Thailand Live Thursday 12 May 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 12 May 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 Wednesday 11 May 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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B30mn coke bust at Phuket Airport

Swiss national Peter Balmer at this morning's press conference.

The two sheets of "black cocaine" recovered from inside the lining of his luggage.

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ELECTION VIOLENCE

ShootIng of former MP raIses violence fears

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Chiang Mai Governor to update media on hotel deaths

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GENERAL ELECTION

'Newbie' hopes to make political waves

By Sirared Cherdchusilp

The Nation

Chitpas Bhirombhakdi, a new Democrat Party MP candidate for Bangkok's Dusit-Ratchathewi constituency, is visiting residents around Sriyan Market to introduce herself before the coming election.

"This week I'm still introducing myself because I am a 'newbie' and next week I'll be campaigning for the party," she said.

Although, she has been called a "new face", Chitpas is not really a "newbie" in politics. She is trying to prove herself since failing to get approval to stand in a by-election last year.

She has been secretary to the Information and Communications Technology minister since 2009 and has been closely involved in politics.

"If we need to help develop people in this area, we should try to be an MP candidate," she said.

She said the reason she was standing in the election was to be the voice of the people and to stand up for their rights.

Chitpas said that if she became MP, she would push for social development using ICT community programmes.

As a secretary to the ICT minister, she knows about the problem of children becoming addicted to games, and would aim to solve it. She said she wanted to give children a chance to get the right education and information.

She also wants to attack public health issues, including the problem of polluted water.

Chitpas said new-generation politicians could solve Thailand's political conflict because they were not dominated and divided by a political party.

"I believe that people are bored with the conflicts among the 'colour groups' and the new-generation politicians will end it, because we are not concerned about benefits."

The Democrat Party is highly democratic and has a good political ideology because it is not "led by a capitalist", she said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-12

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Nation TV wins crime report gongs

By The Nation

Nation TV has won two awards from the Crime Reporters and Photographers Association of Thailand. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presented the trophies yesterday.

The programme "Internet: Channel for Car Theft" was second runnerup for Best Crime Investigative News (Television), while "Aid for Boy with Severely Large Head" won consolation prize for Socially Supportive News (Television).

Association president Siroj Mingkwan said yesterday that the Best Socially Constructive News (Newspaper) award went to Thai Rath's "Hero's Mum is the Real Hero", about a heavily pregnant woman who helped police arrest a car thief.

The Best Socially Constructive News (Television) award went to Thai PBS's "A Pol Senior Sergeant Major Who Teaches Street Kids", about a policeman who uses his offduty time to educate street kids and teach them to stay clear from vice.

The Best Crime Investigative News (Newspaper) award went to Daily News' "Exposure of Ratchaburi's Suanpheung Forest Land Encroachment", about investors encroaching on 30,000 rai of forest land to grow rubber trees. The Best Socially Supportive News (Newspaper) went to Thai Rath's "Scavenger Man Arrested for Selling CDs: Proof that Prison is for the Poor?"

Best Crime Investigative News (Television) went to Thai PBS's report about the disposal of 2,000 human foetuses in a Bangkok temple, while the Best Socially Supportive News (Television) award went to Channel 7's "Reungjing Phanjor", about the indefinite detention of an old man.

The association presented a plaque of honour to The Nation senior photographer Chaiwat Pumpuang, who was shot in the leg on May 15 while covering the showdown between redshirt protesters and soldiers in Bangkok's Rajprarop area.

-- The Nation 2011-05-12

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PHEU THAI PARTY

Thaksin's sister Yingluck to be No 1 on Pheu Thai's party list

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PEACE DEAL

'Khmer Cambodian troop withdrawal' not included : source

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THAI TALK

Unless parties repent, expect more turbulence

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Flooding eases in the North

By The Nation

Flooding in the northern provinces of Lampang, Lamphun, Phayao and Phrae is subsiding, and so far, no casualties have been reported.

"The situation is now returning to normal," Lampang's deputy mayor Surapon Tansuwan said yesterday.

As of press time, people affected by the flooding had already cleaned up their houses. According to them, this week's flooding was the worst in the history of the provincial capital. On Monday and Tuesday, more than 190 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area.

"This is the highest ever," Surapon said.

In Phrae, acting provincial disasterpreventionandmitigation chief Somkid Thanukarn said the floods had eased, and though houses did not sustain much substantial damage, the waters had ravaged about 8,000 rai of farmland worth at least Bt9.2million.

Lamphun Governor Prajakjit Apiwart said the floods were easing, but people in Li district were still unable to return home. Some villages could not be reached due to flooding.

"People have been evacuated to safe places. Schools, temples and some government agencies are now serving as evacuation centres," he said, adding that more than 6,000 families had been affected but everybody was safe.

Villager Jamlong Talang, fighting back tears, said the floods had washed away the 17 tonnes of shallots he had been storing for sale later. "The floods have taken almost everything in my life," he said. "I need help."

-- The Nation 2011-05-12

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Thai Democrats most wary of poll rules

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Thai EC issues social-media election warning

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Group marches from Lampang to seek compensation

By The Nation

A group of villagers from Lampang are heading to Bangkok to demand that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) hasten the payment of compensation that was ordered by a court two years ago.

The villagers want to be compensated for having to inhale toxic sulphur dioxide emitted by the lignite coal mine in Mae Mo district set up by Egat nearly 30 years ago to feed a power plant nearby.

Group leader Maliwan Nakwiroj said 11 of the 125 people seeking compensation have already succumbed to illnesses caused by the fumes since the court order. The payment has been held up because Egat is appealing against it.

The group is expected to show up at the Supreme Administrative Court today to submit a written appeal. Maliwan said Egat officials had told her that regulations required them to appeal against the Central Administrative Court's order to pay an unspecified sum of money to residents living near the mining operations.

Maliwan said some 345 other villagers were also suffering from lung and respiratory problems, but could not seek payment because they did not have any doctor's certificates to verify their symptoms.

The villagers are scheduled to hold a press conference today to publicise the nonpayment of the compensation.

-- The Nation 2011-05-12

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Network wants NHSO to take over SSO services

By The Nation

Published on May 12, 2011

A network of people campaigning for state welfare yesterday called on the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to take over the Social Security Office (SSO), on grounds that the SSO was not doing a good enough job. The NHSO handles the socalled "gold card" health scheme.

Should it not be possible to hand over the authority, the 9million SSO beneficiaries should receive services that are better than what is already provided for free to more than 48 million people, network coordinator Sureerat Treemakkha told a Bangkok seminar yesterday.

SSO beneficiaries, who have been making monthly contributions via their workplaces for more than 20 years now, are getting services that are inferior to those provided for free to more than 48 million people under the NHSO scheme. This scheme was previously the Bt30universal healthcare scheme initiated by former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sureerat said a committee should be set up to ensure that medical services provided under both schemes are the same or similar if a handover is not possible or takes too long to materialise.

Another coordinator, Anant Muangmoolchai, attacked caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and caretaker Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit for failing to keep their promise of pushing for the handover before the end of the government's term, or at least before the House was dissolved.

After the seminar, SSO's directorgeneral Pan Wannaphinij said more and better services would be provided to beneficiaries, but he did not comment on Sureerat's claim that this agency's work was inferior to that of the NHSO. "Both agencies perform different duties," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-05-12

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,095.01, down 5.47 points /MCOT

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Finance Ministry to Launch Credit Card Refinancing Program for Thais

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Red Shirts to Continue Activities During Election Period

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Pheu Thai Party Demands Govt to Step Up Security for Candidates

In wake of the shooting of a former Samut Prakarn MP, the Pheu Thai Party demands the government and the National Police Office provide security for the candidates of the upcoming election.

The Pheu Thai Party has released a statement following the shooting of former Samut Prakarn MP Pracha Prasopdee.

The statement read by Pheu Thai Party Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit condemns those responsible for the shooting for having no regard for the law and trying to murder one of the party's MP candidates.

Yongyuth added that the incident has struck fear among the candidates.

The party leader demands the government and the National Police Office ensure security for all candidates and to eradicate electoral violence.

Yongyuth said the Pheu Thai Party is not discouraged by the shooting incident and its candidates will continue their campaigns.

Meanwhile, after having visited Pracha at the hospital, former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat pleaded with the prime minister to provide security for the public and the candidates during the period leading up to the election.

Somchai admitted that the main opposition party will have to be more cautious while campaigning and may need assistance from the police at some point.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-12

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Court Revokes Jatuporn's Bail For Violating Bail Conditions

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PAD to gather in front of NPP headquarters to protest decision to field election at 1:30 PM /TAN_Network

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Chuwit to Launch New Political Party

Former parlor massage business owner is set to launch the 'Rak Prathet Thai' Party, or 'To Love Thailand,' Party today with major policies focused on keeping the next administration in check.

Outspoken politician Chuwit Kamonwisit said his party, 'Rak Prathet Thai' will be officially introduced today at 11 A.M. at the Suan Chuwit Garden, Soi Sukhumvit 10, to compete in the upcoming poll.

He explained that the party's policies aim to look into the transparency of the next administration.

At the event, Chuwit will also be unveiling electoral posters and will showcase the 'Chan Rak Khun' or 'I Love You' slogan to restore reconciliation.

He said he will be the first candidate on the party-list, adding that he wants to be an MP again because he is confident about his oustanding performance in the past when he was voted to the 'Rising Star' of Parliament by the media in 2005, even though he was in office for only one year.

The 'Rak Prathet Thai' Party leader added that although he has been away from politics for a while, he insisted he has been following political news.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-12

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Former Pheu Thai MP Pracha broke down in tears during a press conference on his shooting; claims to know those behind the shooting /TAN_Network

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Security at Suvarnabhumi Airport beefed up

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AFP: Bail revoked for Thai 'Red Shirt' lawmaker

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Police Makes Progress in Investigation of MP Shooting

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Former MP Pracha denies setting up own ambush

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Former Massage Parlor Tycoon Chuwit Unveils His Party With Bull Terrier Logo

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Centre One Shopping Plaza at Victory Monument fully reopen after heavy fire damage in last May's Red Shirt demonstrations /MCOT

Former world boxing champions Somrak Kamsingh and Kaosai Galaxy will contest election under Chart Thai Pattana banner /TAN_Network

Court refuses bail for red-shirt leaders Jatuporn and Nisit so they must now be detained in prison; Jatuporn is clearly stressed /TAN_Network

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BMA Allots Bt800 Mln for Pawnshops

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has prepared an 800 million-baht budget for its pawnshops to meet the public's needs as a new school year begins.

A special interest rate has been announced for students and parents.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipaibul commented on the city administration's pawnshop services for the new school year, stating that pawnshop officials have been instructed to keep 800 million baht in reserve, increased from last year's 700 million baht.

A special interest rate for students and parents has been announced at 0.5 percent, or 50 satang per month, for items pawned at no more than 70,000 baht.

However, the transaction must be made between April until the end of May.

Necessary documents must be presented in order to be eligible for the special interest rate.

As for the general public, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, has implemented the 0.5-percent interest rate for items pawned at no more than 5,000 baht.

As for items 5,000 to 15,000 baht, the interest rate sits at one percent.

For items pawned at more than 15,000 baht, a two-percent interest will be applied for the first 2,000 baht and another 1.25 percent per month for the rest of the sum which has been in effect since April.

Theerachon said that the interest rate is much lower than those on the market.

The special rate is designed to help the public after last year's 0.95-percent interest rate on pawned items drew a positive response.

Theerachon went on to say that the measure is part of the Bangkok governor's policy to help the public by drastically reducing the interest rate.

The BMA has prepared an adequate budget to help alleviate students' and parents' financial burden for the new school year.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-12