Thailand Live Sunday 15 Jan 2012

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Fire at Aoudom Hospital originated from electrical short circuit to a refrigerator storing tuberculosis medication; minimal damages/TAN_Network

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RT@tulsathit: Arisman to enter monkhood for at least a month this week. Via@nnanews

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Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked police to step up security at hotels and popular tourist areas across the island. Photo: Gazette file

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526338-phuket-reacts-to-bangkok-terror-warnings/page__view__findpost__p__4980574

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Govt. sets aside THB17 billion for this year’s water management

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) has made public the government has set a budget worth THB17 billion for water management as well as contingency flood plans in case of emergency.

Mr. Chukiat Sapphaisal, member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management elaborated that the budget allocation would be spent on water management projects in the next 6-8 months. The projects include installation of effective water control systems at dams and reservoirs, and improvement of monkey cheeks or water retention zones while floodways will be prepared, to avoid repetitions of huge run-off at 4,600 cubic meters of water per second which happened last year.

The flood prevention network will cover economically important areas and six major industrial estates, excluding Saha Rattana Nakorn industrial estate, for which assistance measures are being considered.

However, Mr. Chukiat was confident that the flood situation would not be as much devastating as that of the previous year.

According to the World Bank, initial damage assessment of the recent major flooding in Thailand stands at THB1.44 trillion.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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PM: Flood mitigation plans will be ready for rainy season

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has expressed her confidence that all flood mitigation measures will be finalised before the rainy season begins.

During the first mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai province, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave an interview regarding the concerns raised by Chaipattana Foundation Secretary General Sumet Tantivejkul about the government’s tardiness in establishing a sustainable flood mitigation plan.

The premier explained that the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management must relay all flood mitigation plans to the relevant ministries first. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit has been entrusted to proceed with the budget proposals made by each ministry. The Prime Minister also insisted that she has given instructions to all provincial governors to work with local administrative agencies in repairing all damages caused by the flood. The premier is confident that all flood mitigation plans will be ready before Thailand enters the rainy season this year.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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ABAC poll: More people support charter revision

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – ABAC poll shows most people agree with constitutional amendment proposals on some articles as 53.8 per cent of the respondents said in that way. The northeastern people form the majority of supporters while locals in the South are in disagreement.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526348-abac-poll-more-people-support-charter-revision/page__view__findpost__p__4980738

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PM Yingluck guarantees against fears of terrorist attacks in Thailand

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has reassured the public and foreign tourists that Thailand is safe from terrorist attempts after 12 countries issued warnings to their citizens against traveling to Thailand.

Prime Minister Yingluck insisted that all safety measures are in place and that all relevant agencies, including the Office of the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the National Security Council, have been instructed to monitor the situation closely and report back at all hours of the day.

As to the question of whether the warnings were issued against diplomatic protocols, the PM stated that those warnings are not official and that she has instructed the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with USA and other foreign countries to give them assurance for the safety of their nationals traveling to Thailand.

The warnings were issued following an alert of possible terrorist attacks made by the US government to its citizens living in Thailand on Friday. Among the countries issuing a similar warning are Canada, Australia and UK.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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‘Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket police refute need for outside help

Phuket Gazette –

Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok is confident that Phuket Police resources are equal to the task of identifying Mr Wisut’s killers. Photo: Warisa Temram

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526358-ae-inside-murder-phuket-police-refute-need-for-outside-help/page__view__findpost__p__4980858

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Deputy PM Kowit,defence minister,foreign minister hold press conference stating Thailand is safe from terrorist attacks,no need for concern/TAN_Network

Red-shirt Arisman to enter monkhood on Jan 19; says compensation for political rally victims will lead to reconciliation​/TAN_Network

Cabinet sets up 34-member panel to study proposal to amend Constitution without setting up charter drafting assembly;Chalerm,Pracha members​/TAN_Network

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Energy expert: Fuel prices to skyrocket

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – Energy expert Manoon Siriwan said that fuel prices could soar up once the government implements its energy restructuring plan.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526359-energy-expert-fuel-prices-to-skyrocket/page__view__findpost__p__4980871

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Tourism records new high in 2011 despite flood

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed that Thai tourism in 2011 hit a new high with roughly 730 million baht revenue despite the flood crisis.

Director General of the Tourism Department at the Tourism and Sports Ministry Supol Sriphan announced that a total of 19,098,323 tourists visited Thailand in 2011, a 19.84% increase from 2010. Consequently, the total revenue was raised by 23.92% from the previous year to stand at 734,591.46 million baht, which is a new record high for the Thai tourism business despite having suffered great impact from the flood crisis during the last quarter of 2011.

The top ten foreign tourists visiting Thailand in 2011 were Malaysians (2,470,686), Chinese (1,760,564), Japanese (1,126,221), Russians (1,014,493), Koreans (1,014,292), Indians (916,787), Laotians (887,677), Australians (854,064), British (844,221), and Americans (684,073).

Mr. Supol stated that although East Asian countries have become large markets for Thai tourism businesses, he has high hopes that the number of tourists from USA and Europe will also grow once their economic crisis is resolved since this group of tourists have a higher spending power.

The number of foreign travelers in Thailand is expected to continue growing in 2012 at around 8-10%, which is equal to 20.5-2.9 million tourists.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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RT@RichardBarrowKhao San Road is as busy as ever. No sign of "heightened security". In fact no sign of any policehttp://t.co/YOP6diSc

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PM affirms Thailand is safe with adequate security around the clock, orders Foreign Ministry to clarify situation to US, other countries/MCOT

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Three soldiers wounded by bomb in Yala while on patrol providing security to residents in Than To district/MCOT

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Cabinet approves budget drafting framework for fiscal 2013 and more economic development projects

BANGKOK, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – The cabinet has announced its approval for the 2013 budget preparation framework and economic development mega projects for 8 northern provinces.

The budget preparation framework for Fiscal 2013 was approved by the cabinet during its mobile meeting session in Chiang Mai province today. Under the framework, the draft budget bill will be ready for Parliament deliberation by June, approved by the Senate by 10 September and presented for royal endorsement by 14 September, in time for the start of the 2013 fiscal year on 1 October 2012.

Meanwhile, the meeting between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee this morning saw both parties approve economic development projects in 8 northern provinces, such as construction of a Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed railway and a motorway linking Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, development of Chiang Mai's mass transit system, promoting Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai to become a Special Border Economic Zone, and the opening of three more permanent border trading points in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Phayao.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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PTT,Bangchak to raise gasoline, gasohol prices by Bt1.07/l, diesel by 64 satang/l, cut E85 price by 11 satang/l due to Oil Fund contribution. New oil prices come into effect at midnight/TAN_Network

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Metropolitan police to interrogate daughter of late pro red-shirt Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol on Jan 18 and seek more info on ballistics/TAN_Network

A group of Thais will be gathering at US Embassy at noon tomorrow to protest issuance of terrorist warning via @news1005fm/TAN_Network

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PM wishes to gain more support from grassroots

CHIANG MAI, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she wished to gain more support from grassroots people but would not copy former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawatra’s working style.

Speaking about the very first mobile cabinet meeting under her administration held in Chiang Mai, PM Yingluck said her government would rather deal with macro projects before going into detailed needs of local people. She mentioned that former PM Thaksin had spent 4 years in his office until he actually approached the locals.

In addition, Government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng made known a mobile cabinet meeting will be held on a monthly basis, and Khon Kean province is set for the February Cabinet retreat.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Sri Thammarat MP Thepthai Sennapong from the Democrat party revealed that THB10 billion worth of budget was spent in holding the mobile cabinet in Chiang Mai. He then urged the government to equally allocate budget to each province regardless of electoral base. He also suggested that the next mobile cabinet meeting should be organized in Nakh

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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Terror suspect still at large may be Hezbollah operative : Israeli news

Sketch of terror suspect still at large in Bangkok bore great resemble to Hezbollah operative believed to be in charge of recruiting Hezbollah agents worldwide, an Israeli news online said Sunday.

Follow this link:http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526371-terror-suspect-still-at-large-may-be-hezbollah-operative-israeli-news/page__view__findpost__p__4981055

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Tapioca growers shut down highway in protest

SI SA KET, 15 January 2012 (NNT) – Tapioca farmers gather to protest the downfall of tapioca prices and plead with the government to resolve the crisis.

More than 50 trucks loaded with tapioca have been brought in to block Highway No. 24 in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, while tapioca farmers spread the produce on the road to pressure the government for a speedy response. The protesters demand the government to come up with a speedy solution to the price fall by shoring up the market price to 3 baht/kg.

The protest has caused the traffic between the lower region of the Northeast and Bangkok as well as that in the local area to become paralyzed.

-- NNT 2012-01-15

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PM: Foreign ministry to clarify to other countries after terror threat alert

BANGKOK, Jan 15 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the ministry of foreign affairs to foster understanding with the US and other countries following terror threat alert issued by embassies.

Speaking before the Sunday’s mobile cabinet meeting, she said she ordered the ministry of foreign affairs to clarify the situation with other countries to avoid an impact on prospective tourists.

The premier reaffirmed security at public places and safety for tourists. She instructed the Royal Thai Police and the National Security Council to closely monitor the situation and report to her.

“We do our utmost to ensure full security, with officials ready to work around the clock. Security officials can certainly do their duties just like the security operations during the New Year holidays,” the premier said.

However, she would not disclose information about another suspect who has not yet been located due to security reasons.

Meanwhile, the situation on Khao San Road, the capital’s backpacker haven remains normal, said Piyabut Jiwaramonaikul, chairman of the Khaosan entrepreneurs association.

He said businesses here closely monitored the area in cooperation with state officials to ensure safety in this busy tourist area and always remain vigilant for bins or unattended luggage.

There have been neither room cancellations nor early checkout of tourists so far in the area, he added. However, he viewed that the terror threat alert may affect the country’s overall tourism.

The website of the US embassy in Bangkok on Friday published a warning, urging all Americans living or visiting the Thai capital to be on high alert when "visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok."

On the same day, Atris Hussein, a 48 year-old Lebanese man, with suspected links to a militant group in Lebanon was detained and questioned under immigration law, while the other suspect from the Middle East is still at large. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-15

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Royal Household Bureau issues statement saying HM the King has been suffering from indigestion, doctors have administered medication/TAN_Network

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HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presides over official opening of Royal Flora Ratchapruek Expo in Chiang Mai with PM, ministers present/TAN_Network

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Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

Phuket Gazette –

The scene of the latest motorbike accident fatality in Phuket. The victim was a 56-year-old Swiss man. Photo: Wichai Witthawat.

The damage to the Toyota Vios indicates the force of the impact. The accident was the latest in a spate of serious car and motorbike collisions reported in Phuket over the past week. Photo: Wichai Witthawat.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/526414-phuket-roads-swiss-man-56-killed-in-phuket-motorbike-crash/page__view__findpost__p__4981614

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