Thailand Live Saturday 12 Feb 2011

[webfact]

Thailand Live Saturday 12 February 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 11 Feb 2011

[webfact]

Border residents heading back home, safety inspection underway

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Residents of the Thai-Cambodian border area in Si Sa Ket are gradually returning home as tension subsides while a bomb inspection unit has been dispatched to ensure safety.

Following four days of skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops along the border in Si Sa Ket province, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha confirmed that the atmosphere in the area had been calm, adding that some of the local residents who were evacuated earlier had started making their way back home. In an effort to protect the people from possible dud explosives left behind from the clashes, the Army has sent a bomb squad into the area for thorough inspection.

Regarding reports of reinforcements by the Cambodian military, Gen Prayuth said it does not concern Thailand, believing that both sides only want to secure their own land to the best of their ability after the violent incident. He hoped that there would not be another confrontation between the neighboring countries and that the long-lasting border row would be solved through negotiations.

-- NNT 2011-02-12

[webfact]

Scorpions Farewell Concert Impresses Fans

Legendary heavy metal band Scorpions leaves an indelible impression on its hard-rock fans who gathered at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani for the band's final show in Bangkok.

On Thursday night, hundreds of hard-rock fans gathered at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani for a farewell concert of the world-famous Scorpions.

The famous German heavy metal band, Scorpions, have never let its fans down.

Throughout the two-hour concert, it totally mesmerized the fans with exciting music and performance.

Over 20 classic, super-hit songs were performed to the delight of the die-hard fans in Bangkok.

Thailand is the first country in Asia the band performed in after they announced that they will be retiring after touring the world in support of their new and final album, 'Sting in the Tail'.

The tour is expected to come to an end in 2012 or 2013.

Despite their age, five members of the band, vocalist Klaus Meine, guitarist Matthias Jabs, bassist Paweł Maciwoda, drummer James Kottak, and guitarist Rudolf Schenker managed to live up to their reputation.

Throughout their 45 years of performing extensively worldwide, Scorpions has recorded a total of 21 albums and sold over 100 million copies around the world.

Many Thai stars who are fan of Scorpions attended the concert. They included singer Nui-Amphol Lampoon, a legendary Thai guitarist Kitti Kanchanasathit and former vocalist of Macintosh Band Ton-Wongsakorn Ratsamitat.

Apart from the Thai fans, many concert goers actually flew in from other countries to watch the band perform.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-12

[webfact]

NEW!

Follow thaivisa.com on Google Buzz:

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

[webfact]

AFP: Foreigner Caught With Hundreds Of Live Rare Animals In Luggage At Thai Airport

Follow this link:

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Charter change paves way for poll

Constitution Court to rule on validity of amendment process; House dissolution likely in April if PM plans June election

Follow this link:

[webfact]

MUBARAK RESIGNS, CELEBRATIONS ERUPT

Follow this link:

[webfact]

No offer to mediate in Thailand-Cambodia conflict, say French

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Two insurgents, policeman killed

By The Nation

Two insurgents were killed yesterday in two separate gunfights in Narathiwat after a group of them had earlier robbed foods and supplies from villagers living at the foot of Budo Mount.

In another incident, a policeman was shot dead near a mosque in Yi Ngor district by four men who disguised themselves in traditional dress for a Muslim prayer session, before they shot Pol Corporal Kittisak Singdam at close range, and fled on two motorcycles.

The first gunfight took place, in Ba Cho district, at 6 am after a security force trailed a group of insurgent commandoes that robbed supplies into the mountain range. An insurgent identified as much-wanted Harong Hah, 23, was found killed at the scene after the 20-minute shooting. Three M-16 assault rifles, among many stolen from an Army barrack six years ago, were found at the scene.

Harong had been wanted for two murders and was once arrested, but later released because of insuffiicent evidence against him during police investigation. Police said he took part in an offensive on an Army outpost two weeks ago. Villagers identified Marosoh Jandee as the leader of around six food robbers, and police said either he or others were possibly wounded judging from blood trails found at the scene.

A shooting earlier saw an unidentified surgent killed in a brief gunfight in Rue Soh district, with another M-16 rifle

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

A mother's final appeal

By The Nation

Wilaiwan Somkwamkid, mother of Veera Somkwamkid, met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday to seek help for the release of the high-profile activist from Cambodian prison.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader and his aide, Ratree Pipattanpaiboon, were given jail terms of eight and six years respectively over charges of espionage and trespassing. They were arrested on December 29 along with five other Thai nationals, who were allegedly inspecting the disputed border area near Sa Kaew's Ban Nong Chan.

Veera and Ratree have insisted all along that they were on Thai territory when arrested. They have promised to appeal against the verdict, but no request has been submitted so far, lawyers in the case say.

Thailand wants the pair to give in and seek a royal pardon from the Cambodian king.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

OBITUARY

Corporate governance champion Charnchai passes away at 65

By The Nation

A champion of good corporate governance in Thailand and abroad, Charnchai Charuvastr, president of the Thai Institute of Directors Association (IOD), has died.

Charnchai, 65, left behind a decade-long legacy of helping to boost the accountability of company directors in Thailand and the region since the 1997 "tom yum koong" financial crisis that hit Thailand and other Asian countries.

Rongruja Saicheua, executive vice president of IOD, said Charnchai's most recent work was to enlist Thai companies to help combat state corruption.

So far, 40 major Thai corporations have joined the campaign, in which they publicly pledge to stop paying bribes to state and related officials to get business.

"Over the past 12 years, Khun Charnchai has helped train more than 20,000 company directors and executives about the principles of sound corporate governance, which is crucial for our capital markets and companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand," Rongruja said.

"One reason we ran into the 1997 tom yum koong financial crisis was that our companies were not properly governed by their boards of directors, who were supposed to oversee the performance of management and CEOs.

"In the old days, most company directors were former senior government officials who were appointed directors after their civil-service retirement, so they were rather passive.

"After the crisis, Khun Charnchai turned his focus on this matter and founded the IOD in Thailand in 1999 to promote and educate the public on the principles of good governance," she said.

"Over the past 12 years, IOD has trained 142 classes of directors who join our director certification programme.

"Now, our corporate sector appears to have a stronger immunity as far as external shocks are concerned, as evidenced in the 2008 'hamburger' global financial crisis," Rongruja said.

Besides his role at IOD, Charnchai was chairman of Siam Piwat Co. Previously, he was the general manager of IBM Thailand, chief executive officer of Samart, vice chairman of Krung Thai Bank, and vice chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.

According to his family, Charnchai went to bed on Thursday night and did not wake up yesterday morning.

The funeral is taking place at Thep Sirin Temple in Bangkok, starting today.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Lots of talking but little in the way of diplomacy; Thai-Cambodian border

Follow this link:

[webfact]

UNESCO to send envoy to Bangkok, Phnom Penh

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Dismissed university president to defend himself on Monday

By The Nation

Associate Professor Kim Chaisansook, who was dismissed from his post as president of Ramkhamhaeng University (RU), will speak up on Monday to defend his role in what have been called grave disciplinary/criminal offences by the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC).

Kim lost his post after the Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC) issued a dismissal order based on the NACC ruling.

"I will explain what happened," Kim said. "I will have RU alumni and lecturers on my side."

NACC found Kim guilty of extending the service years of former RU executives. Assistant Professor Wutisak Lapcharoensap, who succeeded Kim as RU president, gave all 42 vice presidents working under his predecessor their old job back.

"This is not against any law," Wutisak said.

RU Council chairman Prachuap Chaiyasan dismissed any suggestion that Wutisak himself was not qualified for the post of president.

"Although he has retired from civil service since September 30, he can serve as a university executive," Prachuap said.

Though Kim and two former RU executives Assoc Prof Rangsan Saengsook and Chalermpon Srihong were found guilty by NACC, they have won strong support from other members of the university.

For instance, RU Alumni Association member Lomirun Butjan had already lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court against the OHEC secretarygeneral Sumet Yamnoon over the dismissal

Sumet responded by saying he was ready to testify because he had done everything within the line of law.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said the court's ruling should set a precedent on how universities should proceed in extending the service years of civil servants.

"Although there are laws giving university councils mandate to run institutions, any abuse of authority or corruption is still an offence that ministries and independent agencies will investigate and take action," Chinnaworn said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

Doctor cries foul over autopsy cash

By The Nation

A Chulalongkorn Hospital forensic doctor yesterday filed a complaint with police against his superior, accusing the department head of not giving him allowance for his works while other doctors were regularly paid the money.

In his complaint, Dr Wathit Rujirawan accused Dr Theerachote Jongsakul, the head of Forensic Dvision of malfeasance, for not signing in documents which could make payment of around Bt80,000 to him, as regular allowances for performing autopsies, at the rate of Bt3,000 per body.

A police source said Theerachote was once the subject of similar matter in a complaint lodged with the National Anti-corruption Commission, which ruled out his act as a crime and forwarded the matter to the hospital to order him to sign the payment documents after non-criminal disciplinary actions.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

One senator disqualified, another acquitted

By The Nation

The Constitution Court yesterday handed down to separate rulings on whether senators Itthiphon Ruangworaboon and Paiboon Nititawan are qualified for their jobs.

In the first case, the high court ruled that Itthiphon had violated the ban for family members to concurrently hold political office. Under the Constitution's Article 115, a senator will be disqualified if their spouse or family members hold political posts.

Itthiphon's son is the mayor of Si Songkhram district in Nakhon Phanom.

In the second case, the high court ruled in favour of Paiboon. The litigation stemmed from a petition sponsored by 16 senators charging Paiboon of abusing his power to interfere in the work of the Office of the Auditor-General.

Paiboon led the efforts to keep former auditor-general Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka in office despite the fact that she had reached mandatory retirement age.

In the verdict, the court said that Paiboon was a legal adviser to the Senate speaker when Jaruvan sought his opinion on her job status. The nomination of the auditor general comes under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Speaker.

Though Jaruvan used Paiboon's opinion as a justification to staying in office, the advice given could not be construed as interference, the court said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

Mall's closure to affect 3,000

By The Nation

More than 3,000 staff members of shops located in Central Lat Phrao would be affected more or less during a six-month closure, beginning February 15, for renovation following relocation to new workplaces or their own worry about future employment and minimal same incomes after the period ends, the Department of Labuor Protection and Welfare said yesterday.

The 3,033 people were employed by 147 shops who have been promised the same jobs and salaries by their employers after the shops reopen, but they will be required to work somewhere else at other shops or branches during the interval. Many of them have complained about travel extra kilometres for new workplaces or expressed worry about uncertaintly in future deployment.

Central Lat Phrao will dispatch its 368 permanent staff, 1,127 part-time staff and another 178 staff belonging to a subsidary to work at other branches in Bangkok during the six-month renovation. The department provides free counselling over employment contracts and labour law at its call centre at 1546.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

WATCHDOG

Devaluation of the dong puts pressure on Thai exporters

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Si Sa Ket governor prepares buses to send Kantharalak villagers back to their homes, 2nd Army Area Commander to provide security /MCOT

[webfact]

33 Rohingya remain detained in Phuket

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Burglar in Pattaya Runs Wild

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Police bring two CAPO orders for PAD to vacate their rally site; Yellow Shirt core leaders to meet this afternoon to outline next move /MCOT

[webfact]

Burma arrests Australian newspaper publisher

Rangoon - Burmese authorities have arrested the Australian publisher of the Myanmar Times, an English-language weekly, sources confirmed Saturday.

Ross Dunkley was arrested at his Rangoon home Thursday on charges of overstaying his visa and possession of marijuana, a Myanmar Times employee said.

Dunkley is a well-known media figure in South-East Asia, having founded the Myanmar Times after launching Vietnam's first English-language weekly in the early 1990s, and also owns the Phnom Penh Post.

He is being held in Insein Jail, near the old capital Rangoon

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

BOT: Vietnamese dong devaluation slightly affects Thailand’s exports

Follow this link:

[webfact]

The Ministry of Public Health has raised concern over the tendency of Thai teenagers having sex on Valentine’s Day

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PHUKET NIGHTMARE: Missing girl feared sold to Phuket brothel

La-ongda, 14, is believed to have been lured away from the Chalong Temple Fair

by a teenager named "Bow".

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Assistant village head shot dead in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - An assistant village head was killed by insurgents in an ambush in this southern border province Saturday.

Police said Buaraheng Khader, 43, was killed at 8:30 am on a rural road in Hulu Pareh village in Tambon Tanyongmus of Rangae district. He was the assistant village head for Hulu Pareh village.

Police said Buraheng was returning home from his rubber plantation when he was ambushed by insurgents who attacked him with assault rifles. They fled his .38 revolver.

-- The Nation 2011-02-12

[webfact]

Phuket MET: January 2010 wettest on record

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Trannies and Hookers Round-Up in South Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Two activist groups to discuss their moves after receive CAPO orders from police

Follow this link: