Thailand Live Wednesday 28 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 28 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 Tuesday 27 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Thaksin had no role in Burma gas deal

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Yingluck to be star guest in India

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....guest-in-india/

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Pollution worsens following deluge as water quality drops: Thailand

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

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Thai Cabinet plan will revamp flood management

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ood-management/

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Khanchit surrenders, denies charge of premeditated murder

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4938955

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Cabinet backs SRT to run Chatuchak

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4938960

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Soldier killed, another hurt in Yala

The Nation

A soldier was killed and another injured when a roadside bomb exploded early yesterday in Yala's Yaha district. Police suspect separatists led by Saudi Satapor were behind the attack.

Sergeant Major First Class Pradit Saranatrai, 52, and Private Yutthana Daraporn, 22, were rushed to Somdet Prayupparaj Yaha Hospital, where the former succumbed to his injuries.

Pradit was leading the six-strong motorcycle team escorting teachers from Ban Katong School when the 5-kilogram bomb exploded at 7.48am at Ban Kakong Bridge in Tambon Katong.

Yaha police investigators believe insurgency leader Saudi Satapor, who operates in Yaha and Katong districts, was behind the attack. Saudi is wanted for many national security cases including a bomb attack that killed two monks and injured two soldiers in Tambon Baro in May and another bomb attack that killed nine people in Tambon Katong in January.

Meanwhile, a village headman-assistant, Romeulee Maseng, 47, was shot at 2am yesterday in Tambon Ai Yer Weng in Yala's Betong district. Romeulee had apparently stopped by a teashop on the Yala-Betong 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 did not totally rule out personal conflict and insurgency in the South.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

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EDITORIAL

Don't let vested interests spoil Bangkok's Chatuchak Market

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....atuchak-market/

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STOPPAGE TIME

Goodbye and thanks for the memories: Thai opinion

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....s-thai-opinion/

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Court reduces convict's sentence

KESINEE TAENGKIEW

THE NATION

The Appeal Court yesterday reduced the death sentence for Somkid Pumpoung, who allegedly murdered five sex workers, to life imprisonment for the murder of one victim in Lampang on grounds that his confession was useful to the case.

The Appeal Court's verdict, issued yesterday at 10am, was for the murder of masseuse Phongpan Sabchai on the night of September 19, 2005. Somkid, 46, was accused of strangling her to death in a Wiang Lakhon hotel room in Lampang's Muang district before stealing her jewellery and a Bt5,000 cell-phone. Somkid reportedly confessed to police but retracted his confession during trial, claiming that he had been framed.

The lower court gave Somkid the death sentence, but he appealed.

The Appeals Court ruled that circumstantial evidence against Somkid was strong enough to prove that he had committed the murder, while his confession to police that he had strangled the victim because her asking him for money had angered him, provided additional details.

Besides, forensic evidence showed Somkid's fingerprints on a can of soft drink and a bill, so the convict's claim of being elsewhere at the time of the murder was weightless, the court said. Since Somkid's confession was useful, the Appeals Court reduced the lower court's death sentence to life imprisonment.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

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Lecturer urges public to be 'reasonable' over lese majeste law

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Those who oppose amendments or abolition of the lese majeste law should use the power of reasoning, said Thammasat University law lecturer Vorachet Pakeerut, who is also a key member of the Nitirat group of lecturers.

Vorachet voiced this thought now that the group is planning to launch a campaign for amendments to the law mid next month, with names of the campaign committee members to be announced soon.

"If you don't agree with us, think about it logically," Vorachet told The Nation on Monday.

The noted lecturer said he was confident that at least 10,000 signatures would be collected in support of the new draft law, which is more democratic, accountable and less draconian than the current one with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

This move came after both the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said they would not "touch" the lese majeste law despite growing debate and calls from local groups, some countries and organisations like the United Nations and the European Union to do something about it.

The lecturer said he was not surprised by Yingluck's and Pheu Thai's decision, adding that history showed that law pertaining to the institution of monarchy was only amended after military coups. For instance, he said, the law was made more severe after a coup put down the October 5, 1976 uprising.

"Most politicians don't want to do this," Vorachet said.

Human-rights lawyer Sarawut Prathumraj said he was not surprised by the PM's and Pheu Thai's decision to step back, because they and convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra are seen by their opponents as being anti-royalist and any false move could give their opponents reason to fan anti-government sentiment.

Sarawut predicted that the struggle to amend or abolish the lese majeste law would wedge an even deeper divide between the red and the yellow-shirt movements.

"People should have the right to air [their views about the monarchy] in a peaceful manner. Thailand is in a transitional period and I want to see more reason being employed," Vorachet said.

Red-shirt labour leader Jitra Kotchadej aired similar views, saying the Democrat Party was just waiting to fan hatred against Pheu Thai and the premier if they even so much as touched the lese majeste law issue.

Hence, Jitra urged the public to realise that people who support moves to amend or abolish the law are not anti-monarchists, but are just seeking to exercise their democratic right to freedom of expression.

"People will have to jointly push for change if they think this law is problematic for democracy. The international communities have spoken and if we are to keep up with the rest of the world, we must listen to them too," Jitra said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

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House panel going through draft amnesty legislation framework

The Nation

The House Committee on Reconcilia-tion is reviewing the framework for a draft amnesty legislation designed to mend fences among parties involved in political disturbances following the 2006 coup, MP and chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday.

"The drafting of the amnesty legislation will be done by the Council of State based on some 20 documents outlining past guidelines on political amnesty cases," he said.

Sonthi said his committee would strive to implement reconciliation measures, including the amnesty draft by the Council of State, recommendations by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand, and the report on reconciliation models from 10 countries compiled by King Prajadhipok's Institute.

At yesterday's hearing, the committee heard testimony from representatives of the Federation of Thai Industries and Thai Bankers' Association outlining damage inflicted on the economy by the political disturbances, he said.

Pheu Thai MP Chavalit Vichayasuthi said industrial representatives were urging a speedy resolution to the political conflict because the turmoil in recent years had severely had an impact on business confidence.

Democrat MP Nakorn Machim said he expected the report from King Prajadhipok's Institute to sum up all testimony and provide a road map for reconciliation.

In a related development, opposition lawmakers wanted the government to adopt a clear stand on amending the charter instead of passing on the responsibility to coalition MPs, chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanawisit said.

Jurin said the government should specifically quell lingering doubts on five issues.

First, the government should take a lead in activating the charter rewrite, otherwise confusion would persist.

Second, if the charter was to be amended, then a referendum vote should be held on draft amendments. The 2007 Constitution underwent a referendum and the new charter should be subjected to the same treatment.

Third, the government should spell out flaws detected in the Constitution so as to enable people to form their judgement on whether the proposed amendments would be justified.

Fourth, the government must clarify whether it is pushing to amend Articles 237 and 309 of the Constitution. The first provision prescribes punishment of party dissolution for electoral fraud. The second is about coup-related activities which led to the conviction and punishment of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Fifth, the government should pledge to amend the charter to improve the political system and not to serve vested interests.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

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Group opposes cable car

THE NATION

The Stop Global Warming Association yesterday vowed to block a plan to construct cable-car services inside Phu Kradeung National Park.

"There's no need for such services at the park. It runs against the environmental-conservation concept," the association's chairman, Srisuwan Janya, said.

He vowed to petition to the Central Administrative Court if the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department went ahead with the plan.

Located in Loei, Phu Kradeung National Park is a popular tourist attraction.

An informed source disclosed that the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning said the cable-car project at Phu Kradeung National Park would not require prior approval from it.

"The department can make a decision itself," the source said. "The project won't have serious environmental impacts. Yet, the department must take into account the possible impacts on the local ecology, and whether the cable cars affect plants and animals there."

Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation secretary-general Sasin Chalermlarp said the department should explain why it wanted to construct the cable-car system.

"If it's designed to reduce the number of tourists staying overnight inside the park, please present information for further discussions among relevant parties," Sasin said.

He said the cable-car project must be subjected to discussions and debates before it is allowed to proceed.

If the cable-car system will not reduce the number of overnight visitors to the park, the system should not be constructed, Sasin said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-28

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Club Med Phuket sets up swim zone at Kata Beach

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Phuket parade marks New Year road safety campaign

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....afety-campaign/

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Nakhon Si Thammarat authorities on high alert to promptly evacuate residents if waves keep pounding shore; stronger wave warning for Dec 29-30 /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,026.56, down 1.82 points /MCOT

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BKK Poll finds best of 2011 is news about HM the King while worst disappointment is performance of Thai football team, flood most worrisome /TANN

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Nakhon Si Thammarat on high alert for evacuation after stronger wave warning

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Chalerm Called for Urgent Meeting to Deter against Crime

The deputy prime minister called high-ranking police officers of the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters to follow up on the many cases that broke out last week.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs, Chalerm Yoobamrung, called for a special meeting of high-ranking police officers yesterday, including commissioners, and commanders of all police stations under the Metropolitan Police Bureau after the crime rate increased dramatically over the last few weeks.

Officers reported their investigation methods and disclosed the progress of their cases.

Moreover, officers who participated in the meeting discussed possible solutions to problems.

The metropolitan police have reached a consensus to set up more checkpoints to deter against illegal activities.

Volunteers will also have an opportunity to take part in the project.

Chalerm said some of the cases that occurred last week were outrageous, including one in which a gunman fired at drivers on Ratchadapisek Road.

He has instructed officers to hurry and arrest the offenders and to tighten security to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Police Major General Winai Thongsong revealed that the police have already inspected surveillance cameras installed along Rachadapisek Road.

The police identified a short-haired man wearing a green shirt who used a pick-up truck to commit a crime.

He pledged to arrest the suspect as soon as possible.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-28

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7-day Free Tollway during New Year Holiday

The government will allow motorists to use the Bangna-Chonburi and Bangplee-Sooksawat expressways without paying the toll for seven days as a New Year present.

Deputy Prime Minister Office Spokesperson Anuttama Amornwiwat said the Cabinet has approved the Transportation Ministry's proposal to waive the motorway fee on the Burapawithi or Bangna-Chonburi, and Bangplee-Sooksawat expressways during the New Year holiday.

The tollway exception will begin from tomorrow at 12am and go to midnight on January 3rd.

The program will be considered a special gift for the general public during the New Year holiday.

However, the Expressway Authority of Thailand, or EAT, estimated that the department will lose about a 27 million baht revenue from the tollway fee exemption.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-28

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15 Million Votes Is Not an Excuse for Charter Change: Thai opinion

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....e-thai-opinion/

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Chaos Ensues in Flood-Relief Coupon Distribution

The Energy Ministry sponsored a cost savings home appliances event yesterday to help flood victims in many provinces, with some people misunderstanding that the coupon offered at the event could be exchanged as cash.

In Angthong, more than 30,000 flood-affected households from seven districts queued up to register at the province's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to receive 2,000 baht coupons, which can be used for shopping at the cost savings home appliances event held by the Energy Ministry.

A few people misunderstood that the coupons could be exchanged as cash and wondered why the government does not give them cash directly.

Some of them questioned if the program is designed to help home appliance firms boost their sales.

In Phitsanulok Province, throngs of flood-affected residents traveled to the cost savings home appliances event.

However, only about 2,000 out of the 19,000 people had their names listed on the province's database system as eligible candidates to receive the coupons, which excluded the rest of the flood victims and leaving them angry.

Phitsanulok Governor Preecha Ruangchan, who presided over the event, said that he has already ordered the problem to be addressed.

In Ubon Rathcathani, Provincial Governor Surapol Saiphan yesterday presided over the same event and handed out coupons to flood-affected people.

Nearly 7,000 households in the province are qualified to receive the coupons.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-28

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Supoj Did Not Show Up For Testimony, And Next Meeting Is On Jan 12

In progress of the bribery probe into the ex-transport permanent-secretary's wealth, the investigation committee chairman disclosed that Ex-Transport permanent secretary failed to make appearance for his first testimony.

His representative explained that Supoj is now on vacation abroad and asked to postpone the testifying to January 12 next year.

The chairman of the investigation committee, Professor Thongthong Chantarangsu who is in charge in the investigation into a claim that Transport permanent secretary Supoj Saplom is unusually wealthy.

He disclosed that Supoj failed to make appearance for the first testimony, which means Supoj has made the first postponement.

However, Supoj has submitted a proxy letter, letting Kraimet Worasarin to be his representative.

Kraimet submitted a letter, explaining reasons Supoj's failing to attend the first arrangement.

The letter says that Supoj is on his vacation in abroad between December 18 to 30, and that he asked to postpone the testimony.

Thongthong has again sent a letter to state a new meeting date, which is on January 12, 2012.

He believes that Supoj will make appearance this time for testimony.

He further said that the major subject is that the board is willing to hear Supoj's clarification on the exact amount of lost money as Supoj reported 5 million baht in cash was stolen, while police have retrieved more than 18 million baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-28

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Lawyer of activist Veera, his secretary Ratree jailed in Cambodia on espionage charges, revokes appeal to seek royal pardon for them /MCOT

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RT @mpoppel: Headline from NKorean state-run media: "Humankind Lost Greatest Man and Most Outstanding Leader"

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RT @mpoppel: PHOTO: Kim Jong Un leading his father's hearse http://twitpic.com/7zllht

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Most Thais pleased with HM the King’s birthday celebration and monarch’s recovery: Bangkok University Poll /MCOT