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Thailand Live Thursday 17 March 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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 Wednesday 16 Mar 2011

Posted

Japanese importers still interested in joining TIFF 2011

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Commerce is confident that Japanese entrepreneurs are still keen on importing Thai furniture and will not cancel their attendance to the Thailand International Furniture Fair (TIFF) 2011 following the recent natural disaster.

After presiding over the launch of the TIFF 2011 in Bangkok, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot disclosed that although Japan was suffering from the aftermath of an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a deadly tsunami, most major Japanese importers of Thai furniture had confirmed their participation in the fair. He believed that the quality of Thai products would continue to win over Japanese customers, especially in the wake of the recent catastrophe that had prompted the need for reconstruction and renovation of the affected cities.

Thailand’s export of furniture to Japan in 2010 was valued at 220 million USD and in January this year alone was worth over 20 million USD, a growth of 10 percent. Since the beginning of this year, the exports of Thai furniture have expanded well in Asia, particularly Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and India as well as new markets like China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. For the whole year, the export value of furniture is targeted to reach 1.29 billion USD, higher than last year by 10 percent.

As part of the strategy to propel the Thai furniture industry forward and to gain international recognition for Thai merchandises, the TIFF 2011 reserves the first three days of the fair from 16 to 18 March for trade negotiations only. The fair will be open to the general public during 19-20 March at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC). Up to 34,000 participants are expected.

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-- NNT 2011-03-17 footer_n.gif

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Rubber Export Put on Hold

The government rubber committee has ordered suspension of rubber export due to the price that is not in line with trading nature as the figure should be over 80 baht per kilogram.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security and head of the National Rubber Policy Committee, Suthep Thaugsuban, commented on the panel's decision to halt rubber export, saying that export activities will be suspended until the price stabilizes as it has declined irregularly when compared to the trading nature.

The deputy premier said he has scheduled a meeting with related agencies next Monday to discuss the issue since rubber export must be given special attention as it is one of the country’s biggest earners.

When asked about farmers’ demand for the government to set a 100-baht per kilogram guarantee price, Suthep said that the media must carefully present facts about the issue as when the government started tackling the low rubber price, the figure was set at 80 baht and he felt that 120 baht per kilogram is appropriate.

Suthep added that some areas have seen improvement with rubber price at 90 baht per kilogram and it is expected to continue to gradually improve as retailers and exporters receive loans from commercial banks and will purchase rubber from farmers.

On a speculation that some exporters are trying to hoard rubber, the deputy premier believes it is a misunderstanding among the press due to the price which is not in line with trading nature.

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-- Tan Network 2011-03-17

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Posted

Land-reform policy 'not solving basic problems'

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The nation

The government's reform policy under which it aims to distribute community land-title deeds to more than 200,000 landless people and farmers across the country fails to resolve the fundamental problem, a seminar was told yesterday.

"The community land-title deed is just a licence to own land. It is not a community right to reclaim our land," said Boon Saejung of the Land Reform Network for the South.

He was speaking at a public seminar titled "Building a Fair Land Reform Policy", organised by the National Reform Committee at the Chulabhorn Research Institute.

He said the government had merely issued an announcement by the Prime Minister's Office to allow landless people to own community land-title deeds, instead of giving communities the right to occupy their own community land, and to sell it. This in effect resulted in a deadlock.

"No state agency will follow this announcement, as it has no legal force," he said.

To resolve the problem in the long term, the government should introduce reform that would give genuine community land rights to people, rather than just allowing them to use the land, said Permsak Makarapirom of the National Reform Committee.

He said the government also should transfer power to local organisations, giving them the authority to issue community land-title deeds and resolve land problems for local people.

"The government should not do anything itself. Just give the power to the people and they can then resolve their problems on their own," he added.

Moreover, regarding last week's move by the government to ask state agencies to sign a memorandum of understanding to resolve land problems, Permsak said this was just a political game and represented a failure by the government to force the agencies to follow its policy.

He pointed at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in particular, whose standpoint he said was against the principle of granting community title deeds to the landless.

Hemmaraj Lopnongbua of the Land Reform Network for Northeastern provinces said the government had set up a land bank as a financial resource to purchase plots from landlords or rich landowners with large holdings, so that they could be reallocated to landless people.

However, it has provided just Bt167 million to support the purchase fund in the North, which is insufficient for it to have a marked effect, he said.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-17

Posted

List of nominees for appointed senatorial positions ready

By The Nation

A total of 658 people have been nominated for the posts of appointed senators, Election Commission secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn said yesterday.

The nominations came from 671 organisations, with some of them choosing the same people. Of the organisations, 99 are from the academic sector, 86 from the public sector, 212 from the private sector, 113 from the professional sector and 161 from other sectors.

The law allows non-profit organisations that have been registered in Thailand for at least three years and have no political connections to nominate people for the job of an appointed senator.

The list of nominations will be forwarded to the Senators Selection Committee, which will decide on the best candidates within 30 days. The selection panel has six working groups to conduct an in-depth scrutiny of the nominees' backgrounds.

Suthiphon yesterday asked people who have additional information on the nominees - whose names are listed on the EC website www.ect.go.th - to report it by calling 1171 or writing to the EC office.

The Senators Selection Committee consists of the Constitutional Court president, the Election Commission chairman, the State Audit Commission chairman, a senior Supreme Court judge and a senior Supreme Administrative Court judge.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-17

Posted

Court rejects DSI plea to revoke bail

By The Nation

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday filed a petition to revoke bail for seven red-shirt leaders on grounds they violated conditions by getting involved in Saturday's rally.

However, the Criminal Court rejected the petition, saying the mandate to seek a review of the bail rested with public prosecutors, not the DSI.

The petition contended that the seven had delivered speeches that were critical of law-enforcement agencies and that they were acting in defiance of the court's ban against joining a public assembly.

The rally was meant to disturb peace and block traffic, and the seven men's involvement would lead to a repeat of the disruption of normalcy in society, the petition said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban dismissed allegations the government might have something to do with the petition, saying that DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith was doing his job without any prejudice.

"I believe the DSI has its own justification for opposing bail," he said, ruling out concerns about bullying tactics and saying the court would not have launched a hearing if it thought the petition was unjustified.

In a separate development, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong has returned to his hometown in Nakhon Ratchasima following his release. After being on the run for a year, Suporn surrendered to the DSI on Monday to face charges in connection with last year's riots.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-17

Posted

Plan for canal barriers to stop encroachment on forest dropped

By Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

The Royal Forest Department has backed off from a proposal to form a ring of canals around each forest reserve as a means of preventing encroachment, following criticism from the media and villagers.

A large number of questions had poured in after the idea was made public, director-general Suwit Rattanamanee said yesterday.

"I explained that it was a simple solution to prevent encroachment, [whether encroachment is] through plantation by villagers or other means of illegal acquisition. But there will be no problem, as the feedback shows that society has not yet accepted the idea, besides which there is no budget available to fund the proposal," he said.

Suwit floated another possible solution to the problem, namely hiring prospective encroachers to guard against further inroads in exchange for small plots for individual farming and plantation, and a small annual wage.

"I have spoken to villagers and they said they could go along with such an idea. We may seek funding through sponsorship from large businesses in the form of their corporate social responsibility schemes," he added.

MP Naris Khamnurak, deputy head of the House committee on natural resources and the environment, said the canal-network barrier idea was a viable solution, but it could not be adopted in all types of forest due to their differing landscapes.

He said the House panel would rather support the building of similar barriers surrounding wildlife reserves, while villagers' use of forest reserves should not be strictly restricted, as they should be allowed to exploit them moderately and lawfully, such as letting their cattle graze in such areas.

Somphot Srikosamart, a Mahidol University lecturer, said he supported the use of friendly local communities as barriers, while as a secondary option he saw benefit in turning prospective encroachers into protectors - an idea proposed long ago by late environmental activist Sueb Nakkasathien.

He said Sueb's idea was based on trust and a good relationship between authorities and the local public, and could be further developed into other types of cooperation."Paying villagers to dig canals could create only a short-term relationship, and would not really elicit their willing and substantial participation," he added.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-17

Posted

'Concrete solutions' being sought for Wongsak's return

By The Nation

The interior minister yesterday set up a panel to study legal issues and "find concrete solutions" after an ethics panel's demand that Wongsak Sawasdipanich be reinstated as director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA).

When asked about Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's order for the ministry to heed the panel's call, permanent secretary Wichian Chawalit said: "I did not say I would not comply, but there have to be clear-cut procedures and a way out in accordance with the regulations."

When asked whether Wongsak would be reinstated before he retires in October, Wichian said: "I don't know and cannot tell when he will be reinstated, but no delay tactics will be employed."

In response to questions on whether the incumbent director-general Mongkhol Surasajja would be moved to make way for Wongsak, Wichian said: "We cannot say for now. All orders given by Mongkhol are regarded as valid and may not be voided if he is moved when Wongsak reclaims the post."

Asked whether Mongkhol should wait and not sign any orders until the issue is resolved, Wichian said: "All DOPA affairs will continue as usual. Mongkhol will continue functioning as director-general until he is transferred."

As to whether an acting director-general would be appointed in the meantime to prevent possible legal problems, Wichian said: "Mongkhol will continue with his duties until his position is changed."

At present, the legality of Mongkhol's approval of projects, such as the questionable smart-identity-card scheme, is being questioned. It has yet to be seen whether his orders will or should be nullified or kept valid if Wongsak is reinstated as chief of DOPA.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-17

Posted

PM Claims Wage Hike Needed to Help Consumers with Inflation

The prime minister pointed out that during the censure debate the government had plans to raise the minimum wage to help consumers cope with rising cost of living.

During the censure debate, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva repudiated the accusation made by the Opposition that the current inflation was triggered by the recent minimum wage hike that was implemented by the government.

Abhisit said that the idea to raise the minimum wage was proposed many times before.

The prime minister also admitted that the current pay rate is unfairly low and must be raised to stay in line with the improving economy.

Abhisit said the pay rate is not the cause of the rising cost of living, and that he has assigned agencies responsible to investigate the recent surge in goods prices.

Meanwhile, the Opposition also accused Transport Minister Sophon Saram of corruption in the procurement process of seven diesel locomotives, costing more than one billion baht.

According to the accusation, Sophon intentionally favored one of the bidders, Loxley Company during an unfair bidding process.

Sophon denied interfering in the procurement process, explaining that the process was carried out according to the law.

A commotion broke out during's session after a Pheu Thai Party MP accused a Democrat lawmaker's aid of prying and looking into the Opposition's debate documents.

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-- Tan Network 2011-03-17

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Posted

PM Vows to Evacuate Thais from Japan if Situation Worsens

The prime minister has said that the government is prepared to evacuate the Thai citizens in Japan if the situation is deteriorated.

He has also ordered the related agencies to keep close eye on the nuclear crisis.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after having attended a meeting with emergency agencies that the Foreign Ministry and the Thai Embassy in Tokyo are keeping close eye on the situation in Japan.

Abhisit pointed out that so far there has been no report of any Thai casualty.

Meanwhile various airlines have asserted that they are prepared in case the Thai citizens need to be evacuated from the disaster-struck country.

The prime minister also reported that supplies donated by the state and private businesses will be transported via a C-130 military aircraft to Japan.

However, the Japanese authority has asked the Thai government to hold off sending the rescue workers due to some management problem.

About the concern on the nuclear power plant explosions, the prime minister said that he is closely monitoring the situation.

Many experts have also reaffirmed that Thailand has not been affected by the crisis and is not likely to.

As for the foods imported from Japan, Abhisit said that they will be thoroughly inspected by the port authority for possible contamination.

At the same time, the Science and Public Health Ministries are working together to provide information to the public and screen those who are traveling from Japan into Thailand.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has reported that approximately 300 Thai people were living in the city of Sendai and some have already returned to Thailand.

However there are about 200 who are still being unaccounted for, most are students. Kasit has pledged the full assistance to the Thai citizens in Japan.

The foreign minister also repudiated a rumor that the THAI International Airlines' flight tickets out of Japan cost as much as 80,000 baht each, saying that the national carrier's executive has insisted to the Cabinet that the stranded Thai citizens will be promptly assisted.

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-- Tan Network 2011-03-17

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Posted

VANUATU (BNO NEWS) -- A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the Vanuatu Islands, but no tsunami warning has been issued /RT @mpoppel:

Posted

Bryan Adams: Calling all the great musicians and singers in the world, we should do a concert for Japan. /RT @tukky_nt: RT @TimeOutTokyo: /RT @bryanadams

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