Thailand Live Sunday 29 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Sunday 29 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 Saturday 28 Jan 2012

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[Lite Beer]

PM promotes Thailand as gateway to the region

Pana Janviroj

The Nation on Sunday

DAVOS:-- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sought to restore confidence in Thailand by pointing out that the Kingdom remains a good place for investment due to its status as a regional hub and gateway.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529453-pm-promotes-thailand-as-gateway-to-the-region/page__view__findpost__p__5012555

[Lite Beer]

Elephants seized in Kanchanaburi

The Nation on Sunday

Kanchanaburi:-- Authorities in Kanchanaburi and from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department have seized 51 elephants from three elephant camps in Sai Yok district for inspection.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529454-elephants-seized-in-kanchanaburi/page__view__findpost__p__5012560

[Lite Beer]

Two more held in robbery of Indian currency trader

Khanathit Srihirundaj

The Nation on Sunday

Two more suspects in the December robbery of an Indian businessman have been arrested, police said yesterday, bringing the number of people in custody in the case to seven.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529455-two-more-held-in-robbery-of-indian-currency-trader/page__view__findpost__p__5012565

[Lite Beer]

Drug offenders to be kept in restricted jail zones

The Nation on Sunday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529456-drug-offenders-to-be-kept-in-restricted-jail-zones/page__view__findpost__p__5012570

[Lite Beer]

ANALYSIS

Lese majeste debate tests Thais' ability to disagree peacefully

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday

Thai society is facing a major test in the way it handles the stark ideological differences on what to do with the controversial lese-majeste law.

The past two weeks have seen a growing hate campaign to demonise the Nitirat group of law lecturers and their supporters as anti-monarchists seeking to overthrow the monarchy institution. The campaign comes despite a lack of substantiated evidence and in the face of repeated assurances by the group, which is led by Thammasat law lecturer Vorachet Pakeerat.

Effigies of Vorachet and his colleagues were burnt in front of the university on Friday. Yesterday, royalists gathered at the Royal Plaza to denounce the group's bid to amend the law and make penalties for violators less severe. Yellow-shirt mouthpiece ASTV Manager Daily newspaper, meanwhile, was busy repeating the unsubstantiated allegation that Nitirat and its supporters, who have formed a public campaign committee to amend the law, are part of a conspiracy to establish a republic under fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Kingdom was similarly rife with unsubstantiated rumours in 1976, when a right-wing mob attacked and lynched dozens of students and people they regarded as communists in broad daylight in Bangkok. Thais can avoid a repeat of such a tragic incident only if they learn to disagree in a peaceful manner without hatred, and refuse to believe baseless allegations.

However, on top of the unsubstantiated allegations, Nitirat and its supporters have been branded "non-Thais" by various people, including Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha. This is another blatant attempt to emotionalise the issue. It could lead to the dehumanising of Nitirat, turning them into "the other", the non-Thai, leading their opponents to believe they do not deserve to be treated like any other Thai citizen, or even as human beings.

A similar thing occurred in 1976 when Chinese-looking Thais were accused of being Vietnamese infiltrators; some of those accused were brutally lynched on October 6 of that year.

While the campaign to amend the law by Nitirat and the committee will go on, along with the opposition to such a campaign, it is sincerely hoped that Thais will recognise that they need not hate those they disagree with and that they must not uncritically accept unsubstantiated allegations.

People from all spectrums of society who care about Thailand's future must agree to disagree without hatred, hate speech or violence. Unfortunately, some members of Nitirat claim to have received threats.

It would be pointless to pretend that all Thais agree on the issue, or to pretend that no such conflict exists. People must remember that sorting out differences in a civilised and peaceful manner, with tolerance for those you disagree with, is an essential part of any democratic society.

The time to deliberate on the issue is now. Allow those who want to amend the law to gather all the signatures required unimpeded and without being threatened, and let those who oppose the amendment gather peacefully and be reasonable. Let us try to make it possible to peacefully disagree, whether the lese-majeste law is eventually amended or not.

-- The Nation 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

THAMMASAT ALUMNI

Call for Nitirat lecturers to go

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Former law graduates want lecturers fired; claim they defamed monarchy; Democrats mobilising opposition

Opposition mounted yesterday to the Nitirat group of law lecturers and their controversial proposals regarding the monarchy.

At a reunion party, a group of Thammasat University law graduates called for the removal of five Thammasat law lecturers who are members of Nitirat.

Representatives of the Law School class of 1958, including Suthep Niran and Sichart Sahatchote, led the call. They issued a statement calling for an end to Nitirat's use of the university as a venue for its activities, and alleged that the group had defamed the Royal institution. They said that since the lecturers were government officials but did not support Thai democracy with the monarchy as its head, they should be fired.

Former premier Chuan Leekpai, chief adviser to the opposition Democrat Party and a member of the class, said Nitirat was unlikely to succeed in amending the law.

In Phuket, another leading Democrat MP, Sathit Wongnongtoey, was busy mobilising party members to oppose the group. He said Thais were facing "a new security threat" - the distorting of information about the monarchy institution to make it look bad. More dissemination of correct information was needed, Sathit said.

Earlier yesterday, Democrat MP for Bangkok Jittapat Piromphakdee led a group of royalists to stage a demonstration against Nitirat's move to amend the lese majeste law at the Royal Plaza.

The demonstrators, who were largely organised through social networking sites, later swore allegiance to the monarchy. While the ritual was taking place, heavy rain poured down, leading some to speculate that "heaven is weeping". Some people shouted, "Long Live the King!"

Jittapat said she was not sure what the next move would be, but she read out a statement to the crowd saying the monarchy institution must be kept in a position of reverence. She said young Thais may not have seen His Majesty the King work hard for the benefit of the people, and that some had received distorted information about the monarchy, leading to the current situation.

The MP urged youngsters to join networks that offered correct information about the monarchy, adding that it was the duty of all Thais to guard against the use of social networks to spread distorted details about the monarchy.

Jittapat, an heiress to the Singha Beer fortune, said later she would collect more signatures opposing the move to amend the charter.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP and shadow PM's Office minister Thepthai Senapong said the ruling Pheu Thai Party had made it clear at certain levels that they would not make a move to amend the lese majeste law. Whether people believed that or not was another matter, however, he said.

Thepthai said the lack of trust was related to the fact that many figures associated with the party, from former premier Thaksin Shinawatra down, had been embroiled in actions or words deemed as disloyal to the throne. He claimed that the ousted and convicted former premier always attacked the monarchy in interviews with foreign media.

Thepthai said the actions and movements of people like former Thai Rak Thai MP Jakrapob Penkair, key red-shirt member Ji Ungpakorn and Pheu Thai party-list MP Sunai Julpongsathorn made it less likely that people would trust Pheu Thai when it comes to the issue of the monarchy, no matter how many statements they made.

He warned that Nitirat also wanted to amend Article 8 of the Constitution, and other parts of it, and that the Democrat Party would oppose any such move. Thepthai denied that the party was trying to claim a monopoly on love for the monarchy institution.

Pheu Thai's deputy spokesperson hit back yesterday, saying the Democrats had become obsessed with Thaksin and had made unfounded allegations. The spokesperson urged the party to be more "constructive".

-- The Nation 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Big den set to open in Ratchadaphisek: Chuwit

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Outspoken MP Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday claimed that a big gambling den would open next week in Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek area, near another den he told police about earlier.

Wang Thong Lang police station superintendent Pol Colonel Thawat Wongsa-nga denied an illegal gambling den was set to open in the area under his jurisdiction, as claimed by Chuwit.

Chuwit claimed the den would have 50 gambling tables and would be protected by a figure of authority. The den was fully equipped with gambling facilities, he said.

He promised a reward of Bt5,000 to anyone providing an accurate tip-off about a small gambling den, Bt10,000 for information on big dens, and up to Bt20,000 for information leading to the arrest of a den owner.

Chuwit insisted the identities of those providing information would be protected.

He said he had turned down bribes in relation to his anti-gambling drive.

The MP claimed there were two major gambling networks operating in Bangkok and Pathum Thani: the "Sor" network, named after a police officer's initial, and the "Teu" network

-- The Nation 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

BMA confident in measures to handle heavy rain

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is confident that it will be able to handle unusually-heavy rain the capital has been seeing while asking city residents to remain calm.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529457-bma-confident-in-measures-to-handle-heavy-rain/page__view__findpost__p__5012593

[Lite Beer]

DPM Kittiratt: Major insurer is ready to continue business in Thailand even after flood crisis

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - The deputy prime minister in charge of economics has been assured by one of the world's leading insurers that it has covered all compensations local insurance companies have paid out after the flood crisis.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Kittiratt Na-Ranong said that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has met with a number of representatives from the private sector attending the 42nd World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and has ascertained them that Thailand is ready to move on after surviving last year's flood crisis.

During her talks, PM Yingluck also received an assurance from Swiss Re, a leading global reinsurer, that it has fully covered the compensation paid out by local insurers.

Moreover, as Swiss Re learnt of Thailand's plan to set up an insurance fund, the company has affirmed with the prime minister that it is ready to work with the government and continue the reinsurance service in the country.

In her response, PM Yingluck confirmed Swiss Re that the insurance fund will surely be set up while the government will do all it can to prevent the repeat of the disasters like in last year's flooding.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Kittiratt reflects on tough choices

The Nation on Sunday

DAVOS:-- Governments will need to act with more far-sightedness if serious impacts from natural disasters such as the recent Thai floods are to be avoided, Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong told a gathering at the World Economic Forum.

Speaking at a session on "Tough Choices in Times of Crisis" with a panel that included Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance, Kittiratt said he had to make his toughest choice after an aerial survey of the flooding and saw the massive volume of water surrounding the country's economic zones.

"What should I do? Report to the public or the prime minister?" he said, referring to the magnitude of the expected devastation.

"We had to make a decision that is not for ourselves but for the others," said Kittiratt, who is now also the finance minister.

Kittiratt looked back at the Thai flooding situation and noted that reports were issued by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and others before the floods last year, recommending that something be done to avert serious damage from possible floods. But the reports were shelved and nothing was done. "I think we have to act with more far-sightedness ... [if we had done so] the devastation would have been avoided.

-- The Nation 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Labour Ministry orders survey on post-flood crisis unemployment conditions

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - The Ministry of Labour is set to conduct a survey to find how much last year's severe flooding has caused to the unemployment situation of the country.

Mr. Phadermchai Sasomsub, Minister of Labor, said that the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare will be going out to collect data on employees who have been out of job and employment vacancies after Thailand survived last year's flood crisis.

Mr. Phadermchai said that initial data suggested that a number of workers have decided to start their own career due to uncertainty in their employment status.

The Department of Labor Protection and Welfare's survey is hoped to clarify what exactly happened to the country's employment market and match those who are unemployed with appropriate job openings.

The Labor Minister added that the Ministry's plan to set up a labor bank is awaiting a budget from the government. He hopes the conclusion will be obtained by February.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Government aims to heavily eradicate illegal drug business within 1 year

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - The government is determined to eradicate illegal drug business in the country as much as possible within a year's time while preparing to open a special prison for drug-related convicts.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529336-chalerm-pledges-to-eradicate-drugs-within-one-year-war-on-drugs/page__view__findpost__p__5012620

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Reshuffle could make April a hot time, politically

The Nation

Moves by new minister could affect Army deputy, Prayuth's ally Dapong

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529462-reshuffle-could-make-april-a-hot-time-politically/page__view__findpost__p__5012624

[Lite Beer]

Scattered thunderstorm in BKK and other regions; Nakhon Si Thammarat southwards to see heavy rain in some areas/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Chinese New Year Celebrations in Thailand in 2012

Chinese New Year has been celebrated by Chinese around the world for thousands of years, as the most important and celebrated festive date on the Chinese calendar. This year, the first day of the first lunar month falls on 23 January, heralding the Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand take place during January 19 to 29 in Bangkok and 10 other provinces with significant Thai-Chinese communities, notably, the provinces of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan (Pak Nam Pho), Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chon Buri (Pattaya), Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Songkhla (Hat Yai), Phuket, and Trang.

Thailand is home to the largest, oldest, most prominent, and most integrated overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 9.5 million people. They are known as “Luk Chin”, denoting their Chinese ancestry rather than Thai Chinese, as most of them have lived in Thailand for five generations or more, and have been well assimilated into the Thai society. A prominent Thai King, Taksin the Great, was a son of a Chinese immigrant from Guangdong and was born with a Chinese name. This year, a stone plate bearing his name in Chinese was brought out of Wat Arun on a procession for people to pay homage to.

The focal point of Chinese New Year celebrations is Bangkok Chinatown, located in Samphanthawong district on Yaowarat Road, ranked as the fourth largest overseas Chinese community in the world. According to local folk belief, Samphanthawong district is the "realm of the golden dragon", the guardian spirit that has watched over the community for centuries, and to whom locals believe they owe their good fortune, wealth, and prosperity.

There were times when Thais of Chinese ancestry felt discriminated against, especially during the Plaek Pibulsonggram administration when nationalism dominated the policy. State corporations took over commodities such as rice, tobacco and petroleum, and Chinese businesspeople found themselves subject to a range of new taxes and controls.

Diplomatic relations were reestablished between Thailand and China on 1 July 1975. This year, the two countries celebrate the 37th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Chinese New Year celebrations have also taken more significances, not only to welcome the Year of the Dragon, but also to mark the 85th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Thus, both countries jointly host a spectacular Sino-Thai cultural show entitled “From the Huang Ho to the Chao Phraya River Basin”, featuring Chinese cultural performances and classical Thai performing arts. This cultural extravaganza has also made its way to 11 Thai provinces with established Thai-Chinese communities.

The show features a traditional lion dance, the procession of the golden dragon, demonstration of Chinese traditions and the Thai Chinese way of life unique to Bangkok Chinatown, a food festival, a bazaar of Thai and Chinese delicacies and community products, and exhibitions of various aspects of Samphanthawong district and Yaowarat. The entire area has been decorated with traditional Chinese paper lanterns, paper cut-outs of popular Chinese auspicious phrases, vases of plum blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines and various items symbolic of success, good fortune and prosperity.

With the blossoming of Thai-Chinese relations at all levels, the Chinese New Year celebrations this year have been spectacular and delightful, as both peoples pin their hope on a prosperous Year of the Dragon.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Thai PM satisfied with success in building confidence to increase investments in Thailand as World Economic Forum meeting in Davos ends/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

ABAC Poll: respondents worry about attempts at lese majeste, can accept corrupt govt if they receive benefits/TAN_Network

PM arrives in Thailand this afternoon after India, Switzerland trip; says foreign investors have more confidence in Thailand/Tan_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT@Biz_TheNation: Rising temp.,still cool to cold weather,morning fog in N,NE,rain in lower N.,NE,E,central,heavy rain from lower South Jan.29-30

[Lite Beer]

Phuket's Bebe and Boo Boo on leave from active duty

Phuket Gazette –

Bebe found a stash of ya bah methamphetamine on her first day on the job, but has been silent ever since for lack of a handler. Photo: Gazette file

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529484-phukets-bebe-and-boo-boo-on-leave-from-active-duty/page__view__findpost__p__5013034

[Lite Beer]

Patong tunnel project to start 'within 6 months': Pian Keesian

Phuket Gazette –

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin at the Phuket Graceland Resort outlining his vision of Patong's future. Photo: Nopparat Nambunyen

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529501-patong-tunnel-project-to-start-within-6-months-pian-keesian/page__view__findpost__p__5013091

[Lite Beer]

Phuket tour bus on fire at Patong Hill

Phuket Gazette –

PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette this morning received reports of yet another bus catching fire – this time on the busy road over Patong Hill, joining the popular tourist town of Patong with Phuket Town.

No injuries were reported.

Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution – and patience – while travelling over the steep hill.

The Gazette will report more details as they come in.

The bus fire today follows another on Tuesday this week, when Finnish tourists were forced to evacuate the bus they were travelling on to see the sights at Phuket’s iconic Cape Phromthep

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12143.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

PM assures foreign investors of Thailand’s political stability

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has reassured foreign investors of Thailand’s political stability and its readiness to foster private investment businesses.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529513-thai-pm-assures-foreign-investors-of-thailands-political-stability/page__view__findpost__p__5013237

[Lite Beer]

Smith Dharmasaroja, natural disaster expert, affirms to continue working as member of Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Thai herbal health products are booming overseas

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) disclosed that overseas markets have shown high demand for Thai herbal health products.

DEP Deputy Director-General Wutthichai Duangrat stated that Thai exports of health and beauty products have proved very popular, and the country is already in the lead in this industry in the ASEAN market.

At present, the Public Health Ministry, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and the Department of Industrial Promotion have joined forces to develop and enhance the quality and presentation of these products. Meanwhile, the DEP is in charge of devising marketing strategies to draw more attention from overseas markets.

The DEP also gives constant boost to the exports by annually hosting the Thailand Health and Beauty Show, which is aimed at boosting revenues and expansion of this genre of products in the international market.

The 13th Thailand Health and Beauty Show is opening to the public during 27-29 January, from 10am to 9pm at BITEC Bangna in Bangkok.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

PHUKET VIOLENCE: Three ways to knock it back

Phuket Gazette –

For most Phuket residents, the thug's question would no longer surprise, but tourists might find it faintly discouraging.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/529520-phuket-violence-three-ways-to-knock-it-back/page__view__findpost__p__5013379

[Lite Beer]

GSB ready to lend to flood-affected industrial estates

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 (NNT) - The Government Savings Bank (GSB) will provide loans for the construction of anti-flood dykes in the industrial estates affected by the severe flooding last year once the Ministry of Industry nods to their construction blueprints.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the state-run Government Savings Bank has not lent to any of the seven industrial estates requested for the loan since the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has not approved the dyke blueprints. The ministry has reported that JICA’s standards for dyke construction are hard to meet as they require a larger area. Some of the industrial estates may have to sacrifice some of their space to build dykes according to the JICA standards.

The Cabinet on 8 November agreed with the Ministry of Finance to provide soft loans worth 15 billion baht for the seven industrial estates to build a permanent structure against flooding in their estates. At present, only the Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate has started building a dyke with its own funds and will later make a loan reclaim from the Government Savings Bank.

The seven industrial estates are Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate, Rojjana Industrial Estate, Navanakhon Industrial Estate, Bang Kadi Industrial Park, Ban Wah (Hi-Tech) Industrial Estate, Factory Land Industrial Estate and Saha Rattana Nakhon Industrial Estate.

JICA, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the Thai Industrial Estate and Strategic Partner Association have been tasked by the government to jointly review drainage and flood prevention systems in the seven industrial estates.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

Marine Dept: Boat fares yet to be raised

BANGKOK, 29 January 2012 - The Marine Department confirms that fares for passenger boats will not be raised as long as the diesel price is lower than THB32 per liter.

Marine Department Director-General Thawanrat Onsira said the department has rejected a request for the fare increase by boat operators since the increase will be allowed only when diesel price climbs up to THB32 per liter. He added that in practice the department would allow a fare rise by only THB1 per distance. And once the price adjustment is imminent, detailed information must first be submitted to Mr. Charupong Ruangsuwan, the Transport Minister, in order to seek relief measures for the public.

Meanwhile, President of Chao Phraya Express Boat Service Parinya Rakwatin said that on February 1st, the company will submit a request for a hike in its express boat and ferry fares by THB2 and THB50 satang respectively.

-- NNT 2012-01-29

[Lite Beer]

PM: Government has clear water management plan, ready to handle situation during upcoming rainy season/MCOT