Thailand Live Thursday 22 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 22 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 Wednesday 21 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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THAI-KHMER TIES

Thailand, Cambodia agree to withdraw troops

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GAMBLING

Hundreds nabbed in gambling den raid in Tao Poon

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DTAC

DTAC's cellular network crashed

The Nation

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POLITICAL PRISONERS

Transfers to Lak Si demanded

Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

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SOUTH CRISIS

Police flats in South bombed

Photo : File photo

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THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

Yingluck focuses on economy, not democratisation

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

Photo : EPA

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AFTER FLOODS

Man who brought Map Ta Phut down targets Yingluck

Kesinee Teangkhieo

The Nation

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US cancels Thailand travel alert

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THAI TALK

Why politicians keep talking about farmers' poverty

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

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Amnesty will lead to repetition: Thai opinion

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Will this annus horribilis be over by midnight, December 31?

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Reds to demand Arisman's release

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Coalition whips to seek charter change

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POLITICS

EC: Jatuporn report being verified

The Nation

The Election Commission is still verifying the report on its resolution on the status of Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Promphan.

Sodsri Satayathum, an EC member, said yesterday that the report's details had been changed.

After the review, all EC members must sign the request for the Constitution Court to rule on the commission's finding that Jatuporn was unqualified.

The EC must ensure the accuracy of the whole

report, both the facts and legal arguments, or else the case could be dropped.

The case will likely be sent to the court, via the House Speaker, by January 15, Sodsri said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

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EC seeks more applicants

The Nation

The Election Commission wants more candidates for secretary-general.

"The EC has not eyed anybody, so qualified people should hurry up and apply for the post," commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said yesterday.

After applications opened on December 6, only one person applied for the post, a former Bangkok city clerk. The deadline is December 30.

"The EC [secretary-general's] work is at the national level and is as important as the Cabinet secretary-general. But the EC secretary-general must sacrifice himself to the job. He will be a public figure," she said.

The secretary-general will have a good performance record after working at the EC honestly during the five-year term, Sodsri said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

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Latest raid a clear warning for corrupt Thai police officers

SUPARAT IAMTAN

THE NATION

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Project to study impact of computer tablets on students

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Water-management plan 'critical for investor confidence: Thailand

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Tablan Park may sue protest leaders

MATTANA LADDASIRIPORN

THE NATION

Nakhon Ratchasima's Tablan National Park authorities are thinking about suing the people who led the protest against the demolition of resorts deemed to be encroaching on forestland.

The park officials' initial lawsuits against encroachers had led to a court ruling ordering the razing of six resorts, which led to people blocking key roads leading to park in protest. The protest has been going on for two days now.

Forest ranger chief Thewin Meesap said yesterday that though the demolition had come to a temporary halt, the park would go ahead with taking legal action and filing police complaints against those who led protesters to obstruct officials' work as well as tambon administrative organisations that issued documents for the construction of the resorts.

Pongthep Malachasing, president of the Wang Nam Kheow District Tourism Promotion Club, said the road blockage had only affected tourism for a short period and should not affect long-term holiday plans, especially during the New Year period. He said the conflicts had resulted from a misunderstanding between the villagers and the park.

Since all 4,000 rooms in the 400 resorts inside the park had been fully booked for the New Year holidays, he said that tourists would not have to cancel or postpone their visit to Wang Nam Kheow.

Due to the recent flood disaster, the high season has shortened from December to January rather than the usual October to February. Hence, the district expected money generated y tourism to drop to 30 per cent from the same period last year, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

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MoU signed on reducing HIV risk

The Nation

Six Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to minimise HIV risks from migration across borders.

"In line with the MoU, we will support policies for risk minimisation, strengthen communities, and improve access to HIV/Aids prevention and treatment," Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday.

The six countries are Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, China and Vietnam.

Witthaya signed the MoU on behalf of Thailand.

According to him, Thailand will benefit from the MoU because there are more than 1.3 million workers from other GMS nations working in its territory now.

"They are at risk of contracting HIV because their access to prevention efforts is limited," Witthaya said.

He added that about 1 per cent of alien workers had lived with the HIV. To date, about 2,900 of them have received treatment from Thailand's state hospitals.

"The GMS countries have shared their knowledge for the purpose of tackling problems related to Aids and HIV," he said. The 4th GMS summit took place in Naypyidaw, Burma earlier this week.

-- The Nation 2011-12-22

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THAI

THAI tests out biofuel flight.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....biofuel-flight/

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Disaster prevention agency reports 20 provinces declare emergency disaster zones due to cold wave; blankets, clothes distributed to ease problem /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,043.99, up 0.24 points /MCOT

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Applications For Permanent Residency Open Until 30 Dec

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-untill-30-dec/

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BTS Services Opened Until 2 AM During New Year

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, or BTS, has planned to extend its services until 02:00 AM to welcome the New Year.

The service hour extension will begin on New Year's Eve from midnight until 02:00 AM in the morning of New Year's day.

Bangkok Mass Transit System Company, or BTSC Director-General Surapong Laohaanya said the BTS will extend its bus and train schedules on December 31 from midnight until 02:00 AM.

To facilitate the commuters who want to celebrate the 2012 New Year Festival this year, the spectacular “Bangkok Countdown 2012” celebration will be held at Central World in which people can travel by BTS Sky train to join the event by taking off at Siam, Chidlom, and Ratchadamri stations.

Furthermore, the BTS will also provide a special ticket, called a One-Day Pass.

The pass fare is 120 baht per ticket for unlimited distances and is permitted for use during December 31 from 06:00 AM until 02:00 AM on January 01 for commuter convenience and cost savings.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-22

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Defence Minister: 400-500 military police from 3 armed service branches will be deployed to help police ensure safety during New Year celebration /MCOT

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Deputy PM Chalerm believes pursuing charter amendment now will bring about opposition but denies conflict within Pheu Thai on issue /TANN

Defence Minister Yutthasak says PM ordered him to step up security during the New Year;he'll have to consider using his post to bail out Arisman /TANN

PM says charter amendment depends on Parliament while govt will focus attention on flood relief; tablet issuance postponed to next semester /TANN

Yala police arrest 5 suspects in Wednesday attack on Lammai police staton; 1 of 4 villagers wounded in Bannang Sata military post dies /MCOT

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AFP: Rights group slams Thailand's Lao refugee return

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