Thailand Live Tuesday 10 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 10 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 Monday 9 Jan 2012

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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BURNING ISSUE

Thaksin's retreat may cut conflict

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....y-cut-conflict/

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Thai govt defuses NGV price hike protest

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ANALYSIS

Gas float a feather in Thai govt cap

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PRESS FREEDOM

Camera in Pheu Thai media room

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Fugitive driver in Bangkok-Chon Buri van crash surrenders

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FIDF DEBT

Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) top economist calls for compromise

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....for-compromise/

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GOOD DEED AWARD

Conservationist wins Polish award for work with elephants

NANTIDA PUANGTHONG

THE NATION

A Poland-based foundation has given an award to a Thai activist who founded a nursery for disabled or injured elephants in Chiang Mai, the Thai embassy in Warsaw said yesterday.

In its citation for granting the Good Deed Award to Saengduen Chailert, Fundacji Zacny Uczynek said the Elephant Nature Park in Mae Taeng district had nurtured sick and wounded elephants while relying on those in good health to serve local tourism in an ecological and conservationist manner.

No elephants are used to carry visitors like most tourist businesses at the 200-rai park, where 30 tuskers, including babies, are cared for. Saengduen plans to set up a similar park in Surin's Tha Toom district.

Saengduen has won many accolades including an Earth Award by Time in 2006, after being hailed a Hero of Asia by the magazine a year earlier. In 2001, the Ford Foundation named her a Hero of the Planet. Her Elephant Nature Park has also been filmed by the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

Born in 1962 in Chiang Mai, Saengduen graduated from the Liberal Arts Faculty at Chiang Mai University before beginning a career in tourism. She later learnt about cruelty suffered by elephants at human hands and dedicated herself to helping those wounded or sick, and setting up the Nature Park.

Fundacji Zacny Uczynek was founded in 2005 to encourage Good Samaritans while promoting other values in addition to education, good governance, democracy, unity and human rights.

Two other recipients of the Good Deed Award this year are Professor Shevah Weiss, an Israeli political scientist, and Adam Wajrak, a journalist with Gazeta Wyborcza, who became an environmentalist.

Weiss, a Holocaust survivor who, migrated to Palestine in 1947, became a professor at the University of Haifa. In 2000 he was made president of the Yad Vashem Council. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the Israeli ambassador to Poland.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

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EC set to file Jatuporn case

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-jatuporn-case/

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Whips dump committee plan for charter

THE NATION

Coalition whips yesterday rejected the proposal by a committee led by former Senate speaker Ukrit Mongkolnavin to have a 34-member panel appointed to amend the Constitution.

The chief coalition whip, MP Udomdej Ratanasathien from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said the whips would continue with the original plan to seek amendment of Article 291 of the charter, to allow a new constitution drafting assembly to be set up.

Udomdej said the Ukrit panel's proposal was "unfeasible" due to a lack of community participation. "Part of the CDA membership must be elected by the public in order to ensure acceptance."

However, he said some charter drafters suggested by Ukrit's government-appointed Independent National Rule and Law Commission (NRLC) - such as former charter writer Kanin Boonsuwan and Worachet Pakhirat from the Niti Rassadorn group of law lecturers - might |sit on the CDA as appointed |representatives from legal experts.

"According to an initial estimate, the constitutional amendments should take about 15 months - the first three months on amending Article 291, the next month or two on acquiring the CDA members, and the remaining eight to 10 months on drafting a new constitution and holding a public referendum," Udomdej said.

Speaking at a press conference at Government House after the whips' meeting, he said it should be clear by early next month who would submit a parliamentary motion for charter changes - the Cabinet, Pheu Thai MPs, or eligible voters from the public.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayathum and Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also criticised the Ukrit panel's proposal yesterday for a panel to rewrite the charter. She said the drafters' committee would fail to win acceptance from the public.

Sodsri proposed that in order to save state funds, the 77 elected senators representing every province should sit on the CDA and another 22 members be appointed from experts in law and political science.

She said a drafting assembly would be the best way to handle changes to the Constitution. She viewed the Ukrit panel proposal as an attempt to include people from parties involved in the political conflict, and did not think it would help end the division.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also voiced disagreement yesterday with the NRLC proposal, saying it could lead to confusion.

"If the government follows the proposal by the Ukrit committee, there will be confusion. People have no participation and the mistrust and conflict still smouldering will worsen," said Abhisit, who heads the Democrat Party.

He also called on the prime minister to make a clear stance about contentious issues related to constitutional amendments.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

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Police nab 'new drug dealers'

The Nation

Police in Pattani arrested four men for allegedly trafficking drugs and confiscated more than 600 kilograms of marijuana, worth about Bt2 million.

After the initial seizure, the police moved to confiscate two luxury cars and six mobile phones worth about Bt11 million on Sunday.

Police believe the suspects worked with a gang of dealers who allegedly smuggled illegal narcotics from Laos through Nakhon Phanom, and resold the drugs to agents in Bangkok. They are also believed to have smuggled a large portion of drugs to Malaysia, where they were sold at a rate 10-times higher than the street value.

The four suspects were new to the trade and preferred by drug dealers because they were difficult to track because they did not have criminal records, police said.

In a separate incident, Satun police arrested Lao national Saengmaee Phraisri and Thai Pramote Kaewthanong at a checkpoint in Langu district over the weekend, with 170 amphetamine tablets and more than 3kg of ice flakes.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

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Experts threaten walkout on flood prevention schemes, source claims: Thailand

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

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PM Yingluck calls for talks on the three health funds future

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....h-funds-future/

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More demolitions loom in Thap Lan

The Nation

A further 152 illegally-built resorts in Thap Lan National Park will be subject to legal action and subsequent demolition under the next wave of the crackdown by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, an assistant chief ranger said yesterday.

After 19 new complaints last year, the number of resorts earmarked for demolition reached 67, with the first 14 demolished in December amid protests by owners and villagers.

To take action against the 152 resorts, complaints will first be filed with police, possibly by the end of next week. That will give forestry officials authority to enforce either relocation or demolition of the properties.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

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Full SSO pay-out for Lao worker

The Nation

A Laotian woman who lost a hand in a work-related accident in Phrae last month will be fully compensated, although she is not registered as a legal migrant worker and her workplace is not registered under a social security scheme, the provincial social security office said yesterday.

Kiang Thammalangka would be paid Bt336,960, equivalent to 108 times her monthly salary of Bt3,120, office head Phanthep Paorik said. Her unnamed Thai employer would face legal action for failing to register his/her business with the SSO and to register Kiang as a legal migrant worker.

Phanthep said the payment was intended as a model to embrace the SSO principle that all employees were protected fully for work-related death, disability or injury. Kiang, 20, was a worker at a local coconut plantation whose left hand was severed by a coconut extracting machine on December 28.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10

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Trying to move forward, but still haunted by the past: Insurgency in southern Thailand

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

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Truck driver charged over Phuket horror crash

Both vehicles turned into the access road to Phuket's Royal Crown Hotel at the same time, with tragic results for all. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4968053

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Man blames Phuket hospital for mother's death

Mr Narongphon (right) files a complaint at the Damrongtham Center. Photo: Warisa Temram

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-mothers-death/

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Former Phuket-based home vendors wanted by Aussie authorities

Jessica Wilson and Matthew Nair of Nair Homes as featured on the new website. The Australian authorities are continuing their investigation into the pair after they fled to Phuket in 2010.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ie-authorities/

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Myanmar supreme commander visits Thailand

BANGKOK, 10 January 2012 (NNT) - The Royal Thai Army and the Defence Ministry have welcomed Myanmar's Supreme Commnander, who paid a visit to Thailand in order to tighten the two nations' relationships.

Thai Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn yesterday welcomed General Min Aung Hlaing at the army headquarters, on the occasion of the latter's first visit to Thailand in the past ten years.

He also visited several other places related to the army, navy, and air force to familiarize himself with the Thai military.

The Myanmese Supreme Commander also met Thai Defence Minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapa to discuss various issues concerning national security, economy, as well as sports. General Min Aung Hlaing has asked Thailand to support Myanmar as it will host the next SEA Games. Both parties also agreed to expand investment cooperation, while the Myanmese showed willingness to permanently open border checkpoints to increase trade between the two nations.

-- NNT 2012-01-10

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DTAC to compensate for communication failure

BANGKOK, 10 January 2012 (NNT) - Total Access Communication (DTAC) has held a press conference to explain about the communication failures, which have occurred three times in the past three weeks.

The DTAC executive states that the first failure occurred at the end of last year, while the second collapse was on January 5th in the southern region; the problems for both of which were related to the transfer of customer database to the new system. The company has already ordered new equipments to facilitate the transfer process.

As for the recent problem which occurred on January 8th, DTAC said it was due to accidents in Petchburi and Prachuabkirikhan provinces, in which fiber glass cables were damaged. They were fixed within two hours.

DTAC has insisted that the failures were not related to the network. The company is said to have paid 350 million baht as refund to the customers for the first two failures. The compensation for the most recent occurance is still under consideration.

Although having frequent communication problems, DTAC has assured that the company's finance remain stable and it is prepared to invest another 70-billion baht in the 3G service during the next three years.

-- NNT 2012-01-10

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,048.09, up 3.25 points /MCOT

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Transport Ministry to Undertake Several Bangkok Mass Transit Projects

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Man dies of bird flu in Jakarta

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Cold Spell Linger in Provinces

Local residents and their livestock in many provinces have been affected by the sudden change in the weather.

Villagers in Sakon Nakhon's Pannanikom District are closely monitoring their fish after the cold weather wreaked havoc the northeastern area.

As the temperature continues to drop dramatically, the fish are now deprived of food.

The weather is also adversely affecting the well-being of the locals and is having a negative impact on fish production.

Provincial Livestock officer, Pramot Sritorn warned that the cold spell could harm livestock as well.

Pramot said if there are signs of suspicious activities, farmers are advised to report to the Provincial Livestock office directly.

In Maha Sarakham, the province has been seeing the first signs of drought, as the water level of the Shee River running through Kosumpisai District has receded by 7 meters.

Local people are taking advantage of the cold weather by cultivating plants that flourish in cold climates such as cauliflower and Chinese kale, which generate a large amount of income.

Moreover, the drought season arrived in Uthai Thani Province. Several leaves from trees in the Huay Kha Khaeng Sanctuary have fallen down.

It is likely that wildfire would break out.

Additionally, wildlife in the sanctuary are now suffering form a water supply shortage.

In response, officers are expediting their mission to construct firewalls.

In addition, the drought situation in Nakhon Sawan Province is becoming aggravated.

Natural water resources have completely dried. People urged related agencies to quickly solve the problem.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-10

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Thailand: Competition among low-cost airlines getting fierce

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Seventh arrest made over Phuket 'Pla-wan' stabbing

Thai construction magnate Songkran Issara faces the press to explain the extent of the injuries to his son Phuket resort GM Vorasit 'Pla-wan' after he was attacked with an axe and stabbed. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4968639

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Rubber growers set to move to Bangkok to protest falling prices

BANGKOK, Jan 10 – Rubber growers in the southern province of Songkhla on Tuesday morning were set to travel to the capital to join forces with rubber growers nationwide calling on the government to help shore up rubber prices to 120 baht per kilogramme.

Growers began gathering in Songkhla before leaving for the premier’s residence in Bangkok with latex-laden pick-up trucks in their caravan.They planned to pour it in front of Ms Yingluck’s home if the problem of the falling rubber price is not addressed.

Crowd-control police have been dispatched to maintain order at the intersection where the protesters are meeting.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said talks are proceeding with the rubber growers to solve the sagging price problem

Chayant Sangkhapaitoon, coordinator of the network of rubber growers in the southern region on Monday said para rubber prices fell from Bt100 per kilo to only Bt80 currently.

Rubber growers from the Northeast, the North, the Central and the East will join the protest at the premier's home as the demand was made to the government almost three months ago but there has as yet been no response, he added.

They threatened to prolong their protest unless the price reaches Bt120/kg. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-10

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SET index midday up 7.46 pts, 0.71 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,052.30, up 7.46 points, or 0.71 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt13.92 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 737.81, up 5.60 points, or 0.76 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: BANPU, PTT, CPF, PTTEP, TOP.

-- The Nation 2012-01-10