Thailand Live Thursday 17 Feb 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 17 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 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 Wednesday 16 Feb 2011

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State Revenue Collection Exceeds Target

The government says it is satisfied with the state revenue collection during the first four months of the 2011 fiscal year that surpasses the original target by more than 60 billion baht.

It is also confident total revenue this fiscal year will exceed the target by more than 120 billion baht due to the recovering and expanding economy.

The Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office has reported that the government's revenue collection in the first four months of fiscal year 2011, from October 2010 to January 2011, totals 521 billion baht, exceeding original projection by 64 billion baht, or 14.1 percent.

Fiscal Policy Office Director General Naris Chaiyasoot stated that the recovering and growing economy as well as the success of the Motor Expo in December 2010 attributed to higher-than-expected revenue collection.

He is confident total revenue for the 2011 fiscal year will exceed original projection by more than 120 billion baht.

The Revenue Department also reported a 11.4 percent higher than targeted collection of corporate income tax, personal income tax, value added tax and motor vehicle tax.

Meanwhile, the Excise Department reported a 13.4 percent rise in revenue collection due to the expanding domestic consumer market and hiked taxes on alcohol, tobacco and beer, while the Customs Department exceeded the original target by 10.1 percent collecting almost three billion baht in tax, particularly from imported automobile parts.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17

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Energy Trade Unaffected by Border Conflict

With situation along the Thai-Cambodian border yet to be resolved, some are worried that border trade, including energy, might have been hurt.

However, the Energy Ministry is assuring that tension along the border will not have any impact on the business.

Department of Energy Business, or DEB, Director General Peerapol Sakarin said that Thailand’s export of energy to Cambodia has seen business as usual.

Peerapol said that Thailand exported a total of 441.5 million liters of gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and bunker oil as well as 3,224 tons of LPG to Cambodia in 2010.

He added that these figures were derived only from activities across the border and do not represent total Thai-Cambodian energy trade.

He affirmed that border closure will not have any serious impact on the Thai energy business although some effects may be felt by the Thai private sector, which has earlier signed trade pacts with their Cambodian counterparts.

In addition, Peerapol said that recent political turmoil in Egypt may push the global oil price through 100 dollars a barrel, the scenario that may result in an increase in Thai retail oil prices by 20 satang per liter.

On local oil consumption in January 2011, the DEB chief said that Thailand has consumed less energy than in December 2010.

According to the DEB, local gasoline use dropped six percent month on month from 21.4 million liters per day to 20.1 million liters while diesel use also fell from 53,7 million to 53.2 million liters a day, which is equivalent to a one percent month on month fall.

Last month’s NGV consumption also decreased around one percent from 5,840 tons a day to 5,770 tons a day.

However, LPG use in January rose four percent from last December.

For the month of February, gasoline consumption will likely rise six percent month on month, mainly due to higher demand during the Chinese New Year festival.

At the same time, the DEB suggested that diesel use could fall by two percent.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17

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CAT exceeds 2010 target revenue

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Communications Authority of Thailand ( CAT) Plc. celebrates 2010 revenue success with a further investment in an advanced Next Generation Network to support future multimedia telephone services.

CAT expresses great satisfaction as its revenue from international telephone service exceeds the target set for 2010, generating total revenue of 5,026 million baht.

The company also revealed an investment plan to launch an advanced Next Generation Network, a telecom network that believed to create a new height of possibilities.

Senior Executive Vice President (Voice Business), CAT Telecom Plc., Ms Tanwadee Wongterit said that the company international telephone service generated total revenue of 5,026 million baht successfully exceeding the target of 5000 million baht. Even though there were fierce competition, but the company was able to retain the leading market share in the segment.

According to Ms. Tanwadee, CAT will continue to further develop its existing Internet-based telephone services including ‘CAT2call plus prepaid’, ‘CAT SIP-connect’, and ‘CAT hosted PBX’, in order to respond better to the demands of both corporate and individual customers.

Ms. Tanwadee added that in 2011 CAT is more determined to continue to develop new innovative products and quality services to satisfy their customers. The company's aim this year will also undoubtedly to retain their status as Thailand’s premier international telephone service provider.

-- NNT 2011-02-17

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NEW!

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Pattaya Police Arrest 2 Frenchmen For Multi Million Baht ATM Fraud

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Red Shirts To Flood Bangkok's Ratchaprasong With 1 Million Red Paper Cranes

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Phuket Tourism: Has Phuket Been Ruined By Tourism?

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13 girls rescued from prostitution after raid on karaoke bar in Chiang Mai's Muang district

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Facebook fraud in name of Chulalongkorn University faculty dean

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Cambodia seeks Asean help

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Pheu Thai slams mid-year budget

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Bangkok Airways sees double digit profit growth, targets South Asia market

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EDITORIAL

Tackling graft in Thailand can no longer be seen as a joke

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THAI TALK

Abhisit and Hun Sen, get on the hotline now

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Red shirts promise rally of 'unprecedented numbers'

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SPECIAL REPORT

Ex-civil servants up in arms over new regulation on medical benefits

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

A 74-year-old former secondary-school director, Jareuk Ayawong, and a 70-year-old housewife, Thongbai Boonpamorn, are among more than 300,000 elderly retired civil servants affected by a new regulation denying civil servants reimbursement for the drug glucosamine to treat osteoarthritis.

Jareuk has been suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee for three years. During the past few years, he went to a state hospital every month to receive a box of glucosamine, which was sufficient to treat his problem for a month. He said he had been taking this drug for three years and his condition had improved slightly.

"I had no pain in the knee after taking glucosamine," he said.

However, the situation changed last month when doctors at state hospitals stopped prescribing the drug, following a new regulation by the Comptroller-General's Department. The regulation said subscribers to the civil servant medical benefit scheme could not be prescribed glucosamine, as the department considered the drug was of no benefit for arthritis treatment.

"I had no drug to relieve my knee pain for a month," Jareuk said.

He has to spend about Bt1,000 per month to buy a box of glucosamine to treat his knee pain but with a monthly income of only about Bt20,000, it is not affordable, he said.

"Most of my monthly income is spent on drugs and medical treatment.

"How could I have enough money to live my life if the Comptroller-General's Department cuts reimbursement for drugs to treat chronic problems?"

Most retired civil servants work hard to serve the public at relatively low salaries for their whole lives. They should receive good medical benefit to treat their chronic health problems when they get old, he argued.

"The new regulation will lower the quality of our lives," he said.

Thongbai, who had been treating her knee pain for the past two years with glucosamine from state hospitals, has also been told since last month that the state hospital could not provide her the drug any longer because of the new regulation.

"Whether the health experts categorise glucosamine as a drug or a supplement, my condition has improved since I started taking it two years ago," she said.

She urged the government to repeal the Comptroller-General Department's new regulation as it reduced civil servants' rights to access medical treatment.

"The government has promised to take care us for our whole lives, but this regulation has totally affected the quality of our lives," she said.

Poonsri Paowarat, a member of the Civil Service Commission, said a group of civil servants who were affected by the regulation yesterday filed a complaint with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House and urged the government to revoke this regulation, as it reduced their medical benefits.

"Medicine is necessary for patients to save their lives, and the government should let doctors make the decision on the drugs to treat patients," she said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-17

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ThaiHealth's bonanza from booze, smokes

By The Nation

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) reports money pouring in from alcohol and tobacco tax collected during the 2011 fiscal year's first quarter (October 1-December 30, 2010). The result has been a rise in the foundation's income to a total of Bt959.5 million - a 19-per-cent increase from the previous year, a source at Government House said yesterday.

Most of the income - Bt598.2 million or 62 per cent - came from the excise tax on alcoholic drinks; Bt308.3 million or 32 per cent from the excise tax on tobacco; and Bt29 million or 3 per cent from the foundation's asset management. The rise in income resulted mainly from increased tax collection - 12 per cent in the excise tax on alcoholic drinks and 26 per cent from the excise tax on tobacco.

ThaiHealth in fiscal year 2010 had expenses totalling Bt671.3 million - an 18-per-cent increase from the previous year - project funding at 94 per cent and administrative expenses at Bt41.1 million or 6 per cent.

-- The Nation 2011-02-17

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No evidence against detainees arrested over Yala car bomb

By The Nation

Nine people arrested over their suspected of involvement in a car-bomb attack in Yala on Sunday were released yesterday, after police found no evidence linking them with the crime, the provincial police chief said.

"Police are instead gathering evidence about their [alleged] involvement in the crime through other means, including witness accounts and scientific evidence at the scene, where there are no other details immediately available against them," Pol Maj-General Chote Chawalwiwat said yesterday.

A military spokesman, Colonel Banphot Phoolphian, said the DNA database of insurgents could successfully implicate only a few suspects of the many apprehended in recent months. The development suggests that many of the active insurgents were newly recruited and trained.

"These operatives are likely new recruits who have been trained through a new doctrine mainly resorting to violence," he said.

Police earlier found a large number of carbine munitions and five blank magazines buried in a rubber plantation in Yala's Krong Pinang district after simultaneous raids at 10 locations involving more than 100 security officials.

The officials also apprehended five men suspected of hiding the cache, 200 rounds of M2 carbine rifles and the five magazines, which were concealed in a large plastic pipe buried underground.

A police operational centre in the South released a report that 4,200 people had been killed in the seven years of the insurgency in the deep South, including 3,643 civilians. A total of 215 insurgents were killed and 31 others wounded during gunfights or arrests.

Police have arrested 5,306 people, issued 8,385 warrants and taken 2,081 people into custody in 7,630 security-related cases, the Police Operational Centre in the Border Southern Provinces said yesterday.

A total of 466 people are being prosecuted, with 256 court trials underway. In all, there were 140 convictions, 222 people were sentenced, with 21 condemned to death, 55 are serving life terms, and another 146 are serving terms less than 50 years.

It reported that 2007 was the most violent year, with 2,475 attacks or incidents occurring, while the average annual number of incidents was 1,300 during these seven years. The total number of incidents is 7,499, an average of 2.8 per day for the entire seven-year period.

The centre also concurred with widely distributed press and security analyses that the attacks were now more frequent and violence was higher compared with an earlier period in the wake of the annual meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

-- The Nation 2011-02-17

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BURNING ISSUE

Parties in Thailand moving into election gear

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Panel set to recommend body to revamp electoral system

By PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

The Sombat Thamrongthanyawong panel is poised to recommend the formation of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) tasked with a major overhaul of the electoral system, transforming the way governments are formed.

"A major rewrite of the Constitution is deemed necessary to improve on Thailand's political institutions," panel chairman Sombat said yesterday.

The panel's full report is expected to be submitted to the government next month after the implementation of stopgap measures, including last week's passage of two charter amendments on a framework for international agreements, and on House seat apportionment.

Among its recommendations, the panel wants the CDA to debate the following issues:

n The party with highest proportionate ballots, known as the party-list vote, should have first the chance to form a coalition government.

n The prime minister's discretion to dissolve the House should be cancelled. And the House should not have the mandate to censure the prime minister.

n All senators should be elected, doing away with the dual system of elections and appointments.

n MPs should not be required to have party membership.

n An Election Court should be formed to adjudicate voting disputes.

Sombat voiced optimism that the CDA and charter rewrite could offer a tangible solution to end political turbulence.

In explaining the new way for coalition formation, he said the prime minister and winning party based on popular votes would have the mandate to form a strong government without having to bow to partisan demands and coalition quotas.

Under the present system, the government is obliged to allocate Cabinet seats to serve partisan interests because it needs to muster the votes from coalition partners, he said.

"In the future, the prime minister, backed by popular vote, could sack incompetent ministers without having to fear for the government's collapse," he said.

Commenting on a Twitter message posted by Democrat Korbsak Sabhavasu, he said it was a coincidence that Korbsak had stepped out to promote the party-list vote. He denied any link between his panel's recommendations and Korbsak's remarks.

-- The Nation 2011-02-17

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Activists prod govt to speed up hearings on Laos dam

By Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

Environmental activists are calling on the government to speed up a public-hearing process to formulate its stance on the proposed construction of a huge dam in Laos - which is progressing without Thailand's joint approval as required under a multilateral protocol.

While Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos have given their approval under the Mekong River Commission (MRC) regulations, Thailand is behind schedule with its public-hearing process, completing just three hearings by last Saturday.

The dam is to be built in Xayaburi province, Laos, blocking a major section of the Mekong River, and the Laotian government has set an April deadline for the joint approval process.

At a seminar held yesterday at the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR), relevant authorities and non-governmental organisations were told that Laos would not extend the deadline for another six months beyond April.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, which is hosting public hearings in Thailand, cited a number of complicated technical issues as reasons for the process taking so long, but did not explain why it had failed to begin it six months ago.

Permanent secretary Suphoj Towijakchaikul said: "From now on Thailand will speed up the process and will make a recommendation on the stance Thailand will have on the dam project, which would have social and ecological impacts.

"Whatever happens, Laos will want this project to go ahead, regardless of disapproval or sanctions by MRC member countries," he said, without backing up his theory.

A DGR report on the Xayaburi dam proposal cites 206 instances of social, environmental and ecological impact the project would have. The DGR, serving as the MRC secretariat, has expressed opinions on 26 issues that would affect Thailand, including marine traffic, fish migration, tide direction and erosion.

Harnnarong Yaowalert, head of the Integral Water Management Foundation, said details without Thai-language translation distributed to villagers and NGO members involved in the process signified intent by Thai contract firm Ch Karnchang to hide something.

Some vital documents were not provided in advance for the three public hearings.

He said villagers and NGO members in Vietnam and Cambodia had raised concerns over effects on their lives, but their voices had not be heard further before their governments gave their approval to the dam project.

In the three public hearings, Thai villagers and NGO members reportedly voted in opposition to the Xayaburi dam project, along with 11 others to be built along the Mekong River.

The next hearing will be held in Sakon Nakhon on March 19, with MRC representatives invited, though they have not confirmed their participation.

-- The Nation 2011-02-17

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 987.94, up 5.87 points /MCOT

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PAD Turns Down Debate with Govt, Offers Public Forum on Thai-Cambodian Dispute

The People's Alliance for Democracy has shunned a proposal to hold a debate with the government, but is calling on the government to hold two three-hour forums to present the public with information related to the Thai-Cambodian dispute.

People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD Spokesman Panthep Puapongphan said in a daily press briefing that there will be no debate between his group and the government, as it is unnecessary.

The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association earlier proposed to broker talks between the two sides.

However, the PAD spokesman suggested holding a forum where his group and the government can present information to the public, related to the Thai-Cambodian dispute.

He proposed two rounds of conferences with live broadcast, one for the media and another for the public.

Each session would be three hours long. Journalists and the public would be able to ask questions or present their facts or evidence.

Panthep added that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been the only one talking.

He said if the premier cannot give his response on the idea of the platform, it could imply that he is not ready to inform the Thai public of all facts.

Regarding the police's recent search for weapons in the rally site of the PAD and the Santi Asoke sect, also known as 'Dharma Army', the spokesman said his group cooperated fully with police and affirmed that their rally involves no weapons.

Sub Lieutenant Samdin Lertbutr, a key leader of the Thai Patriots Network, said the raid began at 10 A.M., under supervision of Metropolitan Police Region Commander Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai.

Police found a bulletproof vest belonging to a police officer, as well as a large knife belonging to a demonstrator.

The two have been fined and are awaiting further prosecution in accordance with the law.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17

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Police to Summon Additional Protest Leaders

Police have prepared to deploy 27 companies to oversee security at the red-shirt rally scheduled for February 19.

Meanwhile, the authority also plans to summon additional members of the People's Alliance for Democracy and the Thai Patriots Network, for violating the Internal Security Act.

Yesterday at the National Police Office, the Spokesperson for the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order or the CAPO, Police Lieutenant General Prawut Thavornsiri reported that the Metropolitan Police Bureau has proposed a plan to ensure peace and order at the red-shirt rally scheduled for February 19 at Ratchaprasong Intersection.

The red-shirt group is planing to march to the Supreme Court and the Democracy Monument later that day.

According to the plan, the Metropolitan Police Bureau will deploy 27 police companies to oversee security the main rally site and surrounding areas.

The CAPO spokesperson refrained from disclosing the full details of the plan, citing that the situation is being evaluated.

Prawut added that police are currently gathering evidence to request warrants for an additional ten members of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD and the Thai Patriots Network, for violating the International Security Act in participating in illegal demonstrations, misleading the public, and inciting unrest.

The police expect the warrants will be issued within the next couple of days.

When asked if the police have been trying to strike a deal with the PAD leaders to end the rally in exchange for assistance in their pending criminal cases, Prawut responded that it is unlikely because operations are carried out in accordance with legal procedures.

The CAPO spokesperson pointed out that currently, the yellow-shirt leaders have two outstanding criminal cases against them including the illegal occupation of the Government House, for which the case file has been submitted to the prosecutor office, as well as the illegal occupation of Bangkok airports.

The authorities will decide on February 21 whether to bring the case to trial.

Police will also decide whether to authorize the resignation of Police Major General Somyot Pumpanmuang, head of the investigation team on the airports occupation case.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17

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AFP: Thailand to hold elections before June: deputy PM Suthep

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Army Region 2 Commander Unfazed by PAD Criticisms

The Second Army Region has welcomed a probe panel to inspect the border area.

Meanwhile, the Second Army Region Commander has been instructed to talk with the Cambodian commander regarding the latest artillery fire on Tuesday night.

The Second Army Region Commander Lieutenant General Thawatchai Samutsakorn gave an interview after presenting soldiers and villagers in Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces affected by the border clashes with financial compensation, rice, dried foods, and medicine donated by members of the state and private sectors in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Thawatchai stated that villagers are still in a state of fear and panic after the latest rounds of clashes on Tuesday night.

He has ordered troops to closely monitor the situation and safeguard the locals by setting up camp with the villagers.

Regarding the ongoing skirmishes between the two sides, the Second Army Region Commander has been instructed to talk with the Cambodian Fourth Army Region about the recent shelling along the border, and asserted that Thai forces will return fire if shells land on Thai territory.

When asked about the People's Alliance for Democracy's criticisms of the Second Army Region's personal interest along the border, the commander said he is unfazed by the verbal attacks as he remembers the teachings of Military Academy Commander Lieutenant General Piya Suwanapim, who said we should make others envious and not make them pity us, since no one is envious of beggars.

He added that the prime minister is welcome to set up a probe panel to investigate the activities of the army along the border.

Thawatchai concluded by saying that the soldiers' morale is high, and that the soldiers are on high alert.

He thanked representatives from various sectors for their donations and words of encouragement for the soldiers.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17

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Kuwaiti National And His Thai Wife Caught Consuming Ya-Ice

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Hun Sen told Trairong during their meeting that Cambodia doesn't want war of words to continue. /via Neaw_NBC /via@tulsathit:

Trairong told Hun Sen Thai govt has been v careful with words, but can't control other groups./via@tulsathit

Trairong also brought Hun Sen his favorite Thai fruit _ durian. >>Hope the thing had been peeled. /via@tulsathit /via@Neaw_NBC

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House Endorses Mid-Year Budget

The mid-year supplementary budget worth 100 billion baht has been approved by the House by the vote of 265 to 61.

After 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives voted 265 to 61 to pass the draft bill on the 100-billion baht mid year budget, despite the Opposition's grilling.

The Opposition slammed the budget as inappropriate, saying it is designed to favor coalition parties.

In his speech to conclude the House session, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the extra funds will benefit all Thais and affirmed that all projects under the budget are open to scrutiny.

He added that if the bill had not been passed, many important projects, such as flood relief programs, could be disrupted and many Thais would have been affected.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-17