Thailand Live Wednesday 22 Feb 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 22 February 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 21 Feb 2012

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BURNING ISSUE

Thaksin looks to victory at every level

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Thailand seeks handover of Iranian bomb suspect from Malaysia

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POLITICS

Ombudsman sets 30-day deadline for PM Yingluck to submit her defence: Hotel visit

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Foreign Diplomats To Meet With Thai Tourism Minister To Find Solutions To Tourist Scams

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O-NET

'What should you do if you feel a sexual urge?' - Parents question Thai exam format

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MONEY LAUNDERING

Help for SMEs affected by FATF action

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CONTROVERSIAL PM'S VISIT

Pracha 'proves' PM-Srettha meeting was above board

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ENVIRONMENT

Phu Kradung's 3.8km cable-car route settled

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Each to his own, and no changing course: Thai opinion

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EDITORIAL

Give all Thai women an equal chance to access fund cash

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Move to block 'tea money' for elite schools in Thailand

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Thai experts worry computer tablets will do more harm than good

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....harm-than-good/

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Opposition boycotts deal on charter debate

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Opposition yesterday boycotted a joint meeting of whips from the coalition, the Opposition and the Senate to discuss the framework for tomorrow's parliamentary deliberation on Constitutional amendment.

Chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanavisit (Democrat Party) told a press conference at Parliament that the boycott was called because the government had failed to comply with agreements reached at recent tripartite whips' meetings.

He cited a similar meeting where an agreement was reached on the framework for the recent parliamentary debate on the government's four executive decrees for post-flood borrowing of Bt350 billion. Jurin said the agreement - particularly the part involving the time allocated to opposition MPs - was ignored by government MPs, who took advantage of their voting majority to end the debate early, effectively silencing many opposition MPs.

Jurin said the Opposition wanted government assurances that the same thing would not happen during the upcoming parliamentary debate.

House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont, who is the ex-officio Parliament president, has scheduled tomorrow for parliamentary deliberation of three bills seeking amendment of Article 291 of the Constitution to allow establishment of a Constitution drafting assembly. The bills were separately proposed by the Cabinet, the ruling Pheu Thai Party, and the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party.

Other drafts presented by the civic sector, including the red shirts, were also submitted, but were not included in the upcoming debate, as identity verification for the several thousands of signatories was deemed too time-consuming.

Coalition and senatorial whips yesterday agreed to schedule tomorrow and Friday for joint sittings of the two Houses on the bills to amend the Constitution. It was agreed that the Senate, the Opposition, and the coalition would be each given eight hours of debating time, according to Pheu Thai MP Chonnan Srikaew, who is secretary to the coalition whips.

He said one hour and 30 minutes would be allocated for proponents of the three separate bills to present their drafts before Parliament.

Coalition MP Chonnan said that a 45-member vetting committee would be set up, with 10 members from the Senate and 35 from the Lower House - 19 from Pheu Thai, 11 Democrats, two from Bhum Jai Thai, and one each from Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana, and Palang Chon.

Meanwhile, Law Reform Committee chairman Kanit na Nakorn sent a letter to the Parliament president, asking that the debate on Constitutional amendment be postponed to allow time for drafts from the civic sector to be deliberated. The letter also mentioned that the Constitution drafting assembly should consist of people from various groups, and that other amendment drafts should be included in parliamentary deliberation.

-- The Nation 2012-02-22

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Thai workers lose Bt755m to bogus job offers

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Time for flood aid running out: BMA

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Wasan Meewong, spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), yesterday urged people who were affected by last year's floods to file their applications for the Bt5,000 government aid or additional funds before February 29.

Between November 30 and February 17, some 585,495 households in 42 districts have submitted documentation for the payment, and 532,580 of them have received BMA certification that is required for withdrawal. The BMA will be submitting information about 505,121 eligible households to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, which will then direct the Government Savings Bank to release funds, he said. Information is available at GSB.or.th/flood, he added.

Between January 12 and February 17, a total of 94,831 households in 31 districts have applied for additional aid, of whom 12 have been approved so far, he said. Under the government's flood-aid package, Bt20,000 will be given for partial home damage; Bt30,000 if the whole house is damaged; Bt25,000 for funeral expenses; two months of rent at the rate of Bt1,500 per month; and up to Bt10,000 for the damage of work materials.

-- The Nation 2012-02-22

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Life sentence upheld in singer's death

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court yesterday upheld the life sentence handed down to 48-year-old Somkid Pumpoung, who allegedly killed five sex workers, for the murder of cafe singer Warunee Pimpabutra, 25, in Mukdahan's Muang district.

The prosecution claimed Somkid confessed to killing Warunee and stealing her valuables worth Bt50,000 in a hotel room between January 30-31, 2005. The lower court had given him a death sentence for the murder and a three-year jail term for stealing. The term was reduced to life imprisonment because Somkid's confession had been useful to the case. The lower court also ordered him to pay Bt50,000 to the victim's family. The Appeals Court yesterday found Somkid guilty as charged, while witnesses had no motive in framing him as claimed.

-- The Nation 2012-02-22

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PUBLIC HEALTH

State schemes agree to median price: Thailand

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

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Iphone 5 To Launch In October?

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Constitution Court to rule whether 2 financial decrees are valid at 2pm /TANN

Heavy fog reported in many areas in BKK, motorists urged to use caution /TANN

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Chalerm: Isaan Set To Become Drug-Free Region

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Students returning from night out slam their vehicle into a tree and vehicle fell into ditch in Songkhla, 6 dead /TANN

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Krabi tourist vans slam into fallen karst boulder

The driver of the first van missed the main boulder but struck a large fragment, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. Photo: Warisa Temram

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AROUND THAILAND

International Kite Festival in Cha Am district

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RT @mpoppel: How sad: Poachers in Cameroon kill up to 300 elephants in one month alone

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Chalerm Notified of Suspicious Stickers Connected to BKK's Triple Blast Incident

BANGKOK: -- The Deputy Prime Minister insisted that the police is now expediting the process to investigate the Bangkok Triple Blast Incident.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung claimed that the police has already been notified regarding the latest piece of evidence in their investigation of the Bangkok Triple Blast Incident.

Police found fifty-two stickers bearing the word "Sejeal" that are posted along Ploenchit Road. Officials believe the stickers may have been used to mark specific locations for a terrorist attack. Chalerm said he instructed the Immigration Bureau to inspect houses rented by foreigners. He reaffirmed that the government could handle the situation.

In addition, Chalerm said he will inform the Foreign Affairs Ministry as well as the Tourism and Sports Ministry regarding problem solutions during a mobile Cabinet meeting in Udon Thani Province.

Regarding the extradition of another suspect who is captured in Malaysia, Chalerm conceded there is no extradition agreement between Thailand and Malaysia. However, he said Malaysia would uphold the previous contract, which it has signed during under the British Empire.

Moreover, Chalerm said he totally opposed in the event that the government will quickly mandate the laws concerning money laundering and terrorism financing to meet international standards as was requested by the Financial Action Task Force or FATF.

Chalerm pointed out that Thailand should mandate any laws in tandem with the country's code of conduct and should be thoroughly considered via the parliamentary process.

In response, Opposition Party Leader Abhisist Vejjajiva blasted Chalerm's stance, saying that Chalerm did not place importance on the matter.

He said the FATF's decision would damage the investment sector and the country as a whole. Abhisit pointed out that the two bills would adversely affect some government supporters. Consequently, the Democrats will thoroughly inspect the issue.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-22

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,144.16, up 3.77 points /MCOT

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Four die in extreme martial arts tests in Indonesia

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Poachers in Cameroon kill up to 300 elephants in one month alone

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