Thailand Live Tuesday 6 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 6 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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UPDATE:

Plan to give MPs iPADs and smart phones comes under fire

BANGKOK: -- A government plan to give MPs and senators Tablet PCs and smart phones have been heavily criticised by social media users and some parliamentarians.

Full story:

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Thailand's sex workers don't want to be 'rescued'

Thailand's sex workers are off the streets, in safe workplaces. They don't want to be 'rescued'

BANGKOK: -- Being a sex worker these days isn't what it used to be, at least for those whose rights are backed up by the Empower Foundation. Much has improved - no more pimps or mamasans, and fewer punches thrown their way. Being "rescued", though, causes them all sorts of problems.

Full story:

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Damaged Bangkok FICO Place building covered by Bt230m fire insurance policy

BANGKOK: -- The Fico Place office building, which was damaged by a three-hour blaze on Saturday, is covered by a Bt230-million fire policy from Generali Insurance (Thailand), the Insurance Commission said yesterday.

Full story:

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HAZE

Smog in Thailand's North 'to get worse'

BANGKOK: -- A researcher warned residents in the North yesterday to brace for worse air pollution, saying the smog problem was set to deteriorate.

Full story:

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We need to protect jobs and estates in Ayutthaya: PM Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asked for a sympathy yesterday when defending a policy in the flood management plan to build barriers around industrial estates in Ayutthaya - likely to result in nearby farms and homes being inundated.

Full story:

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POST-ELECTION PROMISE

Computer tablet bid 'winner' offers US$81 per unit: Thailand

Cabinet expected to name Shenzhen Scope over three other Chinese firms

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet is expected to name the Chinese supplier for the One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) project today, with Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co tipped to win the order of up to 900,000 devices after it quoted the lowest price.

Full story:

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SUNDAY MARKET

New market rent is fair, PM tells vendors

TECHAWAT SUKRAK,

PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Around 100 vendors upset at the takeover of Chatuchak Market gathered outside Government House yesterday to call for cheaper rent than new rates to be imposed by the State Railways of Thailand, which now runs the famous market.

The vendors met with Prasit Chaiwirattana, a deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, and called for a 30-year lease - or a shorter one with an extension every two years. They also want representation on the SRT management team, and a "fairer" rent, based on rates at nearby markets.

The vendors demanded an immediate halt to messages relayed over loudspeakers, which they said threatened customers' and their own mental health. They also want to scrap various SRT-imposed conditions in leases, which vendors said were not fair.

Sa-nguan Damrongthai, head of the protesting vendors, said the Bt3,000 a month rent demanded by the SRT was too high. He said the rally was not supported by any political party or movement.

Weeraphoj Phetchamnan, deputy head of the group, called for "the return of democracy" to Chatuchak Market, saying the SRT's demands on vendors and higher rent were like a communist party rule. "[For example] they set a 10-day deadline for registration of vendors, or they would take our stalls," he said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, speaking after the protest ended, said she had learnt that the SRT dropped a demand calling for an entry fee of Bt20,000 or Bt50,000. But she thought Bt3,000 rent a month was an appropriate sum , compared to rates |collected by managers of other markets.

She said a meeting would be held between the SRT and protesting vendors, and pleaded with the vendors not to stage any roadblocks in future rallies.

Asked whether she thought any political party could have secretly supported the group's and other vendors' rallies, Yingluck said she would want to believe so, but expected cooperation from all relevant parties.

A company of anti-riot police has been stationed outside Yingluck's home in Bueng Kum in Bangkok for security - and to guard against a possible protest there.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

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BURNING ISSUE

Thai Charter vote may be a watershed for good

BANGKOK: -- The pro- and anti-Thaksin camps are gearing for a showdown through a referendum vote on a new charter, expected to take place early next year.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Society demands that examples be made of addicts: Thai opinion

Full story:

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Over 1,000 Muslim woman abandoned, separate from soldiers sent to South: Thailand

1,000 abandoned, separate from soldiers sent to South

YALA: -- More than 1,000 Muslim women in the southern border provinces have been abandoned following affairs or marriage with Buddhist troops deployed to maintain security in the region, a senior official said yesterday.

Full story:

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Illegal billboards to be demolished: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Full story:

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Mekong river power plants 'catastrophic' to fish: study

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2012 (AFP) - Plans to build hydropower plants along Southeast Asia's longest river could have devastating effects on the world's largest inland fishery and should be reconsidered, scientists said on Monday.

Full story:

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Corruption fears over highway

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate meeting yesterday revealed possible graft in repairs to flood-damaged highways, as many roads weren't within the government-set criteria.

Deputy Transport Minister Chatt Kuldiloke claimed he hadn't heard about the alleged |corruption and would seek information with which to investigate the matter first.

Appointed Senator Pichet Sunthornpipit told the PM the flood disaster damaged 708 roads, and Bt11 billion was needed for repairs. The Senate's special sub-panel on infrastructure rehabilitation randomly checked the roads and got suspicious that some road repairs were too pricey and some didn't need urgent repairs, he said.

For instance, Highway 32 (Bang Pa In-Nakhon Luang), an undamaged 10km-long concrete road, had been paved with an asphalt mixture costing Bt165 million, that some officials claimed would allow water to drain faster. The senator feared that agencies responsible for the projects were not careful or exaggerated the budget, while agencies that approve budgets weren't able to thoroughly check so many projects.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

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Thai PM Yingluck warns governors to act on haze

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will impose penalties on nine governors of upper northern provinces if they do not take action to control forest fires in their areas.

Full story:

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Medicine probe

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) plans to interview officials at state hospitals to look for corruption in excessive orders of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient in methamphetamine.

The move follows the seizure of 130,000 pseudo-ephedrine pills in a raid in San Kamphaeng in Chiang Mai on February 18.

DSI security case office chief Pol Lt-Colonel Pong-in Inkhao said DSI officials met yesterday with Samut Sakhon public health officials to ask if any health units had suspiciously sought cold medicine.

Previously, the DSI found Central Udon Thani Hospital and Thongsaengkhan Hospital in Uttaradit had placed suspicious orders for cold medicine, he said. DSI investigators would investigate the history of the orders, including the origin of the medicine and the financial transactions. A Central Udon Thani Hospital pharmacist confessed during an initial investigation to placing inflated orders for the medicine, and investigators would check to see if more people were involved.

This week, the DSI will hold talks with the Finance Ministry and the Public Health Ministry to try to get an overall picture of cold medicine requisitions nationwide against the real use of such medicines.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

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PM Yingluck orders her ministers to review their performance, policies and work plans

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered her ministers to review their performance, policies and work plans, as the anniversary of the government's coming to power is on the horizon.

Full story:

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Charter change opponents fear 'hidden agenda'

BANGKOK: -- The Association of the 2007 Constitution Drafters came out to oppose the amendment of Article 291 of the charter yesterday, saying it's tantamount to abolishing the charter. The move came as opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva denied the party was trying to stall the charter amendment.

Full story:

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Yingluck heads for Japan to tout recovery

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will today fly to Japan on a four-day official visit to strengthen ties and revive investor confidence after last year's massive floods devastated many Japanese firms and industrial estates in Thailand.

Some Japanese companies are reportedly planning to move their operations out of Thailand.

The prime minister's schedule includes an audience with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and discussions with her counterpart Yoshihiko Noda on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

She will use the occasion of the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations to promote the strategic partnership in all aspects - political, security, economic and social - at both the bilateral and multilateral level.

The focus will be on measures supporting the development of linkages between Asean and Japan, and Mekong Subregion connectivity. A topic of particular interest will be the rehabilitation of the economies of Thailand and Japan, both of which faced natural disasters in 2011.

She will use the opportunity to confirm to the Japanese private sector that her government has prepared well to cope with future floods.

The Japanese private sector will also be invited to join rehabilitation projects for infrastructure in Thailand.

She will deliver a keynote speech at a seminar on investment opportunities in Thailand, with many members of the Japanese business community in attendance.

The trip coincides with the first anniversary of the March 11, 2012 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Yingluck is set to inspect damaged areas in the city of Sendai in Miyaki prefecture, where she will console victims and cheer up flood-affected Thais who have been transferred to Japan to work temporarily until they can return to their jobs in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

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Phuket Customs officers seize crystal meth in Thai Post parcel

Charoen Chamniklang (3rd from right) of the Royal Thai Customs Investigation and Suppression Bureau became suspicious about the package when no one claimed it. Photo: Warisa Temram

Officers found 31 packs of ya ice with an estimated street value of about 155,000 baht. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full story:

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Phuket rail link gathers steam

Artistic rendering of the proposed Patong Tunnel, which will be presented to the Cabinet this month.

Yet another project to be presented to Cabinet for funding and approval is the elevated Klong Koh Pee Road project.

Full story:

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Agriculture Minister: Water this year unpredictable

BANGKOK, 6 March 2012 (NNT) - Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Theera Wongsamut admits that the amount of water this year is still unpredictable while a goal has been set to reduce the water level of two major dams to 45% to make room for a new mass of water.

During a parliament session on Monday, Mr Theera answered a Senate member’s query about flood prevention measures before this year’s rainy season. He stated that the government was not careless about the water situation despite the unpredictability of the water amount. The minister explained that the government’s flood prevention this year was based on the assumption that the water amount equaled last year’s.

Mr Theera said the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management had set up strategies to manage the water in major dams and find a balance between incoming and outgoing water. The minister said the government had planned that on 1 March 2012, Bhumibol Dam would be holding water at 71% of its capacity and Sirikit Dam at 70%. On 1 April, the two dams are expected to have 58% left.

At present, Bhumibol Dam is releasing 60 million cubic meters of water a day and Sirikit Dam 40 million cubic meters. By 1 May, the two dams will have a combined capacity of 12 billion cubic meters, enough to store rain water.

Mr Theera added that the government had yet to designate floodway zones as it was waiting for impact assessments to be done first.

-- NNT 2012-03-06

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,155.56, down 2.39 points /MCOT

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Don Muang Airport reopens today following flooding and renovations; Nok Air providing flights with Orient Thai to follow suit soon /TANN

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Civic group files suit with Admin Court against construction of flood embankments around 11 industrial estates,citing impact on surroundings /TANN

Democrats Chawanont and Mallika to turn themselves in on defamation suit concerning PM's Four Seasons Hotel meeting this afternoon /TANN

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Unfair Police Reshuffle Under Fire

BANGKOK: -- A senator criticizes deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung concerning his role in the police reshuffle last year.

Senator Wanchai Sornsiri yesterday commented on the recent police reshuffle, led by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who was in charge of police affairs.

The senator criticized that last year's police reshuffle was not carried out transparently, saying that it was motivated by cronyism and was intervened in by political parties.

In response, Chalerm said he has not been investigated by disciplinary committees since he was recruited.

He stated that during his term as the Police Commission Chairman, there was neither position buying or selling, or intervention in the reshuffle.

Meanwhile, he stated that the patron-client relationship is found in every society.

However, he said the police reshuffle adheres to the principle of putting the right man in the right job while considering other factors, including personal integrity and ability.

At the same time, Democrat MP for Samut Songkhram, Rangsima Rodrasamee today submitted a petition to the Office of the ombudsman, asking it to investigate Chalerm for inappropriate behavior, alleged sexual harassment, and an accusation that he was drunk during a parliamentary debate.

Rangsima said the move was made in order to maintain the prestigious image of legislation.

Rangsima added that she is not confident in the Ethics Committee's investigation process.

She reiterated that he has adequate evidence to show that he acted inappropriately.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-06

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Suspect Killed in Fire While Trying to Rob a House

BANGKOK: -- A thief who was robbing the house of a doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital torches himself in the process. Police suspect he lighted a torch to find valuables at the storage room but the blaze spread and turned into an inferno.

At 2.30 A.M. This morning, Bangkhuntien police were called to a scene of a fire at a house in Soi Ratchamongkol Prasart 1. The premises contains 4 houses over an area of 3 rai. The blaze struck the storage room of 1 of the houses. Two fire trucks put out the blaze in 20 minutes.

Upon an inspection of the scene, police found the charred body of a 25-30-year-old male.

The owner of the house is Associate Professor Doctor Narong Supatarapan, 64, a doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital. He woke up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet and smelled smoke. Upon investigating, he found smoke and fire coming out of the storage room but wasn't able to get inside since the door was locked. He woke up his son-in-law to try to put out the blaze and called the police.

The doctor doesn't know who the blaze victim is as all of his family members are accounted for.

Police believe the victim is a thief who scaled the wall and entered the house to try to find valuables. He must have entered the storage room, locked the door, and lit a torch to look around but the blaze must have spread and trapped him inside until he perished from the flames.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-06

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Man Robs And Sexually Assaults Women Living Alone at Condominiums

PAKKRED: -- Pakkred police arrest a suspect who robbed and raped women living alone at condominiums. He confessed to committing such an act countless time.

Pakkred police held a press conference about the arrest of Kiatisak Udomsri, a Nakhon Nayok native, for armed robbery resulting in injuries and rape. He was arrested at Building 6 at the Muang Thong Thani Condominium in Pakkred, Nonthaburi.

Several women living at the condominium have filed complaints that a male teenager would use a cutter to slash open the window screen and unlock the front door to get in and steal valuables from their rooms and rape them.

Police identified the perpetrator as Kiatisak from footage of closed circuit cameras in the buildings.

He was arrested while trying to flee from a crime scene.

He confessed to doing this 6 times already, mostly in the morning. He would walk around surveying which room has a woman living alone and leaving the front wooden door opened to let in air with only the screen door closed. He would be able to see inside the room through the screen door. After breaking into the room, he would steal valuables and if the woman is good-looking, he'd rape her before fleeing.

He uses the money he gets from selling the valuables to buy drugs and once he's out of cash, he'd go around robbing and raping again.

Police found that the suspect had been found guilty of such crime before and sentence to 9 years in jail and recently released in January. In addition, he has an outstanding warrant for robbery and rape in Nakhon Nayok. Those who believed they've been robbed and/or raped by this suspect should contact the Pakkred police station to file charges.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-06

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Two drug syndicate members in Bangkok linked to Bang Kwang central prison kingpin arrested with 130,000 meth pills, 2 kilos of ice /MCOT