Thailand Live Thursday 8 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Thursday 8 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 Wednesday 7 Mar 2012

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THAI PM'S VISIT TO JAPAN

PM reassures Japanese on flood control measures

Photo: EPA

Says bilateral partnership 'could be an engine for growth in Asia'

Edano: Investments will continue

Full story:

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Call for constitution bill to be reviewed: Thailand

THE NATION

Multishirt leader to ask ombudsman to seek court interpretation

BANGKOK: -- Tul Sithisomwong, the leader of the multicolour-shirt movement, said yesterday that the attempt to "amend" the whole constitution was on a questionable legal footing, so the charter amendment bill should be subjected to judicial interpretation.

Full story:

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COLD MEDICINES

DSI to look into large orders

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai,

Akkapong Pradithpong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will look into suspicious orders for cold medicines that can be used to produce amphetamines as well as question pharmaceutical manufacturers who might be involved.

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

Earlier, the DSI investigated state hospitals to find out why such huge amounts of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine were being ordered, and found that many officials had a hand in it, the department's director-general Tarit Pengdith said.

"We found that the wrongdoers had placed huge orders, and once the medicines were delivered, they took them out of the hospital on the quiet and even smuggled them across the border," Tarit said.

The DSI has teamed up with the Public Health Ministry to investigate every large order placed for cold medicines that contain the precursor chemical to make amphetamines.

The DSI will start its investigation with the Food and Drug Administration, which is the main agency that controls pharmaceutical production and is in charge of medicines delivered to hospitals. According to FDA records, about 24 million tablets of cold medicines are produced every year.

"This is an abnormally high number," Tarit said.

Meanwhile, police and Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Region 5 officials confiscated a huge amount of cold medicines after raiding a rented house in Chiang Mai province's San Kamphaeng district. The team uncovered 7 million pills of 28 different brands that were taken out of their packaging, allegedly so they could be smuggled across the border.

Wichai Mongkol, director of ONCB Region 5, said this cache of cold medicines was probably composed of the drugs that had gone missing from Central Udon Thani Hospital and Thongsaengkhan Hospital in Uttaradit two weeks ago.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Pheu Thai, Democrats take different paths in wooing women voters

BANGKOK: -- Recognising the fact that females outnumber males in Thailand, and that more and more roles are being taken up by women nowadays, the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties are now competing in promoting policies and projects to help and win the hearts of women voters.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

Collapsed platform brings abandoned Hopewell back in public eye

BANGKOK: -- The recent collapse of a giant concrete slab and steel scaffolding at the Hopewell project will attract more public attention to the pending appeal ruling at the Administrative Court over Bt12 billion in compensation demanded from the Thai authorities by the Hong Kong-based company.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Thai ministers get ready for a fight as bans set to be lifted

BANGKOK: -- Another time bomb is about to hit Yingluck Shinawatra's government, except this time it looks as if it will be set off from the inside.

Full story:

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KASIKORN RESEARCH CENTER

Thailand's Inflation could surge 8% if military conflict in ME erupts

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's inflation could spike by 8 per cent in 2012, should oil prices spike to above US$200 (Bt6,000) to $250 per barrel if there is a military confrontation in the Middle East and bring this year's average to $195, said Kasikorn Research Centre.

Full story:

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Abolishing independent agencies smacks of a hidden agenda: Thai talk

BANGKOK: -- Nobody is quite sure who is behind the move to get rid of independent agencies in the process of rewriting the Constitution. But it's clear that it's high on the agenda of those seeking to remove the "poisonous fruit of the poisonous tree".

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....enda-thai-talk/

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EDITORIAL

Give all women an opportunity to improve their lives

BANGKOK: -- A new fund set up for the welfare and development of women must not be allowed to fall victim to the interests and corruption of politicians

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Are Thai politicians using television shows for personal gain?

BANGKOK: -- The phenomenon of politicians hosting television talk shows to criticise their opponents and promote themselves has come full circle with three prominent members of the opposition Democrat Party now competing with pro-government red-shirt channels.

Full story:

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PM Yingluck in Japan

'Unbeatable Thailand, Unparalleled Opportunities'

Full story:

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AIS 4G trials kicked off

Full story:

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Thailand Eyes Hosting Formula 1 Race In 2014

Full story:

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Reconciliation report a time bomb: Democrats

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives committee on reconciliation is embroiled in a disagreement involving the Democrats over the cause of the political disturbances of the past five years.

Committee chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin has approved a draft report that blames the state for triggering political violence.

But the Democrats on the committee oppose the report on grounds that such a conclusion is a time bomb that would create deeper cracks in society.

"I fear the committee report will widen the political divide instead of bringing about reconciliation," Democrat MP Nakorn Machim said yesterday.

Nakorn called for Sonthi to heed Democrat calls and revise the draft report before forwarding it for House deliberation.

He said the committee should look again at two key issues - the cause of political violence and reconciliation measures, as per the recommendations of a report by the King Prajadhipok Institute.

Several reconciliation measures, such as the compensation package for victims of anti-riot operations and the repeal of punishment by party dissolution and corruption cases initiated by the Asset Examination Committee (AEC), should be reviewed, he said.

Lecturer Thawee Suraritikul of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University said the recommendation that AEC-initiated cases undergo the normal judicial process was meant to mend fences.

Thawee said the cases involved former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his colleagues, and argued that the access to due process would be a gesture of reconciliation, which should not be mixed up with the issue of amnesty.

In the past, the country granted leniency for coup-makers, therefore those ousted from power should enjoy similar treatment, he argued.

The redirection of AEC-initiated cases has no link to the question of whether to grant amnesty, he said, pointing out that the ongoing cases would merely be moved from fast-track AEC jurisdiction to the normal process handled by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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Fatal mugging in Bangkok caught on CCTV

Surveillance cameras, file photo. Source: wikimedia

BANGKOK: -- A fatal stabbing and robbery of a man by four motorbike-riding muggers in central Bangkok - captured in gruesome security camera footage - occurred yesterday as police are seeking to install more CCTV cameras.

Full story:

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Locals pay high price for health: Haze in North Thailand

LAMPANG: -- Hundreds of people in Lampang province's Mae Moh district are spending more than Bt4,000 a month to use a mobile oxygen machine known as a bronchodilator to help them breathe amid the haze that has reached record levels.

Full story:

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Phuket Convention Center project up in the air – again

Wuttipong Chaisaeng, advisor to Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, has expressed 'big concerns' about the project's environmental impacts. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full story:

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CP owner Thanin at 133 spot on Forbes' list of richest with $7 bn in assets /TANN

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Apple launches new iPad

SAN FRANCISCO: -- Apple on Wednesday unveiled the third version of its genre-defining iPad tablet computer which will be available to consumers in the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Canada starting at 499 dollars from March 16.

Full story:

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4 soldiers killed,1 wounded in bomb ambush in Narathiwat while returning from security patrol last night /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,158.43, up 5.27 points /MCOT

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Japanese Hackers Caught in Chiang Mai Posting Nude Celeb Pix Online

Two Japanese hacker brothers arrested in Chiang Mai distributing nude pix of Japanese celebrities on the internet.

CHIANG MAI – March 86, 2012 [PDN]; Pol. Lt. Gen. Suthep Dechraksa in co-operation with the Japanese and the International police arrested two Japanese hacker suspects who were staying in Chiangmai province.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/539208-japanese-hackers-caught-in-chiang-mai-posting-nude-celeb-pix-online/

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Smog in Phayao worsens

BANGKOK, 7 March 2012 (NNT) - The smog situation in the northern province of Phayao is still critical with a PM10 level of as high as 224.7 micrograms per cubic meter. The province’s deputy governor calls on the locals to stop all burning activities.

Today at noon, Phayao province, especially the city area, was covered with smog, causing irritation in the eyes and nose of the residents. Phayao Deputy Governor Karnphon Erbsuksiri said the province had asked people to stop all kinds of burning in their communities since the smoke would worsen the weather. The local residents should also help spread the warning against burning activities, including grass and garbage burning.

The haze situation in Phayao had improved earlier this week, but it was worsened today as the wind was blowing in more smog from other areas.

Many northern provinces have been suffering from smog since late last month largely due to man-made forest fires.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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Meteorological Dept warns Northeast/East to prepare for summer storm

BANGKOK, 12 March 2012 (NNT) – The weather bureau has warned residents in Thailand's Northeast and East to prepare for the arrival of summer storm from now until the weekend.

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for locals in northeastern and eastern regions of Thailand regarding the possible arrival of summer storm from now until March 11th.

The storm is expected to emerge after the moderately-high pressure cell from China hits Thailand's upper part and mixes with hot weather in the region.

As a result, heavy storm and gusty wind as well as hails may occur in some areas of the Northeast.

The weather bureau's warning also suggested that this year's summer storm will hit the northeastern and the eastern regions before it moves to northern and central Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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Smog Remains Critical in Northern Provinces

BANGKOK: -- The smog situation in the upper northern provinces remains critical. Residents must wear safety masks to prevent inhalation of dust in the air.

Yesterday, due to low atmospheric pressure covering the northern part of Thailand, the PM 10 level, which measures the density of very minute dust particles in the air, was recorded at 191.02 micrograms per cubic meter in Chiang Mai Province, which is far higher than the safety standard.

Thick smog is covering all areas of downtown Chaing Mai.

Meanwhile, residents must wear safety masks when they go outdoors to prevent inhalation of the dust in the air. The Pollution Control Department reported that on March 6, the PM10 level was measured at between 117.7 to 188.4 micrograms per cubic meter.

The overall condition was at between standard level and a level that could have a negative effect on residents’ health. Elsewhere, in Tak Province, wildfires were discovered in several areas and many violators were arrested by forest rangers.

Smoke from fire continues to affect residents in the area. Many residents are now experiencing respiratory problems. The number of residents hospitalized due to respiratory problems caused by dust particles has doubled.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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PM Urged to Reconsider Appointments of Two Embattled Ministers

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat spokesperson urges the Prime Minister to reconsider the appointments of Nalinee Taveesin and Nattawut Saikuer to ministerial posts due to controversies regarding their ethical standards as political appointees.

Although the Office of the Ombudsman had a ruling that the Prime Minister's appointments of Nalinee Taveesin and Nattawut Saikuer to ministerial posts did not violate ethical regulations, Democrat Spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to study more details of the ruling.

Chavanond claimed that the designations for these two political appointees do not conform to Article 297 of the Constitution, which strictly mentions about ethical standards for political appointees. The spokesperson claimed the appointments will damage Thailand's reputation in the international arena.

He urged the premier not to ignore the matter otherwise the PM will be viewed as a country leader who lack political ethics. Chavanond said the PM should reconsider the appointments within a month and claimed that the Democrats will keep a close eye on the matter.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-08

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Russian Tourist Electrocuted In Phuket Resort Pool

Photo courtesy of thephuketnews.com

PHUKET: -- Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov, 45, died last night (March 7) after being electrocuted while swimming in the pool of the five-star Dewa Resort and Spa in Karon.

Full story:

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Fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Longs for National Reconciliation This Year

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....tion-this-year/