Thailand Live Tuesday 8 Mar 2011

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Police office increases guards for PM to prevent anti-govt protesters from getting close to him /TAN_Network

Deputy PM Suthep orders stricter security for 3 southernmost provinces following violent insurgent attacks there /TAN_Network

Cambodian PM Hun Sen says he will enter in multilateral negotiations with Thailand while bilateral meetings will be for econ & tourism /TAN_Network

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Google's Android has surged past Blackberry maker Research in Motion to become leading smartphone platform in US /MCOT

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Three-day censure will do: Phiraphan

By The Nation

The opposition will not scale down the grilling of the government although House Speaker Chai Chidchob has cut the censure from four to three days, Pheu Thai MP Phiraphan Phalusuk said on Tuesday.

The censure is slated to take place next week from Tuesday to Thursday. And the vote on the motion of no confidence will be cast on Friday.

Phiraphan said his main opposition party was obliged to comply with Chai's decision.

"The duration for censure has been scheduled for three days but the opposition will still highlight the topics and grill the government as planned," he said.

He said he was in charge of grilling Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

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Mother of Veera Somkhamkid to meet PM Abhisit Tue afternoon to discuss ways to secure his release from Cambodian jail /NATION

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1008.24, up 5.30 points /MCOT

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Passenger van drivers in Thailand undergo training to increase road safety

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Suthep: Police to regain more areas from PAD

BANGKOK, 8 March 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister overseeing Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has confirmed that security units will press ahead with their mission to regain protest areas from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Speaking about the Monday mission to regain protest areas near Government House, the deputy prime minister complimented police officers for their operational efficiency as they could partially regain the protest areas on Phitsanulok Road.

Mr Suthep then dismissed the criticism of double standards in the government’s treatment towards the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the PAD.

Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai on Monday morning led two companies of police officers to Chamaimaruchet Bridge to remove tents and other barricades belonging to Santi Asok group, a PAD affiliate.

There were small confrontations as PAD protestors tried to prevent officers from regaining the areas; however, no violence was reported upon the success of the mission.

The police commander added that cooperation will be sought from PAD core leaders once again in the middle of this month in order to regain the whole Phitsanulok Road in preparation for the Red Cross Fair 2011.

-- NNT 2011-03-08

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IBANK Prepares 500 Million Baht in Loans to Stimulate Southern Economy

The Islamic Bank of Thailand is prepared to issue 500 million baht in loans for the Muslim garment and clothing industry to stimulate local enterprises in the five southern provinces in keeping with the government policy to create job opportunities for locals there.

The Islamic Bank of Thailand, or Ibank, Managing Director Teerasak Suwanyod has signed an agreement with Thailand Textile Institute to act as the adviser for the Muslim clothing and garment industry development project in five southern provinces.

Teerasak said the loans for the Muslim garment industry is part of the government policy to improve the living standards of local communities in the five southern provinces until 2015.

The planned 12 projects will go to micro-loans for locals in communities facing hardship, and are worth almost 13 billion baht and is expected to allow households in these communities to make at least 120,000 per year.

Ibank has prepared a total of 500 million baht in loans to stimulate the Muslim clothing industry development project and will deduct six percent of the client's profit.

And if the client is part of the project, clients will be able to pay off their loans in installments and the bank will repay up to 4.5 percent of the client's profit each year to help with the government project.

The Ibank managing director believes that more than 2,500 small local enterprises will benefit from the project as it creates a channel for higher revenue and job opportunities and if the clothing produced reaches adequate standards, Muslim clothing can be exported to other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

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Crude prices slip in Asia as US refuses to rule out tapping its oil reserves

Crude prices slip in Asia as US refuses to rule out tapping its oil reserves to ameliorate impact of high oil prices

-- TNA 2011-03-08

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Police to Ask Protesters to Leave Area for Annual Red Cross Fair

The Metropolitan Police Division 1 urged demonstrators to relinquish control of their gathering sites to accommodate the upcoming Red Cross Fair.

Metropolitan Police Division 1 Chief, Police Major General Wichai Sungprapai said that he has had discussions with leaders of the Thai Patriots Network asking them to hand back over their demonstration site in front of the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, as officials need to organize the upcoming Red Cross Fair.

The area along Phitsanulok road and Misakawan junction is currently being occupied by three demonstration groups, including the Thai Patriots Network, the People's Alliance for Democracy, and the farmers.

Wichai said the area is needed to organize the annual Red Cross Fair, which will be held in April.

He admitted that negotiating with the demonstrators is a tough task as all previous proposals have been rejected.

However, he believes that the leaders will understand that the authorities need to enter the area to begin setting up for the fair.

Wichai said he will arrange another talk with the leaders of the demonstrators and ask them to leave the area.

He said the police's attempts to address the problem will depend on the leadership of the protests.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

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Deputy PM Suthep: presence of anti-govt protesters adds to sympathy for PM /TAN_Network

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PM: Palm Oil Distribution May Take Time to Reach Certain Areas

The prime minister has told locals that palm oil is currently being distributed, but that it may take some time to reach certain areas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Internal Trade has started to crack down on overpricing.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has insisted that the government is trying to get the palm oil shortage problem addressed as soon as possible.

However, the premier reported that supplies are currently being distributed to consumers, but that some areas may still experience shortages as the distribution may take time to reach remote areas.

The prime minister also pointed to the recent decrease in biodiesel production as the reason behind rising diesel prices.

At any rate, Abhisit has reaffirmed that the Oil Fund will be able to control fuel prices until April, at which time there will be more palm oil crops to relieve the shortage.

The prime minister has reported that there is about 20 billion baht left in the Oil Fund.

However, after subtracting the outstanding debts, the actual amount is about one billion baht.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, Watcharee Wimuktayont said that the department has started to crack down on vendors who are selling palm oil above the government controlled price of 47 baht per liter as announced by the National Palm Oil Policy Committee.

Watcharee issued a warning to businesses not to take advantage of the opportunity and raise the prices of other goods.

During an inspection, it was found that some major wholesalers in Chachoengsao, Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces have been selling palm oil for between 50 to 55 baht per liter, which is clearly above the government controlled price.

Watcharee said that these businesses will face criminal charges and face a maximum penalty of 7 year prison sentence, a 140,000 baht fine, or both.

The department is trying to ensure that palm oil supplies in the country will reach consumers at a retail price not exceeding 47 baht per liter.

Watcharee has urged the vendors to label palm oil prices clearly and asked consumers to report any shortages by calling the hotline at 1569.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

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International Women's Day

Editorial Desk

The Daily Star

It is exactly a hundred years to the month that the very first International Women's Day (IWD) was launched after Clara Zetkin, Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed the idea of an International Women's Day. At the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910 she suggested that the day, called Women's Day, be celebrated across the world on the same day to press for their demands for better salary, working conditions and other facilities.

Although we have come a long way since 1911, and the UN has been celebrating this day since 1975, one wonders whether the compulsions that had motivated the league of working women to set aside a day in the calendar to draw attention to their plight have been fully addressed, far less met in any fair degree.

We feel that this year's theme, which happens to be the centenary year of the IWD - equal access to education, training, science and technology: pathway to decent work for women - is extremely appropriate and we fully endorse the declaration with the hope that all concerned will do everything that is necessary to pursue the theme to its fullest extent. It is essential to note that bettering the condition of women requires the collective effort of the society and is not the concern of the women alone.

In the context of Bangladesh one cannot overemphasise the possible ill-consequences of continued discrimination against women, of their remaining marginalized in all spheres of their existence, of lack of empowerment that exerts a retrogressive influence on the progress of women. This, regrettably, is happening in a country where the political leadership role is dominated by women. Absence of across-the-board empowerment of women as well as their being deprived of direct participation in decision making and policy formulation cannot be put up with any longer.

As women in our country have a long way to go before taking their rightful place in society, an occasion like Woman's Day can ill-afford to be ritualistic.

-- ANN 2011-03-08

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260 Thai workers from Libya arrive Thailand on Tuesday /MCOT

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BREAKING NEWS: Phuket bus overturns on Patong Hill, many injured

The bus overturned on a curve descending to Patong.

Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Industrial cranes were brought in to clear the wreckage.

Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Buddhism office asks Pattani monks to refrain from morning alms round for 1 month; Bt100 to be distributed to each monk instead /TAN_Network

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AFP: Thailand says southern unrest worsening

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Police Steps Up Security for Premier After Frequent Public Protests

Police has stepped up security for the prime minister, along with many other important figures, following recent mobile protests at many public venues.

Spokesman to the Royal Thai Police, Major General Prawoot Thawornsiri said that police have stepped up security for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva following public harassments over the past few weeks.

He said the goal is to prevent anyone from getting too close to the premier and other important figures.

However, the spokesperson noted that it is very difficult to prevent these types of protests from happening as there are many factors beyond police control.

He used the banners at a Thammasat University meeting last week as an example, saying police officers could not possibly know in advance that anyone would bring such banner into the auditorium.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

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Appeals Court dismisses defamation suit filed by Khunying Pojaman Na Pombejra against former AEC chairman Nam Yimyam /TAN_Network

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AFP: Thai man killed in Brunei crocodile attack

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All Thais should have a new smart card no later than May

BANGKOK, 8 March 2011 (NNT)-The Department of Provincial Administration’s Director General Mr. Mongkol Surasatja explained the delay over the production of the new identification card was due to a process which was taken to embed the IC chip onto the card. He confirmed, however, the next batch of new smart cards will reach the hands of Thai people no later than 11 March 2011.

Mr. Mongkol further said that according to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) the chip embedding process can be done on only 30,000 cards per day. Out of 300,000 cards the ICT gave to the Department of Provincial Administration on 2 March 2011 with the IC chip, 200,000 of them have already been embedded.

While Bangkokians are waiting for their new I.D. cards, people of regional Thailand in over 200 locations are expected to receive them first. The Bureau of Registration Administrations said the ICT will deliver 700,000 new smartcards completed with details to the Department of Provincial Administration on Thursday.

The ICT will reportedly increase the embedding capacity to 80,000 cards per day but it warns that it may cause the machine to malfunction and delay. As for the rest of Thais, who are currently using the A4 sized yellow paper for their I.D, they are expected to receive the smart card in May.

-- NNT 2011-03-08

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Deputy PM Suthep apologizes for police raids on retailers hoarding palm oil

BANGKOK, 8 March 2011 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thuagsuban will convene a meeting at 14.00 hrs today to evaluate the palm oil shortage. Speaking in his capacity as the National Palm Oil Policy Committee Chairperson, Mr. Suthep has apologized to the Thai people over police raids on retailers illegally hoarding palm oil while the product shortage was still imminent.

He said the police operation was necessary to prevent consumers being taken advantage of and to assure there would be enough supply of cooking oil for every household. The meeting with related agencies today will see the evaluation of the current palm oil situation. Mr. Suthep also mentioned the rally of rice farmers that responsible officials would be talking to them soon.

-- NNT 2011-03-08

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Office of National Buddhism Asks Monks in Pattani to Not Take Alms

The Office of National Buddhism has issued an official statment asking Buddhist monks in Pattani Province to stop going on morning alms rounds due to security concerns.

They will be allocated 100 baht per day to buy food, which is normally against Buddhist beliefs.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-08

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BORDER DISPUTE

PM to meet Veera's mother this afternoon

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will meet on Tuesday mother of Veera Somkwamkit jailed in Cambodia on spying and immigration charges.

It is expected that the prime minister will discuss with Wilaiwan how to help Veera who is reportedly very ill. The meeting is scheduled at 2pm.

Veera and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, activists of Thai Patriots Network, were sentenced to jail after being found guilty of spying and illegally entering Cambodia. They and five others including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth were arrested during their inspection trip to a site near Sa Kaew province on December 28 last year.

All were charged of illegal entry while Veera and Ratree faced an additional charge of spying.

Five of the group were freed after the Cambodian court ruled suspended jail term for them, but Veera and Ratree were given jail terms for spying.

It is reported that Veera and Ratree have asked for royal pardon from Cambodia's King Sihamoni. At first they insisted they would appeal the ruling.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

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Pheu Thai calls for probe into Democrat dinner

By The Nation

The Pheu Thai Party on Tuesday lodged a petition calling for probe into the fund-raising dinner organised by the Democrat Party.

The main opposition party said the Election Commission should investigate suspicious campaign contributions solicited at the dinner party.

"Certain donors reportedly have less than Bt1 million earnings but contributed over Bt1 million to the Democrats," Pheu Thai deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said.

Jirayu said he suspected the Democrats might be falsifying their campaign finance in violations of Articles57, 68, 69 and 71 of the Constitution.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

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Appellate decision against Pojaman

By The Nation

The Appeals Court on Tuesday confirmed a lower's court verdict to dismiss the case involving plaintiff Khunying Pojaman Damapong, ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pojaman sued Asset Examination Committee chairman Nam Yimyaem for abuse of power to tarnish her reputation in connection with his probe into the Shinawatra wealth in 2007.

The lower court ruled to throw out the case on the ground that Nam acted within his mandate to remark about his investigation on Pojaman.

The appellate review found that Pojaman sued Nam at the wrong court.

The litigation related to Nam's work was under the purview of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, the high court said.

It also pointed out that Pojaman failed in her appeal to raise legal points to rebut the verdict.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

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Thailand's shameful rejection of human rights

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Red-shirt movement built-up ahead of elections

By The Nation

The red-shirt movement will gear for expanding mass supports in order to sway the outcome of the upcoming elections, red leader Natthawut Saikua said on Tuesday.

"The red shirts will set up their network designed for the elections," he said, hinting at building up the mass movement to support the Pheu Thai Party.

Natthawut said the Saturday's red rally at Democracy Monument would be peaceful. He confirmed he would take part and make rally speech despite his bail condition.

He said he intended to air his political views and not incite any disturbances.

He also said he was in contacts with fugitive red leaders like Arisman Pongruangrong and Suporn Atthawong who he said were preparing to surrender to police.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08

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CAPO bans use of 4 routes around PM's house in Sukhumvit area; security measures tightened to prevent anyone from approaching /MCOT

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CAPO bans unauthorised traffic around PM's home

By The Nation

The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order on Tuesday issued a ban for unauthorised access to roads around the residence of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The ban is designed to rein in protests by the Thai Patriots Network which is protesting the Thai-Cambodian border dispute at Abhisit's home after its rally site at Government House was dismantled.

Access to Abhisit's home via Sukhumvit 31, Sukhumvit 33 and Sukhumvit 39 will be restricted to those authorised motorists.

-- The Nation 2011-03-08