Thailand Live Friday 2 Mar 2012

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PAD Supporters Hear Charges over Airport Occupation

BANGKOK: -- A number of the People's Alliance for Democracy supporters have been arraigned for their roles in the yellow-shirt occupation of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in 2008.

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New Chatuchak Market Rental Rate on Hold

BANGKOK: -- The State Railway of Thailand is considering whether to meet the request of vendors at Chatuchak Market to lower its new rental rate.

Director for the Chatuchak Market Charuspan Watcharothai said the State Railway of Thailand, or SRT, has put off the implementation of the new rental rate until its board finalizes its review.

The SRT's board has begun its reconsideration today.

Charuspan remarked the SRT will make a decision whether to implement the monthly rental rate at 3,157 baht per stall and collect an upfront fee of 50,000 baht or lower them as requested by existing tenants.

Leader of a vendor group at the Chatuchak Market Chatri Sophonbannarak said his group agrees with the new rental rate but disapproves of the upfront fee of 50,000 baht.

Chatri said the vendors want the term of their rental contract to be extended from two to five years and the inclusion of a renewal option.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan, who supervises the SRT, said the rental rate should be finalized this weekend and contracts can be drawn up with vendors who agree with the concluded amount.

For those who still dispute the SRT's decision, negotiations will be carried out with the option of giving up their stalls at the market.

He maintained the management of the market is free from political intervention.

The SRT, the owner of the Chatuchak Market, had decided to take over the managerial right from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA since January.

The agency projects revenue from the upfront fee will be roughly 440 million baht and total receipt from the rental rate will be at 280 million baht.

The projected revenue is higher than the BMA's offered 79 million baht in return for the renewal of its right to manage the market, which the SRT's board turned down.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-02

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Bangkok Traffic Police to Get Tough on Cabs

BANGKOK: -- The Traffic Police has launched a new campaign passenger and road safety. They are calling for taxi drivers to observe the official dress code for taxi drivers and obey traffic laws.

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The arrival of tropical storm prompts provinces to prepare for the worst

BANGKOK, 2 March 2012 (NNT)-The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPM) is trying to get every province ready for the arrival of tropical storms this month.

According to Director of the Department Mr. Wibul Sanguanpong, tropical storms usually arrive in the North and North East of the country from March-May every year, bringing thunder storms and heavy rains which destroy crops, homes, and lives of people.

Each province has been warned to brace for the natural event. Safety equipment should be in good conditions and ready for use. Homes and other structures should be inspected to ensure that they are strong enough to withstand the storms.

For any assistance or help under the emergency situation, residents are encouraged to call 1784, a hotline number, or contact their DPM provincial offices.

-- NNT 2012-03-02

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SET index closed at 1165.15, up 0.17; Bt/USD30.43; GBP48.32; AUD32.61; EUR40.20; CAD30.63; HKD3.92; SGD24.19; JPY37.06

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Two Indian’s accused of motorbike theft from taxi driver in South Pattaya

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/537722-two-indians-accused-of-motorbike-theft-from-taxi-driver-in-south-pattaya/

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Chalerm: No conspiracy behind Worachet attack

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Friday tried to allay the concern about a conspiracy to fuel the political volatility by the physical assault against Nittirat leader Worachet Pakeerut.

"The two attackers hit Worachet due to personal grudge," he said.

Chalerm said it was not true that certain political groups might have instigated the incident as a ploy to cause disturbances.

The assualt against Worachet was an individual case triggered by the disagreement over the push to amend the lese majeste law, he said, ruling out the incident as a sign of spreading violence involving rival camps.

He also dismissed the linkage between the incident and the Friday's public meeting at Lumpini Park organised by the opponents of charter change.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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Those against a charter amendment gather at Lumpini Park at event held by Siam Samakee group /TANN

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Power Charge Set to Rise in May

BANGKOK: -- The energy regulatory panel is set to raise the electricity charge in May given the constant increase of generation cost.

Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission Direk Lawansiri said its sub-panel on the fuel adjustment tariff, or FT, has scheduled this April to consider an increase in the rate.

Direk said the electricity charge will most likely rise this year in line with the natural gas price increase which accounts for 70 percent of the cost in power generation.

He said the panel has halted the FT collection since the flooding late last year, causing the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to have to pay eight billion baht in subsidy.

He said the newly-adjusted FT rate could come into effect in May.

Regarding the oil exploration in Bangkok's Taweewattana District, he said the process must be regulated by the Mineral Fuel Department. He noted that any project with environmental impact must undergo a public hearing.

The commission today hosted the meeting of ASEAN's energy regulatory bodies and experts to enhance their competitiveness ahead of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-02

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Royal Crematorium Close to Completion

BANGKOK: -- The culture minister affirms that the construction of the crematorium to be used in the funeral of Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana will be completed by the end of this month.

Culture Minister Sukumol Khunpleum disclosed after inspecting the construction of the crematorium to be used in the funeral of Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana that the process is now 70 percent complete, and affirmed that the construction will finish by the end of this month.

Sukumol noted that the royal vehicles to be used in the procession to move the body of the late Princess are now completely retrofitted.

A sacred rite to bless the royal vehicles will be held on March 12 at 12.19 P.M. in front of the Chariot Hall at the National Museum. A rehearsal of the royal funeral procession will be held on March 18 and 25 while a dress rehearsal will be held on March 31 at Sanam Laung.

The minister added that the Fine Arts Department will organize public performances on three open-air stages at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground during the funeral.

The first stage, located in front of the Supreme Court, will consist of puppetry performances, featuring the story of Phra Aphai Mani, Thailand's most popular classic literary work.

The second stage will be located in front of Thammasat University and will consist of dance drama featuring the story of Sang Thong. The main stage will perform Khon and the grand shadow play.

The performance will start at 6 P.M. on April 9 and end at 6 A.M. on April 10.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-02

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Ang Thong Locals Unhappy with Flood Plan

ANG THONG: -- Ang Thong locals have shown disagreement with the government's decision to designate parts of their province for flood retention.

Meanwhile, residents have joined Buddhist monks in building a new three-meter-high crematorium to prevent possible floods.

Buddhist monks and novices at Chai Songkhram Temple in Ban Hae Subdistrict in Ang Thong's Muang District have joined hands with local residents to construct a new three-meter-high crematorium to replace the old one that was destroyed by floods and cannot be used anymore.

Locals have donated money for the new crematorium building and have joined the temple's monks in the construction.

Phra Thongkham Rojana, a monk at the temple, said the temple is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River and was seriously damaged by the heavy floods late last year despite the presence of an embankment.

Meanwhile, Ang Thong locals living in the areas being designated for water retention by the government will hold a meeting to discuss ways to prevent and deal with possible floods.

The residents said they will not sacrifice their farmland as flood retention areas if the government does not pay them reasonable compensation.

They claimed that people affected by last year's floods have yet to receive compensation.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-02

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Parliament building catches fire

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A building in the Parliament House compound accidentally caught fire Friday, causing panick to officials and slight property damage but no causualties.

Police said the fire at Building 3 could have been caused by electronic short circuit, after burn marks were found at power wires, which was the source of an explosion and ensuing fires, on a wall next to neighbouring Wiman Mek Throne Hall.

A small chaos broke out when Throne Hall officials used water hoses to try to put out the fires, but Parliament House officials shouted to them to stop, as the fires were caused by electrical short circuitry and using water to put out such flames would have only got worsen.

There were marks of electrical short circuit at a location at the back of the Parliament’s library, but there was no ensuing fire after the power was cut after the first explosion and ensuing fires.

Firemen arrived the scene later, after the fires were put out by Parliament officials using fire extinguishers, while technicians from a electricity officice later inspected circuit control boards but found nothing wrong.

Technicians said the short circuitry could have been caused by high room temperature coupled with wires’s service life running out, while sparks seen at the back of a room where circuit control boards could have been caused by wires exposed to dripping water, possibly from air conditioners. A thorough inspection into all the causes will begin soon, they added.

Building 3 consists of the Parliament’s library, a storage room for parliamentarians’ documents, an office of the Parliament’s Secretariat, an office used by a deputy prime minister, and a control room where wifi operation is housed.

-- The Nation 2012-03-02

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to continue:

Thailand Live Saturday 3 Mar 2012

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