Thailand Live Wednesday 13 Jul 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 13 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 12 Jul 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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BURNING ISSUE

Dear Khun Thaksin, save your sister

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POLITICS

Election Commission bombshell on Yingluck

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Video evidence at CentralWorld arson trial

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Yingluck Government - Critics doubt Pheu Thai motive

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Century of forced integration has failed in the South; Thai opinion

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Boy and girl shot; Thai Students' shooting blamed on school rivalry

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Abhisit and his Cabinet take final bow

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday chaired his Cabinet for the last time, concluding his government term that saw 133 ministerial meetings to map out policies and tackle national issues.

"Chaiyo! My last Cabinet meeting just ended," he said, cheering reporters after an hour-long meeting.

Abhisit thanked his ministers for their cooperation in administering the country. He congratulated ministers who would return to work with the next government, alluding to those appointed under Chart Thai Pattana and Chart Pattana Puea Pandin quotas.

Speaking on the Cabinet's behalf, Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he was grateful for the prime minister's leadership. He said Abhisit should be commended for making several bold decisions despite a turbulent time.

"I wish the prime minister and his Democrat Party every success, hoping to see you return to power soon," he said.

In one agenda item yesterday, the Cabinet approved a 60-day extension for the enforcement of the emergency decree in the three southernmost provinces.

After the meeting ended, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban conveyed his appreciation for the work of top security officials in dealing with street protests.

Suthep said goodbye to Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, National Security Council secretary-general Tawin Pleansri and National Intelligence Agency director-general Suwaphan Tanyuwatthana.

Staffers of the Cabinet Secretariat lined up to present red roses to Abhisit after the meeting.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Yingluck not to take charge of any ministry

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UK Home Secretary to decide on Aldhouse extradition to Thailand

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Death verdict upheld

By The Nation

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a death sentence for a motorcycle-taxi driver 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 Muang housing estate before fleeing with Bt550 in cash taken from the victim.

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 before the serious crimes. It found too that his claim of having no control over his actions was not convincing and he had denied wrongdoing during the investigation.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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EC begins endorsing MPs in marathon session

By Prapasri Osathanon,

Pimnara Pradabwit,

Wattana Kamchoo

The Nation

The Election Commission met yesterday for a day-long session considering and endorsing the July 3 election results.

Endorsed members of Parliament were advised they could pick up documents for their House of Represen-tatives registration from tomorrow. As of press time, the agency meeting, in which the five EC members were considering the qualifications of the MPs-elect one by one, was still underway.

An EC source, who asked not to be named, said the commission yesterday endorsed only MPs-elect who were free from complaints or opposition challenges against them. The first batch is expected to comprise 445 MPs.

The EC will have 30 days to investigate the cases of the other 55 MPs-elect who were questioned, the source said. By August 1, at least 475 MPs must be endorsed so that the House can assemble and begin work.

At the Government Office Centre, site of the Election Commission headquarters, 100 red-shirt supporters gathered for the EC's announcement of the vote results, expecting to hear the endorsement of red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan at 4pm. When the time passed and the EC meeting was still in progress, and despite the presence of crowd-control police, the group sang a song and called for Jatuporn's release and MP endorsement.

A middle-aged man came out claiming to be speaking for red-shirt chairman Thida Thawornseth and told them to disperse. Jatuporn's lawyer Winyat Chartmontri stayed at the meeting.

Cabinet secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon said after the Cabinet meeting that it had approved the petition asking for royal endorsement to open the House of Representatives.

As yesterday saw the last meeting of outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Cabinet, Abhisit signed the petition. However, the date for the royal ceremony will not be designated until after 475 MPs-elect have been endorsed by the EC.

Ampon said the EC was well aware the latest day for the House opening is August 1 and it would manage the necessary process in time.

Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said there were complaints against five of the party's MP candidates who won the election with the highest votes.

They include Lop Buri MPs-elect Mallika Jirapanwanich and Kiat Lueangkachornwit, who were accused of mudslinging, causing opponents to lose popularity. Ratchaburi MP-elect Charworalat Chinthammamit was accused of running an election campaign during an entertainment event. Sukhothai MPs-elect Chakkrawan Chaiwirat-nukul and Manu Pookprasert were accused of vote-buying.

Democrat spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said the party would have an orientation meeting for new MPs at the Four Seasons hotel today. And next Tuesday, the party's caretaker executive will meet to discuss the process of selecting new party executives. The party members' general meeting, MPs and party branches would all be involved in the selection, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Alongkorn clarifies on DTAC

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BMA: waterworks agency must handle sewer billing

By The Nation

Bangkok wants the law amended to let the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority handle its sewer billing.

Deputy Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said yesterday that the MEA turned down the city's request to include the city's wastewater treatment fee with its monthly water bills on grounds that it wasn't authorised to collect this additional fee for the city.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday asked the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, which had required local administrations to charge users for wastewater treatment, to revise the law so that the MEA could collect the sewer fee in the same bill.

The governor would soon assign a working team to find a way to collect the fee from Bangkok residents, said Chainat Niyomthul, an official at the BMA's Drainage and Sewage Department.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Teacher shooting arouses fear

By THE NATION

A Pattani-based religious teacher was shot dead yesterday, possibly by insurgents, prompting fears among a network of teachers in the deep South that a spate of similar attacks awaits them.

Ahmad Sama-eh, 33, was gunned down by four men on two motorcycles at a teashop.

He was a part-time teacher at a private Muslim school in Panare district.

Police said his murder either was the work of insurgents or resulted from a personal conflict.

Bunsom Srithongphlai, the head of an umbrella group of teachers in the deep South, urged security officials to come up with additional measures they had promised to adopt.

"The murder [of Ahmad] has caused an impact and psychological blow to all teachers working in the deep South," he added.

He called on the Pheu Thai Party, as leader of the incoming coalition government, to offer its stance over the violence or table any policies to deal with it.

He also expressed worry over heightened violence during the governmental transition - a practice traditionally adopted by insurgents.

The Cabinet yesterday extended the state of emergency in the deep South, except in Pattani's Mae Lan district, for another 60 days.

A normal extension lasts 90 days - but this time it was declared to be 60 days because of the change in the government after the July 3 election.

In Yala's Betong district, an Army squad on a mounted patrol was hit by a roadside bomb, wounding four members of the team, three seriously. The four soldiers belong to Yala Task Force 16 and were returning to their base from an escort mission.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Wage fund planned to aid SMEs: Jaruphong

By THE NATION

The proposed Bt300 minimum daily wage will not cripple small and medium-sized enterprises as feared by employers and the public, because a fund will be initiated to provide SMEs with interest-free loans, Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Jaruphong Ruengsuwan said yesterday.

A survey will be soon be launched to find out how many SMEs pay their workers less than Bt300 and how much money would be needed to support them, Jaruphong said.

The Bt300 wage was one of Pheu Thai's major campaign promises during the election that it ultimately won, but businesses and academics have warned that it is impractical and unproductive for the entire economic system.

Although former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto Pheu Thai leader, recently said the Bt300 wage would be paid only in Bangkok and not elsewhere, Jaruphong said only that the flat-rate policy would become "clearer" once the new Cabinet was set up.

Chalee Loisoong, a labour leader, said Pheu Thai would be a liar if the Bt300 wage could not be enforced uniformly across the country as its candidates had boasted during their election stumps.

The party also guaranteed a minimum entry-level salary of Bt15,000 a month for new university graduates.

The increases in the minimum daily wage agreed upon by the Tripartite Wage Committee for 35 provinces, ranging from Bt2 to Bt28, should also be immediately approved before the Bt300 wage goes into effect next year, Chalee said.

"Workers would all starve if they had to wait for the hike to Bt300 in January."

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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Migrants choosing Asian cities

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Cabinet decides to let EC rule on Education ministry's budget plea

By SAMASCHA HUNSARA

THE NATION

The Cabinet yesterday resolved to let the Election Commission decide on the Education Ministry's urgent request for a Bt23-billion budget to pay salaries for the next two months. "We are serving as the caretaker government. We cannot approve any project or budget," deputy government spokesman Marut Massayawanich said.

The Education Ministry has been seeking the additional funds to pay teachers and education officials in August and September.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said the Basic Education Commission was running out of money because it had higher-than-expected personnel expenses.

The Cabinet had approved a 5-per-cent pay raise for all civil servants but a new law governing salaries and allowances for academic ranks and positions initiated an 8-per-cent increase in salaries for government teachers and education officials.

Cabinet secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon and the Council of State had suggested that the salary budget proposal be returned to the Education Ministry, which might ask the next Cabinet to act on it.

The Pheu Thai Party won the July 3 general election and is now forming the new Cabinet.

The Comptroller-General's Department has said the higher hike for teachers and education officials than other bureaucrats was causing income inequality in the civil service and imposing a financial burden on the government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said the 8-per-cent pay raise approved by the Teacher Civil Service and Education Personnel Commission should be reviewed by the Cabinet Secretariat and the Council of State before consideration by the Finance Ministry.

The Basic Education Commission has decided to go ahead and award the pay raise, citing the new law.

-- The Nation 2011-07-13

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STOPPAGE TIME

Take it easy buddy, it's just politics; Thai opinion

By Tulsathit Taptim

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Chuan admitted to Ramathibodi Hospital late last night due to fatigue from election campaigning /TAN_Network

Election Commissioner Sodsri says Yingluck, Abhisit not yet endorsed because of large no of complaints /TAN_Network

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Chiang Mai: Famous panda Lin Hui may not be pregnant

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EC endorses MP status of 358 candidates, excluding Abhisit and Yingluck

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Ex-PM Chuan recovering with medication; demanding election campaign causes overtiredness; expected to be discharged from hospital today /MCOT

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10,000 liters of smuggled gasoline seized in Phuket

Officers take samples from the tanker truck loaded with the fuel.

Photo: Yodsak Jarana

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AFP: US ambassador connects with Thai 'Tweethearts'

Feature by Didier Lauras

BANGKOK, July 13, 2011 (AFP) - She tells us when she has a sore throat, craves a milkshake or is stuck in a traffic jam. The US ambassador to Thailand is everywhere on Twitter -- and far from traditional diplomatic practice.

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,071.19, up 8.80 points /MCOT

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Rayong Police Speed up Investigation of Bank Robbery

Rayong police say they are investigating a bank robbery, in which the culprit made off with one million baht in cash.

Rayong Police Commander, Police Major General Preecha Charoensahayanon, and Ban Chang Police Station Superintendent, Police Colonel Suthep Bunkam, inspected Kasikon Thai bank in Bang Chang District after a robber made off with one million baht in cash on the evening of July 11.

They collected evidence and questioned witnesses, saying the robber must be a local resident as he managed to flee the scene easily.

A security camera footage shows the criminal was wearing a cap and black sunglasses, and waited 15 minutes before committing the crime.

Police said there were no security guards as the bank has a lost-money insurance.

They believe the case is not beyond investigators' ability, but they admitted the process may take some time.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-13

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Army Busts Major Drug Dealer in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Muang District

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Yingluck unworried at EC delay of MP status endorsment; asserts she has not violated election law; believes she will get fair treatment from EC /MCOT