Thailand Live Friday 23 Sep 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 23 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 Thursday 22 September 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Elephant rampage: Tragedy strikes Phuket honeymooners

Mrs Meia remains in hospital with multiple broken bones in her leg

with her husband, Mr Perepelitsyn, at her side.

Captain (right) allegedly staged an unprovoked attack on the Ukrainian's

elephant. In a previous incident last year, Captain went on a rampage,

sending a Swedish tourist to hospital with broken legs.

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Phuket Police Seize 400Kg Of Marijuana In Single Haul

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Phuket 'Number 3' in Thailand for AIDS

Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch of the Phuket Public Health Office describes

the latest HIV/AIDS statistics as 'shocking'. Photo: Warisa Temram

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ANALYSIS

Thaksin pushing the limits

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Thaksin calls in to 'instruct' Thai Cabinet

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Auditor General to probe Bangkok on fake street cameras deal

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Private boat owners urged to help lower level of Chao Phraya: Flood crisis

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STOCK MARKET

SET drops sharply as FED rejects further easing

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US sex offender caught

By The Nation

Police yesterday arrested an American teacher who had been on an international blacklist for his previous sexual crimes 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 US after a Hawaii court found him guilty of sexually abusing children. He has been on the Interpol black list.

Thai police are now preparing to deport Brainerd.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Yingluck govt flirting with danger

By The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members may face possible legal problems for allowing former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere with their work of running the country.

The Prime Minister's Office regulation on code of ethics for political office holders, issued in 2008 under the Samak Sundaravej government, states that political officials, including the prime minister and other Cabinet members, must not associate with or support any person who violates the law or gets involved in illegal activities such as running a gambling den or selling drugs.

_ Article 279 of the Constitution states that government officials shall act in accordance with the ethical standards of persons holding political positions. Violation or non-observance of the ethical standards shall be deemed a disciplinary breach. In the case of violation or non-observance by a person holding a political position, the Ombudsmen shall report it to the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers or the local assembly concerned. In the case of a gravely wrongful act, the matter shall be referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for consideration and further action.

- According to Article 280 of the Constitution, in the case of severe violation or non-observance of the ethical standard, or when there is a reasonable cause to believe that action to be taken by the person in charge will not be in a fair manner, the Ombudsmen may conduct an inquiry and disclose the result of the inquiry to the public.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Many children 'don't succeed at basic levels' in Thai schools

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Thai Military reshuffle list finally ready: Defence spokesman

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Cabinet to consider measures to ease employers' burden

By The Nation

Four measures, including tax exemption and a Bt10billion government fund for small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), to help ease employers' burden from the Bt300 minimum daily wage will be tabled for Cabinet approval next week, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong said yesterday.

If all four measures are adopted, they should benefit 5.3 million workers, including the 1.7 million in the SME sector, once the flat rate is put into effect February, he said.

One of the proposals is to waive tax on the purchase of used machinery and offer soft loans for the purchase of new machines. A socalled Bt10billion "machine fund" will be set up to support further operations. These measures are expected to boost competitiveness among 2,000 existing or new SMEs as well as cut down on the import value of machinery by Bt4 billion, thereby boosting the productivity of around 20,000 skilled workers.

The second measure is to allow tax waivers for employers who register their workers for free or lowcost skillenhancement courses provided by the ministry.

The third proposal is to set up another fund worth Bt50 billion under the Small Business Credit Guarantee Corporation in order to provide longterm subsidies as well as amend relevant regulations that make the application for loans easier. The fourth measure is to cut down corporate income tax from 30 to 23 per cent.

These proposals and the final decision on them as well as the payment of the new daily wage should be completed within this month, he added.

Somkiat said he would ask for another Bt10billion fund to be set aside to provide soft loans for SMEs to help maintain their cashflow provided no workers are laid off.

Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap said his ministry was studying employers' demand to not increase the minimum daily wage for three years once the Bt300 rate is put in place. He said a study was needed to determine whether this was against the labour law, but added that he would do what he could to help.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Two killed in separate attacks in South

By The Nation

Two more deadly attacks took place in the deep South yesterday, as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra convened a meeting of security agencies on how to solve the unrest there.

Violence has plagued the southern border provinces since 2004.

Yesterday, unidentified attackers twice shot Areeya Pohji in Narathiwat's Si Sakhon district while he was riding his motorcycle home at dawn.

He was returning from a friend's house when the shooting took place. After Areeya and his vehicle fell to the road, his attackers poured petrol on his body and set him alight. He died at the scene.

Police believed the incident was related to the separatist insurgency in the area.

Two spent bullets from an assault rifle were found at the scene.

In Pattani, Arorfat Rakprat, a 23yearold nurse, was fatally shot while he was driving his motorcycle to a hospital yesterday afternoon.

The shooting took place on the Ban Klong TamTha Sai Road in Panare district.

Using an M16 automatic rifle, a gunman in a pickup opened fire on Arorfat, leaving him with fatal wounds.

At Government House, Yingluck chaired a meeting of security agencies yesterday afternoon to discuss the unrest.

Present were key figures such as Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, Army chief General Prayuth Chanocha and National Intelligence Agency director Suwapan Tanyuwattana.

The meeting lasted for more than one hour. None of the participants would comment afterwards.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Exams scrapped after bribe claims

By The Nation

Acting on complaints of bribery, Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul yesterday ordered the cancellation of exams to select new education officials.

The exams were initially scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Woravat said Pheu Thai MPs in the Northeast had alerted him about bribery demands from people involved in the recruitment process.

In line with decentralisation policy, the Education Ministry has allowed educationalservicearea offices to hold exams and select new staff themselves.

"I have already ordered the Office of Basic Education Commission to launch a probe. Both disciplinary and criminal action will be taken against corrupt officials," Woravat said.

Obec secretarygeneral Chinnapat Bhumirat said 12 educationalservicearea offices had announced they would fill 60 vacancies by selecting successful candidates from exams.

"More than 73,000 have applied for the jobs," he said.

Woravat said he was told applicants would have to pay Bt730,000 to secure the job immediately or pay Bt350,000 to ensure they were on the successful list waiting for next vacancies.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Mae Moh activists want court speed up

By The Nation

The Stop Global Warming Association and people who claim to have been affected by the Mae Moh power plant yesterday called on the Supreme Administrative Court to transfer two pending cases to the court's environmentcase division.

"We believe the cases will progress at a faster speed if the transfer takes place," Maliwan Nakwiroj said yesterday on behalf of the affected people.

She claimed the power plant had polluted the environment in Lampang's Mae Moh district.

The Central Administrative Court has already ruled in favour of the affected people but the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), which operated the Mae Moh power plant, appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Due to the appeal, people adversely affected by the plant have not yet received any compensation. Moreover, Egat has now turned an area meant for reforestation into a golf course.

Accompanied by the association's president Srisuwan Janya, Maliwan showed up at the Supreme Administrative Court with more than 50 people.

-- The Nation 2011-09-23

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Phuket Town gets the musical squirts

The fountain's premiere performance will recount the tale of Phuket's Heroines,

as narrated by Todd Tongdee. Photo: file

Work continues to ensure the fountain is ready for the September 26 grand opening.

Photo: file

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Sept 24 is Mahidol Day commemorating Prince of Songkla, HM King Bhumibol's father who is also father of Thailand's modern medical science./via@AimNT

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At least 136 dead in Thai flooding

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 969.82, down 20.77points /MCOT

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PM to Stamp Out Poor Flood Relief Coordination

The prime minister has pointed out a lack of cooperation between provinces, which has hampered flood relief efforts.

She pledges to form a neutral committee to work on the issue.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in an interview regarding the flash flooding that has damaged large sections of Asia Highway and thousands of rais of rice paddies.

She insisted the government has been working hard to hold off floodwater for farmers to finish harvesting their crops before diverting water into the rice fields to save communities.

However, flooding in many provinces reached a critical point before the farmers could harvest in time.

Yingluck vows to compensate farmers whose paddy fields were damaged by flash flooding.

Regarding criticism that the government’s attempt to prevent Bangkok and Suphan Buri from flooding caused inundation in many provinces, Yingluck said she would investigate the matter, adding that authorities have been doing their best.

She added that there is a structural problem, as authorities have always focused on their areas in charge, so as to save their province at the cost of others.

It reflects a lack of cooperation between provinces.

She noted that the government will establish an ad-hoc committee to deal with flooding in the long run.

The new committee will work closely with local officials to monitor flooding nationwide.

It will reconsider the water management thoroughly.

Yingluck also asked the public to give the government time to cope with the issue.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-23

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Outrage after Iran executes 17-year-old

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Key Red-shirt Leaders Still On the Run

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Thai Defence Minister visits Cambodia

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Energy Minister Working on Energy Credit Card

The energy minister plans to propose an energy credit card policy to the National Energy Policy Council next week.

The pilot project will apply to taxi drivers, who would gain a maximum of 2,000 baht credit line per person.

Energy Minister Pichai Nariptapan said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will preside over the next National Energy Policy Council meeting, scheduled for next week.

He said that the committee will propose that the Cabinet extend the price control of Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG and Natural Gas for Vehicles or NGV until the end of the year.

The policies are due to expire this month.

In addition, the ministry is working on an energy credit card policy to help reduce the burden on low-income earners.

He pointed out that the policy would benefit at least 20,000 people working in the public transportation sector.

The energy minister added that the policy applies to taxi drivers who earlier registered with the ministry.

The credit line is expected to be no more than 2,000 baht.

Meanwhile, PTT Senior Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy said the company has finished studying the policy, saying its next mission is to install the program at gas stations to ensure that credit cards are valid.

Initially, the ministry would issue cards for 57,000 NGV taxis drivers, adding that taxi drivers would be significantly affected after the project is implemented, as the fare is clearly set in accordance with distances.

Moreover, the ministry would offer preliminary aid to taxi drivers who do not use LPG.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-23

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SET at midday Friday stood at 947.98, down 42.61 points, or 4.30 percent /NATION

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Phuket truck driver killed in roadside crash

It took Phuket Kusoldharm workers two hours to remove Mr Kriangsak's

body from the wreckage. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

The tractor trailer was part of a five-vehicle convoy on the way to the Super

Cheap shopping complex in Phuket when the crash occurred.

Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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Criminal Court dismisses case against forensic expert Dr. Pornthip on accusation of perjury in the murder of Hangthong Thammawatana /

47 provinces in Northeast and North have been warned of flash floods and mudslides from today-Sunday /

Red-shirt leaders leave for Cambodia for football match with Cambodian politicians tomorrow;red-shirt members crossing border into Cambodia /

/TAN_Network