Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Jun 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 29 June 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 28 June 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Phuket Customs warns of foreigners cheating Thai ladies

Thai Customs have issued a warning for Thai ladies to beware of cheating foreigners.

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Move to quit UN panel stalled; UNESCO withdrawal

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ANALYSIS

Election outlook in the deep South

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JULY 3 ELECTION

Voting from abroad: Thai voices from a distance

By Vowpailin Chovichien

@vow_vow

Special to The Nation

The number of Thais registered to vote from abroad is 147,330, the equivalent of just over half the population of Mae Hong Son province.

Although some of these expats, students, immigrants and housewives live in distant parts of the world, modern telecommunications and information technology keep many of them politically connected to movements in Thailand (or even engaged in the movements themselves, as you can see from the news coverage of yellow-and red-shirt rallies abroad) and elections - often even more so than some of us here - in the globalised era.

Despite this, the vast majority of Thais abroad remain ignorant of the upcoming general election. With our Constitution clearly stating that voting is the duty of all Thai citizens, it is the duty of the Foreign Affairs Ministry as well as all Thai embassies and consulates to campaign for overseas electoral registration. But the most common problem is - how to actually locate Thai citizens abroad?

Similar to most countries, we have a registration system at embassies and consulates for Thai people living abroad. However, as is also the case with other countries, the system is voluntary. With no benefits for registering and no rights taken away for not doing so, much less than half of those eligible to sign up actually do so, although this has started to change since the political upheavals in Egypt and Libya and the devastation following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

If you are registered overseas, the local Thai embassy or consulate will be able to contact you and inform you about the electoral registration process, for which the deadline is usually a month before the actual election (in this year's case, June 2 for polling on July 3).

They will also advise on the election methods for those living abroad, which could involve voting at a polling station at the embassy/consulate, a mobile election unit or via postal voting, or a combination of these in some countries.

For many, the traditional way of campaigning is to pass messages through the Thai communities - Thai student networks (usually via Thai societies' group e-mail, as I received in London back in 2005), Thai community newsletters (for example, "Thai Smile", which is widely distributed for free in Thai supermarkets in the UK), work agents (for contract workers) or even posters in Thai restaurants and at Thai temples.

Nowadays, as the Internet and social media prosper, all the necessary information on Thai elections is available online on the Consular Affairs Department's website, www.consular.go.th, as well as on the websites of most embassies/consulates.

With more than 10 million Facebook users in Thailand, 8.4 million of whom are eligible to vote, the page "facebook.com/ove2554" (Overseas Election 2554) was created specifically for this purpose.

Despite being quite small in terms of the number of fans, the page offers content that has been shared all over Facebook and Twitter, and can easily reach Thais living overseas. The content includes specific information on voting methods, with the support team answering your specific questions, as well as overseas election campaign clips featuring celebrities such as Paula Tayler, Girly Berry, Film Rattapoom, May Pitchanart and Tattoo Color.

YouTube has been much utilised, as it is a great communication tool for illustrating the voting process. One of the most inspiring Thai election videos is in Sudan, organised for Thai soldiers taking part in the UN peacekeeping mission there.

The success of such moves is clearly seen from the fact that the number of Thais registered to vote from overseas has soared from just 90,205 in 2008 - that's an increase of 62 per cent. In Singapore alone, the figure has surpassed 10,000, while in the UK the number has doubled from 2,296 to 4,775. Whatever these rises are down to - better campaigning, the growth of social media or simply because Thais overseas are now more politically aware - it is good news.

So, who is eligible to vote from abroad? First, you have to meet the criteria for voting in the Kingdom, that is, you must be Thai, over 18 years old on January 1 of the election year, and have lived in your constituency for more than three months.

Second, you need to register for overseas voting before the deadline. Once you have registered, you don't need to do so again at the next election - only when you move back to Thailand, when you have to inform your district office.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Urgent talks underway over higher cost after leak

By Watcharapong Thongrung

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

PM doesn't want load to be passed on to consumers

Energy authorities are scrambling to address the higher cost of generating electricity due to a leaking gas pipeline off the coast of Rayong, which the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand says will probably take two weeks to fix.

Power-generation costs could rise by about Bt1 billion or 2.5 satang per unit based on Egat's estimate of the repair time.

Pailin Chuchottaworn, PTT chief operating officer for gas business, will host a press conference at 9am today. Another discussion will take place at the Energy Ministry in the afternoon.

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed concerns on the power supply and remarked that the cost must not be passed to consumers.

Energy permanent secretary Norkun Sitthiphong, summoned to brief the Cabinet on the leak, assured the ministers that there would be no disruption to the power supply or shortages of natural gas for vehicles or liquefied petroleum gas.

He said he would lead a discussion with PTT, Egat and the Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the extra cost incurred by the shift from natural gas to more expensive bunker oil for power generation.

According to PTT president and chief executive officer Prasert Bunsumpun, aside from the stock of 50 million litres of gas, the company will import 30 million litres from Singapore.

"There will be a discussion among PTT, the contractor and the insurance company over the damage" to the pipeline, he said.

ERC chairman Direk Lawansiri said after a meeting with PTT and Egat representatives that it remained unclear who would cover the damage. If the higher cost of electricity generation is passed on to consumers, the fuel tariff for the September-December round could be increased.

PTT initially estimated that it would take no longer than 30 days to fix the leak.

This would mean a maximum requirement of 300 million litres of bunker oil to replace the natural gas shortfall.

The leak, caused by the collision of an anchor of Hyundai Heavy Industries with tubes linking the pipeline and Platong 1 gas field, led to the shutdown of the pipeline, which transmitted 850 million cubic feet per day and the disappearance of 250-300MMcfd supplied to power plants.

Divers will be dispatched to check the damage today and PTT remains optimistic that the damage is limited to the valves, which would not take long to fix.

Yesterday, Prasert said it was not yet clear how the incident would damage the company financially. The leak also necessitated the shutdown of the fifth gas-separation plant and PTT Chemical's cracker.

Tevin Vongvanich, PTT chief financial officer, said the company should receive insurance compensation for damaged assets, probably in the third quarter of this year. However, it is not clear whether the insurance covers the higher generating cost.

Prasert said the extra cost deriving from bunker-oil imports should be compensated by Egat. However, Egat governor Sutas Patamasiriwat insisted that the agency would not take any responsibility for the extra cost. He said the Energy Regulatory Commission would have to settle the issue.

Egat is also prepared to tackle a scenario if the repairs take as long as 60 days. Sutas assured all that there would be no power blackouts because of PTT's supplies of other fuels such as bunker oil, liquefied natural gas and even diesel, which could further push up the generation cost.

Decommissioned generators in Bang Pakong and southern Bangkok, with combined capacity of 2,300 megawatts, could be reinstalled, along with two generators in Ratchaburi.

At present, Nam Theun 2 facility in Laos increases capacity from 750MW to 1,070MW. Coal-fired power plant in Khon Kaen and alternative power-driven plants are running at full capacity.

"If this reoccurs in 2014, the situation will be grave, as then the country's power reserves would fall to 15 per cent [of installed capacity] from 25 per cent," Sutas said. "Brownouts or periodic blackouts are anticipated then, as natural gas accounts for 70 per cent of Thailand's generating fuels.

"The percentage tends to rise further as the nuclear power plants are delayed. It's time for the government to devise plans to lower dependence on gas and increase the proportion of clean coal, which is cheaper" than gas.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Remand threatens Jatuporn's electoral hopes

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Skytrain extension

By The Nation

Construction of the 5.3km long Taksin-Phetchakasem Skytrain extension, in which the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) invest?ed some Bt7.5 million, will be ready for service on December 5, 2012.

BMA Governer MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and city executives yesterday inspected the Pho Nimit station construction site. He said the extension, linking the Skytrain system to the heart of Thon Buri, comprised four stations - Pho Nimit, RatchadaRajapreuk, Wutthakard, and Bang Wa.

The extension will connect with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at RatchadaRajapreuk station, the subway's blue line extension, and the Khlong Phasi Charoen transport boat system at the Bang Wa station, he said.

This route already has a parking lot for Skytrain users at the Wongwian Yai station, he said. The extension will also have a parking lot at RatchadaRajapreuk station, where a "skywalk" elevated pedestrian way would be built to link to the RatchadapisekRajapreuk Road.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Thai Society at risk, for goodness' sake: army chief

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Thai study highlights perils of boozing

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BMA rises to King's call

By The Nation

In response to His Majesty the King's call for traffic solutions in the Siriraj Hospital area, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday vowed to urgently push ahead with four main projects.

Jumpol Sampaopon, who heads the BMA Public Works Department, said one of the projects would start in August with a Bt120million budget.

"This project is to improve the Rotfai and Liab Klong Bangkok Noi roads," he said, adding that BMA has already prepared the budget for the project.

"For three other projects, we are in the process of discussing with the Budget Bureau," he said.

Jumpol said the second project involved extending the bridge across the Arun Amarain Canal, requiring a Bt900million budget.

"We plan to extend the bridge to the spot in front of the Royal Thai Navy Institute," he said. "The additional elevated portion will stretch across the Siriraj intersection and Mon Canal."

The third project, he said, was to extend the Suttawas Road from the Issarapharp Road to the Charan Sanitwong Road (in front of Sala Namyen Market).

"This project also includes the construction of an elevated portion from Suttawas Road across the Charan Sanitwong Road to Riab Tang Rotfai Sai Tai Road," he said.

He said this project would cost Bt210 million and construction was scheduled for completion by 2013.

Jumpol said the fourth project was to add a twolane elevated road to the Rama VIII Bridge, with a budget of Bt1.85 billion.

"This new road will stretch for three kilometres," he said. The BMA expects the construction of this project to be completed by 2013, too.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Villagers seek more compensatIon for damages

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Ayutthaya

Pathum Thani

Villagers in Ayutthaya province have asked the government to urgently build concrete embankments against erosion on the banks of the Chao Phraya River after their homes were damaged by a sinking barge carrying about 2,400 tonnes of brown sugar on May 31.

The barge hit a bridge pillar and later sank in front of the villagers' houses, damaging their properties and causing downstream pollution problems in five provinces - Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Bangkok.

"I have been in shock several times since my house was collapsed by the sinking barge. I cannot sleep at night because I worry about a disaster approaching," said Harol Mathong, 57, who has lived in Ayutthaya province all his life.

Nearly a month has passed since his house was damaged, mainly by water surging around the sinking barge. The government and local authorities have paid Bt30,000 in compensation and another Bt200,000 has come from the owner of the sugar barge, but the money is not enough for reconstruction.

Harol has been to hospital several times because the stress of worrying about his future has given him high blood pressure.

Now he is worried about probable flooding in October and September, which could affect the river bank and houses in the same location.

Meanwhile, fish farmer Wassana Juilampen, 39, said her fish farms in Pathum Thani province had been damaged by water contaminated by sugar leaking from the sunken barge.

She estimates damage to her fish farms at more than Bt100,000, but has received only Bt31,500 in compensation from local authorities and a fishery agency.

She is now thinking of asking the local fishery agency to help her file a civil lawsuit against the barge owner, seeking more compensation.

"Compensation from the authorities has not been enough to cover the damage to my fish farms," she said.

A representative of the National Human Rights Commission, Srisuwan Janya, visited the affected sites by boat along the Chao Phraya River yesterday to collect complaints and information from people affected by the incident.

He will submit a report to relevant agencies in an effort to find solutions to their problems.

"The government should now force the owners of barges who use Chao Phraya River to transport products to display signs that explain the type of material they are carrying," he said.

Speed limits for barges using the river should also be strictly controlled by state agencies, Srisuwan said.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Fake degrees

By The Nation

Two young women were arrested yesterday on suspicion of selling fake teaching degrees online and through social networking services.

Suphawan Saengchai was first nabbed in a sting opera?tion when she agreed to sell a set of documents certifying a degree from a government uni?versity to undercover agents.

This led police to Supreeya Aneknant.

Both women admitted to charges of forging government and nongovernment docu?ments and implicated a man known as "I" as the forger, police said.

They said the man earned most of the money - up to Bt15,000 for a degree or up to Bt100,000 for a name in the registration database.

Supreeya said she had ped?dled the documents to 50 clients for over a year, while Suphawan said it was her first sale and had merely assisted Supreeya in previous sales, police reported.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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Regaining consciousness following intensive treatment

By The Nation

After being run down by a car, Army physician Dr Major Hathaiphorn Imwitthaya yesterday poses for cameras, with her mother Dr Phannakorn, flashing double V signs.

Police play wait and see in rundown doctor case Police expect the Army doctor who sustained brain injuries from what is described by many as a parkingrage attack and by a colonel as an accident - eventually to provide crucial information for the investigation.

Metropolitan Police Division 1 deputy commander Colonel Weerawit Janjamrern said yesterday that police would wait until Major Hathaiporn Imwittaya had recovered and was fit enough to testify.

"We will have to consult doc?tors first," he said.

Since the June 4 incident, Hathaiporn has been treated at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok. Her condition has been improving slowly.

Colonel Saksit Phuklan, who works for the Royal Thai Army, yesterday showed up at the hos?pital with his mother. He con?fessed to having driven a car that caused injuries to Hathaiporn, who was having a parking dispute with his daugh?ter. However, he denied that he deliberately hit her with his car and insisted it was an accident.

Saksit's mother went to the hospital room to visit Hathaiporn and talked to her mother.

"I understand the feelings of a mother. My family is ready to take responsibility and to do our best to relieve her and her fam?ily's sufferings," Saksit's mother said.

Saksit did not go into the vic?tim's room but later in the day provided more evidence to police. Items submitted were a camera he used to take a picture of Hathaiporn on June 4, and clothes he, his wife and his daughter wore that day.

Phaya Thai Police Station superintendent Samarn Rodkamnerd said Saksit's daughter would be asked to pro?vide a statement but he did not plan to issue a summons soon. "It's not urgent and her role is not that important."

Asked about speculation that Saksit might have made the confession to protect the real culprit, who could be his own daughter, Samarn said: "I see no reason for him to do so."

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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STOPPAGE TIME

Remember where we stand in the grand scheme of things; Thai opinion

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Cambodia slams Thailand for abandoning peaceful resolution to conflict in WHC withdrawal; says no to further bilateral negotiations /TAN_Network

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Thailand places 25 provinces under close watch before general election

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Bangkok: Heavy traffic on Ramintra Rd this morning from 10-wheeler and bus collision accident on Vipawadee-Rangsit Rd /TAN_Network

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Cambodia has been continuously reinforcing its troops at the border with Si Sa Ket; Thais there are on alert for possible evacuation /TAN_Network

Yingluck boards Ubon Ratchathani-Si Sa Ket train this morning and campaigns on policies about rail transport /TAN_Network

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Nan floods recede after rain letup, Nan River water level decreases; Flood situation in Phrae stabilises /MCOT

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BODY BUILDING

Thai hosts to take on Asia at Championships

By The Nation

Bodybuilders from more than 30 countries are set to flex their muscles in the 45th AFBF Asian Body-building Championships from October 2-8 at Bangkok's Thai-Japan Youth Welfare Centre.

Boontham Sriboonthong, secretary-general of the Thailand Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, revealed that the TBFA received the nod to host the contest from governing body the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

He said the one-week competition would feature a total of 31 divisions in eight categories.

"Bodybuilders from Singapore, Vietnam, Burma, China, South Korea, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Hong Kong, Ukraine and Kazakhstan have already confirmed their participation," Boontham said. "I think bodybuilders from more than 30 nations will compete this time. Confirmation of the exact number is expected at the end of August."

He added that a total of 42 home bodybuilders and fitness competitors will be chasing seven gold medals at the Asian meet.

"After a period in intensive training, they will be ready to impress judges with their great shape and fantastic muscles. As hosts, we are targeting seven gold medals. Everyone has been training hard to make that initial target a reality."

The previous edition was split last year between Iran (mainly for men's events) and Singapore (for women's events and some men's divisions). Thailand captured 16 medals, including nine golds and three silvers. Three of the nine gold-medal-winning performances came from bodybuilders alone, including one from Somkid Sumethowejchakul, who went on to capture the world crown last year.

-- The Nation 2011-06-29

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AFP: Fugitive ex-leader Thaksin dominates Thai election

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,020.33, up 6.83 points /MCOT

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Provinces Near Thai-Cambodian Border Brace for Possible Tensions

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Flooding remains critical in Nan's Wiang Sa district

NAN, June 29 -- Flooding in Thailand' northern province of Nan's Wiang Sa district remains critical as the district is at a lower elevation and water is retained from other areas.

Some district residents are still on the rooftops of their homes, as seven subdistricts of Wiang Sa submerged under high floodwater as more than 15,000 households were affected by the flood.

Meanwhile in provincial seat, Pua, Tha Wang Pha, and Phu Phiang districts, the situation has returned to normal and residents have started to clean up their homes and shops.

Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand Secretary-General Dr Chatree Charoencheewakul said staff working in the flood zone reported that some locations were cut off because of floodwater and that moving patients is being done by boat.

Boats were also being used to distribute relief packages. The institute has coordinated with charity foundations to provide boats and medical workers to help the victims.

At Sukhothai, the water level of the Yom River has risen beyond the critical point, overflowing into the municipality, while many roads were under high water with more than one metre deep.

Rescue workers used flat bottom boats to evacuate residents and move their belongings to higher ground.

In Tak's Mae Sot district, floodwater has receded but some villagers along the Thai-Myanmar border, adjacent to the Moei River, were under one metre of water. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-06-29

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Update: Probe into Alleged Political Intervention in Telecom Dispute

The Commerce Ministry refuses to give an answer as to whether there are politicians involved in an investigation into a petition against the country's second largest cell phone service provider.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Puangraj has commented on the allegation against Total Access Communication or DTAC that the company has violated the Foreign Business Act by allowing foreigners to hold the majority of its shares via Thai nominees.

He said many institutes are involved in the formation of DTAC shareholder structures, starting with the Bank of Thailand, the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC, and the Department of Business Development.

He said these institutes are all authorized for DTAC's shareholder structure approval, under the supervision of the Commerce Ministry.

He insisted that whether there is political involvement in the formation of the shareholder structure of DTAC will become clear with the court's investigation.

The Commerce Ministry can only try its best to gather the relevant evidence to assist in the court's judgment.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-29

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Bangkok: Metropolitan 1 police arrest suspect with 400,000 speed pills, 10 kg of 'ice,' and heavy weapons, all worth more than Bt130m /TAN_Network

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Yingluck: US ambassador against coup

BANGKOK, 29 June 2011 (NNT) – US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Anne Kenney has expressed concerns over any coup d’état in Thailand while the 3 July general election is drawing close, according to Pheu Thai prime minister candidate Yingluck Shinawatra.

Speaking about her recent meeting with the US ambassador on Monday, Ms Yingluck stated that their meeting simply followed postponement of several earlier appointments due to time clash. She said the discussion generally touched on her campaign situation.

Asked if the US ambassador expressed her concern over the Thai political situation and her stance against any coup d’état in Thailand, Ms Yingluck confirmed the news report but refused to give further comments, saying that it would be better to let the US side give information about this.

The prime minister candidate added that the US envoy showed her support to an election under the democracy as well as her confidence in the Thai election system.

As for a rumour that her Pheu Thai Party had contacted General Prawit Wongsuwan to sit in the Ministry of Defence if her party could form the new government, Ms Yingluck declined knowledge about the matter, adding that it was too soon to talk about Cabinet formation at the present time.

-- NNT 2011-06-29

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PTT: Gas leak in Gulf of Thailand under control, does not affect power generation /MCOT