Thailand Live Friday 4 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 4 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 Thursday 3 Mar 2011

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Rainmaking starts in drought-stricken North

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Royal Rainmaking Center for the North has begun cloud seeding operations throughout the region in order to alleviate drought and increase water levels in reservoirs.

Chief of the Royal Rainmaking Center for the North Song Klinprathum stated that artificial rainmaking operations had kicked off since 1 March and would continue until October. Twelve out of the fifteen northern provinces under the center’s responsibility, except Chiang Mai, Phichit and Mae Hong Son, have already been declared drought disaster zones, covering millions of rai of farmland.

Two aircraft, each with a capacity to carry 1,200 kilograms of hygroscopic particles, are being used in the rainmaking operations in the North. Areas to receive special attention include Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae and Nan provinces, where the dry conditions have reached a critical level.

At present, water in major dams in the northern region is still at normal levels and is expected to be adequate for consumption and agriculture this year, thanks to abundant rainfalls late last year. However, if artificial rain is needed in any area, related agencies can contact the Royal Rainmaking Center at telephone number 053-275051.

-- NNT 2011-03-04

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Smart cards to be available on 11 March

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Ministry of Interior will release the first batch of 300,000 smart identity cards on 11 March while aiming to provide the new cards to all citizens within May.

After the Interior Ministry had approved the appearance of the new smart ID cards produced by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul reported that the first lot of 300,000 cards would be distributed by the Department of Provincial Administration on 11 March. However, the cards will be allocated to about 200 districts in remote areas before others.

Out of 4 million Thai people now carrying the yellow substitute ID cards, 1.5 million are expected to receive their smart cards within this month while another 1.5 million will likely follow suit in April. The Interior Ministry aims to provide all of them with the new cards no later than May.

In addition, the Ministry asked for cooperation from the public not to flock to district offices to apply for the new ID cards once they are available. Instead, they should do so gradually to avoid inconvenience.

-- NNT 2011-03-04

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Thai Mystery Hotel Death Toll Jumps To Four

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Drunk Russian Couple Caught In The Act; Sex On The Beach In Pattaya

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Govt Urges Opposition And Thaksin To Stop Fomenting Political Unrest

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Local Thai Politicians Killed Over Suspected Political Conflicts

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AFP: Thai police probe multiple hotel deaths

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Medics ready for monk's funeral

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Illegal cosmetics makers face tougher sentences

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Thai FM Korn not in favour of continuing diesel price ceiling

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Map ta phut residents demand resolution of conflict

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King's 'friend in Sai Buri' very ill

By The Nation

Wadeng Puteh, 95, the "friend of His Majesty the King from Sai Buri", is critically ill but still conscious.

He was admitted to Prince of Songkhla Nakarin Hospital on Sunday for kidney failure and heart problems. Though he can still talk, he tires easily.

Pattani Governor Nipon Narapitakkul said yesterday that he was speaking to Wadeng's family about transferring this famous man to the provincial capital. "He's widely respected and people want to visit him," he said.

After meeting Wadeng in 1992, His Majesty granted the man an audience when visiting Pattani's Sai Buri district. The Sai Buri resident always made it a point to present fruit to the muchbeloved monarch.

-- The Nation 2011-03-04

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Stop using Thai children in deep South security operations, report urges

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Abhisit vows to look into power project

By The Nation

A civil network from Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to demand that all plans to construct a coalfired power plant in their home town be scrapped.

Representatives of the network voiced their concerns when Abhisit showed up at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) to attend a seminar on the empowerment of local communities. The representatives said that setting up a coalfired power plant would destroy the local environment, culture and residents' health.

The network also presented 10,000 signatures to prove that they had full support from the local residents. "Before the government goes ahead with development projects, it should listen to all parties concerned," a representative said.

He said the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) planned to construct an 800megawatt power plant in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Tha Sala and Hua Sai districts.

After listening to the complaints, Abhisit promised to raise the issue with relevant authorities.

"As far as I know, Egat has set up information centres in the two districts to educate people about the need to construct power plants," the prime minister said.

He also assured the people that Egat had not made a final decision on the location of the power plant. At the seminar, Abhisit said his government would encourage public participation, as well as empower local bodies and communities.

-- The Nation 2011-03-04

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Cambodia says it is ready for observers as Thailand dithers

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Thailand misses equality target

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Chalerm: Censure lacks substance to justify 4-day debate

By THE NATION

Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobam-rung yesterday admitted that the upcoming censure lacked the substance to justify a four-day debate and voiced concern that the coalition government might upstage the opposition.

"I believe a lengthy censure debate will be advantageous for the coalition because public interest will start waning," he said.

Chalerm added that the Democrats were known for their knowledge of House rules and they could easily turn the tables on the opposition.

Of the 66 hours allotted for the debate, the 10 people targeted will have 20 hours for rebuttal, while coalition lawmakers will have six hours to protest against the opposition's speeches.

As for his role in the debate, he said he expected to grill the government on the fourth and final day of the debate and cover points overlooked by other members of the opposition.

He said his grilling would focus on issues like the 3G contracts for mobile-phone operators, the issuing of smart identification cards and the construction contracts for the BTS Blue Line. Though Pheu Thai MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan has his own style in leading the censure, Chalerm said the opposition should spend no more than two hours each when grilling the targeted lawmakers in order to maintain the undivided attention of the audience.

He said he did not believe that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban should be censured, because the two were good orators and would easily outshine the opposition in the debate.

He said the only way Pheu Thai could wrest power from Abhisit was by showcasing the achievements of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As for the possibility of a snap election, he said Abhisit would try to cling to power for as long as possible.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party's deputy spokesman, Warong Dejkitvikrom, said yesterday that the documents handed in by Pheu Thai party for the censure debate were incomplete. Therefore, the censure debate, scheduled for March 9-12 might end up getting delayed by a week.

If House Speaker Chai Chidchob fails to add the debate to the Parliament's official agenda today, then it is likely that the debate will end up getting postponed, he reiterated.

-- The Nation 2011-03-04

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No Thais dead in Libyan unrest, says Chalermchai

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Poor global support hinders education

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Financial contributions to the "education for all" (EFA) initiative have not matched expectations, though international members have been encouraged to support it for its first 20 years.

EFA was launched with the Jomtien Declaration in Thailand in 1990 by a broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies to bring the benefits of education to "every citizen in every society".

Yesterday, Kim Gwangjo, director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Bangkok, said lack of financial support continued to hinder the achievement of EFA goals.

In 20072008, only six countries accounted for 62 per cent of aid for basic education. If all donors allocated at least half of their total education aid to basic education, they could mobilise another US$1.7 billion (Bt51 billion) annually, he said.

Kim said resources were required to improve EFA, not only financially, but also in terms of leadership and commitment.

Nevertheless, the initiative has a number of achievements, he said. They included an increase in the number of students and an increase in recognising the importance of including marginalised groups.

To reflect on its achievements and areas requiring action, the 10th EFA HighLevel Group Meeting will be held at Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya from March 2224.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat told the media yesterday.

Kim said the declaration reaffirmed education as a fundamental right and urged countries to intensify efforts to address the basic learning needs of all. Ten years after Jomtien, a global meeting was held to renew commitment to EFA in Senegal, in which the international community reaffirmed its vision of EFA through the Dakar Framework for Action.

It set six major goals to achieve quality education for all by 2015 covering early childhood care and education, primary education, life skills and lifelong learning, literacy, gender equity and quality education.

The Pattaya meeting will be attended by education policy makers from 45 member countries to discuss how to achieve its goals.

Kim said he expected a renewed commitment. "We need to focus on the tasks ahead with a renewed sense of urgency. We only have four years."

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said he hoped members would exchange knowledge, research and teaching provisions, and use ICT to improve education.

-- The Nation 2011-03-04

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Father fights for son's test scores

By Kesinee Taengkhio

The Nation

The father of a Triam Udom Suksa School student yesterday petitioned the Administrative Court to order the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools to release the boy's exam scores for two subjects, which were withheld as punishment for his cell phone disturbing other testtakers.

Suksan Srithaneskul insisted that his son Panon, a Mathayom 6 student, didn't violate the exam regulations because he turned off his mobile phone and left it outside the exam room, even though its alarm rang.

He said that if the consortium won't announce the scores in the Thai language and social studies exams, the boy would lose the chance to study at Pra Mongkut Medical College.

He said he had submitted a letter to the consortium about this case but there was little progress so he filed the complaint to the court because the medical school's physical exam and personal interview were already taking place until Thursday.

Dr Boonmee Sathapattayawong, chairwoman of the 2011 admission exam subcommittee, said this case was proceeding according to regulations, which were made known to all testtakers in advance. They must turn off their cell phone, remove the battery and leave the device with the test supervisors, she said.

The Administrative Court will issue its ruling at 10am today on another petition filed by two Mathayom 6 girls trying to get into Ramathibodi Medical College. The consortium had deprived them of the right to take the entrance exams because they attached four photos instead of the required five with their applications.

Hassavut Vititviriyakul, president of the Supreme Administrative Court, reported yesterday on the occasion of the court's 10th anniversary on March 9 that the court had taken on 63,148 cases from its establishment until January 31, of which 48,698 were closed and 14,098 were pending trial.

Most of the disputes concerned staff management and discipline at 16,054 cases, followed by land expropriation, violations and other responsibilities at 12,012 cases.

He vowed to improve the court's operations to speed up the workflow and elevate its standards to international quality, so the institution would be reliable as a pillar of the nation.

-- The Nation 2011-03-04

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Trial of former Soviet military officer Viktor Bout is delayed until October

Trial of former Soviet military officer Viktor Bout, popularly known as "Merchant of Death," charged with trying to sell weapons to terrorist group is delayed until October after his new lawyers asked for additional time to prepare their case

-- TNA 2011-03-04

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ADT predicts full recovery of Thai tourism if politics remains calm

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) has forecast that the Thai tourism sector will fully recover this year, provided that there is no political turmoil.

As a continuation of the 8th Thai International Travel Fair last week, which was a tremendous success, ADT President Maiyarat Pheerayakoses said the association had decided to join hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and other partners in organizing the 21st Thai Travel Expo from today to 6 March at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

According to the President, a large number of participants have made reservations for tour packages on the first day of the event, which signaled that their purchasing power as well as the tourism industry had not been affected much by economic problems, including the surging oil price.

However, politics will continue to have direct effects on tourism. Ms Maiyarat projected that if Thailand managed to stay free of political chaos this year, tourism businesses would definitely return to normal.

-- NNT 2011-03-04

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Bank of Thailand warns of negative impact of extended diesel subsidy

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PM holds video conference with provincial governors, ordering stricter measures against drug trafficking /TAN_Network

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5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks south Philippines, collapsing house walls; residents flee - AP /via@BreakingNews

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 995.48, up 5.40 points /MCOT

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Deputy PM Denies Govt Interference in Investigation into Japanese Reporter's Death

The deputy prime minister in charge of national security has insisted that there is no attempt from the government to interfere with the investigation into the death of Reuters' Japanese cameraman in the political unrest last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has indicated there is still some discrepancy in the investigation report on the death of Hiroyuki Muramoto, Reuters' Japanese cameraman killed on April 10 during last year's red-shirt rally.

To avoid any mistake, Suthep said the report must be backed by evidence and forensics.

He denied that there is any attempt from the government to interfere with the investigation and reaffirmed that the Department of Special Investigation is not subservient to the administration.

Meanwhile, the forensics team working on the case testified to the House Military Affairs Committee that they have only been able to determine the path of the bullet from the autopsy.

The team said it lacked crucial evidence to determine even the simple fact of the exact location of Muramoto's death.

At the same time, NanMP for the Pheu Thai Party, Doctor Cholnant Srikaew, who participated in the autopsy of Muramoto's body, pointed out that the Japanese reporter was killed by a high velocity bullet, however its exact type could not be determined.

Cholnant would like the committee to summon a weapons expert to testify for the investigation.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-04

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National Energy Policy Committee approves use of State Oil Fund to subsidise diesel at 50 satang/litre; current balance available before end of March /MCOT