Thailand Live Saturday 20 Aug 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 20 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 Friday 19 Aug 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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'Thai Smile' approved as name of THAI's new low-cost carrier, in operation next year

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Environment groups back crackdown on intruders

By The Nation

Seven environment groups yesterday offered their backing for ongoing crackdowns against land encroachment in the Wang Nam Kheow area in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok, the groups also urged the creation of a longterm management plan to deal with the issue, which should also involve participation and feedback from the public sector and communities.

Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) acting manager Thongchai Phansawas said the support, although symbolic, should be encouraging for the Royal Forest Department and the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

In addition to state policies over management of forests and land, Thongchai said the public sector and communities should play a role in enforcing those policies because they were regularly the aggrieved parties.

"Natural resources and forests don't belong to the government or any state agency or any [ruling] political party, but to all members of the Thai public," he said. He added that the Wang Nam Kheow issue should serve as a springboard for a systematic, longterm management plan with the public sector also taking part.

Parliamentary ombudsman Sriracha Charoenphanich yesterday inspected the area following complaints by villagers over crackdowns, which they said were affecting their lives.

He later invited all involved parties - officials, villagers, developers and resort owners - to provide information relating to the issue.

He said the information would be used and analysed before his inspection drew initial conclusions, based on "fairness to aggrieved parties and strict enforcement of laws against violators".

-- The Nation 2011-08-20

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Financing for Thai government schemes still not pinned down

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PM will brief the press twice a week

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Flash floods run through Prachin villages

By The Nation

Flash floods ploughed through villages in Prachin Buri yesterday, damaging 40 homes but causing no casualties, provincial authorities said.

The water travelled from Khao Yai national park, hitting two villages and submerging hundreds of rai of farmland damaging crops.

The authorities have put a roundtheclock flood watch in place in Phitsanulok where the tides are reaching a critical level due to extra rain - an additional plight over and above the stagnant floods in most areas.

In provinces in the lower North, a huge influx of water is expected from Bhumibol and Sirikit dams as they are close to reaching their capacity, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand said.

In an official update, one more person was reported drowned yesterday in Sukhothai, bringing the number of casualties up to 32. Warnings have also been issued of possible flash floods in eight central provinces located along the Chao Phraya River.

The seasonal flooding in Phitsanulok and Sukhothai has prompted villagers to repeat their calls for an end to the controversial Kaeng Sua Ten dam project, saying that they had been suffering from floods for years without any concrete measures materialising.

Though Phichit is not very badly inundated, seasonal flooding in Ayutthaya is keeping students away from schools along the river and in lowlying areas.

Farmers in Sukhothai have started prematurely harvesting rice from their already flooded or atrisk plots. An estimated 300,000 rai of farmland and fruit plantations have been damaged, the provincial agriculture office said.

The Democrat Party has launched a floodrelief centre calling for donations and voluntary services in all 27 floodhit provinces.

Relief supplies can be sent to the party headquarters in Bangkok or donations can be lodged in the Krung Thai Bank account number 068-0-02360-7.

-- The Nation 2011-08-20

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Red-Shirts mark May 19 with Bangkok rally

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End near for NBTC candidate drama

By Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

Clock ticking for Senate as judges rule on Monday about legality of selection

All eyes are on the Central Administrative Court and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) as the trouble-plagued selection of 11 broadcasting and telecommunications commissioners enters the crucial home stretch.

The Senate has less than three weeks left, until September 11, to select the 11 members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission (NBTC) from 44 candidates. The Senate is determined to beat the deadline, as failure to meet it would mean the power to pick the 11 commissioners from the candidates would be transferred to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The selection process has been strewn with legal technical problems, primarily involving losing candidates and the formation of the 14-member selection committee. Complaints lodged with the Central Administrative Court and the DSI have fuelled concern that the September 11 deadline for the Senate will not be met, thus giving the prime minister power to form the NBTC and defeating the original purpose of making the NBTC an independent body.

The former government of Abhisit Vejjajiva was responsible for the law requiring the prime minister's intervention in formation of the NBTC when all else failed and the deadline could not be met. The law followed protracted political and technical problems hounding the selection process.

A judge of the Central Administrative Court yesterday gave his opinion that Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn, a failed candidate, should be reinstated among the final 44 nominees. Judge Kityod Sirikhet read his opinion yesterday, but the court will make its final verdict on the case on Monday.

The court's handling of the case involves two groups of judges - those in charge of the case and those playing roles of observers. The judges in charge can make a ruling that is different from the opinions of the "observers".

The 44 candidates were nominated by the selection committee and organisations related to telecommunications and broadcasting. This process has been heavily contested. According to Kityod, the panel charged with selecting 22 of the candidates made an inappropriate decision to select a new candidate to replace Attachai Burakamkovit after Attachai faced belated qualification problems.

Instead of replacing Attachai with Suranan, who was one place below Attachai on the score sheet, the panel on April 29 decided to go for another candidate, Yuth Chaiprawit. This prompted Suranan to seek court help.

According to Kityod, Suranan should make the final 44-candidate list sent to the Senate.

The 44 candidates are supposed to present their visions to the senators, who are expected to take a secret vote from September 5-11 to make the 11 appointments.

Suranan yesterday insisted his legal action was meant to expose lack of transparency in the nomination process.

Another failed candidate, Ratchasub Nishida, has also petitioned the Central Administrative Court on the grounds that the composition of the selection panel was unconstitutional. He claimed that some members of the panel might not meet constitutional requirements and the frequency law could be unconstitutional altogether.

The Senate will also probe two other NBTC candidates, Natee Sukonrat and Pana Thongmee-akom, both of whom were involved in a controversy when they were members of the National Telecommunications Commission (which will be replaced by the NBTC).

The controversy involved an NTC decision last year to grant a Bt84-million donation to the Senate to organise activities to honour His Majesty the King. The donation was seen by some as attempts by Natee and Pana to promote themselves for NBTC nomination.

Recently Picha Vijitsilpa, a lawyer associated with the red shirts, asked the DSI to probe whether the selection process of the NBTC final candidates was lawful. The DSI this week said the selection process appeared unlawful according to its preliminary probe.

But yesterday the Senate panel primarily looking into NBTC final candidates said the DSI stance would not affect its review of candidates' qualifications.

About the NBTC

_The deadline for the selection process is September 11.

_The Senate will choose 11 people from 44 in the shortlist.

_If the process cannot meet the deadline, the power to select the list will be in the prime minister's hands.

_The NBTC law was written by the Democrat government.

_There are a number of cases before the Central Administrative Court that could make it difficult to meet the deadline.

-- The Nation 2011-08-20

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Reds inspect 169 bodies found in Rayong

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Welcome To Phuket: Swede Robbed Of B1 Million On Day One

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Phuket Mass Thai Massage Sets Unofficial Record

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Hrh Princess Chulabhorn To Visit Phuket

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Phuket Yachting: Krabi Marina to open in November

The familiar curved roofs of Phuket's Boat Lagoon marina are already in place in Krabi.

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[Lite Beer]

ASTV: Cambodian media claims Thaksin is now in Cambodia and quoted Cambodian PM Hun Sen's adviser as saying he is always welcomed /TAN_Network

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PM defending foreign minister

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Phuket Airport taxi worker killed in motorbike crash

It is unlikely Ms Monthicha would have survived the crash even if

she had donned a crash helmet, Phuket rescue workers said.

Photo: Wichai Witthawat.

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Govt reports flooding hit 28 provinces but floodwater receded in 16 provinces; 33 dead while 400,000 households affected /TAN_Network

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PM says she is ready for policy declaration before Parliament on Tues-Wed; confirms Thaksin not to visit Cambodia at this time /TAN_Network

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PM instructs concerned agencies to expedite help for flood-hit victims

BANGKOK, Aug 20 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday instructed concerned agencies to expedite help for flood-hit victims as flooding remains critical in 12 provinces.

The premier made remarks as she chaired a teleconference meeting with governors of flood-hit provinces at the Interior Ministry with Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk and Agricultural Minister Theera Wongsamut in attendance.

Ms Yingluck stated that people needed urgent help from the government and the operation should be carried out with integration of all parties.

A special centre will be set up to offer one-stop service so that problems will be solved faster, according to the premier.

"Concerned agencies should focus on finding more water retention areas, additional water drainage, and dikes to control water flow," Ms Yingluck told the meeting.

Ms Yingluck also assigned concerned agencies to set up an additional emergency budget for a water drainage operation and that the Irrigation Department should consider the Monkey Cheeks Project (Kaem Ling) to prevent flooding in the central region.

The Monkey Cheeks project, initiated by his Majesty the King, is a water organization system for the flood season to prevent, as well as reduce, flooding in the lower Chao Phraya river basin via draining waterways such as ditches and canals into small reservoirs. This is similar to a monkey holding banana bits in its cheeks.

The prime minister re-emphasised work in four aspects including: preparedness for flooding, rapid response to the situation to help the affected people, flood relief measures and prevention of renewed inundation.

Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district will be used as a pilot project in an attempt to solve flooding countrywide, called "Bang Rakam Model," while the ICT ministry will link all data with computer systems so that the information on the flood situation will be fully coordinated, added Ms Yingluck.

Meanwhile, Wiboon Sa-nguanpong, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, reported in the meeting that 28 provinces have been declared as facing emergency disaster and while the situation has eased in 16 provinces, another 12 remain critical under floodwaters.

928,046 people in 88 districts in 12 provinces have been affected by floods. The provinces include Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchaboon, Nakhon Nayok, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Roi Et, Kalasin and Ubon Ratchathani.

Governors in charge of areas under high level of floodwaters also reported their situations and relief measures to the prime minister via teleconference and pledged that they have done their best to handle the problems. (MCOT online news).

-- TNA 2011-08-20

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Health officials ordered to prevent waterborne diseases

BANGKOK, 20 August 2011 (NNT) – Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri has assigned medical personnel to take care of flood victims and prevent waterborne diseases in five provinces where the water level has risen once again.

Speaking after listening to a briefing on flood situation in 12 provinces, the minister admitted that the situation is severe in five provinces, which need special care after the water level has risen once again, including Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Kamphaengphet and Ayutthaya.

Mr Wittaya said he has assigned mobile medical units to visit people and provide medical services continuously. He reported that 133 medical units dispatched find that people are suffering from athlete’s foot, cold, muscle pain, skin diseases and wounds from accidents.

The minister further reported that over 125,000 sets of disaster relief kits have already been distributed to flood victims as well as 4,000 sets of household medicine and 10,000 sets of medicine to cure athlete’s foot. He said 34 people were killed by the flood so far.

Based on the survey, Mr Witaya admitted that flood victims are experiencing mental health problems as 120 people are in high stress while 247 others are in depression. He noted that 61 of them are at risk of committing suicide while 99 others are under close surveillance.

The minister also ordered officials to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, distribute chlorine to people and construct temporary toilets for flood victims. He is scheduled to visit flood victims in Ayutthaya province on Saturday.

-- NNT 2011-08-20

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Tourist Service Center Opened At Suvarnabhumi Airport

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Foreign Minister to file defamantion lawsuit against Democrats

BANGKOK, 20 August 2011 (NNT)-Pheu Thai Spokesperson, Mr Prompong Nopparit said the Foreign Minister, Mr Surapong Tovichakchaikul, would file a lawsuit against the Democrat Party for accusing him of lobbying for Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra’s visa entry into Japan.

According to the Spokesperson, the Foreign Minister will travel to Watprayakrai Police Station on Monday (22 August) to file a defamation lawsuit against the Democrats. Mr Surapong claimed the approval of entry visa into Japan for Mr Thaksin was the sole authority of the Japanese government, and that the Prime Minister, Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, and he were not the mastermind.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai will convene a meeting on Monday to assign roles its MPs will perform in Parliament during the debate on the government’s policy statement. Mr Prompong reminded the Democrats to keep their arguments within the agenda during the debate.

-- NNT 2011-08-20

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Phuket pineapple goes on show

The Phuket pineapple, called 'aynat' in the local southern Thai dialect,

is taking pride of place at the Pineapple and Flower Fair in Phuket Town.

A young girl sizes up a huge replica pineapple on display at last year's event.

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Bar checks by 150 Police Officers conducted in South Pattaya

Follow this link: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/37803/bar-checks-by-150-police-officers-conducted-in-south-pattaya/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 22 Aug 2011

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