Thailand Live Monday 23 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 23 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 Sunday 22 Jan 2012

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Tablet PC project under pressure: Thailand

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Thai PM's Office Minister Nalinee denies business deals with Mugabe regime

PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin said yesterday she would retain her position in the Cabinet despite demands by the Opposition that she step down as her name figures on a US Treasury Department blacklist for dealings with the Zimbabwean regime.

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Consult Thai public on charter amendments, experts advise

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Thais take lead on education in Asean Economic Community (AEC)

Thailand plans more toplevel regional meetings on education late this year to help prepare Asean countries for their role in the upcoming Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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Nitirat group wants 20 MPs on draft panel

The Nation

The Nitirat group of scholars said yesterday a charter drafting panel should consist of 20 MPs and five senators because MPs are representatives of the people.

The current Constitution of 2007 should be tossed aside because it was born out of the 2006 military coup, the group said during a seminar on "Nullifying the legality of the 2006 coup-granting amnesty and bringing about reconciliation" at Thammasat University.

The event was part of a campaign to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code for lese majeste offences.

The Independent National Rule of Law Commission led by Ukrit Mongkolnavin has been insisting on a 34-member drafting panel, but the Nitirat group said MPs should be given the right to write the charter since they came from the people.

The committee should also include three elected senators and two appointed senators.

Worajet Pakirat, a member of the Nitirat group, said that when the draft was completed, a public referendum must be held and if the draft was rejected, the current charter could continue to be used.

The process to draft and legalise a replacement should take about nine months. It should be based on the charters of 1932 and 1997 because they were known to be the constitutions of the people and for the people, he added.

Piyabut Saengkanokkul, another Nitirat member, said the group disapproved of a charter drafting assembly with many members because it would be too unwieldy.

Thapanant Nipittakul, a group member, denied that the group was presenting suggestions that favour prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying its proposal was founded on righteousness.

"Thaksin can live 50-60 years but we want our ideology to last forever. If Thaksin causes problems, we can deal with him,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-23

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SPECIAL REPORT

Thai ombudsman offers deal to 'Innocent encroachers'

Ombudsman Sriracha gives them 15 years to wind up farming

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EDITORIAL

Appointment of red-shirt Natthawut not good for unity

Nattawut, file photo. Source: wikimedia

Govt gamble on selecting outspoken red-shirt won't help reconciliation

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Is Thailand a new terrorism playground?

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Abhisit and most people voice opposition to coup: Thailand

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Abhisit: We didn't overlook poor

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-overlook-poor/

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27 Thais receive Australian top academic awards

The Nation

Australian Ambassador to Thailand, James Wise, yesterday presented Australia Awards scholarships to 27 scholars and professionals from Thailand.

Each year, the Australian Government offers Australia Awards scholarships to highachieving students, researchers and professionals from around the world to study in Australia's education institutions or undertake professional development programmes. The scholarships are internationallycompetitive and meritbased.

This year, 27 Thais were chosen for a prestigious Australia Award. Twenty Thais received Endeavour Awards for high achievement in their specific field. Two were granted the Prime Minister's AustraliaAsia Award, an elite scholarship presented to only twenty Endeavour postgraduate doctorate awardees worldwide.

An additional seven awardees received Australian Leadership Awards (ALAs), which are part of Australia's development programme administered by AusAID. ALAs are aimed at addressing priority development areas in the recipient's country and region.

"The Australia Awards promote the sharing of knowledge, strengthen mutual understanding between Thai and Australian scholars and build international networks, which continue long after the scholars have returned to Thailand. They reinforce our strong and enduring ties in our 60th anniversary of bilateral relations this year," said Ambassador Wise.

The awardees will undertake their study, research, or personal development at vocational, postgraduate, and postdoctoral level across a large number of fields including science, environment, agriculture, health, engineering, hospitality, business, education, law, regional stability and governance, and creative arts.

For further information - the Australia Awards website at www.australiaawards.gov.au

-- The Nation 2012-01-23

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SOUTH CRISIS

Six marines wounded in South

The Nation

Insurgents in Pattani yesterday launched an attack on a naval security outpost in Sai Buri district, in an attempt to draw a relief force into an ambush trap where a roadside bomb and gunfire wounded six marines.

Insurgents launched an attack with automatic weapons on the outpost for 10 minutes at around 6pm. The gunfight prompted calls for reinforcements.

However, about 600 metres from the outpost, the pickup truck carrying the 10 marines was blasted with a roadside bomb, which was followed by gunfire by the insurgents. The marines returned fire and repelled the attackers after a 10-minute gunfight. However, six of them, including the leader, suffered injuries.

Military sources said both attacks were likely carried out by insurgents active in areas between Ka Pho and Sai Buri districts, and Raman district in neighbouring Yala.

-- The Nation 2012-01-23

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HM the Queen and HRH Princess Sirindhorn preside over opening of Chinese New Year fest at Chinatown at 4pm /TANN

PM attends Air Force's event in Lop Buri in pilot suit with Defense Minister Sukampol; army chief Gen Prayuth absent /TANN

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Pod of 90 whales strands in New Zealand

Wellington - A pod of 90 pilot whales stranded on a remote beach at the top of New Zealand's South Island on Monday, a media report said.

A Department of Conservation manager, John Mason, appealed for volunteers to go to the area, off Farewell Spit, to assist efforts to refloat them, the Nelson Mail reported.

Whale strandings are not uncommon on the 24-kilometre-long sandspit, a wildlife refuge at the north-western extremity of the South Island.

The paper said it would be the third stranding in the current summer. Eighteen long-finned pilot whales were successfully refloated after 25 of a pod of 70 stranded this month.

-- The Nation 2012-01-23

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,059.96, up 1.30 points /MCOT

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Wearing pilot's flight suit, PM Yingluck leads defence minister, top brass, to view military drill at Lop Buri /MCOT

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Minor Drug Dealers Arrested with 400 Amphetamine Pills

Police have arrested drug dealers in the Pradipat Community and seized about 400 amphetamine pills.

Bang Sue police officers and the Narcotics Control Bureau have successfully arrested one of the three drug abusers in the Ruam Mue Community at Soi Pradipat 5 yesterday.

The suspect is identified as Yongyuth Wongsiri and he was in possession of 400 amphetamine pills.

Yongyuth was charged while returning to his house this morning to collect necessary belongings for escape.

Officers claim that Yongyuth is a minor drug trafficker in the Pradipat area.

In the first interrogation, Yongyuth plead guilty to the charges against him, explaining that he and two of his friends abused drugs in his house yesterday.

He also admitted receiving around 300-400 drug pills each time from the Tao Poon Community before selling the drugs to local drug dealers.

Yongyuth said Somchai Aiumpaichit managed to escape when the officers raided his house.

While on-the-run, Somchai fatally shot Wimon Kedlek to steal her motorcycle and use it for escape.

In response, Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander, Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai, is requesting Bang Sue police officers to quickly close the case and arrest Somchai.

The Criminal Court has approved a warrant for his arrest.

Police officers said Somchai also exchanged gunfire with the police as he fled the murder scene, indicating that he poses great danger to the society and that he must be punished quickly to prevent him from committing more crimes in the future.

The police also added that Somchai is a criminal with a history involving drugs and illegal gun possession in many areas.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-23

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Thai Police Find Illicit Drugs Worth Billions Of Baht During Rented House Search

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Phuket land probe: witness found hanged

Phuket Gazette

Pheu Thai Spoekesman Prompong Nopparit (center) led a team of investigators to inspect the land just nine days ago. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

The investigation team head down to the popular tourist beach below. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

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Tourism entrepreneurs note less Chinese tourists visiting Thailand for Chinese New Year; terrorist warning has small impact /TANN

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Phuket ATM scams: Even professionals get caught out

Phuket Gazette

Phuket ATMs: If your card is compromised call the Financial Consumer Protection center on 1213.

Ian Laferme: "People need to know."

Patong Police report at least four people recently being ripped off by gangs scanning their ATM cards and stealing money from their accounts. The Phuket Gazette reports.

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Thai Police arrest brutal Pakistani stepfather for abusing 5-year-old to death

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Female Traffic Police Hit Bangkok Streets

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No More Explicit Love Scenes on Channel 3 Soaps

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Three Million Amphetamine Pills Seized from Military Van

Police have found a military van carrying three million amphetamine pills parked in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi District.

Army spokesperson Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said officers have found a suspicious white van with the military license plate number 9028 left stranded in the Khlong Song Canal at the Rungsit area in Thanyaburi District of Pathum Thani Province.

At least three million amphetamine pills and an amount of crystallized methamphetamine have been found in the van.

It is expected that the officers would inform the military officially by tomorrow.

He insisted that the military is willing to cooperate with the police, saying that the all military personnel found guilty in abusing drugs must be punished by the law.

In the meantime, Sansern pointed out that in the first inspection, the license plate is fake.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-23

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Lampang teacher bribes 9th grade girl to keep silent about drugging and raping her; mother refused and has filed charges /TANN

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Former Transport Perm Sec Reports to NACC

Former Permanent Secretary of Transport Supot Suplom has reported to the National Anti-Corruption Commission to acknowledge allegations of irregular wealth.

The case stems from the burglary of his house when he reported five million baht missing. However, suspects later arrested by authorities claimed he had several hundreds of thousands of baht hidden in his closet, leading officials to suspect if he obtained the cash in a bribe.

Supot refused to speak to reporters upon his arrival.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-23

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Plans to Build Special Prison for Drug Traffickers

In the past decade, drug trafficking in Thailand has undoubtedly been on the rise. Of all the inmates in the country's overcrowded prisons, more than 60 percent of them are incarcerated on drug related charges. Time after time again, it is proven that these criminals do not stop their trading activities merely because they're behind bars. On the contrary, convicted drug dealers use networks within prison walls to continue their trade. An idea of a maximum security prison to house big time drug traffickers has now been floated.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/528171-plans-to-build-special-prison-for-drug-traffickers/page__view__findpost__p__4999372