Thailand Live Friday 30 Sep 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 30 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 29 September 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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'Smart' dummy officers to oversee Bangkok traffic

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CABINET ASSETS

Landlords hold sway in Yingluck's Cabinet

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Arisman, Darunee to surrender

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ELECTION PLEDGE

Pheu Thai reneges on 'credit cards for farmers'

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Leaner and more efficient armed forces are needed: Thai opinion

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Floods to cost Chiang Mai Bt3 bn: banker

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Thai Undertaker Jailed Over Hidden Foetuses At Bangkok Temple

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Group rallies for booze free factories

The Nation

Factory workers yesterday urged Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul to issue legislation banning the sale and consumption of alcohol in factories round the clock because they said alcoholism was affecting workers' health and performance at work.

Jadet Chaowilai, director of Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, led a team of workers to submit a request for the ban as well as encourage the minister to make it an ISO standard requirement to keep factories free of alcohol. Citing a study conducted by the foundation last year, Jadet said all of the 604 factory workers questioned said they knew about the adverse impacts of drinking, especially in terms of domestic violence. In addition, it was found that 24.4 per cent of the workers spent more than Bt1,000 on alcoholic drinks and that many could not go to work the next day. More than 60 per cent of the workers said they could buy alcoholic beverages at any time.

Wannarat said that he agreed with the group's suggestions and that they were in line with the ministry's policy to "green" factories that are environmentallyfriendly, use green energy and promote workers' health and welfare.

-- The Nation 2011-09-30

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Opponents blast Government Lottery Office over Roi Et casino plan

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Seizure Of Chuwit's Bt3.4 Million Related To Prostitution Ring

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PM has 'no plan' to meet Suu Kyi on Burma trip

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Attorney general denies bias in Pojaman ruling

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Testimony in Soi Ruamrudee case wraps

The Nation

The Central Administrative Court is set to deliver a verdict in a landmark case in which Pathum Wan district office is accused of falsely certifying over a period of more than 15 years that Bangkok's Soi Ruamrudee is more than 10 metres wide to facilitate the illegal construction of several skyscrapers.

In the final court hearing in the case yesterday, Chalermphong Klabdee, a lawyer representing the complainants, said in his closing statement that the soi, which runs through an area of prime real estate, was less than 10 metres wide, making many buildings along it illegal.

The coaccused, a construction contractor that is building two tall structures in the area, said the firm was led to believe by Pathum Wan district office documents that the soi was more than 10 metres wide, which would make construction of the buildings lawful.

The 24 complainants are residents living on the soi and in nearby areas. The first two accused - a former Pathum Wan district office chief and a former Bangkok governor did not show up for the hearing.

Officials from several government agencies and the court's judges jointly surveyed the soi's width and found that it was less than 10 metres wide, as stated by the complainants, who want construction of the two buildings scrapped, and no further permits granted for new buildings.

Chalermphong said earlier that officials at the district office or any other government agency would faced criminal prosecution for abuse of power if evidence could be produced proving illegal acts.

-- The Nation 2011-09-30

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Officials Admit Fear Of Reprisal Rules Phuket Bus Plans

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NATURAL DISASTER

Bangkok remains safe, floods worsen in 10 provinces along Chao Phraya

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Bt10 bn loan for Oil Fund

Watcharapong Thongrung

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Dirty Dancing Leaves Everyone In A Spin

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 930.18, up 3.97 points /MCOT

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Supermodel search lands in Phuket

Some of the contestants will be visiting Provincial Hall and handing out cloth bags.

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Met Dept: Typhoon Nesat to strike Vietnam today

BANGKOK, 30 September 2011 (NNT) – The Thai Meteorological Department has reported that Typhoon Nesat will make a landfall in Northern Vietnam later today while nine provinces in Thailand will face heavy rains caused by the Southwest monsoon.

The Meteorological Department has issued its third warning against Typhoon Nesat, of which the center is currently located just above the Chinese island of Hainan. The storm system is reportedly moving northwestward at the speed of 18 kilometers per hour with a wind gust of 120 kilometers per hour.

Later today, the typhoon is expected to sweep through the Gulf of Tonkin and make a landfall in the northern region of Vietnam. People in Thailand are encouraged to brace for possible impacts and follow up weather reports on a constant basis.

At the same time, the department indicated that the strengthening Southwest monsoon in the Andaman Sea, the southern region and the Gulf of Thailand would trigger torrential rains mainly in the East and the Andaman coast of the South. Residents of Nakhon Nayok, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun should beware of flashfloods and mudslides during this period.

High waves of 2-4 meters will be seen in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. All boat navigators are thus urged to exercise extreme caution while at sea.

-- NNT 2011-09-30

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SET President Against Taxing Thai Stock Market

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Police Investigate Tip-off of New Gambling Den in Bangkok

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Democrat Party Ask Ombudsman to Inspect PM over First-Home Project

The legal department of the Democrat Party has submitted a letter to the ombudsman to inspect whether the prime minster has conflict of interest in the first-home tax deduction program.

Songkhla MP Wirat Kanyasiri and the Democrat Party legal team have submitted a letter to the Secretary-General of the Ombudsman Office Chalerm Jantim to scrutinize the ethics of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra regarding the establishment of the first-home project, which benefits SC Asset Corporation.

The prime minister was once an executive at the company and still holds more than 70% of its shares.

Wirat believes the prime minister has abused her power as the prime minister, which is a serious offense and violates the terms of the ethics of government officials, and significantly damages the country.

The secretary-general of the ombudsman office promised to examine the matter and forward the results to the chairman of the ombudsman office shortly.

If it is found that Yingluck has violated the law, a dismissal will take place methodically.

Meanwhile, Yingluck said in an interview that the first-home project was established to accommodate people who wish to own homes, and that there is no conflict of interest with any operators, including the SC Asset Corporation.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-30

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Flood Situation Remains Critical in Provinces

Flooding remains critical in many provinces as water levels in rivers and streams continue to rise.

In Nakhon Sawan Province, temporary barricades have been ruined by torrential currents.

Some 700 rais of land have been inundated under 3-meter floodwater.

Last night, officials rushed to help villagers move to higher ground and evacuate cattle.

As for now, the water level continues to rise. Damage is estimated at 70 million baht.

Kwai Yai District has been submerged for over a month now.

Villagers are growing more hungry and thirsty as a shortage of food and drinking water has not be resolved.

They have received relief packages only three times since the crisis began, and have requested more help from the authorities.

Water levels in major canals and rivers in Angthong Province are continuing to rise.

The Noi River has inundated Chaiyo, Phothong, and Wisetchaichan districts, and some parts of the municipality's economic zone.

Officials are rushing to build additional barricades along the Chao Phraya River.

As of now, seven districts are flooding.

Elsewhere, the flood situation in KalasinProvince is crucial.

Water released from Lam Pao Dam has swamped Nong Krung Sri District for more than three weeks and has just flooded Muang and Lam Pan districts.

At least 80 households are affected.

The water level is continuing to rise.

Forces from Prem Tinsulanonda Military Fort, along with some 300 locals, are working fast to reinforce a 700-meter stretch of embankments to prevent roads being flooded.

Elsewhere, the water level of Mul River flowing through Ubon Ratchathani's Warinchamrab District is measured at two meters higher than the bank. Run-off from other provinces swamped some villages.

Plus, the stagnant floodwater has begun to emit foul odors and cause skin diseases among villagers.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-30

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Culture Ministry to nominate Kon Khon for Academy Awards

BANGKOK 30 September, 2011 (NNT)- The Culture Ministry has decided to nominate the Thai movie ‘Kon Khon’ for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film next year.

The decision came after the invitation of the Oscar organizer for Thailand to take part in the Oscar foreign language film competition.

According to the Office of Contemporary Art And Culture, Kon Khon has been chosen as the country’s nominee because of its prominent role in conserving Thai culture. Its plot is also accessible to foreigners in general.

However, the Culture Ministry said it didn’t expect Kon Khon to win the top price. Rather, its goal is actually to promote Thai culture via the movie.

Last year, Thai film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives won the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. It became the first Asian film to win the award since 1997.

-- NNT 2011-09-30

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Arisman not to be detained if surrender: DSI

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Court sentences 2 Red Shirt supporters to 20 month in jail for violating last year's state of emergency by possessing 'ping-pong' bombs /MCOT

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Chiang Mai: The world s smallest lotus will be displayed at Royal Flora 2011

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