Thailand Live Friday 11 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 11 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 10 Mar 2011

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Oil prices in Thailand cheaper than neighbors

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Domestic retail oil prices in Thailand remain cheaper than other countries in ASEAN, except Malaysia, which has been implementing a price subsidy policy, making it the only country in the region where oil prices are cheaper than Thailand.

According to Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Director Viraphol Jirapraditkul, retail oil prices in Thailand are cheaper than many neighboring countries, especially that of diesel, despite sporadic price adjustments following global price hikes.

Malaysia is the only country in ASEAN selling oil products at cheap prices since the Malaysian government has been implementing the price subsidy policy while Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have been adjusting oil prices up in line with the global market.

Benzene 95 and diesel prices in Malaysia now stand at 1.9 Malaysian ringgits (about 0.63 US dollars or 18.9 Thai baht) and 1.8 Malaysian ringgits (about 0.6 US dollars or 18 Thai baht) respectively.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has increased benzene and diesel prices by 18% since mid-February following the global oil price hike, making fuel price in Vietnam a record high.

-- NNT 2011-03-11

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House Speaker Prefers 3 Days for Censure Debate

The House speaker remains unsure if he will approve four days for the censure debate, given the decision depends on the number of MPs taking the House floor and the issues to be raised.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said he still has no plan to make any change in the proposed three days for the no-confidence debate between March 15 and 17 although the government and opposition whips have agreed to extend the duration by a day to March 18.

Chai said he has no objection to the extension, but approval for the matter must mainly depend on the substance of the debate and the number of MPs taking the House's floor, which currently stands at 119.

Regarding his Bhum Jai Thai Party's planned lunch meeting with Chat Thai Pattana on March 14, Chai said he could not give any detail about it as he is not the party's senior executive, but suggested it could be for their preparation ahead of the election expected to take place this year.

Chai went on to say he was unsure if he will run in the next poll, given his age.

Transport Minister Sopon Sarum, as a key figure of Bhum Jai Thai, said no particular issue will be raised at his party's meeting with Chat Thai Pattana and the two parties will not make any deal for the election.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP chief Chalerm Yoobumrung said he agreed with the government and opposition whips' plan to seek four days for the censure debate, but there should only be two or three key issues that are discussed.

Chalerm said he was unsure if he will take the House floor and he has yet to meet with the Opposition's debate team leader Mingkwan Saengsuwan.

Chalerm remarked he has already prepared information for the debate and is ready to provide it to the debate team, if requested.

He remarked it is time for his Pheu Thai Party to come up with campaign policies.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-11

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Jatuporn Claims Validity Of VDO Clip To Be Revealed In Censure Debate

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Road Safety Plans In Store For Songkran Festival

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60-Year Old Swiss National Found Hanged In Pattaya

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PM Abhisit Dismisses Chance Of Military Coup

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DSI Chief Fears Prolonged Red-Shirt Rally, Violence: Bangkok

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3 Thais On Forbes Billionaires 2011 List

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Thai Council to look into doctors' role in surrogate mothers scam

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Thai Democrat party scouts social networks for new leaders

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Police seek PAD prosecution over 2008 disturbances

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BMA set to open Sanam Luang

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Britain to crackdown on UK child-abuse offenders in Thailand

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Censure debate dwarfed by loomIng Thailand polls

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Last group of workers from Libya to return soon

By The Nation

Of the 12,975 Thais registered to work in Libya, 7,975 have already returned home and all of the remaining 5,000 are expected to arrive within a week.

Chawanont Intharakomalsut, secretary to the foreign minister, said yesterday that the actual number of workers was much less than the 23,600 reported in the news. Only 201 Thai workers were still stranded in Libya, while 1,488 have fled to Tunisia and 2,339 to Egypt, Malta and Greece.

In a ceremony to distribute the Bt15,000 cheques yesterday, 14 showed up from the first group of 16 returnees - all residents of the Korat area in Nakhon Ratchasima. The provincial labour office said 655 members of a government labour fund had applied for the Bt15,000, and verification of their documents was underway.

Office chief Saengngern Khaolikhit said most of them wanted to seek jobs in Thailand rather than go overseas.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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UN, Thailand expand scope of disaster fund

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New guidelines for temple joss sticks

By The Nation

The Public Health Ministry yesterday issued new guidelines on the use of joss sticks after HRH Princess Chulabhorn informed them about a study by the Chulabhorn Research Institute about jossstick smoke being carcinogenic.

The guidelines recommend avoiding lighting joss sticks in poorly ventilated places, using short joss sticks and putting them out quickly.

Also recommended was for temple staff to avoid prolonged exposure to jossstick smoke, to wash their hands and faces after handling joss sticks and to have a physical examination every year.

The 2008 study found abovestandard quantities of three carcinogens at temples in Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said. The amount of benzene was 53 times higher than standard, butadiene 33 times and benzopyrene 10 times, which could cause lung, skin and bladder cancers as well as leukaemia, Jurin said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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Residents complain of 'polluting' shipyard

By Kanpinat Sathirakul

The Nation

Residents of tambon Pakklong Bang Plakod in Samut Prakan's Phra Samut Chedi district yesterday complained to The Nation that a shipyard on the Chao Phraya River had created noise, air and water pollution for more than a decade, causing people to have allergic reactions. Meanwhile state agencies have turned a blind eye to what is going on, they charged.

A resident in his 30s who asked not to be named said the shipyard, whose proximity to the ancient site of Phra Samut Chedi should make its metalcutting business inapฌpropriate or even illegal, also dumped used oil into the river.

He said residents had united to file complaints to relatฌed agencies - including the provincial industrial office, police, and the Marine Department - against the shipyard but these agencies did nothing.

"For nearly a decade I have had to bear for eight hours a day the noises of backhoe machines and clanking metal and the smell of gas floating to my home as well as oil stains on the river surface. Three children in my home have develฌoped allergies," he lamented.

The Nation's inspection of the area and photographs preฌsented by the residents showed that the shipyard stood next to the Phra Samut Chedi and its shipbreaking activities were conducted on the Chao Phraya River.

The Marine Department said the issue did not fall withฌin its responsibilities, but was a matter for the provincial industrial office.

However, the department cooperated by sending a boat to inspect the waterfront near the shipyard, which covers about a rai (1,600 square metres) of riverbank. The yard had also dug a waterway into its property to bring boats inside, while some parts of the boats protruded to the riverฌfront.

Kittichai Duangmal, a lecturer at Kasetsart University's School of Environment, said this case involved many state agencies. It should be determined whether the shipyard had obtained a permit from the Department of Industrial Works and whether its digging of a waterway had been approved by the Marine Department. Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department could inspect the water quality, Kittichai said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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HM the Queen aids injured monk, novice

By The Nation

Her Majesty the Queen has graciously taken a monk and novice, seriously injured in a gun attack in Pattani on Saturday, under her patronage.

Buddhism Office of Pattani director Thirachit Bovornnanthiwat said yesterday that Phra Suchart Inthankaew, 36, who is being treated at Songkhla Nakarin Hospital in Hat Yai, was stable. However, his lower half is paralysed because he was shot in the spine.

The 16yearold novice, Sakol Semsan, being treated at Pattani Provincial Hospital, is also recovering, he said. His mother, Nareumon, said she was very grateful to Her Majesty.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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NHRC TO fight students' CASES

By The Nation

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday vowed to continue helping two medicalstudent hopefuls in their legal battle after they lost the right to compete for places at medical schools.

"We will fight these cases because we want to set a precedent," NHRC commissioner Parinya Sirisarakarn said.

One of them, Saranya Jannamwrong, was initially barred from sitting the entrance exams held by the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools (Cotmes) because she failed to include enough photos of herself in the application.

The other student was Panon Srithanessakul. Cotmes initially resolved not to evaluate Panon's exam papers in the Thai language and socialstudy subjects because he brought his cellphone to the exam room. He did not answer his phone there but failed to turn it off.

In Saranya's case, the Central Administrative Court earlier issued an injunction to let her sit the exams. However, the court last Friday dropped her case, ruling she had failed to include photos as required by Cotmes.

Parinya felt Saranya's rights were violated and plans to appeal. However, Saranya's scores are not high enough to secure a seat at a medical school.

In Panon's case, Parinya said the court ordered Cotmes to evaluate the boy's exam paper. Cotmes yesterday agreed to follow the ruling but said it would have to determine all legal aspects because there were 14 cases in which students brought their cellphones into exam room.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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Police close in on South car bomb suspect

By The Nation

Police yesterday secured a courtapproved arrest warrant for one of the alleged suspects involved in Monday's car bomb, which injured two victims and damaged 14 vehicles at a policeflat site in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district.

Police have refused to release the name of the suspect, but say he has been involved in many violent incidents in the deep South. He is not a native of Narathiwat.

A sketch of the suspect has already been circulated among police stations in the three southernmost provinces. These stations are expected to pass on copies of the sketch to all security officials involved in a bid to nail him down.

The violence level has been seriously rising in Narathiwat during the past five months.

"The number of violent incidents has increased by 40 per cent over the period," Deputy National Police Commissioner General Adul Saengsingkaew said yesterday.

He said given such scale of violence, it was necessary to launch a probe into Narathiwat police chief Maj General Chaitat Intanujit's performance.

Chaitat has now been transferred out of the area. Pol Maj General Yongyut Charoenwanich, deputy head of Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre (SBPPOC), will be serving as acting Narathiwat police chief for the time being.

Another SBPPOC deputy head, Pol Maj General Surapong Khemasing, heads the probe against Chaitat.

Although the violence was clearly intensifying in Narathiwat, he believed the overall unrest situation was not bad.

"Relevant officials are also working hard. We believe we should be able to improve the situation," Surapong said.

Deputy Narathiwat Governor Dejrat Simsiri said he would review carinsurance policies of people and policemen whose vehicles were damaged in the Monday's car bomb.

Insurance companies have now refused to pay compensation.

"If the policies really don't cover such cases, we will look for other remedial actions for those affected," Dejrat said. Of the 14 vehicles damaged, three had been bought only recently.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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Street-protest bill passes its first House reading

By The Nation

The public gathering bill passed its first reading in the House of Representatives yesterday in a 229-85 vote.

The government-sponsored law is expected to help the police better control street demonstrations. Protests have become more frequent and have caused trouble for commuters and nearby residents due to street blockades.

Draft provisions include a ban on setting up rally sites on the streets and a mandatory requirement for police permission ahead of any public demonstrations.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday boycotted the vetting of the bill ahead of the second and third readings.

Senior Pheu Thai MP Sunai Jullapongsathorn said that his party decided not to become a part of the vetting committee because it viewed the law as "dictatorial".

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban responded that the new legislation was aimed at protecting people's rights, adding that the present government had never harmed the people.

Another Pheu Thai MP protested Suthep's claim, pointing to the 91 deaths occurring during last year's political turmoil. Suthep said that during next week's censure debate he would produce pictures "to show who killed the people" with AK-47 assault rifles.

The 26-member vetting committee was later established without any Pheu Thai MPs taking part. The panel is required to complete its task within seven days. Proposed by the Cabinet, the bill cites the need to protect the right of members of the public to use public places conveniently. The bill says the new law is intended to deal with "any public gathering aimed at supporting or opposing certain viewpoints and calling for action to meet the protesters' demands".

It does not cover royal or state functions, or public assemblies for the purposes of religion, culture, entertainment, education, sport, or trade. Public gatherings as part of election campaigning are not covered by the proposed law.

The organiser of any public assembly such as described in the proposed legislation is required to inform the local police or other authorised officials at least 72 hours before holding the gathering. The protest site must not block access to important places, such as a palace, Parliament, Government House, court, airport, transport station, hospital, school or embassy.

Organisers of any public protest at which participants carry weapons, damage other people's property, or physically assault others are liable to up to six months in jail and a fine of Bt10,000.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11

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Red-shirt fugitive Adisorn returns

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AFP: Arab revolts 're-energise' Thailand's Red Shirts - Interview with Nattawut

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Opposition's tapes on riots show nothing new: Sirichok

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,011.29, down 7.93 points /MCOT

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30,000 red shirt supporters expected in Bangkok on 12 March rally

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AFP: African elephants victims of Thai trafficking

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