Thailand Live Monday 14 Mar 2011

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Thailand sending medical team Tuesday to aid Japan quake victims

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Gold shop in Sungaikolok, Narathiwat robbed; 2 shot dead and 4 injured by robbers /TAN_Network

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Censure debate to begin 10 am Tuesday

The censure debate against the Abhisit government will start at10 am Tuesday, Parliament President Chai Chidchob said Monday.

He said the debate could continue until 2 am or 3 am of the following day.

-- The Nation 2011-03-14

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Phuket Taxi Fares: Motorcycle meters on tap

FARE PLAY: Developers hope the meters, which also monitor driving,

will reduce accidents.

The meters are reportedly tamper-proof and weather-proof.

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Police withdraw from PAD protest site

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Revenue Dept Urges Thais to File Tax Returns

The Revenue Department is warning tax payers that there are only three weeks remaining to file for personal income tax returns.

Revenue Department Deputy Director-General Jitmanee Suwannapool said that Thai citizens have only three weeks remaining to file their annual personal income tax returns for 2010.

The deadline is on March 31.

The Revenue Department is concerned that the majority of the people will file for PND 90 and 91 in the final week before the deadline, which may clog up services.

The department is urging the public to promptly file their tax returns to enjoy faster returns.

According to data from January 1 to March 2, 767,000 PND 90 forms and 2.48 million PND 91 forms have been submitted.

However, the Revenue Department calculated that there are still a large number of tax payers who have not filed their tax returns.

The Thai Life Assurance Association has notified individuals who signed pension insurance contracts last year to ask insurance companies for the necessary documents to obtain tax reductions on their pension contracts of no more than 200,000 baht, and 100,000 baht for other forms of insurance.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-14

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UTTC: Japan Quake Expected to Have Short-term Impact on Thai Economy

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Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong, who is still on the run, posted a video on Youtube, saying he has not been arrested in Poipet and will turn himself in after the House dissolution /TAN_Network

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Engineering Institute Urges Thai Govt to Take Heed of Earthquake in Japan

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2 policemen slightly injured in failed operation to remove protesters' toilets

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Deputy PM Suthep worried false evidence produced to attack government

BANGKOK, 14 March 2011 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for Security said he was worried that false evidence could be made against the government regarding the May crackdown last year.

Mr. Suthep, as Secretary-General of the Democrat Party, said the government will argue in the censure debate by referring to the truth only and will not manipulate video footages to gain an upper hand. He said the public could be misled into believing a different story if facts are distorted by the Opposition.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister is confident the Government will be able to clarify in the debate over the prices of rubber and palm oil. He further adds that he does not believe that coalition parties are trying to gain supports from the government in their election campaign in exchange for their votes in the no-confidence debate.

-- NNT 2011-03-14

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Japan was among the 1st nation to assit Thailand during 2004 tsunami and now it's our turn to return favour. /RT @veen_NT

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GRIEVING JAPAN

Chiang Mai and Songkhla extend condolences to Japan

Chiang Mai people and local authorities on Monday extended condolences to Japan, which was hit on Friday by a huge earthquake and tsunami and where tens of thousands of people are feared dead.

The message was conveyed by the province's senior officials to Kazuo Shibata, Japan's consul general in Chiang Mai.

They also submitted a message of condolence to Shibata on behalf of Chiang Mai and the Thai people.

Shibata said Japan is facing the most tragic incident in its history, with the number of victims likely to reach 10,000. Everybody is very sorry that the earthquake and tsunami have caused such huge damage to the country and its people.

However, the Japanese people are strong in spirit and are ready to join hands to help the country recover.

"I would like to thank Chiang Mai and the Thai people for their sympathy on the fate of Japan and Japanese people," said Shibata with tears in his eyes.

Meanwhile Boonlert Buranupakorn, chairman of Chiang Mai's Provincial Administration Organisation said that relations between Japan and Chiang Mai date back many years with the two countries cooperating on many aspects including education and culture.

There are about 3,000 Japanese living in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai's local authorities have also set up a centre to solicit donations from locals for affected Japanese.

Meanwhile Hat Yai Post Office in Songkhla launched a campaign urging residents to send postcards to Japan.

The twoday campaign started on Monday.

Many people, students among them, were seen writing postcards of condolence to Japan. The service is free.

The post office will gather the postcards and send them to Japan via the Thai Embassy in Tokyo.

-- The Nation 2011-03-14

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Chat Thai Pattana and Bhum Jai Thai to join hands and help in political work /TAN_Network

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4 fugitive red-shirt leaders surrender

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Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Thai Pattana Parties Announce Post Election Alliance

The leaders of the Bhum Jai Thai and the Chart Thai Pattana parties have held a joint press conference announcing a political alliance after the election.

The two remaining players, the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties will have to battle it out as to who gains the most votes and the cooperation of the two medium size parties.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-14

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Govt Insists on Reclaiming Protest Site for Red Cross Fair

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PAD Protest Group Warns Police against Crackdown

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2 killed, 4 injured in robbery of 2 Narathiwat gold shops

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Malaysia says it canes nearly 30,000 foreigners since 2005, revelation that draws condemnation from rights groups who demand end to "barbaric" practice /MCOT

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JETRO: Bt400 bln investment by Japanese industry in Thailand in 2011 continues despite devastating earthquake, tsunami /MCOT

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JAPAN QUAKE

Thai travellers assured of compensation

By The Nation

Thai travellers in Japan stand to benefit from their travelling insurance, following the disrupted itinerary, said the Office of Insurance Commission.

The insurance coverage will focus on a certain period during the trip. The main risk coverage of the policy includes loss of life or loss of any part of body. In case of injuries, the actual medical cost will be footed.

Chantra Purnariksha, director-general of the office, said the earthquake in Japan will directly hit both Japanese insurers and re-insurance companies.

As one a high-risk countries to face natural disasters, the Japanese government in cooperation with its private sector have jointly set up risk distributing fund to ensure compensation of travellers.

-- The Nation 2011-03-14

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SET index closed at 1022.89, up 15.83; Bt/USD30.25; GBP48.49; AUD30.41; EUR42.06; CAD30.98; HKD3.88; SGD23.70; JPY36.58

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Popular Pattaya Pubs raided by local Police and government officials

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Irishman Apprehends Ladyboy Trying To Rob Him

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Calling Japan alumni: meeting 2day at 5.30pm 2 form Friends of Japan Group @ Economics Faculty's 5/Fl, Thammasat /RT @tulsathit: RT @veen_NT:

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Gunfight Leaves Pattani Insurgent Leader Dead

A leader of a local insurgent group in Pattani province has been killed extrajudicially by police after trying to flee a search.

During a Saiburi provincial police patrol in Pattani province, police found six suspicious individuals on the streets of Saiburi district's Korbae Bador Village and asked to search them.

However, one of the six suspects fled into a nearby rubber plantation and fired a nine-millimeter handgun at the pursuing police.

The suspect and police then exchanged gunfire and when the shooting stopped, the suspect was found killed.

The five other suspects were detained for further investigation while the suspect killed was identified as 34 year old Suding Kornae, a local leader of the RKK insurgent group wanted in various security-related cases in Saiburi, Kapor and Tung Yangdaeng districts.

It was also reported that an insurgent group is planning a major retaliation against security forces in Pattani province, possibly a car bomb using a Mitsubishi car after successfully carrying out car bomb attacks in Yala and Narathiwat provinces.

The intelligence report has prompted Pattani provincial police chief Police Major General Pichet Pitisethpan to beef up security at 12 districts with thorough inspection of passing vehicles.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-14

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The JNTO has set up a 24-hour helpline (English/Chinese/Korean) for foreign tourists in Japan: 03-3201-3331 /RT @veen_NT: RT @TimeOutTokyo:

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Suspect Teenage Motorbike Thieves Caught Red-Handed

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Phuket Beach Safety: Why the guards are not there

ABANDONED: One of the empty towers at Phuket's 13 unguarded

tourist beaches. The reason? 'No contract.'

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