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Thailand Live Sunday 15 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Sunday 15 January 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

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 Saturday 14 Jan 2012

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Busts show dog-smuggling trade booming

By Thawee Apisakulchat,

Thaweep Srisuchat

The Nation on Sunday

Despite Thai authorities' recent crackdown on dog smugglers, local traders continue to supply dogs for dinner tables in Vietnam and China, with two more busts reported since Friday.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526273-busts-show-dog-smuggling-trade-booming/page__view__findpost__p__4979839

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THORNY ISSUE

Debate on lese majeste law continues raging on Internet

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday

Royalists, liberals savaging rivals with angry attacks, unsubstantiated claims

It is becoming increasingly normal to see hate speech and slanderous remarks posted on social-networking sites in Thailand.

Ultra-royalists are starting to use social networks to launch attacks, condemn and conduct witch-hunts for people they consider anti-royalists or opponents of the controversial lese majeste law. Similarly, those who are critical of the institution of monarchy have launched counterattacks, making cyberspace a hotspot for political flaming and unsubstantiated accusations.

This situation is a result of continued politicisation and polarisation of opinion, and the fact that some citizens are desperate to play a direct role in airing their hatred toward their opponents.

At the end of last year, a new video clip was uploaded on YouTube, making unsubstantiated political and sexual allegations against nine people, including scholars such as Pavin Chachavalpongun and Somsak Jiamteerasakul, and activists like Jitra Kotchadej.

Jitra, for instance, was branded as a "real anti-monarchist" and accused of having slept with Somsak, among others. Pavin, meanwhile, was labelled a homosexual, while Somsak, a well-known historian at Thammasat University, was accused of misleading others to criticise the monarchy, leading to some of his followers being arrested under the lese majeste law.

The background music in the clip was the popular Cold War-era anti-communist song "Nak Phaen Din" or "Burden to the Land".

"They mostly use false information and make malicious accusations," Jitra said. "It's damaging because people who don't know us may not know what's true or false."

In a similar vein, Thammasat University law lecturer Piyabutr Saengkanokul, a member of the Nitirat group of law lecturers that will today launch a public campaign to amend the controversial lese majeste law, was heavily slandered on the Internet. There were calls for the university to sack him and threats to sue him under the lese majeste law after he spoke of the concept of "the King can do no wrong" to an audience at Chulalongkorn University at the end of December.

"Those who did this want us to be afraid and to not talk any more," said Piyabutr, adding that he is not worried by the move.

Incorrect information

Jitra, however, is concerned that the witch-hunts and the unsubstantiated, slanderous remarks are filling society with false information and that such threats can now be easily made online. She said she is reluctant to use the Computer Crimes Act (CCA) to find and charge the person who produced the video because she was against the very existence of the CCA herself.

Another person attacked in the same YouTube clip is a female freshman student, who goes by the alias "Karn Thoop" (joss stick), who has been hunted since she posted an impolite criticism of the monarchy on her Facebook page two years ago. She was denied enrolment by two universities and was forced to change both her first and last names. Now a freshman at Thammasat, the witch-hunt for her has resumed with vigour after she recently made it public that a lese majeste charge had finally been filed against her and that she would appear in front of police to hear her charge next month.

However, people critical of the monarchy have also resorted to framing some royalists by producing fake Facebook pages purporting to show that certain royalists, such a woman by the name of Bussababun Komes, actually "hate" the monarchy.

Thai Netizen Network (TNN), a non-profit group set up to promote the freedom of Internet users, is currently studying various socially sanctioned websites and groups from both sides of the political divide and has made a preliminary conclusion that hate speech is often employed along with unsubstantiated accusations.

The group found that words and phrases like "non-Thai", "ungrateful" and "burden to the motherland" have been used by ultra-royalists on the Internet while those critical of the monarchy institution use words like "mad" and "dust beneath the royal feet" to describe ultra-royalists.

Both sides have also engaged in making fun of their opponents' physical appearance, TNN found.

With no end to the hate speech and unsubstantiated allegations in sight, Piyabutr is urging people to use reason instead of emotions and hatred.

"There ought to be a criteria for expressing dissatisfaction. No democratic society unearths personal information [to fuel intimidation]. We must tolerate different opinions."

Jitra, meanwhile, said people should not resort to using unsubstantiated allegations. "The fight ought to be a straightforward one."

However, not everybody thinks there's a witch hunt for the anti-royalists.

Seri Wongmontha, former dean of Thammasat University's Faculty of Journalism and a well-known TV host, said Karn Thoop's experience shouldn't be considered a witch-hunt, but an "attempt to seek the truth and catch the criminal".

Seri justified the action by saying that since Karn Thoop's remarks about the Royal Family on Facebook were evident, opposition to her was understandable.

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-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Kids take over at Govt House for Children's Day

Jiraporn Phetdee,

Nutdanai Charasjirawat

The Nation on Sunday January 15, 2012 1:00 am

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Government House was opened to the public for National Children's Day yesterday, with kids getting the chance to meet the prime minister. They also participated in various activities organised by the government and non-government groups for youths and their parents. The site was crowded but full of happiness.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra took representatives of youth associations to visit her office in the Thai Ku Fah building, the main block at Government House, and they took photos and discussed how she works.

"This room is used for signing important documents and reading," she told the youths.

In the Santi Maitri building there were various activities for youths. AIS put on a lucky draw offering children "Nong Sukjai" dolls as presents.

At the Speaking English Year 2012 booth, Chris Wright, host of the Channel TV5 show "Chris Delivery" encouraged youngsters to develop confidence to speak English. At the kiosk of TNN, TrueVisions' news channel, opportunities were offered to youths interested in TV hosting, along with other activities.

Children wrote messages to the premier on paper with a crab design, and put them on a wall. The children seemed enthusiastic about joining all the programmes on offer.

The outdoor booths offered the youths a chance to take part in academic and recreational activities. Pattiya Taphan, 17, a student at Pramochwittaya Ramintra School, said it was her first Government House visit on Children's Day. She was working at a booth set up by her school, in co-ordination with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, which provided a Q&A game about law and health for children to win a prize. The booths also gave children exercises in pronouncing Thai correctly.

Eleven-year-old Ananda Rerkrat said he enjoyed the shooting activity at the Royal Police Cadet Academy's booth. In addition, the booth gave information on its cadet programme and a chance for people to take photos with their students.

The Spokesman's Bureau held a drawing activity for the children, which was popular.

"I come here every year for National Children's day. My favourite activity is drawing. I will come here next year," said 7-year-old Mutita Wongnapakan.

The prime minister later read tales for youths, at a different venue.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Air Force skydiver killed as parachute malfunctions

The Nation on Sunday

A National Children's Day celebration put on by the Royal Thai Air Force's Wing 41 in Chiang Mai turned tragic yesterday afternoon when Sergeant Khanchit Sriseu, 38, was killed when his parachute failed to open properly during a skydiving show for local children. Parents and children at the show looked on in horror as Sgt Khanchit jumped from a helicopter and plunged to the runway below, dying on impact.

The show was abruptly cancelled.

Military officers quickly sealed off the scene and restricted media access.

An informed source said the accident might have been caused by the cloudy conditions, which prompted the helicopter pilot to fly lower than usual, combined with the parachute malfunction.

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-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Minimum punishment age could be raised to 12

The Nation on Sunday

Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection chief Thawatchai Thaikhiew will propose on January 26 a legal amendment that would raise the minimum age at which juvenile offenders can be punished to 12 from 10.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526275-minimum-punishment-age-could-be-raised-to-12/page__view__findpost__p__4979862

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Bangkok busts net big ya ba haul

The Nation on Sunday

Metropolitan Police seized some 100,000 ya ba tablets worth Bt30 million along with quantities of marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, or "ice", in two separate drug busts, police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong told the press yesterday.

In the first case, Nonthakul Sirisri, 29, Worapas Thes-ngamthuan, 34, and Phumarin Chaikhet, 31, were arrested with 88,000 ya ba tablets, 27 kg of marijuana, 28 grams of crystal meth, a 9mm pistol and 22 bullets. Worapas and Phumarin were arrested in a sting operation in Bangkok's Thung Kru district, leading to the subsequent arrest of Nonthakul and the seizure of the drugs.

In the second case, Wikanda Meesuk, 21, was arrested with 15,957 ya ba tablets in Rat Burana district. After a police investigation determined that a drug delivery took place in Soi Pracha Uthit 14, police arrested Wikanda with 200 ya ba tablets before searching her home in Soi Pracha Uthit 69, where they found 15,757 tablets, Winai said.

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-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Boy, 12, dies in factory fire

The Nation on Sunday January 15, 2012 1:00 am

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A fire broke out at a cloth-screening factory on Kanchanapisek Road in Bangkok's Bang Bon district yesterday morning, killing a 12-year-old boy and injuring three male workers, police said.

The incident took place at a three-storey shop-house belonging to PMI Product Co Ltd. It took 10 fire engines 30 minutes to put out the fire. The body of 12-year-old Natchanan Saelim - the son of a worker - who was doing his homework at the time, was discovered on the second floor. The fire reportedly resulted from the explosion of a clothes press on the ground floor.

nationlogo.jpg

-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Govt urged to spend more on education

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

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The Thai Student Council yesterday submitted a list of requests and recommendations to the government as part of National Children's Day celebrations at Government House.

Tossaporn Laitim, council president and a student at Suphan Buri's Thammachote Suksalai School, led 94 council members in meeting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Naree Samosorn Building at 10.30am and presented her with a CD and report containing the council's recommendations.

Tossaporn later told reporters the council wanted the government to address rural children's lack of access to higher education opportunities due to a lack of scholarships, tutoring, learning resources, teaching materials and school infrastructure.

The council president said the government should increase the size of the Student Loan Fund and extend it to cover more poor children; spend more on constructing school buildings in rural areas and updating teaching materials; and offer tutoring to rural schoolchildren to bring their performance up to the level of their urban peers. The government should also improve learning-impaired children's chances of attending university, he said.

The council also wants the government to strictly enforce environmental laws and allow the public and private sectors to work with the Thai Student Council to raise youths' awareness of the importance of conservation and wildlife protection, he said. As Thailand is moving toward the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015, English-language teaching should be promoted more in rural schools with an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and grammar skills. He said English-learning opportunities should be provided to homeless, stateless and learning-impaired children. The government should promote more cultural-exchange projects among Asean countries, Tossaporn added.

To bring local youths' participation and application of knowledge up to international standards, camp activities should be organised - possibly in the form of a day or an overnight camp once a month - he added.

In related news, Yingluck yesterday accepted a letter from 20 members of a student network opposed to a plan to grant autonomy to universities. The group urged Yingluck to suspend the plan pending a study of its pros and cons; a public hearing for students, teachers and university personnel; and an assurance that the plan's implementation will not burden students with high tuition fees. They called for the immediate cancellation of plans to grant autonomy to Kasetsart, Khon Kaen, Suan Dusit Rajabhat and Silpakorn universities. They also urged the government to monitor spending at universities that were already autonomous, those in the process of being granted autonomy and at state-run institutions. They urged the government to provide all Thai youth with a free education through the bachelor's degree level.

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-- The Nation 2012-01-15

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Four named Great Teachers on Teachers’ Day

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – Four teachers representing the four regions of Thailand will be named Great Idealistic Teachers of the year on January 16, the Teachers’ Day, and will receive the award from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinnawatra at a ceremony to be held at the Teachers Council of Thailand.

The Great Idealistic Teachers Award has been established by the Office of the Primary Education Commission since 2007 to honor teachers who have worked in dangerous zones and have devoted themselves to the career until their work becomes recognized nationally. Miss Juling Pongkanmoon, the teacher who was killed in a southern violence was declared the first recipient of the award.

This year’s recipients are Mr.Prayoon Suthaboon, director of Udomsithi Suksa School in the central province of Kanchanaburi; Mr.Kanit Chang-ngern, head teacher of the Ban Mae Klong Di Border Patrol Police School in Umphang District, Tak northern Province; Mr.Poramet Sihawong, director of Phayaha Kindergarten in Si Sa Ket Province in the Northeast; and Mr.Boonsom Thongsiprai, deputy director of Pattani Kindergarten in the southern province of Pattani.

The recipients will each receive a cash prize of THB 300,000, an honorary gold pin and plaque and a certificate.

nntlogo.jpg

-- NNT 2012-01-15 footer_n.gif

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Foreign Minister upset with international travel advisories against Thailand

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs is upset with travel advisories issued by 3 governments, following the US Embassy's terror alert for American citizens in Thailand.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526269-hezbollah-calls-off-attacks/page__view__findpost__p__4980009

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PM Yingluck pledges to emphasize on drug eradication and sustainable water management

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) - The prime minister affirmed the government's intention to put an emphasis on drug eradication and sustainable water management.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526311-pm-yingluck-pledges-to-emphasize-on-drug-eradication-and-sustainable-water-management/page__view__findpost__p__4980029

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Commander-in-chief asks the public to stay calm despite terror plot alert

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The Army Commander-in-Chief is asking the public to stay calm in the face of terror attack plots, while affirming that Thai intelligence teams have always stayed on top of the issue.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526269-hezbollah-calls-off-attacks/page__view__findpost__p__4980066

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Phuket Roads: Another biker critically injured in hit-and-run

Phuket Gazette –

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Mr Suriya's Honda Wave at the accident scene in Thalang district, Phuket.

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The wreckage of Mr Suriya's motorbike. Phuket Police hope that damaged parts of the white sedan found at the scene will help to track down its driver.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526319-phuket-roads-another-biker-critically-injured-in-hit-and-run/page__view__findpost__p__4980156

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Several areas in Phattalung hit by forest run-offs;Tung Song,Nakhon Si Thammarat sees 50cm of flooding;areas in Pattani prepare to evacuate/TAN_Network

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EC member, Prapan expects 60% voter turnout in Buri Ram Provincial Administration Organisation election, unofficial results at 10 pm/MCOT

Mobile cabinet meeting kicks off at Bank of Thailand office in Chiang Mai amid tight security, local logistics development on agenda/MCOT

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CHIANG MAI, Jan 15 - The mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai is considering logistics development in northern provinces on Sunday.

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The mobile cabinet meeting is being held at the Bank of Thailand office in this northern provinces amid tight security. Five companies of police officers were deployed and sniffer dogs were utilized. A US made bomb disposal robot was also used for the first time.

Logistics-related megaprojects are on the agenda such as Bangkok – Chiang Mai high speed rail under a joint agreement recently signed between Thailand and China and other rail systems worth over 180 billion baht.

Other projects include a Chiang Mai –Chiang Rai motorway, Chiang Mai international airport expansion, and flood prevention and management system.

Before the cabinet meeting, the prime minister met the Joint Private-Public Standing Committee to listen to their proposals on transportation development in the North in relation to the agenda to be discussed by the cabinet Sunday. (MCOT online news)

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-- TNA 2012-01-15

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