Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 4 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 Tuesday 3 Jan 2012

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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

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Amnesty to Thaksin would spark conflict, Abhisit warns

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

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Party dissolution threats, charter amendments among top EC tasks

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

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Thai govt actions hold the key to political stability and freedom from conflict

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-from-conflict/

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GOLD

Gold faces year of volatility

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-of-volatility/

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Woman linked to murder probe

Atapoom Ongkulna,

Manop Phrutvalodom

The Nation

Police preparing to seek indictment of Democrat MP

Police are looking for a woman who might have been involved in Democrat MP Khanchit Thabsuwan's alleged shooting of political rival Udorn Kraiwatnusorn in a high-profile killing last month.

The photo of a woman, identified merely as Kuk, was shown to police investigators at a meeting at Muang Samut Sakhon Police Station yesterday, with statements suggesting she might be the reason behind the shooting, police sources said. No further details were available about the woman, or her alleged relationship with either the suspect or the victim.

Police said they were ready to indict Khanchit, despite not having done a forensic study of a .40-calibre gun in the suspect's possession - the same type of firearm used in the fatal shooting - and a trajectory study, according to the crime scene investigation. The Democrat MP has been charged with premeditated murder and is now on bail after surrendering to police before the current New Year holiday break.

Khanchit has not yet handed in the firearm for inspection, as ordered by police after the deadline ended yesterday. Station chief Pol Colonel Jamraeng Sudjai said it was not a problem that could cause delay in seeking the indictment of the MP to the public prosecutors.

Seven pistols of the same type are owned by local residents, including one registered in Khanchit's name. The officer said police were considering seeking a search warrant for Khanchit's home. There had earlier been a rumour about a love-triangle relationship between the suspect, the victim and an unidentified woman, but former Democrat MP Anek, Khanchit's father, has already dismissed it publicly.

Democrat MP Niphit Intharasombat, Khanchit's legal counsellor, said Khanchit would comply with any police request, welcoming even their approach to him at Parliament yesterday, but he preferred not to see any progress in the investigation being revealed to the public through the media. He was responding to a police statement that Khanchit's mother had not accepted their written request for him to submit his firearm for inspection.

"I don't know about his mother not accepting the request, but I know that he lives in another home, and has been therefore unaware of the written request sent to him," Niphit said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said he knew "every little single detail about the motive" behind the killing, but would rather not speak about the case, before repeating his statement that politics was not behind Udorn's murder. Udorn was head of the Provincial Administrative Organisation affiliated with coalition leader Pheu Thai Party.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Checkpoints put on alert for drunks, speeders

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4953248

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Thai South reels under floods

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....s-under-floods/

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EXPORTS

Global woes, floods dent prospects for 2012

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

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Thrills, but not as many spills: Thai opinion

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

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Police in South seek 1,500 new assault rifles

THE NATION

Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana yesterday urged residents of the South to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities, while police said they planned to use a new type of assault rifle in the restive region.

Police want to procure 1,500 new semi-automatic rifles, the 5.56mm Colt M4A2 model made in the United States.

Kowit said police would strive to turn more villages in the southernmost provinces into "white", or violence-free, villages and apply His Majesty's concept of understanding, outreach and development.

The Cabinet will today decide on the Bt209.1-million budget proposal for the purchase of the guns.

A police report claims that the situation in the southern border provinces and four districts in Songkhla since 2004 has deteriorated, so police need better weapons that are suited to the task of search and rescue.

The Colts will help them maximise their effectiveness, including fighting in forests and mountains.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Woman arrested

The Nation

A Laotian woman has been arrested for the alleged possession of crystal methamphetamine worth Bt3 million, Customs Department officials said yesterday.

The arrest of Vientiane resident Ponchan Bandawong, 29, was made at 6.30am at the Thai-Laotian Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Nong Khai's Muang district after customs officials allegedly found 1 kilogram of crystal-meth tablets in her bag.

Ponchan reportedly confessed to police that she worked as a hairdressing teacher and was hired for Bt5,000 by a Laotian man identified only as Tao On to carry the drugs to a Thai customer at the Nong Khai Bus Terminal.

She said she did not know who the customer would be, as she was told another man with a bag identical to hers would exchange it at the terminal and she had to bring the exchanged bag to Tao On to get paid.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Four arrested in deadly abduction plot: Bangkok

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....n-plot-bangkok/

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Man called in over dam scare

Bhumbibol dam, file photo. Source: wikimedia

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Poachers suspected of killing

The Nation

Ivory poachers have apparently slaughtered at least one elephant from Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krajan National Park.

After a 3pm report of the discovery of a carcass in tambon Pateng, police, park officials and villagers rushed to the scene near the Krarang 3 Reservoir and found an elephant burned on a pyre of rubber tyres.

Officials suspect the hunters took the tusks and then tried to conceal the crime.

Another jumbo was found a kilometre away with wounds suggesting its tusks had also been sawn off.

Ched Daengburi, the headman of Ban Pateng village, said he had been told by villagers that three more members of the same herd had been killed, but officials and villagers could not search the area further for safety reasons. It was getting dark and there were many wild elephants around. The search is to continue today.

He said local people were not responsible for killing the elephants.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Job losses from floods not too severe

The Nation

Employment was affected by the flood far less than feared, the Labour Ministry said yesterday.

The number of workers still laid off because of the worst inundation in decades is estimated at about 60,000, much lower than expected, said Arthit Issamo, director-general of the Labour Protection and Welfare Department.

About 25,000 of them face no prospects of returning to their old jobs, while the remaining 30,000-40,000 still do not know whether their dismissals will be made permanent, he said.

The employment outlook for this year starts with post-flood rehabilitation. Among the 990,000 flood-affected workers, more than 600,000 have been re-employed, while 240,000 have joined a government scheme that pays them a monthly allowance of Bt2,000.

The exact jobless figure is expected to be known after the New Year holidays.

In case more workers are laid off, the three-month state-funded scheme, which began in November and ends this month, could be extended.

The scheme was launched with a budget of Bt1.8 billion from the Labour Ministry, of which Bt600 million has been dispensed through the Government Savings Bank.

The budget is not expected to be used up, as some businesses have recovered sooner than expected.

Workers who are uncertain about their employment status should contact provincial labour protection and welfare officials for assistance, Arthit said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Transport Ministry big winner as House set to pass Budget Bill today

THE NATION

The House of Representatives is expected today to pass the Bt2.38-trillion Budget Bill for fiscal 2012.

The legislation is scheduled for voting on its second and final readings.

The Transport Ministry is likely to enjoy the biggest budget increase - Bt7.5 billion - among the ministries while the Labour Ministry is set for the largest cut of Bt10.9 billion, according to the final version prepared by the House's vetting committee.

The Transport Ministry had requested Bt81.3 billion but the vetting panel decided to appropriate Bt88.8 billion for it.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is likely to be the beneficiary of the second-biggest increase of Bt3.5 billion. It wanted Bt6.7 billion but was given Bt10.2 billion.

The Education Ministry is also set to get more than it asked for - Bt420.4 billion, up Bt1.8 billion from its proposal for Bt418.6 billion.

Among the other favoured ministries are Defence (Bt168.8 billion, up Bt1.4 billion), Interior (Bt285.2 billion, up Bt1.3 billion), and Finance (Bt191.4 billion, up Bt474 million).

The Labour Ministry was chopped from Bt27.2 billion to Bt16.3 billion, followed by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, which lost Bt1.2 billion when it was earmarked Bt76.7 billion instead of Bt77.9 billion.

Other ministries suffering from lower budgets than requested are Public Health (Bt91.9 billion, down Bt1 billion), Industry (Bt5.7 billion, down Bt560 million), Justice (Bt17.9 billion, down Bt258 million), and Science and Technology (Bt8 billion, down Bt170 million).

The Prime Minister's Office was also a victim of the House's scalpel, since Bt22.1 billion will be coming its way instead of the desired Bt22.4 billion.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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One child drowns in southern flood

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4953286

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Chit Bus Terminal crowded as holidaymakers return to BKK; traffic jammed to Vibhavadi Road; Mitraphap Highway improving, but bottlenecked at Korat /MCOT

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Chalerm Calls for Delay in Charter Amendment

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

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Fire at Petrol Station in Lampang

Fire broke out at a PTT petrol station in Lampang Province but the blaze was put under control before it caused massive damage.

A blaze hit the PTT petrol station on Phaholyothin Road in Muang District of Lampang Province belonging to former Deputy Mayor Kriengsak Wanachayangkun.

Ten fire trucks were deployed to extinguish the blaze from all sides and firefighters succeeded in controlling it in 30 minutes.

Fortunately, all the pumps were spared from the fire.

Witnesses said they saw an electricity generator located in front of the station explode and the fire quickly spread to the station’s office.

Electricity short circuit is believed to have caused the blaze.

Initial damage has been estimated at 1.8 million baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-04

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Southern Train Service Halted Because of Flooding

The State Railway of Thailand has canceled train services in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, while a hospital in the area has begun evacuating patients due to heavy flooding.

Nakhon Si Thammarat railway chief Salaidej Saengpayak announced that train services in Nakhon Si Thammarat have been halted due to flooding causing submerged rail tracks.

This includes about ten routes, including both local services and the route to Bangkok.

Southern train services stop at Tungsong station where buses are used to transport passengers to the Nakhon Si Thammarat rail station.

The State Railway of Thailand will allow full refunds for tickets and has already refunded approximately 10 percent of tickets that were sold in advance.

In the meantime, Tasala Hospital in Tasala District of Nakhon Si Thammarat has evacuated some 50 patients to other hospitals since late Monday night due to flooding.

The hospital was hit by heavy flooding in March and April last year.

The hospital’s Director, Doctor Kitti Ratanasombat said when the floodwater arrived, the hospital relocated ICU patients to Maharaj Hospital.

Some in-patients were discharged to continue their recuperation at home, while about 50 others were moved to Maharaj Hospital yesterday.

The hospital was able to move its equipment and machinery to higher ground in time, and is now using water pumps to pump the floodwater out.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-04

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RT @RichardBarrow: Trains on Southern Line from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat only go as far as Thung Song. Further south line is open.

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,035.79, up 10.47 points /MCOT

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Phuket records a day without death on the roads

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....h-on-the-roads/

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Road accidents claim 314 lives in first six days of seven dangerous New Year's travel days, 3,166 casualties; Buriram has most deaths with 18 fatalities /MCOT

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Thailand Tourism Expected to Grow 8-9 Percent This Year

The Thai Travel and Tourism Association expects to see Thai tourism grow 8 to 9 percent this year.

However, political conflict remains the primary concern.

Thai Travel and Tourism Association President, Jaroen Wangananon said domestic tourism has improved by 80 percent, even though the floods have made people more wary of their expenses.

However, since the government declared a holiday extension, it boosted tourism significantly.

The president projected that tourism will grow between 8 and 9 percent from last year if there is no political conflict.

Political issues have become the main problem for tourism, rather than flooding, as its expected that future flooding will be managed effectively.

Jaroen estimated that the number of foreign tourists will reach 19.8 million, which will generate an income of 7.5 trillion baht, and Thai revenues of 3.8 trillion baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-04

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Inflation eases in December

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Thai consumer price index in December eased, up only by 3.53 per cent year on year, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Compared to the same period last year, the inflation was higher due mainly to higher food prices.

Yet, compared to November when flooding condition and food prices peaked, it was down by 0.48 per cent.

The full-year inflation for 2011 went up by 3.81 per cent which was within the ministry’s forecast range of 3.2-3.8 per cent, said Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach.

He is confident that the inflation would stay in the range of 3.3-3.8 per cent this year.

"Inflation this year will be driven by increases in commodity prices, consumer spending and stable economic growth," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

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Govt to File Amendment to Section 291 After House Approval of Budget Bill

The government chief whip says the government will take a leading role in amending only Section 291 of the Constitution, while leaving amendments to subordinate provisions to a drafting committee.

Pheu Thai Party MP of Nonthaburi Province Udomdetch Rattanasathien, as the Government Chief Whip, responded to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung's comment that it was not the time to amend the Constitution.

Udomdetch said Chalerm's opinion is not to be taken seriously, as anyone can to entitled to say it but other matters must be considered as well.

Regarding Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's comments that the government will not take the lead in submitting a charter amendment bill, he believes the prime minister might have meant to say that the government will not submit amendments to subordinate provisions because it wants an independent drafting committee to handle that.

Udomdetch went on to say that a number of suggestions have been made about the selection process for the drafting committee, and each has its own advantages.

He believes the same approach used in 1997 may be adopted, where representatives from each province totaling about 100 people would be allowed to participate.

He expects the motion to amend Section 291 of the Constitution will be filed after the House passes the annual budget bill and it may take four to five months for the drafting committee to be chosen.

The government chief whip was unconcerned about potential conflicts in connection with the issue, believing that all sides will respect democratic principles.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-04