Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 22 November 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 Monday 21 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Production to resume at Bangpa-in Industrial Estate: Ayutthaya

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BORDER CONFLICTS

Lawyers submit 'unchanged' Preah Vihear case to ICJ

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FLOOD CONFLICTS

Some sluice gates to be opened wider: Nonthaburi

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MYSTERIOUS CASH

Another suspect in Suphoth case contacts police

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Wanting to please others versus the national interest: Thai opinion

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BURNING ISSUE

Ominous signs from both reds, yellows: Thaksin pardon

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PAD: Pracha statement convinced us to cancel rally

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'Censure move also likely to hit PM, Thaksin'

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46 police officers moved in reshuffle

The Nation

As part of a Royal Thai Police reshuffle of senior officers in key positions, Pol General Phongsaphat Phongcharoen has been promoted to deputy police chief, while Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Jakthip Chaijinda will head units in the deep South.

Pol Generals Suwat Janitthikul and Eks Angsananont are also promoted to deputy police chiefs, while Pol Maj-General Winai Thongsong is the new Bangkok police chief. A total of 46 officers have been promoted or moved to other positions at their current level.

Pol Maj-General Phanu Kerdlarphol, in charge of traffic police in Bangkok, will command police units in seven provinces in the lower Northeast, while Border Patrol Police deputy commander Pol Maj General Suthin Kheorat has been promoted to commander.

The reshuffle was approved yesterday by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra taking retroactive effect last Friday.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

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Man arrested with drugs worth Bt180m

The Nation

Bangkok's Phra Khanong police yesterday presented to the media a 25-year-old drug suspect arrested earlier in the district with 228,000 "ya ba" speed pills worth Bt68 million, 4.6 kg of "ice" crystal methamphetamine worth Bt11.5 million, a car and a set of scales.

The arrest of Sayan Huaithong was made possible by arrests of small-scale dealers who tipped police off that the suspect would be making a delivery in Phra Khanong using his Toyota Wish car. Police stopped the suspect and searched his car, uncovering the ya ba. The rest of the drugs were found at his home in Soi Suan Plu 8. The suspect, charged with possessing narcotics with intent to sell, reportedly confessed to delivering drugs on three earlier occasions. He had expected to be paid Bt200,000 for the delivery he was making when stopped by police. He said he got the drugs from a major dealer identified as Chai. Police were investigating.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

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Thailand unprepared for AEC, Education minister says

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Celebration funds will go to flood wall: BMA

The Nation

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will cancel a sound and light show planned for Father's Day so it can put the Bt30-million budget toward building a permanent flood embankment along Mahasawat Canal next year, a senior official said yesterday.

BMA clerk Charoenrat Chutikan said the flooding had caused extensive damage and badly affected people, especially those living in western Bangkok, where there was no permanent flood embankment.

The crisis and HM the King's concern about the situation prompted the BMA to cancel the light and sound show, aimed to celebrate the King's 84th birthday, from December 5-11, at the Grand Palace. The funds would be transferred to build the flood barrier in western Bangkok.

An informed source at the BMA said the celebration would scaled down to a grand merit-making ceremony at Sanam Luang in the morning, which would cost Bt5 million to organise. The rest of the funds would go to repair flood damage and building the 6km-long Mahasawat canal embankment from Taling Chan to Thawee Wattana. It would cost Bt35 million all up. The canal has a temporary 3m-high sandbag embankment at present.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

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Blast kills man in Yala; Pattani bomb hurts 3 monks, 6 others

The Nation

Three monks, three police and three residents were slightly wounded after a home-made bomb went off in front of a laundry shop on Charoen Pradit Road in Pattani's Muang district yesterday morning.

The monks from Khajorn Pracharam Temple, guarded by the three officers, were on an alms-begging round, Pol Colonel Somporn Meesuk, superintendent of Pattani Police Station, said yesterday.

The three-kilogram bomb, hidden under a flowerpot near Nuch Laundry Shop, was detonated by remote control when the group was about five meters away from it, Col Somporn said.

The monks were identified as Phra Jin Panichkul, 52, Phra Yongyuth Khaoborisut, 35, and Phra Worapong Sutthipong, 54.

The officers were Pol Corporals Thanom Khonwai, 29, Kampanart Malawan, 28, and Prakarn Chedipeng, 26.

The civilians were Chat Suk-ubol, 72, Chid Suk-ubol, 70, and Yeun Sukhonkhet, 72.

The wounded were rushed to Pattani Hospital.

Police suspect this attack was the handiwork of insurgents bent on creating chaos in the deep South.

Pattani Deputy Governor Lertkiat Wongphopan said the assault on monks and their security officers reflected the militant's strategy to hit at symbolic targets and discredit Thai security forces.

Since it took place on the route included in the security plan, it was meant to sow disunity in this multicultural society and to attract public attention, he said.

In neighbouring Yala province, an explosion ripped through a shack at a banana plantation in Tambon Wang Phraya of Raman district at 10.45am.

Police found the body of Yako Ya-ngo, 55, in front of the shack. Nearby was a 70-centimetre-deep, 80cm-wide hole left by five-kilometre bomb and pieces of a metal box, an electric wire and a battery.

Police investigators found that Yako, a security volunteer for the district, was inspecting his banana plantation when he stepped on the device and discharged it.

As Yako had been shot at twice before, police believe southern separatists carried out this attack - possibly the group that operated in the district and was led by Kama Chaichana, who was wanted for several national security cases.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

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An island sanctuary amid the deluge in Ayutthaya

Suthiporn Kongsuthipol

The Nation

Ayutthaya

Unlike the many swamped historic sites and ancient temples in heavily flooded Ayutthaya province, Wat Phanan Choeng Worawiharn has stood majestically free of the inundation, thanks to the temple management's adequate preparations and awareness of dangers based on bitter experience.

"We have been following the situation from the beginning, checking the direction and volume of flood water since August," said assistant abbot Phra Maha Cherdchai Katapunyo.

"As we are on the Chao Phraya riverbank, on the outside of a bend where Pa Sak and Chao Phraya meet, the currents hit the temple harder, and the barriers therefore need to be stronger," he added.

During 1995's heavy flooding, when the four-month inundation caused more than Bt20 million in property damage, the management at Wat Phanan Choeng learned a technique to make its sandbag barriers stronger - the bags are not filled to the top, and bags must not be tied, but only folded closed.

"Experienced monks and volunteers stack the bags tightly in layers, then cover them in canvas. The sandbag walls are reinforced by clay and by wooden stakes," said Phra Maha Cherdchai.

Wat Phanan Choeng has spent Bt6 million on flood barriers and water drainage this year alone.

Abbot Phra Raj Rattana Waraphon, also the provincial monastic chief, said permanent concrete barriers would be built to fight off flooding, which he now expects to arrive every year. "Flood water used to flow southward through fields and plains, but these have now become factories and housing estates," he explained.

Apart from conserving historic sites and artefacts within the dry compound, Wat Phanan Choeng has served as a large shelter for the neighbourhood's residents as well as a logistics and supply base to feed and aid flooded communities and other temples nearby. "Monks and novices deliver relief supplies by rowing boats to those in need," he added.

Montha Kittichai, a 68-year-old food vendor who endured the 1995 flooding, said nearby residents were willing to live outside the temple's 5-metre flood barriers in waters of up to 1.5 metres deep for months.

"We are willing to sacrifice for Wat Phanan Choeng. Even at such a hard time, we still have Luang Phor To [the temple's main Buddha image] as a centre for our unity and community morale," she said.

Luang Phor To - or Phra Phuttha Trai Rattana Nayok, as it is officially known - was erected in 1324. The seated-Buddha image is 19 metres high with a lap that measures more than 14 metres wide. It was renovated in 1928 after being damaged by fire in 1901.

-- The Nation 2011-11-22

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Rony Fest, Martrix Developments, Pattaya, Dies Suddenly at Age 53

Rony Fest of Matrix Development

Pattaya dies at 53.

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Narcotics police kill 1 and arrest 6 suspects, confiscate 700,000 speed pills, 46kg of 'ice' behind Talad Thai /TANN

Tomorrow southern bus terminal will move back to Buddha Monthol 1 Rd from Holland beer house on Rama II Rd after flooding recedes /TANN

Low tide at 8.15am at 1.56m; high tide at 2.25pm at 2.14m; another round of low tide at 11.30pm at 1.36m /TANN

Highway Dept exempts toll for Eastern Ring Road (Highway 9) until end-Nov but toll on Motorway is being collected /TANN

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AFP: Record vote for UN condemnation of Iran, N. Korea, Myanmar

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UN welcomes trial of top trio Khmer Rouge leaders

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Provincial Waterworks Authority eases flood victims burden allowing delay payments on a case by case basis, more info call 1662 via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Royal Highway Dept prepares to suggest cabinet exempt motorway no.9 fees till Nov 30 /via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 970.01, up 4.94 points /MCOT

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PM: Will hand out aid money as soon as damage survey reaches office,no need to wait for water to recede-everyone will be cared for /TANN

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Abhisit Slams Thai Govt For Mishandling Flood

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Region 4 Army Commander Satisfied with Progress in Southern Security Operations Despite Daily Violence

The Region 4 Army commander says the military has made satisfactory progress in security operations in the South, but even so, insurgent violence still takes place on a daily basis.

A 5-kg bomb exploded at a hut on the side of Wang Phaya-Ta Thong Road in the area of the Talanae community inYala's Raman District.

A number of bomb fragments were found scattered around the site.

The blast killed 55-year-old defense volunteer Yakoh Ya-ngo.

An initial investigation revealed that Yakoh went to tend his banana plantation and stepped on a booby trap as he was about to reach a bamboo bed in front of the shack.

Police believe the bombing was a revenge attack by a local insurgent group because Yakoh aided police in an insurgency movement crackdown.

In Narathiwat Province, 22-year-old Bahari Salae was shot and injured by an unknown number of attackers in a drive-by shooting between Muang and Ra-ngae districts.

Officials found a pick-up truck on the side of the road with a numberof bullet holes in the driver's side of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Region 4 Army Commander Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasarorat presided over a security operations meeting for 14 southern provinces at the Vachirawut military camp in Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

The meeting was attended by the provincial governor and representatives from the Navy, the Air Force and other relevant agencies.

Udomchai said internal security operations in the South over the past year have seen satisfactory progress, except in the three border provinces.

He suggested that the government work to promote integration among agencies with the Prime Minister in direct command.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-22

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Cabinet to Approve 80 Bln Baht Budget for Flood Rehabilitation Effort

The Government spokesperson revealed that the cabinet today will consider the flood rehabilitation budget.

Government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng revealed that at the cabinet meeting today, elected officials will consider the request for an 80 billion baht budget for flood recovery, as proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit.

She clarified that the budget would be divided into three main areas of concern, namely, for infrastructure recovery overseen by Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, for economic and industrial rehabilitation overseen by Commerce Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong and for flood victim's quality of life, which is the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana.

Meanwhile, the cabinet will also consider an amendment to Military Personnel Regulation Act to make the salary rate the same for all non-commissioned officers as part of its effort to bridge the income gap among officers of the same rank.

In addition, the issue concerning the 2012 budget will also be raised at the meeting.

However, she is doubtful whether the government's draft royal decree seeking a pardon for jailed convicts would be discussed or not, saying that the issue has not yet been put on the agenda.

Furthermore, the cabinet will consider the appointment of the Government Lottery Office deputy director Somchart Wongwattanasant as the new Government Lottery Office director to replace Wanchai Surakul whose office term will come to an end on December 1.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-22

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FROC Director Pracha admits BIg Bag cant save inner bkk but also causes still water to rot /via FM100.5 /TANN

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Chalerm: Act Of Parliament To Help Thaksin

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Thai Flood to Cost Approximately 30 Billion Baht on Tourism Industry

The Tourism Council of Thailand Chairman said the recent floods will cost the Thai tourism industry approximately 25 to 30 billion baht.

Tourism Council of Thailand Chairman Kongkrit Hirunkij disclosed that the tourism industry in Thailand is expected to lose 25 to 30 billion baht as a result of the widespread flooding.

This has caused a decrease in the number of foreign tourists traveling to Thailand, as the floods have hit the tourism sector right at the start of the high season, the most important quarter for the Thai tourism industry to generate income.

Business operators in Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya provinces received monumental damage from the floods, whereas in Bangkok, there have been relatively little damage.

The floodwater in some areas of Bangkok and other provinces has started to recede and the inner city and upmarket shopping districts have remained dry.

However, a number of business operators remain concerned since the damage done to the Thai tourism industry resulted in several operators being short on cash and experience a lack of financial liquidity.

The Tourism Council of Thailand is urging the government to allocate credits at a very low tax rate and that commercial banks should be lenient with customers regarding repayment conditions, especially on interest rates and loans, to allow cash to flow among business operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-22