Thailand Live Tuesday 12 Jul 2011

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Deputy Commerce Minister Insists DTAC is Guilty of Foreign Business Act Violation

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Mother of Hit-and-run Victim to Give Crucial Testimony to Police

Investigators responsible for the famous hit-and-run case have said they would question the injured victim's mother by this week before determining whether the case will be filed as an attempted murder or an aggravated assault.

Police expect to have more information on the case by the end of this month.

Deputy City Police Chief, Police Major General Amnuay Nimmano said the mother of military doctor, Major Hathaiporn Imwittaya, or Doctor Muk, that her mother, Dr. Pannakorn Imwittaya has been asked to view the video of the re-enactment of the alleged hit-and-run incident, and to provide police with new information.

The police will use the new information to determine whether the alleged hit-and-run will be filed as attempted murder or aggravated assault.

The decision is expected to be made by the end of this month.

The public has kept a close eye on the case, as it is widely believed that Colonel Saksit Puklan, who turned himself in claiming to be the driver, is believed to be a scapegoat for the real culprit.

Police have not come to a conclusion and have not filed charges against any one.

Police have yet to receive the DNA test results and fingerprint scans from Doctor Muk's car.

Investigators also admitted that it would be beneficial to the case if they could question the recovering doctor.

However, they do not wish to interfere with Doctor Muk's steady therapy, and they feel there is already sufficient evidence to present to the court.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Veteran Oldie Singer to Perform in August

Veteran oldie singer is set to perform live in August when a variety of special-guest ballad singers and a brand new song will be featured.

Charin Nantanakon has announced that he will be performing live in a show entitled 'Charin in Concert Number 12: Patihan Haeng Rak on August 20 and 21 in Bangkok.

He said the show will feature his all-time classics and special appearances by fellow artists.

The 78 year old national artist explained that after his contract with Grammy Gold expired, he decided to walk alone.

He spent as much as five million baht on organizing this show himself.

One brand new tune, Patihan Haeng Rak or Miracle of Love, penned by 80's pop sensation Chompu Fruitie, will be performed especially for this concert.

Apart from Charin's magnificent vocals, the show will entertain audiences with performances by well-known singers such as Ratklao Amaradit, Orawee Satchanon, Srisalai Suchatwoot, and Tuk Yani.

The 'Charin in Concert Number 12: Patihan Haeng Rak show is set to take place on August 20 and 21 at the Thailand Cultural Center.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Australian teacher lucky to be alive after being shot in the head in Chiang Mai

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Yingluck affirms she will not take up post of defense minister too; says ministerial line-up should be clear in a week /

Cabinet approves decree for the convening of the new Parliamentary session but did not specify the date /

Cabinet also extends emergency decree usage for 3 southernmost provinces except for Maelan District for another 3 months /

/TAN_Network

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Outgoing PM Abhisit attends last cabinet meeting

BANGKOK, July 12 - Thailand's outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday attended his last cabinet meeting following the ruling Democrat Party's defeat to the opposition Pheu Thai Party in the July 3 general election.

Before chairing the meeting, Mr Abhisit inaugurated the renovated office of the Secretariat of the Cabinet with a group of government officials gathered to bid him farewell, presenting flowers and sharing photo opportunities.

Cabinet Secretary-General Amphon Kitti-amphon said the Tuesday cabinet session is set to approve the draft Royal Decree on the opening of the parliamentary session, but the opening date depends on consideration of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

According to the law, the House session should open within 30 days from election day, and is due on August 1, Mr Amphon stated.

The secretary-general said the Election Commission (EC) has assured him that it will submit to the secretariat a namelist of the 95 per cent of the endorsed elect-MPs as required by law.

"The EC knows what to do," said Mr Amphon. "The namelist must be sent (to the Secretariat of the Cabinet) within 48 hours in advance [of convening parliament)."

Mr Amphon said he is unworried about working with the new government as he has been working with five prime ministers already and the incoming premier will be the sixth.

Yingluck Shinawatra, youngest sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is set to become Thailand's first female prime minister after the Pheu Thai Party won the July 3 election with 256 seats out of 500 parliamentary seats and announced formation of a new coalition government with other five smaller parties, raising to 300 seats in total. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-12

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Suthep not to accept Democrat sec-gen post

BANGKOK, 12 July 2011 (NNT) – Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister overseeing Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban insists on his intention to resign from the post of secretary-general to the Democrat Party and will not acquire the post again despite a resolution of the party executives.

Mr Suthep affirmed not to resume the Party’s secretary-general seat, saying that he will withdraw himself immediately if his name is nominated. He uttered that no one could force him to return to the post.

The outgoing deputy prime minister viewed that the party’s next secretary-general should be selected among the party members. He believed it was impossible that Mr Niphon Promphan, a former secretary-general to the prime minister, would accept to replace him in the position.

Regarding a recent announcement of ex-Prime Minister Pol Lt-Col Thaksin Shinawatra to negotiate with him and Bhumjaithai de facto leader Newin Chidchob for the sake of national reconciliation, Mr Suthep said he was also ready for the talk; however, he had to think about Pol Lt-Col Thaksin’s sincerity carefully.

-- NNT 2011-07-12

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Floods Continue to Ravage Phitsanulok, Phitchit

Floods continue to ravage Phichit and Phitsanulok provinces after the Yom River overflowed in many areas.

Flood waters have inundated low-lying areas along the Yom River of Samngam, Pho Pratapchang, and Pho Talay districts of Phichit Province, and the water level of the river is rising continuously due to run-off from Sukhothai and Phitsanulok provinces.

Flood water in these districts is one meter deep, causing many areas to be under water for months.

More than a hundred household in six villages in Samngarm District have been affected by flooding for two months, and the situation looks unlikely to ease anytime soon.

Chum Saeng Songkram villagers in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam District had to build makeshift restrooms from bamboo poles, as the ones they have been using are now submerged.

Some villagers have taken refuge on the road.

Farmers in Baan Krungkrak of the district have to pay 400 baht every day to buy fuel for water pumps in order to pump water out of their rice fields.

The water level at the Yang Bang Ba water level monitoring station is 41 centimeters high, as the provincial authority is waiting for flood water to subside before it inspects the damage.

Many farmers have prematurely harvested their crops to prevent loss.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Red-shirt Leader Suphon 'Isan Rambo' Calls for Peace

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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368 Thai naval personnel leave for international anti-piracy mission off Somali coast

CHON BURI, July 12 – The second deployment of the Royal Thai Navy anti-piracy unit with 368 naval personnel left Thailand Tuesday morning to join the international operations countering piracy off the coast of Somalia for a 140-day deployment in the Giulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.

Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm Kamthorn Pumhiran presided over the embarkation of the anti-piracy squadron at Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand's eastern province of Chon Buri.

Two ships assigned to the mission, HTMS Similan and HTMS Narathiwat, have sailed for the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean off the Somali coast and are set to return to the kingdom in November.

The latest departure followed the successful anti-piracy missions by the first assigned Thai naval unit in 2010.

Last year’s operations successfully protected numbers of Thai owned and flagged cargo ships from robbery as well as helped the 23-member crew of a Thai fishing vessel who were robbed and floated in a life raft in those waters. They later returned to Thailand safely.

In addition, the duties and tasks of the Thai anti-piracy operations by the first Thai naval unit were acknowledged by other nations joining the mission.

The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia. It connects with the Red Sea and is part of the important Suez Canal shipping route with some 21,000 ships passing through annually.

Rising piracy and armed robbery in the designated waters have resulted in economic problems to many countries, especially those whose economies depend on maritime commerce.

Thai-flagged ships have been seized by Somali pirates on several occasions. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-12

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Last Abhisit cabinet meeting extends Executive Decree on Administration in Emergency Situations in 3 southern border provinces for another 60 days /MCOT

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PHETCHBURI

Grandmother likely victim of identity theft

A jobless 71-year-old woman in Phetchaburi province was more than surprised recently to receive a notice from the Revenue Department ordering her to pay Bt1.7 million tax or face legal action.

Pin Siriruang of Ban Lad district complained to authorities, saying she has no job, is poor and too old to work, so how can she have earned sufficient income to warrant tax of Bt1.7 million.

The grandmother said she received the notice from the RD's Ban Lad branch, which claimed that she worked as a fertiliser trader and had failed to pay the tax for her business. She was ordered to pay the tax or face legal action.

Chusak Thanomyod, an RD official, said that he would forward Pin's complaint to RD headquarters, which will check the information.

He suspected that somebody may have stolen the grandmother's name and tax documents.

-- The Nation 2011-07-12

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Source: Cambodia to Free Thais When Pheu Thai Party Takes Office

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REU: SENIOR SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS "IT APPEARS" BROTHER OF AFGHAN PRESIDENT WAS KILLED BY HIS BODYGUARD (BNONews/via@mpoppel

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Urgent: 8 students killed in road accident in Surat

Eight students were killed and eight others were severely injured when their school van crashed with a truck in Surat Thani, Jor Sor 100 radio station reported.

The school van was returning ot Yala following a football match.

-- The Nation 2011-07-12

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Would-Be PM Yingluck Not To Double As Defense Minister

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Chart Thai Pattana Wishes for Old Cabinet Posts

A Chart Thai Pattana Party's MP-elect says he hopes the party will be given the opportunity to take up its former Cabinet portfolios by the new government coalition leader.

Chart Thai Pattana MP-elect Kuakul Danchaiwichit hopes the new government coalition leader will give the party the chance to manage the same Cabinet portfolios it did during the term of the previous administration.

Under the outgoing Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, Chart Thai Pattana Party was responsible for the Tourism and Sports and Agriculture ministries.

Kuakul reasoned that the Chart Thai Pattana Party would be able to follow up on unfinished projects and to put into practice the ones that were being planned by the previous administration.

However, Kuakul declined to say if he is confident the party will be allocated the two key portfolios.

He said the ministerial quota has yet to be confirmed as the Election Commission has yet to endorse the election results.

When asked about a claim his party's de facto leader Banharn Silpa-archa's meeting with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to negotiate for ministerial posts, he said he was unaware such a meeting took place.

He also downplayed a speculation that Chart Thai Pattana will receive only three ministerial posts.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Two Minor Earthquakes Rattle Myanmar 18 KM Away from Mae Sai

Two minor earthquakes, 3.4 and 3.5 on the Richter Scale, rattled Myanmar just a little while ago.

The epicenter was 18 kilometers away from Mae Sai District of Chiang Rai Province. No injuries have been reported.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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POLITICS

PM Abhisit convenes last cabinet meeting

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No Thais injured/killed in protest in Malaysia

BANGKOK, 12 July 2011 (NNT) – The Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur has confirmed that no Thai people have been injured or killed in the protest against the Malaysian government during the last weekend.

Information Department Director-General and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi reported that the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur has kept constant contacts with Thai communities and confirmed the safety of about 4,000 Thais in Kuala Lumpur and other cities.

The director-general further elaborated that Thai people in Malaysia have not been affected by the protest as they can still live and travel to work normally.

Many protests were staged in Kuala Lumpur in the past weekend, demanding the Malaysian government for a national administrative reform. Malaysian police then decided to use tear gas to control the crowd.

Mr Thani advised that Thais in Malaysia abide by suggestions given by the Malaysian government strictly and avoid protest sites for their own safety although Malaysian authorities claim the situation is under control. He also told them to monitor news reports from the embassy and the Malaysian government.

-- NNT 2011-07-12

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Tourism Group Cautions New Govt over Wage Hike

The Association of Domestic Travel calls on the new government to develop human resources before raising the daily minimum wage.

It also hopes that the new tourism and sports minister will help prepare the Thai tourism sector for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Like many other Thai business sectors, President of the Association of Domestic Travel Maiyarat Pheerayakoses fears the plans to hike minimum wage and starting salary could hurt businesses.

She advises the government to begin implementing the 15,000 baht starting monthly salary for bachelor degree holders among the state agencies first.

Maiyarat explains that most private businesses are still unprepared for the wage hike and will be overwhelmed by the rising cost.

She points out that most of tourism businesses are not large hotels, but rather small and medium-sized enterprises.

She urges the government to focus on promoting education and developing human resources to go hand in hand with the rising salary.

Maiyarat claims that up to 70 percent of new college graduates are not prepared to enter the workforce.

The Association of Domestic Travel president indicates that the tourism sector wants the new sports and tourism minister to be someone who understands the industry.

It also hopes that the new government will prioritize education reform, human resource and basic infrastructure development in preparation for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community scheduled to take place in 2015.

The Association of Domestic Travel, in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and more than 40 travel businesses, is organizing a project to promote tourism in the lesser-known tourist destinations, such as Phetchaburi, Prachiburi and Samut Songkram provinces.

The project will be participated by local guides and is expected to attract over 400,000 tourists, generating up to 50 million baht in income.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Lawyer Plans New Bail Request for Red-shirt MP

The legal representative of red-shirt leader and MP-elect Jatuporn Promphan is waiting for the poll panel to officially endorse Jatuporn's MP status before he submits another request for bail.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court has postponed the appearance of Jatuporn, as a defense witness, in a libel suit filed by the outgoing deputy premier.

Winyat Chartmontri, lawyer representing red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai Party's MP-elect, Jatuporn Promphan, told the media that he will soon submit anther request for bail.

According to Winyat, a new petition for bail will be filed as soon as the EC officially endorses Jatuporn's MP status.

The EC's official endorsement will be used to seek the court's approval for the temporary release of Jatuporn to allow him to participate in Parliament sessions.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn today was brought from the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Criminal Court for a hearing in a libel case filed by outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban against him.

Suthep accused Jatuporn of libel when he accused the outgoing deputy PM of enlisting immigrant laborers to disguise themselves as red-shirt protesters to participate in red-shirt gatherings and incite chaos in December 2009.

Jatuporn's lawyer asked the court to postpone Jatuporn's testimony date, citing the need for more time to prepare for the defense testimony.

Jatuporn will make another appearance in court on July 14.

Jatuporn is being held at the Bangkok Remand Prison after his bail was revoked on lese majeste charges.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Thailand Post releases stamp collection for Thai Language Day

BANGKOK, 12 July 2011 (NNT) – Thailand Post Co, Ltd has unveiled a collection of commemorative stamps for the National Thai Language Day on 29 July with a goal to stimulate Thai learning and appreciation among youth.

Thailand Post Marketing Communications Manager Parisa Pananond revealed that a special set of postage stamps was being produced to commemorate the National Thai Language Day, which falls on 29 July of every year. There are totally 44 stamps in the collection, each portraying a Thai alphabet with Thai vowels and numbers lined up along the border.

With vibrant colors and designs, the stamps can serve as an aid for children in their learning of Thai alphabets as well as help instill the pride of national identity and cultural heritage among them.

The collectible stamps will become available for purchase at all post offices nationwide from 29 July onwards at the price of 1 THB each. More information can be obtained at www.thailandpost.co.th.

-- NNT 2011-07-12

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SET index closed at 1062.39, down 14.85; Bt/USD30.27; GBP47.75; AUD31.88; EUR42.01; CAD30.90; HKD3.88; SGD24.47; JPY37.7

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Court upholds death for student's killer

The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the ruling of a death sentence for a motorcycle taxi rider who raped, robbed and killed a Mathayom-4 student in 2006.

The court also ordered him to pay Bt600,000 in compensation to the victim's family.

On the night of June 15, 2006, defendant Sirimongkol Reunnak, 38, stabbed 16-year-old Wewimol Sirivej six times with a knife until she was dead and raped her at the back of Bangkok's Don Meuang housing estate before fleeing with the victim's Bt550 in cash.

The defendant appealed for a lighter punishment, after two previous courts had handed down the death sentence, a Bt50 fine for carrying a gun without permission, and an order to pay Bt600,000 compensation for the victim's family.

The Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' ruling as it found he voluntarily took Yaba and drank alcohol prior to the serious crimes. It found too his claim of having no control over his actions wasn't convincing and he had denied wrongdoing during the investigation.

-- The Nation 2011-07-12

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STOCK EXCHANGE

Thai bourse follows global plunge

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Phuket drug youth on 'ice'

A SpongeBob shoulderbag was among the evidence seized by Phuket

Police in one of the cases. Photo: Yodsak Jarana

More than 128 grams of crystal meth seized in one of the cases. Phuket

Police have noted a shift in use from ya bah (methamphetamine in tablet

form) to the purer crystalline form, known locally as ya Ice.

Photo: Yodsak Jarana

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Phuket ‘warms up’ for Mother’s Day

Photo entries must show the mother prominently and in focus.

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More Red Shirts Gather at EC to Pressure Certification of Jatuporn's MP Status

Red shirt supporters have increased in numbers in front of the Election Commission headquarters, shouting their demands for the EC to certify red shirt leader Jatuporn Phrompan's MP status.

The Election Commission was, today, scheduled announced the names of MP's who have passed the certification process. It has not made the announcement, thus far.

Riot police are on hand to quell any unrest.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-12

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Cabinet approves Bt23bn for Education Ministry in last meeting

In its last meeting, the Abhisit Vejjajiva's Cabinet Tuesday approved Bt23billion budget for the Education Ministry.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said the budget was necessary to ensure that the ministry had money to pay for the higher salaries of teachers and education officials.

The approval, however, will be subject to review by the Election Commission (EC) first because the Abhisitled Cabinet is now serving as just a caretaker.

-- The Nation 2011-07-12