Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 26 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 25 Jan 2011

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Poll predicts 40 bn THB in circulation during Chinese New Year

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has forecast a circulation of 40 billion THB during this year’s Chinese New Year festival, up 7.94 percent year-on-year.

The UTCC Poll was taken on Thai people’s spending behavior during the coming Chinese New Year and their sentiment towards the economic situation at the moment. Up to 39.1 billion THB is expected to be circulated, an increase of 7.94 percent from the same period last year and the highest jump in 6 years, signifying a steady recovery of the Thai economy.

The lively spending is also attributed to the increases in agricultural product prices, people’s income and minimum wage.

Asked about prices of commodities, over 80 percent admitted that they were more expensive this year while 49.8 percent were worried about possible hikes. In terms of the amount of spending, 42.6 percent said they would spend more, whereas 22.4 percent said less.

All of the respondents plan to spend on goods for religious offering; 69.1 percent on charity; 66.3 percent on everyday life commodities; 41.7 percent on red envelopes; and 30.5 percent on traveling.

As for their views towards the economy and the government’s stimulus measures, 28.8 percent were discontented, citing the steady rise of product prices, while another 60 percent believed that the upward trend would continue for the next 6 months.

-- NNT 2011-01-26

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Betong authorities to beef up security ahead of Chinese New Year

YALA (NNT) -- Security measures have been prepared in Betong district of Yala province in a bid to ensure safety of residents and tourists during the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Speaking of the safety plans for the Chinese New Year holidays, Betong District Chief Donladet Pattanarat said police and military officers as well as volunteers would set up road checkpoints to search all vehicles passing through the district, which is one of the restive areas in the Deep South. Backgrounds of first-time visitors will also be thoroughly checked.

As a large number of tourists from Malaysia and Singapore are expected to take a vacation in Betong on the special occasion, the District Chief urged the general public, especially operators of hotels, entertainment venues and retail stores, to be watchful of suspicious objects or individuals and report to the police immediately upon any finding.

Meanwhile, Betong Mayor Khunnawut Mongkolprachak asked all Thais of Chinese descent in the area to be extra careful while performing the ancestor worship ceremony during Chinese New Year. Although the festival brings colors and excitement, he said many activities, such as lighting candles, incense and firecrackers as well as burning joss paper, are considered dangerous as they have often been the causes of fire accidents. He then recommended worshippers to take safety precautions and have water buckets or fire extinguishers with them anytime there is fire involved.

-- NNT 2011-01-26

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Troops Tighten Thai-Cambodian Border Security

Cambodia has beefed up security at its heritage sites along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border area.

Meanwhile, Thai troops have also implemented similar security measures and urged all Thais to be cautious when approaching the border.

Fully-armed Thai soldiers along the Thai–Cambodian border have set up checkpoints on the roads leading in and out of the disputed Preah Vihear Temple in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district.

Troops have prohibited unrelated personnel and individuals from entering the disputed border zone after Cambodia put up a controversial sign at Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple claiming it was the spot where Thai troops had trespassed on the Cambodian territory.

The move has put a sour note on the already tensed Thai-Cambodian relations.

Second Army Region Commander Lieutenant General Thawatchai Samutsakorn has planned to travel to Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple to meet with Cambodia's military officials.

Thai residents in Phumisrol village, situated near the disputed Preah Vihear Temple, fear a full-scale war could erupt at any time and some have packed their belongings and prepared for an immediate evacuation.

At the ancient Tamuanthom Temple in Surin's Phanom Dongrak district, Cambodian troops have constructed roads and bunkers just 100 meters away from the temple.

Additional 300 soldiers with heavy weapons are on standby 500 meters from the temple.

More units from the Second Army Region have been dispatched to Tamuanthom Temple area and troops have been put on the highest alert.

Meanwhile, at Takwai Temple in Phanom Dongrak's Bak Dai subdistrict, Second Region Army soldiers and military engineers have constructed a route leading to the temple in order to facilitate troop mobilization, reducing the traveling distance from three kilometers to one.

Cambodian border troops have also built roads leading to the temple and for reinforcements of personnel and firearms.

There have been rumors that Cambodian troops are attempting to lay claim to Takwai Temple and the recently-built roads have attracted a large number of Cambodian tourists to the site while Thai tourists have avoided the heritage site.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-26

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Yellow Shirts Stage New Thailand Protest

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Thai Baht slide triggers inflation worries

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Graft probe starts into entry fees at Thai marine parks

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'Hello, we Yellow Shirts are back!'

Govt vows to get tough as yellow shirts officially turn on ex-ally Abhisit

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More questions than answers over 'foiled' PAD bomb plot

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3G auction to go ahead in Thailand despite possible lawsuits

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EDITORIAL

Loose cannons damage Thailand's bilateral ties with Cambodia

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EC checking Panich's credentials as MP

By The Nation

The Election Commission formed a panel yesterday to assess the status of Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth following his conviction in Cambodia and receiving a suspended jail term for illegally entering the country.

EC member Prapun Naigowit said the panel would have 30 days to complete its assessment.

Under Article 106 of the Constitution, an MP sentenced to jail or given a suspended jail term faces disqualification from holding a House seat. Exceptions could be granted for minor offences or negligence.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Northeast rubber planters urged to remain frugal

By Kavintra Jaiseu

Surasak Kruakham

The Nation

Rubber planters in the Northeast have enjoyed a major boost in revenue due to high retail prices, but they should be cautious about their spending habits, the head of a planters group in Nong Bua Lamphu has warned.

Khampin Bunta said he was not sure whether rubber planters' quality of life had improved as a result of higher revenue, because many members of his group had more debts after buying extravagantly.

"Many of them have obtained loans intending to repay their debts later on, carelessly relying on the mere hope that rubber outputs will meet targets and sell at high prices," he said.

"Their debts are bigger because they want to acquire what they have long wanted. Those with old stuff now want to get brand-new items, be they pickup trucks or electrical appliances."

Khampin said he kept saving his money for further investment in the rubber-plantation business, including purchase of fertiliser, or in case of lower rubber output in the wet season, and possibly a new family home.

"The prices of commodities and essential goods including food are rising. I still maintain caution whenever I spend, and I buy only what I need to have."

Khampin said he had never discussed group members' spending habits with them. "It is their right how they spend the money they earn."

Traditional crops in the Northeast are cassava, sugar cane and kenaf, but rubber, the main crop in the South because the climate is appropriate, is becoming increasingly popular with Northeastern farmers because of high retail prices.

With a minimum price of Bt160 per kilogram, compared with cassava at Bt3 per kilo or sugar cane at Bt16 per kilo, a large number of farmers in the Northeast have turned their land or rice paddies into rubber plantations. This has pushed up the price of empty land plots from Bt20,000 per rai (Bt125,000 per hectare) to between Bt55,000 and Bt60,000 per rai.

One rai with rubber trees aged up to three years now brings Bt80,000, and the price goes up to Bt150,000 for a 1-rai plot with ready-for-harvest rubber trees, at the minimum harvest age of seven years.

Khampin said the average monthly income of members of his group was Bt20,000-Bt25,000.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Family of red-shirt guard sues DSI chief

By The Nation

A United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship lawyer yesterday brought the family of a red-shirt guard accused of terrorism to file a police complaint against Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit.

Lawyer Kharom Polthaklang helped Manop Charnchangthong's wife, Namkhang Saiyen, 36, and her two young daughters file complaints against Tharit and DSI investigator Lt Col Thawal Mangkhang for filing false criminal charges, illegal detention and libel.

Kharom said the terrorism charge was excessive because Manop had only joined the red-shirt protest and served as a guard.

He said if Manop was found to have been carrying a weapon, he should only be charged with possession of a weapon without permission, not terrorism.

After the protests ended, Manop returned to his family and provided for them for seven months by scavenging, earning Bt100-Bt300 per day.

Namkhang lamented that life had become very difficult since Manop's arrest on January 19 and that their two daughters still had to go to school.

Commenting on a photograph showing Manop carrying a gun, Namkhang said Manop was merely helping move the gun, and had not intended to use it or break the law.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Migrants fail to renew work permits

By The Nation

More than 850,000 migrant workers failed to apply to renew their work permits during the renewal period from December 1 last year to January 21, Labour Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said yesterday.

Of 39,272 workers from Cambodia, Burma and Laos whose work permits expired on January 20, only 11,879 renewed their work permits, he said.

Of 892,875 workers whose work permits will expire on February 28, only 37,347 got new permits in advance during the above-mentioned period.

Chalermchai said employers who failed to bring migrant workers to renew their permits could be charged with illegally employing alien workers, which was punishable by fines of Bt10,000 to Bt100,000 per worker. Workers themselves would be charged with working without permission, punishable by up to five years in jail and/or a fine of Bt2,000-Bt100,000.

Chalermchai said Burmese deputy foreign minister Maung Myint recently urged him to arrange another round of worker registration. Maung Myint told him Burmese officials would cooperate with a worker nationality identification process to be completed by February 28, 2012. They would also improve the IT system used to issue Burmese ID cards.

Chalermchai said Maung Myint told him if Burmese workers still sneaked into Thailand after the next round of registrations, Thai authorities could take legal action against them.

Maung Myint also urged the Thai Labour Ministry to survey the number of Burmese workers in Thailand and notify the Burmese Embassy so it could issue necessary papers for the Burmese identification process.

Burmese authorities would maintain officials to identify workers' nationality in Ranong, send more officials to Chiang Rai's Mae Sai checkpoint, and possibly send officials to be stationed at a border checkpoint in Nakhon Sawan, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Social security scheme slammed as unfair

By The Nation

The social security scheme came under attack this week when members claimed they were the only Thais who have to pay for access to medical care.

"Is this fair?" asked health economist Dr Pongsathorn Pokpermdee. He said the scheme's members were taxpayers and it was unfair to make them pay for medical welfare while other Thais get it free.

The social security scheme covers about 9.4 million people, mostly company workers. These employees and their employers have to pay monthly contributions into the Social Security Fund (SSF), while the government contributes an additional sum.

The scheme offers medical welfare as well as other benefits, including a pension.

Other Thais, however, enjoy free medical welfare through the universal health scheme and the medical benefit scheme for civil servants and their families. MPs and senators have even better medical coverage under another scheme.

"A sizeable portion of the contributions go into medical services and childbirth benefits," Pongsathorn said. "If the social security scheme's members enjoy free medical welfare like other Thais, this money could go into their pension savings."

Duangjai Deengarm, a worker from Samut Prakan, complained that the scheme represented a double standard.

She urged the government to treat the scheme's members fairly by channelling the contributions for medical and childbirth benefits into pensions instead.

Many members of the Social Security Fund have also complained about medical services. Some decided not to use the scheme's medical services again after they were unhappy with the treatment they were given.

"We are treated like second-class citizens when trying to exercise our right to access hospitals under the social security scheme. No matter what illness we have, we are prescribed paracetamol," Duangjai said.

Pongsathorn said the social security scheme's members should demand an answer from the government and the Social Security Office (SSO) as to why they have to pay for medical care.

"I think the social security law, introduced more than 20 years ago, has already become superannuated," he said.

Tula Patchimvet, who sits on a subcommittee of the Lawyers Council dealing with labour rights and urban people's housing rights, agreed that the social security scheme members should no longer be required to pay for medical benefits.

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Current medical welfare schemes

Social security scheme / covers 9.4 million

*** Monthly contributions by scheme's members, their employers and the government

Medical benefit scheme for civil servants and their families / covers 5 million

*** Fully financed by the government

Universal healthcare scheme / covers 47.73 million

*** Fully financed by the government

To be launched soon under the government's Pracha Wiwat policy

New scheme to cover 24 million self-employed workers and freelancers.

- Monthly contribution of Bt30 by self-employed workers and freelancers, Bt70 by the government.

- Or monthly contribution of Bt50 by self-employed workers and freelancers, Bt100 by the government.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Support for Thai govt slips in Northeast

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BURNING ISSUE

Bangkok needs to change its thinking on South

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Democrat-favoured electoral system amendment passed in second reading

The charter amendment bill to change the electoral system to have 375 constituency-based MPs and 125 party-list MPs was approved in the second reading early Wednesday.

The amendment was passed at 6 am with 298 votes for it while 211 parliamentarians voted against it.

The third reading is scheduled on February 11.

The formula of 375+125 House seats is favoured by the Democrat Party.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Phuket bar owners continue protests

Protest leader Niwat Chanajit, owner of the Tonight Bar in Kata,

addresses the crowd in front of Provincial Hall.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

Bar staff from throughout Muang District join the protest for later

closing times. Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

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German filmmaker Bernd Eichinger, whose works include hits such like "Resident Evil" and "The Name of the Rose" died of heart attack in Los Angeles at 61 /MCOT

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PAD stays put overnight at Makkhawan Bridge without incident; Rajdamneon Nok Avenue closed, causing traffic jam in area; tight security at Government House /MCOT

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House to reconvene today

The House of Representatives is scheduled Wednesday's afternoon to convene its first session following recess.

Key agendas include the sworn-in ceremony for five newly-elected MPs and the debate on draft bills for the Constitution Court, the State Auditing Board and the Office of Ombudsman.

Due to protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the Thai Patriots Network near Government House, access to Parliament is allowed only through the entrance at U-thong Road.

-- The Nation 2011-01-26

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Two men suspected in Narathiwat army outpost attack arrested; 10kg of bombs seized, admit plan to use explosives to bomb Ra-ngae district army base /MCOT

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South Korea develops world's first 4G mobile system

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Investors urged not to panic over SET plunge

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BoT to encourage Baht weakening to boost exports

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 967.03, up 7.86 points /MCOT

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California man sentenced over 600 years for sexually abusing underage relative

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