Thailand Live Thursday 19 Jan 2012

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Suvarnabhumi airport expects 23% passenger surge during Chinese new year; oranges given to each arriving passenger to express good wishes for coming year /MCOT

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AFP: New Thai minister on US blacklist for Mugabe links

BANGKOK, January 19, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's premier on Thursday defended her appointment of a cabinet minister who is on a US blacklist owing to alleged business links to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

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Madame Tussauds Unveils Wax Figures of 4 Martial Arts Heroes

Madame Tussauds Bangkok is celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year with the launch of the “Kung <deleted> Set" which showcases four famed martial arts stars immortalized in wax.

The Madame Tussauds Museum in Bangkok, the world’s most popular wax attraction and the first in Southeast Asia, has wowed action movie fans with the wax figures of four martial arts heroes: Donnie Yen, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Thailand's Tony Jaa or Phanom Yeerum.

The launch event was crowded with martial arts fans and members of the press, and there was a martial arts show from Thai-Chinese Shaolin Kungfu School.

Paul Williams, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Bangkok, said the Kung <deleted> Set was created to praise the successes of Asian people who attained international fame.

Their figures are showcased at the Madame Tussauds Bangkok on the 6th floor at Siam Discovery.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

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PM satisfied with new cabinet line-up

BANGKOK, Jan 19 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday said she was satisfied with the new cabinet line-up, while reaffirming that the reshuffle was due to suitability for the tasks at hand, not as political rewards.

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SET closed up by 4.97 points at 1,056.61 during Thurs midday break with value at Bt21.51 bn /TANN

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EXPORTS

Faster-than-expected recovery

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Thailand's export sector should stage a recovery soon, thanks to the lower-than-expected contraction in December, said Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

He said that December export value contracted only by 2 per cent despite floods which submerged a number of plants and caused intense supply-chain disruptions. This shows the resilience of the sector, he added.

"This may attribute to the fact that Thailand manufactures a wide range of products, not just vehicles. And this helped the sector stage a fast recovery," he said.

The Commerce Ministry is expected to reveal the official preliminary export data tomorrow.

-- The Nation 2-12-01-19

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Dem MP Kanchit informs House speaker he's ready to give up his Parliamentary immunity in investigation of Samut Sakhon PAO chief's murder/TAN_Network

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Another baby elephant carcass found at Kuiburi Natl Park in Prachuab Khiri Khan; officials to determine if elephant was killed by poachers/TAN_Network

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RT@Biz_TheNation: New Dep.Agri.&Co-op Minister,Natthawut denied his cabinet post appointment was not reward for helping Pheu Thai win election

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Police seeking court approval for arrest warrant against one Hezbollah suspect; asking Interpol to help tracking: Police chief/MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Chinese New Year: Yaowarat Road in Chinatown will be partially closed to traffic from 6pm on 22 Jan until 4am 25 Jan

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Daily News Rayong office fired at

RAYONG - Police Region 2 deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Kosol Puawes Thursday inspected the Daily News newspaper's Rayong Office, which was attacked by driveby gunmen on a pickup truck at 3.40am yesterday but none was injured or dead.

The office on Sukhumvit Road in Mueang Rayong was ridden with 14 bullet holes, its office furniture, air condition and neon tubes were damaged as well as a Nissan pickup truck parked in front of office, which was ridden with six bullet holes. The car belonged to Krittapas Taengphetch, 49, a reporter who did a shift at the office and alerted police about the attack.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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Finance Minister Kittirat floats idea of selling PTT and Thai Airways shares this year to pay off public debt and restore confidence /TANN

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New Ministers Ready for Work

Freshly-appointed ministers affirm their readiness to start their work and say no pressure is being put on them to perform.

Former Transport Minister Sukampol Suwanatat said of his new role as the defense minister that he has yet to think about his work plan as he is currently on official duty in the provinces.

Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said he is ready to continue the work of his predecessor Wittaya Buranasiri.

He said the job matches his educational background, which will help streamline his work.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Worawat Uea-apinyakul affirmed his readiness to work and said he feels no pressure about his new role. He is personally happy to help reduce the PM's workload.

Another new minister attached to the PM's Office Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn admitted his inclination towards media-related jobs, but said he is willing to take whatever tasks entrusted on him and work with anyone.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

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MFA to explain terrorism situation to 18 individual countries

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012 (NNT) – The Foreign Ministry stated that Thailand must give USA time to revoke the terror alert while MFA officials have been appointed to clarify the situation to 18 other countries individually.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul gave an interview regarding the US attitude that still maintains a terror alert on Thailand, stating that the Foreign Permanent Secretary has already met with the American Chargé d’Affaires to encourage that country to lift the terrorist threat warning in Thailand.

Consequently, the US diplomat had promised to promptly coordinate with the US government. Thus, Mr. Surapong sees no need to call in the American Chargé d’Affaires for a second round of discussion. He added that the US government must be given some time to proceed with the revocation of the alert.

However, he expressed hopes that the US government will consider lifting the alert very shortly seeing that no acts of terrorism have taken place in Thailand despite the US warning of possible attacks during 13-15 January.

Meanwhile, he has appointed the Department of Information Director-General and MFA Spokesperson, Mr Thani Thongphakdi, and the MFA Permanent Secretary to clarify the situation to the 18 countries which have also issued similar travel advice on Thailand following the US example on an individual basis.

The Foreign Minister said that he does not believe that any act of terrorism would take place within Thailand since Thailand is a peaceful country and friends with every nation.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

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Daily News' Eastern Office Attacked

The Eastern Center of the Daily News newspaper in Rayong Province came under attack this morning. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Rayong Provicial Police rushed to the Eastern Center of the Daily News newspaper, located on Sukhumvit Road at Choeng Nern Subdistrict of Rayong Province, to inspect the scene of the attack which happened at approximately 3:30 A.M.

Four bullets hit the rear windshield of a parked bronze Nissan pick-up truck belonging to a news reporter.

Officers found one shell casing from a nine-millimeter handgun and 16 shell casings from an AK rifle.

Daily News reporter Krisanaparb Taengpetch, who spent the night at the office, said he woke up by the sound of gunshots which he thought were firecrackers. As a precaution, he hid under a table.

After everything went silent, he came out of hiding and found that the building's windows were shattered by gunshots upon which he called the police.

The police still have not decided on the motive of the attack yet.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

Daily News Rayong Office Attacked By Unknown Number Of Gunmen

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Democrat to waiver parliamentary immunity

Democrat MP Kunchit Tubsuwan on Thursday submitted a memorandum asking the House to drop his parliamentary immunity, paving way for him to cooperate with the police investigation into the killing of a local politician.

"Kunchit wants to show his good faith, rebutting speculation about being uncooperative with the murder investigation," Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat said in his capacity as defence lawyer.

Nipit said the investigators in the Udon Kraiwatnussorn case repeatedly said they would ask the House for permission to deal with Kunchit as murder suspect but no formal request had actually been made.

Speaking in his defence, Kunchit said investigators told reporters that they wanted access to his gun and vehicle in order to conduct forensic checks but they never summoned him to provide evidence.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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RAYONG

Daily News Rayong office attacked

The Nation

An unknown number of gunmen in a pickup attacked the Daily News newspaper's Rayong office early this morning but no one was injured.

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Not A Kodak Moment: Legendary Camera Maker Files For Bankruptcy Protection

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Police arrest Tachilek drug ring members, smuggling illicit drugs- 300,000 methamphetamineand pills, 51kg of ‘ice’ valued at Bt300 million into Thailand /MCOT

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Sukhumbhand fails to impress Bangkokians: survey

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra's performance during the past three years has failed to impress the majority of city residents, according to a recent survey.

Conducted by Bangkok University's Bangkok Poll between January 12 and January 16, 60.8 per cent of respondents said they did not see Sukhumbhand deliver any impressive result.

The survey covered 1,117 Bangkok residents. All of them were over 18 years of age.

Out of possible 10 points, Sukhumbhand scored just 6.15 in the overall performance as the city governor in the latest survey. It was a 2.1percent drop in score given six months ago for his performance when his tenure reached two and a half years.

His greatest strength, according to the latest survey, was his diligence. On this quality, Sukhumbhand scored 6.6 out of the possible 10 points. His lowest score, by indicators, was in the field of creativity. He scored just 5.78 points there.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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SET index closed at 1058.94, up 7.30; GBP48.60; AUD32.66; EUR40.49; CAD31.07; HKD4.06; SGD24.57; JPY40.89

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BMA to sue Pheu Thai MP over CCTV fraud allegation

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against an MP of the Pheu Thai Party who alleged the agency of corruption in the purchase of CCTV cameras.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manopaiboon claimed a Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok had accused the BMA of committing corruption in the procurement of the surveillance cameras. The ‘would-be’ defendant, as described by the Deputy Governor, had used insulting and discriminatory words against those involved in the process.

Mr. Theerachon feared the misconception would lower public confidence in the BMA; therefore, he will take the matter to court to regain its pride, given that the official investigation has confirmed that the BMA is innocent.

The Deputy Governor also cited the finding that the price of the cameras obtained by the BMA was not any higher than the rates found by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.

-- NNT 2012-01-19

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THAI-KOREA RELATION

Thailand asks Korea to probe death of envoy's wife

Korean Herable Tribune/Asia News Network

The Thai attorney general has requested the Korean prosecutor general's cooperation in investigating the death of the Thai ambassador's wife in a Korean hospital, the Thai Embassy in Seoul said on Tuesday.

The dean of the diplomatic corps in Korea, Vitali V. Fen, has requested an independent enquiry into the death of Thitinart Satjipanon, wife of Thai ambassador Chaiyong Satjipanon.

She died at Soonchunhyang Hospital in Seoul on September 19 last year, after being admitted three days earlier with abdominal pain. The Thai ambassador said in November he wished to take the hospital to court in both Korea and Thailand over the lack of assistance he alleged she received when she collapsed at the hospital.

He has launched a criminal complaint accusing the hospital's international clinic of medical malpractice and a lack of professionalism leading to the death of his wife.

Chaiyong first made the allegations on September 22 to officials at Yongsan police station against Soonchunhyang Hospital director Dr Shin Byeongjun and International Health Care Clinic head Dr Yoo Byungwook and their staff.

The Thai Embassy said on Tuesday: "The attorney general, Central Authority of Thailand, has sent a letter to the prosecutor general of the Republic of Korea to ask for the latter's kind cooperation on the case.

"According to the treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Korea on mutual assistance in criminal matters, the two countries shall 'grant each other the widest measure of mutual assistance in investigations, prosecutions or proceedings in respect of criminal matters.'"

The letter from the Thai attorney general was dated December 14 and delivered to the Korean prosecutor general shortly afterwards.

An official at Yongsan police station said on Wednesday police were investigating the case and it had not yet reached prosecution. The spokesman for the prosecutor general said they had not yet received the request.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is also monitoring the police investigation, an embassy staff member said.

Soonchunhyang Hospital staff declined to comment on Wednesday, but a spokesperson previously maintained that staff had not been negligent, nor guilty of malpractice.

"The hospital staff feel very sorry for the loss of [the ambassador's] wife but the hospital did everything it could do. We are now cooperating with the police investigation," he had said in a previous statement.

Fen, who is also the Uzbek ambassador to Korea, declined to comment on the case.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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Red-shirt Minister Denies Being Rewarded

A red-shirt MP has denied that he was rewarded with a ministerial post to pay back the red-shirt group for its support to the current government.

New Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Natthawut Saikua affirmed that his appointment as a Cabinet member in the Yingluck Shinawatra administration was not a political reward to repay the red-shirt group's support to the current government.

Natthawut countered the accusation, saying he has been working with the Pheu Thai Party for a long time and did his best when given specific tasks.

The minister asserted that his grassroots background and political and management experiences will be applied to his new assignment in the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

Moreover, Natthawut believes that he will have no problem working with Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Threera Wongsamut from the Chart Thai Pattana Party.

The minister reaffirmed that he will do his best from the first second after the swear-in ceremony before His Majesty the King.

He urged the public to closely monitor and evaluate his performance but refused to give a time frame of proving himself in the new Cabinet post.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

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Hong Kong Tourist falls to his death from Central Pattaya Hotel

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Russian brother and sister arrested by Pattaya Immigration

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Two Injured In Paraglider Crash In Hue Yai

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Arrest warrant sought against second terror suspect

BANGKOK, Jan 19 - Thai police are now seeking court approval for an arrest warrant against another suspect believed to be involved in a possible terror plot and to be linked to a militant group in Lebanon, national police chief Pol Gen Prewpan Dhamapong said on Thursday.

The police's sketch of the suspect was drawn based on the account given to police by Atris Hussein, a Lebanese-born man holding a Swedish passport and a terror suspect now being detained for illegally possessing explosive materials in a rented building, Gen Prewpan said.

The owner of the building also confirmed the description of the new suspect, the police chief noetd, but he declined to give details about the suspect for fear that it might affect the case.

Thai police have asked Interpol to help track the suspect as it is still not known if the man has left the country or not, he said.

Gen Prewpan also revealed that the investigation found that Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, rented ten containers preparing to export explosive chemicals to another country.

After the arrest of Mr Hussein last Friday, Thai police on Monday searched a warehouse in Samut Sakhon province, west of Bangkok, and seized urea fertiliser and liquid ammonium nitrate, linked to the suspect.

Atris Hussein has been further detained for illegally possessing explosive materials for 12 days under the criminal court order at Bangkok Remand Prison from Jan 17-28 pending questioning of about 30 witnesses.

In the aftermath of last week’s terror threat alert issued by the US embassy in Bangkok, followed by the warnings from 18 countries in Asia and Europe, Thai Deputy Prime Minister/Tourism Minister Chumphon Silpa-archa admitted on Thursday that the US warning had slightly affected the country's tourism industry and tourist confidence.

Mr Chumphon said some tourists opted to change their planned trip in Bangkok to destinations in the North and the South instead after the US embassy stood by its warning despite the arrest of one terror suspect.

The minister added he will visit tourist-packed areas including Khao San Road this evening to boost confidence among foreign visitors.

Deputy government spokesman Watchara Kannikar meanwhile said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra assigned concerned agencies to set up a committee to compile information and assess the situation for the tourism minister and a joint committee of the state and public sectors on tourism to determine how to handle with it if the terror alert continues. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-19

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High-speed Bangkok-Chiang Mai rail project, earlier approved by Cabinet, expected ready for service in 2017MCOT