Thailand Live Thursday 7 Apr 2011

[webfact]

56 killed in the southern floods while 1 missing, says Health Minister Jurin. /via @wat_news /RT @veen_NT:

[webfact]

Possible attempted suicide of American resident of Pattaya

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Possible foreigner fished out of Pattaya Bay

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Senior citizens to get free BTS rides during Songkran

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Billboard at Big C Nakhon Pathom collapses, injuring 2 shoppers /TAN_Network

[webfact]

Two dead in Narathiwat insurgent attack

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PAD slams PM Abhisit for backtracking on border meeting

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Army Chief Denies Setting Up Poll Command Center

The army chief has denied setting up an election command center as claimed by red-shirt MP Jatuporn Prompan.

He has also ordered related agencies to speed up probing antimonarchy websites.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has affirmed that the army has not established an election command center and assigned Army Chief of Staff General Dapong Rattanasuwan to chair the center as claimed by Pheu Thai red-shirt MP Jatuporn Prompan.

Prayuth also criticized Jatuporn for making such a false accusation.

The army chief called on all parties not to involve the military in politics as its duty is to help and protect the Thai people.

Prayuth assured the army's impartiality in politics and denied rifts with all sectors.

He pointed out that the Internal Security Operations Command has been set up to maintain peace and order in the country rather than to solve any political conflict.

The army chief also urged all Thais to help protect the Monarchy and said he has already ordered relevant agencies to carry out probes into antimonarchy websites, while calling on the public to help condemn those involved in the movement.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-07

[webfact]

Hong Kong Disneyland, which has been struggling to attract visitors since opening in 2005, says it will complete the first phase of its expansion by 2013, a year early /MCOT

[webfact]

FDA confiscates vegetables carried by Japanese traveler after finding low-level radioactive contamination in produce /MCOT

[webfact]

Hospitals ordered to prepare for Songkran road accidents

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Three election-system organic bills passed

By The Nation

The House on Thursday passed the third and final reading of the three organic bills on the revamped electoral system following three hours of deliberation.

By the consensus of 354-to-0 votes, the legislators approved the House-vetted bills. Two abstained and four were present but did not cast votes.

The vetted version differed from the Election Commission-sponsored bill in one provision - the advance balloting for absentee voters will be cut from two days to one day.

The House-approved bills will be forwarded for the Senate deliberation before submitting for the judicial review by the Constitution Court. The enactment of the three laws by a royal command will pave way the early election, tentatively scheduled for late June or early July.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07

[webfact]

Banks reserve tens of billions for Songkran withdrawals

By The Nation

Bangkok Bank has prepared more than Bt40 billion in cash reserves for 6,600 ATMs nationwide to serve customers during the Songkran holiday.

The bank's 270 micro branches in shopping malls will be open for business every day during the holiday. The bank will closely monitor and refill ATM cash reserves in major travel areas. Customers can use the bank's services at more than 270 micro branches in shopping malls and communities nationwide which will be open for business as usual during Songkran. The bank will resume normal operations on Monday April 18.

The Bank will also closely monitor and refill ATM cash reserves in popular areas nationwide. Customers can be confident cash will be available for withdrawals from ATMs throughout the Songkran period.

Kasikornbank reserves Bt22 billion during the period. While Bt10.5 billion is prepared for Bangkok, the rest is for withdrawals in provinces.

At CIMB Thai Bank, 510 ATMs nationwide will be filled up with Bt1.17 billion. Cash reserves at 151 bank branches will be maintained at Bt200 million.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07

[webfact]

People urged to donate blood during Songkran

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Suthep insists elections will not be delayed

Follow this link:

[webfact]

AFP: Thailand admits controversial weapon use

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Phuket Bike Week to rev up economy

SADDLE UP: Riders from around the world make their way to

Phuket's annual Bike Week. Photo: Christian Mouchet

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Flood Damages 60% of Farmland in South

The agriculture and cooperatives minister says around 60 percent of farmland in the flood-ravaged South have been damaged.

His ministry will urgently survey affected areas so that appropriate aid can be given.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said his ministry has come up with two measures to help farmers in the southern provinces who are suffering from flooding and landslides.

Theera further said financial assistance will be provided for affected farmers while damage to farmland accounts for about 60 percent of the total.

The Cabinet has instructed the ministry to use 1.6 billion baht leftover from an approved budget in November and January to assist flood-hit residents in the South.

It also approved an additional flood-relief budget of 1.63 billion baht from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support flood relief efforts.

Compensation will be the same as that given to flood victims late last year.

Theera noted that his ministry will urgently survey agricultural areas totally ravaged by floods so that help could be given as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the minister stated that his ministry has coordinated with Krung Thai Bank and state specialized financial institutions, such as the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Government Savings Bank and the Government Housing Bank to come up with aid measures for affected clients.

Theera added the banks will waive debts for those killed in the floods while others who suffered damage to their crops or farms will have interests exempted for three years and debt repayment period extended.

A new loan of no more than 100,000 baht will be provided to support farmers who need funds to recover from the damage.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-07

[webfact]

Flood death toll rises to 56

The death toll of recent floods in southern provinces has risen to 56, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said Wednesday.

He said 25 people were killed in Nakhon Si Thammarat, 10 in Surat Thani, 6 in Phatthalung, 10 in Krabi, 2 in Trang, 2 in Chumphon and 1 in Phang Nga.

He said one person went missing following the floods.

-- The Nation 2011-04-07

[webfact]

EPPO increases diesel subsidy by 50 satang/lr to Bt5.90/lr; Oil Fund has Bt11.6 bln left with daily diesel subsidy at Bt375.70 mln /TAN_Network

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1089.21, up 13.08; Bt/USD29.98; GBP48.85; AUD31.31; EUR42.75; CAD31.08; HKD3.85; SGD23.66; JPY35.02

[webfact]

Phuket student to represent Thailand in international public speaking competition

Philip Upton flanked by Samuel Peter Shuler (left), chairperson of

the Judging Committee, and Lalivan Karnchanachari, chairperson ESU (Thailand).

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Red shirts oppose social studies textbooks claiming false information

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PTT, Bangchak raise gasoline prices by 40 satang/litre, E85 by 20 satang/litre; diesel prices remain unchanged, effective Friday /MCOT

[webfact]

Imported Japanese foods in Bangkok radiation free: Bangkok Governor

Follow this link:

[webfact]

4,000 Policemen to Keep Peace at Red-shirt Rally

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Court rejects bail bid for 'Red Siam' leader

BANGKOK, April 7 - Thailand's Criminal Court on Thursday rejected a bail bid for 'Red Siam' activist leader Surachai Danwattananusorn for allegedly committing lese majeste, insulting the country's monarchy, citing concerns over his possible flight.

The court decision came as a lawyer for Mr Surachai, known as Surachai Saedan, sought the temporary release of his client with a Bt1.2 million bail bond (US$40,000).

The court said it has dismissed Mr Surachai's request, claiming the 68-year-old Red Shirt activist is facing charges with severe punishment and his action has defamed the country's revered institution, while the investigators oppose the bail attempt as they believe the accused might flee to escape prosecution.

Mr Surachai, formerly convicted as a communist, was arrested on Feb 22 following his remarks allegedly insulting the monarchy at Imperial World department store in Bangkok’s Lad Prao late last year.

The court also resolved to forward the temporary release request of Thanthawut Thaweewarodomkul, webmaster of www.norporchorusa.com, to the Appeals Court for its consideration.

Mr Thanthawut was earlier sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for insulting the monarchy after a family member submitted a bail request to the court with Bt1.5 million (US$50,000) as collateral.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Thursday said the group is now collecting cash donations to be used as bail bond for 43 UDD supporters detained in Bangkok prisons for their role in last year's deadly political demonstrations. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-07

[Maestro]

to be continued

Thailand Live Friday 8 April