Thailand Live Saturday 14 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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Pattaya bus crash on Bang Na Trat kills two and injures 27

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REDS MOVEMENT

Don't let anger over jailings jeopardise vote, red shirt leaders warn

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MYSTERIOUS CHIANG MAI DEATHS

WHO supports probe

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40 satang per litre okayed for Oil Fund

By The Nation

Published on May 14, 2011

The Energy Policy Administration Committee yesterday agreed to collect a marketing margin of 40 satang per litre for the Oil Fund.

This took effect yesterday. The committee expects that Bt54 million per day or Bt1.62 billion per month will flow in the Oil Fund. So far, the fund has been maintained at a low level with manage for Bt851 million.

Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said the committee had considered that the oil trade's marketing margin of Bt1.30 per litre was high. However, the policy will not reduce retail prices at service stations.

PTT consolidated net jumps

PTT's consolidated net profit in the first quarter this year surged to Bt34.52 billion from Bt22.77 billion last year.

Sales and services increased by 20.5 per cent to Bt540.86 billion on the increase in sales volume and selling prices in relation to the increase in global market prices.

Earnings before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortisation including other nonoperating income and expenses (EBITDA) was Bt51.85 billion, up by 21.1 per cent from Bt42.82 billion.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook on PTT's longterm localcurrency issuer default rating (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the rating at "A". A full rating breakdown is provided below.

SCCC profit surges 36.6%

Siam City Cement (SCCC), Thailand's secondlargest cement maker, posted firstquarter consolidated net profit of Bt1.116 billion, up 36.6 per cent from last year.

SCCC generated revenue of Bt6.22 billion in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 14.9 per cent from last year mainly due to higher volume and selling prices. The company expects domestic cement consumption this year to grow by 4 per cent from 2010, driven the government's continued spending on mega infrastructure projects and increased consumers' income.

SCCC this year will continue investing in the expansion phase of the INSEE Mortar plant and the construction of a third production line for Conwood, a subsidiary that produces woodreplacement products, expected to be completed by early 2012.

Freight rate forecast

Precious Shipping maintained its forecast of the freight rate for the full year at US$1.15 (Bt35) per vessel per day after seeing a higherthanexpected rate of $1.21 per vessel per day in the previous quarter, accordฌing to the company's filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday.

The tsunami disaster in Japan has had little impact on the company's shipping business, as it has no scheduled shipping to and from Japan. However, the company expects the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), measuring the cost of shipping raw materials, to move to a low level over the next six to eight quarters because of a higher supply of newly built vessels.

CIMB upgrade

Fitch Ratings has upgraded CIMB Thai Bank's longterm foreigncurrency issuer default rating (IDR) to "BBB" from "BBB", reflecting its stronger strategic and operational integration with CIMB Bank of Malaysia. The upgrade also reflects the improvement in the bank's credit profile over the past 1218 months under more benign operating conditions, allowing for a narrower notching differential between the two banks

-- The Nation 2011-05-14

Amnesty International names Thailand's first 'prisoner of conscience'

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PRE-POLL VIOLENCE

Grenade attack targets Pheu Thai worker: Pre-poll violence

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JULY 3 ELECTION

Snoh confirms move to Pheu Thai

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Abundant harvest predicted for this year

By The Nation

The sacred oxen predicted a bountiful harvest for this year at yesterday's Royal Ploughing Ceremony - a traditional rite that is held annually to mark the beginning of the ricegrowing season.

Since the oxen feasted on the grass and the liquor on offer, it was predicted that the economy would prosper with an abundant harvest of grains, fruit and other crops, and also do well in international trade and transport.

Also, the Lord of the Plough picked up a piece of cloth measuring five palms, which showed sufficient water for agriculture and a good yield in the paddy fields.

Chalermporn Pirunsarn, permanent secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, served as Lord of the Plough in the ceremony, which was presided over by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on behalf of His Majesty the King. HRH Princess Srirasmi and HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha were also present.

After the arrival of members of the Royal Family in Sanam Luang, the scared oxen started ploughing the field in a rite that was led by the Lord of the Plough, four ladies carrying baskets filled with rice seeds, Brahmans and other officers. Rice seeds were then strewn on the freshly ploughed field.

The oxen were then presented with seven types of food and beverages, including grass, unmilled rice, maize, beans, sesame seeds, water and liquor. Once the feast was completed, the Prince presented awards to outstanding agriculturists, agricultural agencies and cooperatives.

Like every year, the crowds witnessing the traditional ceremony waited until the rites were completed before they stampeded into the field to collect the sacred grains of rice. Many farmers believe these grains are lucky and will help their fields flourish.

In related news, royal projects and development centres used this auspicious day as an occasion to hand out 12,100 wild banana trees to agriculturists in Hang Dong district in Chiang Mai in a bid to help them preserve forests and recover sources of water.

-- The Nation 2011-05-14

Meteorological Dept warns of heavy rain and strong wind in North, Notheast, Central, and East; BKK to see thunderstorm /TAN_Network

AP sources: Pornography found at bin Laden compound, unclear who viewed it http://apne.ws/j3pgnB -CC /via@AP

UDD to appeal for Jatuporn, Nisit on 19 May

BANGKOK, 14 May 2011 (NNT) – The legal team of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) is preparing to once again seek bail for its core leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai from the court after the long holidays.

UDD Secretary-General Nattawut Saikua said the group’s legal team will lodge an appeal for the two key figures with the Criminal Court next Wednesday in a bid to bail the two UDD leaders out after their bail has recently been revoked.

Mr Nattawut said he hoped the court would judge the case fairly as both Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit did not break any bail conditions, adding that Mr. Jatuporn only cited the terrorism case in Parliament, and Mr. Nisit did not incite UDD supporters to instigate unrest in the society.

The secretary-general also pleaded UDD protesters to be patient in order to avoid further problems as well as possible cancellation of the upcoming general election arrangement. He noted that the election would be the first step to solve the political crisis in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Acting UDD Chairperson Thida Thavornsret reaffirmed that the mass gathering of the group to mark the first anniversary of the bloody military crackdown will be held on May 19 as planned.

-- NNT 2011-05-14

Noppadon reveals Thaksin to visit Asia; refuses to confirm whether Somchai brought Pheu Thai's partylist for his approval /TAN_Network

PM says Democrat's partylist will be unveiled on May 16; expects Pheu Thai to promote Yingluck as PM candidate /TAN_Network

Lampang police report 40 girls were embroiled in fight for boys' attention; police were able to confiscate only 7 motorcycles /TAN_Network

Anand Panyarachun announces resignation of Natl Reform Committee ahead of election /TAN_Network

Police distribute sketch of 50 hitmen to all police stations ahead of election with Bt100,000 reward for their arrests /TAN_Network

Old Phuket Town to be ‘wireless’ by November

Burying the cables in Old Phuket Town is expected to greatly enhance

the beauty of the Sino-Portuguese buildings in the area.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

The ugly cables are to be buried by November.

Photo: Pimwara Choksakulpan

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Election Thailand: Phuket voters face postal vote farce

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha on Wednesday.

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Two men detained and three guns seized following north Pattaya pub shooting

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Suspected Marijuana Dealer caught after 2 hour stand-off at Sriracha Fishing Port

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Iranian arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for smuggling 2.7kg of crystal meth, or 'ice,' worth Bt8 mln (US$267,000): customs officer /MCOT