Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 20 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 Monday 19 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Dispute between Phuket expats may lead to charges of extortion

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American Martial Arts Bar Brawler Junie Browning: 'Not In Phuket'

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Democrats accuse Thaksin's adviser Noppadon of distorting facts

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POLITICS

Political detainee site 'nothing special': Thai Dept of Corrections

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THAI-KHMER TIES

Cambodia expresses regret for shooting at Thai Navy helicopter

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FLOOD RELIEF FUNDS

PM Yingluck slams Budget Bureau for slow allocation: Flood relief

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CABINET RETREAT

Cabinet to meet in Chiang Mai

PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's first Cabinet retreat will be held in her hometown of Chiang Mai next month, deputy government spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said yesterday.

The meeting, scheduled for January 14-16, will be an integrated meeting involving both the government and private sectors, including local political leaders, Anusorn said. Participating ministers, MPs, local politicians and representatives of the private sector and the Thai Chamber of Commerce will gather first-hand information from their local areas and submit proposals for local development projects to the Cabinet.

"Currently, Chiang Mai is booming. Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol [silapa-archa] said he wanted to make the province a hub of tourism in the region," Anusorn said.

The Cabinet has yet to decide where the meeting will be held, but it will not be at City Hall or in a state agency office, he said.

"We are considering a place like the Night Safari, a hotel or the office of the Thai Chamber of Commerce," he said.

The prime minister plans to hold mobile Cabinet meetings outside Bangkok once a month, Anusorn said. Following Chiang Mai, the next meeting will be held in a northeastern province.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Partial wall cave-in threatens Wat Arun foundation: Bangkok

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Give farmers the tools to let them stand on their own: Thai opinion

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Tropical Storm Washi no threat to Thailand

The Nation

Deadly Tropical Storm Washi, which devastated parts of the Philippines during the weekend, does not pose a threat to Thailand, according to the Southern Meteorological Centre (East Coast).

"It will cause just minor impacts," the centre's director, Wanchai Sak-udomchai, said yesterday. He said the storm was already weakening as it moved past the South China Sea.

According to the Meteorological Department, Washi has been downgraded to a tropical depression.

"It will later become just a low-pressure ridge," Wanchai said.

He said the low-pressure ridge would not move into Thailand's southern region.

The Weather Bureau forecast that Washi would reach Malaysia tomorrow(Dec 21).

Although Washi will not reach Thailand with any force, it will likely increase rainfall in some areas of the lower southern region between today and Thursday. The affected provinces are likely to be Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Trang.

Wanchai said the sea was rough and small trawlers should avoid going out into the Gulf of Thailand during the next one or two days.

The Weather Bureau said the waves were between two and four metres high in the lower part of the Gulf of Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Experts seek revamp of town-planning law: Thailand

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Courts face heavy load of pay disputes: Thai flood

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Villagers fight against demolitions in Thaplan national park

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Focus on Thai educational strengths, govt told

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POST-FLOOD PUSH

Golf tourism to get into full swing soon

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Chalerm denies his employee and bomb suspect the same man

THE NATION

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday put an end to rumours that a member of his staff was the bomb suspect arrested on Friday.

He said that his staff member, Ekchana Phaopan, and the detainee Jeerawat Janpeng just had a slight resemblance.

"They have no connection whatsoever," Chalerm said yesterday as Ekchana stood by his side at Government House.

Jeerawat was detained on Friday for allegedly planting six bombs in Bangkok. After he was paraded before media, somebody mentioned that he looked a lot like a member of Chalerm's team, who was often seen accompanying the deputy PM.

"Ekchana has been with me for more than 10 years already," Chalerm said, adding that it was very easy to prove the rumour was false. "Ekchana is here but the bomb suspect is at the Bangkok Remand Prison."

Bangkok Remand Prison's chief Sopon Thitithammapreuk confirmed that Jeerawat was being detained at the facility, adding, "you can visit him any time during the normal authorised hours".

Sopon said Jeerawat had told him about the bomb plot in detail but he could not disclose the information. "I've promised that I will not divulge the information. After confessing, he appears more relaxed," he said.

According to the prison chief, the bomb suspect is no longer showing signs of stress and was getting along well with other inmates.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Winai Thongsong said that ongoing investigation suggested that Jeerawat might have two or three accomplices.

"They used two vehicles - a black Toyota Corolla and a grey Toyota Yaris," Winai explained.

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung is leading the investigation.

According to Winai, Jeerawat had joined both red and yellow-shirt rallies and had extreme political ideologies.

Winai said police would try to nail down the other suspects who are on the run. Jeerawat and his accomplices had allegedly planted six bombs in three spots in the capital in the wee hours of December 16. The explosives have been safely disposed of.

As for security measures during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Winai said his agency and the Border Patrol Police Division would conduct checks between 8pm and 4am to prevent crime and ensure public order.

"We will take every measure so people can celebrate the New Year without any worries," Winai said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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BURNING ISSUE

Yingluck must steer the herd in the right direction

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Amending Article 309 aimed at pardoning Thaksin: Democrats

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Criminal Court rejects Arisman's second request for bail

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Army chief calls for end to talks about amending lese majeste law; says those who feel the law is too harsh should move abroad /TANN

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PM Affirms Tighter Security for New Year

The PM has declined to comment whether the recent bomb scares in the capital are linked to the red-shirt group, while comfirming that around-the-clock proactive measures have been prepared to prevent possible unrest in Bangkok.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declined to comment whether the recent bomb threats were linked with the red-shirt group.

Her comment came after rumors that some key leaders of the red-shirt group are dissatisfied with probe into the 2010 crackdown on the red-shirt protesters which is yet to find those who were responsible for the red-shirt members' deaths.

The PM said the matter is still inconclusive and she will have to wait for an official probe result from the police before making any comment on the issue.

However, the PM insisted that whoever commited any illegal actions or wrongdoings during the crackdown will have to be punished.

Yingluck also said the government has prepared around-the-clock proactive security measures during the New Year period, but she is unable to reveal the details now.

The PM went on to say that she has ordered the police to step up security measures and confirmed there has been no report of possible unrest so far.

The premier also played down whether the recent bomb threats had any link to the group that attemps to overthrow the government, but urged any ill-intentioned group to stop stir up the situation in the country.

Yingluck called on all parties to emphasize on the flood rehabilitation efforts to help recover confidence from foreign investors.

Asked about the constitution amendment, the PM asserted that there has been no discussion over the matter.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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7-Eleven Offers Saving Price Boxed Food

The Trade Department, in partnership with the operating firm of 7-11 stores, is set to provide cost-saving food sets that will sell for 25 baht each in the 11 areas hardest hit by flooding.

Director General of the Internal Trade Department Watcharee Wimuktayon said the prices of consumer products have already returned to normal now that flood waters are receding, but she remarked that people are now burdened with increased expenses, as they have to repair their flood-hit homes.

In a bid to alleviate their cost-of-living burden, Wathcaree said her department partnered with CP All, the operator of 7-11 convenience stores to provide boxed food and drinking water at 25 baht per set, a discount form the usual selling price of 35 baht a set.

The products will be available in 7-11 stores from December 23 through the 29.

Senior Deputy Managing Director of CP All, Suwit Kingkaew, said the two boxed sets, namely fried pork with basil leaves and sausage fired rice, will be offered as a set along with a 600-milligram bottle of water.

He said the products will only be available in 11 provinces, namely Bangkok, Chai Nat, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Sawan, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Samut Sakhon, Sing Buri and Uthai Thani.

Purchases are being limited to no more than 3 sets per customer.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,036.87, up 3.32 points /MCOT

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Tropical Storm Wachi to be Monitored in the South

Many southern provinces are still reeling under unceasing torrential rain.

Even though the monsoon is weakening, the Meteorological Department still keeps a close watch on tropical storm Wachi that is moving towards Malaysia, affecting areas of the South region.

In Patthalung Province, the floodwater pooled up in villages at four districts along the Songkhla Lake have eased, namely Kuan Kanoon, Kao Chaison, Pak Payoon, and Muang district.

However, some floodwater remains pooled up in certain areas of Kuan Kanoon, Muang Pattalung, Kao Chaison, and Bang Kaew districts.

More than 20 villages were submerged under with 50-60 centimeters of water.

More than 4,000 residents were affected and over 6,000 rais of agricultural farms were damaged.

One resident, 87 year-old Luen Noonom from Kuan Kanoon District, has been confirmed dead from the flooding while he was placing fish traps at the canal in front of his home.

The rainfall in Songkhla Province began to ease after consecutive days of torrential rain, as low atmospheric pressure from China has weakened the northeastern monsoon blowing down to the Gulf of Thailand.

However, sea-waves remain strong and boats are prohibited to sail.

At Pattani Province, continuous heavy rainfall caused flooding in low-lying areas, including areas along Sai Buri and Pattani rivers. 800 homes were submerged under 50 centimeters of water.

However, even though the storm has degraded, the Meteorological Department remains vigilant on tropical storm Wachi that hit the southern Philippines and is moving over Malaysia in the next two days.

If the storm is moving towards the land as expected, three southern provinces and some districts of Songkhla Province will be affected.

Risk-areas have been declared and residents were warned to closely monitor the situation.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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Army chief upholds lese majeste law

The Nation

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday voiced opposition to amending royal insult offence as per Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

"Should anyone think the Thai law is unjust or harsh, then they should go and live abroad," he said.

Prayuth said in his personal opinion, he disagreed with the permission for any debate on punishment for royal insult.

He was reacting to a call to amend the Article 112, seen as a gag on the freedom of expression.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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PTT and Bangchak to cut the price of diesel by 30 satang/l tomorrow at 5am to sell at Bt28.59/l /TANN

Gold ornament sells for Bt24,150 and is bought at Bt23,300.92; gold bar is sold at Bt23,750 and is purchased at Bt23,650 /TANN

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Govt Urged to Reconsider Minimum Wage Hike Policy

The Democrat Party spokesperson urged the government to reconsider the minimum wage hike policy, saying it will severely affect businesses.

Democrat Party spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday gave an interview concerning the Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI's, seeking a temporary injunction from the Administrative Court to delay the government's planned hike in the daily minimum wage to 300 baht.

The FTI said that the government's attempt to increase the minimum wage would adversely affect investment as well as employment.

Chavanond added that the conflict reflects a lack of coordination between the state and the business sector.

The Democrat spokesperson blasted at the government for aiming to fulfill the promises it made during the election campaign without considering the negative consequences it will have on businesses once the policy goes into effect.

He pointed out that the policy would contribute to increasing unemployment in the country and urged the government to consider the benefits to both employers and employees.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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Interference Suspected in Probe into Democrat Canvasser's Murder

A Democrat party member and the widow of a victim of a deadly shooting are requesting that the Human Rights Panel look into the murder investigation process as they are suspect outside interference.

Democrat Party member Tankhun Jitt-isara, along with Nahathai Kruangsai, the widow of Tankhun's close aid and murder victim Chutidej Suwankerd, filed a complaint asking the National Human Rights Commission, or NHRC, to probe into the possibility of interference in the investigation by officials.

Nahathai is stating that she provided investigators with useful information, but that they ignored it and were too quick to rule out political motives.

She suspects that the investigation might be subject to outside interference, judging from what a top brass police officer said during his interview.

Tankhun said many witnesses were threatened and coerced not to testify.

He personally believes that Chutidej's death was politically motivated and insisted that he will not move to another constituency for the next election unless the murderer is arrested.

The Democrat also requested police protection for Chutidej's widow and children, as their lives could be at risk because he believes the man was killed for exposing illegal gambling dens and underground businesses in the Don Muang area.

Tankhun said he told police the first letter of the suspect's name, which starts with a J, and that he fled the scene on a pink Honda Fino motorcycle lined with white stripes.

He added that the gunman is hiding out in Phetchaburi Province and now has a 100,000 baht bounty on his head.

Meanwhile, Senior Group Captain Surachai Kongtet, a Royal Thai Air Force operations officer, gave testimony to the Don Muang Police Station chief Police Lieutenant General Rangsan Praditpol yesterday.

Surachai said he was not involved in Chutidej's murder though admitted to having a conflict with the victim as his subordinate stole his amulets and sold them to Chutidej three years ago.

He added that the issue had been settled, as the victim returned some of the stolen amulets, and he then became friends with him.

Surachai reiterated that he never had any grudge against Chutidej while saying that he is not sure whether his death was politically motivated.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20