Thailand Live Monday 5 Sep 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 5 September 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 Saturday 3 Sep 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Treat Thaksin like any fugitive, Abhisit tells govt

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One in 10 Thai flood victims suffering depression

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SPECIAL REPORT

Ayutthaya to fight black menace of coal dust

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Rice scheme will hurt Thais and help Vietnam

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Tolerance should be at the heart of a free society: Thai opinion

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TWEEPLE'S COLUMN

Longer trains desperately needed on the BTS Sukhumvit line

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Thai police arrest two for murder of French engineer

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'Silent majority' fault govt

By The Nation

The silent majority has already started to feel dissatisfied with the Yingluck government's performance, even though it has been in office only one month, Abac Poll said yesterday.

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Singapore SMRT Files Defence Against Lawsuit By Family Of Thai Girl Who Lost Legs

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Govt likely to defer budget requests

By PiyanatSrivalo

The Nation

The Cabinet will tomorrow debate and defer the two additional budget requests worth Bt140 million on grounds of this month's approaching end of the fiscal year, Government House officials said yesterday.

The Election Commission has sought Bt10 million from the mid-year supplementary budget for spendings for two revotes in Nong Khai and Sukhothai in connection with the July 3 general election.

The Internal Security Operations Command has sought Bt130 million for per diem allowances for security officials deployed between June and September. After reviewing the two requests, the Budget Bureau has recommended for two agencies to reallocate existing funds already earmarkd for them to pay for extra expenses rather than seeking the supplementary budget in the face of the ending 2010 budget.

Secretary general to the prime minister Bandhoon Supakavanich said every government agency should not seek the supplementary budget at this juncture since the government just assumed office late in the current fiscal year and with little time to prepeare for the next year's spending plans.

As things stand now, the 2012 Budget should be ready reimbursements by February instead of October, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-05

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North, Northeast, East and BKK to see heavy rain in some areas /TAN_Network

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3.0 magnitude quake felt in Mae Hong Son but no reports of casualties or damages /TAN_Network

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Yodsanan Sityodtong Wins At ONE Fighting Championship

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Today the USA celebrates Labor Day. US Embassy BKK will be closed for the day via@KristieKenney

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Senate will choose 11 members of National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission from 44 shortlisted finalists in secret ballot today /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,055.22, down 9.96 points /MCOT

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DTAC Smartphone Promotion Change Upset Customers

DTAC customers who queued up for 50-percent discount smartphones were heated at Siam Paragon yesterday, after the company suddenly changed rules of the promotion out of security concerns.

Total Access Communication, or DTAC, Senior Director for Products, Pakorn Pannachet, said since the company launched its 3G service on August 16, growth in data services grew 50 percent in areas where the service is available and by 20 percent in other areas.

He said growth doubled in access to social media websites while the company has been able to access more indepth customer behavior with the launch of 3G.

As for the promotion to sell smartphones at a 50-percent discount along with granting free 3G services during the weekend at Siam Paragon shopping center, Pakorn said it was targeted at keeping existing customers as they will be able to enjoy a greater variety of services.

He assured that the company is moving ahead with developing its network so that it is prepared for intensifying competition in the 3G service market.

Pakorn conceded that the huge number of people who turned up for the promotion exceeded the number expected earlier, so the company decided to sell all 1,100 smartphones on promotion at 50-percent-off, instead of the earlier allotted 100 sets for 50-percent-off, and 1,000 for 10-percent-off.

The company decided to hold a lucky draw at 7 P.M. to select lucky winners of the best deal.

The sudden change had upset many customers who had lined up since early morning, many having come from other provinces.

DTAC now has 1,220 cell sites offering the 3G service and will expand it to 40 provinces and 2,000 cell sites by next year.

Those who wish to see if their phones are compatible with 3G or the areas in which they are in has 3G service can log on to www.dtac.co.th/3G (world wide web dot dtac dot co dot th backslash 3G).

-- Tan Network 2011-09-05

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THB to move 29.75-30.10 THB/USD this week

BANGKOK, 5 September 2011 (NNT) – Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) has estimated that the Thai baht this week (from 5-9 September 2011) will move in the range of 29.80-30.05 baht per US dollar with the capital market and the US economic figures as the major focus.

KResearch reported that the baht in the beginning of last week swung in a narrow range and was stable at 30 baht per US dollar amid selling forces of Thai stocks and purchases of US dollars among importers.

The currency gradually appreciated further from the mid to the end of last week similar to other Asian currencies. The baht closed at 29.91 per US dollar on Friday, compared with 29.97 baht per US dollar a week earlier.

As for this week, the baht is expected to move in the range of 29.80-30.05 baht per US dollar. No significant domestic factors should be monitored this week, except the situation in the capital market after the employment figure of the US is released.

Meanwhile, external factors that should be focused are still concentrated on important economic figures from the US such as the Fed’s Beige book and the declaration of US President Barack Obama regarding job creation on 8 September 2011.

-- NNT 2011-09-05

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Ratchaburi Tiger Mauls Caretaker

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Deputy Minister: Charter Change to Begin Next Year

A deputy prime minister who is concurrently serving as the interior minister has reaffirmed the move to amend the Constitution, since his party made this promise during its election campaign.

The amendment process is expected to begin next year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said that though the constitutional amendment is not an urgent issue, the Pheu Thai Party will push ahead with forming a constitution drafting committee as promised during the recent election campaign.

He insisted that the proposed amendment is in the best interest of the nation and does not favor any particular individual.

Yongyuth said the public would be able to participate in the amendment process and will actually be encouraged to do so as much as possible.

Suggestions from every sector of the society are being welcomed.

The deputy prime minister further stated that the 1997 and 2007 Constitutions will be used as a basis for this amendment, since it would be difficult to write a completely new one.

He is personally of the opinion that the process must be conducted at an appropriate time, ensure public participation, and that a public referendum must be held.

He stressed that the revised Constitution must truly be democratic.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party Spokesman Phromphong Nopparit said the amendment process is expected to begin next year as the government is currently addressing economic problems.

He added that his party will discuss the issue internally before proposing it to the government.

An independent committee will be set up to propose the draft amendment to avert any criticism that could come from the fact that it was the government that proposed it.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-05

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Buri Ram to Open New Border Pass with Cambodia

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Abhisit: Only Relatives Can Petition for Thaksin's Pardon

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Riot in Pattani prison today. 1 reported dead, 2 injured. Such riot happened in Narathiwat last month. /via@satien_nna /via@Aim_NT

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Suvarnabhumi Airport To Introduce Body Scanners

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1 Buddhist inmate killed, 2 others injured in Pattani prison riot by Muslim inmates

Pattani - Muslim inmates in the Pattani Prison rioted Monday morning, killing one Buddhist inmate and injuring two others.

Police said the Muslim inmates rioted out of anger that Buddhist inmates, who were appointed as assistant prison guards, had allegedly rationed foods unfairly to them.

About 300 police were deployed to try to control the situation.

The officials managed to rescue the injured inmates. They were sent to a hospital.

The authorities had yet to retrieve the body of the slain inmate, identified as Phanuwat Khong-in.

At press time, a negotiation between the provincial governor and the inmates was going on.

-- The Nation 2011-09-05

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Chalerm Fires Back at Abhisit for Criticism Over Police Transfer

The deputy prime minister claims that any transfers being made are in an effort to put the right person in the right job.

He also fired back at the former prime minister for criticizing the government's decisions.

Deputy Prime Minister, Police Captain Chalerm Yoobamrung fired back at former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after the former PM criticized the Pheu Thai-led government, alleging that it unfairly transferred the National Security Council secretary-general, Thawin Pleansri.

Chalerm said the previous Democrat-led government also removed many posts such as that of Cabinet Secretary Surachai Pooprasert.

He insisted that any reshuffle that is being carried out is in an effort to put the right people into the right jobs.

He insisted that the change is not a political intervention.

Chalerm also expressed no fears of further criticism should the Pheu Thai government choose to make additional transfers.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-05

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Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 1,051.49, down 13.69 points, or 1.29 percent /Nation

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3 magnitude quake rocked Mae Hong Son last night

BANGKOK, 5 September 2011 (NNT)-A 3 magnitude quake shook Mae Hong Son last night with the epicenter in Mueang district. No damages or injuries have been reported after the incident.

Mae Hong Son Governor Mr. Kamthorn Thawarnsathit had instructed the Head of Tambon Pha Bong, Mr. Amorn Sritrakul, to visit 12 villages where the tremor could be felt to see if there were any damages. No properties or lives have been lost in the event, but further investigations are expected to be carried out.

The Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officer, Mr. Theerayuth Chanditthawong, said it was important for residents to strengthen their homes as Mae Hong Son was located on the fault line which indicated that there could me more powerful quakes in the future.

-- NNT 2011-09-05