Thailand Live Monday 6 Feb 2012

[webfact]

Thailand's Constitution Court Accepts Review Of 2 Financial Decrees

Full story:

[webfact]

Illegal Logging to be Raided and Seized

BANGKOK: -- The metropolitan police have raided a warehouse that stores illegally processed Payoong woods in Samut Prakan Province, while around 100 pieces of illegally proceessed Payoong woods have been seized in Srisaket Province.

Authorities believe this form of illegal logging took place along Thai-Cambodian border.

After receiving reports of smuggling timber for exportation to other countries, the Metropolitan Police Bureau Investigation Department Bureau 3 Director, Police Major Manop Nuamleewong has brought the metropolitan police to raid an unnamed warehouse at Soi Nitra Sawan Hotel of Sukhumvit Road in Pak Nam Subdistrict in Samut Prakan’s Muang District.

The authorities found a lot of evidence, including a number of Payoong woods that were one to two meters long and processed Payoong wood casings in 31 white plastic canvas that were two meters high and wide, along with other logging equipment, such as six chainsaws and three axes.

Sixty-eight pieces of Payoong woods were also discovered on a six-wheel pickup truck.

Four workers have been arrested at the warehouse.

Police officers estimate that the properties in dispute will be worth a total of 70 million baht if transported to other countries.

Authorities believe these woods were transported from the eastern region, which will be stored and processed at the warehouse, and that the destination to be exported is China.

The four workers are under the interrogation to hunt down the entrepreneurs behind.

In Sisaket Province, police believe illegal logging has taken place along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The Srisaket Police Chief Police Major General Pongwud Pongsri disclosed that approximately 100 pieces of illegally processed Payoong woods, which were worth a total of more than ten million baht, have been seized at the Lao Kwang Subdistrict in Nonkoon District.

From the investigation of those Payoong woods, they expected the smugglers have been illegally logging at along the Thai-Cambodian border, and that the woods will be stored before transporting to neighboring countries.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-06

[webfact]

100 Trang prison inmates riot

TRANG, Feb 6 – Some 100 inmates at Trang prison rioted Monday morning, protesting what they described as harsh conditions in jail after the transfer of a warder.

The prisoners set tyres and their mattresses afire, and used slingshots against prison guard but no casualties were reported.

An initial investigation found that the riot was caused by inmate dissatisfaction over the transfer of Subin Thanasapkasem, warder of zone 2, to other department.

The prisoners claimed the removal of their warder worsened their living conditions.

Trang Governor Seni Jittakasem, prison commander Krit Wongvech and police commander Pol Maj-Gen Sakorn Thongmunee rushed to the scene to negotiate with Zone 2 inmates after being informed of the riot.

After two hours had passed, the negotiation between the prison authorities and the inmates had not concluded.

Two fire engines were dispatched to extinguish the fires at the prison while more than 150 policemen and territorial defence volunteers were deployed to contain the situation. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-06

[webfact]

Prayuth calls on Nitirat to stop Article 112 campaign

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Monday called on the Nitirat group of academics to stop campaign on lese-majesty law amendment, saying it would lead to confrontation and eventually affect His Majesty.

Prayuth said efforts to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code always led to confrontations of two groups of people.

The Army chief said both sides should stop their campaigns immediately.

He said no one should use the Article 112 as a tool to create turmoil and disturbance and the society should not support the efforts to create turbulence on this issue.

Prayuth said if conflicts occur, certain persons would blame His Majesty the King for the conflicts again.

Prayuth said it was unlikely that Article 112 would be abused to persecute political opponents because lese-majeste cases always needed to be screened by two tiers of officers.

First, police had to consider whether to take action against alleged violators of the article or otherwise. Prayuth said that police mostly opted to take no action against those who violated the law without intention or who were lured into doing it.

Secondly, public prosecutors had to consider the investigative reports of the police.

Prayuth said although several sides said they were campaigning for the sake of monarchy, they were creating rifts instead.

The Army chief said the King did not get involved in the conflicts and always has mercy for all groups of people. The King himself has never asked the authorities to charge anyone and always pardoned convicts in the lese-majeste cases

-- The Nation 2012-02-06

[webfact]

UTCC: Corruption in Thailand sees improvement

BANGKOK, 6 February 2012 (NNT) – The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has announced that the Corruption Situation Index for December 2011 saw improvement and that more people are willing to help fight corruption.

The survey carried out by the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting of the UTCC found that the corruption situation in Thailand in December 2011 improved a notch, as the index slightly rose from the 3.5 of the previous year to 3.6 out of 10.

Similarly, the Corruption Trend Index also saw progress and currently stands at 3.9, reflecting that Thailand’s corruption situation is getting better. However, 75.7% of the respondents are still concerned with corruption in post-flood revival projects. Meanwhile, the majority viewed that the severity of corruption in Thailand has increased.

In comparison with a previous survey conducted in June 2011, disapproval of corruptiion in the government despite its hard work to benefit the society grew to 64%. At the same time, there is also an increase in the public’s readiness to report cases of corruption to authorities.

As much as 78% viewed that the current government is inefficient in fighting corruption, whereas only 8% thought the opposite. Meanwhile, 81% of the respondents are willing to cooperate in fights against corruption.

Business entrepreneurs dealing with the public sector say they still have to pay as much as 25% of the total project budget to corrupt civil servants and politicians in order to win a contract. It has been reported that corruption has caused a whopping THB220 billion, or 1.5-2% of the country’s GDP, in the budget allocation of durable articles, land and construction.

-- NNT 2012-02-06

[webfact]

Pol insp gen confirms existence of 9 casinos around BKK;proposes transfer of Chokchai,Wangthonglarng,Huamak,Romklao,Pathum Thani pol chiefs /TANN

[webfact]

Drought hits many provinces, mainly in North

CHIANG RAI, Feb 6 – Still recovering from last year’s record flooding, Thailand is now facing a new natural disaster: drought.

Several provinces in northern Thailand face a shortage of water for household use and farming as rainfall has declined or even stopped altogether for months in some areas.

The northern province of Chiang Rai is experiencing full-scale drought. The main rivers have run dry and more than 70,000 rais (28,000 acres) of farmland lacks water due to the absence of rainfall for the past three months.

As a result, the amount of water in waterways has rapidly dropped including in the Lao River, a key tributary of the Kok River, which dried up a month ago. Local residents have no water for growing crops and sand dunes have appeared in some areas as winds sweep the dry soil from place to place.

Chiang Rai Governor Thanin Suphasaen declared six districts disaster zones after the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office reported that drought has so far affected 14,959 households.

In Phitsanulok, Governor Preecha Ruangchan announced three districts as disaster zones and ordered the local disaster agency to open centres at city hall and in all districts to dispense initial assistance to residents who have asked for clean drinking water.

Military personnel are delivering potable water supplies to help residents of Wang Thong as there is no water in the local ponds.

Meanwhile, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Monday reported five provinces having disaster zones due to drought -- Kamphaeng Phet, Lamphun and Sukhothai in the North, the eastern province of Chanthaburi, and the northeastern province of Loei. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-06

[webfact]

SET closes up by 4.58 points at 1,103.53 at the midday Mon break with value of Bt13.49 bn /TANN

[Lite Beer]

Thailand hosts 1st Global Alcohol Policy Conference Feb 13-15; worldwide 800 public health experts to attend to frame policy, direction on alcoholic drinks control

/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Trang prison riot under control; prison commander meets with inmates, reaches solution/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@Aim_NT: The red shirts led by Thida Thawornseth & Jatuporn Promphan r having seminar on political situation, charter amendment in NakhonNayok. (NNA)

[Lite Beer]

PM asks Nitirat Group to show respect to Monarchy; says Deputy PM Kittirat will clarify 2 financial decrees/TANN

[webfact]

Thai Immigration arrest 65-year-old British national on child abuse charges

Full story:

[webfact]

Soapy Clip Of Coyote Girls Become Viral In Thailand

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....al-in-thailand/

[webfact]

BMA Denies Flood Compensation Delay

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the government confirm that compensation for flood victims will not be delayed.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, Spokesman Wasant Meewong disclosed flood relief compensation is likely to be sped up since the Cabinet has given its approval on the issue on January 31.

He further affirmed that officials from the BMA are working hard to immediately provide compensation for flood victims.

Meanwhile, acting Government Spokesperson Thitima Chaiseang said the process of providing 5,000 baht compensation for flood victims of the BMA could be slightly delayed due to many needed procedures, including attaching photos of flooded homes. However, she confirmed there should be no other obstacles regarding the matter.

Furthermore, Thitima disclosed that the prime minister has not mentioned her replacement in the post of government spokeswoman as a suitable person has not been found. Thitima has been transferred to the post of deputy secretary-general to the prime minister but stays on as acting government spokesperson.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-06

[webfact]

MOPH warns of the spreading of dengue fever

BANGKOK, 5 February 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has warned the public to be aware of the dengue fever outbreak due to the precipitation at winter’s end. So far this year, more than 300 people are reported to have contracted the disease.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri pointed out water retaining in puddles, plant pot saucers, and old tires caused by occasional rainfall in many areas would become breeding grounds for common house mosquitoes, leading to the spreading of the dengue fever despite the winter season.

In order to prevent the disease, Mr. Witthaya has assigned public health officials to seek cooperation from local people in eliminating possible breeding grounds on a weekly basis.

According to Permanent Secretary for Public Health MD Paijit Warachit, during January 1-19, 2012 there have been 332 patients infected with the dengue virus in Thailand with one death reported, whereas the number of the patients in the same period of last year was 291 with no death.

-- NNT 2012-02-06

[webfact]

Strong quake strikes central Philippines, two dead

Full story:

[webfact]

US lifts terrorism warning, seven other nations retain warning

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5034247

[webfact]

Chalerm: No Extrajudicial Killings in Drug Crackdown

Full story:

[webfact]

Coalition whips endorse Pheu Thai charter amendment bill

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The coalition whips resolved Monday to endorse the Pheu Thai Party's bill to amend Article 291 of the Constitution seeking to set up a 99-member constitution drafting assembly.

Pheu Thai MP Udomdet Ratanasathien, chairman of the coalition coordination committee on parliamentary affairs, said the whips resolved to have their parties convene a meeting on Tuesday to endorse the bill, which will be submitted to Parliament on Thursday.

The bill seeks to election 77 CDA members, one from each province and the bill will empower MPs and senators to select 22 other CDA members.

-- The Nation 2012-02-06

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1094.01, down 4.94; Bt/USD30.78; GBP48.48; AUD32.89; EUR40.15; CAD30.75; HKD3.96; SGD24.57; JPY39.95

[webfact]

Transportation still the number one issue over Phuket airport's expansion project

Artists impression of the check-in hall at Phuket’s improved airport. Photo: AOT

Flying Officer Chaturongkapon believes both terminals will be completed by 2015. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Full story:

[webfact]

Austrian MD of Red Bull Company falls to his death from Pattaya Apartment Complex

Full story:

[webfact]

Thai police bust Bangkok rare wildlife 'butchers'

Full story:

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 7 Feb 2012

Full story: