Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Dec 2011

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Police and Soldiers Raid RKK Shelter

30 police officials from the Ruesoh police-station and soldiers from the Narathiwat Special Unit were mobilized to raid locations suspected of being hideouts for an active terrorist group in southern Thailand, the Runda Kampalan Kecil, or RKK.

One suspect was shot dead and another surrendered.

Law enforcement officials raided a house in Lalho Subdistrict in Rue-soh District, where a terrorist group, the RKK, had been hiding.

After engaging in a ten-minute gun battle, one terrorist, 31 year-old Abdul Romae Harea surrendered.

He was one of the men wanted on an arrest warrant for instigating insurgency violence in the Ruesoh area.

Officials were dispatched to the terrorists' shelter where they found one terrorist who had been shot dead near the gate.

The terrorist has been identified as 30 year-old Rusalun Maneng from the Ruesoh District.

An AK47 and bullets were also found close to his body.

Another location raided by officials was a house without a house number in Lalo Subdistrict.

Bomb circuitry was also found there.

However, the RKK terrorists escaped before the officials arrived.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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Army Chief Urged Residents to Stop Asking for Revision of Article 112

The Army Chief urges residents to stop asking for a revision to Article 112 of the Thai criminal code and suggested that those who are dissatisfied with it should leave the country and reside abroad, while he is calling for national unity at the same time.

Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha gave an interview before departing to areas in three southern provinces, saying that insurgents who use military weapons and create insurgency are terrorists and that officials will continue working and carrying out their duties according to the law.

Prayuth urged residents to stop spreading rumors about bomb attacks aimed at instigating further chaos during the New Year as it could effect the tourism sector.

He also asked residents to monitor the situation in their area and inform officials if they notice any unusual situations.

Regarding those who are urging a revision to the Article 112 Lese Majeste Awareness Campaign, Prayuth said that personal opinions should not be an issue in this matter, and those who are not satisfied and see it as unfair should leave the country and reside abroad.

The Army Chief further asked Thai residents to please end their conflict and restore peace and unity.

He expressed hope that residents will have a peaceful and safe New Years celebration.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

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Phuket hotel ponies up Bt200.000 to robbed Aussie tourists

Aussie tourists Jim Nagi and Sharyna Wong, who were reimbursed AUS$7,500 by the Andaman Beach Suites Hotel after they reported their room safe was robbed. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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More IT security threats in 2012

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Abhisit sued for refusal to reinstate Patcharawat

The Nation

The Supreme Administrative Court on Tuesday ruled to overturn a lower court's dismissal and order a judicial review on former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's decision not to reinstate a national police chief.

As complainant, General Patcharawat Wongsuwan initiated the administrative litigation in 2009 accusing Abhisit of refusing to reinstate him without justification.

Patcharawat was the national police chief overseeing the anti-riot operations which triggered bloodshed on October 7, 2008 in connection with the blockade of Parliament by the yellow shirts.

The National Anti Corruption Commission subsquently ruled that Patcharawat was found to have violated serious disciplinary offence related to lapse of duty, resulting in his dismissal from the police service.

Following his dismissal, the National Police Commission had conducted a review on the case before forming a decision that it had compiled with the NACC recommendation to sack Patcharawat although it found no cause to punish him for serious disciplinary offence.

Based on its review, the NPC ruled to reinstate Patcharawat citing the mandate under the police service legislation. It said the reinstatement was justifified in a new round of review on the case after its obligation to compile with the NACC had already been done.

The NPC forwarded its report to the then PM Abhisit who put it on hold instead of implementation.

Patcharawat petitioned the Central Administrative Court for the judicial review. The lower court ruled in January to throw out the case on ground that the complainant failed to sue within the 90-day deadline.

The high court said, however, that Patcharawat had acted within the deadline because any delay in bringing the case to courts was attributed to Abhisit's stalling tactics to implement the NPC report.

The case was sent back to the lower court to commence the judicial review.

Patcharawat's lawyer Thanakorn Waekwaree said his client wanted the case to clear his name and restore retirement benefits previously denied to him.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Finance Ministry: Government revenue collection in November hits Bt137 billion, Bt923 million lower than target, due to flood crisis /MCOT

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Thai Army Chief to join Thai delegates at Thai-Cambodian border meeting

BANGKOK, Dec 20 - Army chief Gen Prayuth Chano-cha on Tuesday said he will join the Thai delegation led by Defense Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa attend the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) to be held in Cambodia tomorrow.

He said the meeting will discuss 17 key issues to boost peace along the Thai-Cambodian border and learn the Cambodian stance in compliance with the injunction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ on July 18 ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw their troops from the newly defined demilitarised zone in a disputed portion of their border around the historic Preah Vihear temple while urging both countries to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to agree to allow the regional bloc's observers to enter the disputed zone.

The conclusion of the GBC meeting will be proposed to the Cabinet and Parliament under Article 190 of the Constitution, stipulating that any international treaties and agreements must first be approved by Parliament first, he said.

Asked if border patrol police will be deployed to replace troops possibly withdrawn under ICJ's order, he said no decision has been made but it is an obligation that Thailand must implement.

However, he said, it was normal that every country must consider the benefit of the nation as priority.

At the GBC meeting, it is expected that both sides will specify the forces to replace their soldiers at Preah Vihear in accordance with the court order. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-20

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Expert panel to lead Phuket tsunami memorial activities

Phuket Gazette

Phuket tourists stand illuminated by the glow of candles lit along Patong Beach in remembrance of the people who died in the 2004 tsunami. Photo: Warisa Temram

Dr Smith Dharmasaroj, former head of the National Disaster Warning Center, will lead the public discussion on natural disasters as part of Phuket's tsunami memorial activities on December 26. Photo: Gazette file

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/520315-expert-panel-to-lead-phuket-tsunami-memorial-activities/page__view__findpost__p__4924348

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Phuket Town hotel raises stink over fish factory smell

Phuket Gazette

The Phuket Union Foods Co Ltd factory warehouse in March this year. Gazette file photo.

PHUKET: The Silver Hotel in Phuket Town has complained to the province that odor from a nearby seafood processing plant is costing them up to 400,000 baht monthly in lost revenue.

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BANKING SECTOR

Major Thai banks resilient to flood impacts

The Nation

Major Thai banks' credit rating outlook remains stable despite the impact from the severe flooding and potential risk from a global economic slowdown, according to Fitch Ratings.

The banks are expected to remain resilient on the back of strong capital, improved reserve coverage and profitability.

Despite business and spending disruption which hit gross domestic product in the fourth quarter, Fitch said that there are risks over asset quality deterioration and provisioning but that should be alleviated by the Bank of Thailand's forebearance on flood-affected borrowers by six to 12 months.

"Downside risks to Fitch’s view could stem from a delayed recovery process. In a severe stress scenario, banks with lower reserves could be more impacted," it noted.

Strong loan growth without a parallel expansion of the deposit base has led to a steady rise in the loans-to-deposits ratio and, consequently, growing funding and liquidity risks. Increased global financial market volatility could exacerbate such risks for Thai banks, particularly small to medium-sized banks.

The rating agency noted that excessive issuance of bills of exchange and over-reliance on foreign-currency wholesale may also lead it to revise the outlook to negative.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Tul to impeach FM Surapong

The Nation

Multicolour-shirt leader Tul Sithisomwong on Tuesday indicated his intent to launch impeachment proceedings against Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/520321-tul-to-impeach-fm-surapong/page__view__findpost__p__4924404

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Thai army chief opposes change to royal insult law

BANGKOK, December 20, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's powerful army chief expressed opposition Tuesday to amending the country's lese majeste law, recently criticised by the West, saying those who opposed it should move abroad.

Critics say that Thailand has suppressed freedom of expression with stepped up use of the legislation, under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

"It is not appropriate to discuss this. Personally I will do my part for national security in protecting (the monarchy)," General Prayut Chan-O-Cha told reporters.

When asked about activists calling for reform of the law, he said they "must go and live in foreign countries".

"Although we are a democracy, don't go too far," he added.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have expressed concern over recent convictions, which have also sparked small protests both for and against the law in the Thai capital Bangkok.

A 61-year-old Thai man was jailed last month for 20 years for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy, while a US citizen has since been handed two-and-a-half years in prison for defaming the king.

The convictions intensified debates on the issue on social media websites, although a committee was set up earlier this month to clamp down on online insults to the monarchy.

Despite mounting rights concerns, deputy prime minister Chalerm Yubamrung was also on the defensive when asked about the law on Tuesday.

"I think there is no need for any changes. Why do we need change when the law is already good?" he said.

"I don't want to comment on this issue, but whoever wants to amend this law, their lives will not be prosperous," he told reporters at Government House.

Last week, the US embassy in Bangkok requested users on its Facebook page to refrain from abusive language, after a torrent of angry messages from Thais defending the law and the monarchy.

About 100 royalists also gathered in front of the US embassy on Friday in support of law following the criticism from Washington.

Opponents of the law say it has increasingly been used in Thailand to stifle free speech, particularly under the last government, which was supported by the Bangkok-based elite.

Observers say the new government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who came to power in August, is yet to improve the situation, and there have been two rare protests against the laws this month.

Last week a "Red Shirt" activist was sentenced to 15 years in jail accused of defaming the royals during speeches at political rallies in 2008.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-20

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Frozen dewdrops occur on Doi Inthanon Mountain for three consecutive days

Chiang Mai - The mercury dropped to minus two Celsius degree on Doi Inthanon Mountain Tuesday morning, causing frozen dewdrops throughout the mountaintop.

Somkid Tuaboontham, the head of the Doin Inthanon Park rangers, said the frozen dewdrops could be seen along the way from Kew Mae Pan Park to the top to Doi Inthanon.

He said the frozen dewdrops occurred for three executive days on the mountaintop.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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FLOOD IMPACTS

First plunge in exports in 25 months

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Thailand's November exports showed the first year-on-year plunge in two years, as the export value slumped 12.44 per cent to US$15.98 billion.

According to the Commerce Ministry, supply-chain disruptions took a heavy toll on the manufacturing sector in the month and attributed chiefly to the fall.

The monthly decline was the first time since October 2009.

In the month, imports also dropped 2.43 per cent to $16.87 billion, resulting in a small trade deficit.

Thai exports during the first 11 months grew 19.04 per cent to $211.8 billion. Imports went up by 25.47 per cent to $209.34 billion. The country locked in a trade surplus of $2.46 billion in the first 11 months.

"Exports in December is expected to continue a decline due to flood impacts. Still, for the full year, exports growth should be at least 15-20 per cent this year," said Deputy Commerce Minister Siriwat Kajornprasart.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Green tax sought on makers, users

WICHIT CHAITRONG

THE NATION

Finance Ministry officials and academics have urged the government to levy an environmental tax on both producers and consumers involved in water, air and other pollution. A tax on foreign tourists has also been proposed.

"We will propose to policy-makers the introduction of an environmental tax, since it is expected to promote international trade, as many countries have already imposed such a tax and use it as a tool for trade barriers," Varathip Akayee, a senior tax expert at the Fiscal Policy Office, said yesterday.

An environmental-tax bill was approved by the former Cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva's government but it was pending at the State Council, not reaching the Parliament. The State Council, the government's legal advisory body, recently asked the Finance Ministry to reconsider the bill and resubmit to the current Cabinet, Varathip told a seminar yesterday hosted by the Thailand Development Research Institute.

Under the bill, manufacturers that discharge wastewater into rivers would be taxed. Those that discharge carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases would also be taxed, as would consumers who use products whose manufacture causes air or water pollution.

Mingsan Khaosa-ard, an economist who took part in drafting the bill, said it would be good for the country to prepare to join the many other countries that have already imposed such a tax. "It depends on the right timing, and today it may be difficult, as people have just been severely affected by floods."

She also suggested that the government tax foreign tourists. "Imposing a Bt1,000 tax on each tourist would reduce their numbers by only 30,000 [annually], not many compared with average arrivals of 15 million each year," she said.

She argued that while in the Kingdom, tourists also polluted water that the country had to spend money to treat.

Sumeth Sirikulchoti, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said imposition of the new environmental levy should go a long with other tax measures the government has already planned for, such as a reduction in the corporate income-tax rate. The corporate-tax cut will result in revenue losses for the government, he said.

"I consider an environmental tax a double dividend, because the government can get more income while people will enjoy improvement to their lives from a clean environment," he said.

The carbon tax imposed by the European Union on airliners entering its territories has been seen by many countries as a trade barrier, since it adds high costs for airlines based in other continents. However, the EU has argued for the tax on the grounds of environment issues.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Red-shirt Chief Seeks Relocation of 72 Jailed Peers

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21-year-old Swede found dead on superyacht in Phuket

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers accept the body of the late Ms Lindgren, who was just 21 at the time of her death.

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation worker Kritsada Suwannaroj thinks the young Swede passed away in the early hours of yesterday.

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Channel 7 board chairman removes managing director Surang Prempree, ending her 26 yr reign, and appoints her deputy as the new MD /TANN

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RT @tulsathit: Grammy has cancelled Sek Loso's contract: INN

RT @veen_NT: Sek Loso has three years remaining in his contract with GMM Grammy.

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Amnesty not applicable to Thaksin

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SET index closed at 1033.29, down 0.26; Bt/USD31.17; GBP48.28; AUD30.87; EUR40.46; CAD29.90; HKD4.00; SGD23.74; JPY39.73

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Stolen cash from Suphoth's home linked to winning bidders

The Nation

Money bands for stolen cash bundles from the home of Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom have been found to link to certain winning bidders for contracts awarded by the ministry, National Anti Corruption Commission member Klanarong Chantik said on Tuesday.

"The tracing of money bands with nine bank logos found that the cash was linked to certain bidders," he said, refusing to specify whether bidders were involved in the mass rapid transit contruction or other projects.

Kanarong said checks on the bundles of Bt8 million cash revealed the funds were withdrawn from nine commercial banks as evidenced by the 89 money bands that hold the bundles together. Furthermore, the cash from five of nine banks could be traced to accounts of the bidders, he added.

Aside from tracing the stolen cash, the NACC has also been checking into Suphoth's bank accounts held in 42 bank branches in order to determine whether his wealth was ill gotten, he said. Thus far 27 bank branches have already provided details of Suphoth's financial transactions.

Last month burglars broke into Suphoth's home before fleeing with the stolen cash, which police suspect to worth about Bt100 million although Suphoth has insisted only Bt5 million went missing.

Police subsequently recovered Bt18 million which the NACC has impounded on suspicion of ill-gotten gains.

Suphoth is being targetted for graft probe and scheduled January 11 to give his statement at the NACC to explain his cash holding.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

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Indian National Arrested With 3kg Of Ketamine At Suvarnabhumi

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8 southern provinces on high alert for storm Washi

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RKK weapons cache seized in Narathiwat

NARATHIWAT, Dec 20 -- A number of weapons and ammunition were seized when they were found hidden at a rubber plantation in Rueso district of Narathiwat, the authorities said today, expressing the belief the munitions were stockpile for use in violent attacks during the coming New Year’s celebration.

A joint police and military force searched a rubber plantation after a member of the insurgent group Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK), Abdulromae Ha-rae, arrested Monday, told the authorities that the arms were hidden there.

Six firearms were found buried wrapped in waterproof sheeting, including four M16 assault rifles, an HK rifle, one carbine, 53 rounds of M-60 bullets, 43 rounds of M-16 bullets and 113 rounds of carbine bullets.

Three military helmets and body armour vests, and fertilizer components used in bomb-making as well as propaganda documents were also seized.

Forensic experts have collected fingerprints and DNA from the items seized. Initial investigation identified the guns as being used by insurgents to attack and killed four members of a teacher protection unit on Sept 28. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-20

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AFP: Thai exports plunge for first time in two years

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Fitch downgrades DTAC's rating

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POLITICS

FM Surapong accused of failing to protect Thailand's interest

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Thailand Live Wednesday 21 Dec 2011

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