Thailand Live Thursday 22 Sep 2011

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Flood-related death toll at 136, two still missing; 23 provinces still submerged in water; 408,783 households affected /NATION

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Arisman fears of being murdered inside jail

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Swedish national Kim Eriksson Sirawan sentenced to life imprisonment for production and procession of 'ice'

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Resorts Guilty of Forest Encroachment Torn Down by Officials

Three villas in Nadee District of Prajeenburi Province and Wang Nam Kiew District have been ordered to be torn down after being found guilty of forest encroachment.

More than 100 Tab Lan National Park officials brought large machines and backhoes to tear down three villas on more than 60 rais of land, after it was found that the villas encroached onto land belonging to Tab Lan National Park.

One of the villas is located in Nadee District of Prajeenburi Province, and another two are in Wang Nam Kiew District in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Director-General of the National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department, Damrong Pidad said all possessions and assets within the area of the National Park will be seized.

The public is encouraged to inform the National Park of any violators via the 24-hour hotline,1362.

The seizure and demolition are according to the National Forest Act. The areas will be reforested after the demolition.

The owners of the tree villas have been charged with violating the Tab Lan National Park since 2000.

Another set of 45 resorts have also been ordered to be torn down. If no action is taken by October 31, National Park officials will take matters into their own hands.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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Police detain one suspect in Narathiwat bombings; will seek more arrest warrants

NARATHIWAT, Sept 22 – Thai police have detained one suspect in last week’s Narathiwat’s bombings, and are seeking arrest warrants for three additional suspects.

Surveillance cameras in Sungai Kolok municipality recorded images of a motorcycle with an implanted bomb in front of a shop, the first explosion site.

At the site of the third explosion, about 400 metres from the first location, surveillance cameras recorded images of men suspected to be the bombers as attack team. Their faces can be clearly identified and police will use the evidence to seek arrest warrants for three more men.

The Narathiwat bombings killed five persons, including three Malaysian tourists, and wounded more than a hundred people.

A series of car and motorcycle bombings occurred Saturday at three locations on the same road in Su-ngai Kolok district.

Acting national police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong earlier said it is clear that the culprits are linked with drug syndicates.

All concerned agencies are planning strict prevention and suppression of the movement after a situation assessment found that drugs would be spread widely, especially in border areas. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-22

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UPDATE/Video: Arisaman fears of being murdered inside jail

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Military reshuffle to be submitted in time for Oct 1

By The Nation

The Defence administrative panel Thursday reaffirmed the military reshuffle list following change of one position, Defence Ministry Spokesman Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng said. The panel held a meeting at 9 am and finished the meeting in about 20 minutes, Thanathip said.

The meeting of the panel was held after the Cabinet refused to approve a new advisory position at the Defence Ministry. Without the approval, Gen Khanit Saphithak will remain in his current position as the chief advisor for the Defence Ministry.

The advisory position is a special one created just for Khanit. Well-informed sources said Khanit was initially planned to be moved to the position of deputy supreme commander and the ministry asked the Cabinet to retain the position of the chief advisor for the Defence Ministry for another military officer to be moved to. Technically, the Cabinet would have to approve a new advisory position after Khanit's transfer.

Sources said the military leaders initially agreed to give the advisory position, had the Cabinet agreed to create it after Khanit's transfer, would have been given to Gen Phuchong Ratanawan, National Defence Studies Institute.

But the Cabinet insisted that if Khanit was moved, the advisory position must be terminated.

As a result, Khanit would remain in his advisory position to maintain it, Thanathip said.

The spokesman said the reshuffle list would be submitted the prime minister in time for the new fiscal year on October 1.

-- The Nation 2011-09-22

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Breast-Slapping New Health Craze In Thailand

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Phuket Police seize 400kg of marijuana in single haul

Police seized the 400 kilos of marijuana after a 'tip-off' from an informant.

(From right) Suspect Sompong Tham-u-tok leaves his head bowed as

Governor Tri and Maj Gen Pekad inspect the stash.

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American child molester arrested in Bangkok

Police Thursday arrested an American teacher who had been on the blacklist for his previous sexual crime against children.

Christopher Paul Brainerd, 47, was arrested at a school in Bangkok's Tha Phra area.

He entered Thailand in May, 2010.

Before that, he served a fiveyear jail term in the United States after a Hawaii court found him guilty of sexually abusing children.

Brainerd has been on the Interpol black list.

Thai police are now preparing to deport Brainerd.

-- The Nation 2011-09-22

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PM Denies Thaksin Interfering with Govt

The prime minister has assured that her brother Thaksin Shinawatra's video conference with Pheu Thai ministers yesterday was not intended to interfere in the government's work.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday's meeting between Pheu Thai ministers was not a Cabinet meeting but was an informal meeting to exchange viewpoints.

She also stated that the participation by her brother, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, via video conference on Skype was only to give moral support to Pheu Thai Cabinet members.

Yingluck denied that Thaksin analyzed her management or gave any advice on the government's work, while brushing aside the impact of her brother's action on the government's image.

The prime minister also shrugged off criticism that she is not the country's real leader.

Meanwhile, the PM said she has signed an order to appoint members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and the prime minister's secretary general will soon forward the name list to the Royal Household Bureau for royal endorsement.

In the meantime, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva commented on Thaksin's video conference with Pheu Thai ministers every week that he should uphold the country's best interest.

He criticized the government for only helping Thaksin without caring for the plights of the public, particularly flood and high cost of living problems.

Abhisit also stated that the attempt by Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul to reinstate Thaksin's diplomatic passport will only bring about more problems as it highlights his concern that the government is only focusing on Thaksin.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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Police Hunt Down Motorcycle Gang Robbers

Police are hunting down a gang of motorcyclists who are believed to have carried out two robberies early this morning.

At 4.25 A.M. this morning, 25-year-old Chakkrapong Pornkitwattanataworn, a freshman at Ramkamhaeng University's Faculty of Law, showed up at the Yannawa police station with a swollen face and bruises all over his body.

He told police he was attacked and robbed on the way home by a motorcycle gang in front of the Government Savings Bank at Soi Charoenkrung 57.

At about the same time, 21-year-old Private Kitipob Trakoolrangsi reported being attacked and robbed at Soi Sathupradit 14 in Sathorn District by more than ten motorcyclists.

The robbers got away with 800 baht in cash and his mobile phone.

Since both incidents happened at relatively the same time and close to each other, authorities believe the same gang carried out the assaults and robberies.

Police have pledged to step up their patrol and seek more evidence to bring the culprits to justice.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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August Industrial Confidence Index Falls

The industrial confidence index dropped from 105.2 in July to 102.5 in August due to concerns about flooding, rising costs and higher interest rate.

President of the Federation of Thai Industries, Payungsak Chartsutipol, has reported that the industrial sentiment index, surveyed among 1,105 businesses from 40 industrial groups in August, is at 102.5, dropping from 105.2 in July.

The index was calculated from businesses' received orders, sales, production and revenue.

The most important factors to hurt sentiment in August were high production costs, the rising interest rate, the strengthening baht which has been affecting export, the flood situation in many parts of the country and the fluctuating global economy.

However, Payungsak pointed out that a figure of higher than 100 indicates that businesses remain confident in the economy.

The index for sentiment in the next three months is at 110 as businesses are expecting more orders and an increase in production and revenue.

The confidence index for SMEs has also slightly dropped from 96 in July to 95.6 in August as sales, production and revenue decreased.

The private sector has advised the government to clearly announce its position on the daily minimum wage hike policy, the labor shortage and the development of workers' skills and to keep the political situation stable and stimulate domestic consumption.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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SET index closed at 990.59, down 39.00; Bt/USD30.59; GBP47.06; AUD30.19; EUR41.14; CAD29.80; HKD3.92; SGD23.48; JPY39.88

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Apinan Poshyananda honoured by French govt

Professor Apinan Poshyananda, the director general of the Department of Cultural Promotion, has been recognised by the French government for his contribution to the arts.

Earlier this month, Apinan was honoured with the decoration -L'Officier des Arts et des Lettres (second class) by the French government, for his life-long contribution to international art and cultural activities. The ceremony took place at Thailand Cultural Centre's small hall in the presence of nearly 100 guests, among them Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome.

For almost two decades, Prof. Apinan, has worked tirelessly in support of Thai arts and culture. He was among the first generation of curators to put Thailand on the map of the contemporary art world. The Cornell University graduate has also penned several art books, among them "Modern Art in Thailand", "Western-style Painting and Sculpture in the Thai Royal Court" and "Behind Thai Smiles".

In 2003, he established the first Thai Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennale, an event in which Thailand continues to participate. For his contribution, the Italian government made him Knight, Order of Solidarity in 2009. He was also bestowed Knight, First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden in 2003.

Jeremy Opritesco, Counsellor for Culture, Sciences and Development of the French Embassy in Thailand, presented the medal.

"Thai culture has problems in understanding the creative economy concept. How do we make Thais understand Thai culture, both contemporary and traditional? How can we bridge the two," Apinan said.

The French government also awarded the same decoration to Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul. He received the Chevalier Knight class two years ago.

To date, Her Royal Highness the late Princess Galyani Vadhana is the only Thai recipient of the Medal de Arts et des Lettres, Commander Class (first class).

-- The Nation 2011-09-22

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Study on Thaksin's Pardon Moves Ahead

The panel studying the pardon petition for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra has sought additional information from the Corrections Department on previous requests for royal clemency from convicts.

The Justice Ministry's panel to study the petition seeking royal pardon for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra held its second meeting today.

Panel member Thongthong Jantharangsu said the meeting saw no substantial progress as the matter is still being studied.

The meeting asked the Corrections Department to provide information on the pardon petitions submitted by relatives of convicts as the existing documents are still inadequate.

The panel will make its recommendation to Justice Minister Police General Pracha Promnok.

It expects to spend some time to reach a conclusion and has not set a time frame yet.

Its next meeting is scheduled for October 5.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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Major Dams Swelling to Limit

Irrigation officials at many major dams have decided to discharge more water since the water levels are critical at above 80 percent capacity.

This is expected to further intensify the flood crisis in communities downstream.

The water level at the Bhumibol Dam in Tak Province is at 89 percent capacity while the discharge rate remains the same.

The Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province is at 97 percent of its capacity and the discharge rate remains at 57 million cubic meters per day.

Dam officials will continue to release water until Sunday.

They will then assess the situation to decide whether to readjust the dam drainage.

In Phitsanulok Province, the water level at Kwae Noi Bamrungdan Dam is nearing spilling level as it has reached 99 percent capacity.

This has forced officials to accelerate its discharge rate for nearly a week now.

However, it is highly possible that officials will have to discharge more water, which could cause further flooding in several downstream communities, especially in Wat Bot District.

The water level at the Pasak Cholasit Dam is currently at 115 percent of its capacity, by far the most worrisome of all dams.

Officials have discharged a large volume of water, causing further inundation in many areas.

The director of the dam's Operation and Maintenance Project admitted that the discharge of water will further intensify the flood situation in communities downstream in Lopburi, Saraburi and Ayutthaya provinces.

The situation will be particularly bad in Tha Rua and Nakhon Luang districts of Ayutthaya.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Warning Center has issued a warning of possible flash floods and mudslides for Petchabun, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Chantaburi, Trat and Ranong.

Residents living in low-lying areas in the central region should also brace for further flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-22

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AFP: Thai monks trade gun and theft claims

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Thailand Live Friday 23 Sep 2011

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