Thailand Live Friday 24 Feb 2012

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Unregistered Animals To Be Confiscated From Wildlife Friends Foundation

The director of the National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department has instructed officials to move unregistered animals from the Wildlife Friends Foundation in Petchaburi Province. Many officials from the foundation attempted to block them from taking animals.

Wildlife Friends Foundation officials attempted to block police and officials from the National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department from seizing unregistered animals.

Officials were led by the Director of the National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department, Damrong Pidej. Registered animals have not been moved.

Meanwhile, Edwin Wick has instructed officials of Wildlife Friends Foundation to not post any photos or damaging messages on Internet websites regarding the government sector again, and that the government will prosecute anyone who posts false messages that damage the government's reputation.

Damrong said officials were just doing their duty according to the animal conservation law of Thailand and did not intend to persecute or slander. Meanwhile, most of the animals seized are healthy and ready to return to the natural forest.

He added that the Wildlife Friends Foundation have been prosecuted before for possessing unregistered animals. There were 271 animals of 26 species at the foundation, and 103 animals of 15 species are not registered. The seized animals will be transferred to the Pra Tup Chang Mountain Wildlife Breeding Center and other foundations.

During the process of transferring the unregistered animals, a total of ten outsiders came in and shouted angrily at officials from the Wildlife Friends Foundation that they used the donated funds to benefit their own interests.

Even though the conflict intensified to a heated argument, there were no reports of physical violence.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Thailand: One thousand Red Villages open in Isaan

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Red light confusion ends in Phuket pickup sideswipe

Phuket Police believe the white Ford Ranger hit the braking Mazda from behind, then sheared up alongside it before both vehicles finally came to a stop. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

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Lampang's Excise Department Seizes Over 24,000 Liters of Adulterated Petrol 91

LAMPANG: -- Excise officials and Lampang police officers have seized petrol from a station, after receiving complaints that the station was selling adulterated petrol. It's thought that the petrol was smuggled from neighboring countries and mixed with sub-standard oil, before being sold to consumers.

Excise officials and Lampang police officers have collected samples of petrol from a station in Borhaew subdistrict in Lampang's Muang District, following complaints that it was selling adulterated petrol.

Some customers' cars have broken down after filling up petrol at the station.

The samples showed that the petrol is in fact sub-standard.

Authorities believe the petrol was smuggled from neighboring countries.

The owner of the station insists the petrol was purchased from the oil refinery in Saraburi Province, and that taxes have been paid.

However, when the owner was asked to show tax documents, he could not.

For this reason, officials have seized more than 24,000 liters of adulterated gasoline 91, worth more than one million baht. They have charged the owner with possessing untaxed items.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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CDA Members to be Elected by People

BANGKOK: -- The Prime Minister has pledged that the Constitution Drafting Assembly members must be elected by the public.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the constitution amendment will pave the way for the establishment of the Constitution Drafting Assembly or CDA, allowing people to participate in the CDA-member selection process.

She added that the door is still open for comments and members of the public are entitled to express their opinions.

The premier said the new charter will reflect the real needs of the people once they have participated in the amendment process.

Additionally, the CDA will be set up through the parliamentary process. The method for selecting CDA members must be determined, and premier said she hopes the amendment will not lead to conflicts in society.

Moreover, the premier said she sent a Pheu Thai representative on her behalf to file a defamation suit against three Democrat MPs, namely Thepthai Senpong, Sirichok Sopa, and Democrat spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomal-yasut, for allegedly defaming her over the Four Seasons Hotel controversy. She said she did so in order to protect her dignity and her reputation.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Facebook popular with Bangkok residents: ABAC Poll

BANGKOK, Feb 24 - Most Bangkokians use Facebook as a means to communicate, but almost half the respondents said they encounter obscenity when using social media, according to the latest Assumption University ABAC poll released on Friday.

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Metropolitan police seize another motorcycle believed to have belonged to Iranian bomb suspects /TANN

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Police Ordered to Crackdown on Meth Ingredient

BANGKOK: -- An assistant police chief has ordered the Region 5 Provincial Police Bureau to suppress the spreading of pseudoephedrine, one of the main ingredients of methamphetamine.

Assistant Police Chief Police Lieutenant General Jaramporn Suramanee has met with anti-drug officials from the Region 5 Provincial Police Bureau and public health authorities in Chiang Mai Province over the recent surge of pseudoephedrine, one of the main ingredients of methamphetamine, in the surrounding areas.

On February 18, police seized more than 130,000 psedoephedrine pills during a raid in San Kamphaeng District of Chiang Mai.

One pseudoephedrine pill could be extracted to make three methamphetamine pills. Even though the chemical compound has been designated a controlled substance, it still being distributed freely across the country for the methamphetamine productions.

The assistant police chief has explicitly ordered the police force to step up the investigation and asset forfeiture to clamp down on the drug producers.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Disaster expert advises govt to construct dams around Gulf of Thailand

BANGKOK, 24 February 2012 (NNT) - A disaster expert has advised the government to construct dams around the Gulf of Thailand, from Chachoengsao province to Cha-am district in Phetchaburi province.

National Disaster Warning Council chairman Smith Thammasaroj said that the proposed dams will protect inner areas of the country from flooding due to a higher sea level in the Gulf of Thailand. Mr Smith, who is also a member of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, or SCWRM, said scientific studies indicate that chances are definite for Thailand to be hit by natural disasters; however, the technology is still unable to tell when and where they will occur.

Mr Smith said man-made dams in China and Egypt are stimulating the collapse of the earth because both dams have sustained water that is supposed to flow to the equator.

The disaster expert predicted that tsunami could reoccur in possibly two locations of the country, namely the west coast of southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea, from Ranong to Satun provinces, and the east coast facing the Gulf of Thailand. According to him, the region that should be safest from flooding in Thailand is the Northeast. He cited a study by Harvard University academics as saying that Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom provinces would be permanently flooded in the future. He said, therefore, construction of dams around the Gulf is needed to prevent sea water from flowing in.

-- NNT 2012-02-14

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Senator proposes members of upper chamber, independent organisations resign

BANGKOK:-- Phatthalung Senator Charoen Phakdeewanich Friday proposed that senators and members of all charter-sanctioned independent organisations should resign once a new charter is enacted.

He said after the new charter takes effect, all new senators should be elected and new independent organisations should be appointed under rules of the new charter.

Charoen was speaking during the debate of charter amendment bills, which continued for the second day Friday.

-- The Nation 2012-02-24

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Watana says 2007 destroys check and balance of three branches

BANGKOK:-- Pheu Thai party-list MP Watana Muangsuk Friday said the current Constitution had tilted the power to the judiciary and destroyed the check and balance among the three branches of power.

Speaking during charter amendment bill debate, Watana said the executive and Parliament could check each other but no one could check the power of the judiciary.

He said a new charter should be drafted to reform the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holder of Political Office.

-- The Nation 2012-02-24

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Charter amendment debate suspended 15 minutes following heated exchange of criticisms

BANGKOK:-- The charter amendment debate was suspended for 15 minutes after Pheu Thai and Democrat MPs exchanged heated criticisms related to the 2010 crackdowns on red-shirt people.

Deputy Senate Speaker Thiradej Meepian decided to suspend the meeting for 15 minutes at 1 pm after the MPs were engaged in a debate irrelevant to charter amendment.

The exchanged of criticisms started after a Pheu Thai MP mentioned the 2010 crackdowns, prompting Democrat's former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban to protest.

Suthep and Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan then exchanged criticisms until Thiradej cut them short by suspending the meeting.

-- The Nation 2012-02-24

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Phuket Blues Festival and Blue Sky Air Show set to play to large crowds this weekend

Irish rocker Grainne Duffy will be among the stars on stage tonight at the Phuket International Blues Rock Fest.

World-renowned stunt pilot Les Vorosmarthy will be amazing the crowds at the Phuket Blue Sky Air Show over Surin Beach tomorrow afternoon. Photo: Norman Yusof

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Concert to Honor King Next Saturday

BANGKOK: -- A concert featuring Thai and international hits will be held next Saturday in honor of His Majesty the King.

The "Tham Puea Por" Concert aims to pay homage to His Majesty the King and encourage Thais to do good for peace and unity of the whole nation.

More than ten leading artists will perform, including Pod Modern Dog, Bee Peerapat, Pan Thanaporn , rocker Pong Hin Lek Fai, Ben Chalatit, Koh Mr. Saxman, Nat Sakdatorn, and Dee Nitipong. The executive producer of this concert is famous musician Pusit Laithong.

Songs will also be rewritten into special versions for the audience to enjoy.

Flute master Thanis Sriklindee and saxophonist Koh Mr.Saxman talked about this concert, saying that they enjoyed rehearsals so much, and that they expect the concert to be one of the best this year.

The concert will be held on March 3, at 7 P.M., at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Police seize motorcycle thought linked to Sukhumvit blasts

BANGKOK, Feb 24 - Thai police on Friday found a motorcycle believed to be used by Iranian suspects alleged to be involved with Bangkok's blasts on Valentine's Day.

The motorcycle was recovered at Soi Boonyoo, Dindaeng Road on Feb 15.

A motorbike taxi rider spotted the vehicle and informed the police. Trained in a police course to notice the unusual or out of place in an anti-crime capacity, he brought it to police attention.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong said the seized motorbike was believed to have been bought by Iranian suspect Mohammad Hazaei from a Thai owner as the motorcycle ignition key was found in the Sukhumvit 71 house rented by the group of Iranians where the first explosion occurred.

Gen Winai said the former Thai owner was identified as Somporn Klaharn and that police will invite him in for questioning. The motorcycle was registered in the central province of Ang Thong, next to Ayutthaya.

Meanwhile, Sophon Thitithammapruek, commander of Bangkok Remand Prison, said Friday that the authorities have closely monitored detained suspect Mohammad Hazaei to prevent a possible suicide attempt since the suspect has been obviously under stress.

Mr Hazaei said he could not sleep and asked for a change of his cell, said the prison commander, but his request was rejected as the room where he was staying was already safe.

Mr Hazaei, a suspect in the Sukhumvit bomb incidents, was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Feb 14 as he tried to leave the country. He is now being detained at the high-security Bangkok Remand Prison after court approved a further 12-day detention.

He was charged with conspiracy to make and possess explosive devices intended to cause harm to others. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-24

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RT @RichardBarrow: ราคาบัตรเลดีกาก้า Lady Gaga in Bangkok, ticket prices are 1,500 2,500 3,500 4,500 & 7,000 Baht /via @Punpaniang

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SET index closed at 1146.14, up 6.07; Bt/USD30.30; GBP47.54; AUD32.31; EUR40.41; CAD30.16; HKD3.90; SGD23.95; JPY37.41

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Police Step Up Patrol of Tourist Districts

BANGKOK: -- The Metropolitan Police Bureau has stepped up patrol in Sukhumvit Soi 71 and Soi Nana, areas densely populated by foreigners, to assure tourists of security.

Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Saroj Promcharoen has led patrol of Sukhumvit Soi 71 and Sukhumvit Soi 1 and 3 or Soi Nana area, which are areas densely populated by foreigners.

The police has also set up checkpoints to conduct searches of suspicious vehicles and inspect Middle Eastern-owned businesses in the area.

Saroj said that the increased patrol aim to ensure peace and order in the areas which are populated by a large number of foreigners, particularly those from Middle East countries. It is also to deter crime and rebuild tourists' confidence in Thailand.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Two Escape in Phattalung Prison Break

PHATTALUNG: -- Two inmates, who were charged with drug possession, have escaped from a prison in Phattalung Province. The authorities are still pursuing them.

Late last night, 28 year-old Prommin Charoensuk from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and 35 year-old Chaichana Taenmak from Trang Province escaped from Phattalung Prison.

They used a saw blade to cut their chains and the iron bars on the windows and scaled the prison's wall to escape.

The two are jailed on charges of narcotics possession. They were transferred to the Phattalung Prison from Trang Prison following a riot there on February 6.

Phattalung police and Phattalung prison officials rushed to search for the runaway inmates but have not found them yet. They have coordinated with police stations at the domiciles of the two inmates to be on the lookout for them in case they decide to return home.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

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Taxi Driver Poses as Military Officer, Robs Foreign Passengers

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver claimed he was a military officer and used a tyre iron to threaten and rob two foreign passengers in front of Rama IX Soi 62. He was later arrested by the Hua Mak Police who were able to identified the driver from the number plate taken down by the victims of the robbery.

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Conspiracy case hits dead end

BANGKOK:-- The investigation into an alleged plot to topple the monarchy has hit a dead end and may become a cold case, Pavesana Mulpramook, deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation, said Friday.

"Unless the graphic found can explain how the plot was hatched and carried out, investigators have no more leads left to pursue," he said.

Pavesana was referring to a chart on the alleged conspiracy plot that was circulated by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation in the midst of redshirt related political turmoil in April 2010.

He said four military officers attached to the CRES would give their statements on March 6 in order to shed light on the chart. If they fail to explain it, then the case would collapse because even Suthep Thaugsuban, who was CRES director, cannot recall how the chart came about to be linked to the conspiracy theory, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-02-24

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PM to have audience with HM the King to report on water resource management plan

BANGKOK, Feb 24 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will today have an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to report on the progress of the water resource management plan and flood prevention measures.

Ms Yiingluck will lead members of two panels -- the Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management (SCWRM) and the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) -- to have an audience with HM the King at Siriraj Hospital's Chalermprakiat Building at 5.30pm.

She was expected to present him with the water resource management plan -- both short term and long term – as she inspected upstream, midstream and downstream areas Feb 13-17 to review progress in resolving the nation’s flood challenges.

The urgent issue is to set priorities for flood-related projects by the end of May, particularly to locate 2 million rai (800,000 acres) of water retention areas and to dredge waterways to facilitate the flow of water into the sea.

She said the government has found 1.5 million rai of land suitable for water retention and that people living there would be fully compensated.

The Interior Ministry will implement new town plans for 12 provinces to make the areas more suitable as floodways following last year’s flood crisis. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-24

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Deputy PM Kittiratt: Bt30 billion to construct riverside flood walls.

BANGKOK, Feb 23 – Following the Constitution Court ruling on Wednesday in favour of the legality of two executive financial decrees, one urgent task is to construct riverside flood prevention walls with a budget of at least Bt30 billion, said Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong.

Construction of flood prevention walls along the rivers are aimed at replacing sandbag embankment used during the flood crisis last year.

The decrees will allow the government to borrow Bt350 billion in loans and transfer debt from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) to the central bank.

It is the duty of the House Speaker to present the motion to Parliament for consideration and the government is ready to clarify that while administrative work on water management will be done in parallel, Mr Kittiratt said.

Another Bt60 billion of budget will be allocated to implement a floodway project with two million rai (800,000 acres) of land to be used as water retention areas, he said. The government has conducted a survey and found the appropriate 1.5-million rai (600,000 acres) plots of land.

The budget has already included compensation money to be paid for residents in those areas.

The deputy prime minister said the government does not have to shoulder the burden of the FIDF of Bt60 billion a year, so the government will have more budget left for developing the country.

In the 2013 fiscal year, the government does not need to allocate the budget of Bt20 billion for water management.

As a result, the government can use Bt80 billion to cut the budget deficit target to Bt300 billion from the projected 2012 deficit budget of Bt400 billion. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-24

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One thousand good behavior inmates to be selected to help dredge 3,000km drainage ditches in housing estates in BKK to prevent future flood; they will be paid 200Baht/day, prison terms reduced one day per each day worked/MCOT

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RT@Aim_NT: Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is starting closing speech for charter change debate. Pheu Thai's Sunai Chulpongsatorn will be the last.

RT@Aim_NT: Facts and many signs has signalled charter change would not lead to democracy and unity as desired: Abhisit.

RT@Aim_NT: If you say fruit's poisonous as it comes from poisonous tree, no end to conflicts as all current Parliament members came from same charter: Abhisit

RT@Aim_NT: Eventually, whether it is democratic depends on political cultures: Abhisit.

RT@Aim_NT: Both 1997 and 2007 charters have flaws. We did not ignore but have amended part of the 2007 charter as promised: Abhisit.

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RT@Aim_NT: In 2009 we faced turmoil and set up a committee that resulted in changes to 6-7 points of the charter.: Abhisit.

RT@Aim_NT: Chalerm protesting Abhisit saying he talked out of the point.

RT@Aim_NT: Abhisit was talking abt Pheu Thai's attack why the Democrats did not propose change to party dissolution law.

RT@Aim_NT: Speaker asked Chalerm to sit down. "Are you afraid of him? Are you afraid of Democrat leader?," Chalerm said.

RT@Aim_NT: Democrat Rangsima asked Speaker to have Chalerm checked of alcohol level whether he was drunk.

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RT@Aim_NT: Sunai to Chalerm: I'll let you throw all your anger on me later.

RT@Aim_NT: Senate Speaker calls a meeting break again!

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RT@Aim_NT: Back to the meeting.

RT@Aim_NT: "How can I be confident in my safety?" Democrat Rangsima on Chalerm being drunk.

RT@Aim_NT: Abhisit continues: I never agreed w/ party dissolution as a party belongs to the members. I agreed w/ right revocation for party executives.

RT@Aim_NT: We didn't propose change to party dissolution law to prevent accusation of doing for our own power: Abhisit.

RT@Aim_NT: If the reasons for scraping the whole charter are as cited in Pheu Thai's and CTP's drafts, that's dangerous: Abhisit.

RT@Aim_NT: It would destroy checks-and balance system and independent agencies. Majority votes authorised the elected people only under limit: Abhisit.

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RT@Aim_NT: Promising not to change the system from constitutional monarchy or form of state's not enough as status of the monarchy can still be hurt: Abhisit

RT@Aim_NT: Abhisit: pls write in the draft that the new charter change will not change Chapters 1, 2, not hurt the independence of independent agencies

RT@Aim_NT: Abhisit proposed 2 members of Constitution Drafting Assembly come fr each province but voters can only vote for 1 candidate.

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RT@Aim_NT: Abhisit finished his closing statement. Sunai is beginning. #CDA debate

​RT@Aim_NT: Sunai Chulpongsatorn: we have expected we would have to suffer hearing the statements that are against our belief. The suffering's testing us

​RT@Aim_NT: Sunai thanks Rangsima for forgiving for "some mistakes".

RT@Aim_NT: I am ready for reconciliation. Many Pheu Thai asked me to counter all issues Abhisit says. I won't do that: Sunai.

RT@Aim_NT: We have to trust the people as they are politically mature and have judgement for themselves: Sunai said after referring his party had won the election.