Thailand Live Friday 25 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 25 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 24 Mar 2011

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New Permanent Border Checkpoint under Review

The Foreign Ministry has inspected the Thai-Burmese border in Prachuap Khiri Khan province to consider the possibility of opening a permanent border checkpoint.

Adviser to the Foreign Ministry on Treaties and Legal Affairs, Vasin Teeravechayan has inspected Singkorn district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, which borders Myanmar.

Vasin said local authorities have submitted a request for a permanent border checkpoint to the Foreign Ministry and the ministry is now waiting for approval from Myanmar.

He said his trip is to prepare for the establishment of a permanent checkpoint and to arrange for a Thai-Burmese Joint Boundary Commission meeting.

Vasin said the meeting will demarcate the border between the two nations to prevent any future problem.

He also said the construction of infrastructure on both sides of the border must be carried out with respect to the border demarcation, and that all construction needs to leave an appropriate distance from the official border line.

He said the permanent border opening will boost border trade, as well as tourism.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Veera Sriwattanatrakul said a permanent border opening will generate up to ten billion baht of income for Thailand each year.

The Singkorn border pass will act as a hub and will shorten the transportation for goods from the southern part of Thailand to Yangon in Myanmar.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-25

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Energy Min to keep selling biodiesel B2 in April

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Energy is adamant that the sale of biodiesel B2 in place of B3 and B5 will continue through next month as it has been published in the Royal Gazette.

Recently, the National Palm Oil Policy Committee recommended the Energy Ministry to resume the production of biodiesel B3 and B5 as normal in an effort to shore up the domestic prices of palm fruits and crude palm oil, which had fallen to 4-5 THB per kilogram and 30 THB per liter, respectively. The price slumps are a result of the rebounding supply of palm fruits in the market in the wake of the previous shortage.

As a response, Deputy Director-General of the Energy Ministry’s Department of Energy Business Sirisak Wittaya-udom clarified that the ministerial regulation to distribute biodiesel B2 as the single grade of diesel had already come into effect after its publication in the Royal Gazette. He noted that any alteration to the policy would need to be issued in the next Royal Gazette and would take some time to become effective.

For now, Mr Sirisak insisted that the latest announcement would be upheld and the sale of biodiesel B2 would proceed until at least the end of April.

-- NNT 2011-03-25

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Products Imported from Japan Found Radiation Free

The Public Health Ministry has launched inspection of vegetable, fruit, and seafood imported from Japan and will prohibit putting those products on shelves until they pass a radiation test.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said the ministry has launched a radiation test on vegetable, fruit, and seafood imported from Honshu in Japan as that is the area where gamma radiation leaks have been reported.

Jurin expressed no concern about reports on powdered milk in Japan being contaminated with radiation as Thailand imports powdered milk from other countries.

He reiterated that all traders must make sure imported Japanese fresh produce pass the radiation inspection process before they can be stocked on shelves.

Jurin confirms that the ministry has the situation under control and that Thai consumers will not be supplied with contaminated products.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-25

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AFP: Thailand Rejects Foreign Election Monitors

Deputy PM Suthep: "I don't respect 'farangs'

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Earthquake In Burma/Thailand

strong earthquake felt as far south as Bangkok

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Tremors felt in North, Bangkok

One killed as Thailand experiences shocks of magnitude-7 quake that hit Burma

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Rift in yellow-shirt camp over Thai poll boycott call

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Thai FDA: Food from Japan is free of radiation

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Thai Military opposes Cambodia border talks in Indonesia

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FDI

Thailand should benefit from Japanese firm relocation

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Labour networks criticise SSO drafting process

By The Nation

Labour networks yesterday urged a parliamentary committee considering draft Social Security legislation to ensure it created a transparent and independent agency.

They claimed the committee, which has already covered 25 of the law's 46 articles, had not spent enough time on the drafting process. The committee's labour representatives had not been given the chance to contribute, they added.

Wilaiwan Saetia, chairwoman of the Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee, yesterday led around 200 labournetwork members to Parliament to submit a formal letter to the committee's vice chairperson, Pudsadee Tamthai.

The group said it wanted the Social Security Office (SSO) to be an independent and transparent agency that let subscribers participate in setting policy, measures and benefits, administration and information checking.

They especially wanted subscribers to be able to elect the SSO committee and for all workers to enter the SSO system.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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BRIEFS

375 poll districts drawn

By THE NATION

The country has been redrawn into 375 constituencies, with five going to Bung Kan, the province born on Wednesday.

The Election Commission based the allocation of MP seats on the population of 63.87 million, as of the census of last December, using the ratio of 170,342 people per House seat.

The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette yesterday.

Bangkok will have the most constituencies at 33, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima with 15, Ubon Ratchathani with 11, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen with 10 each, and Nakhon Si Thammarat and Buri Ram with nine each.

The two House seats for Bung Kan came from the five allocated to Nong Khai.

Each constituency will send one MP to the House.

Election bills' reading on April 6

The vetting of the three election system bills is expected to be completed on Thursday to allow for the second House reading by April 6, Democrat MP Thana Cheeravinij said yesterday.

Following the first reading of the organic bills on Wednesday, the House formed a panel to discuss any changes to the provisions within seven days.

Pradit to "defect" to Chart Thai Pattana

Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phattaraprasit will reportedly jump from the Ruam Jai Chart Thai Pattana Party to the Chart Thai Pattana Party for the next election.

"Chart Thai Pattana did not try to sway him but Pradit made the decision on his own accord," Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said yesterday.

Sanan said MP Vinai Phattaraprasit would join his brother in party hopping.

He said he would run as a party-list candidate while his son MP Siriwat will seek to get re-elected in Phichit

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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Separatist group surrenders

By THE NATION

Twenty-one members and sympathisers of the militant Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) separatist group gave themselves up to Narathiwat's Bacho district chief yesterday.

They said they wanted an opportunity to help Thai authorities to develop the country and bring peace to the region.

As part of the Sanjai su Santi (Uniting Hearts for Peace) project, the 21 men, wanted under the criminal code and emergency laws, emerged from hiding and presented themselves at the district office at 8.30am in front of religious and local administrative leaders.

Sopian Sadeng, 27, wanted for allegedly being an RKK armed-cell leader and involvement in violent attacks against police and soldiers, said he had been misguided until he was wanted by the authorities and was forced to live unhappily in hiding. He urged other sympathisers to report themselves to the authorities.

"From now on I will be a good person, helping the authorities to develop Bacho City to be peaceful," he said.

Meanwhile, another man who is wanted in relation to five attacks, Imbraheng Hayimama, 34, reported to Yala's Bannang Sata district police station. He said he had done nothing wrong, and wanted to fight accusations against him in court.

Imbraheng said he fled after police accused him of involvement in the attacks, but after the government introduced the project for accused people to turn themselves in and prove their innocence, he joined in and was confident of receiving justice. He said life on the run was very difficult.

The kamnan of Tambon Tanoh Puteh, Waeabdulloh Seunoyaya said that if Imbraheng got fair treatment and a trial, more separatist sympathisers would feel inclined to report themselves to the authorities.

At a meeting of the Defence Council yesterday, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan called for soldiers, police and local politicians to cooperate seriously in solving the southern unrest.

Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Saengsawang said Prawit urged the ministry's agencies and armed forces to increase proactive measures while improving their local intelligence. He said all operations in the restive region must adhere to the law.

In related news, a soldier's wife has reported an arms and military-equipment raid in Narathiwat.

Nonthika Petchcahana, whose husband, Sergeant Supakit Ngonsanoi, was seriously injured in the incident, filed a complaint at Rangae district police station. She said her husband and five other soldiers, who were manning a checkpoint at Ban Samoh in Tambon Bor-ngor, were attacked and tied up by a group of 14 men at 2am yesterday. The men then fled with the soldiers' six M16 rifles, six metal helmets, a military radio, the soldiers' cellphones and some ammunition.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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Pheu Thai 'Will Move On' With Or Without Chalerm

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National change

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

THE NATION

Reform congress begins Debate laments embittered red shirts

A three-day National Reform Congress began yesterday, with non-governmental organisation workers and activists trying to generate momentum for wide-ranging reforms that they hope will be adopted by either the present government or a future administration.

Reform Commission chairman Prawase Wasi, who was controversially appointed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in the aftermath of last year's bloody crackdown on red-shirt protesters, insists that a consensus is needed in order to successfully push for reform.

However, debate continues on two important issues: what to do about the millions of red shirts from all walks of life who denounce the process as either a sham or a shameless exploitative move to push for reform, and whether the reform should start from the centre of administrative power in Bangkok or from the grass roots.

Environmentalist Vitoon Permpongsacharoen, speaking as a member of a panel at the congress, said he believed issues needing reform first had to be politicised.

"The state will only listen when an issue has become politicised because it may affect their electoral base," he said.

Another speaker, agricultural activist Vitune Liamchamroon, disagreed. He said he believed successful reform could only begin with "people on the ground" and had less to do with changing a government that didn't want to adopt reform.

"I don't think that having everyone out on the streets to oust an administration will work. I think those little people will have to do their [reform] work from where they are."

Despite the differences, some of the 2,000 people from around the country who are attending the congress were given an opportunity to air their plight.

Somporng Viangchan, an anti-Pak Moon dam village leader who has been fighting for just compensation for those affected by the dam for the past 20 years, said; "We've never had the opportunity to draft laws that will have an impact on us," and added that the opportunities for poor rural people to speak to the public were too limited.

Rasita Sui-yang, an ethnic Thai born in Burma and a leader of the Thais without Citizenship Rights movement, said the unwillingness of successive governments to address the movement's grievances meant that many people like her had to endure suffering on a daily basis, ranging from lack of access to state-provided healthcare and education to extortion by police.

"It's been 40 to 50 years now and generations have died while the problem remains unresolved," Rasita said, adding that she and her peers would have to continue the campaign.

A village headman from Lamphun province, Sukaew Fungfu, said he was currently on bail and faced 43 charges involving state allegations that he and his neighbours were encroaching upon private property. Sukaew insists the land upon which they encroached to extend their farms was left idle for a long time, and the land titles were handed out suspiciously and unjustly to rich outsiders.

"Just 10 per cent of the population owns 90 per cent of the land. Thus, our outlook is bleak. We would have more hope if reforms were carried out."

Very few red shirts were spotted at the congress, but two who were interviewed were highly critical - if not aghast - at what was taking place.

The red shirts continue to see the process as a shameless exploitation of the deadly April and May crackdown last year to push for reforms approved by Prawase and his followers.

"They already have their agenda set," said labour leader Jitra Cotshadet, who was among those invited to speak. "Those invited are just props. The matters regarding reform are repetitive and we all know it. Say, labour faces problems of low wages and the right to unionise is opposed."

Another red-shirt, a male researcher, said he felt that Prawase's message, as it appeared in blue-coloured letters handed out to everyone, sounded fascist - even like it came from Nazis. Part of the letter that he indicated read: "May all Thai friends be elated and proud. We are about to take part in a process that is akin to the enlightened path for society that will extinguish the sufferings of the nation. It is a social innovation that in the future, other countries will have to learn and develop to extinguish the sufferings of their nations. May all Thai friends pay special attention to 'the process' of the reform congress because it is something new for social change with great power..."

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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Call for all nurses to be employed as civil servants at Thai state hospitals

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PM: Muramoto probe 'won't fade away'

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Separatist group surrenders

By The Nation

Defence minister pleads for 'serious' attempt to end violence

Twentyone members and sympathisers of the militant Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) separatist group gave themselves up to Narathiwat's Bacho district chief yesterday.

They said they wanted an opportunity to help Thai authorities to develop the country and bring peace to the region.

As part of the Sanjai su Santi (Uniting Hearts for Peace) project, the 21 men, wanted under the criminal code and emergency laws, emerged from hiding and presented themselves at the district office at 8.30am in front of religious and local administrative leaders.

Sopian Sadeng, 27, wanted for allegedly being an RKK armedcell leader and involvement in violent attacks against police and soldiers, said he had been misguided until he was wanted by the authorities and was forced to live unhappily in hiding. He urged other sympathisers to report themselves to the authorities.

"From now on I will be a good person, helping the authorities to develop Bacho City to be peaceful," he said.

Meanwhile, another man who is wanted in relation to five attacks, Imbraheng Hayimama, 34, reported to Yala's Bannang Sata district police station. He said he had done nothing wrong, and wanted to fight accusations against him in court.

Imbraheng said he fled after police accused him of involvement in the attacks, but after the government introduced the project for accused people to turn themselves in and prove their innocence, he joined in and was confident of receiving justice. He said life on the run was very difficult.

The kamnan of Tambon Tanoh Puteh, Waeabdulloh Seunoyaya said that if Imbraheng got fair treatment and a trial, more separatist sympathisers would feel inclined to report themselves to the authorities.

At a meeting of the Defence Council yesterday, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan called for soldiers, police and local politicians to cooperate seriously in solving the southern unrest.

Defence Ministry spokesman Thanathip Saengsawang said Prawit urged the ministry's agencies and armed forces to increase proactive measures while improving their local intelligence. He said all operations in the restive region must adhere to the law.

In related news, a soldier's wife has reported an arms and militaryequipment raid in Narathiwat.

Nonthika Petchcahana, whose husband, Sergeant Supakit Ngonsanoi, was seriously injured in the incident, filed a complaint at Rangae district police station. She said her husband and five other soldiers, who were manning a checkpoint at Ban Samoh in Tambon Borngor, were attacked and tied up by a group of 14 men at 2am yesterday. The men then fled with the soldiers' six M16 rifles, six metal helmets, a military radio, the soldiers' cellphones and some ammunition.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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Justice out of reach for many, says Thailand Development Research Institute

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'Everybody wins' in M1 exams

By The Nation

Education Minister Chinnavorn Boonyakiat yesterday said that 85 per cent of the 270,000 students who took the Mathayom 1 entrance exams got seats in popular highcompetition schools, while 15 per cent will study at partner schools.

Around 3,000 students were admitted under specialcondition quotas nationwide, with Rajavinit Mathayom School having the largest number of such places at 350.

Chinnavorn said specialquota students represented only 1.5 per cent of the 270,000 testtakers, which was much lower than previous years.

This was thanks to the ministry's stricter criteria to prevent favouritism or bribery in exchange for student seats, he said.

He added that he had received emails and postcards from students telling him he had done the right thing by introducing fairer exams.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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Solar Air opens 'Bangkok-Hua Hin' route

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AFP: At least 25 people were killed when a strong earthquake struck Myanmar near the Thai border

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Broadway's lights will darken on Friday in tribute to actress Elizabeth Taylor, who died in Los Angeles aged 79 on Wednesday /MCOT

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Police Set for Red-shirt Concert at Khao Yai

Police are set to handle the red-shirt concert in Khao Yai this Saturday although local authorities expect no chaos.

Spokesman for the Center for Administration of Peace and Order, or CAPO, Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri, said today's meeting discussed plans to keep peace and order at a concert planned by the red-shirt group at Bonanza Khao Yai Hotel on March 26.

CAPO expects about 20,000 to 30,000 red-shirt supporters at the event, and local police as well as those from the Region 3 Provincial Police Bureau will be responsible for security watch.

Police expect no chaos as concerts have been held at the same location before.

Prawut went on to comment about measures to cope with the upcoming election that national police chief Police General Wichien Podposri is set to form a poll monitoring center.

The police chief, as the center's director, will assign different responsibilities to his deputies and they will act as the center's deputy directors.

Asked about measures to make sure police remain neutral in the poll, the police chief said he has assigned Inspector General Police General Sathaporn Lhaothong to be in charge of disciplinary affairs.

Any police officer found involved in vote-buying or attempting to influence votes will face criminal charges and disciplinary punishment.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-25

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Bangkok International Motor Show Roars Off

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Verdict due on Bt245 million damage for PAD's airports seizure

By The Nation

The Civil Court will on Friday at 10..00 am hand down its verdict for Bt245 million damage in connection to the seizure of two Bangkok airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy in 2008.

As plaintiff, the Airports of Thailand contends for damage caused by the 13 PAD leaders who led the crowds to seize and disrupt air traffic at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

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No irregularity found in Baht movement, says central bank

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Official death toll from Japan's earthquake and tsunami two weeks ago has topped 10,000 - Kyodo /via@BreakingNews