Thailand Live Tuesday 27 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 27 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 26 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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

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Phuket: Russian 'anti-Santa' behind bars

THE ANTI-SANTA? Russian national Pavel Zhuravlev at Kamala Police Station today, with Thurin Sophapol in the background hiding her face from the press. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Police seized an undisclosed number of items believed to have been stolen by Zhuravlev. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ta-behind-bars/

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7TH ANNIVERSARY

2004 Tsunami remembered amid debate on disasters

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Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....bered-thailand/

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2011 CABINET ALIASES

The government: Thaksin's Front Line

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ins-front-line/

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Thai Democrat MP Khanchit sought in murder case

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....in-murder-case/

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State Railway Of Thailand Wants To Take Over Chatuchak Market From BMA

Follow this link:

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Speaker forwards impeachment motion against 8 Pheu Thai Party MPs

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....thai-party-mps/

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BURNING ISSUE

Tough year ahead for authors of a new Thai charter

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....w-thai-charter/

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Meteorological Department warns of more violent seas in South

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-seas-in-south/

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EDITORIAL

Thai politicians have failed the people yet again

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ople-yet-again/

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Prominent expatriates pass away in Thailand

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ay-in-thailand/

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Thaksin not going to Cambodia: Noppadon

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....bodia-noppadon/

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Lawyer for Arisman withdraws bail bid

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....draws-bail-bid/

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Fears over aged-care costs in Thailand

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ts-in-thailand/

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Academics unimpressed with Education Minister Woravat

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....nister-woravat/

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CAT to launch My 3G service formally on January 10

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-on-january-10/

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Man dressed as Santa kills six family members at Texas home

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-at-texas-home/

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Cabinet considers Water Management Panel's urgent plan for flood prevention

BANGKOK, Dec 27 -- The cabinet will today consider the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management's urgent plan for flood prevention covering six issues in its regular Tuesday meeting.

Yesterday’s water committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra approved the flood prevention plan focused on six main issues: a permanent organisation to deal with water management overall; rebuilding and repairing all water gates and dredging all canals; to effectively manage water stored in dams; measures to help agriculturists with land in water retention areas; drawing up flood response and flood water drainage plans to expel water into the sea.

Wichean Chawalit, secretary of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, said most of the proposals the cabinet will consider today are short term or urgent measures to fight floods that could happen in the next rainy season.

Long term plans would only be forwarded to the cabinet for approval in principle before going into detail in areas such as forest restoration, building new dams and allocating floodway paths.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong said that the cabinet will consider both short and long term water management to prevent flooding.

The short term measures should be completed within one year. Some projects must be in place within 4-5 months as preparation for next rainy season next year, he said, adding that the long term preparations will cover measures to completely prevent flood in Chao Phraya River Basin.

As for the floodway, Mr Kittirat said the meeting of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management on Monday has not concluded that it would be a big canal or water passage areas as more study is needed.

However, floodways would be on both the west and eastern sides of the Chao Phraya River and would be designed to also help prevent flood in other provinces as well, not only Bangkok. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-27

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Abhisit: Referendum Needed Before Constitution Amendment

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....tion-amendment/

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PRESS RELEASE

Fortinet Threat Landscape Research reveals FortiGuard Labs' top 5 Android malware families

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....lware-families/

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Ministry Affirms No Shortages of Consumer Goods

The Commerce Ministry affirms that the consumer product shortages that occurred during flooding have now eased.

Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapon revealed that goods shortages due to the ravaging floods are now expected to ease within the next one or two weeks.

Poom pointed out that the flood has forced many operators to suspend production, contributing to various goods shortages, including sweetened condensed milk.

Meanwhile, he said fresh vegetable and fruit prices have already dropped back down to their normal prices.

Moreover, Poom added the Commerce Ministry denied raising palm oil prices and the prices of other necessary goods during this time, saying that operators’ production costs remain unchanged.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27

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Lenovo donates IdeaPad A1 tablets to Pilot Project of "One Tablet per Child"

Koh Kong Meng, General Manager, ASEAN, Lenovo (middle) and Jeerawut Wongpimonporn, Country General Manager, Lenovo (Thailand) (left), joined a ceremony held by Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, Secretary-General of OBEC (right), to mark the donation of 600 Lenovo IdeaPad A1 tablets to selected schools: Srinakharinwirot University's Prasarnmit Demonstration School and Rachawinit School, both in Bangkok, Anuban Lampang School in Lampang, Anuban Phangnga School in Phangnga and Sanambin School in Khon Kaen.

Koh Kong Meng said: "We are very supportive of our education partners and customers. With the tablet form factor, we are able to demonstrate shared value through improving learning outcomes with students and operational efficiencies with teachers. By getting involved with the Thai government's policy, we are able to join with and amplify a program that brings together many partners working towards an education objective instead of crowding the market with many over-lapping agendas."

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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Southern Army chief wants to retain state of emergency in deep South

The Nation

Fourth Army Area Commander Lt Gen Udomchai Thamsarojrat Tuesday expressed opposition to the call for the government to lift the state of emergency in southern border provinces.

Udomchai said the emergency decree provided a tool for the Army to keep insurgents in control.

He said the decree allowed the authorities to detain suspected insurgents for up to six months, and thus allowing the authorities to learn the moves of insurgency movement.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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Bangkok Poll finds tourists not concerned about flood crisis and love Thai food but are worried about traffic and expensive goods /TANN

Police affirm no intelligence report about unrest during New Year but will keep close eye on smuggling of heavy weapons /TANN

Court acquits red-shirt member Seksan for bombing at Big C Ratchadamri in 2010 as his fingerprints don't match the ones found at crime scene /TANN

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One teacher protection unit soldier killed, another wounded, in Yala bombing /MCOT

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Road Safety Plans for the New Year Launched in many Provinces

Many provinces are preparing to open a road safety center for the upcoming New Year.

Ratchaburi Deputy Governor Narong Polla-iad, acting as governor of Ratchaburi Province, chaired a conference to open a road safety center to prevent the likelihood of accidents for the 2012 New Year.

Affiliated units and officials from all districts were ordered to establish a district operation center in every district and set up 19 security checkpoints in 8 districts.

These districts will enforce legal measures against speeding, drunk driving, and riding without a helmet to reduce accidents by 5% this year.

Trang Provincial Police Commander, Police Major General Sakorn Thongmunee presided over a ceremony that had a parade of 300 officers from 10 districts to address about road safety during the New Year.

Meanwhile, Trang Governor Senee Jittakasem attended a meeting with government units and related public departments to discuss about the preparation of road safety plans.

The goal for the New Year is to have fewer than 63 accidents, 3 deaths, and 64 injuries respectively.

Elsewhere, Pattani Governor Teera Mintrasak presided over the opening of a road safety program, which will utilize vocational college students from the Pattani Vocational College at Saiburi District and Kanchanapisek Technical College to offer vehicle check-up services.

In Ubon Ratchatani Province, the Sunpasitthaiprasong Hospital is preparing measures to accommodate car accident victims for the upcoming New Year.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27

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Court drops Big C hypermarket Ratchadamri bombing case against Red Shirts, saying insufficient evidence /MCOT

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PM Thanks Police for Narcotics Eradication Effort

The prime minister thanked the police force for its narcotics and organized crime eradication efforts, which has resulted in continuous arrests.

Deputy Spokesperson to the Prime Minister's Office Anusorn Iamsaard reported that during the National Police Committee meeting, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra thanked the National Police Office and Police Chief Police General Preawphan Damapong for their successful efforts in cracking down organized crime and narcotic rings which had led to the seizures of many major drug shipments.

Yingluck said that this is one of the government's pressing priorities.

Moreover, the prime minister ordered the police to look after public safety during the New Year holidays.

She also offered praise to some of the police programs such as flood assistance and house sitting during the holidays created to reassure public confidence.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson to the National Police Office Piya Uthayo has indicated that the police chief has ordered the newly promoted general-ranked officers to rigorously watch out for assault weapons in their responsible areas.

Piya also added that there has been no intelligence report of any possible attack or attempt to stir unrest during the New Year holidays.

However, the police will not be complacent and continue to keep an eye out for any incidents to January 5 of next year.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27

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BMA Expects to Decrease Number of Accidents By 5%

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, is coordinating with the Bangkok Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to decrease the number of traffic-related accidents during the New Year by five percent.

Bangkok Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Director Police Lieutenant General Somkiet Nontakaew disclosed that the BMA has established a road safety center to ensure road safety and prevent the likelihood of accidents for the 2012 New Year.

The New Year road safety campaign for 2012 is scheduled to officially launch this Thursday and last until January 4, 2012.

It is expected that the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths will be reduced by more than five percent compared to the previous New Year.

The target for this year is to have fewer than 3,321 accidents, 340 deaths and 3,563 injuries respectively.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27