Thailand Live Monday 2 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 2 January 2012

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 Sunday 1 Jan 2012

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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

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Yingluck and Abhisit both rate well in latest opinion polling

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4948852

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165 killed on roads over first three days of seven dangerous days: Thailand

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

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Kanit stands firm on lese majeste call

The Nation

Former premier Banharn Silpa-acha should carefully study the proposed amendment to the lese majeste law before passing any judgement on it, its key drafter said yesterday.

"I don't know if his mind is sound. But before making any criticism please read the proposal I made to the prime minister first before making any comment," said Kanit na Nakorn, chairman of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Banharn, the de facto leader of the Chart Pattana Party, has joined a chorus of politicians opposing any revision to the controversial lese majeste law, which has seen a surge in prosecutions since the military coup of 2006.

Kanit told Thai Rath's online news that TRC's proposal was founded on academic research and was part of an impartial attempt to forge national reconciliation.

He questioned Banharn's logic in thinking that the lese majeste law can be left intact without a cost to society.

The TRC's proposal was just forwarded to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last Friday, he said.

It will be up to the government to make the final decision on what to do it.

The TRC had made a thorough study already and believes that this is the way to ease political tensions.

"This is not a proposal based on our feelings. It’s based on academic principles and studies and so one needs to read about the proposed lese majeste law amendment first in order to understand it," Kanit said.

However, he's ready for any criticism, he added.

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol said the lese majeste law did not need to be revised because the problem was not with the way it was written, but the way it was abused by some people to crush their opponents.

However, the junta-sponsored 2007 charter needed to be changed to get rid of clauses that are essentially undemocratic, such as Article 291, which punishes a political party with dissolution for violating the election law, he said.

Vatchara Kannikar, spokeswoman of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, said a new charter would need a public referendum, but it could be called either before or after the redrafting process.

-- The Nation 2012-01-02

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Flash floods hit 3 provinces in South

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

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Growing numbers join in prayers for the New Year

Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation

The New Year 2012 opened with an auspicious tone as over one million people attended the "across the year" prayer at Buddhist temples nationwide on New Year's Eve, an official said yesterday.

Office of National Buddhism director Nopparat Benjawattananant said the initial report found that over one million people joined in prayer at temples nationwide. Provinces surveyed randomly saw some 20 temples hosting prayers with each temple hosting some 10,000 attendees. As the trend towards prayers seemed to grow, he said the office would officially survey the number of attendees as a basis for office's work planning.

Bangkok’s Wat Sa Ket abbot assistant, Phra Wichitdhammapon said the prayer campaign, hosted by the Sangha Supreme Council, the Office of National Buddhism, and the government, was successful with Wat Sa Ket alone seeing over 30,000 people attending the prayer.

Eighty per cent of the attendees were teenagers and working-age people, he said, saying it was a good sign that young people were interested in attending religious activities and urging parents to set a good example to their kids by making merit.

In related news, a spent bullet from people shooting skywards to celebrate the New Year had injured a woman joining the New Year Eve prayer at the plaza of Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon Pathom's famous landmark.

Vendor Khemika Limwashiranon, 42, who sustained a toe injury, filed a police complaint at 1am yesterday at Muang Nakhon Pathom police station and submitted a .38 calibre bullet as evidence.

The police station also received a complaint of stray bullets hitting a car's window while it was parked near the Phra Pathom Chedi, as well other complaints of bullets hitting three people's homes, but no injuries were reported.

-- The Nation 2012-01-02

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Plodprasob ties to firms probed: Isra News Agency

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ra-news-agency/

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Thai economy OK but flood plan needed: Abhisit

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....needed-abhisit/

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NEW YEAR SPECIAL

Flood-hit Thai economy retools for 2012

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....tools-for-2012/

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EDITORIAL

Communal spirit got us through a challenging year: Thai opinion

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

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32 detained in illegal-booze bust

The Nation

Public Health Ministry alcohol-control officials arrested 32 people on suspicion of violating the Alcohol Control Act 2008 during inspections in the North, Northeast and South from December 29 to 31, a ministry official said.

Twenty-one of the cases were in the Northeast.

Most were charged with illegal advertising and marketing of alcohol, punishable by one year in jail and/or up to Bt500,000 in fines, said Dr Saman Futrakul, director of the Disease Control Department's Office of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Consumption Control Committee.

On December 31 alone, 17 suspected violators of the act were arrested, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-02

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Bangkok gun shops: What's inside and why tourists can't buy

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....rists-cant-buy/

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New Year's Eve pub murder rocks Phuket

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....r-rocks-phuket/

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Three persons injured in bombing at Ayutthaya food shop /MCOT

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Dusit Poll: Thais feel 2012 will continue to see political problems and corruption, worry about higher good prices and narcotics /TANN

BMA speaks with rail authority concerning transfer of ownership of Chatuchak market, no conclusion yet over buildings constructed /TANN

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Ownership of Chatuchak market transferred from BMA to rail authority, vendors get 2 months rent-free period /TANN

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Bomb explosion at food shop in Ayutthaya, 2 injured with 1 in critical condition /TANN

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Chumphon governor issues urgent warning to all district chiefs; residents advised to brace for heavy downpours, flash flood during 24h /MCOT

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Three injured in Ayutthaya explosion

AYUTTHAYA, Jan 2 - A homemade bomb exploded early Monday after a food pushcart owner found and accidentally dropped it, seriously wounding herself and four others who received minor injuries.

Saiyud Kaliklin, 53, lost her left ankle, and sustained severe wounds on her face. She was sent to hospital and is in critical condition.

Varabhorn Chiengthong, the vendor’s helper, told police that Mrs Saiyud found a round black object wrapped in adhesive tape and accidentally dropped it on a desk. The explosion tore apart her left ankle. Two female customers were slightly hurt, but the food pushcart was badly damaged.

Police investigators said the incident was unlikely to have been politically motivated.

The homemade explosive device might have been abandoned at the site, not far from a police checkpoint, as its owner might fear being caught by police, according to the authorities.

An investigation is under way to find the owner of the explosive. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-02

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Road accidents claim 241 lives in four days of dangerous New Year travel week

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/523091-165-killed-on-roads-over-first-three-days-of-seven-dangerous-days-thailand/page__view__findpost__p__4949725

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Flash floods hit southern provinces

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/523092-flash-floods-hit-3-provinces-in-south/page__view__findpost__p__4949735

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Mudslide at Krungching subdistrict in Nakhon Si Thammarat, locals evacuated while damage is being assessed/TAN_Network

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RT@RichardBarrow: Thai Travel News: Dream World to Re-Open on 10 January 2012 http://t.co/CCIbkMXd

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2,000 extra bus trips prepared for people returning to Bangkok

BANGKOK, 2 January 2012 (NNT) - To ensure that people returning to Bangkok are not left stranded, the Transport Company has prepared 50% or around 2,000 additional bus trips to facilitate their return trips from today onwards.

As people have begun traveling from upcountry provinces back to the capital, the Transport Company has added more buses and ordered officials to enforce strict safety measures. Bus driver will absolutely not be allowed to consume any alcoholic beverages, and all of them must have adequate sleep before getting behind the wheel. The company has also affirmed that no bus is going to go out of its usual route.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, over the first three days of the “Seven Dangerous Days”, the Department has received full cooperation from all parties in its efforts to help reduce the number of road accidents. The number of accidents and fatalities for the first three days of this year's New Year holidays has dropped when compared to that of the same period last year.

In anticipation that most of the holidaymakers would begin traveling back to Bangkok this evening and tomorrow, the Department has ordered local officials to strictly enforce traffic laws and be particularly watchful of motorcycle riders.

-- NNT 2012-01-02

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Prices Of Consumer Products In Thailand To Remain Stable Until Mid 2012

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....until-mid-2012/

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Opposition Leader Demands Foreign Ministry to Resolve Preah Vihear Temple Dispute

The Opposition Leader demands the Foreign Ministry to resolve the Preah Vihear Temple dispute in front of the International Court of Justice next February.

Democrat Party Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva pointed out whether the Preah Vihear Temple dispute will continue or come to an end depends on the verdict of International Court of Justice within February this year.

Abhisit also urged the Foreign Ministry to pay more attention on the trial. Furthermore, the ministry should focus on providing documents and testify about the incidents that happened between Thailand and Cambodia and use it as strong evidence to appeal to the court.

He claimed that the Cambodian government has been preparing to declare sovereignty over the land while the Thai government remains silent on the helicopter shooting incident.

The opposition leader dismissed claim that the Thai government in conspiring with the Cambodian government. He was confident that the ministry officials will not tolerate any illegal actions.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-02

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Russian woman dies in Phuket motorbike accident

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers tend to a man whose motorcycle went off the Kalim-Kamala Road at 11am today. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

Phuket Kusoldharm emergency-response workers strongly suspected alcohol played a role in the accident. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....rbike-accident/

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Flash flood hits Surat Thani, 500 households cut off; governor orders evacuation /MCOT

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OIC Advises People to Quickly Request for Flood-Relief Compensation

The Office of Insurance Commission, or OIC, advised people to quickly request for flood-relief compensation and deliver the appropriate documents for prompt service.

OIC’s Secretary General Prawet Ongartsitikul stated that as of now, the flood situation has eased and requested that the flood victims quickly seek out insurance coverage and provide appropriate documents to insurance companies to receive compensation.

Meanwhile, auto insurance companies will provide compensation for Class-1 insurance policyholders whose cars were damaged beyond repair during the floods. Policyholders are required to present their driver’s license, personal ID, insurance contract, and a car license plate as valid documentation.

To receive compensation, the policyholders must provide a formal written declaration that lists details about their losses incurred from the floods and the value of their assets. In addition, they must also provide documents concerning their insurance contracts and have pictures that show the damages done to their property.

For insurance contracts lost during floods, the policyholders can request for a new one at a branch of the OIC or any related insurance company.

Prawet urged the policyholders to fully understand the insurance policy before selecting an appropriate coverage to get the compensation they want and consider the premiums involved. He also advised the policyholders to file for coverage with an authorized agent only to ensure legitimacy.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-02