Thailand Live Saturday 28 Jan 2012

[webfact]

Thailand Live Saturday 28 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.

FOLLOW US:

You can also follow us on

- Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk

- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThaiVisaNews

- Google+: http://plus.google.c...38430460700577/

- Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/564113621/

- Breaking News via SMS text messages to your mobile phone or handheld device

To subscribe dial *424010011 on AIS, One-2-Call, DTAC or True Move networks

14 days complementary subscription for Thaivisa members.

If you have questions about the Breaking News SMS service,

email: sms [at] thaivisa.com

________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand's current weather and forecasts: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

________________________________________________________________________________

Related topic: Thailand Live Friday 27 Jan 2012

[webfact]

THAIVISA CONNECT

Thaivisa Forum Apps for your mobile or tablet

"Thaivisa Connect" for iPhone, iPad and iPod:

iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thaivisa-connect-thailand/id492600537

"Thaivisa Connect" for Android:

Android Market

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.quoord.tapatalkthaivisa.activity

OR

For QR code just go here with your desktop or mobile:

http://apps.thaivisa.com

[webfact]

Hua Hin International Film Festival

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-film-festival/

[webfact]

Four countries withdraw warnings of possible terrorist attacks in Bangkok

Full story:

[webfact]

Thai Tourism Thrives Despite Terrorist Warning

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....rorist-warning/

[webfact]

Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn at ease with FIDF decree

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....th-fidf-decree/

[webfact]

Thai PM's Office Minister Nalinee wants a chance to prove herself

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....-prove-herself/

[webfact]

LESE MAJESTE LAW

Seksan backs away from the Nitirat group

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Political scientist Seksan Prasertkul has distanced himself from the Nitirat group of law lecturers, saying that he has nothing to do with the group or its controversial proposals regarding the monarchy.

He said he had agreed to support the group's initial proposal seeking amendment to Article 112 of the Penal Code in relation to lese majeste, because his goal was to protect the monarchy.

Seksan, who was also a student leader during the 1973 uprising, said he had also put his name down because he been approached by some respected senior figures.

"I allowed became a supporter because I was asked to by some senior figures I respect. I also found that the proposal was within the framework of legal reform and its content was pro-humanity. More importantly, its goal was to protect the country's key institution," he said, referring to the monarchy.

Seksan is a member of Nitirat's Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Article 112, which was launched on January 15 with the aim of collecting at least 10,000 signatures to push the amendment through Parliament.

In his letter that appeared yesterday on a column in Krungthep Turakij, a sister publication of The Nation, Seksan said he had to explain his standpoint on the matter in order to "avoid misunderstanding".

He said he was not a leader of the campaign and that he only wanted to publicly express his views.

"The majority in society will eventually make the decision. I have no plans to get involved in any political campaign about this matter. I am tired with conflicts and want to spend my old-age peacefully," the 62-year-old said. Seksan was previously the dean of Thammasat University's Faculty of Political Science.

He also said that though the proposal for amending Article 112 had originated from Nitirat, "I have no connection with this group and, by no means, do I have anything to do with the proposals that came out of the group later."

Seksan said he had learned about the Article 112 amendment campaign from a group of senior academics, and not Nitirat, which is comprised of academics in their 30s and 40s. "That was the only issue I was approached about," he said in the letter.

He ended the letter by calling on all involved parties to "be careful about your moves and be kind to each other".

Recently, Nitirat also called for constitutional amendments that include a requirement for new heads of state to be sworn in before assuming office and to vow to abide by and protect the constitution.

Earlier, another noted ex-student leader, Thirayuth Boonmi, warned that confrontations and conflict over the merits of the lese majeste law could go "beyond violence" and become "a very big" issue if not handled properly.

Thirayuth, a noted sociologist, said on Thursday that the conflict was essentially one between the red shirts - who support Nitirat's amendment drive calling for a more "populist" society - and the yellow shirts who adhere to more traditional beliefs regarding the monarchy.

He added that any solution to the conflict must begin with both sides shedding their bias, though he admitted that he could not see any immediate solution that would appease both sides.

In a related development, Democrat Party deputy spokeswoman Chitpas Bhirombhakdi called on people loyal to the monarchy to gather at the Royal Plaza today to rally against the Nitirat drive.

"I am part of the younger generation that did not see His Majesty's hard work first hand, but learned to respect him," the 26-year-old said, adding that her anti-Nitirat campaign had nothing to do with the opposition Democrat Party.

-- The Nation 2012-01-28

[webfact]

Tennis champion Zvonareva heads to Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ads-to-pattaya/

[webfact]

Suphan Buri homeowners to get Bt50,000 for damage: Fireworks explosion

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....orks-explosion/

[webfact]

Political and economic risks could lead to govt collapse: Thai opinion

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....e-thai-opinion/

[webfact]

Two stateless children, two adults, released from Bangkok immigration jail

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....migration-jail/

[webfact]

Suphan Buri: Public transport van plunges into ditch killing four, injuring 16

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....16-suphan-buri/

[webfact]

Police chief proposes prison on island for drug dealers: Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....alers-thailand/

[webfact]

Police get tough on student scraps

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok police have put in place tough measures to prevent fighting among students, including identifying individual violence-prone students and getting teachers to act as the "eyes and ears" for the police, while Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrongwet suggested high-risk students be encouraged to practise their religious faith to become better people.

Metropolitan Police spokesman Preeda Sathaworn said police precincts had been instructed to obtain information about violence-prone schools in their jurisdictions and to conduct weapons searches in cooperation with the schools. Police would gather information about violence-prone students and alumni to prevent them starting brawls, as well as hunting for those wanted for violence-related crimes, while patrol officers would look out for students packing weapons.

Metropolitan Police Region 6 are to dispatch officials to guard areas surrounding.

-- The Nation 2012-01-28

[webfact]

Road accident kills Wat Arun deputy abbot

The Nation

PATHUM THANI: -- The deputy abbot of Wat Arun sustained fatal head injuries after he fell out of his BMW on an expressway in Pathum Thani province yesterday morning.

Phra Khru Palad Thammakhan, 67, died of his injuries at Krung Siam St Carlos Medical Centre.

His driver, Pongpan Mekbut, blamed the accident on the flood-damaged expressway. "I was driving at a speed of no more than 90 kilometres per hour."

He said the BMW sedan slipped to the side of the road before hitting the barrier and spinning around.

"A door was flung open and the senior monk was hurled out of the car," Pongpan said.

A second passenger, Wang Kessathit, was also seriously injured.

-- The Nation 2012-01-28

[webfact]

Smuggled petrol discovered in Satun raids

The Nation

SATUN: -- About 200 customs officials, policemen and soldiers conducted raids in several spots in Satun province and discovered 32,000 litres of smuggled petrol. Though the fuel has been confiscated, nobody has turned up to claim ownership.

Police said they would investigate the case further in a bid to nail down culprits.

-- The Nation 2012-01-28

[webfact]

'Guns at the ready' over Phuket jet-ski dispute

Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran expressed his concern that continuing conflict over jet-skis in Phuket may end in gunfire. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Bang Tao Jet-ski "Club" President Anusorn Saree called for no more new jet-skis being allowed anywhere in Phuket. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....et-ski-dispute/

[webfact]

Phuket Police recover human body off Coral Island

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....f-coral-island/

[webfact]

Alarm raised over dog-snatching in Phuket

One local expat is worried that dog-snatchers are operating on Phuket's Nai Harn Beach (pictured), stealing canines and collecting the rewards from owners. Photo: Gazette file

Micky, the Matese terrier dognapped from Nai Harn Beach.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....hing-in-phuket/

[webfact]

Cool weather continues in North and Northeast; South to see more rains

BANGKOK, 28 January 2012 (NNT) – The North and the Northeast are expected to experience cool weather while the rest of the country is predicted to see rains during January 28-30.

The northern region will see cool and foggy weather in the morning from today until tomorrow. The temperature is expected to move between 11 and 35 degrees Celsius. Cold weather is expected on the mountain tops where the minimum temperature is forecast to range from two to eight degrees Celsius.

The Northeast is expected to be cool and foggy in the morning, with scattered rains. The temperature is predicted to range from 18 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Scattered rain falls are expected in the central region where the temperature is forecast to range between 22 and 34. Bangkok and nearby provinces may partially experience rainfall.

In the East, the provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat are expected to see scattered rains. The temperature is likely to move between 23 and 34 degrees Celsius.

Down South, widespread thundershowers are forecast for the provinces of Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, and Yala. Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang and Satun are expected to see scattered thundershowers.

-- NNT 2012-01-28

[webfact]

BMA to ask for more flood compensation budget from Cabinet

BANGKOK, 28 January 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is planning to ask for more money from the government to pay to capital residents who have been affected by last year's severe flooding.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Wasant Meewong said on Friday that, by the Cabinet's November 15th, 2011 resolve to pay each Bangkok family, affected by the worst flood crisis in decades THB5,000 in compensation, more than 538,000 out of some 621,000 eligible families have registered themselves to claim the cash.

Mr. Wasant said that latest information from the Government Savings Bank, dated January 23rd, 2012, showed that nearly 243,000 families have received the compensation.

In addition to the first batch of eligible flood victims, the BMA is planning to ask the government to add more that have been found affected by the flooding.

Accordingly, there are now more than 1 million families in Bangkok's 42 districts the City Hall officially considered the flood crisis victims.

The BMA Spokesperson said that the additional list of flood victims is being reviewed by the state-appointed Flood Recovery and Restoration Committee. He is urging the committee to quickly complete the review and submit it for the Cabinet consideration on Tuesday, January 31st.

Mr. Wasant added that Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra has instructed all related BMA offices to do all they can to make the compensation reach the hands of all victims as soon as possible.

-- NNT 2012-01-28

[webfact]

Labor Ministry: More workers to get laid off due to flood crisis

BANGKOK, 28 January 2012 (NNT) – Information from the Ministry of Labor suggests that there will be more and more workers out of job after the manufacturing sector has been hit hard by the flood crisis in 2011.

Mr. Athit Issamo, Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, said that businesses, which have been seriously affected by last year's severe flooding, will likely let go of workers after flood-related disruption plunged orders considerably. The possibility of upcoming layoff could also be caused by the fact that some factories are relocating to other provinces, which have less risk of flooding.

While such speculations are grim, Mr. Athit is confident that no company is going to move its production base to other countries, just yet.

He also expects that there will not be more than 100,000 workers, who will be out of job.

The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare is planning to collect data on laid-off workers and submit to Labor Minister Phadermchai Sasomsub after January 31st.

According to Mr. Athit, almost 28,200 workers from 99 companies in flood-hit Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani have been out of job.

Moreover, 350 factories in flood provinces are still unable to resume operations, resulting in 167,541 employees to remain idle, while 28,317 companies have been reopened.

-- NNT 2012-01-28

[webfact]

Kofi Annan agreed to lend help to Thai Truth Commission

Kofi Annan, file photo. Source: wikimedia

Full story:

[webfact]

Deputy PM Chalerm fills in for PM's TV programme, clarifies govt policy on illicit drugs /MCOT

[webfact]

Woman strong symbol for non-violence: Yingluck

Full story:

[webfact]

Number of speed pill dealers declines; ice abuse rises

BANGKOK, 28 January 2012 (NNT) – The government has reported a major progress of its hunt for Methamphetamine dealers and admitted crystal meth abuse is now becoming rampant.

In the Saturday talk show under the Yingluck Government Meets the People program, Deputy Police Chief Adul Sangsingkaew disclosed that the performance of anti-drug police was quite satisfactory. Over the past three months, about 15 million speed pills had been seized. Caches of heroin and crystal meth known as ice have also been found and confiscated.

Full story:

[webfact]

Chalerm pledges to eradicate drugs within one year: War on drugs

Full story:

[webfact]

Phuket Old Town Festival starts today

Chinese dancers perform at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town to mark the beginning of the three-day Phuket Old Town Festival 2012. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

A brave girl makes an offering for a prosperous year ahead. Photo: Atachaa Khamlo

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....l-starts-today/

[webfact]

Ayutthaya speeds up flood prevention plan

AYUTTHAYA, 28 January 2012 (NNT) – Ayutthaya province is speeding up its flood prevention plan in an attempt to avoid recurrence of massive damage caused by flooding.

According to Ayutthaya governor Witthaya Pewpong, officials have begun to dredge all the canals. Water diversion routes have been carefully planned to avoid an impact on the public. Areas that require embankment have been designated and the construction of dykes will be carried out as soon as possible.

To make the rehabilitation plan more effective, more community leaders have been appointed as the backup of state officials so that the locals’ problems can be addressed promptly if flooding recurs. One community leader will be in charge of 20 families.

The damage to Ayutthaya caused by the massive floods late last year is estimated to be over THB100 billion.

-- NNT 2012-01-28