Thailand Live Tuesday 9 Aug 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 9 August 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 Monday 8 Aug 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: New Thai PM Yingluck takes office with unity pledge

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'Apolitical' Shin Corp successor in the spotlight

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BURNING ISSUE

Yingluck should keep well clear of military affairs

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Police chief can't be axed without proper reason : Democrats

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Chao Phraya riverside residents warned to prepare for floods

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EDITORIAL

Human trafficking: Thailand is under the spotlight

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Thai doctors call for end to euthanasia law

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Song for Princess

By The Nation

The Fine Arts Department has composed "Pleng Phetch" - 'Diamond Song' - in honour of HRH Princess Bejraratana, Office of the Music and Drama official Sathaporn Niyomthong said yesterday.

The department's arts expert Wattana Boonjab wrote the song for the late Princess, and it would be played by national musicians and recorded as a CD for public distribution soon, Sathaporn said.

His comment was made after he led 120 singers and musicians to record a music CD named "Buddhakhun Thawai Prapon" ('The power of Lord Buddha's blessing for the King) to celebrate HM the King's 7th circle birthday on December 5, 2011. The album has five songs, included the title piece, which is a 100-year-old song written by Major-Gen Luang Wichit-wathakan, with lyrics modified by former performance art research and development head Panya Nittayasuwan.

The album will be completed in 15 days then submitted to the Fine Arts Department chief for distribution to the public.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Rights advocates set to press new Thai govt

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Anti-corruption body suggests boundary changes

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Parties seek fair chair share

By Nerisa Nerykhiew

The Nation

Party representatives will meet again next week to divide up House committee chairs after failing to reach an agreement yesterday.

Deputy Speaker Charoen Chankomol chaired the meeting to discuss the number of MPs each party can nominate to chair the 35 standing committees.

Based on the seats each party has in the House, Pheu Thai can chair 19 committees, the Democrats 11, Bhum Jai Thai two and Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin and Phalang Chon one each.

However, the small parties - Rak Thailand, Matubhum, Raksanti, Mahachon and New Democracy - said they had nine MP seats among them and deserve to get at least one House committee to chair.

Pheu Thai's Paijit Sreewarakan said the quota should be calculated according to the proportion, as by tradition.

Charoen then asked the government coalition parties to talk to Pheu Thai and the opposition coalition to talk to the Democrats about whether they were willing to give up a seat in their quotas.

Other representatives joining the meeting included Worawat Ua-apinyakul from Pheu Thai, Jurin Laksanawisit and Chuti Krairiksh from the Democrats, Chai Chidchob and Boonjong Wongtrairat from Bhum Jai Thai, Paradorn Prissanananthakul from Chart Thai Pattana and Wannarat Charnnukul from Chart Pattana Puea Pandin.

The leaders of the small parties such as Rak Prathet Thai's Chuvit Kamolvisit and Rak Santi's Purachai Piumsomboon also attended.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Youths want a PM with integrity, concern

By The Nation

A Mother's Day poll of children disclosed yesterday that if their mother were to become the prime minister they would want her to have integrity and concern for the public. The Bangkok Poll survey was conducted among 1,060 youngsters aged 15-25 years in Bangkok.

If their mother became premier, most respondents - 22 per cent - said they'd want her to care for public interest, have integrity and not be corrupt. Another 17 per cent wanted her reduce commodity prices, while 16 per cent want reconciliation and harmony in the country.

Almost 50 per cent said motherly behaviour they would adhere to was being hard-working and patient, while 18 per cent said being economical and 11.5 per cent said being good, honest and moral.

Up to 50 per cent promised to be good children for their mothers, 34 per cent would pay more attention to studying and working and 10.5 per cent would work hard to earn a living for her.

To mark Mother's Day, 55 per cent wished their mother to be healthy, 21.5 per cent wished her a long life and 15 per cent said they wished her happiness.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Senate launches probe against NACC's Phakdee

By The Nation

The Senate yesterday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate impeachment charges against Phakdee Photisiri, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Pheu Thai MP Anudit Nakhonthap led 130 other lawmakers to file an impeachment motion with the Senate Speaker, claiming that a panel chaired by Phakdee had unfairly carried out a graft probe against former public health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan.

The MPs also accused Phakdee of conflict of interest because he has served as permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Sanam Luang set to re-open

By The Nation

City officials made a last inspection of Sanam Luang yesterday to make sure it's ready for the city park's official re-opening tomorrow.

Officials and contractors checked many spots including the stage and exhibition area, as well as security cameras.

Sanam Luang has been closed for 13 months for major renovations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration allocated Bt180 million for the work. The ground will open to the public from 5am and 10pm, with only the main walk-through road in the middle open to pedestrians for 24 hours.

People will able to go there to exercise and fly kites for recreation. However political rallies or demonstrations are not allowed without permission. Cooking, sleeping overnight, vending and drinking alcohol are prohibited.

For the opening ceremony tomorrow, alms-giving for 1,985 monks is scheduled at 6am and a deity worship at the auspicious time of 8.09am.

A five-day exhibition to mark HM the Queen's birthday also starts tomorrow, and is being held on the sidewalk by a section of Rajdamnoen Ave.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Thai Law society to fight for widow of murdered activist Thongnark

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Cambodia will get its artefacts back eventually, says ministry

By Pakamard Jaichalard,

Nanthida Puangthong

The Nation

The Thai Cultural Ministry has told the Cambodian government it will continue to hold 36 historic artefacts seized from smugglers in 2000 pending negotiations and confirmation of their ownership.

Cambodia had asked for the return of the artefacts, which were among a haul of 43 its officials say were stolen. The ministry says the items are being well kept as it examines the case before a committee processes them for return to Cambodia.

On Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported that Him Chhem, Cambodia's minister of culture and fine arts, had said he asked Sompong Sanguanbun, Thai ambassador to Cambodia, to process the remaining artefacts back to Cambodia.

Thailand seized the 43 stolen artefacts in 2000 and returned seven items to Cambodia in 2009. It was also reported that besides the 43 stolen pieces bound for Thailand, at least five others were stolen and smuggled to Switzerland. Another artefact went to Indonesia.

Thai Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat yesterday said the matter was negotiable between the two countries. The artefact identification procedure could be speeded up if Thailand set up a special committee for the purpose. He said that if the evidence showed the items belonged to Cambodia, Thailand would return them.

Nipit said Fine Arts Department chief Somsuda Leeyawanich told him that Cambodia had confirmed ownership of the seven items already returned, while the remaining 36 were being kept pending clear evidence and bilateral negotiations.

Anan Chuchote, director of the Office of the National Museum, said the 36 items were currently kept at the National Museum in Pathum Thani's Klong 5 area. After talks between the two countries and confirmation of ownership, his office would have a committee process them speedily.

Thani Thongpakdi, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Information Department, said he had not heard about the Cambodian request but the two countries had existing agreements and Thailand had already returned some of the stolen artefacts to Cambodia. The rest were under a process of inspection before returning.

After the Thai Customs Department seized the 43 artefacts from smugglers in 2000, the items, mostly temple-decorating sculptures, were sent to the Fine Arts Department for keeping. After a Cambodian request, Thai authorities processed seven items and found they were Bayon Cambodian art pieces from around the 18th Buddhist Era.

On June 12, 2009, prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, during an official visit to Cambodia, returned six demon sculptures and one angel sculpture to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in accordance with the agreement to return stolen artefacts to their rightful owners.

-- The Nation 2011-08-09

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Phuket funeral to honor Father Richard

Father Richard Woodarek. Photo: Damian Barrett

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German air traffic controllers to strike Tuesday

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Meteorological Dept. warns of heavy rain and flash floods in North and Northeastern regions, Bangkok braces for 60% likelihood of rain /MCOT

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Mothers using MRT with children on Mother's Day will be exempted from fare but children will still need to pay fare /TAN_Network

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Seeing lots of tweets about the London Eye. It's not on fire, a fake picture is circulating. /via@mpoppel

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Hackers Hit US Law-Enforcement Sites

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PM to go to Pheu Thai headquarters to meet with ambassadors of 8 countries who will deliver congratulatory messages from their govts /TAN_Network

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The Mall launching supermarkets outside its own complexes

By Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation

The Mall Group plans to open supermarkets in shopping complexes outside its own.

The move is in line with the boom in community and neighbourhood malls, which have been opening rapidly in certain locations in Bangkok and other cities.

Pira A Pirom, The Mall Group's senior chief merchandising officer for supermarkets, said the company would undertake a serious expansion of its two supermarket brands - Home Fresh Mart and Gourmet Market - in malls operated by independent developers.

Open topic:

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House speaker: No date set yet on policy declaration. (New Govt can't start working until it has declared policies to Parliament) /

Thaksin in phone-in last night: Yingluck forming Cabinet by herself. Don't believe rumours. /

Yingluck says she has submitted Cabinet line-up to Cabinet secretariat for final checks. /via@nnanews

/via@tulsathit

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Thai stocks expected to fall heavily in line w/turbulence in global markets. Investors await Fed measures to save the day. /via@ktnews

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On whether any red leader is in Cabinet, Yingluck says, "Pls wait and see". /via@tulsathit

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,039.59, down 38.60 points /MCOT