Thailand Live Wednesday 31 Aug 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 31 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 30 Aug 2011

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NEW POLICE CHIEF?

Yingluck will let Chalerm make decision

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Reds rally at Channel 7

By The Nation

Some 20 red shirts yesterday held a rally outside Channel 7 TV station protesting the work of a news reporter and demanding charges be dropped against a red shirt from Phetchaburi accused of press intimidation.

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

After a peaceful 20-minute rally, Nopporn presented an open letter demanding the station management drop a police complaint filed against a fellow red shirt linked to a chain e-mail allegedly aimed at intimidating the reporter. The crowd dispersed voluntarily.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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REDS

Yingluck government defends appointment of reds

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Red-shirts vow to protect PM Yingluck, Thai govt

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Thai govt Oil-price policy paved with pitfalls

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Cambodia calls on Thailand to jointly develop maritime zone

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Intimidation of the press cannot be tolerated: Thai opinion

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BMA, temples plan for homeless

By The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to raise Bt10 million by December 5 for shelters and to provide aid for the homeless people of Sanam Luang. Phra Payom Kalayano of Nonthaburi's Wat Suan Kaew has also proposed that the homeless could stay and work at Wat Suan Kaew Foundation's nine branches.

A seminar will be held in two weeks and attended by the Bangkok governor and his deputy, Thaya Theepasuwan, Human Settlement Foundation Thailand representatives, and Phra Payom to discuss solving issues for homeless people, BMA Deputy Governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said yesterday.

Phra Payom's idea to get the homeless to stay and work at the foundation's nine branches could support 2,000 persons, he said, improving their lives as they could earn money and obtain vocational skills. For those who weren't taken in by the temple, the city would have the Social Development and Human Security Ministry's Prachabodi Centre take care of them, he said. The rest could stay at the BMA temporary shelter in the Maen Sri area, which could support 100 people.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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Universal healthcare to be upgraded

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Newly appointed Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri yesterday vowed to improve medical services under the National Health Security Office's Universal Healthcare Scheme, to ensure that people can access healthcare services with fixed standards and quality.

He also announced an increase in special allowances for medical personnel in a bid to encourage greater productivity. More than Bt1.7 billion will be allocated to increase these special allowances.

Witthaya was speaking at his first ministerial meeting to instruct high-level officials about the government's 15 policies on public health.

He said the new government would continue the royal project to improve healthcare, and would also improve services under the universal healthcare scheme to help people receive healthcare services with good quality and fixed standards.

The government also aims to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and cancer. Food safety will also be one of the government's priority policies.

Additionally, the government will create special-care services for specific groups such as women, children, elderly people, disabled people and migrant workers, and it will work to build the capacity of healthcare volunteers to provide more effective basic care.

Witthaya said the government would invest a huge amount to improve medical infrastructure and primary healthcare units in urban and rural areas. Traditional Thai medicine and alternative medicine will be promoted for use as medical treatments.

He said Thailand would be promoted as a medical hub and wellness services will be offered to foreign patients, but this policy would not affect the provision of medical services to Thai people.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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PM Yingluck backs tambon-based education

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Thai Court hears evidence in case by transgender

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Thai Cabinet okays compensation for flood-hit farmers

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Guard in arson case 'signed police statement without reading it'

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

A former security guard who testified to the Criminal Court on the May 19, 2010 arson and death case at CentralWorld told judges yesterday that he had put his signature approving the police statement charging the two defendants without reading the document.

Aekarak Pitchoem, then a security guard at G4S security firm, who was stationed at CentralWorld at the time of the military crackdown on red shirts on May 19, 2010 and the consequent blaze also said that he had not seen the faces of any of the intruders except the nine people later arrested by police. One of the nine arrested is co-defendant Pinij Jannarong. According to Aekarak, a witness for the prosecutors, Pinij was arrested for looting and not arson.

The guard also said that on that day he saw a man throwing a bomb into Kwanpen luxury handbag shop but was not able to see the face or identity of the person. The two defendants face a maximum death penalty as a dead body was found at CentralWorld following the fire.

Pinij and co-defendant Saichon Paebua were visited by a representative of the red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) movement yesterday during court recess and asked what the movement could do for the two who have been jailed without bail for more than a year. Besides requests for financial assistance made by the two, Pinij added: "I want the [red-shirt] leaders to come and visit us."

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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Royal aid for slain soldiers' king

By The Nation

Their Majesties the King and the Queen have granted Bt50,000 in financial assistance to each family of soldiers killed on duty in the deep South.

"A soldier who becomes disabled through the unrest is also entitled to that amount," Fourth Army Region chief LtGeneral Udomchai Thammasarorat said yesterday.

He said Their Majesties were concerned about soldiers and their families.

Udomchai said the financial assistance from Their Majesties was in addition to the compensation given by other authorities to those sacrificing themselves for the country.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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Mahidol students to launch musical protest

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Kalasin claims No 5 savings rating

By The Nation

The amount of savings deposits for Kalasin province rose to the Northeast region's fifth ranking with Bt11 billion - mostly from agricultural products, especially rubber, Governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan said yesterday.

Presiding over the opening ceremony for the Government Savings Bank's new branch in Tha Khantho district yesterday - which was also the bank's 784th in Thailand - Wiroj presented loans for small business and village funds, as well as for sports equipment to local schools and some relief bags to senior citizens.

Kalasin's total deposits of Bt11 billion came mainly from the agriculture sector, at about Bt9 billion, followed by retailwholesale businesses, he said. Rubber ranked first in the agriculture sector. Kalasin's savingsdeposit total now claimed the region's fifth ranking, he said. The amount was expected to rise to Bt12 billion next year.

Kalasin Savings Bank manager Somkuan Suwanprapa said the Tha Khantho branch would give local farmers - most of whom grow rubber trees, rice, sugar cane and cassava - better access to banking services. On the first day of operation yesterday, the bank received a large number of customers and deposits totalling Bt50 million, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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GUEST COLUMN

Big brother Thaksin simply makes life more difficult for Yingluck

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Phuket Prison to crack down on phone and drug deliveries

DRIVE-BY DELIVERIES: The CCTV cameras aim to catch people hoisting

drugs and mobile phones over the wall and into the prison - to be

collected by inmates inside.

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Death toll following floods in Thailand reaches 54

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Swedish Thai Couple Caught With Drugs in Indonesia

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Accident near Tarua exit causes Bangna expressway inbound to back up until Bangna toll booth /TAN_Network

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CP Group Dhanin Chearavanont is the richest Thai, according to Forbes while ousted PM Thaksin is ranked 19 in the list. (via @chalao_k) /via@veen_NT

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Dep Transport Mins Kittisak said he just knew in Cabinet meeting yesterday Wan Yoobamrung was set 2b his secretary's asstnt. Via @news1005fm /via@Aim_NT

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Replica of Twin Towers destroyed in September 11 attacks will be built on square opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris to mark the tenth anniversary of atrocity /MCOT

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Press intimidation suspect summoned on Sept 8

By The Nation

Police have issued a summons for red-shirt Pornthip Paksanont from Phetchaburi on suspicion of involving in circulating the e-mail to intimidate the press, deputy commander Lt Colonel Pittinan Utasing of Dusit police station said on Wednesday.

"Pornthip has already scheduled to report herself at the police station on September 8," he said.

Pittinan said in her prelimenary contacts with police, Pornthip said she would admit she wrote the e-mail to attack Channel 7 reporter Somjit Nawakruanont and would like to apologise for her action.

Police plan to charge Somjit for causing fear and trouble, an offence punishable by a jail term of up to one month and a fine of no more than Bt1,000.

The e-mail, though designed to intimidate, was not deemed to have violated the Computer Act since it did not spread a false information.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

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Banharn: Right timing needed for charter revision

BANGKOK, 31 August 2011 (NNT) – Chart Thai Pattana Party Chief Advisor and former Prime Minister Banharn Silapa-archa has suggested that the government should be thorough in the constitutional amendment process and wait for an appropriate timing to do so.

Speaking about charter revision which would enable the government to appoint the third Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA), Mr Banharn voiced his agreement in this issue and suggested that it should be made thoroughly. He however admitted that some people might have strong objection against the charter revision effort.

Asked about reports that the Pheu Thai Party expects to start the charter revision process in December, the ex-prime minister responded that he had no opinion in this issue because he was not inside the government. He said the constitutional amendment could be made if needed but must be done at the right timing.

Mr Banharn believed that the CDA would be neutral, including representatives from all provinces and 20 other experts required to set up a 99-member assembly. He said he did not know if the newly rewritten charter would be accepted or not but the society had already accepted the one written by the coup’s CDA.

Asked if the 1997 Constitution should be used as the model for amendment, the Chart Thai Pattana chief advisor answered that he did not know but he said the good things should be retained while those with flaws should be amended.

Asked if this charter revision issue would shorten the life of the new government, Mr Banharn voiced no concerns over this issue because there should be no problem if the charter was better after the amendment process. He then stressed again that it should be made at the right timing.

-- NNT 2011-08-31

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Political wind changes, police head rolls: Seripisut

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Real move aims to top 3G market

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