Thailand Live Wednesday 30 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 30 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 Tuesday 29 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Thai Army chief Prayuth, Democrats oppose taking reds' case to ICC

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LABOUR

Only 100,000 to lose jobs; Thai Labour Ministry

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NEW BOOK ON HIS MAJESTY

Telling it like it is

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation

Work overseen by ex-PM Anand offers deep, previously unknown insights into King's life and the monarchy with 'no attempts to hide the truth or run away from debates'

A new book detailing the life and work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been published. It is not a sugar-coated description of the world's longest-reigning monarch and the work in English was written by a group of experts with knowledge and long experience in Thailand.

"King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work" will help Thai and foreign readers understand the whole gamut of Thailand's 750-year-old institution and all related implications, real or imagined, especially those related to HM the King, his role and life-long work.

The contributors are respected writers who have commented on various aspects of Thailand. They are Chris Baker, David Streckfuss, Porphant Ouyyanont, Julian Gearing, Paul Wedel, Richard Ehrlich, Robert Horn, Joe Cummings and Robert Woodrow. Editor-in-chief Nicholas Grossman and senior editor Dominic Faulder oversaw the project assisted by an advisory board headed by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday while inaugurating the book, Anand said it featured all aspects about His Majesty and the monarchy, even negative aspects.

"We talk about both sides relating to the monarchy. We are not hiding the truth, or running away from debates, but we also do not want to persuade anyone to change their ways of thinking," he added.

"Throughout the one-year compilation of contributions from the authors, we have received cooperation from many with knowledge about the monarchy, but we did not use details without reference. I, as the adviser to this publication, did not alter any inputs of information, but have put in some details as fulfilment, to create greater balance.

"Everything in the book is based on facts, and I want all Thais to read it, and to know about a lot of things [about the monarchy] not known before to the public," he said.

The book is divided into three sections - his biography, his work and the monarchy. The King's life has been divided into seven cycles from the first, which began in 1927-1939 to the present seventh cycle of 2000-2011, which will be commemorated next week, on December 5.

The section of the King's work is divided into health, education and sufficiency economy. Those who are interested in sustainable development will gain a lot of information from the chapter titled "More for Less", which explains the philosophy of sustainable development as advocated and practised by the King.

There are 54 pages dwelling on the Thai monarchy, with focus on the Crown Property Bureau, the lese-majeste law, the Privy Council, succession as well ceremonies and regalia. They contain information and details unavailable before to the public.

"The Thai monarchy has been subject to heavy criticism in the past few years not based on facts, so I have used my role as an adviser to tell the truth to foreign audiences," Anand said. "The book features accurate information, which is fair to all sides, and is regarded as a reference for anyone without true knowledge about the monarchy."

General readers would discover interesting information and statistics disclosed in a comprehensive manner. For instance, what is the nature of the royal financial situation? What is the Crown Property Bureau actually doing with all the land it owns upcountry and in Bangkok and all the money it earns from all these properties?

In a nutshell, the CPB owns a total of 41,000 rai throughout Thailand - 33,000 rai upcountry and 8,300 rai in Bangkok - mainly in the historical centre. The bureau has 40,000 rental contracts, of which nearly 17,000 are in Bangkok.

The CPB's corporate investments were valued at about Bt200 billion or US$6.7 billion in 2010. Its land in Bangkok alone, according to one estimate, was worth about Bt1 trillion or $33 billion at market prices. But the CPB books the value based on cost, at less than a third of the above figure. It is also one of the country's largest investors.

The section on lese-majeste law is candid and non-partisan. It offers myriad views from the legal standpoint to a royal perspective. Writers on the Thai monarchy approached this sensitive subject without any trepidation. "Thailand currently has the most severe lese-majeste law seen anywhere in more than a century, comparable only to Japanese wartime legislation," it states in part.

The recent imprisonment of Ampon Tannoppakul for 20 years was a case in point, which has attracted the concern of the international community.

"The book's quality, however, is for readers to judge," writes Anand Panyarchun in the foreword to the 384-page book, which is now on sale.

Throughout the past 12 months, the writers and editorial teams worked around the clock to complete this remarkable book, albeit thick and heavy, weighing 2.2 kilograms, to ensure that it would be published ahead of the King's 84th birthday. The contributors met with the nine-member advisory board a dozen times to strive for accuracy, balance and relevance. The book also contains rare photographs of HM the King never seen before.

In the past, books about the monarchy have been banned in Thailand. Paul Handley's "The King Never Smiles" was banned after its publication in 2006.

So was William Stevenson's book "The Revolutionary King", written in 1999.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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UN CCPCJ

Special position proposed for Princess

Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung

The Nation

The Cabinet will propose a special ambassadorial position for HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha as she will start her work as a chairperson of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Commission (CCPCJ) in December, deputy spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said yesterday.

Her appointment to the post is deemed as promoting the country's reputation, and proposing the special ambassadorial position is to honour her. The Cabinet is working on this with the Office of the Attorney-General and the Office of the Civil Service Commission. The Princess's term as CCPCJ chairperson will end in December next year.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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BUSINESS

Flood-hit auto industry gets relief with tariff exemption

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EC disqualifies Pheu Thai MP Chatuporn

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CONFLICTS OF FLOOD

Bangkok governor and protesters lock horns: Flood conflicts

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EDITORIAL

We must protect tourism sites in a sustainable way: Thai opinion

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STOPPAGE TIME

Things I learned from the Pracha censure: Thai opinion

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Fugitive politician 'Kamnan Poh' absence in court will cost daughter Bt15m

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Many schools not able to open on December 6

Supinda na Mahachai

The Nation

About half of the schools in submerged areas of Pathum Thani and neighbouring provinces are unable to reopen on December 6 as scheduled.

"Pathum Thani Primary Educational Service Area Office 1 told me 78 schools are unable to reopen on December 6 and only 25 other schools can do so. Office 2 in the same province reported that 43 per cent of schools under its supervision cannot reopen on schedule. About 50 per cent of schools in Nonthaburi are not ready to reopen on that day," Chinnapat Bhumirat, secretarygeneral of Office of Basic Education Commission said yesterday.

Meanwhile, four secondary and two primary schools in Bang Khae district of Bangkok would have to postpone reopening as well, he added.

He was speaking to reporters after a teleconference with the directors of educational service area offices from five provinces - Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon.

Chinnapat said he told them to hand in the list of schools still affected by floods to him today. They would also have to tell him when those schools would be able to start the new semester and propose solutions suited to each school.

However, some schools in Pathum Thani planned to relocate their students from their flooded schools to study at other safe places instead of waiting for flood water to recede. It was a good solution as the students could start classes sooner, he added.

On Monday, Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said the ministry would allow only schools still under water to postpone the reopening to December 13.

Therefore, the Ordinary National Educational Test (ONet) for the sixth and ninth grades would also likely be delayed for two more weeks so that the students whose schools open on December 13 will have enough time to finish the required curriculum, Woravat said.

"The schools may have to make up classes but only after school or on Saturdays if necessary. We won't let them make up classes on Sundays because students and parents will be too tired and stressed out," he said.

The National Institute of Educational Testing Service has already pushed back ONet for both levels once. ONet for Prathom 6 was postponed from February 1 to February 15, and for Matthayom 3 from February 23 to February 16-17.

However, ONet for Matthayom 6 (Grade 12) students would be held on February 18-19.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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Court gets lenient with PAD leader Sondhi

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Evacuees to be sent back

The Nation

Flood evacuees will be sent home today as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) needs to get schools used as shelters ready for the new term, which starts on December 6. However, 91 schools in 10 Bangkok districts that are still flooded will open on December 13.

Bangkok deputy governor Thaya Theepasuwan said yesterday that the BMA would send evacuees home with cleaning kits, but that the move would be gradual. Those ready to return home will be provided free transport, while those whose homes are still flooded will be moved to BMA youth and sports centres or its scout camps until the situation returns to normal. Once the evacuees have been moved, the 345 BMA schools used as shelters will be cleaned up to open on December 6. Volunteers are welcome to join in the cleanup efforts from December 1 to 5.

Thaya said that on December 3, BMA officials and volunteers would be cleaning up the Wat Lak Si School in Lak Si district and Wat Don Muang and Pracha Uthit schools in Don Muang district.

The 91 schools in Sai Mai, Lak Si, Don Muang, Bang Bon, Thawee Wattana, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae, Khlong Sam Wa, Min Buri and Bang Khen districts that are still flooded will open on December 13.

BMA has arranged for special class

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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Research budgets to be hacked

The Nation

Nine universities classified as research institutes will get less funding and experts are concerned that several projects might be brought to an early end and the quality of academic work will drop.

Chiang Mai University rector Prof Phongsak Angkasit said only Bt833 million had been earmarked for all nine universities for 2012 and that his institution had to find new sources of cash because it expected its budget to be cut by Bt100 million from last year's Bt160 million.

The universities had initially asked for more than Bt2 billion in funding next year, but only Bt833 million had been approved.

Khon Kaen University rector Assoc Prof Kittichai Trairattanasirichai said his university had mobilised Bt150 million to make up for the loss in funding.

Both Phongsak and Kittichai said the country's development would be hampered or even stopped if research funds kept dropping, and that Thailand would have to import technology from other countries.

Suranaree University of Technology rector, who is also chief of Council of University Presidents of Thailand, said he understood that the research budget had to be cut due to post-flood restoration efforts but warned the government to not keep cutting funds in coming years.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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NACC gets 'useful information'

Anti-graft agency undertakes search of Suphoth's residence

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Thonburi Floods Feared to Last until Year-end

The disaster warning center chief has revealed that over 140 giant sandbag barriers have been dismantled in Don Muang area.

He adds the Thonburi area is likely to remain under floodwater until the end of the year.

Director of the Natural Warning Center Somsak Kaosuwon spoke to the media about the protest by local residents at Phraya Suren Canal in Bangkok's Minburi District.

He said preliminary talks have been held with the protesters and it is the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA's responsibility to resolve the conflicts with the protesters.

Last night, locals living near the Phraya Suren Canal violated the BMA's order and raised the level of the sluice gate from one meter to 1.5 meters.

Asked whether the lifting of Phraya Suren sluice gate would have any impact on inner Bangkok, Somsak said the inner areas may not be affected by the move but communities nearby will definitely see impact from the further opening of the gate.

The disaster warning center chief went on to say that over 140 Big Bag barriers have been dismantled by the authorities in Don Muang area yesterday.

More will gradually be removed in areas where it is considered safe from further floods.

He revealed that some areas in Bangkok have returned to normal as floods have subsided.

These include the Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road where road surfaces on both sides are now dry.

However, Somsak expressed concern for the Thonburi area where the floods are expected to linger until the end of the year.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-30

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Safari World to open Marine Park and Safari Park tomorrow /TANN

Red Cross seeks donation of O RH negative blood for heart surgery of 3-month old baby /TANN

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 991.73, up 3.67 points /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: You will be able to see a total lunar eclipse in Thailand on 10 December at 8:06pm (BkkPost)

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Election Commission Votes 4-1 to Strip Jatuporn of MP Status

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Flood Eases In Southern Provinces

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TOURISM

Global drive to bring back tourists to Thailand

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PM is to be discharged from Praram 9 Hospital soon and will depart for Vietnam on an official visit before returning at 11pm /TANN

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Residents of Chaengwattana Soi 14 have scheduled a road closure again tomorrow to pressure FROC on water drainage /TANN

FROC director Pracha inspects Phraya Suren Canal sluice gate; tells BMA to decide on sluice gate opening /TANN

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Thai Flood to Cost 6 Billion Baht on Ayutthaya's Tourism Industry

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Office Director at Ayutthaya Province disclosed that the flood costed the tourism sector in Ayutthaya Province approximately 6 billion baht.

Office Director Juthathip Charoenlarp of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, in Ayutthaya Province disclosed that approximately 6 billion baht was lost in the tourism industry.

Of that number, 3 billion baht was spent on rehabilitating the tourism industry, including the cost of repairing damaged buildings, historical sites, and tourist attractions, whereas another 3 billion baht was lost in generating tourism incomes.

In general, the tourism sector in Ayutthaya Province generates at least 3 billion baht in annual revenue.

In 2007, it has generated 5 billion baht.

Due to the severe floods, the damage costs escalated.

The government and related units are currently working at their best to normalize the situation.

On the other hand, visitors, especially foreigners, were concerned about the flood situation and transportation difficulties, the remediation process, waste management, and possible outbreaks in the flood aftermath.

A number of tourists has canceled the trip to Ayutthaya Province. Therefore, related units are attempting to rebuild confidence amongst Thai and foreign visitors, particularly foreigners.

Juthathip said an aggressive public relations campaign will be kicked off by tourism business operators to restore tourist confidence.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-30

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91 BMA schools will begin new semester on December 13

A total of 91 schools run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will postpone its new school semester to December 13, Deputy BMA Governor Thaya Teepsuwan said Wednesday.

She said the 91 schools are in ten flood-hit Bangkok districts, including Sai Mai, Bang Bon, Don Mueang and Lak Si.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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AFP: Thai PM to leave hospital: aide

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Russian Caught Stealing A Toilet-Brush At Homeworks Pattaya

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