Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Jul 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 6 Jul 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 5 Jul 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: Ratings agency wary of new Thai govt policy

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THE FUGITIVE

Yingluck: Thaksin case to be reviewed

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Thaksin set for 'trade ambassador' role

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Wanted red-shirt leader Arisman set to surrender?

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Border disputes likely to remain highly volatile; Thai opinion

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STOPPAGE TIME

As Abhisit limps out, Yingluck's at the old trapdoor

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EDITORIAL

Irony at the reins as the bandwagon starts rolling; Thai opinion

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Abhisit won't stand against Yingluck

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Free-press minister urged

By Watchiranont Thongtep

The Nation

Academics and broadcasters yesterday urged the new government to respect press freedom and select a minister who can ensure that media policy supports the reconciliation of the country.

"Yingluck Shinawatra's administration should learn a lesson from the government led by her brother, ousted and exiled ex-prime minister Thaksin, which restricted and controlled media outlets to persuade people, partly distort the facts, and hide corruption," said Thepchai Yong, managing director of Thai Public Broadcasting Services (Thai PBS).

That finally stirred up lengthy demonstrations against his government and pushed the country into crisis, he said.

Darunee Hiranraksa, former dean of communication arts at Chulalongkorn University, told The Nation that if the new government wanted to promote real reconciliation, it should use all state-owned media for the public interest, not for its political purposes or to retaliate against opponents.

The government should also continue with media reform and establish an independent media committee that would focus on support activities related to self-regulation, ethics and freedom of the press, she added.

Thepchai said the government should appoint a highly experienced expert who understands press freedom to the post of minister in charge of media policy.

Yingluck's government should allow the press to do its job independently while leaving open space for the opposition party and marginalised groups to express their opinions freely, he said. As the managing director of Thai PBS, he wants to see the government keep its distance from all the internal affairs of the station to guarantee the public's right to communication, while the organisation would work closely with the public sector to examine the government.

Kasem Inkeaw, president of the Thailand Cable TV Association, said the government should promote cable and satellite television as well as the Internet as alternative media to encourage public participation without discrimination.

"Over the past couple of years, the cable and satellite television business has seen double-digit growth each year. This platform also provides varied content, especially political information from both sides of a conflict," he said.

The government should take this opportunity to promote reconciliation by using these alternative media, he added.

The National Press Council of Thailand (NPC) said it would start investigating the bribery allegation against a Pheu Thai candidate who was accused of sending an e-mail to his boss saying he had paid Bt20,000 to many journalists at newspapers and TV stations in return for filing stories on Yingluck before the election.

The fact-finding panel consists of Vichai Chokevivat of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Darunee, Somkiat Tangkitvanich of the Thailand Development Research Institute, Sittichoke Sricharoen of the Lawyers Council of Thailand and Banyat Tasaneeyavej from the NPC.

The inquiry is expected to produce results within 15 days, according to an NPC statement.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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10 girls rescued in Prachuap bar raid

By The Nation

Ten girls and young women aged 14 to 24 - six of them Thai and four from Laos - were rescued yesterday when police arrested two operators of a karaoke bar in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Rampeung Thanompeud, 48, and Samrerng Yodpan, 26, were initially charged with procuring women under 18 for prostitution and human trafficking, but the duo denied the charges. Bt7,500 in cash was seized.

The arrests stemmed from a complaint filed with police by a woman claiming her 17yearold daughter, who had been missing from their home in Nakhon Nayok for a month, was forced into prostitution at the bar.

Police conducted a 'sting', pretending to buy sex before searching the building. They found and rescued the girls and plaintiff's daughter.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Abhisit still best to lead Democrats, Chuan says

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Minimum daily wage of Bt222 approved in principle

By THE NATION

A sub-panel of the Bangkok Wage Tripartite Committee (WTC ) yesterday proposed a Bt7 increase to the top minimum wage of Bt215, which is already in effect in Bangkok.

Ammorn Chaowalit, an adviser to the sub-panel, said yesterday that the new rate of Bt222 was acceptable to employers, employees and the authorities and had been approved initially as a proposed rate.

It could be approved officially by the WTC in October, Ammorn said. Another hike next January, if demanded by employees, would be decided based on new factors at the time, including inflation, he added.

The sub-panel and the WTC have not yet discussed a flat Bt300-per-day wage, raised as an election promise by the Pheu Thai Party, which will now lead a five-party coalition to form a new government.

"Such a policy will rest with the new labour minister," he said.

At a Bangkok seminar yesterday, employers and academics on labour cautioned the new government against a possible policy to raise the daily minimum wage to a flat Bt300.

Pannaphong Itthiatthanont, a member of the WTC, said the wages were always calculated realistically based on several factors and must be approved jointly by the authorities and employees.

Ammorn said a Pheu Thai proposal to restructure the WTC to make future hikes easier would need a legal amendment - but it could also result in consequences for the entire production sector.

The Labour Ministry would need to initiate an amendment for the government's approval before a two-year process could begin, he added.

Associate Professor Lae Dilokwitthayarat of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of economics said the three-party mechanism was necessary for the entire business and production sectors to continue, or even survive.

High wage rates without good reason would only result in high production costs and product prices.

The group most affected by high wages would be small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ the most people.

They would need to be subsidised or helped by other government measures, if the wages could be raised independently by the government without a counterbalance from employers.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Thailand's BoI to seek public feedback on medical-hub plan

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Thailand poll seemed fair, Asian network observers say

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Press probe set up

By The Nation

The National Press Council of Thailand decided yesterday to investigate an allegation that many journalists received money from a Pheu Thai candidate in exchange for favourable coverage of the party's prime ministerial candidate, Yingluck Shinawatra.

The council said it had set up a subcommittee to gather information and probe the allegation.

Those on the panel were Dr Wichai Chokwiwat, Assoc Prof Darunee Hiranrak, Prof Sithichoke Sricharoen, Somkiat Tangkitwanitchaya and Banyat Thassaneeyavej.

The subcommittee will report to the council on its probe within 15 days.

An email distributed to media companies suggested a Pheu Thai candidate paid many journalists Bt20,000 in exchange for favourable coverage for Yingluck.

The council issued a joint statement last week with many media groups saying the claim had a negative impact on the profession.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Endorsement of MPs starts July 12

By THE NATION

After releasing the official ballot results, the Election Commission will begin to endorse MPs-elect next Tuesday.

EC member Prapun Naigowit said the endorsement would proceed after the commission had cleared a protest on the balloting outcome and charges of campaign fraud.

Prapun said he expected investigations into about 195 campaign-related complaints would be completed within the 30-day deadline. Should certain cases remain unresolved, the EC would allow members-elect of the House of Representatives to report for duty under the condition the decisions on their qualifications would be issued at a later date, he said.

House secretary-general Pitoon Poomhiran said yesterday that he expected the first House session to be opened by August 3, within 30 days after the election as according to the law.

According to the procedures, the caretaker prime minister must submit the Royal Decree for the opening of the House session to His Majesty the King. The process does not take a long time normally, but also depends on the number of MPs available at that time.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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'Raid' man in court

By The Nation

An influential businessman wanted for allegedly ordering a raid on a makeshift village built unlawfully on a land plot north of Bangkok, surrendered to police yesterday.

Thammanas Phromphao showed up at the Thanya Buri Court but refused to talk to the media. He later attended a hearing in a closed-door session before being released on bail of Bt500,000 and ordered to attend another court session on August 23.

His lawyer said Thammanas denied ordering 200 men to launch the assault and burn down huts built unlawfully on the large land plot he had purchased for Bt3.2 billion, with a Bt320 million deposit.

Thammanas chose to turn himself in to the court, which is permissible under criminal procedural law. It meant cutting short the procedure at the police station, including giving fingerprints, in order to avoid exposure to the media.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Audio books - new life for the blind

By The Nation

To celebrate His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, Nation Broadcasting Corporation is embarking on a project to publish audio books for the blind.

"Audio books will expand the horizons of the visually impaired," Khunying Uraiwan Sirinupong, chairwoman of the Foundation for the Blind, said yesterday.

Inspired by His Majesty's selfless dedication to his subjects, NBC and the foundation launched the project yesterday to encourage Thais to care for each other.

Uraiwan said the project would help foster social equality.

NBC president Adisak Limparungpatanakij said the audio books would be delivered to the foundation on December 16.

Suthichai Yoon, editorinchief of Nation Multimedia Group, and news anchorman Kanok Ratwongsakul had joined this project, he said.

Celebrities like MR Chalermchatri Yugala and teacher Netpreeya Choomchaiyo would also contribute to the project.

"We will upload the audio books to www.nationradio.co.th to expand the audience," Adisak said.

Volunteers would read out loud royal writings, The Nation team's favourite and inspiring books and many more literary works.

NBC will also hold a composition contest under the theme of "My Father".

Students and the public are invited to submit entries from September 1 to November 30 for the three categories -secondary students, university students and members of the general public.

The three prizes in the each category are Bt5,000, Bt3,000 and Bt2,000 in cash.

For more information, call (02) 338 3613.

The results will be disclosed on December 6.

"The winning compositions will be turned into audio books," Adisak said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Phuket may open parks at two dams

By THE NATION

The Phuket Provincial Admini-strative Organisation (PPAO) is looking to develop tourist parks and facilities at two dam sites.

A public hearing was held yesterday to gauge people's opinions on a plan to turn parts of Bang Wad Dam and Bang Niew Dam Reservoir into ecological tourist destinations.

"The areas have good potential. They are accessible by main roads and surrounded by abundant forest," PPAO chairman Paiboon Upatsaring said.

The local body has already assigned a private company to prepare a master plan for area development and organise public hearings under a Bt7.9-million budget.

"We expect to allocate the budget for the development by 2014 fiscal year," Paiboon said.

Pisut Technology executive Songkrit Sanphakit said for the Bang Wad Dam, development was likely to mean parking areas, public parks, meeting facilities, accommodation services for visitors, playgrounds, plus restaurants, orchid farms or floral orchards, and adventure zones. "Kayaking and rope bridges are included in the plan."

For the Bang Niew Dam Reservoir, he said the plan included accommodation, a camping area, parks, playground and a medium-sized sports centre.

"We are working on the plan. All details should be concluded by December," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

Songkrit said construction costs were likely to range from Bt200 million to Bt500 million.

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Update: EC Announces Official Thailand Election Results

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Motorists urged to avoid passing Kasetsat Univ today and tomorrow due to graduation practice /TAN_Network

Avoid Chulalongkorn Univ tomorrow and Friday due to graduation /TAN_Network

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Yingluck calls a meeting of Pheu Thai's econ team at 11am /TAN_Network

Pheu Thai deputy leader Plodprasop affirms 299 seats is enough stability for govt so Bhum Jai Thai won't be asked to join coalition /TAN_Network

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Wittaya tipped for House speaker

By The Nation

Incoming MP Wittaya Buranasiri on Wednesday said he was ready to serve as the House speaker if his Pheu Thai Party nominated him for the job.

"If the party executive board picks me for the job, I am ready and willing to serve," he said.

Wittaya, former opposition chief whip, said his party was not discussing the ministerial appointments as speculated in the press reports.

He also said the issue of appointing ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as Thailand's trade envoy had not been raised by the party although in his personal opinion, he saw Thaksin as a capable individual willing to serve the country despite his exile.

-- The Nation 2011-07-06

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Korkaew to Yingluck: Red shirts' involvement in politics doesn't end at the election. /via @can_nw /via@tulsathit

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Thaksin as trade envoy rumour denied

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,082.23 down 2.36 points /MCOT

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ABAC Poll explains inconsistency in exit poll-election result

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DTAC Faces More Scrutiny Over Foreign Shareholders

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