Thailand Live Tuesday 30 Aug 2011

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Finance Ministry: Govt Can't Force Private Sector to Raise Minimum Wage

The Finance Ministry insists the government has no authority to force the private sector to adjust minimum wages.

Finance Minister Teerachai Phuvanatnaranubala reaffirmed that the government has no authority to force the private sector to abide by the government's policy to increase daily minimum wage to 300 baht and to adjust new-graduate's starting salary to 15,000 thousand baht per month.

However, he said the pilot project would be implemented with the state sector and then state-enterprises.

The ministry will ask for cooperation from listed companies on the stock exchange to alter their wages.

Currently, the ministry is rushing to draft details of the project to present to the Cabinet for approval.

Meanwhile, he declined to express his opinion regarding criticism against the Pheu Thai Party, that the party cannot fulfill its promise given during the election campaign of a guaranteed 300 baht daily minimum wage.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30

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Finance minister: Govt pushing nation to prosperity

BANGKOK, 30 August 2011 (NNT) – Finance Minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala has announced that the government has four major policies to push the nation towards prosperity in the future.

Speaking in a special lecture on Monday organized by the Thailand Management Association, the minister elaborated that the government is duty bound to facilitate business operations of the private sector and help those businesses spearhead competitions in the global market.

Mr Thirachai announced that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has four main strategies to facilitate business operations.

The first one is to create political stability and enhance unity in the civil sector. The second policy is to create economic stability. The third policy is to facilitate business operations by reducing their capital costs and improve labour skills. The final one is to suppress corruption practices.

However, after delivering his special lecture, the minister refused to give an interview to the press on the impact of the reduction of oil fund collections as he told reporters that he would speak about this at the Ministry of Finance later on.

-- NNT 2011-08-30

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Thai Broadcast Journalists Association Demands Govt to Stop Red-shirt Harassment

The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association chairman has urged the government to stop the red-shirt group from threatening the mass media.

Thai Broadcast Journalists Association Chairman Wisut Kongwatcharapong said that the press has been harrassed by red-shirt supporters through e-mail threats, break-ins at television stations, and pressuring station owners to resign.

Wisut condemned the red-shirts for violating the mass media's fundamental rights.

However, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, along with Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung, have guaranteed that mass media threats will not be tolerated.

Wisut said the association will give Chalerm a chance to prove himself by showing whether he can put an end to the aggressive acts against the mass media.

Wisut stressed that the mass media has its duty to report truths, and, subsequently.

some reports will be unsatisfactory to some groups.

Regarding the cancellation of any television program, he said the decisions must be reasonable, and the government must clarify its reasons to the public.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30

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Deputy PM: National Security Council's Secretary-General to Remain Unchanged

The deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs has insisted the secretary-general of the National Security Council will remain unchanged.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will participate today in her first meeting with the Police Commission in the afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister, Police General Kowit Watthana said Deputy Police Chief, Police General Adul Saengsingkaeo will not be appointed as the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, as claimed by recent speculation.

Meanwhile, assistant to the national police chief, Police Lieutenant General Wibul Prongdong, said that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is set to attend the Police Commission meeting for at 1 P.M. this afternoon.

However, she will not sit as the meeting's chairman, as she will merely hand put policies to the police force.

The meeting is set to discuss the postponement of posts for high-ranking police officers as the line-up cannot be finalized by August.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30

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Japan's lower house of parliament elects former finance minister Yoshihiko Noda as sixth new prime minister in five years, with 308 out of 475 valid votes /MCOT

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Much anticipated, according to @kom_chad_luek, is how Yingluck declares her assets, which should be made public soon. /via@tulsathit

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PM was evasive this morning when asked if illegal casinos problem warrants police chief removal, saying "Let me start working first" /via@tulsathit

Yingluck also suggests it's Chalerm, not her, who takes care the issue of police chief. /via@tulsathit

Listening to Chalerm, sounds like there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of Pol chief keeping job. Stresses dropping ball on gambling dens /via@terryfrd

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PM Yingluck: No discussion on police chief's transfer yet

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SET midday closes up by 4.93 points at 1,060.56 with value of Bt13.4 bln on speculative buying of bank and energy shares /TAN_Network

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Thailand alerted to bird flu after patients reported in neighbouring countries

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Yingluck to face opposition grilling

By The Nation

The opposition lawmakers will this week two urgent motions related to press intimidation and a questionable intervention on petrol prices, chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanavisit said on Tuesday.

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will face her first question-and-answer session later this week," he said.

Jurin said the Democrats wanted Yingluck to explain how the government was planning to deal with press intimidation involving the red shirts.

Yingluck should also be prepared to answer how the government would deal with adverse impacts arising from lowering the petrol prices in an arbitrary manner, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-30

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A deep 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck 171 miles north-northeast of Dili, East TImor; no tsunami warning /via@mpoppel

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Pedestrians reclaim Phuket’s Sarasin Bridge

Construction workers finish the rotunda and raised span of the

revamped Sarasin Bridge. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

After 44 years, the Sarasin Bridge is now closed to traffic, but

open to pedestrians.

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Govt defending red-shirts appointments

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Thailand could be at risk of food security in the future

BANGKOK, 30 August 2011 (NNT)-MD Kraisit Tantisirin, President of the Nutrition Association of Thailand, said food security was a significant concern in the country as the number of rice farms had declined by 2 million rai during 2003-2008 while 4 million rai more land were turned into para rubber tree plantations.

In a seminar on food security, MD Kraisit said over 320.7 million rai of land for various purposes where 112.6 million rai of them were farmlands with rice fields accountable for half of them. According to him, the average life span of a farmer is currently between 47-51 years old. And given that the younger generation of a farmer family refusing to follow in their parents’ footsteps, the threat to the supply of rice suddenly seems imminent.

The President of the Nutrition Association of Thailand warned that serious actions need to be taken before the situation exacerbates. The report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) shows that from 2004-2006 17% of Thai population, or 10.7 million people, suffer malnutrition. He raised concerns as how many would there be now.

He added that according to the Bureau of Epidemiology 1.2 million people in Thailand suffered from severe diarrhea in 2009 from contaminated food or for every 100,000 people, 2,023.64 of them having food poisoning. Among them 65 were dead. MD Kraisit purported that issues concerning food were a major concern in all aspects of public health.

-- NNT 2011-08-30

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PM Yingluck Tasks Deputy Chalerm to Oversee Police Reshuffle

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New BTS Bearing Extension Solves Congestion Problems

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Malaysian family living in public toilet warned

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National Energy Policy Committee cuts Oil Fund levies, leading to lower fuel prices: Bt1.07 for gasohol 95, Bt1.60 for gasohol 91, E20 /MCOT

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BMA to convene over homelessness problem

BANGKOK, 30 August 2011 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is scheduled to hold a seminar to find solutions to the problem of homeless persons at Sanam Luang and surrounding areas.

After Sanam Luang ceremonial ground was reopened early this month, Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaipiboon stated that the BMA would soon organize a seminar aimed at tackling the problem related to the homeless population within the area. The seminar will be attended by Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his deputies as well as representatives from the Human Settlement Foundation and well-known monk Phra Phayom Kalayano, Abbot of Suan Kaew Temple in Nonthaburi.

As a preliminary solution, nine offices of the Suan Kaew Foundation with a combined space of 1,669 rai will be utilized for accommodating the homeless persons. Out of the offices’ total capacity of 4,000 individuals, the current number of occupants stands at 1,400.

During their stay, the Suan Kaew Foundation will provide vocational training and job opportunities for the homeless group. The BMA also plans to establish an aid fund for them with a target to raise at least 10 million THB by 5 December this year. The proceeds will be spent on building homes and purchasing other necessities for the needy.

In addition, Mr Teerachon said the BMA had also developed the old Mansri Branch Office of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority into a homeless shelter that could accommodate up to 100 persons.

-- NNT 2011-08-30

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20 reds rally at Channel 7

By The Nation

Some 20 red shirts on Tuesday held a rally at Channel 7 station protesting the work of a reporter and demanding charges be dropped for a red shirt from Phetchaburi involving in press intimidation.

The rally, led by Nopporn Namchiangtai, displayed a number banners critical of the television reporter for posing tough questions to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

After a peaceful rally for about 20 minutes, Nopporn presented an open letter demanding the station management to drop a police complaint filed against the fellow red shirt linked to the chain e-mailing to intimidate the reporter. The crowds voluntarily dispersed.

-- The Nation 2011-08-30

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Deputy PM Chalerm says it will become clear in 7 days whether police chief will be transferred /TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 1044.97, down 10.66; LBt/USD29.87; GBP48.86; AUD31.70; EUR43.21; CAD30.39; HKD3.83; SGD24.60; JPY38.6

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Pattaya Crackdown On Illegal Foreign Street Beggars

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UPDATE

Laos Frees 3 Thais Arrested in Sawannaket

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Red-shirt Group Wants Reporter Sacked for Offending PM

A small group of red-shirt supporters are calling for Chanel 7 to dismiss its reporter for allegedly posting a biased question to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Less than 10 members of a red-shirt group called the People's Assembly for Change in Thailand gathered at Mor Chit Skytrain station.

The group mailed a letter to Channel 7 news editor, calling for the dismissal of its reporter Somjit Krueasoontorn.

The group claimed Somjit's question to Yingluck's over her real motive behind the planned amendment of the charter was biased.

The group's move was also motivated by Somjit's filing of an official complaint against red-shirt core element in Petchburi, Pornthip Paksanont.

Pornthip sent out an e-mail to fellow red-shirt supporters accusing Somjit of being biased.

Her photo and personal details were revealed in the e-mail.

The group defended Pornthip's action by saying her e-mail was meant to suggest Somjit's question dishonored Yingluck as premier.

The group threatened to call on red-shirt supporters nationwide to boycott Channel 7, its programs and sponsors if the station failed to take action against Somjit.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30

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Thai-Muslims Mark End of Fasting Month

Thai-Muslims in various provinces of Thailand flock to local mosques to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan this year.

Thai-Muslim residents in Pattani flocked to cemeteries in the province to make merit for their ancestors and family members as part of the celebration for Hari Raya period.

Around 8 A.M. over 20,000 people participated in the religious activities at the Pattani Central Mosque.

After the ceremony, Thai-Muslims visited senior relatives in other provinces to express their love and family bonds.

In Yala, mosques were crowded with Thai-Muslims who gathered to pray and perform other religious practices.

During the ceremony, Thai-Muslims will ask and offer forgiveness for misdeeds that were done intentionally or unintentionally to each other in the past.

Meanwhile, Hua Sapan Sateng Mosque has raised 85,000 baht in donations over the Ramadan month.

The money will be given to underprivileged children and orphans.

In Satun, throngs of Thai-Muslims gathered at mosques in their communities to pray before joining hands to clean up cemeteries where their ancestors are buried on the occasion the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-30

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 31 Aug 2011

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