Thailand Live Thursday 8 Dec 2011

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PM says Cabinet reshuffle not to happen soon;denies commenting about FROC disbandment;red-shirts turning themselves in must be based on law /TANN

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Drug Dealer Arrested With 300,000 Amphetamine Pills

Narathiwat police officers and the Narcotics Control Bureau have arrested drug dealers from one of the largest drug networks, and seized 200,000 amphetamine pills.

Another 100,000 amphetamine pills were seized after officers expanded the investigation.

Narathiwat Deputy Provincial Governor Dejrat Simsiri, Provincial Police Commandant Police Major General Chaitat Intanujit, Su-ngai Kolok police officers, and the Narcotics Control Bureau gave a press interview saying they successfully arrested three suspects possessing 300,000 amphetamine pills.

The suspects were identified as Sarawut Nuparn, Umar Ali, and Banluesak Manma.

Police have confiscated 200,000 amphetamine pills, worth more than 60 million baht.

The three suspects confessed that they received the drugs from Bangkok, and hid them inside a house before they were to be delivered to local drug agents and to neighboring countries.

The officers also seized a car, a motorcycle, two mobile phones, cash worth 940,000 baht, and an additional 2,219 Malaysian ringgit, which is worth about 22,000 baht.

At the first interrogation, the suspects denied all the charges against them, and claimed the drugs belonged to their friends.

However, the police did not believe them and charged them with possession of type-one narcotics with intent to sell.

Police then searched Sarawut's house in Muang Songkha District, and discovered another 100,000 amphetamine pills.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-08

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Stars Join Clean-up in Pathum Thani

Stars and singers joined Pathum Thani locals to clean up public spaces after the floods have subsided.

While the flood situation in most parts of the central region is almost back to normal, flood debris and garbage that has been piling up for months is an important problem that need to be addressed immediately.

Members of various sectors, including the entertainment industry, have joined hands in the clean-up and rehabilitation of the area in front of the Old City Hall in Pathum Thani Province.

Talented actress Jui-Warattaya Nilkuha and singer Jack-Jarupong Kluaymaingam, who volunteered their time for the clean-up, said they were delighted to see everyone working together to revive the country after the devastating disaster.

They also offered moral support to the victims and urged them not to give up.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-08

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Fund-raising Event Held for Flood-Hit Writers

The Writers Association of Thailand organized an event to raise more money for writers affected by the floods.

After holding a charity concert on November 19 that generated 700,000 baht for more than 400 writers affected by floods, the Writers Association of Thailand has again organized a fundraising event entitled “ Ruam Namjai Hai Phuen”.

The event was held in collaboration with the Culture Ministry's Contemporary Art and Culture Office, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Center.

Many activities were held at the event, including an auction of items belonging writers, and a seminar with many authors sharing personal experiences about dealing with the floods.

The authors also used their unique talents to entertain the crowds.

The proceeds from the event will be given to affected authors with 4,000 baht for each family.

Anyone interested in joining the relief efforts can contribute financial aid through the Krung Thai Bank's Nana Nua branch.

The account number is 000-035-878-9.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-08

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Missing Swede may be in Phuket: daughter

The most recent photo of missing tourist Tommy Nyberg, as supplied by his daughter who believes he may be in Phuket.

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Over 10,000 Thai inmates, granted royal pardon, freed today

BANGKOK, Dec 8 – About 12,000 Thai prisoners have been released today after being granted royal pardons on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s birthday.

The ceremonies to release the prisoners were officially carried out nationwide Thursday, with the main ceremony, presided over by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Klong Prem Central Prison where 2,766 inmates were freed.

She urged inmates freed today to apply the King’s self sufficiency economy philosophy to their everyday life.

Another 10,000 inmates will be released on Dec 18. Among them is Serm Sakhonrat, a former medical student who murdered and dismembered his girlfriend. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment beginning in March 1998 but his prison term was reduced five times.

Ahead of the day of his release, Mr Serm said he was grateful to the monarch’s kindness and he will be a good person and go back home to take care of his 68-year-old mother.

The former medical student said he planned to use his law degree, completed in prison, to apply for the test to be a lawyer to help the poor.

Sentenced in 1998, he said in anticipation of his Dec 18 release that he was concerned about the high cost of living but he will adhere to the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy.

Under the royal pardon decree, over 10,000 other convicts are receiving reduced punishment, to be completed within 90 days.

Those who benefit from reduced punishment but not being released this time, are Dr Wisut Boonkasemsanti, a gynaecologist who dismembered his wife, and former deputy police commissioner Chalor Kerdthes, sentenced for murdering the wife and son of a Thai jewellery businessman, in a case related to the theft of jewels from the Saudi royal family.

Both were originally sentenced to death but their jail terms have been reduced to 21 years and 50 years respectively under this year’s royal pardon. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-08

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Phuket lifeguard dies off Karon Beach

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Thai American man found guilty of lese majeste

The Nation

The Criminal Court on Thursday convicted Lerpong Wichai Khammat, aka Joe Gordon, for offending the monarchy and sentenced him to serve 2.5 years in jail.

Thai American Lerpong was guilty for posting his translation on the excerpts from a banned book, "The King Never Smiles" on the Internet.

His posting was done under the pseudonym of Sin Sae Jiew. The book was written by American journalist Paul Handley.

The court cited Lerpong's confession as ground for leniency to halve the orignal imprisonment of five years.

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

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Japan Agency (JICA) Withdraws Grant for Bt200m Pilot Flood Protection Project: Thailand

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Thaksin's fate hinges on reconciliation: PM Yingluck

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SET index midday flat

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Thursday stood at 1,046.04, down 0.69 points, or 0.07 per cent amid light trade of Bt14.74 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 735.79, down 0.93 points, or 0.13 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: BBL, KTB, IVL, JAS, TMB.

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

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Consumer confidence index in Nov falls to 10-year low due to flooding, concerns over global economy: UTCC/MCOT

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Former deputy PM Suthep gives testimony to police in death of 16 red-shirt supporters last year; confident he can clarify any questions/TAN_Network

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Arisman to be moved to new facility

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Phuket's Klong Krata reservoir project delayed by rain

Phuket Gazette

Monsoon rains have hampered work on Phuket’s third largest reservoir, which is to be located in Chalong sub-district.

View of the ongoing work at the reservoir project in Chalong.

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PM Denies Thaksin's Plan to Surrender

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Abhisit, Warong facing impeachment motion

The Nation

Some 84 Pheu Thai MPs, led by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, on Thursday filed a motion for impeachment of two Democrats, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Warong Dechgitvikorm.

The motion has charged the two for violating a constitutional ban for invoking MP status to interfere with the government work.

Abhisit and Warong allegedly coerced the Phitsanulok governor to allocate 500 relief bags for them to distribute to flood-hit people.

The relief bags were prepared by the Energy Ministry and given to the care of the provincial authorities before being distributed by Democrat leader Abhisit.

"I want the Constitution Court to rule whether the constitutional ban was violated," Pracha said.

The impeachment motion was submitted to House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont who would, in turn, forward it for the judicial review.

Pracha's move is seen as a retaliation after the Democrat Party sponsored the impeachment motion against him and eight Pheu Thai MPs.

The Democrats accused Pracha of involving in alleged irrigularities related to the procurement of relief supplies and charged the eight MPs for violating the constitutional ban for interfering with the government work.

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

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AFP: Munich Re estimates Thai floods' losses at 500 million euros

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Red-shirt leader Thida asks red-shirt supporters still on the run to turn themselves in /TANN

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SET index closed at 1043.24, down 3.49; Bt/USD30.63; GBP48.00; AUD31.26; EUR40.95; CAD30.18; HKD3.93; SGD23.73; JPY39.22

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Phuket Police need help from tourists: investigator

Pol Maj Thammasan Boonsong of the Patong Police advises tourists to have patience if they get into a dispute in Phuket.

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AFP: Thailand eyes migrant influx for flood recovery

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AFP: Ex-deputy PM Suthep grilled over Thai protests deaths

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Thai floods may lift global insurance premiums

The Nation

Fitch Ratings warned today that the floods in Thailand could cause major global reinsurance firms to raise catastrophe premiums across the board to try to absorb the heavy losses from natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We believe that some reinsurance firms have already used up their catastrophe budgets for the year after big losses linked to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the earthquake in New Zealand. Losses from the Thai floods will therefore directly affect their bottom line. However, we expect these to be manageable, and we do not expect them to result in downgrades for global reinsurers," the rating agency said in a statement.

Fitch Ratings foresees that as January renewal season arrives, lead reinsurers may adopt a broader increase in catastrophe insurance premiums to recover losses. In the Thai market itself, reinsurers are also likely to limit the level of flood coverage to less than 100 per cent of the total loss, it said.

The rating agency showed that after hurricane in Florida, hurricane-exposed property premiums were between flat and up 5 per cent. In New Zealand, property renewal prices doubled, and Japanese rates increased by 30 per cent-70 per cent after the tsunami.

Fitch Ratings noted that damage of the Thai floods is not yet unknown. A lack of available claims adjusters, the high number of claims and difficulties in accessing some areas are continuing to make estimating losses difficult.

Munich Re estimated own losses from the floods at around 500 million. On Tuesday Swiss Re estimated that the total insured market loss will be US$8-$11 billion, but said "significant uncertainty" remains. The Office of Insurance Commission in Thailand gave an initial insured loss estimate of around $7.2 billion, excluding business disruption claims.

"We believe losses for local non-life insurers in Thailand are likely to be manageable, and that they will not trigger widespread solvency problems because of the relatively low insurance penetration in the country, and potential government support due to the severity of this catastrophe," it noted.

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 9 Dec 2011

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