apply at each university separately, he said.

Ohec will gather opinions from students, parents and others in Bangkok and the regions and, if all sides agree it is beneficial, the centre could be open by November - in time to recruit students for the 2012 academic year.

The facility would work as a central agency providing students with information about direct admission and collecting applications, and each student could choose to apply for five universities at a time. All universities would set the same date for admission. The centre would provide universities with a list of qualified students and later announce the list of successful candidates.

Each university, having a different ratio and weighting of GAT/PAT (General Aptitude Test/Professional Aptitude Test) and O-Net (Ordinary National Educational Test) in its admission criteria, would decide who was to be enrolled.

For students who didn't meet the criteria, the university would return their information so the centre could submit the students' information to their preferred universities next on the list. About 90 per cent of students should find a place to study after the second round, Sumet said. It remained for related agencies to find a solution for the rest who failed to get any position.

Sumet said the National Institute of Educational Testing Service might arrange additional tests in subjects required by university faculties. The faculties should discuss among themselves what additional tests were needed and ask NIETS to arrange the exams, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Drug dealer who killed two police gets death term

By The Nation

A drug dealer was given the death sentence yesterday for killing two police in a shootout at a busy intersection in Ratchaburi province last May.

Provincial court judges said there were no factors mitigating any leniency for Wijai Narkwan. They cited dramatic media footage that showed the two officers - Pol Sr Sgt Major Thanee Buaphan, and Pol Sergeant Somkrit Uthai-ruek - being fired at from a pickup Wijai was travelling in.

Wijai surrendered on May 4 last year, two days after the shooting, and confessed to police throughout their inquiry. He also pleaded guilty to the shooting of the two police in the trial.

But the judges said the acts committed by the defendant were too violent and brutal to be commuted. Killing police on duty warranted the maximum penalty, they said.

The two victims were on their way to search Wijai's home, after he was implicated by a woman arrested earlier with narcotics that she said were sold to her by him.

However, the two officers found Wijai in a pickup at the Khao Ngoo intersection in Ratchaburi town.

Video footage taken by reporters travelling in a pickup with the slain officers showed Wijai running from his truck across the intersection after the shooting in broad daylight.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Lawyer for red shirt leaders makes about-face

By The Nation

The attorney for the detained red-shirt leaders said yesterday that he would not sue for malfeasance the judges hearing the case but instead would seek justice from their superiors and the court system.

Karom Ponthaklang said his about-face came after consulting with other members of the defence team and legal advisers and the 19 red-shirt leaders.

They agreed that an open letter would be sent to Criminal Court chief judge Boon Thapanadun and the Judicial Commission to look into "unfair" treatment from the judges.

The defence "felt that the court did not allow them sufficient opportunity to fight in the case", he said.

The 19 red-shirt leaders have been charged with terrorism and inciting unrest in connection with the turmoil and riots that followed 10 weeks of an anti-government rallies last year.

However, Karom said legal action against the judges remained an option if the appeal to the judges' supervisors did not work.

"We will wait and see if there will be any improvement. If no action is taken, the defence's lawyers will have to come up with a new way to fight. But I can't tell you now if we will have to sue the judges," the lawyer said.

In the morning, Karom visited red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua at Bangkok Remand Prison to ask him to sign a legal complaint to be lodged against the judges, but Karom changed his mind in the afternoon.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Promote Thaksin - Chalerm issues ultimatum to party

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Cambodians jump into Chao Phraya to escape forced work on boat

By The Nation

Samut Prakan

Three Cambodian victims of human trafficking jumped into the Chao Phraya River early yesterday to escape from a fishing boat, where they said they were held against their will.

Two people are still missing, but the third filed a police complaint yesterday, which led to the rescue of six others from Cambodia on the boat.

Police boarded the vessel, named Mahatthana or KM Beksa, yesterday morning. It was docked behind Sripitak Frozen Food in Muang district and about to set sail for the Indonesian Sea.

They found six Cambodians allegedly detained on board by captain Phailin Phromsuwan, 44, and his subordinates Thananan Yothachai, 32, and Adichat Saetang, 24.

The three were charged with illegal detention, smuggling alien workers into Thailand and human trafficking.

The Cambodian who lodged the complaint with police, identified only as Seu, 23, said he and eight other Cambodians had worked on a sugarcane farm in Sa Kaew before being lured by a Thai man, Suthin Teeram, to get a lift on his pick-up truck to find construction work.

They arrived at the dock on Monday evening to 'just stay' overnight, but soon realised they were being detained. At 4am, Seu and two others jumped into the river, he said.

Seu said he was rescued by a taxi driver, who took him to police shortly after.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Four arrested in Bt35-M drug busts

By Monthien Inthaket

The Nation

Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) police have arrested three Thai drug suspects and one Malaysian crystal meth dealer, in three separate cases involving narcotics worth Bt35 million, NSB chief Pol Lt General Atithep Panjamanond said yesterday.

Police claim they apprehended Malaysian Yeoh Thean Hong, 44, along with five kilograms of crystal meth, following a tip-off that a dealer would carry the drug from Chiang Mai to Samut Prakan's Suvarnabhumi for delivery to customers in Bangkok,

In the second case, NSB police held a sting operation in Phitsanulok's Wang Thong district and arrested three suspects - Kantathee Trakulyang, 28, Wichien Saeweu, 27, and Cee Saesong,27 - along with 30,000 Yaba tablets, a pick-up truck and three cell phones. Police expect more arrests as they believe the operators were linked to a major drug ring.

In the third case, NSB police seized 200kg of marijuana in Mukdahan's Muang district following a tip-off Laotian drug dealers from a Ban Tha Khaek network had smuggled the weed in and stored it in Mukdahan. Police staked out at the area and seized the weed, but the suspects managed to flee.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Thai ambassador's account

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Restraint, not rhetoric, needed to free Thai detainees

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Agreement on health data system

By The Nation

The Public Health Ministry has linked up with four other ministries to exchange health information to set a common standard and ensure policies run in the same direction.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit attended an MoU signing ceremony yesterday for "standard development for health information exchange".

Jurin said the Public Health, ICT, Science and Technology, Industry and Education min?istries would develop a health database with the same standard and direction for mutual benefit.

When the database was complete it would be of great use for public health - for sev?eral reasons:

l It would link emergency patient transfers nationwide via an online platform so doctors could use the details about injured or emergency patients without having to get patients' registered medical service units.

l Links to distant medical data systems, with a doctor in one place and a patient in another location, in order to help doctors get information about patients for diagnosis or prescribed treatment, as well as use in consulting among medical staff for patient care.

l Linking the three existing healthcare systems (civil service welfare, the social security office, and universal healthcare that treats 48 million citizens free-of-charge).

The premier will assign a working team to design, set standards and practice guide?line later on. It has yet to be declared how long the database will take to set up and complete.

The idea of a health information database had been dis?cussed for a long time but this has only been done by individual agencies to date without links to other agencies.

There are hopes the database can link all information for an "e-health system", run via the Internet. Thailand already has an e-government system in place, so it has good potential to do this, experts say.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Panel proposes compromise over MP formulas

By PIYANART SRIVALO,

NERISA NERYKHIO,

YOSSAWADEE HONGTHONG

THE NATION

A new formula for the constituency and party-list MPs was floated yesterday as a compromise to help end the differences between the ruling Democrat Party and other political parties.

MPs from the Bhum Jai Thai and Puea Pandin parties on the joint parliamentary ad hoc committee vetting the constitutional amendments proposed yesterday that there should be 400 MPs from constituencies and 125 from the party-list system of proportional representation.

The Democrats have been firm on the 375-125 formula - which was put forward by a government-appointed committee to draft constitutional amendments and endorsed by Parliament late last year - while smaller political parties are pushing for the 400-100 formula. The opposition Pheu Thai Party, which has boycotted charter changes, is against the formula favoured by the Democrats, because it believes this is part of the party's scheme to win more party-list MPs.

In the 2007 general election, the first under the current post-coup Constitution, 400 MPs were from constituencies and 80 from the party-list system.

Newin Chidchob, Bhum Jai Thai's de facto leader, said yesterday that the new formula should be a "halfway point".

"I have nothing to do with this. But I see there should be an agreement - and the 400-125 formula allows both sides to meet halfway so the dispute is resolved," he said.

Manit Nop-amornbodi, a Bhum Jai Thai MP who is part of the vetting committee, said both original formulas had their advantages and disadvantages, but the new one could end the differences.

"Members of the committee who are from Bhum Jai Thai and Puea Pandin have discussed and agreed on this new formula. Bhum Jai Thai will raise it at the next meeting of coalition leaders," he said.

Panel chairman Tirdpong Jayanandana, who is a senior Democrat figure, said his fellow panel members had the right to propose the new formula, though adopting it would depend on the coalition parties and Parliament.

However, members of the committee who hail from the Democrat Party yesterday were still insisting on the 375-125 formula, which won by a slim majority during the vetting committee's vote last week.

The panel's meeting nearly collapsed yesterday because of a lack of quorum, as fewer than half of the members were present before the meeting was about to kick off. Most of those absent were coalition MPs, though enough people showed up by 2pm - half an hour after it was scheduled to start.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would have to move up his meeting with other coalition leaders earlier scheduled for next Tuesday to end differences on charter changes, if the second parliamentary reading of the amendments is scheduled for the same day.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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World heritage status sought for local wisdom

By The Nation

The Cultural Promotion Department is planning to seek world-heritage status for many examples of Thai local wisdom [grassroots conmmunity customs], including khon and likay.

The department's director-general Apinan Poshyananda yesterday revealed his agency would ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to consider registering 50 pieces of Thai local wisdom categorised as world intangible heritage.

These pieces include khon (Thai traditional mask dance), likay (Thai-style opera) and dagger-making techniques in the South.

"We have registered them as national intangible heritage because we are worried they are going to disappear," Apinan said.

Currently, his department has provided budget for local-wisdom teachers to pass on their rare expertise to younger generations.

"We have included some wisdom in local curriculum too. For example, we have included how to play northern fiddle in some classes," Apinan said.

He added that his department had set up a committee to gather information on food-related local wisdom -such as who devised the pad krapao dish (fried dish with holy basil), kaeng khieo wan (green curry) and phad thai (stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, fish sauce).

The Culture Ministry's permanent secretary Somchai Sianglai said his ministry would try to promote local-wisdom teachers and their knowledge.

"We are taking the advice of senior citizen Prawase Wasi that we promote local wisdom as a part of cultural tours," Somchai said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

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Thai Commerce Ministry Braces for EU Vegetable Ban

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,029.68, up 5.14 points /MCOT

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Danish Ambassador Couple Loves Thailand

Mikael H. Winther and his wife Ratanawadee (or Ratana as her husband calls her) enjoy their new posting as the new Ambassador of Denmark to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“No, happy is not the right word... I am extraordinarily happy!” Mikael laughs.

The fact that Thailand is Ratana's home country is of course part of the joy. But it goes a lot deeper than that.

“Thailand was the first country in Asia I visited as a young backpacker,” Mikael says.

“I had never been to Asia before so Thailand was my first experience and it made a lasting impression on me. Later, my first posting abroad was at the UNIDO/UNDP office in the Philippines and it was like a confirmation for me: Asia is my place to be!”

“Thailand has always been my top first priority if ever I should become an Ambassador. But in the beginning I didn't think much about it. First I would have to become an Ambassador - that was a big enough dream in itself! But now that I am, returning to Thailand became our dream posting.”

Second time here

Mikael Winther's first posting to Thailand was as First Secretary in 1995 to 1998. Prior to that posting, he had a course in Thai language, which turned out to be useful.

“The Thais seemed happy that I could speak some Thai and that encouraged me to take more intensive courses. People joke that I learned Thai from Ratana, but I was taking classes in Thai and could already speak some Thai when we first met.”

So, how did the Ambassador and his wife meet?

“I was single and I really enjoyed being a bachelor at that time,” Mikael recalls in his broad Broendby English.

“One of my friends worked at the Australian Embassy and I asked him to hook me up with some beautiful girls. So he booked a table for us at the Australian Annual Ball at Intercontinental. It must have been the summer of 1996.”

It turned out, that Ratana was not the beautiful woman, that his friend had in mind.

“I was just invited to fill up the table,” Khun Ratana laughs.

Ratana had come back to Thailand as part of the Thai government's efforts at that time to ask well educated Thais abroad to come home and work a few years for their country. “Reversing the brain drain” was the buzz word.

“I had been abroad for a long time then. I was only sixteen when I moved to study in the US. Since then, I had only briefly been back to take my Bachelor degree at Thammasat University. And after that I had moved to Canada and went further with my studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.”

At the time of the “brain drain” campaign, Khun Ratana was working as head of a large language education and training project at the Toronto Board of Education in Ontario, Canada. That was when she was approached by the Vice Rector at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce at the time who asked her if she would teach a graduate course..

“They liked it and so I was asked to teach one more course,” she says.

“But since graduate degree programs at the Department I was teaching were all held in the evening, I started to look for something to do in the daytime. That was how I got to be the manager of the newly established International Education Center at the Australian Embassy. One day, my colleague asked me if I would join the Australian National Ball...”

The romantic stalker

At this point, Mikael’s recollection of what happened that time and what Ratana's recalls are slightly different. Ratana remembers that Mikael flirted heavily with all the girls at the table the whole night through. Mikael insists that from the moment that Ratana arrived and sat down next to him, he completely ignored the one he was supposed to meet and only had eyes for Ratana.

However, they both agree what followed next. Mikael kept calling her all the time at the Australian Embassy and tried to invite her out.

“Finally, I polished my big chopper and put on dark sunglasses and drove over and invited her out for a ride. I was simply irresistible,” Mikael recalls.

“I was a bit persistent, maybe you could say I was exploring this thin borderline between stalking and courting...” Mikael suggests.

Here is Ratana's version:

“Well, I told my colleagues that if this Danish playboy diplomat ever called again, “Tell him I'm not in!””.

“But then eventually I thought, “OK, I will marry him. At least that will make him stop calling me!” Ratana finishes off the romantic tale, proving that Mikael is certainly not the only one who has a well developed sense of humour.

Moving to Denmark

Following Mikael to Denmark was, however not an easy decision.

“Initially, I just took leave of absence from my job in Toronto. It was a difficult decision. I felt I was achieving something there,” she says.

“In Denmark I started in a job at Vejdirektoratet – the Danish Highway Department – in their international education department. Later I moved to work with Carl Bro.”

That turned out to be a wise decision. When Mikael was posted to Vietnam in 2001 to 2005 as Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy in Hanoi, Ratana managed to get posted there herself for Carl Bro as a HRD consultant in the water sector.

“It was a good time for both of us,” she says.

Back in Denmark Khun Ratana continued working at Carl Bro for two years. Then she moved to work with another consulting company, Consia to develop their international educational and HRD program.

“I like Denmark. I like the flat organizations, the efficiency of the workplace. You get to do a lot. And I love bicycling in Denmark. Mikael forced me and eventually I gave in. Now I wonder why it took him so long to push me to try it.”

Looking for a job

In 2008, when Mikael was appointed Danish Ambassador to Iraq, Ratana kept her position at Consia. But now that they have moved to Bangkok she has left the company and will start in a new job as Country Director for an American based NGO in Thailand on 1 February 2011.

“This NGO advocates Road Safety. Thailand needs this and I believe I can contribute something important here,” she says.

“But it will only be half time. As for my other job as the Ambassador's wife, I have already promised to continue the commitment with the Red Cross Bazaar, which has somehow become a tradition for the Danish Ambassadors wife to be involved with.”

“Apart from that, I am looking forward to meet my friends again. And being back with my Mum is also wonderful. She is so happy that we are here; she loves Mikael,” Khun Ratana says

The good Ambassador

As the Ambassador of Denmark to Thailand, Mikael H. Winther - the H. stands for Hemniti – has plans of his own.

“I belong in the Ministry to a generation of ambassadors who see ourselves very much as managers. An ambassador has two different roles. One is the traditional role to represent Denmark. The other is to be managers of the people that we work with at the station. Good management is something we emphasize a lot,” he explains

“My vision is to be a good representative for Denmark in Thailand. The strong historical relationship that Denmark has with Thailand is a heavy burden to lift, but to fill in that role, to be that person, is important to me,” the Ambassador explains.

“But the other areas that we work with at the embassy, the consular work and the commercial work, is not less important,” he quickly adds.

“I want to be the ambassador for all these areas - not just the one with the high ranking contacts but also the ambassador who looks after the people here and who work with the business community. I look very much forward to participating in the activities of Dancham and I hope to visit many of the Danish companies here.”

“I want to increase the positive image of Denmark and the image of the embassy.”

Leader of the band

In his private life, he expects to continue being a rock musician, something that he has managed to do in all his previous postings.

“My electric guitars will arrive in February along with my brand new motorcycle, a Honda 700 Trans Alp,” he explains.

In Hanoi, Mikael formed a band with some colleagues from the other embassies and played in all the major clubs in front of quite big crowds.

“We even wrote our own songs there,” Mikael adds.

“In Baghdad I also formed a full scale rock band and we played several places. I also started doing some acoustic guitar there with a female singer,” he adds and attracts a watchful eye from Ratana.

“I have noticed that there is a piano here in the residence that I am looking forward to start playing. It needs some tuning, but piano was actually the first instrument I learned to play,” he says.

And there is more to the human side of the new boss:

“To me, sitting in a small Soi enjoying a bowl of Guidio nam, sen lek, with look chin (a noodle soup with thin noodles and fish balls) that is close to the essence of Bangkok. We also love going up country to visit friends.”

But being humble does not mean he and his wife are neo-Puritanics.

“Don't get it wrong... We certainly know how to enjoy luxury too! Oh yes!” he laughs, then adding on a more reflective note:

“...but I never take it for granted. Like being posted here. You know, sometimes I wake up in the morning and I listen to the birds and then suddenly I feel deeply happy and thankful just for being alive in this wonderful place and in this wonderful job.”

Source: http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?news_id=8177&coun_code=dk

-- SCANDASIA.COM 2011-01-19

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Police to ask court to extend detention of activists Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Somboon Thongburan for alleged roles in PAD airport seizures; no objection to bail /MCOT

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Thai economic heath continues strong; exports grow by 18.8% in December

BANGKOK, Jan 19 – Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai on Tuesday revealed Thailand’s exports in December 2010 totaled US$17.37 billion in value, up 18.8 per cent from the same month the year before, bringing the exports for the whole year up by 28.1 per cent to $195.31 billion.

She attributed the sound export growth to an increase in shipments of almost all kinds of agricultural and industrial products thanks to the improvement of economies in the United States and Asia.

She said imports in December totaled $16.08 billion, up 11.5 per cent, raising imports for the whole year by 36.5 per cent to $182.41 billion.

The imports rose in almost all categories of products, particularly raw materials, capital goods, consumer products, and fuel.

It resulted in the country enjoying a trade surplus of $1.29 billion in December and $12.91 billion for the entire year of 2010.

Mrs Pornthiva said the ministry expected that exports for this year would grow by 10 per cent despite risk factors from the global economic slowdown, the stronger baht, the capital movement, and higher fuel prices.

With the increased demand for Thai products in the world market, successful efforts to penetrate new markets and maintain existing ones, and public and private cooperation to boost exports of all categories of products, the ministry believed that export growth for 2011 would be reached as targeted.

She said the ministry would make an effort to control inflation to ensure it stays at no more than 3.2-3.7 per cent. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-19

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Thailand extends riot insurance for foreign tourists through March

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Eight Thai villagers from Phop Phra district arrested by Myanmar soldiers while fishing in Myanmar territory;local authorities coordinate to release them /MCOT

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Pobphra district chief affirms Burmese troops have released 8 Thai fishermen after negotiations /TAN_Network

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Stateless People Call for Naturalization

Hundreds of stateless people are walking from the southern provinces to the parliament in Bangkok, calling on the government to commence deliberation on a nationality act.

Some 300 aliens are marching from Prachuab Khirikhan province to the parliament in Bangkok, to ask the government to speed up finalizing of a Nationality Act that has been pending for almost two years.

The stateless people say they have been suffering a variety of problems such as bullies and discrimination from state agencies, and they have no access to basic rights.

The protesters stressed that they were born in the Kingdom and are able to read and write in Thai.

The demonstrators started at the Singkhon border gate in Prachuab Khirikhan province on January 13. They are now in Phetchaburi province.

Other aliens from the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani province recently dropped by to offer moral support.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-19