Thailand Live Monday 30 Jan 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 30 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 29 Jan 2012

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PHEU THAI PARTY

Pheu Thai MP upset with Yongyuth over Samui land

Full story:

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Robbers take Bt1.5 million in house raid in Bangkok's Sai Mai district

Full story:

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Bank Customers have nothing to fear from premium hike: Thai FM Kittiratt

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....i-fm-kittiratt/

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Thai Democrat party seeks court interpretation for controversial executive decrees

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....cutive-decrees/

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Call for urgent action in Thai charter change process

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....change-process/

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LESE MAJESTY LAW

Graduates condemn Nitirat activities on campus

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University Class 01 law graduates yesterday issued a statement calling for Nitirat academics to suspend their teaching duties and stop using the university premises to spearhead charter amendments related to the monarchy.

The graduates include several legal professionals and leading figures like former prime minister Chuan Leekpai.

"Class 01 graduates deem it inappropriate to use the university's premises to stage offensive activities against the monarchy," the statement said.

It also lashed out at the academics for setting a bad example for their students.

The academics should be targeted for disciplinary proceedings on alleged subversive activities against the democratic rule with HM the King as head of state, it said.

Chuan said his Democrat Party had a firm stand opposing any attempts to rewrite Article 8 of the Constitution and to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

Although the Nitirat group was entitled to air legal opinions, it would unlikely muster sufficient support to change the role of the monarchy and the lese majeste law, he said.

More than nine in 10 people voiced concern about what they saw as instigation against the monarchy, an Abac Poll said in a national survey released yesterday.

About two in three people were worried about the persisting political turmoil.

The survey was conducted on 2,572 respondents from 17 selected provinces across the country having a seven per cent margin of error.

Almost nine in 10 people said cronyism was still plaguing the civil service. About three in five respondents said they would tolerate a corrupt government if benefits trickled down to them. Almost two in three civil servants shared the same view and about half university students condoned corruption too.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut said his main opposition party had not tried to frame the Pheu Thai Party in regard to a controversial move to amend the law on royal insults.

A number of Pheu Thai officials, including Worawuth Wichaidit, had repeatedly said they wanted to change the lese majeste law, Chavanont said, pointing out that the main coalition party made an about-face after the Nitirat group drew flak on its push on Article 112.

In rebutting Chavanont's remarks, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party leaders, including Yingluck Shinawatra, Yongyuth Wichaidit and Chalerm Yoobamrung, had made it clear the party had no plans to amend Article 112.

Prompong claimed he had detected a conspiracy among politicians, academics, media professionals and rogue soldiers to smear the government with the aim of toppling it.

He said the main coalition party remained steadfast in upholding the monarchy and would block any attempts to change the lese majeste law.

-- The Nation 2012-01-30

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Thai win refutes student stereotype

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Discipline, hard work earn global contest victory

BANGKOK: -- Thai students are often accused of lacking self-discipline and analytical and systematic thinking, which are important for problem-solving and teamwork to reach a common goal more easily. But one group of university students has proved they are an exception to this image.

The Chulalongkorn University engineering students won a global competition, becoming the first group of Thai students to win first place in a global programming contest.

Pattara Sukprasert, Thanakorn Chindanonda and Sira Songpolrojjanakul, all 21 years old, are third-year computer engineering students. Late last year they won the IEEEXtreme 5.0 programming contest.

Their team, called "cuSAT", defeated 100 teams of college students, or more than 4,100 students from 63 countries worldwide, including 18 teams from four Thai universities.

Second place went to students from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka and third to those from Belarusian State University in Belarus.

IEEEXtreme is a global challenge in which teams of students compete over a 24-hour period to solve a set of programming problems.

It is held by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a non-profit association. The four previous contests received an increasing amount of attention and competitors, making it the world's largest programming contest.

The fifth contest, IEEEXtreme 5.0, was held on October 22 of |last year, starting at 7am Bangkok time and ending at 7am on October 23. During that time, the Thai students stationed at their universities used computers to solve the programming problems online while those in other countries did the same.

The competition tests problem-solving skills, with real problems in everyday life, by using engineering skills to design a program and send it for online checking through the Internet.

The problems range from simple to intermediate to difficult, directly challenging contestants' creative thinking and intelligence.

The contestants had to solve problems about managing a large quantity of information or statistics, calculating how to do reasonable shopping under limited conditions, finding right roads to make the shortest journey and solving equations.

Those writing the programme that produces the correct result in the least time are the winners.

By solving most of the problems correctly and taking the shortest time, the Thai students became the winner.

Assistant Prof Pizzanu Kanongchaiyos, a computer engineering lecturer at Chulalongkorn, said the faculty's students had competed in the contest three times in the past three years.

In the first two times, the best the students could do was rank among the top 10 universities with the highest scores. With more experience in the competition and better team management, they finally won it.

Pattara, Thanakorn and Sira told The Nation they had to continue practising solving programming problems otherwise they would not be fluent enough to write computer programmes to solve the problems quickly.

"Stopping practising only for three months, we will lag behind others, unable to do it fluently as before," Pattara said.

Teamwork was also the key to success for them, besides self-discipline in drills.

"With the time constraint, we had to manage the time we took |to solve each problem, and as the competition was done over 24 straight hours, we had to manage time to take turns having a short break, too.

"Our team could manage time well and separate the duties of each member effectively. Working under pressure, we felt stressed, but had to help everyone calm down," Thanakorn said.

Pattara said working together in good teamwork, they respected and trusted the ability of each other.

Sira said they had developed their analytical and systematic thinking, the skill needed for |problem solving after they had practised writing computer programmes before and during the competition.

"Without such thinking, we could not find proper or right answers. We have to analyse the problems and integrate our knowledge to find the best answers," Sira said.

Thinking skills were actually an important base of study in every field, he said.

Students interested in studying computer engineering should be enthusiastic about learning and keep updating themselves on new technologies, which change very fast in the digital world, they said.

Current computer engineering students who want to compete in IEEEXtreme or other similar programming contests locally and internationally should keep practising and learning how to work with others on their teams, they said.

Sira called on government agencies, like the Education Ministry, to provide more national programming contests and contests in other fields of studies that require practice to motivate more students to seriously improve their skills.

He wants the media to help promote the contests to make them known and popular so that more students will be interested in doing such activities that are useful for them.

-- The Nation 2012-01-30

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STAGE REVIEW

Bangkok's 'Wonder Boys'

At 24 years young, 'Calypso' is still one of the best stage shows in the city

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ks-wonder-boys/

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CHALK TALK

As govts come and go, Long-term goals lost in blizzard of new policies: Thai opinion

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

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Thailand is struggling to put a brave face on its human rights records: Opinion

Full story:

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Phuket Police hunting armed gunman after Bt700.000 bank robbery

GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS: The robber, caught here on one of the bank’s security cameras, was gone in less than a minute. Photo: Warisa Temram

Phuket City Police chief Chote Chidchai (right) questions branch assistant manager Boonlert Chaitaweesub. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....0-bank-robbery/

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Police probe fatal bike crash

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A young man died and his girlfriend was critically injured early yesterday when his speeding motorcycle was kicked over and stolen in Taling Chan district.

Panitat Suksee, 20, was killed instantly while his passenger, a student at a famous school, was taken to Vajira Hospital.

Witnesses said they heard a vehicle fall and hit the bridge across Bang Lim Canal at about 3.50am. They then saw some teenagers walking around a downed blueandwhite Fino for awhile until one pulled it up and took off with it. The other teens then left on two motorcycles.

"We are investigating the case further," said Pol Lt Colonel Surin Onsawang, a detective at Taling Chan Police Station.

Station superintendent Pol Colonel Ponganan Klaiklueng said Panitat's girlfriend was still unable to speak about the accident.

-- The Nation 2012-01-30

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Four local residents dead, five wounded in roadside attack on their vehicle in Pattani; One ranger wounded in assault on Pattani base /MCOT

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Ranger wounded in presumed insurgent attack on Pattani base

PATTANI, Jan 30 -- One Thai government ranger was wounded in a presumed insurgent assault on their Pattani base, while four local residents were killed, and five were wounded, in a roadside attack on their vehicle somewhat later.

The authorities believe the assailants in both incidents were the same group.

The victims were taken to Nong Chik hospital, were the wounded are being treated.

According to the authorities, an unknown number of men used an M-79 grenade launcher in their attack on ranger base in Nong Chik district, with one solder slightly wounded by fragments of the projectile.

The rangers pursued the attackers, attempting to capture the group. On the Pattani to Yala Route 418, they came on the wreck of a bullet-riddled pickup truck where they found four dead persons and five others wounded. All were taken to hospital.

The authorities initially believed the assailants attacked the ranger base, later firing on the pick up truck as they were fleeing

Investigators did not speculate regarding what group was responsible for the incidents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-30

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,076.25, down 0.04 points /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Don Mueang Airport to re-open for domestic flights on 6 March. Nok Air will return but Orient Thai is unsure (BkkPost)

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Democrat Party Denies False Accusations Against Pheu Thai over Criminal Law Amendment

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party spokesman exposed a video clip showing a former Pheu Thai Party MP announcing his support for an amendment to Article 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and stating that his party did not make false accusations against its political rivals.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai spokesman claimed there is an organized movement that is attempting to overthrow the government.

Democrat Party Spokesperson Chawanont Intarakomansut showed a video clip to the media in which former Pheu Thai Party MP candidate for Surat Thani Worawut Wichaidit declared his support for amendment to Article 112 of the Criminal Law, which concerns lese majeste offenses, in order to prove that the Democrat Party did not make false accusations against the other side.

Chawanont also insisted that the part of the book entitled Conversation with Thaksin that he called offensive to the monarchy was correctly translated from English by the press without distorting the truth or discrediting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He added that even a researcher at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, Pawin Chatchawanpongpan, pointed out that there is lese majeste content inside the book.

The Democrat spokesman said that if the ex-premier wants to take legal action against him, he should return to Thailand and file the lawsuit himself, instead of having his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama take care of it.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit claimed that there is a certain movement afoot that is attempting to topple the government that is made up of academics, journalists, and unruly soldiers.

Prompong said the group has its safe house in Buddha Monthon area and is garnering support from labor workers in Bangkok's surrounding provinces and farmer networks across the country.

He gave assurances about his party's allegiance to the monarchy and said his party will not push for the amendment as it does not benefit the public.

Phromphong noted that in the past five months, the government managed to block 60,000 websites with lese majeste contents, compared with 73,000 sites achieved by the previous administration over two years.

He added that tomorrow he will file for closure of additional websites with the Department of Special Investigation.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-30

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Water to be Discharged from Bhumibol & Sirikit Dams

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5015112

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PM Confident Overseas Trip Was a Success

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister is confident that her participation in the World Economic Forum was successful in restoring foreign investor confidence in Thailand.

She also denied the opposition’s claim that she was more concerned with dressing well for the event than working for the benefit of the country.

Upon her return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told the press that the event was a success and that she was able to inspire confidence in Thailand among foreign investors.

She informed attendees about the government’s long-term water management plan to address natural disasters.

Yingluck added that the latest terrorist warning has had no impact on confidence in Thailand.

She also had a chance to meet with leading businesspeople who expressed an interest in investing in the Kingdom because of its strategic location and the fact that it is and will continue to become a hub that links to other regions.

Yingluck said the water management plan is becoming more clear but since is it is a grand-scale plan, portions of the plan will be disclosed gradually to ensure clairty.

She affirmed that the government already has plans for dealing with this year’s rainy season and has asked everyone involved to coordinate with one another in addressing the problems.

Yingluck also refuted the opposition’s accusations that she acted like she was preparing to go down the runway instead of articulating her vision at the World Economic Forum, by saying she worked hard throughout the event.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-30

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Special report: Chiang Mai, another Bangkok?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....nother-bangkok/

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BMA speeds up canal dredging and floodways construction

BANGKOK, 30 January 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is speeding up the dredging of canals and construction of floodways in order to prevent possible flooding as more-than-usual rain is expected this year.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaipibul revealed that the BMA is preparing all measures to prevent flooding in the capital. Under the guidelines agreed with the Flood Relief Operation Center (FROC), floodways will be built, canals dredged, and clogged sewers cleared to let the water pass easily.

As for other parts of the country, the government will add more dykes, dredge canals and make monkey cheeks, or water retention, on waterways.

The BMA has set up a sub-committee overlooking the works of all related parties in the flood prevention and checking equipments for water drainage during the rainy season.

-- NNT 2012-01-30

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Thaksin: Successful Reconciliation Will Bring Thailand More Prosperity

Full story:

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Chiang Mai, another Bangkok?

Special report:

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Thai Army's Pa Muang Task Force clashes with drug smugglers on Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Mai, two drug traders killed /MCOT

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Corrections Department to Isolate Drug-Addicted Prisoners

BANGKOK: -- The Corrections Department is considering to separate drug-case inmates suspected of keeping up their connections with the illicit drug trade outside prison from other prisoners.

Corrections Department Director-General Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai said that today, the Corrections Department will call a meeting with prison commanders where drug-trading between inmates and outsiders has been reported.

The procedure involved identifying inmates with drug trade connections and discussing with the Corrections Department Deputy Director-General Kobkiat Kasiwat to launch stricter management measures.

Officials will seek for numbers and networks of inmates involved with drug trade connections.

Afterwards, suitable measures and equipment will be launched to prevent drug-trading between inmates and outsiders.

Suchart further talked about proposing the construction of a new prison to detain inmates with records of having connections with drug rings, saying that to build a new prison, there are various factors to be considered such as the budget, the people, and the time frame.

For this reason, the department will initially dedicate a zone in the Klong Pai Central Prison in Nakhon Ratchasima Province to detain drug inmates who are likely to be isolated in single cells.

This will be similar to zone 13 of the Klong Prem Central Prison where there are only drug-addicted prisoners.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-30

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Four shot dead by troops in Thai south: police

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Minburi to temporarily stop distributing water on Tuesday night

BANGKOK, 30 January 2012 (NNT) - The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has announced that it will, for the reason of inspection and maintenance work, stop distributing water in Min Buri district on Tuesday night.

The Min Buri Water Distribution Pumping Station will stop pumping water to households in order to check the long-distance control system on Tuesday night from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Residents are advised to store water if they are to use the water during the shutdown.

Areas that will have no water during the said period include Nimitr Mai, Ramindhra to 12th kilometer, Suwintawong, Pracha Ruam Mitr, Kuen Sampan, Romklao, Chao-kuntaharn, Chalongkrung, Sukapiban 2 and 3 as well as Eastern ring roads.

In addition, the MWA will also conduct a water pipe cleanup from around Wat Kan Lad to Soi Petch Hong 26 on Petch Hong road. It will stop distributing water in the area from 10 p.m. Tuesday night - 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

For more information, please call MWA contact center 1125 24 hours a day.

-- NNT 2012-01-30

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Rak Thailand leader Chuvit unveils photos of gambling dens; admits to being offered bribe to stop disclosing such info /TANN