Thailand Live Sunday 11 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Sunday 11 December 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

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Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 10 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

Follow this link: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

[Lite Beer]

PM denies reports Chart Thai Pattana to be axed from Cabinet in reshuffle

The Nation on Sunday

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday rejected speculation of an imminent Cabinet shake-up that would see Chart Thai Pattana Party ministers removed.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518249-pm-denies-reports-chart-thai-pattana-to-be-axed-from-cabinet-in-reshuffle/page__view__findpost__p__4904247

[Lite Beer]

FLOOD CRISIS

Situation improving: Yingluck

The Nation on Sunday

Cabinet to mull measures for victims tomorrow

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518250-flood-situation-improving-yingluck/page__view__findpost__p__4904256

[Lite Beer]

Democrats seek clarity from Truth commission

Pimnara Pradabwit

The Nation on Sunday

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday called on the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) to make it clear that people facing criminal charges related to last year's political turmoil do not qualify for any special treatment

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518251-democrats-seek-clarity-from-truth-commission/page__view__findpost__p__4904260

[Lite Beer]

Citizens march against lese-majeste law as UN rights body raises concern

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday December 11, 2011 1:00 am

Fifty people marched from Victory Monument to the Ratchaprasong intersection yesterday afternoon to oppose the lese-majeste law amid an increasing number of arrests and trials under the law.

The march was led by octogenarian social critic Sulak Sivaraksa in a wheelchair. The move came just one day after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement calling on Thailand to amend the law.

The UN body stated on Friday evening that the law is "neither necessary nor proportionate, and violates Thai human rights obligations".

"We are concerned about the ongoing trials and harsh sentencing of people convicted of lese majeste and the chilling effect this has on freedom of expression," said the UN body's acting spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Sulak told The Nation that he wished the lese-majeste law would be abolished but admitted that it might not be possible at the moment. "Ideally, it should be abolished. But Thai society is stubborn and so it might not be scrapped," said Sulak, who has been tried under the lese-majeste law three times and acquitted.

Sulak proposed that the minimum penalty of three years' imprisonment should be scrapped while the maximum penalty should be reduced from 15 years to three years or no more than five years. He also added that a reliable agency needed to be set up to decide whether a case should be accepted and forwarded to the court, instead of the current situation wherein anyone can file a case.

"Many people are not alert that the law has become more draconian. The monarchy in Germany collapsed due to the lese-majeste law," said Sulak, who blamed ousted and convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra of "wanting to undermine the monarchy".

Suraphot Thaweesak, a lecturer at Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute's Hua Hin campus, one of the latest victims, was among the protesters. A police complaint was lodged against him earlier this week after he posted a comment suggesting how the monarchy should reform itself.

"It [lese-majeste law] is a violation of citizens' status as human beings. It's a law which creates prisoners of conscience as victims of the autocratic system."

Wanrug Suwanwattana, a lecturer in French at Thammasat University, is another who joined the march. She said she wants to let society know that "we are very angry and sad at the same time".

Some of the recent cases include the sentencing of dual Thai-US citizen Joe Gordon to two and a half years in prison on Thursday for translating parts of the banned book "The King Never Smiles" while in the United States.

Last month, 61-year-old Amphon Tangnoppakul, aka Akong, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sending four defamatory SMS messages from his mobile phone to a personal secretary of then PM Abhisit Vejjajiva.

-- The Nation 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

6 Chiang Mai districts declared disaster zones

The Nation on Sunday

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518253-6-chiang-mai-districts-declared-disaster-zones/page__view__findpost__p__4904270

[Lite Beer]

Democrats tell govt to clarify flood-prevention policy

Pimnara Pradabwit,

Kannikar Wijitsakolkarn

The Nation on Sunday

The opposition Democrat Party yesterday urged the government to clearly state its policy and operational plans for flood prevention after some Japanese companies announced they would move their investments elsewhere.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518255-democrats-tell-govt-to-clarify-flood-prevention-policy/page__view__findpost__p__4904276

[Lite Beer]

Police: Suphoth's maids not imvolved in heist

The Nation on Sunday

Police are convinced that the housemaids of suspended Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom were not involved in last month's heist at Suphoth's house when robbers reportedly got away with Bt100 million.

Bangkok's Wang Thong Lang Police Station superintendent Col Thawat Waongsa-nga said police had interviewed two housemaids of Suphoth on Friday and they claimed that they could not identify the suspects because the robbers were hooded. The confusion over the amount of money robbed remained as Suphoth affirmed he was robbed of Bt5 million whilst police had retrieved some Bt18 million from the eight suspects in police custody. Police investigators would check on the origin of the money for clarity. He said police has not filed any charge against Suphoth, who was the victim of the robbery.

-- The Nation 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

Shan pledge return to arms if abuse continues

The Nation on Sunday

Ethnic Shan forces who signed a truce with the Burmese government early this month have vowed to take up arms against Naypyidaw again if the group's basic rights are not respected and protected.

"The cease-fire is meant [to be] the starting point for peace-building and the development of living standard of our people so that one can make progress and the test of sweetness of democratic right as one of people in the world," the Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Army (SSA) said in a statement.

The SSA, which has carried on an armed struggle for autonomy for decades, reached a peace agreement with the government on December 2 after rounds of quiet negotiation.

However, the pact is simply a cease-fire agreement and many different points needed further discussion, the statement said.

SSA leader Lt-General Yawd Serk led his Shan delegation to kick off peace talks with Rail Transport Minister U Aung Min near the Thai border in November.

At the first meeting, the government proposed four talking points: cessation of hostilities, opening a liaison office, roaming freely without arms and discussion of politics at Union level.

The Shan countered with its own four key points: cessation of hostilities, solving political issues through dialogue, setting up RCSS and SSA headquarters, and cooperation on drug eradication.

The sides reached a cease-fire in Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State, but could did not make any decision on the remaining points.

Thein Sein's government announced a nationwide cease-fire with all armed minorities in August this year after its initial plan to force ethnic insurgents to serve as border guard forces under the military completely failed.

Before the Shan group, the government reached peace agreements with many other armed minority groups, including the United Wa State Army.

The Shan group established contact with the authorities in late October to begin peace negotiations.

As some points proposed by both sides had yet to be agreed upon, the Shan group said it has to wait and see what actions are taken by the government toward minorities before it proceeds.

-- The Nation 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

Economy on slow track

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation on Sunday

Thai Chamber of Commerce sees tough recovery ahead; calls for clear-cut govt plans to revive confidence

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518256-thai-economy-on-slow-track/page__view__findpost__p__4904287

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Financial officials must keep in mind: Public's trust is a finite resource

The Nation

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518257-financial-officials-must-keep-in-mind-publics-trust-is-a-finite-resource/page__view__findpost__p__4904292

[Lite Beer]

Meteorological Dept warns of 2-4 degree drop in temperature and cool weather throughout country, South to see heavy rain/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

PM invites volunteers to help with cleaning efforts in Don Muang and Buddha Monthol now that flooding has receded/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT@Biz_TheNation: PTT,Bangchak cut diesel price by 30 satang/litre,effective Dec.11

[Lite Beer]

Mercury in North drops to 5 degree

Frost happened on mountaintops in the North where the lowest temperature fell to 5 Celsius degree Sunday morning, the Meteorological Department announced.

The department announced in its daily weather report that the minimum temperatures on mountaintops in northern provinces ranged from 5 to 11 degrees while the temperature on the lowland in the North ranged from 17 to 21 degrees.

It said the minimum temperature in Bangkok would be 21 to 22 degrees.

The department said the temperature continued to drop two to three Celsius degrees because of a prolonged influence of intense high pressure over upper Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

RT@Biz_TheNation: Last day for Motor Expo 2011 at Impact Arena,Muang Thong Thani,11:00 am.-8 pm,free admission

RT@Biz_TheNation: Weather: cooler nationwide,below 10C. in northern hilltops;rain for the South,from Surat onwards

RT@Biz_TheNation: Flood hit Bhuthamonthon area expected to be dry in 1-2 weeks,in time for New Year

[Lite Beer]

RT@vaitor: Pic: Thailand turns sandbags into Christmas decoration http://t.co/BzjNKwCQ

[Lite Beer]

ABAC Poll respondents believe this year's election saw more vote-buying than '09 election;most believe politicians are hiding corrupt assets/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Democrat MP candidate for Don Muang Taenkhun believes his vote canvasser was killed by his political opponents;3 witnesses interrogated/TAN_Network

Pheu Thai MP for Don Muang Karun denies involvement in murder of Democrat vote canvasser but admits to knowing him/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Meteo Dept: Cooler, windy weather with 2-3°C drop likely over North, Northeast, East, Central; below 10 °C in high mountain area with frost/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Total lunar eclipse attracts stargazers nationwide

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518299-total-lunar-eclipse-attracts-stargazers-nationwide/page__view__findpost__p__4904721

[Lite Beer]

Traffic on Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Rd as locals closed off road to demand drainage of floodwater be sped up/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

China launches joint patrols along Mekong River with neighbors

Yunnan, Dec 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police Saturday started joint patrols with their counterparts from Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to maintain security along the Mekong River, a major transport passage in the region.

The joint patrol marked the restoration of international shipping services on the Mekong River that had been suspended since deadly attacks on Chinese cargo ships on Oct. 5.

Escorted by five joint patrol boats, ten cargo vessels set sail from the Guanlei Port in Xishuangbanna of southwest China's Yunnan province at the launching ceremony Saturday morning.

"I have nothing to worry about now with the patrol boats escorting the cargo vessels," said Lu Huarong, waving farewell to his son, captain of one of the cargo ships.

The patrol boats are equipped with heavy machine guns and 10cm-thick protective walls, while the police officers are equipped with automatic rifles and bullet-proof life jackets.

"With the protection, the resumption is a new starting point for the international shipping of the Mekong River," said He Jingtao, vice director of Xishuangbanna's maritime bureau.

"It will bring bright prospects for economic growth and people's exchanges in countries along the river and make the river a golden international waterway that is really safe, peaceful and friendly," He said.

The Mekong River, known in China as the Lancang River, rises on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before spilling into the South China Sea.

The river plays a crucial economic role throughout the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It also serves as a major bond of the economic cooperation between China and the GMS nations and one of the key transport passages in the China-ASEAN free trade zone.

The river, however, has witnessed increasingly more smuggling of drugs, weapons and ammunition, and attacks on boats over the past couple of years.

The four countries decided to launch joint police patrols in late October, weeks after two cargo ships were attacked on Oct. 5, resulting in the murder of 13 Chinese sailors.

The headquarters for the initiative was established in Xishuangbanna, while liaison offices were set up in the other three countries Friday to share intelligence and coordinate operations.

China has selected more than 200 officers from the country's border police force to form a special police team for the joint patrols along the Mekong River.

Joint police patrols are expected to help restore shipping services, protect the safety of passengers and vessels, as well as reduce crimes along the river, said Meng Hongwei, China's vice minister of public security, on Friday.

The four nations also sought to further build a long-term mechanism on joint patrol cooperation to crack down on crimes and safeguard social order in the Mekong River region, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.

-- TNA 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

Thai Chamber of Commerce survey: businessmen believe 2012 economy to grow 3-4%, express concerns of corruption in flood rehab budget/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Flood-prevention plans prepared: SCRF

RAYONG, Dec 11 – Thailand’s Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) has already mapped out and prepared short and long-term plans to prevent possible large-scale flooding in the future, according to the committee chairman Virabongsa Ramangkura.

Speaking at a seminar held by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Dr Virabongsa said that the committee has ensured and restored confidence among investors, other countries’ leaders and the Thai people that there will definitely be no more floods in Thailand for at least one year from now.

He explained that the SCRF has prepared both short and long-term flood prevention plans. Following the plans, urgent issues to be immediately implemented were dredging canals, improving all sluice gates to meet international standards and to conduct flood prevention drills twice a year including post-drill evaluations.

At the same time, Mr Virabongsa said more high-capacity water pumps should be acquired, while a computer controlled system was needed to control the regulation of sluice gate openings. The government should also implement existing laws to improve efficiency of sluice gates and prevent misappropriation of land for use which obstruct needed waterways.

Dr Virabongsa also said that in the short-term, relevant agencies should speed up building of flood prevention dykes along recently flooded industrial estates as well as so-far unaffected industrial zones, adding that a water resources centre should be set up in order to inform residents about the water situation for further preparation.

Regarding the long-term plan, the SCRF chairman advised that the government must invest in watershed resources management in each area in order to have sufficient amount of water for agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as planning for new dams wherever appropriate.

Meanwhile, concerned agencies should work together with the private sector to find proper land for new industrial estates, in order for industrial production to develop sustainably.

-- TNA 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Time to rein in the beach cowboys, and those who do not govern them

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket's daily carnival of swimmers, speedboats, jet-skis, cowboys... and lethal lawlessness

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/518317-phuket-opinion-time-to-rein-in-the-beach-cowboys-and-those-who-do-not-govern-them/page__view__findpost__p__4905040

[Lite Beer]

Room booking rates rise by 10% as festive winter season begins, temperatures drop

BANGKOK, Dec 11 - Thailand's Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) said accommodation reservation rate has increased by only ten percent, despite the commencement of the high winter season, as the tourism industry remains affected by the country's severe flooding, the association president said on Sunday.

ADT president Maiyarat Peerayankoses said temperatures which started to drop Sunday morning gave hope to tour agencies that it would help boost inbound tourism industry in 2012, after nationwide flooding this year forced tourists to cancel their room bookings by 90 percent.

Ms Maiyarat said the entrepreneurs had hoped that domestic tourism would become lively again during the New Year due to the cooler weather.

The ADT president however expressed concern that hotel bookings increased by only ten percent as people were forced to spend money on restoration of flood-damaged homes.

If they have enough budget leftover, Ms Maiyarat urged, they should treat themselves to a holiday to relax.

Ms Maiyarat added the ADT asked the government to help boost the tourism industry through various channels, including increasing more loan sources for tourism-related businesses, offering tax reduction for those who buy tour packages and advising local state agencies to spend their budget on seminars or other activities with local tour companies.

The president added she also discussed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to release more frequent publicity on tourist attractions to encourage Thais to travel more.

Ms Maiyarat suggested interesting routes for tourist during the New Year period as the six provinces of the upper North and the International Horticultural Exposition Ratchaphruek 2011, which will begin in Chiang Mai from Dec 14 through March 14 next year.

Meanwhile the Department of Meteorological issued a warning of cooler weather with 2-3 °C drops and strong wind likely over the North, the Northeast, the East and the Central Thailand, including Bangkok and its vicinity.

The warning said high elevations will experience very cold weather and possible frost with minimum temperature below 10°C, and people are advised to wear thick clothes due to suddenly changing weather. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-11

[Lite Beer]

PM says tomorrow's special Cabinet meeting will discuss flood rehab; asks Commerce Ministry to look into goods price hike/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Metropolitan police believe murder of Democrat vote canvasser in Don Muang caused by personal conflict, now checking CCTV footage/TAN_Network