Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Feb 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 29 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 28 Feb 2012

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Thai 'Yellow Shirt' founder Sondhi Limthongkul jailed for 20 years

Full story:

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Charter intrigue deepens: Thai analysis

'Blueprint' for dissolution of two courts contains double-barrelled irony

Full story:

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Dams in Thailand to be kept 50 to 60% full

BANGKOK: -- The government is adjusting its water-management plan in line with His Majesty's advice and the current situation. Under the new scheme, the volume of water in dams will no longer be kept at or below 45 per cent of their total capacity.

Full story:

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Bt5 hike in toll likely next year: Bangkok expressway system

BANGKOK: -- Drivers are likely to have to pay an additional Bt5 per trip to use the expressway system next year, as Bangkok Expressway (BECL) is considering seeking Cabinet approval for such an increase.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ressway-system/

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Deputy PM Chalerm files more police complaints over 'drunk' allegation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung announced yesterday that he had filed police complaints against three Democrat MPs and two more daily newspapers for saying that he looked drunk during the parliamentary debate last Friday.

Full story:

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3 Thai provinces in North still unsafe: Air pollution

CHIANG RAI: -- The northern provinces of Lampang, Phayao and Chiang Rai continued to endure dust - or PM10 - levels beyond the safety standard of 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air yesterday, but in other provinces the pollution situation returned to normal.

Full story:

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POLITICS

PM denies Bantoon forced out; cites health concerns

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that her secretary-general, Bantoon Supakvanit, resigned for health reasons, not political pressure.

Full story:

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Drunken MPs - Sex, soccer, wine and a toasted charter: Thai opinion

Drunken MPs embarrassing themselves on the House floor before a national TV audience?

BANGKOK: -- If that is news, I'm certainly missing something. As long as no one starts sniffing cocaine and performing a striptease in front of the cameras, let's chill out. Most of all, it was just a debate on how we should change the highest law of the land.

Full story:

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What happens elsewhere can have an effect in Thailand

Full story:

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NCB'S 2011 REPORT

Thailand faces increasing drug problems as opium production rises

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Southeast Asia face increasing drug problems following a boost in methamphetamine abuse and the expansion of poppy plantations in Burma and Laos, according to the 2011 report released yesterday by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

Full story:

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Flood projects cut heavily

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Budget Bureau has slashed the allocations for some flood-related projects by nearly Bt1 billion, a source said yesterday.

According to official documents, the government had asked for Bt44.14 billion for many projects including a hike in the compensation paid to farmers with high-cost crops and the repair of the Air Force's flood-damaged military equipment, the source said.

However, the Budget Bureau confirmed just Bt35.53 billion, the source said.

Also yesterday, the Cabinet approved the launch of www.pmocflood.com tomorrow to report on the progress of assistance programmes for flood victims.

The website will allow visitors to monitor how the government has been using the budget for flood rehabilitation.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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Villagers fight plans to set up new garbage-run power plant

Sanom Boonjanteuk

The Nation

Phetchabun

PHETCHABUN: -- Some 2,000 demonstrators camped outside the Na Ngua Municipality Office in Phetchabun's Muang district yesterday to protest against the community's garbage-fuelled power-plant project.

They feared it would bring pollution and environmental damage to their neighbourhood.

The group, comprising residents of 13 villages in Tambon Na Ngua, demanded an explanation from Mayor Tho Phetchtad as to why the municipality had hired Sermsap Paisal Group 1999 to build the large garbage incinerator in the area.

The villagers said they disagreed with the project, for which an environmental impact assessment was underway but no public hearings had been conducted on its possible pollution and environmental effects. They wanted the mayor to end the project immediately, or they would sign a petition to remove him from his position, the group said.

Villager Nak Pulma, 77, said Tho's hiring of the company, without asking for the villagers' opinions first, was an abuse of authority for his own gain rather than the majority's benefits.

The villagers also read out a municipal letter, in which Tho approved the construction of an environment-friendly and pollution-free garbage incinerator to generate electricity of 4 megawatts per hour on a 50-rai plot in Ban Na Ngua Pattana Moo 13. It was also approved by the municipality.

The letter said the company's engineer was hired to plan the facility for Bt4.5 million.

The protest dissolved in the afternoon after the mayor talked with the group for several hours and agreed to postpone construction until it had received public approval. Tho insisted he wasn’t being hard-headed over the issue and would back down to keep the Na Ngua residents happy.

The project's analysis researcher, Mahidol University's Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies lecturer Suchat Nawakawong, was at the protest but didn't get a chance to explain the project as the protesters seemed unwilling to hear him.

He said it had been proved that environmentally friendly garbage incinerator plants yielded good results.

Thailand was facing an overwhelming garbage problem. The company offered to build the plant with its own budget to save the government money and help solve the garbage issue, which would inevitably affect the environment.

Suchat regretted the project was halted because people had not studied and understood it. He said they would gradually inform people about the pros and cons of the power plant, no matter how long it took.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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Soldiers hurt in South attack

The Nation

NARATHIWAT: -- Three soldiers sustained slight injuries when insurgents set off a home-made bomb in a move to ambush them yesterday.

Police said the explosion took place at 1.30pm in tambon Baretoh's Hutaeyuelor village in Narathiwat's Bacho district.

The six soldiers were in a pick-up truck transporting sandbags and the insurgents used a remote device to detonate the bomb when the truck neared the bridge.

Meanwhile, a wanted separatist was killed in a clash with members of the No 12 Special Task Force in tambon Jakua of Yala's Raman district early yesterday morning, police said. The soldiers had surrounded a house at Ban Pulasanor after receiving a tip-off that separatist militants were hiding there.

As they were approaching the house, three armed men ran out and opened fired at the soldiers, who fired back. There was a brief gunfight, before the separatists fled. Soldiers later found the body of Masahudee Samae, 29, at the scene. Police said Masahudee was wanted on several charges.

The soldiers later searched a house nearby and found one of the insurgents, Tameesi Kaba, hiding in the toilet. They also found a bullet-proof vest. Tameesi has been taken to the Jakua police station for questioning.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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NACC orders seizure of Suphoth properties worth Bt20 million

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday ordered confiscation of properties worth Bt20 million belonging to Suphoth Sublom, the suspended permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry.

National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) spokesman Klanarong Chantik said yesterday the agency found that Suphoth transferred the ownership of the properties - seven land plots and three buildings including the house where a robbery took place - to his daughter and son-in-law late last year, when the investigation into alleged corruption against him was underway.

The graft investigation was ordered after a robbery at Suphoth's spacious mansion in Bangkok's Lat Phrao area. Suphoth insisted that Bt5 million was stolen from his house. However, police retrieved Bt18 million from the suspected robbers and police estimated the haul might exceed Bt100 million. The NACC had frozen the Bt18 million retrieved by police.

Klanarong said yesterday that the NACC was waiting for an explanation from Suphoth, who is being investigated for being unusually wealthy and falsely reporting his assets and debts.

Suphoth had until March 7 to submit his documents in denying the allegations.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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BURNING ISSUE

Govt being hypocritical over lese majeste law

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- No reports claiming human-rights improvements in Thailand will be relevant as long as the government refuses to address the issue of the lese majeste law.

The current government told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this week that the rights situation here had improved, but it did not mention lese majeste.

Since the 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra's government, hundreds of lese majeste charges have been filed against people. In fact, one of the accusations filed against Thaksin by the coup-makers was just that. In addition, the coup-makers' partner, the People's Alliance for Democracy, has been campaigning to deem even the slightest criticism against the monarchy as lese majeste. The PAD has filed a lot of lese majeste suits against its opponents.

In a move to demonstrate its loyalty to the monarchy, the previous government under the Democrat Party's Abhisit Vejjajiva also used the lese majeste law and other decrees such as the so-called law on computer crime to suppress its opponents, activists and academics.

Ironically, the current government is doing little to help the red shirts who face lese majeste charges, even though they were the very people who put this administration in power. These red-shirt supporters were charged with offending the monarchy while campaigning against the previous government - a campaign that put Thaksin's little sister Yingluck in the seat of power. Punishment under Article 112 of the Penal Code is very harsh and those convicted can face up to 15 years in jail. Freedom on bail in this case is very rare and the court has already rejected several requests for bail, especially from the red shirts.

In fact, some of these requests were rejected several times. For instance, the court rejected a bail request from labour activist Somyot Preuksakasemsuk up to seven times, with the most recent being on February 20. The hunger strike held by his son on February 11 outside the Criminal Court also failed to get any attention.

Somyot was arrested over lese majeste charges last April 30 in connection with articles published in the now-banned Voice of Taksin red-shirt magazine.

Similarly, former communist insurgent Surachai Danwattananusor's bail application was rejected five times, despite his poor health. In contrast, PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, who was arrested over lese majeste charges on July 5, 2010, was granted bail the very same day, New York-based Human Rights Watch said. Sondhi was charged for quoting Daranee Charnchernsilapakul word for word. Daranee was sentenced to 15 years in prison last December over lese majeste charges.

The connection between Sondhi's and Daranee's cases has raised questions about the practice of law in this country. Rights advocates have wondered why similar cases involving the same charge under the same law are handled totally differently. Of course, the government could say it does not have any authority to intervene in the justice system and that the question of granting or rejecting bail lies totally in the court's hands. However, the government does have the authority to address this issue as part of its human-rights practice.

The lese majeste law is in itself problematic. Law academics and civic groups are now campaigning to amend it, but the government has said it would never support such an initiative. So if this is the stance it is going to take, then it is quite ridiculous for this government to say that the human-rights situation in Thailand has improved.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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Red Siam leader, 69, jailed for lese majeste

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Surachai Darnwattananusorn, the leader of the Red Siam group, was yesterday handed an unsuspended sentence to serve seven and a half years behind bars for three counts of defaming the monarchy.

Judges read the sentence without going into the details of what Surachai, 69, had actually said during three political rallies in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani back in 2010.

They concluded, however, that what Surachai said about the royal institution was "untrue" because the monarchy had been doing various good deeds for the country. The judges also stated that what Surachai said led to "increasing conflict in society".

At the beginning of the very short verdict, one of the three presiding judges read a brief biography of Surachai, pointing out that for five years in the 1970s he was a communist insurgent, among some other things.

Judges said the sentence had been reduced by half, from 15 years, since Surachai had pleaded guilty.

Surachai said just minutes before the verdict was read out that he had no choice but to plead guilty to reduce the time he would spend in prison.

"I am no criminal. I'm not a bad person," he told The Nation. "For more than 40 years I have understood the problem [about the monarchy], and so what else should I say? I tried my best to evade [the lese majeste charge] through the wording. It shouldn't have been a crime."

Surachai said that without the right to bail, which was denied him five times over the past 12 months of detention, it would make more sense for an old man like him to plead guilty quickly and seek a royal pardon.

"Fighting the case means staying in jail [longer]," he said.

The right to temporary release must be applied equally to those facing lese majeste charges, as some people charged with murder could even get bail, he said.

Just in front of the Criminal Court where Surachai was sentenced, a group of 10 red shirts has been staging a protest against the rejection of bail to most people charged with lese majeste, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years.

Three people staged a 24-hour hunger strike yesterday, including Suda Rangkupan, a linguistics lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, who said she hoped actions by people like herself would be at least like a match igniting a fire in the wind.

Surachai will now seek a royal pardon although he still faces at least one more lese majeste charge.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

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Judicial consolidation would benefit Thaksin, opposition chief whip says

Full story:

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Phuket welcomes newborn elephant 'Pang Saifon'

Pang Saifon, born Tuesday at 1:49am and weighing 75 kilograms, is the second elephant to be born at the camp and is in perfect health. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full story:

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RT @AsifAAhmad: Duke of York has an audience with HM The King today in Bangkok.

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RT @mpoppel: AP: Mitt Romney wins Arizona Republican presidential primary

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Train hits 50-yr-old woman at Yommaraj Intersection causing severe injuries; she's been sent to Mission Hospital /TANN

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Thai tourism expected to grow 8% this year

BANGKOK, 29 February 2012 (NNT) - The Thai tourism sector has expressed concern over potential obstacles to tourism growth while the World Tourism Organization has forecast that the Thai tourism industry will expand by 8% this year.

Chairman for policy planning of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Kongkrit Hirankit, has pointed out that there were four issues that were worrying Thai tourism entrepreneurs. They are terrorism, domestic and international political conflicts, flooding and a lack of clarity in water management and the European economic downturn. The rising oil price also poses another risk as it possibly motivates travelers to opt for short-distance or intra-continental trips.

According to the World Tourism Organization, Thai tourism is likely to see an 8% growth or one million more tourists in 2012 with foreign tourist arrivals of 25 million, higher than an estimate of 19.5 million people made by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Mr Kongkrit added that this year hotel entrepreneurs will increase room rates by 5%, the first time in three years, following the government’s minimum wage hike of 300 baht. The entrepreneurs reasoned that the rate rise was suitable since the public had more purchasing power and Thailand had not adjusted room rates for the past several years compared with other Asian countries.

-- NNT 2012-02-29

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Fisheries Dept. concerned over depleting Indian Mackerel population in Andaman Sea

BANGKOK, 29 February 2012 (NNT) - The Fisheries Department has expressed its worry about the depleting population of Indian Mackerel in Thailand's southern Andaman Sea.

Dr. Wimol Jantrarotai, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, said on Tuesday that the latest research has found a sign of an alarmingly depleting population of Indian Mackerel in Thai waters.

Indian Mackerel is one of the many key marine resources for Thailand and the Southeast Asian region, as foods and export items. It can be found in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

The popularity of this fish can be proven from its widespread catch in the country, which is now blamed for the drastic fall in the number of Indian Mackerel from the Andaman Sea.

Dr. Wimol said that the study showed that, lately, Indian Mackerel caught from the Andaman Sea has been 67.75% smaller than the average full-grown size. It also found that the current level of commercial fishing is around 30% higher than the nature's capacity to produce. As a result, it is likely that the population of Indian Mackerel breeders, in particular, will shrink drastically soon.

In order to have a sustainable fishing industry, the Fisheries Department is now launching a campaign to build an awareness among fishermen and to encourage them to avoid over-fishing of Indian Mackerel before it is more scarce in Thai waters.

-- NNT 2012-02-29

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Campaign Urges Police Not to Desert Cold Cases

BAGKOK: -- The city police launch a new campaign called "Don't Forget," to encourage police investigators not to give up on old cases. Currently there are as many as 40,000 cold cases that the police have been unable to close.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Winai Thongsong launched the “Don't Forget” campaign aimed to encourage police officers not to give up on cold cases.

Posters of the 300 most wanted suspects have been printed to remind the officers that these fugitives remain at large.

Currently, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has 40,000 cold cases covering robbery, rape, and attempted murder that have remained open.

The most wanted suspect posters will be put up at police stations, communities, and residential areas. The public is also encouraged to alert the police officers if they have any information that could help identify or locate the suspects.

The commissioner hopes to close at least 30 percent or 100 cases within 6 months. Each week, the police will be evaluated on their performance to close these cold cases.

The public can also report any suspicious activities or any complaints to the police through the 191 PO Box in Rongmuang.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-29

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PM Confirms 2 Million Rais of Flood Retention Areas will be Revealed In One Month

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister has vowed to designate 2 million rais for flood-retention areas within a month. She declined to answer whether she would appear before the ombudsman to explain her meeting with businessmen at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Yingluck said the government has adjusted its water-management plan in line with suggestions made by His Majesty the King.

She has instructed the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to regularly and prudently release water from major dams and review levels on a daily basis, and to use the released water for farming.

The amount of water being discharged from the dams will be reviewed each month. The amount should not reach 45 percent as it did previously, since the figure is not meant to be applied to all dams.

Water in some dams may be discharged at 50 or 60 percent, at the discernment of the Royal Irrigation Department. Meanwhile, Sirikit and Bhumibol dams will continue to discharge water to resolve drought problems and accommodate the upcoming flood season.

Regarding the provision of 2 million rais for water-retention areas, Yingluck said the Agriculture Ministry will report to her regarding the progress, by the end of this month. She insisted the government does not have plans to turn certain roads into floodways.

Yingluck also expressed concern about the delay of infrastructure projects, as it takes time to proceed with project procurements under state regulations. She has instructed all ministries and provinces to accelerate the projects and ordered the Comptroller General’s Department to find faster but transparent ways to help accelerate project implementation.

Yingluck added that Cabinet members appointed to the National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee will be in charge of all flood-prevention plans and will regularly communicate with the public on the progress of their work.

She assured the public that providing water retention areas will be completed before the rainy season arrives, and she will inspect the progress of canal-dredging in downstream areas next week.

She noted that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has begun the work but more is needed. Meanwhile, the premiere noted that payment of flood compensation for flood victims must also be expedited.

When asked about whether she will appear before the ombudsman to explain her meeting with businessmen at the Four Seasons Hotel, Yingluck declined to answer and immediately got into her car to go to the Pheu Thai Party Office.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-29

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Haze problem cuts number of tourists in Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI, Feb 29 -- The haze problem in Thailand’s northern provinces has cut the number of tourists in Chiang Rai by more than 20 per cent and is continuing gradually on a downward trend if the problem continues to persist, according to Chiang Rai Tourism Council President Somkiat Chuentheerawong.

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,150.52, up 4.26 points /MCOT

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HRH The Duke of York visits Thailand

BANGKOK: -- His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, KG, second son to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom will pay a visit to Thailand as Guest of His Majesty The King from 28 February – 3 March 2012

The aims of the visit are to strengthen royal ties as well as enhance trade and investment partnership between Thailand and the UK. In this connection, during his stay in Thailand, The Duke of York will attend an audience with Their Majesties The King and Queen on 29 February 2012 to present the congratulatory message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty’s 84th Birthday Anniversary, as well as having an audience followed by dinner with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 1 March 2012 at Sra Prathum Palace.

The Duke of York will also perform royal duties in fostering trade and investment between Thailand and the UK such as granting audiences to high-level Thai dignitaries, namely the Prime Minister of Thailand on 1 March 2012, followed by a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister in his honour, as well as granting audiences to Mr. Boonsong Teriyapirom, Minister of Commerce and Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 1 March 2012.

His Royal Highness said: "I am delighted to visit Thailand again and honoured to have been invited by His Majesty. The relationship between our two countries is strong and growing stronger. I am very pleased to play a part in helping to foster closer business and cultural ties and very willing to help in any way I possibly can."

With regard to the private sector, The Duke of York, KG will meet Thai business leaders, including investors in the UK such as Sahaviriya Steel Industries as well as major British companies operating in Thailand such as Reckitt Benkiser and Tesco Lotus.

Source: http://ukinthailand....sR&id=735818082

-- ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk 2012-02-29