Thailand Live Wednesday 7 Dec 2011

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Stars Design T-shirts to Raise Funds for Cold-spell Victims

A team of 11 stars design a collection of T-shirts for sale to raise funds to purchase blankets and jackets for people facing cold weather in the North.

While flooding in most parts of the central region subsided, many other provinces across the country particularly in the North and Northeast continue to face cold spells.

Nong-Arunocha Phanuphan, the CEO of the Broadcast Thai Television Company, joined hands with TV Channel 3 and Siam Piwat Company to organize a project called “Hom Rak”.

Eleven well-known stars such as Jenny Tienposuwan, Sririta Jensen, Por-Thrisadee Sahawong, Lome-Patchata Nampan and Pip-Ravit Terdwong were invited to design that express love T-shirts for sale.

All proceeds from T-shirt sales will be used to purchase blankets and jackets for Buddhist monks and residents facing cold weather in upper Thailand.

The Broadcast Thai Television CEO said she is set to travel to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces on December 10 to distribute jackets for affected residents by herself.

Other stars who participated in the T-shirt design are Ann Thongprasom, Chompoo Areeya, Nun Siraphan, Aon Sarawut and Pope Thanawat.

Anyone who is interested in the collection of T-shirts can purchase them at the information center on the 2nd floor of Siam Center.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Love Thailand Party leader Chuwit: No Massage Parlor Near Schools

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Floods in Eastern Bangkok Ease

The flood situation in eastern Bangkok has been continuously improving, allowing most residents to return to their homes.

On Phaholyothin Road, the water level in front of the Don Muang Air Force Base remains about midcalf deep and is causing traffic congestion.

The Directorate of Air Operations Control Intersection has dried, but there are still large volumes of pooled up water at north of the intersection.

Residents must rely on army trucks to travel.

The Chantarubekha Road near the sluice gate at the lower line of Canal 2 has completely dried.

Riverside communities are still inundated, and many homes are damaged.

The big problem at the moment is the rancid smell coming from the large amount of waste associated with the stagnant floodwater that cannot be drained from the area.

The flood situation at Annex community at Soi Phaholyothin 58 in Sai Mai District, which was earlier submerged more than 1.5 meters, is almost back to normal. Residents have begun cleaning their homes.

Pongpawan Wanthong, a local in the Annex community, said the flood is estimated to have caused 20,000 to 30,000 baht in damages to his home.

He noted that a large amount of property could not be moved to higher ground in time and was seriously damaged.

Pongpawan also urged the government to follow His Majesty the King's guidance and learn from this mega-disaster to prevent future floods from happening.

Another resident, Sandusit Klingaium, stated that the inundation has caused 50,000 to 60,000 baht in damages to his business.

He felt that the compensation of 5,000 baht set to be given by the government is too meager, and he urged the government to review its relief measures.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Phuket Yacht Haven staff praised for averting marina fireball

Phuket's Yacht Haven Marina is home to many high-end yachts as it can accommodate vessels up to 80 meters long. Photo: Gazette file

Quick action by staff at Phuket Yacht Haven who towed the burning boat to deeper water saved other boats moored at the marina. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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A Horrible Mistake

It was a grave mistake that immediately drew widespread criticism when two pictures were unsuitably posted on the official Facebook page of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ahead of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday on December 5. They were pictures of the late King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol’s elder brother, sitting on the throne. The photos, which were posted at 10 P.M. on Saturday, appeared with a message from the Prime Minister saying “On December 5, all Thais will be united to praise His Majesty the King.”

Also in the pictures was former Prime Minister Pridi Phanomyong, who played an important role in Thailand’s transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. This prompted condemnation from the public and speculation whether it was politicized.

The photos were removed from the PM’s Facebook page twelve hours after they had been posted. An apology was issued from the PM’s Facebook team, saying that they wrongly posted the pictures and already reported to the prime minister about the mistake. Yingluck then assigned her secretary Bantoon Suphakwanich to send a letter explaining the matter to the Royal Household Bureau, requesting for a royal pardon for the error.

Bantoon insisted that the pictures was solely human error and the prime minister had nothing to do with it. He said the PM’s Facebook team is an outsourced team from a private organizer and does not consist of any Pheu Thai Party members.

However, the explanation did not silence criticism. If the PM’s Facebook team really made the mistake as alleged by Bantoon, it still demonstrates a lack of professionalism and accountability in a team that manages public relations affairs for the country's leader. It also shows that all of PM’s actions are based on written scripts and guided by a “supporting cast”.

Meanwhile, many questions were raised about the prime minister’s role. Anything that comes from her should have been thoroughly checked. Why did such a highly sensitive mistake manage to unbelievably slip out? An extensive inquiry must be launched into the matter and the results made public. Somebody must be held responsible now that the anti-monarchy movement is becoming increasingly aggressive and blatant.

Editorial, Naew Na, Page 3, December 6th, 2011

Translated and rewritten by Wacharapol Isaranont

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Eight Killed, 49 Injured As Chiang Mai-Bangkok Bus Crashes

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RT @ThanongK: Time bomb was placed in front of Lottery Office, Rachadamnoen Rd yesterday. http://bit.ly/vffhTJ (article in Thai)

RT @ThanongK: The bomb was meant as a threat coz it was not properly assembled.

RT @ThanongK: The time bomb's clock was put at 1 -- which could be 1 am or 1 pm.

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Ex-Transport Permanent Sec Postpones Testimony in Controversial Robbery Case

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Explosive Device Found on Ratchadamnoen Klang Road

An explosive device was found on a traffic island at Ratchadamnoen Road.

The device was set to detonate at 5:30 PM yesterday, but was diffused with a water cannon by the bomb squad.

Yesterday, a suspected explosive device was found in a black bag placed inside the pot of a tree on a traffic island at Ratchadamnoen Klang Road in front of the Government Lottery Office.

The device was diffused by a National Police Office's bomb squad using a water cannon.

The device is thought to have been wired to explosive material, with metal and glass fragments filled inside a 3 inch wide and 7 inch tall section of metal pipe. The bomb was set to explode yesterday at 5:30 PM.

According to a security guard at the Government Lottery Office, the suspected bomb was found at around 9 AM.

The local police were informed after it was discovered that the device had electrical wires. The bomb squad was immediately dispatched to the scene.

After the incident, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai called a meeting with the investigation and bomb units.

The investigation team has also been ordered to gather intelligence from the field.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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PM not at fault for Facebook blunder

Critics should stop attacking Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra because she was not at fault and did not try to play down her Facebook blunder, spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang said on Wednesday.

"Critics have been unfair to Yingluck by distorting her remarks and actions in order to fault her," she said.

Thitima said Yingluck did not evade her responsibility as alleged because she had already fired her Facebook team for posting a wrong picture in the well wishing message marking His Majesty's birthday.

On Saturday, Yingluck's Facebook page briefly posted wrong picture of the King before making the correction.

Thitima said Yingluck immediately instructed her secretary general Bandhoon Supakavanich to draft an apology seeking the King's pardon via the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Serm Sakhonrat to be released Dec 18 under amnesty decree;jail term reduced 5 times; originally sentenced in 1998 to life in prison for killing girlfriend /MCOT

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AFP: Eight dead, scores hurt in Thai bus crash

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Two homemade bombs found on Bangkok's Ratchadamnoen Avenue

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Police hunt for suspect of bomb scare near Lottery office

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SET index midday up 8.05 pts, 0.78 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 1,038.82, up 8.05 points, or 0.78 per cent in line with regional shares amid light trade of Bt 12.66 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 730.10 points, up 5.60 points, or 0.77 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: BBL, IRPC, PTTGC, KBANK, PTT.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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RT@Biz_TheNation: Thai floods could cost insurers over USD 10 bn,with USD 45 bn in economic losses,Aon Corp.,world's largest insurance broker said

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Austrian tourist stabbed, robbed by Phuket youth gang

Phuket Gazette

A image taken by cell phone at the scene of the attack shows the slash wound that punctured the Austrian tourist's lung.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/517457-austrian-tourist-stabbed-robbed-by-phuket-youth-gang/page__view__findpost__p__4896520

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RT @veen_NT: Cars parked at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Zone B-F must be removed before Dec 9. Call 02-132 9511-12

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ASEAN

PM to Singapore on Thursday

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will make a familiarisation trip to Singapore on Thursday to boost mutual cooperation.

The premier will leave Bangkok at 1pm. During her one-day trip, she will meet her Singaporean counterpart; Lee Hsien Loong, and discuss the excellent trade and investment ties between both countries. They are also expected to talk about how to strengthen such existing mechanisms as the Prime Ministerial Retreat and SingaporeThai Enhanced Economic Relations.

Yingluck will later pay a courtesy call on Singapore's President Tony Tan, who was voted in as the seventh president of the country in August.

Lee Hsien Loong will host a reception dinner for Yingluck, who will leave Singapore at 9.30pm and arrive back in Bangkok at 10.50pm.

Thailand and Singapore are among ten members of Asean grouping.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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Singer Sek Loso admitted via his Facebook page that he took drugs but promised not to do it again and will end his feud with his ex-wife /TANN

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DPM Chalerm: police will find Lottery Office bomber in 3 days; mulling a way to bring Thaksin home; no comment on Cabinet reshuffle /TANN

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Phuket Called On For Urgent Blood Donation To Help Russian Tourist

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Suthep Ready to Defend Role in 2010 Red-shirt Crackdown

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PM Seeks Royal Pardon for Posting Wrong Picture of King

The prime minister has sought royal pardon from His Majesty the King for posting the picture of King Rama VIII, instead of the present King on her Facebook page containing a well-wishing message for the occasion of the King's 84th birthday on December 5.

Government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng said she has been informed that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already forwarded a petition seeking royal pardon to her secretary-general who will then take charge of submitting it to the palace.

Thitima said the prime minister has already changed the staff overseeing her Facebook page and instructed her new social media crew to work with caution.

The spokeswoman then complained that there is a smear campaign going on intended to discredit herself and the prime minister.

Thitima said that there have been claims that the message she posted on October 3, commenting that an entirely different issue was a small mistake, was posted on her Facebook page on December 5.

The government spokesperson said this is an attempt to mislead the public into thinking she commented that the wrong image on the prime minister's Facebook page was a little mistake.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Criminal court rejects bail for Red Shirt activist Arisman fearing he will flee; sent to prison, lawyer to appeal on Friday,increases bail bond to Bt2 mln /MCOT

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20 red shirts receive royal pardon

The Nation

Some 20 of 94 red shirts serving prison terms in connection with the last year's political mayhem have been pardoned on the occasion of the King's birthday, red shirt chairwoman Thida Thawornseth said on Wednesday.

The 20, convicted on charges related to emergency rule violations, will be released tomorrow, Thida said.

The remaining red shirts, including 32 being remanded on politically-related charges, would soon be transferred to a special correctional facility being run separate from other prisons, she said.

The special facility, located near the police officers club, is undergoing renovation to serve as a detention centre.

The red shirt chairwoman said the red shirts would keep a close watch over the political development.

"The political situation is not stabilised," she said, citing the legal proceedings to disqualify Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan as a sign of political disturbance.

She voiced suspicion that the attack on Jatuporn was a pretext to pave way for the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party.

She said the party would win even a bigger election victory if faced with punishment by disbandment.

She vowed to spearhead the charter rewrite in order to cancel the coup-sponsored Constitution.

-- The Nation 2011-12-07

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SET index closed at 1046.73, up 15.96; Bt/USD30.66; GBP47.75; AUD31.36; EUR41.01; CAD30.21; HKD3.94; SGD23.79; JPY39.26

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Jail Term Upheld against Ex Banker for Embezzlement

The Appeals Court upholds a preliminary ruling sentencing the president of the now defunct Bangkok Bank of Commerce to 20 years in prison for embezzling a total of 1.2 billion baht of the bank's assets.

The Appeals Court's decision stated that the prosecutors' witnesses gave conforming testimonies against former president of the Bangkok Bank of Commerce, or BBC, Krikkiat Chaleechan and two of his associates, Mom Ratchawong Ornanong Thepakham and Yaowaruk Nittheeranant, who were the bank's former deputy directors in charge of financial management and international banking.

State prosecutors are accusing the three of conspiring with a former consultant, Rakesh Saxena, to embezzle bank assets, in the amount of 1.2 billion baht in May 1995.

The court also found that the defendants transferred the bank's assets without seeking the endorsement of the executive board.

It therefore maintained the verdict handed down by the Criminal Court, sentencing each of the three to 20 years in prison and fine them a combined 1.157 billion baht while ordering them to pay 589 million baht in compensation to the defunct bank.

The Appeals Court has had to hold off on reading its verdict twice now because Krikkiat is suffering from lung cancer and heart disease.

The case is the seventh arraignment brought against Krikkiat for his role in the BBC embezzlement saga a decade ago.

The Bangkok Southern Criminal Court and the Criminal Court earlier sentenced him to a combined 70 years in prison in response to five of his arraignments.

The 20-year jail sentence that was handed down against him today will be added to the prison time he has already been given.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-07

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Thai panel to oversee anti-royal website crackdown

BANGKOK, December 7, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand has set up a committee to clamp down on websites considered insulting to the monarchy, a minister said Wednesday, despite international concern over its widely-criticised lese majeste laws.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said he would chair the first meeting of the group this week, including representatives from police, the interior ministry and other related agencies.

"If these websites are based abroad and cannot be completely shut down, we will find a way to prevent them from opening here," he said, adding that he would "take this matter seriously", even if his own allies were affected.

Anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count, and discussions of the royal family and the matter of succession are consequently extremely sensitive in Thailand.

Chalerm's comments to reporters came a day after the United States voiced alarm over a series of prosecutions in Thailand for speech deemed to be offensive to the monarchy.

Critics say that Thailand has increased use of its lese majeste legislation as a way to suppress freedom of expression, particularly under the last government, which was supported by the Bangkok-based elite.

Observers say the new administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who took power in August, has yet to improve the situation.

Last month a 61-year-old Thai man was jailed for 20 years on four counts of sending messages to the private secretary of then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in May 2010, the latest conviction to anger rights activists.

The European Union said it was "deeply concerned" about the sentence.

A minister recently said Thailand had asked social networking website Facebook to delete more than 10,000 pages of content containing images or text that it considered "offensive" to the monarchy.

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

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Over 12 Mln Baht Worth of Crystal Meth Seized in South

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