Thailand Live Thursday 27 Jan 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 27 January 2011

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Jan 2011

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Trang to embrace Valentine’s Day spirit with underwater wedding campaign

TRANG (NNT) -- The southern province of Trang is attracting visitors with a Valentine’s Day campaign, featuring underwater wedding ceremonies during February 11-13 in Ko Kradan.

Trang Governor Maitree Intusut announced that the province is coordinating with the Trang Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Authority of Thailand on arranging underwater wedding activities for the upcoming Valentine’s Day from 11-13 February at Ko Kradan, Hat Chao Mai National Park, Kantang district. It will be an opportunity for participants to experience the traditional wedding ceremony of Thailand in the crystal clear water of the Andaman Sea.

This year, a total of 36 couples, both Thai and foreign, have made their reservations to tie the knot under the water, higher than the expectation of 30 couples. Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Dusit Nontanakorn and his bride will also take part in the activity as an honorary couple.

Ko Kradan is a famous location for underwater weddings, thanks to its pristine beaches, sparkling water and abundant coral reefs. At present, the island has a tourist occupancy rate of 1,000 per day

-- NNT 2011-01-27

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Tourism business crying foul over exaggerated report on national park closure

PHANG-NGA (NNT) -- Tour operators in southern provinces of Thailand have started complaining about a dramatic decrease in the number of tourists due to the exaggerated report on the closure of national parks in the Gulf of Thailand and on the Andaman coast.

The Tourism Business Operators Association of Phang-nga recently convened a meeting after the tourism business in the province seriously received impacts from the rumor of overall closure of Mu Ko Surin and Mu Ko Similan National Parks. As a matter of fact, only some parts of the archipelagos in those national parks were forced to shut down.

The closure have been declared over Ao Mae Yai, Ao Mangkon, Ao Tao and Ko Torinla in the Mu Ko Surin National Park while there are only two diving spots of Mu Ko Similan National Park being closed for coral reefs recovery, including Ao Faiwap and East of Eden.

Mu Ko Similan National Park Chief Panumas Samsineam affirmed that the national park still welcomed tourists at present although two of its diving spots had been closed. There are 20 other diving spots available.

Partial closure has been made in seven archipelagos due to severe bleaching condition, comprising Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang, Mu Koh Phetra and Tarutao National Parks in Satun, Mu Ko Chumphon National Park in Chumphon, Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi, Mu Ko Surin and Mu Ko Similan National Parks in Phang-Nga.

-- NNT 2011-01-27

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Thai Fighting Cock import industry in trouble, 120 million baht lost

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Thailand’s fighting cock industry is in trouble as export of the birds encounters serious restrictions from overseas. The move has prompted the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to step up a plan to help the industry survive and prevent the revenue loss of over a hundred million baht to the Thai economy.

According to Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Theera Wongsamut, indonesia, one of the major importing countries of Thailand’s famous fighting cocks, has slapped a ban on the import of the birds from Thailand despite the Department of Livestock Development’s petition in November 2009 asking Indonesia to lift the ban, given the deadly bird flu is no longer an issue in fighting cocks imported from Thailand.

Exports of up 6,000 fighting cocks inject an income in excess of 120 million baht into to the Thai economy each year. The Department of Livestock Development has met with the Fighting Cock Association to assure that the birds to be exported are free of bird flu virus and meet the requirements of importing nations in terms of quality. The Department has also coordinated with Indonesian importers trying to have the import ban lifted, said the Minister.

-- NNT 2011-01-27

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New Thai Law On Alcohol Level While Driving Enforced In February

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There's something about 'Kristie'

By Tulsathit Taptim

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Violence can derail Thailand poll: PM Abhisit

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'Biggest threat' to the economy

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Bombers linked to slain separatist fighter: officials

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THAI TALK

Abhisit could end up with egg on his face

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EDITORIAL

EU health warning is also for Thai consumers' sake

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House approves ID cards for children

By The Nation

The House of Representatives yesterday supported an amendment to allow children aged one year and over to have identity cards on a voluntary basis.

After more than three hours of debate, the participating MPs voted 240-106 to endorse the amendment to the Identification Card Act. Article 6 of the amendment states that an ID card can be issued to a native Thai aged one year and over, or a naturalised Thai 60 days after obtaining citizenship.

Pipob Damthongsuk, director of the Local Administration Department's Bureau of Registration Administration, who is a member of the House's ad hoc committee vetting the amendment, said he believed the Interior Ministry would be able to issue new ID cards to all the eligible children within two years after the law becomes effective.

Democrat MP Kalaya Sophonpanich, who is deputy chairwoman of the House panel, told yesterday's meeting that although it would not be compulsory for children aged one to 14 to have ID cards, they could get more benefits and better access to government services than those who do not have one.

Thai citizens aged 15 and over are required by law to carry ID cards.

During yesterday's House meeting, some MPs expressed concern about the possible adverse impact of the amendment. Opposition Pheu Thai MP Paijit Sriworakhan said it could be an added burden for parents to apply for ID cards for their children. Coalition Democrat MP Nipon Boonyamanee said that because of its voluntary basis, the law could lead to unfair treatment of children depending on whether they had ID cards.

-- The Nation 2011-01-27

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Department of National Parks looks to end massive corruption

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Map Ta Phut firms eager for health impact checks

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Two leading government environmental organisations have been urged to study a health impact assessment (HIA) submitted by over 30 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut industrial estate that were previously under suspension.

The industries conducted the report voluntarily and have promised to comply with the strict measures under the constitution. But first they want the health impact assessment reviewed by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and the National Environmental Board.

The 30 industrial projects were among 76 at Map Ta Phut suspended by the Central Administrative Court last year for failing to comply with the Constitution's article 67 (2) which requires harmful industrial activities to conduct such a report.

The court later revoked the suspension after finding the activities were not on the National Resources and Environment Ministry's list of 11 harmful projects.

The industrial projects had previously given their commitment to a four-party panel, set up by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resolve the Map Ta Phut crisis and conduct the HIA report, even though they were not on the ministry's harmful projects' list.

The projects reported to the environmental expert panel several months ago but the panel claimed it did not have the authority to study their report, Supakit Nantaworakhan, a member of the ad-hoc Independent Environmental and Health Committee, said.

The Constitution's article 67 (2) requires only the harmful industrial activities on the National Resources and Environmental Ministry's list to conduct the HIA report for study by ONEP and the National Environmental Board. After that the report will be sent to the ad-hoc Independent Environmental and Health Committee to seek additional comment before given approval by relevant agencies.

But for the industrial projects that are not on the list, ONEP and the National Environmental Board have no authority to study their HIA reports and send them on for comment.

If the government issued measures to give legitimate authority to these organisations to study the assessments, it could help industrial project owners to improve the environmental standards within their plants.

The government has the power - such as pollution control zoning - to give legitimate authority to these environmental agencies to study HIA reports.

Communities surrounding the industrial areas hoped the measures under article 67 (2) would alleviate the environmental impact caused by industrial activities, whether they are on the list of harmful activities or not.

Many private sectors are ready and willing to conduct the impact assessment report, even though they are not categorised as harmful projects - but the government has no intention of studying their HIA reports - meaning the community could face threats from increasing industrial activity. ONEP secretary-general Nisakorn Kositrat said the National Environmental Board has instructed its sub-committee to study the HIA submitted by the industrial project's owners.

To date, ONEP is studying the HIA of 14 industrial projects willing to conduct an assessment report and comply with its measures. Most of these industrial projects already exist in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate and have slightly improved their control over volatile organic compounds.

ONEP is also studying an assessment report submitted by TOC Glycol on Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate. Its extended project was classified as a harmful industrial activity by the Natural Resources and Environmental Ministry.

The National Environmental Board's expert panel has studied the report and asked the project's consultant to revise and re-submit it. Nisakorn did not give any details about the orders from the expert panel and the time allowed before sending it to the ad-hoc Independent Environmental and Health Committee for additional comment.

-- The Nation 2011-01-27

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Now the Thai Govt's real battles begin

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Phuket revokes Russian tour companies' licenses

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Cambodia removes second provocative tablet

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Pall of gloom in Songkhla tambon

By Thanaris Phirunla-ong

The Nation

The residents of two tambon in Songkhla's Saba Yoi district, where nine people were killed by a deadly roadside bomb in Yala province on Tuesday, yesterday dressed in black to mourn the tragedy.

The atmosphere was especially sombre at one house where funerals were held for two men - Khiao Srithaweep and Damrong sae-Lim. Khiao's widow Pradab Srithaweep said another relative - Sakchai Sirichai - was also seriously wounded in the blast.

The villagers were returning after a trip to the jungle hunting for wild boars in Yala's Yaha district when their pickup truck hit a roadside bomb. Eight people were killed instantly and one succumbed later at a hospital.

Pradab said the deaths had forced her to stop tapping rubber in order to take care of Damrong's and Sakchai's young children despite the decrease in family income.

At a nearby house, La-or Yorsomphet said her husband Saner was a family man and spent a lot of time with her and their two teenage daughters.

Chaluay Chanabanyat remembered her late husband Khanueng's last words before he went out: "This is my last hunting tour. From now on, I will only do rubber tapping."

Arun Noonim, a former kamnan who owned and drove the ill-fated pickup, sustained serious injuries.

-- The Nation 2011-01-27

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Observers struggling to gauge PAD intentions

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Education Ministry to request huge budget hike

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Thai Health Ministry Eyes Rabies Eradication By 2020

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Racing for the Asian wild elephant conservation

The Amarin Outdoor Unlimited River Kwai Trophy International 2011" in Kachanaburi

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Defence volunteer's vehicle in bombing attack while on patrol duty in Yala, five wounded /MCOT

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PAD leader Chamlong threatens to raid Government House

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Tesco Lotus to Keep Palm Oil Sale Limit

A leading hypermarket chain in Thailand is still limiting its sale of one bottle of palm oil per customer to ease the shortage problem.

Chris Bush, CEO of Ek-chai Distribution System Company, which operates Tesco Lotus, admitted that there is not much of bottled palm oil being sold at Tesco Lotus stores now.

The shortage has forced the company to limit the sale to one bottle of palm oil per customer.

In the meantime, it is reported that about 600,000 bottles of palm oil are sold per day while the daily demand is as high as 900,000 bottles.

However, Bush expressed confidence the palm oil shortage will ease in the next three or four weeks and the situation will return to normal in March.

As for the government's policy to sale eggs by kilogram, Bush commented that if the new system is accepted by customers, his company is ready to use it at Tesco Lotus stores as well.

He further said that the company has spent over 1.6 billion baht on the construction of ASEAN region's largest distribution center in Pathum Thani's Lum Lukka district.

Tesco Lotus Chairman Sunthorn Arunanondchai said he believed the new distribution center will improve the company's service in distributing products to it branches and also create jobs for more than 1,000 new employees.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-27

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Police Deny Staging Arrests

Police have denied staging the arrest of alleged red-shirt guards in possession of war weapons, who were accused of planning to incite violence during the People's Alliance for Democracy protest.

Police assert that investigators had been monitoring the suspects' activities and made the arrest before any violence could occur.

Metropolitan Police Division 6 Commander, Police Major General Suwat Jangyodsuk, has commented on a claim by red-shirt leader Jattuporn Prompan's and a key People's Alliance for Democracy member, Prapan Koonmee's, claim that the arrests of Thawatchai Iamnak and five other accomplices were staged by police.

Jattuporn and Prapan claim the arrests were staged due to a conflict between high-ranking police officers about the national police commissioner position.

Suwat said the allegations are impossible, since the charges in such a case carry a punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment.

Suwat asserted that investigators have been closely monitoring suspicious activities since the series of attacks in the capital, and related agencies have been coordinating efforts to prevent attacks, which has led to the arrests of the suspects before they could incite violence.

The commander went on to say that the authorities have made previous security-related arrests which were not reported in the media and felt this particular case would not raise any controversies.

He reiterated that investigators have been closely monitoring the suspects' activities, in which intelligence reported that they planned to create fear and instigate violence during the protest.

He said the arrest was made to prevent possible violence.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-27

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 982.57, up 4.50 points /MCOT

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Intel gets EU approval to acquire McAfee

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Interior Ministry Orders Governors to Discourage Yellow-Shirts from Rallying in Bangkok

The deputy interior minister has instructed provincial governors to advise yellow-shirt members not to travel to attend the rally in Bangkok.

Through a video conference, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat has designated all provincial governors to discourage yellow-shirt protesters from taking part in the anti-government rally in Bangkok.

Boonjong analyzed that there are 3,500 demonstrators at Saphan Makhawa Rangsan Bridge, and this group of people decided to take to the streets because the Emergency Decree was lifted.

The yellow-shirt group demands that the government withdraw from the World Heritage Committee, revoke the MOU43, and expel Cambodians from disputed territory.

He concluded by saying he does not want the Kingdom to experience political unrest, claiming that no one who cares for the country wants suffering from the rally either.

-- Tan Network 2011-01-27