Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 2 March 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 so that 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 1 Mar 2011

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ABAC Poll: Thais perception on the next general election

BANGKOK (NNT) -- In a recent ABAC poll, a survey conducted on the perception of Thai people aged 18 years and older about the levels of political competition among politicians in the next election.

As political rallies continue to dominate Thailand’s political arena, it is no surprise that sooner or later changes will be imminent. According to Prime Minister Abhisit vejjajiva, the government could be dissolved as early as April. With no intention to cling to power, he believes that politics will heat up in the fight for seats up for grabs.

More than half of the respondents believed competition would be fierce among political parties ….while vote-buying was to be expected. The same number of people surveyed strongly believed that, once elected, members of Parliament would use their political power to line their own pockets so as to fund their next election.

The numbers of those who believed vote buying exists and those who didn’t were almost the same. Meanwhile, 3 out of 4 said every political party would engage in vote buying in advance, long before the general election took place. When asked which government body would most likely be able to eradicate corruption, slightly more than half said the Election Commission of Thailand; followed by police and the Department of Special Investigation.

Moreover, most of the respondents still believed democracy was the only way to achieve national reconciliation and a solution to other problems. Only a quarter of them said they did not believe there was true democracy in Thailand.

Despite political uncertainties in the country, it may be concluded that most of the people surveyed are bent on believing that political tensions will continue and corruptions among government officials will go on as usual. However, they believed democracy could be restored.

-- NNT 2011-03-02

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Army Helps Border Village Construct Bunkers

Soldiers are lending a helping hand in the repair effort for a border village damaged by the recent fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops.

Captain Somboon Montri has been instructed by Suranaree Task Force Commander Major General Chawalit Chunprasan to lead a 30 man team to help with the repair effort at Phumsarol village in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district as well as reconstruct new bomb bunkers.

Since the Thai - Cambodian border clashes that erupted from February 4 to 16, bunkers have been moved to safer areas where it can accommodate more villagers during the exchange of artillery fire.

Villagers and soldiers together dug large ditches and tightly placed sandbags to protect the villagers from Cambodian artillery fire while housewives cooked meals for the tired troops and villagers.

Phumsarol villager 67 year old Thongsuk Pui-utha stated that the old bunker which is located near the village road was very old and small.

He said the villagers have urged local leaders to move the bunkers further back so that villagers can conveniently run to the shelter when an attack occurs.

The Si Sa Ket Local Administration Office allocated the budget to purchase necessary materials for the new bunkers.

Captain Somboon stated that the military's effort to help villagers construct the bunkers is to help restore public confidence.

Also, the Suranaree Task Force is concerend about the safety of border villages which are prone to artillery attacks.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

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Swedish Man Sentenced To 4 Years For Buying Sex From 13-Year-Old Boy: Bangkok

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TOT's 3G plan stalls

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Phnom Penh is ready for Thai-Cambodian border monitors: Jakarta

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Thai Cabinet approves new Army divisions

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BUDGET

Green light for sale of Thai govt stakes

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Thai Cabinet okays Bt476m budget for evacuees: Libya

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Suvarnabhumi Airport: a bad experience for travellers

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STOPPAGE TIME

Citizenship issue emerges to haunt Abhisit

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Eighth fatality from factory explosion

Another victim in an explosion at a Chaiyaphum starch factory succumbed Tuesday, bringing the death toll to eight.

The explosion, which erupted last Friday, injured about 30 people, 12 of whom remained in serious condition.

The factory's manager Siripong Suntareerat Tuesday said the family of each of those killed would receive Bt300,000 in compensation.

"We will pay for medical bills of the injured victims until they fully recover. Their children will also get monthly financial assistance equivalent to 60 per cent of their salary for the next 96 months," he said.

The factory is now cordoned off. The explosion was blamed on a possible leak in the factory's bio-gas system, which generated power for the facility.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

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Censure debate to be held on March 9 -12

The coalition and opposition whips agreed Tuesday to have the censure debate against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and 9 other ministers held next week.

The two weeks agreed that the debate would be held on March 9, 10, 11 and 12. The vote of confidence will be held on March 13.

On March 12, the red-shirt movement plans a mass rally in Bangkok to mark the first anniversary of last year's beginning of the mass rally.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

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Forensics identify more Thai victims of NZ quake

By Kwanhathai Malakarn

Pakamas Jaichalard

The Nation

One of six Thais missing after the deadly earthquake in New Zealand has been confirmed dead, while one of two newly retrieved Asian bodies might be another Thai casualty, Pol Lt General Jaramporn Suramanee, chief of the Justice Ministry's Forensic Science Office said yesterday.

Jaramporn said after an identification card bearing the name of Haruthaya Luangsuraphisakul was found inside the gown on a body retrieved from the collapsed Canterbury Television building in Christchurch on Monday, it was identified as Haruthaya's.

He said fingerprints from the body's 10 fingers were the same as Haruthaya's. Her remains were one of five bodies of Asians examined by medical personnel on Monday.

Another body retrieved yesterday is also believed to be Thai. The body had a distinctive bangle with a Buddhist text on one wrist, similar to those worn by Thais.

Jaramporn said the team would use DNA test methods to confirm the identity of both victims, adding that identification was difficult because of the condition of some of the bodies.

"Preliminary confirmation" of finding Haruthaya was reported to the national police chief via teleconference late yesterday.

The office would send DNA test samples collected from parents of the missing Thai nurses to Jaramporn's team in New Zealand tomorrow to match with the quake bodies, Royal Thai Police spokesman Major General Prawut Thawornsiri said.

He said parents of three missing Thais - Haruthaya, Wanphen Preeklang and Jitra Waithayatadapong - went to the Royal Thai Police Office yesterday to submit DNA samples.

Haruthaya's mother, Daranee said she wanted authorities to help bring her daughter's body back to Thailand for a funeral and merit making.

She said Haruthaya had studied English language in New Zealand for two years, and planned to work there after finishing the language course.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Presse Agentur reported yesterday that one week after the deadly 6.3magnitude quake devastated Christchurch, the city was still shaking.

It said seismologists recorded three aftershocks - the largest at 3.7 strength - in the early hours of yesterday, following 21 measuring up to 4.3 the previous day, as 5monthold Baxtor Gowland became the first victim of the February 22 quake to be buried.

Wat Indharaviharn and Wat Nakprok in Bangkok yesterday jointly opened an earthquake victim assistance centre to raise donations from Thai people for Thai and foreign victims of the quake.

So far Bt200,000 has been donated. Phra Rat Rattanaphorn, abbot of Wat Indharaviharn, said the temples would transfer the money to Wat Buddha Samakhee, a Thai temple in Christchurch, on March 12.

Wat Buddha Samakhee has provided temporary residence and food to people affected by the quake.

Phra Rat Rattanaphorn quoted Wat Buddha Samakhee's abbot as saying Thai people around the world should register their names with Thai temples in the cities they live in for use in emergency situations.

People can call 08 98264264 or 08 18577239 to make a donation to either or both temples.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

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Group blasts Bangkok's super skywalk project

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Jatuporn: DSI distorted facts in cameraman death

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Thai Govt accused of many failures

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Schools on temple land must have 'wat' added to their name

By The Nation

To prevent possible corruption related to land ownership, the Sangha Supreme Council yesterday decided that schools built on templeowned land, which have left the word "wat" or temple out of their names, have to put it back on.

The decision is aimed at preventing school management from benefiting illegally by renting out the premises via landownership documents that do not specify the land is owned by a temple. In Thailand, land belonging to temples or schools built on templeowned land cannot be transferred.

The National Buddhism Council director Noppharat Benjawatthananant said the decision would go into effect as soon as a national survey determines how many schools built on temple land had left the word "wat" out of their name.

Any school found to have rented or sold templeowned land or in any way benefiting illegally will face disciplinary action. "Any land sold to private owners through the use of landownership documents that do not include the word 'wat' will be repossessed by the Sangha Supreme Council," he said.

Many schools built on templeowned land have not paid rent, even though it is most often at a very low rate and a longterm lease of up to 30 years. More often than not, these schools are located in highpriced areas.

Under the Council's regulations, only schools that are endorsed by the palace can leave the word "wat" out of their names.

The Sangha Supreme Council is jointly working on the issue with the Culture Ministry and a House subcommittee on Buddhism. Panel chair Somkiat Sorralump said yesterday that schools under question are either prestigious or ones located in highpriced areas of Bangkok such as Dhepsirin School, Kunnathee Ruttharam, Witmuttiyaram Phitthayakorn,

Janpradittharam Witthayakhom, Chinoros Witthayalai and the Traimitr Witthayalai schools.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

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Loei villagers have high cyanide and mercury levels

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Apple is expected to unveil second-generation iPad on Wednesday as rivals struggle to compete with original model that has ruled market since its release last year /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 988.79, down 5.69 points /MCOT

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Chuan welcomes 4-day censure debate

Democrat Party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai Wednesday welcomed the four-day no-confidence debate next week.

He said the four-day debate would be a good chance for the government to provide detailed explanations to the public over several issues.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

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PAD to Stay Clear of Red-shirt Rally in Phuket

The People's Alliance for Democracy in Phuket province has announced that they will not interfere with the red-shirt rally scheduled for March 3 in the province.

The People's Alliance for Democracy or the PAD in Phuket province announced that their group will not interfere with the red-shirt rally scheduled for March 3 at a restaurant in the province.

The recently released red-shirt leaders and more than 500 members are expected to attend the event, which could be a prelude to a major anti-government rally planned for March 12 in Bangkok.

The red-shirt protesters have been urged to respect the law and to conduct their rally without inciting unrest or verbally attacking the monarchy.

The PAD has vowed that if the red-shirt group do not respect these guidelines, it will not allow the red-shirt group to conduct any future activities in the province.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

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One Thai Nurse Confirmed Dead in New Zealand; Second Body Awaits Identification

The police has confirmed that one of the bodies found in Christchurch is the body of one of the six missing Thai nurses, while another body is awaiting confirmation.

Thai forensic police stated that the finger print of the body believed to be of the 32 year old Thai nurse, Haruethaya Leungsuraphisakun, matched that of the nurse.

While a DNA test will be carried out to confirm the hypothesis, the police are certain it is the body of Haruethaya.

Meanwhile, another body has been found with a bangle produced by a temple in Thailand.

Authorities believe it is the body of another nurse that went missing when the 6.3-Richter earthquake struck Christchurch on February 22.

The authorities will conduct an official DNA test to confirm of the victim's identity.

The family of the five nurses who are still missing are still hoping the women will turn up alive and that the body is not of their missing relative.

News reports said Christchurch authorities expect to complete clearing the wreckage over the next three days.

Many more bodies are believed to be piled inside the debris.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

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Democrat MP Panich: Veera is very sick, thin, with rashes on his body; Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh cannot confirm about royal pardon /TAN_Network

Deputy PM Suthep authorizes police to arrest vendors who sell cooking palm oil at above Bt47/lr /TAN_Network

Former PM Chuan's mother passes away at the age of 99; body to be transported to hometown in Trang province /TAN_Network

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Police chief calls for end to PAD protest

BANGKOK, 2 March 2011 (NNT) – National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potephosree has asked the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its affiliates to end their prolonged street-protests around the Government House.

Police General Wichean said the PAD’s mass rally had taken long enough and should be winding up in order to return the PAD-occupied spaces, especially Phitsanulok Road, to the public.

Regarding the police operation to regain the protest areas, the national police chief said whether the measure would be taken or not depended on the situation.

The police have been trying to regain protest areas, and their initial efforts in doing so after the reactivation of the Internal Security Act met with a success. However, PAD key leader Major General Chamlong Srimuang deemed the action as a start of intimidation and violent crackdowns.

Police General Wichean also admitted that security measures for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must be adjusted after many people with different political standpoints had been able to reach him more frequently lately. However, the national police chief indicated that there was no need to change security guards for the prime minister.

-- NNT 2011-03-02

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Two US warships are to pass through Suez Canal on Wednesday heading toward Libya as Western nations sought to keep up pressure on Muammar Gaddafi to end crackdown on popular uprising and to step down /MCOT

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3.3 magnitude aftershock quake felt in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district but no reports of damages of injuries /TAN_Network

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TAXES

New car tax structure completed

By Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

The Excise Department has completed the new car tax structure, ready to have it implemented soon.

"We concluded the structure yesterday. Environment concerns are taken into account," says Pongpanu Svetarundra, director-general of the department says.

Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat earlier said that the new structure will focus on two key issues - energy efficiency and carbon emissions. Big truck makers are being concerned that they would face higher taxes.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02