Thailand Live Saturday 3 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 3 December 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 Friday 2 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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FLOODS OF CONFLICTS

Love-motel operator sold FROC overpriced boats: Thai Democrat

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POLITICAL BEAT

Democrats seek to impeach 8 Pheu Thai MPs

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PROPERTY

Land prices in Bangkok rise sharply after floods

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Thaksin to get 'new passport'

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THAI-KHMER TIES

Thai doctor to treat Veera in Phnom Penh prison

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BMA opens 3 sluice gates wider

The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday widened the openings of three main sluice gates, a move that will ease flooding in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the sluice gate at the Phraya Suren Canal would be opened to 1.5 metres from 1.4 metres; the gate at Sansaeb Canal to 1.5 metres from 1.3 metres; and the gate at Lam Beung Khwang Canal to 1.3 metres from 1.2 metres.

"This way, water from Lam Luk Ka can be directed into the Chao Phraya River more quickly via the Hok Wa Lang Canal and Bangkok's canals," he said.

The flood situation in the capital has eased. The BMA yesterday vowed to collect as much garbage as possible today from areas where the flood water has just subsided.

National Office of Buddhism director Kanok Saenprasert said he planned to drain flood water out of the Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park zone by zone to minimise impacts on local communities.

The park, which occupies more than 2,500 rai in Nakhon Pathom, recently succumbed to flood water.

"The damages are estimated at over Bt500 million," Kanok said.

In Pathum Thani, officials from Nakhon Rangsit Municipality promised that Rattanakosin Village would be dry within the next two days.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Warning Centre warned that heavy downpours might cause flash floods and landslides in six districts in the South.

They are Krabi's Plai Phraya, Muang Krabi, Khao Phanom and Nua Klong districts, Phang Nga's Thap Put district, and Trang's Hat Samran district.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

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WATCHDOG

New factories to be situated on higher ground: post flood crisis

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GUEST COLUMN

Opportunity washed away: A confidence debate post mortem

Korn Chatikavanij

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Court upholds jail terms for South insurgents

The Supreme Court Friday upheld the life imprisonment handed to the former head of Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) and three members of the group, as well as the 50-year term given to another convict.

The judges dismissed the defendants' appeal that their confessions to violent crimes, treason, kidnapping and planting explosives were made under duress.

In response to their plea for a lighter sentence, the judges said the defendants' actions had resulted in many deaths and injuries, not including the disturbance they had caused by launching bomb attacks for a year, and that they did not deserve any leniency.

Haji Daoh Thanam, Haji Betong, Haji Samae Ismael Gaddafi and Haji Maseh were sentenced to death by the Criminal Court in 2002, but it was commuted to life imprisonment by the Court of Appeals in November 2005.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

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Abhisit, Suthep postpone their grilling session

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Go for 'The Big One'

The Nation

A pictorial collection of the massive 2011 floods in Thailand, documenting the worst crisis in 50 years, has now hit the shelves.

Published by Kom Chad Luek, with photos compiled from various publications under the Nation Multimedia Group, the 84page book is priced at Bt79.

"The Big One", titled in Thai as "The Grand Flood 2011", is also intended to archive photographic evidence of the floods similar to the historic photos showing the flooding of Bangkok in a major inundation in 1942.

The photos document flooding in waterways in the North, including the four tributaries of the Chao Phraya River - Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan - that travel through the many provinces from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok before creeping towards Bangkok, submerging vast areas along the way.

Apart from farmlands and villages in the central plains, five major industrial estates which have never experienced flooding were also submerged under the massive volume of flood water travelling southward, eventually inundating the capital, where rare scenes of people wading and evacuating became familiar.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

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Two held for stealing flood donations

The Nation

Two suspects have been arrested for stealing donations raised by a television show by manipulating cellphone services.

The suspects were identified as Rungroj Maddeen, 31, and Marisa Ranjuanjit, 25. Police say Rungroj pleaded guilty to charges of public fraud.

According to the confession, Rungroj contacted the cellphone service accepting donations for the "Ratcharot Ma Koey" TV show and claimed that he was a crew member and needed to transfer the calls to another mobile phone operator because his mobile phone's battery had run out.

"The programme was asking for donations to buy boats for flood victims. When calls were transferred to Rungroj's cell phone, he gave them a relative's bank account number instead," Crime Suppression Division commander MajGeneral Supisal Pakdeenareunart said, adding that the relative in question is Marisa.

The TV show producers soon found out what was happening and filed a complaint with the police.

This is the second time that Rungroj has been convicted of fraud.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

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Fugitive's brother under close watch: Suphoth burglary case

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Protect workers from disasters

The Nation

Arthit Ismo, director general of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, is planning to propose that a fund be established to help workers affected by natural disasters.

He said a similar fund was in place in Japan and South Korea too.

"The existing unemployment benefits are not enough for people who face long periods without work," he pointed out.

Many workers were lost their jobs after severe flooding submerged several industrial estates.

However, according to Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap, most employers had not laid off their workers due to the flooding, but he admitted that not working for that period had adversely affected their incomes.

-- The Nation 2011-12-03

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Most flooded plants back to normal before year-end: Kittirat

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Russian man run over by Phuket parasailing boat

Phuket rescue workers tend to Russian tourist Nikolai Nefedov after he was run over by a parasailing speedboat at Kata Beach. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

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BKK governor hopes to collect all flood garbage before Dec 5; concerned about huge volume of flooded furniture thrown out /TANN

Clean up in front of The Mall Bangkae today seeks volunteers /TANN

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INN:woman claiming to be singer Sek Loso's wife posts picture of him alleging smoking marijuana claiming it's retaliation to his beatings /TANN

PM thanks those who sent well wishes and says she's feeling much better from food poisoning; to visit Ubon Ratchathani at 11am /TANN

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FROC director Pracha: FROC disbandment possible next week; no clue about Cabinet reshuffle, have to ask Pheu Thai executives /TANN

Disaster & Mitigation Dept:16 provinces still affected by flooding;death toll at 666,3 missing;4.7 mn affected by flooding /TANN

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Former PM Abhisit will meet with police on Dec 9 to give testimony on crackdown against Red Shirts protesters during April-May last year /MCOT

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PM invites public to join celebrations marking HM the King’s 7th cycle birthday on Dec 5

BANGKOK, Dec 3 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday invited the public to join celebrations marking His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 7th cycle birthday on December 5, as the government has organised many activities to celebrate this auspicious occasion.

His Majesty the King has granted permission for a grand public audience to be held so people could pay tribute to His Majesty in celebration of his birthday anniversary.

Addressing the public on her weekly TV and Radio programme, "Yingluck Government meets the People," the premier urged all sectors of Thai society to join this event, which will be one of the highlights of various activities celebrating of HM the King’s 84th birthday.

In the grand public audience ceremony, HM the King will appear at the front balcony, or "muk det", of the Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall, located at the Grand Palace compound in Bangkok, on Monday, December 5 at 10.30 am, and he will greet well-wishers.

She said government and agencies have planned many celebratory activities to commemorate the auspicious occasion between December 3 and 9. The activities will take place at Sanam Luang ceremonial site, along Ratchadamnoen Road, the Royal Plaza, Ambhorn Gardens, and the Sanam Sua Pa compound.

As for the flood situation, Ms Yingluck said that she was confident that many areas in Bangkok and adjacent provinces could return to normal by this month.

She said many areas have dried out but some areas such as Lak Hok, Rangsit, Don Mueang, Chaeng Wattana and Lam Luk Ka were still under water, and the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) has asked many agencies to join forces to pump and drain the water.

Overall, the eastern part of Bangkok would dry by this December, she said.

To the west of Bangkok, no more additional water was flowing in, therefore within 1-2 weeks commercial areas could return to normal, but Phutthamonthon Sai 4 and Sai 5 roads and Oom Noi may need 2-3 weeks to drain and she also believed that the Thonburi side could dry by this December.

The water in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani could dry before New Year but in the lower areas, the water could linger more than 30 days, said the premier.

Ms Yingluck added that the flooded industrial estates and parks were returning to normal, as many factories have resumed operations and the government has prepared various measures to rehabilitate the factories and public.

The premier said she visited Songkhla on Friday and was satisfied with the flood precaution measures but she has told authorities to be on high alert, as more storms were expected in the areas. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-03

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Phuket Tsunami Wall of Remembrance ready for memorial service

The new extension to the Tsunami Wall of Remembrance in Phuket will allow access for wreath laying for any visitors from Argentina, the Czech Republic and Egypt who attend the service. Photo by: Chutharat Plerin

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FROC postpones meeting w governors of 7 flooded provinces incl BKK from Sat to Wed to get more complete info on flood related problems /MCOT

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Villager shot dead in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, Dec 3 – One man on Saturday was shot dead by suspected insurgents while riding a motorcycle in Rangae district of violence-plagued Narathiwat, according to local police.

The victim was identified as Preecha Tangsee, 62, a Rangae resident, Pol Capt Noraseth Suksee of Rangae Police Station said, adding that Mr Preecha’s body, still wearing a helmet, was found dead in a pool of blood next to the overturned vehicle.

Mr Preecha was shot one time in his head and twice in his chest by a gunman armed with a 9-mm pistol.

While inspecting the crime scene, a police investigator team collected three spent cartridge cases from the 9-mm pistol at the crime scene.

An initial investigation found that the 62-year-old victim armed with a .38 pistol was riding a motorcycle alone from his home. When he approached the crime scene in Tanyongmas subdistrict, two assailants armed with the 9-mm pistol on a motorcycle fired at him twice.

Wounded, Mr Preecha fell from his vehicle to a roadside area. The attackers then followed him and shot in his head once more to make sure that he was dead, according to the Rangae police.

Before fleeing the scene, the assailants also stole the victim’s .38 pistol.

The police presumed that this violent incident was carried out by a group of insurgent suspects, aiming at stirring daily disturbances in the region.

The insurgency in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat has intensified since 2004 with a string of bombings and shootings occurred on an almost daily basis. So far, the violence has claimed about 4,800 lives, including residents and government officials. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-03

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Phuket blood bank calls for foreign blood

Phuket Gazette

The Phuket blood bank is calling for foreigners with Rh-negative blood to help replenish much needed blood stocks.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/516686-phuket-blood-bank-calls-for-foreign-blood/page__view__findpost__p__4888232

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Phuket Vice Gov calls for Patong to ‘be nice’ to tourists

Phuket Gazette

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, who approved 7 million baht in funding for this year's event, the largest of its kind in Phuket.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/516690-phuket-vice-gov-calls-for-patong-to-be-nice-to-tourists/page__view__findpost__p__4888254

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Phuket World Musiq Fest launches HM The King’s birthday celebrations

Phuket Gazette

Traditional Thai dancers were part of the opening performance at the first-ever Phuket World Musiq Festival.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/516692-phuket-world-musiq-fest-launches-hm-the-kings-birthday-celebrations/page__view__findpost__p__4888271

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Former PM Abhisit will meet with police on Dec 9 to give testimony on crackdown against Red Shirts

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/516630-abhisit-suthep-postpone-their-grilling-session/page__view__findpost__p__4888300