Thailand Live Wednesday 20 Apr 2011

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Thailand to Prohibit 6 Toxic Chemicals

The Department of Industrial Works has ordered the Federation of Thai Industries to prohibit the use of six toxic chemicals, hoping to increase the competitiveness of Thai exports.

Honorary Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI, Petcharat Eksangkul said the Department of Industrial Works has ordered the FTI to prohibit the use of six toxic chemicals.

Percharat said foreign countries have already prohibited the use of these six chemicals.

He said Thailand needs to keep up otherwise its exports could be affected.

The six toxic chemicals include C-PentaBDE, which is used in the plastic bag industry, Trichloroethylene, used in the furniture, textile, electronics, and auto parts industries, c-OctaBDE, used in the plastic and textile industries, and Pentachlorodenzene, used as a starting agent for fungus.

The list ends at PFOS and Chrysotile, which is used in the auto parts and electronics industries.

Petcharat said the FTI will allow all manufacturers to voice their opinions before legally prohibiting the usage of the six chemicals.

If legalized, manufacturers will not be allowed to have in their possession, use, import, or export any of the stated chemicals.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-20

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Apple suppliers to start production of next-gen iPhone in July, Aug; begin shipping in Sept - sources /via@REUTERSFLASH

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Hundreds of Underage Teens Found in Pub Raid

Police raided a pub in Samutsakhon Province and found hundreds of underage children there.

Police Major General Saengsoon Kannasuth led Narcotics Suppression Police and officials from the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission in an inspection of the Full Moon Pub in the Aom Yai area of Samutsakhon Province, after receiving complaints about the admittance of children under 18 years of age into the establishment.

Complaints were also made that the establishment violated permitted business hours.

Police found more than 300 pub-goers who were underage, many of them below 14 years.

These children said they were asked to pay 100 baht to gain entry.

The pub also operates as a gambling venue as police discovered receipts detailing kickback payments to 20 local officers at a rate of 500 baht per day per officer.

Investigators are looking into the pub's permits and the alleged bribery of police officers.

The club is reportedly owned by a local politician.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-20

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Court to Decide on Trial for Asset Case of Thaksin's Niece

The Supreme Court division for political post holders will rule whether to accept the asset concealment case against the niece of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on April 26.

The nine members of the Supreme Court division for political post holders selected its president Thanont Wannakowit to take charge of the case against Chinnicha Wongsawat, accused of violating Article 263 of the Constitution for not fully reporting her assets and debts to the National Anti-corruption Commission, or NACC, as an MP.

Chinnicha is daughter of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and niece of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

If found guilty, she will be stripped off her MP status and banned from politics for five years according to the 1999 National Anti-corruption Commission Act's Article 119.

The court has scheduled 10 A.M. on April 26 to rule whether it will accept the case for deliberation.

In a separate case, the court has scheduled to rule whether to accept the asset concealment case against former education minister Somsak Prissananantakul at 10 A.M. on April 27.

In this case, the NACC found him guilty of concealing 8.7 million baht in deposits in a bank from several asset reports while he was still an MP and a minister from 1996 onwards.

He will be banned from politics for five years if found guilty.

The panel of judges has chosen Supreme Court's ommerce division president Manus Luangprasert to take charge of the case.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-20

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2011 car sale to touch 900,000 units

BANGKOK, 20 April 2011 (NNT) – Kasikorn Leasing (KLeasing) is enjoying a better leasing business operation thanks to the rapidly growing car market while the number of car sale this year is expected to be as high as 900,000 units.

According to KLeasing Managing Director Isara Wongrung, the total vehicle sale in the first two months of 2011 was at 145,611 units, an increase of 40.37% compared with 103,735 units in the same period last year.

Kasikorn Research Center hence adjusted the vehicle sale projection for the whole year up to as high as 850,000 to 900,000 units, a rise of 6-12% year-on-year from the previous estimate of 830,000 to 870,000 units.

Positive factors driving the car market this year include expansion in the export sector, rising prices of agricultural crops, investment from the public and private sectors as well as the Pracha Wiwat social welfare scheme aimed at improving the standard of living of low-income people. Popularity for new car models, especially eco-cars was also helping boost the sale.

Thanks to the growing car market, hire purchase and leasing deals of KLeasing in the first quarter this year were 8.78 billion US dollars worth, up 37% year-on-year while loans for car dealers stood at 13.8 billion baht, up 46.3% year-on-year as car dealers want to stock more vehicles.

KLeasing's outstanding loans were hence worth 57.74 billion baht, increasing by 24.84% while the nonperforming loan level remained low at only 0.93%, down from last year’s amount of 1.31%.

-- NNT 2011-04-20

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AFP: Thai exports hit new high

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ISA enforcement extended to May 24

By The Nation

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of security measures under the Internal Security Act to May 24, covering seven districts of Bangkok.

The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order had sought and received the ISA extension in order to rein in street protests.

The ISA extension is expected to be final. National police chief General Wichean Potephosri earlier indicated that the security measures would be lifted during the campaigning.

The government has pledged to dissolve the House by the first week of May to pave way for the early election.

-- The Nation 2011-04-20

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Deputy PM Suthep assures House dissolution will happen in May and election will be held later /TAN_Network

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Minister Asked to Continue As Head of World Heritage Delegation

The prime minister will meet with the natural resources and environment minister today following the minister's resignation as head of the Thai delegation in the World Heritage Committee.

The lack of unity in the team representing Thailand in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, or WHC, has led to the resignation of Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who heads the delegation.

The team was tasked with addressing the Preah Vihear Temple dispute as Cambodia attempts to enlist the ancient temple as a World Heritage Site.

Suwit withdrew himself ahead of a WHC meeting scheduled to take place in France in June, which will decide on the approval of a management plan proposed by Cambodia concerning Phreah Vihear Temple World Heritage Site.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will meet with Suwit, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat to discuss the matter.

There has been speculation that the prime minister will try to convince Suwit to stay on as head of the Thai delegation until the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris in June.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya was asked by journalists if he will attend the meeting with the premier and the Natural Resources and Environment Minister.

Kasit said he will join the meeting if the premier demands it.

Asked if he will represent the head of the Thai delegation at the WHC meeting if Suwit's withdrawal is approved, Kasit said he does not know and he has worked in accordance with his responsibility.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-20

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Democrats ready to jump start the economy: Korbsak

By The Nation

The Democrats will be ready to jump start the economy if allowed to form the next government, chief campaign strategist Korbsak Sabhavasu said.

In an interview published in Thai Rath online on Wednesday, Korbsak said the rival Pheu Thai Party would likely spend at least the first three months pushing for the amnesty law.

He said the rival party did not have sufficient candidates to fill offices, hence it had to focus on granting pardon to barred party executives, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra before doing anything else.

Making a comparison between the economic platforms of the two parties, he said Pheu Thai campaign pledge to raise the minimum wage to Bt300 per day was impractical.

A sudden jump in wage would put the country's competetiveness at risk, he said.

In contrast, the Democrat wage policy was realistic and practical by spreading the incremental increase of 25 per cent over two years, he said. The daily pay would rise from Bt206 to Bt260.

He said a highlight of the Democrat tax package was the shifting of state revenue structure to focus on consumption tax rather than income earners or salary men.

The tax burden for salary men should be lessened while excise charges for luxury goods and activities detrimental to the environment should increase, he said.

The tax package designed to boost competitiveness should be implemented within a year of assuming office, he said.

Businesses geared for improving competitiveness would enjoy tax incentives on corporate earnings, improved workers skills and machinery replacement.

The income gaurantee scheme for the agricultural sector will be expanded to cover 5 million farmers. Presently some 800,000 farmers are under the scheme.

-- The Nation 2011-04-20

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Appeals Court overturns Criminal Court's dismissal of defamation case filed by Thaksin against Democrat leader's spokesman Thepthai /TAN_Network

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BMA installing more CCTVs around Bangkok

BANGKOK, 20 April 2011 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is speedily installing 20,000 CCTVs around the capital city in an effort to ensure safety for people in line with the Pracha Wiwat social welfare scheme of the government.

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Natural Resources Minister Suwit to resume being chief of Thai delegation to World Heritage Committee meeting after PM persuaded him to stay /TAN_Network

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Bank of Thailand raises policy interest rate by 0.25% from 2.50 to 2.75%, effective immediately /MCOT

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Thai army chief issues royal debate warning

BANGKOK, April 20, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha warned political figures Wednesday to keep the revered monarchy out of debate ahead of what is expected to be a closely fought general election.

On the instructions of its commander-in-chief, the military last week filed a complaint against three leaders of the opposition "Red Shirts" for allegedly insulting the royals during speeches at a recent Bangkok rally.

"I'm not doing it for political reasons, but whenever this kind of thing happens we will take action," Prayut, a staunch royalist who became commander-in-chief at the start of October, told reporters.

"Especially with politics, do not drag the monarchy into it. This institution is above all conflicts," he said, adding that the military "will do its duty to protect the monarchy".

The remarks appeared to be aimed mainly at the Red Shirt leaders.

Thailand's royal family, which has no official political role, is an extremely sensitive subject in the kingdom, which is gearing up for an election by early July.

Prayut has pledged to abide by the results of the poll and has brushed aside rumours of a military coup.

But that has not dampened speculation about possible military intervention in a country that has seen 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said he hopes the election will help to end the political unrest seen since the Reds' hero Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as premier in a 2006 coup.

Thai society was left more divided than ever after mass street rallies by the opposition in April and May last year turned bloody, leaving more than 90 people dead, mostly civilians, in clashes between protesters and armed troops.

Thai authorities on Tuesday summoned 18 Red leaders to face charges of sedition and insulting the monarchy.

The Reds view Abhisit's government as an unelected elite because it came to power in a 2008 parliamentary vote with military backing, after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

With political rallies continuing, the Thai cabinet agreed Wednesday to extend a special security law in seven districts of Bangkok for another month.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-04-20

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AFP: Thailand lifts rates again to curb inflation

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PM Abhisit tells Cabinet he will dissolve Parliament in two weeks

PM Abhisit tells Cabinet he will dissolve Parliament in two weeks; urges ministers to complete pending work; only two more Cabinet meetings /MCOT

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SET index closed at 1107.36, up 11.48; Bt/USD29.86; GBP48.76; AUD31.53; EUR42.94; CAD31.25; HKD3.83; SGD23.94; JPY35.89

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27 Thai crewmen held by Somali pirates return home

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Ridiculous news from The Sun: Yesterday was hottest day of the year in England, with temp reaching a whopping 25 degree C. /via@tulsathit

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PM Abhisit: Two-week countdown before House dissolution

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to be continued,

Thailand Live Thursday 21 April