Thailand Live Friday 2 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 2 March 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 Thursday 1 2012

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Phuket Police probe land titles as Norwegian Dokset’s motive for murder

Phuket expat murder suspect Stein Dokset from Norway being led away by Chalong Tourist Police Volunteer Garry Halpin. Dokset today denied to carry out the re-enactment in front of the main press, instead allowing only one reporter to photograph the staged sequences. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

The houses that Phuket expat murder suspect Stein Dokset collect rent from were owned by his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong, says Chalong Police Acting Superintendent Sirisak Warasiri. Photo: Nopparat Nambunyen

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5100927

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Phuket murder suspect Stein Dokset already on trial for fraud

Long-term Phuket expat Stein Havard Dokset, behind bars for murder and already on trial for fraud. Photo: Orawin Narabal

Police have yet to disclose what the safe (on right) contained. It was found in the same bathroom where the decomposing body of Mrs Rungnapa was for nearly three years. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5100833

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Democrats staging walk-out at crucial debate

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Chalerm swears he is not gagging the press

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday denied that he was trying to gag the press in relation to reports about his alleged drunkenness during last Friday's parliamentary session.

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Hopewell Train Pillars Collapses For A Stretch Of 150m: Bangkok

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Thailand Rice-Pledging Scheme Headed For Disaster: Academic

BANGKOK: -- The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) plans to provide Bt120 billion to support the government's rice-pledging scheme for the second crop running from this month until September, while an academic has warned that the scheme is heading for disaster, as it is damaging the market mechanism and leading to high inflation.

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INSURGENT VIOLENCE

Arson, grenade attacks rock Thailand's South

Simultaneous incidents in 6 Pattani districts injure no one but Narathiwat blasts hurt several

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HAZE

Air quality in Mae Sai hits dangerous levels: Thailand

CHIANG RAI: -- Smog in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district worsened yesterday, with small dust particles jumping to 305.6 micrograms per cubic metre of air - the highest in the country.

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Food Shortages Push Up Thai Consumer Prices

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Toshiba To Keep Production Base In Thailand

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OVERDRIVE

A bigger conflict awaits: Thailand's PAD is making a comeback

The yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is making a comeback.

BANGKOK: -- On March 10, starting at 10am, the yellow shirts will hold a meeting at Lumpini Park to chart out their future course of action. The agenda revolves around the efforts of the Pheu Thai-led government to rewrite the Constitution. This is developing into another explosive political confrontation that will determine the fate of this country.

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Duke of York urges Thailand to invest more in UK

BANGKOK, March 2 – His Royal Highness the Duke of York of the United Kingdom urged Thai businesspeople to invest more in British industries in a discussion with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday as the two countries aim to boost bilateral trade and investment.

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Abhisit urges Yingluck to ensure independent judiciary

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to guarantee that the judicial branch and independent organisations will remain independent despite other alterations to the Constitution.

Yingluck on Wednesday insisted that the rewrite of the 2007 Constitution should keep the first and second chapters intact, but Abhisit, the Democrat Party leader, said the government should also promise not to change the charter for the sake of any particular person.

"We have to see if the Pheu Thai Party will support the Democrat proposal related to the charter amendment in the parliamentary committee's vetting of the bills, that Chapter One and Two of the 2007 Constitution will be used without any modification.

"If they are confident this is also what they want, they should support the Democrats' proposal and this will be the majority view in Parliament. Then this issue is clear. We have to see the actions, not words," he said.

The opposition has been questioning Pheu Thai's attempt to amend the Constitution, while prominent Pheu Thai MP Watana Muangsook has heavily criticised the judiciary and independent organisations for lacking proper checks and balances. The courts have come out to defend themselves from the accusation.

The first two chapters of the charter are about the political system and state form and the monarchy.

Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai, chairman of the parliamentary committee deliberating the change to Article 291 of the charter, said Yingluck's comment was just one opinion and his committee would have to listen to people from other groups such as MPs, senators and civil society.

At the panel's first meeting yesterday, Samart said it would not go into the details of the changes to other parts of the charter.

The mandate of the committee includes stating the duties of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) and which chapters the CDA will have to work on. The panel will also consider the qualifications and the sources of the CDA members and the process of changing the charter as proposed by the CDA.

Article 291 outlines the process of changing the charter. Parliament last week resolved to amend it so that a CDA can be established to do the work.

Although the timeframe for the CDA to complete its draft has not been agreed upon, Samart said his panel would have to finish its work by March 25.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Twins who attacked Nitirat academic surrender

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Twin brothers turned themselves in yesterday in connection to Wednesday's assault on Nitirat academic Worachet Pakeerut at Thammasat University.

The surrender came as security measures are being boosted at the university's Tha Prachan campus.

Supot and Supat Silarat, both 30 and residents of Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district, turned themselves in at Bangkok's Chana Songkhram police station yesterday morning.

The brothers confessed that they had attacked Worachet in retaliation of his group's campaign to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code on lese majeste, Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Winai Thongsong said. The duo also told police that they were not associated with any political groups and had never attended political protests.

"They said they had visited the university several times looking for Worachet, and decided to attack when they found him parking his car," Winai said.

Police identified the twins after studying the university's security-camera recording, which displayed the licence number of the getaway motorcycle, Winai said, adding that the duo could not be found at their home in Pathum Thani on Wednesday evening.

The two men were charged with premeditated assault and causing harm to a person. The offence carries an imprisonment of no more than three years, a maximum fine of Bt6,000 or both.

Chana Songkhram police station superintendent Lt-Colonel Nattakorn Kumsap said the twins have been released pending trial. The case will go to court as soon as the police obtain medical results on Worachet's injuries, the officer said.

Supot told reporters yesterday that he was a vendor in Pathum Thani, and when asked the same question, his twin responded by threatening to kick the reporter. Supat has a history of violence and complaints of assault have been filed against him at Thanyaburi, Don Muang and Sai Mai police stations.

Worachet, leader of the controversial Nitirat (Enlightened Jurists) group of law lecturers, sustained injuries after being punched in the face. The assailants fled on a motorcycle after the attack.

Meanwhile, Thammasat vice rector Udom Ratamarit summoned faculty staff yesterday to discuss increased security measures following Wednesday's incident. He said that though the existing security cameras had provided enough information to identify the assailants, more cameras would be installed and all motorcyclists entering the campus would be asked to produce ID cards.

"There will be more work for our officials and it will be less convenient for visitors," he said.

Udom added that Thammasat lecturers who were members of the Nitirat group would also be provided police protection.

The university and its Law Association yesterday issued separate statements condemning the attack. TU's statement said the incident threatened academic freedom, while the association said the attack was aimed at causing social division and chaos.

At TU's Faculty of Law, a group of Nitirat supporters and red shirts gathered yesterday to offer moral support to Worachet, and though he was not present, his colleagues accepted flowers and gifts on his behalf.

Red-shirt leader Jaral Dittha-apichai said this attack "in broad daylight" was a violation of human rights and a threat to academic freedom. He said he suspected the attack was part of a plot to incite violence.

Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn University lecturer Sompong Jitradab yesterday denounced what he described as threat to academic freedom and "act of political hooliganism". He also expressed concern that other academics in the Nitirat group might also be attacked in the same way.

Sompong said he expected "fierce politics" as a result of the confrontation over several contentious issues, including Article 112, constitutional amendment and ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was dismayed over the attack and expressed his opposition to any use of violence.

"We condemn any form of rights infringement. All parties involved should help prevent such incidents from happening again," the Democrat Party leader said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Suranand denies rifts with other politicians close to PM

PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Suranand Vejjajiva, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's personal spokesman, yesterday denied having any conflicts with two other government figures close to her.

He dismissed media reports that he has been at odds with the outgoing secretary-general to the PM, Bantoon Supakvanit. Suranand said he had maintained good ties with Bantoon since serving under Thaksin Shinawatra as a Cabinet member overseeing the Budget Bureau, which then was headed by Bantoon.

"If you were to come to my office, you would find that Bantoon and I often discuss our work. We have no problems with each other," Suranand said.

He also rejected as groundless recent reports that Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a powerful figure in the ruling Pheu Thai Party, is unhappy with him and intends to prevent him being appointed to the Cabinet after a five-year political ban against him ends in May.

"Those reports are an attempt to cause a split [between myself and Sudarat]. They are untrue," Suranand said. However, he added that he saw no need to ask Sudarat about the matter. "I believe the reports are not true."

Suranand declined to comment on the possibility of his being appointed to the Cabinet after the political ban ends.

"That is three months away. In Thai politics, changes can happen in a week, so three months is too long for you to say anything with certainty. Nobody knows the future," he said.

Suranand is one of 111 former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party who were stripped by a court in May 2007 of the right to participate in politics for five years. The ruling came as Thai Rak Thai was dissolved for electoral fraud.

A Prime Minister's Office minister in the Thaksin government before the 2006 coup, Suranand said yesterday that during last year's flood crisis, he volunteered to work for Yingluck.

"I told the prime minister in the beginning that I would volunteer to work for her, with no desire for any position - before or after May 2012. I want to work to fill the gap. If I can be replaced someday, I will go back to work as a TV host," he said.

Suranand also denied being influenced in his work by members of Yingluck's family.

"I only receive orders from the prime minister," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to appeal Santika fire ruling

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MAP TA PHUT

Commission rejects 3 'harmful' projects

Janjira Pongrai,

Pongphon Sarnsamak

Projects not given the go-ahead because study found them bad for environment, health

RAYONG: -- The Independent Commission on Environment and Health (ICEH) yesterday refused to give the go ahead to three industrial projects because it deemed them harmful to the environment, the ecosystem and people's health in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.

ICEH's chairman Professor Piamsak Manasawet said the commission, which was established last year, had been given five projects to study for environmental and health impact.

According to the Constitution's Article 67(2), these projects are required to undergo environmental and health impact assessments (EHIA) because

they were classified as harmful to the environment, natural ecosystem and people's health.

Of the five projects submitted, the commission has only approved two.

The schemes that won approval were ethyl benzene styrene monomer (first extension) project run by IRPC Co, under which production processes will be improved and the risk of transporting hydrogen and other chemicals reduced; and the mixed C4 production project (second extension) run by Bangkok Synthetics Co.

The projects not given the go ahead were the manufacturing of ethyline oxide and ethyline glycol (extended project) by TOC Glycol Co; the electricity generation plant run by GHECO-ONE Co; and the propylene production unit run by IRPC.

Surapon Duangkhae, who chairs the sub-committee tasked with studying the EHIA report on Bangkok Synthetics' mixed C4 production project, said more details were needed on risk and accident evaluation as well as the impact of volatile organic compounds, air-pollution management and the prevention of chemical leaks.

He said the project would be producing chemicals that will be used to produce synthetic rubber and that the substance would contain the highly volatile mixed C4 substance and Raffinate-1. He said that the project report did not provide clear details on how these dangerous toxins would be destroyed without causing pollution.

Piamsak Menasveta, who chairs ICEH, said his agency had faced a lot of problems over the past year including the lack of funds as well as the lack of cooperation and flexibility.

Besides, he said, the agency was just an ad-hoc organisation and he was not sure if constitutional amendments would affect the status of his agency.

"We are ready to work if the government does not do anything with the Constitution's Article 67, but if they do, we will just go home," he said.

From now on, projects that have been approved by the ICEH will have to submit their EHIA to state agencies for a final nod.

IRPC's production manager Somchai Jankhaew said his company had already conducted an opinion survey among the locals and added that to its EHIA report about its project. This report was also submitted to the Industry Ministry's Industrial Works Department.

"I am sure we can go ahead with our plans for this project, which has been suspended for several months. Now, we have complied with the law," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Court says negligent doctor

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court yesterday revoked a warning issued by the Medical Council to a doctor in a malpractice case, saying it was an insufficient penalty, given that he had caused the death of a patient through his carelessness during treatment.

Wiroj Suriya died at Bang Pakok 1 Hospital three years ago while being treated for a heart condition by Dr Suchai Kanjanatharayont.

The judges also ordered the council to investigate all matters stemming from a separate complaint filed by the victim's relatives against Dr Jariang Jantharakomol, the director of the hospital.

The council is required to complete its investigation into Jariang within 150 days from tomorrow, said the court.

The court ruled that the council's decision to issue a warning to Suchai on August 10, 2008 was unlawful.

In yesterday's revocation order, the court ruled that Suchai prescribed medications for Wiroj in a phone conversation, in violation of medical regulations requiring him to be with the patient, or to hand the case over to other doctors present in Wiroj's room.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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22 jobs to be paid above minimum wage rates: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The Wage Tripartite Committee yesterday issued a list of 22 vocational jobs which qualify for rates higher than the Bt300 daily minimum wage, which will come into effect across the country on April 1.

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'Abnormal' prescriptions of cold medicines across Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry disclosed yesterday that many hospitals across the country were allegedly prescribing large amounts of cold medicines that contain a precursor chemical used to make amphetamines.

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DSI takes charge of four cases

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation has taken charge of investigating four more cases, following a resolution by the DSI board yesterday.

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit revealed that two of the cases were related to alleged corruption in the paddy-mortgage scheme, and alleged graft involving student loans provided by the government.

"Another case is about a gang that used the Government Lottery Office emblem and names of executives to lure people to pay them for figures they claimed would be winning lottery numbers," he said, "This gang deceived people into shelling out more than Bt3 million to it."

The other case, Tharit said, was related to a complaint filed by Bangkok Bank executive Chartsiri Sophonpanich. Chartsiri complained that someone had hacked into his online accounts and used them to post lese-majeste messages, Tharit said.

"Such offences are in violation of both the lese-majeste law and the Computer Act," the DSI chief said.

In a related development, Media for Youth Foundation secretary-general Piriya Thongsorn called on the DSI to investigate sports newspapers that published advertisements for thinly veiled online-gambling websites.

Joining Piriya's calls were several foundations and networks.

According to the Stop Gambling Network, a research shows children - some as young as seven years old - have been gambling these days.

"This is a dangerous sign. Online gambling makes it so easy for youth to access gambling services," the network's coordinator Imron Chetthawat said.

Tharit said the accused sports newspapers would be investigated to see whether they got income from gambling services, too.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Thousands of workers training overseas

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 5,800 employees of flood-hit businesses have been assigned to travel overseas to receive skills training in the past three months through the co-ordination of the Department of Employment, director-general Prawit Khiangphol said yesterday.

Japan hosts the largest number of trainees, at 4,987, while the remainder are training or will train in another 103 countries, including seven in the US, six in Singapore, 284 in China and four in the United Arab Emirates, Prawit said.

There are now 147,365 post-flood job vacancies, including 16,000 overseas, he said, adding that all 5,855 workers processed their travel through legal job-placement companies or with the help of the department.

In 2011, 90,237 Thai workers secured jobs overseas, 60,949 of them in Asian countries.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Thailand's Prostitutes: Caught Between Passion And Compassion

Pattaya Walking Street, file photo. Source: wikimedia

PATTAYA: -- The Thai government may be trying to cast away its image as a destination for sex tourism but the Walking Street of Pattaya is blissfully unaware of this. It continues to attract girls from all over Thailand, who use their bodily endowments to make their fortunes.

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Toyota pours more investment to Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan on Wednesday announced Bt6 billion investment to increase its engine production in Thailand, showing yet another mark of confidence to the Thai economy despite the great floods last year.

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Samut Prakan police in gunfight with drug dealer ring, one gang member shot dead, another wounded; dead had outstanding arrest warrant for murder, drug cases /MCOT

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Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart dies at 43

LOS ANGELES, California (BNO NEWS) -- Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, whose websites targeted Democratic politicians and were influential in the rise of the Tea Party, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles on Thursday. He was 43.

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 1,171.32, up 6.34 points /MCOT

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Anti charter change meeting Friday's afternoon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Siam Prachapiwat academic group will on Friday's afternoon hold a meeting to oppose the charter change at Lumpini Park.

Pro-charter panelists include Seri Wongmontha, Chirmsak Pinthong, Kaewsun Atibodhi, Banjerd Singkaneti. All are seen as belonging to the opposite academic spectrum from that of the Nitirat group's.

Speaking before the meeting, Seri said the theme of his talks will focus on the fear to amend certain provisions in pave way for granting amnesty for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He will also voice concern about any attempts to tamper with the monarchy even though the government has pledged to uphold the country's revered institution, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02