Thailand Live Monday 28 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 28 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 Saturday 26 Mar 2011

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AFP: Floods kill three in south Thailand: official

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Mid-South hit by floods

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Wealthy families backing main Thai parties

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Blaze sweeps Nakhon Ratchasima

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An Opportunity for Thailand to become a Global Aviation Hub

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Boys at brothel

By The Nation on Sunday

Ratchaburi police raided a brothel in Ban Pong district yesterday, which allegedly had boys doing sex work.

Police raided a rented house and found 10 boys aged from 16-18 years old. They were students from schools in the district and Nakhon Pathom province. Villagers had told police the house was a brothel.

Police said urine tests showed two of the boys had used drugs. Parents of other students were told to take their children home.

One boy told police a transvestite, known only as Thoon, rented the house, and the boys went there at night and waited for gays and transvestites to buy sex. They went to a hotel with customers.

Thoon allegedly earned money from selling alcohol to customers. Before the crackdown five other boys were taken to hotels.

Police said they could not lay legal charges against the boys, as they had found no evidence of illegal behaviour. But the drug users would be sent for drug rehabilitation.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

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Fatal hit-and-run accused surrenders

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Thais hate - connected MPs, people who litter: poll

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Democrats receive most donations from taxpayers

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Srinakharinwirot backs kids with special needs

By The Nation

Srinakharinwirot University Council has given the green light for its secondary demonstration school to enroll children with learning disabilities, autism, short concentration, and mental retardation.

The school's director, Supapak Paramatikul, said yesterday they planned to recruit 10 children with special needs in the Mathayom 1 class each year from now on.

"We will let them study with normal students in most classes except science and maths," she said, adding that children with special needs would be allowed to join all school activities too.

Supapak expected the move to provide a model for other schools to follow suit.

"We have accepted children with special needs before. But with the university council's green light, we will be able to develop a more formal system on which research can be conducted," she said.

She said children with special needs would be able to develop and be less of a burden on their families if they were allowed to study and do activities with other children.

"If we ignore their special needs, they won't get the muchneeded opportunities to develop their potential. Without the opportunities, they will become a big burden to their family, their society and the country," Supapak said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

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EC's Sodsri vows to stay for election

By Atthayut Butrsripoom

The Nation

Sodsri Sattayatham, the Election Commissioner in charge of political party affairs, vowed yesterday not to leave office despite mounting pressure and legal risks.

"I'll stay and go on holding the next election. They have set our destiny this way," she said.

"But we will also have to get ready to fight possible lawsuits that may stem from our work."

Sodsri said her statement that she might resign if forced to had been misinterpreted, as she had been ordered by a "power beyond the system" to step down to cripple the EC and prevent the election from going forward.

She said she was referring to legal technicalities and controversies when she mentioned "pressure".

The EC might be forced to stage the poll even if the three organic laws were not amended to conform to recent changes to the Constitution's election provisions, she said.

Although the charter allows the EC to issue directives to hold elections if such bills are not passed, it did not allow the EC to issue directives in place of amendments to the Political Parties and Election Commission acts, she said.

The bills to amend the MPs and Senators Election and Selection Act, the Political Parties Act and the Election Commission Act sailed through the House in their first reading and have almost finished the vetting process.

She said that since the House refused to pass the bills in three straight readings, there was still a chance that the House would be dissolved before the bills cleared their final reading.

Several more days would be needed before the three bills could be enacted, then they had to be sent to the Constitution Court for checking before they could be published in the Royal Gazette, she said.

If a political 'accident' derails the three bills, she would abstain from voting on the EC's directives for conducting the next election unless the Constitution Court makes a ruling first that the EC has the authority to do so.

She confirmed that she had applied for a seat on the Legal Reform Assembly but expected to be rejected because the assembly might want her to remain on the EC to help oversee the next election.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

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One villager killed, another injured in Yala shooting

Yala - Insurgents opened fire at two villagers shopping at a weekend market in this southern border province Sunday, killing one and injuring another.

The shooting occurred at the Pabon market in Moo 4 village in Tambon Thathong in Yala's Raman district at 11:20 am.

Jiew Saejiew, 47, a village defence volunter, was severely injured and Nam Phetpradb, 58, died on his way to the provincial hospital.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

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Unseasonably chilly morning here in Bangkok: 72 degrees F/22 degrees C. /RT @newley:

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Meteorological Dept warns of flash flood from heavy rain from Chumphon downwards; BKK sees chilly temperature today /TAN_Network

Nakhon Ratchasima sees flooding in 22 districts, 5 deaths; Tasala district hit with 4m of flood; 5 crocodiles on the loose, 2 caught /TAN_Network

Flash flood, landslides hit homes in Surat Thani's Chaiya district, one injured; eight crocodiles escape Nakhon Si Thammarat farm, officials capture three /MCOT

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CORRECTION Nakhon Si Thammarat sees flooding in 22 districts /TAN_Network

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Meteorological warns flash floods to continue in 9 southern provinces

The Meteorological Department warned Monday that flash floods may continue in nine southern provinces during the day as a low pressure will continue to unleash heavy downpours in the provinces.

In its daily forecast issued at 4 am, the department said Chumphon, Ranong, Phuket, Phangnga, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang and Satun could continued to be hit by heavy downpours and flash floods because the low pressure was covering the middle of southern Thailand.

The department said the temperature would drop between 3 to 5 degrees in the North, Northeast, Central, East and Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

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Deputy PM Suthep confident there will be no coup; says PM is open to election campaign debate with every party and not just Pheu Thai /TAN_Network

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,038.81, up 1.08 points /MCOT

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Floods to be treated as national concern

NAKORNSRITHAMMARAT, 28 March 2011 (NNT)-Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey has been distributing relief bags to flood stricken residents in the South, adding that he will propose to the Cabinet today to include the crisis in the national agenda.

Over 1,000 residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat province have reportedly been given the relief bags yesterday while the flood situation continues to pose concerns. Mr. Sathit has encouraged the provincial authority to spend their 50 million THB budget allocation on helping people suffering from the flood disaster. He added that more money can be allocated upon a request from the Cabinet if needed.

He further stated that it was important to treat natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes as national concerns as Thailand currently lacked effective disaster management systems.

-- NNT 2011-03-28

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PM Visits Site of Fire in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

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PAD to Appear in Parliament to Clarify Opposition against JBC

The People's Alliance for Democracy is prepared to give its argument in Parliament on its opposition against the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary meeting reports.

The group claims the premier has not been forthright on the issue.

Chamlong Srimuang, leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD, said the group has decided to appoint a representative to give its argument on the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting reports before the joint parliamentary session today.

The PAD will be represented by Panthep Puapongpan, the group's spokesperson.

According to the PAD, the prime minister has not been forthright on the issue, as he has refused to say whether the session seeks to endorse or simply acknowledge the meeting reports.

The PAD has been petitioning many MPs and senators not to endorse the meeting reports, claiming they could jeopardize the country's border sovereignty.

On the Civil Court's order for the PAD to pay 522 million baht in compensation for its role in the closure of the Bangkok airports back in 2008, Chamlong vowed that an appeal will be lodged as soon as possible and reiterated his confidence in the group's innocence.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

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5 Deaths in Southern Floods; 3 Crocodiles on the Loose

The southern provinces continue to experience severe floods, with Nakorn Sri Thammarat worse hit.

22 districts have been affected and five deaths have resulted from the disaster.

Tha Sala district is the worst hit with more than four meter high water levels.

Five crocodiles escaped a local farm; only two have been recovered.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

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China Trade Complex in Bangkok Feared to Hurt Thai Businesses

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Bangkok Saves 2,346 Megawatts Electricity During Earth Hour

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Thai Patriots Network Seek to Fight Case for 2 Detained Thais in Cambodia

The Thai Patriots Network is seeking to fight the legal battle in Cambodia on behalf of the two Thais detained in its prison.

Speaking of efforts to help Weera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who have been detained in Cambodian jail since December 29 last year for espionage and territorial intrusion, the Thai Patriots Network, or TPN, leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong said a team of lawyers led by Karun Sai-ngarm and Mom Luang Wanwipa Jaroonroj visited the two last Friday and will report their discussion to the foreign minister later.

Chaiwat added the team will need Weera to sign a letter, giving them the power to fight the case on his behalf.

He confirmed that both Weera and Ratree had signed letters asking for royal pardon from the Cambodian monarch but said that they want Karun to try every possible way to prove their innocence.

The TPN leader confirmed that Weera is ill but said his condition is not as bad as has been reported by the Thai media.

He added his group and the legal team will meet tomorrow to discuss ways to get the two released as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Chaiwat said the TPN will file a petition with the Appeals Court on Wednesday for malfeasance against the prime minister and his Cabinet should the minutes of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meetings be endorsed during the joint-parliamentary session tomorrow.

In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban commented on the possibility that families of the two Thais jailed in Cambodia may request assistance from ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, if the government makes no progress in helping them in seven days.

Suthep stated the government will not oppose the move to request help from Thaksin but insisted that it is trying every possible way to help bring Weera and Ratree back to Thailand.

Further asked if a House dissolution will take place before the two are brought home, Suthep said the prime minister, the defense minister and the foreign minister will still be acting in their posts, so the government's efforts in helping Weera and Ratree will continue.

The deputy PM believes that the matter will likely end very soon.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

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BMTA's Low-Priced Tours Hurt Private Operators

The Association of Domestic Travel urges the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to stop selling low-priced package tours, as it is hurting private operators.

President of the Association of Domestic Travel Mairat Peerayarnkoset said she will submit a letter to the Office of the Ombudsman, requesting an inspection of the the operation of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority or BMTA.

Mairat said the BMTA should stop selling its package tours at cut-throat prices, as it creates an unfair business environment for other operators.

She said the BMTA has lower production costs as it receives subsidies from the government for its fuel and maintenance costs.

Mairat said many attempts have been made to stop the BMTA's action, yet the office refuses to acknowledge the complaints and claims it does not offer cheap tour-packages.

However, there are announcements for the tours on the BMTA website.

Mairat said if the BMTA is trying to provide greater travel opportunities for low-income earners, it should make the tours free.

Moreover, she said it is against the law for a state enterprise like the BMTA to compete in business with the private sector.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28

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The temperature is rising inside the No. 1 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant /CNN

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University Student Crowned Miss Thailand Universe 2011

A university student has been crowned the winner of the Miss Thailand Universe 2011 beauty pageant.

'Fa' Chanyason Sakhonchan has claimed the title of Miss Thailand Universe 2011, along with the Miss Photogenic award.

The Assumption University student said she is honored to win this competition, adding that she believes her success is because her idol is the 2009 winner, 'Kaimuk' Chutima Durongdet.

As for her next mission, Chayason said she will have to take part in the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil in September.

She said she will have to work harder on her physical health and try to put on her best show to win the hearts of the judges.

The new beauty queen went on to say she is very interested in the entertainment business, especially the musical industry.

The runner-ups are Niratcha Tangtisanon, Patsarapon Konkamhaeng, Kanyarat Pongkampanat, and Nattamon Kritsanakup.

Also part of the pageant were musical performances by leading artists such as Klear, New and Jew from the 'Star' reality show, Off Pongsak and super-hot actor 'Porch' Saran Sirilak.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-28