Thailand Live Thursday 8 Sep 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 8 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 Wednesday 7 September 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Thaivisa Party in Hua Hin on September 24

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Chalerm slams Abhisit govt for pardon plea delay

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ONLINE EDUTAINMENT

Online campaign to cut HIV/Aids among gay men

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No hidden agenda behind Yingluck's visit to Brunei, officials insist

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Six Wang Nam Kheow resort owners identified, face charges

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Thai Finance Ministry plans to give tax incentives to investors

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Water to rise for a week or more yet: Thai Flood disaster

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Minimum wage plan: Where's the tripartite committee?: Thai talk

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Give the NBTC commissioners a chance at least: Thai opinion

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BURNING ISSUE

Can all PM's men protect Yingluck?

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I'm a red shirt but neutral, says Thai govt spokesman Anusorn

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ANALYSIS

Thai media unity in peril as founding member Matichon quits council

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Thai academic Pramote arrested over airport blockades

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Thawil set to fight his transfer in court

By The Nation

Thawil Pliansri announced yesterday that he would take the government to court because it was not justified in removing him from his post as National Security Council secretary general.

"I have never thought that one day I will have to invoke the law to remind my political superiors about compliance with the merit system," he said.

Thawil said he would ask the Merit System Protection Commission, as per the civil-service provisions, to overturn the government's order to have him transferred from the NSC to the Office of the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved Thawil being made an advisor to the premier - seen as an inactive position. Many consider this move as paving the way for nation police chief General Wichean Potephosree to take over the NSC before General Priewpan Damapong is installed as his successor.

Priewpan is the brother of Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra, ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thawil, meanwhile, is to take up his new position once it gets royal endorsement. Under relevant laws, the appellate review of his transfer can only be activated after his move goes into effect and will take about a year to complete.

In other words, Thawil will not be able to stop the government from having him transferred, but he could get reinstated in his old post if the court rules favourably.

At a press conference yesterday, Thawil said he was not trying to cling to his position, but regretted that it was being done unfairly and in violation of the merit system. He lamented that he had become a pawn in the power play to replace the national police chief and was being transferred to an inactive post even though he had not lapsed in his duties.

Furthermore, he said, the prime minister, who is his direct superior, did nothing when a Cabinet member started heaping sarcastic remarks on him, faulting him for mistakes he did not make. Thawil was referring to Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung in this case.

He said that in his more than 30 years in civil service, he served the country and had no political leanings.

Thawil said he was obliged to work ex-officio while the emergency decree was in place regardless of which party was in power, rebutting allegations that he was close to the Democrats during last year's riots.

In reaction to Thawil's remarks, Chalerm said he should not worry about his new post being inactive because the government had a new assignment waiting for him.

He added that Thawil had the right to take the case to court, though the government will strive to ensure fairness.

Chalerm added that though he had made remarks that were deemed by Thawil as sarcastic and offensive, the actual transfer would not have an adverse impact on benefits, seniority and integrity.

Opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said he saw this case as proof that the government was bent on serving the wishes of just one man - Thaksin.

-- The Nation 2011-09-08

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Wild dogs hunting down barking deer

By The Nation

With the population of Asian wild dogs on rise in Nakhon Ratchasima's Khao Yai National Park and Chaiyaphum's Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary the population of barking deer is fast dwindling, acting director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department Damrong Pidetch said yesterday.

Damrong's deputy Theerapat Prayoonsit said wild dogs hunted the deer in large packs of 20 or 30. Researchers have found at least two such packs in both the parks as well as in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Kui Buri National Park and the Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, he said. Though some tourists reported spotting Asian wild dogs, no attacks have been recorded so far. Kasetsart University's Faculty of Forestry researchers are currently studying the endangered wild dogs and the behaviour of their prey so this issue can be dealt with in an environmentally friendly manner, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-09-08

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Forum probes housing problems amid climate change

By THE NATION

"The urgent and widespread problem of substandard housing in a time of climate change" has brought to Bangkok 700 delegates for the 3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum - organised by Habitat for Humanity and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

"With the threat of climate change, population growth and increased disaster risk looming ever larger, practical solutions to build and protect sustainable homes are needed, and needed urgently," said Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity International vice president, Asia-Pacific.

Delegates from 35 countries are attending the forum, drawn from governments, international and local NGOs, private sector, academia, civil society organisations, and local communities. The 3rd Asia-Pacific Housing Forum agenda includes the need for workable long-term shelter responses to the impact of disasters brought on by climate change.

Leading the opening ceremony yesterday was a keynote speech from Philippines' Vice President Jojomar Binay. Housing Ministers from Indonesia and Fiji were present as part of the 'Thought Leaders Panel' in the first plenary session. The three-day forum wraps up on Friday with an address by Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity.

The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum and Exhibition is a bi-annual conference on affordable housing for key shelter players in public and private sectors.

The forum includes an exhibition, showcasing financial and technical services and products that address shelter needs of marginalised and vulnerable low-income families. The exhibition also displays materials and shelter development services by suppliers of 'grassroots' green technologies and housing.

-- The Nation 2011-09-08

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Activists push for social security draft

By The Nation

Labour activists will rally at Government House next Tuesday to ask Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to present their draft social security bill to Parliament before it lapses.

Wilaiwan Saetia, vice president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, said yesterday that 14,264 signatures had been collected to propose this law. The government has 60 days to consider it before passing it to Parliament.

The previous government had approved it in principle and the process had to continue or else the draft bill would expire at the end of the month.

The draft legislation would give more benefits to subscribers to the Social Security Fund including paying more than 50 per cent in sick-leave compensation.

The government would be required to contribute 5 per cent like employers and employees and employers that did not contribute to the fund would be subject to harsher punishment.

-- The Nation 2011-09-08

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Better skills will make Bt300 wage worth it: Thai Labour Ministry

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Many in Thai South suffer from stress disorder

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China said on Wednesday it had renewed Google's license to operate in the world's largest online market. /via@ASEAN_NEWSROOM

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Upper North and Northeast to see heavy rain while BKK will see thunderstorms; Prachin Buri and Angthong still hit hard by flooding /TAN_Network

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ECTEC launches network-monitoring software

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Chiang Rai soldiers siezed 2.4 mln speed pills, 95 kg of ice and 3 kg of heroin worth billions of baht /TAN_Network

Repair of traffic sign on overpass crossing Lasalle Intersection on Srinakarin inbound causes traffic to back up TAN_Network

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High-rise Fires Prompt Concern about Bangkok's Firefighting Capabilities

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Ceremony to be performed at Government House to reverse black magic curse put there by Red Shirts last year (BkkPost) /via@RichardBarrow

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7 Nabbed in Ayutthaya Raids

Police from the Crime Suppression Division conducted raids in several communities in Ayutthaya Province, and arrested seven suspected drug dealers.

Police from the Crime Suppression Division closed off seven areas to conduct searches for crime and drug trafficking.

Seven suspects were arrested for possession of marijuana and amphetamines.

The suspects are identified as Thaweerat Champathong, Chonthee Charansri, Kobkul Rungruang, Somnuek Khantasamran, Siwaporn Yoolai, Watchara Bunkrob, and Somkid Rasamee.

Police also seized pistols, rifles, ammunition, bulletproof vests, a list of purchasing clients, and account books.

The suspects said they would receive drug shipment and distribute them in Ayutthaya, Saraburi, and Lopburi provinces.

They have been charged with possession of narcotics with the intent of selling, and possession of unauthorized weapons.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-08

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Starving dogs attack, eat owner in western Indonesia

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Deputy Finance Minister Assures Salary Raise Next Year

The deputy finance minister confirms that the government's policy to increase the starting monthly salary for new graduates working for the state to 15,000 baht will be launched in 2012.

Deputy Finance Minister Wirun Techapaiboon said the planned salary increase for civil servants and state enterprise employees with Bachelor's degrees to 15,000 baht will be launched by the beginning of 2012 as promised by the government.

Wirun added that the current salary structure of civil servants will be adjusted to prevent some officials whose salary is not increased from complaining about unfair treatment.

He noted that if all civil servants get a pay rise, the government's burden will increase by many billions of baht.

The deputy finance minister admitted that the delay in the budgeting process for the 2012 fiscal year was caused by the incomplete adjustment of the salary structure.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-08