Thailand Live Tuesday 27 Dec 2011

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AFP: Thai policeman kills six fellow officers after drinking session

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Cabinet appoints 16 governors as proposed by Interior Ministry; Prachinburi, Tak, Nakhon Nayok governors moved to post of inspector-general/TAN_Network

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THAI-BURMA RELATIONS

Burma ready to sign petroleum concession : Surapong

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

New Delhi - Good relations with Burma and recognition of mutual benefits have yielded fast results as Naypyidaw has agreed to sign the petroleum concession with PTTEP shortly after New Year, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Tuesday.

He denied that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had been in any way involved.

Surapong and energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan discussed the matter with Burma's energy minister Than Htay in Naypyidaw when they accompanied Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to the 4th summit of Greater Mekong Sub-region last week.

The Burmese energy authority informed Thailand by phone over the weekend that it was ready and that the PTT Exploration and Production Co should go to sign the concession contract on natural gas in block M3 by January 5-6, Surapong said.

Surapong said he did not know the details of the concession contract that the Thai company would sign. Energy minister Pichai would witness the signing ceremony.

Block M3, is located in the Gulf of Martaban south of Rangoon, contains good quality natural gas, the by-product of which could be used in the petrochemical industry, he said.

Opposition Democrat Party alleged that former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was in Burma shortly before Yingluck's visit, helped in paving the way for the signing of concession contract. Thaksin has a personal interest in the gas deal, the party said.

Surapong said Thaksin has nothing to do with the negotiations and that it was his government who had been able to convince the Burmese counterpart to reach agreement.

Thailand could help Burma to develop its petrochemical industry by using by-products of the natural gas from block M3, he said. The government would invite representatives from Burma to study the petrochemical industry in Thailand, he said.

In fact, the PTTEP has been dealing with Burma on the gas concession for a long time but no progress had been made during the previous government's term due to cold relations between the two countries, Surapong said.

"Former Prime Minister Thaksin has no stake in the deal. If the Democrats can prove he has any interests in the concession, I would ask him to hand over the stakes to them," Surapong said. "Otherwise, they should stop such allegations, which hurt the national interest."

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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Energy imports hit record

WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG

THE NATION December 27, 2011 1:00 am

Thailand's energy imports this year hit a new record of Bt1.03 trillion, as the average oil price stayed higher than in previous years.

According to the Energy Business Department, the value of energy imports outpaced the previous record of Bt1.024 trillion registered in 2008 when oil prices spiked above US$100 per barrel for the first time in history.

In 2011, crude oil averaged $106.28 per barrel, refined petrol $117.56 and diesel $124.68. The averages last year were $78.03, $86.23 and $89.48 respectively.

"Aside from higher prices, Thailand's energy consumption increased from last year, except for petrol consumption, which showed a 1.6-per-cent drop to 20 million litres a day due to the severe flooding," said Viraphol Jirapraditkul, director-general of the department.

Average diesel consumption increased 3.1 per cent year on year to 51.1 million litres a day, because of the price subsidy as well as higher demand during the floods, which required a large number of diesel-powered water pumps as well as rescue and relief efforts.

Higher oil prices also pushed up demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 18.9 per cent to 543,000 tonnes a month. Higher demand was witnessed in all sectors, except the manufacturing sector, as the price of LPG for industrial use was raised in July. Consumption of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) also rose from 5 million kilograms per day to 6.4 million.

Viraphol referred to Goldman Sachs' forecast that oil prices would next year average $102.76 per barrel. Though demand from emerging markets will remain brisk, denting the demand is the euro-zone crisis. Meanwhile, political violence in oil-producing countries will also keep oil prices at a high level.

"Thailand's oil consumption will move in line with economic growth. Based on the forecast of 4.5-5.5 per cent, petrol consumption should rise 1-2 per cent, and diesel 3-4 per cent, year on year," he said.

The department expects growth in LPG and NGV consumption to slow slightly if prices are higher next year. LPG for household use will see continued growth, however, as prices are maintained. By sector, households consumed 221,000 tonnes of LPG per month, the industrial sector 60,000 tonnes, transport 76,000 tonnes and petrochemicals 186,000. Meanwhile, NGV consumption could rise thanks to LPG price adjustments as well as the expansion of the network of NGV stations from 460 to 530.

Viraphol said that this week, the Energy Policy Administration Committee would consider how the improvement of fuel quality to the Euro 4 standard would raise petrol prices next year. Initially, it is estimated to push up production costs by 40-50 satang per litre.

Also next year, the sale of 91-octane petrol will be banned in October, which should boost ethanol demand from 700,000 litres a day to 2 million. Meanwhile, biodiesel content of conventional diesel should be increased to 5 per cent, in line with higher biodiesel output. In 2011, output rose to 1.33 million litres a day from 1.22 million litres last year.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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SET index midday down 2.17 pts,0.21 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,030.34,down 2.17 points,

or 0.21 per cent amid light trade of Bt 4.97 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 723.1, down 1.39 points, or 0.19 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: PTT, KAMART, IVL, INTUCH, PTTGC.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

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One soldier killed, another wounded, in Yala teacher patrol ambush

YALA, Dec 27 - One Thai Army soldier in a teacher protection unit was killed and another was wounded in a bomb ambush this morning in the southern border province of Yala.

Sergeant Major 1st Class Pradit Saranatri, head of the teacher protection unit, led his motorcycle-mounted team of six men as security for teachers travelling to school in the morning.

The roadside bomb was triggered as the Army team crossed a bridge in Yaha district.

The patrol sustained two casualties Sgt Pradit and Private Yutthana Daraporn, who were both wounded. Pte Yutthana was pronounced dead at hospital after succumbing to severe wounds.

Investigating police found an overturned military motorcycle and spent shell casings of the soldiers who returned gunfire at their assailants.

About one metre wide hole was initially presumed to be caused by a remote–controlled explosive device weighing about five kilograms.

Police believe that Sa-udee Satapor, a Yaha insurgent movement leader with outstanding arrest warrants is responsible for the attack. His previous incidents include a car bombing and a bombing killing nine rural residents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-27

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AFP: Honda scraps 1,000 flood-ravaged cars in Thailand

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Court Drops Weapon Charges against Red-shirt Figure

The Criminal Court has dismissed a case against a red-shirt figure for the large amount of explosives found inside his car during the major red-shirt protest last year.

The court threw out the case when the prosecutors failed to produce a witness to link the defendant to the materials found.

The Criminal Court threw out the case against red-shirt supporter Saksan Warapiticharoenkul on charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Saksan was accused of possessing 51 molotov bombs, 5 homemade bombs inside 4 fire extinguishers and one gas tank.

Some of the other illegal materials which were alleged to be in Saksan's possession included M-60 bombs, AK-47 ammunition and .45 millimeter bullets.

The bullets and explosive materials were found in a car parked inside the Baan Rim Nam Building in Kok Kram area.

The court ruled that there was not enough evidence, both material evidence and fingerprints, to link Saksan to the vehicle in which the bullets and explosive materials were found.

The court also reasoned that the it was not proven in court that Saksan had used any of the materials during his participation in the red-shirt protest in 2010.

The court ruled to dismiss the charges against Saksan and confiscated all of the evidence collected by police.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27

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Dep PM Denies Rift with Police Chief

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung denies any rifts between him and the national police chief after he walked out of a 15-hour meeting at the Police Commission yesterday.

Chalerm allegedly stormed out of the meeting after failing to secure the transfers of two top commanders.

Deputy premier Chalerm Yoobumrung denied there's any rift between him and National Police chief Police General Priewpan Damapong over the reshuffle of high-ranking police officers.

Chalerm said he did not try to favor any particular officers during the meeting and vowed to continue to support Priewpan as the nation's top cop.

Chalerm told the media he did not believe the incident will affect his image as the deputy premier in charge of overseeing the National Police Office.

He explained the reason the transfer meeting took as many as 15 hours because each transfer proposal was decided by a vote.

He also denied that any transfers were up for sales.

The vocal politician also said he liked the nickname that was given to him by reporters on the Government House beat.

Customarily reporters would give nicknames to key members of the government at the end of the year.

Chalerm was given the nickname "Gumarn Thong Kanong Suk".

The name refers to his tendencies to whisper tips and advices to fellow Pheu Thai ministers who speak during a House debate and him constantly reporting to Pheu Thai's de factor leader former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-27

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Cabinet gives SRT nod to run Chatuchak weekend market

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POLITICS

FM honoured at being "perfect target"

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NEW YEAR'S ALIAS

No comment from 'PM parrot'

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SET index closed at 1028.38, down 4.13;Bt/USD31.30; GBP48.80; AUD31.65; EUR40.82; CAD30.51; HKD4.02; SGD24.02; JPY39.92

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Kanchit Surrenders, Denies Murder Charges

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Village headman-assistant shot, injured in Yala

The Nation

A village headman-assistant, Romeulee Maseng, 47, was shot and injured at 2am Tuesday in Tambon Ai Yer Weng, Betong district, Yala.

Romeulee had apparently stopped by a teashop on the YalaBetong Road after running errands in Bannang Sata district.

Two gunmen on a motorcycle also stopped at the teashop and one, pretending to be a customer, shot at Romeulee three times, hitting him in the arm, the stomach and the leg. Romeulee fired back but the gunmen escaped.

Police suspect the attack stemmed from a local political conflict, as Romeulee had acted as a canvasser for the Tambon Administrative Organisation President in the recent election, although they didn’t totally rule out personal conflict and southern violence.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

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Girls saved in Phuket, safely back in France

Patong Tourist Police volunteer Narada Hanks with Manel, 12.

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Phuket's 'special case' officer ready for duty

Captain Nucharee is ready to listen, but in the meantime the everyday police work goes on. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Thailand Live Wednesday 28 Dec 2011

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