Thailand Live Wednesday 7 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 7 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 Tuesday 6 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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FUGITIVE RED LEADER

Fugitive Arisman surrenders in Pattaya

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POLITICS

Returning Thaksin's passport 'would be illegal'

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AFTER FLOOD

Gridlock as schools reopen

The Nation

Yesterday was the delayed start of the second semester but more than 200 schools in greater Bangkok were still flooded and remained closed.

Up to 90 schools in Pathum Thani, 54 in Nakhon Pathom, 50 in Nonthaburi and 11 in Bangkok were expected to reopen next Tuesday, said Pitsanu Tulasuk, deputy secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission.

However, if any of them were still inundated by then, they might postpone their classes again, he said.

Many streets leading to schools in Bangkok were gridlocked, like Vibhavadi Road in front of Surasakmontree School during rush hour. Parents were allowed to stop in front of the school to drop off their children and then leave quickly to ease the congestion. Some students of Horwang School said they had to leave home an hour early to avoid the traffic jams.

Students living in the Don Muang area said commuting to school was more difficult and expensive as some public buses coming from Rangsit in Pathum Thani were not running.

They had to take taxis and motorcycle taxis to school instead and pay more in fares.

Traffic was backed up from the Lat Phrao intersection to the Ratchayothin intersection and on Sukhaphiban 5 Road.

Pol Maj-General Uthaiwan Kaeosa-at, commander of Traffic Police, said the overall situation in Bangkok was not so bad. Police could deal with it.

Police had recommended to parents which roads to take to avoid traffic and to leave home earlier than usual, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Suphoth ordered to list assets robbed from his house

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Premier orders housing estates dry by year-end

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A look at what is new, rare and curious at Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011

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Bank of Thailand Governor sees slower export growth on global woes

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EDITORIAL

Have the floods degraded the idea of decentralisation?: Thai opinion

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STOPPAGE TIME

Corruption versus democracy: Ultimate reconciliation: Thai opinion

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130,000 workers risk losing jobs at flood-hit companies: Thai Labour Ministry

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US urges Thailand to ensure free expression

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2011 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday urged Thailand to ensure freedom of expression as it voiced alarm over a series of court cases in the kingdom that prosecuted speech deemed to be an offense to the monarchy.

The United States, which counts Thailand as one of its oldest allies, also voiced respect for the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who celebrated his 84th birthday on Monday and is revered as a demi-god by the Thai people.

"The United States government has the utmost respect for the Thai monarchy. The United States strongly supports freedom of expression around the world and considers it a fundamental human right," State Department spokeswoman Darragh Paradiso said.

"We urge Thai authorities to ensure that freedom of expression is respected and we're troubled by recent prosecutions and court decisions that are not consistent with international standards on freedom of expression," she said.

A Thai court last month sentenced Ampon Tangnoppakul -- dubbed "Uncle SMS" -- to 20 years in prison for sending text messages to the private secretary of then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva considered disrespectful to the monarchy.

A month earlier, a Thai-born US citizen, Joe Wichai Commart Gordon, pleaded guilty to insulting the monarchy after he was accused of posting a link to a translation of a banned book on his blog while living in the United States.

Critics say that Thailand has stepped use of its royal insult laws as a way to suppress freedom of expression, particularly under the last pro-establishment government.

In a statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised King Bhumibol as "a tireless advocate for the Thai people and the enduring bonds between our two countries" and said the United States is "proud of our longstanding alliance."

Clinton visited Thailand last month where she voiced hope for political reconciliation after years of sometimes violent infighting.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-07

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Tax breaks await those who help repair effort

The Nation

Public donations for the repair of flood-ravaged historical sites will soon qualify for tax breaks.

"After the tax incentives are finalised, we will request help from the private sector," Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday.

The worst floods in decades have submerged ancient structures for months, especially those in the world heritage zone in Ayutthaya.

After flood waters in the former capital of Thailand subsided, a team of experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) inspected the damage last week and found the wall of Choeng Thar Temple blemished by salt stains and a section of the wall of Ayothaya Temple crumbling.

The foreign experts and their local counterparts have held discussions on how best to return the damaged structures to their original condition.

Next a team from Japan will be coming on December 18.

The local experts had a wealth of work experience but the foreign specialists could provide new techniques.

The ministry is considering reviving a network of moats to protect sites from flooding in the future.

The Cabinet has already approved in principle her ministry's request for a Bt1.48 billion budget to restore 313 sites and has given the green light for the Bt45 million plan to repair 141 mosques and Christian churches.

Anek Seehamart, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, instructed Chaiyanan Bussayarat, director of the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, to strictly monitor tourist activities inside Chaiwattanaram Temple, which remained partially flooded.

"Boat rowers have sometimes hit the temple's ancient wall with their oars. Some parts of the brick wall have fallen off," he said. Some visitors were also seen walking on the base of the temple's pagoda.

"Such activities may harm the pagoda. Please don't do that," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Angry Thai Kansai Paint workers camp outside plant

The Nation

More than 500 workers yesterday rallied at the Thai Kansai Paint factory in Samut Prakan to demand continued employment and better welfare benefits.

"Last Friday, we were told the long weekend was just a holiday. But on Sunday evening, we received an SMS from our employer stating that its factories will be closed," Adithorn Yodrak, vice chairman of the company's labour union, said yesterday.

Their employer suddenly closed its two factories - the other is in Rayong - ostensibly for "improvements", Adithorn said.

Thai Kansai Paint manufactures products under the Fan brand, including industrial coatings for automobiles.

When the union checked on the Samut Prakan plant, it found an announcement saying the facility was closed for repair and no wages would be paid.

"The announcement also said anyone still interested in working with the company should contact his supervisor by [Friday]. There's also an announcement of job vacancies," he said.

The union then called the protest. The workers plan to camp out until management agrees to reinstate them and promises better welfare benefits.

The demand for better welfare benefits has been made since October, but management has refused to agree, citing impacts from the flooding. It remains unclear whether the demand is linked to the company's decision to temporarily shut down its facilities and start looking for new workers.

"We will protest till our demand is met," Adithorn said.

The welfare package demanded by workers includes the payment of a bonus at six times the monthly salary plus Bt20,000, and an annual salary adjustment of 5.5 per cent plus Bt800.

The workers also want a hike in monthly allowances - from Bt500 to Bt1,000 for cost of living, from Bt1,500 to Bt2,500 for housing, and from Bt1,500 to Bt1,800 for food, plus free rice.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Thai Cabinet backs proposal for one university per province

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'No Thaksin role' in Cabinet reshuffle: Noppadon

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BURNING ISSUE

Thai-Cambodian border may be quiet, but Asean must mediate

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50 years James Bond

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1 hurt in blasts at Pattani banks

The Nation

Violence continued in the southernmost province of Pattani with two bombs exploding simultaneously at ATMs yesterday morning, slightly injuring one person, Muang Pattani police superintendent Colonel Somporn Meesuk said.

The first attack took place at about 6.50am at an ATM of Krung Thai Bank in the middle of town near an intersection in Muang district. The blast destroyed one of four machines as well as lights and walls. A local woman, identified as Alisa Mumohali, 29, who was standing near the machine at the time, suffered cuts to her left leg from pieces of the machine.

The second attack was at a Bank of Ayudhya ATM at the intersection of Udomwithee and Piphit roads. No one was wounded.

Police collected evidence and suspected the bombs were detonated using timers.

Security camera footage showed a hooded man placing the bomb under the Krung Thai Bank machine. The explosion took place five minutes later, followed almost immediately by the blast at the Bank of Ayudhya.

Police also said they had information that two motorcycles would be used to bring bombs to residential areas in Muang Pattani between Sunday and yesterday, but had not discovered any such vehicles prior to the two explosions yesterday morning.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Eight killed, 49 injured as Chiang Mai-Bangkok bus crashes into LPG gas station in Lampang; driver drowsiness may be cause /MCOT

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US Ambassador Kristie Kenney would like to talk to you! Submit your questions: http://on.fb.me/vmf6d4 @usembassybkk @kristiekenney

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Two Nepali men arrested with 2 kilos of ya 'ice'

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Immigration Rules Eased For Foreign Specialists: Thailand

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,037.84, up 7.07 points /MCOT

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Democrat Party Demands PM's Explanation to Facebook Error

The Democrat Party spokesman has urged the Prime Minister to give an explanation for the mistake seen on her official Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the founder of the yellow-shirt movement denies that he has a personal Facebook account or fan page, saying any pages bearing his name are fake.

Democrat Party Spokesman Chawanon Intarakomalyasut urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to give an explanation on how the pictures of the late King Ananda Mahidol were wrongly posted on her Facebook page ahead of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, as well as why the multimedia presentation at Sanam Luang was canceled.

He said instead of putting the blame on her Facebook team, the prime minister should apologize herself for the mistake. Since the photos were posted on Saturday, Yingluck has not given an explanation or issued a proper apology.

Only a message was posted on her Facebook page apologizing for the error.

The Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson, Thitima Chaisaeng, said the premier will submit a letter to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary requesting a royal pardon for the mistake.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Bantoon Suphakwanich claimed the Prime Minister had nothing to do with the error as her Facebook page is maintained by an outsourced team the government hired from a private organizer.

Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy founder Sondhi Limthongkul insisted that he does not have a personal Facebook page or fan page.

He claimed that any Facebook pages purported to belong to him were created by other people.

There have been Facebook pages under Sondhi's name both in Thai and English, which contain pictures and personal information about the yellow-shirt leader.

Sondhi reiterated that he has no Facebook account and has never assigned anyone to create and manage one on his behalf.

He admitted that the fake Facebook pages could be misleading and confuse the public.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Red and yellow shirts ready for reconciliation

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Strawberries Grew in National Park for the First Time

A Thai resident from Hmong Hill tribes in Phitsanulok Province has planted strawberries, which have grown for the first time in the area.

He intends to them sell to travelers who visit the National Park.

Thawan Saelee, a resident from Hmong Hill tribes in Ban Rong Kla of Phitsanulok's Nakhon Thai District has brought in strawberry seeds to plant at Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park since there has been a high number of visitors at the National Park but there were no strawberries for distribution.

He believes that planting strawberries will increase the value of agriculture in the area.

He brought strawberry seeds from Chiang Mai Province and conducted a pilot study for a period of time, and now strawberries have grown in the area for the first time.

A one-rai strawberry farm has allowed him to collect seven baskets of strawberries to sell each day.

He expects 20 baskets will be collected from mid-December.

Furthermore, residents from Hmong Hill tribes continue to bring their fruits and vegetables from their farms to sell at the National Park to earn money for their households during the high season, since there are more than 2,000 visitors at the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Joint Private Committee: Japanese Investors Not Going Elsewhere

The tripartite joint private committee says many Japanese investors have affirmed they will not shift their production bases from Thailand to elsewhere, as they are pleased with the government's commitment to assisting the business sector and improving water resources management.

Federation of Thai Industries or FTI Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol and Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Somkiat Anurat reported the result of a meeting of the Joint Private Committee on Industry, Commerce, and Banking yesterday.

Somkiat said according to the Japanese Business Federation, 111 Japanese firms have confirmed they will not shift their production bases from Thailand to other countries, after they received clarification about the government's measures to assist the business sector and individuals hit by the nationwide flooding.

However, Japanese investors are calling on the Thai government to shorten the procedure for importing machinery and equipment to streamline the recovery.

Regarding the meeting of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Office, which was rescheduled from November 18 to the first quarter next year, Payungsak said that as Japan is paying close attention to Thailand's short-and long-term water resources management, the joint private committee has resolved to set up a team to gather information from all relevant sectors.

The team will forward its findings to the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development and the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management.

FTI Secretary-General Sommart Khunset said the council agreed to the government's plan to cut the corporate income tax from 30 percent to 23 percent next year.

He said the FTI has been supportive of the measure and believes the current tax rate will hurt small and medium businesses.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Govt Spokesman Thitima confirms letter from PM seeking royal pardon sent to Royal Household Bureau concerning wrong image on Facebook /TANN