Thailand Live Thursday 1 Dec 2011

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Phuket gears up for first World Musiq Festival

Hassan Hakmoun will be one of the headlining acts at Phuket's first World Musiq Fest.

Popular Thai artist Lanna Commins will also be performing at the four-day festival in Phuket Town.

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Transport Ministry orders budget revision for Suvarnabhumi's Second Phase Development

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Cambodian Confirmed Two Thai Jailed Activists Remain Healthy

Following the health examination of Thai activist Veera Somkwamkid who was jailed in a Cambodian prison, a prison doctor has confirmed he is healthy.

However, Thai doctors will visit him on December 2 for further examination to ensure his health.

His fellow activist was also confirmed healthy.

The Phnom Pehn website earlier reported that the Cambodian Interior Ministry approved a visit by two Thai doctors and a secretary of the Thai Embassy on December 2 to provide medical care for the Thai Patriots Network core leader, Veera Somkwamkid, who was imprisoned in Cambodia on charges of espionage and intrusion.

A doctor in the Cambodian prison previously assessed Veera's health and reported no health issues, as his blood tests were normal.

However, Thai doctors will visit him for further examination to ensure his health, and for transparency.

At the women's prison, Veera's fellow activist, Ratree Pipatana-paiboon, was also confirmed healthy, therefore further health examination is unnecessary.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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BOT: Economic Confidence Index at Lowest

The Bank of Thailand pointed out that the flood disaster has negatively affected consumption during October.

As a result, the economic confidence index fell by 36.7 points, the largest drop ever.

Senior Director of the Domestic Economy Department of the Bank of Thailand, Methee Supapong says the country has experience in economic slowdown during October due to the floods and a sluggish global economy.

The flood has also severely affected export, particularly in the auto and electronics sectors.

However, the industries untouched by the disaster are still expected to grow.

Meanwhile, domestic demand shrunk due to problems in production and transportation.

As a result, private consumption fell to -3.7 percent, from -1.6 percent the previous month. Overall investment has dropped to -3 percent, from -0.2 percent in the previous month.

The import of machinery and equipment has also been hit.

Consequently, the production of commercial vehicles fell sharply by 41.8 percent, the opposite of the 25.7 percent growth from the previous month.

The disaster also affected the economic confidence index, calculated from a survey conducted among businesses nationwide by the Bank of Thailand.

The index fell by 48 points to 36.7 percent, the largest drop ever, and far below the 50 point confidence benchmark.

Methee expects the index to fall even lower over the next three months.

In any case, the Central Bank does not believe foreign investors will leave the country despite the dismal economic indicators.

He expects a fast economic recovery for Thailand, with production returning to normal within the next six months.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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Police Crack Down on Drug-Trafficking Ring in South

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Phuket's well water drillers threaten blockade

Phuket Gazette

Udomsak Naddasena fights against the new well digging rule.

Nipon Sangrung (left) and Chaipadung Promsawadi (right) discuss groundwater well digging permits for Phuket.

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Music idol Todd Tongdee wants to see 'magic mix' of Thais and foreigners at Phuket World Musiq Fest

Phuket Gazette

Todd Tongdee in the Phuket Gazette television studios yesterday to tell presenter Krisana Matzenberger what to expect at the festival this weekend

From left: Guitarist Aritatch Saengpadung, PGTV presenter Krisana, Todd Tongdee (front), Gazette publisher John Magee, and performer Jerry Trapper who flew in from the U.S. to join Todd for the Phuket Musiq Fest

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Civil servants assured of minimum pay

The Nation

Deputy Finance Minister Viroon Techapaibul assured civil servants today that those who hold a bachelor degree will be paid at least Bt15,000 a month (including allowances) from January onwards.

The minimum pay, in line with the government’s push for higher wage, is guaranteed though the 2012 Budget Bill has not yet passed into law.

The minimum wage of Bt 300 per day will be implemented in April.

Viroon made the announcement while visiting the Comptroller Generals’ Department.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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PM hit with nausea and headache during lunch in the Muang Thong area so she's canceled all afternoon appointments to return home/TAN_Network

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AFP: Floods continue to push up Thai inflation

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RT @veen_NT: Rare group photo: from left - @somtow @suthichai @trisdee @thanongK at "Steve Jobs forum" http://twitpic.com/7mgqu9 via @trisdee

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Vice President Phairoj elected new Supreme Court president

The Judicial Commission voted unanimously to elect Supreme Court Vice President Phairoj Wayuparp as the new president.

Phairoj replaced Montree Yodpanya, who died in the night of November 26.

Phairoj's appointment will take effect retroactively to November 27.

The Judicial Commission also promoted Thanit Kessawapithak, the second Supreme Court vice president as the first vice president, replacing Phairoj.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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SOUTH CRISIS

Explosive kills one, injures another in Yala

A Private was killed and another wounded after stepping on a hidden explosive planted by insurgents on Thursday in Yala's Than Tho district. December 1, 2011 2:59 pm

The victim was Private Kriengkrai Promfai, 22, while the injured soldier was named as Private Siam sae Lao.

They were patrolling a road in Ban Buathong in Tambon Banlae when they stepped on the explosive, which had been hidden underground by insurgents.

The debris of a metal box was found at the scene. Police believe it was used to hide the explosives.

Meanwhile a Pad Thai restaurant owner complained that her business was being badly affected by the authorities' zoning and rearrangement of traffic flow, which aims to prevent insurgents' activities.

Prapai Lao said that following the series of insurgents' attacks in the province in October, the authorities had blocked entrances and routes into the district market, allowing only five routes.

"Before I used to earn about Bt10,000 a day but now, I get only Bt1,000 a day.

She said she did not want the security measures to be revoked but hoped they could be adjusted to facilitate access to the market.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Thailand's ranking shows decrease in corruption levels

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EC says it disqualified Jatuporn because he was in jail

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Thalang turns on the waterworks

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE: Bang Wad can help produce 43,000 cubic meters of tap water a day.

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Tourist Arrivals Expected to Rebound after Floods

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Research In Motion Introduces the New BlackBerry Bold 9790 Smartphone in Thailand

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Six Sentenced to Jail in Red-shirt Unrest Case

Bangkok's South Criminal Court has handed down a six-month prison sentence to six red-shirt defendants for violating the Emergency Decree but dropped the charges of arson and looting of the Central World shopping mall during last year's unrest.

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7 Red Shirts get jail terms for emergency decree violation, theft

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PM Cancels Evening Appointments over Illness

The prime minister experienced a headache and nausea after visiting flooded Nonthaburi Province this morning so she has canceled all afternoon appointments and gone home to rest.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra inspected the flood situation in Nonthaburi Province for over two hours this morning after presiding over an activity to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday at the Royal Plaza at 9 A.M.

After the flood inspection in Nonthaburi Province, the PM and her entourage stopped for lunch at a resturant in Pathum Thani Province.

The PM excused herself out after spending only a few moments at the restaurant.

The PM's close aide revealed that she was suffering from a headache and nausea as well as dizziness.

She has canceled all her afternoon appointments and gone home to rest.

The symptoms are believed to be related to food poisoning which caused her to be admitted to Praram 9 Hospital on Tuesday night.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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SET index closed at 1019.15, up 23.82; Bt/USD30.83; GBP48.23; AUD31.28; EUR41.30; CAD30.09; HKD3.96; SGD23.84; JPY39.48

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Turkish man killed in high speed road crash in Jomtien

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76 year old German stabbed over parking dispute in South Pattaya

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No appeal in Fanelli case: Phuket prosecutor

Convicted murderer Ronald Fanelli answering questions during the police press conference in July last year. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Underground Tunnel Suggested as Solution to Bangkok's flood problems

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Police chief dismisses rumours about key burglary suspect

There are rumours that the key suspect in the burglary of Transport Ministry permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom's home last month is being protected by a personal security detail and is on the run in Laos.

Bangkok police chief Pol LtGeneral Winai Thongsong immediately dismissed this report, adding that talk of the alleged ringleader Weerasak Chuelee travelling freely in and out of Vietnam and China was unfounded.

"We found that these rumours about him are just not true," he added. "There are so many rumours about him - that his movess are being financed and that he is being protected by bodyguards. We don't know if these guards are Thai or Lao. These are just tipoffs."

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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RT@terryfrd: Froc's Weera optimistic about Nontaburi (dry in 15 days), Dr Seri less so. NY celebrations likely wet, he says. He & Darin were there today

RT@terryfrd: One difference between assessment could lie in the fact that Dr Seri & Darin are out everyday & they take measurements.

RT@terryfrd: Dr Seri said natural drainage in Nonthaburi would take about 60 days. Govt, he says, needs to find much faster way & should be a priority

RT@terryfrd: Tomorrow evening Dr Seri & Darin will report live from Thammasit in Rangsit. Next week he starts "10 lessons from flood" series.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 2 Dec 2011

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