Thailand Live Wednesday 17 Aug 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 17 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 Tuesday 16 Aug 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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SHINAWATRA GOVERNMENT

Ploy to bring back Thaksin

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PM'S FUGITIVE BROTHER

Oil deal: Thaksin to visit Cambodia

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UNESCO

Thailand to protect heritage

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NEW GOVERNMENT

Yingluck evasive on queries about Thaksin

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DTAC launches 3G service despite CAT breach of contract threat

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Landslide warning in the North

By THE NATION

Landslide warnings were issued in 10 Northern provinces yesterday, while Bangkok's 1,200 riverside households located outside the flood barrier were bracing for flood conditions late last night.

Somboon Kositanon, director of Lampang's mineral resources office Region 1, said Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Uttaradit, Tak, Mae Hong Son and Lamphun - especially areas near mountains or rivers -- were at risk of landslides after abnormally large accumulation of rainfall this year.

The office sent officials to survey at-risk villages and instruct residents to watch out for warning signs of landslides, while also setting up a landslide-watch network of community people throughout the rainy season.

Somboon admitted the network didn't cover all communities, especially those in remote places where communication was difficult. Landslides could still threaten many villages such as in tambon Mae Sam Laeb in Mae Hong Son's Sop Moei district.

As the Chao Phraya River rose to 1.6 metres and a flow of 1,300 cubic metres per second, Bangkok Governor Mom Rajawongse Sukhumbhand Paripatra yesterday led city executives to inspect Wat Lad Krabang slough gate and the flood-prevention plan for Prawet, Suan Luang, and Bang Na areas.

The Chao Phraya was expected to peak at 9.47pm yesterday at 1.70 metres. Sukhumbhand said 1,200 families in 27 communities outside the flood barrier would be affected. He instructed city clerk Charoenrat Chutikan to arrange sandbags and wooden planks and to ask temples and schools to prepare to serve as temporary shelters in case of evacuation.

Sukhumbhand said Bangkok would follow through with flood-prevention measures until November, adding he was confident the drainage system next year would be more effective than in the past. When all four giant drainage tunnels are complete, Bangkok will no longer suffer from flooding, he said.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that the current flooding, which has killed 28 people and left one missing, continues to ravage 44 districts in 10 provinces, affecting 311,140 people - in Sukhothai, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Mukdahan, Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani.

In Sukhothai- where nine districts are heavily flooded - up to 2-metre-deep flood waters in Muang district's tambon Ban Kleuy forced 14 families to take shelter in roadside tents, while several roads were impassable.

In Phichit's Sam Ngam district, the assistant manager of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Boonthai Kaewkhantee, brought 1,100 relief bags to flood victims at Wat Rang Nok. He also urged the affected Phichit farmers, whose 100,000 rai (16,000 hectares) of farmlands were damaged, not to borrow money from loan sharks to repay debts with the bank.

He said BAAC had measures to assist them, including a three-year moratorium, interest reductions, |and loans for farm investment after flooding.

-- The Nation 2011-08-17

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Bank of Thailand defends anti-inflation policy

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Foreigners 'encroaching' on Thai forests

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BURNING ISSUE

Thaksin should let his sister at least start working

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Ring broken up

By The Nation

Nineteen Chinese nationals and two suspects holding Taiwanese and Thai passports were arrested yesterday for allegedly operating a call-centre scam after the police raided a house in Bang Na district, which was apparently used as an operation base.

Chinese nationals Yang Si Yoo and Yang Yan Song allegedly ran this racket with an unnamed Taiwanese suspect working as a coordinator and an unnamed Thai suspect providing logistical support, police said.

The raid followed a recent police operation against a gang of mainly Taiwanese that allegedly made about Bt26 million a week from duping other Taiwanese living in Thailand into wiring money to Bangkok-based bank accounts through lies and deception.

The 19 Chinese suspects arrested yesterday allegedly underwent training in Taiwan for a month, then headed to Bangkok and |ran the operation for a month before they were nabbed, police said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-17

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Pay rises among Thai govt's first-year priorities

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The independence of the central bank is crucial; Thai opinion

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Dean gives in to students' demand

By The Nation

After students spent months protesting against her allegedly poor performance, the dean of Chiang Mai University's mass communications faculty, Associate Professor Kulissala Kritworrakarn, finally handed in her resignation yesterday.

The protesting students thanked her for stepping down and agreed to attend her lectures, while members of the staff dropped their plan to rally against her. Her successor will be appointed in 90 days, the university's management said.

An internal investigation found that she was not involved in corruption as alleged by the students, but that their allegations about her being incompetent had grounds, since the newly established faculty had failed to pass the basic evaluation two years in a row.

In her resignation letter, Kulisalla said she was quitting for "the sake of the university's and the faculty's benefits".

-- The Nation 2011-08-17

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Provincial approach to education

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Heavy rain hits Phitsanulok, Yom River overflows, flooding three districts one metre deep; villagers evacuate, nine schools close /MCOT

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Fitch maintains AAA rating for U.S.

Fitch Ratings kept its rating on long-term U.S. debt at triple-A, with stable outlook, but warned that it could lower the outlook to negative if Congress fails to trim future deficits.

Fitch's rating is the highest compared to other two major credit rating agencies, such as Standard & Poor's

which downgraded the long-term U.S. debt to AA-plus and Moody's Investors Service, which still lists the U.S. debt at AAA, with negative outlook.

-- The Nation 2011-08-17

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Democrat Sirichoke Sopa threatens to file charges against Govt for asking Japan to give Thaksin visa. /via@tulsathit /via@news1005fm

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,085.59, up 8.57 points /MCOT

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Thaksin's adviser unaware of a trip to Cambodia

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Foreign Minister Surapong starts his 1st day of work at the ministry with a press conference scheduled for 3pm/

Flooding exceeding 2m in some areas of Phitsunulok; Sukothai still hit hard by flooding/

19 red-shirt leaders to hear lese majeste charge at DSI at 2pm but they won't be placed in custody/

Air Force spokesman: No Thai military aircraft is spying on Cambodian border;denies reports of Thai aircraft crashing at Preah Vihear/

/TAN_Network

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Defense Minister Addresses Armed Forces on First Day on the Job

In his first day in office, the defense minister has instructed the armed forces to perform its duties with utmost dedication and commitment.

Defense Ministry Spokesman General Palangkoon Klahan said Defense Minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapa called a meeting of commanders of the armed forces after he officially took office as the new defense minister.

Palangkoon said the defense minister has vowed to perform his duties with utmost honesty and commitment.

He said he will focus on the development of the armed forces to effectively defend Thailand's sovereignty, and coordinating with the government to address the Thai people's troubles.

He noted that the ministry's policies will aim to improve relations with neighboring countries, bring peace and happiness to the Deep South, as well as bolster the relationship between civilians and the army.

Palangkoon noted that the defense minister hopes for cooperation and support from all military officers.

He added that the upcoming reshuffle of military officers will be carried out transparently and impartially.

Yesterday, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand met with the defense minister to discuss military cooperation between the two countries and the current affairs in ASEAN.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-17

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Bangkok Governor: Brace for Possible Flooding

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Donation for Exported Dogs Exceeds Two Million Baht

The donations for dogs rescued from being exported to Vietnam have now passed two million baht.

Meanwhile, three suspects will go on trial next month after having been indicted on six counts related to the cruel dog trade.

Nakhon Phanom provincial officials have reported that the donations to assist dogs rescued from a smuggling operation to Vietnam have surpassed two million baht.

The dogs are now at an animal quarantine center in the province.

Provincial Governor Ruengsak Mahawinitchaimontri expressed concern that the issue would vanish from the media over time and will soon be neglected.

He called for more efficient laws to protect animals and to impose harsher penalties on such cruel activities.

Local Livestock Department official Pairach Prathumsuwan explained that culprits usually manage to flee the scene before officials step in, while also echoing the governor that penalties are too lax, as a fine is often the only penalty for these culprits.

Meanwhile, the court is set to question three suspected dog smugglers on September 26, as they have been charged with six counts of related charges.

Officials urged owners of stolen dogs to file complaints as soon as possible to add a robbery charge against the suspects.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-17

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World Bank upgrades Thailand’s income categories to upper-middle income economy

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More Resort Owners in Trouble as Crackdown on Forest Encroachment Continues

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Southern Shores Hit Hard by Erosion

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Red-shirt Group to Seek Bail for More Jailed Members

After 22 red-shirt members were released on bail yesterday, the red-shirt movement has disclosed that it is also seeking bail for dozens of other members jailed in Bangkok.

Red-shirt Core Leader and Pheu Thai MP Nattawut Saikeau unveiled that the leaders of the red-shirt movement have agreed to seek bail for 30 its fellow protesters who are now being jailed in Bangkok.

He said bail requests should be filed in the next few days.

suggested that the government set up a panel to determine the criteria for eligible persons, and the amount of compensation for both red-shirt members and others who were affected by the Ratchaprasong mayhem.

When asked about the sum, Nattawut insisted the compensation is still far too little compared to the military budget used to crackdown on protesters.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-17

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STOPPAGE TIME

Crossed lines and muddled signals

By Tulsathit Taptim

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