Thailand Live Wednesday 25 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 25 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 Tuesday 24 Jan 2012

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Four Dead, 20 Injured In Thai Fireworks Blast

Suphan Buri: -- A series of explosions, going off concurrently with a Chinese New Year fireworks in Suphan Buri, killed four people, one of them a fireman, and seriously wounded 20 others.

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INTERVIEW

Red-shirt leader Natthawut talks about his new job as minister

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua talks about his new job as deputy agriculture minister in an interview with The Nation's Jirapong Prasertpolkrang. Here are some excerpts.

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World urged to follow Thai healthcare model

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Parents to get debit cards from govt for school supplies

THE NATION

Instead of getting cash from the government to buy state-subsidised school supplies and uniforms, parents might be issued debit cards.

The Basic Education Commission plans to authorise 7.8 million cards for parents of children in primary and high schools to use for the next semester opening in May.

The credit in the cards follows the same pricing for students at various levels.

School supplies run Bt100, Bt195, Bt210 and Bt230 for kindergarten, primary, lower and upper secondary levels, while uniforms are Bt300, Bt360, Bt450 and Bt500.

The agency still needs to seek approval from all parties, including shops that may not have card machines and parents who ay be charged an annual fee.

Secretary-general Chinnaphat Phoomirat said yesterday that the debit card scheme was supposed to be implemented before the current semester began in November.

However, the Government Savings Bank, which floated the idea, needed to charge up to Bt70 per card and that was not acceptable.

After negotiations, the GSB agreed to absorb the cost of the cards, but it has not yet been decided if the annual fee could also be waived.

The GSB has said in a statement that it could provide card machines to all outlets, but for schools in remote areas, stores could use a card machine or the cash register of their cooperatives, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Nitipoom set to become govt spokesman

The Nation

Pheu Thai Party-list MP Nitipoom Navarat is likely to become a new government spokesman, a source said yesterday.

The report came after deputy spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said that the new spokesperson should be excellent in English.

"Pheu Thai Party wants the new spokesperson to have high qualifications, such as be an academic, should have earned

doctorates from foreign universities such as Oxford, and can argue political issues well," Anusorn said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Life-saving researchers bag Prince Mahidol Award

BANGKOK: -- For their work on treating depression, two US-based researchers have been named as laureates of the prestigious Prince Mahidol Award 2011 in the field of medicine.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....-mahidol-award/

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EDITORIAL

Another setback for Thailand's rights reputation

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Walking a moral tightrope: Thai opinion

To be fair to Nalinee Taveesin, what "standard" should we use when considering her situation?

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PM calls on Thais to protect monarchy

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Tuesday called on Thais to help protect the monarchy and avoid abusing the institution for political advantage.

"We should help protect the monarchy and should not abuse the institution for own benefit," she said, adding that the government would focus on campaigning for good understanding among different elements in society.

When asked if her government supports the campaign to seek amendment to Article 112 of the Penal Code about lese majeste, the prime minister replied: "We are not doing this now. We should focus on solving economic problems."

Yingluck said she asked government figures to avoid certain sensitive issues and to focus instead on rehabilitation work aimed at restoring confidence towards Thailand after the recent severe floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday expressed his opposition to the campaign for amendment to Article 112 and insisted that the ruling Pheu Thai Party would not back the proposed changes.

"The party will definitely not amend this article. I will oppose whoever proposes its amendment," he said. "This is Thailand and we are happy because of the royal kindness. Don't you have anything else to do?"

The veteran politician said, however, that the ruling party would support amendment to the Constitution, starting with changing certain clauses to allow establishment of a new constitution drafting committee. He noted that constitutional amendment was part of the party's election campaign promises.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Democrats File Impeachment Charges Against PM Yingluck, Foreign Minister Surapong

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Thai PM Yingluck changes duties of her deputies

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BURNING ISSUE

Lese-majeste law leading to censorship

Pravit Rojanaphruk

One of the least explored aspects of the lese-majeste law is censorship and self-censorship of anything that can be considered even mildly critical of the monarchy.

There is no doubt that debate on this controversial law will strengthen the campaign for amendments like the one led by the Nitirat group of law lecturers, as well as encourage an equally determined group of royalist lecturers under the banner of Siam Prachapiwat to oppose it.

Too little has been said so far about the impact of the blurred line between what constitutes honest criticism and scrutiny of the monarchy for the benefit of the public and what can be seen as pure slander.

For one thing, Thais are not able to tell what is true criticism, because they cannot publicly write or express anything about the monarchy, even though the country's current educational system continues spouting on the benefits of critical thinking.

The lese-majeste law has left people afraid of speaking honestly and allows for the circulation of rumours, especially as only positive information about the institution can get published or broadcast. Not all rumours that this writer has heard so far are even plausible, and at times I have to remind the conveyor of these fanciful but negative stories to be more careful and not believe in them too hastily. But then again, these negative tales are a direct product of censorship in Thai society.

Last, but not least, the mass media is getting used to censoring itself about anything that can be considered even mildly critical of the monarchy.

While it's difficult to quantify the actual cost on society, there is a growing resentment against the highest institution in some sectors of society.

In fact, decades of self-censorship have left many royalists increasingly intolerant of people who criticise the law. Those calling for the amendment or abolition of the law are being regarded as outright anti-royalists.

Decades of censorship also makes it very difficult to reason with ultra-royalists.

To them, the monarchy must remain above any criticism and scrutiny, no matter what price society has to pay as a result.

The level of tolerance is dropping as royal celebrations become larger and grander every year.

Those who think that the Thai mainstream mass media has always been this tame should read newspapers published during the 1950s to realise that this was not always the case and what we see today as the natural order is wrong.

Nowadays, a public campaign to amend the lese-majeste law is enough of a reason to call for a military coup.

Last week, the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy broke their silence to say that another military coup was justifiable and should even be encouraged now that the draconian lese-majeste law and the monarchy are being threatened.

The law, alas, has been elevated to a status not unlike that of the monarchy institution itself, making it inviolable for the ultra-royalists.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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S Korean arrested for tax evasion

The Nation

A South Korean man was arrested yesterday in Sa Kaew province's Khlong Leuk district for alleged tax avoidance costing the South Korean government Bt50 million.

Lee Don-san, 39, was arrested by Immigration Police at Aranyaprathet's Rong Kleu Market after police investigation found that he had given authorities false prices for an order from Daewoo International in South Korea so as to avoid paying taxes. Police will hand him over to the South Korean Embassy in Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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On-the-run murder suspect shot dead

NONTHABURI: -- Somchai "Ae Leuk" Iampaijit, a drug suspect wanted for the death of a woman from whom he stole a motorcycle during a police chase, was killed yesterday in a gunfight with police in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district.

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Family wins case over death during childbirth

KESINEE TAENGKHIEO

THE NATION

After a 16-year battle for justice, the family of a woman who died in childbirth on September 8, 1995 finally came out of court victorious. The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Bangkok's Samitivej Hospital to pay the family Bt8.3 million in compensation.

At 9am yesterday, the court read out the verdict in a civil lawsuit filed by a factory owner Burin Seriyothin, his three children and his late wife's parents against Samitivej Hospital, its director Dr Kriangkrai Akkarawong, anaesthesiologist Dr Supak Janjamphi and case doctor Dr Chalat Toochinda. They were being sued for Bt700 million in compensation for the death of Burin's wife Jureerat.

The lawsuit was first dismissed in the lower court, while the Appeals Court acquitted Dr Kriangkrai and ordered the rest to pay Bt10.33 million in compensation. The defendants then took the case to Supreme Court.

The lawsuit said that Burin had taken Jureerat to the hospital on September 6, 1995, and she was given an injection and told to stay overnight. The next day, Jureerat developed labour pains and her water broke, but she was just given another injection.

On the morning of September 8, 1995, Burin found Jureerat alone and writhing in pain, so he alerted the staff. Dr Chalat arrived to check her. Later, both Jureerat and her unborn child died because amniotic fluid had entered her circulatory system and flooded her lungs, which blocked the blood flow causing the heart to fail.

According to the court, the doctors had given Jureerat medication and left her in the care of nurses, when actually they should have been present because medication can have dangerous side effects.

The Supreme Court said Burin was present at the delivery room at all times, and many witnesses had said that his testimony was not fabricated to bully the defendants. In addition, the plaintiffs were regular clients of this hospital.

The Supreme Court ruled that it was reckless for the two doctors to not be present in the delivery room at all times, which endangered Jureerat and caused damage to her family. Hence, the doctors and the hospital should be responsible for their actions and pay the family a total of 8.3 million plus 7.5 per cent annual interest since September 8, 1995. The defendants also have to pay Bt150,000 in legal fees for the plaintiffs.

After hearing the verdict, Burin said he hoped this case would help patients learn about their rights and perhaps teach those in the medical profession and hospitals to treat patients with good standards, morally and with responsibility. Revealing that all he wanted was an apology, he thanked the court for being just and said he planned to donate the money so it can benefit the medical industry and other public services.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Water solutions on agenda in Davos

The Nation

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra will be addressing the challenges of water management at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012 in Davos, Switzerland.

The meeting runs from today until Friday.

"The topic will cover geographical landscape, volume and other issues related to water and how they have an impact on economy," Sukhumbhand said yesterday. "It will also address waste-water management."

After Bangkok suffered a serious flood crisis late last year, the government has decided to earmark large amounts on flood prevention projects. "I have assigned a subcommittee on water management to find out how best this money can be used," the governor said yesterday.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Dam protester's 2-year sentence suspended

THE NATION

Phaijit Silarak and his supporters cheered after the Supreme Court yesterday suspended his two-year sentence for leading a protest of villagers 10 years ago at the Rasi Salai Dam in Si Sa Ket.

A leader of the PMOVE group and member of the Assembly of the Poor, Phaijit is required to report to probation officers twice during the one-year suspension.

Phaijit said he was happy that Supreme Court judges understood his cause and comprehended the grievances of villagers who had to endure the impacts from the dam's operations, including the lengthy closure of its discharge gates.

"The intent of the protest was to protect nature, which had changed and affected their lives, while the villagers' trespassing on the dam's office and operating centre was secondary. Under the previous constitution, the protest is regarded as lacking primary intent to trespass on a government compound," he said.

Phaijit had been convicted on charges of property damage, trespassing state property and restraint of individual freedom for leading the protest on May 19, 2000. The rally started outside the dam, then he and other villagers forced their way into the dam's compound and held some dam officials captive.

Wasant Phanich, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said the protest took place after the 1997 constitution went into effect, which endorsed freedom of speech and peaceful protests. This was instrumental in securing yesterday's ruling in favour of Phaijit.

The villagers had demanded that the dam gates be open longer to return eco-conditions to before the dam was built in 1993.

The Si Sa Ket provincial court also accepted a defamation complaint lodged by the Assembly of the Poor against former social development and human security minister Issara Somchai.

In response to a protest by villagers against the Pak Mun Dam project in Ubon Ratchathani, Issara said the villagers had failed in managing a cooperative so there was not one baht left.

The court set the first hearing on the Issara case for March 15.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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BMA unveils 3D map of city plan

The Nation

A 3D Bangkok Metropolitan Authority map of traffic routes and infrastructure systems is available at http://3d-cpd.bangko...ll/3d_spec.html, BMA deputy governor Wallop Suwandee said.

Meanwhile, City Planning Department chief MR Premsiri Kasemsan said the third revision of the Greater Bangkok city plan would be finalised after being submitted to the City Planning Committee next month. If approved, the new plan is set for a 90-day period of public consultation before being amended by the Committee, submitted for legal scrutiny and finally signed by the Interior Ministry. If this process cannot be completed by May, the department would ask the Interior Ministry for the 2006 city plan to remain in effect for another year, said Premsiri, with officials given a new deadline of January 2013 to implement the plan.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

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Education Minister takes public bus to work for first day at ministry, saying he wants to show that he is an ordinary man /MCOT

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Apple now largest computer maker, sold more iPads alone than HP sold PCs

By Daniel Eran Dilger

1st generation iPad. File photo, source: wikimedia

Apple has surpassed HP in both computer unit sales and revenues for the first time, taking the top spot sooner than expected on record sales of iPads. Rather than losing sales to low priced tablets, Apple said it would "continue to innovate like crazy" in the tablet arena.

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10 Philippine embassies, consulates to be closed

File photo, source; wikimedia

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa....s-to-be-closed/

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,067.00, up 3.92 points /MCOT

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Human Fossils Found, Believed to be Thousands of Years Old

Hundreds of villagers in Nongbualampoo Province have been gathering to see what is believed to be human fossils dating back two thousand years. Reporters first heard of the findings around 800 meters outside Sriboonruerng District. The plot of land on which the fossils were found belong to a former civil servant who had wanted to fill in his swamp to make room for more crops. The owner discovered the remains as a bulldozer was in the process of filling in the area.

70 year old Boonlert Chinnaboot said he found what is believed to be human remains along with pieces of pottery. He said he bought this land in 1987. The plot of land lies around 50 kilometers from a previously discovered archeological site in Nhonesand District.

Officials have been notified of the finding.

Translated from www.dailynews.co.th

-- Tan Network 2012-01-25

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Sumatran elephant faces extinction

Sumatran elephant. File photo, source: wikimedia

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PM Heeds King's Advice in Coping with Flood Rehab Projects

The prime minister instructed her Cabinet's members to heed His Majesty the King's advice in dealing with their works.

Government Deputy Spokesman Anusorn Eiamsa-ard said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed her ministers to apply His Majesty the King's recommendations as the guidelines for their works.

Anusorn stated the prime minister has assigned the Cabinet's secretary-general to solicit flood-rehabilitation proposals, budget spending plans, and changes in the administration for the further consideration.

The deputy spokesperson then said the priority sequencing for the flood-prevention projects to be funded by the 120 billion-baht budget previously approved by the Cabinet will be reviewed.

Anusorn said any budgeted agency that fails to proceed with their projects in two weeks, the Cabinet will reclaim their funds for the re-allocation.

The deputy spokesperson went on to say the Cabinet allows price quotations to be sought before contracts are made.

He said the premier ordered Prime Minister Office Minister Niwat Thamrong Bunsongpaisarn to follow the progress of the spending on flood-rehabilitation process in affected areas between February 13 and 17.

Anusorn remarked that the government will closely follow the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's progress in canal dredging, which is expected to be completed in one to two months.

The government has also set aside its budget of 1.9 billion baht to improve the capacity of the capital's drainage and water containment areas.

He then said the next mobile Cabinet's meeting will be held in Udon Thani from February 21st to the 22th.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-25

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National Artist Juree Osiri dies of natural causes at age of 83 in Chiang Rai /MCOT

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Google Will Now Access And Use All Your Personal Data And Browsing History

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Democrat Leader Slams Thaksin to Involve Monarchy with Reconciliation Process

The Democrat Party leader criticized former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly having a plan to involve the Royal Institution in the reconciliation process.

Opposition Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he has not seen an interview transcript published in a book entitled 'Conversation of Thaksin', in which former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra allegedly advised the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to seek an audience with His Majesty the King Bhumibol to discuss a reconciliation process in Thailand.

He added if that held true, Thaksin should stop creating confusion because the ongoing political conflict in the country originated from him.

Abhisit said the former PM now has his loyalists in the government and there is no reason for him to drag the Royal Institution into politics.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said the book is part of a series written by American author Tom Plate and has been released for months.

The series is about important Asian leaders, such as former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The upcoming volume is about Ban Ki Moon.

He added Thaksin's volume features interviews about his role as Thailand's prime minister, the 2006 coup that deposed him and his life in self-exile.

However, Noppadon insisted that no part of the book refers to the monarchy in such a way as reported by the media and that Thaksin never had the idea of seeking UN's help in mediating the reconciliation process as the ex-premier believes the issue can only be resolved by Thais.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-25