Thailand Live Tuesday 15 Feb 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 15 February 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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Monday 14 Feb 2011

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Loan Program in Store for Self-employed

As part of the much-publicized Pracha Wiwat policy, the government is introducing a new loan campaign, designed for freelancers and those who are self-employed.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij chaired the official launch of the Strong Thailand loan project, which is a part of the Pracha Wiwat policy.

Korn said the loan campaign will be carried out with the cooperation of all five state-run banks and is aimed at taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers as well as street hawkers.

Each borrower will be eligible to a maximum of 5,000 baht in low-interest loan.

The finance minister stated that the government will be ready to fund the project if demand for loans outpaces supply.

He believes the project will be an effective tool in helping freelancers access funding, which comes with fair conditions and comparatively lower interest rate.

Islamic Bank of Thailand President Dheerasak Suwannayos said that the bank has set a budget of one billion baht to help implement the Pracha Wiwat project.

The bank's borrowers will be charged a commission rate of 12 percent, but if the borrowers are male and neither smoke nor drink, the rate will be capped at 11 percent.

For female borrowers, the bank will charge a commission of no more than ten percent.

Dheerasak added that the bank is planning to approve a maximum loan of 800,000 baht for taxi drivers and 40,000 baht for motorcycle taxi drivers.

Both will be allowed no more than six years to pay back the amount borrowed.

Meanwhile, Government Savings Bank President Lersuk Chuladesa said that the bank will consider approving loans to group applicants of ten to 15 members, who will each be entitled to borrow up to 100,000 baht.

Lersuk said such conditions are planned to allow each applicant to act as a guarantor for others in the group.

The interest rate for this campaign is set at six percent.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-15

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Suthep: Border clashes not considered as war

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has indicated that the recent armed conflict at the Thai-Cambodian border is not regarded a war although the Cambodian side has said so.

Mr Suthep stated that if there were really a war waged between the two countries, fierce gunfights would have happened throughout the borderline. He termed the past border skirmishes only clashes, adding that the bid by Cambodia to raise border encounters as war would not affect the understanding of the global community.

The deputy prime minister believed that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) would help take care of this issue by using its own standards without interfering in bilateral negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia.

As for news report about a Cambodian spy apprehended in Thailand and currently detained in the Second Army Region, Mr Suthep said he had not been informed about the issue and would unveil its progress once the situation was clearer.

The deputy prime minister deemed it normal for Cambodia to look for intelligence, but the detainee would have to go through legal procedures. He however urged the public to separate spies from migrant workers who honestly looked for jobs as the latter might become victims of social suspicions.

-- NNT 2011-02-15

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F16 Crashes In Chaiyaphum

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AFP: Cambodia To Ask UN To Help Secure Ceasefire

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AFP: UN urges 'permanent' Thai-Cambodia ceasefire

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Thai Govt to await court ruling on charter changes

By THE NATION

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Thai Govt vows more cash for loans to poor

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Cambodia conflict should end, Thai Army chief says

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Korn defends handling of CAT-True deals

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Anand's panel to put forward Thailand land-reform proposal

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World kissing record broken amid explosion of loving acts

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Air force investigating why two F-16s crashed

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BURNING ISSUE

Abhisit needs to move fast over Cambodia row

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Morals centre to become a public body

By The Nation

The Culture Ministry will propose to Cabinet today that the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values be turned into a public organisation.

If approved, the draft would be submitted to the Council of State for consideration and should be implemented by March, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat said yesterday. Under the proposal, the centre would be transferred from the Office of Knowledge Management and Development and put under the ministry's jurisdiction.

Its work would not conflict with the job of the Department of Religious Affairs, because while the department emphasises religious teachings, the centre teaches people to become good members of society. The centre's budget for the 2012 fiscal year would be close to its usual annual figure of about Bt70 million to Bt100 million, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

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Nine detained after weekend bomb attack in Yala

By The Nation

Nine people have been apprehended for suspected links to a bomb attack on a military convoy in Yala on Sunday, which wounded 18 people and caused a fire that destroyed many nearby properties.

The suspects, one a minor, were found after a threehour search at 10 locations in Muang district. Two of them are instructors at a private Islamic religious school and six are teenage males.

The nine suspects reportedly belong to a group of new insurgents under Ahmad Tuenga, who has been sought by arrest warrants for many securityrelated crimes. Police said Ahmad and these nine suspects could possibly be behind a roadside bomb attack that killed nine people in Yaha district last week.

Citing intelligence analyses, security sources said new insurgents had been freshly trained by those long involved in the unrest in the South. The new insurgents were in their early 20s and often students in private Islamic schools.

They have been trained by "old insurgents" who have given up their arms but still work discreetly to support the insurgency, financially and logistically. Many of them act as double agents - by coming forward with tipoffs but still providing information to the insurgency useful in aiding terror operations, the sources said.

Relying on footage from security cameras, police found that three buckets full of petrol had been laid at the scene to inflict incendiary impact after the explosion, which was detonated by signals from twoway radios. The subsequent fires destroyed 11 shophouses, seven cars and 12 motorcycles.

The Deep South Watch Centre (DSW) said more frequent and more violent attacks had been intended to draw the attention of the upcoming meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

"The insurgency in the deep South is expecting that heightened violence could prompt negotiation between Thai authorities and the insurgents, through intervention by the OIC," said DSW director Srisomphob Jitphiromsri.

The military in the South is recruiting more defence volunteers to provide security in urban areas, in the wake of the latest attack in Yala on a convoy vehicle.

"Participation from the locals could provide surveillance and security around the clock," said military spokesman Colonel Banphot Phoolphian, who declined to give details on implementation of this policy.

Yala Governor Krissada Boonraj said tight security was needed to restore confidence of local residents, which he said was shaken by the bomb attack on Sunday.

"More road checkpoints in outer areas are being erected to conduct body and vehicle searches more thoroughly, while body searches in crowded areas and markets will be made mandatory, and cooperation is expected from everyone," he said.

The provincial Chamber of Commerce said the bomb attack affected local businesses and resulted in a sharp drop in investor confidence.

Chairman Wirat Assawasukanant called on the revenue office to give tax incentives to people who install security cameras at their homes and private premises, as installation of new cameras by authorities was continuing to replace those that never worked reliably.

He said sales in Yala had dropped immediately after the bomb attack took place, and he expected people to soon start shopping or making purchases of goods elsewhere, fearing for their lives and security.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

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Top officer on Bangkok airport seizure cases wants out

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Palm oil arrest

By The Nation

A vendor was arrested yesterday in Pathum Thani for selling cooking palm oil at Bt70 per litre bottle, despite the Bt47 price tag.

At her stall in a popular market known as the Airconditioned Market in Pathum Thani, Miad Thuanngern told police and undercover agents that she had no choice after she bought her stock from a wholesaler at Bt798 per dozen, or Bt66.50 apiece.

The bottles had a blue cap, showing that the contents were made from palm oil that was recently imported by the government to cover a domestic shortage of oil palms.

A Commerce Ministry directive vows drastic action against overpricing of the bluecap palm oil, but offers lenience to retailers of commercial brands at inflated prices but with buyers' consent.

Police have pressed charges against Miad of violating the law against hoarding and profiteering, which could land her a maximum sevenyear prison term and/or fine of Bt140,000.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

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Sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases on the rise in Thailand

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SPECIAL REPORT

Thai Govt won't pay for drugs not on national list

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Awards for top journalists

By The Nation

The Isara Amantakul Awards honouring Thai journalists for their work in news, photojournalism and reports on the environment, will be held on Saturday at 7pm at Bangkok's Centara Grand Hotel.

Finalists for the "news" category are Krungthep Turakij for covering Khao Phaeng encroachment; Khom Chad Luek for its coverage of the GT200 bombdetecting devices; Matichon for uncovering politicians engulfed in an agricultural scandal and the Interior Ministry's computerprocurement project; and Prachachat for its coverage of Suvarnabhumi Airport's parking lot concession.

Finalists for the photojournalism category were "drowning" by Jeerasak Wongkhamjan from Daily News; "stressful man, stressful dog" by ASTV Manager's Santi Taepia; "waterway public transport" by Post Today's Pattarachai Preechapanich; "flee to safety" by Thai Rath's Chaichana Khiewkaew; and "take it all" by Bangkok Post's Chanat Katanyoo.

Finalists for environmental reports were Krungthep Turakij for Khao Phaeng encroachment; Khom Chad Luek for covering deforestation; Daily News for its report on Ratchaburi's Suan Pheung encroachment; Thai Rath for its coverage of Kaeng Krajan Forest's overwhelming bindweeds; Matichon's coverage of the moves against the Khao Yai National Park's new road building project; and Post Today for its report on the Koh Ra encroachment.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

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Ousted university chief claims plot against him

By The Nation

Assoc Prof Kim Chaisansook, recently dismissed president of Ramkhamhaeng University (RU), yesterday cried foul over what he has described as a plot against him.

"Someone wants to block my return as the RU president. That's why all these things happened," Kim said at a press conference.

He lost his post last week because the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec) issued the dismissal order against him. The order is in response to the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) ruling that Kim was guilty of grave disciplinary/criminal offence for extending the service years of two former RU executives.

Kim yesterday vowed to fight against the dismissal order, and probably, the NACC ruling too.

"I will fight this case via all legal channels," he said.

According to him, the plot against him must have stemmed from the fact that he won the highest votes of support ever from the election held to select RU president four years ago. His term was about to expire and he looked set to contest for the second term as RU president, had the Ohec not issued the dismissal order.

"Someone wants to eliminate me from the contest," he said.

About 300 RU lecturers, staff, and student showed up to express moral support for Kim.

Kim thanked them and urged them to fight not for him, but for justice and RU dignity.

"Don't let bad people come in and plunder our institute," he said.

Dr Chalermpon Sumano, who represents Ruam Palang Ramkhamhaeng Network, led a group of students in submitting a petition to the NACC to ask that it review its ruling against Kim.

Chalempon and these students also urged the Ohec to review its dismissal order, pointing out that the NACC ruling require actions within 30 days but the dismissal order came out many months later.

In response to Kim's plan to appeal against the dismissal order via the committee for civil servants at highereducational institute, Ohec deputy secretary general Dr Kamjorn Tatiyakawee said the committee would assign its legal panel to look into the appeal before making any further action.

-- The Nation 2011-02-15

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Panel focuses on top 10 educational reform issues

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Dane in Critical Condition after Accident in Phuket

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 969.46, up 2.39 points /MCOT

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World Heritage Committee Needs to Stop Fueling Thai-Cambodian Border Conflict

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Senate Speaker Supports Opposition in Requesting Constitutional Court's Interpretation

The senate speaker has expressed support for the Opposition in requesting the Constitutional Court's interpretation of the voting process on the recently approved charter amendments.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej has expressed support for the Opposition in requesting the Constitutional Court's interpretation on the voting procedures for the recently approved charter amendments.

The Phue Thai Party claims the voting was not done in accordance with proper legislative procedures.

Prasopsuk said he sees no problem with the voting process on the charter amendments, particularly with regard to the change in the electoral system and the ratio of elected to listed MPs to 375:125.

Prasopsuk said that it would be best if the bill is passed as two laws.

However, if the government and the Election Commission wishes to hold the next general election immediately, the Election Commission could implement its own set of electoral regulations.

Regarding the appointed senators, who will soon finish out their terms, the Senate speaker pointed out that at least 60 senators out of 73 have declared their intention of being re-appointed.

However, Prasopsuk said that he is not looking to serve another term, as he'd like to dedicate his time to teaching.

The Senate speaker also gave the Senate a “B” for its performance over the past three years.

Prasopsuk explained that even though the elected and appointed senators are not always heading in the same direction, it was just a matter of difference in opinion.

About the upcoming censure debate, Prasopsuk reported that the Senate is waiting for the government's reply about when would be best time to hold the debate.

However, the Senate speaker pointed out that the debate would not take place this month because the government still has other pressing matters such as the mid year and fiscal year 2012 budgets.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-15

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2nd Army Commander challenges PAD to go fight the Cambodian military themselves

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Food Institute Urges Operators to Adapt to Rising Costs

The National Food Institute is urging food business operators to quickly adjust operations to address rising costs.

Despite price increases, it predicts that the Thai food industry will continue to grow impressively this year.

National Food Institute President Petch Chinabutr said that he is confident that the food industry will continue to expand in 2011 with demand for Thai foods on the world market also likely to rise, given that Thailand is a major supplier and is known for its high quality goods and safe supplies.

However, he conceded that the rising price of Thai foods will probably drive consumers to choose other alternatives.

Therefore, Petch is calling on food business operators to quickly adjust themselves and lower costs while upgrading their quality to accommodate any unfavorable circumstances, particularly with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, which is set to materialize in 2015.

By doing so, the National Food Institute President believes the Thai food industry will be able to take advantage of the sustained growth trend.

He also forecasts that total Thai food exports, in 2011, will likely be worth more than 809 billion baht, a healthy rise from some 700 billion baht in 2010.

Star export items, which are expected to see significant growth, will likely include frozen prawns and fish, processed bread, canned fruits and seasoning sauces.

When asked about the current palm oil shortage, Petch said that the problem has not had any serious impact on the Thai food industry, as operators promptly switched to substitutes while successfully maintaining the quality of their products.

While the industry has managed, he said the problem could have long-term effects on the industry if it is not addressed soon.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-15