Thailand Live Saturday 22 Jan 2011

[webfact]

Thailand Live Saturday 22 January 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Google Buzz: http://www.google.com/profiles/thaivisa

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 21 Jan 2011

[webfact]

Special report: Precautionary ban on Thai vegetables to EU

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand has made a bold move ahead of the European Union plan to ban 5 types of Thai vegetables, by pre-emptively imposing ban on its vegetable exports to become effective on February 1, 2011.

The vegetables tentatively prohibited by the EU include basil, chili, bitter gourds, eggplants and parsley. Secretary to the Commerce Minister, Prapol Milintajinda, said the move will help protect the business which brings about four trillion baht in revenue annually. The EU earlier notified Thailand that contaminated shipments of the produce had been discovered and threatened to ban further imports from the country.

In an attempt to find a solution to future ban on Thai vegetables, the Department of Agriculture, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the National Food Institute have agreed to put on hold exports of those 5 groups of vegetables until the issue has been solved. Exporters who defy restrictions will face legal penalty. Mr. Prapol said the purpose of Thailand’s own ban was to send a signal to the EU that it is taking the hygienic issue very seriously.

He said Thailand now set vegetable production standards as a national agenda and was taking care of the issue from production sources to export procedure, to ensure the safety of consumers in the EU and other overseas markets.

In the meantime, a group of Thai officials is monitoring the progress made by ASEAN countries in promoting members’ cooperation in agriculture and industry. According to Mrs. Srirat Rastapana, director-general of the Export Promotion Department, who has recently led a group of senior Thai trade representatives to participate in the Senior Economic Official Meeting of ASEAN in Indonesia, ASEAN nations are currently considering providing economic cooperation among members in terms of investment, transportation, and service. The cooperation is in line with the "ASEAN Single Window" concept and resonate with an objective to enhance regional industries.

-- NNT 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Govt. confident palm oil import will not affect local farmers

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives promises it will prevent oil palm planters from being affected by an import of 30,000-ton palm oil following the recent price hikes and shortage of the product in the market.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Theera Wongsamut has assured oil palm agriculturalists that the import of palm oil would not cause them difficulties since the import would take place for only one month. He said most of the oil palm farmers agreed with the import as a solution to the problems of expensive domestic palm oil and insufficient supply.

The Minister added that the National Oil Palm Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had been monitoring the situation of palm in terms of price and quantity. If the committee learned that the farmers were affected by the oil palm import, it would promptly impose measures to assist them, the Minister said.

The Ministry’s latest project on oil palm is to encourage farmers to plant palm in deserted orange orchards linking the provinces of Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi. Mr Theera said the area was suitable for oil palm cultivation due to its effective irrigation system and sufficient natural water sources. If the project was successful, the country’s oil palm production would increase by four tons per eight rai or 3.16 acres, the Minister said.

-- NNT 2011-01-22

[webfact]

NEW!

Follow thaivisa.com on Google Buzz:

http://www.google.com/profiles/thaivisa

[webfact]

Police Investigate Mysterious Death Of Swedish Man Found In Luxury Phuket Condo

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Militants in Thailand's South 'seeking foreign attention'

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Airports Authority of Thailand approves Bt4 bn for noiseblighted residents

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Inflation to rein in 2011 growth, says Bank of Thailand

Follow this link:

[webfact]

5 Thais get suspended terms

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Dive closures don't go far enough: conservationist

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Time for Thailand to join the international criminal court

By Dr Hans-Peter Kaul

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Question mark over Panich's MP status

By The Nation.

The MP status of Democrat Panich Vikitsreth has been thrown into doubt after he was given a suspended jail term by a Cambodian court.

The Thai Constitution stipulates that MPs lose their status when convicted and jailed, or convicted and given a suspended jail term. Panich falls in the second category.

However, the Constitution provides exemptions for MPs convicted of offences related to recklessness and libel. Also exempt are those given light jail terms of no more than one month.

Since Panich's case involved alleged trespassing and he defended his action as "unintentional", he could argue under the "recklessness" clause to retain his MP status.

One thing is certain - Panich will not appeal against yesterday's court ruling, which means the ruling becomes final. This means he will not be able to defend his MP status by arguing that the Cambodian court ruling is not yet final.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Man arrested over roadrage shooting

By The Nation

Police yesterday arrested a man suspected of shooting at a Thai Airways International pilot in a muchdiscussed incident of road rage nine days ago. The wanted man was arrested in Phang Nga province.

In a raid on a resort in Thai Muang district, police apprehended Natthaphong, or Phrisorn, Huayhongthong, 26, and allegedly found in his unauthorised possession three fully loaded 11mm pistols.

Police said Natthaphong had a long history of shooting at other vehicles in several similar incidents since his teen years. Metropolitan police chief LtGeneral Jakthip Chaijinda said the suspect had been named in five arrest warrants.

The raid was conducted at about 2pm and the suspect did not resist arrest, police said, adding that they located his whereabouts at the resort after tracing his mobilephone use.

Four other people who were reportedly his friends and relatives were with Natthaphong in a room at the resort. It was not known whether police took any action against them.

Natthaphong was in custody in neighbouring Phuket at press time and was likely to be flown to Bangkok last night or this morning.

Speaking after his arrest, Natthaphong said he did not mean to harm or shoot at victim Phoolwit Ruengdej, but had been aiming his pistol at the tyres of Phoolwits's BMW and shot. He said Phoolwit had set off the incident by cutting off Natthaphong's Toyota Fortuner several times. The incident took place off BangNa Trat Road in Bangkok nine days ago.

Natthaphong offered an apology to Phoolwit, repeating: "I had no intent to shoot him. I just wanted to shoot his car's tyres."

Natthaphong claimed to have been unable to sleep after the shooting and regretted his act, which he admitted was based on his habitual hotheadedness. He also said he had asked his parents to accompany him in his escape from Bangkok out of fear of possible "extrajudicial" action by police.

Colonel Banluesak Khlibngern, a senior commander, said the arresting team had been authorised to "take precautionary measures" during the arrest, as the suspect was armed and dangerous.

"The suspect has been fluent in escape and evasion techniques and assisted by many associates throughout his escape" since the shooting on January 13, Banluesak said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

Related topic:

Road Rage Shooting Wounds Thai International Airways Pilot

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Northeastern red shirts meet leaders in Khon Kaen

By The Nation

Red shirts from Northeastern provinces gathered in Khon Kaen yesterday for a function to introduce all leaders of the movement in the region.

Khon Kaen was chosen by the red-shirt leadership in Bangkok because it was viewed as the heart of the movement in the Northeast, said Noppadon Sidathan, coordinator of the Democracy Lovers from 40 Districts of Six Northeastern Provinces.

The function began at about 3pm and was scheduled to end at midnight. The opening ceremony was presided over by former Army chief General Chaisit Shinawatra, a cousin of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader and MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party, was to address the gathering.

Noppadon said the function was also intended as the first get-together of the year for red shirts in the Northeast.

A red-shirt source in Khon Kaen yesterday complained that some "phoney red shirts" had made profits from recent fund-raising events there and in other Northeastern provinces.

"It's unclear if the donations have been used up. People have doubts about the management of funds. Many people have been involved in a dispute over management of the money," the source said.

Meanwhile, Khon Kaen police chief Maj-General Nikom Inchoedchai said three police units had been sent to the site of the red-shirt gathering to keep order. He did not expect any serious incidents during the event, although he warned of legal action against any troublemakers.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

NACC files charges against Somsak

By The Nation

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is filing charges against former education minister Somsak Prissanananthakul for intentionally handing in false asset declarations, secretary-general Apinan Israngura Na Ayuthaya said yesterday.

The report put together by a panel led by NACC member Klanarong Chantik shows that Somsak, former deputy leader of the now-defunct Chart Thai Party, did not declare his and his wife's bank accounts as well as the ownership of a house in Ang Thong's Wiset Chai Chan district.

"The NACC has resolved that Somsak intentionally filed a false asset-declaration report or concealed facts. It will submit a complaint with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders according to the Constitution's Article 263 so that Somsak is banned from holding any political positions for five years. He should also be punished according to the Article 119 of National Anti-Corruption Act," Apinan said.

Under Article 119, he should get a six-month jail term and/or Bt10,000 fine.

Apinan added that NACC was also working on Somsak's case of allegedly being unusually wealthy. The agency will inform Somsak of the charges and given him a chance to clarify.

Somsak is already serving a five-year ban after the dissolution of Chart Thai Party in 2008.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Doctors group files complaint against malpractice bill

By The Nation

Published on January 22, 2011

A group of doctors yesterday lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court, seeking an injunction against the legal vetting of the medical malpractice bill underway at the Council of State.

Court clerks received the complaint from members of the Thai Clinics Physician Association (TCPA), and the court is expected to announce next week if the complaint will be accepted and considered.

Most doctors and members of the TCPA are against the bill, which subjects them to criminal and civil liabilities for mishaps, injuries or deaths occurring during or resulting from treatment.

Saree Ongsomwang, chief of the Foundation for Consumers, which is pushing for the bill, said she was not worried if the court accepted the complaint, because the bill was beneficial to society and was sponsored by the government and the Public Health Ministry.

Preeyanant Lorsermwatthana, head of a network of victims of medical malpractice, said network members would dispute the complaint. She called on the government to honour its pledge to push for the bill, while calling for TCPA members to review their decision over the complaint.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Mother jumps to her death with newborn

By The Nation

A woman, with her threedayold son in her arms, plunged to their death from a hospital building yesterday.

Police and the management of Charoenkrung Pracharak hospital are looking into the deaths of Jongkhol Jampakhao, 33, and her son Sathu Janterm, and the motive behind what appears to be a suicide.

Quoting witnesses, police said Jongkhol was seen walking around the ward in distress with her child in her arms the night before. Doctors said the boy was smaller than average, just 2.04 kilograms at birth, and she had been informed of his congenital highblood pressure.

At a press conference, doctors said the delivery was normal and both mother and child were healthy. The boy's condition had improved after feeding on breast milk and being under the incubator.

Samai Janterb, the child's father, said Jongkhol had been complaining to him about the child's size earlier, but never mentioned any plans to kill herself. Jongkhol's mother Prakan reported that she often heard her daughter telling her son: "Why are you so small dear? Will you ever grow up?"

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Burma closes borders in Tak province

By The Nation

Burma has closed the Tha Khi Lek border checkpoint in Tak province and sealed off another border crossing in Phop Phra district citing security reasons involving clashes with minority groups.

The 18 gates at Tha Khi Lek border checkpoint were closed reportedly after gunfights between Burmese troops and two Karenaffiliated armed resistance groups around 45 km away.

Thai vendors have piled up goods at the Tha Khi Lek gates awaiting transport as soon as the border reopens.

The four Thai nationals arrested by Burmese soldiers in Phop Phra district for trespassing, and local residents have been barred from entering Burma until further notice.

-- The Nation 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Phuket hotels help Australian flood victims

Residents in Brisbane, Australia watch as flood victims escape

floodwaters by boat. Photo: Tatiana Gerus

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Pattaya Beach Future Development Meeting At City Hall

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Press freedom group criticizes Thai plan to deport photojournalists

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Chinese New Year to usher in billion-baht boost for Phuket

Chert sing dto (lion dances) are a feature of Chinese New Year celebrations.

The newly opened Tourist Information Center on Thalang Road

provides a variety of information on Phuket and the Old Town Festival.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket police slam media reports, forum gossip on Swede's death

Follow this link:

[webfact]

FC Phuket Brazilian confounds Krabi

DOMINATION: A reshuffled FC Phuket gave fans much to look forward to

in the coming season with a confident win over Krabi.

Photo by Apinun Saithong

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket beaches facing stiff competition

Phuket's beaches will be given "star" ratings based on environmental and management criteria.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

One dead as bomb explodes outside Pattani telephone office

PATTANI, Jan 22 -- A village defence volunteer was shot dead by insurgents in this southern province early today, while in a separate incident a bomb exploded outside a telephone office in the provincial seat early Saturday as insurgents continued stepped up attacks since early this week, police said.

Police said the 36-year-old village defence volunteer was killed by at least four gunmen on two motorcycles as he rode his motorcycle home.

Police said gunmen fired several shots which hit the victim in the back, and then used the victim's handgun to shoot him in the head before fleeing the scene. Several spent shells were found at the scene.

Another incident occurred at about 7.30am when bomb experts and police from Sai Buri district dismantled an explosive which had malfunctioned at the provincial branch office of TOT, formerly the Telephone Organization of Thailand.

No casualties were reported in the bombing incident which was the third since the government revokes the emergency decree and martial law at the district at the end of the year as a pilot initiative.

The special law enforced in the three southern provinces – Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – was renewed on Jan 18 for three months, police said.

Some 4,000 people have been killed in the three restive southern provinces since renewed violence erupted in January 2004. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Unidentified Thai woman shot and killed in East Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Body of female discovered in wasteland behind Soi Beokeow in Central Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Democrats ask both Red and Yellow Shirts not to hold a rally next Tuesday

BANGKOK, January 22 2011 (NNT)-The Democrat Party has called on the Red Shirt and the Yellow Shirt demonstrators not to stage a rally next Tuesday for fears of violence. Democrat Spokesperson, Dr. Buranat Samutarak, said he fears both groups, who do not share common political beliefs, will clash with one another. He said the last thing he wants is for Thai people to turn against each other.

Dr. Buranat added that once the rallies turn to violence not only the innocence bystanders will get hurt but also the officials whose primary responsibility is to maintain peace for the protesters. He hoped that both sides will consider consulting with everyone involved and those who might be affected by their rallies in advance of their planned gathering next week.

The Spokesperson further stated that the government would be willing to assist in every way for the talks among all the stakeholders and the demonstrators to happen.

-- NNT 2011-01-22

[webfact]

Democrats say no House dissolution in May as rumored

BANGKOK, January 22 2011 (NNT)-The Democrat Party believes the coalition parties’ own charter amendment proposals will be synchronized with the Democrat’s, while saying the purpose of constitutional changes is not related to the parliamentary dissolution.

Democrat Spokesperson, Dr. Buranat Samutarak, said despite the disagreement on the MPs ratio, the ruling party’s attempt to hold talks with other parties will eventually lead to reconciliation among political groups in Thailand.

More importantly, he added, Prime Minister Abisit Vejjajiva has never mentioned the likelihood of House dissolution rumored to take place in May nor threatened to dissolve the House if the proposed MPs formula by the Democrat does not receive supports.

-- NNT 2011-01-22