Thailand Live Saturday 26 Mar 2011

[webfact]

Thailand Live Saturday 26 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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Google Buzz: http://www.google.com/profiles/thaivisa

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/564113621/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 25 Mar 2011

[webfact]

Japan Disaster Impact on Thailand Expected to Be Short-termed

Different parties believe the natural calamities in Japan will have negative effects on Thai export in the short term, but Thai construction and food industries will benefit in the long run.

Assistant governor for financial markets of Bank of Thailand, or BOT, Pongpen Ruengvirayudh, said there has been no irregularity in capital movement after the enormous earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Pongpen noted that in the short term, Japan's catastrophe has somewhat affected Thai export in some areas, but it will help increase export of Thai foods in the long run following great damage to some food factories and more Japanese companies will transfer production base to Thailand to reduce risks in case a natural disaster recurs.

Under such a circumstance, Thailand will benefit from an inflow of direct investment in the long term.

Bank of Ayudhya Executive Vice President Tak Bunnak stated that the devastating natural disasters in Japan have adverse effects on electronics industry, but will benefit food industry.

Tak believes that the crisis in Japan coupled with concerns about Europe's debt crisis and uncertainty about the pace of economic recovery in the United States will trigger more foreign capital inflow into Thailand and thus could affect the baht movement.

He expected the baht to move in the range of 29.5 to 30.5 baht per US dollar this year.

The Bank of Ayudhya executive also voiced concern about the possibility of violence during the next general election, which is expected to take place after the House dissolution in May, fearing its effects on foreign investor confidence and Thai economic growth.

He added without any kind of violence, the Thai economy will be able to expand by five percent this year.

Meanwhile, Sompop Manarangsan, president of Panyapiwat Institute of Management, said the baht movement this year would not be as volatile as last year.

As for the widespread concern about rising inflation rate, Sompop believes that the government and the central bank will not allow a further rise for the rate as it will bring about economic, political and social problems.

He expected fierce political competition this year and noted that if the next general election runs smoothly, it will help stimulate economy.

Sompop added he reckoned that Japan's crisis will cause a short-term impact on the import of electronics products and auto parts since factories of suppliers in Japan were damaged.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-26

[webfact]

Culture Ministry to hold charity concert for Japan

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Culture has joined force with Thai artists in organizing a charity concert ‘Magokoro 2011’ on 4 April 2011 in Bangkok to collect donations for victims in the disaster-hit Japan.

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat and related concert organizers on Thursday held a press conference to announce the charity concert arrangement, which will be held at Thailand Cultural Center on 4 April 2011 at 14.00 hrs.

The concert will be organized to collect donations for victims suffering from the recent earthquake and tsunami as well as radioactive leakage crisis in Japan. Mr Nipit stated that Thailand and Japan have been helping each other throughout 125 years of friendship.

The concert will feature performances of Thai artists, Suntaraporn band as well as Japanese chorus. Booths selling food and souvenirs will also be arranged in the event. Proceeds from the concert will be donated without deducting expenses.

Concert tickets are available at the Thai Ticket Major or dialling 02-262-3456 while cash donation can be made to the ‘Thai Charity for Japan’ fund, at Krung Thai Bank’s Aroon Amarin Intersection branch, savings account number 157-6-007170 from now on until 20 April 2011.

-- NNT 2011-03-26

[webfact]

Japanese Disasters to Dent Thailand's Tourist Arrival Target

The Tourism Council of Thailand admits that the historic earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan will dampen this year's target for tourist arrivals, while suggesting that the state and tourism sectors find new markets to avert the negative effects of the disasters.

President of the Tourism Council of Thailand or TCT, Piyaman Techapaiboon said the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan will take a toll on this year's tourist arrival target of 17 million visitors, as 5 percent of Thailand's tourism revenue comes from Japanese travelers.

She added that the agency is revising the target, and the new figure should be available in April.

Piyaman suggested that state and tourism-related businesses look to other markets like India, Korea, China, Russia, and, especially, Indonesia. She noted that only 200,000 Indonesians, in particular, have visited Thailand this year.

Japanese tourists are expected to return to Thailand in six months.

Piyaman said that businesses must adapt to more intense competition and increase their competitive edge in the long run, while the state must educate relevant businesses and individuals about trade regulations among Asean countries, so that they take advantage of the new opportunities.

SMEs in the tourism industry account for as much as 80 percent of the total SMEs in Thailand.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-26

[webfact]

NEW!

Follow thaivisa.com on Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/564113621/

[webfact]

Thailand's Dams Should Be Earthquake Safe

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Lao Girl Cut In Half By Fleeing Stolen Porsche: Thai Police

Follow this link:

[webfact]

More aftershocks expected in Thailand after Burma earthquake

Follow this link:

[webfact]

30 years of Carabao

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai FM Korn urges small government, decentralisation

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai Parliament defers on boundary

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Thai Govt 'not sincere' about decentralisation of power

Follow this link:

[webfact]

A rockin' good time in Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

No direction and now no contest in the upcoming Thai election

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Historic Chiang Rai pagoda damaged by tremors

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Citizens participate in 'marketplace for reform'

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Many concerned citizens had a chance to think about social problems during the National Reform Congress at an area designated as a "marketplace for reform" while better-known figures participated in the numerous panels.

At one such gathering at the marketplace for reform, students from Burapha University in Chon Buri province invited participants to think about the issue of educational equality.

Respondents yesterday offered the following opinions: poor people without access to adequate formal education pose more risk for society, poor students tend to be left out of scholarship opportunities, richer kids get more from the education system, and rural students are doubly disadvantaged when having to migrate to cities to further their education.

Elsewhere in the large hall designated as the marketplace, participants were invited to offer views about good and bad Thai traits when it comes to being moral and responsible citizens, by writing short notes and having them attached to a large board.

Among the good: conflict avoidance, sacrifice and service to communities, loving Thailand.

Among the negative traits: apathy to others' sufferings, and avoidance of involving oneself in some public issues because of the belief that it's not worth the trouble.

A video repeatedly reminded participants of the need for national reform by citing statistics well known among social activists.

These include: 70 per cent of the national wealth belongs to the richest 20 per cent of the population while the poorest 20 per cent own only 1 per cent of the total wealth of the nation. Sixty per cent of blue-collar workers earn less than Bt6,000 per month. Half of primary-school children nationwide fail to further their education at the secondary level, and a million Thais have no formal education whatsoever.

The video reminded participants again and again that unless there's a move to "reduce state power while empowering the people", change won't take place.

Participant Pairoh Mongkolboonlert, a community organiser from the Mae Klong river basin in Samut Sakhon province, believes the reform proposals will be a tough sell to any government.

Governments "will obstruct us because they do not want people to mature. We'll have to see how successful the push will be," he said, as the congress gears up to approve eight areas for reform today.

-- The Nation 2011-03-26

[webfact]

GEOLOGY

Quakes 'a concern', say Thai scientists

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Operator of Japan's disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant has detected radioactive iodine 1,250 times above legal limit in Pacific Ocean waters nearby:AFP /MCOT

[webfact]

Weather bureau: rain nationwide with possible flash floods in South; flooding in Nakhon Si Thammarat; BKK sees 1-2 degree temp drop /TAN_Network

Thailand weather reports: http://weather.thaivisa.com

[webfact]

Woman jumps from moving train before arriving at Hualumpong station, missed and fell to her death /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Nakorn Sri Thammarat Delcares 12 Districts Disaster Zones

Nakorn Sri Thammarat Province has declared 12 districts disaster zones due to heavy flooding.

The province has experienced heavy rain in the past several days.

Reports indicate that this round of flooding is worse than the one the Southern region experienced in May of this year.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-26

[webfact]

Body recovered from Phuket ravine

Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene just before dusk, but had to wait

into darkness until the corpse could be hoisted out of the ravine.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Two Brazilian surgeons say they gave Gadhafi a plastic face lift in a secret surgery in Tripoli in 1995.//Times of London /RT @thepchaiyong

Gadhafi told the doctors he wanted to look like he was 28. old. "He didn't want young people to see him as an old man," /RT @thepchaiyong

[webfact]

Phuket ‘Beer’ ride ends in Surat Thani

REUNITED: Mazda sales rep Thitaporn Markkaew (green shirt) gets the car back.

THE DROP-OFF: Mr Beer and Mazda sales rep Thitaporn Markkaew at the scene where

he asked her to get out of the car so his boyfriend would not get jealous.

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Over 28,000 villagers affected by flooding in Phatthalung

PHATTHALUNG, March 26 -- More than 28,000 people and 45,000 rai of farmland have been affected by flash floods in the southern province of Phatthalung as the Meteorological Department has issued a warning that heavy rain would continue on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand for another one or two days.

Heavy rains coupled with runoffs from the Banthad mountain range in the past few days have now inundated eight districts in the province, including Muang district, by early Saturday, affecting over 28,000 people while 45,000 rai of farmland is now under water.

The floodwater level in four villages in Muang district alone now measures over 1.50 metres, while roads to other villages are now cut off from the outside world. Thirteen flat-bottomed boats have been dispatched to assist affected villagers in buying necessities.

The Meteorological Department office in Songkhla province has issued its sixth warning after flooding hit the southern region adding that high waves in the Gulf and heavy rains would continue on the eastern side of the Gulf for the next one or two days due to a persisting high pressure system from China still covering Thailand.

People living in flood-prone areas in the South should stay on alert for heavy rains which could bring flash flooding and landslides between Saturday and next Monday, the department said. Small ships should stay ashore between this period due to high waves which are expected to be between two to three metres. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-26

[webfact]

BNO News: NATO says its forces accidentally killed a number of civilians in Helmand province. /RT @mpoppel:

[webfact]

Friends, Don't forget to turn off all lights tonight:8.30-9.30 p.m for EarthHour http://bit.ly/5rBzpz /RT @tulsathit: RT @Gmontadaro:

[webfact]

Heavy rains inundate southern provinces; 12 districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat flooded, landslide blocks road in Khanom district /MCOT

[webfact]

Heavy rains hit Trang; About 1,200 villagers affected

TRANG, March 26 -- Several roads leading to villages in the southern province of Trang are now impassable to vehicles as they are submerged under about 60 centimetres of floodwater after days of heavy rains, a senior official said Saturday.

So Hemakul, chief of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office in Trang, said four districts, including the provincial seat, are now under floodwater, causing hardships to about 1,200 people while heavy rains continue to devastate the province. More than 500 rai of farmland is under deep floodwater as the water level in canals is rising rapidly.

Floodwater in parts of the provincial seat is currently over one metre high while roads leading to villages are cut, Mr So said. The road leading to Tham Khao Chang Hai Cave in Nayong district, an important tourist destination in the province, is also submerged as it is located on low land near a canal.

People living along the banks of Trang River have already evacuated to higher ground, along with personal effects and pets, on fears that water might overflow the banks within the next few days. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-26

[webfact]

Earth Hour at 8:30 pm tonight, many Thai businesses, organizations and homes to turn off the lights to honor Earth Hour and to fight global climate change