Thailand Live Wednesday 2 Mar 2011

[webfact]

Price Increase for Fresh Milk Approved

The Agriculture Ministry's subcommittee in charge of cow milk and milk product policies has approved a 1-baht increase per liter of fresh milk.

The Permanent-Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Chalermporn Pirunsarn announced after the meeting of the subcommittee in charge of cow milk and milk product policies that a 1-baht priceincrease per liter of fresh milk has been approved, bringing the total price to 18 baht per liter.

The board pointed to the recent hike in feed prices, which accounts for 70 to 80 percent of productions cost, as grounds for the price increase.

The milk price increase was approved following a report by the Office of Agricultural Economics that feed prices have increased by about 1 baht per kilogram.

Meanwhile, the management fee of the fresh milk processing center is at 1.15 baht per liter, while the appropriate profit rate for farmers remains at 18 percent per liter.

The price increase will later be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The 1-baht price increase will raise the price of carton milk to 7.61 baht and the price of bagged milk to 6.37 baht.

The price increase is also expected to effect school milk programs, but the government has announced no plans to increase funding for the school milk program, which is currently at 13 billion baht.

The schools will have to buy a mixture of carton and bagged milk to save costs.

The Director-General of the Department of the Livestock Department Preecha Somboonprasert said that currently, the country is producing some 2,600 tons of fresh milk per day, which has decreased in the recent past due to the heat.

Domestic demand stands at around 2,700 tons per day, 1,400 tons for commercial purposes and 1,300 tons for the school milk program.

In addition, the prices of imported powdered milk have been rising, causing a mild domestic shortage.

At any rate, Preecha believes there will sufficient milk supply to meet the demand in the country by next winter.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

[webfact]

Prime Minister Abhisit expects Thai tourism to grow to 11% of GDP

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Egg Sales in Thailand by Weight Under Question; Egg Prices on the Rise

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PAD slams Thai Govt for using taxpayers' money to end protests

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai Tourism Reported Safe from Local, Global Tensions

Follow this link:

[webfact]

3.3 Richter Quake Hits Chiang Mai

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai Activist Jailed in Cambodia Seriously Ill

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Unesco's Special Envoy to Help Ease Border Conflict

The acting government spokesman says Unesco's special envoy from Indonesia will help ease the Thai-Cambodian tension.

Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Panitan Wattanayagorn, in his capacity as the acting government spokesman, said Unesco understands Thailand's stance and intention in solving the Thai-Cambodian conflict through bilateral mechanism.

He said the visit by Unesco's special envoy Koichiro Matsuura will help ease the ongoing tension between the two nations.

Thailand will propose its intention to reduce conflicts through bilateral talks.

Panitan said the envoy can also help to convey Thailand's stance to Unesco.

The spokesman said Thailand is currently unable to reveal the procedures for solving the Thai-Cambodian conflict over the disputed area, as further consultation with Unesco is needed.

Thailand must wait for a reply before taking further action.

As to Unesco's reasons for drafting procedures for the two nations to follow, the spokesman said the move is not considered as intervention; it is simply Unesco's duty to do so.

He reiterated that Unesco understands Thailand's stance and that the problem can be solved through bilateral talks.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

[webfact]

SET index closed at 987.59, down 6.89; Bt/USD30.43; GBP49.27; AUD30.59; EUR41.77; CAD31.13; HKD3.90; SGD23.77; JPY36.95

[webfact]

Authorities Brace for Dry Season

Authorities are bracing for the upcoming dry season to make sure that there is enough water for consumption during the period.

Farmers are advised to strictly follow instructions from the Irrigation Department.

Governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Charoen Passara, acknowledged that the water levels in most dams and reservoirs in northeastern provinces have fallen more than expected.

However, he said the water levels in Bhumibol and Sirikit dams are currently at 60 percent of the full capacity, which make the overall water reserve in the region higher than the same period last year.

Charoen added his office will cooperate with the Irrigation Department in closely monitoring the water situation.

The governor voiced confidence that the current water reserve is enough for use during the time of drought or even for the rest of the year, while asking farmers to strictly follow instructions from responsible agencies.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry said it has put in place measures to deal with drought impact on the agricultural sector with a focus on water management, the growing of cash crops or crops that consume less water and artificial rain projects.

Thirty aircraft have been prepared for use in rainmaking.

The whole fleet can be divided into eight units which can be extended to eleven in order to cover wider areas.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

[webfact]

Suthep orders police inspection on palm oil sales

BANGKOK, 2 March 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has assigned the police to inspect sales of palm oil, stressing that anyone buying for reselling will be prosecuted immediately.

Speaking in his capacity as the oil palm policy panel chairperson, the deputy prime minister stated that people can notify the police at once any irregularities in palm oil distribution. He said palm oil produced after 22 February 2011 must be sold at not more than 47 baht per liter.

Mr Suthep’s order follows recent news footage showing traders in Phitsanulok province were scrambling for palm oil as a new batch of the goods arrived, causing a row on the scene. Mr Suthep remarked that the TV report was advantageous for the government in handling the palm oil issue.

The deputy prime minister however noted that national police chief Police General Wichean Potephosree had assigned local police to inspect if anyone was buying palm oil for reselling. He stressed that those engaging in such a practice would be prosecuted immediately.

As for solutions to solve future palm oil shortage, Mr Suthep said palm oil stock will be checked every 15 days, and the national oil palm policy panel will constantly meet to monitor and assess the situation closely.

Regarding other expensive commodities, the deputy prime minister said the Ministry of Commerce was taking care of the problem. He also voiced no concerns if the price issue would affect the popularity of his Democrat Party.

-- NNT 2011-03-02

[webfact]

Police active to inspect palm oil distribution

BANGKOK, 2 March 2011 (NNT) – Police nationwide have been instructed to visit and inspect grocery stores in their localities in a bid to prevent overpriced palm oil selling.

According to Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri, the police commissioner-general Police General Wichean Potephosree has conveyed the government’s policy to cap the palm oil price at 47 baht per 1-liter bottle. He also stressed that the police would prosecute anyone buying palm oil for reselling.

Police Major General Prawut pointed out that the Consumer Protection Police Division will be the main unit in coordinating with others for efficient operations. Moreover, he said Police General Wichean had ordered the intelligence unit to inspect sources of palm oil hoarding.

All relevant information and complaints can be made via an emergency line of the National Police Headquarters at 1135.

-- NNT 2011-03-02

[webfact]

Cheap Palm Oil Stirs Buying Frenzy

Locals in Phitsanulok province frantically flocked to supermarkets seeking the first opportunity to purchase the first lot of cheap palm oil which flew off the shelves in less than 30 seconds.

As soon as Tesco Lotus supermarket staff finished shelving the first lot of 50 cases of palm oil, commotion erupted as locals frantically tried to grab every bottle which disappeared in less than 30 seconds.

Push came to shove among customers when supermarket staff brought out another 50 cases which also rapidly flew off the shelves as yesterday marked the first day when the public were able to purchase an unlimited amount of palm oil.

After the frenzy subsided, cleaners were brought in to clean up the aisles which were littered with broken glass and bottles.

It was reported that the 200 cases of palm oil distributed were blue-cap bottles produced since February 19 and Phitsanulok Internal Trade Office stated the pink-cap bottles are expected to be distributed to the public tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in front of Mae Hong Son provincial hall, Governor Kamthorn Thawornsatit, together with Mae Hong Son provincial police chief Police Major General Kasemsan Boonyakan and other related officials, observed the sale of 3,000 blue-cap palm oil bottles to the public who were restricted to two bottles each.

Earlier yesterday, a Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, team led by Anusorn Mukdasanit traveled to the Lotus supermarket product distribution center in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district to investigate palm oil stocking.

The DSI team did not find any irregularity as they found pink-cap palm oil bottles in storage while blue-cap bottles had been shipped and distributed to the public.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-02

[webfact]

Appeal Filed For 2 Thais Jailed In Cambodia

Follow this link:

[webfact]

High oil prices will cut airline industry profits by nearly half this year to $8.6 billion: IATA /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai doctors develop new test kit for HIV drug resistance testing

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Na-Jomtien Police arrest serial thief

Follow this link:

[webfact]

HM the King leaves Siriraj to view Chao Phya River from hospital's pier http://yfrog.com/h6qc2gcj http://yfrog.com/gz47vwrj /via@tukky_nt

[webfact]

REUTERSFLASH: Libyan leader Gaddafi says numbers of people, police deaths exaggerated, no more than 150 killed in unrest

REUTERSFLASH: Libyan leader #Gaddafi says correspondents and media present in #Libya were sending news that was wrong

[webfact]

Finnish tourist found dead in Phuket room

Rescue workers remove Mr Lindberg's body from the room.

Police believe he died about four days before his body was found.

Photo: Sampawat Wannasangkam

Follow this link:

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Thursday 3 March