Thailand Live Wednesday 30 Mar 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 30 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 Tuesday 29 Mar 2011

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Army Chief Denies Military Benefits from Southern Unrest

The army chief denies the armed forces have any vested interest in weapon procurements for units operating in the restive southern region.

He insists heavy military presence is still required in the violent-prone region to maintain peace.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha disagreed with the Asia Foundation's opinion survey which showed that the public wanted military forces to withdraw from the three southernmost provinces.

The army chief said details of the survey results must be thoroughly scrutinized and pointed out the poll only reflected opinions of a certain group of people.

General Prayuth insisted that the army needs to maintain its presence in the restive southern provinces for safety of local residents, state officials as well as politicians who are there to help with development and recovery projects.

He also denied the army has maintained its presence in the region because of its vested interest in weapon procurements for soldiers in the violence-stricken area.

The army chief explained that the weapons are needed to prepare soldiers for any possible threat.

He said the soldiers are also playing a key role in helping other agencies solve the ongoing unrest in the three southernmost provinces.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-30

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BoT signaling interest rates hike

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bank of Thailand (BoT) would gradually increase interest rates in a bid to control the current inflation within the kingdom, according to BoT Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul.

Dr Prasarn stated that the government in the last 1-2 years was very concerned over national economic recovery due to the global economic crisis; however, the current economy has been strengthening continuously, leading to higher inflation rate within the kingdom.

As a result, the governor pointed out that the BoT has resorted to using its monetary policy to take care of the rising inflation. The approach is expected to create a balance between the monetary and fiscal policies necessary for sustainable economic development.

Dr Prasarn elaborated that efforts are being made to gradually push up the real interest rate standing at -1.25% for the time being so that it will eventually stand in positive territory in line with the interest rate policy; otherwise, the country’s economy will certainly get affected.

The governor added that there must be flexibility in taking care of the exchange rate in order to ensure that the rate will not hinder Thai exports.

-- NNT 2011-03-30

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More Foreign Investment Expected after Election

The Stock Exchange of Thailand urges the next government to urgently invest in public utilities and ensure internal political stability to strengthen investors' confidence.

It also expresses confidence that the "Thailand Focus 2011" will draw strong interest from major foreign institutional investors.

President of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, or SET, Jarumporn Chotikasatien said the "Thailand Focus 2011- Enhancing Thailand's Competitiveness through the Next Decade" seminar continued to witness huge interest and positive response by leading foreign institutional investors.

Jarumporn noted that most of the investors paid attention to Thailand's strategic policies for sustainable growth and its solution to local political problems while taking note of the next general election, which is expected to take place after the House dissolution in May.

They wonder if the next government will continue with the policies of the current administration and how it will deal with economic problems.

Chief Executive Officer of Phatra Securities Aphinant Klewpatinond stated that both Thai and foreign investors are concerned about three risk factors.

They are the effects of fluctuation in the world economy on Thai economic stability, the lack of investment in public utilities, and the local political instability.

Aphinant further said that Thai political uncertainty remains a major cause for concern and some foreign investors might delay their investment plans in Thailand to wait for the election outcome and clarity on the next government's economic policies.

This year's Thailand Focus has been well-received by both local and foreign investors, 80 percent of which are from within Asia.

The management teams from 67 Thai listed companies, representing eight major industry groups and around 80 to 85 percent of total market cap, presented their information to investors throughout the event.

The SET estimated that the event will help increase foreign investors' confidence and thus will attract more foreign investment.

Foreign investment in Thailand during January to March surged to 25 percent of total investment in the country, compared to 18 percent in the previous quarter.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-30

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Thailand Records 1.1 Million Total Hiv/Aids Cases

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Tak Governor Dimisses Possibility Of Bhumibol Dam Collapse

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Thailand To Hire 300 Native English-Speaking Teachers

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Marine police rescue tourists

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Odd weather in Thailand puzzles academics

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1 million people stranded as floods rage through Thai South

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Thai Tourism council hopeful of limited flood impact

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Thai Army's Insincere apology will not change deep South discontent

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Thai study finds high HIV infection rate among the married

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The most dangerous boat trip in my life'

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Nasty weather blankets North, Northeast

By The Nation

Unseasonably cold weather in the North has killed more than 2,000 head of cattle in Chiang Mai's Omkoi disฌtrict, with a sharp temperature drop to 7 degrees Celsius in some areas over the past few days.

Livestock officials are visiting cattle farms to advise handlers on preparฌing animals to cope with the cold, while administering veterinary drugs to bolster their health.

In Chaiyaphum, where the average temperature has been 17 degrees, farm workers have been advised to make bonfires to keep their cattle warm.

Unseasonable mists have made conditions worse in some parts of the Northeast, leading temperatures to plunge to just 4.8 degrees at Phu Rua National Park in Loei province, according to a local weather report yesterday. Mists will continue to cover about 40 per cent of the North for at least another day.

Bright sunlight is expected to return to the North tomorrow, as long as there is no more highpressure wind from China. Then hotseason weather should take over, said a local forecaster, Phornnapha Thongthep.

At Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, the number of people seeking hospital treatment for respiratory problems has increased by 10 per cent over the same period last year, especially among young children and elderly folk. The average temperature in the province has been 15.5 degrees.

Erratic changes in the weather and temperatures have also caused damฌage to crops in many areas, with large areas being prematurely harvested or shredded to make fertiliser. In Chiang Mai's Chom Thong district, a local official said daisies were smaller than norฌmal and potatoes had split their skins because of rain.

In Angthong, a villager was found dead by a pond where he was catching fish, with an empty whisky bottle nearby. His death was possibly caused by hypothermia when he fell asleep after heavy drinking, police said.

The temperature fell to 5 degrees at Doi Inthanon National Park at dawn yesterday, and coupled with unseasonably dense fog, it prompted vehicles to drive with headlights on almost all day. The temperature climbed to only 13 degrees during the day.

At Korat Zoo in Nakhon Ratchasima, animals from hotweathฌer habitats are under special care to prevent them suffering from the cold. However, none has become sick, zoo director Banya Insuwan said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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His Majesty provides aid for victims

By The Nation

His Majesty the King has handed out Bt3.28 million in relief items to flood victims in the South through the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation.

The royal help reached 1,000 families in Surat Thani yesterday.

Relief items will also be given to thousands of affected families in Phatthalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Instructed by HRH Princess Somsavali, the Friends in Need (of "Pa") Volunteers Foundation Thai Red Cross is reaching out to Trang with 3,000 sets of relief items.

"Inundation has hit five districts here," Trang Governor Maitree Intusoot said yesterday, estimating that about 5,000 Trang residents were now suffering from the floods.

To date, seven Southern provinces have been declared disasterhit zones. They are Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Trang, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey, who heads a government commitฌtee on floodrelief operations, yesterday said flooding had dragged on for four days now and looked set to continue for at least five.

Satit said governors of the floodhit provinces were being ordered to evacuฌate people from landslideprone areas. "Early warnings must also given to peoฌple in floodrisk zones."

Satit said the government was concerned the floods in the South would be even more serious than the big floods of last year.

"The government has also approved a Bt20million budget for the provision of food and water to flood victims," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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Police to ensure peaceful Thai election

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Over 2,000 cattle killed by unseasonable cold spell in Chiang Mai

Unseasonal cold weather in the North has killed more than 2,000 heads of cattle in Chiang Mai's Om Koi district, with a sharp temperature drop to 7 Celcius degrees in affected areas in the past few days.

Livestocks officials are paying inspection visits to farmland and cattle farms to advise handlers to prepare the animals to cope with the cold, while giving medicines and germ killing drugs to prep up their health. In Chaiyaphum, where average temperature is 17 degrees, handlers are advised to make bonfire to give heat to their cattle.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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No coalition with Pheu Thai, says Suthep

By THE NATION

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday ruled out the possibility of his party forming a coalition government with its rival Pheu Thai Party after the general election.

He said that given their stark contrast in political ideology, line of thought, and personnel, it would be "very difficult" for the two parties to form a coalition.

"However, the Democrat Party has never regarded any party as its enemy. In politics, people in different camps perform different roles, and they don't have to view the other as an enemy who deserves to be killed," said Suthep, the deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs.

The Democrat Party and Pheu Thai - the country's two largest parties - are expected to be engaged in a fierce fight for the most House of Representatives seats in the election likely to take place around the middle of the year.

In a related development, the House committee vetting the three amended organic laws on elections discussed the drafts for the last day yesterday, according to the panel's spokesman, Democrat MP Thana Chirawinit.

He said the draft amendments would be returned to Parliament for final deliberations next week.

Thana said that the committee agreed to change the law requiring the logos of political parties to be added to ballot papers, in addition to the candidacy numbers, to make it easier for voters who may forget the numbers of their favourite candidates and parties.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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Petition to court may delay Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting

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Finance sticks to 4-5% growth forecast

By THE NATION

The Finance Ministry has maintained its estimate for this year's economic growth at 4-5 per cent, as exports and domestic consumption could help cushion the effect of rising oil prices and other negative factors.

However, the ministry acknowledges that growth could be lower than expected due to the Libyan crisis and the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, Fiscal Policy Office director-general Naris Chaiyasoot said yesterday, adding that the impact could be seen in the second quarter.

The ministry is sticking to the forecast it made in December because the effects of global oil prices and the crisis in Japan could be offset by higher export demand, particularly from the US, and increased spending surrounding the mid-year general election, he said.

Pay hikes for civil servants and state enterprise employees and higher farming incomes will boost domestic consumption, Naris said.

The growth forecast is based on external and domestic factors, including an upward revision of 14 trading partners' economic growth from 3.3 per cent to 3.4 per cent, the global oil price averaging US$90-$100 (Bt2,730-Bt3,035) a barrel, and a baht- dollar exchange rate of 30.20.

The economy may have expanded by 2 to 3 per cent in the first quarter, especially in February, due to high exports following trading partners' strong growth, and domestic spending on both consumption and investment, Naris said. However, growth in the second quarter could be constrained by higher oil prices and a decline in demand from Japan.

Naris expects a short-term impact on the economy from the flash floods in the South.

Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul expects a short-term impact from Japan's ongoing crisis, including the situation at its crippled nuclear plant.

Japan Credit Rating has revised the rating outlook of the foreign currency and local currency long-term senior debts of Thailand to "stable" from "negative", reflecting the limited impacts from prolonged political and social conflicts on its economy and public finances.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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Royal Thai Navy's HTMS Chakri Naruebet arrives at Koh Tao off Surat Thani to rescue one thousand tourists stranded due to bad weather /MCOT

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PM inspects floods in southern provinces today; arriving at RTAF Wing 7 in Surat Thani before going to Nakhon Si Thammarat's Tha Sala district /MCOT

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Highway Police aim to reduce death toll by 10% during Songkran holiday

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Dept of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation raises financial aid limit to Bt100 million for each flood-hit province; Surat faces 5 metre-high water level /MCOT

URGENT: All Tourists wanting to leave Koh Phangan go to the main pier in Thongsala; Thai Navy has started to evacuate /via@RichardBarrow

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REUTERSFLASH: Japan PM Kan spoke with U.S. president Obama by phone on weds over handling of nuclear woes /Kyodo

According to police agency, quake-tsunami death toll as of 10 a.m. was 11,232, with another 16,361 people missing. /via @DailyYomiuri

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,042.96, up 6.60 points /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,042.96, up 6.60 points /MCOT

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Japanese officials: Seawater near the Fukushima nuclear reactor contains radioactive iodine 3,355 times the legal limit /via@SkyNewsBreak